CN115299679A

CN115299679A - Small jewelry and/or jewelry replacement structure capable of being opened and closed without external tool

Info

Publication number: CN115299679A
Application number: CN202210495034.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 塞德里克·贝鲁克斯
Original assignee: Edmont Ltd
Current assignee: Edmont Ltd
Priority date: 2021-05-07
Filing date: 2022-05-07
Publication date: 2022-11-08
Also published as: AU2022202822A1; CA3156562A1; US20220354226A1; JP2022173113A; EP4085788A1; KR20220152154A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a small jewelry and/or jewelry replacement structure that does not require external tools to open and close. The jewelry and/or jewelry assembly comprises two items removably attached to each other by an attachment means. The assembly is remarkable in that the attachment means comprise: a first attachment element (13) having a longitudinal axis (21) comprising a locking peg (23); a second attachment element (15) comprising a locking striker (55), the first and second attachment elements being formed to prevent relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the longitudinal axis and to allow relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along a transverse axis (29), the bolt being movable between a locked position preventing relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the transverse axis and an unlocked position allowing relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the transverse axis.

Description

Small jewelry and/or jewelry replacement structure capable of being opened and closed without external tool

The present invention is in the field of jewelry (bijouterie) and jewelry and relates to a jewelry and/or jewelry assembly and a small jewelry and/or jewelry replacement structure that does not require external tools to open and close.

In the field of jewellery and/or jewellery, it is known to hang one or several decorative accessories on an item of jewellery and/or jewellery. These ornamental accessories are usually pendants (pendants) or pendants (charms), the term pendant being used to refer to ornamental items hung from necklaces, bracelets, rings or earrings.

In the remainder of the description, the term "pendant" refers both to a pendant and to a pendant.

Such decorative accessories are intended to alter the appearance of the jewelry and/or jewelry item. In fact, these accessories may be interchangeably mounted on jewelry and/or jewelry items, which allows such items to be customized as desired.

A pendant to be attached to a jewelry and/or jewelry item includes a fastener, typically comprised of a fastener (e.g., a spring-loaded fastener), that is temporarily attached to the jewelry and/or jewelry item.

When the jewelry and/or item of jewelry is a chain of links, one or more of the links should be sized to allow the spring-loaded catch of the pendant to pass through.

This particular size may not be aesthetically pleasing, particularly when the links forming the chain of the jewelry item to which the pendant must be attached are of a different size than that required to allow the fastener of the pendant to pass through.

Thus, when the jewelry and/or jewelry item does not include links, as is the case with rings, earrings, necklaces or bracelets without links, it is necessary to mount the links on the item to receive the fasteners of the pendant.

This also affects the aesthetics of the assembly formed by the jewelry and/or jewelry item and the attached pendant.

Furthermore, due to the frequent stress on the clasp caused by postures in daily life, the risk of separation between the pendant and the jewelry and/or jewelry item is high, especially when the pendant is attached to a ring or bracelet.

The present invention aims to solve the above mentioned drawbacks and to this end relates to a jewellery assembly comprising:

the first item of jewelry and/or jewelry,

a second item of jewellery and/or jewellery, which is intended to be removably attached to said first item of jewellery and/or jewellery,

an attachment means for attaching a first item of jewellery and/or jewellery on a second item of jewellery and/or jewellery,

the jewelry and/or jewelry assembly is remarkable in that the attachment means comprises:

a first attachment element mounted on the first jewelry and/or item of jewelry, the first attachment element having a longitudinal axis and comprising a locking peg,

a second attachment element mounted on the second item of jewellery and/or jewellery, the second attachment element being adapted to nest on the first attachment element and comprising a locking strike arranged to allow cooperation with the locking bolt,

the first and second attachment elements having complementary geometries formed to prevent relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the longitudinal axis and to permit relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along a transverse axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis when the second attachment element is nested on the first attachment element,

the locking bolt is alternately movable between a locked position in which the locking bolt engages the locking striker when the second attachment element is nested on the first attachment element, the locked position preventing relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the transverse axis, and an unlocked position in which the locking bolt does not engage the locking striker, the unlocked position allowing relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along the transverse axis.

