ROTATING JEWELRY CLOSURE

Description

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/101,480, filed on Jan. 25, 2023, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,256,815, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to the field of jewelry. More particularly, the present application relates to the field of jewelry closures of connection elements.

BACKGROUND

In the field of jewelry, particularly with earrings, bracelets and necklaces, there are many types of closures or backings that are used in the prior art. For example, with earrings, the most common type of backing is the push-back which has a friction end stopper that is placed on the stem after it pressed through the piercing. These push-backs can come in many forms such as a butterfly shape, bell, or disc end-stopper. A drawback with this type of closure is that in some cases it is hard to fit the closure onto the stem, and also such independent push-backs are often lost or misplaced.

Another type of earing closure is the kidney closing which can take the shape of the stem extending an elongated loop that closes by latching the end behind a small hook. Here a pendant can hang on the kidney-closing and kept in place by a recess, but if left open the pendant can slide out of the closure. Another open stem closing is the fishhook closing which looks essentially similar to a fishing hook. Where the kidney closure is a closed-loop when closed, a fishhook type is somewhat similar but is always be open and could potentially result in the earing falling out.

Another earing closure is the endless closure where a post extends from one end of a hoop and, after passing through the piercing, enters a cavity on the other side of the hoop, making an apparently seamless hoop. This provides a very streamlined closure, but it can be hard to fit the post into the small opening on the other side of the hoop.

There are other common earring closures for non-pierced ears such a clip-on closures or friction closures, but they are not applicable to pierced earring closures.

Regarding closures for larger jewelry items such as bracelets or necklaces, there are numerous other known closures. A first type of common closure is a ball or bead clasp, which is a round, spherical jewelry fastener. Another common clasp is the barrell clasp which is small barrel or torpedo-shaped closure which fastens two ends together through a screw, box or hook-insert mechanism.

A box clasp is another form of closure that uses a tab or insert that is inserted into a decorative box. A fishhook clasp is another form of clasp that has a hook designed to be inserted into an oval shaped casing and can be used for lighter weight jewelry. This is similar to a basic hook clasp that simply has a curved piece for catching onto a loop or circle on the opposing side of jewelry.

Other types of bracelet or necklace clasps include the lobster clasp which resembles a pinching style lobster claw that is spring loaded to clamp onto an opposing loop. Another spring-loaded closure is the push button clasp that clicks into place when an opposing stem or ball joint is inserted into a spring clasp, later released by pressing the button. A swivel clasp is another form of closure that is the same as lobster clasp but with a 360° swivel. There is also the basic springing clasp which is a loop with a spring-loaded slide that is retracted to allow an opposing hoop to connect.

Another type of clasp used on certain types of material bracelets, like leather bracelets is a buckle clasp which is essentially the same a belt buckle. A concealed clasp is another rarer form of jewelry closure that is hidden within a design but otherwise functions the same as other clasps functionally, for example, a hidden box clasp. Another less common closure is the ladder clasp which has what appears as a two-spoke ladder, that is folded over against an opposing side with a notch that can be fit into one of the spokes of the ladder for an adjustably sized fit.

Again, other closure types for bracelets and necklaces can include slide clasps, with two bars that slide into a locked position with one another. Magnetic clasps are very basic and simply connect with two opposing magnets. A toggle clasp is a two-piece closure in the form of a bar on one side and a hoop on the other. The bar is angled and passed lengthwise through the hoop and then arranged in a wide manner so as not to be able to pass back through the same hoop to complete the connection.

However, despite these numerous types of closures for both earrings as well as necklaces and bracelets, they all tend to suffer from at least one of three different drawbacks, and occasionally two or even all three.

Because jewelry tends to be small, the closures are even smaller. Many people, particularly the elderly and those with arthritis or poor vision, have great difficulty in manipulating the small parts needed to open the closures, make the connection, and then close the closure. See for example the basic spring clasp which requires manipulation of a small spring and threading a small eyelet over an open hoop.

Another major drawback to the prior art closures is that many of the designs simply don't hold very well or do not lock at all which can lead to lost jewelry. See for example the basic push-back earing closures or the fish-hook style stems.

Another drawback with prior art closures is that some of the more secure closures tend to be complicated to construct and include parts that can wear out over time. This is particularly true of all spring-loaded closures because the spring can either wear out over time because it is usually very small, and also such springs can become displaced making the closure inoperative.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The present arrangement looks to overcome the drawbacks associated with the prior art and provide a jewelry closure that can be used on both earrings as well as bracelets and necklaces, and possibly other forms of jewelry that is constructed in a way to make it easy to open and close, manufactured in a sturdy yet relatively less complicated manner, and further provides a secure connection with no chance of losing the jewelry item or parts of the closure.

Such an arrangement includes a stem with a notch on a first side of the jewelry item. A rotatable connection element is supported on the other side of the jewelry item. Inside the rotatable connection element are two parallel catches with a space in between them for receiving the notched stem.

To close the closure, the notched stem is placed into the rotatable connection element with the stem passing through the two parallel catches inside. Then the wearer locks the closure by rotating the rotatable connection element. In doing so the two parallel catches engage the notch on the stem and prevent the closure from opening. To open the closure, the rotatable connection element in the opposite direction, re-orienting the parallel catches to release the notch on the stem, allowing the stem to be removed, opening the closure.

To this end 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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.