Miniaturized couplings for jewelry components

Abstract

A miniaturized coupling for jewelry includes a male coupling and a female coupling, each of which is millimeter-sized or sub-millimeter-sized and each of which is attached to or suited to be attached to a respective jewelry component. The male coupling has a locking member configured to be inserted into the female coupling through an opening into an interior of the female coupling. A resiliently-biased, snap connector located in the interior of the female coupling, so constructed that when the locking member is inserted into the female coupling it initially moves and then is retained by the snap connector. An actuating pin in the female coupling is configured to move the snap connector to release the locking member and thereby disengage the male and female couplings from each other. The actuating pin has an outer surface accessible at an outer surface of the female coupling.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A miniaturized coupling for jewelry, comprising:
 a male coupling and a female coupling, each of which is millimeter-sized or sub-millimeter-sized and each of which is attached to or suited to be attached to a respective jewelry component, the male coupling having a locking member configured to be inserted into the female coupling through an opening into an interior of the female coupling;   a connector located in the interior of the female coupling, so constructed that when the locking member is inserted into the female coupling the connector initially moves and then is retained by the connector; and   a release pin in the female coupling that is configured to move the connector to release the locking member and thereby disengage the male and female couplings from each other, the release pin having an outer surface accessible at an outer, flat surface of the female coupling, said outer surface of said actuating pin being configured to be actuated to move the connector;   wherein the outer surface of the actuating pin is aligned with the outer, flat surface of the female coupling and wherein actuation of the actuation pin requires displacing of the outer surface of the actuating pin below the outer, flat surface of the female coupling being pen-tip sized and wherein the actuating pin is dimensionally configured to be normally operable to be pushed below the outer flat surface by a releasing tool having a pen-tip sized needle end.   
     
     
         2 . A jewelry assemblage, comprising:
 a plurality of discrete jewelry components and a plurality of couplers enabling releasable interconnection of said jewelry components to each other in desired combinations and arrangements; said plurality of couplers comprising:   male couplings and female couplings, each of the female couplings has a cross-sectional shape measuring less than 6 millimeters;   the male couplings are configured to be inserted into an opening in the female couplings to effect a connection thereto, the connection beginning as the male coupling engages a snap connector located in an interior of the female coupling, so constructed that the snap connector moves to accommodate the male coupling, and upon being fully inserted, the snap connector resumes an original position locking within a gap formed in the male coupling and creating a secured, mechanically interlocked connection;   and a release pin inside the female coupling that extends to a point on an exterior of said female coupling, that can be manipulated via an external force applied to the release pin by a release tool to release the connection; and wherein   said plurality of couplers include a variety of outer body shapes so as to cause the couplers to appear as part of and blend into the overall appearance of the jewelry assemblage.   
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein said male couplings are physically and integrally connected to the jewelry components and the female couplings are configured to receive multiple male couplings therein, to effect desired and releasable connections of the jewelry components to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein said female couplings are physically and integrally connected to the jewelry components and the male couplings are configured to be inserted into the female couplings, to effect desired and releasable connections of the jewelry components to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein attachment and release of the male couplings to the female couplings is repeatable. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein one or both of the female and male couplings comprise body surface decorations and an overall shape that promotes the look and appearance of the coupling to blend into a corresponding look and appearance of the jewelry component. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein upon mating of the male and female couplings the locking member is rendered virtually invisible. 
     
     
         8 . The connector of  claim 2 , including a spring that is engaged with the male coupling, to push it out of the female coupling upon actuation of the release pin. 
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the body surface decorations comprises one or more of precious stones, aesthetic surface shapes formed by engraving or embossing the body surface, and coloration of the body surface. 
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 6 , wherein the female coupling measures less than six mm in width, length and height dimensions. 
     
     
         11 . A miniaturized coupling for jewelry, comprising:
 a male coupling and a female coupling, each of which is millimeter-sized or sub-millimeter-sized and each of which is attached to or suited to be attached to a respective jewelry component, the male coupling having a locking member configured to be inserted into the female coupling through an opening into an interior of the female coupling;   a connector located in the interior of the female coupling, so constructed that when the locking member is inserted into the female coupling the connector initially moves and then is retained by the connector, the connector includes two spaced camming surfaces that face toward and are located to be engaged by the locking member and are so configured that when the male coupling is being inserted into the female coupling, the male coupling engages and slides on the camming surfaces and thereby displaces the connector to enable insertion of the male coupling; and   a release pin in the female coupling that is configured to move the connector to release the locking member and thereby disengage the male and female couplings from each other.   
     
     
         12 . A miniaturized coupling for jewelry, comprising:
 a male coupling and a female coupling, each of which is millimeter-sized or sub-millimeter-sized and each of which is attached to or suited to be attached to a respective jewelry component, the male coupling having a locking member configured to be inserted into the female coupling through an opening into an interior of the female coupling;   a connector located in the interior of the female coupling, so constructed that when the locking member is inserted into the female coupling the connector initially moves and then is retained by the connector;   a release pin in the female coupling that is configured to move the connector to release the locking member and thereby disengage the male and female couplings from each other; and wherein   the female coupling is configured to engage perpendicularly with the male coupling, the female connector having a body with a thinner section over a portion thereof to allow an actuating end of the male coupling to engage therewith and to displace the female coupling in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the male coupling and the female coupling having a thicker section that is configured to slide into a space in the male coupling once the male coupling has moved a predetermined distance into the female coupling to effect a releasable connection between the female and male couplings.