EARRING
An earring involves a first, second, and third segment, wherein the second segment couples the first segment to the third segment, maintains a spaced-apart relationship between the first and third segments, and overlays at least a part of one of the antihelix or scapha. An alternative earring involves a helix engagement segment having an inflection point, an earlobe engagement segment having a terminal end, and a decorative segment between the helix engagement segment and earlobe engagement segment. None of the helix engagement segment, earlobe engagement segment, or decorative segment pass through a piercing of the helix or scapha, and the inflection point and terminal end are separated from each other at a linear distance in the range between 54 mm and 85 mm. An item of jewelry involves means for engaging the ear helix, means for engaging the earlobe, and means for separating and coupling the respective means for engaging.
This disclosure relates to fine jewelry and, more particularly, to earrings.
BACKGROUNDMost earrings for pierced ears fall into two classes: stud earrings and hook or drop earrings.
A stud earring attaches to the earlobe via a post inserted into a hole pierced in the wearer's earlobe and is maintained in place by a backing that goes on to the end of the post behind the earlobe.
A hook or drop earring attaches to the earlobe using a curved “hook” that is partially inserted through a hole pierced in the wearer's earlobe such that part of the hook sits on the exterior-facing side of the earlobe below the hole and another part sits on the interior-facing side of the earlobe below the hole. This type of earring is maintained in place by the weight of the earring attached to the hook below the hole and the fact that, to be removed, the hook must be curled in an exterior direction—which is almost impossible to happen through normal wearing.
Another type of ear ornamentation is called an “industrial bar” or, simply, an “ear bar” which attaches to the ear via, typically two, holes pierced through the auricular cartilage of the ear helix and/or the scapha of the ear. However, this type of style is generally considered to be out of the mainstream of fine jewelry.
People who have only a single piercing in their earlobe cannot wear earrings that require one or more additional piercings, or ear ornamentation that is specifically arranged to overlay the auricular cartilage of the ear helix and/or the scapha of the ear.
SUMMARYI have devised an earring, for a person with a single, conventional earlobe piercing, that incorporates aspects of an “industrial bar” or “ear bar” style in that they can overlay the auricular cartilage of the ear helix and/or the scapha of the ear without requiring any additional piercing or departing from the styling common to fine jewelry.
One aspect of this disclosure involves an earring for wearing via a human ear, the earring comprising a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The second segment couples the first segment to the third segment, maintains a spaced-apart relationship between the first and third segments, and, when worn, overlays at least a part of one of the antihelix or scapha. The first segment is shaped so that, when worn, it will wrap around the superior helix of the ear at a location within a range of 0 mm to 20 mm from the apex of the helix such that the first segment: a) will have at least two points of contact with the superior helix, at least one of which will be on the exterior surface of the interior side of the helix, and b) does not pass through a piercing in the helix or scapha. When the earring is worn, the third segment will pass through a piercing in the earlobe from an exterior side to an interior side of the earlobe, such that the earlobe will exert a force on the third segment that will be transferred to the first segment, as a torque force, via the second segment.
Another aspect involves an earring for wearing via a human ear. The earring has three segments, a helix engagement segment having an inflection point, an earlobe engagement segment having a terminal end, and a decorative segment located between, and coupled to, each of the helix engagement segment and earlobe engagement segment. None of the helix engagement segment, earlobe engagement segment, or decorative segment pass through a piercing of the helix or scapha. The inflection point and terminal end are separated from each other by the decorative segment at a linear distance in the range between 54 mm and 85 mm, and the earlobe engagement segment has a cross sectional width, at its widest point, in the range of 0.3211 mm to 1.0237 mm.
Yet a further aspect involves an item of jewelry, for wearing via a human ear, comprising: means for engaging the ear helix, means for engaging the earlobe, and means for separating and coupling the means for engaging the ear helix from the means for engaging the earlobe. Neither the means for engaging the ear helix nor the means for separating and coupling are arranged to pass through any piercing in the ear helix or scapha.
The foregoing and following outlines rather generally the features and technical advantages of one or more embodiments of this disclosure in order that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of this disclosure will be described hereinafter, which may form the subject of the claims of this application.
This disclosure is further described in the detailed description that follows, with reference to the drawings, in which:
10A-10G illustrate, in simplified form, a further example variant earring constructed according to the teachings herein;
11A-11G illustrate, in simplified form, a further example variant earring constructed according to the teachings herein;
12A-12G illustrate, in simplified form, a further example variant earring constructed according to the teachings herein;
13A-13G illustrate, in simplified form, a further example variant earring constructed according to the teachings herein;
14A-14G illustrate, in simplified form, a further example variant earring constructed according to the teachings herein;
For purposes of understanding, the term “interior” as used herein is intended to mean the side of the exterior surface(s) of the ear closest to the skull and the term “exterior” is intended to mean the exterior surfaces of the ear facing away from the skull.
