GB2274237A

GB2274237A - Ear-attachment device

Info

Publication number: GB2274237A
Application number: GB9321455A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jussara Maria Rolim Caracante
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-14
Filing date: 1993-10-18
Publication date: 1994-07-20
Also published as: GB9321455D0; JPH07215A; ITMI932223A1; FR2700249B1; FR2700249A1; BR9300082A; ITMI932223A0

Abstract

Earrings (1, 8) are provided which comprises adornments (2, 9) and (3, 10) for respective arrangements in front of, and behind, a wearers ear. The earrings are clip-on or for pierced ears. <IMAGE>

Description

Ear Attachment Device The present invention is concerned with a decorative ear attachment device.

Known pieces of ear jewellery, such as studs, ear-rings and the like, typically comprise a decorative portion which is primarily visible when the jewellery piece is arranged on a wearer's ear, and an unattractive securing device, such as a butterfly clip, plastic collar or the like, arrangeable predominantly behind the wearer's ear. Despite this arrangement, these jewellery pieces can be unsightly, and if the decorative portion becomes damaged will be of no further use.

There is however provided by the present invention a ear attachment device which comprises: (a) a first adornment element arrangeable in juxtaposition to a first major face of a wearer's ear; (b) a second adornment element arrangeable in juxtaposition to a second opposed major face of said wearer's ear; and (c) means for securing said attachment device in a selected position on said wearer's ear.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention the ear attachment device is of the type suitable for use with pierced ears, and preferably the securing means comprises an elongate member, typically a shaft, suitable for insertion through a preformed aperture of a wearer's ear. Advantageously, the elongate member extends from either the first or second adornment element, and a complementary engaging formation, such as a recess or aperture formation, is provided by either the second or first adornment element.

Typically the elongate member is a press or screw fit in the complementary recess or aperture formation.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the securing means comprise means for clipping the attachment device to a wearer's ear. It is preferred that the clipping means further comprise means for biassing the attachment device into engagement with a wearer's ear. The biassing means may comprise a spring member or the like.

It is preferred that the clipping means include means for hinging the first adornment element relative to the second adornment element, such that the adornment elements are pivotable from an open non-wearable position to a closed wearable position, and vice versa.

Advantageously the hinging means include a further adornment element. This arrangement is preferable in that a device according to the present invention can include decorative front, rear and side portions.

Typically the hinging means comprise a spine member on which the adornment elements can be pivotally mounted, although it is envisaged that a plurality of hinge locations may be provided.

It may be preferred that the first and second adornment elements are substantially the same. In this way a wearer need not worry about the arrangement of the adornment elements relative to the wearer's ear, and this can facilitate attachment of the device to the wearer's ear. This arrangement is also further advantageous in allowing reversal of the device, in the case of damage of one of the adornment elements.

Alternatively, the first and second adornments may be different. This enables the wearer to vary the principally visible adornment element of the attachment device.

The adornment elements may respectively comprise first and second stud members or the like. Alternatively, the adornment elements may respectively comprise first and second depending members.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, means are provided for hinging the first depending member relative to the second depending member substantially as hereinbefore described, the members being preferably symmetrically disposed about the hinging means.

It is preferred that the hinging means comprise a spine member on which the first and second depending members are pivotally mounted, whereby the members are pivotable between the open and closed positions as hereinbefore described. Preferably the spine member may be provided with means for arrangement thereof in a substantially contiguous arrangement with an edge portion of a wearer's ear. Typically the spine member is substantially flexible.

It is further preferred that the hinged depending members are provided with clasp means to enhance retention of the device on a wearer's ear. Advantageously the first and second depending members are respectively provided with first and second complementarily engageable clasps, the clasps preferably each include a further adornment element.

The adornment elements substantially as hereinbefore described may comprise precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, decorative enamel coatings or the like.

The present invention will now be further illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings, which do not limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attachment device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment device shown in Figure 1, when secured to a wearer's ear; Figure 3 is a plan view of an attachment device according to a second aspect of the present invention; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachment device shown in Figure 3, when secured to a wearer's ear.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a device generally designated 1 comprising studs 2, 3 for respective arrangement in front of, and behind, a wearer's ear lobe 4. Stud 2 includes a shaft 5, which can extend through an aperture of ear lobe 4 and be received in a recess 6 of stud 3. Shaft 5 is provided with a threaded portion 7 which can engage an internal thread (not visible) of stud 3.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, device 8 comprises curved side adornments 9, 10 and a decorative spine 11 on which adornments 9, 10, are pivotally mounted.

Adornments 9, 10 and spine 11 are similarly decorated, and in this way device 8 comprises front, rear and side decorated portions. Clasps 12, 13 are complementarily engageable and are capable of securing device 8 on a wearer's ear as shown in Figure 4.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A ear attachment device which comprises: (a) a first adornment element arrangeable in juxtaposition to a first major face of a wearer's ear; (b) a second adornment element arrangeable in juxtaposition to a second opposed major face of said wearer's ear; and (c) means for securing said attachment device in a selected position on said wearer's ear.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the securing means comprises an elongate member suitable for insertion through a preformed aperture of a wearer's ear.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the elongate member extends from either the first or second adornment element, and a complementary engaging formation is provided by either the second or first adornment element.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said complementary engaging formation comprises a recess or aperture formation.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the securing means comprise means for clipping said device to a wearer's ear.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein the clipping means further comprise means for biassing the attachment device into engagement with a wearer's ear.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the biassing means comprise a spring member.

8. A device according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein the clipping means include means for hinging the first adornment element relative to the second adornment element, such that the adornment elements are pivotable from an open non-wearable position to a closed wearable position, and vice versa.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the hinging means include a further adornment element.

10. A device according to claim 8 or 9. wherein the hinging means comprise a spine member on which the adornment elements can be pivotally mounted.

11. A device according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein adornment elements respectively comprise first and second stud members.

12. A device according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the adornment elements respectively comprise first and second depending members.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said depending members are pivotally mounted on a spine member, the latter being provided with means for arrangement thereof in a substantially contiguous arrangement with an edge portion of a wearer's ear.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the spine member is substantially flexible.

15. A device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the depending members are respectively provided with first and second complementarily engageable clasps.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the claps each include a further adornment element.

17. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.