Improvements in bracelets or necklaces

Abstract

 A bracelet or necklace having an end ring (7) at one end thereof and fastening means (9) which are engageable with the end ring (7). The end ring is rotatable about an axis which extends lengthwise of the bracelet or necklace so that the ring is readily moved into an attitude suitable for effecting fastening. The bracelet or necklace may comprise a series of gate sections (1) hinged together. The fastening means may be a padlock (9), in which case a rotatable end ring (7) is provided at each end of the bracelet and both end rings are engaged by the padlock. Alternatively, a bolt ring may serve as the fastening means.

Description

[0001] This invention relates to bracelets or necklaces.

[0002] Fasteners for bracelets and necklaces commonly include a padlock and a pair of end rings associated with the padlock and secured to respective ends of the bracelet or necklace. The bracelet or necklace is fastened by passing a shackle of the padlock through each of the end rings and then engaging a free end of the shackle with a catch member in a main body portion of the padlock.

[0003] It is difficult for a wearer to open and fasten a bracelet with one hand. Moreover, manipulating the end rings to facilitate engagement with a padlock involves twisting one or both ends of the bracelet or necklace. This imposes strains which may lead to breakage, particularly in the case of gate bracelets or necklaces where each link and connecting hinge pin is formed of thin material.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a bracelet or necklace having fastening means so designed as to reduce the risk of straining adjacent parts during fastening or unfastening.

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a bracelet or necklace having an apertured end member at one end thereof, and means for engaging the end member to effect fastening of the bracelet or necklace, wherein the end member is rotatable about an axis which extends generally lengthwise of the bracelet or necklace, thereby to facilitate movement of the said member into an attitude suitable for effecting fastening.

[0006] Suitably, an apertured, rotatable end member is provided at or near each end of the bracelet or necklace, and the fastening means engage each end member to effect fastening.

[0007] Alternatively, the fastening means comprise a bolt ring which is secured to the other end of the bracelet for engagement with the said apertured end member.

[0008] Preferably, the or each end member comprises an end ring. Suitably, the member then further comprises a support pin which extends radially outwardly of the end ring and is rotatably supported by an adjacent part of the bracelet or necklace.

[0009] The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of the two opposed ends of a bracelet according to the invention.

[0010] The bracelet shown in the drawing is a gate bracelet containing a series of gate sections 1 hingedly connected together. In the drawing, a part of a gate section 1 is shown at a left-hand end of the bracelet and a further gate section 1 and a part of an adjacent section 1 are shown at a right-hand end of the bracelet. Each section 1 includes three or four links 3 which extend lengthwise of the section, are mutually spaced in a direction across the width of the section, and are parallel or substantially parallel-arranged. The links 3 in each section 1 are connected together at each end thereof, and coupled to the links of an adjacent section 1 by a pivot pin 5.

[0011] The present bracelet is provided with fastening means in the form of a padlock 9. Associated with the padlock 9 are apertured end members 7, one at each end of the bracelet.

[0012] Each end member 7 contains an end ring or jump ring 11 and a support pin 13 which extends radially outwardly from one side of the ring in a direction generally lengthwise of the bracelet. At the end of the pin 13 remote from the jump ring 11 there is a head 15.

[0013] The member 7 is rotatably supported by engagement of the pin 13 between two transverse support elements 17 of an end section 19 of the bracelet. The section 19 further includes two mutually spaced links 20 each of which is secured at one end to the support elements 17 and is hingedly connected at its other end to a gate section 1 of the bracelet.

[0014] The padlock 9 has a main body 21 which is secured to each end of the bracelet by means of a safety chain 23. A shackle 25 of the padlock is movable from an open position, shown in the drawing, to a closed position, wherein a free end of the shackle engages a catch member (not shown) in the body section 21.

[0015] It will be appreciated that a gate bracelet of the form shown in the drawing typically has a length of six or seven inches, a width of approximately half an inch and a thickness of 1/32nd inches. At each end of each gate section there is a rigid pivot pin which extends transversely across the whole width of the bracelet. These factors combine to make the bracelet resistant to a twisting movement about a longitudinal axis of the bracelet. Indeed, it is found that one end of a bracelet having the above dimensions can only be twisted through an angle of approximately 90° relative to the other end, even when the bracelet is held in a fully extended, linear condition. When worn on the wrist, the angle through which the bracelet can be twisted is clearly considerably less. It is for this reason that the end members 7 are made rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bracelet.

[0016] Thus, in using the present bracelet, the two ends of the bracelet are placed close together and the free end of the shackle 25 is passed through the jump ring 11 of each end member 7. The free end of the shackle is then engaged with the catch member, thereby to secure the elements 7 relative to one another and fasten the bracelet.

[0017] As indicated above, movement of the rings 11 into positions suitable for engagement with the shackle 25 is facilitated by the ability of each end member 7 to rotate about the axis of its pin 13 ie. about an axis which extends lengthwise of the bracelet. This rotation of a member 7 removes the need for twisting one or both ends of the bracelet so as to bring each jump ring 11 into the correct attitude. Such twisting is liable to cause undue strains on the end sections 19 and adjacent gate sections 1.

[0018] It is not essential, though it is beneficial, for each of the members 7 to be rotatable. One member 7 can be fixedly secured to an adjacent end section of the bracelet.

[0019] The fastening means may comprise a bolt ring instead of the padlock described above, especially in the case of a necklace. In this case, the bolt ring is secured to an end ring at one end of the bracelet or necklace and fastening is effected by engaging the bolt ring with a rotatable end ring at the other end of the bracelet or necklace.

[0020] It will be appreciated that other bracelets according to the invention are formed as rope, chain or link bracelets. Moreover, fastening means similar to those described above can be employed on necklaces, which may be of gate or some other form of construction.

Claims

1. A bracelet or necklace having an apertured end member at or near one end thereof, and means for engaging the end member to effect fastening of the bracelet or necklace, wherein the end member is rotatable about an axis which extends generally lengthwise of the bracelet or necklace, thereby to facilitate movement of the said member into an attitude suitable for effecting fastening.

2. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an apertured, rotatable end member is provided at or near each end of the bracelet or necklace, and the fastening means engage each end member to effect fastening.

3. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the fastening means comprise a padlock having a shackle which extends through an aperture in each end member when the bracelet or necklace is fastened.

4. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprise a bolt ring which is secured to the other end of the bracelet for engagement with the said apertured end member.

5. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the bolt ring is secured to an apertured end member at the said other end of the bracelet or necklace.

6. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each end member comprises an end ring.

7. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the or each end member further comprises a support pin which extends radially outwardly of the end ring and is rotatably supported by an adjacent part of the bracelets or necklace.

8. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a series of sections hingedly connected together.

9. A bracelet or necklace as claimed in Claim 8, wherein each section is a gate section comprising a plurality of parallel links which extend lengthwise of the section.

Drawing