IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF EARRINGS
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Oakes at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 29th May 1867.
I, HENRY OAKES, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Jeweller, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF EARRINGS," to be as follows (that is to say) :-
My Invention has for its chief object the manufacture of earrings in such
a manner that they may be readily attached or affixed by the wearer without
the usual accompaniment of ring or hook, thus obviating any necessity for the
ears to be pierced; this I effect by connecting above the pendant drop or other
ornamental jewel of the earring a contrivance consisting of a pair of miniature
jaws or clips having a pincer or plier action, actuated or opened outwards
by means of the pressure of the thumb and finger upon a spring which may
consist of coiled wire, hardened gold, steel, or other suitable material secured
between, below, on either side, or forming part of the jaws or clips, the said
spring always having a tendency to keep the jaws or clips closed. When
required to be attached it will be merely necessary for the clips to be distended
as above stated, and whilst so held open to be passed over the lobe of the
ear, and upon releasing the pressure applied the clips will bind upon either
side of the ear with sufficient force to suspend or hold securely the earring in
position.
I will describe briefly a few of the many ways in which I propose to carry
out my Invention.

page_text: First, the clips may be formed similar to a pair of pliers, being hinged
at or near the centre and a spiral spring secured within the lower halves, the
elastic force of which spring will keep the upper or binding halves closed or
nearly so, one or both of the lower halves may be formed into a shield, pad, or
hoss for the purpose of hiding the spring and for the application of the thumb
and finger, the drop or pendant being suspended from them.
Secondly, I propose to make the clipping or binding portion of my improved
earrings by taking a piece of hardened gold and twisting it into a shape which
will resemble a bowed or oval form, the two ends curving inwards thus
constituting self-acting spring clips.
Thirdly, I curve a piece of gold into a bow form, the two ends being curled
to fix more easily upon the ear, and within the two clips I attach by rivets or
otherwise two small hardened steel springs.
Fourthly, I make the two halves of the clips separate, and connect them by
a spring secured between them similar to a coach spring, and either single or
double, the upper ends of these clips or jaws are curved outwards to fit over
the lobe of the ear, the lower portions of the same being formed into shields
or bosses; an earring thus made would have a similar action to that first
specified.
Fifthly, I can employ with my bow form of clips a small set screw passing
through them in such manner that a greater or lesser pressure may be applied
upon the ear as desired.
With all these various modes of effecting my improvements I suspend the
pendant or drop of the earring from a small loop or hole upon the under side
of the clips as may be found most convenient.