Patent Publication Number: US-2009223249-A1

Title: Apparatus for adjustable bead retention on bracelets and necklaces

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation of, and claims the priority benefit of, pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11/132,720, filed May 19, 2005, of the same title, by the same named inventors and owned by a common assignee. The entire content of that priority parent application is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces arranged to enable a wearer to change beads and adjust the positioning of beads thereon. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces including adjustable means for bead position retention. The present invention also includes an improved end connector arrangement to facilitate bead placement on bracelets and necklaces. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Jewelry bracelets and necklaces of the type having two end connectors or clasps, allow the wearer to place the jewelry around the wrist or neck, secure it in position, and be reasonably assured that it will not pass over the hand or head. Such jewelry is generally formed as a strand, chain or band with the end connectors or clasps at opposing ends thereof. The end connectors may be joined together to retain the jewelry in position, and then disconnected from one another to allow removal of the jewelry from the wearer. In generally, most can be categorized as threaded, hook-and-loop, or spring-loaded latches with loops. Some jewelry end connectors or clasps are easier to use than others. 
     Bracelets and necklaces may or may not include supplemental pieces fixedly or movably positioned thereon. For example, the bracelet may be a charm bracelet with links onto which charms are affixed, or the necklace may include a precious stone attached to a loop that may slide along the necklace chain. While charm bracelets and necklaces including slidable pieces have been known for many years, there has been growing interest in modifiable jewelry, and bracelets in particular, configured to permit the wearer to select supplemental pieces of interest to be applied to the jewelry, and add and remove such pieces as desired. 
     Modifiable bracelets as originally made commercially available simply involved a strand, string, or chain having one or both of the end connectors sized to permit the supplemental piece, such as a bead with some sort of port, to pass thereover. Upon the joining of the two end connectors, the bead would be retained on the strand, but able to move freely around the strand. In the event one of the end connectors was sized larger than the internal dimension of the bead port, the bead was able to move freely about the strand until reaching that larger end connector, at which it would be blocked from further forward movement. The number and size of the beads applied by the wearer to the strand was only limited by the internal dimensions of the bead port, and the wearer&#39;s interest and capability to add beads to the strand. 
     Interest in the modifiable bracelets may have been dampened to an extent as a result of the concern that, absent application of removable beads to cover the entire length of the strand, the beads move to undesired positions on the strand. One or more beads may gravitate to the underside of the wearer&#39;s wrist, or a favorite bead may not be observable from a certain vantage point. It was soon realized that there were limitations associated with the modifiable bracelets first made commercially available. Specifically, it was determined that the modifiable bracelets allowed wearers to add and remove beads from a strand as desired, but did not allow the wearers to regulate the positioning of the beads on the strand. 
     Recent attempts to solve this limitation in modifiable bracelets (and necklaces) have met with some success. One type of modifiable bracelet is a strand with end connectors and one or more fixed retainer bases spaced along the length of the strand. Each retainer base is designed to hold a removable retainer thereon. Beads with ports may be passed over either or both end connectors and the retainer bases. Once one or more beads are placed in a desired region of the strand, the removable retainer is placed on the retainer base. The retainer is sized bigger than the bead port such that a bead may not be passed over it. The retainer(s) thereby prevent bead movement beyond the location of the retainer. Beads may, however, move slidingly along the strand between retainers and/or, dependent upon the end connector design, between a retainer and an end connector. 
     There are several limitations associated with a modifiable bracelet or necklace including the fixed retainer base and removable retainer as described. The fixed retainer base forces the wearer to place the retainer only at the position of the base, and thereby restricts the bead placement. That is, the wearer is not permitted to define retainer placement and, thus, bead placement. The modifiable bracelets that have been observed include either threaded or unthreaded retainer bases. The threaded retainer bases require an internally threaded retainer, while the unthreaded retainer bases interface with hinged retainers. The threaded base-retainer interfaces force the wearer to go through a substantial amount of work just to put that portion of the bracelet together. The interface between the unthreaded base and the hinged retainer is a loose one and makes for undesirable play of the retainer on the strand. 
