Patent Application
20090019891
1. Field of Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to earring backings. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to earrings having a frontispiece which would benefit in appearance by having upward tilt when worn.
2. Background
Historically, earrings have adorned pierced ears on a world-wide basis for several thousand years. Typically, the basic pierced earring includes a decorative frontispiece secured to a thin post which passes through a small opening in the earlobe and then into a clasping device at the back surface of the lobe. Thus, the frontispiece and the face of the backing are parallel and at right angles to the earring post.
This configuration is simple and generally satisfactory in terms of the visual display of the frontispiece; however, when the frontispiece is somewhat large and heavy and/or the wearer's earlobes are not firm, there is a marked propensity for drooping and impairment of the visual appearance.
The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
Channel 120 is defined to form an acute angle θ with the contact plate. Thus, when post 22 resides within channel 120, the post forms a corresponding acute angle θ with contact surface 160 of contact plate 110. Acute angle θ will commonly be less than 75° and more commonly in the range of 30° to 70°. In a preferred embodiment, the angle θ will be in the range of 35° to 45°. In conjunction with the upward pressure applied on the back of the earlobe by the contact plate as a result of the natural leverage of the angularly retained post with the angle at which the post is retained causes the earlobe to tilt up slightly and frontispiece 118 to be tilted upward thereby enhancing the appearance of the frontispiece 118. The smaller the angle θ the greater the upward tilt of frontispiece 118.
In some embodiments, channel 120 may include a liner 116 of friction enhancing material, such as various elastomers or Teflon. The liner 116 increases the friction between post 122 and earring backing 100 to improve retention of the earring. The liner 116 may be of differing thickness and softness in different embodiments to accommodate differences among earring posts. In some embodiments, channel 120 tapers to its distal end 114 thereby increasing friction and retention of the earring post 122 within the channel.
In one embodiment, contact plate 110 may be formed of metal or high density plastic and support structure may be formed of an elastomeric material that defines channel 120. As used herein, the term “distal” refers to the portion of the earring backing furthest from the earlobe during use and the term “proximal” refers to the side or end of the earring backing closest to the earlobe during use. In still other embodiments, the distal opening 114 may be provided with a lip (not shown) to elastically engage a groove (not shown) in the earring post 122.
In some embodiments, support structure 112 may be integrally formed out of the same material as contact plate 110. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metallic materials such as, silver, gold and other precious metals, stainless steel or other suitable non-corrosive metals, and high density plastics. In some embodiments, an earring backing may be cast or molded, while other embodiments it may be machined. In some embodiments, the support structure 112 may be of a different material than support structure 110. In some embodiments, separately manufactured support structure 112 may be adhered to contact plate 110 with adhesive, solder, heat welding or a similar manner of attachment.
Other mechanisms for detachably coupling a support structure defines angular channel to a contact plate are also envisioned to be within the scope and contemplation of other embodiments of the invention. Such a detachable coupling allows a single contact plate to be used with multiple alternative support structures, which may, for example, have channels defining different acute angles with the support structure. This permits a user to select a particular angle that best accentuates a particular earring.
In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
