Jewelry clasp anchoring device

Abstract

An anchoring device includes a base attachable to skin or clothing of a user and a loop to which a clasp or other element of a necklace or other loosely encircling item can be fixed, thereby preventing rotation of the encircling item about the user's neck, ankle, wrist, waist, or other body portion. The base can be moisture resistant, and can include hook attachment to clothing or adhesive attachment to clothing or skin. The base can blend in appearance with skin or clothes. The loop can blend in appearance with the clasp. Or the base and/or loop can be translucent or transparent. The device can include a plurality of loops. A removable, adhesive-protecting backing can be included, and a plurality of anchors can be provided on a common backing sheet. The loop can be flexible, foldable, and/or can include a clasping mechanism. The base and/or adhesive can be hypo-allergenic.

1 . An anchoring device for inhibiting an encircling item from rotating about a portion of a user's body, the anchoring device comprising:
 a base, a lower side of which is configured for attachment to a desired location on the user; and   an anchor loop fixed to an upper side of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of an attaching element of the encircling item in a manner that prevents rotation of the encircling item about the portion of the user's body.   
     
     
         2 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the user's body is at least one of a group of body portions consisting of a neck, waist, wrist and ankle. 
     
     
         3 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching element of the encircling item is a joining mechanism configured for joining together ends of the encircling item after the ends have been extended around the portion of the user's body. 
     
     
         4 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower side of the base includes a hook fastening mechanism configured for attachment to clothing worn by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured for attachment to skin of the user. 
     
     
         6 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower side of the base includes adhesive configured for attachment to the desired location on the user. 
     
     
         7 . The anchoring device of  claim 6 , further comprising a protective backing that covers the adhesive and is removable therefrom in preparation for application of the base to the desired location on the user. 
     
     
         8 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to spontaneously release from the desired location on the user without substantial injury to the user upon application of excessive force to the anchoring device. 
     
     
         9 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor loop is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with the attaching element of the encircling item. 
     
     
         10 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured so as to visually blend in appearance with one of skin and clothing of the user. 
     
     
         11 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the base and the anchor loop is one of transparent and translucent. 
     
     
         12 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured so as to resist degradation when exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         13 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor loop is deformable. 
     
     
         14 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor loop can be transitioned between a deployed orientation in which the anchor loop protrudes from the base and a folded orientation in which the anchor loop is substantially flush against the base. 
     
     
         15 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of anchor loops is fixed to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , further comprising a backing sheet to which a plurality of anchoring devices is attached, the anchoring devices being separately removable from the backing sheet for attachment to the desired location on the user. 
     
     
         17 . The anchoring device of  claim 16 , wherein the backing sheet includes a perforation which can be separated so as to divide the backing sheet into separated sections, each of the separated sections having at least one anchoring device attached thereto. 
     
     
         18 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor loop includes a latching mechanism, the latching mechanism being openable so as to allow penetration of the anchor loop by the attaching element of the encircling item, the latching mechanism being closable so as to fix the attaching element of the encircling item to the anchor loop. 
     
     
         19 . The anchoring device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring device is designed to avoid irritation of the user's skin when the base is attached to the desired location on the user. 
     
     
         20 . An anchoring device for inhibiting rotation of a necklace about a user's neck, the anchoring device comprising:
 a base, a lower surface of which is configured for adhesive attachment to the nap of the user's neck; and   an anchor loop fixed to an upper surface of the base, the anchor loop being configured for attachment thereto of a clasp of the necklace in a manner that prevents rotation of the necklace about the user's neck.