GB2337192A

GB2337192A - Fixing post for jewellery

Info

Publication number: GB2337192A
Application number: GB9823757A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-05-09
Filing date: 1998-11-02
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Also published as: GB9809862D0; GB9823757D0

Abstract

A fixing post 1 for jewellery (eg an ear ring) intended for wearing in a pierced region of the body includes a stem 2 provided with an integral terminal bulbous region 3 of conical or spherical (5, Fig 1) form which acts as a retainer for the post when it has been inserted. Preferred dimensions for the stem and bulbous region are given.

Description

1 A JEWELLERY FIXING DEVICE 2337192 The present invention relates to a

jewellery fixing device for use with jewellery which is intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body of the wearer.

Conventional ly, jewellery which is intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body is secured in position in a variety of ways. With jewellery which is intended to pierce the ear lobe, the jewellery usually comprises a post which passes through the lobe and is then secured in position with a "clutch" that fastens on to the post at the back of the lobe. Alternatively, the jewellery comprises a hook which is passed through the pierced ear lobe.

With nose jewellery it will be appreciated that it is not convenient to employ a post and clutch arrangement and usually such jewellery has a post with a bend or curl in order that it can be secured by using a hooking technique. However, this has the disadvantage that some people find the curving post difficult to place in position and uncomfortable to wear. It is also undesirable to use a clutch in jewellery which is intended for the navel as it is unattractive and here the jewellery is usually held in place by means of a post to which a bead or screw fitting is attached after it has been pushed through the body.

The object of the present invention is to provide a fixing device for jewellery intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body which does not require a separate clutch or bead attachment and which can be located without necessarily the use of a hooking technique. It is intended with nose jewellery in particular that such jewellery will be more comfortable to wear than hitherto.

2 According to the present invention there is provided a fixing device for jewellery intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body comprising a post defining a stem with a bulbous portion at one end, the bulbous portion being integral with the stem.

The bulbous portion at its widest point is wider than the width of the stem. As a result, in use as the bulbous portion is pushed through a piercing made in the body the flesh around the bulbous portion stretches to admit its passage. After passage of the bulbous portion through the piercing, the flesh retracts and grips the stem thus holding the jewellery in place.

Preferably, the bulbous portion defines a tapered tip to facilitate passage of the bulbous portion and thereby the stem through a pierced portion of the body. Alternatively, the bulbous portion defines a rounded end. However, the bulbous portion could be formed as a cuboid or even an amorphous shape provided that at its widest it has a width greater than that of the stem.

Preferably also, the bulbous portion comprises a conical section culminating in the tapered tip.

Preferably also, the end of the post remote from the bulbous portion comprises a decorative means.

It is to be understood by the term "decorative means" that the means in question can comprise intrinsically decorative means or means for the attachment or mounting of decorative items. Intrinsically decorative means could comprise, for example, decorative studs, or shaped or patterned ornamentation integrally formed with the stem. Alternatively means for the attachment or mounting of decorative items could comprise claw settings for stones, 3 crystals or jewels, a cup setting for filling with enamel, or a flat pad to which decorative items can be secured by adhesive.

It is expected that the stem will in most circumstances be straight. However, for use with some items of jewellery, for example navel piercings, it may be preferable for the stem to be curved.

The dimensions of the f ixing device will vary dependent on the type of jewellery for which it is to be used and to some extent from person to person.

However, preferably the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is at least 0.2 mm wider than the diameter of the stem. Advantageously, the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is up to 1.4 mm inclusive wider than the diameter of the stem.

Preferably also, the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is up to 2.0 mm inclusive.

Preferably also, the diameter of the stem is between 0.6 and 1.6 mm inclusive.

Preferably also, the length of the stem is at least 3. 0 mm.

Preferably also, the length of the post comprising the overall length of the stem and the bulbous portion is at least 5.0 mm.

Advantageously, in a fixing device for a nose or an ear piercing suitable for most people, the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is 1.2 mm, the 4 diameter and length of the stem are 0.8 mm and 5.7 mm respectively, and the overall length of the stem and the bulbous portion is 7.0 mm.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fixing device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified fixing device according to the invention; and Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of two fixing devices when in use in an ear or nose piercing and a navel piercing respectively.

As shown in Fig. 1, a fixing device for jewellery intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body comprises a post 1 defining a stem 2 with a bulbous portion at one end 3. At the end of the post 1 remote from the bulbous portion 3 is a decorative means 4 as defined above. in this example the decorative means 4 simply comprises a plate which can be attractively shaped or patterned.

The bulbous portion 3 is integrally formed with the stem 2 and at its widest point is wider than the width of the stem. At its simplest, the bulbous portion 3 comprises a substantially spherical or rounded end 5. However, provided that at its widest it has a width greater than that of the stem, the bulbous portion 3 could def ine a cuboid or even an amorphous shape.

