CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Non-provisional U.S. Patent Application, which claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/234,241, entitled “CLIP OR CHARM FOR LENGTHENING OR SHORTENING JEWELRY CHAINS, THREADS, ROPES, OR OTHER MATERIALS WITH ADDED NECKLACE-LAYERING CAPABILITY,” filed on Aug. 17, 2021, and the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/239,941, entitled “CLIP OR CHARM FOR LENGTHENING OR SHORTENING JEWELRY CHAINS, THREADS, ROPES OR OTHER MATERIALS WITH AN ADDED NECKLACE-LAYERING CAPABILITY,” filed on Sep. 2, 2021, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to jewelry string adjusters, such as necklace or bracelet adjusters.

BACKGROUND

A jewelry or decorative string, such as a necklace or bracelet, often needs a connecter to connect both ends of the string without causing unpleasant or conspicuous interruption to the string's appearance. Conventionally, this is achieved by a connector shaped as a lobster claw that is durable and blends with the string. However, such connectors may be cumbersome to use (e.g., being small to match the string) or may not permit other adjustments of the string (e.g., length adjustment, layering, or avoid entanglement, etc.). A string connector that allows for various adjustments of the string and provides integral aesthetics is therefore desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example string adjuster in a closed position, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example string adjuster of FIG. 1 in an open position, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates the example string adjuster of FIG. 2 in the open position with a string positioned therein, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate various examples of the string adjuster of FIG. 1 used in different configurations, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an example string adjuster, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example string adjustment process using the example string adjuster of FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Like numerals indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments and aspects of the disclosures will be described with reference to details discussed below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the various embodiments. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the disclosure and are not to be construed as limiting the disclosure. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to provide a concise discussion of embodiments of the present disclosures.

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in conjunction with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

The present disclosure provides a string adjuster for lengthening or shortening jewelry chains, threads, ropes, or other materials with layering capability/adjustments. The string adjuster may take on any decorative shapes to be a clip or a charm. For example, an adjuster for changing a length of a string loop formed by the adjuster may include two or more channels for receiving the string. One of the two or more channels provides a tight fit to the string. The adjuster further includes an anchor disposed in another one of the two or more channels for affixing an end of the string to the adjuster. The string may include an elongate body having two ends, such as any chain, wire, rope, or thread for necklaces, bracelets, and the like. The elongate body has an outer surface to be engaged with the string adjuster.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the adjuster herein may be used in the jewelry or clothing industry as a fastener charm/clip. The disclosed adjustment methods may enable lengthening and shortening of a single necklace, bracelet, anklet, or other material with a chain, string, rope, rod, or similar component. The adjuster also allows a user to create a multi-layered chain, rope, string, rod, fabric, necklace, or bracelet appearance from a single chain, string, rope, rod, or other material.

Conventional jewelry string connectors, such as lobster claws or clasps, are difficult to use due to their small sizes and requirements to engage small openings. Such connectors also cannot provide users the options to create layered configurations or to adjust the length of the strings. The adjuster disclosed herein allows a user to conveniently connect an open-ended string into a loop with layering options and length adjustments.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example string adjuster in a closed position, according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, the string adjuster includes two or more channels 2, a two-halved housing 4 hinged by the hinge 3. Although the string adjuster is illustrated as a heart pendant, the string adjuster may be shaped into any form having the channels 2, the hinge 3, and the housing 4.

FIG. 2 illustrates the example string adjuster 1 of FIG. 1 in an open position, according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, in the housing 4 is rotatable about the hinge 3 when opened. A tight-fit, friction-fit, or magnetic connectors 8 and 9 may allow the two-halves of the housing 4 to be held securely in the closed position. An optional protrusion 5 may be provided to facilitate opening. The two or more channels 2 may include respective inner surfaces 7 for receiving a string.

At least one of the two or more channels 2 may, when the string adjuster is in the closed position, provide a tight fit to the string (e.g., 10 or 11 of FIG. 3), such that an intentional force is required to move the string relative to the string adjuster. For example, an internal force may be a force greater than the gravitational force (e.g., both dynamic or static) of the string adjuster. For example, the tight-fit may prevent the string adjuster to move relative to the string when the user is running or jumping, while does not prevent the user from forcibly adjust the relative position when desired (e.g., by pulling the string relative to the adjuster).

In some cases, the string adjuster may include a cavity 7 for weight saving or storage purposes.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the string adjuster 1 includes an anchor 6 disposed in one of the two or more channels 2 for affixing an end 10 of the string to the string adjuster 1. For example, the anchor 6 secures the string to the string adjuster so that pulling on the adjuster 1 will result in movement of the string in other channels 2 not including the anchor 6.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate various examples of the string adjuster of FIG. 1 used in different configurations, according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 4-5, two of the string adjusters 1 may be used to connect/hold a jewelry string. The two string adjusters 1 may be pulled to adjust the total length of the loop, as well as to create layering designs shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (e.g., two layers of strings in the back or in the front).

In some cases, the string adjuster 1 includes a first half providing at least a first concave surface 7 of the two or more channels; and a second half providing at least a second concave surface 7 of the two or more channels. The first half and the second half of the adjuster 1 are hinged by the hinge 3 and rotatable thereof between an open position and a closed position. The adjuster 1 in the open position may therefore receive the string in one or more of the two or more channels without insertion. In some cases, the anchor 6 affixes to the end of the string when the adjuster 1 is in the open position. The anchor 6 may be separately detached from the channel 2 to be affixed onto the end of the string (e.g., by assertion, clamping, or the like).

