US2610486A - Earring - Google Patents

Description

J. M CAN N EARRING Sept. 16; 1952 2 SHEETSr-SHEET 1 Filed Feb; 20, 1948 mvmon Judith McCann Sept. 16, 1952 J, MOCANN. 2,610,486

EARRING Filed Feb. 20, 1948 ,2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR Judi 1h Mc'ann 4 Patented Sept. 16, 1952 EARRING Judith Mcoann; New York, N. Y.

Application Febru r 20, 1948, Serial No. 9,819

Thisinvention relates to-an earringsuppo'rt and to a combination earring support and orna ment. In one aspect, thisjinvention-relates to an earring support for holding an ornament adjacent the lobe oi? a human ear, and which includes a saddle engageable in the concha' of the pinna of the ear for carrying the weight of the Claims;

support and ornament, a body portion overlying an exterior portion of the pinna, and' 'a retainer which is adapted to engage loosely behind the lobe of the pinna to prevent the displacement of the earring from the ear during use." f g 'It is an object of the invention to providesu'ch an earring; in which the support is formed prin cipally of an elongated, or attenuated 'p iece of material, such as wire, which is deformable at the points where adjustment'is necessary, or desirable, to adapt the device to ears'o'fdifferent configurationsand so that the retainer can be shaped to fit loosely behind the lobe without exerting pressure'thereon. a

It is a further object of the invention to pro vide such an earring support and mounting wherein the support is formed from a continuous length of material, such as wire, one free end thereof being secured to another portion to form a relatively rigid portion of the body;

Another object is to provide such an earring support in which this free end is secured to a contiguous part of the bodyportion by a pressedonclamp.

It is still another object to provide such an earringsupport'in which the free end and a contiguous portion of the body are held in engagement by a clamp which is provided with'an extended portion or flap for supporting the rnament I [It is another objectto-provide a novel fiap construction in which the flap is formed integrally with a clamp portion, which is secured to the support, and extends therefromadjacentbutfree from, the body of the support and provides posi tive retention of the ornament inplace' on the flap 1 2-'.-. .1. It is an additionai object-to provide such an earring in which thesupport, flap, andornament are secured togetherin a novel manner so that the ornament will be anchored securely against displacement during use.

It is a further object to-provide such a flap whichis parti'cularl y adapted for supporting the ornament and which'fincludes "a clamp portion integrally formed therewith that is crimpe'd'to '8 free end and a contiguous portion; of the body thus making it unnecessary toprovide aii' (Willtion on'a right human ear;

v 2 k iary structure for supporting the decoratio' and eliminating the necessity for soldering or sun; ilar constructional operations. v I With these and other objects which will "be come. apparent as the-description or the par-'- ticular embodiments of the invention disclosed in the, drawingsand described herein progresses, the invention resides in the combination and'afrangement of parts v disclosed in the drawings, as: scribed in the specification; and'recite'd in the claims. p I 1 1 p1; In the drawings which illustrate the best forms the invention now known tome: v r A,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing'the ea ring support and ornament'securingb si- Fig-2 is an enlarged sectional view tak'en long line-2'-2 of Figl;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view takenalongi me 3- 3 oiFig'.2;" q I g. 4 is a sectional view taken along line of'Fig.1; j Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken long line 5 5 of Fig. 3; p i I: h [I Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line6-6ofFig.3;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken-along line 1'! of Fig. 1; T Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the earring support; F a Y Fig. 9' is an enlarged perspective view of the decoration supporting flap before being'c'rimped in position on the earring support shown in Fig. 8; I Fig. 10 is a modified form oi-the decoration supporting flap shown in Fig. 9 and I Fig. 11 is anenlarged' sectional view through the ornament supporting flap with an ornament shown in position thereon, the plane of thefsec tion being suchv as is indicated byline H- I to! Fig 10. J 1 j In order to illustrate best anexemplary con struction and'applicati'on of the earring support, Ifhave shown one form applied to the pinna of a right human ear. It is the earring supports are 'to-be provided in pairs 7 adapted to fit the 'right and left ears; respectively.

