PIERCED EARRING LOCKING AND HOLDING SYSTEM
A pierced earring holding and locking system is provided that securely retains the locking system in both locked and unlocked configurations by providing an engagement mechanism in the body of the locking system, such as a spring or interlocking surface projections and depressions. The body of the locking system may include a shaft, arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the arms. A locking bar is pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with the locking bar substantially parallel to the shaft, and a second position with the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The body section further may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/207,579 filed Mar. 10, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThrough the many years in which earrings have been used and have been fashioned in various configurations, depending upon the particular style and taste of the period, there have only been two basic earring configurations developed.
One configuration, with which this application is not concerned, is the clip-on type earring. The second category of earrings is the pierced ear type, and represents earring type to which this application is directed.
Although pierced earrings have been used for many years, little change or innovative variation has been realized in the systems used to securely mount the earring in the pierced ear of the user. The typical configuration found in pierced earrings is a solid, elongated shaft or stem, to which the particular decorative portion of the earring is secured, with a locking mount or a holding nut slidably engageable along the elongated shaft for attachment thereto. Although various alternative constructions for the holding nut of this common type of pierced earring has been developed through the years, all of these holding nuts suffer from common deficiencies.
Initially, these prior art holding nuts were threadedly engaged with the shaft, thereby requiring mating threads in the holding nut and along the shaft of the pierced earring. Such a system is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 799,056.
This construction suffered from many drawbacks, principally fabrication difficulties and expense to achieve the threaded construction, as well as difficulty of quick and convenient assembly by the user. Since secure engagement of the earring could only be obtained by engaging, with threading, the locking nut with the threaded shaft of the pierced earring, some expert degree of manipulation and handling was required in order to achieve the threaded engagement of the locking nut on the shaft.
In order to eliminate the necessity of threaded shafts and threaded lock nuts, a straight elongated shaft and slidable lock nut was developed. In this construction, the lock nut slidably engages the elongated shaft and is advanced along the shaft until securely engaging the shaft near the rear of the user's earlobe, maintaining the earring in its locked position.
Initially, these slidable lock nuts are effective but, after continuous use, the shaft engaging and holding portion formed in the lock nut begins to wear, causing undesirable slippage of the lock nut while mounted in place. As a result, after these lock nuts have been used, undesirable and unwanted detachment of the lock nut from the shaft occurs, resulting in loss of the lock nut and possible loss of the entire pierced earring.
In order to eliminate this problem, various attempts have been made to provide a new locking system for securely mounting pierced earrings in user's ears. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033, a one-piece earring holding shaft is disclosed, but without the use of any pivoting or moving portions formed thereon. Instead, U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033 teaches a one-piece earring shaft construction extending from the ornament, and incorporating a combination of angular bends. Although U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033 teaches a system which eliminates the difficulties presently encountered with lock nuts, this system requires the user to manipulate the earring in a variety of alternative positions, to insert the elongated and peculiarly convoluted shaft into position, with the convoluted portions thereof performing the holding function. Due to the high degree of dexterity and unnatural manipulated movements required in order to completely insert the construction taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,033, this construction has not received popular acceptance.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,446,034, another holding system is taught for a pierced earring wherein two or more pendants are required and are supported by nylon filaments connected to a cylindrically-shaped toggle. The independent toggle is inserted through the pierced ear and, when one of the pendants is pulled, assumes a locking position. When removal is required, the pendant connected to the terminating end of the toggle is pulled, aligning the toggle for removal through the pierced ear. This system is extremely limited in that it requires the use of flexible filaments which are positioned in the ear when the earring is worn. This is generally undesirable and unwanted by users. Furthermore, the dual-pendant construction that is required to properly operate the toggle is extremely limiting and prevents a pierced earring construction that will accommodate the majority of present day pierced earring designs.
To address these shortcomings in the prior art, the inventor previously devised a pierced earring locking and holding system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,804. An example of the system 90 is shown in
As is apparent from this review of prior art pierced earring holding systems, there is a long-felt need, which is yet satisfied, for a pierced earring holding system which is easily employed by the user without requiring uncomfortable and unnatural manipulative movements of the earring during the insertion process, and securely locked in position without fear of loss of any locking portion or of the earring itself, without shifting into an unlocked position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present application addresses these shortcomings in the art by providing a pierced earring holding and locking system which is easily employed by the user, and securely retains the locking system in both the locked and unlocked configurations by providing an engagement mechanism in the body of the locking system, such as a spring or interlocking surface projections and depressions, which makes it more difficult for the locking arm of the system to move from the locked to unlocked configuration, and vice versa.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present application, a locking and holding system for an earring is provided. The system comprises a body section, which may include: a shaft, a pair of arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the pair of arms. The system also includes a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft. The body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. The body section further may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.
