A Jewelry Clasp

Abstract

A jewelry clasp includes a clasp shell enclosing a spacing, the clasp shell having a first opening for slidably receiving a first end of an elongated member; and a spring-biased push button slidably received in the spacing through a second opening, the button being slidable between a releasing state and a locking state, wherein the button has a hole for receiving the first end of the elongated member when the first end is received through the first opening of the clasp shell, wherein the push button further comprises a stopper, the stopper releasing the first end of the elongated member when the button is in the releasing state; and a magnet exerting a magnetic force which, when the first end of the elongated member includes a magnetic material, acts to pull said first end of the elongated member through the first opening and into the hole of the button.

Claims

1. A jewelry clasp for securing a first end of an elongated member of a bracelet or a necklace to a second end of the elongated member, the jewelry clasp comprising: a clasp shell enclosing a spacing, the clasp shell having a first opening for slidably receiving the first end of the elongated member for releasably securing the first end to the second end of the elongated member; a spring-biased push button slidably received in the spacing through a second opening of the clasp shell, the button being slidable between a releasing state and a locking state so that the button can be pushed into the releasing state when a push force against a spring force is applied to the button, the button returning to the locking state by means of the spring force when the push force is released, wherein: the push button has a hole for receiving the first end of the elongated member when the first end is received through the first opening of the clasp shell; the push button further comprises a stopper for engaging and locking the first end of the elongated member to the clasp when the first end is positioned in the hole and the push button is in the locking state, the stopper releasing the first end of the elongated member when the push button is in the releasing state; and a magnet exerting a magnetic force which, when the first end of the elongated member includes a material magnetically attractable by the magnet, acts to pull said first end of the elongated member through the first opening and into the hole of the button when said first end is positioned in said first opening.

2. A jewelry clasp according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is positioned inside the spacing oppositely from the first opening, and said hole is a through-hole, whereby said first end of the elongated member is allowed to abut the magnet when inserted through the hole.

3. A jewelry clasp according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is a bracket with an inclined surface, the inclined surface in the locking position of the jewelry clasp being positioned at an entrance to the spacing from the first opening, so that insertion of said first end through the first opening will force the stopper towards the releasing state thereof, allowing insertion of said first end into said hole in the push button.

4. A jewelry clasp according to claim 1, wherein the push button returns by means of the spring bias to the locking state if the first end of the elongated member is not inserted or is fully inserted in the jewelry clasp.

5. A jewelry clasp according to claim 1, wherein the push button comprises a top part being positioned at least partly in the second opening in the locking state, and a bottom part positioned oppositely from top part, the bottom part and the top part being connected by one or more legs.

6. A jewelry clasp according to claim 5, further comprising a button support surface fixed to the clasp shell, the button support surface being positioned below the top part of the push button, so that a bottom surface of the top part abuts the button support surface when the push button is in the releasing state.

7. A jewelry clasp according to claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the clasp shell comprises one or more tracks, in each of which channels a knob of the push button may slide when the push button slides between the releasing state and the locking state.

8. A jewelry clasp according to claim 7, wherein the or each track comprises a support element positioned at an end of the track to limit the sliding movement of the push button, so that the push button is prevented from being extracted from the spacing.

9. A jewelry clasp according to claim 5, wherein one said knob is positioned on one said leg of the push button, a U-shaped slot in the leg defining a resilient knob leg of the leg, said U-shaped slot making the knob leg flexible so that the knob can be pushed inwardly when inserting the push button into the jewelry clasp during assembly thereof.

10. A piece of jewelry, such as a bracelet or a necklace, comprising: a jewelry clasp according to claim 1; and an elongated member with a first and a second end; wherein: the first opening of the clasp shell is configured to slidably receive the first end of the elongated member to releasably secure the first end to the second end of the elongated member; the hole of the push button is configured to receive the first end of the elongated member when the first end is received through the first opening of the clasp shell; the stopper of the push button engages and locks the first end of the elongated member to the clasp when the first end is positioned in the hole and the push button is in the locking state, and the stopper releases the first end of the elongated member when the push button is moved from the locking state to the releasing state; and the first end of the elongated member comprises a material attractable by the magnet in the spacing so that when the first end is received in the first opening of the clasp shell, the magnet exerts a magnetic force which acts to pull the first end of the elongated member into the hole of the button.