For the purpose of describing and illustrating the present invention,I have designated thecoinf ponent parts of the ear as follows: The' p'inna, or external portion ofthe ear, is indicated gen erally by the reference character -A;" the concna; by the reference character E; the tragus, bythe reference character F; the-anti-tr'agus; by the reference character G; the inner wall,ro'r face,

tofbe understood that I of the tragus, by the reference character K; the inner wall, or face, of the anti-tragus, by the reference character J; the lobe, by the reference character H; and the junction of the lobe, or lower portion of the pinna, and the head, by the reference character I. I have termed the junction of the surfaces of the tragus and the antitragus within the concha as inner U of the pinna and designated it by the reference character M, and have termeclethe junction ,of thesurfaces f the outerporti'ons of the tragus and anti-tragus as the outer U, designated by L.

The inner U usually is depressed at its center, as indicated in the drawing at M, below the point where its faces join the inner face K of the tragus F and the inner face J of the anti-tragus G. The lower portion of the outer U,,L, usually.is somewhat above the bottom of the inner U, 'M, and is so indicated in the drawing.

A support l0, shown in Figs. 1 to 8 is formed .ofclongated .or attenuated .material which is .de- 'IQrmable-nt those points where adjustment may be desired as describedbclow. :Qfteminpractice, .it-iis more-convenient to construct theentire support from deformable material, as for example, from :single length .of wire. .Inrorder .tonarry the wei ht the earring, the upper .end of the support ,-l-,0'.-i s;provided witha -.sadd1 e =12 .(Fiss. 1 xandd) which is adaptedtofit within the .concha .01 zthe ear and @119 seat .on. the .inner faces K-and J of the tragus F and anti-tragus G, respectively. z'l-his-saddlecomprises a forwardly-extending Wing loop [4 and a rearwardly extending wing loop l5, oppositely disposed with respect .to the centerportion zor-big-ht -.l;8- of the saddle 1 2.

.The length of metal, or other material, which fer-ms the .saddle 1-2 extends from, the ,bight it of the saddle generally forwardly and upwardly, .as at. fir-1mg. :8) and in the opposite, direction rearwardly and upwardly, as at 15, is bent back upon itself at each end, as at .L'! and J9, and returns to the bight 8 to form the forwardand :rcanlocps J 4 and 11.5, respectively.

The effective center line CL (Figs. 3 and 4.) ofrthc sadd w ich is curved in. the vertical plane and extends lengthwise of thersaddle J2, curves inwardly :oneach side of the center .orbight is of the saddle l2 and then passes, preferably, through points .of inflectionnear .eachend of the saddle as the direction of curvature ohanges.

Inorder-that the loops of the saddle ,may .con- .formzmorfi closely :to the shape of the inner faces Vand-=J.-,of the tragus and anti-tra us, respectively, the individual wires of the forward and ,ifianloops L4 and 1-6 are positioned .so that the plane which, they define appears to have been twisted, or rotated, from, the :horizontal, for example, about the center linecc -L, asshown, respectiyely, in Figs. .6 and-,5. In-other words, assuming thexsllpport to, :bein position on -.a right car as shown in Fig. 1, and the forward loop to-zbe tent transversely along linger-6 in i 3 iihcnviewing the receding portions of the wires of tha-forwardloop M a1ong'thc.1ine.CL-in the fliE tiQn-of ,arroW,A,-the receding wire .29 (Fig.6.) lies forward y an inwardly .of wire 21 and approaches the mi ht l8,of the saddle at a lesser ans-1c. from the horizon alyas shown in Bi Nowassnm-in the Wires whichform the rear lo p to he ut transversely en l .5.5 in Bi 3, then viewing the wires .23 andz5 along line-.C -fL,

.andia ainzinthe general-direction of arrow A, the

when .(Fias) liesinwar y-of and slisht ya v the wire andat substantially the same angle ofv'mclination from the horizontal.

