Abstract:
A base to hold replaceable decorative elements in which the decorative elements are magnetically held to the base with the base having a centering and locating pin to send into a recess in the decorative element facilitating the assembly of the earring parts.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a structure for interchangeable magnetically held decorative elements for jewelry. For instance, a jewelry item such as an earring may have a base housing having a central magnet and a projecting post to allow interchangeable decorative elements to be held in the base housing by magnetic attraction. 
     This invention is particularly directed to providing a pair of earrings with replaceable pearls or any other decorative structures held in the base housing by magnetic attraction. Other jewelry items can be used with this invention. 
     Consumers are increasingly desirous of personalizing their jewelry items which enables relatively inexpensive, changeable aesthetic appearances to be achieved inexpensively. 
     The present invention provides an earring having a base housing which includes a magnet and a projecting pin sized to fit into a rear aperture of a pearl or other similar structure which, itself, has a magnet so that as the pearl is slid onto the post the pearl is magnetically attracted and held by the base housing. 
     Interchangeable decorative pearls of different styles and colors for earrings or other interchangeable decorative elements having a rear recess suitable for seating onto a post may be provided to enable the consumer to easily and rapidly interchange pearls. The post in the housing fitting into the recess in the earring facilitates interchangeability by providing a guide (the pin) for the pearl to be slid onto and be held by the base housing. The height of the post is designed to facilitate easy insertion. 
     The invention will be more fully understood with reference to the photographs of the invention attached hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the base housing of this earring invention with a post and a recess to accept and hold a magnetic element. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the housing and the decorative element with magnetic center elements. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the magnet for the earring. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of an assembled earring of this invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 2  shows a decorative element  12  apart from base housing  11  with the rear  8  of decorative element  12  having a central portion  9  formed as a recess  10  by undercutting annular recess  10  into which a magnet  14  with a central aperture  16  is attached. Aperture  16  is the outer surface of a bore  17  formed in the rear of the decorative element  12  which is sized to receive a fitting pin. The magnet  14  could be glued or otherwise attached and held in recess  10 . 
     While the above structure is shown for a pearl, any decorative element having a substantially flat back capable of holding magnet  14  or creating a recess  10  into which magnet  14  could be utilized with this invention. Further, the element should have sufficient depth to accommodate a post or pin, which will be explained below. 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the earring base housing  11  into which the decorative element  12  is seated. Housing  11  generally accommodates and holds decorative element  12 . Housing  11  has an annular outer decorated structure  13  which has a central annular recess  20  sized to accept decorative element  12  and hold the decorative element therein. A further smaller central annular recess  22  formed within annular recess  20  terminates in an annular floor or rear wall  21 . A pin  18  projects outwardly from rear wall  21 . The size and depth of annular recess  20  is determined by the size of the jewelry element, such as the size of a pearl to be held in base housing  11 . An annular magnet  24  sits on rear wall  21  in recess  22  and has a central opening  26  to accommodate pin  18 . Magnet  24  is located substantially flush with floor  23  of recess  20 . 
     Pin  18  has a height which projects slightly above the plane  25  of the top surface of recess  20  on which the rear  8  of decorative element  12  sits. Thus, the top of pin  18  projects above the front surface  25  to facilitate attachment and removal of the decorative element  12  to the base housing  11 . The pin  18  being held in aperture  16  and bore  17  also prevents the magnetically held base housing  11  and decorative element  12  from sliding apart. Pin  18  thus serves to locate the aperture  16  and bore  17  in earring  12  to facilitate assembly of the earring. 
     While pin or post  18  is described as having a height to extend above front surface  25 , it could be lower, but in any case, pin  18  slides onto recess  16  of decorative element  12 , and magnet  14  is thereby attracted to magnet  24  held in recess  22 . The spacing between magnets  14  and  24  can be almost nonexistent depending on how the respective magnets sit in their respective recesses. 
     As can be seen, the magnet  24  of the housing  11  attracts the magnet  14  of the decorative element so that it is securely attached to housing  11 . 
     As another alternative, one can use only a single magnet since the detachable ornament could be made of metal or the detachable ornament could have metal embedded in recess  10 , which also would be attracted to a magnet and therefore not need the use of two separate magnets. Furthermore, the reverse may also be possible where the magnet could be embedded in the recess  10 , and a round piece of metal could be attached in the earring annular recess  22 , enabling the attraction of the ornament to the earring. It may be preferable to use only a single magnet in the base to avoid the replaceable decorative elements, such as a pearl, having a magnet because of the possibility that such magnet may attach other metal items when the pearl is not attached to the housing. 
     It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.