EARRINGS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE AND USE THEREOF

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION [0001] This patent application claims a benefit of US Provisional Patent Application 62/944,888 filed 06 December 2019; which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A user may wear an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion with a post. When the frontal portion is heavy, then the post may snap, which may result in the frontal portion or the back portion falling off the user, which is not desired.

SUMMARY

[0003] In an embodiment, an earring comprises: a housing including a cavity; a post extending out of the housing from within the cavity, wherein the post is externally threaded; a tube that is internally threaded; and a base from which the tube extends, wherein the cavity is configured to receive the tube such that (a) the post extends into the tube and (b) the post and the tube thread with each other while the tube spans between the housing and the base.

[0004] In an embodiment, a method comprises: manufacturing a first piece including a housing and a post, wherein the housing includes a cavity, wherein the post extends out of the housing from within the cavity, wherein the post is externally threaded; manufacturing a second piece including a base and a tube, wherein the tube extends from the base, wherein the tube is internally threaded; causing the cavity to receive the tube such that (a) the post extends into the tube and (b) the post and the tube thread with each other while the tube spans between the housing and the base.

[0005] In an embodiment, a method comprises: causing a user to hold a first piece including a housing and a post, wherein the housing includes a cavity, wherein the post extends out of the housing from within the cavity, wherein the post is externally threaded; causing the user to hold a second piece including a base and a tube, wherein the tube extends from the base, wherein the tube is internally threaded; and causing the user to form an earring via the cavity receiving the tube such that (a) the post extends into the tube and (b) the post and the tube thread with each other while the tube spans between the housing and the base.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of an earring according to this disclosure.

[0007] Figure 2 shows a back view of an embodiment of an earring according to this disclosure.

[0008] Figure 3 shows a top view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0009] Figure 4 shows a top schematic view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0010] Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0011] Figure 6 shows a back perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0012] Figure 7 shows a front perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0013] Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure.

[0014] Figure 9 shows a back perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. [0015] Figure 10 shows a frontal view of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure.

[0016] Figure 11 shows a frontal view of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure.

[0017] Figures 12 to 14 show a plurality of perspective views of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] Generally, this disclosure discloses various earrings, some of which can include: a housing including a cavity; a post extending out of the housing from within the cavity, where the post is externally threaded; a tube that is internally threaded; and a base from which the tube extends. The cavity is configured to receive the tube such that (a) the post extends into the tube and (b) the post and the tube thread with each other while the tube spans between the housing and the base. As such, by recessing the post within the cavity of the housing, there is an added structural integrity that enables the base to support or host a heavier decorative portion as the tube provides for additional support. However, note that this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as necessarily being limited to various embodiments disclosed herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure is thorough and complete, and fully conveys various concepts of this disclosure to skilled artisans.

[0019] Various terminology used herein can imply direct or indirect, full or partial, temporary or permanent, action or inaction. For example, when an element is referred to as being "on," "connected," or "coupled" to another element, then the element can be directly on, connected, or coupled to another element or intervening elements can be present, including indirect or direct variants. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another element, then there are no intervening elements present.

[0020] As used herein, various singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include various plural forms as well, unless specific context clearly indicates otherwise. [0021] As used herein, various presence verbs "comprises," “includes” or "comprising," “including” when used in this specification, specify a presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups thereof.

[0022] As used herein, a term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to mean any of a set of natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances.

[0023] As used herein, a term "or others," "combination", "combinatory," or "combinations thereof" refers to all permutations and combinations of listed items preceding that term. For example, "A, B, C, or combinations thereof" is intended to include at least one of: A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC, and if order is important in a particular context, also BA, CA, CB, CBA, BCA, ACB, BAC, or CAB. Continuing with this example, expressly included are combinations that contain repeats of one or more item or term, such as BB, AAA, AB, BBC, AAABCCCC, CBBAAA, CABABB, and so forth. Skilled artisans understand that typically there is no limit on number of items or terms in any combination, unless otherwise apparent from the context.

[0024] As used herein, unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in an art to which this disclosure belongs. Various terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with a meaning in a context of a relevant art and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0025] As used herein, relative terms such as "below," "lower," "above," and "upper" can be used herein to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the set of accompanying illustrative drawings. Such relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of illustrated technologies in addition to an orientation depicted in the set of accompanying illustrative drawings. For example, if a device in the set of accompanying illustrative drawings were turned over, then various elements described as being on a "lower" side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of other elements. Similarly, if a device in one of illustrative figures were turned over, then various elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above" other elements. Therefore, various example terms "below" and "lower" can encompass both an orientation of above and below.

