Patent Application
20240407511
The various embodiments herein relate to devices for the positioning of jewelry clasps when jewelry is worn by a user, including for the purpose of ensuring that the clasp remains disposed in a desired location on the user's neck.
Many necklaces include clasps that attach the ends of a necklace together. There are many types of clasps, such as spring rings and lobster claws, for example. These clasps are typically attached to the two ends of a necklace chain to connect those two ends. When the two clasps are connected, the necklace can be hung around a user's neck. When a necklace is worn, the necklace clasp is typically intended to sit at the rear of a user's neck.
Sometimes, the clasp of the necklace can drift while the necklace is worn by a user as a result of the necklace moving in relation to the user's neck. More specifically, the clasp can rotate about one's neck, bringing the clasp to the front of the neck, which is typically undesirable for the user.
There is a need in the art for a device that maintains a position for a necklace clasp at a user's desired location.
Discussed herein are various embodiments relating to jewelry clasp positioning devices and related methods of use. The devices can include a body and/or patch and attachment structures or openings to attach a jewelry fastener thereto. The patch can include an adhesive layer configured to attach the device to a surface.
In Example 1, a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises a patch comprising a first face and a second face, an adhesive layer coupled to the first face, a first fastener attached to the patch on a first side, and a second fastener attached to the patch on a second side, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be placed on the skin of a user and not be removed during use.
Example 2 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first face.
Example 3 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to attach to a jewelry fastener assembly.
Example 4 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the first fastener and second fastener are attached to an attachment structure protruding outwardly from a perimeter of the patch.
Example 5 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 4, wherein the attachment structure is located on the second face of the jewelry clasp positioning device.
Example 6 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 4, wherein the first fastener is attached to a first attachment structure attached to a first edge of the patch and the second fastener is attached to a second attachment structure attached to a second edge of the patch.
Example 7 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the jewelry clasp positioning device is a color that can be selected from a group consisting of at least one of gold, rose gold, and silver.
Example 8 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the patch comprises a flexible plastic.
Example 9 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, further comprising at least three first fasteners and at least three second fasteners.
Example 10 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 9, wherein the at least three first fasteners are each located on a first side of the device and the at least three second fasteners are located on a second side of the device.
In Example 11, a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises a patch comprising a first face, a second face, a first end, and a second end, an adhesive layer disposed on the first face, a first opening extending through the patch from the first face to the second face at the first end of the patch, a second opening extending through the patch from the first face to the second face adjacent to the second end of the patch and configured to receive a clasp of a piece of jewelry, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to adhere to a user's skin during use.
Example 12 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 11, wherein at least one of the first and second opening comprise a slot extending from the first face to the second face from at least one of the first and second opening to a perimeter of the patch.
Example 13 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 11, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first face.
Example 14 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 11, wherein the first opening comprises a clasp.
Example 15 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 12, further comprising a first device end and a second device end, and wherein the first end comprises a first hook and a second hook each disposed adjacent to one another at a distance from one another forming a passage to facilitate movement of a jewelry clasp therethrough.
Example 16 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 15, wherein the first and second hook are configured to receive a jewelry clasp ring.
In Example 17, a method of using a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises selecting a color of the jewelry clasp positioning device, attaching a first and second fastening component of a piece of jewelry to the first and second fastener of the device, removing an adhesive cover, aligning the first face of the jewelry clasp positioning device with a location, and attaching the first face of the jewelry clasp positioning device to the location. The jewelry clasp positioning device comprises a patch including a first face and a second face, wherein the first face comprises an adhesive layer, a first fastener attached to the patch, and a second fastener attached to the patch.
Example 18 relates to a method of using a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 17, wherein the adhesive layer is disposed on at least a portion of the first face.
Example 19 relates to a method of using a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 17, wherein the jewelry clasp positioning device further comprises at least three first fasteners and at least three second fasteners, and wherein the first fastener and second fastener are attached to the patch using an attachment structure protruding outwardly from the patch.
Example 20 relates to a method of using a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 17, wherein the location comprises a user's neck.
The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples of the present invention and therefore do not limit the scope of invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, though embodiments can include the scale illustrated, and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description wherein like reference characters denote like elements. Examples of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings.
