Patent Publication Number: US-9848677-B2

Title: Jewelry clasp

Description:
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/338,779, filed May 19, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application relates to jewelry clasps and more specifically to jewelry clasps using a key and lock mechanism. 
     For a long time, individuals with limited or reduced manual dexterity, especially seniors, have struggled with locking and unlocking clasps on necklaces, bracelets, and other jewelry. Accordingly, there is a need for a jewelry clasp that overcomes these challenges. What follows is a description of a novel mechanism for a clasp based on the concept of a lock and key of the appropriate size to be used for necklaces and bracelets. The mechanism is very easy to use, sturdy and secure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A jewelry clasp is provided that includes a key, a casing, and a locking mechanism. The key has a bow end and a blade end, the blade end having at least one cut therein. The casing includes an external body having a top section, bottom section, and an internal cavity, where the internal cavity has a first opening and a second opening. Moreover, the first opening is configured to receive the blade end of the key. The locking mechanism may be partially disposed within the second opening of the internal cavity and the locking mechanism may include a lever and a spring. In one embodiment, the lever has a locking end, a pressing end, and a first attachment point located between the locking end and pressing end, the lever pivotally attached to the casing at the first attachment point, where the locking end is configured to engage the at least one cut in the blade end of the key, such that it holds the key in a fixed position relative to the casing, and where the pressing end is configured to disengage the engagement end from the at least one cut in the blade end of the key when an external force is applied to the pressing end. The spring may have a casing end, a lever end, and a second attachment point located between the casing end and lever end, wherein the casing end of the spring is held against the internal cavity of the casing and the lever end of the spring is held against the lever, such that the spring applies tension to the pressing end of the lever so as to cause the locking end of the lever to engage the at least one cut in the blade end of the key. 
     In at least one embodiment, the blade end of the key contains a recess along a length of the blade end. 
     In at least one embodiment, the blade end of the key has a plurality of cuts therein. 
     In at least one embodiment, at least one of the plurality of cuts is comparatively larger than the other cuts, and the locking end of the lever engages the larger cut in the blade end of the key. 
     In at least one embodiment, the larger cut is one of a U, square, and rectangular shaped. 
     In at least one embodiment, the bow end of the key and the external body of the casing each contain an attachment means for attaching the clasp to a wearable accessory. 
     In at least one embodiment, the attachment means is a jump ring. 
     In at least one embodiment, the internal cavity has a pre-defined shape configured to house the locking mechanism. 
     In at least one embodiment, the casing is semi-hollow as a result of the internal cavity having a pre-defined shape. 
     In at least one embodiment, the lever pivots about the first attachment point. 
     In at least one embodiment, the locking mechanism further comprises a securing means to attach the locking mechanism to the external body of the casing at the first and second attachment points. 
     In at least one embodiment, the securing means is a soldered nail. 
     In at least one embodiment, the external force applied to the pressing end of the lever causes a first rotational movement of the pressing end about the first attachment point and a second rotational movement of the locking end of the lever about the first attachment point in the opposite direction of the first rotational movement. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a jewelry clasp according to one embodiment of the jewelry clasps disclosed herein. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a key for a jewelry clasp according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3A  is an internal cross-sectional view of a casing for a jewelry clasp according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3B  is an external view of a casing for a jewelry clasp according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a spring for a jewelry clasp according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a lever for a jewelry clasp according to at least one embodiment. 
         FIGS. 6A-6I  are perspective views of several embodiments of a jewelry clasp. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application generally provides novel clasps for fastening items, such as jewelry. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the jewelry clasp  100  includes a male element  200  and casing  300 . The male element is preferably shaped as a key, hereinafter referred to simply as a key  200 . The casing  300  includes an opening  305  for receiving the key  200  into a cavity  304  formed within the casing  300 . A locking mechanism  350  is disposed within the cavity  304 , the locking mechanism including a spring  400  and lever  500 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the key  200  preferably has a bow end, or broad section,  201  and a blade end  202  extending laterally from the broad section  201 . The blade end  202  preferably includes at least one or preferably a plurality of cuts  203  on a top end of the blade  202 . In a preferred embodiment, the cut(s)  203  contain a slot cut  204  that is comparatively larger than the other cuts. The slot cut  204  is preferably U, square, and/or rectangular shaped. The blade end  202  of the key  200  preferably contains recess  205  extending laterally along the length of the blade, as shown. The recess may be U, square, and/or rectangular shaped. In a preferred embodiment, the bow end  201  of the key  200  contains an attachment means  206  for attaching the key  200  to an end of a wearable accessory. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means  206  is a jump ring or any other device capable of attaching the key  200  to the wearable accessory. 
     The wearable accessory may be any item that can be worn around a body party, such as the neck or arm. In a preferred embodiment, the wearable accessory is a necklace or bracelet, but it can also be a chain, lanyard, wristband, watch, tie, scarf, collar, or other similar item. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5A , the casing  300  has an external body  301  that has a top section  302 , bottom section  303 , and an internal cavity  304  within the external body  301  of the casing  300 . The internal cavity  304  is preferably of a pre-defined shape configured to house the locking mechanism  350 . In a preferred embodiment, the pre-defined shape of the internal cavity  304  results in a semi-hollow casing  300 . The internal cavity  304  includes at least two openings  305  and  306  at the surface where the internal cavity and external body of the casing meet. Opening  305  is configured to receive the blade end  202  of key  200 , while opening  306  is configured to expose a portion of the locking mechanism. The portion of the locking mechanism extending through opening  306  protrudes from the external body  301  of casing  300 . 
