U.S. patent application number 13/198965 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for bracelet.
This patent application is currently assigned to OK RAN CHO. Invention is credited to OK RAN CHO.
Application Number | 20120318019 13/198965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46689213 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120318019 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHO; OK RAN |
December 20, 2012 |
BRACELET
Abstract
A bracelet comprising a body member having a locking aperture
provided in one end of the body member and a locking piece formed
by the locking aperture; a steel sheet spring fitted such that the
proximal end is fastened to the inside of the other end of the body
member and the distal end is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of
the steel sheet spring; and a locking member in which the rear end
is fastened to the distal end of the steel sheet spring, a locking
protrusion projecting from the outer surface of the front end and
engaging with the locking piece through the locking aperture from
the inside to the outside thereof is formed, and a pressing piece
projecting from the outer surface of the direct rear portion of the
locking protrusion and exposed outwardly from the other end of the
body member.
Inventors: |
CHO; OK RAN; (Seoul,
KR) |
Assignee: |
CHO; OK RAN
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
46689213 |
Appl. No.: |
13/198965 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/3.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/2019 20130101;
A44C 5/0092 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/3.2 |
International
Class: |
A44C 5/20 20060101
A44C005/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 15, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0057982 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A bracelet having first and second sections hinged together at a
first end of each of the first and second sections to facilitate
opening and closing of the bracelet, the bracelet comprising: a
locking aperture in the first section, the locking aperture forming
a locking piece at a second end of the first section; a locking
member comprising: a locking protrusion, the locking protrusion
fitting within the locking aperture and catching the locking piece
when the bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing piece
enabling a user to release the locking protrusion from the locking
piece to facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch separating
the locking protrusion from the pressing piece; and a spring, the
spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to a second end
of the second section, the spring having a second end fixedly
fastened directly to the locking member.
3. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, the pressing piece
extending past an outer circumferential surface of the second
section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.
4. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, further comprising a notch
formed in the second end of the second section, the notch
accommodating the pressing piece.
5. The bracelet as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a notch
formed in the second end of the second section, the notch
accommodating the pressing piece.
6. The bracelet as set forth in claim 4, the pressing piece
extending through the notch and past an outer circumferential
surface of the second section when the user does not press on the
pressing piece.
7. The bracelet as set forth in claim 2, the spring comprising
sheet metal.
8. A bracelet having first and second sections hinged together at a
first end of each of the first and second sections to facilitate
opening and closing of the bracelet, the bracelet comprising: a
locking aperture formed in the first section, the locking aperture
forming a locking piece at a second end of the first section; a
locking member attached to an inner surface area of the second
section, the locking member comprising: a locking protrusion
extending past a second end of the second section, the locking
protrusion fitting within the locking aperture and catching the
locking piece when the bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing
piece enabling a user to release the locking protrusion from the
locking piece to facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch
separating the locking protrusion from the pressing piece; and a
spring, the spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to
the second end of the second section, the spring having a second
end fixedly fastened directly to the locking member.
9. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, the pressing piece
extending past an outer circumferential surface of the second
section when the user does not press on the pressing piece.
10. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a
groove formed in the second end of the second section, the groove
accommodating the pressing piece.
11. The bracelet as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a
groove formed in the second end of the second section, the groove
accommodating the pressing piece.
12. The bracelet as set forth in claim 10, the pressing piece
extending through the groove and above an outer circumferential
surface of the second section when the user does not press on the
pressing piece.
13. The bracelet as set forth in claim 8, the spring comprising
sheet metal.
14. A bracelet comprising: a first section and second section; a
hinge rotatably connecting a first end of the first section to a
first end of the second section to facilitate opening and closing
of the bracelet; a locking aperture formed in a second end of the
first section, the locking aperture forming a locking piece at a
proximal end of the first section; a locking member attached to an
inner circumferential surface area of the second section, the
locking member comprising: a locking protrusion extending beyond a
second end of the second section, the locking protrusion fitting
within the locking aperture and catching the locking piece when the
bracelet is in a closed position; a pressing piece enabling a user
to release the locking protrusion from the locking piece to
facilitate opening the bracelet; and a notch separating the locking
protrusion from the pressing piece, the notch accommodating the
locking piece when the bracelet is in the closed position; and a
spring, the spring having a first end fixedly fastened directly to
the inner circumferential surface area of the second end of the
second section, the spring having a second end fixedly fastened
directly to the locking member.
