GB2187930A

GB2187930A - An ear stud and clasp

Info

Publication number: GB2187930A
Application number: GB08603731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Mander
Original assignee: MANDER GILLIAN
Current assignee: MANDER GILLIAN
Priority date: 1986-02-14
Filing date: 1986-02-14
Publication date: 1987-09-23
Also published as: GB8603731D0

Abstract

An ear fixture comprises an ear stud 1 and a clasp 15 in which those parts of the stud and clasp which in use contact the ear are of a plastics material. The stud 1 comprises a post 2 which in use extends through the pierced ear, a boss 3 forming an enlargement at one end of the post and a clasp engaging portion 4 at the opposite end of the post. The post 2, the boss 3 and the clasp engaging portion 4 are of integral construction and formed of a plastics material. The ear fixture avoids allergenic response to metal since no metal parts contact the ear. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An ear stud and clasp This invention relates to an ear fixture comprising an ear stud and a clasp of the type in which a stud extends through a pierced ear to engage the clasp and in particular but not exclusively to a stud and clasp for use with an ear piercing gun.

Far studs are known in which a metallic stud is used to pierce an ear and is subsequently held in position by a metallic clasp. A problem exists in that many users experience an allergenic skin response to the metallic material particularly when the material is a base metal or a base metal coated with only a thin layer of precious metal.

According to the present invention there is disclosed an ear fixture comprising an ear stud and a clasp, wherein at least those parts of the stud and clasp which in use contact the ear are of a plastics material.

An advantage of such an ear fixture is that no metal parts contact the ear so that an allergenic response to metal is avoided.

Preferably an ear stud for use in such an ear fixture comprises a post which in use extends through a pierced ear, a boss forming an enlargement at one end of the post and a clasp engaging portion at the opposite end of the post wherein the post, the boss and the clasp engaging portion are of integral construction and formed of a plastics material.

Conveniently the boss includes a connector for receiving a stud head. An advantage of such an arrangement is that a number of different types of decorative stud head may be fitted to the stud.

Conveniently the connector comprises a cylindrical portion for receiving a co-operating sleeve portion of the stud head. Conveniently the cylindrical connector portion defines an aperture for accomodating a re-entrant portion of the stud head.

Preferably the stud head comprises a metallic sleeve portion having an open end slideably engagable with the connector and an outer end comprising a setting for an insert. Conveniently the setting comprises an annular flange partially closing the mouth of the aperture to retain the insert therein. An insert such as a jewel may thereby be conveniently set in the head of the stud.

Advantageously the clasp engaging portion includes an ear piercing formation for facilitating the driving of the stud through the ear in an ear piercing operation. Conveniently the head of the stud is adapted to slideably engage a guide member of an ear piercing apparatus.

Preferably the clasp comprises an annular member of a plastics material defining a passage for receiving the clasp engaging portion of the stud and a resilient clip for engaging a co-operating formation of the clasp engaging portion.

Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a sectioned elevation of a stud Figure 2 is a similar view of a stud head Figure 3 is a similar view of a stud head having an insert Figure 4 is a axial view of a clasp, and Figure is a side view of the clasp of Fig.

4.

The ear stud 1 of Fig. 1 has a post 2 which is 10mm long having a tapered cylindrical surface 19 which is 1.5mm in diameter at its thickest end. The thickest end of the post 2 is extended by a boss 3 of 4mm diameter and at its other end the post includes a clasp engaging portion 4. The transition between the cylindrical surface 19 and the boss 3 is stepped to provide a radially extending annular surface 20.

The boss 3 has a connector 5 for receiving a stud head 6 as shown in Fig. 2. The connector 5 has a cylindrical portion 7 onto which a sleeve 8 of the head 6 is an interference and the boss 3 includes an annular projection against which the sleeve abuts.

The connector 5 further includes an aperture 9 such that the boss 3 is essentially hollow for use with a head having a re-entrant portion 10 as shown in Fig. 3.

The stud head of Fig. 3 has an outer end 12 having an annular flange 23 extending radially inwards and forming a setting for an insert 13 such as a jewel.

The clasp engaging portion 4 is of enlarged circumference relative to the post 2 so forming a shoulder 14 and includes a pointed end 18.

Fig. 4 shows the clasp 15 which comprises an annular member 16 having on one side a plane face 21 and on the other a resilient clip 17 such that the stud 1 and clasp may be engaged by inserting the pointed end 18 through the plane side of the annular member and urging the stud and clasp together. During engagement the stud extends through the member 16 and engages the clip 17 which deforms radially to accomodate the passage of the clasp engaging portion 4 and then relaxes so that the clasp is held captive by the shoulder 14.

When used with an ear piercing gun the stud 1 is projected towards the ear which is pierced by the pointed end 18, the clasp 15 being positioned in alignment with the stud such that engagement occurs immediately following piercing. The cylindrical sleeve 8 cooperates with a tubular guide of the ear piercing gun (not shown) to maintain the alignment of the stud during piercing.

The stud and clasp are formed from a plastics material of a type which does not pro duce allergenic response to the user. Whilst the head 6 may include a sleeve 8 of a metal material those parts of the stud and clasp which in use contact the ear are of a plastics material, the ear contacting surfaces being the cylindrical surface 19 of the post 2, the annular radially extending surface 20 of the boss 3 and the face 21 of the clasp 15.

Claims

1. An ear fixture comprising an ear stud and a clasp, wherein at least those parts of the stud and clasp which in use contact the ear are of a plastics material.

2. An ear stud for use in an ear fixtutre as claimed in claim 1 comprising a post which in use extends through a pierced ear, a boss forming an enlargement at one end of the post, and a clasp engaging portion at the opposite end of the post wherein the post, the boss and the clasp engaging portion are of integral construction and formed of a plastics material.

3. An ear stud as claimed in claim 2 wherein the boss includes a connector for receiving a stud head.

4. An ear stud as claimed in claim 3 wherein the connector comprises a cylindrical portion for receiving a co-operating sleeve portion of the stud head.

5. An ear stud as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cylindrical connector portion defines an aperture for accomodating a re-entrant portion of the stud head.

6. An ear stud as claimed in claim 5 wherein the stud head comprises a metallic sleeve portion having an open end slidably engagable with the connector and an outer end comprising a setting for an insert.

7. An ear stud as claimed in claim 6 wherein the setting comprises an annular flange partially closing the mouth of the aperture to retain the insert therein.

8. An ear stud as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7 wherein the clasp engaging portion includes an ear piercing formation for facilitating the driving of the stud through the ear in an ear piercing operation.

9. An ear stud as claimed in claim 8 wherein the head is adapted to slideably engage a guide member of an ear piercing apparatus.

10. A clasp for use in an ear fixture as claimed in claim 1 comprising an annular member of a plastics material defining a passage for receiving the clasp engaging portion of the stud and a resilient clip for engaging a co-operating formation of the clasp engaging portion.

11. An ear stud substantially as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to and as shown in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings or as modified by addition of a head as shown in either of Figs. 2 or 3.

12. A clasp substantially as hereinbefore disclosed with reference to and as shown in Fig. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.