Patent Publication Number: US-2011056241-A1

Title: Spring lock mechanism for hinged pierced earring

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This patent application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/275,975 entitled Spring Lock Earring Mechanism filed on Sep. 4, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a spring lock mechanism for closing and opening hinged earrings for pierced ears. 
     Earrings for pierced ears, especially hinged hoop earrings are used worldwide. The mechanism for opening and closing the catch essentially includes a pin or post passing through a pierced ear which is held by some type of detent or catch. This mechanism is, sometimes, difficult to open successfully because of the need to manually remove the pin from the catch. 
     This invention is especially suited to hinged hoop earrings, and the invention provides an improved mechanism to bias the hoop earring to its open position as it is closed. 
     An object of this invention is to provide an improved hinged earring which improves the ability to open the earring allowing it to be removed from the ear. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved mechanism which is simple to operate, does not alter the appearance of the earring and is otherwise reliable. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved mechanism which is susceptible to easy manufacture, widespread use and will find increasing utilization. 
     Yet another object of this invention provides such a mechanism which is inexpensive, easy to incorporate in standard hinged earring manufacturing techniques yet provides unique and distinct advantages over the prior art. 
     Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will become more apparent from the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the principles of this invention, a hinged hoop earring is provided in which the hinge areas of the earring parts meet at the hinge but meet in such a way that there is a slight force required to close the pin in the catch which produces a compressive force between the earring parts at the hinge tending to separate the hinged parts. As the pin is released from its catch, the hinged earring springs open, facilitating its removal from the ear. 
     The hinged earring is closed by a simple push pin mechanism, which when opened releases the upper hoop earring connection allowing it to easily be opened and removed from the ear by the wearer. Additionally, the slight resistance to full closure of the earring also assists in a person&#39;s tactile feel as the earring is put on. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. A 1  is a side plan view of the earring of this invention in its closed form. 
       FIG. B 1  is a side plan view of the earring of FIG. A 1  open. 
       FIG. A 2  is a perspective view of the bottom hinge of this invention when the earring is closed. 
       FIG. B 2  is a perspective view of the bottom hinge as the earring springs open. 
       FIG. A 3  is a partial sectional view of the closing mechanism of the earring showing the pin connected to a latch. 
       FIG. B 3  is a view similar to A 3  with the pin separated from the latch. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The spring lock mechanism of this invention for closing and opening hinged earrings for pierced ears is illustrated in the above Figs. Overall, this mechanism facilitates the putting on and taking off of a hinged earring. 
     The earring  20  comprises two halves  22  and  24  joined at a hinge  26  at their bottoms and joined by a pin  1  at the tops thereof. This invention is applicable to any hinged earring, and the hinge does not have to be located at the bottom. 
     The earring  20  is closed by means of pin  1  fixedly attached to the upper end of earring half  22  which is secured in the closed position through a notch  1 -N in pin  1  held by means of a plunger hook  2 -H formed in plunger  2  which is fixedly attached to the opposite upper end of earring half  24  (see FIGS. A 3  and B 3 ). Plunger hook  2 -H is moved into and out of notch  1 -N by means of plunger push point  3  formed as part of plunger  2 . Plunger push point  3  and a portion of plunger  2  is slightly outside the silhouette of earring  20  so as to enable easy manual control. Thus, a user can push down on plunger push point  3  lifting plunger hook  2 -H from notch  1 -N allowing the earring to be opened. Plunger  2  bears on a plunger spring  5  which is hingedly connected within housing  4  for the plunger  2  and spring  5 . When plunger point  3  is pushed down, it bears on spring  5  and urges hook  2 -H out of engagement in notch  1 -N. When the earring is closed the spring action of spring  5  allows hook  2 -H to snap into notch  1 -N, thereby closing the earring. 
     This invention is especially concerned with the construction of the hinge section more particularly as shown in FIGS. A 2  and B 2 . Earring half  24  terminates at its lower end at a point  9 , and earring halves  22  and  24  pivot about hinge pin  7 . Point  9  of earring half  24  is fabricated of a hardened material formed as a finger  28  extending from earring part  24 . Point  9  and finger extension  28  and point  10  and recess  30  of part  22  press against each other in slight compression when the earring is closed. This is accomplished by the mating portion of finger extension  28  having a portion being compressed used in compression when the earring is closed. 
     This is accomplished by providing no clearance between matching edges of finger  28  and recess  30  especially at the lower edge at  32  such that finger  28  is forced to “squeeze” into recess  30  along edge  32 . This causes a compressive force between parts  28  and  30  such that when plunger finger  2 -H releases pin  1 , the earring halves  22  and  24  spring apart, facilitating the opening of the earring and its removal from the ear. 
     While this invention has been described with a particular mechanism to open and close the post, and mechanism that allow the post or pin to become free of its catch will also realize the spring bias mechanism in the above hinge area as described to facilitate handling of the earring. 
     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.