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Patent Abstract
An apparatus comprising: a handle; a clasp holder mechanically coupled
to the handle and adapted for holding a jewelry clasp; an eyelet
holder mechanically coupled to the handle and adapted for holding
a jewelry eyelet; and a clasp operator mechanically coupled to the
handle and adapted for operating an operating lever of the jewelry
clasp, the handle being adapted for being deformed so as to operate
the operating lever and to couple the jewelry clasp with the jewelry
eyelet.
Patent Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a handle; a clasp holder mechanically
coupled to said handle and adapted for holding a jewelry clasp;
an eyelet holder mechanically coupled to said handle and adapted
for holding a jewelry eyelet; and a clasp operator mechanically
coupled to said handle and adapted for operating an operating lever
of said jewelry clasp, said handle being adapted for being deformed
so as to operate said operating lever and to couple said jewelry
clasp with said jewelry eyelet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clasp holder, said eyelet
holder, and said clasp operator are integral with said handle.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clasp operator comprises:
an operating linkage adapted for operating said operating lever;
and an actuator adapted for actuating said operating linkage.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said operating linkage is further
adapted for holding said operator lever in an open position and
releasing said operating lever when actuated by said actuator.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle further comprises:
a clasp arm mechanically coupled to said clasp holder; and an eyelet
arm mechanically coupled to said eyelet holder and to said clasp
arm.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a handle spring
adapted for applying an opening force to said clasp arm and said
eyelet arm.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clasp holder further comprises:
a clasp jaw; and a clasp spring adapted for applying a holding force
to said clasp jaw.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said eyelet holder further
comprises: an eyelet jaw; and an eyelet spring adapted for applying
a holding force to said eyelet jaw.
9. An apparatus comprising: a handle; a clasp holder mechanically
coupled to said handle and adapted for holding a jewelry clasp;
an eyelet holder mechanically coupled to said handle and adapted
for holding a jewelry eyelet; and a clasp operator mechanically
coupled to said handle and adapted for operating an operating lever
of said jewelry clasp, said handle being adapted for being deformed
so as to operate said operating lever and to couple said jewelry
clasp with said jewelry eyelet, said clasp holder, said eyelet holder,
and said clasp operator being integral with said handle, said clasp
operator comprising: an operating linkage adapted for operating
said operating lever; and an actuator adapted for actuating said
operating linkage.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said operating linkage is
further adapted for holding said operator lever in an open position
and releasing said operating lever when actuated by said actuator.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said handle further comprises:
a clasp arm mechanically coupled to said clasp holder; and an eyelet
arm mechanically coupled to said eyelet holder and to said clasp
arm.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a handle spring
adapted for applying an opening force to said clasp arm and said
eyelet arm.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said clasp holder further
comprises: a clasp jaw; and a clasp spring adapted for applying
a holding force to said clasp jaw.
14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said eyelet holder further
comprises: an eyelet jaw; and an eyelet spring adapted for applying
a holding force to said eyelet jaw.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of
apparel apparatus and more specifically to devices to aid in fastening
jewelry clasps.
[0002] In a wide variety of designs, latching type jewelry clasps
with spring biased operating levers are used to join the ends of
bracelets and necklaces. Fastening these jewelry clasps has always
been a challenging and frustrating exercise for the wearer. For
bracelets, the frustration stems from the need to use just one hand
to insert a jewelry eyelet attached to one bracelet end into the
clasp attached to the other end while simultaneously holding the
operating lever against the bias spring force to keep the clasp
open. For necklaces, while two hands may be available for the task,
the frustration stems from having to perform the exercise blindly,
typically either behind the wearer's neck or beneath the wearer's
chin.
[0003] An opportunity exists, therefore, to relieve this frustration
by providing a device to aid in the fastening of such jewelry clasps.
SUMMARY
[0004] The opportunity described above is addressed, in one embodiment
of the present invention, by an apparatus comprising: a handle;
a clasp holder mechanically coupled to the handle and adapted for
holding a jewelry clasp; an eyelet holder mechanically coupled to
the handle and adapted for holding a jewelry eyelet; and a clasp
operator mechanically coupled to the handle and adapted for operating
an operating lever of the jewelry clasp, the handle being adapted
for being deformed so as to operate the operating lever and to couple
the jewelry clasp with the jewelry eyelet.
DRAWINGS
[0005] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood when the following
detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout
the drawings, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing in accordance
with a more detailed embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing in accordance
with another more detailed embodiment of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 4 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing in accordance
with still another more detailed embodiment of the embodiment of
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing of an apparatus
100 comprising a handle 110, a clasp holder 120, an eyelet holder
140, and a clasp operator 160. Clasp holder 120, eyelet holder 140,
and clasp operator 160 are mechanically coupled to handle 110. In
operation, clasp holder 120 holds a jewelry clasp 130 and eyelet
holder 140 holds a jewelry eyelet 150. Jewelry clasp 130 and jewelry
eyelet 150 are attached to opposite ends of a jewelry item 135.
By deforming handle 110, clasp operator 160 is caused to operate
an operating lever 170 and jewelry clasp 130 is coupled with jewelry
eyelet 150. As used herein, handle 110, clasp holder 120, eyelet
holder 140, and clasp operator 160 refer to any structure, device,
or combination thereof capable of performing the required functions.
[0011] FIG. 1 is not drawn to any particular scale. In some embodiments
in accordance with FIG. 1, handle 110 is sized large enough that
a part of the wearer's body may be inserted in the opening between
jewelry item 135 and handle 110. By way of example, but not limitation,
jewelry item 135 may be a necklace, bracelet, or anklet, and the
opening large enough to accommodate the wearer's head, hand, or
foot, respectively.
[0012] In some embodiments in accordance with FIG. 1, clasp holder
120, or eyelet holder 140, or both are fashioned to allow the wearer
to blindly insert, respectively, jewelry clasp 130 and jewelry eyelet
150.
[0013] In some embodiments in accordance with FIG. 1, clasp holder
120, eyelet holder 140, and clasp operator 160 are integral with
handle 110. As used herein, "integral with" refers to
being made of a single piece of material as would result, by way
of example, but not limitation, from casting, molding, or injection
molding.
[0014] In a more detailed embodiment in accordance with the embodiment
of FIG. 1, handle 110 further comprises a clasp arm 180 mechanically
coupled to clasp holder 120 and an eyelet arm 190 mechanically coupled
to eyelet holder 140 and to clasp arm 180. In some embodiments,
apparatus 100 further comprises a handle spring 200. Handle spring
200 applies an opening force to clasp arm 180 and eyelet arm 190.
[0015] In accordance with a more detailed embodiment of the embodiment
of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric schematic drawing of
apparatus 100 wherein clasp operator 160 comprises an operating
linkage 250 and an actuator 260. In operation, operating linkage
250 operates operating lever 170 and actuator 260 actuates operating
linkage 250.
[0016] In some embodiments in accordance with the embodiment of
FIG. 2, operating linkage 250 holds operator lever 170 in an open
position and releases operating lever 170 when actuated by actuator
260.
[0017] In accordance with another more detailed embodiment of the
embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric schematic
drawing wherein clasp holder 120 further comprises a clasp jaw 210
and a clasp spring 220. In operation, clasp spring 220 applies a
holding force to clasp jaw 210.
[0018] In accordance with another more detailed embodiment of the
embodiment of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric schematic
drawing wherein eyelet holder 140 further comprises an eyelet jaw
230 and an eyelet spring 240. In operation, eyelet spring 240 applies
a holding force to eyelet jaw 230.
[0019] While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated
and described herein, many modifications and changes will occur
to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood
that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications
and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention. |