Thus, by providing a formed complementary geometry to the attachment element of the attachment means to prevent relative translation of the attachment element along the first longitudinal axis, and by providing a locking peg and locking notch provided to the assembly of the invention arranged in the assembly to block relative translation of the attachment element along a second transverse axis transverse to the first longitudinal axis, the risk of separation between the jewelry and/or jewelry items is greatly limited relative to the prior art.

Thus, the overall aesthetics of the jewelry and/or jewelry components are improved as a result of the present invention over the prior art.

Furthermore, the jewellery and/or jewellery components obtained in the context of the present invention have a relatively reduced manufacturing cost with respect to certain devices of the prior art. Thus, the size of the attachment device according to the invention is relatively reduced.

According to the invention, the assembly comprises non-exchangeable parts carrying complex mechanical structures and exchangeable parts without complex mechanical structures. Thus, the manufacturing costs of the exchangeable part are reduced and its manufacture is simpler. The replaceable component also has a reduced volume.

According to optional features of the jewellery and/or jewellery assembly according to the invention:

the locking bolt is mounted on resilient return means arranged in the first attachment element to return the locking bolt to its locking position;

the locking bolt is translatable along a longitudinal axis of the first attachment element;

the first attachment element comprises a housing inside which the elastic return means are housed, said housing comprising:

a base portion, the base portion being contained in a first plane,

a top portion contained in a second plane that is axially offset along a transverse axis relative to the base portion,

a set of sidewalls connecting the base and the top and defining an interior volume,

a lock opening formed in a side wall of the set of side walls, the lock opening positioned opposite the lock striking aperture of the second attachment element when the second attachment element is nested on the first attachment element,

the locking bolt is at least partially housed inside the interior volume and the locking opening is traversed by a locking end of the locking bolt when the locking bolt is in its locked position and when the second attachment element is nested on the first attachment element;

the locking bolt comprises an operating plate and the base of the housing of the first attachment element has an operating opening dimensioned to allow manual access to said operating plate of the locking bolt;

the elastic return means is a spring comprising a first end attached to the inside of the inner volume of the housing of the first attachment element and comprising a second end attached to the locking bolt;

the locking end of the locking bolt includes a beveled edge. This enables a simplified passage of the assembly according to the invention from the unlocked state to the locked state, since it is sufficient to nest the second attachment element on the first attachment element to reach the locked position;

the second attachment element is constituted by a cover comprising a set of side walls connecting a base and a top of the cover, the second jewelry and/or jewelry item being mounted on one or several of the set of side walls, and the locking striker being formed in a side wall of the set of side walls on which the second jewelry and/or jewelry item is mounted. Thus, the cover may be a decorative component that allows additional aesthetic properties to be imparted on the assembly according to the invention;

in one embodiment, the first attachment element and the second attachment element each have a polygonal geometry;

the first item of jewellery and/or jewellery is a ring or necklace or earring or bracelet and the second item of jewellery is a pendant.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description, which, for the purposes of understanding, may refer to the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 is an isometric view of a jewelry and/or jewelry assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of a jewelry and/or jewelry assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an isometric view of a housing of a first attachment element of a jewelry and/or jewelry assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a second attachment element of the jewelry and/or jewelry assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the second attachment element of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates a first step in the assembly sequence of jewelry and/or jewelry components according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a second step of the assembly sequence of jewelry and/or jewelry components according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a third step of the assembly sequence of the jewelry and/or jewelry assembly according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 illustrates a disassembly sequence of jewelry and/or jewelry components according to the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same or similar references indicate the same or similar components or groups of components.

The set of figures of the present description illustrates, by way of non-limiting example, a jewelry and/or jewelry assembly 1, which jewelry and/or jewelry assembly 1 comprises a first jewelry and/or jewelry item 3 obtained by means of a ring 5.

The invention is also realized when the first item of jewellery and/or jewellery is a necklace, an earring or a bracelet.

In the remainder of the description, for the sake of simplifying terminology, the term "component" is used indifferently to refer to a jewelry component or to a jewelry and jewelry component. Likewise, the term "item" refers indifferently to items of jewellery or to items of jewellery and jewellery.

