IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGES OF EAR-RINGS, APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELBY
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Claude Touchevieux at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
25th January 1869.
I, CLAUDE TOUGHEVIEUX, Clock Maker, of 2, Rue Ste. Appoline,
Paris, Empire of France, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HINGES OF EAR-RINGS, APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN
OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELBY," to be as follows:—
Heretofore the hinges of car-rings have been usually made in two parts,
between which a third part is introduced, a pin passing through the
three. No matter how great care may be taken in fitting them it is
almost impossible to make a secure joint, for the point of union is always
very small, and as a proof of its insecurity this part of an ear ring is
continually requiring to be repaired. My Invention is intended to
remedy this defect, and for this purpose I altogether dispense with the
ordinary hinge and substitute a joint in no way liable to the aforesaid
inconveniences.
I will describe the Invention as applied to an ear-ring, although the
joint is applicable to other articles of jewelry. To the back of the
ornament, and usually at the lower end thereof, I secure, preferably

page_text: by solder, a bent arm or rod, the upper end of which is hollow to receive
the lower end of a bent rod, the upper end of which forms the
hook; the portion entering the hollow or socket has a groove formed on
and round it; and to secure the two pieces together; the metal of the
outer rod is pressed into the groove formed on the inner, so that the top
part forming the hook is free to turn, but cannot leave the socket; the
other end of the bent portion or hook enters a notch formed at the back
of the upper portion of the ornament. By this arrangement it is very
easy to fasten and unfasten the ear-ring. I would remark that the end
of the hook which passes through the cartilaginous portion of the ear 1
is made perfectly smooth without any notch, whereby the hole in the
ear is not injured or torn, and it is especially useful after the ear has
been recently pierced.
I have before stated that the upper portion of the lower arm is
hollow and forms a socket, but I sometimes make it solid, in which 1
case the hook is placed in a small tube bored with two holes, one the
size of the hook rod, or wire the other the size of the diameter of the
enlargement of the hook; the small tube is then soldered to the top of
the rod. By this arrangement the hook is free to turn in the tube,
whereby the ear-ring can with facility be fastened and unfastened. All s
the parts are well united, very strong, and of a very simple and con-
venient construction.
Although I have described the Invention as applied to earrings, yet
the joint is intended to be used for other articles of jewelry.
I would not limit myself to the precise methods before described of
securing the two portions of the fastening together, the Invention
essentially consisting in the employment of a hook free to turn on or in
its support as it were on a centre and where the said hook is firmly held,
substantially in manner before described.