15. The bracelet as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a
groove formed in a proximal end of the second section, the groove
accommodating the pressing piece.
16. The bracelet as set forth in claim 15, the pressing piece
extending through the groove and above an outer circumferential
surface of the second section when the user does not press on the
pressing piece.
Description
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same
herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
from an application earlier filed in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office on 15 Jun. 2011 and there duly assigned Serial No.
10-2011-0057982.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a bracelet, and in particular, to
a bracelet which can be worn and/or taken off against on the wrist
very simply and easily.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A bracelet, which is a type of accessories worn on the
wrist, has generally locking members at its both ends, and the
locking members are interconnected to prevent the bracelet from
being taken off from the wrist while wearing the bracelet, or the
locking members are released to take off the bracelet from the
wrist.
[0004] In case of conventional locking members, they have
complicated configurations, and manipulations for engaging and/or
unengaging both ends of a bracelet using such locking members is
also complicated. Thus, cumbersome and inconvenient actions may be
required for wearing and/or unwearing a bracelet. Also, in some
cases, such locking members are not securely locked, and they may
be released spontaneously. As a result, a bracelet might frequently
be taken off from the wrist by itself, and fall on the ground and
damage, or even it may be lost. In such cases, since it is required
to purchase a new bracelet, resources and costs may be wasted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This invention has been invented to solve these problems. It
is an object of this invention to provide a bracelet which can be
worn and/or taken off against the wrist very simply and easily.
[0006] It is another object of this invention to provide a bracelet
of which both ends can be securely locked with a simple
configuration, thereby avoiding the waste of resources and
costs.
[0007] In order to achieve these objects, according to this
invention, it is provided a bracelet comprising a body member which
is in the form of chain or ring and has a locking aperture provided
in one end of the body member and a locking piece formed by the
locking aperture; a steel sheet spring fitted such that the
proximal end is fastened to the inside of the other end of the body
member, as the counter part of the locking piece and the distal end
is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of the steel sheet spring;
and a locking member in which the rear end is fastened to the
distal end of the steel sheet spring, a locking protrusion
projecting from the outer surface of the front end and engaging
with the locking piece through the locking aperture from the inside
to the outside thereof is formed, and a pressing piece projecting
from the outer surface of the direct rear portion and exposed
outwardly from the other end of the body member is formed, wherein
when both ends of the body member are connected, the locking piece
passes over the locking protrusion while pressing it and the
locking member is pressed inwardly, and then if the locking
protrusion is positioned in the locking aperture, the locking
member is pushed outwardly by the elasticity of the steel sheet
spring and the locking protrusion is engaged with the locking
piece, thus the locking elements are securely locked not to be
released spontaneously, and wherein when the pressing piece is
pressed by force greater than the elasticity of the steel sheet
spring, the locking member is pressed and the engagement between
the engaging protrusion and the locking protrusion is released to
unlock simply the locking elements. Accordingly, the bracelet
according to this invention may be simply worn and/or taken off
against the wrist in one-touch way.
[0008] As such, the bracelet according to this invention has a
simple configuration such that the bracelet can be simply and
easily worn and/or taken off against the wrist in one-touch way.
Furthermore, the bracelet according to this invention can be
securely locked at its both ends, thereby avoiding the loss of
wearing bracelet and the waste of resources and costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of
the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the
same or similar components, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bracelet according to
an embodiment of this invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bracelet of FIG. 1
with both ends being locked.
[0012] FIG. 3a is an enlarged cross-sectional view of both ends in
the bracelet of FIG. 1 before both ends are locked.
[0013] FIG. 3b is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing both
ends locked in the bracelet of FIG. 3a.
[0014] FIG. 3c is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a
pressing piece pressed in the bracelet of FIG. 3b.
