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(11) | EP 1 224 884 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 158(3) EPC |
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| (54) | PIERCED EARRINGS AND PIERCED EARRINGS CONSTITUTING FUNCTION UNIT |
| (57) Provided are a pierced earring body and a needle section inserted into a pierced
earring hole in an earlobe to sustain the pierced earring body. The needle section
is formed integrally with the pierced earring body and on the other hand, a receiving
section receiving the needle section is formed on the pierced earring body. The receiving
section and a sustaining section sustaining it (hereinafter referred to as a needle
opposing section ) is connected to the pierced earring body so as to be pivotable
in a lateral plane almost perpendicular to a direction along which the needle section
sustains a dead weight of the pierced earring body relative to the pierced earring
body. By a pivotal movement of the needle opposing section relative to the pierced
earring body, the needle opposing section moves laterally from an open state after
the needle opposing section is released from the receiving section to a closed position
where the needle section resides in the receiving section. |
Technical Field
Background Art
[0002] A prior art pierced earring is constructed such that a needle section mounted in a pivotable manner, upward or downward, relative to a pierced earring body is inserted into a hole formed in an earlobe and thereafter, the free end portion of the needle section projected from the hole is inserted into a receiving section (confinement section) from above and confined there.
[0003] However, this is of a structure that the needle section is inserted from above and confined in place; therefore, as a metal member constituting the receiving section, which generally confines the needle section elastically, looses its restoring force with an elapsed time of use, a chance is encountered that the needle section is released upward from the receiving section and further pulled out from the hole in an earlobe, leading to falling-off of the pierced earring from the ear by a dead weight of the pierced earring body or when an external force additionally acts thereon. If a wearer notices the falling-off of a pierced earring immediately thereafter, he or she can pick up it on the ground, but in not a few cases, a wearer does not notice falling-off of an pierced earring, but notices later to his or her chagrin. In another case, even if the falling-off is immediately noticed and the pierced earring is picked up to avoid the loss, the falling-off results in damage or breakage in the worst case; even if not damaged or affected physically otherwise, the falling-off leads to an unpleasant feeling or a sense of an unease associated with a second falling-off.
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve such a problem to provide a pierced earring hard to falling off from an ear.
Disclosure of the Invention
[0005] The present invention is a pierced earring including: a pierced earring body; and a needle section, inserted into a pierced earring hole in an earlobe, and sustaining the pierced earring body, wherein the needle section is formed integrally with the pierced earring body while a receiving section receiving the needle section is formed on the pierced earring body, the receiving section and a sustaining section sustaining it (hereinafter referred to as a needle opposing section) are connected to the pierced earring body in a pivotal manner relative to the pierced earring body in a lateral plane almost perpendicular to a direction along which the needle section sustains a dead weight of the pierced earring body and the needle opposing section moves laterally from an open state after the needle opposing section is released from the receiving section to a closed position where the needle section resides in the receiving section by a pivotable movement of the needle opposing section relative to the pierced earring body With such a construction adopted, the needle section is hard to be released from the receiving section by even a dead weight of the pierced earring body and an additional external force acting in a direction of the dead weight thereof, resulting in a pierced earring hard to be released from the receiving section and difficult to be lost due to falling-off from an ear
[0006] Furthermore, the needle receiving section receiving the needle section has an entrance section through which the needle section is laterally moved in by a pivotal movement of the needle receiving section relative to the pierced earring body and an external control section that gives resistance to moving-out of the needle section after the moving-in.
[0007] Moreover, a construction can be adopted in which the needle section is forcibly pushed toward the closed position with a spring member and the spring member is also provided between the pierced earring body and the needle opposing section.
[0008] In addition, a pivotal movement connecting section as described above can be separated as a unit and handled as a separate part independent of the pierced earring body and so on.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009]
FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D are views showing a embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the pierced earring of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 3A to FIG. 3D are views and illustrations showing a open state of the pierced earring of FIG. 1A;
FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D are views showing examples of a way how a magnet is inserted into a pivotal connecting section;
FIG. 5A to FIG. 5F are views showing a still further embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an illustration showing an example of a way how a needle opposing section is energized by a spring;
FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are perspective views showing another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a closed state of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a opening movement of FIG. 7A;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an example in which a pivotal connecting section is covered with a lid;
FIG. 12 is plan and sectional views showing a main part of FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example in which a needle opposing section is extended upward;
FIG. 14A to FIG. 14C are perspective views showing another example of FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing an example in which a magnet or the like is mounted in a pivotal connecting section;
FIG. 16A to FIG. 16C are views showing another example of the receiving section;
FIG. 17A to FIG. 17C are views showing a pierced earring in a closed state of an example modification of FIG. 5, FIG.7 and others;
FIG. 18A to FIG. 18C are views showing the same pierced earring in a closed state;
FIG. 19 is perspective views showing an example in which a laterally pivotal movement connecting section of the pierced earring of FIGs. 17 and so on is handled as a separate unit;
FIG. 20 is views showing an example of the unit of FIGs. 18 and FIG. 19 as a demountable type;
FIG. 21 is views showing an example modification of FIG. 20;
FIG. 22 is an exploded, perspective view of FIG. 21;
FIG. 23 perspective views showing an example in which a laterally pivotal movement connecting section of the pierced earring of FIGs. 1 and so on is handled as a separate unit;
FIG. 24A to FIG . 24C are views showing an example modification of FIG. 23;
FIG. 25A to FIG. 25C are views showing an example of a shaft section for laterally pivotal movement connection;
FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B are sectional views of FIGs. 25;
FIG. 27 is a view describing an effect of a pierced earring of the present invention; and
FIG. 28 is a view describing a fault of a prior art pierced earring.
