Threadless jewelry connector assembly

• US 6,470,709 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Neometal Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neometal Incorporated
• Inventors: Siekierski, Tadeusz P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chop, Andrea
• Application Number:
  US09/713,361
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 403/273, 403/274, 403/282, 411/338, 411/339, 411/451, 411/446, 411/447, 295/25, 63/31, 63/7, 63/12, 63/20, 246/18, 246/26, 247/05, 247/076
• 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. A jewelry connection apparatus comprising:

a first elongated piece having a first end and a second end, said first elongated piece defining a first inner passage extending inward from said first end and having a first inner diameter with said second end closed, said first inner passage being bent so that an end view of the first inner passage including hidden lines for a distance (A) along said first inner passage has an outline having a second diameter which exceeds said first inner diameter in at least one direction;

a second piece having an end piece with a dimension that is greater than said first inner diameter and fixed to and extending away from said end piece, a first linear stem having a third outer diameter, said third outer diameter being smaller than said first inner diameter, where insertion of the stem into said first inner passage for said distance (A) causes an elastic bending deflection of the first stem within said first inner passage, such that a releasable engagement is created between the first piece and the second piece, which will prevent disengagement of the two unless an external separating force is used.

2. The jewelry connection apparatus as in claim 1,

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

3. The jewelry connection apparatus as in claim 2,

wherein the first piece is made of a Titanium alloy having a high modulus of elasticity.

4. The jewelry connection apparatus as in claim 1 further comprising an end cap fixed to said second end of said first elongated piece to provide closure thereto, said end cap having a dimension that is greater than said first inner diameter.

5. 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 approximately perpendicular to an orientation of said first piece longitudinal axis at a location adjacent said first ornamental end portion, 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 said inside hole of said first piece is curved;

wherein, when said stem portion is in a relaxed condition and said first piece is separate from said second piece, said stem portion is substantially straight 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 dependent on an elastic bending deflection of said stem portion creating a releasable engagement between said stem portion of said second piece and said curved inside hole of said first piece.

6. The jewelry connection apparatus as in claim 5,

wherein the cylindrical stem portion of said second piece is made of a Titanium alloy having a high modulus of elasticity.

7. The jewelry connection apparatus as in claim 6,

wherein the tube member of said first piece is made of a Titanium alloy having a high modulus of elasticity.