Patent ID: 8365369
Filing Date: 2013-02-05
Classification: A44C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A clutch for post earrings and the like comprising: a. a housing which is open at one end thereof and has an aperture through the opposite end thereof, said housing having a generally outwardly extending peripheral flange at the open end thereof; b. a cap member received on the open end of said housing, said cap member comprising a substantially circular main portion having a substantially centrally disposed aperture therethrough and a generally inwardly extending peripheral flange, said housing flange being captured between said cap member main portion and said cap member flange to secure said cap member to said housing; and c. a resilient leaf member that includes a support piece captured between said housing flange and said cap member and a pair of leaves supported from the support piece, said leaves extending toward the housing aperture, said leaves converging with respect to each other and substantially meeting in face-to-face relation for receiving a post therebetween, said post being receivable in said clutch so that it extends through said cap member and housing apertures and is received in frictional engagement between said leaves, wherein the resilient leaf member support piece includes a substantially planar portion having a centrally disposed aperture that is in alignment with and spacedly disposed relative to the respective housing aperture and cap member aperture, wherein the housing and cap member are constructed of a precious metal and the resilient leaf member is constructed of a non-precious metal material; wherein said pair of leaves extend respectively at diametrically disposed locations from the substantially planar portion of the support piece; wherein each leave is integrally formed with the substantially planar portion of the support piece; wherein the diametrically disposed leaves each include a leaf contact and a leaf base that has one side thereof supported from the support piece and another side thereof integral with the leaf contact; and wherein each said leaf base includes a pair of connected arms that define a gap therebetween, that extend substantially in parallel to each other, and that have the respective arms integrally supported to the support piece and the leaf contact, whereby the arms are constructed and arranged to provide a spring effect that enables an enhanced closure pressure against the post.