WO1991011934A1

WO1991011934A1 - Earring assembly

Info

Publication number: WO1991011934A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lorraine Ann Woodford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-14
Filing date: 1991-02-14
Publication date: 1991-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-14

Abstract

An earring assembly comprises an elongate post member (11) adapted to be inserted through an earlobe. Post member (11) includes a head member (12) which can be inserted into an attachment member (13) which itself can be secured to or formed with a desired ornamental member (14). Attachment member (13) includes a rear portion (16) attached to or formed with the ornamental member (14) and a front wall (17) spaced from the rear wall and defining an entry portion (20) to allow head member (12) to pass between front wall (17) and rear wall (16). Front wall (17) further includes an open ended recess (22) which is dimensioned to be larger than post member (11) but smaller than head member (12) thereby allowing head member (12) to slide into attachment member (13) with post member (11) passing through open ended recess (22). Attachment member (13) is held in place over head member (12) by the resilient nature of an earlobe which biases head member (12) against front wall (17). The earring assembly is simple in construction, has no parts which can become misplaced or lost and attachment of various ornamental members can be done without tilting or difficult manipulation of the ornamental member or head member.

Description

TITLE EARRING ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an earring assembly and in particular to an earring assembly having an ornamental member removably mounted to an ear engaging part.

BACKGROUND ART Earrings generally comprise an ear engaging part and an ornamental or decorative member attached to the ear engaging part. There are two main types of earrings being clip on or clamp on earrings and pierced earrings.

Clip on earrings comprise an ear engaging part in the form of a clip generally having two parts which extend along opposed sides of an earlobe and which are biased together to grip opposed sides of the earlobe.

Clamp type earring generally comprise a U-shaped portion extending about the earlobe and includes a threaded rod having a stop on one end. The threaded rod can advance the stop to engage with the earlobe thereby clamping the earring assembly to the earlobe. U.S. patent 2,733,578 and 2,775,014 describe earring assemblies of this type.

Pierced earrings generally comprise an elongate post member which passes through a formed hole in the earlobe (or other part of the ear) and include a decorative or ornamental member fastened to one end of the post member. The post member is inhibited from axial displacement by a locking clip attached to the other side of the post member. A disadvantage with the clip or clamp type of earring assembly is that they are generally unsuitable in supporting heavier ornamental or decorative members.

Furthermore, a sudden movement or jolt can dislodge the earring assembly from the ear. The clip or clamp also tends to cause bruising and pain to a wearer if the earring assembly is worn for long periods of time.

For this reason, pierced earrings are tending to become the more favoured form of earring wear. A difficulty with pierced earrings is that the elongate post member extends through a formed hole in the earlobe and there is always the possibility of infection or an allergic reaction resulting from insertion of the elongate post member. In order to prevent or minimize such infection or allergic reaction, post members are generally formed from a precious metal such as gold, platinum or sterling silver. The use of such metals however add considerably to the cost of manufacture of the earrings.

U.S. patent 4,195,492 to Johnson discloses a safety earring assembly for pierced ears to prevent injury to an earlobe if the post member is suddenly pulled from the ear. The post member is described as including a stop at one end thereof, the stop having an annular groove which can releasably engage in a "snap" like fashion with a connecting member The connecting member comprises a pair of biased spring arms which locate within the annular groove of the post member. A number of interchangable ornamental members can be

SUBSTITUTE SHEET snap fitted or friction fitted about the periphery of the connecting member to provide the finished assembly. While this assembly allows ornamental members to be interchanged to a common post member, the assembly is complex to manufacture and is formed from a relatively large number of small components which can easily be misplaced or damaged. Furthermore, the post member is required to include a precisely dimensioned annular groove while the connecting member must be formed with spring arms dimensioned to locate within the annular groove. The ornamental member must be provided with a recess or some form of means to fit about the connecting member resulting in a relatively complex assembly.

U.S. patent 4,507,344 to Baughman discloses an earring assembly having an elongate post member formed at one end with a relatively complex connecting portion to which are snap fitted ornamental members. The connecting portion includes a body having a precisely dimensioned recess to accept and releasably lock a spigot portion on the ornamental member. Again, the assembly is complex and requires accurately dimensioned components.

U.S. patent 4,682,477 to Vaillancourt discloses an earring assembly which attempts to overcome some of the abovementioned disadvantages and includes a post member formed at one end with an enlarged head. The head is releasably engagable with an ornamentation adaptor member. The ornamentation adaptor member is itself securable to a decorative ornamentation member.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET The ornamentation adaptor member is provided with a cavity disposed within the member with the upper part of the cavity having an overlying wall formed with a slot. The slot is required to grip sides of the post member to prevent removal of the ornamentation adaptor member from the post member.