In addition, the term “jewel” is intended to mean any of a precious gemstone, a semiprecious gemstone, polished stone, an artificial gem (e.g., cubic zirconia), a pearl, polished shell, or simple glass, quartz, marcasite, or other material intended to look like, or create the effect of, a gemstone, as well as any bead or polished and/or glossy element commonly used as an accent in fine or costume jewelry.
Finally, the term “finding” is intended to mean a decorative jewelry component, for example, a fine jewelry chain, bar, setting, enhancer, bead tip, bead cap, chandelier, head pin, eye pin, filigree, festoon, breloque, gallery strip, etc.
As shown, the ear 100 is made up of several parts, the helix 102 which is the outer rim of the upper part of the ear 100 defined by the underlying auricular cartilage 104. In general, the “superior helix” 106 is that portion of the helix (identified in
The lowest part of the ear 100 is the earlobe 118 which, as shown, is pierced, meaning that it has a hole 120 that passes between the exterior and interior sides of the earlobe 120 (as is conventional for pierced ears).
More particularly,
Functionally, the earrings of all fo
As can be seen in
As is the case with the earring 200A of
Moreover, in some variants, the segment 206 that engages the earlobe 118 can be tapered towards the terminal end, and in others, the terminal end can be blunted or rounded.
Table 1 below identifies some standard jewelry wire gauges and dimensions (in inches and millimeters) that are particularly contemplated for use in one or more of the segments 202, 204, 206:
At this point, it should also be noted that, in both
Here, it should be noted that, in the case of a straight middle (spacer) segment 204, the offset angle θ would be measured as shown (i.e., relative to a projection of that segment 204). In the case of a curved middle (spacer) segment 204, the offset angle θ would generally be measured relative to a plane that is formed by the curve or, alternatively, a plane essentially parallel to an average plane formed by the apex 116 of an ear helix 102, the location of the piercing hole 120 and the base of the superior helix 106 opposite from, and aligned with, the opening of the ear canal 108.
At this point it should be noted that the shape of the helix engagement segment 202, particularly the part that, when worn, is on the interior side of the ear 100, need not be one of the shapes shown. Indeed, that portion can be a loop, a plate or any other shape, the important aspect being that it will sufficiently abut the interior side of the helix 102, to assist in retaining that segment 202 in place, not the shape used to do so.
Likewise, it should be understood, as will become apparent below, that the cross section of the helix engagement segment 202 and middle (spacer) segment 204 can be round, oval, square, rectangular, triangular, or any other shape (for example, in the case of the middle (spacer) segment 204, cross sections that cause the middle (spacer) segment 204 to appear to be a spiral, or a shape that results in the middle (spacer) segment 204 appearing as a filagree) the shape being a matter of design choice provided that, in the case of the helix engagement segment 202, the shape allows, directly or indirectly, the helix engagement segment 202 to engage the helix 102 as described herein. Moreover, it is to be understood that even the earlobe engagement section 206 can have a cross section other than round in some variants.
Finally, in general, and with respect to
In general, and as shown, the interior and exterior leg(s) 302a, 302b of the helix-engaging segment 202 will typically be spaced apart from each other by a median spacing (“s”) in the range of 6.3 mm to 7.6 mm and will have a length (“h”) of at least between 9 mm and 14 mm when measured from the peak 306 (i.e., its inflection point) to the terminal end of the interior leg 302a on a perpendicular as shown (in the case of the segments 202 of
Specifically,
At this point it should be noted that a zig-zag or coil are only two of the myriad feature components that can, individually or collectively, be included to allow for nominal modification of the segment 204 length, if desired.
With respect to the overall design, it is to be understood that, although the helix-engaging segment 202 has generally been shown as curved, it could also be squared (in which case it would not have an inflection point), have a sharp peak, a non-uniform shape, or any other shape provided that it is present on both sides of the wearer's helix 102 when the earring is worn. Similarly, any one or more of the segments 202, 204, 206 could be tapered. Additionally, it is to be appreciated that none of the designs illustrated herein are configured to require a piercing in the ear helix or scapha in order to be worn with one segment 202 engaging the helix 102 and another segment 206 engaging the earlobe 118 of the wearer.
Finally, with respect to materials, since the earrings described herein are typically intended as fine jewelry, it is generally contemplated that each of the segments 202, 204, 206 will be made of a precious metal, e.g., platinum, gold, silver, etc. However, it is to be understood that it, with some variants, two or more of the segments can be made of different materials and, in some cases, for example if implemented as costume jewelry, one or more of the segments may not be made of a precious metal at all. For example, with some variants, the segment 206 that engages the earlobe 118 may be made of stainless steel, while the middle (spacer) segment 204 may be made of a precious metal, or vice versa. With some variants, this may similarly be the case with the helix-engaging segment 202 and middle (spacer) segment 204, or for the helix-engaging segment 202 and segment 206 that engages the earlobe 118.
Having described and illustrated the principles of this application by reference to one or more example embodiments, it should be apparent that the embodiment(s) may be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from the principles disclosed herein and that it is intended that the application be construed as including all such modifications and variations insofar as they come within the spirit and scope of the subject matter disclosed.
Claims
1. An earring for wearing via a human ear, the earring comprising:
- a first segment;
- a second segment; and
- a third segment;
- wherein the second segment couples the first segment to the third segment, maintains a spaced-apart relationship between the first and third segments, and, when worn, overlays at least a part of one of the antihelix or scapha;
- wherein the first segment is shaped so that, when worn, it will wrap around the superior helix of the ear at a location within a range of 0 mm to 20 mm from the apex of the helix such that the first segment a) will have at least two points of contact with the superior helix, at least one of which will be on the exterior surface of the interior side of the helix, and b) does not pass through a piercing in the helix or scapha;
- wherein, when the earring is worn, the third segment will pass through a piercing in the earlobe from an exterior side to an interior side of the earlobe, such that the earlobe will exert a force on the third segment that will be transferred to the first segment, as a torque force, via the second segment.
2. The earring of claim 1, wherein the second segment is straight.
3. The earring of claim 1, wherein the second segment is curved along at least a portion of its length.
4. The earring of claim 3, wherein part of the curve at least partially conforms to a longitudinal curvature of part of the auricular cartilage of a wearer's helix.
5. The earring of claim 1 further comprising:
- at least one of a jewel or finding coupled to the second segment.
6. The earring of claim 1, wherein a part of the first segment is co-linear with part of the second segment.
7. The earring of claim 1, wherein a part of the first segment is parallel to part of the second segment.
8. The earring of claim 1, wherein the third segment has an angular offset.
9. The earring of claim 8, wherein
- a) if the second segment is a straight line, the angularly offset portion is oriented at an angle from the second segment, and
- b) if the second segment is curved in a plane, the angularly offset portion is oriented at an angle from the plane.
10. The earring of claim 1, wherein the second segment has a location where its widest cross sectional dimension is wider than any cross sectional dimension of at least one of the first section or the third section.
11. The earring of claim 1, wherein the second segment comprises at least one feature that allows for modification of the second segment length.
12. An earring for wearing via a human ear, the earring comprising:
- three segments a helix engagement segment having an inflection point; an earlobe engagement segment having a terminal end; and a decorative segment located between, and coupled to, each of the helix engagement segment and earlobe engagement segment;
- wherein none of the helix engagement segment, earlobe engagement segment, or decorative segment pass through a piercing of the helix or scapha;
- wherein the inflection point and terminal end are separated from each other by the decorative segment at a linear distance in the range of between 54 mm and 85 mm; and
- wherein the earlobe engagement segment has a cross sectional width, at its widest point, in the range of 0.3211 mm to 1.0237 mm.
13. The earring of claim 12, wherein the linear distance is between 65 mm and 80 mm.
14. The earring of claim 12, wherein the helix engagement segment has an outward-facing portion, and the earring further comprises:
- a decorative element, coupled to at least one of the decorative segment or the outward facing portion of the helix engagement segment, wherein the decorative element includes at least one jewel or finding.
15. The earring of claim 12, wherein the decorative segment comprises a straight portion.
16. The earring of claim 12, wherein the decorative segment comprises a curved portion.
17. The earring of claim 12, wherein the helix engagement segment comprises:
- a first section which, when worn, will be on the interior side of the helix, and
- a second section which, when worn, will be on the interior side of the helix,
- wherein the first section and the second section are spaced apart from each other by a distance in the range of 6.5 mm to 7.5 mm, measured perpendicular to one of the first section or the second section.
18. An item of jewelry, for wearing via a human ear, comprising:
- means for engaging the ear helix;
- means for engaging the earlobe; and
- means for separating and coupling the means for engaging the ear helix from the means for engaging the earlobe;
- wherein neither the means for engaging the ear helix nor the means for separating and coupling are arranged to pass through any piercing in the ear helix or scapha.
19. The item of jewelry of claim 18, wherein the means for engaging the earlobe has a first cross sectional width in its widest direction and the means for separating and coupling has a second cross sectional width in its widest direction, and wherein the first cross sectional width and second cross sectional width are different.
20. The item of jewelry of claim 18 wherein the means for separating and coupling includes at least one decorative element coupled to it comprising at least one jewel or finding.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 8, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 13, 2019
Inventor: Nadezhda TODOROVA (Astoria, NY)
Application Number: 15/836,379