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US 11,076,661 B2Granted
Magnetic jewelry clasp
OwnerWilliam Stuart Duncan, Beeman E. Burgoon, Jr.inventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A jewelry clasp is disclosed and includes a first part including a first magnet, a first groove and a first catch and a second part including a second magnet, a second groove and a second catch. The first and second magnets generate an attractive force holding the first part to the second part, the first catch is received in the second groove and the second catch is received in the first groove. A relief disposed on at least one of the first part and the second part at an interface between the first part and the second part is provided to aid in releasing the first part from the second part.
Claims33
A jewelry clasp comprising:
- a first part including a first magnet, first groove and first catch;
- and
- a second part including a second magnet generating an attractive force holding the first part to the second part in a first direction and a second groove that receives the first catch and a second catch that is received within the first groove for holding the first part to the second part in a second direction transverse to the first direction, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part includes an opening extending into a corresponding one of the first groove and the second groove for receiving a portion of a jewelry item, wherein the first groove and the second groove are sized relative to the corresponding first catch and second catch to define contact points that prevent a tipping force from dislodging the first part from the second part by limiting a spacing between the first magnet and the second magnet to a distance where a magnetic force generated between the first magnet and the second magnet is sufficient to pull the first part and the second part back to a coupled position.
A jewelry item comprising:
- an elongated member including a first end and a second end;
- a first part including a first magnet generating a magnetic force, a first groove and a first catch;
- and
- a second part including a second magnet generating an attractive force in a first direction that is transverse to a longitudinal length of the first part and the second part for holding the first part to the second part and a second groove that receives the first catch and a second catch that is received within the first groove for holding the first part to the second part in a second direction parallel to the longitudinal length of the first part and the second part, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part includes an opening extending into a corresponding one of the first groove and the second groove for receiving a portion of one of the first end and the second end.
1 more element
A clasp comprising:
- a first part including a first groove and a first catch;
- and
- a second part including a second groove that receives the first catch and a second catch that is received within the first groove for resisting separation of the first part from the second part in a first direction along a longitudinal length of the first part and the second part, wherein at least one of the first part and the second part includes a magnet generating an attractive force holding the first part to the second part in a direction transverse to the longitudinal length;
- and
- at least one relief on one of the first part and the second part and disposed parallel to the longitudinal length of the first part and the second part at an interface between the first part and the second part, the relief providing for the application of a force for decoupling the first and second parts.
2 more elements
A clasp comprising:
- a first part including a first groove and first catch;
- and
- a second part including a second groove that receives the first catch and a second catch that is received within the first groove for holding the first part to the second part in a first direction along a longitudinal length of the first part and the second part,
- wherein at least one of the first part and the second part includes a magnet generating an attractive force holding the first part to the second part in a direction transverse to the longitudinal length and a bottom corner of one of the first catch and the second catch is spaced relative to an inside surface of one of the first groove and the second groove so as to limit movement between the first part and the second part responsive to an applied force to a spacing where a magnetic force generated by the magnet is sufficient to pull the first part and the second part back to a coupled position.
1 more element
A connector for attachment of distal ends of an elongated item, the connector comprising:
- a first part including a first catch spaced longitudinally apart from a first groove;
- a second part including a second catch spaced longitudinally apart from a second groove;
- at least one magnet disposed within one of the first part and the second part for generating an attractive force for holding the first part to the second part in a coupled condition, wherein in the coupled condition, the first catch is received within the second groove and the second catch is received within the first groove to prevent decoupling in a direction along a longitudinal length of the first part and the second part;
- and
- a relief disposed at an interface between the first part and the second part, the relief defining a surface for application of a force transverse to the attractive force of the at least one magnet for decoupling the first part from the second part, wherein the first part is rotatable relative to the second part in the coupled condition about a central axis that is transvers to a longitudinal length of the first part and the second part.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.