Best Mode to Carry Out the Invention
[0010] Description will below be made of modes to carry out the present invention with reference to embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0011] A pierced earring 1 shown in FIG. 1A comprises: a pierced earring body 2 and a needle section 3. The pierced earring body 2 has a U-letter shape as a whole but the body is divided into two pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b. The needle section 3 is integrally fixed to a portion in the vicinity of the top of the pierced earring body piece 2a by soldering or other fixing means and the needle section 3 extends almost in a horizontal direction so as to traverse the top side of the pierced earring body 2 and further received in a receiving section 4 of the pierced earring body piece 2b on the other side.
[0012] The pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b are pivotally connected by a shaft 5 at the middle portion. That is, the needle section 3 sustains the pierced earring body 2 by being inserted through a hole in an earlobe, while the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b are connected to each other so that the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b are pivotable in a plane almost perpendicular to a direction in which the weight of the pierced earring body 2 is sustained (a W direction in the figure: downward). In the embodiment, the pierced earring body piece 2b including the receiving section 4 serves as the receiving section 4 and a support section (needle opposing section) that supports the receiving section 4 and the needle opposing section 2b is pivoted relatively to the pierced earring body piece 2a (needle section 3) and thereby, the needle section 3 moves sideways to a closed position located at the receiving section 4.
[0013] The receiving section 4, as shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner, can be formed in a cut-off state that is still not open outward and with this structure, a good appearance is ensured since the distal end portion of the needle section 3 can not be seen from the outside. However, as shown in FIG. 1B, the receiving section 4a can be formed in a structure including a groove such that the receiving section 4a is open toward outwardly. In this case, the needle section 3 is allowed to protrude by a length outwardly from the pierced earring body piece 2b.
[0014] Further, like the receiving section 4b of FIG. 1C, a structure can be adopted in which a soft elastic member 4d such as a urethane rubber mass is filled in a recess 4c and the needle section 3 is inserted into a slit 4e, which is equal to or narrower in width than the diameter of the needle section 3, so as to be held in place. Further, like a receiving section 4f of FIG. 1D, a structure can also be adopted in which a metal receiving member 4g is fixed in the recess 4c at its rear end portion, an exit control section 4i that can elastically deformed is formed in a portion that is inwardly located near the entrance section 4h, wherein the needle section 3 is relatively advanced into the deep from the entrance section 4h and moved into the deeper after the exit control section 4i is elastically deformed once.
[0015] FIG. 3A shows a state of a pierced earring body 1 that is opened. It should be noted that a holding means that keeps pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b in a normal position (a closed position) can also be provided at a pivotal movement section between the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b (needle opposing section). For example, as in FIG. 3B, a first engaging section such as a recess 5a or the like is formed on one of the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b and a second engaging section such as a projection 5b or the like is formed on the other of the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b, wherein the first and second engaging sections are mated with each other and both sections 2a and 2b can be retained in the closed position by means of a mechanical constraining force such as a frictional force or an engaging force. Further, as shown in FIG. 3C, an elastic member (spring member) such as a torsion spring 5c or the like is provided in the pivotal movement section (for example, mounted around a shaft 5 as a center) and the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b are energized so as to be always closed by means of this spring 5c, while both pieces 2a and 2b can be opened against the spring force. A modification can be proposed as in FIG. 1D in which a leaf spring 5e is mounted on the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b across the shaft 5, thereby enabling an effect similar to FIG. 3C to be exerted. Besides, in a pivotal movement section shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4D in an enlarged manner, recesses 6 and 6, in which a magnet 7 is inserted, are respectively formed in end faces, which are closed in a wearing condition, in a pivotal movement section for connection of the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b (one of which can be regarded as a pierced earring body and the other can be regarded as a needle opposing section) and the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b can be maintained in a closed position by means of a magnetic force generated by a magnet 7 inserted in a recess 6. In that case, a cover 8 that cover the magnet 7 from the outside is provided and the magnet 7 can be covered by the cover 8 so as to be unseen from the outside as well. In a case where the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b are made of non-magnetic material, the magnets 7 and 7 are embedded in the recesses 6 and 6 of both body pieces, while in a case where both body pieces are made of magnetic material, only one magnet 7 may be embedded in a corresponding recess 6 of one of both body pieces. Further, the cover 8 is fabricated in a shape of a box as shown in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C and thereby, the whole of the cover 8 in which the magnet 7 is accommodated may be inserted in the recess 6 in an engaging manner. Further, as shown in FIG. 4D, a mounting hole 6' with a bottom or not is provided in stead of the recess 6 and a magnet 7 can be inserted in the hole 6'.
