Clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6293444
  • Patent Number
    6,293,444
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 29, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 25, 2001
    22 years ago
Abstract
A clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet. The clamp includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The stationary jaw extends along the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the wrist on which the bracelet is to be donned and is releasably grasped between the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted to, and biased against, the stationary jaw, and together with the stationary jaw releasably hold one end of the bracelet therebetween.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a clamp. More particularly, the present invention relates to a clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Jewelry, such as rings, broaches, necklaces, and bracelets, is widely used by women and men for ornamentation. Particularly, bracelets are ornamental bands or chains, or string of beads or pearls worn around a person's wrist. Although some bracelets are formed various materials into a shape of a continuous band that is slid over a person's hand, most bracelets have a releasable clasp for connecting together the two ends of the bracelet to securely retain the bracelet around a person's wrist.




A typical clasp has a first interlocking member and a second releasably operable, usual spring biased, interlocking member, each of which is attached to opposite ends of a bracelet.




An example of a typical clasp, for connecting the ends of a bracelet and securing the bracelet around a person's wrist, generally consists of a small continuous ringlet or loop at one end of the bracelet and a releasably operable hook or loop attached at the other end of the bracelet. The releasably operable hook interlocks with the ringlet to connect the two ends of the bracelet together.




Another example, of a typical clasp, for use in connecting the ends of a bracelet and securing the bracelet around a person's wrist, generally includes a receiving member having a cavity attached at one end of the bracelet and a mating member having an insertable projection attached at the other end of the bracelet. Either of the receiving or the mating members can be releasably operable. The mating member interlocks with the receiving member to connect the two ends of the bracelet together.




Various other configurations of releasable clamps have been devised for connecting the ends of a bracelet together and retain it around a person's wrist.




A major problem with a bracelet having a releasable clasp is in the effort required by a person to easily and quickly fasten the around his or her wrist. Manually fastening a bracelet around one's wrist requires an individual to exhibit great dexterity. First, the hand, adjoining the wrist upon which the bracelet is to be worn, if often of no help in manipulating the clasp. Often, a person must solely use one hand, the hand opposite from the wrist to which the bracelet is to be worn, to hold the first interlocking member in place on their wrist while attempting to connect the second usually releasably operable interlocking member. Frequently, a person needs to try several times in order to successfully connect the clasp of the bracelet when trying to fasten it around his or her wrist.




Numerous innovations for bracelet fastening devices have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.




FOR EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 323,132 to Grennan teaches the ornamental design for a bracelet fastening tool.




ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 348,187 to Higgins teaches the ornamental design for a bracelet attaching tool.




STILL ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 387,253 to Fakler teaches the ornamental design for a bracelet fastener helper.




YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,405,066 to Fakler teaches a bracelet clasp fastening aid that has a curved portion for gripping the edge of a table or counter top and another curved portion for receiving one's wrist. Pressure is applied from the wrist onto the curved side allowing the other hand to be free to attach both sides of a bracelet clasp.




FINALLY, STILL YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,327 to LaMacchia et al. teaches a bracelet fastening device to assist a person in quickly and easily fastening a bracelet around his or her wrist. The device overcomes the problems associated with fastening a bracelet around one's own wrist without the assistance of another person and particularly by a person with impaired fine motor skills. The device generally includes a handle and releasable clamping means operably attached to the handle. The clamping means is operable to releasably hold at least one interlocking member of a releasable clasp of a bracelet. The handle is sized and configured to be held in a hand of a person, so that the clamping means is positioned to rest on a wrist adjoining the hand holding the handle. A person using the bracelet fastening device can hold and position with one hand at least one interlocking member of the releasable clasp on the adjoining wrist while using the other free hand to fasten the other interlocking member of the clasp therewith to securely retain the bracelet around the wrist.




It is apparent that numerous innovations for bracelet fastening devices have been provided in the prior art that are adapted to be used. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




ACCORDINGLY, AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.




ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.




STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet that is simple to use.




BRIEFLY STATED, YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet. The clamp includes a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. The stationary jaw extends along the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the wrist on which the bracelet is to be donned and is releasably grasped between the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned. The movable jaw is pivotally mounted to, and biased against, the stationary jaw, and together with the stationary jaw releasably hold one end of the bracelet therebetween.




The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING




The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:





FIG. 1

is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in use;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted ellipse identified by ARROW


2


in

FIG. 1

of the present invention;











LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING






10


clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet of the present invention






