Abstract:
A jewelry apparatus preferably for use with a navel piercing jewelry stud having at least one removable retainer end, the jewelry apparatus having a first arm portion and a second arm portion spaced from said first arm portion by a recess, wherein the first and second arm portions form a loop adapted to fit around the stud, the jewelry apparatus further including a stop portion cooperating with at least one of the arms to close said recess to retain the stud.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    U.S. Provisional Application for Patent 60/427,386, filed Nov. 18, 2002, with title “Jewelry Apparatus” which is hereby incorporated by reference. Applicant claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. Par. 119(e)(l). 
     
    
     
       Statement as to Rights to Inventions Made Under Federally Sponsored Research and Development  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    The present invention relates generally to ornamental body piercing jewelry, and more particularly to body piercing jewelry having removable ornamental accessory that is releasably attachable to a standard barbell stud that is inserted through the bore of a body part piercing.  
           [0005]    2. Brief Description of Prior Art  
           [0006]    It is popular for jewelry to have interchangeable, and usually different color ornamental accessories that may be inserted or affixed to the jewelry. In this regard, the wearer is able to remove one element from the piece of jewelry and replace it with a different ornamental piece thereby altering its overall appearance.  
           [0007]    It is common practice in the earring field for example, to have interchangeable ornamental pieces. However, such interchangeable pieces generally require the screwing on and off of an end piece to allow for removal of the existing earring for replacement of the ornamental element; and then, re-inserting the earring in the piercing. While temporary removal of the jewelry from the ear piercing may be an acceptable means for accessing the jewelry for replacing its ornamental element, the inventor has found such procedure not acceptable for all areas of body piercing. For example, skin in a naval area differs from an earlobe. A hole pierced in the skin of the naval area closes rapidly when an installed body piercing jewelry item is removed. As a result of the skin closing, or even partial closing, it becomes painful to re-insert the jewelry item. This is the case even after the brief amount of time required for a hot shower.  
           [0008]    To the inventor&#39;s knowledge, the prior art does not disclose a jewelry item designed for the pierced naval that allows the wearer to interchange ornamental elements of the jewelry without first removing the entire jewelry item from the body. As a result, the wearer of body piercing jewelry worn in the naval is generally required to either wear the same jewelry thereby avoiding the risks associated with removing the jewelry or, when changing or interchanging the jewelry, risk that the skin in the naval area closes or partially closes between changes. Not being free to change or replace the ornamental appearance of the jewelry item would seem to defeat reasons for even wearing naval jewelry.  
           [0009]    A prior art search uncovered the following prior art:  
                                                           U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,247   Oct. 13, 1970   Douglas           U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,477   Jul. 28, 1997   Wallencourt           U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,390   Nov. 10, 1992   Sam           U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,310   Sep. 17, 1991   Riley           U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,850   Aug. 08, 1995   Keating et al.           U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,061   Apr. 09, 1996   Fleury et al.           U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,457   Jun. 11, 1996   Dunham           U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,176   Nov. 17, 1998   Lichtenstein et al.           U.S. Pat. No. 6,032,486   May 07, 2000   Uchin           U.S. Pat. No. 6,079,224   Jun. 27, 2000   Schehr                      
 
           [0010]    However, none of the above referenced registrations apply to naval jewelry or disclose the embodiments of the present invention.  
           [0011]    Despite the need for a better naval jewelry accessory that allows the wearer to interchange ornamental elements of the jewelry item without being required to remove the jewelry item from the piercing, there has been virtually no development of alternatives to the above-described structure. There remains a need for a naval jewelry accessory that may be releasably attached to a standard stud that is inserted through the bore of a naval piercing. There is a further need for such a jewelry accessory that is simple to install without requiring the wearer to first remove the jewelry item from the piercing.  
