Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to body jewellery. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved piece of body jewellery that allows multiple pieces of jewellery to be worn using a single incision.

Background

Body jewellery is jewellery which is worn by insertion or implantation into an opening made in the human body, and has been used for thousands of years. Common forms of body jewellery include rings, bars and studs.

To wear body jewellery, the human body is typically incised to allow a portion of a piece of body jewellery to be inserted into the body, while the remainder of the piece of body jewellery protrudes from the body. This inserted or implanted portion of the piece of jewellery may pass completely through the human body, such as through an ear lobe, a nostril, a nipple or genitalia, before emerging on the other side and being connected to a cap or end piece to prevent the jewellery from accidently passing back through the body and falling out. Alternatively, the inserted portion of the piece of jewellery may not pass completely through the body, and instead contain an anchoring portion that anchors the piece of body jewellery to the body from the inside.

Cutting or piercing the human body naturally carries a risk of infection, and to minimise this risk it is important that the body jewellery is appropriately cleaned prior to insertion or implantation, and that the incision is created with sterilised instruments. Nevertheless, this risk of infection remains despite these precautions, and the change or removal of the piece of body jewellery by an end user in an inherently non-sterile environment exacerbates the infection risk. Many of the areas of the body that are frequently pierced are either delicate tissues which are easily infected, or tissue where contracting an infection can be particularly serious, for example the nose or the vagina.

Users of body jewellery commonly wear several pieces of jewellery at the same time. For every further cut that is made for the insertion of an additional piece of body jewellery, the wearer is proportionately exposed to further risk, both from the initial incision and later changes in the piece of jewellery. Consequently, when body jewellery is extensively used the risk of infection increases and can become significant.

Consequently, there is a need to develop ways to reduce the risk of infection when multiple pieces of body jewellery are worn.

Moreover, in view of the above problems, there is a desire amongst wearers of body jewellery to provide more flexible ways of wearing different pieces of body jewellery which makes it simpler and easier to change the location and type of jewellery that is worn.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention solves the above problem by providing a body jewellery connector suitable for connecting to a plurality of pieces of jewellery. The body jewellery connector comprises a hub. The hub comprises a connection means and a plurality of jewellery connection portions. The connection means is configured to connect the hub to a user or to an implantable piece of body jewellery, and each jewellery connection portion is configured to removably receive a piece of jewellery. The connector therefore provides a single point to which multiple pieces of jewellery can be removably and replaceably connected, meaning that only one incision of the body is required to wear multiple pieces of jewellery and correspondingly reducing the infection risk. Furthermore, when pieces of jewellery are changed, the body jewellery connector can remain in situ within the body and does not need to be removed, preventing infection caused by implanting a new component, as well as making it simpler and easier to change the location and type of jewellery that is worn.

Alternatively, pieces of jewellery can be removably and replaceably connected to the connector when the connector is not connected to a user’s body, making it easy to customise a piece of body jewellery and then wear the customised piece of jewellery with minimal risk of infection or pain.

In a further aspect of the invention, at least two of or each of the jewellery connection portions may be threaded connection portions, and may be threaded protrusions or threaded recesses. The threaded protrusions may be threaded shafts. The threaded recesses may be threaded holes. This facilitates easy connection of pieces of jewellery to the body jewellery connector and changing of pieces of jewellery that are connected to the body jewellery connector, and reduces the likelihood that the body jewellery connector will need to be removed in order to change the pieces of jewellery to which it is connected.

In a further aspect of the invention, the connection means may be suitable for implanting into a user, and may comprise a dermal anchor for anchoring the connection portion under the skin, or a straight or curved bar which may be suitable for passing through a portion of the body such as an ear lobe or a part of a nose.

In a further aspect of the invention, the connection means of the body jewellery connector is suitable for connecting to an implantable or implanted or pre-implanted piece of body jewellery. The connection means may be suitable for removably connecting to an

implantable or implanted or pre-implanted piece of body jewellery. The connection means may, for example, be a threaded protrusion or a threaded recess. The threaded protrusion may be a threaded shaft. The threaded recess may be a threaded hole. For example, a threaded protrusion and a threaded recess respectively allow connection of the body jewellery connector to a complimentary shaped threaded protrusion or a threaded recess on an implanted or pre-implanted or implantable piece of body jewellery. Connecting to an implanted or pre-implanted or implantable piece of body jewellery removes the need for a further incision to be made to use or change the body jewellery connector, reducing the infection risk still further, and makes it simpler and easier to wear new pieces of jewellery.

