PIECE OF JEWELLERY COMPRISING A CHAIN WITH CLIP(S) FOR MAKING A VERSATILE ADORNMENT

Abstract

A piece of jewelry includes at least one chain having two ends, at least one of the two ends including a hollow clip fixed by a fixing device, the clip consisting of two half-shells, each half-shell including an extended edge delimiting a hollow internal space of the half-shell, the edges including notches into which the chain can be inserted, the half-shells being hinged together by an articulation between a closed position in which the two edges are brought together to close the clip and an open position in which the two edges are separated over at least part of their extents in order to allow a portion of the chain to be inserted between the two edges and through the internal space and so that the portion of the chain is retained in the clip by being blocked as to extraction and translation once the clip is closed.

Claims

1. Piece of jewelry comprising at least one chain having two opposite ends, at least one of the two ends of the chain comprising a hollow clip fixed to said end by a fixing device, the chain being made up of links articulated together, the links being separated from each other by connections forming articulations between the links, said clip being made up of two half-shells each half-shell comprising an extended edge delimiting a hollow internal space of the half-shell at least one of the two edges comprising at least one notch defining a chain passage, the half-shells being hinged together by a hinge between a closed position in which the two respective edges, of the two half-shells are brought together to close the clip and an open position in which the two edges of the two half-shells are separated from each other over at least part of the extents of the two edges in order to allow a portion of the chain to be introduced between the two separate edges and through the internal space and so that the portion of the chain is retained in the clip by being blocked as to extraction and translation when the clip is in the closed position, the portion of the chain corresponding to a part the chain which is gripped in the clip and which enters or leaves the clip through the chain passages, wherein the jewelry piece has at least three notches, and wherein each link has a determined maximum transverse dimension, each connection has a determined maximum transverse dimension, and in the closed position of the clip, each chain passage has a determined minimum transverse dimension and a determined maximum transverse dimension, the piece of jewelry being configured so that in the closed position of the clip, the minimum transverse dimension of the chain passage is substantially equal to the maximum transverse dimension of each connection and the maximum transverse dimension of the chain passage is less than the maximum transverse dimensions of the links, and wherein the clip is configured such that the closed position constitutes a rest position, the two respective edges of the two half-shells being constrained by a resilient clipping device to approach to close the clip, the open position having to be obtained by a manual action countering the action of the resilient clipping device.

2. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the two edges have notches and the notches are arranged in pairs of notches, the two notches of a pair being opposite to other on the two edges the two notches facing a pair of notches defining a chain passage, and wherein the piece of jewelry comprises three pairs of notches or more than three pairs of notches.

3. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the links are chosen: either from links with rotational symmetry and each link is of substantially central shape with a determined transverse diameter, or from rings, each ring defining a central through-hole.

4. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the closed position of the clip corresponds to bringing the two half-shells into contact with each other in a zone where the two half-shells were separated from one another in the open position.

5. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the two edges of the two half-shells are configured so that, in the closed position, the two edges of the two half-shells are in contact with each other.

6. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the articulation between the two half-shells is arranged in a determined area along or adjacent to the edges of said half-shells the separation of the edges being obtained by tilting one half-shell relative to the other and causing an angular separation of the edges the clip opening and closing like an oyster.

7. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the chain comprises a clip at each one of its two opposite ends.

8. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the chain comprises a clip at only one of its two opposite ends.

9. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein the chain end clip is irremovable at the end of the chain.

10. The piece of jewelry according to claim 1, wherein one of the two half-shells is intended to be visible, the other half-shell being placed against the person wearing the piece of jewelry, at least the external surface of the visible half-shell being shaped to represent or stylize an element.

11. The piece of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the links are chosen: either from links with rotational symmetry and each link is of substantially central shape with a determined transverse diameter, or from rings, each ring defining a central through-hole.

12. The piece of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the closed position of the clip corresponds to bringing the two half-shells into contact with each other in a zone where the two half-shells were separated from one another in the open position.

13. The piece of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the closed position of the clip corresponds to bringing the two half-shells into contact with each other in a zone where the two half-shells were separated from one another in the open position.

14. The piece of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the two edges of the two half-shells are configured so that, in the closed position, the two edges of the two half-shells are in contact with each other.

15. The piece of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the two edges of the two half-shells are configured so that, in the closed position, the two edges of the two half-shells are in contact with each other.

