US2956422A - Earwire having a curved ear surface engaging means - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 18, 1960 F. H. DAVIDSON 2,956,422

EARWIRE HAVING A CURVED EAR SURFACE ENGAGING MEANS Filed May 6, 1955 FIG. l. FIG. 2.

INVENTOR United States Patent 01" EARWIRE HAVING A CURVED EAR SURFACE ENGAGING NIEANS Frank Hodge Davidson, 849 S. Oxford Ave., Los Angeles, 5, Calif.

Filed May 6, 1955, Ser. No. 506,447 1 Claim. (CI. 63-13) This invention relates to an earwire and more particularly to an arrangement for utilizing the weight of an appendage as a securing means. This invention was disclosed in my design patent application Ser. No. D. 31,888, filed Aug. 16, 1954, which is presently pending, and for which one claim has been allowed, and contains the features therein disclosed, with other features included.

One object of this invention provides for an arrangement whereby this earwire can be easily secured to, or removed from a pierced ear.

Another object of this invention provides means allowing for elimination of hand operated securing devices.

Another object provides an arrangement for covering the perforation in a pierced ear by utilizing supported weight.

For the achievement of said objects and other objects that may hereinafter become evident to be identified, I have shown an embodiment of this invention in the drawing herewith.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my earwire attached to an earlobe, with parts broken away and parts shown in Referring to Figure 1, it may be observed that theearwire therein shown is comprised of an open circular section 2, terminating at one end 55, in a ring-like opening, and the other with a rounded end 22, with a section 3 attached to, and situated between said ends, and forming a part of said circular section, the combination of which is designated by the arrow 5. I have further shown a ring R, which is shown supporting an appendage D, and Figure 1 includes an illustration of an earlobe L, as shown supporting an entire assembly. The desired vertical alignment is shown in Figure 2.

For the convenience of reference I will refer to that section of 5, situated between and including numerals 22 and 23, as the support section, to section 3, which includes portions 33 and 34, as the ornamental, and or control section, to that portion of 5 to which the arrow 5 points, which includes the control section, originating at 33, and terminating with 55, as the transfer section, and to the end 55, as the force opening, of the transfer section, and I will now proceed to describe the construction thereof. e v

This earwire may be formed from any preferred or desired material which will serve the purposes set forth, such as metal, plastic or the like, and in any preferred or desired manner. One method 'of construction may be accomplished by'taking a length of round wire, turning same around a cylindrical form of desired circumference, then cutting across said wire, thereby making rings resembling large open jump-rings, smoothing one end 22 in a rounded manner, and turning the other 55, within the perimeter to a closed ring, aligning 22 and 55, thereby completing section 2. Section 3 may be effectively attained when formed or stamped from a flat disc of sheeted material such as metal, to the form shown in the drawing, then drilled with a hole at the desired location and angle, of a circumference compatible to the diameter of the wire used, to allow 22, to be threaded through said hole, and brought to the desired position, then secured, as shown completed in Figures 1 and 2.

Referring to Figure 1 to further identify and describe these sections, or portions thereof, I will now refer to the end 22 as the safe end of the support section, and it may be noted that said end has been rounded, this for the sole purpose of rendering said end harmless, as it is presentedto, and as it penetrates L, through the perforation, to'

' which the reference letter P is directed. While I have merous curvatures, and or, lengths adaptable.

tive dimensions of the several portions of the disclosedport section, and L to maintain said control.

shown 22 as being evenly rounded, this will be understood as exemplifying but one of many contours applicable. The other end of the support section, is the pivotal control point 23, whereby L supports the support section. That lying between 22 and 23 is intended to provide an arc-like curvature, or its equivalent, sufficient to allow a measure of security and versatility when engaged with an earlobe. It is further intended that this section be cylindrical of cross section, with a smooth surface, to provide a compatible association with said earlobe, and possessing tensile strength sutficient to provide an eifective' association, with said earlobe. Though I have shown this section with an even moderate curve of short length, this will be understood as exemplifying but one of nu- The relaembodiment may be calculated by reference to the size given to L.

Upon referring to the control section 3, which is at-.

tached to the support section, may I direct your attention to portion 33, which is intended to safely engage, or embrace the face of a pierced earlobe on the contact side (see Figure 1), while presenting an ornamental, and or decorative side 34 to the observer. Said control section is shown as saucer-like in appearance and convex facing the earlobe L, for the purpose of presenting a smooth nonirritating yet relatively large area of contact to the face of the earlobe, also serving as a stop point, and control surface, the control feature, being dependent on the sup- The stop point is where L contacts 33 at the pivotal control point 23. While I show section 3 to be concavo convex in; contour, with a circular perimeter, this will be under-' stood as merely an example, of one of numerous forms that may be given to this section. The control section may also be used in applying, or removing this earwire to or from fixed association with a pierced earlobe.

Here I wish to point out the efiFects of the engagement between the control side, or surface and the lobe. It

may be noted, that the part of L lying below P, and concaused by the weight of the assembly resting on the lower part of L, however this also confers a more rigid tendency' to the upper part of L, where L contacts 33 and cheeks the upper portion of the rearward roll of the assemblys force, where it also assists the support section in lateral control.

