Patent ID: 12256815

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1a-1dillustrate various views of an earring10having a closure12in accordance with one embodiment. It is noted that the present examples shown in these figures is for an earring, but the closure described herein may be equally applicable to different jewelry items such as necklaces or bracelets as shown for Example inFIGS.2aand2b(bracelet).

As shown inFIGS.1a-1d, earring10has a first side20and a second side22connected at the bottom through a hinged pivot connection24. First side20of earring20has a stem26that has a locking notch28oriented as point of reduced thickness in the form of two cut aways on opposing side of stem26. Second side22of earring10has a ball30located on a short mounting stem32.

Turning to the independent components of closure12, a collar40includes a hollow cavity42passing entirely therethrough for allowing ball30and mounting stem32of second side32to pass therein. On the side surface of collar40facing the second side22of earing10, there are two alignment knobs44so that collar40aligns correctly against and does not rotate relative to second side22. Collar40also has a recess46located approximately in the middle of hollow cavity42and extending around the entire inner circumference of cavity42, the function of which is disclosed in more detail below. Finally, collar40has a square/diamond recess48on the side of collar40facing towards first side20of earring10to assist in connecting with a rotatable connection element50as explained in more detail below.

The other independent component of closure12is rotatable connection element50. Rotatable connection element50has four spring/pin cavities52configured to receive connection springs49when collar40and rotatable connection element50are placed against one another as explained below. Rotatable connection element50also has four (4) snap connectors54that are deformable and configured to encapsulate ball30within cavity42. For example, when rotatable connection element50is placed flush against collar40, snap connectors54pass within cavity42encapsulate ball30, affixing both rotatable connection element50and collar40to second side22of earing10. As shown inFIGS.1a-1d, each of the four (4) snap connectors54have a catch tab56that fits within recess46of collar40allowing rotatable connection element50to securely rotate within collar40, but without coming disconnected from second side22of earing10, allowing rotatable connection element50to rotate around ball joint30. It is noted that connection springs49may be placed through the four spring cavities52and into square/diamond recess48of collar40, e.g., into the points of the square, to provide a rotation limiter to rotatable connection element to approximately 90 degrees and to provide a friction feedback to the user so that they can feel when the rotatable connection element50has been returned enough to lock closure12as explained below.

On the opposing side of rotatable connection element50facing first side20of earing10, is a locking cavity58having two parallel locking bars60. Locking cavity58is dimensioned to receive stem26and locking notch28of first side20of earing10. When rotatable connection element50is oriented in a first unlocked position, parallel locking bars allow stem26to fit fully within locking cavity58when first side20and second side22are pressed together via pivot connection24. However, when rotatable connection element50is turned about ball30approximately 90 degrees to a locking position, with spring49and square/diamond recess48providing friction feedback to the user, parallel locking bars60rotate to catch on locking notch28, preventing stem26from leaving locking cavity58. In order to facilitate turning of rotatable connection element50the outer circumference has engagement ridges62to help grasp with the user's fingertips.

Each of the components of earing10and closure12has a set of exemplary dimensions. These dimensions are for illustration purposes only for an exemplary sized earing10as shown. However, it is understood that other dimensions may be used in keeping with the functions of the various components of earring10and closure12. For example, stem26can be approximately 0.95 mm in width/diameter, with locking notch28having an opening width of approximately 0.60 mm. Collar40may have width of 3.05 mm and a thickness of about 1.35 mm. Rotatable connection element50is slightly larger than collar40and can be approximately 4.0 mm wide and approximately 1.90 mm thick. Four (4) snap connectors54of rotatable connection element50can be approximately 1.75 mm wide to fit within cavity42of collar40. On the other side of rotatable connection element50, parallel locking bars60within locking cavity58can be about 0.48 mm wide to engage/disengage with locking notch28. The depth of locking cavity58can extend an additional 0.60 mm beyond locking bars60to accept the remainder of stem26that extends beyond locking notch28.

In another embodiment shown inFIGS.2aand2b, a bracelet100is shown using the same closure12as described above inFIGS.1a-1d, with all the same components and functions. A similar closure12may also be used for other jewelry items such as necklace or other applicable jewelry items.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention.