An ornamental component for a bracelet and/or necklace

Abstract

An ornamental component ( 300 ) for a bracelet and/or necklace, comprising a housing with a cavity defining projecting rims of end walls of the housing and a ring manufactured from a resilient friction material, wherein the ring comprises at least two cut-outs in the inside surface ( 303 ) of the ring, said cut-outs defining associated at least two inwardly projecting projections of the ring for frictionally gripping a surface of the elongated member so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along an elongated member, an entirety of the cut-outs being free of material.

1 . An ornamental component for a bracelet and/or necklace, said ornamental component having a stringing hole defining a stringing hole axis extending in an axial direction, with a radial direction extending radially from the axial direction and a circumferential direction extending about the axial direction, said stringing hole allowing said ornamental component to be strung on an elongated member of a bracelet and/or necklace along said stringing hole axis; said ornamental component comprising:
 a housing having an ornamental outer surface, a first end wall, and a second, opposite end wall, said end walls extending in said radial direction, said housing further having a first opening in the first end wall, a second opening in the second end wall and an interior cavity, said interior cavity being positioned between said first and second openings, said first and second openings being connected to said interior cavity and forming part of the stringing hole, where a dimension of the cavity in said radial direction is larger than corresponding dimensions of the first and second openings, the housing thereby comprising a radially inwards extending first projecting rim of the first end wall and a radially inwards extending second projecting rim of the second end wall, each said rim forming an inner portion of the respective end wall, which inner portion surrounds a respective said opening; and   a ring manufactured from a resilient friction material and having an inner circumference defining a through hole and an opposite, outer circumference, the ring being positioned in said interior cavity of the housing to be encased by the housing, the through hole of the ring forming part of the stringing hole and having a smaller dimension in said radial direction than the first and second openings of the end walls, said ring extending in said axial direction between the first and second rims, said outer circumference of the ring being larger than the first and second openings so that the rims fix the ring in the axial direction,   wherein the ring comprises at least two cut-outs in its said inner circumference, each cut-out extending from the inner circumference of the ring towards the outer circumference of the ring, said cut-outs thus providing at least two inwardly projecting projections of the ring, each projection projecting inwards from a mutual circumference defined by bottom surfaces of the cut-outs to said inner circumference of the ring, said projections being adapted to frictionally grip a surface of the elongated member so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member, said cut-outs being fully open to allow the projections to freely resiliently expand in the circumferential direction in an entire radial depth of the cut-outs.   
     
     
         2 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein said first opening is provided as a central opening of the first end wall, and the second opening is provided as a central opening of the second end wall. 
     
     
         3 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring comprises a third cut-out in the inner circumference of the ring, each of the first to third cut-outs extending towards the outer circumference of the ring, said first to third cut-outs providing at least three inwardly projecting projections of the ring for frictionally gripping a surface of the elongated member so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member, said first to third cut-outs being fully open to allow the projections to freely resiliently expand in the circumferential direction in an entire radial depth of the cut-out. 
     
     
         4 . An ornamental component according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said three cut-outs extend over an angle of approximately 70° to 90° of the inner circumference of the ring. 
     
     
         5 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein each projection comprises a first and a second cut-out side surface defined by the adjacent cut-outs, the side surfaces being substantially straight and extending substantially in the radial direction from the through hole. 
     
     
         6 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein each projection in a cross section parallel to the axial direction has a convex shape. 
     
     
         7 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein each cut-out has a depth dimension in the radial direction that is 1/10 to ¼ of a total extent of the ring in the radial direction. 
     
     
         8 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the first rim and/or second rim extend(s) circumferentially around the first opening and/or second opening, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a first lateral surface and a second, opposite lateral surface, the first rim abutting the first lateral surface and the second rim abutting the second lateral surface, wherein the first rim and/or second rim at least partly are substantially leveled with a bottom of the radial depth of the cut-outs in the radial direction. 
     
     
         10 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the ring has a width in the axial direction of approximately 1 to 5 mm. preferably 1.5 to 4 mm, more preferred 2 to 3 mm. 
     
     
         11 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the first rim and/or second rim has a width in the axial direction of approximately 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm, more preferred 0.6 to 1 mm. 
     
     
         12 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein the cavity substantially has a cylinder shape, an inner circumference of the cavity forming a cylinder shell extending substantially in the axial direction and abutting an outer circumference of the ring. 
     
     
         13 . An ornamental component according to any one of  claim 1 , wherein each projection comprises a first and a second cut-out side surface defined by the respective adjacent cut-out, said side surfaces being rounded. 
     
     
         14 . An ornamental component according to  claim 13 , wherein each projection extends in an arc shape from a bottom surface circumference of the cut-outs. 
     
     
         15 . An ornamental component according to  claim 13 , wherein the projections have a semi-spherical shape with a semi-circular shape in cross sections parallel to and perpendicular to the axial direction of the ring. 
     
     
         16 . A bracelet or a necklace comprising:
 an elongated member; and   an ornamental component and a number of freely movable beads strung on said elongated member;   wherein the ornamental component is configured so that the projections resiliently grip the surface of the elongated member to adjustably fix the ornamental component along the elongated member.   
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing an ornamental component, comprising:
 providing the housing;   providing the ring;   resiliently compressing said ring in the radial direction; and   inserting said ring in said cavity through the first or second opening; and   allowing the ring to resiliently expand inside said cavity so that said ring extends between the first and second rims so that the through hole forms part of the stringing hole.   
     
