Patent Publication Number: US-2019174888-A1

Title: Device, System and Methods of Use and Production for Preventing Chains of a Plurality of Necklaces Simultaneously Worn by a User from Entangling

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of application U.S. Ser. No. 16/057,151 filed Aug. 7, 2018 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is not uncommon for individuals who wear necklaces, to sometimes wear more than one necklace at the same time. Yet, at illustrated by  FIG. 1  which for example, not limitation, show three necklaces being worn at once, it is often the case that the necklace chains  1  will become entangled with one another while they are worn by a user. A section of the neck and shoulders of such a user with entangled necklace chains  1  is illustrated from a front view by the mannequin  FIG. 11 . It would be desirable to have a simple-to-use, effective device, system and method which can be used to prevent such entangling, and to have a simple method for producing this device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein is a necklace chain entangling preventer apparatus for preventing necklace chains of a plurality of N greater than  1  necklaces from entangling when simultaneously worn by a user thereof, the apparatus comprising a first entangling preventer half and a second entangling preventer half, each the entangling preventer half comprising: a substantially flat rigid body plate; a plate-half attachment facilitator permanently affixed to the body plate for attaching the first entangling preventer half with the second entangling preventer half; a plurality of N substantially rigid necklace chain threading hooks permanently affixed to the body plate with a necklace chain threading separation between ends of the necklace chain threading hooks and the body plate, each the hook and separation configured for enabling the necklace chain of one of the N necklaces to be threaded into an interior region substantially circumscribed by the hook by passing the necklace chain through the separation and into the interior region without utilizing end-clasping hardware of the necklaces; the plate-half attachment facilitators affixed to their respective rigid body plates with opposite mating configurations; except for the plate-half attachment facilitators being affixed to their respective rigid body plates with opposite mating configurations, the two entangling preventer halves being otherwise substantially identical; the necklace chain threading hooks positioned to vertically separate the N necklace chains from one another when the N necklaces have been threaded therethrough and the two entangling preventer halves have been attached to one another behind the user&#39;s neck using the attachment facilitators; and a plurality of N necklace chain threading retainers, selected from the necklace retainer group consisting of: a malleable material retainer, a pivot retainer, a pole retainer, and an opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged retainer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forth in the appended claims. The invention, however, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing(s) summarized below. 
         FIG. 1  is a prior art illustration from a front view of the necklace wearer, schematically showing how necklace chains can become entangled when multiple necklaces are worn about the neck of a wearer without making any provision to prevent their entangling. 
         FIG. 2  is a prior art illustration of an exemplary fine or costume jewelry necklace with a traditional cable chain. 
         FIG. 3  is a prior art illustration of an exemplary fine or costume jewelry necklace with an adjustable cable chain. 
         FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C  review the way in which the two ends of a fine or costume jewelry necklace with a traditional chain are typically attached together in the prior art. 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C  review the way in which the two ends of a fine or costume jewelry necklace with adjustable cable chain are typically attached together in the prior art. 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  contain plan views illustrating the basic components of the necklace entangling preventer apparatus from both left- and right-handed views, both prior to their fabrication, and once they have been fabricated and are ready for use by a user. This includes a first alternative preferred “malleable material retainer” embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view illustrating how each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of the invention embodiment of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are attached together in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of the invention after they have been attached together, on the left from a front plan view, and on the right from a side plan view. 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view illustrating the start of the method of using the invention to prevent necklace entangling, with the two necklace chain entangling preventer halves situated in front of a user&#39;s upper torso and the necklace chains threaded therethrough. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view illustrating the continuation of the method of using the invention to prevent necklace entangling, with the two necklace chain entangling preventer halves situated behind the user&#39;s neck and the necklace chains continuing to be threaded therethrough in the configuration initiated with  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view illustrating the completion of the method of using the invention to prevent necklace entangling, with the two necklace chain entangling preventer halves connected to one another behind the user&#39;s neck using plate-half attachment facilitators thereof, and the necklace chains continuing to be threaded therethrough in the configuration initiated with  FIG. 9  and continued with  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration from a front view of the necklace wearer, of how necklace chains are prevented from entangling when multiple necklaces are worn about the neck of that wearer, by virtue of the invention being situated behind the wearer&#39;s neck as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13 , for example not limitation, is a photograph of an experimental prototype of the “malleable material retainer” invention embodiment of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , having a visual design comprising three flowers for each of the two necklace entangling preventer halves. 
         FIG. 14  shows these floral design prototype halves of  FIG. 13  mated together as they would appear behind a wearer&#39;s neck once the necklaces have been threaded in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIGS. 15A and 15B  contain plan views illustrating a second alternative preferred “pivot retainer” embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a plan view illustrating how each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 15A and 15B  are attached together in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a plan view illustrating each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 15A and 15B  after they have been attached together, on the left from a front plan view, and on the right from a side plan view. 
         FIGS. 18A and 18B  contain plan views illustrating a third alternative preferred “pole retainer” embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view illustrating how each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 18A and 18B  are attached together in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a plan view illustrating each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 18A and 18B  after they have been attached together, on the left from a front plan view, and on the right from a side plan view. 
         FIGS. 21A and 21B  contain plan views illustrating a fourth alternative preferred “opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged” embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 22  is a plan view illustrating how each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 21A and 21B  are attached together in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view illustrating each of two necklace chain entangling preventer halves of  FIGS. 21A and 21B  after they have been attached together, on the left from a front plan view, and on the right from a side plan view. 
         FIG. 24 , for example not limitation, is a photograph of an experimental prototype of the pivot retainer invention embodiment of  FIGS. 15A and 15B , with retainers pivoted to an engaged position about the hooks, from a rear view, with floral design, for two necklaces. 
         FIG. 25  is a photograph of an experimental prototype of  FIG. 24 , from a front view. 
         FIG. 26  shows these prototype halves of  FIG. 24  mated together as they would appear behind a wearer&#39;s neck once the necklaces have been threaded in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 27 , for example not limitation, is a photograph of an experimental prototype of one of the halves of the pole retainer invention embodiment of  FIGS. 18A and 18B , with the plate separate from the pole, from a rear view, with floral design, for three necklaces. 
         FIG. 28 , is a photograph of an experimental prototype of one of the halves of the pole retainer from  FIG. 27 , with the pole and the plate mated. 
         FIG. 29  is a photograph of the prototype of  FIG. 28  from a front view. 
         FIG. 30 , for example not limitation, is a photograph of an experimental prototype of the opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged retainer invention embodiment of  FIGS. 21A and 21B , with floral design, for two necklaces. 
