Pop beads having elongated necks

• US 6,401,488 B1
• Filed: 12/01/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cousin Corporation Of America
• Original Assignee: Cousin Corporation Of America
• Inventors: Johnston, John, Cousin, Michael G., Campbell, Deborah, Marcott, Michelle, Cousin, Jeffrey, Pezzuti, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chop, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US09/452,732
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 63/11.1, 63/11.6, 63/3, 63/31, 63/32, 63/4, 63/291, 63/38, 63/39, 63D/IG.3, 59/2, 434/171, 446/120, 446/121, 446/106, 446/102
• US Class Current: 63/3
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 11/002 Ornamental chains composed of pearls rosaries A44C23/00; making such chains D04D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0084 Bracelets in the form of a ring, band or tube of rigid material C-spring-type bracelets A44C5/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 63/03 Plastic jewelry

Abstract

Jewelry items such as rings, bracelets and necklaces are made of pop beads of novel construction. The structure includes a spherical body from which extends in a radial direction an elongate, flexible neck having a ball formed on its distal free end. The neck is sufficiently long to enable it to be formed into a loop so that it can be press fit into a socket formed on the opposite side of the same spherical body, and the neck is adapted to receive a plurality of strung beads to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the item. In a second embodiment, the neck is not long enough to enable it to be formed into a loop, but is sufficiently long to receive at least one strung bead so that bracelets and similar items are made by connecting a plurality of the pop beads together with strung beads being positioned between the respective spherical bodies of the pop beads. Additional embodiments include pop beads that depend from barrettes, eyeglass holders, lanyard hooks, and similar articles. Another embodiment includes pop beads shaped into symbols such as letters of the alphabet.

Claims

1. A pop bead construction for forming an annular jewelry item, comprising:

a first spherical body;

a first truncate neck formed on said first spherical body, said first truncate neck extending radially from said first spherical body;

a first ball formed on a distal free end of said first truncate neck;

a first socket formed in said first spherical body;

said first socket including a cavity and a first opening into said cavity, said first opening formed on a surface of said first spherical body in diametrically opposed relation to said first truncate neck;

said first opening having an initial breadth slightly less than a breadth of said first ball;

a second spherical body;

a second truncate neck formed on said second spherical body, said second truncate neck extending radially from said second spherical body;

a second ball formed on a distal free end of said second truncate neck;

a socket formed in said second spherical body;

said socket formed in said second spherical body including a cavity and an opening into said cavity, said opening formed on a surface of said second spherical body in diametrically opposed relation to said second truncate neck formed on said second spherical body;

said second opening having an initial breadth slightly less than a breadth of said second ball;

said first spherical body being formed of a flexible and resilient material so that said first opening momentarily enlarges to admit said second ball of said second spherical body into said first cavity of said first spherical body when said second ball is pressed thereinto and said first opening returning to said initial breadth to capture said second ball in said cavity after said second ball has passed through said first opening;

a plurality of strung beads disposed in engaging relation to said first truncate neck;

each strung bead of said plurality of strung beads having a diametrically-extending throughbore formed therein, each throughbore having a diameter greater than a diameter of said first ball of said first spherical body so that said strung beads are positionable onto said first truncate neck and each throughbore having a diameter less than a diameter of said first spherical body so that said strung beads are captured between said first spherical body and said second spherical body when said second ball of said second spherical body is positioned within the cavity of said first spherical body;

said strung beads being securely retained on said first truncate neck between said first and second spherical bodies; and

additional strung beads being securely retained on said second truncate neck between said second spherical body and a third spherical body having a third truncate neck and a third ball adapted to engage said second cavity of said second spherical body;

an annular jewelry item being formed when a plurality of said pop beads are chained together.