US2405025A - Earring clasp - Google Patents

Description

L. FEINGOLD EARRING CLASP July 30, 1946.

Fild Jan. 29, 1944 INVENTQR. 99a ATToR/vsv Patented July 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARRING CLASP Lpa Feingold, New York, N. Y.

Application January 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,244

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in an ear ring clasp.

More particularly, the invention contemplates an improved ear ring clasp made from plastic or sheet metal and which is characterized by a harp-like resilient member for engaging against one side of the ear lobe and having its side arms directed downwards. It is proposed to provide an ornamental member for engaging against the other side of said ear lobe, and it is proposed that said ornamental member have a stem with a disc-like end axially pivotally mounted between the side arms of said harp-shaped member. The invention contemplates the provision of a leaf spring portion continuing from the central portion of said harp-like member and having ratchet teeth engaging complementary ratchet teeth on the edge of said disc-like end for holding the clasp closed on ones ear.

The invention also proposes a modified form in which a rigid slide is movable to various positions along said leaf spring portion for limiting flexing thereof.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an ear ring clasp constructed in accordance with this invention and shown schematically applied to an ear.

Fig, 2 is a side elevational view looking in the direction of the line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 4.

In the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. l-3 the ear ring clasp includes a harp-like resilient member It preferably formed from sheet metal and formed at the top of its inner side with a crescent shape plastic contact plate |08. This member is adapted to engage against one side of an ear lobe, schematically illustrated in Fig. l by dot and dash lines II. Said harp-like member IIJ has side arms I2 which are formed into lug portions I3. An ornamental member I5 is provided for engaging the other side of said ear lobe indicated by said lines II. This ornamental member I5 has a jewel I5 or other ornamental piece mounted on its front face. The ornamental member I5 is also providedwith a back stem I1 having a disc-like end I8 axially pivotally mounted between the lugs I3 with a pintle rivet I9.

A leaf spring portion 20 extends from the central portion of the material of the harp-like member I0. This leaf spring portion is provided with-several ratchet teeth 2| engaging compl..- mentary ratchet teeth 22 formed on the edge of said disc-like end I8. The extremity 23 of the leaf spring portion 20 extends past the disclike end I8 so that it may be easily gripped by one fingers and flexed outwards, as indicated by the dot and dash lines 25' in Fig. 1. In this flexed position the ratchet teeth 2I disengage from the teeth 22 so that the ornamental member I5 is free and may pivot downwards free from the ear lobe II, as indicated by the dot and dash lines I5.

The operation of the clasp consists in placing it against the ear lobe so that the harp-like member ID is to the back of the ear lobe and the ornamental member I5 is to the front. These members are pressed together so that the clasp maintains itself on the ear lobe. The clasp may be removed by lifting up the end 23 of the leaf spring portion 20 so that the ornamental member I5 is released.

In Figs. 4 6 a modified form of the invention is disclosed which is very similar to the first form, distinguishing merely in the fact that a rigid slide 25 is movably mounted and may be moved to various positions along the length of said leaf spring 2li for limiting the flexing of said leaf spring. More specifically, the slide 25 is formed from two adjacent strips 26 and 21 which are secured together at several points by spot welds 2t or cement. These strips 26 and 2'! engage opposite faces of the leaf spring 20 so as to be movable along the length of the leaf spring. The ends of the strips 26 and 21 engage opposite faces of the side arms of the harp-like resilient member It. One of the faces of said side arms is formed with serrations 2S engaged by complementary serrations 30 upon the ends cf the strip 25.

In other respects this form of the invention is similar to that previously shown and same reference numerals identify like parts in each of the several views.

The rigid slide 25 may be shifted along the length of the leaf spring portion 20 and will be held in various positions by the serrations 29 and 3d. In different positions, the slide 25 holds different lengths of the leaf spring 2U rigidly, so that it may not flex as easily. Consequently, if the slide 25 is nearer the base of the leaf spring 2i! the free portion has greater flexibility than if the slide 25 is moved to a position nearer the free end thereof. 25 determines the extent of the holding action between the serrations 2| and 22.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An ear ring clasp, comprising a harp-like resilient member for engaging against one side of ones ear lobe and having its side arms directed downwards, an ornamental member for engaging against the other side of said ear-lobe and having a stern with a disc-like end axially pivotally mounted between the side arms of said harp-like member, and a leaf spring portion extending from the central portion of said harplike member and having ratchet teeth engaging complementary ratchet teeth on the edge of said disc-like end, the free end of said leaf spring portion extending past said disc-like end so that it may be easily gripped and lifted.

2. An ear ring clasp, comprising a harp-like resilient member for engaging against one side of ones ear lobe and having its side arms directed downwards, an ornamental member for s engaging against the other side of said ear-lobe and having a stem with a disc-like end axially pivotally mounted between the side arms of said harp-like member, and a leaf spring portion extending from the central portion of said harplike member, having ratchet teeth engaging com- The position of the rigid slide plementaiy ratchet teeth on the edge of said disc-like end, and a rigid slide movable to various positions along said leaf spring portion for limiting flexing thereof.

3. An ear ring clasp, comprising a harp-like resilient member for engaging against one side of ones ear lobe and having its side arms directed downwards, an ornamental member for engaging against the other side of said ear-lobe and having a, stem with a disc-like end axially pivotally mounted between the side arms of said harp-like member, and a leaf spring portion extending from the central portion of said harp-like member, having ratchet teeth engaging complemen- 5 tary ratchet teeth on the edge of said disc-like end, and a rigid slide movable to various positions along said leaf spring portion for limiting flexing thereof, comprising a pair of adjacent strips secured together at several points and slidably engaging opposite sides of said leaf spring portion, the ends of said strips engaging opposite faces of the side arms of said harp-like member.

4. An ear ring clasp, comprising a harp-like resilient member for engaging against one side of ones ear lobe and having its side arms directed downwards, an ornamental member for engaging against the other side of said earlobe and having a stem with a disc-like end axially pivotally mounted between the side arms of said harp-like member, and a leaf spring portion extending from the central portion of said harp-like member, having ratchet teeth engaging complementary ratchet teeth on the edge of sair disc-like end, and a rigid slide movable to various positions along said leaf spring portion for limiting flexing thereof, comprising a pair of adjacent strips secured together at several points and slidably engaging opposite sides of said leaf spring portion, the ends of said strips engaging opposite faces of the side arms of said harplike member, and serrations on one of said strips engaging complementary serrations upon said harp-like member.

LIPA FEINGOLD.

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