Abstract:
A combination earrings and nape chain and method therefor comprising a set of earrings and a chain coupled thereto. One embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain comprises a chain dimensioned to restrict the movement of hair proximate the nape. Another embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain comprises a chain dimensioned to adorn the nape. In all embodiments, the length of the chain varies in proportion to the size of the nape, the amount and type of hair, and the personal preference of the wearer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates generally to earrings and decorative chains, and, more specifically, to a set of earrings coupled to a decorative chain dimensioned to hang across the nape of a person, and, in one embodiment, restrict the movement of hair proximate the nape.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Earrings are a popular form of jewelry for both women as well as men. Earrings come in many different shapes and sizes, some of which are coupled to ornaments which dangle from the ear lobe, while others are coupled to ornaments which are proximate the skin of the ear. Each variation of the earring creates a different kind of style. Some earrings have been coupled to a necklace or chain. It is often the case, however, that a person&#39;s nape is left unadorned by an earring-coupled form of jewelry. In addition, a chain adorning the nape of a person is also capable of restricting the movement of hair proximate the nape in order to prevent the hair from getting in a person&#39;s way.  
           [0003]    Various attempts have been made to create earrings coupled to a chain of some sort. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,974 issued to Hernandez discloses a chain which rests on the front portion of the neck of a person. The Hernandez patent does not demonstrate the use of a chain as a mechanism for adorning the nape of a person or for restricting the movement of hair proximate the nape. U.S. Pat. No. 1,556,103 issued to Hamilton discloses earrings which are coupled to both a necklace having a pendant chain on the front portion of the neck and a pendant chain attached to the earrings and designed to fall on the back of a person. The back pendant chain of the Hamilton patent rests on the back and is not dimensioned to adorn the nape, nor is it designed to restrict the movement of hair proximate the nape. U.S. Pat. No. 3,898,868 issued to Tomlinson discloses a tiara coupled to earrings, U.S. Pat. No. 3,082,431 issued to Watts shows a front head covering coupled to earrings, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,163,026 issued to Kenny discloses a hairpin coupled to an earring through a chain, but the Tomlinson, Watts, and Kenny patents do not disclose any adornment of the nape or securement of the hair proximate the nape.  
           [0004]    A need therefore existed for a set of earrings coupled to a chain capable of adorning the nape and/or securing hair proximate the nape.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An object of the present invention is to provide a combination earrings and nape chain and method therefor for hanging a chain across a nape to adorn the nape.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combination earrings and nape chain and method for hanging a chain across a nape to secure hair proximate the nape.  
           [0007]    It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a combination earrings and nape chain and method for hanging a chain across a nape comprising a unitary assembly.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
         [0008]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a combination earrings and nape chain is disclosed, comprising, in combination, a first earring comprising: a first ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a first ornament coupled to the first end of the first ear pin, the first ear pin extends through an ear hole of a first ear, a second earring comprising: a second ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a second ornament coupled to the first end of the second ear pin, the second ear pin extends through an ear hole of a second ear, and a chain dimensioned to hang across a nape and having a first end and a second end, the first end is coupled to the first ear pin of the first earring, the second end is coupled to the second ear pin of the second earring.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a combination earrings and nape chain comprising, in combination, a first earring comprising: a first ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a first ornament coupled to the first end of the first ear pin, the first ear pin extends through an ear hole of a first ear, a second earring comprising: a second ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a second ornament coupled to the first end of the second ear pin, the second ear pin extends through an ear hole of a second ear, and a chain dimensioned to hang across a nape and having a first end and a second end, the first end is dimensioned to detachably receive the second end of the first ear pin of the first earring, the second end of the chain is dimensioned to detachably receive the second end of the second ear pin of the second earring.  
           [0010]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method for hanging a chain across a nape is disclosed, comprising, in combination, the steps of providing a first earring comprising: a first ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a first ornament coupled to the first end of the first ear pin, the first ear pin extends through an ear hole of a first ear, providing a second earring comprising: a second ear pin having a first end and a second end, and a second ornament coupled to the first end of the second ear pin, the second ear pin extends through an ear hole of a second ear, providing a chain dimensioned to hang across a nape and having a first end and a second end, coupling the first earring to the first ear, coupling the second earring to the second ear, coupling the first end of the chain to the second end of the first ear pin of the first earring, and coupling the second end of the chain to the second end of the second ear pin of the second earring.  
           [0011]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a back view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention, showing the chain loosely adorning the nape.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2A is a side view of the second end of the chain, taken along the line  2 A- 2 A of FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a back view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention, showing the chain tightly adorning the nape.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a back view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention, showing the chain in phantom loosely adorning the nape under the hair.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a back view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention, showing the chain restricting the movement of hair proximate the nape.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a side view of one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention, showing the chain adorning the nape.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a front view of another embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain, showing the earrings and chain comprising a unitary assembly.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference number  10  refers generally to one embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain of the present invention. The combination earrings and nape chain  10  comprises a first earring  12  and a second earring  14 . The first earring  12  comprises a first ear pin  16  (shown in FIG. 1) having a first end  18  (shown in FIG. 1) and a second end  20  (shown in FIG. 1). A first ornament  22  is coupled to the first end  18  of the first ear pin  16  with the first ear pin  16  extending through an ear hole of a first ear  24  (shown in FIG. 2). The second earring  14  comprises a second ear pin  26  (shown in FIG. 1) having a first end  28  (shown in FIG. 1) and a second end  30  (shown in FIG. 1). A second ornament  32  is coupled to the first end  28  of the second ear pin  26  with the second ear pin  26  extending through an ear hole of a second ear  34  (shown in FIG. 2).  
