ABSORBENT MEDICATED JEWELRY ARTICLE

Abstract: An article of jewelry capable of delivering medication and adapted to absorb fluids while not adhering to any open wound inside a hole in a pierced flap of skin. Such a jewelry article comprises an elongate shaft (12) suitable for insertion through the pierced flap of skin. The shaft has a hollow portion with an absorbent material (20) therein for absorbing fluids. A plurality of apertures (14) extend transversely through the shaft (12) to the absorbent material (20) for passage of fluids between the exterior of the shaft (12) and the absorbent material (20). A pole piece (16) is attached to one end (13) of the shaft (12) for abutting and covering one side of the pierced flap of skin. The article can further comprise a clasp (18) adapted to be removably secured to the other end of the shaft for retaining the member within the pierced flap of skin.

Description: ABSORBENT MEDICATED JEWELRY ARTICLE BACKGROUND The present invention is directed to an earring and, more particularly, -to a medicated earring adapted to aid in the prevention of dermatological disorders in the pierced portion of an ear as well as in the cleansing and healing thereof. One popular item of jewelry has long been the earring. Early earrings include various types of clasps that were attached by compression to both surfaces of earlcbes. However, such early items of jewelry became easily unattached to the lobe, thereby causing the earring to fall off the lobe and became lost. Since some earrings had a considerable value, a more permanent method was sought for attaching earrings to the lobe to prevent such ' loss. In addition to the undesirable loss of earrings, compression-type earrings were often uncomfortable to the user since they constantly pinched the earlobe. The need to solve these problems brought forth the advent of the pierced ear type of earring where a hole was actually made in the lobe portion of the ear and the earring attached to the lobe by passing a portion thereof through the hole. While the pierced ear piece solved the problem of loss of valuable items of jewelry, it nevertheless introduced the problem of infection in the pierced hole of the ear and clogging thereof if proper antiseptic conditions were not always maintained. Crude use has been made of toothpicks for the cleaning of pierced ears. However, toothpicks do not effectively cleanse the hole and are inherently dangerous since wood splinters may pierce the tissue about the hole. Although metal wires can also be used to clean infected pierced ears, these wires likewise are relatively ineffective and unsafe. Most of the antiseptic applicators on the market are not practical for use in cleaning pierced ears since such applicators are of diameters too large fcr insertion into these tiny holes. Because the hole pierced in the ear is very small, there exists only a few articles on the market specifically designed to effect cleansing cf such holes. One such device is of the type taught in U.S. Patent 3,500,829. This device comprises a slotted tube which, when inserted into a pierced ear, allows air to enter the ear hole so as to allow the punctured surface to heal and to allow drainage in cases of active infection. However, since the slot is located at only cne position along the diameter of the tube, fluids generated from the pierced ear from areas around the remaining diameter of the tube are only marginally collected. Accordingly, this slotted tube at best only alleviates a small portion of the problem. In addition, the constant reuse of this device will, if not properly sterilized between each use, collect bacteria. Accordingly, there exists a substantial chance that, if proper precautions are net taken, a more acute infection may develop with use of the device. Similarly, there exists a potential for serious health hazards if the reuseable device is used by more than one individual. Another problem reported in conjunction with pierced ears is that tissue of the ear can become irritated, infected, cr develop allergic reactions to the metal material that forms the post or stem of the earring. Several prior art devices have attempted to overcome the above problems. However, none of these prior art devices are capable cf dispensing medication and absorbing any infectious fluids while not adhering to the open wound inside the pierced ear. Accordingly, it would be very advantageous if a device could deliver medication and absorb any infectious fluids while not adhering to any open wound inside the pierced ear. SUMMARY The earring of the present invention satisfies this need. The invention is directed to an earring capable of delivering medication and absorbing any infectious fluid while not adhering to any open wound inside the pierced ear. More particularly, the earring comprises (a) an elongate shaft suitable for insertion through a pierced portion of the ear, the shaft having a hollow portion; (b) means located within the hollow portion of shaft for absorbing fluids; (c) a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the shaft to the absorbent means for passage of fluid through the shaft; (d) a pole piece secured to one end of the shaft for abutting and covering one side of the pierced portion of the ear; and (e) clasp means adapted to be removably secured to the other end of the shaft for retaining the shaft within the pierced portion of the ear. A medication suitable for preventing infection or for treating a general or specific infection can be dispersed along the shaft. Another embodiment of the present invention can be used in conjunction with pierced noses. More particularly, the device of this embodiment comprises (a) an elongate shaft suitable for insertion through a pierced portion of the