The transfer section, shown in Figure 1, passing through the control section and forming a part of the support section, has been so shown to demonstrate one method of construction, and round wire has been utilized because of its compatible nature to a pierced ear. How- Pateii'ted Oct. 18, 1960 ever, the transfer section itself, shown emanating from 3,. but originating at the contact surface 33, and terminating at 55, is so shown, solely to demonstrate one effective means of transferring the force supplied to- 55' by- D; and the material used, is intended to possess tensile strength, suflicient to reasonably resist deformation, said transfer section is intended to be sufiiciently rigid, be" cause upon this section lies the responsibility of transferring the effects, of the weight of the appendage. D, from a downward pull (i.e. caused by gravity), to the direction of the arrow T or an upward, and/or, rearward push, against the control section, whereby the face of the earlobe, will contain said push, at the pivotal control point 23. To accomplish this purpose the transfer section must cover an arc, or equivalent thereof, exceeding."

180 degrees, from an effective originating point: (i.e. wherewith an appendage is afiixed), to an eifectiveter minal, on the contact surface 33. The aforementioned effective points are determined by the amount of pressure desired against the face of L. It is also. intended that the scope of curvature, or its equivalent, of the transfer section, be wide enough to allow sufficient clearance below the lower tip of L whereby the transfer section of its force opening will never interfere with the maneuverability of this earwire, and never touch said lower tip of L, when movement occurs causing said transfer section or force opening thereof to maneuver around said tip of L. Then too, the transfer section may be used to apply or remove this earwire to or from its fixed association with an earlobe. While I have shown the transfer section with a circular perimeter, said perimeter is subject to change within the scope of effectiveness, and cylindrical in cross section, this too may be so changed, and may be decorated if desired.

The force opening 55, of the transfer section, has been shown in Figure 1 to be turned inside the perimeter of 2, this for the sole purpose of demonstrating one effective method of turning same, however, the relative hearing of this portion to the pivotal control point 23, is intended to be Within the boundaries of effectiveness necessary to supply the pressure needed by 3, whereby 3 will retain close adjacency with L, then too, this portion must be equipped with said force opening whereby to retain a suitably hung appendage. The opening in 55 is shown circular, to show one adaptable type of opening allowing for freedom of movement to said appendage. Because I have turned 55 inwardly, a ring R has been added merely to supply extra freedom of swing to D. When '55s opening is turned outside the perimeter of 2, this ring may be eliminated, or added to, as desired, according to choice of appendage, which appendage must possess sufiicient weight to effect the desired results, and which turning must remain within the scope of effectiveness. The space between 22 and 55 has been shown, just wide enough for L to be inserted through said space without difficulty, but said space is of course subject to change, contingent on the variation selected.

Upon viewing Figures 1 and 2, an appendage D may be observed hanging from a ring R, this to show one type of accessory suited to cause 5 to function as desired, and one acceptable method of hanging same, both items may be altered as desired, to correspond with any allowable alterations selected for 55, and/or 5.

Having thus described this earwire, I will detail its application to a right pierced ear. By holding the edges of 3, or the transfer section, turning the wrist clock-wise to the point where the opening between 22 and 55 is,

adjacent the lower tip of the earlobe, raising the hand to the point where 22 is opposite the entrance of the perforation P, and inserting 22 in, and through the perforation, in a counter clock-wise turn, releasing said hold and allowing the weight of the appendage to take over effective control.

The removal is accomplished by grasping said part or parts, and rolling the wrist clock-Wise to the point of disengagement, said clock-Wise motion being reversed in removing a left earwire.

The human earlobe is inconsistent in contour and thickness, but if allowances are made to conform to said inconsistencies in structural detail, an average pierced earlobe perforation may be covered as foretold.

It will be repeated with additions, that the appendage D must possess sufiicient weight, whereby it can supply the force opening 55, with a persistent pull when motion occurs, and constant pull when motion ceases, and 55 must be a part of a transfer section arrow 5, that will transfer the. effects of said persistent, or constant pulls, by way of a rigid arc, or its equivalent, arrow 5, to a pushing force on a control section 3, which forms a part of said transfer section, and 3 must be equipped with a contact surface 33, which represents the opposite end of the transfer section, from 55, and said contact surface must be equipped with a smooth arc-like support section 2 extending from 33 outward, and downward, aligned with said transfer section, and said force opening 55 thereof, for the purpose of safely engaging and smoothly penetrating a pierced earlobe L, wherewith said appendage D, will cause this assembly to cling tenaciously to its versatile association with said earlobe, and wherewith said control section 3 is covering the perforation of said pierced earlobe, and wherewith this earwire is secured in position at the pivotal control point 23, solely by the results of cause, created by said weight.

Having thus detailed my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

An ear wire device comprising a rigid body having a downwardly curved upper extension adapted to traverse an ear lobe, an abutment fixedly mounted on said body with a curved surface intersecting said body at the vertex of said curved upper extension adapted to contact the outer surface of said ear lobe when the device is worn, and curving away from said body extension for providing a pivotal control point at said point of intersection, a lower extension of said body terminating in an appendage support below said upper extension, and an appendage supported thereby, said appendage and said upper extension cooperating to bias said earwire device in a direction such that said abutment contacts said outer surface of said ear lobe at said pivotal control point when the device is worn.

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