Preferably the longitudinal curvature of the saddle I2 is such that the bight 48 of the saddle bridges the face of the inner U, M, so that it is free therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3. With the longitudinal curvature of the saddle so adjusted and the saddle shaped so that the lower surfaces of the wing loops [4 and (6 of the saddle 12 make contact with the inner face K of the tragus and the inner face J of the anti-tragus, respectively, transverse rocking, as] well .Las rocking of the saddle forwardly and rearwardly, i. 'efilongitudinally, is prevented. It is to be understood that the exact shape may vary considerably and still provide the advantages pointed out above, such wide variation in primary construction being feasible because of the nature of the material and structure which-permit bending of the saddle to alter the transverse configuration of the forward .andrearl-loops M and IE or the longitudinal curvature of the saddle so that the support may be fitted, by pliers or other means, to the shape .Whichismostcomfortable and-effective onvta particularycar. V I

The two sections :of elongated metal or wire .fromwhichthe saddle ispreferably formedextend outwardlyat an angle from the bight of the saddle to form .a body portion-saddle bridge 22, This bridge is constructed advantageously .so that the; two pieces, of Wire which form thebridge are adjacent to one another as shown :in.Fig. '8.

These two :sectionsof wire are, bent generally downwardly at the outermost portion of the bridge 22 toform body portion 24. --One of these pieces ,of wire extends downwardly :a short .distance,- forms rearwardly extending U shaped loop 26, for the-purpose of providing adjustability as described below, and-continues,thencedownward lyover ;the.0uter face of .therpinnaeA. The other section of wire extends downwardly, adjacent to the first section, to its free -end, which may be, for example, just above theloopzt, as ;at 2.8 .(Fig..8 V

The wire, .or othermaterial which forms the body-portion .24 continues -.downwardly from the loop .216 iandcurves inwardly around the lobe H, forminga :bod-y portion-retainer bridge 32, and thence generally upwardly and-rearwardly at the junction 1- between the pinna and the head, to form the retainer 34.

Preferably, in'use, the distance between point 43 (Fig. 8) and the lowermost point on the-body portion-retainer bridge '32 is less than the distancebetween the top portion-of the .outer UhL, and the lowermost portion of .lobe H, and is, preferably, slightly greater than the distance between the lowermost portion .of the outer U, L, and the junction I, and is preferably less than the distance between the junction ,1 and the top portion, of the .outer U. This relationship, .of course, depends upon the configuration of the particular ear with which the device is used.

Theretainer .34 fits loosely behind the .lobe of the ear so that it does-not-apply a clamping action thereto but provides an interlocking structure whichpreventsthe lowermost portion of the support 10 from swinging outwardly away from the head, which would cause the support'to become disengaged from the ear. The retainer ,34 extending rearwardly behind the ear is not intended .tocontact the back of the ear but to be in: close proximity thereto so that if; the head of the wearer is moved .so that the pinna of the ear faces downwardly, the body portion-retainer bridge 32 of the support and the retainer 34 will engageat the bottom and behind the .lobeof the ornam'entisecuring flap.

carand prevent-the bottom'ot the earring from swinging outwardly. 'Thus,'theearringisupport is maintained imposition by an interlocking action and not i by clamping "or pressure exerting structuresflxj-j it: I y r-l: r #Des'cribing the support, when' the wings are bent .to iconforrn'to the particular ear illustrated in-thedrawing; the single length of wire forming the support may be -traced along its. length as follows :"starting at end .28 .(Fig; 8) the wire extends upwardly to the point lfi, forming part ofthe: body portion 24, makes an angular turn extendingthence a short distance to form one section of the body portion-saddlei'bridge. 22;

,This'wire then makes an angular turn extending generally forwardly and upwardly thence around a generally U--:shapedbend and returning, at a lesserjangle from" the horizontal, ,to the bight 18 of the'fsaddle: IE to form the forward wing iloop |4.; The wirecontinues. from this point generall backwardly and upwardly through .a. secondgenerally; U-shaped bend and returns downwardly andforwardlyt'othe bight it of the saddle. I2 to form the rear, wing loopal 6s. The wirethen makes an angular turnand extends/immediately:adjacent thesectionv of the .body portion-saddle bridge 2'2 and' body: .pjortionj, previously de-iscribed,;to,a pointadjacentend 28. This portion of the-wiresupport continues downwardly, forms,- the rearwardly extending -;adjustment loop; 2'5. andthence downwardly-to form the remainder'of body portion'Z- l. The wire ,then' curves, gradually,

