Jewelry Clasp Positioning Device and Related Methods

This application claims priority as a continuation-in-part to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/737,060, filed Jun. 7, 2024 and entitled Jewelry Clasp Positioning Device and Related Methods, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to U.S. Provisional Application 63/506,668, filed Jun. 7, 2023, and entitled Necklace Clasp Positioning Device, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

The various embodiments herein relate to devices for the positioning of jewelry clasps when jewelry is worn by a user, including for the purpose of ensuring that the clasp remains disposed in a desired location on the user's neck.

Many necklaces include clasps that attach the ends of a necklace together. There are many types of clasps, such as spring rings and lobster claws, for example. These clasps are typically attached to the two ends of a necklace chain to connect those two ends. When the two clasps are connected, the necklace can be hung around a user's neck. When a necklace is worn, the necklace clasp is typically intended to sit at the rear of a user's neck.

Sometimes, the clasp of the necklace can drift while the necklace is worn by a user as a result of the necklace moving in relation to the user's neck. More specifically, the clasp can rotate about one's neck, bringing the clasp to the front of the neck, which is typically undesirable for the user.

There is a need in the art for a device that maintains a position for a necklace clasp at a user's desired location.

Discussed herein are various embodiments relating to jewelry clasp positioning devices and related methods of use. The devices can include a body and/or patch and attachment structures or openings to attach a jewelry fastener thereto. The patch can include an adhesive layer configured to attach the device to a surface.

In Example 1, a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises a patch comprising a first face and a second face, an adhesive layer coupled to the first face, a fastener disposed on the second face of the patch, the fastener protruding outwardly from the second face, wherein the fastener is configured to have a jewelry clasp fastened thereto, and wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be placed on a user's skin and not be removed during use.

Example 2 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the fastener comprises a loop.

Example 3 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 2, wherein the loop comprises at least one arm.

Example 4 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 3, wherein the at least one arm forms a flange coupleable with the patch at an end of the arm.

Example 5 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 4, wherein the at least one arm is disposed through the patch such that the end of the arm protrudes from the first face of the patch.

Example 6 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 5, wherein the flange is disposed between the first face of the patch and the adhesive layer.

Example 7 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 2, wherein the fastener comprises a rod.

Example 8 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, further comprising an adhesive layer cover disposed over the adhesive layer.

Example 9 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 1, wherein the fastener comprises a retaining ring disposed through the patch.

In Example 10, a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises a patch comprising a first face and a second face, an adhesive layer disposed on the first face, and a retaining ring coupled to the patch and configured to have a jewelry clasp attached thereto, wherein the adhesive layer is configured to be placed on a user's skin and not be removed during use.

Example 11 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 10, wherein the patch further comprises a body configured to be flush against a user's skin during use, and a tab movable relative to the body.

Example 12 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 11, wherein the tab is positioned at an angle relative to the body when the retaining ring is attached to the tab.

Example 13 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 12, wherein the tab comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the tab is movable relative to the body at the first end.

Example 14 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 11, wherein the tab comprises an opening configured to receive the retaining ring.

Example 15 relates to the jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 10, further comprising an adhesive layer cover disposed over the adhesive layer.

In Example 16, a method of manufacturing a jewelry clasp positioning device comprises providing a patch comprising a first face and a second face, providing a fastener, providing a fastener, applying an adhesive layer to the first face of the patch, and applying an adhesive layer cover over the adhesive layer.

Example 17 relates to a method of manufacturing a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 16, wherein the fastener comprises a loop, and wherein securing the fastener to the patch comprises inserting the loop through the patch.

Example 18 relates to a method of manufacturing a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 17, wherein the fastener comprises a rod and wherein the method further comprises, prior to securing the fastener to the patch, bending the rod to form the loop.

Example 19 relates to a method of manufacturing a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 17, wherein the loop comprises two arms, and wherein securing the fastener to the patch further comprises bending an end of each of the two arms to form a flange at each arm end.

Example 20 relates a method of manufacturing a jewelry clasp positioning device of Example 19, wherein applying the adhesive layer to the first face of the patch includes applying the adhesive layer over the flanges formed by each of the two arms.

