US2208343A - Safety back device for ear ornaments - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1940. P. REETER SAFETY BACK DEVICE FOR EAR ORNAMENTS INVE N To? (2)2 Fez/er BY W ATTORNEY Filed Nov. 4, 1939 Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT o FicE SAFETY BACK DEVICE FOR EAR ORNAMENTS Philip Reiter, New York, N. Y. Application November 4, 1939, Serial No. 302,841

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a safety back device for ear ornaments.

The invention has foran object the supporting and association of a clamp bar on the clasp of an ornament, preferably for the ear, in a certain flexible manner. I More specifically, the invention contemplates the use of resilient means for urging the clamp bar forwards to flexibly engage the ear, and

' arranged in a wobbling manner so that the clamp bar is loose to conform with the angular face of the ear portion against which it engages.

Still further the invention contemplates the use of guide pins on the clamp bar to guide and hold the clamp bar against displacement, while at the same time arranged in a manner so as not to interfere with the wobbling condition mentioned.

Still further the invention proposes a certain construction of the clamp bar characterized by air pockets adapted to have a suction effect when pressed against the soft fiesh of the ear lobes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a mate-- rial part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an ornament provided with a safety back device in accordance with this invention and shown schematically mounted on an ear.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the ornament illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of a portion of the clamp and the clamp bar illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front elevational viewof the clamp bar illustrated per se.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line l-'l of Fig. 6. p I

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a. clamp bar constructed in accordance with another embodiment of this invention.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational View of another ornament equipped with a safety back in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the ornament shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Fi 10.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 13-43 of Fig. 12. i

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of another ornament with the safety back device constructed according to a modification of this invention, certain parts thereof being broken away to expose interior parts.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the line 15-45 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view of a safety back device constructed in accordance with a modification of this invention.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line ll-ll of Fig. 16.

Fig. 13 is another fragmentary sectional view of another safety back device constructed according to still another form of this invention.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a modified clamp bar.

Fig. .20 isa perspective view of a back plate used jointly with the clamp bar illustrated in Fig. 19. i

Fig. 21 is a plan view, showing the assembly of the members illustrated in Figs. 19 and 20.

The safety back device for ear ornaments, in accordance with this invention, is used in conjunction with an ornament 20 mounted upon a fiat back plate 2!. A clasp is mounted on the said back plate and includes a holding strip 22 having a cylindrical socket 23. In addition to the holding strip 22, the clasp includes a support 24 upon which the holding strip 22 is pivotally mounted by a pin 25. The, holding strip 22 has a leaf spring portion 22 engaging against a flat area 24 of the support 24. The leaf spring portion 22 functions to resiliently urge the front end of the holding strip 22 towards the back plate 2|. The outer end 22 of the holding strip 221s flared outwards so that it may be easily gripped to pivot the catch into an open position. When this is done the spring portion 22 will engage the rear edge 24* of the support 24. Clasps of this type have long been known and further details of this respect will therefore be lit ment 35.

vent turning of the clamp bar 26 about the stem 27 as an axis.

The outer ends of the clamp bar 26 are formed with air sockets 3| adapted to engage against the flesh of the lobe of the ear to expel some air and act as a suction holding means. In Fig. I the dot and dash lines 32 schematcially indicate an ear. The ornament 20 is shown mounted on the lobethereof.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The flared end 22 of the holding. stripv 32 may be manually gripped and" pulled outwards to pivot outward the holdingstrip 22. The ornament may now be placed against the lobe of the 'ar and then the'holding strip 22. maybe pivoted back towards its original position so that the clamp bar 25 engages the back of the ear. lobe. t is pointed out that the clamp bar 26 is flexibly supported since'the stern 21 is loose. in the socket 23. This permits the'bar 26 to properly seat itself on the surface of the earlobe.

The pins 29 will not interfere with the looseness of the clamp bar since the openings 3 13' are relatively large. When the clamp ba fi gages the ear lobe the spring 32 will be slightly compressed with the head 28 moving free from the end of the socket 23. "Thus the spring Q functions to resiliently engage the clamp bar 26 against the ear. This pressure is sulhcient to cause some of the flesh of the ear lobe to enter the air pockets 3!, displacing some of the air and creating a suction eflect which assists in maintaining the ornament on the ear lobe.

In Fig. 8 a clamp bar 2Shasbeen illustrated intended to be substituted for the clamp bar 26 in the prior former the invention. This clamp bar Z6 distinguishes from the prior clamp bar merely in shape. tisfshown provided with air pockets 3! at its ends. It is also 'prov'idedwith the stem 21 and with the guide pinsZQ. In so far as shape is concerned, it has end. portions with straight sides; and has relatively straight side portions. The clamp bar 2 6 has rounded ends and curved side portions.

In the modified form of the. invention illus trated in Figs. 9-13 inclusive; the safety back device is'shown associated with an 'ear orna- This ear ornament is provided with a clasp consisting of a support M mounted on the back of the ornament 35and supporting'the holding strip 22. This holdingfstrip isprov'ided with the cylindrical socket 23. 'A clamp member 28 in the form of a wheel is mounted upon a stem 21 which loosely engagesthrough the socket 213 and which is provided at itslouter end with a head 28. A spring 32 is coaxially mountedon the stem 2? and acts between the socket zt and the clamping member 26% to resiliently urge the.

' clamping member outwards.