The various embodiments herein relate to devices for positioning or stabilizing a piece of jewelry on the body of a user such that the jewelry does not rotate in relation to the user's body, including to prevent the clasp from being positioned in front of the user's neck/body. Certain implementations include an attachable patch (with associated attachment devices, such as clasps) that can be adhered to the user's body at a desired location (such as the back of the user's neck) to prevent such necklace rotation.
In certain implementations, the first face 29 has an adhesive layer 31 disposed on the contact face 29 such that the adhesive layer 31 adheres the contact face 29 to a user's body in a desired location. For example, in some embodiments, the device 10 can be adhered to a desired location of a user (e.g., the user's neck, shoulders, wrist, ankle, or any other appropriate place on the user and/or the user's clothing to adhere the clasp positioning device). In certain examples, the adhesive layer 31 may cover the entirety of the first face 29. In other examples, the adhesive layer 31 may cover only a portion of the first face 29. The adhesive layer can be made of a skin adhesive material, such as tape, or any material that can safely adhere to skin. The adhesive layer may be designed to stick to or attached to a user's skin such that during normal use (e.g., as the user is wearing and/or displaying the jewelry) the patch remains in place. It is only when the jewelry is desired to be taken off that the user may remove the adhesive from the skin by pulling it off without damaging the user's skin.
The body or patch 12 can have a variety of features. For example, the patch 12 can have one of a variety of shapes. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the patch 12 is substantially rectangular. In some embodiments, the rectangular patch 12 can have rounded corners or, alternatively, the patch 12 can have square, hexagonal, or any other desired corner shape). In other embodiments, the patch 12 can be a square, circular, triangular, or any other known shape. The patch 12 in certain implementations can be made of a flexible plastic. For example, in one specific example, the patch 12 is made of a flexible plastic with a silver coloring or appearance. Alternatively, the patch 12 can be made of a flexible plastic with a gold, rose gold, or plated stainless steel coloring or appearance. In a further implementation, the body 12 can be made of any known flexible material that can be attachable to a user's skin and can have any known coloring or appearance to replicate, match, or mimic the color of the jewelry with which the patch 12 is used. In some embodiments, the patch 12 can be made of metal. The patch 12 may be sufficiently flexible such that the patch 12 can bend along its length and width to follow the natural curve of a user's neck, back or other area of the user's body.
In accordance with certain embodiments, the patch 12 can have a length ranging from about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm and a width ranging from about 0.25 cm to about 3 cm. Such dimensions are exemplary; the patch 12 can includes length and widths larger or smaller than the dimensions listed herein. Further, in some implementations, the outer face 28 of the patch 12 can come in multiple different colors or surfaces to match the color or metal of the necklace with which the device 10 will be used. For example, in certain embodiments, the outer face 28 can have a gold color or a surface that simulates gold metal to match, or nearly match, a gold necklace to which the device 10 is to be attached during use. Alternatively, the outer face 28 can be any known color or simulated surface to match, or nearly match, any known necklace metal or color (such as gold, silver, gold and silver, rose gold, platinum, or any other known metal or color and any known combination thereof). Further, the outer face 28 can have two or more colors or simulated surfaces to match, or nearly match, any known necklace having two or more metals or colors (such as a combination of gold and silver, for example). Thus a variety of different devices 10 having different colors or simulated metals can be available to a user such that the user can select a device 10 to match the necklace the user wishes to wear.
As will be described in additional detail below, the necklace clasp positioning device 10 can connect to a necklace 70 via the attachment components provided on the device 10. More specifically, according to one embodiment, the necklace clasp positioning device 10 has a first fastener 14 and a second fastener 16 attached to the patch 12. The first fastener 14 and second fastener 16 can be configured to correspond to standard necklace fasteners 74, 76 found at opposite ends of a necklace 70, as will be discussed in further detail below. More specifically, the first fastener 14 in certain embodiments is a standard, known spring ring 20 or lobster clasp that operates in a known fashion. Alternatively, the first fastener 14 can be any known actuable fastener for use on necklaces. Similarly, the second fastener 16 in certain implementations is a standard known ring 26 for coupling with a known spring ring or lobster clasp. Alternatively, the second fastener 16 can be any known fixed fastener that couples with any known actuable fastener.