16. The piece of jewelry of claim 4, wherein the two edges of the two half-shells are configured so that, in the closed position, the two edges of the two half-shells are in contact with each other.

17. The piece of jewelry of claim 2, wherein the articulation between the two half-shells is arranged in a determined area along or adjacent to the edges of said half-shells, the separation of the edges being obtained by tilting one half-shell relative to the other and causing an angular separation of the edges, the clip opening and closing like an oyster.

18. The piece of jewelry of claim 3, wherein the articulation between the two half-shells is arranged in a determined area along or adjacent to the edges of said half-shells, the separation of the edges being obtained by tilting one half-shell relative to the other and causing an angular separation of the edges, the clip opening and closing like an oyster.

19. The piece of jewelry of claim 4, wherein the articulation between the two half-shells is arranged in a determined area along or adjacent to the edges of said half-shells, the separation of the edges being obtained by tilting one half-shell relative to the other and causing an angular separation of the edges, the clip opening and closing like an oyster.

20. The piece of jewelry of claim 5, wherein the articulation between the two half-shells is arranged in a determined area along or adjacent to the edges of said half-shells, the separation of the edges being obtained by tilting one half-shell relative to the other and causing an angular separation of the edges, the clip opening and closing like an oyster.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0097] [FIG. 1] shows a side perspective view of a clip in the open position,

[0098] [FIG. 2] shows a perspective view of a piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip, one of the clips retaining a portion of the chain to form a Y-shaped necklace,

[0099] [FIG. 3] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a long necklace,

[0100] [FIG. 4] shows an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a double row long necklace,

[0101] [FIG. 5] shows an example of implementation of the jewelry piece consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a double row necklace,

[0102] [FIG. 6] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a five-row bracelet, [FIG. 7] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a belt,

[0103] [FIG. 8] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form an epaulette,

[0104] [FIG. 9] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a Y necklace, and

[0105] [FIG. 10] represents an example of implementation of the piece of jewelry consisting of a chain with two opposite ends each comprising a clip to form a double Y necklace.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0106] The following description with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented.

[0107] First of all, in the context of the invention, the term chain must be taken in a generic sense and covers any type of flexible linear continuous element, which can match the shape on which it is placed. The element constituting the chain can be single-stranded or multi-stranded. This element can be made up, over its length, of the same material, for example metal (typically meshes or rings) or of an assembly of materials together, for example metal + textile in wire or strip (for example a textile strip passed through the rings of a metal chain, a braiding) and/or assembled successively along the length of the element, for example metal at both ends and textile yarn or strip between the two. The metal is preferably a so-called “noble” metal, typically gold, silver and alloys. The element forming the chain can comprise along its length rigid parts but of reduced individual length to allow flexibility, for example mother-of-pearl, coral or glass beads to be able to form a necklace of pearls or coral whose element comprises a wire on which pearls are arranged at regular or irregular intervals. The chain can also be or include an optical fiber or a braiding of optical fibers.

[0108] The invention therefore implements at least one chain 1 comprising at least one clip 2 fixed to one end of a chain. In the examples shown, a single chain 1 is implemented, the two opposite ends of which each have a clip 2. The clip makes it possible to clip and retain a portion of the chain and is similar to a chain clasp except that this clasp does not act between the two ends of the chain but between one end and a portion of the chain between the two ends of the latter.

[0109] In FIG. 1, the clip 2 which is internally hollow is in the open position. Clip 2 consists of two half-shells 21, 22, each half-shell 21, 22 comprising an edge 25, 26 delimiting a hollow internal space in each half-shell. The two half-shells 21, 22 are hinged together by a hinge 20 comprising a resilient clipping device which here is a spiral spring 23 forcing the clip to close.

[0110] In this example, the articulation arranged in the internal space has an axis of rotation that is parallel (horizontal when one of the half-shells is placed flat horizontally) to the general planes of the half-shells. Here, the articulation 20 is placed in the hollow internal space and offset towards the edges 25, 26.

[0111] In other embodiments, the articulation can be made on the edge 25, 26 or be arranged otherwise. For example, if the two half-shells have different widths, it is possible, with a spring placed centrally and extending (vertically when one of the half-shells is placed flat horizontally) between the centers of the bottoms of the two half-shells, to tilt and possibly translate the two half-shells between them to open the clip. The central spring can indeed bend laterally under the effect of a lateral thrust of one of the half-shells with respect to the other.