     Another limitation of the existing modifiable bracelets is the end connector. The end connectors of the existing modifiable bracelets are threaded. They force the wearer to use only internally threaded beads, or beads with large bead ports. The threaded end connectors force the wearer to go through the effort of threading internally threaded retainers thereover before reaching a retainer base. They also force the wearer to thread internally threaded beads thereover before passing to a location of interest between fixed retainer bases and/or end connectors. The effort required to thread retainers and/or beads reduces the commercial value of such modifiable bracelets. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a modifiable bracelet, necklace, or other removable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to easily add and remove supplemental pieces to the item strand. What is also needed is such a modifiable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to position selectively on the strand one or more retainers to retain one or more supplemental pieces on the strand. Further, what is needed is such a modifiable jewelry item including end connectors suitable for ease of passage of retainers and/or supplemental pieces thereover. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a modifiable bracelet, necklace, or other removable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to easily add and remove supplemental pieces to the item strand. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a modifiable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to position selectively on the strand one or more retainers to retain one or more supplemental pieces on the strand. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a modifiable jewelry item including end connectors suitable for ease of passage of retainers and/or supplemental pieces thereover. 
     These and other objects are achieved with the present invention, which is a modifiable jewelry item including one or more adjustable retainers. The adjustable retainer may be a unitary piece configured to slide onto the strand, chain, or band of the jewelry item. Alternatively, the adjustable retainer may be formed of two parts, possibly hinged, and arranged to be placed about the strand and removably clasped in place thereon. The adjustable retainer of the jewelry item includes an interior structure that keeps the retainer in a selectable position on the strand. 
     The interior structure is configured to establish high-friction contact between the retainer and the strand. The friction between the interior of the retainer and the strand may be selectable and a function of the details of the interior structure and the outer surface of the strand. The interior structure may be arranged by itself, or in combination with the arrangement of the outer surface of the strand, to be frictional enough to require substantial force to dislodge the adjustable retainer from its particular position on the strand. Alternatively, the interior structure may be arranged to allow relative ease of movement along the strand, but with enough friction that unintended movement of the adjustable retainer is unlikely to occur. Nevertheless, the interior structure is arranged to cover substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer such that substantially all of the interior structure is in contact with the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand. This arrangement of the interior structure as well as its frictional characteristics substantially restrict movement of the retainer along the strand and rotational movement of the retainer around the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand. 
     The interior structure of the adjustable strand may be formed of a viscoelastic material with high surface tension, or it may be a metallic or nonmetallic material with rough surface characteristics. The interior structure may also be formed with one or more grabbing elements, such as hooks, pins, springs, or the like, but not limited thereto, that may grab the outer surface of the strand. Additionally, the outer surface of the strand may be formed with rough surface characteristics and/or grabbing elements to increase the friction between that surface and the interior structure of the adjustable retainer. Alternatively, the strand may be relatively smooth, with the frictional contact provided primarily by the interior structure of the adjustable retainer. 
     The arrangement of the retainer including an interior structure designed to establish frictional contact with the outer surface of the strand enables fabrication of a strand without special need for a fixed component designed to engage the retainer. As a result, the cost to fabricate the strand may be reduced. Further, the retainer may be positioned wherever desired along the length of the strand and is not limited to a few locations defined by placement of the fixed component. This enables the wearer to position beads anywhere of interest along the strand and in any combinations. Still further, the retainer preferably fits relatively snugly thereby avoiding loose play on the strand. That is, the interior structure is arranged to substantially restrict movement of the retainer along the strand and rotational movement of the retainer around the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand. The retainer is also easily placeable on the strand, eliminating the effort required to screw the retainer over and on fixed elements and end connectors. 
