Patent Application
20070187440
This invention relates in general to devices that grasp jewelry clasps and hold them on the wrist to assist the wearer in fastening them, and in particular to such devices that are designed to open and hold open latching type clasps having an operating lever. It also relates to devices which bring to bear, and center a magnifying lens over a tool for magnifying the function of the tool for easier viewing and operation without the need to hold the device in the hand as you would a common magnifying glass. It is especially useful for those persons with poor close vision.
Since their inception, latching type clasps for bracelets and necklaces have been difficult to operate, especially ones with spring biased latches that have an operating lever. Coupling the ends of a bracelet or necklace requires a great deal of coordination and dexterity in one-handed manipulation of the clasp. Trying to hold the clasp open while at the same time, and with the same hand, maneuvering the loop end of a bracelet into the clasp can be frustrating and aggravating. For many with arthritis, it is impossible.
Many previous inventions have tried to address this problem. They generally have a 7″ handle that is held in the palm of the hand and have an alligator-type clip attached to one end. This clip holds an end of a bracelet on the user's wrist, generally the loop end. Most of these inventions did not have the function of opening and holding open the jewelry clasps. One invention has a mechanism inside a modified alligator clip for opening a clasp but it is often difficult for the user to operate because it is difficult to see inside the clip (U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,526). The handle of our invention is also approximately 7″ long, but it folds in the middle to allow a magnifying lens to be placed moved directly over its clasp-opening mechanism, then it unfolds to full length to hold the bracelet in the normal wearing position on the wrist.
Many people with poor close vision, especially older adults, have not fully benefited from jewelry fastening tools because they couldn't see the clasps well enough to operate them. This is especially true with small clasps because their operating levers can be as short as 1/32″. It is a medical fact that close vision gets worse with age due to decreased flexibility of the crystalline lens of the eye. According to demographics, the population in the United States and many European countries is getting increasingly older. Consequently, there are an increasing number of persons with poor close vision, many of whom require magnification to perform common daily tasks. The need for magnification is especially great to assist such persons in performing finely detailed work such as operating small jewelry clasps.
This invention incorporates a magnifying lens into the handle of the tool, which makes seeing and operating these clasps easy. Our handle is made in two parts. In one of the parts we incorporated a magnifying lens on one end, and at the other end a means to join it to the other part of the handle. This other part has a means for joining to the first part on one end and a clasp-opening clip on the other end. Since the parts can now be folded over on each other, rotating around in an arc around the joining place, the lens can be brought to bear directly over the clasp-opening clip and enlarge the user's view of the clasp. After the jewelry clasp has been fastened, the invention unfolds, extend into a 7″ handle. Once the lens is properly positioned, this invention can magnify the manipulating and coupling of all types of jewelry clasps, whether or not the clasps have an operating lever, including but not limited to spring ring clasp, slide insert clasps, toggle clasp, and fold-over clasps.
Two previous inventions discuss a bracelet fastening tool with a magnifying lens: (1) D323,132 has a table-top base with a bracelet-holding clamp on a rigid handle mounted on one side of the base, and a lens attached to the end of a flexible stalk mounted on the other side. The lens can be positioned over a bracelet in the clamp. Although the bracelet can be magnified by this device it does not provide a view of clasps through its clip, is not a hand held tool, is not foldable and portable, it must set on a flat surface, and provides no assistance opening clasps; (2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,401 is a bracelet fastening tool that does not incorporate a magnifying lens into its handle, but suggests that since its handle is hollow with a cap to close one end and a bracelet fastening tool closing the other end, and that the handle could be a receptacle for small tools, including a small magnifying lens. It states that the lens could be removed from the receptacle and attached to a slot on the end of the cap where the cap would serve as a handle for the lens.
There is no information that would suggest that the handle and lens could be used to enlarge the view of the process of fastening a bracelet. To fit inside the invention, the lens would have to be so small that it would not magnify a clasp well enough to be of any assistance in fastening it. Also, the lens/cap combination must be held in the hand, defeating the main purpose of the invention which was to free up an extra hand to fasten the clasp.