nose, the shaft having a hollow portion; (b) means located within the hollow portion of the shaft for absorbing fluids; (c) a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the shaft to the absorbent means for passage of fluids through the shaft; and (d) a pole piece secured to one end of the shaft for abutting and covering one side of the pierced portion of the nose. By incorporating the absorbent means within the perforated shaft, one prevents tender tissue from adhering to the absorbent means. This configuration also prevents the direct handling of the absorbent means and thereby helps such absorbent means to remain sterile. DRAWINGS These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of an earring embodying features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial exposed view of a portion of the earring of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation view cf he clasp of the earring cf Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a second earring embodying feature of the earring of the present invention. Figure 5 is a sice sectional view of a third earring embodying features of the present invention. Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the clasp of the earring of Figure 5. DESCRIPTON The present invention is directed to an article of jewelry useful in preventing an infection as well as for treating a general or specific der atological disorder of the pierced flap of skin. This jewelry article can be used in the treatment of a hole located in an earlobe, a nostril, or in any other location that an earring or similar jewelry article can be worn. With reference to the figures, an earring 1£ embodying features of the invention comprises an elongate shaft 12 suitable for insertion through a pierced portion of the ear. The shaft 12 has a hollow portion. Preferably, the shaft 12 is substantially rigid. It is also preferred that the shaft 12 be tubular in shape. In addition, the shaft 12 is preferably made of hypo-allergenic material. Kypc-ailergenic materials include, but are not limited to, plastics. Typical plastics which can be employed in the present invention include, but are net limited to, nylon, polyurethane, silicone elastomer, polyethylene, polyester, and polypropylene, and other plastics approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use within a human body. The length cf the shaft should be such that it can transverse the pierced ear and have a sufficient portion of the shaft 12 protruding .from the ear so that a clasp means 18 can be secured thereto. Typically, the shaft can be approximately 0.400 +_ 0.05 inches in length. Similarly, the diameter of the shaft should be such that it can conveniently fit within the pierced opening in the ear. Typically, the shaft 12 will have an outer diameter of about <δ. ~ 45 +_ 0.005 inches and an inner diameter of 0.025 +_ 2.005 inches. Means 2ø are located within the hollow portion of the shaft 12 for absorbing fluids. The absorbent means 20 can be, for example, a sponge or cotton. The sponge can be constructed from any suitable material, e.g. polyurethane foam. The absorbent means 20 has a length and a diameter such that it can conveniently fit within the hollow portion of shaft 12. An effective amount of a medication can be dispersed along the shaft 12. In one embodiment of the invention, the medication is placed directly en the shaft 12. In another embodiment, the medication is incorporated into the absorbent means 2£. In this latter embodiment, the absorbent means 2ø acts as a dispenser of the medication. In either embodiment, the medication can be incorporated into the earring lø at the time cf manufacture or subsequently thereto, for example, by a doctor, a pharmacist or a consumer. Any medication capable of use in the topical treatment of various conditions associated with pierced ears can be employed in conjunction with the earring 10 of this invention. For example, the medication can be one employed to (a) prevent infections, (b) aid healing, (c) treat contact cermatitus caused by earrings made of a deletorious substance, or (d) any combination thereof. Medications useful for the prevention cf infections and which aid healing include, but are not limited to, Johnson £ Johnson Product Inc.'s Clinicycin brand medication, Burroughs Wellcome Co.'s Nespcrin brand ointment and cream, Upjohn Co. 's Mycitracin brand medication, Del Laboratories, Inc.'s Neo-Thrycex brand medication, Thrifty Drug and Discount Stores f Thrifty Triple Antibiotic brand ointment. Burroughs Wellcome Cc.'s Polysporin brand ointment, and Upjohn Cc.'s Bacignent brand medication. Medications useful for treating contact derroatitus cases by earrings containing deleterious substances include, but are not limited to, Thompson Medical Company Inc's, Cortizone 5 Cream brand medication, ϋpjohn Co.'s Cortaic brand medication, Thrifty Drug and Discount Stores' Thrifty brand Hydroccrtiscne Cream C.5%, and Creightcn Products Corp.'s Bicczene brand medication . The amount of medication required for effective use depends upon the specific medication employed. In general, the amount indicated en the medication for direct application to an external area cf concern can instead be applied to either the shaft 12 or the absorbent means 2ø. A plurality cf apertures 14 extend transversely through the shaft 12 and are adopted to permit fluid passage between the exterior cf shaft 12 and the absorbent means 20. The number cf apertures 14 per shaft 12 can vary. In general, the maximum number of apertures 14 capable of being placed on the shaft 12 without jeopardizing the structural integrity of the shaft 12 are employed. This number will usually, but not always, range between about 15 and about 25 apertures per shaft 12. Preferably, about 