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  Resealable charm locketUSPTO Application #: 20070234757Title: Resealable charm locket Abstract: A resealable locket comprising a first cover and a second cover. The first cover defines a see-through opening. The second cover is movably connected to the first cover. The first and second covers define a chamber when the first cover is closed on the second cover. A fixing member is disposed on the first and second covers. The fixing member is operable to enable a user to selectively open and close the locket without the use of a tool so that the user may selectively place and remove a charm from the chamber. (end of abstract)
Agent: Ostrolenk Faber Gerb & Soffen - New York, NY, US Inventor: Fred Sherman USPTO Applicaton #: 20070234757 - Class: 063018000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Jewelry, Locket The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070234757. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a charm locket and, more particularly, to a charm locket which may be selectively opened and closed by a customer without requiring excessive effort or the use of tools. [0002] Charm lockets are known in the art and may be used to contain therein various different types of items. For example, some lockets may include a picture of a loved one or a time piece. Such lockets typically have a front and rear cover hingedly connected to one another so that the item may be placed in one of the front or rear cover and the covers may be rotated so as to enclose the item therein. However, a customer cannot view the contents of these prior art lockets without opening one of the covers. [0003] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown another example of a prior art locket 20. Locket 20 includes a top portion 22 and a bottom portion 24 fixedly connected together by a fixation means (not explicitly shown). Top portion 22 includes a transparent opening portion 26. Similarly, bottom portion 24 includes a transparent opening portion 28. In locket 20, top portion 22 and bottom portion 24 are fixedly connected to one another with a fixation means such as screws or bolts. As a consequence, if a customer desired to add to or subtract from the contents internal to locket 20, such customer would need to use excessive force or tools to open up locket 20. [0004] Therefore, there is a need in the art for a locket which can display its contents without being opened, and which may be easily opened by a customer so that the customer may selectively add to and/or subtract from the contents stored within the locket. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] One embodiment of the invention is a locket comprising a first cover, the first cover defining a see-through opening. The locket further comprises a second cover movably connected to the first cover. The first and second covers define a chamber when the first cover is closed on the second cover. A fixing member is disposed on the first and second covers, the fixing member operable to enable a user to selectively open and close the locket without the use of a tool so that the user may selectively place and remove a charm from the chamber. [0006] Another embodiment of the invention is a method for designing a locket, the locket including a first cover, a second cover, and a chamber defined by the first and second cover when the first cover is closed on the second cover. The method comprises rotating the first cover with respect to the second cover, placing at least one charm in the chamber, and locking the first cover to the second cover. The method further comprises opening the first cover from the second cover without the use of a tool, removing the least one charm from the chamber, placing a second charm in the chamber, and locking the first cover to the second cover. [0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is plan view of a locket in accordance with the prior art. [0009] FIG. 2 is plan view of an open locket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0010] FIG. 3 is plan view of an open locket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0011] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a closed locket with a divider in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. [0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the locket shown in FIG. 4. [0013] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a locket in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0014] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown in locket 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Locket 30 may be made of gold, silver and the like and includes a first cover 32 hingedly connected to a second cover 34 through a hinge 36. As shown, second cover 34 includes walls 40 defining a channel 42 therein. Second cover 34 further includes magnets 46 spaced apart within channel 42. A chain 48 may optionally be connected to locket 30 so that locket 30 may be worn on a user's neck. An optional bump 38 may be disposed on first cover 32 and is discussed below. Referring also to FIG. 3, first cover 32 also includes magnets 44. Magnets 44 may be countersunk within first cover 32 so that first cover 32 has a generally flat cross-section. Of course, both first cover 32 and second cover 34 may be designed to have either a flat cross-section (as is shown for first cover 32) or with walls defining a channel (as shown in second cover 34). [0015] As shown, first cover 32 is generally cylindrical defining a void therein. The void may be covered by a transparent member 50 such as glass, defining a window. Similarly, second cover 34 is generally cylindrical and defines a void therein. The void in second cover 34 may also be covered with a transparent member 52 such as glass. Clearly, members 50 and 52 need not be made of glass and could be made of any see-through material such as plastic or a translucent material. In operation, a user may deposit charms on top of either transparent member 50 or transparent member 52. Thereafter, the user may rotate either one of first cover 32 or second cover 34 toward the other cover, with the cover or covers moving in parallel planes about the hinge 36 which extends perpendicularly to the planes of the covers. When first cover 32 and second cover 34 are close to being coextensive with one another, magnets 44 and magnets 46, due to their oriented polarities, will attract one another and fixedly close and engage first cover 32 with second cover 34 as is shown in FIG. 4. As a consequence, charms 54 disposed within locket 30 are now maintained therein. Charms 54 could be, for example, letters, birthstones (either monochrome or in color), loose stones, gold dust, angel dust, keys, figures, hearts, crosses, stars, etc. When closed, a width of the combination of first cover 32 and second cover 34 may be, for example, 5.75 millimeters. Clearly, any desirable width may be used. A cross-sectional view of the closed lock in FIG. 4, taken along the lines 5-5, is shown in FIG. 5. [0016] An optional divider 56 may be disposed internal to locket 30. Divider 56, as shown, divides the space internal to locket 30 into three chambers 56a, 56b and 56c. Clearly, divider 56 may divide the space internal to locket 30 into any number of chambers and three is simply shown as an example. Divider 56 ensures that charms 54 are maintained in generally a fixed position within locket 30. As could be understood, without divider 56, charms 54 may move about the internal chamber of locket 30. Divider 56 may be designed so as to have a width which is substantially the same as the width of the chamber within locket 30. Alternatively, divider 56 may have a width which is less than a width of the chamber in locket 30 so that charms 54 are generally maintained within a fixed area within locket 30 but can occasionally move from one chamber to another chamber. [0017] When desired, a customer may open locket 30 by rotating first cover 32 with respect to second cover 34 about hinge 36 to thereby gain access to the chamber defined therein. Such rotation may be facilitated by, for example, engaging bump 38 shown on first cover 32 in FIG. 2. [0018] Channel 42 may optionally be covered with a gasket 43. Furthermore, as discussed above, first cover 32 may also include a channel and corresponding gasket. By providing such gaskets, the internal chamber of locket 30 may be substantially water-resistant when first cover 32 is closed on second cover 34. [0019] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown another locket 30a in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Locket 30a may include first cover 32, as discussed above, hingedly connected by hinge 36 to a second cover 60. Unlike second cover 34, second cover 60 is generally solid and has an opaque middle section 62. Middle section 62 of second cover 60 may be, for example, made of a reflective material and may form a mirror. [0020] Locket 30 or 30a may be sold to a customer in a kit. For example, locket 30, 30a may include first cover 32 and second cover 34 or 60, a selection of charms 54, a divider 56 and small bottles of colored water--for example, pink, blue, purple, colored water, etc. In this way, a customer may design his or her own jewelry arrangement for locket 30. Furthermore, with the provision of gaskets 43, the customer may also add colored water to the chambers defined by locket 30, 30a. Continue reading... Full patent description for Resealable charm locket Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Resealable charm locket patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Resealable charm locket or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Personalized jewelry item including information pertaining to birth Next Patent Application: Creating illusion of large gemstones Industry Class: Jewelry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Resealable charm locket patent info. 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