Breakaway clasp
AssigneeCrayola LLC
InventorJames Allen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breakaway clasp having two clasp components that can be releasably coupled together to provide a quick release closure mechanism. A first clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion, and an identical second clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portions may be configured to be coupled to a portion of an article, such as a necklace or bracelet, and the coupling portions are configured to releasably couple to each other, thereby forming a closure. Each coupling portion comprising two, identical hemisphere elements and a connecting section that connects the two hemisphere elements. The hemisphere elements and connecting section may define a receiving cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the hemisphere elements of the other clasp component.
Claims16
A breakaway clasp, the clasp comprising:
- a first clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion;
- and
- a second clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion,
- wherein each attachment portion comprises a clasp opening and is configured to be coupled to a portion of an article via the clasp opening, and
- wherein each coupling portion is configured to releasably couple the first clasp component to the second clasp component, each coupling portion comprising a first hemisphere element, a second hemisphere element, and a curved connecting section that connects the first and second hemisphere elements, wherein the first hemisphere element, the second hemisphere element, and the connecting section define a receiving cavity,
- wherein each connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening, and wherein the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.
A universal clasp component comprising:
- a first hemisphere element;
- a second hemisphere element;
- a curved connecting section connecting the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element, and
- an attachment portion adjacent the connecting section, the attachment portion comprising a clasp opening and being configured to attach the universal clasp component to an article via the clasp opening,
- wherein at least a portion of the first hemisphere element, at least a portion of the second hemisphere element, and the curved connecting section define a receiving cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a second universal clasp component,
- wherein the curved connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the curved connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the curved connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening, and wherein the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.
A symmetrical clasp component for a closure mechanism, the symmetrical clasp component comprising:
- a first hemisphere element;
- a second hemisphere element opposite the first hemisphere element, the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element each comprising a convex shape and extending towards one another;
- a curved connecting section having a first end connected to the first hemisphere element and a second end connected to the second hemisphere element, the connecting section forming a hinge between the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element;
- and
- an attachment portion adjacent the connecting section, the attachment portion comprises an opening,
- wherein the first hemisphere element comprises a mirror image of the second hemisphere element,
- wherein at least a portion of the first hemisphere element, at least a portion of the second hemisphere element, and the curved connecting section define a receiving cavity, and
- wherein the connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening and wherein, the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.