GB2234153A - Earrings - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns earrings of the kind which are worn on pierced ears and which consist of a body 9 wherefrom protrudes a post 5 which in use passes through the ear lobe and is retained in place by a keeper, or butterfly 1, push fitted onto the exposed end of the post. To overcome the unsightly appearance of the butterfly and the danger presented by the exposed post end behind the butterfly in the conventional arrangement, the invention provides an earring wherein the butterfly is mounted within a shroud 7 which serves to conceal the butterfly and distal end of the post. <IMAGE>

Description

EARRINGS This invention relates to earrings of the kind which are worn on pierced ears and which consist of a decorous body wherefrom protrudes a post which in use passes through the ear lobe and is retained in place by a keeper, or butterfly, push fitted onto the exposed end of the post.

Such earrings have been known for many years. In most popular earrings the post extends direct from the decorous body, which maybe a simple pearl or diamond, or a mounted cluster of precious stones. The conventional butterfly consists of a strip of metal with a central aperture where through passes the post, the two ends of which are formed inwardly into scrolls defining a nip which frictionally engages the post and prevent it from falling out of the ear.

The conventional arrangement has two main disadvantages which the invention seeks to overcome.

Firstly the butterfly is intrinsically utilitarian and unattractive, which not only detracts from the appearance of the article as worn, but also predicates that the butterfly must always sit on the rear of the earlobe where it is partially obscured from view.

Secondly the exposed end of the post and edges of the butterfly present the risk of abrading or puncturing the delicate skin behind the ear if pressure is applied from the front as can happen for example in close dancing.

According to the invention there is provided an earring comprising a body wherefrom extends a post adapted to pass through the ear and a keeping butterfly adapted to be fixedly secured on the post wherein the butterfly is mounted within a shroud which serves to conceal the butterfly and distal end of the post.

Concealment of the butterfly and post opens up a number of interesting possibilities which make the earrings according to the invention more adaptable than the prior art to a number of configurations. For instance: (1) The shroud can be plain and worn behind the ear simply to protect the wearer from the aforesaid risk of injury.

(2) The body can be plain and worn behind the ear and the shroud can be decorous and worn on the front of the ear. A pendant can depend from the shroud.

(3) The body can be in the form of a pendant and the shroud can be decorous. In this arrangement the shroud can be worn on the front or rear of the earlobe as desired. Alternatively the shroud can be plain and worn behind the ear. In both arrangements the post can be angled one limb passing through the ear the other limb hanging down and suspending the pendant.

(4) Both the body and the shroud can be decorous. If desired they can be substantially identical in decoration so that either may be worn on the front of the lobe. Alternatively the shroud and body may have contrasting appearances such that the wearer may alternate his or her appearance at will by changing the orientation of the earring.

A preferred form of shroud is a hollow hemisphere within which the butterfly is fixed either frictionally, by welding or by adhesive. The post is preferably formed with a narrowed portion adapted to be securely received within the nip of the butterfly.

In order that the invention may be readily understood certain embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a butterfly or keeper of the prior art Fig. 2 shows a post presented to the butterfly Fig. 3 shows the post clipped into place in the butterfly Fig. 4 shows a first embodiment of earring according to the invention Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment and Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment The butterfly 1 consists of a strip of metal having a central aperture 2 and two ends 3 which are formed inwardly into scrolls defining a nip 4. In Fig. 2 there is shown a post 5 of an earring according to the invention formed with a narrowed portion or waist 6.Fig. 3 shows the post inserted into the nip 4 where the post 5 is received through the aperture 2 and clipped in place by engagement of the scrolls 3 with the waist 6.

Turning to Fig. 4 there is shown an earring according to the invention, in which the butterfly 1 is fixedly mounted within a decorous shroud 7 which serves to conceal the butterfly 1 and also the distal end of the post 5 from view. The shroud 7 consists of a hollow metallic hemisphere provided with surface decoration. The butterfly 1 is fixed within the hemisphere by welding, adhesive or by friction. A pendant 8 of any desired form is suspended from the shroud 7. In this embodiment the post 5 extends from a plain body 9 which is adapted to be worn behind the ear and it will be seen that, being flat, the body poses no threat of injury to the wearer.

Turning to Fig. 5 a modified embodiment is shown in which the body 9 consists of a pendant which depends from an angled post 5. The shroud 7 mounting the butterfly 1 is the same as the Fig. 4 embodiment and it will be seen that in this arrangement the body 9 can be worn behind the ear or indeed at the front of the ear, at the wearer's choice. The coffnection between the post 5 and the body 9 instead of being direct as shown in the Figure could be by way of a chain if desired. In most cases the decoration on the body 9 will match that on the shroud 7.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 does not include a pendant but the body 9 instead of being plain as in Fig. 4 is now decorous and matches the shroud 7 which is otherwise the same as that shown in Fig. 5. It will be seen that in this arrangement either the body 9 or the shroud 7 can be worn behind the ear as desired and the butterfly 1 and distal end of the post 5 are obscured from view and cannot cause the wearer injury. In a modified arrangement the body 9 can be of a substantially different design from shroud 7 and the user can at choice wear whichever they prefer on the front of the lobe.

It will be seen that the invention makes a substantial step forward in the configuration of post/butterfly earrings. Earrings according to the invention are not only more attractive than the prior art but are safer to wear.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS:

1. An earring comprising a body wherefrom extends a post adapted to pass through the ear and a keeping butterfly adapted to be fixedly secured on the post wherein the butterfly is mounted within å shroud which serves to conceal the butterfly and distal end of the post.

2. An earring according to claim 1 wherein the body is to be worn on the front of the ear and is decorous, and the shroud is to be worn behind the ear and is plain.

3. An earring according to claim 1 wherein the body is to be worn behind the ear and is plain and the shroud is to be worn on the front of the ear and is decorous.

4. An earring according to claim 3 wherein a pendant depends from the shroud.

5. An earring according to claim 1 wherein the body is in the form of a pendant and the shroud is decorous.

6. An earring according to claim 1 wherein the body is in the form of a pendant and the shroud is plain.

7. An earring according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the post is angled so as to provide one limb for passing through the ear and another limb for hanging down and suspending the pendant.

8. An earring according to claim 1 wherein both the body and the shroud are decorous.

9. An earring according to claim 8 wherein the body and shroud are substantially identical in decoration.

10. An earring according to claim 8 wherein the shroud and body are different in decoration.

11. An earring according to any preceding claim wherein the shroud comprises a hollow hemisphere within which the butterfly is secured.

12. An earring according to any preceding claim wherein the post is formed with a narrowed portion adapted to be securely received within the nip of the butterfly.

13. An earring having a construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.