Thus, the two fasteners may be configured to accommodate any different known necklace clasps. These include bayonet clasps, barrel clasps, box clasps, figure-8 safety clasps, toggle clasps, s-hook clasps, mystery clasps, magnetic clasps, hook-and-eye clasps, snap clasps, pearl clasps, and any other known jewelry clasps.
Some embodiments of the necklace clasp positioning device can have additional features. For example, in certain implementations such as the exemplary version depicted in
As shown in
In use according to certain embodiments, multiple necklaces (not shown) may be attached to the multiple fasteners like those shown in
In certain embodiments, except as expressly discussed herein, the other components and features of the device 40 can be the same or substantially similar to the components and features of the device 10 embodiment discussed above. In other words, the patch 42 can be the same or substantially similar to the patch 12 discussed above, including the adhesive on the contact face and/or the color or substitute metal on the outer face, the types of fasteners, etc.
The attachment body 58 may comprise additional components. For example, the attachment body 58 as shown has two attachment extensions 60 that attach the first and second fasteners 54, 46 to the attachment body 58. Alternatively, the first and second fasteners 54, 56 are attached directly to the attachment body 58. In certain embodiments, the attachment body 58 can include a pivot, hinge, or other structure (not shown) to facilitate the movement of the first and second fasteners 54, 56. The hinge pivots about a hinge axis such that the first and second fasteners can pivot around the hinge axis. In alternative implementations including multiple attachment bodies, the multiple attachment bodies can each have a hinge, the hinge pivoting about a hinge axis.
The fasteners 14, 16 (or any fastener embodiments disclosed or contemplated herein) are configured to allow for attachment of a standard necklace to the device 10. For example, in one embodiment as best shown in
In use as best shown in
Once the first and second fasteners 74, 76 of the necklace 70 are attached, the adhesive cover can be removed from the contact face (not shown) of the device 10 (block 415). Alternatively, in those embodiments in which the device 10 does not have an adhesive cover, the device 10 can be otherwise prepared for attachment. Then, the necklace clasp positioning device 10 is aligned with the user's neck at the desired location (block 420). At that point, the necklace clasp positioning device 10 is placed on the user's neck. Alternatively, the adhesive cover (not shown) can be removed after alignment of the device 10 in the desired location. The first face (not shown) of the necklace clasp positioning device 10 is then placed in contact with the desired location on the user's neck (block 425) such that the adhesive of the first face (not shown) of the device 10 adheres to the user's neck. When the device 10 is attached to the user's neck as desired, the device 10 is secured and will not substantially move from its position. The first and second fasteners 74, 76 of the necklace 70 then remain in place at the rear of a user's neck.
Alternatively, the steps taken to position the device on a user's neck may be completed in a different order. That is, in other methods of use, the necklace clasp positioning device 10 may first be oriented to the rear of a user's neck prior to attaching the necklace thereto. Then, the adhesive cover (not shown) may be removed and the necklace clasp positioning device 10 may be applied to the user's neck, which adheres the device 10 to the user's neck. The first and second fasteners 74, 76 of the necklace 70 can then be attached to the device 10 such that the device 10 ensures that the necklace fasteners 74, 76 remain in place in the desired location in relation to the user's neck (such as, in certain embodiments, the back of a user's neck).
The device 100 can include a variety of features. For example, the length of the device 100 can range from about 0.5 cm by about 3 cm and the width of the device can be about 0.25 cm to about 3 cm. Such dimensions are exemplary; the patch 112 can include lengths and/or widths that are larger or smaller than the dimensions listed herein. The device 100 can come in a variety of colors, such as gold, silver, or rose gold, and can be made of a variety of materials (e.g., metal or plastic). The patch 112 can be generally rectangular, and can include curved edges to prevent discomfort during use.