[0016] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5F shows a still further embodiment, which comprises: a pierced earring body 12 constituting a main ornament section (for example, a leaflet and other ornament sections constituting a main part of a design); a needle section 13 and a needle section opposing section 16. The needle section 13 is integrated with the pierced earring body 12 by means of soldering or other fixing means so as to project from the pierced earring body 12 in a direction almost normal thereto. A receiving section 14 that receives the needle section 13 is provided and the receiving section 14 comprises: an entrance section 17 that guides lateral insertion of the needle section 13; a constraining section (exit control section) 18, having a width narrower than the outer diameter of the needle section 13, which gives an elastic constraining force against moving-out from depth of the needle section 13 while allowing advancement into depth of the needle section 13 by means of elastic deformation.
[0017] The receiving section 14 is formed at the distal end portion of an arm-like section 17 and a set of the receiving section and the arm-like section 17 constitutes a needle opposing section 16. The base end of the arm-like section 17 is connected to the pierced earring body 12 so that the base end of the arm-like section 17 is pivotable along an almost horizontal, lateral plane including the axial line of the needle section 13 by means of the pivotal movement shaft section 19. The pivotal movement shaft section 19 comprises, for example, a cylindrical or ring-like bearing portion and not only is the base end portion of the needle opposing section 19 inserted in the bearing portion, but a flange portion 20 is formed at the base end portion, for example by means of caulking or the like, wherein the needle opposing section 19 can be pivoted relatively to the pierced earring body 12 in a state in which moving-out of the needle opposing section 16 from the bearing portion of the needle opposing section 19 is prevented from occurring.
[0018] In this example, in order to retain (maintain) the closed position of the needle opposing section 16 and the needle section 13, a mechanical engagement or elastic means such as a spring member can be adopted. In the case, when a receiving section can maintain the closed position with the needle section 13, like the receiving section 14 of FIG. 5A, constraint by the receiving section 14 only is sufficient or a constraining means that holds the needle section 13 at a closed position can further be provided in addition to the section 14. On the other hand, when a constraining function at a closed position is not available like that of the receiving 14', the constraining means at a closed position is desired to be provided in the vicinity of the pivotal movement section 19. For example, FIG. 5B shows constraint by means of a mechanical engagement between a recess 19a and a projection 19b and FIG. 5C shows constraint by means of a combination between spring means such as a leaf spring and a cam section 21. FIG. 5D and FIG. 5E show a structure in which a cam section 19c is provided on one side of a pivotal connecting section between the pierced earring body 12 and the needle opposing section 16, while a spring member 19d is provided on the other side thereof (for example, the needle opposing section 16 is connected to the spring member 19d), wherein two branches of the spring member 19d are pivotably pressed onto inclined cam surfaces 19e of the cam section 19c mutually opposed to each other, in a state in which the spring member 19d is elastically compressed, and retain the needle section 13 and the receiving section 14 (14') in the closed position by the cam effect between the spring force and the inclined surfaces. Further, a torsion spring 19f as shown in FIG. 5F may be mounted on the pivotal movement section 19 as energizing means to ensure the above described closed position. In such a manner, a spring member is provided to the pivotal movement section 19 and thereby, the needle section 13 can be energized to assume the closed position at which the needle section 13 is accommodated in the receiving section 14. Herein, the case of FIG. 5C will be shown in a more detailed manner by FIG. 6. In this example, a cam section 21 is formed at the base end of the needle opposing section 16 and a leaf spring 22 is provided on the pierced earring body 12 side so as to be elastically put into contact with the cam section 21. The cam section 21 has two cam surfaces 21a and 21b, which are different in angle to the leaf spring 22 from each other, wherein the needle section 13 is energized to the closed position at which the needle section 13 is accommodated in the receiving section 14 in a state in which the leaf spring 22 is put in contact with the cam surface 21a almost in parallel, while the needle section 13 takes an intermediate position in a state in which the leaf spring 22 rides on the top the cam section 21 and while the needle section 13 is supported in the open position at which the needle section 13 assumes the remotest position from the receiving section 14 in a state in which the leaf spring 22 is put in contact with the cam surface 21b almost in parallel. As another embodiment of a pierced earring body, for example, as shown in FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the body may be a spherical pierced earring body made of, for example a pearl or the like and may be of a shape of the disc. The other parts of the construction are similar to those of FIG. 5A to FIG. 5F. FIG. 8 shows a closed position at which the needle section 13 is accommodated in the receiving section 14 of the needle opposing section 16 and FIG. 9 shows a state in which the needle opposing section 16 is advanced toward the needle section 13, while pivoting in a direction in a lateral plane, from the closed position.