     
         18 . A set of parts for assembly of an ornamental component, comprising:
 a housing having an ornamental outer surface, a first end wall, and a second, opposite end wall, said end walls extending in said radial direction, said housing further having a first opening in the first end wall, a second opening in the second end wall and an interior cavity, said interior cavity being positioned between said first and second openings, said first and second openings being connected to said interior cavity, where a dimension of the cavity in said radial direction is larger than corresponding dimensions of the first and second openings, the housing thereby comprising a radially inwards extending first projecting rim of the first end wall and a radially extending second projecting rim of the second end wall, each said rim forming an inner portion of the respective end wall, which inner portion surrounds a respective said opening; and   a ring manufactured from a resilient friction material and having an inner circumference defining a through hole and an opposite outer circumference, the ring having a smaller dimension in said radial direction than the first and second openings of the housing, said outer circumference of the ring being larger than the first and second openings of the housing, the ring being resiliently compressible in said radial direction so as to be adapted for being inserted in a resiliently compressed state through the first or second opening and then expand to assume a fixed position in said interior cavity so that the through hole forms part of the stringing hole and so that said ring extends between the first and second rims,   wherein the ring comprises at least two cut-outs in its said inner circumference, each cut-out extending from the inner circumference of the ring towards the outer circumference of the ring, each projection projecting inwards from a mutual circumference defined by bottom surfaces of the cut-outs to said inner circumference of the ring, said cut-outs thus providing at least two inwardly projecting projections of the ring, each projection projecting inwards from a mutual circumference defined by bottom surfaces of the cut-outs to said inner circumference of the ring, said projections being adapted to frictionally grip a surface of the elongated member so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member.   
     
     
         19 . An ornamental component for a bracelet and/or necklace, comprising a housing with an ornamental surface and an interior cavity, wherein rims of end walls of the housing surround openings in the end walls, and a ring manufactured from a resilient friction material is positioned in said cavity between said rims, wherein the ring comprises at least two cut-outs in an inside circumference of the ring, said cut-outs thus providing at least two inwardly projecting projections of the ring for frictionally gripping a surface of an elongated member of the bracelet and/or necklace so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member, an entirety of the cut-outs being free of material. 
     
     
         20 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein said first opening is provided as a central opening of the first end wall, and the second opening is provided as a central opening of the second end wall. 
     
     
         21 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein the ring comprises a third cut-out in the inner circumference of the ring, each of the first to third cut-outs extending towards an outer circumference of the ring, said first to third cut-outs providing at least three inwardly projecting projections of the ring for frictionally gripping a surface of the elongated member so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member, said cut-outs being fully open to allow the projections to freely resiliently expand in the circumferential direction in an entire radial depth of the cut-out. 
     
     
         22 . An ornamental component according to  claim 21 , wherein each of said three cut-outs extend over an angle of approximately 70° to 90° of the inner circumference of the ring. 
     
     
         23 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein each projection comprises a first and a second cut-out side surface defined by the adjacent cut-outs, the side surfaces being substantially straight and extending substantially in the radial direction from the through hole. 
     
     
         24 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein each projection in a cross section parallel to an axial direction of the ring has a convex shape. 
     
     
         25 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein each cut-out has a depth dimension in a radial direction of the ring that is 1/10 to ¼ of a total extent of the ring in the radial direction. 
     
     
         26 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19  wherein each rim extends circumferentially around a respective said opening. 
     
     
         27 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19  wherein the ring has a first lateral surface and a second, opposite lateral surface, a first of said rims abutting the first lateral surface and a second of said rims abutting the second lateral surface, wherein the first rim and/or second rim at least partly are substantially leveled with a bottom of the radial depth of the cut-outs in a radial direction of the ring. 
     
     
         28 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein the ring has a width in the axial direction of approximately 1 to 5 mm. preferably 1.5 to 4 mm, more preferred 2 to 3 mm. 
     
     
         29 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein one or both said rims has/have a width in the axial direction of approximately 0.3 mm to 3 mm, preferably 0.5 mm to 2 mm, more preferred 0.6 to 1 mm. 
     
     
         30 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein the cavity substantially has a cylinder shape, an inner circumference of the cavity forming a cylinder shell extending substantially in an axial direction of the ring and abutting an outer circumference of the ring. 
     
     
         31 . An ornamental component according to  claim 19 , wherein each projection comprises a first and a second cut-out side surface defined by the respective adjacent cut-out, said side surfaces being rounded. 
     
     
         32 . An ornamental component according to  claim 31 , wherein each projection extends in an arc shape from bottom surfaces of the cut-outs. 
     
     
         33 . An ornamental component according to  claim 31 , wherein the projections have a semi-spherical shape with a semi-circular shape in cross sections parallel to and perpendicular to an axial direction of the ring. 
     
     
         34 . A bracelet or a necklace comprising:
 an elongated member; and   an ornamental component and a number of freely movable beads strung on said elongated member;   wherein the ornamental component is configured so that the projections resiliently grip the surface of the elongated member to adjustably fix the ornamental component along the elongated member.   
     
     
         35 . A method for manufacturing an ornamental component, comprising:
 providing the housing;   providing the ring;   resiliently compressing said ring in a radial direction; and   inserting said ring in said cavity through one of the openings; and   allowing the ring to resiliently expand inside said cavity so that said ring extends between the rims so that the through hole forms part of a stringing hole.   
     
     
         36 . A set of parts for assembly of an ornamental component, comprising:
 a housing with an ornamental surface and an interior cavity, wherein rims of end walls of the housing surround openings in the end walls, and   a ring manufactured from a resilient friction material for being positioned in said cavity between said rims,   wherein the ring comprises at least two cut-outs in an inside circumference of the ring, said cut-outs thus providing at least two inwardly projecting projections of the ring for frictionally gripping a surface of an elongated member of the bracelet and/or necklace so as to adjustably fix the ornamental component at selected positions along the elongated member, an entirety of the cut-outs being free of material.