' inwardly, upwardly and: rearwardly forming the body portion retainer;bridge 32 and the---re-;-,

tainer 34.-.-- 1 it is, ct course, to be understood that the. wings as well as the other portions of-the supportmay orderto reinforce the wire support" iii and secure-the end voi -the wire-to the-body portion 2%. j and at the sametirne providea convenient-meansfor securing; to :the support a; suitable ornament,

example, as illustrated at S6 in Fig. :1'-1',1a flap-3 generally.indicatedat'38 '(Figs. :l, 9, 10, 11) is provided; The flap 38-includes aclamp portion 42 which substantially surroundsa short length] of wire adiacent the free end -28;and a contiguous portion of the body -and is securely fastened thereto, preferably by crimping, so that the structure is maintained in positionby'aclamping to conto'rm to ears of various configurm;

action, eliminating the need for soldering or other difficult and expensive mechanical operations.

This clamp 42, which as stated above sccures'one. of the free endspf the'length of wirefrom which the support-H! is formed to the contiguous por tion ofthe body, provides-a; rigid reinforced body section so that the support will maintain thedesired configuration and so that it=may be more? readily adjustedby bending, With the bending action occurring-rnost readily-at the points best suited to producing the, desired changes in configuration.

.Advantageonsly, thej'fiap- 38 includes an ornament Isecuring extension it-which is formed integrally with the ,clamlpip ortion lit and extends downwardly and rearwardly therefrom adjacent; but'free fromg. the loop 2 6. It isto beunderstood that the clam portion 42 may beconstructed without'the ornament securing ,extensionfi the earring decoration being secured directly to the wire support or to alseparate base onthe 5 .25. Howevenjobviousadvantages and economies" result from'use of a combination clamping and the-earring is to-be worn.

1 :The ornamentsecuring extension. iofth'erfiap Aliextends' over the loop'26 andisfree'therefromin; order that the full. deformability of the loop may bentilized for adiustmentzpurposes. Thus,- if it is desired to changeitheverticallength of the body portion, 1. e. thedistance'between point 46 (Fig. .8).'and the body portion retainer bridge 32, to.alter:the overall length of: the supportiinaccordance-with-the vertical distancebetween the outer U, 'L, andthe junction I of the particular, ear on which the earring is to be worn, thecon figuration of the loop 26 may be changed without interference by the ornamentfsecuring extension 44 and-without danger of causing thedecorative portion of thegearring, to;- be disengaged; accidentally, from the support. Thus the support may; be readilyadjusted, by shortening or;.1engthening, to adapt it to ears of difierent dimensions and so that nevertheless the distancebetween point 46 and the body portion-retainer bridge will-be less than the distance from" the outer U L,;to the lowermost portion ofthe'lobe I-I. In; addition, the configuration of the body portion retainer bridge32, the retainer 34, and the longi tudinal and transverse configuration of. 10013544? and I 6; may be; altered, by bending, t0 acgornmodate the support, to the particulal."

he fiap- 38 maybe providedwiththe securing extension 44 having a fiat smooth: surface, as shown in Fig. 1, to which a suitable orna ment may be secured, for example, by: welding,

soldering or cementing. Additionally, thegornament securing extension 44A-is shown in Fig; 9

provided with atransverse openingas at,:5 2,in order topermit attachment rivetingIorstakin-g'. I

It is often more convenient however, to secure,

the ornament to the iiapby cementing, as for example, with quick-drying 'lacquer typBimate-; v rials. When the; extension M is :provided with aq fiat smooth surfaceasin Fig. 1 the adherence of; the: ornament depends primaril-yqon the. surface adhesion between-the extension and the cement-,1 have provided for an; -abraded or undercut surface whereby the cement when hardened "will anchor the ornament securely to the extension 44. For example, the extension A (Fig; 9, and MB in Figs. 10 and 11-} maybe ,provided with several inwardly extending cavi- 'ties or openings 54, for example, such as would be formed by a pointed'or Wedge, Shaped tool, and

which preferably have at least onesurface which forms an acute angle relative to the'surfaceof-v the extension A. Thus, whenthe ornament35- is secured-to the extension MB, asshown in Fig.v

