GB2187633A - Earring fittings - Google Patents

Abstract

An earring fitting 1 made from wire has a first arm 3 pivotable about 10 on a second arm 4, a catch 6 at the free end of which engages the end 7 of first arm 3. A stop 13 is provided on the first arm 3 to limit angular movement of the first arm 3 towards the second arm 4 and catch 6. Minimal weakening of the fitting after repeated use is achieved by use of the pivot and stop. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Earring fittings This invention relates to earring fittings ofthetype having a curved portion for insertion through a hole in a person's ear.

Aconventional earring fitting, as shown in Figures 1a and 1 b, is made ofa springy, metallic wire and has a curved portion 2 between two approximately parallel first and second arms 3,4. The second arm 4 is connected with a straight portion 5, which is inclined to the second arm in substantially the same plane as the arms, thereby forming an approximate L-shape. The free end ofthe straight portion 5 is curved out of the plane ofthe arms 3,4 to provide a catch 6, which is spaced from the free end 7 ofthe other arm 3 in the natural, open position ofthefitting 1.

The fitting 1 is closed by deforming the fitting by displacing the free end 7 of the first arm 3 behind the catch 6 at the end of the second arm 4. The spring action of the wire urges the free end 7 of the first arm 3to return to its initial position, thus serving to retain the free end 7 ofthefirstarm 3 againstthe catch 6 and to close the fitting 1. It is found in use that after repeated closing of the fitting 1, the concomitant deformation of the wire tends to permanently alter the natural shape ofthefitting and may even resultin eventual breakage of the fitting 1.

Therefore, a main object ofthe invention is to be able to repeatedly close an earring fitting ofthe above type with minimal damage being caused.

According to the invention, we propose an earring fitting incl uding a first member having a free end, a second member having means at a free end thereof for retaining the free end ofthefirst member, a pivotal connection between the first and second members at their other ends, for relative movement ofthefirstand second members, and a stopfor limiting the relative pivotal movementofthefirstand second members towards one another.

The first member comprises a curved portion integral with a first arm and the second member is approximately L-shaped, comprising a second arm, which is approximately parallel with the first arm and connected with a straight portion. Also, the first member is angularly movable about a pivot on the second arm and the stop comprises a protrusion on or near the pivotal end of the first arm.

A cover may be disposed over the external side of the pivot so that the pivot is not visible during wearing. The fitting is typically made from a rigid metallic or plastics wire, thefirst member being slightly resilient. It is not necessaryforthe second memberto be resilient, although it may be.

The earring fitting ofthis invention is highly advantageous since the material suffers minimal weakening when it is closed because one portion of the fitting is angularly moved with respect to the other. Also, closure is assisted by the stop.

This fitting is found to be reliable and durable and therefore superior to the conventional fitting.

An embodiment according to the invention will be described, byway of example and with reference to the drawing ofwhich: Figure la is a diagrammatic side view of a conventional earring fitting; Figure ibis a diagrammatic end view in the direction ofthearrowAofthefitting shown in Figure 1a; Figure2a isa diagrammaticsideviewofanearring fitting ofthis invention; Figure is a diagrammatic end view in the direction of arrowA' ofthefitting shown in Figure 2a; Figure2c is a view from the other end and to one side ofthefitting of Figures 2a and band Figure2disadetailedviewofthe hingeofthe fitting of Figures 2a to 2c.

The same reference numerals are used in Figures 1 and 2forthe same features.

An earring fitting 1 comprises slightly resilientfirst member la having a curved portion 2contiguous with and belonging to a first arm 3, an approximately L-shaped second member 1 b having a second arm 4 approximately parallel with the first arm 3. The second arm 4 is connected with a straight portionS, which extends towards the first member and is inclined to the second arm in substantiallythe same plane as the arms, forming an approximate U-shape with the arms. The free end of the straight portion 5 is curved out ofthe plane ofthe arms 3,4 to provide a catch 6forthefree end of the other arm 3, which end 7 extends beyond the catch 6.

The second arm 4 and the straight portion 5 are connected via a hook portion 8 on which an ornament may be hung or attached.

The free end 9 ofthe curved portion 2 is looped and hinged on a pivot pin 10, which is attached to the second arm 4, as shown best in Figure 2d. The pivot pin 10 is disposed between pair of parallel sidewalls 11 of a housing 12.

The looped end 9 ofthe curved portion 2 includes a protrusion 13, which acts as a stop to the clockwise, angularmovementofthefirst member 1a aboutthe pivot 10. Anti-clockwise, angular movement ofthe first member 1 a is limited by abutment of the pivotal endofthecurvedportion2againstthewall I4ofthe housing 12 joining the sidewalls 11. Thus,thefirst member 1 a has an anti-clockwise extreme position, in which the earring fitting is open, and a clockwise extreme position in which the first arm is located before the catch 6 and the earring fitting may be closed by displacing the free end 7 of the first arm 3 behind the catch 6 on the second arm 4.The slight resilience of the first member holds the free end of thefirstarm 3 against the catch in the closed position.

When the fitting is open, not necessarily in the extreme open position, the first arm may be pushed intothe hole in a person'searsothatthecurved portion of the fitting rests in the ear. The earring fitting 1 is closed by angularly moving the first arm 3 relatively towards the second arm and then pushing the free end 7 of thefirst arm behind the catch 6.

When the first arm is pushed behind the catch,the stop maintains the first member essentially in position and thus, deformation of the material is reduced to that involved in locating the free end 7 in the catch 6, with the result that the life of the earring fitting is greatly increased. Only slight resilience of the first member is required.

Alternatively, an angularly movable catch may be employed. The free end ofthe first arm is then angularly moved into the catch, which is closed around it.

Claims (6)

1. An earring fitting including afirstmember having a free end, a second member having means at a free end thereoffor retaining the free end ofthe first member, a pivotal connection between the first and second members at their other ends, for relative movement ofthe first and second members, and a stop for limiting the relative pivotal movementofthe first and second members towards one another.

2. An earring fitting according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a curved portion integral with afirstarm andthesecond memberis approximately L-shaped, comprising a second arm, which is approximately parallel with the first arm and connected with a straight portion.

3. An earring fitting accordi ng to ciaim 1 or2, wherein the first member is angularly movable about a pivot on the second arm and wherein the stop comprises a protrusion on or near the pivotal end of the first arm.

4. An earring fitting according to claim 1,2 or 3, including a cover disposed over the external side of the pivot.

5. An earring fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising metallic or plastics wire.

6. An earring fitting constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2a to 2d ofthedrawings.