All jewelry fastening tools use some variation of a spring biased clip to hold the jewelry to be fastened. Most of the clip devices on the inventions mentioned above are based on an alligator clip gripping a bracelet in some manner. Their jaws are made either of metal or plastic, both of which are opaque and therefore the user cannot see through them. Our own previous U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,526, has a clasp-opening mechanism, and employs a clasp-retracting post mounted vertically in the lower jaw of the alligator clip but the mechanism is difficult for many users to see. This invention allows the user to clearly see the internal mechanism of a clasp opening clip by replacing the top jaw of the alligator clip with an exactly fitting piece made of optical grade acrylic.
Since the piece is transparent, the clasp-opening mechanism and the clasp inserted into it can be easily seen through it. This piece has the same configuration as the piece it replaces, with (1) a thumb rest that when pressed down, compresses the spring inside the clip opening the jaws, and when released transfers the force of the spring to the upper jaw, clamping a jewelry clasp between the upper and lower jaws, (2) a body which extends to meet the tip of the clip, and (3) a flat surface on top bottom to allow a clear view through the piece. The bottom jaw must also be flat to contact and grip jewelry clasps without scratching them and the surface coating with a friction-creating surface.
As in our previous invention there is a clasp-retracting post is electro-plated with titanium to create a gold color which is easier for the user to see against the silver color of the clip metal. It could also be colored in red or other bright color by enameling, powder coating, painting or other methods.
An additional use of this invention is as a portable, self-supporting magnifier for doing hands-free work. Many jobs require both magnification and two free hands. The clip of our invention can grip and attach this tool to many objects, e.g. a glass or cup. Once attached and the handle is extended, the user can view any type of work through the magnifying lens while having both hands free to do the work. Due to the friction fit of the coupling mechanism of the two handle parts, it can be set in any position the user wants, i.e. whatever is most suitable for the job. A few examples of work that can be done in this way are threading a needle, removing a splinter from a finger with a tweezers, or inspecting gems and jewelry.
In the past, magnifiers for hands-free work have been large, table top devices with either a heavy base or large clamp. They are not intended to be portable nor ate they pocket-sized. When folded over on itself, this tool is only four inches long and can be easily carried by the user in a pocket or purse.
Object of this invention is to provide a tool to assist in fastening and unfastening jewelry clasps by incorporating a magnifying lens into the tool's handle to enlarge the user's view of all types of jewelry clasps, but especially those with latch type clasps with operating levers as they are opened by a clasp-opening mechanism incorporated into the tool.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a tool for clearly seeing the mechanism of clasp-opening devices for fastening and unfastening of jewelry clasps through parts made of clear optical grade acrylic.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a tool that can magnify any desired object and whose handle folds in the center into pocket size so it can be carried easily for use anywhere.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a tool that incorporates a magnifying lens into a handle that can be attached to a variety of surfaces by means of a clip to hold it stationary, so that the lens part of the tool is held in a vertical position, such that the person does not need to hold it to view things through it.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a hand-free magnifying tool that, once attached to a stationary object, can be adjusted to many angles and positions, facilitating the ability of the person using it to see any object or work to be done under the lens.
An additional object of this invention is to provide a tool that can hold small tools other than a clasp-opening clip, so that magnification can be brought to bear over them enlarging the user's view of their function so that using them becomes easier, especially for those with poor vision. Examples of these tools could include but would not be limited to: a scissors, tweezers, brush, knife, and screwdriver. Some of these small tools would be mounted at right angles to the main tool rather than in-line with it.
An additional object of this invention is to provide sufficient magnification of the work described above that a person with poor close vision can perform common daily tasks more easily and perform finely detailed work such as operating small jewelry clasps.
