Necklace retaining clasp

A readily separable and joinable retaining clasp for a necklace, bracelet and the like, this clasp preferably of cylindrical configuration and including:

• (a) an outer member which is generally tubular in configuration and having a pair of opposed and localized cups providing retaining means formed in the sidewalls thereof with said pair of formed cups intermediate the ends of said member, the tubular portion having a first open end and a second end sufficiently closed to provide a retaining means at and in said second end;
• (b) a bias means carried within the outer member and secured at the second end, this bias means adapted to slide within said tubular outer member to provide a thrust force toward the open end of the outer member when said bias means is moved toward the second end;
• (c) at least one chain or string attaching means provided with and by said outer member;
• (d) an inner member freely slidable and rotatable within the tubular configuration of the outer member, said inner member having a first and second end, said first end having at least one chain or string attaching means provided therewith and with said second end having a leaf-type spring retaining means provided and formed thereon;
• (e) a U-shaped leaf-type spring having its extending leg portions slightly canted outwardly so that the legs extend outwardly at least slightly more than the inner diameter of the tubular portion of the outer member, the extending leg portions less in length than the tubular portion of the outer member when in an assembled condition, said extending leg portions having each leg formed with a further outwardly extending portion sized and shaped so as to enter and engage one of the opposed localized cups when brought in way thereof;
• (f) means for securing said U-shaped leaf-type spring at its midportion to said inner member at or near its second end and in said leaf-type spring retaining means so that the leg portions of said U-shaped leaf-type spring are movable outwardly to engage the tubular portion of the outer member and with the unsecured and further outwardly extending portions of said U-shaped leaf-type spring adapted to enter and be retained in one of said opposed cups, and
• (g) means for providing in the sides of the inner member recesses into which the leg portions of the U-shaped leaf-type spring may enter during insertion of the inner member into said outer member for retention, whereby the insertion of the inner member into the outer member causes the leg portions of the U-shaped leaf-type spring to be canted inwardly to slide within the inner diameter of the tubular portion and by manipulation the further outwardly extending leg portions of the U-shaped leaf-type spring are caused to enter the opposed pair of formed cups and the bias means engages and urges the inner member outwardly and disengagement is easily achieved by moving the inner member against said bias until the further outwardly extending portions of the U-shaped leaf-type spring are cammed from the formed cups and a rotative motion moves the further outwardly extending portions of the U-shaped leaf-type spring from in way of the formed cups and disengagement is achieved.