While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes various illustrative implementations. As will be realized, the various embodiments herein are capable of modifications in various obvious aspects, all without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

The various embodiments herein relate to devices for positioning or stabilizing a piece of jewelry on the body of a user such that the jewelry does not rotate in relation to the user's body, including to prevent the clasp from being positioned in front of the user's neck/body. Certain implementations include an attachable patch (with associated attachment devices, such as clasps) that can be adhered to the user's body at a desired location (such as the back of the user's neck) to prevent such necklace rotation.

shows one exemplary embodiment of a necklace clasp positioning device. The necklace clasp positioning devicecan comprise a body (also referred to as a “patch”)with appropriate fasteners attached thereto as described below. While the necklace clasp positioning deviceis described herein with applications pertaining to necklaces, the clasp positioning devicecould be used with any jewelry including a clasp. For example, the clasp positioning devicecould be a bracelet clasp positioning device. Some embodiments of the clasp positioning devicecan be used with bracelets, earrings, or any other jewelry. The patchcan have a first (or “contact”) faceand a second (or “outer”) facesuch that the first facemay be in contact with and attachable to a user's body as will be described in additional detail below. The second faceis opposite to the first face.

In certain implementations, the first facehas an adhesive layerdisposed on the contact facesuch that the adhesive layeradheres the contact faceto a user's body in a desired location. For example, in some embodiments, the devicecan be adhered to a desired location of a user (e.g., the user's neck, shoulders, wrist, ankle, or any other appropriate place on the user and/or the user's clothing to adhere the clasp positioning device). In certain examples, the adhesive layermay cover the entirety of the first face. In other examples, the adhesive layermay cover only a portion of the first face. The adhesive layer can be made of a skin adhesive material, such as tape, or any material that can safely adhere to skin. The adhesive layer may be designed to stick to or attached to a user's skin such that during normal use (e.g., as the user is wearing and/or displaying the jewelry) the patch remains in place. It is only when the jewelry is desired to be taken off that the user may remove the adhesive from the skin by pulling it off without damaging the user's skin.

The body or patchcan have a variety of features. For example, the patchcan have one of a variety of shapes. More specifically, in the embodiment shown, the patchis substantially rectangular. In some embodiments, the rectangular patchcan have rounded corners or, alternatively, the patchcan have square, hexagonal, or any other desired corner shape). In other embodiments, the patchcan be a square, circular, triangular, or any other known shape. The patchin certain implementations can be made of a flexible plastic. For example, in one specific example, the patchis made of a flexible plastic with a silver coloring or appearance. Alternatively, the patchcan be made of a flexible plastic with a gold, rose gold, or plated stainless steel coloring or appearance. In a further implementation, the bodycan be made of any known flexible material that can be attachable to a user's skin and can have any known coloring or appearance to replicate, match, or mimic the color of the jewelry with which the patchis used. In some embodiments, the patchcan be made of metal. The patchmay be sufficiently flexible such that the patchcan bend along its length and width to follow the natural curve of a user's neck, back or other area of the user's body.

In accordance with certain embodiments, the patchcan have a length ranging from about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm and a width ranging from about 0.25 cm to about 3 cm. Such dimensions are exemplary; the patchcan includes length and widths larger or smaller than the dimensions listed herein. Further, in some implementations, the outer faceof the patchcan come in multiple different colors or surfaces to match the color or metal of the necklace with which the devicewill be used. For example, in certain embodiments, the outer facecan have a gold color or a surface that simulates gold metal to match, or nearly match, a gold necklace to which the deviceis to be attached during use. Alternatively, the outer facecan be any known color or simulated surface to match, or nearly match, any known necklace metal or color (such as gold, silver, gold and silver, rose gold, platinum, or any other known metal or color and any known combination thereof). Further, the outer facecan have two or more colors or simulated surfaces to match, or nearly match, any known necklace having two or more metals or colors (such as a combination of gold and silver, for example). Thus a variety of different deviceshaving different colors or simulated metals can be available to a user such that the user can select a deviceto match the necklace the user wishes to wear.

As will be described in additional detail below, the necklace clasp positioning devicecan connect to a necklacevia the attachment components provided on the device. More specifically, according to one embodiment, the necklace clasp positioning devicehas a first fastenerand a second fastenerattached to the patch. The first fastenerand second fastenercan be configured to correspond to standard necklace fasteners,found at opposite ends of a necklace, as will be discussed in further detail below. More specifically, the first fastenerin certain embodiments is a standard, known spring ringor lobster clasp that operates in a known fashion. Alternatively, the first fastenercan be any known actuable fastener for use on necklaces. Similarly, the second fastenerin certain implementations is a standard known ringfor coupling with a known spring ring or lobster clasp. Alternatively, the second fastenercan be any known fixed fastener that couples with any known actuable fastener.

Thus, the two fasteners may be configured to accommodate any different known necklace clasps. These include bayonet clasps, barrel clasps, box clasps, figure-8 safety clasps, toggle clasps, s-hook clasps, mystery clasps, magnetic clasps, hook-and-eye clasps, snap clasps, pearl clasps, and any other known jewelry clasps.