These objects, and other objects expressed or implied in this document, are accomplished by an apparatus primarily used in the coupling of a jewelry clasp including: a metal alligator clip whose design is modified in the manufacturing process to have no top jaw forward of its spring and have two holes placed through the top part of the clip to accept rivets.
One of the holes is located in the center of the thumb rest and the other centered over the spring. These holes are of a size suitable to receive the rivets that attach the clear plastic clip top. Most alligator clips have a dimple in the center of the thumb rest. In this clip, this surface must be flattened so that the two surfaces, clip and plastic clip top, can touch at the center of the thumb rest and be tightly riveted together.
Although the means for fastening the clear plastic top jaw to the modified metal alligator clip is two rivets through the corresponding holes in the each part, these parts could also be attached by an epoxy glue, or the entire upper jaw of the clip can be made of clear acrylic by the injection molding process; a part that grasps a jewelry clasp which is the assembled combination of the alligator clip as described above with a clear plastic clip top that from a top view has the same configuration as an unmodified alligator clip, with a thumb rest that when depressed, compresses the spring inside the clip opening the jaws, and a body which extends from the thumb rest to meet the tip of the clip. The top jaw is made of optical grade acrylic through which the user can see a mechanism inside the clip. Both the top an bottom jaws must be narrow enough that when a bracelet's clasp is passed through at right angles and the open part of the clasp comes out the other side far enough for the user to easily hook the bracelet's loop over it.
The plastic top part should be no more than 0.19″ wide, nor less than 0.15″ wide. If the part is wider than the maximum, the clasps' openings may not emerge from the clip far enough to allow the bracelet's loop to hook over them. If the part is narrower than the minimum, the gripping surface of the top jaw is reduced to the point that it may allow the clasp to slip out of the clip, i.e. the friction on the clasp is too little;
The clip has a thumb rest of a greater diameter than a standard alligator clip to increase the mechanical advantage of the user and thereby require less force to be applied when depressing the spring. This makes it easier to use. To accomplish this the thumb rest is round and should be a minimum of 0.43″ in diameter;
The clear plastic clip top must be a minimum of 0.10″ thick in order not to break or bend when the force of the spring is exerted against it, the point of force being at the rivet located over the spring. The top of this part is flat, but is it thicker on the bottom from the tip backward to just before the clasp-opening mechanism. It is thinner beginning above the clasp-retracting post to allow the top jaw to close over it without touching it.
The clear plastic clip top must have holes in it which exactly match the location of the holes in the alligator clip so that they can be fastened together by rivets. If the top is fastened by some other means, e.g. adhesive, these holes, both in the clear plastic part and the clip would not be necessary. Instead of teeth in the inside of the lower jaw, it has a flat surface; the clip assembly as described above is then inserted into a cavity in the clip-holding part of the handle which is designed to receive it, and secured with an epoxy glue or other strong glue. A part that forms half of the handle of the invention and incorporates the clasp-opening clip in one end, having a means at the other end to couple it with the second half of the handle.
This part can be made in any decorative or non-decorative shape as long as the dimensions do not obstruct the second part of the handle from folding over on it, see reference to bifurcated handle below. The preferred dimensions are 0.68″ wide and 0.46″ deep; a part that forms the second half of the handle, and has a magnifying lens incorporated into one end which when folded over on the first part of the handle brings the lens to bear, centered over a clasp-opening mechanism in the first part of the handle, enlarging the apparent size of the parts and their function so that the user with poor close vision can see it more easily.
This handle is bifurcated into two separate, parallel arms in the shape of modified cylindrical rods. The arms are flattened one side order to increase the amount of space between them. These two flattened side face each other as in a mirror image. The distance between them should be wide enough to allow the other handle part to freely pass between them, therefore at least 0.7″. Two other purposes of the minimum of 0.7″ are (1) to let the user's thumb pass without obstruction between the two arms of the handle when trying to reach the thumb rest of the clasp-opening clip, and (2) to allow the magnifying lens to be brought closer to the clip, i.e. into optimum range for proper magnification.