Due to the existence of the cavity and the overlying wall, it is necessary to tilt either the post member or the ornamentation adaptor member with respect to each other to allow the head member to be inserted within the cavity.

The above assembly suffers from the disadvantage that it is difficult to attach the ornamentation adaptor member to the post member with the post member fitted to an earlobe. This is because the earlobe tends to be in the way and pinching of the earlobe often occurs causing discomfort to the wearer. In practice therefore, it is necessary to remove the post member from the ear to attach the ornamentation adaptor member and then to reinsert the post member into the ear. This increases the possibility of infection and makes the interchangeability of the ornamental members more difficult.

Furthermore, by requiring a cavity disposed within the ornamentation adaptor member, the decorative or ornamental portion of the ear must be a certain thickness and the assembly is not suitable for thin or for small decorative or ornamental members .

The present invention has been devised with a general object of alleviating the above disadvantages by providing an earring assembly wherein the post member can remain inserted in the earlobe (or other portion of the ear) while still allowing ready and easy attachment and removal of various decorative or ornamental members.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In one form, the invention resides in an earring assembly comprising an elongate post member adapted to extend through an earlobe and including an enlarged head member adjacent one end thereof, and an attachment member releasably attachable to the head member, said attachment member being securable to or formed with an ornamental member and in use, extending from the ornamental member and comprising a rear portion securable to or formed with the ornamental member, a front wall spaced from the rear portion, an entry portion to allow insertion of the head member between the front wall and the rear portion, said front wall including an open ended recess extending from the entry portion and at least partially along the front wall, said recess having a cross-sectional size larger than the cross-sectional size of the post member but smaller than the cross-sectional size of the head member thereby inhibiting passage of the head member through the recess while allowing passage of the post along the recess upon insertion of the head member into the attachment member. The elongate post member is preferably permanently inserted through an earlobe or inserted for long periods of time and therefore it is preferred that the elongate post

member comprises a precious metal such as gold, gold plated metal, platinum, silver, silver plated metal, surgical steel or stainless steel to minimize infection.

The head member can be fixed to the elongate post member and suitably locates at one end of the post member. The head member suitably comprises a substantially planar member which can extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post member.

The substantially planar member may be circular, oval or polygonal in configuration but conveniently comprises a substantially circular disk. If desired, the head member can be decoratively formed to provide a visually pleasing effect.

The attachment member may be separately formed from the ornamental member and may be subsequently attached thereto by any convenient means such as adhesives, heat welding or by the use of fasteners, or any combination thereof. Alternatively, the attachment member may be integrally formed with the ornamental member. The choice of whether the attachment portion is separately formed with or integrally formed with the ornamental member will depend in part upon the particular materials chosen. For instance, if the ornamental member and the attachment member are formed from plastics material, it may be convenient to integrally form both members together. Alternatively, if the ornamental member is formed from metal, mother of pearl, or a plastic material different from the attachment member, the attachment member is

SUBSTITUTE SHEET conveniently separately formed and subsequently fixed to the ornamental member.

The attachment member extends from the ornamental member in use to enable the ornamentation member to be readily releasably engaged with the head member without requiring tilting or any difficult manipulation of the ornamental member and/or the head member.

The rear portion of the attachment portion may comprise a rear wall which can be secured to the ornamental member. Alternatively, if the attachment portion is integrally formed with the ornamental member, the rear portion may comprise an edge of a side wall extending outwardly from the ornamental member.

The front wall is spaced from the rear wall or rear portion and suitably extends parallel to the respective portion of the ornamental member. The front wall is suitably spaced from the rear portion by the side wall. The side wall can be continuous or non-continuous and may include a series of spaced struts or a mesh type wall. It is preferred however that the front wall and the side wall are integrally formed from plastics material. The side wall may have a width slightly larger than the thickness of the head member to inhibit tilting movement of the head member within the attachment member. The entry portion is suitably defined between a lower edge of the front wall and the rear portion. The entry portion is configured and sized to allow the head member to

pass between the front wall and the rear portion. The configuration and size of the entry portion will be dependent on the configuration and size of the head portion.

If desired, the entry portion can include one or more guide members to assist in passing the head member through the entry portion. Suitably, the one or more guide members comprise a tapered or channelled portion adjacent the entry portion.

The front wall includes an open ended recess which may be of any convenient size or configuration provided that the head member is inhibited from passing through the recess while allowing the post member to pass through the recess. It is preferred that the recess extends to adjacent an upper edge of the front wall. The attachment member may include an upper slot in the side wall. The^' upper slot may facilitate mounting of the earring assembly onto a display card and to inhibit accidental removal of the assembly from the display card. The display card may include projections which pass through the upper slot to support the earring assembly to the display card.