12


one hand






14


bracelet






16


stationary jaw for extending along palm of one hand


12


and for being releasably grasped between palm


18


of one hand


12


and fingers


22


of one hand


12








18


palm of one hand


12








20


wrist of one hand


12








22


fingers of one hand


12








24


proximal end of stationary jaw


16


for being releasably grasped between palm


18


of one hand


12


and fingers


22


of one hand


12








26


distal end of stationary jaw


16


for resting on wrist


20


of one hand


12








28


coplanar flare of distal end


26


of stationary jaw


16








30


pair of longitudinal edges of distal end


26


of stationary jaw


16








32


pair of tabs of stationary jaw


16








34


pair of aligned throughbores extending, respectively, through pair of tabs


32


of stationary jaw


16








36


first surface of stationary jaw


16


for facing palm


18


of one hand


12








38


second surface of stationary jaw


16


for contacting fingers


22


of one hand


12








40


movable jaw






42


one end of bracelet


14








44


proximal end of movable jaw


40








46


coplanar flare of proximal end


44


of movable jaw


40








48


distal end of movable jaw


40








50


coplanar flare of distal end


48


of movable jaw


40








52


pair of longitudinal edges of movable jaw


40








54


pair of tabs of movable jaw


40








56


pair of aligned throughbores extending, respectively, transversely through pair of tabs


54


of movable jaw


40








58


first surface of movable jaw


40








60


second surface of movable jaw


40


for contacting fingers


22


of one hand


12








62


pin






64


compression spring






66


pair of ends of compression spring


64








68


space






70


other end of bracelet


14








72


other hand




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to

FIG. 1

, which is a diagrammatic perspective view of the present invention in use, the clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet of the present invention is shown generally at


10


for holding in one hand


12


and assisting in donning a bracelet


14


.




The configuration of the clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet


10


can best be seen in

FIG. 2

, which are, respectively, an enlarged exploded perspective view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted ellipse identified by ARROW


2


in

FIG. 1

of the present invention, and a system diagram of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with reference thereto.




The clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet


10


comprises a stationary jaw


16


for extending along the palm


18


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned and the wrist


20


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned and for being releasably grasped between the palm


18


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned and the fingers


22


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned.




The stationary jaw


16


is substantially flat and coplanar and shaped generally like a bulbous hourglass with one end larger than the end, and both ends having rounded edges.




The stationary jaw


16


has a proximal end


24


for being releasably grasped between the palm


18


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned and the fingers


22


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned.




The proximal end


24


of the stationary jaw


16


is bulbously coplanarly flaring for wider releasable grasping between the palm


18


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned and the fingers


22


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned.




The stationary jaw


16


further has a distal end


26


for resting on the wrist


20


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned.




The distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


narrows from the proximal end


24


of the stationary jaw


16


and terminates in a coplanar flare


28


, and has a pair of longitudinal edges


30


.




The stationary jaw


16


further has a pair of tabs


32


that extend perpendicularly upwardly, respectively, from the pair of longitudinal edges


30


of the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


.




The pair of tabs


32


of the stationary jaw


16


have a pair of aligned throughbores


34


that extend, respectively, transversely therethrough.




The stationary jaw


16


further has a first surface


36


for facing the palm of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned, and a second surface


38


that is disposed opposite to the first surface


36


of the stationary jaw


16


for contacting the fingers


22


of the one hand


12


on which the bracelet


14


is to be donned.




The clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet


10


further comprises a movable jaw


40


pivotally mounted to, and biased against, the stationary jaw


16


for releasably holding one end


42


of the bracelet


14


therebetween.




The movable jaw


40


is substantially flat, coplanar, and resembles the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


.




The movable jaw


40


has a proximal end


44


that originates with a coplanar flare


46


that is normally vertically spaced from the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


16


, intermediate the proximal end


24


of the stationary jaw


16


and the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


.




The movable jaw


40


further has a distal end


48


that terminates in a coplanar flare


50


that normally contacts, and is normally biased against, the coplanar flare


28


on the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


, and a pair of longitudinal edges


52


.




The movable jaw


40


further has a pair of tabs


54


that depend perpendicularly, respectively, from the pair of longitudinal edges


52


of the movable jaw


40


, and adjoin, respectively, the pair of tabs


32


of the stationary jaw


16


.




The pair of tabs


54


of the movable jaw


40


have a pair of aligned throughbores


56


that extend, respectively, transversely therethrough and align, respectively, with the pair of throughbores


34


in the pair of tabs


32


of the stationary jaw


16


.




The movable jaw


40


further has a first surface


58


that faces the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


16


, and a second surface


60


that is disposed opposite to the first surface


58


of the movable jaw


40


.




The clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet


10


further comprises a pin


62


that pivotally mount the stationary jaw


16


to the movable jaw


40


.




The pin


62


extends rotatably through the pair of throughbores


34


in the pair of tabs


32


of the stationary jaw


16


and through the pair of throughbores


56


in the pair of tabs


54


of the movable jaw


40


.




The clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet


10


further comprises a compression spring


64


that is disposed on the pin


62


and biases the movable jaw


40


against the stationary jaw


16


.




The compression spring


64


has a pair of ends


66


that, respectively, contact the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


16


and the first surface


58


of the movable jaw


40


.




STEP 1: Press the proximal end


44


of the movable jaw


40


down towards the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


16


.




STEP 2: Cause the distal end


48


of the movable jaw


40


to separate from the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


and form a space


68


therebetween.




STEP 3: Insert the one end


42


of the bracelet


14


in the space


68


, with the bracelet


14


extending transversely therefrom.