           [0012]    As will be seen from the subsequent description, the preferred embodiments of the present invention overcome the above problems and difficulties of the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0013]    The present invention is directed to ornamental body piercing jewelry that can be releasably attached to a standard barbell stud that is inserted through the bore of a naval piercing. The jewelry accessory of the present invention is simple for the wearer to install without having to first remove the body jewelry stud from the piercing. The jewelry apparatus generally includes a loop portion and a stop member, the loop portion formed of a first arm and a second arm attached to the stop member, wherein separating the second arm from the stop member forms an opening so that the post of the barbell stud can pass through the opening and into the loop portion. Re-attaching the second arm to the stop member will retain the post within the loop portion. A decorative pendant is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus so that the decorative pendant depends from the jewelry apparatus.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a standard barbell stud commonly used in association with body piercing.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the barbell stud of FIG. 1 inserted through the bore of a naval piercing.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the jewelry apparatus of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 3 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a first alternate installation.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 4 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a second alternate installation.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 5 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a third alternate installation.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 6 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a fourth alternate installation.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 7 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a fifth alternate installation.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 8 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention including a sixth alternate installation.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the jewelry apparatus of FIG. 9 attached to the standard barbell stud.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with an ornamental element attached. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    In accordance with the present invention, a jewelry accessory that is attached to body jewelry, such as, but not restricted to, naval body jewelry, is disclosed. The jewelry accessory is directed to ornamental jewelry that is releasably attachable to a standard barbell stud that is inserted through the bore of a body part piercing. Specifically, it will be noted in the drawings that the ornamental body piercing jewelry relates to an ornamental jewelry accessory that can be attached to the barbell stud without removing the stud from the piercing. Further, the jewelry accessory is simple to install by the wearer without assistance. By providing a jewelry apparatus for attaching or detaching to a standard barbell stud or post, there is a savings to the wearer since only the ornamental elements are changed rather than the whole body jewelry.  
         [0032]    There are a number of alternate embodiments to carry out the above described invention, which alternates are shown in FIGS.  3 - 9 , and will be described below. FIG. 10 illustrates application of an embodiment for attachment to the barbell stud, wherein the embodiment having an ornamental element depending therefrom. In the broadest context, the jewelry apparatus of the present invention consists of components configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 1 illustrates a standard barbell stud  10  commonly used in association with body piercing. The barbell stud  10  can be described as including a post  12 , a first ball retainer  13  can be removably attached to the upper end of the barbell stud  10 , and a second ball retainer  14  can be removably attached to the lower end of the barbell stud  10 . Referring to FIG. 2, application of the barbell stud  10  generally requires removal of either the first or second ball retainer  13 ,  14 , inserting the post  12  of the barbell stud  12  through the bore  15  of a body naval area  19 , and re-installing the removed retainer  13  and/or  14 .  
         [0034]    The apparatus of this invention can be described as a jewelry accessory that is releasably attached to the barbell stud  10 , and removed therefrom, without removal of the barbell stud  10  from the bore  15  of the naval  19 . A decorative element  22 , an example of which is shown in FIG. 10, preferably depends from the jewelry accessory of the present invention. The decorative element  22  can be replaced by detaching the jewelry accessory of the present invention from the barbell stud  10  without removal of the stud  10  from the piercing  15 , and since the barbell stud  10  remains mounted in the naval  19 , attaching a jewelry accessory having the selected decorative elements as discussed above.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the jewelry apparatus  100  made in accordance of the present invention. The jewelry apparatus  100  includes an elongated extension member  108 , and a loop portion  112 , and a stop member means  110 . The loop portion  112  having a diamond shape, and formed of a first arm portion  114  and a second arm portion  115  having distal ends  114 A and  115 A respectively. The stop member means  110  comprising a first retainer member  117  attached to the end  114 A, and a second retainer member  118  attached to the end  115 A forming a recess  116 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  100  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  112 , and rests on the retainer members  117 ,  118  of the stop member means  110 . As is understood, the first and second retainer members  117 ,  118  prevent the post  12  from passing through the recess  116 , between the ends  114 A and  115 A of the jewelry apparatus  100 . As shown in FIG. 3A, in application, the arm portions  114 ,  115  of the loop portion  112  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (not shown), the loop portion  112  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0037]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  100  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer simply separates the ends  114 A,  115 A so that the post  12  of the stud  10  passes through the recess  116 , between the retainer members  117 ,  118 . Separation can be performed by the wearer holding the first arm portion  114  and the second arm portion  115  and pulling the arm portions similar to a wishbone, until the ends  114 A,  115 A have sufficiently separated. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  100  is similarly accomplished by separating the ends  114 A,  115 A as discussed above until the post  12  passes through the recess  116 .  
         [0038]    The jewelry apparatus  100  is preferably constructed of a semi-rigid material capable of separating as described above, and able to return to original form once the separation step is complete.  
