US3446034A

US3446034A - Pendant earring having toggle attaching means

Info

Publication number: US3446034A
Application number: US488990A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jesse L Driscoll
Original assignee: JESSE L DRISCOLL
Current assignee: JESSE L DRISCOLL
Priority date: 1965-09-21
Filing date: 1965-09-21
Publication date: 1969-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1986-05-27

Description

May 27, 1969 J. L. DRISCOLL PENDANT EARRING HAVING TOGGLE ATTACHING MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1965 MAY BE TWO SEPARATE STRANDS INVENTOR.

JESSE L.- DRISCO ATTORNEY 3,446,034 PENDANT EARRING HAVING TOGGLE ATTACHING MEANS Jesse L. Driscoll, 100 Oak Rim Way, Los Gntos, Calif. 95030 Filed Sept. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 488,990

Int. Cl. A44c 7/00 US. CI. 6313 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for attaching ornaments to an ear. The ornaments are secured to a flexible filament extending straight through the pierced ear to a tubular rigid member extendable lengthwise through the pierced lobe, and which is adjustable to a position transversely of the pierced ear aperture thus forming a toggle which retains the ornaments on the outer side of the ear lobe.

My invention relates to earrings of the type adapted to be used on ear lobes which are pierced to form apertures therethrough to receive a part of the earring for attaching it to the lobe. Particularly my invention relates to earrings of the pendant type wherein at least one or more of the ornaments thereof are suspended from the ear lobe.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide an earring which allows of the easy and quick application of the earring to the ear lobe and the locking thereof on the lobe against accidental detachment therefrom so as to prevent its displacement and possible loss.

Another purpose of my invention is the provision of an earring that further allows the easy and quick detachment thereof from the ear lobe when desired.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide an earring having parts all of which are permanently connected to each other so as to eliminate the necessity in prior earring of manually attaching the earring parts to each other to allow application of the earring to an ear lobe, and the detachment of such parts from each other to permit removal of the earring from the lobe. As a consequence, the loss or misplacement of any of the parts of the earring is entirely eliminated and particularly in those types of earrings having one or more ornaments which are suspended in pendant relation to the ear lobe.

A still further purpose of my invention resides in the provision of an earring which embodies a rigid toggle member that can be manually extended lengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe to the inner side thereof; a flexible element in the form of filament or thread preferably formed of nylon to provide the necessary strength, this element connected to the member in such manner that under extension of the member to the inner side of the lobe portions of the element are drawn into and partially through the aperture; and a pair of ornaments on the ends of the element with one of the ornaments manually operable through the element to move the latter to a position transversely of the aperture thereby securing the element against accidental removal from the lobe, and the other ornament manually operable through the element to move nited States Patent the latter to a position coaxial with the aperture and outwardly thereof to permit complete detachment of the earring from the lobe.

I will describe only three forms of earrings, each embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section and on an enlarged scale, showing one form of earring embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing in rear elevation a human ear and the earring of FIG. 1 in position for application to the aperture of the ear lobe.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and showing the crosspiece or toggle of the earring of FIG. 2 extended completely through the lobe aperture.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the crosspiece in position transversely of the aperture of the ear lobe.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the outer side of the ear lobe and with the earring of FIG. 4 in side elevation.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the earring as it appears from the inner side of the ear lobe.

FIG. 6A is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the crosspiece shifted to a position coaxial with the lobe aperture so that it can be withdrawn from the aperture incident to detachment of the earring from the lobe.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but on a reduced scale, and modified to show another form of earring embodying my invention.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and showing the earring of FIG. 7 as it is applied to the ear lobe.

FIG. 9 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a third form of earring embodying my invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of the earring of FIG. 9 on a reduced scale and showing it as applied to an ear lobe.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, and to the form of earring shown in FIG. 1, it comprises a crosspiece or toggle member 15 constructed of metal or other suitable material and which is shown as of tubular form to provide a passage 16 therethrough. The leading end of this passage is closed by constricting the tubular toggle member 15 to form a somewhat pointed terminus 17. The toggle member 15 is further provided on one side thereof and substantially medially of its ends, with an opening 18 leading to the passage 16.

