Positive locking jewelry safety latch

Details Positive locking jewelry safety latch Positive locking jewelry safety latch

1998-12-02

2001-03-20

Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)

Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.

Separable-fastener or required component thereof

Including member having distinct formations and mating...

C024S589100, C024S2650WS

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202268

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to latches for openable encircling jewelry items such as watches, bracelets, necklaces, anklets and the like and particularly to secondary safety latches for such jewelry items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Items of metal based jewelry (i.e., entirely or partially made of precious metal or with base metal closure elements) of the encircling type, e.g., most commonly watches and bracelets around the wrist, necklaces around the neck and anklets around the ankle, are often made in openable form for ease of placement on the limb or body part being adorned (bangles and continuous necklaces are large enough to be directly placed as unitary pieces and are accordingly not included in this discussion or the present invention).
In order to maintain the items of openable jewelry in place, metal items are provided with primary latching devices such as the common compressible “tongue in groove” wherein a compressible triangulated tongue on one end of the item to be closed is fitted into a corresponding receiving groove in the other end. The tongue is compressed until fully seated and springs open to engage a catch member or edge of the insertion aperture to prevent disengagement unless the tongue is again compressed by a release button or control. Other similar latching mechanisms abound and often the particular type of catch is determined by the aesthetics of the piece. Examples of other latching devices include spring-like beveled insertion members which are moved to an insertion position which resists opening. The control release in such embodiments operates movement of the bevel member to release the resistance.
One of the considerations for the primary latches is that they be substantially or completely hidden during use (except, necessarily for the release control) whereby they do not interfere with the aesthetics of the piece. This is especially important since the primary latches are normally large in size and span a substantial portion of the interface between the abutted ends.
Because of the value of jewelry and the fact that on a person's body it often may come into contact with other objects (clothing, walls, furniture, other people, etc.), with the release button or control being inadvertently activated, such jewelry (with some exceptions for aesthetic reasons) is usually also provided with a secondary safety catch. The secondary safety catch prevents the accidental loss of an expensive jewelry item should the primary catch fail or accidentally open. Often, however, since it is only secondary in nature, the mechanism of the secondary catch is very rudimentary and is prone to a high degree of failure. The most common secondary catch is a small hinged metal loop on one open end of the bracelet, watch and the like, with the other open end being provided with a post adapted to be frictionally engaged with the loop. The loop and post are usually positioned on a side or side edge of the bracelet, watch and the like whereby they are less conspicuous with respect to the aesthetics of the jewelry item. Release is effected by a hinged flipping back of the loop from engagement with the post.
A problem with the common secondary safety latches, which are operable by frictional engagement, is that over time and under pressure, the metal of the loop and/or the post tend to deform ever so slightly (and generally imperceptibly) but sufficiently such that the frictional engagement is tenuous at best and flipping off of the loop from the post can be effected by a simple touch or gravity. As a result, the safety function is compromised or lost, and very often without the wearer even being aware of such condition. However, providing a secondary safety latch of a substantive nature, akin to that of the primary latch (which is less subject to deterioration) is normally not physically or aesthetically feasible with unaesthetic bulk and unnecessarily complicated procedures in removal or placement of the jewelry item.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide jewelry of an openable encircling type such as a watch, bracelet, necklace, anklet or similar item, with a positive locking secondary safety latch, which latch is aesthetically pleasing, provides little if any bulk more than normally associated with safety latches, and which latch is positive and not subject to loosening over time.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a small, relatively unobtrusive latch mechanism which is adaptable to provide positive primary latch closure particularly where normally internally placed primary latching interferes with the structure of a small or delicate piece of jewelry.
Generally the present invention comprises a positive locking safety latch for use in ensuring the holding closed of an openable encircling jewelry item such as for the wrist (bracelets or watches), necklaces, anklets and the like, usually already locked closed by a primary latch. The positive locking latch comprises an apertured member hingedly affixed to one end of the item to be latched closed and a post member with an axially enlarged portion or head, which post is affixed to the other end of the item to be closed. The enlargement of the head need not be uniform or symmetrical or even at an end of the post but only sufficient to provide impedance means, as will be described. The aperture of the apertured member is sized and relatively positioned to be hingedly closely fitted over the enlarged head of the post when the primary latch is engaged or the ends of the jewelry item are abutted. The apertured member further comprises means which engage the impedance means of the post to provide positive resistance against removal of the post from the aperture. A preferred embodiment of such impedance and resistance means comprises a spring loaded chuck element which extends into the aperture and blocks normal entry of the enlarged head into the aperture. A retraction control permits retraction of the chuck element whereby the post can be fitted into the aperture. Release of the retraction control causes the chuck to redeploy with spring loaded engagement with the base of the post and with blocking resistance against the enlarged head of the post (the enlargement can therefore be a lateral bump or ring around an upper segment of the post to provide the requisite blocking resistance), to prevent accidental disengagement and opening of the safety latch. A simple depression of the retraction control, coupled with a normal release and open hinging of the apertured member as with prior art safety latches, effects release and opening of the safety latch. Since latch holding is dependent on a blocked movement rather than a frictional fit, there are no problems engendered by material deformation. Furthermore, the two step release procedure, while simple and readily effected, provides a positive insurance against inadvertent opening.
The simple chuck mechanism is fitted into an area normally occupied by an engaging loop, whereby added bulk is minimized and aesthetics can be maintained. Defects in the secondary latch are readily noticed if the safety latch becomes deployable without use of the retraction control.


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patent: 5191685 (1993-03-01), Aoki et al.
patent: 5203057 (1993-04-01), Runnels
patent: 5231740 (1993-08-01), Mohebkhosravi

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