A first side of the hub may comprise the connection means, and an opposing second side of the hub may comprise each of the plurality of jewellery connection portions. The connection means may be permanently connected to the first side of the hub. This allows the body jewellery connector to sit between the pieces of jewellery and the body, and makes removal and replacement of the pieces of jewellery easier to perform, either by removing the entire body jewellery connector or by removing individual pieces of jewellery.

The hub may comprises a plurality of geometric shapes connected together. The plurality of geometric shapes may, for example, be welded together. Each geometric shape may, for example, be a cylinder or a right prism having a triangular, square, hexagonal or different shaped cross section could be used. Each geometric shape may comprises a respective one of the plurality of jewellery connection portions. This arrangement ensures that each piece of jewellery that is connected to the body jewellery connector has its own corresponding portion of the hub, and makes the arrangement of the pieces of jewellery on the body jewellery connector, along with installation and removal of each piece of jewellery, simpler and easier. Each geometric shape has a respective end face on the second side of the hub, and these end faces may not all be on the same level, so that when each piece of jewellery is connected to the body jewellery connector the pieces are not all on the same plane. This reduces the risk of a piece of jewellery interfering with the installation or removal of a neighbouring piece of jewellery. Alternatively or additionally, when each jewellery connection portion removably receives a respective piece of jewellery, an outer perimeter of each piece of jewellery may be positioned within a respective outer perimeter of the geometric shape to which the piece of jewellery is connected. This ensures space between each piece of jewellery and further reduces the risk of a piece of jewellery interfering with the installation or removal of a neighbouring piece of jewellery.

The body jewellery connector may be made from titanium, steel, plastic, or any other biocompatible material.

Also provided is a kit of parts for a body jewellery component, which includes a piece of jewellery for connection to the body jewellery connector. The kit of parts may comprise a plurality of pieces of jewellery for connection to the body jewellery connector. Each piece of jewellery may be configured to be removably received by at least one of the plurality of jewellery connection portions of the body jewellery connector. Each piece of jewellery may comprise a threaded portion, such as a threaded recess or a threaded protrusion. The threaded protrusion may be a threaded shaft. The threaded recess may be a threaded hole. This facilitates the connection of the piece of jewellery to the body jewellery connector. Also provided is a body jewellery component in which each piece of jewellery is removably received by a respective one of jewellery connection portions of the body jewellery connector.

Also provided is a kit of parts comprising a piece of jewellery for connection to the body jewellery connector. The kit of parts may include an indication to the user that the piece of jewellery can be used to create an assembly comprising the body jewellery connector and at least two pieces of jewellery removably connected to the body jewellery connector. The kit of parts may comprise a plurality of pieces of jewellery. The indication to the user may comprise an image showing the assembly, an image showing the creation of the assembly, a suggestion to create the assembly, or instructions to create the assembly. Providing this indication to the user encourages the use of the body jewellery connector and

correspondingly reduces the risk of infection. Also provided is a method of connecting body jewellery to a user. The method includes providing the body jewellery connector and either implanting the connection means within the body of the user, or connecting the connection means to a piece of body jewellery that is pre-implanted in the body of the user, or connecting the connection means to a piece of body jewellery, and implanting the piece of body jewellery in the body of the user. The method may further comprise removably connecting a piece of jewellery to at least one jewellery connection portion. The method may be a cosmetic method. The method may be a method that is not a method for treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy.

Further embodiments of the present invention are described below and in the claims which follow.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in greater detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first body jewellery connector.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the body jewellery connector of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section view of the body jewellery connector of Fig. 1 along segmented line A-A shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second body jewellery connector.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the body jewellery connector of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section view of the body jewellery connector of Fig. 4 along segmented line B-B shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a kit of parts for a body jewellery component.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a body jewellery component. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a kit of parts for a body jewellery component.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a body jewellery component.

Detailed Description

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, the word“comprise” and variations such as“comprises” and“comprising”, will be understood to mean that the following integer, step, group of integers or group of steps is included but that other integers, steps, groups of integers or groups of steps are not excluded. By contrast, the word“consist” and variations such as“consists” and“consisting of’, will be understood to mean that the following integer, step, group of integers or group of steps is included and that other integers, steps, groups of integers or groups of steps are excluded.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, where method steps are described these steps may be carried out in any order, unless it is apparent from the context that one particular method step must be carried out prior to another method step, or unless the chronological order of the method steps is explicitly stated.

