Abstract
A jewelry bail for affixing a charm on a chain is provided. The jewelry bail includes a body having a first surface and an opposing second surface with an opening within the body. The opening has a latching portion and an ornament portion connected by an elongated portion. The latching potion's width is greater than the elongated portion's width. The latching portion and the elongated portion are adapted to mate with the chain such that the latching portion fits between links of the chain and the elongated width is smaller than the width of the links of a chain. The ornament portion is adapted to receive a charm. The structure and utility of the jewelry bail have the advantage of allowing versatility, the prevention of charms gathering in one location, and the prevention of chain migration around the wearer's neck.
Claims
1. A jewelry bail for affixing an ornament or charm on a ball or linked chain, the jewelry bail comprising: a body having a first surface and an opposing second surface; an opening within the body, wherein the opening has a latching portion and an ornament portion connected by an elongated portion, wherein a latching width of the latching portion is greater than an elongated width of the elongated portion; wherein the latching portion and the elongated portion are adapted to mate with the linked chain such that the latching portion fits between links of the chain and the elongated width is smaller than a width of the links of the chain; and wherein the ornament portion is adapted to receive the ornament.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the opening spans the first surface and the second surface.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein surfaces of the opening are beveled.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the chain is a ball chain or a linked chain.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the latching portion includes a notch configured to mate with a link of the chain.
6. A jewelry item comprising: a chain; and a jewelry bail comprising: a body having a first surface and an opposing second surface; an opening within the body, wherein the opening has a latching portion and an ornament portion connected by an elongated portion, wherein a latching width of the latching portion is greater than an elongated width of the elongated portion; wherein the latching portion and the elongated portion are adapted to mate with the chain such that the latching portion fits between links of the chain and the elongated width is smaller than a width of the links of the chain; and wherein the ornament portion is adapted to receive the ornament or charm.
Description
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball chain necklace using the anti-slip jewelry bail of the present invention in the locked position.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1 in the moveable position.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the lower right of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the lower left of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the upper left of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the upper right of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1
[0028] FIG. 9 is a right-side view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1
[0029] FIG. 10 is a left-side view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the anti-slip jewelry bail of FIG. 1.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a link chain necklace using an alternative embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] The anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of the present application is used to prevent the migration of a charm attached to a chain from moving around a wearer's neck during use. The anti-slip jewelry bail 100 is also used to affix charms on a chain to prevent the charms from gathering in one location on the chain. Referring to FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 secures a charm 102 to a ball chain necklace 104. The ball chain 104 includes a series of spheres 106 that are individually connected by a chain portion 108. FIG. 13 illustrates a second embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail 200 securing a charm to a link chain necklace 204.
[0034] During use, the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 moves between a locked position (See FIG. 1) and a moveable position (See FIG. 2) on the ball chain necklace 104. In the locked position, a locking portion 112 rests on the chain portion 108 of the necklace 104 after the chain portion 108 has been passed through an elongated portion 110 of the bail 100. The locking bail 100 is secured between two adjacent spheres 106 of the ball chain necklace 104 because the elongated portion 110 prevents movement of the jewelry bail 100 along the length of the chain 104.
[0035] In the moveable position, the chain portion 108 of the necklace 104 is threaded through the elongated portion 110 of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 and moved into an ornament portion 114 of the jewelry bail 100, and the jewelry bail 100 can move freely along the necklace.
[0036] FIG. 3 illustrates a first embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100. The cavity 124 extends between a front, first surface 116 and a rear, second surface 118 of a bail body 126 and defines the latching portion 112 and the ornament portion 114 connected by an elongated portion 110. In the illustrated embodiment, the latching portion 112 is smaller in diameter than the ornament portion 114.
[0037] The ornament portion 114 is configured to receives the charm 102. The first and second surfaces 116, 118 face outwardly, transverse to a surface facing away from the wearer. (See FIG. 1). The ball chain 104 is threaded through the ornament portion 114. The chain portion 108 between the spheres 106 slides within the cavity 124 between the elongated portion 110 of the ball chain 104, as shown in FIG. 2. A sphere 106 or link 120 of a chain sits in the latching portion 112 which allows the wearer to hang the jewelry bail 100 from the chain portion 108 without the bail 100 migrating along the chain 108. Referring to the second embodiment of FIG. 13, a vertically positioned link 220 of a link chain necklace 222 extends through the cavity 224 of the elongated portion 210 to the latching portion 212.