[0019] FIG. 10 shows a still another embodiment and the pierced earring body 22 of a pierced earring 21 of the embodiment is divided into a pierced earring body pieces 22a and 22b not at the middle position of the body 22, but at a position deviated therefrom by a length and the pierced earring body pieces 22a and 22b are connected to each other so as to be pivotable around a pivotal shaft 5 in a direction along a horizontal plane. Herein, a receiving section 14 is formed in a part of the pierced earring body piece 22b, where the needle section 13 is received. In other words, the pierced earring body piece 22b serves as a needle opposing section provided with the receiving section 14.
[0021] It should be noted that while the spring members that energize the receiving section 4 toward the closed position of the needle section 3 are shown in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 5A and others as representatives, in a type in which a pierced earring body shown in FIG. 10, for example, is divided at the deviated position as well, the receiving section 14 can relatively be energized toward the needle section 13 side by means of a torsion spring, a leaf spring or the like, for example. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, in a pierced earring, a cover member can be formed on at least one of the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b in the portion where both pieces close or open so that both pieces do not press a part of the ear therebetween in a closing action (for example, in the shape of a single plate, an empty box and others). In the example of FIG. 11, a construction can be conceived in which, for example, a cover member 30 of the sectional shape of a box or of an upside-down L letter that is fabricated by removing one side face of a box, which member extends toward the pierced earring body piece 2a side, is fixed on the pierced earring body piece 2b side (or the cover member 30 of the shape of a simple tongue piece instead of the box or upside-down L letter shape is fixed) and the cover member 30 is accommodated in a space in the vicinity of the connecting section of the pierce earring body piece 2a, which is the other party of the pierce earring body piece 2b. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the portion in which, for example, the cover member 30 that projects a part in a semicircular shape is formed at the distal end of a pierced earring body piece 2b and the cover member 30 slides, for example, over a step section 30a formed on the pierced earring body piece 2a to be eventually accommodated in the step section 30a.
[0022] As in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14A to Fig. 14C, a needle opposing section 16 can be extended upwardly from a receiving section 4 thereof and as in FIG. 14B, with the extension an appearance is improved as compared with a case where there is no such extension as in FIG. 14C, since the pierced earring can be seen not only the lower part of an ear but a part thereabove. A further advantage can be enjoyed since the pierced earrings are harder to fall off the ears due to the extensions.
[0023] Further, in FIG. 15, attracting means 33 such as a magnet is provided at a coupling portion of a pivotal connecting section (a rotary shaft O) between a pierced earring body 12 and a needle opposing section 16 and the needle opposing section 16 can be energized toward to the closed position of the needle section 3.
[0024] Besides, in a case where a needle section 16 is provided as in FIG. 16A, a recess 40 that is open toward the inner side is formed in the needle opposing section 16, a slit 41 that makes the bottom of the recess 40 open in the outside is formed and a metal receiving member that can elastically be deformed can fixedly be inserted into the recess 40 from the inner side. The metal receiving member 43 comprises: an entrance section 43a and an exit control section 43b that gives a resistance to moving-out of a needle section 3, wherein the needle section 3 is guided into both of the metal receiving member 43 and the slit 41, the needle section 3 having clearances in the slit 41, and elastically mated with the metal receiving member 43. In the case, the pierced earring has a good appearance since the metal receiving member is unseen from the outside. It should be noted that a modification can be done in which the slit is omitted and the distal end of the needle section 3 is accommodated in the metal receiving member only.
[0025] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 16C, for example, a recess 44 is formed in a needle opposing section 16, a soft, flexible member 46 made of urethane rubber or the like, having a slit 45 for inserting a needle section is inserted and fixed in the recess 44 and the soft, flexible member can also be used as a receiving member. A needle section 3 is pressed into the interior of the slit 45 while widening a space by elastic deformation and retained at the deepest in the interior. In the case, a structure can be adopted in which a proper number of projections 47 are formed on the soft, flexible member 46 side and as many engaging holes 48 are formed in the needle opposing section 16 (the projection and engaging holes are formed in the other way in terms of place) and the soft, flexible member 46 can be fixed in the recess 44 by engagement therebetween.
