Patent Publication Number: US-11653726-B1

Title: Necklace keeper

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates in general to a necklace keeper or clasp. More particularly, the present invention relates to a necklace keeper or clasp that is simple in construction and easy to operate. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a necklace keeper or clasp that can be used for securing ends of the necklace as well as for receiving one or more charms. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are a variety of different clasps used with necklaces. One example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,276 to Pemberton. One form of clasp is referred to as a “lobster claw” clasp. 
     It has been found difficult to manipulate the conventional clasp and thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved keeper or clasp that is used with necklaces and that is simple in construction and easy to operate. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To accomplish the foregoing and other objects of the present invention there is provided a necklace clasp for securing a jewelry item that is comprised of: a support member that includes a support ring that extends less than a full circle so as to define a support ring gap in the support ring, and a top head piece that extends upwardly from the support ring; a sliding lock pad that engages with the top head piece, and that is biased to an extended position; and a guide ring having a channel for receiving the support ring, and extending less than a full circle so as to define a guide ring gap in the guide ring; said sliding lock pad having a locked position in which the sliding lock pad engages the support ring to inhibit relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring, and a released position in which there is relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring so that the respective support ring gap and guide ring gap align. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention including a spring that is disposed between the top head piece and the sliding lock pad; wherein the spring is a coil spring and the top head piece includes a post for supporting one end of the coil spring; further including a holder for supporting an opposite end of the coil spring; wherein the guide ring has a U-shaped cross-section defining the channel in the guide ring; wherein the top head piece has a passage in which the coil spring resides; wherein the sliding lock pad is comprised of a pair of spaced apart walls with the spring being disposed between the spaced apart walls; wherein the top head piece has a passage in which the coil spring resides, and in the locked position the sliding locking pad is disposed to extend below the top head piece; and wherein the guide ring has a U-shaped cross-section defining the channel in the guide ring. 
     In accordance with another version of the present invention there is provided a necklace clasp for securing one or more charms to the necklace, comprising: a support member that includes a support ring that extends less than a full circumference so as to define a support ring gap in the support ring, and a top head piece that extends upwardly from the support ring; a spring supported by the top head piece; a sliding lock pad that engages with a passage in the top head piece, and that is biased, by the spring, to an extended position; and a guide ring having a circumferential channel for receiving the support ring, and extending less than a full circumference so as to define a guide ring gap in the guide ring; said sliding lock pad having a locked position in which the sliding lock pad engages the support ring to inhibit relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring, and a released position in which there is relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring so that the respective support ring gap and guide ring gap align; said sliding locking pad, in the released position, allowing said rotation so that said sliding lock pad extends away from the top head piece. 
     In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention the spring is a coil spring and the top head piece includes a post for supporting one end of the coil spring; further including a holder for supporting an opposite end of the coil spring; wherein the guide ring has a U-shaped cross-section defining the circumferential channel in the guide ring; wherein the top head piece has a passage in which the coil spring resides; wherein the sliding lock pad is comprised of a pair of spaced apart walls with the spring being disposed between the spaced apart walls; wherein the top head piece has a passage in which the coil spring resides, and in the locked position the sliding locking pad is disposed to extend below the top head piece; and wherein the guide ring has a U-shaped cross-section defining the circumferential channel in the guide ring. 
     In accordance with still another version of the present invention there is provided a necklace clasp for securing one or more charms to the necklace using the clasp, said necklace clasp comprising: a support member that includes a support ring that extends less than a full circumference so as to define a support ring gap in the support ring, and a top head piece that extends upwardly from the support ring; the support ring gap extending less than 180 degrees of the complete circumference of the support ring; a sliding lock pad that engages with a passage in the top head piece; a coil spring supported between spaced apart walls of the sliding lock pad; a guide ring having a circumferential channel for receiving the support ring, and extending less than a full circumference so as to define a guide ring gap in the guide ring; the guide ring gap extending less than 180 degrees of the complete circumference of the guide ring; said sliding lock pad having a locked position in which the sliding lock pad engages the support ring to inhibit relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring, and a released position in which there is relative rotation between the support ring and guide ring so that the respective support ring gap and guide ring gap align; said sliding locking pad, in the released position, allowing said rotation so that said sliding lock pad extends toward the top head piece. 
     In accordance with still other aspects of the present invention the top head piece has a passage in which the sliding locking pad resides, and in the locked position the sliding locking pad is disposed to extend below and a way from the top head piece; and the guide ring has a U-shaped cross-section defining the circumferential channel in the guide ring. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the disclosure. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of the necklace clasp; 
         FIG.  2    is an exploded perspective view; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the spring installation assembly or sliding lock pad; 
