GB914208A - Improvements in or relating to necklaces, bracelets and similar articles for personal wear - Google Patents

Abstract

914,208. Magnetic fastenings. COROCRAFT Ltd. May 25, 1961 [April 4, 1960], No. 11840/60. Class 44. A clasp for a necklace, bracelet or similar article for personal wear comprises a pair of clasp elements 12, 14 for attachment one to each end of the article, the clasp elements being held together by the attraction of magnetic means included in the elements and having interfitting portions to prevent relative movement thereof in a plane perpendicular to the direction in which the magnetic attraction acts. As shown the clasp element 12 comprises an ornamental member 16 in the form of a button formed of a plastics material which has a recess 18 in its rear surface which contains a metallic cupshaped insert 20 secured by adhesive. In the insert 20 is a permanent magnet 22 the outer portion of which extends beyond the rear surface of the member 16. The clasp element 14 consists of a housing formed of a magnetically attractable material and housing of a circular wall 28 and an annular lip 30 integrally joined to the wall; the housing is proportioned to fit snugly over the outer edge of the magnet 22 so that it is gripped thereby and the protruding portion of the magnet and the annular lip 30 constitute the interfitting portions to prevent separation except in the one direction. In a modification the magnet is provided with a central circular opening into which a cylindrical post attached to the circular wall of the other clasp element fits. The other details of this modification are as in the first embodiment. In another construction, Fig. 13, one of the clasp elements 92 includes a housing 96 formed with an annular lip 98 as in the first embodiment and positioned centrally within the housing is a permanent magnet 100 which is retained in the housing by means of a convexly shaped retaining disc 104 which engages an annular shoulder on the magnet. The other clasp element 94 comprises an annular ornamental metal supporting ring 108 having a plurality of spaced fingers 110 which grip an ornamental member 112; a plate 114 having a concave surface and an annular lip 116 is secured to the ring 108 on the rear side thereof and its diameter is slightly less than the diameter of the housing 96 of the other clasp elements so that when the elements are in magnetic engagement the annular lip 98 encloses the annular lip 116. The plate 114 is formed of a magnetically attractable material. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, each clasp element may have a permanent magnet. Each clasp element has one or more loops for attachment of the necklace &c. and one has a finger grip to assist in disengagement of the elements.