2ø apertures are employed per shaft 12. The diameter of each aperture 14 is approximately 0.015+_ 0.0S5 inches. A pole piece 16 is secured to a first end 13 of the shaft 12. The pole piece 16 is adapted to abut and cover one sice of the pierced ear. The pole piece 16 and shaft 12 can either be manufactured as a single unit or as separate units. If manufactured as separate units, the pole piece 16 and shaft 12 are adapted, for example as shown in Figure 5, to be secured together in either a removable or irremovable fashion. Clasp means S are adapted to be removably secured to the second end 19 of the shaft 12. The clasp means 16 thereby retains the shaft 12 within the pierced ear. The clasp means 18 can comprise an end plug 21 having located therein a passageway 24 opened at both ends 25 and 27 thereof. In another embodiment, the clasp means 18 can be further adapted to close the second end 19 of the sha e 12. In this embodiment, for example, the clasp means 18 can comprise the end plug 21 wherein the passageway 24 is opened at only one end 25 thereof. The passageway 24 can, in one embodiment of the invention, be adapted to frictionally fit ever the shaft 12. In another embodiment, the passageway 24 can have located therein means 26 for making a snap fitting with a complementary means 26 on the second end 19 of the shaft 12. For example, the snapfitting means 26 can be a recess or a protrusion and the complementary snap fitting means 28 can be a protrusion or a recess, respectively. The earring 10 of the instant invention can be fabricated by employing one or mere of various manufacturing procedures. One preferred method of fabricating the earring lø of the instant invention comprises separately molding the shaft 12, the pole piece 16, and the clasp means 19. The shaft 12 and pele piece 16 can also be molded as a single unit. The apertures 14 can be formed along the shaft 12 during the actual molding procedure. Alternatively, these earring components can also be extruded. If the shaft 12 is extruded, the apertures 14 should be mace in the shaft 12 subsequent to the extrusion process. These apertures 14 can be made either by hand, by a pin hole making machine, or by the use of lazer≤. The pin hole making machine can be electrically driven. The machine can comprise four sets cf pins. In each set of pins the individual pins can be arranged in a substantially linear fashion. Each set of pins can be spaced 9£° from its neighboring set. In addition, the machine can be designed such that each set of pins only pierces one sice of the shaft 12. The horizontal and vertical piercing operations can take place simultaneously, thus insurinc that equal pressure is simultaneously appliec to the sides of the shaft 12. The exact depth of penetration can be achieved by means of adjusting screws. Each pin can be either used cold or can have a small heating element attached thereto to facilitate the pin's ability to pierce shaft 12. The pin hole making machine works on the same principle as a crankshaft with an up and dcwn motion employed to move the pins forward to pierce the shaf 12 or backwards to withdraw the pins from the thus formed apertures 14. The apertures 14 in the shaft 12 can also be formed by means of a laser. This laser can be of the type used in medical applications, e.g., one used -to perform eye surgery. These lasers have the ability to execute a desired task with a high degree cf precision and can be adjusted to form the apertures 14 in accordance with the exact depth and diameter desired. The apertures 14 can also be formed in the shaft 12 by positioning mirrors in exact, predetermined positions so that the laser beam will be reflected off each irror and strike the shaft 12 at each location where an aperture 14 is desired. In this fashion, the hole forming operation can be completed in an instant. 'he earring of the present invention can be disposable, The earring 10 of the present invention is used by inserting it, except for the clasp IS, through the pierced portion of the ear and attaching the clasp 18 tc the ether end 19 cf the shaft 12 to thereby retain the shaft 12 within the pierced ear. When used in conjunction with pierced noses, the earring lø of the present invention, minus the clasp 18, is analogously inserted through the pierced portion of the nose, The earring lø of the present invention can be used when desired or as needed. More particularly, the earring 10 can be used immediately after an ear or nose has been pierced as well as at any time thereafter. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to various versions thereof, other versions are possible. For example, as can be seen in Figure 4, the pole piece 16 can be- of a relatively plain design and the clasp means 18 can be of a relatively decorative configuration. In this embodiment, the pole piece 16 will be worn on the interior portion cf the ear and the decorative clasp means 18 will be worn on the exterior portion of the ear. Another version of the instant invention can be seen in Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the pole piece 16 is composed of two sections, namely, a base 3ø and a decorative cap 32. The base 30 comprises a body 31 having a mating surface 33 and an interior surface 35. The interior surface 33 has a means 36 for insertion into the hollow portion cf the first end 13 of shaft 12. The insertion means 36 can be either adapted to be removably or irremovably inserted into the shaft 12. For example, if adapted for irremovable insertion into shaft 12, the insertion means can comprise a protrusion 37 having ribbings 39 thereon. The mating surface 33 has located thereon means 41 for attaching the decorative cap 32 to the base 3ø. There are various methods for attaching the decorative