US20200000187A1

US20200000187A1 - Ornament component and ornaments

Info

Publication number: US20200000187A1
Application number: US16/486,870
Authority: US
Inventors: Hiroshi Kimoto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-04-14
Filing date: 2018-02-26
Publication date: 2020-01-02
Also published as: WO2018190009A1; JP2018175495A; EP3545787A4; JP6257118B1; EP3545787A1

Abstract

A space is formed between a first wall portion and a second wall portion of a pendant bail. The first wall portion and the second wall portion are inclined such that a clearance therebetween decreases toward a lower side under a state in which the pendant is used. A chain can be engaged with use of this simple structure, that is, engaged at two points of a first recessed portion and a second recessed portion. The pendant bail is fixed to these engaging parts on the chain, and the pendant bail is restricted from moving along the chain.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ornament component to be used in ornaments such as a necklace.

BACKGROUND ART

The ornaments such as the necklace include a string-like member such as a chain, which is suspended from the neck and which is passed through an opening portion of a pendant bail, and an ornament body that is attached to the pendant bail.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

Such ornaments have a problem that a clasp, which should rest basically behind the neck of a user, moves around along the string-like member to the front due to its weight.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an ornament component that enables a clasp of an ornament, which is used under a state in which a string-like member is suspended from the neck, to avoid moving to front of a user. Another object of the present invention is to provide such an ornament.

Solution to Problem

According to the present invention, there is provided an ornament component including:
a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member being formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements to each other; and
a recessed portion that is provided in an inside of the component opening portion and that engages outer surfaces of the plurality of substantially-rectangular elements of the string-like member with the recessed portion,
the recessed portion including

- a first wall portion in which a first recessed portion is formed, and
- a second wall portion which extends parallel to the first wall portion and in which a second recessed portion that faces the first recessed portion and that has a shape substantially same as a shape of the first recessed portion is formed,

the first wall portion and the second wall portion having a space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion,
the first wall portion and the second wall portion being inclined such that a clearance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion decreases toward a lower side under a state in which an ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member being suspended from a neck of a user,
the string-like member being engaged only at two points of the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.
It is preferred that the ornament body be coupled to the component opening portion with a coupling portion, or be formed integrally with the ornament component.
According to the present invention, there is provided an ornament including an ornament component including a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member being formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements to each other,
the ornament component including a recessed portion that is provided in an inside of the component opening portion and that engages outer surfaces of the plurality of substantially-rectangular elements of the string-like member with the recessed portion,
the recessed portion including

