BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clasp.
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the clasp shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 2A-2A′.
FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the clasp shown in FIG. 1, taken along line 2B-2B′.
FIG. 3 is an elevational view of a clasp used to secure two ends of a chain.
FIGS. 4A-4C are cross-sectional views of a clasp in use.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a clasp.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a clasp employing a force mechanism in the top portion.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a clasp employing a mechanical force mechanism.
FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a clasp employing a locking mechanism in an unlocked position.
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a clasp employing a locking mechanism in a locked position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, one embodiment of the invention includes a clasp 100 that may be used to secure chains, such as chains used with jewelry, and other types of objects. It includes a first section 110 and a second section 120. Both the first section 110 and the second section 120 are attachable to a chain 142 through a secured link 140.
The first section 110 has an outer surface 114 that ends at a top face 111 and defines a cylindrical passage 112, having a base surface 113, passing longitudinally through a portion of the first section 110 and opening to the top face 111. At least one J-shaped longitudinal groove 116 is defined by the inner wall of the cylindrical passage 112. (Two oppositely disposed and mirrored longitudinal grooves 116 are shown in the present embodiment.)
The longitudinal groove 116 includes a main longitudinal portion 117 and a transverse portion 119 that is in communication with the longitudinal portion 117. A hooked portion 118 is in communication with the transverse portion 119 and is parallel to, and shorter than, the longitudinal portion 117.
The second section 120 includes a top portion 122 having a bottom surface 123 and a narrower piston portion 124, having a bottom surface 125, extending longitudinally therefrom. The piston portion 124 has dimensions that are complimentary to the dimensions of the cylindrical passage 112, allowing mating engagement therein. At least one pin 126 extends from the piston portion 124 so as to be engageable with the longitudinal groove 116.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a linkable object 142 (e.g., a chain 142, a cable, a line or the like) includes a first portion terminating in a first end 146 and a second portion terminating in an opposite second end 144. A first secured link 140 is affixed to the second face 141 of the first section 110 and the first secured link 140 is engaged with the first end 146 of the linkable object. Similarly, a second secured 140 link is affixed to the first face 143 of the second section 120 and is engaged with the second end 144 of the linkable object 142. The linkable object 142 is not necessarily a single contiguous thing, but may be two separate things that, when secured together by the embodiment of the invention for a linkable object.
As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, a force member provides force that tends to push the second section 120 away from the first section 110. In one embodiment, the force member includes a first magnet 130 polarized in a first manner disposed in the cylindrical passage 112 and a second magnet 132 polarized in the first manner and disposed at the end of the piston portion 122. Because of their like polarities, the first magnet 130 exerts an opposing force on the second magnet 132.
To fasten the clasp, the user pushes the piston portion 122 substantially all of the way into the cylindrical passage 112, with the pins 126 engaging the grooves 116. The user then twists the second section 120 with respect to the first section 120 until the pins 126 are aligned with the hooked portion 118. The user then releases the clasp and the magnets 130 and 132 force the pins 126 into the hooked portion 118, thereby securing the second section 120 to the first section 110. To release the clasp 100, the user pushes the second section 120 into the first section 110, twists the second section 120 relative to the first section 110 and releases both sections. The magnets 130 and 132 force the second section 120 away from the first section 110.
As shown in FIG. 5, the cylindrical passage 112 can include a tapered section 140 and the piston portion 124 can include a complimentary tapered section 142 to facilitate ease of mating the piston portion 124 to the cylindrical passage 112.
Other types of force members may be used. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the magnets 160 and 162 (or other force member) are disposed around the top surface of the first section 110 and the second section 120, respectively. In this embodiment, electrical wires can be run through the device and the device can be used as an electrical connector. This embodiment could be used as a quick connect for hoses as well by defining a passage through the center of the first section 110 and the second section 120 and placing an o-ring at the base of the cylindrical passage 112. In another example, as shown in FIG. 7, the force member 164 could be a spring or a springy substance, such as a piece of foam.
One embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, employs a locking mechanism to prevent the first section 110 from disengaging the second section 120. The locking mechanism could be a locking device that includes a lip 180 extending from the top portion 122 of the second section 120 so that when the first section 110 is engaged with the second section 120, the lip 180 extends around a portion of the first section 110. A nut 184 includes a first plurality of threads. A second plurality of threads 182 is defined by the outer surface 114 of the first section 110 and are complimentary in shape to the first plurality of threads in the nut 184. The second plurality of threads 182 are disposed relative to the top face 111 of the first section 110 so that the nut 184 may be selectively moved toward the top face 111 by rotating it about the first section 110. Doing so prevents the second section 120 from being pushed in toward the first section 110 because the nut 184 acts as a stop. To disengage the clasp, the nut 184 is unscrewed, thereby allowing the second section 120 to be pushed in toward the first section 110.
The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.
Patent Application
20080047111