[0112] The open position of clip 2 is a forced position, since the rest position is the closed position of clip 2. In practice, to open the clip, it is necessary to apply a manual constraint to clip 2 so that the two half-shells 21, 22 diverge angularly from each other, here on a portion of their edges 25, 26. In this example, in the closed position of the clip 2, the two edges 25, 26 substantially come into contact with each other. In other embodiments, the half-shells can be of different widths or diameters and one half-shell can partly fit into the other by tilting and can possibly translate there.

[0113] In a variant embodiment in which the two half-shells comprise complementary closing locking means which must be unlocked to open the clip, the open position of the clip is the rest position, that is to say that the two half-shells are forced by a resilient opening device to open when the complementary locking means are unlocked, the closing of the clip requiring a manual action to bring the two half-shells closer together and lock the complementary locking means. The resilient opening device can also be a spiral spring, this time forcing the clip open and being arranged along the articulation 20 similar to that of FIG. 1.

[0114] In the clip of FIG. 1, the separation of the edges is obtained by tilting off one half-shell relative to the other causing an angular spacing of the edges in the manner of the opening of an oyster. In other embodiments, with an articulation arranged differently, the separation of the edges can be obtained by tilting and translation of one half-shell relative to the other also causing an angular separation of the edges and a possible translation. For example, with one of the half-shells narrower than the other, a spiral spring can be installed between the centers of the two half-shells, inside the clip, so that the wider one can tilt and possibly translate on the other (the centers of the two hemispheres shifting).

[0115] Other articulation systems are possible to separate the edges and open the clip, in particular by sliding one half-shell on the other, both remaining in planes parallel to each other unlike the previous cases where there is angular tilting.

[0116] The chain (not shown in FIG. 1) is fixed to one of the half-shells towards the rear of the articulation 20 by a fixing device 3 which, therefore, is not visible in FIG. 1 due to the orientation of the clip 2 On the other hand, in FIG. 2, the fixing devices 3 for fixing each of the two ends of chain 1 to the corresponding clip 2 are shown.

[0117] The edges 25, 26 of the half-shells have notches 24 which face each other, two by two, in pairs, when the clip is closed. A larger chain passage is thus obtained compared to the case of non-facing notches, but the size of the facing or non-facing notches can be adapted to the needs. The notches correspond to sides of the clip through which a portion of the chain can enter or leave the clip. A portion of the chain corresponds to a part of the chain 1 which is clipped/caught in the clip 2. The concept of entry and exit of portion of the chain is arbitrary, a portion of the chain has two ends and a first end can arbitrarily match an input and the other will then match an output. Furthermore, this notion of entry and exit is unrelated to the way in which the chain is inserted into the clip: the chain is not threaded into the notches. To insert the portion of the chain into the clip, the clip is opened, the portion of the chain is placed on one of the half-shells and so that it passes through the notch(es) chosen according to the adornment to be made and the clip is closed. Since each notch in the case of notches without vis-à-vis or each pair of notches has a size adjusted to the size of the connection between links in the closed position of the clip, the positions of the notches on the edges of the half-shells, the hollow space available in the half-shells and the distance between the links along the chain are such that once the portion of the chain is taken inside the closed clip, the links which are positioned/located at the notches so that the clip is effectively closed. Since the links of the chain are articulated to each other and since a certain longitudinal play (along the chain) may also exist, obtaining the positioning of the links at the level of the notches in the closed position of the clip is relatively easy. More generally, the links of the pinched portion of the chain are not tightened by hard parts of the interior of the half-shells and, by construction as explained above, not tightened by the notches, in order to avoid marking of their surfaces. In addition, due to the adjustment between the sizes of the link and of the chain passage formed by each notch, the tightening of the clip against the links by and at the notches is carried out with a reduced pressure, always in order to avoid marking the surface of the connection. The shape of the notches can also be adapted to the shape of the connection. For example, if the link is of substantially cylindrical shape, the single notch or the pair of notches forming the chain passage has a cylindrical shape and the diameters of the passages are adjusted to the diameters of the connections. More generally, the shape of the chain passage can correspond to an imprint of the shape of the connection, which can also allow the connection to be locked in rotation if the connection has flat surface parts.