The term“body jewellery” will be understood to mean jewellery which is worn by insertion or implantation of part of the jewellery into an opening made in the human body. Body jewellery encompasses piercings. In the context of body jewellery, a user of a piece of body jewellery is a person who wears the piece of body jewellery. The term“threaded” will be understood to mean“having a screw thread”. The term“removably” will be understood to mean capable of being removed in normal use, and does not encompass physically breaking or causing physical damage to allow the removal to occur. For example, using adhesive to connect one component to a second component and then ripping the first component from the second component while physically breaking the glue does not constitute a removable connection. The term“joined” will be understood to mean that a permanent connection is in place between the two objects that are joined. For example, two objects that are welded together can be described as joined. The term“receive” encompasses“connect to”,“attach to”,“have mounted on”,“fasten to”,“engage with”,“couple to” and similar such terms.

Figures 1 to 3 show a body jewellery connector 100. Body jewellery connector 100 is suitable for connecting to a plurality of pieces of jewellery. Body jewellery connector 100 comprises a hub 101. The hub 101 comprises connection means 110 and a plurality of jewellery connection portions 120. Each jewellery connection portion 120 is configured to removably connect to a piece of jewellery.

As shown in figures 2 and 3, each jewellery connection portion 120 is a threaded connection portion. Specifically, each jewellery connection portion 120 is a threaded hole 122. A respective piece of jewellery comprising a complimentary shaped threaded shaft may be removably connected to each threaded hole 122. Each hole 122 may be countersunk to help guide the threaded shaft of such a piece of jewellery into the hole. The thread of each threaded hole 122 may be the same to facilitate easy connection of pieces of jewellery. Each threaded hole 122 is a blind hole.

It will, however, be understood that alternative configurations of the jewellery connection portions are possible, such as each jewellery connection portion being a threaded shaft, or some jewellery connection portions being a threaded shaft and some being a threaded hole. Rather than threaded portions being used, the jewellery connection portions can instead use a snap fit, a clip or a magnetic arrangement to removably connect to pieces of jewellery. The plurality of jewellery connection portions may include at least two threaded connection portions, such as at least two threaded shafts or at least two threaded holes, and can include at least three, at least four, or at least five threaded connection portions, threaded shafts or threaded holes.

As will be apparent, the number of jewellery connection portions 120 can vary. While body jewellery connector 100 is illustrated as having five jewellery connection portions 120, this is optional, and any number of jewellery connection portions could be used, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14, 15 or more. As an example, the hub of a body jewellery connector may have three or more jewellery connection portions. As an example, figures 4 to 6 show an alternative body jewellery connector 200 which comprises four jewellery connection portions 220.

Returning to figures 1 to 3, connection means 110 is suitable for connecting body jewellery connector 100 to an implanted, a pre-implanted, or implantable piece of body jewellery. Specifically, connection means 1 10 comprises a threaded shaft 1 12. Threaded shaft 112 is suitable for connection to a complimentary shaped threaded hole on an implanted or pre implanted or implantable piece of body. Alternative methods of connection are possible beyond those illustrated. For example, a connection means could comprise a threaded hole. Additionally or alternatively, a connection means could comprise a pair of indents which can receive the ends of a captive bead ring may be formed on opposing surfaces of the hub. Using these indents the body jewellery connector can be secured to a captive bead ring, which in turn can be connected to the body through a piercing. Alternatively, a connection means may be suitable for implanting into a user. Such a connection means may comprise a dermal anchor or a straight or curved bar.

As shown in figure 3, hub 101 comprises a first side 130 and an opposing second side 140. First side 130 comprises connection means 1 10 and second side 140 comprises jewellery connection portions 120. Specifically, threaded shaft 1 12 is mounted to first side 130 and the threaded holes 122 are formed in second side 140. In particular, threaded shaft 112 is permanently connected or joined to first side 130, such as through welding or soldering.

Hub 101 comprises five geometric shapes which are joined together. Specifically, the geometric shapes are welded together, but other forms of joining can be used if this is desirable, and the geometric shapes may instead be connected together. Specifically, each shape is a cylinder 150, specifically a right circular cylinder, although it will be understood that other shapes could be used. For example, rather than cylinders 150, right prisms having a triangular, square, hexagonal or different shaped cross section could be used. Also, the number of shapes joined together can be varied. For example, hub 201 of body jewellery connector 200 shown in figures 4 to 6 instead comprises four geometric shapes which are joined together. Alternatively, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15 or more geometric shapes could be joined together to form a hub. As an example, a body jewellery connector may have three or more geometric shapes connected or joined together. The geometric shapes may be joined together with their side surfaces adjacent to each other.

