FLAT BRACELET CLIP

Abstract

A clip (100) for being strung on a bracelet and/or a necklace, said bracelet or necklace comprising an elongate member with a flat cross-sectional shape and with a first substantially flat major surface and a second substantially flat major surface.

Claims

1. A bracelet set or a necklace set comprising: an elongate member with a flat cross-sectional shape, and with a first substantially flat major surface and a second substantially flat major surface; and a clip comprising a first part and a second part connected by a hinge, said first and second parts being moveable between an open and a closed state by rotation about a hinge axis of said hinge, wherein the clip is adapted for gripping the elongate member in the closed state and for being released from the elongate member in the open state; the clip having, in the closed state, a through hole extending in a longitudinal direction between a first and a second opening, said through hole having a substantially rectangular cross sectional shape in said longitudinal direction, a width of said cross sectional shape being at least twice a height of said cross sectional shape; wherein the first part has a rigid, substantially flat surface, which defines a first surface of the through hole adapted to engage the first substantially flat major surface of the elongate member in said closed state, and the second part has a substantially flat surface, which defines a second surface of the through hole opposite of the first surface, said substantially flat surface of the first part and said substantially flat surface of the second part partly defining said through hole; wherein the clip further comprises a first resilient insert element retained in said second part; wherein the first resilient insert element has a gripping surface adapted to engage the second substantially flat major surface of the elongate member in said closed state of the clip, said gripping surface partly defining said through hole.

2. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the first part has a hinge end and an opposed lock end, the hinge being inset from the hinge end, a lock being inset from the lock end, the lock end being beveled where the first part contacts the second part.

3. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the hinge is located on a plane that is generally centered between the substantially flat surface of the first part and the substantially flat surface of the second part.

4. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the clip has a top surface and a bottom surface, and wherein the hinge is generally centered between the top surface and the bottom surface.

5. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 4, further comprising a second through hole extending generally perpendicularly to the through hole extending in the longitudinal direction, the second through hole extending from the top surface to the bottom surface.

6. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the hinge is generally centered along the through hole.

7. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the gripping surface of the first resilient insert element is discontinuous.

8. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a chain.

9. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is a leather strap or a metal strap.

10. The bracelet set or necklace set of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is suitable for jewelry.

11. A method of assembly of a bracelet or a necklace comprising: providing an elongate member with a flat cross-sectional shape, and with a first substantially flat major surface and a second substantially flat major surface; providing a clip in an open state, the clip comprising a first part and a second part connected by a hinge, said first and second parts being moveable between the open state and a closed state by rotation about a hinge axis of said hinge, the clip having, in its closed state, a through hole extending in a longitudinal direction between a first and a second opening, said through hole having a substantially rectangular cross sectional shape in said longitudinal direction, a width of said cross sectional shape being at least twice a height of said cross sectional shape, wherein the first part has a rigid, substantially flat surface, which defines a first surface of the through hole, and the second part has a substantially flat surface, which defines a second surface of the through hole opposite of the first surface, said substantially flat surface of the first part and said substantially flat surface of the second part partly defining said through hole, wherein the clip further comprises a first resilient insert element retained in said second part, said first resilient insert element having a gripping surface, said gripping surface partly defining said through hole; positioning the clip in an opened state about the elongate member; and bringing the clip to its closed state so that the clip grips the elongate member, whereby the clip and the elongate member form the assembled bracelet or necklace.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the hinge axis is generally centered along the through hole and about half of the through hole is defined by the first part and about half of the through hole is defined by the second part.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein, when the clip grips the elongate member, the gripping surface of the first resilient insert element engages the first substantially flat major surface of the elongate member or the second substantially flat major surface of the elongate member.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the elongate member is a chain.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the elongate member is a leather strap or a metal strap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The above and/or additional objects, features and advantages will be further elucidated by the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a clip in the open state;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a clip in the closed state;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a clip in the open state;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a perspective side view of a resilient insert element;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a clip in the open state;

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a side view of a clip in the closed state; and

[0062] FIG. 7a-c show a top view of the second part of various embodiments of clips.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] In the following, embodiments will be described in further detail. Each specific variation of the features can be applied to other embodiments unless specifically stated otherwise. Note that for illustrative purposes the dimensions, especially thicknesses, of the different elements shown may be exaggerated.

[0064] Turning first to FIGS. 1 and 2, which show a side view of a first embodiment of a clip in an open and closed state respectively. The clip 100 is a clip for a flat elongated member (such as a leather or metal strap) of a bracelet and/or necklace. The clip 100 comprises a first part 120, i.e. a first half shell, and a second part 130, i.e. a second half shell, which are connected by a hinge 101 allowing the clip to be moved between the open state, shown in FIG. 1, and the closed state, shown in FIG. 2.

[0065] To enable the clip 100 to be locked in the closed state, the clip comprises a locking arrangement 106, 107. In the shown embodiment, the locking arrangement 106, 107 comprises a spring 106 and a spring contact point 107, said spring 106 engaging the spring contact point 106 when the clip is closed, whereby the mutual engagement between the two 106, 107 prevents the clip from coming open unintentionally.

[0066] In the closed state, shown in FIG. 2, the clip 100 has a through hole 102 allowing the clip 100 to wreathe the elongate member. The through hole 102 extends in a longitudinal direction (L) between a first and a second opening. In this embodiment the through hole 102 and the clip 100 have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction. The through hole 102 is partly defined by a first substantially flat surface 121 of the first part 120 and a second substantially flat surface 131 of the second part 130. The through hole 102 is further partly defined by two side walls formed on the first and second parts 120, 130. In the open state, the through hole 102 is open at the side opposite the hinge 101, whereby the clip 100 can be placed onto or removed from the elongate member. Said first surface 121 is adapted for gripping a first of the two major surfaces of the elongate member.