11. A piece of jewelry comprising: an elongated member having a first end and a second end; and a jewelry clasp, the jewelry clasp comprising: a clasp shell enclosing a spacing, the clasp shell having a first opening for slidably receiving the first end of the elongated member for releasably securing the first end to the second end of the elongated member; and a spring-biased push button slidably received in the spacing through a second opening of the clasp shell, the push button being slidable between a releasing state and a locking state so that the button can be pushed into the releasing state when a push force against a spring force is applied to the push button, the push button returning to the locking state by means of the spring force when the push force is released, wherein the push button has a hole for receiving the first end of the elongated member when the first end is received through the first opening of the clasp shell, and wherein the push button further comprises a stopper engaging and locking the first end of the elongated member when the first end is positioned in the hole and the push button is in the locking state, the stopper releasing the first end of the elongated member when the push button is in the releasing state; and a magnet positioned in the spacing or comprised in the first end of the elongated member; wherein a material magnetically attractable by the magnet is included in that of the first end of the elongated member and the spacing which does not include the magnet, so that when the first end of the elongated member is positioned in said first opening, the magnet acts to pull said first end through the first opening and into the hole of the button.

12. A piece ofjewelry according to claim 10, wherein the magnet is a first magnet positioned in the spacing, and the first end of the elongated member comprises a second magnet, the magnets attracting each other when the first end of the elongated member is inserted into the first opening.

13. A piece of jewelry according to claim 10, wherein said first end comprises a tip part with a front or tip end for facing in an insertion direction when inserting said first end into the jewelry clasp through the first opening, wherein the tip part further comprises a rear end which includes a step or cut-out, the stopper engaging and locking said first end when the first end is positioned in the hole and the push button is in the locking state by the stopper being inserted into said step or cut-out.

14. A method for assembly of a jewelry clasp, the method comprising: 1) providing a clasp shell enclosing a spacing, the clasp shell having a first opening for slidably receiving a first end of an elongated member of a piece of jewelry for releasably securing the first end to the second end of the elongated member; 2) positioning a spring in a bottom part of a push button; 3) positioning the push button through a second opening of the clasp shell so that the push button is slidably received in the spacing through the second opening of the clasp shell, so that the button is slidable between a releasing state and a locking state and can be pushed into the releasing state when a push force against a spring force provided by the spring is applied to the push button, the push button returning to the locking state by means of the spring force of the spring when the push force is released, wherein the button has a hole for receiving the first end of the elongated member when the first end is received through the first opening of the clasp shell, wherein the button comprises a stopper for engaging and locking the first end of the elongated member when the first end is positioned in the hole and the button is in the locking state, the stopper releasing the first end of the elongated member when the button is in the releasing state; and 4) positioning a magnet in the spacing, the magnet exerting a magnetic force which, when the first end of the elongated member includes a material magnetically attractable by the magnet, pulls said first end of the elongated member through the first opening and into the hole of the push button when said first end is positioned in said first opening.

15. A method for opening a piece of j ewelry assembled according to the method of claim 11, comprising: 5) pushing the push button against the spring force by exerting a push force on a push surface of the button, whereby the stopper releases the first end of the elongated member; and 6) removing the first end of the elongated member by pulling the first end of the elongated member out of the hole of the button and out of the first opening of the clasp shell.

16. A method for closing a piece of jewelry assembled according to the method of claim 11, comprising: 5) inserting the first end of the elongated member into the first opening of the clasp shell and into the hole of the push button, so that during this insertion the first end engages the stopper, whereby the insertion of the first end pushes the stopper from the locking state into the releasing state to allow the first end to be inserted into the hole of the push button.

