ROTATING JEWELRY CLOSURE

Abstract

A jewelry item is provided having a first side, having a first and second end, the first end having a stem and locking notch. A second side includes a third and fourth end, the second end of the first side is connected to the fourth end of the second side. A rotating closure has a collar, rotatably connected to a rotatable connection element. The collar is connected to the third end of the second side and located between the third end and the rotatable connection element. The first end of the first side is configured to be movable towards the third end of the second side, such that in an unlocked configuration, the stem with the locking notch is configured to be inserted into the first side within a locking cavity of the rotatable connection element. In a locking configuration, the rotatable connection element is configured to rotate to engage the locking notch of the stem, preventing removal of the stem from the rotatable connection element.

Claims

1. A jewelry item, the jewelry item comprising: a first side, having a first and second end, said first end having a stem and locking notch; a second side including a third and fourth end, said second end of said first side is connected to said fourth end of said second side; and a rotating closure having a collar rotatably connected to a rotatable connection element; wherein said collar is connected to said third end of said second side and located between said third end and said rotatable connection element; wherein said first end of said first side is configured to be movable towards said third end of said second side, such that in an unlocked configuration, said stem with said locking notch is configured to be inserted into said first side within a locking cavity of said rotatable connection element, and in a locking configuration, said rotatable connection element is configured to rotate to engage said locking notch of said stem, preventing removal of said stem from said rotatable connection element.

2. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second end of said first side and said fourth end of said second side are pivotable connected by a hinge.

3. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collar is connected to a flat surface at the third end of said second side.

4. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 3, wherein said collar is connected to a flat surface at the third end of said second side by welding.

5. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 1, wherein said collar has a hollow cavity for accepting said rotatable connection element.

6. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 5, wherein said collar has a plurality of deformable connection prongs that define said hollow cavity.

7. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 6, wherein said deformable connection prongs of said collar have inward facing retention ridges for securing said rotatable connection element to said collar.

8. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 7, wherein said inward facing retention ridges are configured to mate with a coupling ridge on a protrusion of said rotatable connection element.

9. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 6, wherein said deformable connection prongs of said collar have inward facing retention rounded tactile bumps for providing tactile feedback when rotating the rotatable connection element between said unlocked configuration and said locking configuration.

10. The jewelry item as claimed in claim 9, wherein said inward facing rounded tactile bumps are configured to deformably fit within a plurality of curved deformations on a protrusion of said rotatable connection element, when rotating the rotatable connection element between said unlocked configuration and said locking configuration.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein:

[0021] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a jewelry item with a rotating closure, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0022] FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate a close-up view of components of the rotating closure, in accordance with one embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up view of a collar component of the rotating closure, in accordance with one embodiment; and

[0024] FIGS. 4a-4b illustrate a close-up view of a rotating connection element component of the rotating closure, in accordance with one embodiment; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present arrangement and the details thereof are described as a jewelry item with a rotating closure, where the jewelry item is an earring, in the form of a hoop earring. However, it is understood that the exemplary embodiments described herein related to the rotating closure shown on a hoop earring can also be used on other jewelry items, such as bracelets or necklaces, which are also within the contemplation of the present invention.

[0026] FIGS. 1a-1b illustrates two views of an earring 10 having a rotating closure 12 in accordance with one embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, earring 10 has a first side 20 and a second side 22 connected at the bottom through a hinged pivot connection 24. First side 20 of earring 20 has a stem 26 on first end that has a locking notch 28 (shown in FIG. 2a) presenting as point of reduced thickness in the form of two cut aways on opposing side of stem 26. Second side 22 of earring 10 has a flush surface 30 located at the end of second side 22 for mounting the rotating closure 12.

[0027] Turning to the independent components of rotating closure 12, as shown in close up FIGS. 2a-2c, a collar 40 is attached to the flush end 30 of second side 22, possibly by welding or another connection manner. Collar 40 includes a hollow cavity 42 for accepting a rotatable connection element 50 (described below). Collar 40, also shown in close up view FIG. 3, has two or more deformable connection prongs 44 that define hollow cavity 42, prongs 44 each having inward facing retention ridges 46 as well as inward facing rounded tactile bumps 48, inwards towards hollow cavity 42.

[0028] Regarding the other portion of rotating closure 12, rotatable connection element 50 is shown in FIGS. 2a-2c as well as close up FIGS. 4a and 4b, rotatable connection element has protrusion 52 that is design to fit within hollow cavity 42 of collar 40. Protrusion 52 has curved deformations 54 for accepting the tactile bumps 48 of collar 40. At the end of protrusion 52 is a coupling ridge 56 for engaging with retention ridges 46 of collar 40. Rotatable connection element 50 has at an outer ring 58 with grooves for good grip by the fingers of the user when rotating the element as described in more detail below.

[0029] Regarding the connection of rotatable connection element 50 to collar 40, shown in FIGS. 2a-2c (completed connection shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b), protrusion 52 is inserted into hollow cavity 42 of collar 40 and deformable connection prongs 44 are pressed together such that retention ridges 46 connect against coupling ridge 56 preventing rotatable connection element 50 from falling out of collar 40. When rotatable connection element 50 is connected in this manner, it is capable of rotating, for example about 90 degrees. When rotatable connection element 50 rotates within collar 40 rounded tactile bumps 48 mate with curved deformations 54 in manner that allows a user to move between at least two positions, such that rotatable connection element 50 can pivot from a first unlocked position to a second locket position as described in detail below, where tactile bumps 48 are in first of the curved deformations 54, then after rotation the bumps 48 deform outwards a small amount against the side of protrusion 52 until they fall back into another of the curved deformations 54.

[0030] Returning to the structure of rotatable connection element 50, as shown in FIG. 4b, on the opposing side of rotatable connection element 50, opposite collar 40, is a locking cavity 60 having two parallel locking bars 62. Locking cavity 60 is dimensioned to receive stem 26 and locking notch 28 of first side 20 of earring 10.

[0031] When jewelry item 10 is in an open position, first side 20 and second side 22 are moved apart, pivoting about hinge 26 with stem 26 and locking notch 28 thereon positioned to be placed through an ear of the wearer. On the opposing second side 22 of earring 10, rotatable connection element 50 is oriented in a first unlocked position, where parallel locking bars 62 are configured to receive stem 26. Once stem 26 is placed through the pierced ear of the wearer, the second side 22 and first side 20 are pressed together, allowing stem 26 to fit fully within locking cavity 60. To lock jewelry item 10 using rotating closure 12, once stem 26 is fully inserted into locking cavity 60, rotatable connection element 50 is turned about within collar 40 approximately 90 degrees to a locking position, with tactile bumps 48 and curved deformations 54 providing friction feedback to the user to indicate when it is fully rotated to lock. At that point, parallel locking bars 62 have been rotated as well, catching on locking notch 28, preventing stem 26 from leaving locking cavity 60. As described above, in order to facilitate turning of rotatable connection element 50 the outer circumference has engagement ridges 58 to help grasp with the user's fingertips.

[0032] 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.