EARRING CLASP WITH WIRE GUARD

Abstract

A jewelry piece, typically an earring or pendant, has an ornament such as a shaped gold body with an extending post connected at a first end thereof to the ornament and with an opposed second end that is configured to pass through a safety clasp, enabling it to be passed through a pierced ear lobe and held in place. A guard is affixed to the body of the safety clasp and is configured to limit the extent of travel of the second end of the post beyond the safety clasp. The guard has a general “C” or “U” shape, with a central enlarged portion located to meet the second end of the post.

Claims

1. A jewelry, comprising: a jewelry ornament comprising ornamental surfaces or materials; an extending post connected at a first end thereof to the jewelry ornament and having an opposed second end; a safety clasp comprising a body with a through-going opening for the passage therethrough of the second end of the post; and a guard affixed to the body of the safety clasp and configured to limit the extent of travel of the second end of the post beyond the safety clasp.

2. The jewelry of claim 1, wherein the guard has a general “C” or “U” shape.

3. The jewelry of claim 2, wherein the “C” or “U” shaped guard has a central enlarged portion located to meet the second end of the post.

4. The jewelry of claim 3, wherein the guard is made of wire stock.

5. The jewelry of claim 1, wherein the second end of the post has a needle end.

6. The jewelry of claim 1, wherein the guard is cast with the body of the safety clasp.

7. The jewelry of claim 1, wherein the post has at least one groove formed therein to receive a locking element of the safety clasp.

8. The jewelry of claim 7, wherein the safety clasp has at least one push-in button configured to release a holding force exerted by the safety clasp on the post.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 depicts a prior art pierced earring with a safety clasp.

[0021] FIG. 2 depicts the safety clasp of FIG. 1, in greater detail.

[0022] FIG. 3 depicts another prior art safety clasp.

[0023] FIG. 4 depicts the conventional pierced earring with a wire guard according to the invention.

[0024] FIG. 5 depicts the safety clasp wire guard of the invention from a different angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In the prior art FIGS. 1-3, the earring 1 for a pierced ear has an ornamental component 2 that is visible on the wearer's ear lobe, with an extending-away post or stem 3 shaped and sized to be inserted through the pierced ear lobe, which comprises two catch grooves 3a and 3c and a pointed, sharp end 3b.

[0026] The safety clasp or clutch 5 has a disc shaped body with a central, through-going opening 8, for the passage of the post 3 therethrough. The safety clasp 5 has an internal catch (not shown) that is designed to snap into the groove 3c, assuring that the post 3 and the ornament 2 attached to it, do not slip out of the clasp 5 and then lost by sliding out of the ear. To release the hold on post 3, the push-in buttons 6 are pressed in, which withdraws the catch, allowing removal of the post from the ear.

[0027] The differently shaped, prior art safety clasp 1a of FIG. 2 is designed for a post 3a that is threaded, the clasp 1a being threadedly secured to the post 3a, to hold the earring 1a to the wearer's ear lobe. More specifically, the safety clasp 1a has a front decorative plate 5a and an attached “C” shaped wire with a thickened portion 7a with interiorly threaded openings that are axially aligned defined in both components 1a and 7, enabling threading thereof onto the post 3a, thereby providing the needed holding and safety.

[0028] In accordance with the present invention and as in FIGS. 4 and 5, the earring 10 comprises the ornament 2, post 3, and safety clasp 15 as in the prior art, with the addition of the wire safety guard 17 which like the component 7 (FIG. 3) has a thickened portion 17a, here attached to the safety clasp body 15 at its free ends. This attachment can be effected by soldering or brazing or any other attachment expedient known in the art. Or it can be cast together with the body of the clasp 15.

[0029] Most importantly, the thickened portion 17a has no opening therethrough, and even if there is a small opening it is of a diameter too small to allow the tip 3b of the post to pass through. The purpose here is to serve as a blocking component that limits the travel range of the post 3 through the clasp portion 15. Also, it provides improved, easier holding between the wearer's fingers while donning the earring. Further, it allows donning the earring by lightly pushing the post 3 into the clasp 15 and then pressing between the thumb and a finger across the earlobe. The post movement stops exactly where needed for the internal catch to snap into the groove 3c.

[0030] The wire protector 17 can be affixed to many other styles of safety clasps, including to the one depicted in FIG. 3, to provide the conveniences and functions described above. While described above as being “C” (or “U”) shaped, the safety component can be constructed of two “C” components oriented at ninety degrees to each other, with a common center blocking component 17a.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.