[0027] This example has a fundamental construction in common with the pierced earrings shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 7A, FIG. 14A and FIG . 15 (type 1). To be short, a needle section (post) 13 is fixed and an arm-like section (metal member) 57 as a needle opposing section opens/closes laterally. FIGs. 17 shows the needle section (post) 13 in a closed state and Figs. 18 the needle section (post) 13 in an open state. In each of the figures, part FIG. A is a view of the back portion as seen from a position off to the left and part FIG. B is a view of the back portion as seen from a position just behind and FIG. C is a view of a side portion as seen from a position just at the side.
[0028] A pierced earring body 52 serves as an ornament section and an ornamental medium such a cut jemstone made of diamond, a cut imitation jemstone and others can also be mounted on a surface thereof. A mounting section or a connecting section such as a projection is formed on the pierced earring body (ornament section) 52 so as to project therefrom and connects an arm-like section (metal member) 57 therewith using a laterally pivotal movement connecting section A (hinge), which is laterally pivotable. Here, even the mounting section such as the protrusion 58 can be included in an arm-like section (metal member) 57 as an integral part in terms of a design and in this case, a corresponding description can be modified this way: the arm-like section (metal member) is divided into two parts at the laterally pivotal movement connecting section located somewhere within its length and one part is pivoted over a prescribed angular range (for example about 90 degrees) so as to break and bend there laterally. On the other hand, the projection 58 is deleted or reduced in its length so as to be extremely short, the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A is provided directly on the pierced earring body 52 and thereby the arm-like section (metal member) 57 may also be in a lateral direction pivoted around its base, which are already described in connection with FIGs. 5, FIGs. 7, and FIG. 15 and others.
[0029] In any case, one feature is a location of a retaining structure and retaining method of fixing the metal member 57 as the needle opposing section to the post 13. A first embodiment is a case where a retaining structure is provided only to the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A and a second embodiment is a case where the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A performs a simple pivotal movement and the retaining structure is provided only to a receiving section 54 of the metal member 54. Examples of the first embodiment, as described above, include: the metal member 57 is maintained at a closed position in relation with the post 13 with the help of a magnetic force caused by a magnet; a male-female engagement or one of other mechanically confining forces is used to maintain the metal member 57 at the closed position; and a spring means such as a coil spring, a leaf spring or the like is used to force the metal member 57 to be retained at the closed position; and other means.
[0030] By in such a way, providing the retaining structure to the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A, no necessity arises for a structure confining the post 13 in the receiving section 54 of the metal member 57, which is a mating partner of the post 13 and a state is allowed in which the post 13 is simply moved into a recess of the metal member 57 in a loose manner so as to be put into contact or no contact with the bottom surface of the recess. Furthermore, another state is allowed in which the receiving section 54 has no bottom section and the post 13 assumes a position at which to be put into contact with or approaches near the metal member 57 in a relative sense, where both enter a closed position. In cases where a proximity state in which the post 13 and the metal member 57 is defined as being in the closed position, the construction can be described, in other words, such that the metal member (needle opposing section) 57 has no receiving section for the post (needle section) 13.
[0031] In the second embodiment in regard to a location of the retaining structure and the retaining method, the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A has no retaining structure and as substitute therefor, the receiving section 54 of the metal member 57 confines the post 13 and maintains a closed position by itself, wherein as described above, an elastic member such as a spring member or a rubber-like member is allowed to deform so as to accept moving-in of the post 13, while giving resistance to moving-out or alternatively, the metal member 57 is retained at a closed position by a male-female engagement, engagement between an anchoring hook and a projection or other mechanically controlling forces.
[0032] Note that a third embodiment can also be obtained by combining the first and second embodiments each concerning a retaining structure. Generally, while the retaining structure maintaining the above closed position is considered to sufficiently has one of a laterally pivotal movement connecting section A and a portion B (the receiving section 54) of the metal member 57, both retaining structures can be both provided, thereby enhancing reliability in maintaining the closed position to an extremely high level.
[0033] FIG. 19 shows still another example of an arm-like section, which is a metal unit 50 and is separately formed as a separate part independent of the pierced body 52 and others. Note that the term a metal member does not mean being made of metal but is used in the sense of being comparable to the pierced earring body, and a material thereof may be any of resin, ceramic and others. While the metal member unit 50 (core part) is the same as those in FIG. 1A, FIG. 7A and FIG. 18A in terms of shape and structure, the metal unit 50 has a feature in that it is constituted as a separate general purpose part independent of the pierced earring body. The metal member unit 50 has the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A at an intermediate portion or the base portion and is divided into the metal member (with or without the receiving section B) 57 opposing the post 13 and a mounting section 58 mounted on the pierced earring body at the laterally pivotal movement connecting section A as a boundary.