As best shown in FIG. 1 the medial portion of a flexible element in the form of a length of thread 19', preferably of nylon and of suitable tensile strength, is received in the passage 16 so as to extend from the open end thereof to and through the opening 18. Those portions of the thread 19 extending beyond the open end of the passage 16 and beyond the opening 18 are designated 19a and 19b, respectively. To the free end of the thread portion 19a is secured an ornament 20, while secured to the free end of the portion 19b is an ornament 21. These ornaments, in the present instance are of ball form and the ornament 21 is larger than the ornament 20' so as to give additional weight thereto.

As clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the earring just described is positioned with the pointed end '17 at the entrance of the aperture 22 of a pierced ear lobe 23 of a human ear 24, and with the

thread portions

19a and 19b fully extended from the crosspiece 15. With the parts of the earring in the positions described, the user can apply the earring to the ear lobe by merely pushing the crosspiece forwardly into and through the aperture 22 to the position illustrated in FIG. 3.

As the crosspiece 15 moves through the aperture it draws the

thread portions

19a and 19b partly through the aperture so that the

ornaments

20 and 21 now occupy the positions shown in FIG. 3. By now pulling downwardly or outwardly on the ornament 21, the thread or filament 19 is actuated to pull on the crosspiece 15 through the opening 18, and since this opening is approximately medial of the ends of the crosspiece 15, it operates to turn the crosspiece to a position in which it is disposed transversely of the aperture 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 and, whereby, the crosspiece 15 serves to secure the earring on the ear lobe against accidental displacement. The crosspiece 15 may assume the horizontal position shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, but it may assume other positions, but in any position transverse of the aperture 22 the earring is secured against displacement from the ear lobe by the crosspiece 15.

In the final position of the earring on the ear lobe the ball 20 is contiguous to the outer side of the ear lobe, while the ball 21 is pendant to the ear lobe through downward extension of the portion 19b of the thread.

When it is desired to intentionally remove the earring of FIG. 6 from the ear lobe, it is only necessary to exert a pull outwardly on the ball 20 whereby the thread portion 19a is actuated to exert its pull on the open end of the crosspiece 15, thereby returning the latter to a position in which it is aligned with the aperture 22 as shown in FIG. 6A so that by continued pull on the ball it can be finally removed from the aperture and the earring thus detached from the ear lobe.

Now, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 I have here shown another form of earring embodying my invention and which is designed to suspend from the ear lobe both of the

ornaments

20 and 21 in pendant relation. This form of earring is identical to the form shown in 'FIG. 2 in that it comprises a crosspiece or toggle 15 of the same construction as the crosspiece of FIG. 2.

Likewise, the thread 19 is also employed and associated with the crosspiece 15 in the same manner as the crosspiece 15 of FIG. 2.

However, in order to permit the

ornaments

20 and 21 to be suspended from the ear lobe, the thread 19 is of greater length, there to move the crosspiece 15 from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the transverse position shown in FIG. 4 and still maintain the ornament 20 in pendant relation to the ear lobe as shown in FIG. 8. In FIG. 7 the thread 19 is shown fixed against lengthwise movement in the passage 16 by the use of a suitable adhesive applied to the thread within the passage at the point 16a.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, I have here shown another form of earring embodying my invention. This earring is distinguished structurally from the other forms by employing more than two ornaments all held in pendant form from the ear lobe and in vertical alignment with each other. This earring embodies the same crosspiece 15 as the other forms.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the thread portion 19b is relatively short and its free end fixed by a suitable adhesive, as at 25, to the top of the uppermost ornament of a series of ornaments 26 in the present instance, three. All ornaments 26 are axially bored to provide openings 26a therethrough and these openings are aligned with collars 27 fixed to the confronting sides of the ornaments, and an additional collar 27a on the lowermost ornament 26.

The thread portion 19a in this instance is relatively long and of such length that it extends downwardly through all of the ornament openings 26a and the collars 27 and 27a, and is freely movable therethrough. The free end of the thread portion 19a as it projects from the collar 27a has an ornament 28 fixed thereto.