[0026] As used herein, a term "about" or "substantially" refers to a +/- 10% variation from a nominal value/term. Such variation is always included in any given value/term provided herein, whether or not such variation is specifically referred thereto.

[0027] Features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combined in or with various some embodiments in any permutational or combinatory manner. Different aspects or elements of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, may be combined in a similar manner.

[0028] Although various terms first, second, third, and so forth can be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers, or sections should not necessarily be limited by such terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer, or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without departing from various teachings of this disclosure.

[0029] Features described with respect to certain example embodiments can be combined and sub-combined in or with various other example embodiments. Also, different aspects or elements of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, can be combined and sub-combined in a similar manner as well. Further, some example embodiments, whether individually or collectively, can be components of a larger system, wherein other procedures can take precedence over or otherwise modify their application. Additionally, a number of steps can be required before, after, or concurrently with example embodiments, as disclosed herein. Note that any or all methods or processes, at least as disclosed herein, can be at least partially performed via at least one entity in any manner. [0030] Example embodiments of this disclosure are described herein with reference to illustrations of idealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of this disclosure. As such, variations from various illustrated shapes as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, various example embodiments of this disclosure should not be construed as necessarily limited to various particular shapes of regions illustrated herein, but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing.

[0031] Any or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be formed from a same, structurally continuous piece, such as being unitary, or be separately manufactured or connected, such as being an assembly or modules. Any or all elements, as disclosed herein, can be manufactured via any manufacturing processes, whether additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, or other any other types of manufacturing. For example, some manufacturing processes include three dimensional (3D) printing, laser cutting, computer numerical control routing, milling, pressing, stamping, vacuum forming, hydroforming, injection molding, lithography, and so forth.

[0032] Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of an earring according to this disclosure. Figure 2 shows a back view of an embodiment of an earring according to this disclosure. In particular, an earring 100 includes a back portion 102 (backing) and a front portion 104 (face). When the earring 100 is worn on a lobe of an ear of a head of a person, then the back portion 102 faces the head. Likewise, when the earring 100 is worn on the lobe of the ear of the head of the person, then the front portion 104 is visible to other people. As such, when the earring 100 is worn on the lobe of the ear of the head of the person, then a viewer frontally looking at the ear would see the front portion 104, as shown in Figure 1. Correspondingly, when the earring 100 is worn on the lobe of the ear of the head of the person, then the viewer rearward looking at the ear would see the back portion 102, as shown in Figure 2. However, note that although the earring 100 is described in context of the lobe of the ear of head of the person, this is not limiting and other sections of the ear of the head of the person can also be used and, therefore, the earring 100 can be of different types (e.g., helix/cartilage, industrial, rook, daith, tragus, snug, conch, anti tragus).

[0033] Figure 3 shows a top view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. Figure 8 shows a front perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. Figure 9 shows a back perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, before the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. In particular, the earring 100 includes the back portion 102 and the front portion 104 that are separate and distinct from each other before assembly. The back portion 102 includes a housing 106, a decorative piece 108, and a post 110. The front portion 104 includes a base 114, a tube 116, and a decorative piece 118. [0034] The housing 106 is dome-shaped, but can be shaped differently (e.g., non dome shaped, plate, cube, cuboid, conical, pyramidal). The housing 106 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone). The housing 106 includes a cavity (e.g., cube, cuboid, conical, pyramidal) that is internal, whether volumetrically symmetrical or volumetrically asymmetrical, whether positioned centrally in the housing 106 or non-centrally in the housing 106. The housing 106 includes an opening leading to the cavity, whether the opening is positioned on the housing 106 or not centrally positioned on the housing 106, whether opening is perimetrically symmetrical or perimetrically asymmetrical. Note that although the cavity is a well, the cavity can be a through-channel thereby extending through the housing and be open on both ends as well.

[0035] The decorative piece 108 extends from or is attached to the housing 106. The decorative piece 108 can be unitary with the housing 106 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the decorative piece 108 can be assembled with the housing 106 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook-and-looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). The decorative piece 108 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone). The decorative piece 108 is shown a ring of domes extending about the housing 106, but can be shaped differently (e.g., ring of non-domes, non-ring of domes, crescent, star, character). The decorative piece 108 can also be absent.

