Medical and laboratory equipment – Equipment for diagnosis – analysis – or treatment – Orthopedic or chiropractic
Reissue Patent
1999-11-19
2001-09-18
Sakran, Victor N. (Department: 3626)
Medical and laboratory equipment
Equipment for diagnosis, analysis, or treatment
Orthopedic or chiropractic
C024S598500, C024S599100, C063S012000, C294S082200
Reissue Patent
active
RE037365
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of clasp mechanisms used to join or close upon themselves chains, ropes or other articles. More particularly, the invention is directed to the field of such clasps used with jewelry chains, bracelets, necklaces, etc.
Clasps used in the jewelry field to join the ends of bracelets and necklaces are of necessity very small so that the clasp mechanism will not detract from the ornamentation of the piece. Such clasps must also be very secure since the jewelry can be very valuable. It is therefore desirable to have clasps which are designed and constructed to be effective against accidental opening, as well as to be easily workable by the user. It is also preferable that the clasp have some artistic merit to it as well. The mechanisms should also be of relatively simple construction.
Typical jewelry clasps operate with spring rings which require the user to slidingly move a curved pin contained within a tubular body to open and close the device. Because the clasp is of such small size, it is very difficult to operate this type of clasp. The user must balance and secure the main body portion while using a fingernail to slide back the mechanism. Other clasps, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,874,435 to Nielsen and U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,804 to Gatof et al., are constructed with closing pincers which must also be pried or pulled open. These clasps suffer from the same drawbacks.
It is an object of this invention to provide a clasp of small size which is relatively simple mechanically, secure and easily operable.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide a clasp which is operable by a simple squeezing motion between thumb and forefinger, eliminating the need to pull or pry on any particular parts of the device.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The clasp comprises a main body portion, a keeper arm, and a spring member, where the keeper arm is pivotally attached to the main body portion at relatively central points longitudinally of each component so that the two components are moveable relative to each other in a scissor-like manner. The keeper arm is comprised of a mating end, an actuating shoulder, a spring cavity and pivot pin receiving means. The main body is comprised of a hook end, an arm cavity, an arm aperture, and a shoulder aperture. A linkage attachment means, comprising an aperture, loop or the like, is positioned at the end of the main body opposite from the hook end for permanent attachment of the object being joined.
The keeper arm is positioned within the arm cavity of the main body such that the mating end of the keeper arm extends through the arm aperture and meets or corresponds to the hook end. The actuating shoulder of the keeper arm extends from the shoulder aperture of the main body. A pivot pin or like means links the two elements, the pivot pin extending through arm cavity of the main body into the pivot pin receiving means of the keeper arm. The coiled spring in the spring cavity surrounds the pivot pin and the ends of the coiled spring abut portions of the spring cavity and arm cavity so as to maintain the device in the closed position until pressure is applied.
To operate the device, the user grasps the clasp so that the thumb and forefinger rest against the main body and the actuating shoulder part of the keeper arm. Squeezing the main body and the actuating shoulder causes compression of the spring and the actuating shoulder moves into the shoulder cavity of the main body. Because of the centralized pivot, this action causes the mating end of the keeper arm to move inwardly away from the hood end, creating an opening and allowing the hook end to be inserted onto a loop end of a chain, bracelet or necklace. Release of the pressure against the actuating shoulder allows the coiled spring to return the mating end of the keeper arm back into conjunction with the hook arm, closing off the opening and enclosing the loop end securely within the interior portion of the hook end. The pressure of the coiled spring maintains the clasp in this closed position until the device is opened by the user for removal of the loop end.
REFERENCES:
patent: 628619 (1899-07-01), Alwood
patent: 731162 (1903-06-01), Carter
patent: 844980 (1907-02-01), Welcome, Sr.
patent: 1521811 (1925-01-01), Hartbauer
patent: 1790056 (1931-01-01), Moody
patent: 2874435 (1959-02-01), Nielsen
patent: 3956804 (1976-05-01), Gatof et al.
patent: 3982307 (1976-09-01), Smith et al.
patent: 0430892 (1911-10-01), None
patent: 0462790 (1913-12-01), None
patent: 0231197 (1911-01-01), None
patent: 2106584 (1983-04-01), None
General Catalog of Spain's Jewelry—Jewelry Duplex Jan. 1987.
Jewelry Duplex—Jan. 1985 No. 9.
Beard Guy
Shrader James P.
Beard Guy
Oblon & Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt P.C.
Sakran Victor N.
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