Jewelry setting lock-attaching structure

Abstract

There is provided for the use especially in mounting jewelry ornamental stones in a jewelry setting on a base member such as a ring, a receptacle structure defined on one of opposing mateable male and female members and the male member includes a shaft male projection with a slot extending transversely of and around the shaft male projection, and with the female member having a receptacle defining a space sufficiently large to include downwardly-directed inwardly spring-biased leg structures having leg ends thereof engageable within the shaft slot when the shaft is slid into the space to thereby lock the shaft in the inserted position until such time as the opposing legs are prized apart by depression of a downwardly-directed and extending wedge-leg into a lateral movement between the leg ends in a wedge manner such that the leg structures are forced apart sufficiently for the shaft to be withdrawn.

Parent Case Text

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 360,103 filed May 14, 1973(same title) now U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,416 issued Dec. 10, 1974.

Description

The present invention relates to a lock device for mounting of elements such as jewelry settings within particular base members.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Prior to the present invention, there have existed in the jewelry field various mechanisms for attaching settings to base members but in most instances such mechanisms include means whereby the setting may be easily withdrawn without the necessity of removing any securing lock which makes it very possible that the setting could become lost accidentally at one time or another. A major reason for the lack of a locking mechanism heretofore of any suitable nature is because, at least in part, of the miniature size of the base and setting where they join together for jewelry, and especially the requirement for aesthetically pleasing appearance to the eye, precludes previously the use of conventional locking mechanisms. The locking mechanism heretofore provided were of a large and bulky nature and were not adaptable to the finer pieces of jewelry. Obviously the use of a large key-hole or any such device with a large key would not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye and would thereby totally defeat the utility of the piece as a jewelry piece. At the same time, in order to achieve a workable device, it is necessary for the mechanism thereof to be sufficiently few in number of parts and uncomplicated in its manufacture and assembled structure as to justify its use on low-cost jewelry as well as the finer jewelry. Additionally, aside from the utility of jewelry, it often is desirable to have secure means for attaching other shafts and receptacle pieces such as gear wheels and shaft on which it is mounted, or for different types of shafts for a single common screw-driver handle receptacle, or the like. The same would be true for a bit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, one or more objects of the present invention is to overcome one or more of the difficulties and problems and disadvantages as above noted, and particularly with regard to miniature locking devices such as might be used in jewelry, or electronic components of small size, but as well for large devices, where applicable.

Another object is to obtain a mateing and locking structure and having new and desirable advantages.

A particular object of the invention is to obtain a jewelry-setting piece-mating and locking device.

Other objects become apparent from the preceding and following disclosure.

One or more objects of the present invention are obtained by the invention as defined herein.

Broadly the invention includes locking structures of the male-female types in which the male member includes a transverse slot or step such that upon insertion thereof into the femal member a locking mechanism may lock into the slot or behind the step. A spring-locking key is mounted within the female space and with the key being preferably of a wedge-type (shape), and the female member having side wall circumscribing the space with an aperture in the side wall, the aperture being receivable of a lever member such as preferably a needle or pin linear shaft which when inserted and pressed axially forward with sufficient force is pressable against an outwardly-directed face of the key such that the preferably downwardly-extending inwardly-biased legs of the female member are biased forcefully thereby outwardly from one-another into disengaging positions for release of the slotted or stepped member, thereby making possible the withdrawal of the slotted member. The legs are normally biased inwardly toward one-another closely as to engage opposite surfaces of a shaft and to become engaged within the slot thereof when the shaft is slid into the female member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inwardly biased legs have the legs extending downwardly from an upper hole-defining structure angularly inwardly toward one-another and has the bottom of each leg preferably as a flat abutting edge. Also, preferably each leg on a rearward edge extending substantially uprightly includes a rearwardly extending flange which is bent angularly inwardly toward the opposing leg's flange and with both inwardly bent flanges being directed angularly forward into the enclosed space such that each bent flange defines an acute angle relative to the body of the leg's inner surface of the leg from which it extends, with the result that the key of preferably a pointed wedge is slidably engageable on opposite edges thereof with the respective opposing inwardly bent flanges. The key is preferably a downwardly-bent key flange having a distal end thereof bent to be directed toward the enclosed space in a direction between the inwardly bent flanges of the spaced-apart legs, such that pressure on the rearward face of the key flange wedges slidably the key flange between the spaced-apart inwardly bent flanges of the legs. Upper and lower cylindrical or box-like structures preferably both having a central port therein are mateable around the structure(s) of the inwardly biased legs and of the key flange, with the aperture being in each of both the mateing ported structures with the interior being shaped to fixedly rigidly support the female structure with the biased legs and key. In a further preferred embodiment, the downwardly extending legs and the downwardly extending key flange and the port-defining structure of the female member are all unitary and integral with one-another, preferably cut from a common piece and shaped, or alternatively preferably drilled to a desired shape with its functional parts as defined previously above. The preferred embodiments of this invention include support structures of miniature jewelry such as for example a ring or other small jewelry piece. It should be noted that the cylindrical structures mated with one-another include preferably a cut-away portion of their respective wall with the cut-away portions aligned for receipt of the downwardly-extending key flange, thereby providing for a maximum of leverage space and biasing action.