[0036] The post 110 extends out of the housing 106 from within the cavity, whether in a cantilevered manner or a non-cantilevered manner. For example, the housing 106 includes an inner surface from which the post 110 extends out of the housing 106 from within the cavity. For example, the cavity includes a floor and a sidewall (e.g., smooth surface, rough surface), where the post 110 extends from the floor and the sidewall extends about the post 110. For example, the sidewall can have a line (e.g., rigid, flexible) extending therefrom (e.g., bridging) such that the line spans between the sidewall and the post 110 and thereby supports the post 110 within the cavity such that the post 110 has at least two points of support (floor and sidewall). For example, the post 110 can also extend from the sidewall (e.g., L-shaped, J-shaped, V-shaped).

[0037] Although the post 110 and the housing 106 form a mushroom-shape, other shapes are possible (e.g., T-shape, L-shape, J-shape). The post 110 is rectilinear, but can be non-rectilinear (e.g., arcuate, sinusoidal, helical). The post 110 is internally solid, but can be internally hollow. The post 110 can be unitary with the housing 106 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the post 110 can be assembled with the housing 106 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook-and-looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). For example, the post 110 can be unitary with the housing 106 and includes same material (e.g., metal, metal alloy). The post 110 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone).

[0038] The post 110 has an external surface which hosts a plurality of helical threads 112, whether continuous or discontinuous, whether right-handed or left-handed, whether male or female, whether square, triangular, trapezoidal or other forms, of any thread angle, of any type of lead, pitch, start, thread depth, or taper. The helical threads 112 can be unitary with the post 110 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the post 110 can be assembled with the helical threads 112 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook-and- looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). As such, the post 110 is externally threaded. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the post 110 has a longitudinal length, where the post 110 has the external surface extending along the longitudinal length and the external surface is not fully externally threaded along the longitudinal length. For example, the helical threads 112 can have a thread length range or a recession range about 0.0001 millimeters (mm) to about 100mm. For example, the helical threads 112 can have a thread thickness of about 0.1mm to about 80mm.

[0039] The base 114 is dome-shaped, but can be shaped differently (e.g., non-dome shaped, plate, cube, cuboid, conical, pyramidal). The base 114 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone).

[0040] The decorative piece 118 extends from or is attached to the base 114. The decorative piece 118 can be unitary with the base 114 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the decorative piece 118 can be assembled with the base 114 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook-and-looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). The decorative piece 118 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone). The decorative piece 118 is shown a pair of arcs of domes extending from the base 114, but can be shaped differently (e.g., ring of non-domes, non-ring of domes, crescent, star, character, single arc of domes, triple arc of domes, single non-arc of domes, triple non arc of domes, single non-arc of non-domes, triple non-arc of non-domes). The decorative piece 118 can also be absent.

[0041] The tube 116 extends from the base 114. Although the tube 116 and the base 114 form a T-shape, other shapes are possible (e.g., L-shape, J-shape, mushroom shape). The tube 116 is rectilinear, but can be non-rectilinear (e.g., arcuate, sinusoidal, helical). The tube 116 is internally hollow, but can be internally solid and internally hollow. The tube 116 can be unitary with the base 114 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the tube 116 can be assembled with the base 114 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook- and-looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). For example, the tube 116 can be unitary with the base 114 and includes same material (e.g., metal, metal alloy). The tube 116 includes metal (e.g., gold, silver, titanium, rare earth) or metal alloy (e.g., steel, brass, nitride, boride), but can include other materials (e.g., plastic, rubber, silicone).

[0042] The tube 116 includes an open end 120 distal to the base 114, a closed end proximal to the base 114, and a cavity extending between the open end 120 and the closed end and in fluid communication with the open end. The open end 120 is circular, but can be shaped differently (e.g., oval, square, octagon, pentagon, triangular). The open end 120 leads into the cavity of the tube 116. The open end 120 is sized and shaped to receive the post 110 therethrough. The cavity can extend from the open end to the closed end of the tube 116 or less than that distance (e.g., less than 9/10, 8/10, 7/10, 6/10, 5/10, 4/10, 3/10, 2/10, or 1/10 longitudinal length of tube 116) from the open end. The cavity is sized and shaped to receive the post 110 after the post 110 enters the open end 120. The tube 116 can avoid the closed end proximal to the base 114 and thereby be an open end as well, whether allowing access into the base 114 or stopping at the base 114 without access into the base 114.