         FIG. 31  shows these prototype halves of  FIG. 30  mated together as they would appear behind a wearer&#39;s neck once the necklaces have been threaded in accordance with the method of using the invention. 
         FIG. 32  is a photograph of the prototype of  FIG. 31  from a side view. 
         FIG. 33  is a photograph of the prototype of  FIGS. 30 through 32  as it appears behind a user&#39;s neck, including the threaded chains. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before reviewing a preferred embodiment of the necklace entangling preventer apparatus used to practice this invention, it will be helpful to provide some background regarding necklace chains and the clasp used to attach the ends of necklaces together, as these are commonly used in the prior art. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , generally there are two types of necklace chains  1  used in the prior art to attach the ends of a necklace together. For what is considered “fine jewelry or costume traditional cable chain,” as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the necklace chain  1  is generally very thin from one end to the other, comprising a large plurality of interlinked loops in series as shown, measuring no more than 1/16 ″ in diameter for female necklaces, though sometimes substantially larger for male necklaces. At a first end of the chain  1  is an attachment loop  21  as shown, which is typically no greater than ¼″ in diameter. At the opposite, second end of the chain is a clasp  22  also as shown which is actuated by a clasping apparatus  23  often colloquially referred to as a “lobster claw,” also typically under ¼″ in diameter. The connection formed using these components will be further reviewed in  FIG. 4 . A necklace display piece  24  is typically located proximate the center of the chain  1 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , for fine or costume jewelry with an adjustable cable chain the primary body of the chain  1  is still of the thin character just described, of generally less than ¼″ in diameter for females and perhaps thicker for males. But, the first end of the chain  1  typically contains a series of larger attachment loops  21  of no greater than ¼″ in diameter, any of which can be attached to the clasp  22 . This of course, enables the user to choose which loop  21  to attach to the clasp  22  to hang the necklace, in such a way as to vary how far down the display piece  24  will hang in front of the user&#39;s upper torso. This succession of attachment loops  21 , differs from the fine or costume jewelry traditional cable chain illustrated by  FIG. 2  because the fine or costume jewelry traditional cable chain is generally pre-fitted as regards to its length to the particular user who will be wearing that necklace. As an example, without limitation, the fine or costume jewelry traditional cable chains of  FIG. 2  are commonly available in 16″, 18″, and 20″ fabricated lengths. 
       FIG. 4  review the prior art method by which the loop  21  at the first end of the chain  1  is attached to the clasp  22  at the second end using the clasping apparatus  23  often colloquially referred to as a “lobster claw.” Initially, with the chain  1  around the user&#39;s neck, an actuator  41  of the clasping apparatus  23  at the second end of the chain  1  is pulled back as illustrated by the small arrow in  FIG. 4A , into the position shown in  FIG. 4B . Within the clasping apparatus  23 , this actuator  41  is connected to a retractable loop section  42  which simultaneously moves along the other small arrow in  FIG. 4A  to create an attachment opening  43 . The actuator  41  is also typically connected to a spring-like mechanism inside the clasping apparatus  23  which causes the actuator  41  and the retractable loop section  42  to default to the position of  FIGS. 4A and 4C  when the user is not applying pressure to pull back the actuator  24 . 
     With the actuator  41  pulled back, the user then takes the loop  21  at the first end of the chain  1  and loops this through the attachment opening  43  onto the clasp  22  to reach the configuration of  FIG. 4B . Then, the user releases the actuator  41 , the retractable loop section  42  springs back to its closed default position, and the two ends of the necklace chain  1  are now attached together with the necklace now hanging from the user&#39;s neck. 
       FIG. 5  illustrate the process for attaching together the two ends of a fine or costume jewelry necklace with an adjustable cable chain. This process is exactly the same was what was just reviewed with  FIG. 4 , but for the fact that the user can choose any one of the series of attachment loops  21  on the first end of the necklace, to attach to the clasp  22  on the second end. If any attachment loop  21  other than the one on the very end is chosen, then some loops will hang down, as also illustrated in  FIGS. 5B and 5C . 
       FIGS. 6 through 8  now illustrate a necklace entangling preventer apparatus in a preferred embodiment of the invention, and its method of production. Although this preferred embodiment is configured to allow the simultaneous wearing of three necklaces without tangling, this does not limit the scope of this disclosure or its associated claims as regards producing and using a like-apparatus which operates on the same inventive principle but accommodates four or more necklaces. Nor does it limit producing and using a like-apparatus for two necklaces, or using the preferred embodiment disclosed here, but with only two necklaces. During testing of prototypes, so as to avoid unwarranted downward drag on the backs of necklaces attached thereto, it was found that the total optimal weight of device is 2.5 to 3 grams, though this mention of optimum weight is non-limiting as regards the associated claims. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate the basic components of the necklace entangling preventer apparatus in a preferred embodiment, from both left- and right-handed views, both prior to their fabrication and once they have been fabricated and are ready for use by a necklace wearer. The necklace entangling preventer apparatus of the invention comprises two entangling preventer halves  6 . These entangling preventer halves  6  are fabricated to be completely identical to one another except for the mating configurations of their plate-half attachment facilitators  62 . But as will be discussed, when these two entangling preventer halves  6  are used, they are oriented in opposite directions from one another and then mated after necklace chains  1  have been inserted through them in a manner that will later be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , and to  FIG. 6B  which is identical to  FIG. 6A  but for its presenting an oppositely oriented view, each of the entangling preventer halves  6  is fabricated comprising four main elements. First, the main body of each of the entangling preventer halves  6  comprises a simple substantially flat, rigid body plate  61  which may be fabricated from any metal, steel, plastic, or other desired substance, for example not limitation, wood, precious stones, or non-precious stones. Each body plate  61  is preferably about ¼″ in width, but may be as large as ½″ or more. For the three-necklace embodiment being illustrated here, the height of each plate is preferably about 1⅜″, but may be as small as 1″ and as large as 2″. For more necklaces than three, the heights will be scaled up accordingly, but the widths need not be changed. 
     Second, permanently affixed directly onto each body plate  61  is a plate-half attachment facilitator  62  which in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of small cylindrical permanent magnets which can be seen from their side view on the right-hand side of  FIG. 8 . These cylindrical permanent magnets are preferably about ⅛″ in length along the cylindrical axis, and are under ⅛″ in diameter. This, however, is non-limiting as to magnet size or shape. It is preferable, but not required, to use neodymium magnets, which are amongst the most powerful fixed magnets known. One may also employ permanent plate magnets (again, preferably neodymium) covering most of the surface of the body plates  61 , but experimental prototype testing has demonstrated that the plurality of small cylindrical permanent magnets provides better magnetic adherence of the two entangling preventer halves  6  to one another, which is important to the optimum performance of the invention. And using a plurality of small cylindrical permanent magnets also optimizes space for the other components which must also be attached to the body plates  61 , and for the necklaces themselves. Again, while preferred, the foregoing is non-limiting as to magnet size or shape. 
