Patent Publication Number: US-2005126222-A1

Title: Link sets for bracelets

Description:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention is in the field of bracelets, and more particular in the field of bracelets having a plurality of links that may differ and be exchanged with other links.  
      There is a category of bracelets called “Italian charm bracelets”. These bracelets consist of a number of links that can be attachably detached together to permit wearers to customize the size and look of the bracelet by simply changing links. For example, the links can have certain colors, finishes and materials, and can have badges and dangling items attached thereto, can be inscribed, painted or enameled, can have images (e.g. photographic images) formed thereon, and can have a variety of different shapes.  
      Wearers of these jewelry pieces enjoy the ability to have bracelets formed that truly reflects their values. Indeed, by putting together certain separate links, different themes can be established, such as “I love Hawaii”, “I love Scrapbooking”, “American Pride”, etc.  
      So, far, however, there have not yet been made available sets of links having several parts that that together form a composite link set, which link sets can be themed and/or form composite images, such as an image of a girl, which composite image can optionally be changed by swapping out certain links for other certain links. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of an exemplary charm bracelet having a plurality of links, with the bracelet having two links disconnected to show the bracelet in a lay flat condition.  
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of two adjacent, connected exemplary charm links in their closed positions.  
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 2 , but with one link having its sliding, spring loaded lock loop is moved to be capable of engaging an open end of the adjacent link.  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 3  with a spring means shown in phantom.  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 3   
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the two adjacent, exemplary charm links after being connected together, after its sliding, spring loaded lock loop is engaged with a catch of an adjacent link.  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view showing an exemplary set of links forming a first composite image of a girl, with a head portion, a torso portion and a leg portion.  
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view showing an exemplary set of links forming a second composite image of a girl, with the same head portion, but a different torso and a leg portion to be wearing a different outfit.  
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a third exemplary set of links forming a third composite image of a girl, with the same head portion, but a different torso and a leg portion to be wearing yet a different outfit.  
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a fourth exemplary set of links forming a fourth composite image of a girl, with the same torso and a leg portions as in  FIG. 9 , but with a different head portion. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Turning to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a top plan view of an exemplary charm bracelet  10  having a plurality of links  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c ,  12   i , and  12   j  with bracelet  10  having two links  12   a  and  12   j  disconnected to show the bracelet in a lay flat condition. In an actual bracket, depending on the size of the links and total length need, a greater or lesser number of links can be used. As shown, some links  12   a ,  12   b , etc., may be unadorned, while other links e.g.  12   e  ,  12   f  and  12   g  may have designs elements  14   a ,  14   b,    14   c  thereon which form a set  30 .  
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of two adjacent and connected exemplary charm links  12   a  and  12   b  in their closed positions. Each link has a frame portion  16  with two side section  18  and  19  and a catch bar  20  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) and a sliding, spring loaded lock loop  22  which slideably fits between the two side sections  18  and  19 . Spring loaded lock loop  22  is biased so as to move backwardly into frame portion  16 , but can be pushed out of frame portion  16  so that the catch bar  20  of an adjacent link can be hooked by a gap  24  in the lock loop  22  of an adjacent (not shown.)  
       FIGS. 3-5  are views of two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 2 , but with link  12   a  having its sliding, spring loaded lock loop  22  pushed out of frame  16  to be capable of engaging catch bar  20  of the adjacent link  12   b  by passing catch bar  20  through gap  24  in the lock loop  22 .  
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 3 , showing in phantom a biasing spring  28  that biases lock loop  22  to its closed position of  FIG. 2 .  
       FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the two adjacent, disconnected exemplary charm links of  FIG. 3 , and shows a bottom portion  26  of frame portion  16 . As can be seen, in its opened position, the gap  24  of lock loop  22  is available for engagement with a catch bar  20  of an adjacent link, but in its closed position, when released, lock loop will be biased back into its frame  16  such that gap  24  is not aligned to prevent disconnection with an attached link.  
       FIG. 6  is a side view of the two adjacent, exemplary charm links  12   a  and  12   b  after being connected together, after the sliding, spring loaded lock loop  22  of link  12   b  is engaged with catch bar  20  of an adjacent link  12   a , but before the lock link  22  is retracted back into its frame portion  16 .  
      The exemplary links can be easily and quickly connected and disconnected to each other to speed up assembly and disassembly and permit customization of the charm bracelets and allow a user to change the look of the bracelet by swapping in different links.  
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view showing an exemplary set  30  having three links  32 ,  34 , and  36  that form a first composite image of a girl  38 , with a head portion  32 , a torso portion  34  and a leg portion  36 . The images can comprise badge pieces attached to the top of lock loop  22 , can be painted directly onto the lock loops  22 , etched thereon, and/or be made present in other manners.  
       FIG. 8  is a top plan view showing a second exemplary set  40  of three links forming a second composite image of a girl  42 , wherein the difference between the first and second composite image results from swamping out the torso portion  34  and the legs portion  36  with different links  44  and  46  to form a new composite image of the same girl (having same “head”  32 ), but “wearing” a different outfit, e.g. a crew sleeved and necked sweater, and jeans with appliques. The torso portion can be provided with an attachment loop  48 , which loop can be used to attach accessory items, as best show in  FIGS. 11A and 11B .  
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a third exemplary set  50  of three links forming a third composite image of the same girl&#39;s head  32 , wearing a different top, e.g., a work out top  54  and work out pants  56 .  
       FIG. 10  is a top plan view of a fourth exemplary set  60  of three links forming a fourth composite image of a different girl  62 , wherein a different girl is shown having a different head  64 , but the same “outfit” (work out top  54  and work out pants  56  as in  FIG. 7 .  
       FIG. 11A  is a top plan view of an exemplary accessory item in the form of a purse  70  that has a hook  72  and  FIG. 11B  is a top plan view of an exemplary accessory item in the form of a sports ball  74  with a hook  76 . A wide variety of other accessories can be provided. The hooks  72  and  74  are adapted to engage with the loop  48  of a torso portion  44 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . This feature permits a wearer of the jewelry of the invention to can change accessories as desired.  
      Although the composite image is shown in the figures as being a girl, the composite image can comprise any number of different subjects, such as boy, a pet. Also, the composite images can be packaged and sold with one or more heads (e.g. different hair, facial coloration, features, etc. see  FIGS. 7 and 10 ) and multiple “outfits”, such as a short sleeve blouse and low rise jeans outfit (see  FIG. 7 ), a casual sweat and jeans outfit ( FIG. 8 ), a workout outfit ( FIG. 9 ), school uniform, sports themes like soccer, tennis, softball, basketball water polo, hobbies, and any number of other themes (not shown.) The provision of links that are parts of sets, and which may be switched to and matched up create different looks, provides a user with the ability to truly personalize charm bracelets. Indeed, a user may selected a link set that complements or matches a user&#39;s outfit.  
      Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the above disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. The presently disclosed embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.