Abstract:
A clutch mechanism and a load distribution member for releasably gripping the pin of an earring is provided with a safety shied for preventing any earring post portion at the posterior side of the wearer&#39;s earlobe from coming into contact with the head and neck surface adjacent the earlobe to thereby prevent discomfiture or injury to the wearer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to earrings, and pertains more particularly to a clutch mechanism with an attached safety shield member.  
           [0002]    Earrings for use in pierced earlobes are provided with a pin that is inserted by the user through the earlobe, the pin generally being sized so that a portion of the pin extends beyond the earlobe, the earring being secured at the earlobe posterior side with a clutch mechanism received on the pin side. Clutch mechanisms commonly used for this purpose have been of such size and design as to allow the tip end of the pin portion to extend beyond the clutch mechanism. Further, the shapes of the clutch mechanisms can be such as to present relatively sharp surfaces so that if the earlobe is pressed against the user&#39;s adjacent neck or head surfaces when holding a telephone receiver or sleeping and if the earrings are being worn, such sharp surfaces or a projecting pin tip end can be brought into discomforting or injury producing contact with such neck or head surfaces. The potential for undesirable discomforting contacts in this regard is increased with respect to younger children who are more likely to fail to remove their earrings when retiring, or who as children want to engage in play activities heightening the possibility of such discomforting or injurious contact occurring.  
           [0003]    Several different types of clutch mechanisms have been devised and patented for the purpose of releaslby gripping the pin projecting from the ornamental part of the earring. Such clutch mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,452, granted to Lynette M.Connelly on Dec. 23, 1986 FIG. 1, and to Michael Chernow U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,044, granted on Oct. 17, 972. Although the clutch mechanisms heretofore mentioned have performed quite well a couple of disadvantages are know.  
           [0004]    A clutch mechanism designed with a feature to protect the wearer from accidental jabbing by the earring pin provided an option to eliminate one opening and merely have the pin of the earring terminate within the housing, rather than projecting through the housing reducing the likelihood of the pin accidentally sticking or jabbing the wearer. It has been found that for sanitation and health purposes, it is preferred to have the end of the pin project through the housing, as it is conceivable that bacterial deposits might tend to collect with in the housing, if the opening was not provided. Another disadvantage of the know prior art is the high probability of misplacement and loss of individual pieces when small and inconspicuous parts are detachable.  
           [0005]    The present invention is especially intended for use in combination with the clutch mechanisms of said patent.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism for use with earrings of the type having a pin that passes through the user&#39;s earlobe. The portion of the pin extending beyond the posterior side of the earlobe is received in the clutch mechanism. The present invention provides that the clutch mechanism is designed to prevent an earring pin portion tip end from contacting the wearer&#39;s neck or head in the regions adjacent the earlobe thereby to protect the wearer from discomforting or injurious contact. Moreover, the safety shield itself is structured with a smooth contoured configuration to insure that it cause no undesirable result if pressed against the wearer&#39;s neck or head in the regions proximate the earlobe.  
           [0007]    While varied attempts have been made to design jewelry items, and especially pierced earrings of this type, so as to improve reliability, versatility, durability, to the best of applicant&#39;s knowledge no completely satisfactory clutch mechanism has been devised which overcomes the disadvantages and short comings which exist in the know prior art.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, one object of this present invention is to provide an improved clutch mechanism for use with jewelry pieces.  
           [0009]    Another object is to design a clutch mechanism that will eliminate the likelihood of the end portion of the pin accidentally sticking or jabbing the wearer.  
           [0010]    Yet another object is to design a clutch mechanism for pierced ears that substantially decrease the likely of bacterial deposits collection.  
           [0011]    Further object is to design a clutch mechanism that is a unitary single piece structure.  
           [0012]    Still further, an object of this invention is to present a clutch mechanism that is small, inconspicuous, aesthetically attractive and can be used with no difficulty.  
           [0013]    The invention has for still an additional object the provision of a clutch mechanism that will be very inexpensive to manufacture, thereby encouraging its widespread purchase and use.  