     Importantly, although  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B  are visually identical, there is one important fabrication difference. Consider the preferred embodiment where the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  are magnets: Because firmly adhering the two entangling preventer halves  6  together is essential to the effective use of the invention, the magnets must be affixed to the two body plates  61  with their poles oppositely-oriented, and more generally, they must be affixed to the two body plates  61  with opposite mating configurations. Thus, as will be seen for example in the right-hand part of  FIG. 8 , the north poles of the magnets on the left plate  61  are adhered to the south poles of the magnets on the right plate  61 , which means that the south poles of the magnets must be permanently affixed to the left plate  61  while the north poles of the magnets must be permanently affixed to the right plate  61 . It will also be appreciated that this can be varied as amongst the five (5) illustrated magnet pairs. For instance, the top magnet pair can have the configuration illustrated, then the next one down can have the poles inverted, with continued alternation from top to bottom. 
     Likewise, the use of five (5) magnet pairs used for illustration in this disclosure is non-limiting. There may be as few as one magnet pair in the event less-preferred plate magnets are used, and as few as two pairs if cylindrical magnets are used. Also, as will be seen when we progress to  FIGS. 9 through 12  showing the use of the invention, the cylindrical magnets, if used, can be fixed into positions on the plates  61  such that the magnets also serve the utilitarian purpose of preventing one chain  1  and/or clasp  23  and associated end-clasping hardware detailed in  FIGS. 3 and 4  from conjoining or entangling with others. 
     Third, also permanently affixed directly onto each body plate  61  are three substantially rigid necklace chain threading hooks  63 , with the choice of three such necklace chain threading hooks  63  corresponding to the apparatus being fabricated to enable wearing three necklaces at the same time. For a different number of necklaces, there will be a different number of such necklace chain threading hooks  63 . Optionally affixed to the end of each necklace chain hook  63  is a retention bead  64  help to better retain the necklace chains  1  once these have been properly threaded through the entangling preventer halves  6  in the manner which will be discussed shortly, and also to avert the user accidentally hurting a finger by contact with which might otherwise be with a sharp end of the necklace chain hook  63 . Additionally, while these retention beads  64  appended to the ends of the necklace chain threading hooks  63  are not limited in shape or size, they do need to be sized in proportion to necklace chain threading retainer  65  in order to provide sufficient spacing for the proper threading of the necklace chains  1 , as will be further reviewed. 
     Provided between the edge of each body plate  61  and the ends of its necklace chain threading hooks  63 , is a small necklace chain threading separation  66 . This separation is just large enough for threading the primary body of a necklace chain  1  therethrough. So, given that the primary bodies of necklace chains are typically ¼ of less in diameter, the chain threading separation  66  is approximately ¼. For the preferred embodiment where the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  do comprise a plurality of cylindrical permanent magnets, the necklace chain threading hooks  63  are affixed to the body plates  61  in the spaces between the magnets, so that all of the components affixed to the body plates  61  will not easily detach. These necklace chain threading hooks  63  comprise a thick sturdy wire, such as, but without limitation, a 20, 21 or 22-gauge “fish hook” wire. 
     Fourth and finally, also permanently affixed directly onto each body plate  61  to extend over each of the three necklace chain threading hooks  63  are three corresponding necklace chain threading retainers  65 , as illustrated. Here too, the use of three such necklace chain threading retainers  65  corresponds to the simultaneous wearing of three necklaces, and this too would be changed for a device to accommodate some other number of necklaces. These necklace chain threading retainers  65  comprise a wire that is somewhat thinner and more malleable than the necklace chain threading hooks  63 , for example not limitation, a 22-gauge wire or higher, to provide suitable malleability. Yet, this wire should also be sufficiently rigid to enable the retainer  65  to be pressed against its corresponding necklace chain threading hooks  63  to retain the corresponding necklace chains  1  threaded through the hook  63  while the hooks  63  are slid over their corresponding necklace chains  1  in the manner to be described with  FIGS. 9 through 12 . From the view of the assembled entangling preventer half  6  shown in  FIG. 6A , the necklace chain threading retainers  65  are over, i.e., in front of, the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . From the view of the assembled entangling preventer half  6  shown in  FIG. 6B , the necklace chain threading retainers  65  are behind the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . So in either case, the necklace chain threading hooks  63  are affixed closer to the plane of the body plate  61  than are the necklace chain threading retainers  65 . 
     To the right of the arrow in  FIG. 6A  and to the left of the arrow in  FIG. 6B , unnumbered to avoid drawing clutter, we see all of these plate-half attachment facilitators  62  (preferably permanent magnets), necklace chain threading hooks  63 , optional retention beads  64  and necklace chain threading retainers  65  affixed to the body plates  61  to form the assembled totality of each entangling preventer half  6 . To the left of the arrow in  FIG. 6A  and the right of the arrow in  FIG. 6B  we see each of these individual components suitably numbered. It will be noted that from the view of  FIG. 6A  the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 , the necklace chain threading hooks  63  and the necklace chain threading retainers  65  can all be seen in their entirety. And because each of the entangling preventer halves  6  are visually identical (but with a reversal of mating orientation e.g. magnetic polarities as has been pointed out), it will be noted that from the view of  FIG. 6B , with the entangling preventer half  6  turned over to an opposite orientation, and as illustrated by hidden lines, the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  are entirely hidden from view, while portions of the necklace chain threading hooks  63  and the necklace chain threading retainers  65  are also hidden from view, behind the body plate  61 . 
     It should be stated that because both of the entangling preventer halves  6  are identical aside from the polarity orientations of the magnets, and are merely flipped over as between  FIGS. 6A and 6B , it is regarded to be within the scope of this disclosure and the associated claims to fabricate and use entangling preventer halves  6  with parity opposite to that is illustrated here. In such a situation, some of the lines visible in  FIG. 6A  would be hidden, while the hidden lines in  FIG. 6B  would become visible. 
     Now we turn to  FIGS. 7 and 8  which illustrate how each of the necklace chain entangling preventer halves  6  are attached together in accordance with the method of using the invention to prevent necklace chains  1  from becoming tangled. These two  FIGS. 7 and 8  show the apparatus without the necklace chains  1  having yet been threaded. That method will be detailed starting with  FIG. 9 . 