[0038] Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 depicts a lower perspective view of a first embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of the present application. Here, the cavity 124 extends between a first surface 116, and a second surface 118 of the bail body 126. The latching portion 112 is sized to receive a sphere 106 of a ball chain 104. The ornament portion 114 is used to affix charms 102.
[0039] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a perspective view from the upper left of an anti-slip jewelry bail 100. The second surface 118 of the bail body 126 includes a latching portion 112, an elongated portion 110, and an ornament portion 114. A cavity 124 extends between the second surface 118 and the first surface 116. The latching portion 112 is configured to a sphere 106 of a ball chain 104. The sphere 106 is pushed through the latching portion 112. The latching portion 112 hangs from the chain portion 108. The ornament portion 114 is used to affix charms 102.
[0040] FIG. 6 is a perspective view from the upper right of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of FIG. 1. The anti-slip jewelry bail 100 is depicted with a first surface 116 including a latching portion 112, an elongated portion 110, and an ornamental portion 114. Here, the cavity 124 extends between a first surface 116 and a second surface 118.
[0041] FIG. 7 illustrates a front elevational view of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of FIG. 1. The jewelry bail 100 includes a latching portion 112, an elongated portion 110, an ornament portion 114, and a first surface 116. The cavity 124 extends between a first surface 116 and a second surface 118.
[0042] Depicted in FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of an anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of FIG. 1. Here, the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 includes a latching portion 112, an elongated portion 110, an ornament portion 114, and a second surface. The cavity 124 extends between a first surface 116 and a second surface 118.
[0043] FIG. 9 illustrates the right-side view of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of FIG. 1. The anti-slip jewelry bail 100 depicts a latching portion 112 and an ornament portion 114. A latching portion 112 is configured for a ball chain 104 or link chain 122. An ornament portion 114 is adapted for charms 102.
[0044] Illustrated in FIG. 10 is an anti-slip jewelry bail 100 depicted in a left-side view. The anti-slip jewelry bail 100 includes a latching portion 112 and an ornament portion 114.
[0045] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an anti-slip jewelry bail 100 (See FIG. 1). Depicted are a latching portion 112 and an ornament portion 114. A latching portion 112 is configured for a ball chain 104 or link chain 122. An ornament portion 114 is configured for a charm 102.
[0046] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the anti-slip jewelry bail 100 of FIG. 1. Depicted is an ornament portion 114 configured for a charm 102.
[0047] FIG. 13 depicts an alternative embodiment of the anti-slip jewelry bail 200 on a link-chain necklace 222 that includes links in alternating vertical and horizontal orientations. In the moveable position, the link chain 222 of the necklace 220 is passed through the ornament portion 214 of the anti-slip jewelry bail 200, enabling the jewelry bail 200 and the charm 102 connected thereto to move along the length of the necklace 220.
[0048] In FIG. 13, a vertically-oriented link 220 of the link chain 222 is slid through the elongated portion 210 of the cavity 224 towards the latching portion 212. When the vertically-positioned link 220 reaches the latching portion 212, the necklace 222 is manipulated such that the vertical link 220 is rotated in a horizontal position or the jewelry bail 222 is slid over to the adjacent horizontally-oriented link 220, so that a horizontally-positioned link 220 is positioned within latching portion 212.
[0049] During use, several anti-slip jewelry bails 100 and charms 102 may be attached to the link chain necklace 220. Though gravity pulls on the jewelry bails 100 affixed to the link chain 122 necklace worn around the wearer's neck, the locking mechanism between the horizontally positioned link 120 and the latching portion 112 prevents the jewelry bail 100 from migrating to multiple positions on the link chain 122 necklace. Moreover, the charms 102 are affixed to the ornamental portion 114 which allows the charms 102 to hang away from the necklace to be displayed.
[0050] It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives or varieties thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different embodiments. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