17. A jewelry clasp according to claim 7, wherein one said knob is positioned on one said leg of the push button, a U-shaped slot in the leg defining a resilient knob leg of the leg, said U-shaped slot making the knob leg flexible so that the knob can be pushed inwardly when inserting the push button into the jewelry clasp during assembly thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] In the following, an embodiment of a j ewelry clasp according to the invention will be described with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0084] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a jewelry clasp and a first end or cap of a piece of jewelry according to an embodiment of the pieces of jewelry of this disclosure;

[0085] FIG. 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in an assembled configuration shown in a locking state of the jewelry clasp;

[0086] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional top view taken along the line of FIG. 2;

[0087] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a bracelet according to an embodiment of the pieces of of this disclosure, including the assembled jewelry clasp of FIG. 2, wherein the bracelet is shown in a closed state;

[0088] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view corresponding to that of FIG. 3 of the jewelry clasp of FIGS. 2 and 3, showing a releasing state of the jewelry clasp;

[0089] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bracelet of FIG. 4, wherein the bracelet is shown in a released state,

[0090] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a jewelry clasp and a first end or cap of a piece of jewelry according to an embodiment of the pieces of jewelry of this disclosure; and

[0091] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view corresponding to that of FIG. 7 of the jewelry clasp, showing a releasing state of the jewelry clasp.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIG. 5 show a jewelry clasp 1 according to an embodiment of the jewelry clasps according to the invention, and a first end in the form of a cap 3 of an elongated member 22. FIGS. 4 and 6 show an embodiment of a piece of jewelry, specifically a bracelet B, including the jewelry clasp 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5. FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 show the jewelry clasp 1 in a locking position, while the jewelry clasp 1 is shown in a releasing position in FIGS. 5 and 6. The bracelet B is shown in a locked position in FIG. 4 and in an unlocked or released position in FIG. 6. FIGS. 7 and 8 show another embodiment of a piece of jewelry, a bracelet B, including an embodiment of the jewelry clasp 1.

[0093] The jewelry clasp 1 is intended for securing or attaching the cap 3 of the bracelet B to a second end 4 of the elongated member 22, as shown in FIG. 4. Hereby, the bracelet B can be attached to a user's wrist and be securely worn by the user. When the cap 3 is released from the clasp 1, one or more not shown beads, charms, bangles, or other stringable ornaments, which include a through hole for stringing, may be strung onto the elongated member 22 from the cap 3. A charm clip (not shown) may similarly be clipped onto the bracelet B in both the locked and unlocked states of the bracelet.

[0094] The jewelry clasp 1 comprises a one-piece, spherical clasp shell 9 enclosing and defining an interior spacing 24, see e.g. FIGS. 1 and 2. The shell 9 has a first opening 19 for slidably receiving the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 and for releasably securing the cap 3 to the clasp 1 and, thus, to the second end 4 of the elongated member, whereby the bracelet B is closed as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 1 shows the clasp 1 in an unassembled position. In the assembled clasp 1 as shown in the remaining figures, a spring-biased push button 2 is slidably received in the spacing 24 through a second opening 20 of the clasp shell 9. The button 2 is slidable between the releasing state (FIG. 5) and the locking state (FIGS. 2 and 3). The button 2 can be pushed into the releasing state when a push force against a spring force is applied to the button 2. The button 2 is returning to the locking state by means of the spring force when the push force is released, see also further below.

[0095] The button 2 has a hole 21 for receiving the cap 3 of the elongated member. The cap 3 in the releasing state of the push button 2 and clasp 1 is received through the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9. As best seen in FIG. 2, the button 2 further comprises a stopper 8 for engaging and locking the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 when the cap 3 is positioned in the hole 21 and the button 2 is in the locking state. As best seen in FIG. 5, the stopper 8 releases the cap 3 of the elongated member when the button 2 is in the releasing state, so that the cap 3 can be pulled out of the clasp 1 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0096] As best seen in FIG. 2, the clasp 1 further comprises a circular cylindrical, first magnet 10 positioned in the spacing 24 opposite to the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9 into a corresponding circular cylindrical cut-out in the interior surface 45 of the clasp shell 9. The cap 3 of the elongated member comprises a second magnet 11. The second magnet 11 is similarly of a circular cylindrical shape and is positioned in a circular cylindrical cut-out in a front of the cap 3. The first magnet 10 has a magnetic polarity at a front end facing the first opening 19. The second magnet 11 has the opposite magnetic polarity at the front end of the cap 3. When inserting the cap 3 through the first opening 19, the second magnet 11 and thus the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 are pulled through the first opening 19 and into the hole 21 of the button 2, until the front end of the cap 3 and thus a front end of the second magnet 11 abut the front end of the first magnet 10 when the cap 3 is positioned in the first opening 19 and the hole 21. When releasing a push on the push button 2, the push button 2 will then return from the releasing state shown in FIG. 5 to the locking state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stopper 8 engaging and locking the cap 3.