     First, starting with the relative orientations shown in  FIG. 6  and the entangling preventer halves  6  situated in front of the user&#39;s upper torso proximate the necklaces, the necklace chains  1  are threaded into the two entangling preventer halves  6  in a manner that will be detailed starting at  FIG. 9 . Then, with the necklace chains  1  so-threaded, the entangling preventer halves  6  are moved around to the back of the user&#39;s neck. It will be appreciated that if the relative orientation in front of the user is that of  FIG. 6 , then the relative orientation once these are drawn behind the user will be that of  FIG. 7 , as view from behind the user. To see this correspondence, it is helpful to compare  FIG. 6  (unthreaded) with  FIG. 9  (threaded),  FIG. 7  (unthreaded) with  FIG. 10  (threaded), and  FIG. 8  (unthreaded) with  FIG. 11  (threaded). 
     So, the entangling preventer halves  6  with the orientation of  FIG. 6  in front of the user attain the orientation of  FIG. 7  when moved behind the user. Then, as illustrated by the inward arrows in  FIG. 7 , the entangling preventer half  6  on the right side of  FIG. 7  is moved behind the entangling preventer half  6  on the left side of  FIG. 7 , and the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 , assuming they are permanent magnets as is preferred, are brought into proximity with opposite poles approaching one another until the magnetic fields snap the magnets and thus the entangling preventer halves  6  together to form the entire necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  of the preferred embodiment, as shown on the left side of  FIG. 8 . 
     Indeed, another benefit of using magnets is that the magnetic fields naturally snap into proper alignment and attachment. This helps to avoid manual fumbling by the user behind the back of the user&#39;s neck, which fumbling could otherwise occur with attachment facilitators  62  that do not “seek each other out” in the manner of magnets but instead require the user to press together decidedly-less-preferred other attachment device alternatives such as sliders, Velcro, Ziploc, snaps, buttons, hooks and clasps. 
     From the right-side view on the right side of  FIG. 8 , the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  (preferably magnets) are seen attached to one another via the magnetic fields from the opposite N and S poles, thereby attaching together the two entangling preventer halves  6  including their body plates  61  (numbered), and their necklace chain threading hooks  63 , optional retention beads  64  and necklace chain threading retainers  65  (not numbered to avoid clutter). If permanent cylindrical magnets are used as is preferred, and if these are about ⅛″ in length l along the cylindrical axis and under ⅛″ in width w (e.g. diameter) as is also preferred and as has been previously mentioned, then the distance between the two body plates  61  from the side view in  FIG. 8  will be 2 l, about ¼″. This, in combination with the spacing between magnets, creates sufficient space for portions of the necklace chains  1  and the attachment hardware of  FIGS. 4 and 5  to situate once they have been threaded into the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  and that apparatus has been deployed into the configuration of  FIG. 8  with the two entangling preventer halves  6  attached to one another. 
     With  FIG. 9 , which is taken from a front view of the upper torso  11  of a user, we begin to describe the method of using the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  to prevent a plurality of necklace chains  1  from entangling when worn simultaneously. To begin, the user places the necklaces about her or his neck then connects each end of each necklace together in the customary way, using the attachment loops  21 , clasps  22  and clasping apparatuses  23  reviewed in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Then, the user takes two entangling preventer halves  6  which are identical in all respects except for the polarities of the magnets assuming these are used as the plate-half attachment facilitator  62 , and orients the preventer halves  6  oppositely, with the necklace chain threading hooks  63  and the necklace chain threading retainers  65  facing inwards toward one another. This relative orientation is seen without the necklaces in  FIG. 6  and with the necklaces in  FIG. 9 . 
     Next, the user threads the necklace chains  1  through the chain threading separations  66  (see  FIG. 6 ) and then rests these chains  1  atop the lower portions of the necklace chain threading hooks  63  as illustrated. Specifically, for the entangling preventer half  6  on the user&#39;s left-hand side (to the right of  FIG. 9 ), each chain, from the front view of  FIG. 9 , is placed behind the plate  61 , then threaded through its chain threading separation  66  (again see  FIG. 6 ), then rested atop the lower portion of its necklace chain hook  63 , within the interior region substantially circumscribed by its hook  63 . Importantly, this is achieved without utilizing the end-clasping hardware  21 ,  22 ,  23  of the necklaces. Each necklace chain threading retainer  65  is then pressed against the necklace chain hook  63  so as to retain its corresponding necklace chain  1  in place. This means that for the entangling preventer half  6  to the right of  FIG. 9 , from the front view of  FIG. 9 , the threadings of the necklace chains  1  will be in front of the necklace chain threading retainers  65 , which is illustrated by the faint dotted semicircles above the intersections of the chains  1  and the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . 
     Conversely, for the entangling preventer half  6  on the user&#39;s right-hand side (to the left of  FIG. 9 ), each chain, from the front view of  FIG. 9 , is placed in front of the plate  61 , then threaded through its chain threading separation  66  (again see  FIG. 6 ), then rested atop the lower portion of its necklace chain hook  63 . Each necklace chain threading retainer  65  is then pressed against the necklace chain hook  63  so as to retain its corresponding necklace chain  1  in place. This means that for the entangling preventer half  6  to the left of  FIG. 6 , from the front view of  FIG. 6 , the threadings of the necklace chains  1  will be behind the necklace chain threading retainers  65 , which is illustrated by the faint dotted semicircles below the intersections of the chains  1  and the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . It was stated earlier, and is reiterated here, that the entangling preventer halves  6  can be fabricated with a parity entirely opposite two what has been described above, then used with a method also having opposite parity, all within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims. It is important that a user of this invention learn the threading operation just described. But with a few practice attempts, a user should become adept at threading the necklaces in this fashion. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates the continuation of the method just reviewed in  FIG. 9 . It is seen from this rear view of the wearer how the necklaces are attached at their ends in the usual way via the attachment loops  21 , clasps  22  and clasping apparatuses  23  reviewed in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . It will also be seen how in  FIG. 10 —solely for purposes of illustration and without any limitation—the user has chosen to wear two fine or costume necklaces with “traditional” cable chains in the top two positions, and one fine or costume necklace with an “adjustable” cable chain in the lowest position, with the latter indicated by the several attachment loops  21 . 