The earring assembly may include a locking means to inhibit axial displacement of the post member and removal of the post member from the earlobe. The locking means may comprise a conventional-type locking clip which typically locates adjacent the other end of the post member.

The earring assembly may include a support means to further assist in supporting heavier earring assemblies from a wearer's ear. The support means may include a shank portion extending through the upper slot in the side wall of the attachment member. The shank portion may include a lower thickened portion dimensioned such that it cannot pass through the upper slot and may include an upper ear engagement portion which suitably engages with a ridge or other part of the ear to assist in supporting the earring assembly from the ear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following description of preferred embodiment thereof in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an earring assembly according to an embodiment of the invention. Figure 2 is an assembled view of Figure 1. Figures 3A - 3F disclose a selection of attachment members according to an embodiments of the invention.

Figures 4A - 4C disclose a selection of various ornamental members including an attachment member.

Figure 5 is a view of an earring assembly according to an embodiment of the invention including a support means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 there is disclosed an earring assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention.

Earring assembly 10 comprises a post member 11, a head member 12, an attachment member 13, an ornamental member 14 and a locking means in the form of a locking clip 15.

Elongate post member 11 comprises a generally

SUBSTITUTE SHEET cylindrical body of sufficient length to pass through an earlobe or other portion of an ear.

One end of post member 11 is formed with head member

12 which is conveniently fixed thereto. Head member 12 comprises a circular disk and in the embodiment, the circular disk is decoratively formed to provide a pleasing visual effect.

Attachment member 13 includes a rear portion in the form of a rear wall 16, a front wall 17 spaced from rear wall 16 and a side wall 18 interconnecting rear wall 16 and front wall 17. In the embodiment, the respective walls are integrally formed.

Side wall 18 has a width slightly larger then the thickness of head member 12 to minimize "wobble" of head member 12 in the attachment portion-

A lower edge 19 of front wall 17 is open ended and defines an entry portion 20 extending between front wall 17 and rear wall 16.

In the embodiment, entry portion 17 is formed with inclined edges 21 to facilitate entry of head member 12 through entry portion 20.

Front wall 17 further includes an open ended recess 22 which extends from entry portion 20 to adjacent an upper edge 23 of front wall 17. Attachment portion 13 can be glued or otherwise fixed to a rear face 24 of ornamental member 14 as more clearly shown in Figure 2.

In use, post member 11 normally extends through a persons earlobe and can be permanently inserted therein. Head member 12 is thereby caused to locate on an outer portion of the earlobe and ornamental member 14 can easily be attached to head member 12 by sliding attachment member 13 over head member 12 as shown in Figure 1.

Post member 11 can be prevented from accidental removal from the earlobe by locking clip 15 in a conventional manner. Head member 12 is prevented from accidental or unintentional removal from attachment portion 13 by the wearer's earlobe. The earlobe being of resilient fleshy material tends to abut against front wall 17 and biases head member 12 against the interior surface of front wall 17. To remove the attachment member 13 from head member

12 it is merely necessary to slightly depress the earlobe with a finger thereby releasing the biasing effect of head member against front wall 17 whiGh in turn allows the attachment portion and thus the ornamental member to be easily removed. Figure 2 shows the earring assembly of Figure 1 in the attached position and more clearly shows head member 12 located within attachment portion 13. It will be noted that there is no requirement for the open ended recess 22 to grip any part of post member 11 as it is found that the earlobe itself provides the necessary biasing effect to releasably secure attachment member 13 to head member 12.

Figures 3A - 3F , shows various alternative attachment members. The attachment members of Figures 3A - 3D include a rear wall while the attachment members of Figures 3E and 3F do not. The open ended recesses 30 - 35 in each of the attachment members can vary in shape and configuration with the proviso that the maximum cross-sectional size is less than the cross-sectional size of head member 12 thereby preventing head member 12 from being displaced from within the attachment member. It is preferred to have at least a portion of open ended recess 30 - 34 with a cross-sectional size only slightly larger than the cross-sectional size of post member 11 thereby ensuring that head member 12 does not accidentally dislodge through the open ended recess. Such configurations are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and Figures 3A - 3E. Figure 3F however shows a alternative arrangement which can also be used. By having the side wall slightly wider than the thickness of the head member, the head member cannot be twisted through the open ended recess.