11,- by cement 56, the cement penetrates these. openings and when hardened produces an anchoring eiiect so that the suriaceadhesionottheg cement is effectively increased and the ornament will be anchored in place so that it cannot be dis-' lodged except by a force sufficiently largeto overcome the self-tenacity or internal cohesion; of the cement, which is higher ordinarilythan the surface adhesion between the extension 44 and the cement 56.. .7; I further, the: securing of ornamental decorations to the support, the'ex- In order p to facilitate,

tension MB, (Figs. 10 and ii) may be" provided with a concave or cupshaped portion 58. This shape is sometimes better fitted to the configuration of the ornamentand provides an inherently more rigid structure. The-cup 58 may be pro-, vided-optionally with the anchoring openings 5! .and/or the transverse opening 52. In Fig. 11 the 1 of o namen s. b

cement L56 which has filled openings :514 and, in. addition, by a rivetzortpin 62- which' extends' through the hole: 52' i'ntoi'the :ornament;

It: will be .observeditha't the earring support and mounting described herein provides .a simplifled structure-and reduces the complexity of the manufacturing processes, for example, by eliminating all soldering or welding operations and, in addition, provides reinforcement of the support by the ornament securing vflap. Itisto be further observed that although the flap serves to reinforce the support it doesnot in any manner interferewith the adjustability of the support and is constructed so that a :wide variety of ornamental decorations may besecured thereto conveniently-and rapidly. V

The term deformable, used in the description, is intended to mean that the element is bendable to assume forms other than its original "form,

and that it'will remain in itsnew'form until again bent to its original or still another form; thus being distinguished from resilient and non-deformable or unbendable.

Although I have illustrated and described particular embodiments of the invention, it will be realized by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the details of the con-v struction without departing from the spirit of the invention or without exceeding the scope of the claims. I

Iclaim;

.1; An earring c m a support. formed 6f asingle length of deformable material and having a'saddle with forwardly and 'rearwardly extending wings adapted to seat on the innersurfaces of'the pinna of a human ear, a body-portion-saddle bridge extending outwardly at an anglefrom said saddle, a body portion formed at least in part by two parallel adjacent sections of said material and extending downwardly from said body-portion-saddle-bridge and adapted to traverse the outer face of the ear lobe substantially fromthe bottom of the outer U tothe junction between the ear lobe and the head and having 'a rearwardly extending adjusting loop portion, a body-portion-retainer-bridge curving generally backwardly fromsaid body portion and adapted to fit loosely around and under the lobe of the ear, and a retainer extending backwardly and upwardly from said body-portion-retainerbridge and adapted'to fit loosely behind the lobe to 'maintain said saddle in its seated position; a flap having a clamp portion crimped around said adjacent sections of material of said body portion thereby to reinforce the body portion and having an ornament securing extension formed integrally with and extending from said clamp portion adjacent, but free from, said body portion.

2. An earring-as described in claim 1 wherein said flap is provided with a transverse'hole for riveting or staking an ornament thereto.

3. An earring as described in claim'l wherein said ornament securing extensionis provided with acup-shaped surfacefor receivingan ornament.

' 4L earring as described in claim 1 wherein said ornament'securing extension is provided with a plurality of undercut surfaces so that an ornamentmay be secured by the anchoring action of cement against said surfaces.

5, An earring comprisingya support having a saddle with forwardly and rearwardly extending wings adapted .toseat :onithe inner surface :Qtthapinna of :a human car, a "bodyportion-saddlebridge extendinggat an angle-ifrom saidisaddle', a body portion extending downwardly-from'zsaid adapted to;

5 body-portion-saddle-bridge and traverse the outer iace of the, earlobe, .;a bodyportioneretainer-bridge aextending :arcuately "from" the .lower end of "the said body portion and adaptedto fitloosely-around thelobe of :the can 10 and a retainer. extending'ba'ckwardly and :up-

wardly from said :body-ep.ortion-retainer-=bridge and adaptedtofit loosely behin'dthe lobe-to prevent said saddle from being dislodged from its seated positionduring-zuse, said support being formed principallyaof elongated deformable materiaLsaid portion comprising contiguous, sub

engagement to reinforce said body :portion, and

an ornament-securing extensionsupported by and extending'fromlsaid clamp' portion.

