Patent Publication Number: US-6339922-B1

Title: Jewelry chain

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a jewelry chain. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved Jewelry chain. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous innovations for chains have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention. 
     A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 1,655,763 to Fulford teaches an ornamental chain formed of a series of connected links, each having a body frame substantially heart-shaped in outline, and a head member including an integral bendable link-connecting hook-shaped neck portion extending upwardly from the plane of the bottom of the body frame, laterally extending wing portions on said head member arranged to extend across the frame opening to engage opposite sides thereof on bending of said neck portion, said neck portion being adapted to receive the body frame of an adjacent link and said wing portions acting to limit the movement of said received body frame about the neck portion. 
     A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,445 to Goldenberg teaches an ornamental chain comprising a plurality of units of relatively soft metal, each unit consisting of horizontally convexo-concave body segments provided upon their forward ends with points and with abutments and at their rear ends with abutments, a cross bar connecting the forward abutments, a longitudinally disposed tongue between the segments adapted to receive the cross bar of an adjacent unit comprising an upwardly directed rear portion and a downwardly inclined forward portion, spacing bars connecting the rear abutments to the lower end of the rear portion of the tongue to loosely receive the points of an adjacent unit therebetween, and projections upon the segments fixed to the forward portion of the tongue. 
     A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,506 to Yngvesson teaches a chain link and a method for the production thereof as well as a chain consisting of connected chain links and a connecting part for connecting chain links. The chain link consists of an endless elongated rod-like part which is characterized in that it is shaped as two pairs of loops and wherein the loops in each pair are substantially parallel and the pairs are arranged in two planes which are turned through 90 degrees with respect to each other. The connecting part consists of a semi-finished chain link and the chain consists of connected chain links as well as possibly connecting parts. 
     A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,410 to Nydick teaches a link and a chain formed therefrom, wherein the links comprise a shaft portion having first and second opposing ends defining therebetween a longitudinal axis for the link; an enlargement portion connected to the shaft portion at the first end, the enlargement portion having a width which is greater than a width of the shaft portion at the first end; and a mandorla shaped portion having first and second apertures therein, the mandorla shaped portion being connected to the shaft portion at the second end, and the apertures being shaped so as to prevent the enlargement portion from passing therethrough. 
     A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 6,055,802 to DiVietri teaches a chain  10  whose configuration can best be seen in FIGS. 1-3, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the chain  10  is formed from a plurality of links  12 , each of which resembles a fish hook  14  and has a shank  16  with one end  18  thereof having a barbed hook  20  thereon and an opposite end  22  having an eyelet  24  thereon that engages the barbed hook  20  of an adjacent link  12  so as to form the chain  10 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the barbed hook  20  of each link  12  touches the shank  16  of an associated link  12  so as to be closed, except, as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the barbed hook  20  of one terminal link  12  does not touch the shank  16  so as to allow the barbed hook  20  of the one terminal link  12  to selectively disengage from the eyelet  24  of the other terminal link  12  so as to allow the chain  10  to be donned. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the eyelet  24  of each link  12  lies in a first plane and the shank  16  and barbed hook  20  of each link  12  lie a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and which is flat, and as a result thereof, each link  12  does not lie flat on the skin of the user. 
     It is apparent that numerous innovations for chains have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an improved jewelry chain that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an improved jewelry chain that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
     STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an improved jewelry chain that is simple to use. 
     BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide an improved jewelry chain of a type having a plurality of links. Each link resembles a fish hook and has a shank with one end thereof having a barbed hook thereon and an opposite end thereof having an eyelet thereon which engages the barbed hook of an adjacent link. The eyelet lies in a first plane and the shank and barbed hook lie in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The improvements include the barbed hook not touching the shank, the eyelet being so sized so as not to allow the barbed hook of an adjacent link to pass therethrough, except for the eyelet of one terminal link being large enough to allow the barbed hook of the other terminal link to selectively disengage therefrom, and the second plane being arcuate so as to allow each link to lie flat on the skin of the user. 
     The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows: 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a prior art jewelry chain; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view of a link of the prior art Jewelry chain shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic rear elevational view taken generally in the direction of arrow  3  in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic side elevational view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by arrow  5  in FIG. 4 of a link of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic front elevational view taken generally in the direction of arrow  6  in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is diagrammatic side elevational view of one orientation of the links of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 8 is diagrammatic side elevational view of another orientation of the links of the present invention. 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING 
     Prior Art 
       10  chain 
       12  plurality of links, each of which resembling fish hook  14   
       14  fish hook 
       16  shank of each link of plurality of links  12   
       18  one end of shank  16  of each link of plurality of links  12   
       20  barbed hook on one end  18  of shank  16  of each link of plurality of links  12   
       22  opposite end of shank  16  of each link of plurality of links  12   
       24  eyelet on opposite end  22  of shank  16  of each link of plurality of links  12   
     Present Invention 
       30  improved jewelry chain of present invention 
       32  plurality of links 
       34  fish hook 
       36  shank of each link of plurality of links  32   
       38  one end of shank  36  of each link of plurality of links  32   
       40  barbed hook on one end  38  of shank  36  of each link of plurality of links  32   
       42  opposite end of shank  36  of each link of plurality of links  32   
       44  eyelet on opposite end  42  of shank  36  of each link of plurality of links  32   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIG. 4, the improved jewelry chain of the present invention is shown generally at  30 . 
     The improved jewelry chain  30  is formed from a plurality of links  32 . 
     The configuration of each link  32  can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto. 
     Each link  32  resembles a fish hook  34  and has a shank  36  with one end  38  thereof having a barbed hook  40  thereon and an opposite end  42  thereof having an eyelet  44  thereon. 
     The links  32  are connected to each other by the barbed hook  40  of one link  32  engaging the eyelet  44  of an adjacent link  32 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the improvement comprises the barbed hook  40  of each link  32  not touching the shank  36  of an associated link  22  so as to be open. 
     The improvement further comprises the eyelet  44  of each link  32  being so sized so as not to allow the barbed hook  40  of an adjacent link  32  to pass therethrough, except, as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the eyelet  44  of one terminal link  32  is large enough to allow the barbed hook  40  of the other terminal link  32  to selectively disengage therefrom so as to allow the improved jewelry chain  30  to be donned. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the improvement further comprises the eyelet  44  of each link  32  lying in a first plane and the shank  36  and barbed hook  40  of each link  32  lying in a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane and which is arcuate so as to allow each link  32  to lie flat on the skin of the user. 
     As shown in FIG. 7, each link of the plurality of links  32  faces in a same direction. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, alternating links of the plurality of links  32  face in a same direction. 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an improved jewelry chain, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.