US3122007A - Interchangeable earring clamp - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 25, 1964 R. D. HORLAND INTERCHANGEABLE EARRING CLAMP Filed May l5, 1962 INVENTOR RICHARD D. HORLAND ATTOHNE Y United States Patent 3,122,007 INTERCHANGEABLE EARRING CLAMP Richard D. HOllfiIld, 29 Crestmont Road, West Orange, NJ.

Filed May 15, 1962, Ser. No. 194,793 1 Claim. (Cl. 63-12) This invention relates generally to earring clamps or mountings and the principal object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved earring type ornament mounting, including car gripping means so constructed and arranged that the clamp or mounting may be readily used with either pierced or non-pierced ears.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved earring type ornament clamp or mounting including a pair of hingedly connected clamp members adapted to engage the inner and outer sides of the ear lobe, the earring being convertible from a clamp type earring for use with non-pierced ears to an earring for use with pierced ears by adding a pin member adapted to pass through the lobe of a pierced ear.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved earring type ornament clamp or mounting including hinged clamp members adapted to engage the inner and outer sides of a non-pierced ear and adjustable spring means for moving one of said clamp mem bers in a clamping direction, the clamp members being perforated to permit the use of a pin-like member as an ear attaching pin to adapt the earring for use with pierced ears.

A further object of the invention is to provide an earring clamp or mounting that is simple and rugged in construction, economical to manufacture and highly efficient for the purposes intended.

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

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an earring clamp construction embodying my invention, an ear ornament being shown in dot-dash lines in supported position.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

The present invention contemplates the provision of an earring clamp or mounting which may be readily used with either pierced or non-pierced ears. By constructing the earring clamp or mounting in accordance with the present invention, it is possible for manufacturers and distributors to keep their stock inventory at a minimum and yet provide awide range of selection for their customers. The clamp or mounting is so constructed that the clamping pressure of the clamp arms is adjustable, providing greater comfort for the wearer, Furthermore, earrings can be more easily displayed since only one type of box and display unit is required to hold the earrings properly. Earrings can be converted without use of special tools very quickly by the merchant to meet the special requirements of the purchaser.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in FIG. 1 an earring clamp or mounting is shown and designated generally by the reference numeral An ear ornament 12 indicated in dot-dash lines is shown supported on the clamp. The clamp 10 comprises a generally inverted U-shaped frame or yoke member 14 having spaced clamping arms 16, 18' positionable on the opposite sides of the ear lobe to which the earring is to be fastened, the ornament being secured to the outer side of arm 18' by soldering or in any other suitable manner.

The clamping arms 16 and 18' are joined by a curved bight portion 20 formed integrally with the arm 18'. Arm 18 is slotted along its longitudinal center as indicated at 22 forming a pair of flexible arm members 24, 24 movable toward and away from each other. The arm members 24, 24' continue into the curved bight portion 20. The bight portion 20 is formed with a pair of perforated ears 26, 26 at the sides of its free end and with a perforated lug 28 extending perpendicularly to the bight portion and parallel to the arm members 24', 24' in the same direction.

Clamping arm 16 is formed with a flat body 30 formed with an outstruck spring tongue member 32 intersecting one end of the body. The same end of the body is formed with a pair of opposed trunnions 34, 34 journalled in the perforated cars 26, 26 of the arm 18'. The other end of the body is formed with a central hole 36. An adjusting headed screw 38 is inserted in a threaded hole 37 in the free end of tongue member 32 and through the hole 40 in lug 28 of arm 18'. A split sleeve bearing member 42' is sleeved over the arm members 24, 24 and supports the ear ornament 12, the bearing member 42' being soldered to the ornament.

The earring clamp or mounting 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be used with non-pierced ears by inserting the frame 14 of the clamp over the lobe of the ear with the clamping arm 16 on the inner side of the lobe and the clamping arm 18' on the outer side of the lobe and by setting up on the screw 38 the spring member 32 with the clamping arm 16 moved toward the ear lobe thereby clamping the ear lobe between the clamping arms 16 and 18.

The clamping arm 18' is formed with an integral extension 60 in the form of a solid plate 62 of the same width as the arm 18 but connected to the arm members 24, 24 by means of a slanting joint 64 thereby positioning the plate 62 on a different plane than the arm members 24, 24'. Sleeve member 42' is sleeved over arms 24', 24'. The plate 62 is formed with a central slot 66 intersecting its outer free end thereby forming curved bifurcated ends 68, 68. The earring clamp or mounting 10' may be used with a pierced ear by frictionally sliding the shank of a headed pin 50' through and along the slot 22, with the head 52 of the pin underneath the arm members 24, 24' and in interlocking engagement therewith, the frictional engagement of the pin shank with members 24, 24 permitting this operation. The shank thus extends toward the clamping arm 16. The pin may be inserted through the aperture in the ear lobe by spreading the clamping arms 16 and 18' a suflicient distance to permit the insertion of the ear lobe and then pressing the arm 18' with ornament 12 attached toward the lobe and forcing the pin through the pierced lobe and through the hole 36 in arm 16. In this position, the pin will prevent the clamp or mounting 10' from slipping oif of the ear lobe of the user.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodirnent of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

In an earring clamp construction, a generally inverted U-shaped frame having spaced aligned clamping arms adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of an ear lobe, said arms being hingedly connected at one end, one of said clamping arms having an elongated central slot, an extension on the free end of said slotted arm, said extension including a flat plate disposed in a plane olfset from the plane of the slotted arm, said extension slotted along its longitudinal center and intersecting one end thereof forming bifurcated ends, the other of said clamping arms having a central hole at its free end and having an outstruck portion constituting a spring tongue, an adjusting screw carried by the spring tongue and contacting the other clamping arm for biasing said other clamping arm toward the slotted clamping arm, a headed pin having an end adapted to project through the opening in a pierced ear and through the hole in said other clamping arm, said pin being extended through the slot in the extension on the slotted arm between. the bifurcated ends and being releasably held by said ends, said hinged connection including perforated ears on said slotted clamping arm and trunnions on the other clamping arm journaled in said perforated ears, and a split sleeve carried around the slotted clamping arm for supporting an ear ornament.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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