[0034] Furthermore, the fore end of the mounting section 58 is fixed, as shown in FIGs. 17, on the pierced earring body by means of soldering, mechanical engagement, a screw or other convenient means. As an example, soldering is performed in a state that the mounting section 58 of the metal member unit 50 is engaged into a mounting hole formed on the pierced body. The metal member unit 50 can be fixed onto one of various pierced earring bodies regardless of shapes thereof. When the metal member unit 50 is mounted to a pierced earring body in a common shape having been available, the pierced earring changes into a pierced earring to fall off with limitlessly high difficulty. Note that in a case where the receiving section 54 of the metal member unit 50 is formed, the needle section (post) 13 fixed on the pierced earring body and the receiving section assume a positional relationship of both matching with each other. Furthermore, the metal member unit 50 can also be demountably mounted to the pierced earring body in addition to integration of the metal member unit 50 with the pierced body 52 by means of soldering or the like means. In FIG. 20, one example thereof is shown and a demountable anchoring section 59 such as a projection, a convex section, a recess or the like formed on the metal member unit 50 is mounted to mating demountable anchoring section 60 such as a groove, a recess, a projection or the like so as to be demountable by means of insertion, engagement or the like means.
[0035] Furthermore. in an example of FIG. 21, a demountable anchoring section 61 in the shape of a guide plate is connected to a mounting section of the metal unit 50 by fixing or the like way and then the post 13 is fixed to the demountable anchoring section 61 so as to project in a lateral direction in a horizontal plane or the like plane, thus constructing a metal member unit 70 with a post (needle section) 13 positionally matching with the body section 57 of the metal member unit 50, to describe from a different viewpoint: a functional unit 70 for constituting a pierced earring as a constituent separated from the pierced earring body.
[0036] On the other hand, in the pierced earring body 52, there are formed a demountable anchoring section 64 serving as a mounting guide section or the like forming a mounting groove 63. By demountably connecting the metal member with a post or the demountable anchoring section 61 of the functional unit 70 for constituting a pierced earring to the demountable anchoring section 64 as shown in FIG. 22, one pierced earring can be integrally constructed as a whole. Note that according to a necessity, a proper release preventive mechanism (for example, an anchoring hook, a clamp or the like) can be added. This applies to the cases of FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 in a similar way.
[0037] In any case, by adopting a structure that the metal member unit 50 or the metal member 70 with a post (hereinafter collectively referred to as a functional unit for constituting a pierced earring) are freely demountable to a pierced earring body, in other words, the metal member unit 50 or the metal member 70 with a post are freely demountably connected to a pierced earring body, a wearer can enjoy a pierced earring as if an absolutely different pierced earring were worn if changing pierced earring bodies exercising a ornamental function. In other words, if one general purpose (common) metal member unit 50 or metal member unit 70 with a post (functional unit for constituting a pierced earring) is at hand, by having plural kinds of pierced earring bodies, at hand, to which the functional units for constituting a pierced earring can be demountably mounted, pierced earring bodies are changed according to a liking to enable a pierced earring body to be used as a constituent of an absolutely different pierced earring.
[0038] A concept of the above functional unit for constituting a pierced earring can be applied to the pierced earring 2 and others shown in Figs. 1 and others. As exemplified in FIG. 23, a laterally pivotal movement connecting unit (metal member) 80 is prepared as a functional unit for constituting a pierced earring connecting halved pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b symmetrical with respect to a central line to each other so as to enable the halved pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b to be pivotable in a lateral direction independently thereof.
[0039] The unit 80 is a kind of hinge unit formed by connecting two metal member pieces (unit pieces) 81 and 82 so as to be laterally pivotable around a rotary shaft section 83 and the metal member pieces 81 and 82 are engaged in the base sections of the respective pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b and connected and fixed by means of engagement, soldering, a mechanical calking, or other convenient methods. Thereby, a pierced earring can be obtained that the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b is pivoted only in a lateral direction to open or close.
[0040] In a case where the unit 80 is maintained at a closed position, a magnetic piece 84, for example, or the like can be provided to a open/close section (wherein magnets may be provided on both sides or one magnet may be provided only on one side with a magnetic material on the opposing side). Note that similar to FIG. 20 to GIG. 22, demountable connection can be realized by an insertion method or the like method in which case pierced earring body pieces are exchanged as a set or one side at a time to enjoy a combination.