cap 32 to the base 30. For example, the attaching means 41 can comprise a series of recesses adapted to accept and firmly secure a corresponding and complementary series of projections 45 on the mating surface 47 of decorative cap 32. In Figure 6, the clasp means 18 has several teeth 49 racially and inwardly extending from passageway 24 to further assure a secure fit of the clasp means 18 over the shaft 12. The earring lø of the invention has many significant advantages compared to prior art earrings. It allows for the controlled, even distribution of medication, thereby aiding in the prevention and/or cure of infection and ether adverse dermatolcgical conditions of the ear. In addition, the earring IS of the present invention can absorb any fluids that may be produced by an infection cr wound in the pierced portion of the ear. This ability to draw fluids into the interior portion of the elongate shaft 12 helps to minimize any contact that such fluids have with the infected or distressed area. These advantages can be achieved by the present earring 10 without the wound or infected area attaching itself to the absorbent means 2ø or any ether portion of the earring 10. The resultant ability to use the earring lø in such aderse situations enables one to prevent the closure of the pierced hole which might otherwise occur during the healing process. Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope cf the appended claims should not necessarily be limited to the description of preferred versions contained herein.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A jewelry article comprising: (a) an elongate shaft suitable for insertion through a pierced flap of skin, the shaft having a hollow portion; (b) means located within the hollow portion of the shaft capable of absorbing fluids; (c) .a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the shaft to the absorbing means for passage cf fluids between the exterior of the shaft and the absorbing means; and (d) a pole piece secured to a first end of the shaft for abutting and covering one side of the pierced flap of skin; wherein fluids can flew between the flap of skin and the absorbent means through the plurality of apertures. 2. The jewelry article of claim 1 further comprising clasp means adapted to be removably securec to a second end cf the shaft for retaining t e shaft ithin the pierced flap of skin. 3. The jewelry article of claim 2 wherein the clasp means is further adapted for closing the second end of the elongate shaft. 4. The jewelry article of claim 2 w ' herein the clasp means comprises an end plug having located therein a passageway adapted to frictionally fit over the elongate shaft. 5. The jewelry article of claim 2 wherein the clasp means comprises an end plug having located therein a passageway and means located within the passageway for making a snap fitting with a complementary means located near the second end of the elongate shaft. 6. The jewelry article of claim 1 wherein the m~-" shaft is hypo-allergenic. 7. The jewelry ar ' ticle of claim 1 wherein the shaft is plastic. 10 8. The jewelry ' article of claim 1 wherein the shaft is tubular. 9. The jewelry article of claim 1 wherein the pole piece is irremovably secured to one end of the shaft. lø. A medicated jewelry article comprising: 15 (a) an elongate shaft suitable for insertion through a pierced flap of skin, the shaft having a hollow portion; (b) means located within the shaft for absorbing fluids; 20 (c) medication dispersed along the shaft; (d) a plurality of apertures extending transversely through the shaft to the absorbent means for passage of fluids between the exterior cf the shaft and the absorbing means; and 25 (e) a pole piece attached to a first end of the shaft for abutting and covering one side of the pierced flap of skin; wherein fluids can flow beetween the flap of skin and the absorbent means through the plurality of apertures. 11. The medicated jewelry article of claim 10 further comprising clasp means adapted to be removably secured to a second end of the shaft for retaining the shaft within the pierced flap of skin. 12. The medicated jewelry article of claim 10 wherein the shaft is hypo-allerςenic. 13. The medicated jewelry article of claim 11 wherein the clasp means is further adapted for closing the second end of the elongate shaft. 14. The medicated jewelry article cf claim 11 wherein the clasp means comprises an end plug having located therein a passageway adapted to frictionally fit over the elongate shaft. 15. The medicated jewelry article of claim 11 wherein the clasp means comprises an end plug having located therein a passageway and means located within the passageway for making a snap fitting with '" a complementary means located near the second end of the elongate shaft. 16. The medicated jewelry article of claim 10 where the shaft is tubular. 17. The medicated jewelry article of claim lø wherein the pole piece is irremovably secured to the shaft. 18. The medicated jewelry article of claim 10 wherein the absorbant means is a sponge. 19. A method of preventing an infection or treating a dermatolcgical disorder of a pierced flap of skin comprising inserting through such pierced flap cf skin of the medicated jewelry article cf claim 10. 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising at taching clasp mean s to the second end o f the shaf t to thereby retain the shaft wi thin the pierced flap of skin , the clasp means being adapted to be re movably secured to the second end of the shaft.

Inventors: BRADY ROBERT, NORCIA JOSEPH S, BRADY, ROBERT, NORCIA, JOSEPH, S.
Applicants: BRADY ROBERT, NORCIA JOSEPH S, BRADY, ROBERT, NORCIA, JOSEPH, S.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61M35
IPC codes: A44C7, A61M35