Safety device for jewelry items

Abstract

The disclosed technology relates to a safety device for a jewelry item. The safety device includes a length of line having a first end and a second end; a first connector, the first connector being a first crimp having a first loop and a first set of crimping jaws, the first loop being fixedly attached to the first end of the length of line; a second connector, the second connector being a second crimp having a second loop and a second set of crimping jaws, the second loop being fixedly attached to the second end of the length of chain; a first elastic band being fixedly attached to the first set of crimping jaws thereby forming a first elastic loop; and a second elastic band, the second elastic band being fixedly attached to the second set of crimping jaws thereby forming a second elastic loop.

Claims

1. A safety device comprising: a first length of an urethane chain, the first length being cut from a spool of 1.2 mm urethane chain, the urethane chain including eyelets allowing for stretch, the first length having a first end and a second end; a second length of an urethane chain, the second length being cut from the spool of 1.2 mm urethane chain, the second length of the elastic chain having a first end and a second end; a first crimp, the first crimp having jaws, the jaws of the first crimp securing the first end and the second end of the first length to the first crimp thereby forming a first elastic loop, the first elastic loop having a circumference of to 1 inch; a second crimp, the second crimp having jaws, the jaws of the second crimp securing the first end and the second end of the second length to the second crimp thereby forming a second elastic loop, the second elastic loop having a circumference of to 1 inch; and a length of line, the length of line being to 4 inches, the length of line connecting to the first crimp via a first loop on a first end of the length of line and the length of line connecting to the second crimp via a second loop on a second end of the length of line, wherein the first elastic loop and the second elastic loop are removably positioned over clasps of a jewelry item and can be manipulated in many positions and return to an original shape without breaking.

2. The safety device of claim 1 wherein the length of line is one of a metallic chain or an elastic band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a safety device in accordance with an implementation of the disclosed technology;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a clamp in accordance with an implementation of the disclosed technology;

(3) FIGS. 3-6 show a safety device and jewelry item in accordance with an implementation of the disclosed technology;

(4) FIG. 7 shows a safety device and jewelry item in accordance with an implementation of the disclosed technology; and

(5) FIG. 8 shows a safety device in accordance with another implementation of the disclosed technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The disclosed technology relates to a safety device for jewelry items. The safety device can include a length of line, two crimps and two elastic loops. This combination allows the elastic loops to be removably positioned over clasps of a jewelry item, e.g., a necklace or bracelet, so that if the clasp of the jewelry item becomes unintentionally separated while being worn, the safety device secures the jewelry item and prevents loss of the jewelry item.

(7) As shown in FIG. 1, a safety device 10 can include a length of line 12, two crimps 14, 16 and two elastic loops 18, 20.

(8) The length of line 12 can be any material strong enough to hold the ends of the jewelry item together, e.g. a jewelry chain or an elastic band, etc. The length of line 12 also can be aesthetically pleasing and complement the jewelry item.

(9) In some implementations, the length of line 12 can be -4 inches in length but other lengths are contemplated. When choosing the length of line 12 consideration is given in the item to be secured. For example, a safety device 10 for a necklace can be on a longer end of the range because the necklace is hidden from view and is usually clamped together without the vision of the user.

(10) As shown in FIG. 2, an unattached crimp 30 has a loop 32 and two collapsible jaws, 34, 36. In use, the loop 32 is capable of being attached to a safety chain and the collapsible jaws are capable of securing elastic safety bands.

(11) As shown in FIG. 1, loops 14a, 16b of crimps 14, 16 are fixedly secured to either end of a length of chain 12 and collapsible jaws 14b, 16b of the crimps 14, 16 secure elastic bands to the crimp 14b, 16b. During construction of the safety device 10, elastic bands can be placed inside jaws 14b, 16b of the crimp 14, 16 and gently squeezed to secure the elastic band to the crimp 14, 16 thereby forming elastic loops 18, 20. Other methods of securing the elastic bands to the safety device 10 are contemplated.

(12) The elastic loops 18, 20 can be made from, e.g., urethane. Urethane was chosen because (1) it has elastomeric memory and returns to its original shape when stretched, (2) is non-brittle and won't crack and break under impact and shock loading, (3) its resilient and has superior abrasion and impact-resistance qualities, and (4) is versatile and is available in a wide range of durometers and densities.

(13) In one implementation, the elastic loops, 18 20 can be made from an elastic jewelry chain composed of urethane. These elastic jewelry chains are strong and difficult to break. These chains were chosen because the elastic characteristic is strong enough to hold the ends of a jewelry item in case of clasp failure while being stretchable enough to allow it to be pulled over the clasps of the jewelry item. These elastic loops 18, 20 can be manipulated in many positions and return to their original shape without breaking.

(14) For example, the elastic loops 18, 20 can be cut from a spool of 1.2 mm elastic chain. The elastic chain itself can contain eyelets that allow the band to be stretched further. In use, a length of the elastic chain is cut from the spool and the two ends of the elastic chain can be secured within the jaws 14b, 16b of the crimps 14, 16 thereby forming the elastic loops 18, 20. The size of the elastic loops 18, 20 can be chosen based on a standard clasps used in the jewelry trade, e.g., the elastic loops 18, 20 can have a circumference of to 1 inch. The elastic loops 18, 20 are of a size that allows them to snugly fit over a variety of size and shape clasps. That is, the circumference of the elastic loops are smaller than a circumference of the clasp so that the loops need to be stretched over the clasp but allow the loop to return to its original shape after it is applied. In another implementation shown in FIG. 8, a single length of elastic chain 52 can be used with each end of the elastic chain looped back onto itself and crimped with crimps 54a-b thereby forming two elastic loops 56a-b on either end the elastic chain 52.

(15) As shown in FIG. 3-6, the method of attaching the safety device 10 to a jewelry item 40 is shown. In FIG. 3, the safety device 10 is brought in close proximity to an opened jewelry item 40 having an attachment mechanism 42a-b, e.g., clasps. In FIG. 4, the first elastic loop 18 is stretched over one clasp 42a of the jewelry item 40. At this time, a user would bring the jewelry item towards a body part of the user where the jewelry item is to be displayed and wrap the jewelry item around the body part, e.g., a neck or wrist of the user. Once in place, as shown in FIG. 5, the second elastic loop 20 is placed over the other jewelry clasp 40b. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the clasp 42a-b are locked to one another. Now, the safety device can secure the jewelry item in case of clasp failure, e.g., a broken clasp or unintentional disengagement.

(16) FIG. 7 shows the safety clasp holding the ends of the jewelry item together after the clasp failure. That is, if the clasp becomes unattached to each other, the safety device secures the jewelry item and does not allow the jewelry item to be lost.

(17) While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of the disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement can be made by those skilled in the art. Such changes are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(18) The foregoing Detailed Description is to be understood as being in every respect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scope of the disclosed technology disclosed herein is not to be determined from the Detailed Description, but rather from the claims as interpreted according to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to be understood that the embodiments shown and described herein are only illustrative of the principles of the disclosed technology and that various modifications may be implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed technology. Those skilled in the art could implement various other feature combinations without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed technology. Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with specific examples, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to those specific examples and that various other changes, combinations and modifications will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed technology which is to be determined with reference to the following claims.