Referring to fig. 1, an assembly 1 according to the invention is shown in an isometric view. The assembly 1 comprises a first article 3, where the first article 3 is a ring, and a second article 7 attached to the first article 3, where the second article 7 is formed by a pendant 9 or pendant.

The attachment of the pendant 9 to the ring 5 is obtained by means of attachment means 11 designed to allow the pendant 9 to be removably attached to the ring 5.

In fig. 1 is shown the attachment means 11 in a locked position, that is, the ring 5 and the pendant 9 are attached to each other.

With reference to fig. 2, which is also referred to as fig. 3, the assembly 1 is shown in a top view in fig. 2, and fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the attachment means 11 along the line III-III in fig. 2.

The attachment means 11 comprise a first attachment element 13 mounted on the ring 5 (not visible in fig. 3) and a second attachment element 15 mounted on the pendant 9 (not visible in fig. 3).

The first attachment element 13 comprises a housing 17, inside which housing 17 elastic return means are mounted, which are generally formed by a spring 19, spring 19 being mounted in a compressed state in the housing 17 of the first attachment element 13 of the locking device 11.

The first attachment element 13, which has a mechanical attachment structure comprising a movable element, is supported by the ring as a non-replaceable part, and the pendant, which is a replaceable part, comprises an attachment element 15 without a movable part. Therefore, the hanger is easy to manufacture and has reduced cost.

The first attachment element 13 has a longitudinal axis 21 and further comprises a locking peg 23 that is alternately translatable along the longitudinal axis 21 between a locked position, shown in fig. 3, and an unlocked position, shown in fig. 8 and 10.

A spring 19 is mounted in the first attachment element 13 to continuously return the locking bolt 23 to its locking position.

Referring to fig. 4, the housing 17 of the first attachment element 13 is shown.

The housing 17 includes a base portion 25 contained in a first plane P1 and a top portion 27 contained in a second plane P2, the second plane P2 being axially offset relative to the base portion 25 along a transverse axis 29 substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis 21.

The housing 17 also includes a set of sidewalls 31 connecting the base 25 and the top 27.

The housing 17 further comprises a locking opening 33 at one of its side walls, the locking opening 33 being adapted to be positioned opposite a locking notch of the second attachment element 15 when the second attachment element 15 is nested on the first attachment element 13, as will be seen in the rest of the description.

The side wall 31 defines an internal volume within which the spring 19 is housed.

As shown in fig. 3, spring 19 includes a first end 35 attached to the interior of the interior volume of housing 17 and includes a second end 37 attached to locking bolt 23.

The inner volume of the housing 17 also partially accommodates a locking bolt 23. In fact, when the locking bolt 23 is in its locking position, the locking end 39 of the locking bolt 23 passes through the locking opening 33. The locking end 39 also comprises a bevelled edge 40, the purpose of the bevelled edge 40 being outlined in the rest of the description.

Therefore, the base portion 25 of the housing 17 has an operation opening 41, and the operation plate 43 of the lock bolt 23 is installed to be opposed to the operation opening 41. The operating opening 41 is dimensioned to allow manual access to an operating plate 43 of the locking bolt 23, thereby allowing a user to manually actuate the locking bolt 23, as will be seen in the remainder of the description.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the second attachment element 15 is adapted to nest on the first attachment element 13, that is to say the first attachment element 13 and the second attachment element 15 have complementary geometries with respect to each other, similar to a male part and a female part.

It is also contemplated that the second attachment element 15 completely covers the first attachment element 13 of the attachment means 11. When the ring 5 and the pendant 7 are attached to each other by means of the attachment means 11, only the second attachment element 15 is visible from the outside, from above or from the side, so that the locking mechanism is completely hidden. The second attachment element 15 may thus be constituted by a cover 45, the cover 45 may be a decorative component, which allows additional aesthetic properties to be imparted to the assembly 1.

Reference will now be made to fig. 5 and 6, which fig. 5 and 6 illustrate the second attachment element 15 obtained by means of the cover 45 in a bottom view and a front view, respectively.

The cover 45 comprises a top 47, a base 49 and a set of side walls 53 connecting the base 49 and the top 47, the base 49 being axially offset with respect to the top and having an opening 51, the opening 51 being dimensioned to allow the cover 45 to be nested on the first attachment element 13. When the second attachment element 15 consists of a cover 45, the pendant 9 is mounted on one or several side walls 53 of the cover 45. According to a variant not shown, the pendant 9 can also be mounted on the upper wall of the cover 45.