In a modification as shown in FIg. 2, the bulbous portion 3 comprises a part-spherical section adjoining a conical section 6 which culminates in a tapered tip 7.

As previously stated, it is expected that the stem will in most circumstances be straight and in these circumstances the bulbous portion 3 will be axially inline with the stem 2. However, for use with some items of jewellery, for example navel jewellery, it may be preferable to curve the stem 2 as shown in Fig. 4. In this case, the longitudinal axis of the bulbous portion 3 is aligned with the curve passing along the centre-line of the stem 2, the decorative item 4 being located within the navel 8 and the bulbous portion 3 gripping the flesh 9 surrounding and forming a rim to the navel 8.

The dimensions of the fixing device will vary dependent on the dimensions of the pierced portion of the body and to some extent on the type of jewellery item it is to be used with. For example, eyebrow jewellery may be of a greater depth than ear or nose jewellery. In addition, the dimensions of the fixing device will vary to some extent from person to person. However, it is expected that in most cases and in particular for nose and ear jewellery that the dimensions of the fixing device will be within the following ranges.

A the diameter of the bulbous portion 3 at its widest point between 0.8 and 2.0 mm inclusive.

B - the length of the stem 2 - between 3.0 and 8.0 mm inclusive. - C - the diameter of the stem 2 - between 0.6 and 1.6 mm inclusive.

6 D - the length of the post 1 comprising the overall length of the stem 2 and the bulbous portion 3 - between 5.0 mm and 10.0 mm inclusive.

Within these ranges and with a view to manufacturing a fixing device for nose or ear jewellery suitable for use by most people, the above dimensions are preferably as follows.

A - 1. 2 mm B - 5. 7 mm C - 0. 8 mm D - 7. 0 mm However, for navel jewellery the length B of the stem 2 may be as much as 16.0 mm.

In use, the jewellery fixing device is adorned in conventional fashion with an appropriate decorative means 4. The bulbous portion 3 and stem 2 are then pushed through an aperture formed in the desired portion of the body. This aperture may have been made by a conventional piercing instrument and it is intended that the piercing instrument will make an aperture of sufficient size to accommodate comfortably the passage of the stem 2 but that the flesh 10 defining the aperture will have to stretch to accommodate passage of the bulbous portion 3. It will be appreciated that in the modified version of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the tapered tip 7 and conical section 6 of the bulbous portion facilitate its passage through the pierced aperture. After passage of the bulbous portion 3 through the aperture, the flesh 10 will retract and grip the stem 2 thus holding the fixing device in position as shown in Figs 3 and 4.

7 It may also be possible to use the fixing device as part of body-piercing jewellery, which is used to pierce the body initially. In this case, whilst the initial aperture in the body will be formed by the bulbous portion 3, the flesh will heal around and grip the stem 2 and thereby hold the fixing device in position.

In view of the manner in which the fixing device works, the diameter A of the bulbous portion 3 at its widest point is preferably at least 0.2 mm wider than the diameter C of the stem 2. This allows a sufficient reduction in width of the device for the flesh 10 to close around the stem with sufficiently to prevent the bulbous portion 3 from working its way out of the pierced aperture thereafter causing the jewellery item to fall out of place. Advantageously, taking into account the preferred diameter C of the stem 2 suitable for supporting most decorative items 4, the elasticity of the skin and the requirement to make fitting of the jewellery as painless as possible, the diameter A of the bulbous portion 3 at its widest point is preferably up to 1.4 mm inclusive wider than the diameter C of the stem 2.

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Claims

1. A fixing device for jewellery intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body comprising a post defining a stem with a bulbous portion at one end, the bulbous portion being integral with the stem.

2.' A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the bulbous portion defines a tapered tip to facilitate passage of the bulbous portion and thereby the stem through a pierced portion of the body.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bulbous portion comprises a conical section culminating in the tip.

4. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the end of the post remote from the bulbous portion comprises a decorative means.

5. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is at least 0.2 mm wider than the diameter of the stem.

6. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is up to 1.4 mm inclusive wider than the diameter of the stem.

7. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is up to 2.0 mm inclusive.

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8. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the diameter of the stem is between 0.6 and 1.6 mm inclusive.

9. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the length of the stem is at least 3.0 mm.

10. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the length of the post comprising the overall length of the stem and the bulbous portion is at least 5.0 MM.

11. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein the diameter of the bulbous portion at its widest point is 1.2 mm, the diameter and length of the stem are 0.8 mm and 5.7 mm respectively, and the overall length of the stem and the bulbous portion is 7.0 mm.

12. A fixing device for jewellery intended to be worn in a pierced region of the body substantially as described herein with reference to any one of the figures of the accompanying drawing.