Multi-track articulating necklace

Abstract

A necklace is formed as a mesh of left, center, and right tiles. The left and right tiles are paired, and each pair is connected by two transverse linking rods. Each of the two transverse linking rods captures one of two adjacent center tiles via transverse through holes in the center tiles. The through holes are designed, e.g., with oblong profiles that allow a limited range of rotation of each center tile in the plane of the mesh, thus allowing the mesh to arc and function as a necklace.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A necklace comprising:
 a plurality of tile segments arranged lengthwise along a length of the necklace as a plurality of left tile segments, a plurality of center tile segments, and a plurality of right tile segments in a spaced apart but meshed tiled configuration wherein, in a width direction, a maximum width of the necklace is less than a combined width of a left tile segment, a right tile segment, and a center tile segment, and in the length direction as viewed normal to a front side of the tile segments, the arrangement of tile segments is such that
 each left tile segment of the plurality of left tile segments is positioned along the necklace with a paired right tile segment of the plurality of right tile segments, 
 a respective first one of the center tile segments is interposed between upper portions of each pair of left and right tile segments, and 
 a respective second one of the center tile segments is interposed between lower portions of each pair of left and right tile segments, such that each center tile segment is interposed between two adjacent pairs of left and right tile segments; and 
   a plurality of transverse linking bars, wherein
 two respective transverse linking bars of the plurality of transverse linking bars connect each left tile segment to its paired right tile segment, 
 one transverse linking bar of the two respective transverse linking bars passes through a transverse through hole in a first given one of the center tile segments interposed between upper portions of the paired left and right tile segments, 
 the other transverse linking bar of the two respective transverse linking bars passes through a transverse through hole in a second given one of the center tile segments, and 
 the through holes in the center tile segments are larger in cross section than a cross section of the linking bars such that, in at least a lengthwise direction along a length of the necklace, each center tile segment has a design range of rotation, as viewed normal to a front of the tile segments, with respect to adjacent left and right tile segments. 
   
     
     
         2 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the tile segments are hexagonal. 
     
     
         3 . The necklace of  claim 2 , wherein the left and right tile segments have non-hexagonal outer edges. 
     
     
         4 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the tile segments are circular. 
     
     
         5 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the tile segments are octagonal. 
     
     
         6 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the center tile segments have a central cavity, the through holes penetrating into the central cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the linking bars have a circular cross section. 
     
     
         8 . The necklace of  claim 7 , wherein the through holes have an oblong cross section with a major axis in the plane of the center tiles. 
     
     
         9 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the linking bars have an oblong cross section with a major axis in the plane of the center tiles. 
     
     
         10 . The necklace of  claim 1 , wherein the linking bars have a substantially rectangular cross section with a major axis in the plane of the center tiles. 
     
     
         11 . The necklace of  claim 1 , further comprising a clasp mechanism having:
 a monolithic receiver section having a front side with respective regions having the appearance of two center tile segments interposed between a left tile segment and a right tile segment,
 one of the regions having the appearance of a center tile segment having a transverse through hole to receive a transverse linking bar connected to a first end pair of left and right tile segments of the plurality of tile segments, 
 the other of the regions having the appearance of a center tile segment having a receiver aperture in the end thereof; and 
   a monolithic spring lock section having
 a spring lock having first and second flat arms and adapted to engage with the receiver aperture in a locking configuration, and 
 a front side with respective regions having the appearance of one center tile segment interposed between a left tile segment and a right tile segment,
 the region having the appearance of a center tile segment
 fixedly connected to one of the regions having the appearance of a left tile segment and a right tile segment, 
 fixedly connected to the first flat arm at an end interposed between the regions having the appearance of a left tile segment and a right tile segment, and 
 at the other end, having a transverse through hole to receive a transverse linking bar connected to a second end pair of left and right tile segments of the plurality of tile segments, 
 
 the region having the appearance of a left tile segment and a right tile segment that is not fixedly connected to the region having the appearance of a center tile segment fixedly connected to the second flat arm, such that the spring lock is disengageable from the receiver aperture by pressing the two regions having the appearance of left and right tile segments towards each other. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The necklace of  claim 11 , the clasp mechanism further having a safety latch on an underside that, when latched, holds the monolithic receiver section and the monolithic spring lock section together.