Various implementations of the system according the first aspect of the present application may include one or more of the following features.
The shaft further may include a chamber housing the spring. The body section further may include a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. The cap member may include a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving an edge of the locking bar in the first position. In other embodiments, the cap member may be ball-shaped.
In various embodiments of the system, the shaft may include two intertwining members having spiral forms that spiral in opposite directions and have the chamber formed between them. Each of the intertwining members may have one of the pair of arms affixed at corresponding ends of the intertwining members. The pair of arms also may be integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft wherein the pair of arms substantially meet at respective distal ends of the pair of arms. The locking bar may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the distal ends of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms.
In additional or alternative embodiments, each of the arms in the pair of arms and the locking bar the may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. Alternatively, one or both of the pair of arms may include a pivot pin formed thereon and extending towards the opposing arm, and the locking bar may include a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the pivot pin to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. In a further alternative, each of the arms may include a hole formed therethrough and the locking bar may include a pivot pin arranged thereon configured to be inserted into each of the respective holes on the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.
The locking bar may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof and at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. Additionally or alternatively, at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. The body section further may include a base configured to be secured to the earring.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present application, a further locking and holding system for an earring is provided. The system comprises a body section, which may include: a shaft, a pair of arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the pair of arms. The system also includes a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft. The body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. The body section further may include an internal engagement means configured to engage with the locking bar in the first position and impede pivoting of the locking bar from the second position into the first position.
Various implementations of the system according the second aspect of the present application may include one or more of the following features.
In various embodiments of the system, the internal engagement means may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position. The shaft further may include a chamber housing the spring. The body section further may include a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, where the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. The cap member may also include a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving and retaining an edge of the locking bar in the first position.
In additional or alternative embodiments, the internal engagement means at least one of the pair of arms may include at least one projecting member arranged on a surface of extending into the recess and the locking bar may include at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.
The earring holding system of the present application will be described with reference to
In
The pierced earring holding system 10 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 10, the shaft 11 comprises a twisted body section 18a, which may be formed of two interlocking members that spiral or twist in opposite directions allowing them to interlock in their assembly, each member terminating at one end as one of the two arms 15 and affixed at the other end to the base 19 of the pierced earring holding system 10. The twisted body section 18a can alternatively be formed of one tightly wound, coiling member. The base 19 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described. A hollow chamber 18b is formed within the shaft 11.
The pierced earring holding system 10 further comprises a biasing mechanism 16, such as a coil spring 16, that is located in the chamber 18b of the shaft 11. The end of the spring 16 that is closest to the arms 15 may be secured to or adjacent to a base 17c of a cap 17a that is biased by the spring 16 towards the arms 15 and locking bar 12. The cap 17a is biased into the recess 14. When the locking bar 12 is turned from the locked to the unlocked position, an end of the locking bar 12 abuts the cap 17a, impeding rotation of the locking bar 12 unless additional force is applied by the user to push the locking bar 12 into a parallel formation with the arms 15. This arrangement makes it more difficult for the locking bar 12 to be moved from the locked configuration into the unlocked configuration. The cap 17a may include a channel 17b on the upper surface that extends into recess 14. When the locking bar 12 is pushed towards the cap 17a, the locking bar 12, an edge of the locking bar 12 enters the channel 17b and pushes the cap 17a downward, compressing the spring 16. The spring 16 remains biased towards the arms 15, and when the locking bar 12 is moved back towards the locked configuration, the spring 16 pushes the cap 17a towards the arms 15 and back into the recess 14.
In
The pierced earring holding system 20 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 20, the shaft 21 comprises a twisted body section 28a, which may be formed of two interlocking members that twist or spiral in opposite directions allowing them to intertwine in their assembly, each member terminating at one end as one of the two arms 25 and affixed at the other end to the base 29 of the pierced earring holding system 20. The twisted body section 28a can alternatively be formed of one tightly wound, coiling member. The base 29 is affixed to an earring (not shown) as previously described. A hollow chamber 28b is formed within the shaft 21.