STEP 4: Release the proximal end


44


of the movable jaw


40


from the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


14


.




STEP 5: Cause the one end


42


of the bracelet


14


to be releasably trapped between the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


and the distal end


48


of the movable jaw


40


.




STEP 6: Face the palm


18


of the one hand


12


up.




STEP 7: Position the first surface


36


of the stationary jaw against the palm


18


of the one hand


12


, with the distal end


26


of the stationary jaw


16


resting on the wrist


20


of the one hand


12


.




STEP 8: Grasp the proximal end


24


of the stationary jaw


16


between the palm


18


of the one hand


12


and the fingers


22


of the one hand


12


.




STEP 9: Grasp the other end


70


of the bracelet


14


with the other hand


72


.




STEP 10: Wrap the bracelet


14


around the wrist


20


of the one hand


12


.




STEP 11: Secure the other end


70


of the bracelet


14


to the one end


42


of the bracelet


14


.




STEP 12: Press again the proximal end


44


of the movable jaw


40


down towards the second surface


38


of the stationary jaw


16


.




STEP 13: Release the bracelet


14


from the space


68


.




It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.




While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a clamp for holding in a hand and assisting in donning a bracelet, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.




Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.



Claims
  • 1. A clamp for holding in one hand and assisting in donning a bracelet, comprising:a) a stationary jaw shaped generally like a bulbous hourglass with one end larger than the other end, and both ends having rounded edges for extending along the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the wrist on which the bracelet is to be donned and for being releasably grasped between the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned; and b) a nearly identically shaped movable jaw pivotally mounted to, and biased against, said stationary jaw, and together with said stationary jaw being for releasably holding one end of the bracelet therebetween c) a pin pivotally mounting said stationary jaw to said movable jaw; and d) a compression spring disposed on said pin and biasing said movable jaw against said stationary jaw; said clamp having no exterior sharp edges and being sized for fitting in the palm of a hand.
  • 2. The clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said stationary jaw is substantially flat and coplanar.
  • 3. The clamp as defined in claim 1, wherein said stationary jaw has a proximal end for being releasably grasped between the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned.
  • 4. The clamp as defined in claim 3, wherein said proximal end of said stationary jaw is bulbously coplanarly flaring for wider releasable grasping between the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned and the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned.
  • 5. The clamp as defined in claim 3, wherein said stationary jaw has a distal end for resting on the wrist of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned.
  • 6. The clamp as defined in claim 5, wherein said distal end of said stationary jaw narrows from said proximal end of said stationary jaw and terminates in a coplanar flare, and has a pair of longitudinal edges.
  • 7. The clamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said stationary jaw further has a pair of tabs that extend perpendicularly upwardly, respectively, from said pair of longitudinal edges of said distal end of said stationary jaw.
  • 8. The clamp as defined in claim 7, wherein said pair of tabs of said stationary jaw have a pair of aligned throughbores that extend, respectively, transversely therethrough.
  • 9. The clamp as defined in claim 5, wherein said stationary jaw has:a) a first surface for facing the palm of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned; and b) a second surface that is disposed opposite to said first surface of said stationary jaw for contacting the fingers of the one hand on which the bracelet is to be donned.
  • 10. The clamp as defined in claim 5, wherein said movable jaw is substantially flat, coplanar, and resembles said distal end of said stationary jaw.
  • 11. The clamp as defined in claim 9, wherein said movable jaw has a proximal end that originates with a coplanar flare that is normally vertically spaced from said second surface of said stationary jaw, intermediate said proximal end of said stationary jaw and said distal end of said stationary jaw.
  • 12. The clamp as defined in claim 6, wherein said movable jaw has:a) a distal end that terminates in a coplanar flare that normally contacts, and is normally biased against, said coplanar flare on said distal end of said stationary jaw; and b) a pair of longitudinal edges.
  • 13. The clamp as defined in claim 12, wherein said movable jaw further have a pair of tabs that depend perpendicularly, respectively, from said pair of longitudinal edges of said movable jaw, and adjoin, respectively, said pair of tabs of said stationary jaw.
  • 14. The clamp as defined in claim 13, wherein said pair of tabs of said movable jaw have a pair of aligned throughbores that extend, respectively, transversely therethrough and align, respectively, with said pair of throughbores in said pair of tabs of said stationary jaw.
  • 15. The clamp as defined in claim 9, wherein said movable jaw has:a) a first surface that faces said second surface of said stationary jaw; and b) a second surface that is disposed opposite to said first surface of said movable jaw.
  • 16. The clamp as defined in claim 14, wherein said pin extends rotatably through said pair of throughbores in said pair of tabs of said stationary jaw and through said pair of throughbores in said pair of tabs of said movable jaw.
  • 17. The clamp as defined in claim 15, wherein said compression spring has a pair of ends that, respectively, contact said second surface of said stationary jaw and said first surface of said movable jaw.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
928086 Viganego Jul 1909
5142776 Neely Sep 1992
5709327 LaMacchia et al. Jan 1998
5934526 Rosenbaum et al. Aug 1999
6036065 Wofford et al. Mar 2000