Customisable Jewellery Articles

Abstract

An ornamental component for a bracelet and/or necklace includes a housing with a channel passing therethrough for supporting an elongate member. A single slot is within the housing for the elongate member to gain access to and from the channel. The slot may be substantially parallel to the axis of the channel and pass through a wall of the housing to the channel. The channel and the slot provide a cut-out that creates a substantially C-shaped housing. The slot is configured to resist but allow the passing of the elongate member into the channel.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ornamental component for a bracelet and/or necklace that comprises an elongate member, said ornamental component comprising:
 a housing;   a channel passing through the housing for supporting the elongate member, the channel having an axis; and   a single slot within the housing for the elongate member to gain access to and from the channel, the slot being configured to be substantially parallel to the axis of the channel and passing right through a wall of the housing to the channel;   wherein the channel and the slot provide a cut-out that creates a substantially C-shaped housing, wherein the slot is configured to resist but allow the passing of the elongate member into the channel.   
     
     
         2 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes a resilient lining. 
     
     
         3 . An ornamental component according to  claim 2 , wherein the resilient lining includes at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one protrusion prevents movement of the elongate member passing through the channel. 
     
     
         4 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the slot includes a resilient lining. 
     
     
         5 . An ornamental component according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient lining includes at least one protrusion, wherein the at least one protrusion prevents movement of the elongate member passing through the channel. 
     
     
         6 . An ornamental component according to  claim 5 , wherein the protrusion comprises a ridge formation. 
     
     
         7 . An ornamental component according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient lining comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         8 . An ornamental component according to  claim 4 , wherein the resilient lining includes at least one housing engaging projection on an exterior surface, and the housing incorporates at least one corresponding recess within which the housing engaging projection can be secured. 
     
     
         9 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one recess within an exterior surface thereof, the at least one recess being configured to support an ornamental element. 
     
     
         10 . An ornamental component according to  claim 9 , wherein the ornamental element comprises one or more materials selected from the group precious stone, marble, precious metal, and granite. 
     
     
         11 . An ornamental component according to  claim 11 , further comprising a pair of collars, wherein each collar is configured to be mounted to an exterior surface of the housing at either end of the channel. 
     
     
         12 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the pair of collars are configured to interconnect with one another within the channel. 
     
     
         13 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a material selected from the group metal, polymer, and elastomer. 
     
     
         14 . An ornamental component according to  claim 1  on a bracelet and/or necklace. 
     
     
         15 . An article of jewelry that comprises an elongate member having first and second opposable ends to be releasably joined together, the article of jewelry incorporating at least one ornamental component according to  claim 1  and further incorporating a clasp, the clasp comprising:
 a female end component for securing to a first end of the elongate member, the female end component incorporating a single first push-button fastening means; and 
 a male end component for securing to a second end of the elongate member and configured to be releasably secured within the female end component, the male end component incorporating a single second push-button fastening means that is configured to be operated by an engaging portion of the first push-button fastening means, 
 wherein:
 the first push-button fastening means and second push-button fastening means form a single push-button fastening means within the clasp in such a way that the engaging portion of the first push-button fastening means is movable between a locked position in which disengagement of said male end component from said female end component is prevented and an unlocked position in which disengagement of said male end component from said female end component is allowed; and 
 depressing the single push-button fastening means detaches the male end component from the female end component.