Non-twisting and non-flipping necklace

Abstract

Twisting and flipping of a necklace along its length may be prevented by restricting the articulation of the links. By providing one section with links that permit articulation only in a vertical direction and another section with links that permit articulation only in a horizontal direction, flipping and twisting can be prevented.

1 . A necklace, comprising: 
 a first plurality of links, each link of the first plurality having first and second hinge elements that mate with other links, the first and second hinge elements enabling articulation in a first plane; and    a second plurality of links, each link of the second plurality having first and second hinge elements that mate with other links, the first and second hinge elements enabling articulation in a second plane, where the second plane is at an angle with respect to the first plane.    
   
   
       2 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 1 , where 
 the first and second hinge elements of the first plurality of links restrict articulation to the first plane; and    the first and second hinge elements of the second plurality of links restrict articulation to the second plane.    
   
   
       3 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 1 , where 
 the first plane is vertical with respect to the first plurality of links; and    the second plane is horizontal with respect to the second plurality of links.    
   
   
       4 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising means for connecting the first plurality of links to the second plurality of links.  
   
   
       5 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 4 , where the means for connecting the first plurality of links to the second plurality of links comprises an interconnecting link comprising: 
 a first hinge element enables articulation in a first plane; and    a second hinge element enables articulation in a second plane, where the second plane is at an angle with respect to the first plane.    
   
   
       6 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 5 , where 
 the first hinge element of the interconnecting link restricts articulation to the first plane; and    the second hinge element of the interconnecting link restricts articulation to the second plane.    
   
   
       7 . A necklace as set forth in  claim 5 , where 
 the first plane is vertical with respect to the interconnecting link; and    the second plane is horizontal with respect to the interconnecting link.    
   
   
       8 . A link for a necklace, comprising first and second hinge elements that mate with other links, where the first and second hinge elements enable articulation of adjacent links in one plane with respect to the link.  
   
   
       9 . A link for a necklace as set forth in  claim 8 , where the first and second hinge elements restrict articulation to one plane with respect to the link.  
   
   
       10 . A link for a necklace as set forth in  claim 8 , where the plane is vertical with respect to the link.  
   
   
       11 . A link for a necklace as set forth in  claim 8 , where the plane is horizontal with respect to the link.  
   
   
       12 . An interconnecting link for connecting a first plurality of links to a second plurality of links in a necklace, comprising: 
 a first hinge element enabling articulation in a first plane; and    a second hinge element enabling articulation in a second plane, where the second plane is at an angle with respect to the first plane.    
   
   
       13 . An interconnecting link as set forth in  claim 12 , where the first hinge element restricts articulation to the first plane; and the second hinge element restricts articulation to the second plane.  
   
   
       14 . An interconnecting link as set forth in  claim 12 , where 
 the first plane is vertical with respect to the interconnecting link; and    the second plane is horizontal with respect to the interconnecting link.    
   
   
       15 . A necklace, comprising: 
 a first plurality of links, each link of the first plurality having first and second hinge elements that mate with other links and restrict articulation between the links to a plane vertical with respect to the links;    a second plurality of links, each link of the second plurality having first and second hinge elements that mate with other links and restrict articulation between the links to a plane horizontal with respect to the links; and    interconnecting links for connecting the first plurality of links to the second plurality of links, the interconnecting links comprising    a first hinge element restricting articulation to the vertical plane; and    a second hinge element restricting articulation to the horizontal plane.