It is convenient to include an upper slot 36A - 36C as illustrated in Figures 3A - 3C. The function of the upper slot is to facilitate mounting and display of the earring assembly to a display card. Earring display cards generally comprise a punched out projection which can pass through the attachment member and through upper slot 36A - 36C to secure the earring assembly to the display card. Figure 3E and 3F illustrate attachment members with no rear wall and these can conveniently be directly mounted to a rear portion of an ornamental member. Figure 4A- 4C illustrate a selection of ornamental members 40A - 40C each including a respective attachment member 41A - 41C. It can be seen that attachment member 41A - 41C can be positioned on its respective ornamental member in any convenient location and for ornamental member or larger or smaller sizes, it may be necessary to increase or decrease the size of the attachment member respectively.

Figure 5 illustrates an earring assembly 45 including a support means 46. Earring assembly 45 includes a ornamental member 47, an attachment portion 48, the attachment portion having an upper slot 49. Support means 46 includes a shank portion 50 dimensioned to be able to extend through upper slot 49 and a lower thickened portion 51 which is dimensioned to not be able to pass through upper slot 49. The upper portion of shank 50 is formed with an ear engaging part 52 which can be in the form of a hook or knob or other type of projection which can rest against a ridged portion of the ear or adjacent the ear channel. Support means 46 can be readily removed from the earring assembly by sliding it through upper slot 49 and the support means is entirely optional.

The earring assembly according to the invention requires the purchase of only one pair of post members including the head member and these can thus be manufactured from precious metal and permanently inserted through the earlobe if desired. Any number of ornamental members can thereafter be attached to the head member through the attachment portion and the person can experiment with various different ornamental members by purchasing a supply of the attachment members and securing the attachment members to any desired ornamental member. In many countries, it is not permitted for customers purchasing earrings for pierced ears to try them on due to health regulations. The earrings according to the invention obviate this difficulty. Various ornamental members can be interchangeably mounted to the head member in a simple and reliable manner without requiring difficult manipulation of the ornamental member or head member and minimizing any possibility of pinching or otherwise injuring the earlobe when attaching the ornamental member. The assembly according to the invention is simple in construction and does not require the necessity for forming annular grooves in the post member to attach to connecting members and does not .require accurate formation of various recesses or spigots to snap fasten or otherwise fasten ornamental members to the post member. There is no requirement for metal parts in the attachment member and there are no pieces which can become mislaid or lost. Furthermore, the ornamental members are securely but gently held in place by the action of the earlobe biasing the head member against the attachment member.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. An earring assembly comprising an elongate post member adapted to extend through an earlobe and including an enlarged head member adjacent one end thereof, and an attachment member releasably attachable to the head member, said attachment member being securable to or formed with an ornamental member and in use, extending from the ornamental member and comprising a rear portion securable to or formed with the ornamental member, a front wall spaced from the rear portion, an entry portion to allow insertion of the head member between the front wall and the rear portion, said front wall including an open ended recess extending from the entry portion and at least partially along the front wall, said recess having a cross-sectional size larger than the cross- sectional size of the post member but smaller than the cross- sectional size of the head member thereby inhibiting passage of the head member through the recess while allowing passage of the post along the recess upon insertion of the head member into the attachment member.

2. The earring assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said head member comprises a substantially planar member which extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the post member.

3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the head member- comprises a substantially circular disk.

4. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said front wall extends substantially parallel to a respective portion of the ornamental member.

5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said front wall is spaced from the rear portion by a side wall.

6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said side wall has a width slightly larger than the thickness of the head member to inhibit tilting movement of the head member when located within the attachment portion.

7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said side wall includes an upper slot to facilitate mounting of the earring assembly onto a display card or like member.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear portion of the attachment portion comprises a rear wall which can be secured to the ornamental member.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rear portion comprises an edge of a side wall extending outwardly from the ornamental member.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said entry portion is defined between a lower edge of the front wall and the rear portion and is configured and sized to allow the head member to pass between the front wall and the rear portion.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein said entry portion includes at least one guide member to assist in passing the head member through the entry portion.

12. The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the at least one guide member comprises a tapered or channelled portion adjacent the entry portion.

13. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the open ended recess extends to adjacent an upper edge of the front wall.

14. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment member is separately formed from the ornamental member and subsequently secured thereto.

15. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is integrally formed with the ornamental member.

16. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a locking means locatable adjacent the other end of the post member to inhibit axial displacement of the post member from the earlobe.

17. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, including a support means to assist in supporting the assembly from a wearer's ear.

18. The assembly as claimed in claim 17, wherein the support means includes a shank portion extending through an upper slot in a side wall of the attachment member, the shank portion including a lower thickened portion dimensioned such that it cannot pass through the upper slot and an upper ear engagement portion to engage with a ridge or other part of the ear.

19. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, including an ornamental member attached to or integrally formed with the attachment member.