SECURITY CLUTCH

Abstract

An improved security clutch for a jewelry post with a circumferential groove includes a housing with a post receiving aperture extending therethrough and a port through a washer. The housing is provided with a top shell and a bottom shell. A back cup is secured to the top shell via a boss on the top shell and about an aperture of the back cup, preferably by riveting to provide an improved security clutch.

Claims

1. An improved security clutch for a jewelry post with a circumferential groove comprising: a housing including a top shell and a bottom shell defining a central pass-through aperture therethrough; the housing further defining at least one trigger pass-through aperture; the top shell including an upstanding boss member about the central pass-through aperture; and a back cup having a pass-through aperture therethrough; the upstanding boss member residing in the pass-through aperture of the back cup; the back cup being secured to the top shell by the boss and portion of the back cup about the pass-through aperture of the back cup.

2. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, wherein the back cup is secured to the top shell with a riveted connection.

3. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, wherein the back cup has a concave surface facing away from the housing.

4. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, further comprising a first washer residing between the trigger member and the bottom shell.

5. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, further comprising a second washer residing between the trigger member and the top shell.

6. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, wherein the back cup has a convex surface facing the housing.

7. The improved security clutch for a jewelry post of claim 1, wherein the back cup has a crowned region on an apex of the convex surface facing the housing, the boss residing within the crowned region of the back cup.

8. A method for assembling an improved security clutch for a jewelry post with a circumferential groove comprising: providing a housing including a top shell and a bottom shell defining a central pass-through aperture therethrough and at least one trigger pass-through aperture through the housing; the top shell including an upstanding boss member about the central pass-through aperture; providing a back cup having a pass-through aperture therethrough; routing the upstanding boss member of the top shell into the pass-through aperture of the back cup; securing the back cup to the top shell by the boss member and portion of the back cup about the pass-through aperture of the back cup.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of securing is selected from the group consisting of riveting, crimping an swaging.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: providing a first washer between the trigger member and the bottom shell.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of: providing a second washer between the trigger member and the top shell.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the back cup has a convex surface facing the housing.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the back cup has a crowned region on an apex of the convex surface facing the housing, the boss residing within the crowned region of the back cup.

14. An improved security clutch for a jewelry post with a circumferential groove comprising: a housing including a top shell and a bottom shell defining a central pass-through aperture therethrough; the housing further defining at least one trigger pass-through aperture; the top shell including a first connection member about the central pass-through aperture; and a back cup having a pass-through aperture therethrough; the first connection member being connected to the back cup about the pass-through aperture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The novel features that are characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. However, the invention's preferred embodiments, together with further objects and attendant advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying Figures in which:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved security clutch of the present invention with a stylized back cup installed on an ear lobe using an earring post with ornamental jewelry member thereon;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a end view of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 4 is a front view of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view through the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 6 is a right end view of the bottom shell of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the bottom shell of FIG. 6;

[0029] FIG. 8 is a left perspective view of the top shell of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0030] FIG. 9 is an end view of the top shell of FIG. 8;

[0031] FIG. 10 is a front view of the top shell of FIG. 8;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view through the line 11-11 of FIG. 9;

[0033] FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the back cup of the improved security clutch of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 13 is an end view of the back cup of FIG. 12;

[0035] FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the back cup of FIG. 12;

[0036] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view through the line 15-15 of FIG. 13; and

[0037] FIG. 16 is an alternative security clutch configuration that can be equipped with a back cup in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] The new and novel improved security clutch is described in detail below.

[0039] As stated above, there are existing security clutch designs for earrings with delicate trigger designs, such as a typical double trigger mechanism with either a straight or bent trigger configuration. There are also many known other types of security clutches that are simpler in operation, such as those that employ curled members to provide a friction-fit gripping of the earring post. Commonly, these existing products are provided without an integrated back cup, which requires the jewelry company customer thereof to solder on back cups to the top shell if they want the functionality of such a back cup. While the more complicated and delicate double trigger security clutch mechanisms are well suited to take advantage of the present invention, any security clutch configuration may take advantage of the present invention. For ease of illustration, the improved security clutch of the present invention is shown in the configuration of a double trigger squeeze clutch but it should be understood that any security clutch may take advantage of the method and device of the present invention.