     So, starting with the threaded configuration of  FIG. 9 , and the threading of the necklace chains  1  maintained in the necklace chain threading hooks  63  by the necklace chain threading retainers  65 , the user takes each of the entangling preventer halves  6  and simply moves them around his or her neck from front to back in the direction indicted by the arrows  10 , while also synchronously rotating each entangling preventer half  6  about its long axis during this moving operation  10 . It will be appreciated that when this occurs, the entangling preventer half  6  which was on the left side of  FIG. 9  has now moved to the right side of  FIG. 10  and also to the right side of the wearer&#39;s body, and the entangling preventer half  6  which was on the right side of  FIG. 9  has now moved to the left side of  FIG. 10  and also to the left side of the wearer&#39;s body. And it will also be appreciated how as a result of this moving  10 , the necklace chain threading hooks  63  and the necklace chain threading retainers  65  of the two halves  6  will now be facing outward away from one another as they were in the unthreaded configuration of  FIG. 7 . 
     Because the threading is maintained throughout this moving process by the hooks  63  in combination with the retainers  65 , the resulting configuration in  FIG. 10  finds the chains  1  now hidden behind the entangling preventer half  6  on the left and visible in front of the entangling preventer half  6  on the right. Further, one benefit of the invention is that this moving  10  of the entangling preventer halves  6  from the front to the back of the user while maintaining the threading kneads out any tangles which may have developed amidst the chains  1  and is part of how the invention prevents tangling. The relations of the necklace chains  1  with the necklace chain threading hooks  63  at their points of intersection continue to be illustrated using semicircles above the chain threading hooks  63  to indicate that a chain  1  is in front of the chain threading hooks  63  and semicircles below to indicate that a chain  1  is behind the chain threading hooks  63 . 
     Also, it will be seen how in the configuration of  FIG. 10 , the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 , preferably comprising cylindrical magnets, are visible from the rear view of the entangling preventer half  6  on the right and hidden from the rear view of the entangling preventer half  6  on the left. 
     Finally, in  FIG. 11  the method of using the invention to prevent necklace entangling is completed by simply continuing to move the two entangling preventer halves  6  toward one another along the lines  10 , to then move the right plate behind the left plate as viewed from  FIG. 10 , and finally bring the plates close enough together that the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 , preferably comprising cylindrical magnets, engage one another and snap into attachment. It will be seen that this is the same configuration which as shown on the left side of  FIG. 8 , but now with the necklaces threaded through the entire necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8 . The separation of the two body plates  61  by the elongated cylindrical magnets as seen from the side view in  FIG. 8 , will be about ¼″ if the opposing magnets are ⅛″ in length. This, along with the small diameter of the magnets, provides sufficient space for the ends of the chains  1  and their attachment loops  21 , clasps  22  and clasping apparatuses  23  (collectively, necklace end-clasping hardware) shown at the center of  FIG. 10 , to become fully or substantially hidden from view between the two body plates  61  once the two entangling preventer halves  6  have been joined together. Moreover, as previously mentioned, if the number of magnets and the manufactured positioning of the magnets on the plates  61  as attachment facilitators  62  is judiciously chosen, then the magnets can serve the dual, simultaneous function of providing additional separation barriers between adjacent chains  1  and their end-clasping hardware  22 ,  23 ,  24 . 
     With this configuration achieved, the user moves the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  to an elevated position behind the neck as also seen in  FIG. 11 . And because a vertical separation behind the neck is enforced by the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  amongst the chains  1 , the chains  1  will also maintain an untangled configuration when viewed from in front of the wearer, as seen in  FIG. 12 , which should be contrasted to the entangled  FIG. 1 . 
     It will be appreciated that this necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  is simple in its operational principles and effective in its results. First, it is not necessary to attach the ends of the chains  1  to any separate device, and indeed, these ends are not so-attached to any separate device. The chains  1  are simply placed around the user&#39;s neck with their ends attached together in the customary way. Second, the two entangling preventer halves  6  are configured to be threaded with the necklace chains  1  in front of the user while the user is wearing the necklaces. This means that the user can thread the chains  1  not only by feel, but by sight, with the point of control directly in front of the user&#39;s face. Third, once properly threaded, there is minimal potential for fumbling in completing the process of use. The user merely moves the entangling preventer halves  6  from the front to the back of the neck while sliding the preventer halves  6  along the already-threaded necklace chains  1 . And in the process, any tangles which may have developed among the chains  1  become kneaded out. Fourth, if magnets are employed for the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  as is preferred, the process of attaching the two entangling preventer halves  6  together behind the neck is simple, even though it occurs out of the user&#39;s line of sight: The user simply brings the magnets close to one another until the magnetic fields snap them into place. Here too, there is no opportunity for manual fumbling, nor is their any need to engage in the gymnastics of properly aligning then pressing two devices together out of sight behind the user&#39;s neck. 
     It should also be mentioned that although it is highly preferred for the two entangling preventer halves  6  to comprise both the necklace chain threading hooks  63  (configured with their small necklace chain threading separation  66 ) in combination with the necklace chain threading retainers  65  as the best practice to maintain the threading of the chains  1  while sliding the two halves  6  from the front to the back of the user&#39;s neck, it is possible to practice the invention with the necklace chain threading retainers  65  omitted. In this event, one would rely solely on the necklace chain threading hooks  63  to keep the chains  1  retained during this sliding operation. This in turn means that the chain threading separation  66  has to be very close to the diameter of the necklace chain so a chain  1  can be passed therethrough during the threading operation, but conversely does not accidentally slip out through the chain threading separation  66  once it has been threaded into the hooks  63 . 
     With the retainers  65  omitted, if the hooks  63  are fabricated from a sturdy wire material with a small amount of “give,” it is possible to fabricate the entangling preventer halves  6  with the separations  66  slightly smaller than the chain  1  diameters, have the hooks  63  “give” when the chains  1  are pressed through the separations  66  during threading, then have the hooks  63  immediately return to their default “memory” positions whereby the separations  66  are again slightly smaller than the diameters of the chains  1  so a chain  1  does not slip out and can only be removed when the user takes active steps to remove it. Given that necklace chain diameters may vary, however, this less-preferred practice of omitting the retainers  65  ties the separations  66  to specific necklace diameters, whereas the use of the retainers  65  allows the separations  66  to be somewhat independent of the chains that a user may use in connection with the invention. 
     The overall process, especially once it has been practiced a few times by the user, is simple, fast, and foolproof. Once threaded, the front-to-back movement and attachment of the two entangling preventer halves  6  can be carried out in two to three seconds. At that point, with the behind-the-neck positions of the necklace ends having a vertical separation from one another enforced by the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8 , subsequent entangling is prevented. 