[0097] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, a length direction L is defined as a direction in which the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 moves or slides during insertion into the jewelry clasp 1. When the cap 3 is extracted from the clasp 1, the cap 3 moves in a direction opposite to the direction L. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a pushing direction P of a push force on the push button 2 acting to release the cap 3 of the elongated member from the jewelry clasp 1 is a direction at an angle perpendicular to the length direction L. The clasp shell 9 forms a housing for a spring 7, the push button 2 including the stopper 8, the first magnet 10, and (when the cap 3 is inserted into the clasp 1) a front part of the cap 3. The clasp shell 9 includes a circumferentially extending wall with a spherical exterior surface. The shape of the clasp shell 9 and the assembled clasp 1 is generally spherical. The clasp shell 9 is a one-piece element. The clasp shell 9 further comprises annular wall sections 41. The clasp shell 9 comprises an exterior surface 44 facing the environment and an interior surface 45 facing the internal parts of the clasp, including the button 2.

[0098] The clasp shell 9 further comprises an upper part 42, a lower part 12 positioned oppositely from the upper part 42, a first side 46, and a second side 47, each of the first and second sides connecting the upper and lower parts. The first 46 and the second side 47 are positioned oppositely from each other. A top part 13 of the push button is positioned near the upper part 42 of the clasp shell 9; a bottom part 27 of the push button near the lower part 12 of the clasp shell 9. The clasp shell 9 comprises the first opening 19 and the second opening 20. The first opening 19 is positioned at the first side 46 of the clasp shell 9. The first end of the elongated member is received in the first opening 19. The second opening 20 is positioned at the upper part 42 of the clasp shell 9. The first opening 19 and second opening 20 are located at positions at a right angle to each other, the angle being measured from a center of the clasp shell 19. The first 19 and second opening 20 extend into and provide access to the spacing 24. The second opening 20 has a diameter that is equal to two times the diameter of the first opening 19.

[0099] The interior surface is beveled and includes a stepped portion 33 at the lower part 12 of the clasp shell 9. The clasp shell 9 encloses the spacing 24. The spacing 24 extends from a top of the clasp and from an upper part 42 of the clasp shell to a bottom of the clasp or the lower part 12 of the clasp shell 9. The clasp shell 9 encloses the spring 7, the push button 2 including the stopper 8, and the magnet 10.

[0100] The clasp shell 9 also comprises a third opening positioned at the second side 47 of the clasp shell 9. The third opening is positioned oppositely from the first opening 19 at the first side 46 of the clasp shell 9. The third opening is provided as a cut-out or spacing 16a in a ring 16 forming part of the clasp shell 9, see further below. A diameter of the third opening or cut-out 16a is of equal size to the diameter of the first opening 19. All the first, second, and third openings 19, 20, 16a are circular in a cross-section.

[0101] The second end 4 is fixedly mounted to the jewelry clasp shell 9. More specifically, the second end 4 of the elongated member 22 is mounted in the cut-out 16a. The ring 16 is an open-ended hollow protrusion positioned at the second side 47 of the clasp shell 9 oppositely from the first side 46 of the clasp shell 9 and from the first opening 19. The ring 16 is integrated in and/or one piece with the clasp shell 9.

