Body piercing chain and method of retaining the same

Abstract

A body piercing jewelry chain for ornamenting the human body, including a length of jewelry chain, a post fastened to one end of the chain, a a tip fastened to another end of the chain, and at least one resilient O-ring fitted over the chain to secure the chain to the wearer's body when the chain is inserted through a body piercing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to ornamental jewelry and, more particularly, to jewelry for pierced body parts, and still more particularly to a body piercing jewelry chain and a method of retaining the same when used as ornamentation on the body by insertion of the chain through a body piercing.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Body piercing predates history, and with the long passage of time, numerous systems of fastening ornamental jewelry to the body have been devised. The earring is by far the most conventional of the known devices for attaching ornamental jewelry to pierced body parts, though the recent trends in creative and occasionally provocative body piercing has given rise to a number of new systems for attaching jewelry to pierced body parts.

Earrings are typically fastened through the use of conventional posts that are inserted through the piercing from the front to the back of the earlobe and then are secured by a back piece. This fastening system requires that the back piece include a hole sized to provide a friction fit or a screw fit between the back piece and the post. The post may be configured to assist in securing the back piece, for example, by including notches adjacent its distal end.

The prior art is replete with variations on the above-described fastening system, including, among others: Ford (U.S. Pat. No. 3,789,850), Johnson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,492), Tucker (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,242,886 and 5,546,094), Fountoulakis (U.S. Pat. No. 4,501,050), Sardelli (U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,417), Burkett (U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,453), DiDomenico (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,829,788 and 5,154,068), Seidman (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,901,409 and 4,928,367), Grier et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,771,613), Luceno (U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,365), Skalet (U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,433), Koland (U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,829), Greenwald (U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,094), Tobita (U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,239), Hanson (U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,943), and Biagi (U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,392).

Earring chains and other body piercing chains are now known, having been introduced and widely marketed in recent years. However, when employed to ornament a body piercing, the chains are either not secured in the piercing hole or require a clamp or screw backing to prevent the chain from slipping out from the piercing. Furthermore, ornamental beads and charms attached to the chain are generally unsecured and gather or bunch at one end of the chain or in the trough of a loop portion, so that the charms are not displayed and cannot be visualized independently.

The foregoing patents reflect the current state of the art of which the present inventor is aware. Reference to, and discussion of, these patents is intended to aid in discharging Applicant's acknowledged duty of candor in disclosing information that may be relevant to the examination of claims to the present invention. However, it is respectfully submitted that none of the above-indicated patents disclose, teach, suggest, show, or otherwise render obvious, either singly or when considered in combination, the invention described and claimed herein. Of the many fastening systems taught or disclosed in the prior art, none include a system for fastening ornamental chain through one or more body piercing; nor does the prior art include a system that does not require any detachable member that must be somehow affixed to the ornamental portion in order to secure the jewelry to the wearer. Most importantly, none of the prior art references discloses, teaches, or suggests the use of a flexible O-ring for securing an ornamental chain in a body piercing. The O-ring can be an independent and discrete means of securing the chain, or it can be incorporated into decorative charms and beads to perform a dual role.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inventive improved body piercing jewelry chain and method of securing the same to a pierced body part.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus that may be decoratively configured or draped through a plurality of body piercing.

It is a further object still to provide such an apparatus that does not require a fixed backing to secure the jewelry to the body.

It is another object to provide such an apparatus that permits the wearer to change ornamental jewelry secured to the inventive chain with the chain remains in place through one or more body piercings.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved earring chain that permits the wearer to vary the position of ornamental charms and/or beads relative to one another on the chain.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a means of securing an earring chain that can be incorporated into ornamental beads and charms.

These and other objects are attained with the body piercing jewelry chain of the present invention.

Other novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. The various features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of this disclosure. The invention does not reside in any one of these features taken alone, but rather in the particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified.

There has thus been broadly outlined the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form additional subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based readily may be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of this application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the body piercing ornamental chain member of the present invention, shown with a bead secured by the tip of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, showing without an ornamental bead;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown inserted through a piercing on an earlobe and draped in a drop configuration;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown inserted through a piercing on an earlobe and secured in a hoop configuration;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown inserted through a piercing on an earlobe and secured in a weave pattern;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the three of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown inserted through multiple piercings on an earlobe and each secured in a drop configuration;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view in elevation showing the ornamental earring chain of the foregoing figures as worn on an ear piercing, and further showing installation of the O-ring to secure the earring chain;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view in elevation showing detail of an earring chain secured in an ear piercing by an O-ring;

FIG. 9 is a schematic side view in elevation showing an O-ring incorporated into a ornamental charm and employed to secure the charm along the length of an earring chain;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view in elevation showing the prior art means of displaying charms on an earring chain; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view in elevation showing use of the O-ring element of the present invention employed to separate a plurality of charms on an earring chain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components in the various views, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the ornamental chain element of the inventive apparatus, showing an earring chain with a bead secured by the tip of the apparatus, while FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown without an ornamental bead. FIGS. 3-6 are schematic views of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, shown in various configurations when inserted through a piercing or multiple piercings on an earlobe or ear For instance, FIG. 4 shows the chain element of the inventive apparatus inserted through a piercing on an earlobe and secured in a hoop configuration. FIG. 5 shows the chain inserted through a piercing on an earlobe and secured in a weave pattern. Finally, FIG. 6 is a schematic view of three earstrings, one each inserted through side-by-side piercings on an ear and draped in a drop configuration (back portion of chain not shown to aid clarity).

The foregoing views show use of the chain element of the present invention without any means of securing the chain other than the loops and length of chain themselves.