     It will also be apparent that the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  is entirely self-contained with all of the components required to prevent necklace chain entangling. There is no need to purchase or adhere additional clasps and or fastening agents to the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8 . The clasps and fastening agents  21 ,  22 ,  23  of existing necklaces are used for this purpose in their usual fashion. The device  8  simply provides threading hooks  63  and threading retainers  65  for threading the necklace  1  and maintaining this threading, both while the two halves  6  are moved into their final position and attached  62  behind the user&#39;s neck, and thereafter while the user is out and about displaying his or her plurality of necklaces without entanglement. 
     Because each of the halves  6  is identical in physical form and the only difference between the halves  6  is in opposite polarities required for the magnets (and opposite “mating” components in the event that definitively less-preferred other attachment device alternatives such as sliders, Velcro, Ziploc, snaps, buttons, hooks and clasps are used), the manufacturing of the apparatus of this invention simple: All parts of the two entangling preventer halves  6  can be manufactured in exactly the same way except for the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 . Thereafter, the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  are attached with opposed “mating” features, e.g., opposed polarity, male versus female components, etc. So, where the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  on each plate  61  comprise a plurality of permanent magnets, these opposite mating configurations comprise the permanent magnets of  62  affixed to the body plate  61  of the first entangling preventer half  6  being affixed thereto with opposite magnetic polarity orientation relative to the permanent magnets of  62  affixed at corresponding positions to the body plate  61  of the second entangling preventer half  6 . 
     Also, while the plates  61  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 12  are utilitarian with no attractive design features added, it is certainly envisioned and understood within the scope of this disclosure and the associated claims, because this device will be worn along with jewelry, that the appearance of the device itself will matter to its users. Thus, the preventer halves  6  and their plates  61  may themselves be fashioned into shapes and forms with attractive visual design features in the nature of a jewelry item, such as hearts diamonds, stars, flowers, etc., and/or may themselves have jewelry stones or findings embedded or attached to them and/or may be etched in attractive ways. 
     In this regard,  FIG. 13 , for example not limitation, is a photograph of an experimental prototype of the malleable material retainer embodiment of the invention, having a visual design comprising three flowers for each of the two entangling preventer halves  6 , one flower for each necklace to be used in connection with the device, and with a stone embedded in the center of each flower. Note also the visual alignment of each of the three flowers with each of the necklace chain threading hooks  63 , optional retention beads  64  and necklace chain threading retainers  65 , so as to attractively merge these utilitarian elements  63 ,  64 ,  65  into the design.  FIG. 14  in turn, shows these halves  6  mated together as they would appear behind a wearer&#39;s neck once the necklaces have been threaded. 
     In the invention embodiment disclosed in connection with  FIGS. 6A and 6B , it was stated that the necklace chain threading retainers  65  comprise a wire which is somewhat thinner and more malleable than the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . It was later disclosed in connection with  FIG. 9  that these malleable necklace chain threading retainers  65  are pressed against the necklace chain hook  63  so as to retain its corresponding necklace chain  1  in place, after which the two entangling preventer halves  6  are moved from the front to the back of the user&#39;s neck in the direction indicted by the arrows  10 , as disclosed in  FIG. 9 through 11 , leading to the final usage configuration of  FIG. 12 . Now, we shall review several additional embodiments for the necklace chain threading retainers  65  in which these retainers  65  are not malleable to any substantial degree, and specifically, in which there is no need to at any point to bend these necklace chain threading retainers  65  in order to secure the necklace chain  1  in place. A benefit of these embodiments, is that they eliminate any danger that a necklace chain threading retainer  65  might break after many uses of the invention owing to its being repeatedly bent. 
       FIGS. 15A and 15B  illustrate a second alternative preferred “pivot retainer” embodiment for the necklace chain threading retainers  65 . As illustrated, in contrast to the “malleable retainer” embodiment of  FIGS. 6 through 8 , each of the necklace chain threading retainers  65  in the  FIG. 15A  embodiment comprises a pivot loop  152  proximate its far end. Additionally, each of the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  (still preferably small cylindrical permanent magnets) further comprises a pivot neck  151  which is recessed relative to its head, about its circumference. (For example only, only three facilitators  62  e.g. magnets are shown in  FIG. 15 .) The pivot neck  151  and the pivot loop  152  are configured to mate with one another in a complementary swiveling fashion such that once mated, each necklace chain threading retainer  65  can be pivoted downward along the rotational arrows  153  and over the retention bead  64 , so as to circumscribe the necklace chain threading hooks  63 . 
     For purposes of illustration,  FIG. 16 , which is the counterpart of  FIG. 7 , shows the top of the three retainers  65  of each of the halves  6  in an elevated position prior to its being pivoted down along the rotational arrows  153 , and shows the lower two of the three retainers  65  of each of the halves  6  in a descended position after it has been pivoted down along the rotational arrows  153 . The left-side  FIG. 17 , which is the counterpart of  FIG. 8 , then shows all of the pivot retainers  65  in descended position, as well as both of the entangling preventer halves  6  mated together via their plate-half attachment facilitators  62 . The downward pivoting of the retainers  65  in this embodiment, replaces the “pressing” of the malleable retainers of the  FIG. 6  embodiment. Otherwise, the operating principles of the invention remain entirely unchanged. 
     Specifically, just as in  FIG. 9 , the two entangling preventer halves  6  are introduced to a position in front of the user&#39;s upper torso with the necklace chain threading hooks  63  facing inward. Then, the necklace chains  1  are passed through and onto the hooks  63  through the necklace chain threading separation  66  (not numbered in  FIG. 15 , but see  FIG. 6 ), just as in  FIG. 9 . Then, the retainers  65  are pivoted downward, to the down-pivoted configuration of  FIG. 17 , thereby retaining the chains  1 . Finally, the two entangling preventer halves  6  are moved to the back of the user&#39;s neck and secured exactly as described in connection with  FIGS. 9 through 11 , to arrive at the final usage configuration of  FIG. 12 . 
     From a manufacturing standpoint, for the embodiment of  FIGS. 15 through 17 , the entangling preventer halves  6  may be fabricated by simply setting the pivot loops  152  into position, then affixing the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  with pivot necks  151  to the body plates  61  so as to create the complementary mating to enable the swivel/pivot. Alternatively, the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  with pivot necks  151  can be first affixed to the body plates  61 , and then the pivot loops  152  can be created by bending/crimping the wire that comprises the necklace chain threading retainers  65  about the pivot necks  151 , in a way that enables the complementary swivel. 
