1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to earring post covering devices and more particularly pertains to a new earring post covering device for protecting an ear from the metal of an earring post.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of earring posts for persons suffering from allergies to metals is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,612 describes a sleeve made of inert materials used for an earring post. Another is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,089,189 which is constructed of inert materials to prevent allergic reactions.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that allows a person to wear all types of earrings, and particularly antique and handmade pieces, without concern of the type of the metal from which the post is constructed.
The present invention meets the needs presented above by utilizing a sleeve which receives the posts of conventional earrings and covers the post so that a barrier is formed between the post and ear. This device is easily retrofitted to existing earrings having conventional posts.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new earring post covering device that includes teeth within the covering for gripping the post. This ensures that the covering does not move along the post.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises an elongated member that has a first end, a second end and a peripheral wall extending between the first and second ends. The elongated member has an aperture extending into the first end such that a tube is defined. The second end is closed and has a rounded outer surface. A plurality of teeth is attached to an interior surface of the peripheral wall. Each of the teeth comprises a resiliently compressible material. An earring post may be removably extended through the elongated member such that the teeth grip the post.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A plurality of teeth 20 is attached to an interior surface of the peripheral wall. The teeth 20 extend from the first end 14 and toward the second end 16 of the elongated member 12. Each of the teeth 20 comprises a resiliently compressible material. The resiliently compressible material is preferably a plastic or an elastomer. A foamed elastomer may also be utilized which is impregnated with magnetically charged metallic filaments so that the teeth 20 are magnetically attracted to the metal of the post 6.
A plurality of gripping fingers 24 each includes an arced rod that has a pair of attached ends 26, 27 and a central portion 28. The attached ends 26, 27 are each attached to the interior surface of the peripheral wall 18 so that a loop 30 is defined. As is shown in
In use, a person who is going to wear an earring may removably extend the post 6 of the earring into the elongated member 12 such that the teeth 20 grip the post. The central portions 28 abut and frictionally engage the post 6 as the post 6 is passed between them and abutted against an inner surface of the second end 16. The post 6 and covering 10 are then extended through an ear. The rounded second end 16 of the elongated member 12 allows the covering 10 to easily pass into and through the earring hole of an ear. Once extended through the ear, the post 6 and its associated covering 10 may be secured with a male clasp 7 conventionally used with earring posts, however, the clasp 7 is of a larger size to accommodate the reception of the elongated member 12. The clasp 7 is likewise constructed of a hypoallergenic material. The covering 10 acts a barrier between the metal of the post 6 and the skin of the ear to prevent infections, irritation and itching caused by allergic reactions and oxidation of the metal in the post 6.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
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