The male-female locking members of the present invention may optionally be mounted as a part of jewelry settings or of the gear wheel, for example, and the other upon the base, or alternatively the male-female members may be reversed, with the female member as a part of the jewelry setting base and/or the gear, for example. The same is obviously true for other embodiments of the invention.

The invention is particularly adapted to miniature-sized structures where it is desired that there be a locking mechanism to avoid accidental disengagement. Also, basically important to the entire utility of a jewelry piece, as noted above, the locking mechanism cannot be unsightly nor noticeable to the searching eye of the consumer. However, additionally, the utility of the present invention resides in the secure locking mechanism thereby provided and in particular the lack of any structures or mechanisms which would interfere with the overall operation of the members being attached such as shaft and gear wheel or such as vises or boring members whether manual or machine-driven.

The invention may be better understood by reference to the following Figures.

THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded side-perspective view of the male and female locking and mounting structures of the presentt invention in a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 2 illustrates an in-part view in elevation plan as taken along lines 2--2 of the FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom plan view of the female locking member of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a locked assembled state, the cross-section being through the female member and with partial cut-away of the slotted shaft of the male locking member.

FIG. 5 illustrates in exploded view a ring embodiment in perspective view thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 through 5 represent different views of a common preferred embodiment of the present invention, and accordingly may all be referred to in the description of the elements thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates generally the combination of locking elements 6, including a female locking structure 7 and the male locking structure 8, and the upper annular cap structure 9 and the lower annular cap structure 10. The female locking structure 7 includes downwardly extending locking legs 11a and 11b respectively, having rearwardly extending therefrom from a rearward edge of each respectively flanges 12a and 12b respectively which include inwardly turned or bent flange end 13a and 13b defining acute angle 13a' and 13b', the nature of the angles being better seen in FIG. 3 which is a bottom plan view of the female locking structure 7. As best viewable in FIG. 1 and 3, downwardly extending key flange 14 includes a forwardly bent wedge-shaped end portion 15 having wedge-shape inclined edges 15a and 15b engageable with bent flange portions 13a and 13b upon the application of pressure against a backface of downwardly-extending key flange 14 such that the flange end 15 moves forwardly between the inwardly bent flanges 13a and 13b to result in an outwardly biasing of the legs 11a and 11b away from one-another. Each of the legs 11a and 11b and the downwardly extending key flange 14 extend from a common upper structure 16 defining therethrough a port 17 for insertion of male member 8 into space 20 defined between the legs 11a and 11b and the key flange 14. Lower cap 10 has cut-away portion 24 with cut-away steps defining upper surfaces 18'a and 18'b receivable of the female member 7 structure 16 shaped projections 18a and 18b respectively which seat between the respective upright walls 19a and 19b of the lower cap 10 on top of the surfaces 18'a and 18'b. The wall 27a fits within the wall space defined by the wall 27'a with there being a depression groove within the outer surface of surface 26 of cap 9 resulting in an inside ridge 22' which snaps into the groove 22 of the lower cap 10 when in a mated state as shown in side cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, with the key flange 14 extending downwardly into and within the cut-out 24 and within the upper cap 9 cut-out 24'. The lower cap 10 has port-defining walls 23' defining port 17' which is aligned with the port 17 which is adjacent to and aligned with the upper cap 9 port 17 defined by structure 23". The port 17' is defined centrally within the lower cap 10 lower base face 25, and correspondingly port 17" is formed in the upper cap centrally of the face 25'. The upper cap 9 has lower wall faces 27'a extending circumscribingly of the bottomless opening, which corresponds to the upper surface 21 which extends circumscribingly of the edge of the wall 27. Slot space 28 is defined between upper and lower walls 29a and 29 of male member 8; preferably the lower end of the male member is substantially rounded or pointed as head 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates a complete embodiment of the invention in the form of a ring, having a setting base 31 with setting 32 therein and having a ring support structure 33 into which the mated upper and lower caps 9 and 10 are seated securedly with the cut-away portions 24 and 24' aligned with the hole 35 of the annulus structure 34.

It is by virtue of the stepped upright walls 19a and 19b receivable of the shaped structures 18a and 18b at one end of the female stepped edge structure and at 18c and 18d (not illustrated) at the other side of the cylindrical cap 10, that the female locking structure shaped projections 18a and 18b are seated for fixing the exact alignment of the female locking structure 7 in proper alignment within the lower cap 10 with the key flange positioned within the respective cut-outs 24 and 24', and in alignment with the hole 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the shaft of the male structure 8 is moved axially downwardly through the upper and lower portions, the lower ends of the respective legs 11a and 11b become engaged downwardly against the upper face 29 of the step of the head 30, within the slot 28. The locked legs remain in this inwardly-biased state and position until such time as the flange 14 moves toward the inner space in a direction extending between the leg 11a and 11b flanges 13a and 13b to thereby bias or force outwardly the legs 11a and 11b thereby permitting withdrawal of the head 30 from its locked state.