[0067] The clip 100 further comprises a resilient insert element 150 arranged in the second part 130. The resilient insert element 150 is adapted for providing friction between the clip 100 and the second major surface of the elongate member to allow the clip 100 to be releasably secured at selected positions along the elongated member, i.e. the resilient insert element 150 and the rigid gripping surfaces 121 grips opposite major surfaces of the elongated member, thereby securing the clip 100 at the selected position of the elongated member.

[0068] In the shown embodiment, the first surface 121 is provided with a small curvature in the width direction (W). This curvature limits wear caused by friction between the elongate member and the first surface 121 to the outer regions, i.e. outer edges in the width direction. Furthermore, the edges 122 of the first surface 121 towards the first and/or second openings are rounded so as to limit wear at the edges 122, where the first surface might be visible to the user.

[0069] The clip 100 may be forced to move along the elongated member, on which it is positioned by exerting a force in the longitudinal direction (L), preferably using a hand. Thereby the clip 100 can, in the closed state, be moved along the elongated member. To allow the resilient insert element 150 to engage a flat major surface of the elongated member, the resilient insert element 150 has an oblong cross-sectional shape in the longitudinal direction (L) with the width, i.e. in a width direction (W) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), of the resilient insert element 150 being at least twice that of the height, i.e. in a height direction (H) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and the width direction (W), of the resilient insert element 150.

[0070] To secure the resilient insert element 150 in the second part 130, the second part 130 comprises a cavity 140 extending into the second surface 131 and having an opening in the second surface 131. The cavity 140 is formed with side walls 143 with overhang, such that the opening has a smaller area than the base of the cavity 140. The cavity 140 is thus able to retain the resilient insert 150 as the overhanging sidewalls 143 make it difficult for the resilient insert element 143 to fall out of the cavity.

[0071] However, due to the oblong cross-sectional shape and the resilience of the resilient insert element 150, the resilient insert element 150 may be bent and/or compressed so that it can be inserted, as is done during assembly, or removed from the cavity 140. To prevent the resilient insert element 150 from unintentionally being removed from the cavity 140, the clip 100 comprises a retaining element 180 extending in the longitudinal direction (L) over the opening of the cavity 140 and over the resilient insert element 150, so that the resilient insert element 150 is securely retained in the cavity 140. In the shown embodiment, the retaining element 180 is formed by a tab extending over the resilient insert element 150.

[0072] The resilient insert element 150 comprises a first and a second projection 151, 152 which protrude beyond the second surface 131 so that they can engage the elongate member. Each of the first and second projections 151, 152 comprises a gripping surface 153, 154 which are adapted to engage a major surface of the elongate member to provide friction between the resilient insert element 150 and the elongate member. The retaining element 180 extends between the first and second projections 151, 152 so that the resilient insert element 150 is securely retained in the cavity 140. The edges of the gripping surfaces 153, 154 in the longitudinal direction are preferably rounded as shown in FIG. 4. The gripping surfaces 153, 154 will thereby comprise rounded portions 155, 156 which reduce wear on the resilient insert element 150 when the elongate member is forced to move by the user.

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the clip 100 described above. As can be seen, the retaining element 180 extends over the entire length of the resilient insert element 150, thus making it impossible for the resilient insert element 150 to come out of the cavity 140 unintentionally. To achieve this configuration, the retaining element 180 is either attached to the second part 130 after insertion of the resilient insert element 150 into the cavity or attached before and bended upwards so that the resilient insert element 150 can be inserted into the cavity after which the retaining element 180 can be bend down in the correct position and optionally welded/soldered to ensure a solid attachment.

[0074] FIG. 4 shows the resilient insert element 150 by itself from a perspective view. The resilient insert element 150 comprises two anchor portions 159 which extend outwards in the width direction (W), said anchor portions 159 being adapted to fit in under the overhanging side walls 143 of the cavity 140. Furthermore, the resilient insert element 150 has a groove 158 between the first and second projections 151, 152, said groove 158 being formed to accommodate the retaining element 180, thereby limiting the freedom of movement for the resilient insert element 150 once inserted into the cavity 140 and retained by the retaining element 180.

[0075] Turning now to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of a clip 100 is shown in the open and in the closed state, respectively. The shown embodiment is largely identical to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 but differs in the following.

[0076] The shown clip 100 has an outer shape like that of a star to provide an aesthetic appearance. This shape means that the length of the through hole 102, i.e. in the longitudinal direction (L), is comparable to the width of the through hole 102, i.e. in the width direction (W). To provide sufficient friction for such a clip 100 to remain at the selected location on the elongate element, the clip 100 could be provided with a longer resilient insert element 150.

[0077] Instead, the shown embodiment comprises a second resilient insert element 150′ arranged in another cavity 140′ in the second surface 131. The second retaining element 150′ is substantially identical to the first retaining element 150 described in the previous embodiment. The first and second retaining elements 150, 150′ are arranged proximate to respective ones of the first and second openings, so that the friction between the gripping surfaces of the retaining elements 150, 150′ and the elongate member is even throughout the length of the through hole, and so that the elongate member is gripped more securely near the first and second openings.

[0078] Turning now to FIGS. 7a-c, the second part 130 of various embodiments of the clip 100 is shown from a top view. The first parts 120 of the shown embodiments are not shown for illustrative purposes. In FIGS. 7a-c, the elongate member 200 is shown.