Counterweight for jewelry pendant

Abstract

A counterweight pendant for a necklace comprises a bottom portion with a substantially flat back surface and a top portion that joins the bottom portion at an angle or curve. The back surface is configured to frictionally rest against a person's back and may be textured. The curved top portion of the counterweight allows a necklace clasp to be attached without interfering with the area of friction against the back surface and the person's back. The bottom portion can be wider and contain more mass than the top portion to keep the counterweight in the proper orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A counterweight pendant for use with a necklace comprising:
 a pendant body having a bottom portion comprising a substantially flat back surface configured to rest against a user's back when worn, the pendant body further having a top portion configured to couple a clasp for coupling the pendant body to a rear portion of the necklace,   wherein a back surface of the top portion extends away from a plane defined by the substantially flat back surface so that the top portion is spaced apart from the user's back when the counterweight is worn,   wherein the back surface of the bottom portion is textured, the bottom portion is wider than the top portion, and wherein the bottom portion contains more mass than the top portion to thereby inhibit tilting or twisting of the pendant body away from the user's back during use.   
     
     
         2 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 1 , wherein the back surface of the top portion joins the substantially flat back surface at an angle. 
     
     
         3 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion curves outwardly from the substantially flat back surface such that the top portion extends away from said plane. 
     
     
         4 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion comprises an ellipsoid shape. 
     
     
         5 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 1 , wherein the textured surface comprises an epoxy layer that defines one or more peaks. 
     
     
         6 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion terminates in a tip. 
     
     
         7 . A counterweight pendant for use with an encircling body ornament, comprising:
 a pendant body having a bottom portion comprising a substantially flat back surface configured to rest against a user's back when worn, the pendant body further having a top portion configured to couple a clasp for coupling the pendant body to the encircling body ornament,   wherein a back surface of the top portion extends away from a plane defined by the substantially flat back surface so that the top portion is spaced apart from the user's back when the counterweight is worn,   wherein the back surface of the top portion is spaced apart from the substantially flat back surface to facilitate frictional engagement between the flat back surface and the user's back during use and inhibit tilting or twisting of the pendant body away from the user's back during use.   
     
     
         8 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the encircling body ornament is a necklace, wherein the clasp is a necklace clasp configured to couple the pendant body to a rear portion of the necklace. 
     
     
         9 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 7 , wherein the back surface of the top portion joins the substantially flat back surface at an angle. 
     
     
         10 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the top portion curves outwardly from the substantially flat back surface such that the top portion curves away from said plane. 
     
     
         11 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion comprises an ellipsoid shape. 
     
     
         12 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion is wider than the top portion to inhibit twisting of the pendant body during use. 
     
     
         13 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the bottom portion contains more mass than the top portion to inhibit movement of the pendant body during use. 
     
     
         14 . The counterweight of  claim 7 , wherein the back surface of the bottom portion is textured to facilitate frictional engagement between the pendant body and the user's back during use. 
     
     
         15 . The counterweight of  claim 14 , wherein the textured surface comprises an epoxy layer that defines one or more peaks. 
     
     
         16 . A body ornament for use with a necklace, comprising:
 a necklace clasp; and   a counterweight pendant comprising:
 a pendant body having a bottom portion comprising a substantially flat back surface configured to rest against a user's back when worn, the pendant body further having a top portion configured to couple a clasp for coupling the pendant body to a rear portion of the necklace, 
 wherein a back surface of the top portion extends away from a plane defined by the substantially flat back surface so that the top portion is spaced apart from the user's back when the counterweight is worn to thereby facilitate contact between the substantially flat back surface and the user's back during use. 
   
     
     
         17 . The body ornament of  claim 16 , wherein the top portion is removably attached to the clasp. 
     
     
         18 . The counterweight pendant of  claim 16 , wherein the back surface of the top portion joins the substantially flat back surface at an angle. 
     
     
         19 . The body ornament of  claim 16 , wherein the top portion curves outwardly from the substantially flat back surface such that it extends away from said plane. 
     
     
         20 . The body ornament of  claim 16 , wherein the back surface of the bottom portion is textured.