In some cases, the components of the adjuster may be made from precious, semi-precious or non-precious, noble or base metals, plastics, or the like. Silicone or a foam material can be used to line the inside of the charm clip, but other materials may be used instead or along with these materials. For typical jewelries, brass, silver, gold, platinum, or the like will likely be used.

In some cases, the string adjuster may be made in any size. If used in other industries, sizes may be larger or smaller than what would be typical in the jewelry industry. For the purpose of necklace design, the clips are meant to accentuate the design of the necklace, as it is a charm. It is also meant for functionality. Both of these must be taken into account when designing. Furthermore, the clips must be designed with a height, length and width compatible with the thickness and length of the chain being used. For use with a 1 mm to 2 mm width necklace chain, a clip will have dimensions very close to the following: Height—3mm to 9mm; Length (from front)—3 mm to 9 mm; Width (front to back)—2 mm to 4 mm. Thicker or thinner chains will require adjustments in dimensions as will various shapes (i.e., a circle-shaped charm clip used on a 1 mm chain may have a 7 mm diameter and a 3.5 mm width, whereas a square-shaped charm clip used on a 1.5 mm chain may have an 8 mm by 8 mm H×L and a 4 mm width).

In some cases, based on the designer's or manufacturer's needs, the string adjuster may be with or without the hinge that allows for removal of the string. A manufacturer may permanently affix the adjuster to the chain or the like. Based on the designer's preference, the input or output holes can be arranged on the top and bottom of the clip or on the sides of the clip. If the holes are placed on the sides of the charm-clip, then the pivoting mechanism may be placed on the top or bottom of the clip. The clip can be designed with a single input/output hole or multiple holes, based on the designer's preference. Two holes at the bottom of the clip may not be necessary, as there may only be a single input/output on one side of the clip. Also, multiple mounting clips may be added to the design, based on the amount of chains, ropes, strings, rods, fabrics, necklaces, bracelets or similar are desired in the design.

FIGS. 8A-8D illustrate an example string adjuster, according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, the string adjuster may include two or more channels 805 for receiving a string to be connected or adjusted. A first button 810 has a first opening 830 alignable with the one of the two or more channels 805. Similarly, a second button 820 has a second opening alignable with the other one of the two or more channels. A resilient deformable member 815 (such as a spring, a piece of rubber, silicone, or the like) may offset the first opening 830 of the first button 810 from the one of the two or more channels 805. In some cases (for example, without the separator 835 as shown in FIG. 8A), the same resilient deformable member 815 may also offset the second opening of the second button 820 from the other one of the two or more channels. In some cases, as shown in FIG. 8A, a respective resilient member is used to offset the second opening of the second button 820.

Turning to both FIGS. 8A and 8C, the first button 810 is in a depressed, open position 850 for receiving an end of a string (not shown) via the aligned opening 802; and the second button 820 is in a default, closed position 855 for securing another end of the string by creating the offset 804. FIG. 8B illustrates a side view of the string adjuster. FIG. 8D illustrates a perspective view of the string adjuster.

In some cases, the first button 810 is depressed to align the first opening with the one of the two or more channels for receiving the string. The second button 820 is depressed to align the second opening with the other one of the two or more channels for receiving the string. The offset 804 forms an anchor (similar to the anchor 6 of the string adjuster 1 of FIG. 1). The anchor may be formed by either one of the first button and the second button after the string has been received in the respective one of the two or more channels such that the first button or the second button prevents movement of the string in the respective one of the two or more channels.

In some cases, the anchor may be a permanent attachment affixing an end of the string to the channel 830 of the adjuster and allows the adjuster to be simplified to have a single button for length or layering adjustment. For example, the other one of the first button and the second button without the biting offset is configured to provide a frictional fit for the string to slide relative to the corresponding one of the two or more channels.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example string adjustment process 900 using the example string adjuster of FIG. 1, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

The example string adjustment process 900 may begin, at 910, by receiving the string in two or more channels of the adjuster. Receiving the string in the two or more channels of the adjuster may include tight-fitting the string in one of the two or more channels.

At 920, an end of the string is affixed to the adjuster by an anchor disposed in another one of the two or more channels.

In aspects, the string adjustment process 900 may further include: providing at least a first concave surface in a first half of the two or more channels of the adjuster for receiving the string; and providing at least a second concave surface in a second half of the two or more channels of the adjuster for receiving the string and forming a channel providing a tight-fit to the string when the first and the second halves are mated together.

In some cases, the string adjustment process 900 may further include coupling the first half and the second half by a hinge between an open position and a closed position, wherein the adjuster in the open position receives the string in one or more of the two or more channels without insertion.

In some cases, the string adjustment process 900 may further include affixing the anchor to the end of the string when the adjuster is in the open position.

In aspects, the string adjustment process 900 may further include: providing a first button having a first opening alignable with the one of the two or more channels and providing a second button having a second opening alignable with the other one of the two or more channels. The string adjustment process 900 may further include offsetting, by a resilient deformable member, the first opening of the first button from the one of the two or more channels, the second opening of the second button from the other one of the two or more channels, or both.

In some cases, the string adjustment process 900 may further include depressing the first button to align the first opening with the one of the two or more channels for receiving the string, depressing the second button to align the second opening with the other one of the two or more channels for receiving the string, and biting, by the anchor, on the string such that the first button or the second button prevents movement of the string in the respective one of the two or more channels. The anchor may include a biting offset formed by one of the first button and the second button after the string has been received in the respective one of the two or more channels; and another one of the first button and the second button without the biting offset is configured to provide a frictional fit for the string to slide relative to the corresponding one of the two or more channels.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of embodiments of the disclosure as described herein.

In the foregoing specification, embodiments of the disclosure have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.