The pierced earring holding system 20 further comprises a biasing mechanism 26, such as a coil spring 26, that is located in the chamber 28b of the shaft 21. The end of the spring 26 that is closes to the arms 25 may be secured to or adjacent to a cap 27 that is biased by the spring 26 towards the arms 25 and locking bar 22a. The cap 27 is biased into the recess 24, and may comprise a base and channel similar to that described above with respect to the cap 17a of
In the embodiment shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 30 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment of the pierced earring holding system 30 shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 40 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 41 and a plurality of arms 45 having a recess 44 formed between the arms 45, and a locking bar 42 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 40. Locking bar 42 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 45. For example, each arm 45 may have an hole 43b therethrough configured to receive a pin 43a that may be affixed to the arms 45. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 45 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 45 away from each other. The locking bar 42 includes a hole 43c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 43a, which enables the pin 43a to be inserted through locking bar 42 to secure the locking bar 42 to the arms 45. The pin 43a and holes 43b, 43c may each have a diameter of approximately 0.0185 mm.
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 40 shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 50 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 51 and a plurality of arms 55 having a recess 54 formed between the arms 55, and a locking bar 52 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 50. Locking bar 52 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 55. For example, each arm 55 may have an opening 53b therethrough configured to receive a pin 53a that may be affixed to the arms 55. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 55 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 55 away from each other. The locking bar 52 includes a hole 53c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 53a, which enables the pin 53a to be inserted through locking bar 52 to secure the locking bar 52 to the arms 55. The pin 53a may have a diameter of approximately 1/64 inches and length of approximately 0.0455 inches.
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 50 shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 60 incorporates a body section, including a shaft 61 and a plurality of arms 65 having a recess 64 formed between the arms 65, and a locking bar 62 pivotally engaged with the body section to form an integral holding system 60. Locking bar 62 is mounted to the distal end of the body section in between the two arms 65. For example, each arm 65 may have an opening 63b therethrough configured to receive a pin 63a that may be affixed to the arms 65. Alternatively, one or both of the arms 65 may have a pin or portion of a pin structure formed in the center that are configured to engage each other or come into contact or near contact with one another, but are also configured to be separable by pulling one or both arms 65 away from each other. The locking bar 62 includes a hole 63c formed therethrough and having a larger diameter than the pin 63a, which enables the pin 63a to be inserted through locking bar 62 to secure the locking bar 62 to the arms 65.
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 60 shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 70 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the pierced earring holding system 70, the shaft 71 comprises a twisted body section, which may be formed of two interlocking members 78, shown for example in
In the embodiment shown in
In
The pierced earring holding system 80 shown in
In the embodiment shown in
It is noted that the various features and elements described in the systems 10 through 80 described above may be used in various combinations other than the exact combinations shown without departing from the scope of the present application.
The Figures also identify several, non-limiting and approximate dimensions of the systems which are identified below in Table 1.
While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice.
Claims
1. A locking and holding system for an earring comprising:
- a body section comprising: a shaft; a pair of arms extending from the shaft; and a recess formed between the pair of arms; and
- a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft;
- wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and
- wherein the body section further comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form.
4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving an edge of the locking bar in the first position.
5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the shaft comprises:
- two intertwining members having spiral forms that spiral in opposite directions and having the chamber formed between them, each of the intertwining members having one of the pair of arms affixed at corresponding ends of the intertwining members.
6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the pair of arms are integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft;
- wherein the pair of arms substantially meet at respective distal ends of the pair of arms; and
- wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the distal ends of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms.
7. The system according to claim 5, wherein each of the arms and the locking bar the comprise a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.
8. The system according to claim 3, wherein each of the arms and the locking bar comprise a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.
9. The system according to claim 3, wherein one or both of the pair of arms comprises a pivot pin formed thereon and extending towards the opposing arm, and wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the pivot pin to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.
10. The system according to claim 3, wherein each of the arms comprises a hole formed therethrough and the locking bar comprises a pivot pin arranged thereon configured to be inserted into each of the respective holes on the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position.
11. The system according to claim 3, wherein the cap member is ball-shaped.
12. The system according to claim 3, wherein the locking bar comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof and at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.
13. The system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the body section further comprises a base configured to be secured to the earring.
15. A locking and holding system for an earring comprising:
- a body section comprising: a shaft; a pair of arms extending from the shaft; and a recess formed between the pair of arms; and
- a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft;
- wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and
- wherein the body section further comprises an internal engagement means configured to engage with the locking bar in the first position and impede pivoting of the locking bar from the second position into the first position.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the internal engagement means comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position, and wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving and retaining an edge of the locking bar in the first position.
19. The system according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.
20. The system according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2022
Publication Date: Sep 15, 2022
Inventor: Frank J. CAPPIELLO (Danbury, CT)
Application Number: 17/691,533