It is within the scope of the present invention to make such modifications and variations and substitution of equivalents as are apparent to a person of ordinary skill in this field.

Claims

I claim:

1. A lock device comprising in combination: an elongated shaft having defined along an elongated axis thereof an indentation slot including at least one substantially upright recessed wall outwardly facing and located above and extending upwardly from an upwardly-stepped-wall face; a shaft-receiving hole structure means defining a port to an enclosure space receivable of a terminal end of the shaft when inserted therein, with a pair of downwardly-extending substantially upright spaced-apart walls further-defining said enclosure space and with a locking-leg distal end of at least one of the spaced-apart walls being lockably engageable against said upwardly-stepped-wall face preventable of withdrawal of the shaft when inserted through said port into said enclosure space, and an inwardly movable outwardly-biased key depressible of a distal key end portion thereof into the enclosure space engagingly with and between said pair of spaced-apart walls such that the pair of spaced-apart walls are pressable thereby outwardly from one-another by the key when depressed inwardly to release the shaft when in locked state; and said key, said downwardly-extending spaced-apart walls, and said port being of a unitary structure, said key being a downwardly-extending key-flange.

2. A lock device of claim 1, in which at least two faces of said shaft along a longitudinal elongated axis thereof each include said substantially upright recessed wall, each said upright recessed wall having a substantially flat face, and in which each of the substantially upright recessed walls extends downwardly to a separate one of said upwardly-facing stepped-wall face, each of the pair of downwardly-extending spaced-apart walls including a separate one of said locking-leg distal end biased against a separate one of said upwardly-facing stepped-wall faces.

3. A lock device of claim 1, in which a distal end of said key-flange is directed inwardly toward said enclosure space and is shaped substantially pointedly and positioned as a wedge pointed between said pair of spaced-apart walls, and in which said spaced-apart walls each includes an inwardly-directed flange member directed into said enclosure space and defining an acute angle relative to the wall from which it extends, each inwardly-directed flange member being engageable by one edge of the wedge such that inward pressing of the key serves to separate the spaced-apart walls from one-another at their respective said locking-leg distal ends to release the locking-leg distal ends from locking engagement with the upwardly-facing stepped-wall faces when the shaft is in an inserted locked state.

4. A lock device of claim 3, and a mounting structure defining substantially upright circumscribing walls substantially surrounding a receptacle space opening upwardly and receivable of said shaft-receiving hole-structure means, and being shaped inwardly of the circumscribing walls for fixedly positioning the shaft-receiving hole-structure means within the receptacle space and defining a through-aperture extending from an exterior through a side face of the circumscribing walls with the through-aperture positioned in substantially vertical alignment with an outwardly-facing surface of said key-flange such that insertion of a lever member axially through said through-aperture against said outwardly-facing surface causes the key to move inwardly whereby the wedge forces outwardly from one-another the pair of inwardly-biased spaced-apart walls and the locking-leg distal ends thereof from their respective locking engagement positions.

5. A lock device of claim 4, in which said mounting structure is a ring.

6. A lock device of claim 1, in said key and said downwardly-extending spaced-apart walls and said port are of a unitary structure, said key being a downwardly-extending key-flange.

7. A lock device of claim 6, in which a distal end of said key-flange is directed inwardly toward said enclosure space and is shaped substantially pointedly and positioned as a wedge pointed between said pair of spaced-apart walls, and in which said pair of spaced-apart walls each includes an inwardly-directed flange member directed into said enclosure space and defining an acute angle relative to the wall from which it extends, each inwardly-directed flange member being engageable by one edge of the wedge such that inward pressing of the key serves to separate the spaced-apart walls from one-another at their respective said locking-leg distal ends to release the locking-leg distal ends from locking engagement with the upwardly-facing stepped wall faces when the shaft is in an inserted locked state.

8. A lock device of claim 1, and a mounting structure defining substantially upright circumscribing walls substantially surrounding a receptacle space opening upwardly and receivable of said shaft-receiving hole-structure means within the receptacle space and defining a through-aperture extending from an exterior through a side face of the circumscribing walls with the through-aperture positioned in substantially vertical alignment with an outwardly-facing surface of said key-flange such that insertion of a lever member axially through said through-aperture against said outwardly-facing surface causes the key to move inwardly whereby the wedge forces outwardly from one-another the pair of inwardly-biased spaced-apart walls and the locking-leg distal ends thereof from their respective locking engagement positions.

9. A lock device of claim 8, in which said mounting structure is a ring.