       FIGS. 18A and 18B  illustrate a third alternative preferred “pole retainer” embodiment for the necklace chain threading retainers  65 . In this embodiment, all of the necklace chain threading retainers  65  are fabricated integrally with and serially along the length of a retaining pole  18 , one such pole  18  for each of the two entangling preventer halves  6 . Each one of the two retaining poles  18  comprises a pole body  181 , a pole latch  182  and an optional pole head  183 , as well as all of the retainers  65  serially-disposed along its length, corresponding to the necklace entangling preventer half  6  with which it will be used. So, for example, for the illustrated three-necklace embodiment of the invention, each pole  18  comprises three serially-disposed retainers  65  along its length, as illustrated. Additionally, to be able to use this pole  18  in the manner that will momentarily be described, each body plate  61  comprises a pole latch securing receptacle  184 , which is in addition to the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  (e.g. magnets), necklace chain threading hooks  63  and retention beads  64  disposed on the body plate  61  as disclosed for previous embodiments. Each body plate also comprises an optional pole guide and stabilizer  185  used to guide and stabilize the pole  18  in the manner to be momentarily described. In this embodiment, the retaining pole  18  and its aforementioned components, is preferably fabricated as a physically-separate piece from the body plate  61  and its aforementioned components, as can be seen by the inner drawings in  FIGS. 18A and 18B . 
     To engage the chain threading retainers  65  on the poles  18  with the chain threading hooks  63  in order to secure the necklace chains  1  in the manner previously disclosed, one starts from the inner drawings in  FIGS. 18A and 18B  and moves to the outer drawings in  FIG. 19 . Specifically, it will be noticed that in the inner drawings of  FIG. 18 , the retainers  65  are illustrated slightly higher than the retention beads  64  atop the necklace chain threading hooks  63  (all unnumbered to minimize clutter), and the pole latches  182  are likewise illustrated slightly higher than the pole latch securing receptacles  184  (all numbered). Then, proceeding to the outer drawings in  FIG. 19 , the user moves the retaining poles  18  into the illustrated spatial relation with the body plate  61 , with the retainers  65  all slightly elevated above tops of the chain threading hooks  63  and the pole latches  182  likewise slightly elevated above the pole latch securing receptacles  184 . If the optional pole guide and stabilizers  185  are included, the retaining pole  18  associated with each body plate  61  is also placed very slightly to the side of the pole guide and stabilizer  185  on that plate  61 , toward the center of its plate  61 , in contact with that pole guide and stabilizer  185 , for example, as illustrated by the leftmost  FIG. 19 , to help guide the pole  18  toward a proper mate. 
     From this relative spatial configuration, held in front of the user&#39;s upper torso in the manner previously disclosed in  FIG. 9 , the user threads the necklace chains  1  through the hooks  63 . Then to retain the chains  1  in place, the user presses down on the pole heads  183  as indicated by the arrows  191  to descend all the retainers  65  over all the hooks  63  so as to circumscribe the hooks  63  with all the necklace chains  1  inside, and simultaneously descend the pole latches  182  into the pole latch securing receptacles  184  to mate therewith. If the optional pole guide and stabilizers  185  are included, these help to orient the poles  18  in a vertical orientation which necessary to guide proper mating, and to then stabilize the poles  18  against any unwarranted sideways (relative to the drawings) movement after this mating has been completed. Once this mating has been completed, and after the user has also moved the two entangling preventer halves  6  around to the back of the user&#39;s neck from the  FIG. 9  to the  FIG. 10  configuration which as noted flips the left/right view of the two halves  6 , the inner drawings in  FIG. 19  illustrate the resulting relative configuration of the two entangling preventer halves  6 , not showing the chains  1 . 
     In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the pole latch securing receptacles  184  should be fabricated with a depth in relation to the latches  182  themselves that is shallow enough to enable the latches  182  to securely “snap” into these receptacles  184 , but also deep enough so that the latches  182  can later be “unsnapped” from these receptacles  184 . And it will also be appreciated that the optional pole heads  183  serve the function of providing a point of contact for the user to press the poles  18  down to mate with the plate  61  and its components when mounting the necklace chains  1 , and later, for the user to grab these heads  183  to unmate the poles  18  from the plate  61  and remove the necklace chains  1 . It will also be appreciated that the act of pressing downward along  191  to snap the poles  18  and their retainers  65  in place is identical in function to the act of pivoting the retainers into place along the rotational arrows  153  in  FIGS. 15 and 16 . Finally, it will be appreciated that the act of securing the retainers  65  into position about the hooks  63  to secure the necklace chains  1  in place, whether for the embodiment of  FIGS. 15 through 17  or that of  FIGS. 18 through 20 , does not require the retainer wires to be bent at all. As stated, this avoids the possibility of the retainers  65  breaking from the stress of repetitive use. And if the optional pole guide and stabilizers  185  are included, the pole  18  remains properly mated while the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  is in use. 
     Then, working from the inner drawings in  FIG. 19  which show a view from the back of the user&#39;s neck, the user brings the two entangling preventer halves  6  together until the plate-half attachment facilitators  62  (preferably magnets) attract each other and snap the two halves together into the configuration shown on the left side of  FIG. 20 . This configuration now is functionally equivalent to that of  FIGS. 8 and 17 . The right side of  FIG. 20  presents a side view of this configuration. 
       FIGS. 21A and 21B  illustrate a fourth alternative preferred “opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged” embodiment for the necklace chain threading retainers  65 . In the retainer embodiments previously disclosed, the chain threading retainers  65  corresponding to a set of chain threading hooks  63  on each body plate  61  for one of the two entangling preventer halves  6  were situated on the same plate  61  as the hooks, and also protruded from the plate  61  in the same direction as the hooks  63 . In this fourth alternative embodiment, the retainers  65  corresponding to a set of hooks  63  are a) fabricated so as to be substantially identical in size, shape and curvature to the hooks  65 , including an optional mating retention bead  64 ′ appended to its end; b) situated on the opposite plate  61  and half  6  from its associated hooks  63 ; c) integrally mounted on the plate  61  on which they are situated to protrude from that plate  61  in a direction opposite from the hooks  63  on that same plate; and d) mounted on the plate  61  on which they are situated in an “inverted hook” orientation that is inverted relative to the hooks  63  on that plate, with their ends slightly-elevated in relation to the ends of those hooks  63 .  FIGS. 21A, 21B and 22  clearly illustrate points a), c) and d) above.  FIG. 23  clearly illustrates point b) above. A discussion of how this embodiment is used will further clarify all of the foregoing. 