6. An earring comprising: a support having a saddle with forwardly and'ere'arwardly extending wings adapted to seat ontheinner surfacesof'the' pinna of a'human ear abody-portion-saddle- 3o" bridge extending at an angle from said saddle, a

body portion extending downwardly from said body-portion-saddlebridge and adapted to traverse the outer-.face of the ear ldbeand including an adjustment loop portion, said body portion 5? comprising contiguous, substantially parallel elements one of which terminatesin a free 'end' adjacent said adjustmentloop, a body-portion-re tamer-bridge arc'uately extending from the lower end of said body portion and adapted to fit loosely 4% around the lobe of the ear, and a retainer extending backwardly and upwardly from said bodyportion-retainer bridge and adapted to fit loosely behind the lobe to prevent said saddle'from being dislodged from its seated position during use; said support being formed of elongated material those parts being deformable which form the saddle, loop portion, body-portion-retainerbridge and retainer; and a clamp portion substantially enclosing said free end of said material 5mm a contiguous section of said body holding them in tight frictional engagement thereby to reinforce said body.

'7. An earring comprising: a support having a saddle with forwardly and rearwardly extending wings adapted to seat on the inner surfaces of the pinna of a human ear, a body-portion-saddlebridge extending at anangle from said saddle, a body portion extending downwardly from said body-portion-sadd1e bridge and adapted to travb erse the outer face ofthe ear lobe, said body portion comprising contiguous substantially parallel elements one of which terminates in a free end,

a body-portion-retainer-bridge arcuately extending from the lower end of said body portion and adapted to fit loosely aroundlthelobe of the ear, and a retainer. extending backwardly and 11p wardly from said body-portion-retainer andbridge, and the retainer are formed; and a flap secured to said body portion and having an ornament securing extension which is provided with a plurality of undercut surfaces whereby an ornament may be securely and firmly anchored to elongated material and including a saddle having forwardly and rearwardly extending wing loops and adapted to engage in the ooncha of the pinna of an ear for supporting the weight of an ornament, a body portion supported by said saddle and adapted to carry an earring ornament, an adjustment 100p formed integrally with said body portion and adapted to be bent in order to fit said :support to a particular ear configuration and size, :said body portion comprising. contiguous, substantially parallel elements one of which terzminates in a free end adjacent said adjustment loop, a retainer extending from said body portion and adapted to engage loosely behind the. lobe :of the pinna to prevent displacementof the earring support from the pinna during 1 e, a clamp portion adjacent said free end of said material and holding a contiguous section of said body portion in firm engagement therewith, an ornament supporting extension supported by said clamp portion, and an ornament secured to and supported by said extension.

9. An earring supportformed ofdeformable elongated material and including a "saddle having forwardly and rearwardly extending wing loops and adapted to engage in the concha of they pinna of an ear for supporting the weight of an ornament, a body portion supported by said saddle and adapted to carry an earring ornament, an adjustment loop formed integrally with said body portion and adapted to be bent in order to fit said support to a particular ear configuration and size, said portion comprising contiguous, substantially parallel elements one of which terminates in a free end adjacent said adjustment loop, a

retainer extending from said body portion and adapted to engage loosely behind the lobe of the pinna to prevent displacement of the earring support from the pinna during use, and a clamp portion adjacent said free end of said material and holding a contiguous section of said body portion in firm engagementtherewith.

10. In an earring construction, the combination of, a saddle which is adapted to rest at the bottom of the concha of an ear and comprising a continuous piece of deformable wire bent into an elongated loop with the ends of the wire positioned in side by side contiguous relationship and adapted to project outwardly along the outer U of the ear and with said loop having two portions projecting oppositely from each other and transversely of said ends of the wire, and an orna- REFERENCES CITED 7 The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20,480 Carpenter June 8, 1858 796,151 Sadler Aug. 1. 1905 2,040,083 Elliott et al May 12, 1936 2,389,295 Chernow Nov. 20, 1945 2,414,382 McCann Jan. 14, 1947 2,490,908 Kohler Dec. 13, 1949 1 2,511,170 McCann June 13, 1950

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