[0041] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 24B, if a pierced earring body piece 2a or the like is desired to be of a wide width design, metal member pieces 91 and 92 each with a wide width of a laterally pivotal movement connecting unit 90 are fabricated so as to be adapted to the design and connected to each other with a rotary shaft section 93. Alternatively, as in a laterally pivotal movement connection unit 100 of FIG. 24C, metal member pieces 101 and 102 each with a width not extended are otherwise extended so as to have respective extension sections 103 and 104 as integral portions and end portions of the extension sections 103 and 104 are connected with a rotary shaft 105, whereby, a wide width design can be coped with the extension sections 103 and 104.
[0042] Note that in FIGs. 25 and FIGs. 26, shown in a more detailed manner is an example of a pivotal shaft section for a movement in a lateral direction or a laterally pivotal movement connecting section A described above. For example, a shaft bearing section 67 is formed at one of facing end portions of both metal member sections 57 and 58 and a shat bearing section 68 is formed at the other, and the shaft bearing portions 67 and 68 have respective shaft holes 66. The shaft bearing sections 67 and 68 are assembled such that shaft holes 66 are aligned with the same one axis, a shaft section member such as a pin 69 or the like is inserted through both shaft holes 66 and the shaft member is subjected to release-off prevention by means of calking or the like means, resulting in a laterally pivotal movement connecting section A whose both metal member sections 57 and 58 are relatively pivotable only in a lateral direction (pivotal movement in a prescribed angular range).
[0043] However, this example is only one example and various structures can be realized if a pivotal movement only in a lateral direction is enabled.
[0044] Even a pierced earring body (ornament section) shown in FIG. 5A, FIG. 7A, FIG. 8A, FIG. 17 and others, and even a pierced earring of a construction in which a pierced earring body in the shape of a semicircle or a capital letter U is divided into two parts shown in Figs. 1A and so on can be obtained so as to have the same feature in that a pierced earring changes into a pierced earring to fall off with limitlessly high difficulty by fundamentally adopting a pivotal movement of a receiving side in a lateral direction relative to a needle section (post).
[0045] Description will be given of this point with respect to a pierced earring 2 of the type of FIG.1 as a representative. A prior art pierced earring of FIG. 28, first taken up for comparison, opens by moving pierced earring body pieces 2a' and 2b' in opposed direction, upward and downward. To be described in other words, the pieces 2a' and 2b' open and close along a plane parallel to a direction of working of a dead weight W (vertical direction) and while the free end of a post 3' is engaged into a recess formed in the pierced earring body 2b' and confined in the recess in a closed state, if the post 3' is released off from the recess, the pierced earring is opened by the dead weight W; therefore, the pierced earring has a chance to falls off from an ear unnoticed by a wearer.
[0046] Contrast to this, in the pierced earring 2 of FIG. 27, the pierced earring body pieces 2a and 2b open in a lateral direction. In other words, opening is effected along a plane almost perpendicular to a direction of working of a dead weight W thereof (in a almost horizontal plane). That is, the pierced earring body piece 2b is not a free joint pivotable in any direction relative to the post (needle section) 3 but only in a lateral direction and therefore, there is resistance (sustaining function) to a dead weight Wand the pierced earring is hard to open since the dead weight W does not exercises an action to open the pierced earring.
[0047] In addition, in order to open the pierced earring 2, a necessity arises for the pierced earring body piece 2b to pivot in a lateral direction relative to the post 3, but since there is a wall of an ear in the proximity thereof, blocking occurs on pivotal movement of the pierced earring body piece 2b to be unintentionally pivoted in a lateral direction by an external forces such as vibration, a swing or other forces so as not to cause the movement at an angle in excess of a prescribed angle due to the blocking by the wall of an ear. Therefore, even after confinement of the post 3 at a closed position is released, by using the wall of an ear as a stopper to control a free pivotal movement to an open position, the pierced earring changes into a pierced earring to fall off with limitlessly high difficulty.
[0048] Upon mounting/demounting of a pierced earring, easy opening/closing can be effected with intentional lateral pivotal motion without causing any inconvenience.
[0049] On the other hand, in the prior art pierced earring that opens in opposed directions, upward and downward, of FIG. 28, when confinement in a closed state between the post 3' and the pierced earring body piece 2b' is released, a dead weight W works so as to open the pieced earring downward and this opening action is a movement that the pierced earring body piece 2b' moves away from a wall of an ear; therefore, naturally there is no the wall of an ear on a locus of an opening action, which allows a free pivotal movement toward the opening direction, thereby, causing natural opening of the pierced earring body by a dead weight W, a vibration or other external forces. As a result, there is much of chance to lose a pierced earring unnoticed by a wearer.
