Clasp assembly system for bracelets and necklaces

Abstract

A jewelry chain connector tool system has two holding and aligning fixture components each designed for holding one of the clasp sections of a bracelet or necklace and for opening and permitting closing of a spring-urged closure for assembling a bracelet necklace or anklet on the arm, neck or ankle of a user. The clasp and assembly ring fixtures have interfitting assembly and during assembly movement, cause opening the spring-activated clasp of the jewelry chain and simultaneously cause positioning of the assembly ring on the open clasp. When the fixtures are disassembled, the spring-urged clasp member is permitted to close, thus securing the chain clasp components in assembly. Various connector support and alignment fixtures are each provided with a mounting boss that is received by a bayonet receptacle of a fixture support stand to elevate and stabilize a connector element and facilitate ease of bracelet assembly to the wrist of a user.

1 . An assembly system for assembling a jewelry chain connector to a jewelry clasp having a chain connector opening and a spring-urged closure member and causing controlled opening and closing of the spring-urged closure member, comprising: 
 a clasp supporting and orienting fixture defining a clasp holding and orienting receptacle adapted to receive and secure a jewelry clasp and position the jewelry clasp to expose the chain connector opening thereof; and    a clasp opening housing defining an internal receptacle into which at least a portion of said clasp supporting and orienting fixture is selectively inserted and having a clasp opening member positioned for engagement by the spring-urged closure member during insertion of said clasp supporting and orienting fixture into said internal receptacle, permitting assembly of the jewelry chain connector to the open jewelry clasp, during extraction of said clasp supporting and orienting fixture from said internal receptacle the spring-urged closure member moving away from said clasp opening member permitting movement of the spring-urged closure member to its closed position securing the jewelry chain connector to the jewelry clasp.    
   
   
       2 . The assembly system of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 said clasp supporting and orienting fixture having a clasp supporting and orienting section defining a portion of said clasp holding and orienting receptacle and having a closure section being movably interconnected with said clasp supporting and orienting section and defining another portion of said clasp holding and orienting receptacle, said closure section being moveable relative to said clasp supporting and orienting section to a closed position securing and orienting a jewelry clasp and an open position releasing the jewelry clasp.    
   
   
       3 . The assembly system of  claim 2 , comprising: 
 a flexible member being integral with said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section and representing a hinge element retaining said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section in relatively moveable relation.    
   
   
       4 . The assembly system of  claim 2 , comprising: 
 latch members being located on said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section and releasably securing said clasp supporting and orienting fixture in said closed position.    
   
   
       5 . The assembly system of  claim 1 , comprising: 
 a jewelry connector holding and orienting fixture defining connector positioning elements for positioning and orienting a connector of a jewelry chain for assembly with an open jewelry clasp.    
   
   
       6 . The assembly system of  claim 5 , comprising: 
 said jewelry connector holding and orienting fixture having relatively moveable fixture sections each defining a jewelry connector positioning element and being moveable to an open position permitting insertion of a jewelry connector therein and a closed position with said jump ring positioning and retention elements securing and orienting the jewelry connector; and    latch members being defined by said relatively moveable fixture sections and establishing releasable latching of said relatively moveable fixture sections at said closed position.    
   
   
       7 . The assembly system of  claim 5 , comprising: 
 a moveable connector establishing relatively moveable connection of said relatively moveable fixture sections and enabling relative movement thereof to said open and closed positions; and    said relatively moveable fixture sections defining a chain receiving groove, during closing movement of said relatively moveable fixture sections said jewelry connector positioning and retention elements establishing positioning and retaining engagement with a jewelry chain connector.    
   
   
       8 . The assembly system of  claim 7 , comprising: 
 a flexible element being integral with said relatively moveable fixture sections and serving in hinge-like manner to facilitate controlled pivot-like controlled movement of said relatively moveable fixture sections to said open and closed positions.    
   
   
       9 . The assembly system of  claim 5 , comprising: 
 a fixture support mount being defined by said jewelry connector holding and orienting fixture; and    a support and positioning stand device having a fixture mount element thereon, said fixture support mount receiving and supporting said fixture support mount and thus securing said jewelry connector holding and orienting fixture in elevated position.    
   
   
       10 . The assembly system of  claim 5 , comprising: 
 said support and positioning stand device being collapsible permitting ease of storage and transportation thereof.    
   
   
       11 . A jewelry chain connector assembly system for securing a jewelry clasp having a first and second interfitting jewelry chain connectors capable of selective assembly and disassembly, comprising: 
 a first connector supporting and orienting fixture defining a connector holding and orienting receptacle adapted to receive orient and support a first jewelry connector, said first connector supporting and orienting fixture defining a fixture guiding and positioning receptacle;    a second connector supporting and orienting fixture being receivable within said fixture guiding and positioning receptacle and defining a second connector holding and orienting receptacle adapted to receive orient and secure a second jewelry chain connector; and    said second connector supporting and orienting fixture being moved in guided relation at least partially into said first connector supporting and orienting fixture and establishing releasable connection of said first and second interfitting jewelry chain connectors by relative movement of said first and second connector supporting and orienting fixtures.    
   
