Clasp For Jewelry And The Like

Abstract

A clasp of the sister hook type is provided with a journaled hook which mates with an oppositely disposed journaled hook.

Description

Background of the Invention

Clasps employing the sister hook concept are well known. Such hooks have particular utility when considerable weight is applied to the overlapping hooks so that they are prevented from pivoting away from load being held. It will be seen that sister hooks of the conventional type by pivoting together in an overlapping condition cannot become unhooked as can a single hook, if it is permitted to swing about the load. Consequently, sister hooks have been commonly employed at the end of anchor ropes as a means of securing an anchor.

However, sister hooks of the prior art possess a relatively clumsy appearance even when fabricated on a diminutive size for the jewelry trade.

Brief Description of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates a sister hook type clasp of relatively small size for use with bracelets, necklaces and other jewelry and the like. By providing an ingenious mating arrangement on the part of one portion of the sister hook with respect to the other part a rather attractive clasp is presented. At the same time retaining or latching means is provided so that there is resistance to the possibility of undesired parting of the mated hooks.

In essence, then, the clasp of the present invention includes a first flat metal member which terminates at one end in a hook. A second flat metal member is associated with the first which also terminates in a hook. The two hooks face each other so that when they are closed they are aligned. The second member is really a double hook which acts as a female for the hook of the first member so that the first hook fits between the double hook. In one embodiment the double hook is connected by a suitable web along a portion of the outer edge of the double hook containing member. In another embodiment each portion of the double hook arrangement is free swinging. The other ends of the members are journaled about a single bushing. Suitable detents, consisting of a protuberance in one hook and a depression in the other, provide for latching.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the clasp of the present invention which a ring (in dotted lines) is retained. FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the clasp of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective of the clasp in a parted or open position. FIG. 5 is a perspective of the clasp of another embodiment in a parted or open position. FIG. 6 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 with the clasp in a locking condition.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Now, turning to the drawings, attention is directed to FIG. 1 for a view of the sister hook clasp 11 of the present invention. The clasp 11 is constructed of two members, namely, a first male member 12 which is shown to have a portion thereof in mating relationship with a second female like member 13. One end of the members is journaled about a bushing 14. An annular ring 15 passes axially through the bushing. The ring 15 is secured to one end 16 of a piece of jewelry, such as a bracelet. The other end of the bracelet is depicted by a partial annual member 17 in dotted lines and is latched by the clasp 11 of the present invention.

FOr a better understanding of the nature of the device of the present invention, attention is now directed to FIG. 4 where member 12 and member 13 are not in mating relationship but are spread apart. It will be seen from FIG. 4 that member 12 is fabricated of a flat piece of metal terminating at one end in a widened portion 18 having an aperture therethrough for the mentioned bushing 14. The other end of member 12 terminates in a hook 19.

On the other hand, member 13 may be considered to have a channel configuration or may be considered to have an upper flat metal piece 20 and a lower flat metal piece 21 which is connected by a web 22 along a major portion of the outer edges of said pieces 20 and 21. From FIGS. 1 and 4, it will be seen that each of one of the ends of pieces 20 and 21 terminate in widened portion 23 and 24 respectively as in connection with member 12. These widened portions 23 and 24 have aligned apertures therethrough of the same size base as in connection with the aperture of widened portion 18. Together, the bases are aligned and are of the same diameter for bushing 14.

From FIG. 1 it will be seen that web 22 does not extend to the widened portions 23 and 24 so that the widened portions present a bifurcation. Also, as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4 the web 22 does not extend to the ends of the hooks of pieces 20 and 21 as such construction would interfere with the mating of the respective hooks.

Hook 19 has a protuberance 25 at the upper and lower surface which fits into outwardly extending dimples 26 for latching purposes as seen in the cross section of FIG. 3.

A side projection 27 on hook 19 and side projections 28 and 29 on pieces 20 and 21, respectively, provide nail holds in order to disengage the mated hooks when in the position of FIG. 2. The separating action need only be sufficient to overcome the retention action caused by protuberances 25 with respect to dimples 26.

For another embodiment of the present invention, attention is now directed to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. It will be noted that in this embodiment pieces 20 and 21 are not connected by a web. However, the hook 19 of member 12 is sandwiched between pieces 20 and 21 to effect a latching arrangement by means of the protuberances 25 and dimples 26 which act as a detent. FIG. 5 more clearly demonstrates the ability of the two pieces to 20 and 21 to be pivotally independent of each other.

In view of the greater freedom of movement of the components in this embodiment the hook positions are more elongated, as can be observed from FIG. 7, in order to provide a greater area of juxtapositioning to increase the retention characteristics of the clasp.

In use, the members 12 and 13 are separated as in FIG. 4, for instance. Then, ring 17, for instance, is slid into either member 12 or 13 and pushed towards the journaled portion of the members. Then, members 12 and 13 are brought into mating relationship as in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, by rotating member 12 towards member 13 or vice versa. A similar operation is called for in conjunction with the second embodiment, except ring 17 should be slid onto both pieces 20 and 21, if that side is used, in order to be effective.

While there has been shown and described particular embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and, therefore, it is aimed to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. In a jewelry clasp,

a. a first platelike element terminating at one end in a hook defined by an inner concave edge and an outer convex edge,

b. a second element comprising two plate like members in spaced relation and joined by a web, each of said plate like members terminating at one end in a hook defined by an inner concave edge and an outer convex edge, with said hooks being in alignment and adapted to receive therebetween the hook of said first plate like element,

c. a bushing pivotally connecting said first and second elements at the ends remote from the hooks,

d. a yieldable detent for maintaining the hook of said first element in position between the hooks of said second element, and

e. a protrusion on each of the convex edges of the platelike members defining the hooks and extending outwardly of said convex edges whereby they constitute fingernail engaging means for breaking the connection of said yieldable detent.