         FIG.  4    is a top view of the spring installation assembly or sliding lock pad; 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG.  4   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view illustrating the manner in which the spring assembly or sliding lock pad engage with the support ring; 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of the support member; 
         FIG.  8    is a cross-sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG.  7   ; 
         FIG.  9    is a fragmentary enlarged view from  FIG.  8   ; 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded perspective view illustrating the support member and the guide ring; 
         FIG.  11    is a perspective view illustrating the components as assembled; 
         FIG.  12    is a cross-sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  of  FIG.  11   ; 
         FIG.  13    is a cross-sectional view similar to that shown in  FIG.  12    but with the sliding lock pad in an upper position; 
         FIG.  14    is a cross-sectional view like that shown in  FIGS.  12  and  13    with the sliding lock pad being rotated; 
         FIG.  15    is cross-sectional view with the clasp in an open position; 
         FIG.  16    is a front view with the clasp locked and supporting a charm; 
         FIG.  17    is a left side view; 
         FIG.  18    is a right side view; 
         FIG.  19    is a top view; and 
         FIG.  20    is a bottom view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present clasp or keeper is shown at  10  in the drawings and can be used for supporting ends of a necklace  11 . The keeper or clasp of the present invention is also usable for supporting one or more charms schematically illustrated in the drawings at  25 . 
     Reference may now be made to  FIGS.  1 - 10    for an illustration of the various components that comprise the keeper of the present invention. The cross-sectional views of  FIGS.  12 - 15    are helpful in illustrating the operation of the keeper of the present invention. 
     In according with the present invention, there is provided a necklace keeper or clasp for securing one or more charms with the necklace. This necklace keeper or clasp is comprised of a support member  12  that is comprised of a support ring  14  that extends less than a full circumference so as to define a support ring gap in the support ring. The support member also includes a top head piece  15  that extends upwardly from the support ring  14 . Reference may be made, for example, to  FIGS.  2  and  6 - 10    for the construction of the support member. 
     The necklace keeper or clasp of the present invention also includes a spring  22  which in the illustrated embodiment is a coil spring. This is supported by the sliding lock pad  18  that engages with the passage  17  in the top head piece  15 . For example, refer to  FIG.  3    that illustrates the coil spring  22  disposed between spaced apart and parallel walls  24  that comprise the sliding lock pad  18 . Refer also to  FIGS.  5 - 9    that illustrate the positioning of the sliding lock pad  18  relative to the top head piece  15 .  FIGS.  8  and  9    illustrate the coil spring at  22 . There may be provided a post  16  for supporting the coil spring as illustrated in  FIG.  9    and a holder  23  at the base of the sliding lock pad  18 . The post  16  may be supported from either the top head piece  15  or from the sliding lock pad  18 . The holder  23  preferably bridges between the walls  24 . Between the lock pad  18  and the head piece  15  there may be provided engagement surfaces so that the lock pad  18  can easily slide relative to the head piece  15 . Indentations may also be provided between the lock pad  18  and the head piece  18  so that the movement is smooth.  FIGS.  8  and  9    illustrate the sliding lock pad in its extended position where it is biased away from the top head piece. 
     The necklace keeper or clasp of the present invention also includes a guide ring  20  having a circumferential channel or slot  21 . The slot  21  has a U-shaped cross-section. Refer, for example, to  FIG.  10    that illustrates in an exploded perspective view the guide ring  20  and the circumferential slot  21 . The guide ring  20  extends less than a full circumference so as to define a guide ring gap in the guide ring. Again, refer in  FIG.  10    to the gap G in the guide ring  20  and the gap S in the support ring  14 . 
     The sliding lock pad  18  has a lock position in which the sliding lock pad  18  engages the support ring  14  to inhibit relative rotation between the support ring  14  and the guide ring  20 . This lock position is illustrated, for example, in  FIGS.  7 - 9    where the sliding lock pad  18  is in its lowermost position. Refer also to the cross-sectional view of  FIG.  12    that shows the sliding lock pad  18  contacting the support ring  14  at C. In this position the support ring  14  and the guide ring  20  maintain in a locked position. 
     The sliding lock pad  18  also has a release position so that there can be relative rotation between the support ring  14  and the guide ring  20 . In that position the respective support and guide ring gaps S and G are aligned. 
     Reference may now be made to the cross-sectional view of  FIG.  13    which shows the sliding lock pad  18  being moved upwardly in the direction of arrows A against the bias of the spring  22 . The cross-sectional view of  FIG.  14    illustrates the initiation of rotation between the support ring  14  and the guide ring  20 . Finally, in  FIG.  15    the respective gaps S and G align. In  FIG.  15    the arrow C indicates the charm  25  being passed through the aligned gaps. Finally, the side elevation view of  FIG.  16    illustrates the necklace keeper or clasp being returned to a locked position but with the charm  25  being secured. 
       FIG.  17    is a left side view.  FIG.  18    is a right side view.  FIG.  19    is a top view.  FIG.  20    is a bottom view. 
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           10  Clasp 
           11  necklace 
           12  support member 
           13  hole in top head piece 
           14  support ring 
           15  top head piece 
           16  post for supporting the coil spring 
           17  passage in top head piece 
           18  sliding lock pad 
           19  opening 
           20  guide ring 
           21  slot in the guide ring 
           22  coil spring 
           23  spring holder 
           24  spaced apart walls 
           25  charm 
       
    
     Having now described a limited number of embodiments of the present invention, it should now be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous other embodiments and modifications thereof are contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.