the first wall portion and the second wall portion having a space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion,
the first wall portion and the second wall portion being inclined such that a clearance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion decreases toward a lower side under a state in which the ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member being suspended from a neck of a user,
the string-like member being engaged only at two points of the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the ornament component that enables the clasp of the ornament, which is used under the state in which the string-like member is suspended from the neck, to avoid moving to the front of the user, and to provide such an ornament.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pendant according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of a pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another explanatory view illustrating the shape in the front direction of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a pendant according to an appendix first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of a pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view illustrating the shape in the front direction of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a right-hand side view of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the pendant bail illustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the pendant bail, which is taken along a cross-section line A-A shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of a pendant bail of a pendant according to an appendix second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Below, pendants according to embodiments of the present invention are described.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pendant 201 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pendant 201 includes a chain 211, a pendant bail 221, and an ornament body 31.
The chain 211 is formed by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements 215 to each other in a line.
A first engaging portion 13 a and a second engaging portion 13 b of a clasp 13, which are provided respectively at both end portions of the chain 211, are coupled to each other in an attachable/detachable manner. By coupling the first engaging portion 13 a and the second engaging portion 13 b of the clasp 13 to each other, the chain 211 is formed into an annular shape.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are each an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of the pendant bail 221 illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 illustrates a state in which the pendant 201 is worn with the chain 211 being suspended from the neck of a user. FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the pendant bail 221 illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pendant bail 221 illustrated in FIG. 3.
As illustrated in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, a recessed portion 223 is formed on a side in an inside of a component opening portion 221 a of the pendant bail 221, the side in the inside being opposite to the ornament body 31. The chain 211 is engaged with the recessed portion 223. The recessed portion 223 is formed of a first recessed portion 223 a and a second recessed portion 223 b.
As illustrated in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the pendant bail 221 includes a first wall portion 217 a in which the first recessed portion 223 a is formed, and a second wall portion 217 b which extends parallel to the first wall portion 217 b and in which the second recessed portion 223 b that faces the first recessed portion 223 a and that has a shape substantially the same shape as that of the same is formed.
A space 235 is formed between the first wall portion 217 a and the second wall portion 217 b.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b each have a shape that widens (in a lateral direction in FIG. 2) from an upper side toward a lower side (toward the component opening portion 221 a ).
With this, the chain 211 is easily guided into the component opening portion 221 a or both the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b.
The first wall portion 217 a and the second wall portion 217 b are inclined such that a clearance therebetween decreases toward the lower side under a state in which the pendant 201 is used.
When the first wall portion 217 a and the second wall portion 217 b are inclined in this way, edges of the first wall portion 217 a and the second wall portion 217 b are engaged with the elements of the chain 211 more stably than at a time when the clearance therebetween is uniform. The chain 211 can be engaged with use of this simple structure, that is, engaged at two points of the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b.
In the pendant 201, corner portions of the annular members 215 of the chain 211 are hooked into the recessed portion 223 formed in the inside of the component opening portion 221 a of the pendant bail 221. With this, the pendant bail 221 can be engaged at a predetermined position on the chain 211.
Thus, when the pendant bail 221 is engaged at a substantially intermediate position between the first engaging portion 13 a and the second engaging portion 13 b of the clasp 13 on the chain 211, under a state in which the pendant bail 221 rests in front of the user, the clasp 13 can always be rested behind the neck of the user. With this, the clasp 13 can be avoided moving to the front.
Further, in the pendant 201, the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b are formed respectively in the first wall portion 217 a and the second wall portion 217 b located across the space 235, and the corner portions of the elements 215 of the chain 211 are hooked into these recessed portions. In this way, hooking parts are engaged at the two points, and hence the chain 211 can be more stably engaged with the recessed portion 223.
In the above-described example, the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b are formed in the pendant bail 22 as an ornament component. However, the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b may be formed in an ornament itself, that is, formed as apart of a shape of the ornament.
Further, the shapes (depths, widths, and the like) of the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b may be arbitrary, specifically, a bottom portion of each of the recessed portions maybe tapered. With this, the corner portions of the annular members 215 of the chain 211 can be more stably hooked.

Appendix First Embodiment

FIG. 6 is a front view of a pendant 1 according to an appendix first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the pendant 1 includes a chain 11, a pendant bail 21, and the ornament body 31.
The chain 11 is formed by connecting a plurality of substantially-oblong annular members (chain elements) 15 to each other in a line.
The first engaging portion 13 a and the second engaging portion 13 b of the clasp 13, which are provided respectively at both end portions of the chain 11, are coupled to each other in the attachable/detachable manner. By coupling the first engaging portion 13 a and the second engaging portion 13 b of the clasp 13 to each other, the chain 11 is formed into the annular shape.
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are each an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of the pendant bail 21 illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 illustrates a state in which the pendant 1 is worn with the chain 11 being suspended from the neck of the user. FIG. 9 is a right-hand side view of the pendant bail 21 illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the pendant bail 21 illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the pendant bail 21 illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the pendant bail 21, which is taken along the cross-section line A-A shown in FIG. 10.
As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the pendant bail 21 has an annular shape, and includes a component opening portion 21 a that allows the chain 11 to pass therethrough.
On an inner peripheral surface of the component opening portion 21 a, a protruding portion 23 that protrudes toward a center of the component opening portion 21 a is provided.
The protruding portion 23 engages the chain therewith 11 by allowing an opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 of the chain 11 to be fitted thereto. With this, the pendant bail 21 is fixed to these engaging parts on the chain 11, and the pendant bail 21 is restricted from moving along the chain 11.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, under a state in which the pendant 1 is worn with the chain 11 being suspended from the neck of the user, the protruding portion 23 and the chain 11 are located on the upper side in a gravity direction (on the user's neck side), and the ornament body 31 rests on the lower side opposite thereto. In other words, in this state, the protruding portion 23 is located to protrude to the lower side toward the ornament body 31. With this, owing to weights of both the pendant bail 21 and the ornament body 31, the opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 is stably held by the protruding portion 23.
In this way, by fitting the opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 to the protruding portion 23 of the pendant bail 21, the pendant bail 21 can be engaged at a predetermined position on the chain 11. Thus, when the pendant bail 21 is engaged at the substantially intermediate position between the first engaging portion 13 a and the second engaging portion 13 b of the clasp 13 on the chain 11, under a state in which the pendant bail 21 rests in front of the user, the clasp 13 can always be rested behind the neck of the user. With this, the clasp 13 can be avoided moving to the front.
The protruding portion 23 has a tapered shape being tapered from the inner peripheral surface of the component opening portion 21 a of the pendant bail 21 towards its distal end. A diameter of a vicinity of the distal end of the protruding portion 23 is set such that the opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 can be fitted. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the protruding portion 23 is shaped such that the fitted opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 is held between its distal end and the inner peripheral surface of the component opening portion 21 a.
Further, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a height h2 of the protruding portion 23 is equal to or less than half of an inner diameter h1 of the component opening portion 21 a in an extending direction of the protruding portion 23. With this, under the state in which the opening portion 15 a of the annular member 15 is fitted to the protruding portion 23, a posture of the pendant bail 21 can be stabilized, and the protruding portion 23 can be made unnoticeable. As a result, excellent aesthetic properties can be obtained.
As described above, despite the simple shape, the pendant bail 21 can be stably engaged at the predetermined position on the chain 11, and the clasp 13 that should rest behind the neck of the user can be avoided moving to the front of the user.

