Jewelry clasp fastening device with a magnifying lens in a foldable handle

Abstract

This invention is a jewelry clasp fastening device with a magnifying lens on a foldable handle. What is new, unique, and useful about this invention is that people with poor close vision can now have a tool with built in magnification to help them open and fasten jewelry clasps, especially those of the latch type with operating levers. It will also make this job easier for all jewelry wearers to operate all types of jewelry clasps. The tool also functions as a pocket-sized, portable hands-free magnifier that can be easily clipped to common household surfaces.

1 . A jewelry clasp coupling apparatus comprising: 
 A. a handle in two parts, part one having at one end of its two ends a modified alligator clip for opening jewelry clasps and at the opposite end a means to attach it to part two of the handle;    B. part two of the handle in two parts which has at one end of its two ends a magnifying lens and at the other end a means to attach it to part one of the handle;    C: the means of coupling the two parts of the handle;    D: a modified alligator clip with a clear plastic top fitted to it, replacing a part of its top jaw so that a jewelry clasp-opening mechanism or other tool inside can be clearly seen through it;    E: the means of coupling the clear plastic top to the modified alligator clip.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the means of coupling the two parts of the handle allows the magnifying lens handle part to rotate around the coupling place of the two parts in an arc so that it can fold over the clasp-holding handle part in such a manner that the magnifying lens is positioned directly over a clasp-opening mechanism.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the magnifying lens handle part is bifurcated to allow it to pass over the clip-holding handle part without obstruction while traveling along its arc on its way to bringing its lens to bear over the clip opening mechanism.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the bifurcated parts of the handle are cylindrical in shape and approximately 0.25″ in diameter.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the magnifying lens has a minimum diameter of 1.5″ and a minimum height of 0.3″ optimally achieving a power of 3×-5×, an oval-shaped portion, approximately 0.55″ by 0.65″, cut out from it at the point where it meets the clasp-holding clip so that when the two handle parts are in their folded position the user's thumb can pass through to the clip and reach the thumb rest of without obstruction and where additional plastic material is molded beneath the arc made in the lens by the oval-shaped cut-out to increase the distance between the lens and the clasp-opening mechanism thereby increasing the magnification of the mechanism. An alternate embodiment of the magnifying lens part of the handle would mount the lens an angle to so that when folded over on the other handle part, the lens is brought into a parallel position with respect to the lower jaw and any jewelry clasp inserted into the clip, giving an optically better image.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the space between the two sides of the bifurcated handle is wide enough to allow the user's thumb to pass between them without obstruction and easily reach the thumb rest of the clasp-opening clip.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the purpose of having a clear top of a clip is to allow the user to see the action of a clasp-opening mechanism or other tool inside the clip, these parts are made of optical grade acrylic by the injection molding process for maximum clarity, minimum visual distortion, and to be break and bend resistant when the force of the spring inside the clip is applied to it.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the means for attaching the clear plastic top to the modified alligator clip is by rivets. It can also be attached by glue, or by making the top of the clip entirely out of plastic, i.e. one solid part, by the injection molding process.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the user's view of all types of jewelry clasps can be enlarged by the magnifying lens so that they can be more easily operated by those with poor close vision.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the coupling means of the two parts of the handle are: (a) pegs on the medial side of the ends of the arms of the bifurcated magnifying lens handle part, and (b) holes in the lateral sides of the clip-holding handle part on the end opposite from the clasp-holding clip mechanism, and where the pegs of the magnifying lens part of the handle fit tightly enough into the holes of the clip-opening handle part of the handle that they create a friction against the sides of the holes and resistance is created when the pegs are rotated. The resistance created by the tight fit of the pegs and holes of the coupling of parts one and two of the handle can be overcome when sufficient rotational force is applied to one part by the user as the other part is held stationary. Claims  14  and  15  are illustrative of only one way this function can be effected. Other examples would include but not be limited to a ratchet mechanism.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the modified alligator clip, which has a top jaw and a bottom jaw, is manufactured with two holes in its top jaw to accept rivets and the clear plastic clip top has corresponding holes through it. The top jaw has a portion removed just in front of its spring so that the clear plastic clip top can be put into its position. The rivets can be any metal suitable for riveting acrylic to the sheet metal used for a standard alligator clip. The rivets can be nickel or titanium plated for decorative purposes.  
   
   
       12 . If the top is fastened by some other means, e.g. adhesive, these holes, both in the top and the clip would not be necessary.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein instead of teeth in the inside of the lower jaw, it has a flat surface with a coating or a cap secured with adhesive which will create friction against the jewelry clasp such as a flexible plastic, and where the preferred force applied by the spring between the bottom jaw of the modified alligator clip and the clear clip top assembly is between 14 and 19 newtons to effectively grip jewelry clasps without slipping.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the clear plastic clip top has the same general configuration as an alligator clip, with a round thumb rest that when depressed, compresses the spring inside the clip-opening jaws, and a body which extends from the thumb rest to meet the tip of the clip and where the clip is narrow enough to allow a jewelry clasp to slide through, have its lever retracted by the post and still allow the open clasp to emerge on the other side with its opening accessible for fastening with the loop end of the bracelet or necklace. To do this the clip top part should be no wider than 0.19″, nor less than 0.15″ wide. If reduced too much the friction on the clasp will be too little.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the clip has a thumb rest of a greater diameter than a standard alligator clip to increase the mechanical advantage of the user and thereby require less force to be applied when depressing the spring. The thumb rest is round and a minimum of 0.43″ in diameter;  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein the clear plastic clip top must be a minimum of 0.10″ thick in order not to break when the force of the spring is exerted against it, the point of force being at the rivet located over the spring and where the clear plastic clip top is molded to be flat on the top but thicker on the bottom from the tip to just before the clasp-opening mechanism and thinner beginning above the clasp-retracting post to allow the top jaw to close over it without touching it.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  1  wherein another purpose of having a magnifying lens rotatable into position over a tool is to allow the user to see the action of any mechanism or tool which may be incorporated into the tool, such as tweezers, needle and thread, scissors, or knife.  
   
   
       18 . A hands-free magnifying apparatus wherein the clip at one end of the clasp-opening handle part in  claim 1  is a means for attaching the apparatus to a cup or other stationary object so that the lens on the magnifying lens part of the handle can be positioned vertically or in another position desired by the user so that work can be done under the magnification of the lens.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  30  wherein the spring inside the jaws of the clip can be compressed by the user putting pressure on the thumb rest, thereby opening the clip so that jaws of the clip can be extended over the rim of a cup, glass, or other similar stable object, then released allowing the spring of the clip to decompress and exert force between the jaws thus creating pressure against the rim of the object and with a frictional force sufficient to hold the apparatus stationary until released by the user. The work that can be done under the lens of the magnifying lens part of the handle can be anything that requires magnification and both the user's hands to be free for easier completion of the work, especially for those with poor close vision.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  30  wherein once the apparatus is held stationary, the magnifying lens part of the handle can be rotated around the coupling with the clip-holding part of the handle to position the lens over work the user is performing so that it provides optimum magnification and the best angle of vision for each job to be performed.