EP2183990A1

EP2183990A1 - Clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe

Info

Publication number: EP2183990A1
Application number: EP08425717A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Simone Todini
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-11-10
Filing date: 2008-11-10
Publication date: 2010-05-12

Abstract

A clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe comprises a front clamping member (1) and a rear clamping member (2) being spring biased one to other in order to be kept attached to the ear lobe with a set pressure, after the two clamping member (1, 2) are positioned at a determined mutual distance. The rear clamping member (2) carries pivotally a contact part (3) having a face (4) with greater convexity and a face (5) with less convexity, the one with respect to the other.

Description

The present invention relates to a clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe, which is clamped between two opposed, mutually pivoted clamping members.
The clip-on earring is maintained on the ear by friction, and since the friction depends on the pressure exercised on the ear lobe, it is suitable that this pressure is sufficiently high to not risk that the earring is released and gets lost. An optimal pressure exists that is obtained through the adjustment of a distance between the two clamping members. Therefore, a clip-on earring has to be subjected normally, after being purchased, to its subsequent working in order to adjust the distance between the two opposed clamping members.
In the past the problem resulting from troublesome and expensive adjustment operations has been tried to be solved by providing the earring with devices able to adjust the spring modulus of the clip, or alternatively to change the distance between the two opposed clamping members as desired.
In order to achieve the latter, for example US Patent No. 4,796,443 discloses a spring device for earring which comprises a back support element having, pivotally attached thereto, a front ear clamping member. A back ear lobe clamping member is carried by the back support element in an adjustable way both vertically and horizontally by means of a screw action.
However, the screw adjustment in this type of earring, that is substantially a combination of a so called American earring with a clip, has been found not adequate, as an exact mutual position of two elements that are connected by a screwed coupling is unlikely to be maintained.
Further, it has been found that a continuous variability in the pressure values on a ear lobe is not required. Thus, a continuous adjustment of the distance is not a critical feature, but it is enough only to envisage a gap having two pre-set distances between the clamping members when a clamping member has snap shut to a locking position.
Furthermore, by recognising the friction as a critical factor in clamping action, the developments of the invention go in this direction.
In particular, a main object of the present invention is to allow a clip-on earring wearer to be able to adjust personally a desired pressure on the own ear lobe.
Another important object of the present invention is to prevent the chosen adjustment from changing with the passing of time, with the risk of losing the earring.
Yet, another important object of the present invention is to operate on the features of the contact surfaces of the clamping members with respect to the friction, besides on the distance between them.
These and other objects are achieved by a clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe according to claim 1 of the present invention.
The present invention will be now described referring to a preferred embodiment thereof, even if it should be understood that variations can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention, in conjunction with the enclosed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a clip-on earring according to the invention; and
Figures 2 is a front view of the clip-on earring in Figure 1;

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe according to the invention. Traditionally, it comprises a front clamping member 1 and a rear clamping member 2 being pivoted the one to the other in order to be kept attached to an ear lobe (not shown) with a set pressure, after the two clamping members are positioned at a determined mutual distance. The front and rear clamping members 1, 2 are conventionally biased for being mutually approached to and removed from each other by a spring. The spring, preferably a leaf spring 9, is placed in such a way that a snap is created between a position in which the earring is attached to the ear lobe and a position in which the earring is released therefrom. This operation is known and then it is not described in greater detail.
According to the invention the rear clamping member 2, i.e. forming the clip, carries pivotally, where the clamping action with the ear lobe is performed, a contact part 3 having a face 4 with greater convexity and a face 5 with less convexity, the one with respect to the other.
The contact part 3 is pivotally mounted on the rear clamping member 2 about a vertical axis denoted as y. The rotation axis y is embodied by a couple of opposite pins (not shown) both being rigidly connected to the contact part 3 and rotatable in seats (also not shown), which are formed in an annular portion 7 of the clamping member 2 concentrically to the vertical axis y. The annular portion 7 encloses an elliptic cavity in which the contact part 3 is housed. Alternatively, even if not shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the contact portion could be mounted pivotally on the rear clamping member 2 about a horizontal axis.
In order to increase the friction contact between either face 4 or 5 and the ear lobe, the faces 4 and 5 have grooved surfaces. Preferably, these grooved surfaces are obtained by grooves having parallel horizontal axes and being generally indicated at 6 in Figures 1 and 2.
A grip projection 8 for fingers is provided to rotate clockwise the contact part 3 about its axis y by 180 degrees, according to a curved arrow F in Figure 1, and then in the opposite direction. Obviously, this 180 degrees rotation must be performed only if the pressure being exercised on the ear lobe by the front and rear clamping members 1 and 2 has to be adjusted.
A through hole (non shown) for a pin can be provided in the contact part 3 and the pin itself (also non shown), in case the earring is of the type for pierced ear lobe.
It should be appreciated that the shapes shown by the earring are only paradigmatic and not limiting of the embodiments according to the invention that is defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A clip-on earring with adjustable pressure on ear lobe, comprising a front clamping member (1) and a rear clamping member (2) being spring biased one to other in order to be kept attached to the ear lobe with a set pressure, after the two clamping members (1, 2) are positioned at a determined mutual distance, characterised in that the rear clamping member (2) carries pivotally a contact part (3) having a face (4) with greater convexity and an opposed face (5) with less convexity, the one with respect to the other.
The clip-on according to claim 1, wherein the contact part (3) is pivotally mounted about a vertical axis (y).
The clip-on according to claim 1, wherein the contact part is pivotally mounted about an horizontal axis.
The clip-on according to claim 1, wherein either face (4, 5) have grooved surfaces with horizontal axes.
The clip-on according anyone of claims 2 and 3, wherein a grip projection (8) for fingers is provided to rotate the contact part (3) about its axis by 180 degrees in a direction and then in the opposite direction.