The second attachment element 15 further comprises a locking striker 55, the locking striker 55 being arranged to allow cooperation with the locking bolt 23 of the first attachment element 13, which can be seen in fig. 3. The locking striker 55 comprises an opening formed in a side wall of the set of side walls 53 on which the pendant 9 is mounted, as can be seen in particular in fig. 2.

According to one arrangement of the invention, the geometry of the first attachment element 13 and the second attachment element 15 is chosen such that when the second attachment element 15 is nested on the first attachment element 13, a relative translation of the first attachment element 13 and the second attachment element 15 along the longitudinal axis 21 of the first attachment element is prevented and a relative translation of the first attachment element 13 and the second attachment element 15 along the transverse axis 29 is allowed. As an example, the first attachment element and the second attachment element take a substantially polygonal geometry, for example a pentagon, as is the case in the embodiment of the invention given in the figures. Of course, any other geometry allowing to prevent translation between the first and second attachment elements along the longitudinal axis 21 may be used in the context of the present invention, in particular circular, elliptical.

With reference to fig. 7 to 9, fig. 7 to 9 illustrate the mounting sequence of the assembly 1 according to the invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates the first attachment element 13 mounted on a first item of jewelry (not shown), such as a ring, necklace, bracelet or earring.

The spring 19 of the first attachment element 13 is in a stretched state with the locking bolt 23 in a locked position. In this locking position, the end 39 of the locking bolt 23 passes through the locking opening 33 of the housing 17.

Referring to fig. 8, the second attachment element 15 is shown during mounting on the first attachment element 13.

The following method is used when one wishes to assemble a first article of jewelry with a second article of jewelry (not shown), in particular a pendant or pendant.

The second attachment element 15, consisting of the cover 45, is positioned on the first attachment element 13 and then translated downwards along the transverse axis 29 along the arrow 57.

The base 49 of the cover 45 applies pressure to the angled edge 40 of the locking bolt 23, thereby loading the spring 19 into its compressed state along arrow 59.

Refer to fig. 9. When the translation of the second attachment element 15 continues until the locking opening 33 of the housing 17 of the first attachment element 13 is located opposite the locking notch 55 of the second attachment element 15, the locking bolt 23 of the first attachment element 13 is then no longer under pressure and enters its extended or locked position again.

In the locking position, translation of the first attachment element 13 relative to the second attachment element 15 along the transverse axis 29 is prevented by the locking bolt 23 cooperating with the locking striker 55.

Thus, when the second attachment element 15 is nested on the first attachment element 13, the locking bolt 23 of the first attachment element 13 cooperates in its locking position with the locking striker 55 of the second attachment element 15.

The jewelry and/or jewelry assembly is then in a locked position, that is, the first and second items are attached to each other. The user can then wear the assembly safely.

When the second attachment element 15 is moved downwards along the transverse axis 29 of the first attachment element 13, the positioning of the locking bolt 23 in its locking position is automatically obtained thanks to the inclined edge 40, the base 49 and the spring 19.

Refer to fig. 10. When a person wishes to remove a second item of jewellery, for example to replace the second item of jewellery in order to give the jewellery and/or jewellery component a new appearance, the locking bolt 23 is moved to the unlocked position by the operating plate 43. When the locking bolt reaches its unlocked position, the locking bolt 23 no longer engages the locking striker 55. Relative translation of the first and second attachment elements along transverse axis 29 is then permitted. The second attachment element 15 is then translated upward along arrow 58 along the transverse axis 29 relative to the first attachment element 13. The movement of the locking bolt is done by manipulating the operating plate with a finger, which exerts a traction force on the plate 43. Thus, the removal of the second item of jewellery does not require any tools, which allows for a quick and simple removal of the second item of jewellery. Furthermore, there is no risk of losing the tool.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment of the jewellery assembly described above only as an illustrative example, but on the contrary, if all variants relating to technical equivalents of the described devices and combinations thereof fall within the scope of the invention, all such variants are covered by the invention.