The clamping member 25 is normally urged against a complementary'clarnping element 26* mounted on the back ofl'the ornament 35.; The, holding strip 22 is pivotally supported by a pintle 25 and is provided with the'leaf spring; portion. 22*, as explained with respect to Figs. se se The flared end 22 of theholding strip 22 may be manually gripped to pivotopenthefholding strip bi es a he ream-series;

, opening in a clamp bar 46. tion til is riveted down in relatively large flat head it outer surface ornamented.-

be engaged on the front of the ear lobe and the holding strip 22 behind the ear lobe in a manner engages the back strip in another way. More specifically, an ornament 38 is provided with a back holding strip A screw it threadedly engages through the holding strip 35 and at its front end has a reduced portion to which is engaged through a central The reduced pora manner so that the clamp bar M is loose and may wobble. The other end of the screw 45! is provided with a A pair of pins ift Project from the clamp bar ll. and pass through apertures it in the holding strip 351 so as to hold the clamp bar t! against turning. The pins 62 are suificiently closely spaced so as to be disposed beneath the head it. Consequently, the head de acts as a cover for the pins and prevents articles of cloth or other objects from being accidentally hooked onto the ends of the pins 32.

The holding strip 39 is formed with a plurality of extra openings 53 into which the pins 42 could have, been engaged prior to the time that the end it. was riveted down. In this way the manufacturer, may set the clamp bar All at a desirable angular position relative to the ornament til}. If the, pins 52 are v a from the openings it when the screw til is turned in completely, but this arrangement is undesirable in that the space between the ends of the pins 32' and the head M would be large enough to allow objects to pins.

In Figs 16 and 17 another. modified form efthe invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior form in the. fact that, theholding strip 39 is provided With a cap portion 39% which engages over the pins E2 to encase them. The screw iii passes through an opening eil formed inthe cap, Moreover, the. pins 32' are of rectangular shapein transverse cross section. The openings 33 are formedin. the holding strip at: for the pins t2" are of corresponding rectangular shapes. In other respectsthis formof the invention is similar to theprevious form.

InFigf 18;.still another modifiedform of the semblance to theform shown in Figs. 16 and 17. According to this form, a cap member M is mounted-upon theholding strip 35 of an ornament 5. The cap member is may have its This cap member: M has a bushing i? rotatively mounted through its rear end. A screw 48 threadedly engages through the bushing il. This screw passes frontwards and through an opening it of a transverse partition Ellformed upon thefront end of the cap 44. The front end of the screw 48 has a reduced portion 48 which is engaged through a clamp bar 5!. Thisreduced portion is. is riveted down in a manner so that the clamp bar 5! is loose to wobble. Several pins52. project from the clamp bar. 5| andpassthrough apertures53 formed in t a ti in i The bushing-J7 may be IQtEtlQQdftOHCQH-SE the screw 48 to travel forwards or rearwardsto move.

short enough they would come out The clamping member 26 is V hook on to the ends of the u I the clamp bar 5| correspondingly. The bushing 41 may also have surface ornamentation.

In Figs. 19 to 21 inclusive, a still further modified form of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the prior forms essentially in the way in which the clamp bar is supported. According to this form of the invention there is a holding strip 56 which is provided with several projecting lugs 51 formed with apertures 51. The clamp bar 26 is provided with a lug '58 having an aperture 58 This lug 58 is engaged between the lugs 51, and a pin 59 is engaged through the apertures of the lugs for pivotally and loosely supporting the clamp bar 26. The clamp bar 26 has several air pockets 3| in its ends for engaging the ear to produce some suction holding effect. The clamp bar 26 is free to swivel to such an angle with respect to the holding strip 56 to engage ones ear to most effectively grip the particular contour of the ear at the area where the ear ornament is mounted.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications comclaim as new, and desire ing within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a screw threadedly engaged through the holding strip, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end of the screw, several pins projecting from said clamp bar through apertures in the holding strip, and a head for said screw, and a cap mounted on the holding strip and engaging over said pins and having an opening through which the screw passes.

2. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament having a holding strip, an ornamental cap on said holding strip, a bushing rotatively mounted through said strip, a screw threadedly engaged through said bushing, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end of said screw, several pins projecting from said clamp bar and engaging apertures formed in a portion of said cap.

3. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a screw threadedly engaged through the holding strip, a clamp bar loosely mounted on the front end of said bar, several pins projecting from said clamp bar through apertures in said holding strip, and an enlarged head mounted on the other end of said screw and engaging over said pins.

4. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holding strip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, a screw threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing through the front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end of said screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as said bushing is turned to extend and re tract said screw.

5. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holding strip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, a screw threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing through the front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end of said screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as said bushing is turned to extend and retract said screw, said clamp bar being fixedly mounted on said screw, and means for holding said clamp bar in a fixed position relative to said cap.

6. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holding strip, a bushing rotatively mounted on the back wall of said cap, a screw threadedly engaged through said bushing and freely passing through the front wall of said cap, and a clamp bar mounted on the front end of said screw to be moved towards said ornament and away therefrom as said bushing is turned to extend and retract said screw, said clamp bar being fixedly mounted on said screw, and means for holding said clamp bar in a fixed position relative to said cap, comprising several pins extending from the back face of said clamp bar and into the interior of said hollowcap.

'7. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip for the ornament, a hollow cap mounted on said holding strip, of said cap, a clamp bar fixedly mounted on the front end of said screw, pins extending from the back face of said clamp bar and into said cap for holding said clamp bar in a fixed position relative to said cap, and a bushing threadedly engaging said screw and rotatively mountedon the back wall of said cap, whereby said clamp bar may be moved towards and away from said ornament as said bushing is turned to extend and retract said screw from the front wall of said cap.

8. A safety back device for ear ornaments, comprising an ornament, a holding strip mounted on the back of said ornament, a screw threadedly extending through said holding strip, a clamp bar mounted on the front end of said screw to be moved towards said ornament, several pins mounted on the back face of said clamp bar and passing freely through complementary openings formed in said holding strip for preventing said clamp bar from rotating relative to said holding strips, and means associated with said screw and covering the free ends of said pins.

PHILIP REITER.

a screw freely extended through the walls

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