Patent ID: 9717312
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: A44C,A61B,B25B,Y10T

Claim:
1. A device for removing an earring held in position at least in part by a backer comprising first and second loops that have a spring force with an inward bias to grip a post of the earring, said device comprising: a first tip and a second tip, wherein the first tip comprises a projecting rib that projects outward between first and second flat surfaces of the first tip, wherein the rib is positioned to press against and engage a tip of the earring post when the device engages the earring; and wherein the second tip comprises a backer engaging feature, wherein the backer engaging feature comprises a pair of projecting prongs that extend outward from the second tip and are configured in a manner effective to fit through and engage the first and second loops of the backer while the earring post projects through and is positioned between the pair of prongs, and wherein the projecting rib on the first tip and the prongs on the second tip are configured so that the projecting rib fits between the pair of projecting prongs when the projecting rib presses against the tip of the earring post during actuation while the pair of prongs engage the first and second loops of the backer; and an arcuate structure that couples the first tip to the second tip, said arcuate structure comprising a spring characteristic; wherein: the spring characteristic is biased to cause the first and second tips to be separated from each other in a neutral position corresponding to an absence of a squeezing force applied to the arcuate coupling structure; the first tip is able to engage the tip of the post during at least a portion of the time that the second tip engages the backer; and a first alignment feature located on the first tip and a second alignment feature located on the second tip, said alignment features cooperating to help the first and second tips move toward each other in a desired alignment during at least a portion of the time that the squeezing force is applied to the arcuate coupling structure; and wherein the first and second flat surfaces support the projecting rib and provide a backup function to engage and press against the tip of the earring post in case the earring post slips off the projecting rib; and wherein the arcuate structure is coupled to the first and second tips in a manner such that applying a squeezing force to the arcuate structure causes the first and second tips to move towards each other such that the projecting rib of the first tip engages and applies a force against the tip of the post of the earring and the prongs of the second tip engage and apply a force against the backer to help remove the backer from the earring post.