In this embodiment of the invention the arms of the magnifying lens part of the handle are cylindrical and are made of optical grade acrylic. It is not necessary that the arms be cylindrical nor that they be made of acrylic, but it is more economical to make them as a single part and of the same material as the magnifying lens by the injection molding process. Since the lens must be made of an optical grade acrylic to view a high quality image, the arms of the handle are as well. The arms could also be made separately of another plastic material and then assembled with the magnifying lens by glue or other methods. The cylindrical shape is decorative. The arms could just as easily have a square, rectangular, oval or other cross section.
A means for coupling the clip-holding part of the handle with the magnifying lens part of the handle consisting of (1) two round pegs attached perpendicularly to the medial sides of the two arms (cylindrical rods) near the end opposite the lens, one on each arm of the handle, and (2) holes in the sides of the clip-holding part of the handle near the end opposite from the clip opening mechanism. The pegs are injection molded as part of the handle, and are manufactured to a diameter that fits tightly into the holes of the other part of the handle such that they create a friction when they are rotated in the holes;
The holes are injection molded so that they either go all the way through into the handle's end or partly through, but enough to create the desired friction. This should be a minimum of 0.15″ on each side. Having the pegs go through only part way has a better decorative effect. The size of the holes is set so that when the two parts of the handle are assembled, the pegs of the magnifying lens part of the handle fit tightly into the holes of the clip-holding part of the handle such that friction is created against the sides of the holes that when the handle parts are folded and unfolded, i.e. when the pegs are rotated in the holes, such that the friction created will hold the two handle parts in position against gravity wherever they are set. The person using the invention can overcome the friction with a small amount of hand pressure and rotate the magnifying lens handle part through an arc on a set radius which is the length of the magnifying lens part of the handle, repositioning it so the lens is in the optimum position for the magnification of the desired object;
For assembly and proper function after assembly, the width of the clip-holding part of the handle at the position of the two holes must be wide enough that the two cylindrical rods of the bifurcated handle part have to be manually or mechanically stretched laterally, i.e. away from each other, to allow the pegs to slide into the holes. This creates a medial pressure that ensures that they will not come out of the holes when the handle is in use. The acrylic plastic of which the rods are made must have enough elasticity to allow this stretching to be done without breaking the handle, and to assume their original position when released from being stretched.
The clip-holding handle part as described above is best made by the injection molding process using ABS plastic and coated afterwards by the vacuum metalizing process for decorative purposes;
A multi-positionable handle with a clip on one end that can be attached to a variety of surfaces, for example the rim of a water glass or coffee mug. The user opens the clip by pressing down on the thumb rest and the bottom of the clip holding handle part just below it with thumb and forefinger. This compresses the spring inside the alligator clip and opens the jaws. The open jaws are positioned over an object such as the rim of a glass, then the jaws are released allowing the inside jaws of the clip to assert a sufficient force against the rim or other surface to hold the tool on the object until released by the user.
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The foregoing description and drawings were given for illustrative purposes only, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is intended to embrace any and all alternatives, equivalents, modifications and arrangements of elements falling within the scope of the invention.
For example the two handle parts can be joined by fitting narrower pegs with rubber sleeves that make the assembly slightly wider than the holes so that when inserted they are compressed, then expand inside the holes asserting a pressure against the inside of the holes, and thereby creating friction; or by joining the two ends of the handle in a hinge-type device. Another example is that the clear plastic top jaw of the clip can be molded or otherwise made as an integral part of the jaw, or it can be configured to replace the upper metal jaw entirely. Instead of rivets this top piece can be attached with an epoxy or other strong adhesive glue. The bottom jaw of the clip can be molded or otherwise made an integral part of the clip-holding handle part. As a further example the lens can be made wider to see a wider area, or the lens power can be increased or decreased depending on the work that the user desires to do.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60761570 | Jan 2006 | US |