The dimensions of each geometric shape may be different as shown in figures 1 to 3. Specifically, cylinders 150 do not all have the same diameter and height as each other. Of course, if other geometric shapes were to be used, they could also have varying dimensions.

As shown in figures 3, each cylinder 150 has a first end face 152 being on the first side 130 of hub 101 and a second end face 154 being on the second side 140 of hub 101. The axes of each cylinder 150 are parallel with each other such that end faces 152 and end faces 154 are all parallel with each other. As shown in figure 3, end faces 152 of cylinders 150 are coplanar with each other. However, cylinders 150 do not all have the same height. Consequently, end faces 154 are parallel with each other but are not all co-planar with each other. While the above arrangement of end faces has been described with respect to cylinders 150, it will be understood that other geometric shapes could be substituted for cylinders 150, such as for example right prisms having a triangular, square, hexagonal or different shaped cross section.

Each of the cylinders 150 of hub 101 are arranged in a curved line as shown in figure 2, with the cylinder at the centre of component 100 having the largest diameter and height and the diameter and height of each cylinder progressively decreasing away from the centre along the curved line. The cylinders at the ends of the curved line are joined to one cylinder, and each of the other cylinders are joined to two cylinders. The cylinders are joined together with their curved side surfaces adjacent to each other. As is clear by comparing figures 1 to 3, body jewellery connector 100 is symmetrical about a plane containing the axis of the cylinder 150 at the centre of body jewellery connector 100. However, other arrangements are possible.

As shown in figure 2, the number of jewellery connection portions 120 is equal to the number of geometric shapes of hub 101 , and each geometric shape comprises a respective one of jewellery connection portions 120. Each threaded hole 122 is positioned in the centre of the second end face 154 a corresponding cylinder 150. Threaded shaft 1 12 is mounted to the centre of the first end face 152 of the cylinder 150 at the centre of body jewellery connector 100.

Body jewellery connector 100 is made from titanium. Specifically, body jewellery connector 100 is made from implant grade titanium, such as titanium which is compliant with ASTM F136 or ISO 5832-3. However, other materials such as steel, niobium, bronze, silver, gold, platinum, PTFE, acrylic or any other body jewellery material can be used.

While the above describes body jewellery connector 100, it will be understood that much of the above also applies, mutatis-mutandis, to body jewellery connector 200 and hence will not be repeated for the sake of brevity.

As shown by figures 4 to 6, body jewellery connector 200 comprises a hub 201 , which comprises connection means 210 and jewellery connection portions 220. Connection means 210 comprises threaded shaft 212, and each jewellery connection portion 220 is configured to removably connect a piece of jewellery to the connector. Each jewellery connection portion 220 is a threaded hole 222. Hub 201 has a first side 230 and an opposing second side 240, and threaded shaft 212 is mounted on first side 230 while threaded holes 222 are formed in second side 240. In particular, threaded shaft 212 is permanently connected or joined to first side 230, such as through welding or soldering. As mentioned previously, hub 201 comprises 4 geometric shapes, each of which is a cylinder 250, specifically right circular cylinders. Cylinders 250 do not all have the same diameter or height as each other. A first and second cylinder of cylinders 250 have the same diameter and height and are smaller in diameter and height than each of a third and fourth cylinders of cylinders 250. The fourth cylinder in turn is larger in diameter and height than the third cylinder. The third and fourth cylinder are joined together with their curved side faces adjacent to each other. The first and second cylinder are each joined to both the third and fourth cylinder with their respective curved side faces adjacent to the curved side faces of both the third and fourth cylinder. Body jewellery connector 200 is symmetrical about a plane passing through the centre of the third and fourth cylinder. Cylinders 250 are welded together, but other methods of joining or connecting are possible.

Turning now to figure 7, a kits of parts 400 for a body jewellery component is shown. The kit comprises body jewellery connector 100 and a plurality of pieces of jewellery 300. Each piece of jewellery 300 is configured for removable connection to at least one of jewellery connection portions 120. Specifically, each piece of jewellery comprises a threaded shaft 310 which allows removable connection of that respective piece of jewellery to one or more of complimentary shaped threaded holes 122. The thread of each threaded shaft 310 may be the same to facilitate easy connection of pieces of jewellery. Other means of removable connection are possible, however. For examples, each piece of jewellery 300 could instead comprise a threaded hole which would allow removable connection of that respective piece of jewellery to a complimentary shaped threaded shaft on a body jewellery connector.

