Breakaway clasp

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10039351-B2
Application number	US-201615382301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A breakaway clasp having two clasp components that can be releasably coupled together to provide a quick release closure mechanism. A first clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion, and an identical second clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion. The attachment portions may be configured to be coupled to a portion of an article, such as a necklace or bracelet, and the coupling portions are configured to releasably couple to each other, thereby forming a closure. Each coupling portion comprising two, identical hemisphere elements and a connecting section that connects the two hemisphere elements. The hemisphere elements and connecting section may define a receiving cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the hemisphere elements of the other clasp component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A breakaway clasp, the clasp comprising:
a first clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion; and
a second clasp component having a coupling portion and an attachment portion,
wherein each attachment portion comprises a clasp opening and is configured to be coupled to a portion of an article via the clasp opening, and
wherein each coupling portion is configured to releasably couple the first clasp component to the second clasp component, each coupling portion comprising a first hemisphere element, a second hemisphere element, and a curved connecting section that connects the first and second hemisphere elements, wherein the first hemisphere element, the second hemisphere element, and the connecting section define a receiving cavity,
wherein each connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening, and wherein the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.

2. The breakaway clasp of claim 1 , wherein when the first clasp component is coupled to the second clasp component, the first and second hemisphere elements of the first clasp component at least partially fill the receiving cavity of the second clasp component, and the first and second hemisphere elements of the second clasp component at least partially fill the receiving cavity of the first clasp component.

3. The breakaway clasp of claim 1 , wherein the coupling portion of the first clasp component is identical in size and shape to the coupling portion of the second clasp component.

4. The breakaway clasp of claim 1 , wherein, when coupled together along a common longitudinal axis, the first coupling portion is oriented 90 degrees relative to the second coupling portion.

5. The breakaway clasp of claim 1 , wherein the first clasp component and the second clasp component are configured to releasably couple a first end of a jewelry strand to a second end of a jewelry strand, wherein an amount of force applied to the jewelry strand separates the first clasp from the second clasp.

6. The breakaway clasp of claim 1 , wherein the first clasp component and the second clasp component comprise a thermoplastic material.

7. A universal clasp component comprising:
a first hemisphere element;
a second hemisphere element;
a curved connecting section connecting the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element, and
an attachment portion adjacent the connecting section, the attachment portion comprising a clasp opening and being configured to attach the universal clasp component to an article via the clasp opening,
wherein at least a portion of the first hemisphere element, at least a portion of the second hemisphere element, and the curved connecting section define a receiving cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a second universal clasp component,
wherein the curved connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the curved connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the curved connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening, and wherein the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.

8. The universal clasp component of claim 7 , wherein the first hemisphere element comprises an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface and the second hemisphere element comprises an inward-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element being oriented such that the inward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element is facing the inward-facing surface of the second hemisphere element.

9. The universal clasp component of claim 8 , wherein the inward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element and the inward-facing surface of the second hemisphere element each comprise a convex curvature.

10. The universal clasp component of claim 9 , wherein an apex of the convex curvature of the inward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element and an apex of the convex curvature of the inward-facing surface of the second hemisphere are spaced apart at a threshold distance when uncoupled to the second universal clasp component.

11. The universal clasp component of claim 10 , wherein the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element are configured to move away from each other when the universal clasp component is being coupled to the second universal clasp component such that a distance between the apex of the convex curvature of the inward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element and the apex of the convex curvature of the inward-facing surface of the second hemisphere is greater than the threshold distance during coupling.

12. The universal clasp component of claim 8 , wherein the outward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element has a lesser curvature than the inward-facing surface of the first hemisphere element and the and the outward-facing surface of the second hemisphere element has a lesser curvature than the inward-facing surface of the second hemisphere element.

13. A symmetrical clasp component for a closure mechanism, the symmetrical clasp component comprising:
a first hemisphere element;
a second hemisphere element opposite the first hemisphere element, the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element each comprising a convex shape and extending towards one another;
a curved connecting section having a first end connected to the first hemisphere element and a second end connected to the second hemisphere element, the connecting section forming a hinge between the first hemisphere element and the second hemisphere element; and
an attachment portion adjacent the connecting section, the attachment portion comprises an opening,
wherein the first hemisphere element comprises a mirror image of the second hemisphere element,
wherein at least a portion of the first hemisphere element, at least a portion of the second hemisphere element, and the curved connecting section define a receiving cavity, and
wherein the connecting section comprises a first curved surface on a first side of the connecting section and a second curved surface on a second side of the connecting section opposite the first side, wherein the first curved surface and the second curved surface each extend from the first hemisphere element toward the clasp opening and wherein, the first curved surface curves away from the second curved surface as the first curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening, and wherein the second curved surface curves away from the first curved surface as the second curved surface extends from the first hemisphere element towards the clasp opening.

14. The symmetrical clasp co

Assignees

• Crayola Llc

Inventors

• Allen James

Classifications

• Y10T24/45178

  Snap [e.g., identical elements] · CPC title

• Y10T24/45775

  having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment · CPC title

• A44C5/2076 Primary

  with the two ends of the strap or chain abutting each other or sliding in the main plane or a plane parallel to the main plane of these two ends (A44C5/2009 - A44C5/2061 take precedence) · CPC title

• D04B5/00

  Knitting apparatus or machines without needles for domestic use (with needles D04B7/08) · CPC title

• D04B9/44

  elongated tubular articles of small diameter, e.g. coverings for cables (sheathing electric cables H01B13/22) · CPC title