         [0039]    Not shown in FIG. 3 or  3 A, a decorative element  22  is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus  100  so that the decorative element  22  depends from the jewelry apparatus  100 . The decorative element  22  may attach to the extension member  108 , or the diamond-shaped loop portion  112  by means known in the art.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a jewelry apparatus  200 . The jewelry apparatus  200  includes an elongated stop member means  210  disposed between a loop portion  212  having a hanger portion  212 A, and a base portion  213 . As shown in the drawings, the apparatus  200  is formed of a first arm portion  214  and a second arm portion  215 . The arm portions  214 ,  215  are in butting relationship to one another to form the stop member means  210 , while the arm portions  214 ,  215  are separate from one another to form the base portion  213 . The arm portions  214 ,  215  further include distal ends  214 A and  215 A respectively, forming a recess  216  therebetween.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  200  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  212 , and rests on the hanger portion  212 A of the loop portion  212 . The stop means  210  prevents the post  12  from passing between the ends  214 A and  215 A of the jewelry apparatus  200 . As shown in FIG. 4A, in application, the arm portions  214 ,  215  forming loop portion  212  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (not shown), the loop portion  212  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0042]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  200  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer simply separates the ends  214 A,  215 A so that the post  12  of the stud  10  passes through the recess  216  disposed between the ends  214 A,  215 A, and further passes between the arm portions  214 ,  215  of the stop means  210 , and into the loop portion  212 . Separation can be accomplished by the wearer holding the first arm portion  214  and the second arm portion  215  at the base portion  213  and pulling the arms similar to a wishbone, until the ends  214 A,  215 A have sufficiently separated, as well as the arm portions  214 ,  215  of the stop means  210  are sufficiently separate. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  200  is similarly accomplished by separating the ends  214 A,  215 A as discussed above until the post  12  passes between the arm portions  214 ,  215  of the stop means  210  and through the recess  216 .  
         [0043]    Not shown in FIG. 4 or  4 A, a decorative element  22  is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus  200  so that the decorative element  22  depends from the jewelry apparatus  200 . The decorative element  22  may attach to the elongated stop means  210 , the loop portion  212 , or the base portion  213  by means known in the art.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a jewelry apparatus  300 . The jewelry apparatus  300  includes a hinged stop  310  connected to a loop portion  312 . Hinged stop  310  is pivotable about hinge  307  from an open position (not shown) to a closed position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 5A. The loop portion  312  formed of first and second arm portions  314 ,  315  forming a recess  316 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 5A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  300  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  312 , and rests on the stop  310  in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 4A, in application, the arm portions  314 ,  315  of the loop portion  312  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (not shown), the loop portion  312  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0046]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  300  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer partly pivots the stop  310  to the open position (not shown) to access the recess  316  so that the post  12  of the stud  10  can pass through the recess  316  into the loop portion  312 . Once the post  12  is disposed within the loop portion  312 , the post  12  is retained therein by pivoting the stop  310  to the closed position as shown in the drawings. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  300  is similarly performed by pivoting the stop  310  to the open position and removing the post  12  from the loop portion  312  of the jewelry apparatus  300 .  
         [0047]    Not shown in FIG. 5 or  5 A, a decorative element  22  is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus  300  so that the decorative element  22  depends from the jewelry apparatus  300 . The decorative element  22  can attach to the loop portion  312  by means known in the art.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 6 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a jewelry apparatus  400 . The jewelry apparatus  400  includes a hinged stop  410  connected to a loop portion  412 , the loop portion  412  having a handle portion  413  formed thereon. Hinged stop  410  is pivotable about hinge  407  from an open position (not shown) to a closed position as shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 6A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  400  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  412 , and rests on the loop portion  412  in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 6A, in application, the loop portion  412  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (not shown), the loop portion  412  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0050]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  400  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer partly pivots the stop  410  to the open position (not shown) that opens a small slot (not shown) so that the post  12  of the stud  10  can pass through the small slot and into loop portion  412 . Once the post  12  is disposed within the loop portion  412 , the post  12  is retained therein by pivoting the stop  410  to the closed position as shown in the drawings. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  400  is similarly performed by pivoting the stop  410  to the open position and removing the post  12  from the loop portion  412  of the jewelry apparatus  400 . Placement of the hinged arm  405  to the open or closed positions as described above can be performed by the wearer holding the handle portion  413  and then selectively pivoting the stop  410 .  
