Connection for beads with locked and articulating engagement

• US 7,354,330 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LYNX Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LYNX Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Charles W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIEN T
• Application Number:
  US11/050,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197039A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: 446/102, 446/104, 446/120, 446/124, 446/126, 63/3, 63/4, 63/39, 59/80
• US Class Current: 446/102
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 13/00 Connectible jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 33/062 with clip or snap mechanisms

Abstract

An assembly of two elements including a first element that has a cavity with an external opening connected to a first region defined by a sidewall that is a spherical segment and the diameter of the external opening is smaller than the diameter of the sidewall in the first region. Adjacent to the first region is a second region also defined by a second spheroid segment that is separated from the first region by an annular ring extending from the sidewalls towards a central axis of the cavity. The annular ring forms a passage having a diameter approximately the same as the external opening. An extension member on the second element is inserted into the cavity which has a first rod section terminating in a second spherically-shaped section. The spherically shaped section has a diameter larger slightly larger than the external opening on the first element and accordingly, the spherical section may be snap-fitted through the external opening to a first position in a first region, and be retainer there and, it may be further snap-fitted through the passage to the second region and be retained there. Also disclosed is flange structure that engages an annular seat when the spherically shaped member is in the second position.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising a first element and a second element, said first element and said second element comprised of a compressible and resilient material,

a cavity within said first element, said cavity having a first region defined by a sidewall formed by a spherical segment, said first region having an external opening through the surface of said first element, wherein the diameter of said opening is smaller than the diameter of said sidewall, and

a second region defined by a second spheroid segment, and second spherical segment region contiguous with said first region and said second region located further from said opening than said first region and said second region separated from said first regions by an annular ridge having a diameter, and

an extension connector member on said second element, said extension connector member extending from said second element and comprising a first rod section terminating in a second spherical shaped section, wherein said spherical shaped section has a diameter larger slightly larger than said external opening on said first element, and slightly larger than said diameter of said annular ridge to said second region,

wherein said spherical section may be snap-fit through said external opening to a first position in said first region, and be retainer therein and, be further snap-fit through said annular ridge to said second region and be retained therein.

2. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said compressible and resilient material comprises synthetic resin.

3. The assembly recited in claim 2 wherein said synthetic resin comprises polyethylene.

4. The assembly recited in claims 1 wherein said first and said second elements are solid.

5. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said elements comprise spherically-shaped beads.

6. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said rod section is self-supporting.

7. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said external opening on said first element is further defined by an round seat region around said opening, said round seat region defining an annular ledge around said opening, and

said assembly further comprising a round flange element on said second element around the base of said rod at the location it extends from said element, wherein said round flange element may be fitted in said round seat region and seated on said ledge when said spherical section is positioned in said second region, whereby said round flange element may be rotated within said round seat region, and said external opening is provided in the center of the polygon shaped cavity.

8. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein said external opening on said first element is further defined by a polygon shaped cavity proved on the surface of said element and surrounding said opening and said wherein said second element comprises a extension connector member with a flange having a polygon shaped collar at its base complementary to said polygon shaped cavity that may be received in said cavity, and when said flange is seated in said polygonal cavity, the first and second elements may not be rotated with respect to one another, and said external opening is provided in the center of the polygon shaped cavity.

9. The assembly recited in claim 1 wherein each said element has at least one extension member and a plurality of cavities.

10. An assembly comprising a first and a second element, wherein at least one of said elements comprises a material that is resilient, said first element comprises a cavity, said cavity further comprising a first retention region, said first retention region defined by a first restricted area having a constricted opening and a second constricted region, wherein said first and second constricted regions have a minimum circumference less than that a maximum circumference of a sidewall of said first region, and a second region, said second region defined by said second constricted region and,

and wherein said second element comprises an extension member, said extension member extending from said second element and comprising a first rod section terminating in a second section, said second section having an dimension slightly larger than said constricted regions, and smaller than the dimension of said first and second regions

wherein said second section of said extension member may be snap-fit through said first constricted region to be seated at a first position in said first region and be retained therein and, be further snap-fit through said second restricted region to be seated in said second position and be retained therein.

11. The assembly recited in claim 10 further comprising an annular collar around said opening to said first region, said annular collar defining an annular ledge around an opening into said first region, and

said assembly further comprising a flange element on said second element around the base of said first rod section of said extension member at the location said rod extends from said element, wherein said flange element may be seated on said annular ledge when said enlarged section of said extension member is in said second position in an arrangement that allows for rotation of the first element with respect to said second element.

12. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein an axial section through said annular ledge is a polygon and said flange is a polygon, and when said flange is seated in said annular ledge, the first and second elements may not be rotated with respect to one another.

13. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein said constricted regions on said cylinder are defined by a continuous annular ridge formed around said cylindrical sidewall.

14. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein said constricted regions is defined by a plurality of extensions, said extensions extend radially from said sidewall of said region towards a central axis of said region.

15. The assembly recited in claim 10 wherein said rod region is comprised of a flexible material and is not self-supporting.

16. The assembly recited in claim 10 further comprising a polygon shaped cavity on the surface of the first element and surrounding said opening to said first region, said polygon shaped region defining a recessed seat around said opening into said first region and

said assembly further comprising a flange element on said second element around the base of said first rod section of said extension member at the location said rod extends from said element, wherein said flange element has a complementary shape that can be positioned in said recessed seat when the spherical shaped region of said extended rod is in said second position, wherein said arrangement prevents the rotation of said first and second element with respect to one another.

17. The assembly as recited in claim 10 wherein said first and said second regions are generally defined by spherically shaped walls.