INTERLOCKING LINKS FOR JEWELRY

Abstract

A jewelry piece comprising strands made from connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field of this invention is jewelry, more particularly, strands of jewelry made up of connected links wherein complementary strands may be interconnected to form double strands or larger strands consisting of multiple interconnected single strands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry has been used as a body adornment throughout human history. Staple components of jewelry include precious, semi-precious, and common stones, shiny metal, and intricate and aesthetically pleasing designs. Many forms of jewelry also consist of links connected to form a chain, in connection with which jewels and other objects may be strung, mounted, hung, or otherwise attached thereto. This invention is for a series of interlocking links that, in addition to providing interlocking functionality, also may be formed of precious metals and may be used as mountings for stones. When worn or exhibited as described herein, the interlocking links of this invention may be configured into a variety of common forms of jewelry, including a necklace, earrings, a bracelet, or other types of jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Individual links formed of gold, silver, or other suitable metal, may be formed into chains or strands connected by smaller, conventional links. Each link has a form similar to the shape of the Greek letter omega. Complementary strands may be fitted into one another to form double strands that may be used simply as a double strand, such as for a drop earring, pin, or bracelet; or single strands may be used alone to form similar pieces of lighter weight. Stones may be mounted within loops of the individual links, or may follow a pattern of alternating colors, or of placing a stone in a strand every 2 or 3 links, or in some other pattern.

Strands are assembled using conventional small, round loops that attach to the ends of adjacent links. In order to form complementary strands that interlock, a notch is situated at the outermost top part of each omega-shaped link to allow omega-shaped links to fit within adjacent links of the complementary strand and to provide sufficient space for a corresponding small loop that is connecting the adjacent links of the complementary strand.

It is an object of this invention to provide an aesthetically pleasing strand that may be used to create jewelry pieces.

It is another object of the invention to provide complementary strands that may be interlinked to one another.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide individual links that may be connected to form a strand.

Still another object of the invention is to provide individual links upon which stones may be mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a strand that may be looped back upon itself to form a partially closed zipper.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through the following descriptions of the invention and of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the interlocking links of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the links of the invention seen from a perspective opposite to that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an interlocking configuration of two strands.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the links of FIG. 9 showing the mounting of stones in the interlocking links.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the interlocking links of this invention formed into a necklace.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the necklace of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a close-up view of the interlocking zipper mechanism of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a drop earring made of complementary strands of interlocking links.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bracelet formed from complementary strands of interlocking links.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the detail of a single strand consisting of three links. In FIG. 1, a strand is shown consisting of three links 2 connected by smaller, joining links 4 which are circular in shape. The joining links 4 act as hinges, and permit the adjacent pieces to move with respect to one another. Each link 2 has a rounded head portion 8, and a narrow waist portion 6. Either side of the waist portion flares outwardly to form a foot portion 10 where the end of the link is pierced by joining links 4. Each link is symmetrical about a vertical axis when viewed with the head portion 8 at the top. As can be seen in FIG. 1, when individual links 2 are placed side by side and connected with joining links 4, the configuration formed by the flared foot portion 10 of two adjacent links forms a shape nearly identical to the shape of each link's rounded head portion 8. Additionally, where the rounded head portions of adjacent links approach one another at their closest point, the configuration is nearly identical to the waist portion 6 of a single link.

FIG. 2 is a view of the same links as shown in FIG. 1, but with the outer, upper surface of the link heads 8 exposed to view. It may be seen that there is a notch 14 extending transversely across the upper portion of each head 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the notch provides sufficient space for a joining link of a complementary strand to fit within the notch, allowing two strands to be fitted snugly together.

FIG. 3 shows the strand of three links 2 of FIG. 2 into which an interlocking complementary strand of two connected links 12 has been fitted. The head portions 8 of the links of one strand fit snugly within the flared foot portion 10 of two adjacent links on the complementary strand. It will be appreciated that this complementary, interlocking configuration provides a more-or-less rigid assembly that will retain its shape until the individual strands are de-interlocked.

FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which ornamental objects 20, such as jewels and stones, may be mounted within the round head portion 8 of individual links without destroying the functionality of the interlocking mechanism.

As depicted in FIGS. 5-9, items of jewelry using single and double strand links may be configured into various shapes. FIG. 5 shows a “zipper” necklace in which the dangle portion 22 comprises two interlocking strands while the upper portion that extends about the neck 24 is made of a single strand. The single strand comes together at the front of the neck where a guide plate 26 holds the lower double strand in an interlocking configuration while allowing the double strand to be separated into single strands for the upper portion. The guide plate can be situated anywhere along the front of the neck, as the user desires, by urging it upward or downward to allow the strands to interlock or to separate. FIG. 6 shows how the separate strands 24 come together at the guide plate 26 to form a double strand 22.

FIG. 7 provides a detailed view of the manner in which the links interlock to form a double chain at the guide plate 26. This embodiment also shows an example of how, when two complementary chains are being interlocked, the substantially round space 28 formed by the feet of two adjacent links 38, 40 in a single strand, may be enlarged temporarily to be slightly larger than the rounded head portion 30 of a link on the complementary strand. When the head portion 30 has come to rest within substantially round space 28, hinge 4 allows adjacent links 38, 40 to come together, holding head portion 30 securely within links 38 and 40. This action is repeated for each single strand link that is to become interlocked with a link from a complementary strand. In this manner, the two strands, when interlocked, fit snugly together and hold their relative positions. Although not visible in FIG. 7, hinge links 4 in FIGS. 2-4 fit within notches 14, thereby preventing forward or backward movement that would otherwise permit the interlocking chains to slip apart.

Interlocking chains may also be used in other embodiments to create aesthetically pleasing jewelry. FIG. 8 depicts a straight double strand 42 that may be used as a drop earring or a pendant or other straight piece. The end of the strand uses an adhesive, snap, weld, or other retention mechanism to assist the double strand to hold its shape and configuration, and prevents the lowermost link 32 from moving downward from immediately adjacent link 34 in a hinge motion at joining link 36. A similar end retention mechanism may be required at the lowermost end of the necklace depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment in which a links forming a double strand is configured in a continuous loop to form a bracelet 44.

Other embodiments using the linking mechanism of this invention will be apparent to persons of skill in the art. The invention is not limited solely to those embodiments depicted and described herein, but encompass other embodiments that fall within the scope of the following appended claims.

Claims

1. A jewelry piece comprising: a strand, said strand further comprising a plurality of connected links, each said link comprising,a rounded head portion;a narrow waist portion;a foot portion having two opposing, outwardly flaring feet; anda notch extending transversely on said outer surface of said rounded head portion;each outwardly flaring foot of an internal link in said strand being adjacent to an outwardly flaring foot of an adjacent link, said adjacent links being connected by at least one joining link that pierces each said outwardly flaring foot.

2. The jewelry piece of claim 1 wherein a substantially round space is formed by the joinder of said outwardly flaring foot and said narrow waist portions of said adjacent links.

3. The jewelry piece of claim 2, said strand comprising a first strand, said jewelry piece further comprising a second strand of connected links, whereby at least some of said rounded heads of said links of said second strand fit within and are locked into said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacent links of said first strand.

4. The jewelry piece of claim 3, said at least one joining link further comprising a substantially circular link connecting two adjacent interlocking links.

5. The jewelry piece of claim 3 further comprising a first section in which said strands are not interlocked, a second section in which said strands are interlocked, and a guide plate, said guide plate forming a narrowing channel at the junction of said first and second sections such that, as said guide moves in the direction of said first section, said rounded heads of said links of said first strand are pressed into interlocking configuration with said substantially round spaces formed by said adjacent links of said second strand.

6. The jewelry piece of claim 5 whereby, as said guide plate moves in the direction of said second section, said rounded heads of said interlocked links are released from being locked within said substantially round space.

7. The jewelry piece of claim 1, further comprising an ornamental object mounted within said rounded heads of said links.

8. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a drop earring having a double strand.

9. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a bracelet formed from a double strand.

10. The jewelry piece of claim 5 comprising a necklace.