The chain element 10 of the present invention comprises a length of lightweight jewelry chain 12 interposed between a post 14 integrally connected at one end of the chain, and a tip 16 integrally fastened at the other end of the chain. When pulled into its longest possible configuration [FIGS. 1-2], the post, chain, and tip align to form a substantially straight line.

Tip 16 may comprise an integral expansion of chain 12, or it may comprise a discrete structure attached to chain 12 and having an expansion, such as a crystal tip. The tip can be employed to secure optional ornaments 18, such as beads, precious stones or other gems, charms, and so forth. Ornaments adapted for such use include a hole 20 through which post 14 is inserted.

As an alternative, tip 16 may comprise a second post with fastening means for coupling with a tip plate, such as a small crystal. The fastening means may including, without limitation, mating threaded members or friction fit members.

As will be readily appreciated by reference to the drawings, the body piercing jewelry chain element of the present invention is effectively strung through body piercings and potentially between multiple body piercings. Due to the nature of its intended use, the present invention bears the proprietary name and registered trademark EARSTRING®. However, post 14 is equally well adapted for insertion through an earlobe piercing, a nose piercing, a lip piercing, a bellybutton piercing, a nipple piercing, an eyebrow piercing, and so forth. Accordingly, the entire chain is adapted for use anywhere a user would choose to pierce his or her body. When so threaded, the chain 12, either singly or with companion chains, may be simply draped into a drop configuration 50, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, or it may be woven or mutiply looped 60 [FIG. 4], or woven 70 [FIG. 5], or otherwise configured in countless decorative and ornamental patterns. It is not inconceivable that a wearer would string a long embodiment of the chain through piercings on different parts of the body, an ear and a nose, for instance. The limitations in decorative styling of the inventive apparatus remain to be shown by users to come.

The chain element is thus employed in an inventive fashion to ornament the body. Until quite recently, no known system existed for stringing ornamental chain through a plurality of body piercing utilizing nothing other than a jewelry chain, a post, and a tip. The method of using the chain comprises the steps of providing a chain as described above, inserting the post through at least one body piercing, and pulling the chain through the piercing a sufficient length to maintain its position within the piercing, either through a balancing of the suspended lengths of chain, or through a friction fit. If multiple piercings are connected, the method includes the further step of inserting the post through a second, third, fourth, and so on, piercing, and creating a decorative pattern of chain extending between the piercings.

However, regardless of how the chain element is employed, it is vulnerable to easy removal from the body piercing. Therefore, it is desirable to have retention means to secure the chain in the piercing hole. The O-ring element of the present invention meets this need.

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view in elevation showing the ornamental earring chain 12 of the foregoing figures as worn on an ear piercing (viewed from the back of the earlobe 34), and further showing installation of an O-ring 30 over the post 14 to secure the earring chain. The O-ring comprises a small translucent silicone ring that does not interfere with the visual display of decorative elements, and it may be slid along the chain until it is snugly positioned proximate the piercing hole 32, for instance in an ear lobe 34. FIG. 8 shows detail of an earring chain secured in an ear piercing by an O-ring. This view shows that the O-ring slides up the ornamental chain until it is flush against the earlobe, thus preventing the chain from migrating in either direction through the piercing.

FIG. 9 shows that an O-ring 30 can be incorporated into an ornamental charm 36 in the charm's aperture 20 to provide a gripping member employed to secure the charm along the length of an earring chain 12. When so employed the charm may be urged against the piercing hole, or, alternatively, the charm can be displayed anywhere along the length of the chain without concern that it will slip into the trough portion of a loop or simply fall off the chain.

FIG. 10 shows the prior art means of displaying charms on an earring chain. This view shows that in the prior art device 100, beads and charms 110 employed to accent a threader earring chain slide to the lowest point on the chain, where they are retained in a stacked configuration by soldered ball 120.

FIG. 11 shows use of the O-ring element of the present invention employed to separate a plurality of charms 38, 40, 42, 44, on an earring chain 12. It will be seen that the charms can be separated anywhere along the length of the chain for enhanced display of distinctive charms and beads.

The above disclosure is sufficient to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention, and provides the best mode of practicing the invention presently contemplated by the inventor. While there is provided herein a full and complete disclosure of the preferred embodiments of this invention, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, dimensional relationships, and operation shown and described. Various modifications, alternative constructions, changes and equivalents will readily occur to those skilled in the art and may be employed, as suitable, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. Such changes might involve alternative materials, components, structural arrangements, sizes, shapes, forms, functions, operational features or the like.

Therefore, the above description and illustrations should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A body piercing jewelry chain for ornamenting the human body, said chain comprising:

a length of jewelry chain having first and second ends;

a post fastened to said first end of said chain;

a tip fastened to said second end of said chain; and

at least one resilient O-ring fitted over said chain to secure said chain to the body when said chain is inserted through a body piercing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an expansion at said tip.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said expansion is integral with said tip.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said expansion is tip comprises a second post with fastening means for coupling with a tip plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fastening means comprises mating threads on said second post and said tip plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said fastening means comprises a friction fit between said tip plate and said second post.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said O-ring is incorporated into a decorative element for display along the length of said chain.

8. A method of ornamenting the body with body piercing jewelry, comprising the steps of:

providing a body piercing jewelry chain having a length of jewelry chain having first and second ends, a post fastened to the first end of the chain, a tip fastened to the second end of the chain, and at least one resilient O-ring fitted over the chain to secure the chain to the wearer's body when the chain is inserted through a body piercing;

inserting the post of the chain through a body piercing; and

capturing the chain within the body piercing by positioning the O-ring against the skin on one side of the body pierceing.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of capturing the chain further comprises the step of weaving the chain through plurality of piercings.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of capturing the chain further comprises the step of suspending hoops of chain between a plurality of piercings.