[0040] Referring first to FIG. 1, a side elevational view of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention with a back cup 12, with stylized pattern 12a therein, installed on an ear lobe 14 using an earring post 16 with ornamental jewelry member 18 thereon is shown. In general, the security clutch 10 includes a top shell 20, a bottom shell 22 and various trigger components 24 residing therein, which are discussed in detail below and shown in FIGS. 2-5. Still referring to FIG. 1, the back cup 12 is secured to the top shell 20 of the security clutch 10. The earring post 16 includes a free end 16a and the usual notches 16b for selective stepped receipt of the triggers 24 to lock the security clutch 10 in the desired position along the length of the earring post 16. The ornamental jewelry member 18 is affixed to the opposing end of the earring post 16. As a result of this installation, a user's earlobe 14 is captured between the back cup 12 and the ornamental member 18 to carry out the usual wearing of the overall earring by the user. Details of the construction of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention is discussed and shown in detail below.

[0041] FIG. 2 is an exploded front perspective view of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention which shows all of the components of the present invention where FIG. 3 shows an end view and FIG. 4 shows a front view of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 2 shows that the security clutch 10 includes a bottom shell 22 and a top shell 20 with a small washer 26, trigger mechanism 24 with multiple springs, preferably four springs 28 with two springs stacked on top of each other, and a large washer 30 sandwiched therebetween. The number of springs may be selected to accommodate the application at hand. The size and shape of the springs 28 are configured to sufficiently spring-bias the buttons 24a outside of the dimensions of the combined top shell 20 and bottom shell 22 construction.

[0042] The bottom shell 22 and the top shell 20 are preferably secured to each other, with the components therein by a crimping operation, preferably crimping the top shell over the bottom shell. The shells may be secured to each other in any other way, such as soldering, gluing, friction fit, or the like. Such an trigger clutch 10 configuration of FIG. 2 is generally known in the prior art, where the buttons 24a of the interlocking and opposing triggers 24 members are urged toward one another against the forces of leaf springs 28 residing therebetween. In such a clutch assembly 10, the trigger buttons 24a extend through side apertures 32 in the clutch, as seen in FIG. 1, so they may be pressed by a user to open a central aperture area 34 defined by the triggers 24, which secured to an earring post 16, namely at a selected notch 16b thereof. The triggers 24 are each preferably 0.255 inches long with its button being 0.157 inches wide. As seen in FIG. 2, the triggers 24 are preferably of a bent interlocking configuration. The components included aligned apertures 22a, 26a,

[0043] However, as seen in FIG. 2, the present invention further includes a back cup 12 secured to the top shell 20, as can be seen in assembled form in FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, FIG. 3 shows an end view with the bottom shell 22 and top shell 20 and trigger buttons 24a extending outwardly therefrom from the defined apertures 32. Also, in FIG. 3, the back cup 12 can be seen. In FIG. 4, which is a front elevational view of the security clutch 10 of the present invention, one of the trigger buttons 24a can be seen emanating out from the bottom shell 22 and top shell configuration 20. The back cup 12 can also be seen attached and emanating to the right from the top shell 20. Thus, the open concave side 12b of the back cup 12 is in position for receipt of an earlobe 14 when installed.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 5, which is a side cross-sectional view through the line 5-5 of FIG. 3 of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention, shows further internal details of the security clutch 10 of the present invention with its components therein. This cross-sectional view is through the apertures 32 in the bottom shell 22 and top shell 20 configuration. Thus, in FIG. 5, the bottom shell 22 is shown proximal to the triggers 24 with small washer 26 residing therebetween in a cavity 22b in the bottom shell 22. The small washer 26 is preferably has an outer diameter of 0.086 inches and a pass-through aperture of 0.043 inches in diameter. The springs 28 that outwardly bias the trigger members 24 through the apertures 32 are best seen in the exploded view of FIG. 2. Also, the large washer 30 can be seen residing between the top shell 20 and the triggers 24. The large washer 30 is preferably 0.242 inches in diameter with a 0.044 diameter pass-through aperture.