4 It will be understood from the preceding description of the first form of my earring that in the form shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the crosspiece or toggle 15 is extendable into and through the lobe aperture 22, and once therethrough it can be turned to a position transverse of the aperture by pulling downward on any one of the ornaments 26. Thus, the toggle 15 operates to secure the earring on the lobe, and all of the ornaments vertically aligned and in pendant relation thereto as shown in FIG. 10.

To detach the earring of FIG. 10 from the ear lobe, it is only necessary to pull downwardly on the ornament 28, thus actuating the thread portion 19a to shift the crosspiece 15 to a position aligned with the aperture 22 thereby permitting withdrawal of the crosspiece therefrom and resulting in complete detachment of the earring from the ear.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of earrings, each embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention, and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An earring, including: means for securing ornaments to an ear, said means comprising an elongated and tubular rigid member of a size to be extendable lengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe to the inner side of said lobe, a flexible element extending through a portion of said rigid member with one end portion thereof projecting from the side of said member and having a first ornament fixed to its free end, and the other end portion thereof projecting from the trailing end of said member and having a second ornament fixed to its free end whereby, through extension of said member through said aperture said end portions will be drawn into and partially through the aperture so that by then pulling downwardly on the first ornament the end portion of said element connected to the first ornament exerts a lateral pull on said member to move the latter to a position transversely of said aperture and contiguous to the inner side of said lobe thereby securing said member against accidental removal from the lobe and said first ornament pendant to the lobe by said one end portion.

2. An earring as embodied in claim 1, wherein said other end portion of the flexible element is of a length such as to hold the second ornament continguous to the outer side of the lobe when said member reaches a position transversely of the aperture.

3. An earring, including: means for securing ornaments to an ear, said means comprising an elongated rigid member of a size to be extendable lengthwise through the aperture of a pierced ear lobe from the outer side to the inner side of said lobe; a first flexible element connected at one end to one end of said member; an ornament fixed to the other end of said element; a second flexible element connected at one end to said member intermediate the ends thereof; and a second ornament fixed to the other end of said second element.

4. An earring as embodied in claim 1, wherein said other end portion of the flexible element is of a length such as to suspend the second ornament from the outer side of the ear lobe when said rigid member reaches a position transversely of the aperture and contiguous to the inner side of the ear lobe.

5. An earring as embodied in claim 4 wherein said suspended second ornament has an axial bore and in which that other end of said flexible member projecting from the side of said rigid tubular member is slidably threaded through the axial bore of said suspended second ornament.

6. An earring as embodied in claim 5 wherein said suspended second ornament is a series of ornaments having aligned axial bores through which the other end of said flexible member is threaded for sliding movement.

7. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced ear comprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in its side between the ends thereof; a flexible element extending freely slidably through one end of said member and freely slidably through said opening so that it can be moved lengthwise in either direction through said member and opening; and ornaments on the ends of said element of a size exceeding the internal diameter of said member and the size of said opening.

8. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced ear comprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in its side medially of its ends; a flexible filament slidably secured to said member with its medial portion extending freely into one end of said member and outwardly of the latter through said opening so as to leave a first end portion extending from said one end of said member, and a second end portion extending from said opening; a first ornament fixed to said second end portion and through which said first end portion freely slidably extends; and a second ornament fixed to the free end of said first end portion.

9. An earring, including: means for attaching ornaments to a pierced ear comprising a tubular, elongated rigid member having an opening in its side medially of its ends; a flexible filament slidably secured to said member with its medial portion extending freely into one end of said member and outwardly of the latter through said opening so as to leave a first end portion extending from said one end of said member, and a second end portion extending from said opening; a plurality of ornaments fixed to said second end portion in superimposed relation thereon and formed with registering openings through all of which said first end portion freely slidably extends; and another ornament fixed to the free end of said first end portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 296,542 4/1884 Draper 63-21 1,419,370 6/1922 Genaille 63-21 2,131,372 9/ 1938 Flood -22 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,122 5/1886 Great Britain. 11,522 8/ 1 887 Great Britain.

F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.