[0050] The present invention has a great significance in that according to the present invention, such prior art fault is fundamentally solved based on a concept of opening/closing in a lateral direction, that is, "side crossing" to realize a pierced earring to fall off with limitlessly high difficulty.
1. A pierced earring comprising: a pierced earring body and a needle section that sustains
the pierced earring body while the needle section is inserted through a hole in an
earlobe, characterized by that the needle section is formed integrally with the pierced earring body in one
side thereof, a receiving section that receives the needle section is formed in the
pierced earring body in the other side thereof, wherein the receiving section and
a support section (hereinafter referred to as a needle opposing section) are connected
to the pierced earring body so that the needle opposing section is pivotable in a
lateral plane almost perpendicular to a direction in which the needle section sustains
a weight of the pierced earring body, wherein the needle section moves sideways to
a closed position located at the receiving section by pivotal movement of the needle
opposing section relative to the pierced earring body from an open state in which
the needle opposing section is released from the receiving section.
2. A pierced earring according to claim 1, wherein the receiving section that receives
the needle section comprises: an entrance section that allows the needle section to
move into itself by pivotal movement of the needle opposing section relative to the
pierced earring body; and an exit control section that gives a resistance to moving-out
of the needle section after moving-in of the needle section.
3. A pierced earring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the needle section is energized
by a spring member toward the closed position and the spring member is provided between
the pierced earring body and the needle opposing section.
4. A pierced earring according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a magnetic suction means
such as a magnet is provided to a pivotal movement connecting section between the
pierced earring body and a needle opposing section such that the needle opposing section
is maintained at a closed position in relation with the needle section.
5. A pierced earring comprising:
a pierced earring body constituting an ornament section;
a needle section, provided in a positional relationship integral with the pierced earring body so as to project laterally from the pierced earring body, and inserted into a pierced earring hole in an ear;
a metal member section connected so as to be pivotable relative to the pierced earring body along a plane almost perpendicular to a direction of working of a dead weight of the pierced earring so as to moves closer to or away from the needle section in a lateral direction; and
a closed position maintaining means maintaining the needle section and the metal member section in a closed position.
6. A pierced earring comprising:
one pierced earring body (pierced earring body piece) formed by dividing the pierced earring into two parts;
a needle section, provided in a positional relationship integral with the pierced earring body so as to project laterally from the one pierced earring body, and inserted into a pierced earring hole in an ear;
the other pierced earring body (pierced earring body pieces) connected so as to be pivotable relative to the pierced earring body along a plane almost perpendicular to a direction of working of a dead weight of the pierced earring so as to moves closer to or away from the needle section in a lateral direction; and
a closed position maintaining means maintaining both pierced earring bodies in a closed position.
7. A functional unit for constituting a pierced earring comprising:
a pierced earring body constituting an ornament section;
a needle section, provided in a positional relationship integral with the pierced earring body so as to project laterally from the pierced earring body \, and inserted into a pierced earring hole in an ear;
a metal member section connected so as to be pivotable relative to the pierced earring body along a plane almost perpendicular to a direction of working of a dead weight of the pierced earring so as to moves closer to or away from the needle section in a lateral direction; and
a closed position maintaining means maintaining the needle section and the metal member section in a closed position, and constituted independently of the pierced earring body, not only includes the metal member section but also provided with a pivotal movement connecting section at an intermediate portion of the metal member section to connect the pierced earring body and the metal member section so as to be pivotable along a plane almost perpendicular to the direction of working of a dead weight,
wherein one end portion of the metal member section is integrally or demountably mounted to the pierced earring body directly or through another member, while the other end portion moves closer to or away from the needle section through the pivotal movement connecting section.8. A functional unit for constituting a pierced earring according to claim 7, wherein
the metal member section and the needle section is included both as a separate unit
independently of the pierced earring body.
9. A functional unit for constituting a pierced earring comprising:
one pierced earring body (pierced earring body piece) formed by dividing the pierced earring into two parts;
a needle section, provided in a positional relationship integral with the pierced earring body so as to project laterally from the one pierced earring body, and inserted into a pierced earring hole in an ear;
the other pierced earring body (pierced earring body pieces) connected so as to be pivotable relative to the pierced earring body along a plane almost perpendicular to a direction of working of a dead weight of the pierced earring so as to moves closer to or away from the needle section in a lateral direction; and
a closed position maintaining means maintaining both pierced earring bodies in a closed position, and
provided with a pivotal movement connecting section independently of the both pierced earring bodies and the needle section, and connecting the both pierced earring bodies so as to be pivotable along a plane almost perpendicular to the direction of working of a dead weight, wherein one end portion of the pivotal movement connecting section is mounted to the one pierced earring body integrally or demountably therewith, while the other end portion is mounted to the other pierced earring body integrally or demountably therewith through the pivotal movement connecting section.