   
       12 . The jewelry chain connector assembly system of  claim 11 , comprising: 
 said first connector supporting and orienting fixture having a pair of first sections each defining a portion of said connector holding and orienting receptacle therein;    a first moveable connector element maintaining said pair of first sections in relatively moveable assembly for movement to an open position permitting a jewelry connector to be positioned and oriented therein and a closed position securing the jewelry connector in oriented position therein;    said second connector supporting and orienting fixture having a pair of second sections each defining a portion of said connector holding and orienting receptacle therein; and    a second moveable connector element maintaining said pair of second sections in relatively moveable assembly for movement to an open position permitting a jewelry connector to be positioned and oriented therein and a closed position securing the jewelry connector in oriented position therein.    
   
   
       13 . The jewelry chain connector assembly system of  claim 12 , comprising: 
 said first and second connector elements each being integral with said first and second connector supporting and orienting fixtures and serving in hinge-like manner to facilitate substantially pivotal controlled movement of said relatively moveable fixture sections to said open and closed positions thereof.    
   
   
       14 . The jewelry chain connector assembly system of  claim 11 , comprising: 
 a fixture support mount projecting from one of said pairs of first and second sections;    a support and positioning stand device having a fixture mount element thereon, said fixture support mount receiving and supporting said fixture support mount and securing said first connector supporting and orienting fixture in elevated position; and    said support and positioning stand device being collapsible for storage and transportation thereof and expandable for stabilized positioning thereof on a substantially horizontal surface.    
   
   
       15 . The jewelry chain connector assembly system of  claim 14 , comprising: 
 said fixture mount element defining a bayonet slot receiving an external mounting boss of a connector supporting and orienting fixture;    said support and positioning stand device having first and second relatively moveable legs, at least said first leg being mounted to said fixture mount element and defining an elongate guide slot; and    a leg locking member being pivotally mounted to said second leg and having a guide element engaging and being linearly moveable within said elongate guide slot.    
   
   
       16 . A jewelry clasp and jewelry connector assembly system for securing a jewelry clasp having a jewelry connector opening and a spring-urged closure member and causing controlled opening and closing of the spring-urged closure member for assembly of the jewelry connector to the jewelry clasp, comprising: 
 a clasp supporting and orienting fixture defining a clasp holding and orienting receptacle within which a jewelry clasp is secured and positioned to expose the jump ring opening thereof, said clasp supporting and orienting fixture having a clasp supporting and orienting section defining a portion of said clasp holding and orienting receptacle and having a closure section being movably interconnected with said clasp supporting and orienting section and defining another portion of said clasp holding and orienting receptacle, said closure section being moveable relative to said clasp supporting and orienting section to a closed position securing and orienting a jewelry clasp and an open position releasing the jewelry clasp;    a flexible member being integral with said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section and representing a hinge retaining said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section in relatively moveable relation; and    a clasp opening housing defining an internal receptacle into which said clasp supporting and orienting fixture is inserted and having a clasp opening member positioned for engagement by the spring-urged closure member during insertion of a portion of said clasp supporting and orienting fixture into said clasp opening housing, permitting assembly of the jewelry connector to the jewelry clasp, during extraction of said clasp supporting and orienting fixture from said internal receptacle of said clasp opening housing the spring-urged closure member moving away from said clasp opening member permitting movement of the spring-urged closure member to its closed position.    
   
   
       17 . The jewelry clasp and jump ring assembly system of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 latch members being located on said clasp supporting and orienting section and said closure section and releasably securing said clasp supporting and orienting fixture in said closed position.    
   
   
       18 . The jewelry clasp and jewelry connector assembly system of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 a fixture support mount being defined by said clasp opening housing; and    a support and positioning stand device having a mount element thereon, said mount element receiving and supporting said clasp opening housing and supporting and securing said clasp opening housing and said jewelry connector holding and orienting fixture in stabilized position.    
   
   
       19 . The jewelry clasp and jewelry connector assembly system of  claim 16 , comprising: 
 a fixture support mount being defined by said clasp opening housing;    a support and positioning stand device having a fixture mount element thereon defining a bayonet receptacle, said bayonet receptacle selectively receiving and supporting said fixture support mount and securing said clasp opening housing and said first connector supporting and orienting fixture in stabilized position;    said support and positioning stand device being collapsible for storage and transportation thereof and expandable for stabilized positioning thereof on a substantially horizontal surface;    said support and positioning stand device having first and second relatively moveable legs, at least said first leg being mounted to said fixture mount element and defining an elongate guide; and    a leg locking member being pivotally mounted to said second leg and having a guide element engaging and being linearly moveable within said elongate guide.