Some embodiments of the necklace clasp positioning device can have additional features. For example, in certain implementations such as the exemplary version depicted in, both of the first fastenerand second fastenerhave fastener attachment structuresthat facilitate attachment of the fasteners,to the patch. The attachment structurescan be the same material and/or color as the fasteners,. Alternatively, the attachment structurescan be made of any known material for use in ensuring attachment of the fasteners,to the patch. Further, the attachment structurescan have a rectangle, square, or trapezoidal shape, or any other known shape. In certain implementations, the attachment structurecan have a first endand a second end, with the first endof the attachment structurehaving a width that is greater than the width of the second end. Alternatively, the first endand the second endof the attachment structurecan have the same width. In accordance with some aspects, the first endis attached to the patch, and the second endis attached to the first fasteneror second fastener. In some embodiments, the attachment structurecan protrude outwardly from the patch. In other embodiments, the attachment structurecan protrude upwardly from the patch. In further implementations, the attachment structurecan protrude outwardly and upwardly from the patch.

depicts a different embodiment of a necklace clasp positioning devicethat can be used with multiple necklaces. In some embodiments, the devicecan have two or more first fastenersA,B,C and two or more second fastenersA,B,C attached to the patch. The devicecan have an elongated shape or a rectangular, square, triangular, a circle, or any other known shape.

As shown in, multiple fasteners can be attached to or integral with the device. That is, the two or more fastenersA-C,A-C can be positioned on the first and second sides of the patch. When worn by a user, the first and second sides of the patchcan be the left and right sides of the patchas viewed in. A first fastenerA and second fastenerA can be located in an upper portion of the left side and right side of the patch. An additional first fastenerB and second fastenerB can be located at an approximate center of the left and right side of the patch. An additional first fastenerC and second fastenerC can be located in a lower portion of the left and right side of the patch. Each fastener may be attached to the patch using an attachment structureas discussed in further detail above. Thus, in one exemplary embodiment as shown, the devicehas three first fastenersA-C and three second fastenersA-C. Alternatively, the devicecan have two first fasteners and two second fasteners, four first fasteners and four second fasteners, five first fasteners and five second fasteners, six first fasteners and six second fasteners, seven first fasteners and seven second fasteners, eight first fasteners and eight second fasteners, or any other number of first and second fasteners.

In use according to certain embodiments, multiple necklaces (not shown) may be attached to the multiple fasteners like those shown inin a fashion similar to a single necklace attached to the device described above (e.g., as shown in exemplary), except that there are three necklaces in this specific implementation. A user may attach a necklace (not shown) to each set of first fastenerand second fastener, allowing the user to attach multiple necklaces. Each component of the fasteners,may be located directly across from its corresponding component on the patch. When using a devicewith three sets of fasteners,(such as devicein), up to three necklaces (not shown) may be attached to such a devicewhen used by a user. The necklaces (not shown) attached to the devicemay comprise different lengths. One necklace (not shown) may be attached to each set of first and second fasteners,.

In certain embodiments, except as expressly discussed herein, the other components and features of the devicecan be the same or substantially similar to the components and features of the deviceembodiment discussed above. In other words, the patchcan be the same or substantially similar to the patchdiscussed above, including the adhesive on the contact face and/or the color or substitute metal on the outer face, the types of fasteners, etc.

shows a further alternative of the necklace clasp positioning devicewherein the first and second fasteners,are disposed or attached to the outer facerather than the sides of the patch. In one exemplary embodiment as shown, the fasteners,are attached to an attachment bodythat protrudes or otherwise extends from the outer face. The attachment bodyin this implementation is located on the second faceof the device. In some embodiments, the attachment bodymay be located at or near the center of the device. Alternatively, the attachment bodycan be attached to the outer faceat any location on the patch. Some implementations of the device have multiple attachment bodies. Each of the multiple attachment bodies can be located at any location on the patch. The attachment bodymay be gold, silver, or rose gold. In some embodiments, the attachment bodymay be the same color as the fasteners,and patch.

The attachment bodymay comprise additional components. For example, the attachment bodyas shown has two attachment extensionsthat attach the first and second fasteners,to the attachment body. Alternatively, the first and second fasteners,are attached directly to the attachment body. In certain embodiments, the attachment bodycan include a pivot, hinge, or other structure (not shown) to facilitate the movement of the first and second fasteners,. The hinge pivots about a hinge axis such that the first and second fasteners can pivot around the hinge axis. In alternative implementations including multiple attachment bodies, the multiple attachment bodies can each have a hinge, the hinge pivoting about a hinge axis.