     The material of the key  200  and casing  300  is preferably metal or plastic, but may be any material capable of being hollowed to form internal cavity  304 . The key  200  and casing  300  need not be the same material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6A-6I , casing  300  and bow  201  of key  200  may be any one of a variety of shapes. In one embodiment, the casing and bow are disc-shaped. In another embodiment, the casing and bow are rectangular-shaped. In other embodiments, the casing and bow may be of any shape that is aesthetically pleasing, such as the shape of an object or figure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the locking mechanism includes a spring  400  and lever  500 . The spring and lever work in concert to lock and unlock the jewelry clasp  100 , i.e., the key  200  to the casing  300 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , in a preferred embodiment, spring  400  is a V-shaped spring having two legs  401  and  402  joined at a central coil  403 . Leg  401  has the casing end of the spring and is held against a wall  307  of the internal cavity  304  of the semi-hollow casing  300 . Leg  302  has the lever end of the spring and is held against the bottom side  507  of the pressing end  502  of the lever  500 . The angle between the spring legs is capable of expansion and contraction, depending on whether a force is applied to the spring legs. While the preferred embodiment is the spring described herein, the spring may be any device or mechanism capable of creating forces with a central point that remains in a fixed position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , lever  500  comprises a locking end  501 , a pressing end  502 , and an attachment point  503  located between the locking end and pressing end. Locking end  501  is configured to engage the key  200  and lock it in place relative to the casing  300 . In a preferred embodiment, locking end  501  is configured to engage at least one of the plurality of cuts  203  in the blade  202  of the key  200 —preferably the slot cut  204 —such that it holds the key in a fixed position relative to the casing. In a preferred embodiment, locking end  501  contains a tip  505  comprising a plurality of cuts  506 . The cuts are configured such that when the key  200  is inserted into the casing  300 , the cuts  506  of the locking end  501  of the lever  500  slide along the cuts  203  of the key  200 , until lever engages the slot cut  204  of the key. 
     In one embodiment, the cuts  203  in the key are such that the thickness of the blade end  202  at the peaks of the cuts increases toward the bow end  201  of the key  200 , forming a ramp that increases toward the rear of the key, which results in an increase in the tension in the spring  400  as the key  200  is inserted into the casing  300 . The cuts in the key and the lever may provide one or a plurality of intermediate/redundant locking points. Once the key is inserted beyond the high point on the ramp, the locking end  501  of the lever  500  engages the slot cut  204  to lock the key and casing together. The spring provides a bias force that keeps the lever engaged with the slot cut  204 . 
     The pressing end  502  of the lever has a pressing side  509  upon which an external force  508  may be applied. The external force  508  is preferably the force applied by a user&#39;s finger but any force may suffice. The pressing end  502  also has a bottom side  507  opposite from the pressing side  509 , against which the lever end of the spring  402  is held. The lever end of the spring applies a spring force  404  against the bottom side  507  of the pressing end of the lever. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the pressing end  502  may also contain a stop leg  504 , which limits the depth by which the pressing end  502  of the lever may travel into the casing  300  when an external force  508  is applied. In a preferred embodiment, the pressing end of the level will not travel further than the surface of opening  306 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism  350  is attached to the casing  301  such that the locking mechanism is partially disposed within opening  306  of the internal cavity  304 , such that the pressing end  502  of the lever  500  is exposed outside the body of the casing. 
     The locking mechanism  350  is attached to the body  301  of the casing  300  using an attachment means  600  at the attachment point  503  of the lever  500  and the coil  403  of the spring  400 . The coil of the spring serves as the attachment point for the spring in addition to providing spring force. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment point  503  of the lever  500  and the coil  403  of the spring  400  are secured against the cavity by means of a nail, which is soldered to the top  302  and/or bottom  303  sections of the casing  300 . Any attachment means may suffice in place of a nail. 
     The attachment point  503  serves as a point about which the lever  500  pivots. A rotational movement of the pressing end  502  of the lever  500  about the pivot point results in rotational movement by the locking end  501  of the lever in the opposite direction. 
     In operation, the lever and spring work in concert to hold the key in a fixed position when no external force is applied to the lever, and to release the key when force is applied to the lever. 
     The jewelry clasp is locked in the following manner. Generally, the key is engaged with the casing and the lever locks the key in place. Specifically, the key  200  is grasped at the bow end  201  by the user and the blade end  202  is inserted into hole  305  of the casing. Alternatively, an external force causes the key to be inserted into the casing. As the key is inserted, the cuts  506  on the locking end  501  of the lever  500  slide along the cuts  203  of the key  200 , then engage the slot cut  204  of the key. Simultaneously, the spring  400 , in its resting state, applies forces  404  and  405  against the wall  307  of the internal cavity  304  and the bottom side  507  of the pressing end  502  of the lever  500 , respectively, so as to cause the locking end  501  of the lever to engage slot  204 , causing the key to remain in a fixed position and locking in place. When no external force is applied to the pressing end of the lever, the spring force causes the lever to remain in a fixed position. 
     The jewelry clasp is unlocked in the following manner. Generally, the lever is pressed, causing the key to release from the casing. Specifically, a user applies an external force  508  to the pressing end  502  of the lever. The external force on the pressing end causes the lever  500  to pivot around the attachment point  503 , causing the locking end  501  of the lever to release, or disengage, from the slot cut  204  of the key  200 . The user grasps the key  200  at the bow end  201  and removes it from the casing. Alternatively, an external force causes the key to be removed from the casing. 
     It will be understood that there are numerous modifications of the illustrated embodiments described above which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, including any other combinations of features disclosed herein that are individually disclosed or claimed herein, explicitly including additional combinations of such features. These modifications and/or combinations fall within the art to which this invention relates and are intended to be within the scope of the claims, which follow. It is noted, as is conventional, the use of a singular element in a claim is intended to cover one or more of such an element. 
     While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.