[0045] The top shell 20 has an outwardly extending boss 12c that is uniquely secured to the back cup 12, as will be described in further detail below. Most notably, in FIG. 5, the boss 20c of the top shell 12 resides in an aperture 12a of the back cup. Preferably, the aperture 12a is centrally located in the back cup 12. This interconnection between the back cup 12 at its aperture and the boss 20c of the top shell is importantly enables the interconnection of the back cup 12 to the main body (shells 20, 22) of the security clutch 10 without soldering, which avoids the use of heat to, in turn, avoid damages to the delicate internal trigger 24 and spring 28 components therein. In particular, the back cup 12 is riveted to top shell 20, which does not use heat. The boss 20c of the top shell 20 is, for example, bent outwardly or otherwise manipulated by the riveting operation to secure the back cup 12 to the top shell 20 at that connection location. A riveting tool 36 is representationally shown to carry out this riveting operation. While riveting is preferred, other processes for securing the back cup 12 to the top shell 20, such as crimping, swaging, and the like, can be employed which also do not use heat. As a result of the foregoing configuration, the security clutch 10 can be assembled so the boss 20c of the top shell 20 in accordance with the device 10 and method of the present invention.

[0046] Turning now to FIG. 6, which is a right end view of the bottom shell 22 of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention and FIG. 7, which is a side elevational view of the bottom shell 22 of FIG. 6, further details of the bottom shell 22 can be seen. In particular, the bottom shell 22 includes upstanding curved walls 22b for communicating with walls of the top shell 20b, which have cutouts to define the apertures in combination with the cutouts of the top shell 20 to provide apertures 32 through which the trigger buttons 24a extend. The bottom shell 22 includes a seat 22c for receipt of the small washer 26 therein, as described above. A central pass through aperture 22a is provided for receipt of an earring post 16 therethrough. The bottom shell 22 is preferably has an outer diameter of 0.260 inches, an inner diameter of 0.244 and a pass-through aperture of 0.043 inches in diameter and is preferably 0.008 inches thick at is thinnest point. The seat 22c is preferably 0.090 inches in diameter on the inside of the bottom shell 22 and the seat 22c is preferably 0.137 inches in diameter on the outside of the bottom shell. The seat 2c preferably has a radius of curvature of R.017. The side notches are preferably 0.166 inches wide and with the bottom shell being 0.049 inches high.

[0047] FIGS. 8-11 show further details of the top shell 20 of the security clutch 10 of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a left perspective view of the top shell 20 of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention with a central aperture 20a, curved side walls 20b that frictionally engage with walls 22b of the bottom shell 22. A central pass-through aperture 20a is also provided through the top shell 20 for receipt of an earring post 16 therethrough and which is aligned with the pass-through aperture 22a of the bottom shell 22. FIG. 9 shows an end view of the top shell 20 of FIG. 8 and the curvature of the upstanding walls 20b and the cutouts 20d therein for defining the apertures through which the trigger buttons 24a extend. FIG. 10, which is a front view of the top shell 20 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 11, a cross-sectional view through the line 11-11 of FIG. 9, shows the extending walls 20b thereof and most importantly the outwardly extending boss 20c of the top shell 20 that extends outwardly in preparation for receipt of the back cup 12 at aperture 12a. The outer diameter of the top shell 20 is preferably 0.281 inches and the inner diameter defined by the walls 20b is preferably 0.265 inches with a pass-through aperture 20a of 0.042 inches in diameter. The boss 20c is preferably 0.058 inches high with the walls 20b preferably 0.050 inches high.

[0048] Turning now to FIGS. 12-15, details of the back cup 12 is shown in detail. FIG. 12 shows a top perspective view of the back cup 12 of the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention while FIG. 13 shows an end view of the back cup 12 of FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the back cup 12 of FIG. 12 while FIG. 15 shows a cross-sectional view through the line 15-15 of FIG. 13. The back cup 12 has a concave side 12b which is configured for receipt of a user's earlobe 14 when an earring employing the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention is installed. The back cup 12 includes a crowned portion 12c at its apex and about its aperture 12a for interconnection to the boss 20c of the top shell 20.