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a locking
member and a steel sheet spring in the bracelet of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Hereinafter, the bracelet according to this invention will
be described in detail with reference to an embodiment of this
invention and the accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bracelet according to
an embodiment of this invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view
showing the bracelet of FIG. 1 with both ends being locked; FIG. 3a
is an enlarged cross-sectional view of both ends in the bracelet of
FIG. 1 before both ends are locked; FIG. 3h is an enlarged
cross-sectional view showing both ends. locked in the bracelet of
FIG. 3a; FIG. 3c is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a
pressing piece pressed in the bracelet of FIG. 3b; and FIG. 4 is an
enlarged cross-sectional view of a locking member and a steel sheet
spring in the bracelet of FIG. 1.
[0018] According to an embodiment of this invention, a bracelet
comprises body member 10 having locking aperture 11 provided in one
end of body member 10 and locking piece 12 formed by locking
aperture 11; steel sheet spring 20 fitted such that the proximal
end is fastened to the inside of the other end of body member 10,
as the counterpart of locking piece 12 and the distal end is pushed
outwardly by the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20; and locking
member 30 in which the rear end is fastened to the distal end of
steel sheet spring 20, locking protrusion 31 projecting from the
outer surface of the front end and engaging with locking piece 12
through locking aperture 11 from the inside to the outside thereof
is formed, and pressing piece 32 projecting from the outer surface
of the direct rear portion and exposed outwardly from the other end
of body member 10 is formed.
[0019] Body member 10 has the form of chain or ring. In the form of
ring, body member 10 is connected using hinge 13 at the center of
body member 10, and the space between two separated portions may be
widened. Also, mounting groove 14 is formed in the inside of one
end of body member 10, and steel sheet spring 20 is fastened to
mounting groove 14 with the proximal end of steel sheet spring 20
being not projected from said inside.
[0020] Also, through-groove 15 is formed in the other end of body
member 10, and pressing piece 32 is exposed outwardly through
through-groove 15, so that both ends of body member 10 may be
closed with the thickness of pressing piece 32 when both ends are
locked.
[0021] Locking protrusion 31 of locking member 30 is formed with
the front surface biased, so that the corresponding locking piece
12 with the lower surface biased may easily pass over locking
protrusion 31 while pressing it. The outer end of pressing piece 32
is formed with the surface curved.
[0022] Furthermore, the fastening of steel sheet spring 20 to
mounting groove 14 and the fastening of locking member 30 to steel
sheet spring 20 may he achieved using a means such as a rivet.
[0023] When wearing the bracelet configured according to this
invention, first, body member 10 of the bracelet is widened and the
bracelet is put on the wrist with both ends of body member 10 being
spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3a. Then, body member 10 is closed
such that its both ends are connected.
[0024] Thereby, locking piece 12 passes over locking protrusion 31
while pressing it, when locking member 30 is pressed inwardly.
Subsequently, if locking protrusion 31 is positioned in locking
aperture 11 and is no longer pressed, then locking member 30 is
pushed outwardly by the elasticity of steel sheet spring 20 and
locking protrusion 31 is engaged with locking piece 12. As a
result, both ends of body member 10 are securely locked as shown in
FIG. 3b, and this locked state is securely maintained and not
released by itself due to the elasticity of steel sheet spring
20.
[0025] In this state, in order to take off the bracelet, as shown
in FIG. 3c, pressing piece 32 is pressed by force greater than the
elasticity of steel sheet spring 20 to press locking member 30 and
to release the engagement between engaging protrusion 31 and
locking piece 12. Then, the bracelet may immediately be taken
off.
[0026] As such, in the bracelet according to an embodiment of this
invention, when closing and connecting both ends of body member 10
to engage locking protrusion 31 with locking piece 12, and
releasing the engagement between locking protrusion 31 and locking
piece 12 by pressing pressing piece 32, each operation may be done
in one-touch way. Accordingly, the bracelet according to this
invention may be worn and/or taken off against the wrist very
simply and easily.
THE DESCRIPTIONS FOR REFERENCE NUMBERS
TABLE-US-00001 [0027] 10: body member 11: locking aperture 12:
locking piece 20: steel sheet spring 30: locking member 31: locking
protrusion 32: pressing piece
* * * * *