Fastener for pieces of jewelry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clasp for jewelry comprising a first hollow closure element which comprises a groove having an insertion aperture and extending at least partially around the circumference of the first closure element. The groove is configured to receive a fastening member of a second closure element which is insertable through the insertion aperture into the groove of the first closure element and whose cross-section is larger than the width of the groove. The first closure element comprises a wall at each of the two opposite end portions which ends the hollow first closure element, wherein the groove extends into the respective wall of the end portions and ends there.

1 . A clasp for jewelry comprising a first hollow closure element which comprises a groove having an insertion aperture and extending at least partially around the circumference of the first closure element, wherein said groove is configured to receive a fastening member of a second closure element which is insertable through the insertion aperture into the groove of the first closure element and whose cross-section is larger than the width of the groove, wherein the first closure element comprises a wall at each of the two opposite end portions, said walls ending the hollow first closure element, and wherein the groove extends into the respective wall in the end portions and ends there. 
   
   
       2 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure element is configured essentially symmetrically to its longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       3 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure element is configured essentially as one of the group of configurations consisting of hollow-cylindrical, spherical, multi-spherical, helical, multi-helical, cubical, and multi-cubical and selectively formed to be one of the group of straight, curved or angled along a length thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall at each end portion is configured in an arched or conical manner and the groove ends approximately in the center of the arched or conical configuration. 
   
   
       5 . The clasp according to  claim 14 , wherein the insertion aperture is provided at a distance from the end portions and approximately in the middle of an axial extension of the closure element. 
   
   
       6 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the groove is helically configured and performs about ¼ to 5 windings, along the length of the first closure element. 
   
   
       7 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein in an axial direction a plurality of first closure elements are arranged essentially parallel, and are selectively coupled to one another in a direction. 
   
   
       8 . The clasp according to  claim 7 , wherein one of an outermost two of the plurality of first closure elements comprises a helical groove starting at the insertion aperture and winding in a first direction of rotation towards a first axial end portion, and a second helical groove starting at the insertion aperture and winding in a reverse direction of rotation towards a second opposite axial end portion. 
   
   
       9 . The clasp according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one further hollow first closure element comprising a groove and an insertion aperture for receiving a fastening member of a second closure element is positioned between the two outermost first closure elements. 
   
   
       10 . The clasp according to  claim 9 , wherein the groove of the further hollow first closure element extends in the axial direction. 
   
   
       11 . The clasp according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one further hollow first closure element comprises a wall at both end portions which ends the first closure element in the axial directions, wherein the groove extends into the respective wall and ends there. 
   
   
       12 . The clasp according to  claim 11 , wherein the walls are configured to be in the form of an arch or cone and the groove preferably ends substantially in the center of the arch or cone. 
   
   
       13 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure element is configured such that it receives several second closure elements at both opposite end portions. 
   
   
       14 . The clasp according to  claim 8 , wherein the helical groove of at least one outermost first closure element wraps about ¼ to 1 winding along the respective length of the first closure element. 
   
   
       15 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second closure elements is selectively connected by one of detachable or non-detachable connections to the piece of jewelry. 
   
   
       16 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein a movable guided member is provided inside the hollow first closure element. 
   
   
       17 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the first closure element is selectively one of bent and angled configurations between the end walls. 
   
   
       18 . The clasp according to  claim 17 , wherein the insertion aperture is provided on an inner side of the selectively bent and angled configurations at a vertex of the bend and/or angle. 
   
   
       19 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior of the first closure element comprises at least at one end portion a labyrinth means through which the fastening member of the second closure element is inserrtable in order to secure the second closure element relative to the first closure element. 
   
   
       20 . The clasp according to  claim 19 , wherein the labyrinth means comprises a hollow sphere having an aperture, wherein said hollow sphere is arranged on an inner wall of the hollow first closure element in the region of the groove, wherein the aperture faces away from the groove and the groove extends both through the wall of the hollow first closure element and through a wall of the hollow sphere. 
   
   
       21 . A clasp for a piece of jewelry comprising two closure elements configured essentially symmetrically to each other, and a locking element, wherein each of the two closure elements comprises a cylinder portion for inserting at least one fastening member of the piece of jewelry and for receiving a locking portion of the locking element, as well as a receiving portion provided parallel thereto for receiving the at least one fastening member of the piece of jewelry. 
   
   
       22 . The clasp according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the cylinder portions of the two closure elements is provided with a longitudinal groove starting at a first end and leading into a groove extending in a circumferential direction and finally into a further longitudinal groove extending in the direction towards the first end. 
   
   
       23 . The clasp according to  claim 22 , wherein the locking element is configured in an essentially H-shaped way and longitudinal portions of the “H” are insertable into the respective grooves in the closure elements. 
   
   
       24 . The clasp according to  claim 23 , wherein a projection is provided at the first end of each of the two cylinder portions on an axial aperture of the longitudinal groove and each of the two longitudinal portions of the H-shaped locking element comprises a groove into which one projection is insertable, wherein the lengths of the two longitudinal portions of the H-shaped locking element and of the two projections are dimensioned such that the grooves of the locking element do not engage with the projections in the locked condition of the clasp, whereby the clasp, is prevented from unintentionally opening. 
   
   
       25 . The clasp according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the receiving portions of the two closure elements comprises a groove whose cross-section is smaller than widths of the fastening members of the piece of jewelry. 
   
   
       26 . The clasp according to  claim 21 , wherein the locking element in at least one of the cylinder portions is biased into a locked position by means of spring force. 
   
   
       27 . A piece of jewelry having at least one fastening member in combination with a clasp according to  claim 1 . 
   
   
       28 . (canceled)