[0102] During assembly of the clasp 1, the spring-biased push button 2 is received into the spacing 24 through the second opening 20 of the clasp shell 9 before the push button 2 is received in the spacing 24. The spring force acting on the push button 2 in the assembled state of the clasp 1 arises from the helical coil spring 7. The spring 7 is mounted at the bottom part 27 of the button 2 and abuts an interior surface 48 of the lower part 12 of the clasp shell 9. The spring 7 biases the push button 2 towards the locking state. The spring force is applied to act against the push direction P of the push button 2.

[0103] The push button 2 comprises two separate cylinder cell sections formed as legs 25 defining the hole 21 between them for receiving the cap 3 of the elongated member 22. The hole 21 is positioned below the top part 13 of the push button. The push button includes a push surface 34 positioned on the top part 13 of the push button 2. As best seen in FIG. 2, the push surface 34 is in the locking state positioned in alignment with an exterior surface of the clasp shell 9. The push surface 34 is a rounded surface that in the locking state continues the spherical shape of the exterior surface 44 of the clasp shell 9. The top part 13 of the push button 2 has a shape and size substantially matching a shape and size of the second opening 20. Furthermore, in the locking position the push surface 34 is flush with the exterior surface 44 of the clasp shell 9.

[0104] The push button 2 further comprises a bottom part 27, which is positioned oppositely from the second opening 20 and from the push surface 34. The bottom part 27 and the top part 13 are connected by the two legs 25. The two legs 25 are positioned adjacent an interior surface of the clasp shell 9 at third 49 and fourth 50 sides of the clasp shell 9. The hole 21 of the push button is defined at a top by the top part 13, at a bottom by the bottom part 27, and at two sides by the respective two legs 25. The bottom part 27 and the legs 25 are positioned inside the spacing 24 in both the locking and the releasing states. The top part 13 and the push surface 34 project from the clasp shell 9 in the locking state.

[0105] The push button 2 is configured so that it can only be pushed into the spacing 24 to a limited extent. This is achieved by a button support surface 36 forming part of the clasp shell 9. The button support surface 36 is positioned below the top part 13 of the push button 2, so that a lower surface 35 of the top part 13 abuts the button support surface 36 when the push button 2 is pushed to the releasing position. Alternatively, this may be achieved by the spring 7 so that when a maximum compression of the spring has been arrived at during the sliding movement of the push button 2, the movement of the push button 2 in the direction P is limited by the spring 7.

[0106] As seen best in FIGS. 3 and 1, an interior surface of the clasp shell 9 at the third 49 and fourth 50 sides thereof comprises two opposed tracks 17 in each of which a knob 18 of the push button 2 slides when the push button 2 slides between the releasing state and the locking state. Each track 17 comprises an upper track end 51 to limit the sliding movement of the push button 2 so that the push button 2 is prevented from being extracted from the spacing 24, the respective knob 18 in the locking state abutting the upper track end 51. The knobs 18 form part of each respective leg 25. A U-shaped slot 52 in each leg 25 defines a resilient tongue or knob leg 43 of each leg, the outwardly projecting knob 18 being located near a free end of the knob leg 43. The knob leg 43 carries the knob 18. Each knob leg 43 is flexible and resilient so that the associated knob 18 can be pushed inwardly when inserting the push button 2 into the jewelry clasp 1 during assembly of the jewelry clasp 1. When the push button 2 has been inserted, the knob 18 snaps into the corresponding track 17, and the push button 2 is hereby not removable from the clasp shell 9. The tracks 17 are each configured so that the upper track end 51 stops the knob 18 from being pulled further outward, thus maintaining the push button 2 securely in the clasp shell 9.

