Patent Publication Number: US-2016227889-A1

Title: Jewelry chain with double threaded ends for attachment to decorative elements

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 62/113,089 filed on Feb. 6, 2015, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The embodiments herein relate generally to jewelry, and more particularly, to a chain or thread having two ends, wherein each end comprises a connection point configured to engage with a decorative element, such as a jewel. 
     Conventional earrings that dangle from a user&#39;s ear lobe include a decorative element dangling from a post, wherein one end of the post is left open such that it can engage with a user&#39;s ear lobe piercing. Thus, conventionally, a decorative element, such as a jewel, is configured to only hang from one side of a user&#39;s piercing. Moreover, the decorative element is not conventionally interchangeable. Thus, if a user desires a different look on a different day, the user is required to buy multiple sets of earrings with similar structures. 
     Therefore, what is needed is a chain or thread having two ends, wherein each end comprises a connection point configured to interchangeably engage with a decorative element, and wherein the chain or thread can pass through a piercing hole, allowing a decorative element to hang from either side of the piercing. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure include a piece of jewelry providing a mechanism for dangling multiple decorative elements from either side of a piercing hole. The jewelry may include a thread having a first end and a second end, a first connection point positioned at the first end, and a second connection point positioned at the second end, wherein each of the first connection point and the second connection point is configured to engage with a respective decorative element, and at least one of the connection points is configured to removably engage with the respective decorative element such that at least one decorative element is removably attached to the thread. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention is made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals represent corresponding parts of the figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective detail view of one embodiment of the present invention shown in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a section detail view of one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are described. However, it will be clear and apparent to one skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention can be adapted for any of several applications. 
     The device of the present disclosure may be used as a piece of jewelry with a customizable appearance and may comprise the following elements. This list of possible constituent elements is intended to be exemplary only, and it is not intended that this list be used to limit the device of the present application to just these elements. Persons having ordinary skill in the art relevant to the present disclosure may understand there to be equivalent elements that may be substituted within the present disclosure without changing the essential function or operation of the device. 
     1. Piercing Thread 
     2. Connection Points 
     3. Interchangeable Jewels 
     The various elements of the jewelry with interchangeable dangling decorative elements of the present disclosure may be related in the following exemplary fashion. It is not intended to limit the scope or nature of the relationships between the various elements and the following examples are presented as illustrative examples only. 
     By way of example, and referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , some embodiments of the jewelry of the present disclosure comprise an ear thread  10  having a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first end and the second end comprise a respective connection point, each connection point being configured to engage with a decorative element, wherein at least one of the connection points is configured to removably engage with the respective decorative element such that at least one decorative element is configured to be removed from the ear thread  10  such that the ear thread  10  is configured to be threaded through a piercing hole  28 . In some embodiments, the ear thread  10  is configured to removably engage with both a first decorative element  20  and a second decorative element  22 , such that each of the decorative elements  20 ,  22  can be interchanged with alternative decorative elements, allowing the jewelry to be customizable to meet a user&#39;s needs or desired appearance. 
     As shown in the Figures, in some embodiments, the connection points may each comprise a post  12 , wherein the post has a threaded end  14  configured to engage with a threaded orifice  18  in the decorative element  20 ,  22 . For example, in some embodiments, the decorative element  20 ,  22  comprises a crimp bead  16  secured within an orifice  24  in the decorative element  20 ,  22 , wherein the crimp bead  16  comprises a threaded orifice  18  configured to engage with the threaded end  14  of the post  12 . 
     As shown in the Figures, the ear thread  10  may comprise a chain having a post permanently secured to either end thereof Thus, the ear thread  10  may freely dangle from the user&#39;s piercing hole  28 . Alternatively, the ear thread  10  may comprise a more rigid bar or other material, wherein the shape of the jewelry is not as fluid, and instead is confined to a U-shape. 
     The decorative elements may comprise any desired decorative piece, such as a jewel or other sort of ornamental jewelry decoration. A user may decide to wear matching decorative elements  20 ,  22  as shown in the Figures. Alternatively, a user may decide to wear two different decorative elements. The choice may depend on the user&#39;s personal style. 
     To make the jewelry of the present disclosure, a hole may be drilled in the desired decorative element, wherein a crimp bead of a suitable size with a threaded orifice may be secured into the hole in the decorative element. An earring post may be treated with complimentary threads, such that the post is configured to engage with the crimp bead. The end of the post opposite the threaded end may be permanently bonded to an ear thread or chain. The other end of the ear thread or chain may be similarly manufactured. 
     To use the jewelry of the present disclosure, a user may thread the ear thread  10  through a piercing hole  28 , such as a piercing hole  28  in an ear  26 . The user may then attach the desired decorative elements  20 ,  22  to each end of the ear thread  10 , resulting in an earring having decorative elements  20 ,  22  dangling from either side of the ear  26 . 
     While the jewelry of the present disclosure is described above as being used as an earring, the jewelry is not limited to only being used with a piercing in an ear. Rather, the jewelry may be used with any desired piercing hole in a user&#39;s body. 
     Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.