Threadless jewelry connector assembly

• US 6,167,725 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neometal Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neometal Incorporated
• Inventors: Siekierski, Tadeusz P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Browne, Lynne H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chop, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US08/883,861
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 246/18, 246/26, 247/05, 247/076, 63/31, 63/7, 63/12, 63/20, 403/273, 403/274, 403/282, 411/338, 411/339, 411/451, 411/446, 411/447, 295/25
• US Class Current: 63/12
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 13/00 Connectible jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 27/00 Making jewellery or other personal adornments
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 7/003 Ear-studs or their catch devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/41 Pierced earring fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45545 forming total external surface of projection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4629 including structure for cooperating with formation [e.g., cavity] formed on penetrating portion

Abstract

A jewelry connection system utilizing an elastic bent stem having a narrow center section is inserted into a hollow tube such that binding of the stem ends in the tube creates an elastic releasable friction bond (binding) between the stem and tube pieces. A controlled amount of binding can be introduced by controlling the degree of non-colinearity between mating surfaces such that when using a high modulus material, such as Titanium, the use of this system for body piercing openings such as ear and nose rings is successful without reduced risk of loss of jewelry pieces due to vibration, because threaded connections in this arrangement are avoided. Configurations according to the invention can be used in a variety of tiny jewelry pieces as long as a stem can be inserted into a stem receiving member.

Claims

1. An ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus comprising:

a first piece having a first piece longitudinal axis, said first piece having a first ornamental end portion having a first diameter perpendicular to said first piece longitudinal axis, said first ornamental end portion is fixed to a tube portion having a second diameter sized to pass through a body piercing opening, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter and said first diameter being sized such that said first ornamental end portion is prevented from passing through the body piercing opening through which said second diameter is sized to pass, said tube portion having an inside hole extending for a first distance into said tube portion from an end opposite said first ornamental end portion, said inside hole having a third diameter; and

a second piece having a second piece longitudinal axis, said second piece having a second ornamental end portion having a fourth diameter perpendicular to said second piece longitudinal axis, said second ornamental end portion is fixed to a cylindrical stem portion, said cylindrical stem portion having a fifth diameter perpendicular to said second piece longitudinal axis and a length along said second piece longitudinal axis, wherein said fifth diameter is smaller than said third diameter and said length of said cylindrical stem portion is shorter than said length of said inside hole of said first piece, wherein said second diameter is smaller than said fourth diameter and said fourth diameter being sized such that said second ornamental end portion is prevented from passing through the body piercing opening through which said second diameter is sized to pass;

wherein, when said stem portion is in a relaxed condition, where said first piece is separate from said second piece, said stem portion includes a degree of bend such that an amount of force required to repeatedly insert said stem portion of said second piece into and repeatedly remove said stem portion of said second piece out from said inside hole of said first piece is adjustable by varying the degree of bend of said stem portion in said relaxed condition.

2. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein the stem portion is made of a Titanium alloy material having a high modulus of elasticity.

3. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 2,

wherein the tube portion is made of a Titanium alloy material having a high modulus of elasticity.

4. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein said tube portion of said first piece and said stem portion of said second piece are made of a material having a high modulus of elasticity.

5. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 4,

where varying the degree of bend in said stem portion can be done by a user in his or her hands.

6. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 4,

wherein said inside hole of said first piece has a substantially smooth bore.

7. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 4,

wherein said stem portion includes a stem central portion having a cross section and diameter smaller than a proximal end section cross section and diameter, respectively, which proximal end section and diameter are substantially equal to a distal end section cross section and diameter, and where said proximal end section has a substantially circular cross section.

8. The ornamental jewelry connector assembly apparatus as in claim 1,

wherein said inside hole of said first piece is linear.