     The modifiable jewelry of the present invention further includes one or two convenient end connectors. The end connector or connectors of the modifiable jewelry of the present invention include a body with one or more slots arranged thereon. The body of the end connector is preferably sized to have an exterior dimension or dimensions less than the dimension or dimensions of the interior ports of one or more beads to be positioned on the strand, band, or chain of the jewelry item. In particular, the connector body may have a smaller exterior dimension and a larger exterior dimension, both sized to enable bead ports to pass thereover, but only when the bead and end connector are aligned in a particular way. The bead cannot passed over the end connector without the required alignment. This arrangement eliminates the time consumption associated with screwing a bead over an end connector, but ensures that the end connector will capture the bead on the strand. 
     The modifiable jewelry of the present invention, including either or both of the adjustable retainer and the convenient end connectors, is an improvement over existing related jewelry. The improvements provide the wearer with more options and less difficulty in creating customized jewelry arrangements. These and other advantages and features of the invention will become more apparent upon review of the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of the modifiable jewelry of the present invention, showing a strand with a plurality of adjustable retainers, two end connectors, and a plurality of beads. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a unitary adjustable retainer with frictional interior structure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a hinged adjustable retainer with frictional interior structure. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an adjustable retainer showing a first embodiment of the frictional interior structure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an adjustable retainer showing a second embodiment of the frictional interior structure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of an end connector of the present invention showing the slotted connector body and in proximity to a cross sectional view of a bead with threaded port. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of an end connector of the present invention showing the slotted connector body and in proximity to a cross sectional view of a bead with flanged port. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     A modifiable jewelry piece  10  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . The jewelry piece  10  may be used as a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, or an earring, for example. The jewelry piece  10  includes a strand  12 , a first end connector  14 , a second end connector  20 , and one or more adjustable retainers  50 . The jewelry piece  10  is arranged to enable a wearer to place one or more beads  40  thereon at selectable locations along the length of the strand  12 . 
     The strand  12  may be fabricated of a metallic material or a nonmetallic material. The strand  12  may be formed of silver, gold, plastic, rubber or leather, or of combinations of materials, for example. The strand may be solid, porous or hollow. The surface of the strand  12  may be relatively smooth having a relatively low surface coefficient of friction. Alternatively, the surface of the strand  12  may have a relatively high surface coefficient of friction. An interior surface of the adjustable retainer  30  is arranged to make contact with the surface of the strand  12  in a manner that establishes frictional contact between the two components so that movement of the adjustable retainer  30  on the strand  12  is minimized. 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , the first end connector  14  includes a first loop  16  and a first end interface  18  fixedly engaged to a first end of the strand  12 . The second end connector  20  includes a second loop  22  and a second end interface  24  fixedly engaged to a second end of the strand  12 . The first loop  16  and the second loop  22  are configured for releasable engagement with one another in a manner that completes the looping of the strand  12  in an enclosing arrangement. For example, the first loop  16  may include a spring-loaded enclosure that may be opened to allow the first loop  16  to loop on to the second loop  20 , as is well know to those skilled in the art of loop jewelry enclosure mechanisms. 
     The first end interface  18  of the first end connector  14  includes a first bead blocker  26  preferably formed of a first flange  28  and a first slot  30 . The second end interface  24  of the second end connector  20  includes a second bead blocker  32  preferably formed of a second flange  34  and a second slot  36 . The arrangements of the first end interface  18  and the second end interface  24  will be described in greater detail in view of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . However, it is to be noted that the first end interface  18  and the second end interface  24  are configured to enable one or more beads  40  to pass thereover, but only when the bead  40  and either one of the end interfaces  18 / 24  is aligned to the bead  40  in a particular way. The bead  40  cannot passed over the end interface  18 / 24  without the required alignment. This arrangement allows the wearer to place the bead  40  on the strand  12 , or to remove it from the strand  12 , relatively quickly and easily. 
