Abstract:
A jewelry piece comprising strands made from connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 29/331,823 filed on Feb. 2, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of this invention is jewelry, more particularly, strands of jewelry made up of connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Jewelry has been used as a body adornment throughout human history. Staple components of jewelry include precious, semi-precious, and common stones, shiny metal, and intricate and aesthetically pleasing designs. Many forms of jewelry also consist of links connected to form a chain, in connection with which jewels and other objects may be strung, mounted, hung, or otherwise attached thereto. This invention is for a series of interlocking links that, in addition to providing interlocking functionality, also may be formed of precious metals and may be used as mountings for stones. When worn or exhibited as described herein, the interlocking links of this invention may be configured into a variety of common forms of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, or other types of jewelry. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Individual links formed of gold, silver, or other suitable metal, may be formed into chains or strands connected by smaller, conventional links. Each link has a form similar to the shape of the Greek letter omega. Complementary strands may be fitted into one another to form double strands that may be used simply as a double strand, such as for a drop earring, pin, or bracelet; or single strands may be used alone to form similar pieces of lighter weight. Stones may be mounted within loops of the individual links, or may follow a pattern of alternating colors, or of placing a stone in a strand every 2 or 3 links, or in some other pattern. 
         [0005]    Strands are assembled using conventional small, round loops that attach to the ends of adjacent links. In order to form complementary strands that interlock, a notch is situated at the outermost top part of each omega-shaped link to allow omega-shaped links to fit within adjacent links of the complementary strand and to provide sufficient space for a corresponding small loop that is connecting the adjacent links of the complementary strand. 
         [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing strand that may be used to create jewelry pieces. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the invention to provide complementary strands that may be interlinked to one another. 
         [0008]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide individual links that may be connected to form a strand. 
         [0009]    Still another object of the invention is to provide individual links upon which stones may be mounted. 
         [0010]    Another object of the invention is to provide a strand that may be looped back upon itself to form a partially closed zipper. 
         [0011]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through the following descriptions of the invention and of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the interlocking links of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the links of the invention seen from a perspective opposite to that of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing an interlocking configuration of two strands. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the links of  FIG. 9  showing the mounting of stones in the interlocking links. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the interlocking links of this invention formed into a necklace. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an elevational view of the necklace of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a close-up view of the interlocking zipper mechanism of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an elevational view of a drop earring made of complementary strands of interlocking links. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a bracelet formed from complementary strands of interlocking links. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the detail of a single strand consisting of three links. In  FIG. 1 , a strand is shown consisting of three links  2  connected by smaller, joining links  4  which are circular in shape. The joining links  4  act as hinges, and permit the adjacent pieces to move with respect to one another. Each link  2  has a rounded head portion  8 , and a narrow waist portion  6 . Either side of the waist portion flares outwardly to form a foot portion  10  where the end of the link is pierced by joining links  4 . Each link is symmetrical about a vertical axis when viewed with the head portion  8  at the top. As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , when individual links  2  are placed side by side and connected with joining links  4 , the configuration formed by the flared foot portion  10  of two adjacent links forms a shape nearly identical to the shape of each link&#39;s rounded head portion  8 . Additionally, where the rounded head portions of adjacent links approach one another at their closest point, the configuration is nearly identical to the waist portion  6  of a single link. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a view of the same links as shown in  FIG. 1 , but with the outer, upper surface of the link heads  8  exposed to view. It may be seen that there is a notch  14  extending transversely across the upper portion of each head  8 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the notch provides sufficient space for a joining link of a complementary strand to fit within the notch, allowing two strands to be fitted snugly together. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows the strand of three links  2  of  FIG. 2  into which an interlocking complementary strand of two connected links  12  has been fitted. The head portions  8  of the links of one strand fit snugly within the flared foot portion  10  of two adjacent links on the complementary strand. It will be appreciated that this complementary, interlocking configuration provides a more-or-less rigid assembly that will retain its shape until the individual strands are de-interlocked. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates an embodiment in which ornamental objects  20 , such as jewels and stones, may be mounted within the round head portion  8  of individual links without destroying the functionality of the interlocking mechanism. 
         [0025]    As depicted in  FIGS. 5-9 , items of jewelry using single and double strand links may be configured into various shapes.  FIG. 5  shows a “zipper” necklace in which the dangle portion  22  comprises two interlocking strands while the upper portion that extends about the neck  24  is made of a single strand. The single strand comes together at the front of the neck where a guide plate  26  holds the lower double strand in an interlocking configuration while allowing the double strand to be separated into single strands for the upper portion. The guide plate can be situated anywhere along the front of the neck, as the user desires, by urging it upward or downward to allow the strands to interlock or to separate.  FIG. 6  shows how the separate strands  24  come together at the guide plate  26  to form a double strand  22 . 
         [0026]      FIG. 7  provides a detailed view of the manner in which the links interlock to form a double chain at the guide plate  26 . This embodiment also shows an example of how, when two complementary chains are being interlocked, the substantially round space  28  formed by the feet of two adjacent links  38 ,  40  in a single strand, may be enlarged temporarily to be slightly larger than the rounded head portion  30  of a link on the complementary strand. When the head portion  30  has come to rest within substantially round space  28 , hinge  4  allows adjacent links  38 ,  40  to come together, holding head portion  30  securely within links  38  and  40 . This action is repeated for each single strand link that is to become interlocked with a link from a complementary strand. In this manner, the two strands, when interlocked, fit snugly together and hold their relative positions. Although not visible in  FIG. 7 , hinge links  4  in  FIGS. 2-4  fit within notches  14 , thereby preventing forward or backward movement that would otherwise permit the interlocking chains to slip apart. 
         [0027]    Interlocking chains may also be used in other embodiments to create aesthetically pleasing jewelry.  FIG. 8  depicts a straight double strand  42  that may be used as a drop earring or a pendant or other straight piece. The end of the strand uses an adhesive, snap, weld, or other retention mechanism to assist the double strand to hold its shape and configuration, and prevents the lowermost link  32  from moving downward from immediately adjacent link  34  in a hinge motion at joining link  36 . A similar end retention mechanism may be required at the lowermost end of the necklace depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 9  depicts an embodiment in which a links forming a double strand is configured in a continuous loop to form a bracelet  44 . 
         [0029]    Other embodiments using the linking mechanism of this invention will be apparent to persons of skill in the art. The invention is not limited solely to those embodiments depicted and described herein, but encompass other embodiments that fall within the scope of the following appended claims.