Barb and cup jewelry link

Abstract

Flexible jewelry connections between jewelry portions may be formed through use of corresponding a cup segment and a barb segment. A cup segment has a plurality of legs that connect to a cup, and a barb segment has a plurality of barbs that defines a barb channel for that barb segment. The cup segment may be arranged above the barb segment along a common axis, such that the cup is positioned below the plurality of barbs, and the barb channel is positioned over the top surface of the cup. In this manner, the upper and lower portions form an overlapping arrangement. When the effective diameter of the barb channel is less than the effective diameter of the cup, the cup is prevented from moving upward through the barb channel, thus forming a connection between the upper jewelry portion and the lower jewelry portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of jewelry having a connection comprising:
 an upper jewelry portion with a bottom having a cup segment, the cup segment having a plurality of legs extending downward from the cup segment and connecting to a cup having a top surface and a bottom surface;   a lower jewelry portion with a top having a barb segment, the barb segment having a plurality of barbs protruding radially inward from the barb segment, the space between the innermost surface of each barb defining a barb channel;   the cup segment arranged above the barb segment along a common axis, such that the cup is positioned below the plurality of barbs, a first barb is positioned between a first pair of legs, a second barb is positioned between a second pair of legs, and the barb channel is positioned over the top surface of the cup;   wherein the barbs are arranged such that the effective diameter of the barb channel is less than the effective diameter of the cup, thereby preventing the cup from moving upward through the barb channel, and thereby forming a connection between the upper jewelry portion and the lower jewelry portion.   
     
     
         2 . The jewelry article of  claim 2 , wherein the upper jewelry portion further comprises a top having a barb segment, the barb segment having a plurality of barbs protruding radially inward from the barb segment, the space between the innermost surface of each barb defining a barb channel and configured for forming a connection between the upper jewelry portion and a third jewelry portion having a cup segment. 
     
     
         3 . The jewelry article of  claim 2 , wherein the lower jewelry portion further comprises a bottom having a cup segment, the cup segment having a plurality of legs extending downward from the cup segment and connecting to a cup configured for forming a connection between the lower jewelry portion and a fourth jewelry portion having a barb segment. 
     
     
         4 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of jewelry portions, each portion having a cup segment on a bottom and a barb segment on the top, each cup segment of a portion configured for forming a connection with a barb segment of another portion. 
     
     
         5 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of legs comprises a first leg and a second leg, and the second pair of legs comprises the second leg and a third leg. 
     
     
         6 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the first pair of legs comprises a first leg and a second leg, and the second pair of legs comprises a third leg and a fourth leg. 
     
     
         7 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein
 a first barb is between a first leg and a second leg,   a second barb is between the second leg and a third leg,   a third barb is between the third leg and a fourth leg, and   a fourth barb is between the fourth leg and the first leg.   
     
     
         8 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the cup is generally hemispherical and the top surface is concave opening upward. 
     
     
         9 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein each barb in the plurality of barbs further comprises a free end and curve downwards. 
     
     
         10 . The jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein the barb free ends are configured to contact the top surface of the cup. 
     
     
         11 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the cup is cylindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The jewelry article of  claim 9 , wherein the cup is annular. 
     
     
         13 . The jewelry article of  claim 12 , wherein at least one barb further comprises a sharply bent region configured to protrude through the annular cup. 
     
     
         14 . The jewelry article of  claim 1 , wherein the cup segment comprises an engagement surface configured for contacting a surface of the barb segment, and the legs extend downward such that the uppermost surface of the cup is lower than the engagement surface. 
     
     
         15 . A method for connecting jewelry portions, the method comprising:
 providing a cup segment having a plurality of legs protruding from a surface of the cup segment and connecting to a cup, and a barb segment having a plurality of barbs protruding from a surface of the barb segment, the space between the innermost surface of each barb defining a barb channel;   adjusting the plurality of barbs to a setting configuration, the barbs in the setting configuration being spaced apart to enlarge the barb channel enough to allow the cup to fit between the barbs and move through the barb channel;   inserting the cup through the barb channel;   adjusting the plurality of barbs to a locking configuration, the barbs in the locking configuration being spaced apart to reduce the barb channel enough to prevent the cup from fitting between the barbs and move between the barb channel.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the cup segment is attached to the bottom of a first jewelry portion, the first jewelry portion further comprises a barb segment attached to the top of the first jewelry portion, and further comprising:
 adjusting the plurality of barbs of the first jewelry portion to a setting configuration, the barbs in the setting configuration being spaced apart to enlarge a barb channel of the first jewelry portion enough to allow a cup connected to a second jewelry portion to fit between the barbs and move through the barb channel;   inserting the cup attached to the second jewelry portion through the barb channel; and   adjusting the plurality of barbs of the first jewelry portion to a locking configuration, the barbs in the locking configuration being spaced apart to reduce the barb channel enough to prevent the cup connected to a second jewelry portion from fitting between the barbs and move between the barb channel.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the plurality of barbs of the first jewelry portion to a locking configuration comprises bending at least one barb. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein inserting the cup through the barb channel further comprises arranging the cup such that a first barb is positioned between a first pair of legs, and a second barb is positioned between a second pair of legs. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first pair of legs comprises a first leg and a second leg, and the second pair of legs comprises the second leg and a third leg. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the plurality of barbs to a locking configuration comprises positioning at least one barb into contact with an upper surface of the cup.