[0118] The chain can therefore be inserted into these notches in such a way that the portion of the chain can be caught in the hollow internal space of the clip and the clip can close with the portion of the chain caught inside the clip 2. Once the portion of the chain has been gripped by the clip, this portion is retained as to extraction and translation/sliding and possibly rotation: the portion of the chain is completely immobilized in the clip because the connections of reduced size compared to the links are taken in the pairs of notches whose passage dimensions are adjusted to the dimensions of the connections and because the shape of the passage is an imprint of the shape of the connection.

[0119] In a variant concerning a chain with links, the passage dimensions of the notches are adjusted to the dimensions of the links passing flat in the notches and the shape of the passage is an imprint of the external shape of the link. It is understood that in this variant, the connection which is of smaller dimension can also pass through the notch but since the adjacent links are substantially perpendicular to each other, there is indeed a blocking of the portion of the chain in the clip.

[0120] In this embodiment, three pairs of notches 24 are made along the edges 25, 26.

[0121] The half-shells can have any useful and decorative shape.

[0122] The outer faces of the half-shells may comprise decorative motifs and, possibly, inserts including precious or semi-precious stones, or even simply decorative. In FIG. 2, we see more specifically the decorative patterns of the clip 2 which stylize a camellia flower bud with stone parts and metal parts.

[0123] The chain in FIG. 2 has a clip at each of its two ends. Clip 2 at the bottom of FIG. 2 forms a simple pendant and is not used to retain a portion of the chain. On the other hand, the clip 2 at the top of FIG. 2 served to clip a portion of the chain, hence the Y-shaped structure of the assembly. For this clip 2 at the top of FIG. 2, the portion of the chain enters on one side of the clip and leaves on another side of the clip.

[0124] It is also contemplated to configure the clip to allow the clip to clip several portions of chain.

[0125] Since there is a hollow internal space in the clip, it is envisaged to install a resilient material therein, for example a synthetic foam, serving to compress the portion of the chain and to improve its retention in the clip. In particular, if the internal space is large enough, it is envisaged to store therein a very long portion of the chain by folding it back on itself to reduce the apparent length of the adornment.

[0126] Since there is a hollow internal space in the clip, it is planned to install a porous material or material that can soak and in which you can put a few drops of a perfume compatible with the materials of the adornment, the material being possibly removable.

[0127] Since there is a hollow internal space in the clip, it is envisaged to reserve a part of it for installing electronic equipment. For example, an LED light source for illuminating the stones of the half-shell(s) from the inside and/or for illuminating the core of one or more optical fibers belonging to the chain (for example the ends of the fibers, which are at the end of the chain attached to the clip, could enter the clip to catch the light there). Notches can be made along the optical fiber to form more or less punctual light sources along the chain and for possibly illuminating from the inside a pearl or another decorative element placed along the chain.

[0128] As an example of how the piece of jewelry can be implemented as an adornment, FIGS. 3 to 10 show various possibilities for attaching the clips of a single-strand chain comprising a clip at each one of both ends. As can be seen, the chain can be worn around the neck, wrist or waist.

[0129] In FIG. 3, a very long necklace is made, the clip of a first end of the chain being hooked close to its second end.

[0130] In FIGS. 4 and 5, a double row of the long necklace or necklace type is produced by hooking the two clips at two different points along the chain.

[0131] In FIG. 6, a five-row bracelet is made. For a bracelet, one or both clips can be used to hook the chain.

[0132] In FIG. 7, a pendant belt is made pendant where a single clip is used for attachment. In FIG. 8, an epaulet necklace is made which is similar in its construction to the double-row necklace in FIG. 4.

[0133] In FIG. 9, a Y collar is produced, the clip of a first end of the chain being attached at a distance from the second end of the chain.

[0134] In FIG. 10, a double Y collar is produced, derived from the Y collar of FIG. 9 for its production by a double passage around the neck.

[0135] It is well understood that it is possible to produce other types of adornment depending on the number of clips used for attaching the chain and on the attachment location(s) along the chain.

[0136] In a more general manner, the retained portion of the chain(s) and the clip(s) are freely positioned according to the needs, desires and/or morphology of the person wearing the piece of jewelry, resulting in great adaptability.

[0137] In addition, the fact has been shown that each clip hooks a single portion of the chain, but it is also possible that the same clip can hook two, or even more, portions of chain, particularly when the diameter of the chain and the size of the clip allow it.

[0138] Finally, preferably, the clip(s) are fixed in a non-removable manner to/at the ends of the chain and provision is made for the supply with the piece of jewelry or independently thereof, of additional clips which can be fixed along said at least one chain or at a free end of the chain to further increase versatility.