Apparatus for adjustable bead retention on bracelets and necklaces

Abstract

A modifiable jewelry piece including a strand and one or more adjustable retainers. The adjustable retainers include an interior structure configured to establish a frictional engagement with the outer surface of the strand. The jewelry piece wearer may select the location of the placement of the adjustable retainer anywhere along the length of the strand. The interior structure may be a solid or semi-solid having high surface tension or rough surface profile. The interior structure may alternatively be a mechanical capturing device. The jewelry piece also includes one or two end connectors having a slot and flange arrangement for easy passage of beads thereover only when desired. The flange and slot are arranged for alignment with threaded and flanged beads.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is a continuation of, and claims the priority benefit of, pending U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 132,720, filed May 19, 2005, of the same title, by the same named inventors and owned by a common assignee. The entire content of that priority parent application is incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces. More particularly, the present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces arranged to enable a wearer to change beads and adjust the positioning of beads thereon. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to bracelets and necklaces including adjustable means for bead position retention. The present invention also includes an improved end connector arrangement to facilitate bead placement on bracelets and necklaces.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Jewelry bracelets and necklaces of th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]It is an object of the present invention to provide a modifiable bracelet, necklace, or other removable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to easily add and remove supplemental pieces to the item strand. It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a modifiable jewelry item configured to enable a wearer to position selectively on the strand one or more retainers to retain one or more supplemental pieces on the strand. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide such a modifiable jewelry item including end connectors suitable for ease of passage of retainers and / or supplemental pieces thereover.

[0015]The interior structure is configured to establish high-friction contact between the retainer and the strand. The friction between the interior of the retainer and the strand may be selectable and a function of the details of the interior structure and the outer surface of the strand. The interior structure may be arranged by itself, or in combination with the arrangement of the outer surface of the strand, to be frictional enough to require substantial force to dislodge the adjustable retainer from its particular position on the strand. Alternatively, the interior structure may be arranged to allow relative ease of movement along the strand, but with enough friction that unintended movement of the adjustable retainer is unlikely to occur. Nevertheless, the interior structure is arranged to cover substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer such that substantially all of the interior structure is in contact with the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand. This arrangement of the interior structure as well as its frictional characteristics substantially restrict movement of the retainer along the strand and rotational movement of the retainer around the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand.

Problems solved by technology

Alternatively, the interior structure may be arranged to allow relative ease of movement along the strand, but with enough friction that unintended movement of the adjustable retainer is unlikely to occur.

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