Appendix Second Embodiment

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view illustrating a shape in a front direction of a pendant bail 121 of a pendant 101 according to an appendix second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates a state in which the pendant 101 is worn with a chain 111 being suspended from the neck of the user.
The chain 111 of the appendix second embodiment is formed by connecting substantially-spherical chain elements 115 to each other in a line by passing a string-like member through through-holes of the chain elements 115.
The pendant bail 121 has an annular shape, and a protruding portion 123 protruding toward a center of a component opening portion 121 a is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the component opening portion 121 a.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, under a state in which the pendant 101 is worn with the chain 111 being suspended from the neck of the user, the chain 111 rests on the upper side in the gravity direction (on the user's neck side), and the ornament body 31 rests on the lower side opposite thereto.
The protruding portion 123 is provided on the inner surface of the component opening portion 121 a such that the protruding portion 123 extends to the lower side at an angle of from 1° to 90°, or preferably approximately 45° with respect to the gravity direction at this time.
Note that, when the angle of the protruding portion 123 is higher than 90°, there occurs inconvenience that (the chain are difficult to attach and detach, and that the chain is difficult to stop by being stopped by a distal end of the protrusion. For this reason, the angle of the protruding portion 123 is set to 1° to 90°.
In addition, the protruding portion 123 has a tapered shape, and a minimum length of a component opening portion 125 that is formed between the distal end of the protruding portion 123 and the inner surface of the component opening portion 121 a is larger than an outer diameter of each of the chain elements 115. Thus, the chain elements 115 can pass through the component opening portion 125.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, under the state in which the chain 111 is suspended from the neck of the user, the chain element 115 is caught and engaged in an upper space between the protruding portion 123 and the pendant bail 121.
As illustrated in FIG. 13, the protruding portion 123 extends to the lower side at the angle of approximately 45° with respect to the gravity direction. Thus, in use of the chain 111, ones of the chain element 115, which rest on the lower side in the component opening portion 121 a, can relatively smoothly rest in the upper region through the component opening portion 125.
Further, there is an advantage that an entirety of the protruding portion can restrain the movement of the chain having the shape in which a few hooking parts are formed.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
Specifically, persons skilled in the art may make various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and alterations of the components of the above-described embodiments within the technical scope of the present invention or the equivalents thereof.
More specifically, the above-described shapes of the pendant bails 21, 121, and 221 are merely examples, and are not particularly limited thereto as long as the opening portions are formed.
Further, the shapes of the protruding portions 23 and 123, and the shape of the recessed portion 223 are arbitrary.
Still further, the first recessed portion 223 a and the second recessed portion 223 b, which are provided independently of each other in the case exemplified in the above-described embodiment, may be formed as a single recessed portion.
Yet further, the pendant bail 21, 121, or 221 and the ornament body 31, which are provided as separate members in the cases exemplified in the above-described embodiments, may be molded integrally with each other.