[0107] The push button 2 comprises the stopper 8. The stopper 8 engages and locks the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 when the cap 3 is positioned in the hole 21 of the push button and the button is in the locking state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. During assembly of the jewelry clasp 1, the stopper 8 is attached to the bottom part 27 of the push button 2 by insertion of the stopper 8 into an attachment slot 28 of the bottom part of the push button 2 before the assembled push button 2 is inserted through the second opening 20 to be received in the spacing 24. In the assembled jewelry clasp 1, the stopper 8 releases the cap 3 of the elongated member when the button 2 is in the releasing state shown in FIG. 5. The stopper 8 is a bracket that comprises a barb 30 engaging the cap 3 in the locking state. The barb 30 includes an inclined surface 14. In the locking position of the jewelry clasp 1, the inclined surface 14 is positioned at an entrance to the spacing 24 from the first opening 19, so that insertion of said cap 3 through the first opening 19 forces the push button 2 towards the releasing position thereof, allowing insertion of said cap 3 into and through said hole 21 in the push button 2. The stopper 8 is provided separately from other parts of the push button 2, especially the legs 25 and the push surface 34 and the bottom part 27, and is during assembly of the push button inserted into the attachment slot 28 as described above. The stopper 8 has an end 29 positioned oppositely from the barb 30. The end 29 is attached to a main part 26 of the push button 2. The main part 26 comprises the top part 13, bottom part 27, and the legs 25 of the push button 2. The main part 26 is formed in one piece, especially molded in one piece. The end 29 is plane to allow it to slide into the attachment slot 28, which is provided in the bottom part 27 of the push button 2. The barb 30 is formed by a bend at an opposite end of the stopper 8 and provides the inclined abutment surface and functionality as described above. The plane first end 29 of the stopper 8 includes a center slot 31 providing two legs 32 received in two separate parts of the attachment slot 28. The stopper 8 prevents the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 and a tip part 38 thereof from moving out of the jewelry clasp 1 in the locking state.

[0108] The magnet 10 is positioned inside the spacing 24 oppositely from the first opening 19. The hole 21 is a through-hole, whereby the cap 3 is allowed to abut the magnet 10 when inserted through the hole 21. The magnet 10 is positioned in a cutout in the interior surface 45 of the clasp shell 9 opposite from the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9. The magnet 10 abuts the clasp shell 9 at a back end of the magnet 10. The magnet 10 is configured to magnetically attract the second magnet 11. The second magnet 11 is located in the cap 3 of the elongated member. During closing of the bracelet B, the cap 3 is guided to be slidably received into the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9. The push button 2 returns by means of the bias from the spring 7 to the locking state when the cap 3 of the elongated member is not inserted or is fully inserted in the jewelry clasp 1, and when the push button 2 is not pushed. The jewelry clasp 1 releasably secures the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 by the opposite polarity of the two magnets 10, 11. When the push button 2 is in the releasing state as shown in FIG. 5, the cap 3 is extractable from the jewelry clasp 1 by pulling it out of the jewelry clasp 1, overcoming the magnetic attraction between the two magnets 10, 11. In the releasing state, the magnet 10 is aligned with the hole 21 in the push button 2. The cap 3 of the elongated member 22 extends through the hole 21 when inserted into the hole 21 so that the cap 3 abuts the magnet 10.

[0109] The elongated member 22 comprises a flexible, intermediate portion in the form of a flexible snake chain 54.

[0110] The cap 3 of the elongated member 22 is perceived as a free, distal end of the elongated member 22. The second end 4 is perceived as a proximal end. The cap 3 comprises the tip part 38. The second end 4 is a free end of the snake chain 54. The tip part 38 has a frustoconical shape, which is configured to fit into the first opening 19 and into the hole 21. The cap 3 comprises a magnet 11; in particular, the magnet 11 is accommodated in the tip part 38. The second end 4 is inserted into the ring 16 as described above and shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0111] In the embodiment of the drawings, the ring 16 is part of the jewelry clasp 1 and is in one piece with the clasp shell 9. In other embodiments, the ring 16 can generally be provided as part of a cap of the second end 4, such a cap of the second end 4 being similar or identical to the cap 3 and being inserted into the clasp shell 9 to be held by the jewelry clasp 1. In such embodiments, the cap of the second end 4 may be configured to be releasable from the jewelry clasp 1 in a manner similar or identical to the cap 3; in such embodiments, a cap of the second end 4 may instead include the first magnet 10 so that the two ends 3, 4 are attracted to each other when both are inserted into the jewelry clasp 1.

