Magnetic jewelry clasp that is attachable and detachable to existing jewelry by the user

Abstract

Described herein are embodiments of fasteners that provide a secure, elegant attachment for jewelry and that are easily interchangeable between jewelry. For example, in one embodiment, a magnetic jewelry fastener is provided having two magnets secured respectively in two separate detachable housings. In another embodiment, individual clasps are rigidly connected to each of the housings, the clasps each having a displaceable member.

1 . An interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener, comprising:
 a housing having a portion comprising a magnet disposed therein; and   a clasp member rigidly attached to the housing, the clasp member comprising a displaceable portion that can be manually actuated.   
   
   
       2 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is located proximate to a coupling surface of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet comprises at least one of neodymium and samarium cobalt. 
   
   
       4 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp is configured to create a discontinuity in the clasp when the displaceable portion is actuated. 
   
   
       5 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp is rotatable about a longitudinal axis that is transverse to a surface of the housing. 
   
   
       6 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the clasp has a greater cross-sectional dimension than the housing. 
   
   
       7 . A magnetic jewelry fastener, comprising:
 a first housing configured to house at least a portion of a first magnet, the first housing further comprising a first coupling surface;   a first clasp being coupled to the first housing, the first clasp comprising a continuous portion and a first actuable member configured such that, when actuated, the first actuable member creates a discontinuity in the continuous portion;   a second housing configured to house at least a portion of a second magnet, the second housing comprising a second coupling surface; and   a second clasp being coupled to the second housing, the second clasp comprising a continuous portion and a second actuable member configured such that, when actuated, the second actuable member creates a discontinuity in the continuous portion.   
   
   
       8 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 7 , wherein the first coupling surface comprises a protrusion extending from the surface and the second coupling surface comprises a portion configured to receive at least a portion of the first coupling surface in a mating relationship when the first housing is coupled with the second housing. 
   
   
       9 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 8 , wherein the protrusion is annular. 
   
   
       10 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of either the first clasp and the second clasp is ridigly coupled to the respective first housing or second housing. 
   
   
       11 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second clasps is rotatable about a longitudinal axis that is transverse to a surface of the respective first or second housing. 
   
   
       12 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 11 , wherein the axis is generally normal to the surface. 
   
   
       13 . The magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 7 , wherein a cross-sectional dimension of at least one of the first and second clasps is at least as large as a cross-sectional dimension of the first or second housing. 
   
   
       14 . An interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener, comprising:
 first and second housings, each of said first and second housings comprising first and second magnets, said first and second housings further configured to be coupled at a location of the housings proximate to said magnets; and   first and second clasps, each rigidly coupled respectively to said first and second housings and configured to extend in substantially opposite directions when said first and second housings are coupled.   
   
   
       15 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second clasps is rotatable about a longitudinal axis that is transverse to a surface of the first or second housing. 
   
   
       16 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , wherein a cross-sectional dimension of the clasps is at least as large as a cross-sectional dimension of the first or second housing. 
   
   
       17 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , further comprising means for aligning the first and second housings such that the first and second clasps extend in a preferred orientation when the first and second housings are coupled. 
   
   
       18 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the magnets comprise at least one of neodymium and samarium cobalt. 
   
   
       19 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the clasps comprise a continuous portion having an actuable member configured such that the actuable member creates, when actuated, a discontinuity in the continuous portion. 
   
   
       20 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling of the first and second housings comprises a magnetic coupling. 
   
   
       21 . The interchangeable magnetic jewelry fastener of  claim 20 , further comprising means for reinforcing the magnetic coupling. 
   
   
       22 . A method for disconnecting a magnetic coupling of a magnetic jewelry fastener having a first and second housings, each of said first and second housings comprising first and second magnets, said first and second housings being configured to be coupled at a location of the housings proximate to said magnets, said magnetic jewelry fastener further having first and second clasps, at least one of said first and second clasps being rigidly coupled to at least one of said first and second housings, said method comprising gripping the first and second clasps, applying a force to rotate the first and second clasps in substantially opposite directions and to rotate at least one of the first and second housings with respect to the other of the first and second housings, pivoting at least a portion of the first housing on a portion of the second housing, and breaking a magnetic coupling between the magnets of the first and second housings. 
   
   
       23 . A magnetic jewelry fastener, comprising:
 a housing having a magnet disposed therein; and   clasp means rigidly attached to the housing for connecting said housing to an end of jewelry.