Abstract:
A decorative piece of jewelry is an earring which includes strips of hair. The strips of hair may comprise synthetic or real hair affixed to a metal hoop, clamp, or the like. A portion of the strip of hair overlaps the earring and is affixed thereto such that it may be worn either on the front or back of the ear in a desired manner.

Description:
[0001]    The present application relates to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/389550 filed on Mar. 3, 2017 and claims priority therefrom. 
         [0002]    The present application was not subject to federal research and/or development funding. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0003]    Generally, the invention relates to a decorative piece of jewelry comprising an ear fastener having a strip of elongated members attached thereto. More specifically, the invention is an ear fastener having a hair extension consisting essentially of a piece of real or synthetic hair which overlaps and fastens to the ear fastener. The invention may comprise an earring or a piercing attachment device which fastens hair to a body of a wearer. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    Hair extensions are strips of hair affixed to one&#39;s own hair and which add volume and length to a hairstyle. There are a variety of methods in which hair extensions may be attached to one&#39;s hair. These methods include gluing, taping and weaving real or synthetic hair into one&#39;s own hairstyle. Some hair extensions are fastened to hair clips which are fastened to one&#39;s natural hair. 
         [0005]    There are a variety of piercing attachment devices such as earrings. Many of these devices are fastened by passing a portion of the device through a hole in the wearer&#39;s ear, nose or skin. When implemented as an earring, the hole is typically formed in the cartilage or the ear lobe. Otherwise, earrings may comprise a clamping mechanism which pinches a portion of the ear to fasten it thereto. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,563 to DeRosa discloses an earring with a tie-line attached ornament. In DeRosa, a lock of hair is displayed in a vertical orientation and attached to a string at one end which is attached to an earring at the opposite end. Using a slipknot in the string, the lock of hair is engaged such that the knot compresses the hair so that the non-compressed girth above the knot prevents inadvertent disengaging descending movement through the knot. With short hair, the descending string is displayed. Moreover, the slipknot tying hook may become disengaged resulting in the loss of the hair. 
         [0007]    To that end, it is an aim of the invention to create a better earring that displays a strip of hair and which may be configured to hide the portion of the earing that engages the ear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The instant invention is an ornament formed on a hook, ring or other ear fastening device to which a strip of hair is directly attached in a manner such that the hair may be extended above the hook, ring or fastening device to hide it. Thus, only the hair is displayed when configured and used as an earring. That is, the attachment means is hidden behind the hair to give the appearance that the hear is part of the wearer&#39;s real hair. 
         [0009]    It is an object of the invention to teach a novel ornament comprising a body attachment means and a strip of hair. In one embodiment, the novel ornament includes a fastening device which couples the hair to the hook, ring or fastener. In this embodiment, a string is wound about the hair where it passes over the hook, ring or fastener. In another embodiment, a ring may be fitted about the hair and hook, ring or fastener to compress the two together in a fixed manner. 
         [0010]    In a further embodiment, the ornament comprises a hinged yoke or ring having a first end which terminates in a threaded opening and a second flattened end. A formed loop is arranged substantially near the second flattened end. An elongated threaded member has a first end having a grip for seizing the elongated threaded member to extend or retract the elongated threaded member within the threaded opening. A second end of the elongated threaded member is flattened such that a portion of a wearer&#39;s body part may be pinched between the second flattened end of the hinged yoke or ring and the flattened end of the elongated threaded member. A flexible member extends from the formed loop of the hinged yoke to terminate in a cap to which hair is attached. 
         [0011]    Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned from practicing the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will be obtained by means of instrumentalities in combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of the invention with a ring in an open position.  FIG. 1B  shows a perspective view of the first embodiment in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention in a first position.  FIG. 2B  shows a perspective view of the second embodiment in a second position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in an open position.  FIG. 3B  shows a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention in a closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. For instance, the elements of the embodiments may be substituted or arranged in other manners without deviating from the scope of the invention. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  depict a first embodiment of the ornament  1  having a two-position ring  10 . In a first position as shown in  FIG. 1A , the ring  10  is open and having a free end  11  which may be passed into a pierced opening. The first end  11  may be biased into and seated within the second end  12  which includes a j-hook and is formed as a catch as shown in  FIG. 1B . A strip of hair  14  is secured to the j-hook substantially near the second end  12  via a flexible member  13 . The upper end of the hair  14  may be extended upward to cover the ring  10 . This allows the ring  10  to be covered entirely by the upper end of the hair  14  to provide a more naturally look for the ornament  1 . It should be noted that the hair may be fastened to a bottom or front of the ring  10  via a thread, flexible member or collapsed ring. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show a second embodiment of the invention wherein the ornament  1  comprises a clamping ring  20 . In this instance, the clamping ring  20  comprises a first bent end  21  that comprises a bulbous portion which communicates with a second end  23  when in a closed position as shown in  FIG. 2B . A hinge  22  is provided between the first end  21  and second end  23  for allowing the clamping ring  20  to be opened and closed. A circular ring  24  is provide substantially near the second end  23  for receiving an end of the hair. As in the previous embodiment, the hair  14  may be fastened to the circular ring  24  via a thread, flexible member, or collapsed ring  25 . During use, the clamp  20  is biased to an open position and an ear lobe strip of skin is arranged between the jaws of the clamp. Thereafter, the clamp is closed about the ear lobe or skin to attach the ornament thereto. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  show a third embodiment of the invention which comprises an adjustable clamping ring  30 .  FIG. 3A  shows the third embodiment with the adjustable clamping ring  30  in an open position.  FIG. 3B  shows it in a closed position. The adjustable clamping ring  30  comprises a grip  31  arranged on a first end. The grip  31  is formed on a first end of a threaded member  33  which extends through threaded opening  32  and is arranged at a first end of the clamping ring  30 . A hinge  22  is arranged substantially near the first end. A second end  34  of the threaded member  32  is flat and communicates with the second end  23  of the adjustable clamping ring  30 , as more clearly shown in  FIG. 3B . A ring  24  is formed substantially near the second end  34  for receiving ring  36  which is formed as part of cap  35  to receive an end of hair  14 . In this manner, the clamping ring  30  may be adjusted for comfort. 
         [0019]    It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.