Claims

1. A jewelry and/or jewelry assembly (1) comprising:

a first item of jewellery and/or jewellery (3),

a second item of jewellery and/or jewellery (7) intended to be removably attached to said first item of jewellery and/or jewellery (3),

attachment means (11) for attaching the first item of jewellery and/or jewellery (3) on the second item of jewellery and/or jewellery (7),

the attachment device (11) comprises:

a first attachment element (13), the first attachment element (13) being mounted on the first item of jewellery and/or jewellery (3), the first attachment element (13) having a longitudinal axis (21), the first attachment element (13) comprising a locking peg (23),

a second attachment element (15), the second attachment element (15) being mounted on the second item of jewellery and/or jewellery (7), the second attachment element (15) being configured to nest on the first attachment element (13) and comprising a locking striker (55) arranged to allow cooperation with the locking peg (23),

the first attachment element (13) and the second attachment element (15) having complementary geometries, being formed so as to prevent relative translation of the first attachment element (13) and the second attachment element (15) along the longitudinal axis (21) and to allow relative translation of the first attachment element (13) and the second attachment element (15) along a transversal axis (29) substantially transversal to the longitudinal axis (21) when the second attachment element (15) is nested on the first attachment element (13),

said locking bolt (23) being alternately movable between a locked position, in which said locking bolt (23) cooperates with said locking striker (55) when said second attachment element (15) is nested on said first attachment element (13), said locked position preventing relative translation of said first attachment element (13) and said second attachment element (15) along said transverse axis (29), and an unlocked position, in which said locking bolt (23) does not cooperate with said locking striker (55), said unlocked position allowing relative translation of said first attachment element and said second attachment element along said transverse axis (29),

wherein the locking bolt (23) comprises an operating plate (43) and the base (25) of the housing (17) of the first attachment element (13) has an operating opening (41), the operating opening (41) being dimensioned to allow manual access to the operating plate (43) of the locking bolt (23).

2. Assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the locking bolt (23) is mounted on resilient return means arranged in the first attachment element (13) to return the locking bolt (23) to its locking position.

3. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the locking bolt (23) is translatable along the longitudinal axis (21) of the first attachment element (13).

4. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first attachment element (13) comprises a housing (17), elastic return means being housed inside the housing (17), the housing (17) comprising:

a base (25), said base (25) being contained in a first plane (P1),

a top portion (27), said top portion (27) being contained in a second plane (P2), said second plane (P2) being axially offset with respect to said base portion (25) along said transverse axis (29),

a set of side walls (31), the set of side walls (31) connecting the base (25) and the top (27) and defining an interior volume,

a lock opening (33), the lock opening (33) being formed in a side wall of the set of side walls (31), the lock opening (33) being positioned opposite the lock striker (55) of the second attachment element (15) when the second attachment element (15) is nested on the first attachment element (13),

when the locking bolt (23) is in its locking position and when the second attachment element (15) is nested on the first attachment element (13), the locking bolt (23) is at least partially housed inside the inner volume, and the locking opening (33) is penetrated by a locking end (39) of the locking bolt (23).

5. Assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the elastic return means is a spring (19), the spring (19) comprising a first end (35) attached to the interior of the inner volume of the housing (17) of the first attachment element (13) and comprising a second end (37) attached on the locking peg (23).

6. Assembly (1) according to claim 4, wherein the locking end (39) of the locking bolt (23) comprises a bevelled edge (40).

7. Assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the locking end (39) of the locking bolt (23) comprises a bevelled edge (40).

8. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the second attachment element (15) is constituted by a cover (45), the cover (45) comprising a set of side walls (53) connecting the base of the cover (45) and the top (47) of the cover (45), the second item of jewellery and/or jewellery (7) being mounted on one or several side walls (53) of the set of side walls (53), and the locking striker (55) being formed in the side wall of the set of side walls (53) on which the second item of jewellery and/or jewellery (7) is mounted.

9. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first attachment element (13) and the second attachment element (15) each have a polygonal geometry.

10. Assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein said first article of jewellery and/or jewellery (3) is a ring (5) or necklace or earring or bracelet and said second article of jewellery and/or jewellery (7) is a pendant (9).