Each piece of jewellery 300 has a first side 320 and an opposing second side 330. Threaded shaft 310 is mounted to first side 320, specifically at the centre of first side 320. Each piece of jewellery has a circular outer perimeter 340 which extends around an edge of first side 320. However, it will be understood that other shapes of outer perimeter are possible. As shown in figure 7, the pieces of jewellery 300 do not all have the same size outer perimeter 340. Specifically, each piece of jewellery has an outer perimeter 340 which is positioned within an outer perimeter 160 of a corresponding cylinder 150 of hub 101 when the piece of jewellery 300 is connected to that cylinder 150. In other words, once removably connected to a corresponding cylinder 150 of hub 101 , each piece of jewellery 300 sits fully within the profile of its respective cylinder and does not extend beyond the outer perimeter over other cylinders 150. Furthermore, each outer perimeter 340 has a shape which is mathematically similar to the shape of its corresponding cylinder. While the above arrangement has been described with respect to cylinders 150 and pieces of jewellery 300 having circular outer perimeters 340, it will be understood that if a body jewellery connector with different shaped geometric shapes is used, different pieces of jewellery may be used which have an outer perimeter that can be positioned within the respective outer perimeter of a corresponding geometric shape and/or have a shape which is mathematically similar to the shape of the corresponding geometric shape.

Each piece of jewellery 300 further comprises a mounting ring 350 and a jewel portion 360. For each piece of jewellery, the mounting ring 350 extends away from first side 320 towards second side 330 within outer perimeter 340 and encircles the rim of its jewel portion 360, holding the jewel portion 360 to the piece of jewellery 300 and protecting the jewel portion from damage.

As shown in figure 7, kit of parts 400 has the same number of pieces of jewellery 300 as there are jewellery connection portions 120 on body jewellery connection component 100. However, kit of parts 400 may comprise more pieces of jewellery 300 than there are jewellery connection portions 120, or fewer pieces of jewellery 300 than there are jewellery connection portions 120. Kit of parts 400 may comprise 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 or more pieces of jewellery 300.

One or more pieces of jewellery 300 may be supplied with an indication to the user that each piece of jewellery can be used to create an assembly comprising body jewellery connector 100 and at least two pieces of jewellery 300 removably connected to the body jewellery connector. The indication to the user may comprise an image showing the assembly, an image showing the creation of the assembly, a suggestion to create the assembly, or instructions to create the assembly.

Figure 8 shows body jewellery component 500 which may be formed from kit of parts 400 and which comprises body jewellery connector 100. Each jewellery connection portion 120 is removably connected to a respective one of the pieces of jewellery 300. As shown, the outer perimeter 340 of each piece of jewellery 300 is positioned within the respective outer perimeter 160 of the cylinder 150 to which the piece of jewellery 300 is connected.

Figure 9 shows kit of parts 600 which comprises body jewellery connector 200 and a plurality of pieces of jewellery 300. Figure 10 shows body jewellery component 700 which may be formed from kit of parts 600 and which comprises body jewellery connector 200. Each jewellery connection portion 220 is removably connected to a respective one of the pieces of jewellery 300. Other than the possible selection of different pieces of jewellery 300 to correspond with cylinders 250 of hub 201 rather than cylinders 150 of hub 101 , kits of parts 600 and body jewellery component 700 function in the same way as kit of parts 400 and body jewellery component 500 and will not be described further for the sake of brevity.

While the preceding description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but merely as examples of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other possible variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Glossary of Reference Numerals used in Figures

100: Body jewellery connector 320: First side

101 : Hub 330: Second side

110: Connection means 340: Outer perimeter

112: Threaded shaft 350: Mounting ring

120: Jewellery connection portion 360: Jewel portion

122: Threaded hole 400: Kit of parts

130: First side 500: Body jewellery component

140: Second side 600: Kit of parts

150: Geometric shape 700: Body jewellery component

152: First end face

154: Second end face

160: Outer perimeter

200: Body jewellery connector

201 : Hub

210: Connection means

212: Threaded shaft

220: Jewellery connection portion

222: Threaded hole

230: First side

240: Second side

250: Cylinder

300: Piece of jewellery

310: Threaded shaft