Spring Ring Clasp Assembly with Retractable Door and Ornamental Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional jewelry clasps are unattractive and often shift during wear, requiring a separate fastener for adjustment, which is inconvenient and detracts from the visual appeal of the jewelry.

Innovation Solution

A jewelry spring ring clasp assembly featuring a ring element with a static segment and a retractable door segment that can be actuated between open and closed positions, allowing for secure fastening and visual obscurement of the clasp by an ornamental element, eliminating the need for a separate fastener.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional separate fastener is used, then the jewelry can be secured, but the visual aesthetics are compromised and the fastener may shift during wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecuring capabilityVSAvoidvisual aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the fastening function and the ornamental function into a single integrated clasp assembly. The ring element serves both as the fastening mechanism and as the visual focal point, eliminating the need for a separate fastener that would compromise aesthetics. This merging resolves the contradiction by making the functional element itself aesthetically pleasing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The ring element performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the fastening mechanism, the ornamental feature, and the structural connector. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, thereby maintaining visual aesthetics while ensuring reliable securing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional separate fastener is used, then the jewelry can be adjusted, but the fastener may move to unintended positions during wear

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadjustabilityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the adjustment mechanism within the ring element itself rather than using a separate fastener, the patent ensures that the adjustment function and the ornamental feature work as a unified system. This integration prevents the fastener from shifting independently and maintains position stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door segment provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the wearer to open and close the clasp as needed. The spring mechanism enables controlled movement while maintaining stability when closed, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and position stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the clasp mechanism is made visible, then the fastening function is clear, but the visual aesthetics are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening function clarityVSAvoidvisual aesthetics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the fastening mechanism with the ornamental ring element, so that the functional components are aesthetically integrated. The door segment and trigger mechanism are designed to be visually harmonious with the ring, maintaining aesthetics while ensuring the fastening function remains clear and operable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The design applies different visual qualities to different parts of the clasp assembly. The ring element serves as the visual focal point with high aesthetic quality, while the functional components like the door segment and trigger are designed to be visually subordinate, creating a hierarchy that maintains overall aesthetics while ensuring functional clarity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3648629B1Jewelry spring ring clasp assembly
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 DE LOS SANTOS CLARISSE KHRISELLE RAMOS
  • EP3648629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3648629B1 patent drawingFigure 5~9
  • EP3648629B1 patent drawingFigure 10~14

AI summary

An exemplary jewelry spring ring clasp assembly includes a ring element and a setting element. The ring element extends circumferentially about a main axis to define a ring aperture therethrough. A static segment of the ring element has an inboard face and an outboard face disposed opposingly along the main axis. A door segment of the ring element is actuatable between closed and open positions. The setting element is in fixed engagement with the static segment, and is configured to retain an ornamental element in a fixed position along the main axis so that the ornamental element visually obscures the ring aperture and the ring element from a viewpoint defined outward of the outboard face. The visual obscurement may apply to at least a circumferentially-continuous portion of the ring element, and may be due in part to optical refraction through the ornamental element or optical opacity of the ornamental element.