[0112] The magnet 10 and the spring 7 are positioned in the spacing 24 and abutting or attached to the interior surface 45 of the clasp shell 9, the interior surface 45 enclosing the spacing 24 of the clasp shell 9.

[0113] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in the bracelet B including the jewelry clasp 1 and the elongated member 22, the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 is enclosed in the clasp shell 9 in a closed position of the bracelet B. The bracelet B comprises the jewelry clasp 1 and the elongated member 22 with the cap 3 and the second end 4. The first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9 can slidably receive the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 to releasably secure the cap 3 to the jewelry clasp 1 and to second end 4 of the elongated member 22. The hole 21 of the push button 2 can receive the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 when the cap 3 in the releasing state of the push button 2 shown in FIG. 5 is received through the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9. The stopper 8 of the push button 2 then engages and locks the cap 3 to the jewelry clasp 1 when the cap 3 is positioned in the hole 21 and the push button 2 is in the locking state, and the stopper 8 releases the cap 3 of the elongated member 22 when the push button 2 by a pushing force exerted on the push surface 34 is moved from the locking state to the releasing state.

[0114] The cap 3 comprises at a front end the tip part 38 with a front or tip end facing in the insertion direction L when inserting the cap 3 into the jewelry clasp 1 through the first opening 19. The cap 3 also comprises at a rear end a cap part 40 which includes an open spacing or cutout 37 open at a rear end of the cap 3 and in which a first end of the snake chain 54 is inserted, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. The cap 3 further comprises a portion 39 of reduced cross section, more specifically of reduced diameter, formed as a bottleneck positioned between the cap part 40 and the tip part 38. The diameter of the portion 39 is about half the diameter of the cap part 40 and the diameter of the tip part 38. The portion 39 is connected at one end to the tip part 38 and at the other end to the cap part 40. The cap 3 is in one piece, except for the magnet 11. A first end of the snake chain 54 is received in the cut-out 37 and attached to the cap 3 in a manner identical to the attachment of the second end 4 in the ring 16, see FIGS. 4 and 6. The stopper 8 engages and locks the cap 3 when the cap 3 is positioned in the hole 21, and the push button 2 is in the locking state, by the stopper 8 being inserted into the cut-out 37. The cut-out 37 extends circumferentially about the cap 3. The cap 3 is receiving the end, of the intermediate, flexible part of the elongated member.

[0115] As seen in FIG. 7, another embodiment of the jewelry clasp 1 is shown, wherein the push button 2 further comprises an opening 55 in the bottom part 27 of the push button 2, which is adapted to receive the stopper 8. The opening 27 has an annular shape. The stopper 8 is attached through a hinge (not shown) to the opening 55 and rotates around the opening 55 being movable from the releasing state to the locking state. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cap part 40 and the ring 16 comprise a ribbed casing, in the form of a tread. The remaining features are essentially the same with the ones in the embodiments previously presented and will not be described hereafter.

[0116] FIG. 8 shows the jewelry clasp 1 in the releasing state, where the push force P is applied to the surface 34. The stopper 8 has thus released the cap 3 and the first end of the elongated member is pulled out of the hole 21 and out of the clasp shell 9 through the first opening 19. The stopper 8 has thus moved from the locking state to the releasing state. In this embodiment, the stopper 8 comprises a magnetically attractable material, so when the cap 3 is inserted back to the clasp shell 9 through the first opening 19, the stopper 8 is instantly magnetically attracted by the magnet 11 and brought towards the locking state, until the cap 3 forces the stopper 2 towards the releasing position, allowing insertion of the first end into the hole 21 in the push button.