     As with  FIGS. 6, 15 and 18  previously, the outer  FIG. 21  show all of the invention components separately, before their fabrication and combination together into the apparatus of the invention, while the inner  FIG. 21  show the invention components post-fabrication, in the orientation into which they are placed in front of the user&#39;s upper torso to start the chain  1  mounting process. As with  FIGS. 6, 15 and 18  previously, these inner  FIG. 21  show how the user orients the hooks  63  to face inwards toward one another. Then, just as in all of the earlier embodiments, and as shown in  FIG. 9 , the user threads all of the necklace chains  1  over their corresponding hooks  63 . However, at this point in the use process, the user does not need to do anything more with regard to the retainers  65  which, as the inner  FIG. 21  illustrate, are for this embodiment oppositely-protruding and inverted relative to the hooks  63 . 
     Rather, with the necklace chains  1  now threaded over their corresponding hooks  63 , as described in relation to  FIG. 10 , the user proceeds to slide the two entangling preventer halves  6  around to the back of the user&#39;s neck, with the now-threaded hooks  63  having naturally turned to face outwards away from one another while the retainers  65  have likewise turned to face inwards toward one another, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 . Then, following the process step disclosed in relation to  FIG. 11 , the user brings the two entangling preventer halves  6  close enough so that the plate-half attachment facilitators  62 , preferably cylindrical permanent magnets, will cause the two halves  6  to snap together into the overall necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8 .  FIG. 23  illustrates from both a plan view behind the user&#39;s neck, and a side view, the resulting configuration once the two halves  6  have been snapped together. 
     What distinguishes this “opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged” embodiment from all of the other embodiments previously disclosed, is that the retainers  65  naturally assume their function of retaining the necklace chains  1  inside the hooks  63  at the very moment that the two entangling preventer halves  6  have been snapped together, simultaneously with this snapping together. Specifically, as seen in  FIG. 23 , each retainer  65 —having its ends fabricated to be slightly-elevated relative to the ends of its corresponding hook  63 —snaps into place so as to close off any possibility of its chain  1  coming off of its hook  63 , because these ends all meet up so as to provide no space, or not enough space, for such detachment to occur. 
     On the left side of  FIG. 23 , this is illustrated by the way in which the ends of the hooks  63  butt up to the ends of the retainers  65  which are affixed to the opposite preventer half  6  to close off any space for the chains  1  to fall out, and specifically by the way in which the optional retention beads  64  come into contact with the optional mating retention beads  64 ′. The side view of this is also shown on the right of  FIG. 23 . 
     It will be appreciated from the foregoing that this “opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged” embodiment simplifies the process of using the apparatus of the invention, because after the user has placed the two entangling preventer halves  6  in front of the user&#39;s upper torso and threaded the chains, there is no need for the user to actively do anything else to engage the retainers  65  in their function. Rather, the retainers  65  naturally snap into position at the very same time that the two halves  6  are snapped together behind the user&#39;s neck, eliminating the specific step of the user having to actively engage the retainers  65 , with the retainers passively engaging instead. Moreover, there no parts need to be bent or moved at all to thread and retain  65  the necklaces  1  through the hooks  63 . The simple act of moving the two halves  6  to the back of the user&#39;s neck and attaching them together, simultaneously passively retains  65  the chains  1 . 
     It will also be appreciated that this embodiment further simplifies the use of the invention, because the overall assembly in  FIG. 23  is entirely symmetric when the necklace entangling preventer apparatus  8  is rotated 180 degrees about any one of its three spatial axes. This means that at the process step illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the user does not need to be concerned about whether each entangling preventer half  6  is “up” or “down,” because up and down are indistinguishable, and because the hooks  63  and the retainers  65  are interchangeable and indistinguishable. All that matters is that the user orient the entangling preventer halves  6  in front of the user&#39;s neck so that a set of bottom-oriented hooks  63 /retainers  65  is facing inward toward one another as shown in the inner  FIG. 21 , which automatically assigns the hook  63  function to these hooks  63 /retainers  65 . The outward-facing top-oriented hooks  63 /retainers  65  are then at the same time, automatically assigned the retainer  65  function. 
     And it will be appreciated that this “opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged” embodiment simplifies the manufacturing of the invention, because as separate components, the hooks  63  and the retainers  65  are identical pieces. They are simply attached to the plates  61  on opposite sides thereof, with inverted orientations. 
     Finally, it will be seen in  FIG. 33 , which shows this embodiment including the chains  1  after it has been placed around the user&#39;s neck, that while the right-side-up hooks  63  can be used to hold up the halves  6  during the threading process, once the halves  6  are joined, the inverted hook retainers  65  that will enable the overall assembly  8  of the invention to hang from the chains  1  while also securing the chains  1  against entangling. This also means that the user, at the user&#39;s option, can thread this embodiment either by holding the halves  6  and hanging the chains  1 , or by holding the chains  1  and hanging the halves  6 . 
     In addition to all the aforementioned user benefits, this invention should also benefit manufacturers and sellers of necklaces. Once it is known that there is a simple-to-use and highly effective apparatus available for allowing a jewelry aficionado to simultaneously wear a plurality of necklaces without tangling, consumers will be more inclined to purchase two or three or more necklaces at one time, with the plan to have those necklaces grouped together in an assemblage that the consumer will later wear. This has the potential to increase the overall commercial market for necklace sales both in the United States and around the world. 
       FIGS. 24 through 26, 27 through 29, and 30 through 33  respectively contain photographs of experimental prototypes of the pivot retainer, pole retainer, and opposite plate inverted hook passively-engaged retainer embodiments of the invention, in several views each. 
     The knowledge possessed by someone of ordinary skill in the art at the time of this disclosure, including but not limited to the prior art disclosed with this application, is understood to be part and parcel of this disclosure and is implicitly incorporated by reference herein, even if in the interest of economy express statements about the specific knowledge understood to be possessed by someone of ordinary skill are omitted from this disclosure. While reference may be made in this disclosure to the invention comprising a combination of a plurality of elements, it is also understood that this invention is regarded to comprise combinations which omit or exclude one or more of such elements, even if this omission or exclusion of an element or elements is not expressly stated herein, unless it is expressly stated herein that an element is essential to applicant&#39;s combination and cannot be omitted. It is further understood that the related prior art may include elements from which this invention may be distinguished by negative claim limitations, even without any express statement of such negative limitations herein. It is to be understood, between the positive statements of applicant&#39;s invention expressly stated herein, and the prior art and knowledge of the prior art by those of ordinary skill which is incorporated herein even if not expressly reproduced here for reasons of economy, that any and all such negative claim limitations supported by the prior art are also considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims, even absent any express statement herein about any particular negative claim limitations. 
     Finally, while only certain preferred features of the invention have been illustrated and described, many modifications, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.