           [0014]    In general, the invention comprises a clutch mechanism, which includes a housing having a somewhat flexible and resilient insert positioned therein so that it is enclosed or surrounded by the housing. The insert is provided with a passage there through, both ends is provided with an aperture or opening which is aligned with respect to the passage to form a channel in the clutch mechanism. A jewelry piece, having an elongated pin with a slightly larger cross-sectional size than the passage in the insert, is releasably gripped by the clutch mechanism, by inserting the pin into the channel. A load distribution member is mounted to the larger end of the housing. A flange extends outwardly from the end wall with a centrally disposed aperture or opening on the front side of the load distribution member. The load distribution member provides a much greater surface that actually contacts the ear lobe than that heretofore provided by just the clutch mechanism. The load distribution member serves to decrease the pressure on the earlobe when a large earring is worn The housing is designed in such a manner that one of its ends forms a knob so that the user can readily grasp the housing. The present invention further includes a safety shield disposed at the smaller end of the housing arrange transversely to the axis of the passage having a slightly broader area relative to the expanse of the passage. The shield is of parti-hollow spheroid configuration, the convex surface faces away from the smaller end of the housing. The pin extends beyond the second aperture to nest in the shield whereby eliminating contact with the wearer&#39;s skin preventing discomfort and or injury. The nesting location for the pin serves to substantially decrease the likelihood of bacterial deposits collection in the housing. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 Prior Art U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,452.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the clutch mechanism with the pin inserted into housing.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the clutch mechanism with the pin outside of the clutch mechanism.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view showing the pin nested in the shield.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the earring pin extending through the pierced earlobe and inserted into the clutch mechanism.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is exploded perspective view of the clutch mechanism.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    The present invention relates to a clutch mechanism for use with earrings of the type worn by users with pierced ears. The clutch mechanism embodies features, which make it a safety device to protect the user from injury, discomfort or annoyance as could be caused by contact to the user&#39;s head or neck with the tip end portion of an earring pin. It is particularly advantageous for use by children wearing earrings of the pierced ear type. Additionally it is of smooth, clean configuration and is attractive in appearance.  
         [0022]    In order to illustrate my invention FIG. 5 a load distribution member  50  nest abuttedly against the wear&#39;s earlobe  12  posterior in use. Centrally disposed on an end wall  58  of the load distribution member  50  is an opening  60  that enables the pin  22  to pass there through when it is being inserted into the clutch mechanism  26 . For reception of the pin  22  the clutch mechanism  26  includes a passage  14 . Positioned at the tip end of the housing  28  is a second opening or aperture  40 . The pin  22  is first threaded through the centrally disposed aperture  60  and then successively through the second aperture  40  of the housing  28 . The tip end of the pin  22  extends beyond the second aperture  40  and nest in a shield  66 . FIG. 4 The shield  66  is of parti-hollow spheroid configuration and serves to protect the wearer from coming into contact with the tip end of the earring pin  22  whereby preventing the potential for undesirable discomfort.  
         [0023]    Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout several views. FIG. 5 A person&#39;s ear 10  has been shown having the earlobe  12  that has been pierced to provide the passage 14 . The earring has been assigned the reference numeral  18 , being comprised of a decorative member  20  having an end portion of the conventional pin  22  anchored therein at  24  so that it&#39;s other end extends or projects away from the decorative member  20 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 The clutch mechanism  26  for securing a jewelry piece such as the pierced earring  18  provides a substantially circular cross-sectional shape housing  28  which varies in size at different points along it longitudinal axis. The clutch mechanism  26  includes a knob  30  positioned at the smaller end of the housing  28 . The housing  28  is indented at  32  so that the housing  28  can be conveniently grasped between a person&#39;s fingers.  
         [0025]    There is the second predetermined aperture or opening  40  at the small end of the housing  28  and the predetermine aperture or opening  60  FIG. 6 centrally disposed at the end wall  58  of the load distribution member  50 . Contained within the housing  28  is a resilient insert  44  having a longitudinal bore  46  extending there through, the bore  46  having a cross section slightly less than that of the elongated pin  22 . The pin  22  is introduced first through the centrally disposed opening or aperture  60  then through the bore  46 , and finally through the second aperture or opening  40 . While the insert  44  is relatively flexible in nature, it is preferably formed of a relatively hard material so that it exerts a rather firm gripping or frictional force around the pin  22 .  
         [0026]    While precise dimensions are not critical to the practicing of my invention, nonetheless it should be made clear that the right side of the load distribution member  50  provides a considerable surface area that confronts the inner side of the ear lobe  12 . In other words, the right side of the closed end wall  58 , as viewed in FIG. 5 is co-planar with the right side of a flange  62 . The load distribution member  50  is mounted to the larger end of the housing  28 . The opening or aperture  60  is centrally disposed on the right side of the load distribution member  50  and includes the radially directed flange  62  and a circular outer edge  64 .  
         [0027]    The shield member  66  is mounted to the smaller end of the housing  28  is arranged transversely to the axis of the passage 14  and has a slightly broader area relative to the expanse of the passage  14 . The shield is of parti-hollow spheroid configuration, the convex surface of which faces away from the smaller end of the housing  28 .  
         [0028]    The clutch mechanism  26 , the load distribution member  50 , and the shield  66  are all molded as one piece. The single unitary piece structure is beneficial and advantageous whereby significantly decreasing the possibility of misplacement or loss of individual parts once they have been disengaged. Attached parts will serve to prolong the retainabilitiy and usage of the item. The material used is susceptible to variation, but it is planned that the unitary single piece structure be fabricated from polyethylene plastic, polyethylene having resilient and yieldable characteristic particularly suitable for use in the situation described.