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Patent Abstract
A piece of jewelry designed to encircle body parts including a rigid
section such as a chain and an elastic section. The elastic section,
which is typically pulled through decorated jewelry articles, enables
the design to be clasp-free.
Patent Claims
1. A piece of jewelry intended to encircle a body part comprising:
A portion formed using an elastic stringing material; The elastic
stringing material portion of the piece of jewelry being sized to
allow stretching to place on or remove from the body part; A loop
at each end of the elastic stringing material; A portion formed
using a non-elastic material joined at each end to the loops at
the ends of the elastic stringing material.
2. A piece of jewelry according to claim 1 wherein the elastic
stringing material is threaded through decorative jewelry articles.
3. A piece of jewelry according to claim 2 wherein the non-elastic
material is a chain.
4. A piece of jewelry according to claim 3 further comprising a
hanging pendant.
5. A method for creating a piece of jewelry to encircle a body
part comprising: Selecting an elastic stringing material of an appropriate
material and length to allow stretching to place the piece of jewelry
on and remove it from the body part; Including a loop at each end
of the stringing material; Selecting a non-elastic material; Attaching
each end of the non-elastic material to one of the loops at the
end of the elastic stringing material to complete a circle.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the elastic stringing
material is threaded through decorative jewelry articles.
7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the non-elastic material
is a chain.
8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising a hanging pendant.
Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] An issue associated with jewelry encircling a body part
(e.g. wrist, ankle, neck) has always been the means to place the
jewelry on and remove it from the body part. Two means have been
incorporated into jewelry to accomplish this. For rigid strung jewelry
numerous forms of clasping devices have been used. In lieu of requiring
a clasp, jewelry utilizing an elastic material as the inner stringing
is available. The following are different designs available for
jewelry encircling a body part: [0002] A chain with a clasp to provide
an opening and closing of the piece. There are different types of
clasps to provide this same process. [0003] There is elastic material
that is covered with different decorative items such as beads and
metals of different sorts that is continuous until a knot is necessary
to provide a way to get the piece on and off a body part. [0004]
There are leather straps that have a chain at the end of it attaching
to a clasp. This provides the way to get the piece on and off. [0005]
There are leather straps attaching to clasps to allow the item to
be placed on and off the body. [0006] There is memory wire that
is coiled and simply sits around a body part. This type of piece
has no clasp, however, it does not provide a closing to itself.
There isn't a security this item will stay in place having no clasp.
[0007] There is elastic material that ends in a clasp. This item
stretches, providing a tight fit, yet still needs a clasp to place
on and off a body part. [0008] There is a material called "tiger's
tail" that is generally made of durable and flexible metal
that is covered with beads and other ornaments having a clasp at
the ends to provide a way to place on and off a body part. [0009]
There is nylon material used to create an illusion look to an item,
yet it is ended with clasps to provide the item to be placed on
and off the body. [0010] There is rubber material used to create
jewelry and is ended with clasps to place item on and off a body
part.
[0011] Presently there is no jewelry utilizing a rigid non-elastic
stringing such as a chain without some form of clasp or tying mechanism.
People choose rigid jewelry such as chains because they like the
look and style of it. The clasp, however, is not a desirable factor,
but a necessity. Clasps are time consuming and uncomfortable. Because
of the strain of constant pulling, the chain attached to it becomes
weak. Further, clasps are troublesome to people with arthritis,
weak eye sight, carpel tunnel and those with long nails. The usual
result is that they depend on another to fasten item or end up not
wearing item at all. Additionally, clasps get caught on clothing
from being opened and closed so many times. They discourage the
general public from wearing the item as often. Yet clasps are necessary
to provide security that the piece will not be lost. It also provides
a way to place the piece on and off a body part.
[0012] To choose an item that has continuous beads or other decorative
ornaments on elastic material is an alternative to having a clasp.
This provides a tighter fit which is also desirable. It is more
convenient than a clasp. It is easier for those with ailments mentioned
above as it simply stretches on and off a body part. The elastic
material is clearly an alternative, but it does not provide the
look and style of a chain which is often desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0013] This invention is designed to enable people to select the
look and style of non-elastic jewelry for encircling body parts
without requiring a clasping means. It incorporates both the rigid
(e.g. chain) and elastic material. The piece is not time consuming
or troublesome. It is comfortable, convenient and can be worn more
often as it does not get caught on articles of clothing. The item
stays in place and provides a tighter fit with the security of not
being lost. It allows independence for those with eye sight weakness,
arthritis, carpel tunnel and long nails by providing the ability
to place the item on and off by themselves. The item stretches over
a body part while the chain stays intact. This provides the fashion
desired along with the convenience of a clasp-free design. The elastic
material is utilized to replace the need of a clasp.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 depicts a fully assembled jewelry piece for one embodiment
of this invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts an unfinished section of the elastic string
portion for one embodiment of this invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 depicts a means for joining the rigid and elastic
portions together in one embodiment of this invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 depicts the elastic and rigid portions of one embodiment
for this invention joined together.
[0018] FIG. 5 depicts one embodiment of this invention with one
link of a chain cut for sizing purposes.
[0019] FIG. 6 depicts a fully assembled jewelry piece for another
embodiment of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THIS INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the drawings in particular, one embodiment
of this invention comprises a piece of jewelry (1) intended to encircle
a body part comprising an elastic string material (4) pulled through
decorative jewelry articles (2) and joined at both ends to a chain
(3) to complete a circle (FIG. 1). The decorative jewelry articles
(2), supported by the elastic stringing material, can be any variation
of beads, gemstones, crystals and silver findings such as bali beads,
bead caps, tubes (7), and pendants (6). The elastic material (4)
is selected and sized such that there is no space between the decorative
jewelry articles (2), except when stretched to place on or remove
from the body part.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 2, the elastic stringing material (4)
is pulled through the selected articles of decorative jewelry. The
last piece on each end of the elastic stringing material (4) is
a bead tip (5). The elastic is then knotted inside the bead tip
(5) and severed to allow enclosure inside the bead tip (5) as shown
in FIG. 3. The bead tip is then pressed firmly together to enclose
the knot (FIG. 4). The bead tip has an extension with a loop (8)
for joining to the chain (FIG. 4). The piece of jewelry can be sized
for a particular individual by cutting and removing or adding links
as required (FIG. 5).
[0022] The description above and the accompanying figures are presented
as examples of the present invention. The scope of the present invention
is not limited by the exemplary embodiments. Other application and
variations of the present invention are possible to meet a particular
application. For example, other non-elastic materials besides a
chain can be used and almost any appropriately rigid decorative
jewelry article can be threaded onto the elastic stringing material.
[0023] The above is a detailed description of particular embodiments
of the invention. It is recognized that departures from the disclosed
embodiments may be made within the scope of the invention and that
obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.
Those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure,
appreciate that any changes can be made in the specific embodiments
which are disclosed herein and still obtain a like or similar result
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All
of the embodiments disclosed and claimed herein can be made and
executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. |