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Patent Abstract
An improved latch for spring wire supported articles of jewelry
in which a wire loop is pivoted about an axis perpendicular to that
of the spring wire for movement through substantially 180 degrees
and engages a free end of the spring wire at substantially 90 degrees
so that accidental snagging of said free end of said spring wire
will not result in disengagement of the latch.
Patent Claims
1. In a spring wire supported article of jewelry, including a spring
wire pivotally mounted at one end thereof, and latching means selectively
engaging an opposite free end thereof, the improvement comprising:
said latching means including a wire-like pivotally mounted loop
having an medially located spring wire engaging portion, said loop
being mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicularly
to that of said spring wire.
2. The improvement in accordance with claim 1 wherein said loop
is pivotally mounted for rotation through substantially 180 degrees
and engages said free end of said wire before 90 degree rotation
occurs; whereby should said free and of said spring wire be engaged
with the clothing of the user and is pivotally displaced, said latching
means remains in engaged condition.
Patent Description
RELATED INVENTION
[0001] Reference is made to my provisional application for letters
patent Ser. No. 60/702842, filed Jul. 28, 2005, to which a claim
of priority is made.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to the field of small articles
of jewelry, normally secured to the clothing of a user by a pivotally-mounted
pin held in a closing position by a latching means. More particularly,
it relates to an improved latching means for maintaining the pin
in closed or latched positions after engagement with the clothing
of a wearer. Devices of this general type are known in the art,
and the invention lies in specific details of the construction which
will provide improved ease of installation of the article of jewelry,
and a latching function which is far more positive than has been
available in the prior art.
[0003] It is known in the art to provide a pin of spring wire typically
mounted at one edge of the article of jewelry, with a simple hook-like
retaining member adjacent on an opposite edge, the free end of the
wire spring being selectively positioned in engagement with the
free end of the hook-like member. This construction has been used
for a relatively long period of time, and is not without utility.
However, on occasion, the free end of the spring wire accidentally
engages with the garment of the wearer to result in the disengagement
of the free end of the spring wire, and subsequent loss of the article
of jewelry.
[0004] It is also known to provide a circular latch with a moveable
member which obscures the opening which permits insertion of a loop
end of an opposite end of a necklace. Such construction is principally
employed to secure the ends of an elongated flexible article of
jewelry, such as a necklace, and does not lend itself to anchoring
a rectilinear spring wire. A positive action on the part of the
user is required to disengage the free end of the spring wire. To
this end, the latching means includes a pivotally mounted loop member
rotateable about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the spring
wire.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0005] In the drawings, to which reference will be made in this
specifications:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of
the invention showing a latching means in open condition.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a similar perspective view showing the latching
means in intermediate position.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a similar perspective view showing the latching
means in fully engaged condition.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing al alternate
form of the embodiment in an engaged condition.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the alternate
form in partially open condition.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a similar perspective view showing a fully engaged
condition.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the latching means illustrated
in FIG. 4.
[0013] FIG. 7A is a perspective view showing a second alternate
form of latching means.
[0014] FIG. 8A is an enlarged perspective view of the first embodiment
in open condition.
[0015] FIG. 8B is a similar perspective view showing the latching
means in fully engaged condition
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] In accordance with the first embodiment, the device, generally
indicated by the Reference Character 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1,
in mounted condition upon a planar base 11 of an article of jewelry
having a rear surface 12. The device includes a known spring wire
element 13 mounted at one end thereof upon a pivotal base 14, and
including the elongated segment 15 terminating in a sharpened tip
16.
[0017] At an opposite edge of the base 11 a catch element 20 includes
a base 21 which is soldered or otherwise attached to the planar
base 11 having a pin 24 pivotally supporting a wire loop 25 for
rotation about substantially 180 degrees of movement. It includes
a central portion 17 which engages the free end of the spring wire.
[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates the latch in fully open condition just
prior to engagement with the free end of the spring wire.
[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates an intermediate position of the wire
loop which may occur should the free end of the spring wire become
snagged with a fold of clothing of the wearer. The end of the spring
wire is partially dislodged, be in relatively secure position.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates the latched mechanism in fully engaged
condition which will occur after the article of jewelry has been
engaged with the clothing of the wearer, and the loop manually moved
to fully engaged condition. This movement will be fully understood
by a comparison of FIG. 8A and 8B.
[0021] In the alternate form of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.
4-7, the latching means is formed of a pair of stampings 34 and
the loop 35 is supported by pin 36. A further modification illustrated
in FIG. 7A uses only a single stamping.
[0022] It may thus be seem that I have invented a novel and highly
useful improvement in latching means for spring wire type engagement
of articles of jewelry upon the clothing of a wearer which precludes
accidental opening of the latching means, and which requires manual
manipulation to open the latching means once it has been closed.
The possibility of loss of the article of jewelry due to accidental
snagging of the free end of the spring wire is eliminated and should
accidental snagging occur, the latching means cannot become disengaged.
[0023] I wish it should be understood that I do not consider the
invention to be limited to the details of the structure illustrated
and described in the specifications, for obvious modifications will
occur to those skills in the art to which the invention pertains.
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