         [0051]    Not shown in FIG. 6 or  6 A, a decorative element  22  is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus  400  so that the decorative element  22  depends from the jewelry apparatus  400 . The decorative element  22  can attach to the loop portion  412  by means known in the art.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a jewelry apparatus  500 . The jewelry apparatus  500  includes a loop portion  512  having a hanger portion  512 A and a stop member  510 . The loop portion  512  formed of a first arm portion  514  and a second arm portion  515 . The first arm portion  514  is rotatably affixed to a surface  513  of the stop  510  and, the second arm portion  515  includes a threaded portion (not shown) that is threadably received in a threaded bore (not shown) disposed in the surface  513  of the stop  510 . Loop portion  512  is rotatably positioned about first arm  514  from an open position (not shown) where second arm  515  is not received within the surface  513  of the stop  510 , to a closed position as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A where the threaded portion of the second arm  515  is threadably received within threaded bore of the stop  510 . In the open position, a small slot (not shown) is formed between the second arm  515  and the surface  513  of the stop  510  so that the post  12  of the stud  10  can pass through the small slot into the loop portion  512 .  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 7A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  500  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  512 , and rests on the hanger portion  512 A of the loop portion  510  in the closed position. The stop  510  prevents the post  12  from passing between the arms  514 ,  515  of the jewelry apparatus  500 . As shown in FIG. 7A, in application, the arm portions  514 ,  515  forming the loop portion  512  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (now shown), the loop portion  512  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0054]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  500  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer partly rotates the second arm  515  of the loop portion  512  to the open position forming the small slot (not shown) so that the post  12  of the stud  10  passes through the small slot and into the loop portion  512 . The second arm portion  515  releases from the stop  510  by threadably releasing the threaded portion of the second arm portion  515  from the threaded bore of the surface  513  of the stop  510 . Once the post  12  is disposed within the loop portion  512 , the post  12  is retained therein by rotating the loop portion  512  to the closed position as shown in the drawings. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  500  is similarly performed by rotating the second arm portion  515  to the open position as described, and removing the post  12  from the loop portion  512  of the jewelry apparatus  500 .  
         [0055]    Not shown in FIG. 7 or  7 A, a decorative element  22  is preferably attached to the jewelry apparatus  500  so that the decorative element  22  depends from the jewelry apparatus  500 . The decorative element  22  can attach to the loop portion  512  by means known in the art.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIGS. 8 and 8A illustrate an alternate attachment of jewelry apparatus  600  than shown in the previous drawings.  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate embodiment of a jewelry apparatus  700 . The jewelry apparatus  700  includes a wire loop portion  712  having a hanger portion  712 A and a stop member  710 . The loop portion  712  formed of a first arm portion  714  and a second arm portion  715 . In this configuration the loop portion  712  having an inverted U shape, with the first arm portion  714  affixed to a surface  713  of the stop  710  and, the second arm portion  715  frictionally attaching to a bore (not shown) disposed in the surface  713  of the stop  710 . Loop portion  712  having an open position (not shown) where second arm portion  715  is not received within the bore of the surface  713  of the stop  710 , and a closed position as shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A where the second arm portion  715  is received within the bore of the stop  710 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 9A illustrates the jewelry apparatus  700  attached to the standard barbell stud  10 . In particular, the post  12  is disposed through the loop portion  712 , and rests on the hanger portion  712 A of the loop portion  710  in the closed position. As shown in FIG. 9A, in application, the arm portions  714 ,  715  forming the loop portion  712  can rest on the lower ball retainer  14 , or in the alternative (not shown), the loop portion  712  can be disposed between the upper ball retainer  13  and the naval area  19 .  
         [0059]    To attach the jewelry apparatus  700  with the barbell stud  10 , the wearer separates the second arm portion  715  from the bore of the stop  710  to the open position that forms an opening (not shown) so that the post  12  of the stud  10  can pass through the opening into the loop portion  712 . Once the post  12  is disposed within the loop portion  712 , the post  12  is retained therein by re-inserting the second arm portion  712  into the bore of the stop  710  to the closed position as shown in the drawings. Removal of the jewelry apparatus  700  is similarly accomplished by separating the second arm portion  715  from the bore of the stop  710  to the open position and removing the post  12  from the loop portion  712  of the jewelry apparatus  700 .  
         [0060]    Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. As such, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the claims.  
         [0061]    Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the claims in the formal application and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.