[0049] The back cup 12 is preferably about 0.475 inches in diameter and 0.096 high and made of material that is 0.008 inches thick with a 0.060 through aperture. The outer portion of the back cup 12 preferably has a radius of curvature of R.275 while the inner portion of the back cup 12 preferably has a radius of curvature of R.375. The crowned portion 12c of the back cup 12 is preferably 0.102 inches in diameter with a R.060 radius of curvature.

[0050] It should be noted that all of the foregoing dimensions and features of the components of the present invention are preferred but can be modified to suit the earring application at hand. In particular, the may be sized to be compatible to receive a standard earring post therethrough.

[0051] In accordance with the method of assembly of the present invention, the back cup 12 is preferably secured to the top shell 20 after the top shell 20 is secured to the bottom shell 22, such as by riveting, which does not use heat, as discussed above. However, it is possible the back cup 12 is secured to the top shell 20 before the top shell 20 is secured to the bottom shell 22.

[0052] Thus, the general requirement of the size of the back cup 12 and the thickness of the material being compatible with the security clutch, an overall platform is provided where the back cup 12 may be easily modified to be of a different configuration, shape, motif, style to meet the needs of the jewelry company customer. An example of such a custom back cup 12, with a custom style, shape and motif is provided instead of a simple back cup design. Therefore, the back cup 12 can be modified in appearance while not affecting the overall operation of the security clutch 10 with the enhanced enlarged cup-like supplemental earring support.

[0053] The new and novel improved security clutch 10 of the present invention with its back cup 12 secured to the top shell 20 is preferably made of any material that is suitable for earrings and being in contact with the user's skin. For example, the components of the present invention may be made out of metals such as gold, stainless steel, brass, titanium, niobium, platinum and silver, or any other suitable metal. The present invention 10 and its components may also be made of any material that enables the interconnection of the top shell 20 to the back cup 12 as described herein. Any combination of materials may be used for all of the components of the present invention and still be within the scope of the present invention.

[0054] With the back cup 12 secured to the top shell 20, the improved security clutch 10 of the present invention is provided for receipt of an earring post 14 therethrough with an ornamental member 18 on the opposing end thereof. To attached to a user's earlobe 14, the concave portion 12b of the back cup 12 is rested against the inner portion of the user's earlobe 14 and an earring post 16 is pushed through a pierced hole of the user's earlobe 14 and into the pass-through apertures 22a, 26a, 30a, 20a, 12a of the security clutch 10 whereby the trigger members 24 engage a notched portion 16b of the earring post so the security clutch 10 secures the earring post 16 in place with the ornament portion 18 on display on the outer portion of the user's earlobe 14.

[0055] Moreover, the function of the security clutch 10 itself is not affected by the integration of the back cup 12. Therefore, the mechanical components can be selected as desired, such as the type of trigger buttons 24a (straight or bent) as well as the internal shape, type, and configuration of the trigger 24 and springs 28. Therefore, there is flexibility on the functionality and operation of the security clutch 10 apart from the functionality of the back cup 12. For example, FIG. 16 shows another configuration 100 of security clutch configuration having a bottom shell 122, triggers 124, springs 128, large washer 130 and top shell 120 with a back cup 112. Note that while a small washer is not seen in FIG. 16, such a small washer may or may not be used between the triggers 124 and the bottom shell 122 to suit a given application at hand. The top shell 120 of the security clutch configuration 100 of FIG. 16 can be modified to provide an upstanding boss or other mechanism to interconnect with the back cup 112 of the present invention to provide the desirable back cup functionality.

[0056] It should be further noted that the improved security clutch 10, 100 of the present invention and method of assembling same can provide a security clutch 10, 100 with differently configured components, all of which are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the top shell 20, 120, bottom shell 22, 112 and back cup 12, 112 may be modified to be of any design or configuration to suit the customer's need in the way of motif, design, size, configuration, style, and the like. For example, the back cup 12, 112 may also include the branding of the jewelry company.

[0057] Thus, in view of the above, a new and novel improved security clutch 10, 100 is provided that includes an integrated back cup 12, 112 secured to the top shell 20, 120 that can be customized to suit the needs of the user without changing how it is affixed to the top shell 20, 120. Therefore, the design and configuration of the back cup 12, 112 can be easily changed without affecting how it is secured to the top shell 20, 120.

[0058] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.