Necklace with Adjusting Length Beads

Abstract

An adjustable length necklace that is formed with two slide beads, which can be slid on a chain towards one another to make the necklace longer and slid away from one another on the chain to make the necklace shorter. There are inserts, formed of a TPU material, inside the opening in the slide beads, that constrain the free movement of the chain in the bead. This allows all adjustable lengths along the chain to remain balanced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustable length necklace comprising:
 a chain having an outer diameter;   a first slide bead and a second slide bead, each of said slide beads having an internal surface which has a diameter effective to allow the chain to slide on the internal surface when receiving external force, but not to slide on the chain when not receiving external force,   the chain having first and second pieces,   the first piece of the chain connected between the necklace clasp through the first slide bead, and attached to the second slide bead,   the second piece of the chain connected between the necklace clasp through the second slide bead, and attached to the first slide bead   
     
     
         2 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , further comprising a chain attaching part on each of the first and second slide beads, connecting to the chain pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , wherein an area between the first slide bead and the second slide bead includes both the first piece of chain and the second piece of chain extending between the slide beads, and the first and second slide beads can be slid on the chain to adjust the length of the area. 
     
     
         4 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , wherein the slide bead includes an outer surface formed of a metallic material and an inner surface formed of a Thermoplastic Polyurethane material. 
     
     
         5 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , further comprising a necklace clasp holding the chain and allowing the necklace to be opened and magnetically closed. 
     
     
         6 . The necklace as in  claim 5 , wherein the metallic bead is substantially round in section, includes a first opening at a first end, and a second opening at a second end. 
     
     
         7 . The necklace as in  claim 6 , wherein the plastic insert has a first diameter at the first end and the second end, and has a smaller diameter in a center portion between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         8 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , wherein the bead includes an icon molded on an outside thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The necklace as in  claim 1 , wherein the necklace clasp has first and second sides, the first piece of the chain connected between the first side of the necklace clasp is a magnet half that is pulled through the first slide bead and connected to the second slide bead,
 the second piece of the chain connected between the second side of the necklace clasp is another magnet half that is pulled through the second slide bead and connected to the first slide bead.   
     
     
         10 . A slide bead, for a chain of a specified outer size, comprising:
 an outer surface, formed of a first material;   the outer surface having a first opening at the first end and a second opening at a second end, and an internal cavity extending between the first end and the second end;   the outer surface having a structure to which the chain can be attached;   an inner surface, formed of an insert made of a second material, the insert formed of a diameter effective to allow the chain of the specified outer size to be moved by force, but to prevent the bead from moving relative to the chain just from the weight of the bead.   
     
     
         11 . The slide bead as in  claim 10 , wherein the inner surface has a first diameter at the first end and the second end, and has a smaller diameter in a center portion between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
         12 . The slide bead as in  claim 10  wherein the first material forming the outer surface of the bead is a metal material, and the second material forming the inner surface of the bead is a plastic material forming an insert that fits within the metal material. 
     
     
         13 . The slide bead as in  claim 12 , wherein the first material is gold plated brass, and the second material is TPU. 
     
     
         14 . The slide bead as in  claim 10 , wherein the outer surface of the slide bead includes an icon printed thereon. 
     
     
         15 . A method of adjusting the length of a necklace, comprising:
 providing first and second slide beads, where each of the first and second slide beads is connected to a piece of chain, and also has the opposite piece of chain passing through a central location of the slide bead, where the central location of the slide bead is formed of a material effective to allow the chain to be moved by force through the slide bead but to prevent the chain from moving through the slide bead without applying force;   shortening the length of the chain by pulling the beads along the chain, and moving the first and second slide beads away from one another, to form more doubled up chain in between the first and second slide bead; and   lengthening the chain by pulling the chain through the beads and moving the first and second slide beads closer to one another, to form less doubled up chain in between the first and second slide beads.   
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 15 , wherein each of the slide beads are formed of a metallic material on the outside and a TPU plastic insert on the inside, the plastic insert having a diameter that is effective to allow the chain to be moved by force through the slide bead but preventing the chain from moving through the slide bead without applying force. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein the plastic insert has a gradually decreasing diameter towards the center,