The first and second openings 114A, 114B include a variety of features. For example, the first and second openings 114A, 114B can have different shapes to receive various components of a jewelry clasp 74, 76. The second opening 114B can be generally circular. The first openings 114A can be formed by two hooks 116A, 166B curving toward one another. The width of each hook 116A, 116B can be half of the approximate length of the patch 112. The two hooks 116A, 116B can be adjacent one another such that a distance 118 exists between the two hooks 116A, 116B at the approximate center of the length of the patch 112. The distance 118 between the two hooks 116A, 116B can be wide enough such that a portion of a piece of jewelry and/or jewelry clasp component 74, 76 can pass therethrough. The distance 118 can be formed by any structure, including structures not including a hook. For example, in some embodiments, the distance 118 can be formed by a slot extending from the at least one of the openings 114A, 114B from the first face 128 to the second face 129 and to a perimeter 119 of the patch 112.
In use, a user can push a part of a piece of jewelry 70 and/or ring 76 of a jewelry fastener through the space 117 between the two hooks 116A, 116B. At least one of the two hooks 116A, 116B can be disposed through the ring 76, thereby positioning the ring 76 (and a portion of the jewelry fastener) on at least one of the hooks 116A, 116B. The clasp portion of a jewelry fastener 74 can be attached to the second opening 114B of the device 100.
This can facilitate the attachment of a piece of jewelry to the device 100 without having a user manipulate multiple small components (such as, for example, a lever that manipulates a spring clasp). This can improve the longevity of the device 100 while improving the ease with which a user can attach a piece of jewelry.
The device 200 can include a variety of features. As discussed above, the dimensions of the device 200 can range from a length of about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm and a width of about 0.25 cm to about 3 cm. Such dimensions are exemplary; the patch 112 can include lengths and/or widths that are larger or smaller than the dimensions listed herein. The device 200 can come in a variety of colors, such as gold, silver, or rose gold, and can be made of a variety of materials (e.g., metal or plastic).
In use, various components of a jewelry fastener can be attached to the two openings 214A, 214B in the patch. For example, fastener components such as a clasp 74 and/or ring 76 can be attached to each of the two openings 214A, 214B. The openings 214A, 214B can be configured to receive and/or be attached to any type of jewelry fastener.
Other embodiments of the jewelry clasp positioning device can include a ring formed by a rod comprising a first end and a second end. The ring can be configured to receive a jewelry fastener by passing the rod through the jewelry fastener from the first end to the second end. The rod can be wound circularly, similar to a key ring, such that one the jewelry fastener passes over the length of the rod, the jewelry fastener is attached to the rod. Other embodiments can include any structure or mechanism configured to couple with a jewelry clasp.
While the various systems described above are separate implementations, any of the individual components, mechanisms, or devices, and related features and functionality, within the various system embodiments described in detail above can be incorporated into any of the other system embodiments herein.
The term “about,” as used herein, refers to variation in the numerical quantity that can occur, for example, through typical measuring techniques and equipment, with respect to any quantifiable variable, including, but not limited to, mass, volume, time, distance, wave length, frequency, voltage, current, and electromagnetic field. Further, there is certain inadvertent error and variation in the real world that is likely through differences in the manufacture, source, or precision of the components used to make the various components or carry out the methods and the like. The term “about” also encompasses these variations. The term “about” can include any variation of 5% or 10%, or any amount-including any integer-between 0% and 10%. Further, whether or not modified by the term “about,” the claims include equivalents to the quantities or amounts.
Numeric ranges recited within the specification are inclusive of the numbers defining the range and include each integer within the defined range. Throughout this disclosure, various aspects of this disclosure are presented in a range format. It should be understood that the description in range format is merely for convenience and brevity and should not be construed as an inflexible limitation on the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description of a range should be considered to have specifically disclosed all the possible sub-ranges, fractions, and individual numerical values within that range. For example, description of a range such as from 1 to 6 should be considered to have specifically disclosed sub-ranges such as from 1 to 3, from 1 to 4, from 1 to 5, from 2 to 4, from 2 to 6, from 3 to 6 etc., as well as individual numbers within that range, for example, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and decimals and fractions, for example, 1.2, 3.8, 1½, and 4¾ This applies regardless of the breadth of the range. Although the various embodiments have been described with reference to preferred implementations, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
Although the various embodiments have been described with reference to preferred implementations, persons skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/506,668, filed Jun. 7, 2023, and entitled NECKLACE CLASP POSITIONING DEVICE, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63506668 | Jun 2023 | US |