[0117] The jewelry clasp 1 may be assembled according to the following sequence of method steps: [0118] (1) the clasp shell 9 of FIG. 1 is manufactured, e.g. by molding; [0119] (2) the push button main part 26 of FIG. 1 is manufactured, e.g. by molding; [0120] (3) the magnet 10 is positioned to be attached to the clasp shell 9 as previously described; [0121] (4) the stopper 8 is inserted into the push button main part 26 as previously described so that the push button is fully assembled; [0122] (5) the coil spring 7 is attached to a projection 15 of the bottom part 27 of the push button main part 26, more specifically, an upper coil of the spring 7 is allowed to circumscribe the projection 15, see e.g. FIG. 2; and [0123] (6) the assembled push button 2 with the spring 7 attached to the bottom part 27 is inserted through the second opening 20 of the clasp shell 9 so that the push button 2 is slidably received in the spacing 24, the push button 2 being slidable between the releasing state shown in FIG. 5 and the locking state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0124] The bracelet B including the jewelry clasp 1 may then be assembled by attaching the second end 4 of the elongated member 22 to the clasp shell 9 as previously described.

[0125] If the cap 3 of the bracelet B is inserted into and locked to the jewelry clasp 1 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the bracelet B can be opened by the following sequence of steps: [0126] (1) a push force is exerted on the push surface 34 of the button, e.g. by means of a hand or finger, whereby the stopper 8 releases the cap 3; and [0127] (2) the cap is removed from the jewelry clasp 1 by pulling the cap 3 out of the hole 21 of the push button 2 and out of the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9.

[0128] If the cap 3 of the bracelet B is not inserted into the jewelry clasp 1 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the bracelet B can be closed by inserting the cap 3 into the first opening 19 of the clasp shell 9 and into the hole 21 of the push button 2, so that during this insertion the tip part 38 of the cap 3 engages the stopper 8, whereby the insertion of the cap 3 pushes the stopper 8 from the locking state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 into the releasing state shown in FIG. 5 to allow the cap 3 to be inserted into the hole 21.

[0129] As explained, the user does not need to press the push button 2 to insert the cap 3 into the jewelry clasp 1 and close the bracelet B which may allow the user to use only a single hand to close the bracelet B.

[0130] The disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown and described in the above, and various modifications and combinations may be carried out.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0131] 1 Jewelry clasp

[0132] 2 Push button

[0133] 3 Cap

[0134] 4 Second end of elongated member 22

[0135] 7 Spring

[0136] 8 Stopper

[0137] 9 Clasp shell

[0138] 10 First magnet

[0139] 11 Second magnet

[0140] 12 Lower part of clasp shell 9

[0141] 13 Top part of push button 2

[0142] 14 Inclined surface of stopper 8

[0143] 15 Projection of push button 2

[0144] 16 Ring

[0145] 16a Cut-out in ring 16

[0146] 17 Track

[0147] 18 Knob

[0148] 19 First opening of clasp shell 9

[0149] 20 Second opening of clasp shell 9

[0150] 21 Hole of button

[0151] 22 Elongated member

[0152] 23 First end of cap

[0153] 24 Spacing

[0154] 25 Leg of push button 2

[0155] 26 Main part of push button 2

[0156] 27 Bottom part of push button 2

[0157] 28 Attachment slot

[0158] 29 First end of stopper 8

[0159] 30 Barb of stopper 8

[0160] 31 Slot

[0161] 32 Leg of stopper 8

[0162] 33 Beveled surface

[0163] 34 Push surface

[0164] 35 Lower surface

[0165] 36 Button support surface

[0166] 37 Cut-out

[0167] 38 Tip part

[0168] 39 Portion of reduced diameter

[0169] 40 Cap part

[0170] 41 Wall sections

[0171] 42 Upper part of clasp shell 9

[0172] 43 Knob leg

[0173] 44 Exterior surface of clasp shell 9

[0174] 45 Interior surface of clasp shell 9

[0175] 46 First side of clasp shell 9

[0176] 47 Second side of clasp shell 9

[0177] 48 Interior surface of lower part 12 of clasp shell

[0178] 49 Third side of clasp shell 9

[0179] 50 Fourth side of clasp shell 9

[0180] 51 Upper track end

[0181] 52 Slot of leg 25

[0182] 54 Snake chain

[0183] 55 Opening for attachment of stopper

[0184] 56 Tread

[0185] B Bracelet

[0186] L Length direction

[0187] P Push direction