The fasteners,(or any fastener embodiments disclosed or contemplated herein) are configured to allow for attachment of a standard necklace to the device. For example, in one embodiment as best shown in, the first fastenerof the necklace clasp positioning deviceis attachable to the second fastenerof the necklace, while the second fastenerof the necklace clasp positioning deviceis attachable to the first fastenerof the necklace. This attachment links both ends,of the necklace chainto the device, which is attached to a desired location on the user, thereby permitting the user to wear the attached necklacein a stable fashion that prevents the two necklace fasteners,from rotating in relation to the user's neck.

In use as best shown inaccording to one embodiment, a user can first select a clasp positioning device (such as any of device embodiments,,herein) based on the color of the device (such that the color matches the necklace to be attached thereto) (block). Alternatively, the clasp positioning device can be selected based on any parameter or basis. Once the desired device is selected, the user can then attach a necklaceto the necklace clasp positioning deviceby attaching the first and second fasteners,of the necklaceto the first and second fasteners,of the device(block). The second fastenerof the necklacemay be attached to the first fastenerof the device, and the first fastenerof the necklacemay be attached to the second fastenerof the device. If a user desires to wear multiple necklaces, they may attach multiple necklaces to multiple fasteners using the deviceofor a similar device with multiple fasteners as discussed above.

Once the first and second fasteners,of the necklaceare attached, the adhesive cover can be removed from the contact face (not shown) of the device(block). Alternatively, in those embodiments in which the devicedoes not have an adhesive cover, the devicecan be otherwise prepared for attachment. Then, the necklace clasp positioning deviceis aligned with the user's neck at the desired location (block). At that point, the necklace clasp positioning deviceis placed on the user's neck. Alternatively, the adhesive cover (not shown) can be removed after alignment of the devicein the desired location. The first face (not shown) of the necklace clasp positioning deviceis then placed in contact with the desired location on the user's neck (block) such that the adhesive of the first face (not shown) of the deviceadheres to the user's neck. When the deviceis attached to the user's neck as desired, the deviceis secured and will not substantially move from its position. The first and second fasteners,of the necklacethen remain in place at the rear of a user's neck.

Alternatively, the steps taken to position the device on a user's neck may be completed in a different order. That is, in other methods of use, the necklace clasp positioning devicemay first be oriented to the rear of a user's neck prior to attaching the necklace thereto. Then, the adhesive cover (not shown) may be removed and the necklace clasp positioning devicemay be applied to the user's neck, which adheres the deviceto the user's neck. The first and second fasteners,of the necklacecan then be attached to the devicesuch that the deviceensures that the necklace fasteners,remain in place in the desired location in relation to the user's neck (such as, in certain embodiments, the back of a user's neck).

and(collectively discussed herein as “”) each show another embodiment of the jewelry clasp positioning device. The deviceincludes a patchwith a first faceand a second face. A first openingA and a second openingB can each extend from the first faceto the second faceand can be located at the first endA and second endB, respectively. Each openingA,B can be configured to receive a component of a jewelry clasp (such as the exemplary jewelry fasteners,of). An adhesive layer can be disposed on the first faceor second faceof the patch.

The devicecan include a variety of features. For example, the length of the devicecan range from about 0.5 cm by about 3 cm and the width of the device can be about 0.25 cm to about 3 cm. Such dimensions are exemplary; the patchcan include lengths and/or widths that are larger or smaller than the dimensions listed herein. The devicecan come in a variety of colors, such as gold, silver, or rose gold, and can be made of a variety of materials (e.g., metal or plastic). The patchcan be generally rectangular, and can include curved edges to prevent discomfort during use.

The first and second openingsA,B include a variety of features. For example, the first and second openingsA,B can have different shapes to receive various components of a jewelry clasp,. The second openingB can be generally circular. The first openingsA can be formed by two hooksA,B curving toward one another. The width of each hookA,B can be half of the approximate length of the patch. The two hooksA,B can be adjacent one another such that a distanceexists between the two hooksA,B at the approximate center of the length of the patch. The distancebetween the two hooksA,B can be wide enough such that a portion of a piece of jewelry and/or jewelry clasp component,can pass therethrough. The distancecan be formed by any structure, including structures not including a hook. For example, in some embodiments, the distancecan be formed by a slot extending from the at least one of the openingsA,B from the first faceto the second faceand to a perimeterof the patch.

In use, a user can push a part of a piece of jewelryand/or ringof a jewelry fastener through the spacebetween the two hooksA,B. At least one of the two hooksA,B can be disposed through the ring, thereby positioning the ring(and a portion of the jewelry fastener) on at least one of the hooksA,B. The clasp portion of a jewelry fastenercan be attached to the second openingB of the device.

This can facilitate the attachment of a piece of jewelry to the devicewithout having a user manipulate multiple small components (such as, for example, a lever that manipulates a spring clasp). This can improve the longevity of the devicewhile improving the ease with which a user can attach a piece of jewelry.