EARRING WITH LATCHING MECHANISM

Abstract

A latching mechanism for an earring having two opposed ends. A post with a notch at one end is affixed to one of the opposed ends. The post is used to hold the earring in place when inserted into a pierced earlobe. A post engagement element is affixed to the second opposed end and rotates around a pin. The post engagement element includes a catch for engaging the notch. A spring receiving chamber is affixed to the earring adjacent to the second opposed end. A spring is disposed into the spring receiving chamber, and operates to apply a biasing force on the post engagement element for enabling the notch and the catch to engage with each other. When a force is applied to the post engagement element, the spring is compressed and the post engagement element rotates around the pin and disengages the notch from the catch.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A latching mechanism is disclosed for an earring having two opposed ends with a post for holding the earing in place when inserted into a pierced earlobe. The post is affixed to one of the two opposed ends. The post includes a notch at one end opposite to the end to which the post is affixed. A post engagement element is affixed to the second opposed end and rotates around a pin. The post engagement element includes a catch for engaging the notch. A spring receiving chamber is affixed to the earring adjacent to the second opposed end. A spring is disposed into the spring receiving chamber, and operates to apply a biasing force on the post engagement element for enabling the notch and the catch to engage with each other. When a force is applied to the post engagement element, the spring is compressed and the post engagement element rotates around the pin and disengages the notch from the catch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing the invented earring latching mechanism in a closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view showing the invented earring latching mechanism in an open position.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view showing post engagement element 21 in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing post engagement element 21, and pin 23 in detail.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing spring 25 and cup 28 with post engagement element 21 removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is utilized in conjunction with an earring 11 typically having a generally circular appearance when viewed from the side. The earring does not form a complete circle because a space needs to be provided between two opposing ends of the circle so that the earlobe of an ear can be inserted between the two opposed open ends. However, the earring can be of any shape, the only requirement being that there are two opposed ends with one end having a post which can be inserted into a pierced earlobe so that it can be received by an opening in the second of the two opposed ends.

In order to secure the earring to an earlobe, the space provided between first and second opposing ends 13 and 15 is sufficiently wide so that the two ends fit on the earlobe on opposite sides thereof. A post 17 is coupled to first opposing end 13 at one end of the post, the post having a notch 17a at its distal end. The second opposing end 15 includes a post chamber 19 which is sized so as to be able to receive the distal end of the post when the earring is being worn. Affixed adjacent to end portion 15 is post engagement element 21 which includes an opening 21a to receive a pin 23. Pin 23 fits through opening 21a so that pin 23 shown in FIG. 4 can be inserted into opening 21a into a hole (not shown) in the earring adjacent to end 15 to pivotally attach post engagement element 21 to earring 11. Earring 11 is also fitted with a spring receiving chamber 27 which is also located near opposing end 15. A spring 25 is placed into spring receiving chamber 27. Post engagement element 21 also includes a post chamber 21b at one end for receiving spring 25. Post engagement element 21 also includes at its other end a catch 21c for engaging notch 17a when the latch mechanism is in a closed position as best seen in FIG. 1.

In this manner, post engagement element 21 can be installed on the earring so that it pivots around pin 23. Spring 25 normally causes post engagement element 21 to be biased in a direction which causes catch 21c to be in a lowered position. That is, before the earring is placed on an earlobe, the latch mechanism is in an open position with catch 21c moved to a raised position as shown in FIG. 2 by applying pressure sufficient to overcome the spring biasing force. Catch 21c and notch 17a have a complementary shape so that when post 17 is inserted into post chamber 19, the end of post 17 presses on post engagement element 21 so that the bias presented by spring 25 causes post engagement element 21 to rotate in a direction so that catch 21c is engaged by notch 17a. The bias offered by spring 25 is sufficient to ensure that notch 17a and catch 21c remain engaged so as to keep the latch mechanism in a locked position with post 17 extending into post chamber 19 of opposing end 15 and retained by notch 17a being engaged with catch 21c.

In order to remove the earring from the earlobe, pressure, such as from a finger, is applied to the rear surface of post engagement element 21 which is sufficient to overcome the biasing force provided by spring 25 which causes notch 17a to be retained by catch 21c. Once the spring biasing force is overcome, post engagement element 21 rotates around pin 23 so that notch 17a is completely clear of catch 21c. In this manner, post 17 can be removed from the earlobe and the earring removed from the ear.

The construction of the post engagement element 21 of the latching mechanism and its relationship to earring 11 is best seen with reference to FIG. 4. Pin 23 passes through hole 21a in post engagement element 21. Typically, post engagement element 21 fits into a space near opposing end 15 on an extension thereof which itself is attached to earring 11. The extension includes spring receiving chamber 27 formed by cup 28 which is fixedly attached to the extension and oriented so that when spring 25 is inserted into spring receiving chamber 27, the spring extends from spring receiving chamber 27 into spring chamber 21b. Spring receiving chamber 27 and spring chamber 21b are sized so that when the end of post engagement element 21 nearest to chamber 21b is depressed, spring 25 can be compressed sufficiently so that the rotation of post engagement element 21 around pivot pin 23 results in catch 21c raised so as to be released from notch 17a. FIG. 5 shows how spring 25 fits into cup 28.

If earring 11 is sufficiently flexible, ends 13 and 15 can be sufficiently separated so as to enable post 17 to be removed from the earlobe. However, if earring 11 is made of a material which is not sufficiently flexible, then a hinge 1 la can be included on a portion of ring 11 which is sufficiently distant from ends 13 and 15 so that the earring can be sufficiently opened so as to free post 17 so that it can be inserted into and removed from a pierced earlobe.

Thus, a latching mechanism for an earring with a post for holding the earing in place when inserted into a pierced earlobe has been disclosed. Although various details are set forth, the latching mechanism is not limited to such details unless expressly set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism for an earring having two opposed ends comprising:

a) a post affixed to one of said opposed ends in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to a surface of said one opposed end, said post including a notch adjacent to its distal end;

b) a spring;

c) a post engagement element affixed to a second one of said opposed ends, said second one of said opposed ends including a cup forming a first chamber having a circular cross section for receiving and retaining one end of said spring, said post engagement element including a catch disposed adjacent to one end of said post engagement element for engaging said notch;

d) said post engagement element including a second chamber having a circular cross section disposed adjacent to a second end of said post engagement element for receiving and retaining a second end of said spring and an opening disposed between said one end and said second end of said post engagement element, said opening and a pin cooperating to pivotally attach said post engagement element to said second one of said opposed ends;

wherein said spring operates to apply a biasing force on said post engagement element in a first direction for enabling said notch and said catch to engage and be retained in said engaged state;

wherein a force applied to said post engagement element sufficient to overcome said biasing force to compress said spring causes said post engagement element to rotate in a second direction around said pin and disengage said notch and said catch.

2. The latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said opening is disposed between said catch and said second chamber.

3. The latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said post and said cup are affixed to said respective opposed ends by a soldering or brazing.

4. The latching mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said post and said cup are formed integral with said earring.