         [0021]    The combination earrings and nape chain  10  also comprises a chain  36  dimensioned to hang across a nape  38  (shown in FIG. 2). The chain  36  has a first end  40  and a second end  42 . The first end  40  is coupled to the first ear pin  16  of the first earring  12  and the second end  42  is coupled to the second ear pin  26  of the second earring  14 . In one embodiment, the first end  40  and the second end  42  each define an aperture  44  (shown in FIG. 2A) to allow the chain  36  to be slidably coupled to first ear pin  16  and the second ear pin  26 , respectively, although it should be understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative coupling mechanism so long as it allows for the chain  36  to be securely coupled to the first earring  12  and the second earring  14 .  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the combination earrings and nape chain  10  preferably further comprises a first clutching device  48  dimensioned to clutch the second end  20  of the first ear pin  16 . The combination earrings and nape chain  10  preferably also comprises a second clutching device  50  dimensioned to clutch the second end  30  of the second ear pin  26 . The first clutching device  48  is used to secure the first earring  12  to the first ear  24 . Likewise, the second clutching device  50  is used to secure the second earring  14  to the second ear  34 . While, it is preferable in this embodiment for a first clutching device  48  and a second clutching device  50  to be used to secure the first earring  12  to the first ear  24  and the second earring  14  to the second ear  34 , respectively, it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  in which an alternative securing mechanism is used, or no mechanism at all is used (such as with a curved ear pin) so long as the combination earrings and nape chain  10  can be securely coupled to the first ear  24  and the second ear  34 .  
         [0023]    The length of the chain  36  can vary depending on the function of the chain  36 , the length of the nape  38 , and the amount and type of hair  46 . If, for example, the purpose of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  is to restrict the movement of hair  46 , then the chain  36  will need to be of sufficient length to restrict hair  46  of various sizes from moving freely. Referring now to FIGS.  4 - 5 , an embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain  10 , hereinafter  100 , for restricting the movement of hair  46  is disclosed. The same reference numbers used in describing the features of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  of the present invention will be used when describing the identical features of the combination earrings and nape chain  100 . The combination earrings and nape chain  100  is essentially the same as before, although the combination earrings and nape chain  100  comprises a chain  136  dimensioned to restrict the movement of hair  46  proximate the nape  38 . Preferably, the chain  136  in this embodiment is at least approximately 13.5 inches in length from the first end  40  to the second end  42 , although it should be understood that the chain length can deviate, even substantially, from the preferred length in either direction so long as the chain  136  is capable of restricting the movement of the hair  46  proximate the nape  38 . The amount and thickness of the hair  46  which needs to be restricted will determine the necessary length of the chain  136 . Thus, bushier hair will require a longer chain  136  (perhaps as long as 16 inches or more) while thinner hair will require a shorter chain  136  (as few as 10 inches or less). If a person does not want the chain  136  to restrict the movement of the hair  46 , he or she can place the chain  136  portion of the combination earrings and nape chain  100  under the hair  46  (as shown in FIG. 4).  
         [0024]    When the purpose of the chain  36  of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  is to adorn the nape  38 , then the length of the chain  36  can vary depending on the size of the nape  38  and/or the personal taste of the wearer. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, an embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain  10 , hereinafter  200 , for the purpose of adorning the nape  38  is disclosed. The same reference numbers used in describing the features of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  of the present invention will be used when describing the identical features of the combination earrings and nape chain  200 . The combination earrings and nape chain  200  is essentially the same as before, although the combination earrings and nape chain  200  comprises a chain  236  dimensioned to adorn the nape  38 . Preferably, the chain  236  in this embodiment is at least approximately 10 inches in length from the first end  40  to the second end  42 , although it should be understood that the chain length can deviate, even substantially, from the preferred length in either direction depending on the size of the nape  38  and/or the personal preference of the wearer. Thus, one wearer might choose a small chain  236  which tightly adorns the nape  38  (as shown in FIG. 3) and another wearer might choose a longer chain which loosely adorns the nape (as shown in FIG. 6).  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment of the combination earrings and nape chain  10 , hereinafter  300 , is disclosed. The same reference numbers used in describing the features of the combination earrings and nape chain  10  of the present invention will be used when describing the identical features of the combination earrings and nape chain  300 . The combination earrings and nape chain  300  is essentially the same as before, although the first end  40  of the chain  336  is dimensioned to detachably receive the second end  20  of the first ear pin  16  of the first earring  12  and the second end  42  of the chain  336  is dimensioned to detachably receive the second end  30  of the second ear pin  26  of the second earring  14 . With the first end  40  of the chain  336  and the second end  42  of the chain  336  securely receiving the first ear pin  16  and the second ear pin  26 , respectively, the combination earrings and nape chain  300  has no need for a first clutching device  48  or a second clutching device  50 . Preferably, the combination earrings and nape chain  300  further comprises a first securing chain  52  having a first end  54  and a second end  56 . The first end  54  of the first securing chain  52  is coupled to the first earring  12  and the second end  56  of the first securing chain  52  is coupled to the first end  40  of the chain  336 . Preferably, the combination earrings and nape chain  300  also comprises a second securing chain  58  having a first end  60  and a second end  62 . The first end  60  of the second securing chain  58  is coupled to the second earring  14  and the second end  62  of the second securing chain  58  is coupled to the second end  42  of the chain  336 . Together, the first securing chain  52  and the second securing chain  58  make the combination earrings and nape chain  300  unitary in assembly. This unitary design helps to prevent the loss of the first earring  12 , the second earring  14  or the chain  336  since all of the pieces of the combination earrings and nape chain  300  are coupled together. Although, the combination earrings and nape chain  300  preferably comprises a first securing chain  52  and second securing chain  58 , it should be clearly understood that substantial benefit could be derived from an alternative configuration of the combination earrings and nape chain  300  which lacks securing chains.  
         [0026]    While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.