[Appendix 1] An ornament component, including:

a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member being formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of elements to each other; and
a protruding portion that protrudes toward an inside of the component opening portion and engages the string-like member with the protruding portion, the protruding portion being provided on an inner surface of the component opening portion.

[Appendix 2] The ornament component according to Appendix 1, in which, when the plurality of elements each have an annular shape, the protruding portion is provided on the inner surface of the component opening portion such that the protruding portion extends toward the ornament body under a state in which an ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member being suspended from a neck of a user, and

the protruding portion is located in an opening portion of one of the plurality of elements.

[Appendix 3] The ornament component according to Appendix 1 or 2, in which

a height of the protruding portion is equal to or less than half of an inner diameter of the component opening portion in an extending direction of the protruding portion, and
the protruding portion has a tapered shape.

[Appendix 4] The ornament component according to Appendix 1, in which, when the plurality of elements each have a spherical shape, under a state in which the string-like member is suspended at a position in the component opening portion, the position being on a side opposite to a position of the ornament body,

the protruding portion is provided on the inner surface of the component opening portion such that the protruding portion extends in a direction at an angle of from 1° to 90° with respect to a gravity direction, and
outer surfaces of the plurality of elements and the protruding portion are engaged with each other.

[Appendix 5] The ornament component according to Appendix 4, in which a shortest clearance between a distal end of the protruding portion and the inner surface of the component opening portion is larger than an outer diameter of the string-like member.
[Appendix 6] An ornament component, including:

a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member being formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements to each other; and
a recessed portion that is provided in an inside of the component opening portion and that engages outer surfaces of the plurality of substantially-rectangular elements of the string-like member with the recessed portion.

[Appendix 7] The ornament component according to Appendix 6, in which

the recessed portion includes

- a first wall portion in which a first recessed portion is formed, and
- a second wall portion which extends parallel to the first wall portion and in which a second recessed portion that faces the first recessed portion and that has a shape substantially same as a shape of the first recessed portion is formed, and

the first wall portion and the second wall portion have a space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion.

[Appendix 8] The ornament component according to Appendix 7, in which the first wall portion and the second wall portion are inclined such that a clearance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion decreases toward a lower side under a state in which an ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member being suspended from a neck of a user.
[Appendix 9] The ornament component according to any of Appendices 1 to 8, in which an ornament body is coupled to the component opening portion with a coupling portion, or is formed integrally with the ornament component.
[Appendix 10] An ornament, including the ornament component according to any of Appendices 1 to 9.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to ornament components for ornaments such as jewelry.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 101, 201 pendant
13 clasp
11, 111, 211 chain
15, 115 annular member
21, 121, 221 pendant bail
21 a, 121 a inner peripheral surface
23, 123 protruding portion
215 element
217 a first wall portion
217 b second wall portion
223 recessed portion
223 a first recessed portion
223 b second recessed portion

Claims

1-3. (canceled)

4. An ornament component, comprising:

a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements to each other; and

a recessed portion that is provided in an inside of the component opening portion and that engages outer surfaces of the plurality of substantially-rectangular elements of the string-like member with the recessed portion,

the recessed portion comprising:

a first wall portion in which a first recessed portion is formed, and

a second wall portion which extends parallel to the first wall portion and in which a second recessed portion that faces the first recessed portion and that has a shape substantially similar to a shape of the first recessed portion is formed,

the first wall portion and the second wall portion having a space formed between the first wall portion and the second wall portion,

the first wall portion and the second wall portion inclined such that a clearance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion decreases toward a lower side under a state in which an ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member suspended from a neck of a user,

the string-like member being engaged only at two points of the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.

5. The ornament component according to claim 4, wherein an ornament body is coupled to the component opening portion with a coupling portion, or is an ornament body formed integrally with the ornament component.

6. An ornament, comprising an ornament component including a component opening portion that allows a string-like member to pass through the component opening portion, the string-like member formed into an annular shape by connecting a plurality of substantially-rectangular elements to each other,

the ornament component including a recessed portion that is provided in an inside of the component opening portion and that engages outer surfaces of the plurality of substantially-rectangular elements of the string-like member with the recessed portion,

the recessed portion comprising

a first wall portion in which a first recessed portion is formed, and

the first wall portion and the second wall portion inclined such that a clearance between the first wall portion and the second wall portion decreases toward a lower side under a state in which the ornament using the ornament component is worn with the string-like member suspended from a neck of a user,