     It is to be understood that the modifiable jewelry piece  10  of the present invention may be operative with only one of the end interfaces. For example, second end connector  20  may be formed only with the second loop  22  but without second interface  24  such that the first loop  16  and second loop  22  are engageable with one another. However, without the second end interface  24 , beads  40  may only be barred from passing over the second end connector  20  by placing one or more adjustable retainers  50  between any such beads  40  and the second end connector  20 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 1 , a wearer may use the modifiable jewelry piece  10  in the following manner. Prior to placing any beads  40  on, or removing any beads  40  from, the strand  12 , the user must confirm that the first loop  16  and the second loop  22  are disengaged from one another. The wearer may select one or more locations along the length of the strand  12  on to which apply one or more adjustable retainers  50 . The one or more adjustable retainers  50  may then be removably applied to the strand  12  where desired. Two types of adjustable retainers  50  will be described with respect to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , one a unitary retainer placeable about the strand  12 , and the other a hinged retainer that may be clamped about the strand  12 . Each includes an interior structure constructed to establish a frictional fit to the surface of the strand  12 . Examples of suitable interior structures of the adjustable retainers  50  are described and shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . One or more beads  40 , each having an interior port, may be passed over one of the end connectors  14 / 20  of the jewelry piece  10  and positioned between adjustable retainers  50  or between an adjustable retainer  50  and an end connector  14 / 20 . Hinged adjustable retainers  50  may be added or removed as desired while beads  40  reside on the strand  50 . Unitary adjustable retainers  50  may be repositioned on the strand  12  while beads  40  are also on the strand  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a first embodiment of the adjustable retainer  50  is a unitary annular ring or bushing fabricated of a selectable material. The unitary adjustable retainer  50  includes an interior structure  52  that may cover a portion or substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer  50 . The interior structure  52  is configured to enhance frictional contact between the adjustable retainer  50  and the outer surface of the strand  12 . The interior structure may be configured with selectable frictional characteristics. That is, it may be formed to make movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12  relatively difficult or relatively simple. A relatively high coefficient of friction of the interior structure  52  makes movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12  relatively difficult and would be useful to the wearer who wishes to have little unintended movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12 . A relatively low coefficient of friction of the interior structure  52  makes movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12  relatively easy and would be useful to the wearer who wishes to be able to adjust the position of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12  with minimal effort. The interior structure  52  minimizes unintended movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12 . That is, unlike a threaded retainer of the prior device, for example, which can be rotated unintentionally until it moves off a permanent fixture of the strand, the interior structure  52  of the adjustable retainer  50  is arranged to cover substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer  50  such that substantially all of the interior structure  52  is in contact with the outer surface of the strand  12  when the adjustable retainer  50  is positioned on the strand  12 . This arrangement of the interior structure  52  as well as its frictional characteristics substantially restrict movement of the adjustable retainer  50  along the strand  12  and rotational movement of the adjustable retainer  50  around the strand  12  when the adjustable retainer  50  is positioned on the strand  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a second embodiment of the adjustable retainer  50  is a hinged annular ring or bushing fabricated of a selectable material. The hinged adjustable retainer  50  includes an interior structure  54  that may cover a portion or substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer  50 . The hinged adjustable retainer  50  further includes a first piece  56 , a second piece  58 , and a hinge joint  60  hingedly connecting the two. As with the interior structure  52  of unitary adjustable retainer  50  of  FIG. 2 , the interior structure  54  is configured to enhance frictional contact between the adjustable retainer  50  and the outer surface of the strand  12 . The interior structure may be configured with selectable frictional characteristics as described with respect the interior structure  52  of  FIG. 2 . The first piece  56  and the second piece  58  preferably including a latching mechanism or locking mechanism, such as a pressure fit tongue-and-groove arrangement for releasable clamping of the hinged adjustable retainer  50  of  FIG. 3  on the strand  12 . The hinged adjustable retainer  50  enables the wearer to change the position of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12  without removing any beads  40  from the strand  50 . The interior structure  54  minimizes unintended movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a first embodiment of the interior structure  52 / 54  of the adjustable retainer  50  is a solid or semi-solid material having high surface tension or a rough surface profile. As one example of such a material, the interior structure  52 / 54  may be a silicone rubber or gel of relatively low hardness. The material is preferably bonded or molded in place on the interior surface  62  of the adjustable retainer  50 . The characteristics of the material of the interior structure  52 / 54  in combination with the surface characteristics of the strand  12  determine the extent of the resistance to movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12 . As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the interior structure  52 / 54  of the adjustable retainer  50  is a mechanical capturing device  64  designed to grab surface imperfections of the outer surface of the strand  12 , and may be of particular effectiveness with roped or helical strands. The mechanical capturing device  64  may be pins, hooks, claws or other extensions extending inwardly from the interior surface  62  of the adjustable retainer  50 . The mechanical capturing device  64  may be bonded or affixed to the interior surface  62 , or formed as a unitary part thereof. The characteristics of the mechanical capturing device  64  of the interior structure  52 / 54  in combination with the surface characteristics of the strand  12  determine the extent of the resistance to movement of the adjustable retainer  50  on the strand  12 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates either or both of the first bead blocker  26  and the second bead blocker  32 , with flange  28 / 34  and slot  30 / 36  spaced from an internally threaded bead  40  in cross section to be placed on strand  12 . The bead  40  includes a bead port  42  and threading  44 . The bead port  42  has dimensions greater than the body of the bead blocker  26 / 32  except at the flange  28 / 34 . Flange  28 / 34  has dimensions sufficient to block passage of the bead  40  thereover. However, the slot  30 / 36  of the bead blocker  26 / 32  is positioned in combination with the position of the flange  28 / 34  in an angled alignment that permits the wearer to thread the threads  44  of the bead  40  thereon. As a result, only when an end  46  of the threaded bead  40  passes beyond the flange  28 / 34  and slot  30 / 36 , the bead  40  may be moved onto the strand  12 . The bead  40  may be removed from the strand  12  by reversing the process. This arrangement of the flange  28 / 34  and slot  30 / 36  allows placement of existing and new threaded beads  40  onto the strand  12  of the jewelry piece  10  of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates either or both of the first bead blocker  26  and the second bead blocker  32 , with flange  28 / 34  and slot  30 / 36  spaced from an internally flanged bead  40  in cross section to be placed on strand  12 . The bead  40  includes a bead port  42  and bead flange  48 . The bead port  42  has dimensions greater than the body of the bead blocker  26 / 32  except at the flange  28 / 34 . Flange  28 / 34  has dimensions sufficient to block passage of the bead  40  thereover. However, the slot  30 / 36  of the bead blocker  26 / 32  is positioned in combination with the position of the flange  28 / 34  to correspond with the alignment of the bead flange  48  of the bead  40 . When the bead flange  48  is aligned with the slot  30 / 36 , the bead  40  will pass over the bead blocker  26 / 32  and onto the strand  12 . The process may be reversed to remove the bead  40  from the strand  12 . This arrangement of the flange  28 / 34  and slot  30 / 36  allows easy placement of a bead  40  on the strand without the need to thread the bead entirely to get it onto the strand  12 . It also ensures that the bead  40  will not pass over the bead blocker  26 / 32  without direct alignment of the bead flange  48  and the slot  30 / 36 . It is to be understood that the end connector  14 / 20  of the present invention including the bead blocker  26 / 32  may be used with beads  40  having bead ports  42  with dimensions greater than the flange  28 / 34 ; however, an adjustable retainer  50  is to be placed between the bead  40  and the end connector  14 / 20  to prevent the bead  40  from unintended passing over the end connector  14 / 20 , as when the loops  16 / 22  are not engaged. 
     While the present invention has been described with particular reference to certain embodiments of the modifiable jewelry piece  10 , it is to be understood that it includes all reasonable equivalents thereof as defined by the following appended claims.