Apparatus for adjustable bead retention on bracelets and necklaces

Abstract

A modifiable jewelry piece including a strand and one or more adjustable retainers. The adjustable retainers include an interior structure configured to establish a frictional engagement with the outer surface of the strand. The jewelry piece wearer may select the location of the placement of the adjustable retainer anywhere along the length of the strand. The interior structure may be a solid or semi-solid having high surface tension or rough surface profile. The interior structure may alternatively be a mechanical capturing device. The jewelry piece also includes one or two end connectors having a slot and flange arrangement for easy passage of beads thereover only when desired. The flange and slot are arranged for alignment with threaded and flanged beads.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A modifiable jewelry piece comprising:
 a. a strand having an outer surface and a length;   b. one or more beads placeable around the strand, wherein the one or more beads may be positioned at selectable positions along the length of the strand and wherein the one or more beads are not affixed to the strand; and   c. one or more adjustable retainers, each having interior dimensions, wherein each of the one or more adjustable retainers may be removably applied around the strand at any position along the length of the strand to restrict movement of the one or more beads along the strand, wherein each of the one or more adjustable retainers includes an interior structure configured to establish direct frictional engagement with the outer surface of the strand without a fixed component between the strand and the interior structure of the retainer sufficient to require substantial force to dislodge the adjustable retainer from its position on the strand, wherein the interior structure covers substantially all of the inside dimensions of the adjustable retainer such that substantially all of the interior structure is in contact with the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand, and wherein the interior structure is arranged to substantially restrict movement of the retainer along the strand and rotational movement of the retainer around the strand when the retainer is positioned on the strand.   
     
     
         16 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the interior structure of the adjustable retainer is a solid or semi-solid material having high surface tension characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the solid or semi-solid material is a viscoelastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the interior structure of the adjustable retainer is a mechanical capturing device. 
     
     
         19 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the adjustable retainer is a unitary structure. 
     
     
         20 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the adjustable retainer is a two-piece hinged structure. 
     
     
         21 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the one or more of the one or more beads includes an internal flange. 
     
     
         22 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising an end connector including a bead blocker. 
     
     
         23 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the bead blocker includes a flange and a slot. 
     
     
         24 . The modifiable jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 23  wherein one or more of the one or more beads is internally threaded and the slot of the bead blocker aligns with the internal threading of the bead. 
     
     
         25 . A jewelry piece comprising:
 a. a strand having an outer surface arranged for retaining thereon one or more beads;   b. one or more beads placeable around the strand; and   c. an end connector affixed to the strand, wherein the end connector includes a bead blocker having a flange, wherein one or more of the one or more beads is internally threaded and the flange of the bead blocker of the end connector is configured to align with the internal threading of the one or more beads.   
     
     
         26 . The jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 25  wherein the end connector includes a perimeter and the flange of the bead blocker does not extend entirely around the perimeter of the end connector. 
     
     
         27 . A jewelry piece comprising:
 a. a strand having an outer surface arranged for retaining thereon one or more beads;   b. one or more beads placeable around the strand; and   c. an end connector affixed to the strand, wherein the end connector includes a bead blocker having a flange, wherein one or more of the one or more beads is internally slotted and the flange of the bead blocker of the end connector is configured to align with an internal slot of the one or more beads.   
     
     
         28 . The jewelry piece as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the end connector includes a perimeter and the flange of the bead blocker does not extend entirely around the perimeter of the end connector.