[0043] The tube 116 has an inner surface defining the cavity. The inner surface hosts a plurality of helical threads 122, whether continuous or discontinuous, whether right- handed or left-handed, whether male or female, whether square, triangular, trapezoidal or other forms, of any thread angle, of any type of lead, pitch, start, thread depth, or taper. The helical threads 122 start in proximity of or from the open end 120 and extend into the tube 116. The helical threads 122 can longitudinally span the cavity from beginning to end or less than that, whether from the open end 120 or past the open end 120 or up to the closed end or before the closed end. The helical threads 122 are configured to engage with the helical threads 112 such that fastening can occur. The helical threads 122 can be unitary with the tube 116 (e.g., cast, molded, bonded, fused, melted) or the tube 116 can be assembled with the threads 122 (e.g., adhered, magnetized, hook-and-looped, mated, fastened, interlocked). As such, the tube 116 is internally threaded.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a top schematic view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. Figure 6 shows a back perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. Figure 7 shows a front perspective view of an earring having a frontal portion and a back portion, after the frontal portion is assembled with the back portion according to this disclosure. In particular, prior to the earring 100 being shown, merchandized, or worn, the earring 100 is assembled via the back portion 102 fastening with the front portion 104.

[0045] This assembly occurs via the cavity of the housing 106 receiving the tube 116 into the cavity of the housing 106 such that the post 110 extends into the cavity of the tube 116 through the open end 120, and the post 110 and the tube 116 thread with each other via the helical threads 112 and the helical threads 122 while the tube 116 spans between the housing 106 and the base 114 and the tube 116 is within the cavity of the housing 106. For example, the post 110 can enter the tube 116 from the open end portion of the tube 116, where (a) the closed end portion is proximal to the base 114, (b) the tube 116 has the inner surface longitudinally extends between the open end portion and the closed end portion, (c) the inner surface of the tube 116 has a longitudinal length between the open end portion and the closed end portion, or (d) the inner surface is not fully internally threaded along the longitudinal length, as show in Figure 3. For example, the post 110 can enter the tube 116 from the open end portion and to avoid contact with the closed end portion when the post 110 and the tube 116 thread with each other completely via the helical threads 112 and the helical threads 122. For example, the post 110 can contact or can avoid contacting the base 114 when the post 110 is completely threaded to the tube 116 via the helical threads 112 and the helical threads 122.

[0046] The earring 100 can be manufactured via a method including manufacturing (e.g., unitary, assembly) the back portion 102 (e.g., first piece) including the housing 106 and the post 110, where the housing 106 includes the cavity and the post 110 extends out of the housing 106 from within the cavity while the post 110 is externally threaded, as shown in Figure 8. The method includes manufacturing (e.g., unitary, assembly) the front portion 104 (e.g., second piece) including the base 114 and the tube 116, where the tube 116 extends from the base 114 while the tube 116 is internally threaded, as shown in Figure 9. The method includes causing the cavity to receive the tube 116 such that (a) the post 110 extends into the tube 116 and (b) the post 110 and the tube 116 thread with each other while the tube 116 spans between the housing 106 and the base 114, as shown in Figures 3-5.

[0047] The earring 100 can be used via a method including causing a user to hold a the back portion 102 (e.g., first piece) including the housing 106 and the post 110, where the housing 106 includes the cavity and the post 110 extends out of the housing 106 from within the cavity while the post 110 is externally threaded. The method includes causing the user to hold the front portion 104 (e.g., second piece) including the base 114 and the tube 116, where the tube 116 extends from the base 114 while the tube 116 is internally threaded. The method includes causing the user to form the earring 100 via the cavity receiving the tube 116 such that (a) the post 110 extends into the tube 116 and (b) the post 110 and the tube 116 thread with each other while the tube 116 spans between the housing 106 and the base 116.

[0048] Figure 10 shows a frontal view of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure. In particular, the earrings 100 differ from each other via the frontal portions 104, as shown. For example, the decorative portions 108 are decoratively different from each other in visual appearance. Note that these decorative portions 108 are illustrative and other decorative portions are possible, as understood to skilled artisans, and are omitted solely for brevity purposes.

[0049] Figure 11 shows a frontal view of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure. In particular, the earrings 100 differ from each other via the back portionsl 02, as shown. For example, the decorative portions 118 are decoratively different from each other in visual appearance. Note that these decorative portions 118 are illustrative and other decorative portions are possible, as understood to skilled artisans, and are omitted solely for brevity purposes.

[0050] Figures 12 to 14 show a plurality of perspective views of a plurality of earrings according to this disclosure. In particular, each of these earrings 100 has the back portion 102 and the front portion 104. Note that any mix-and-match combinations between the back portions 102 and the front portions 104, as disclosed herein, are possible. For example, any decorative portion 108, as disclosed herein, can be mixed-and-matched in any combinatory or permutational manner with any decorative portion 118, as disclosed herein.

[0051] Various corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in various claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Various embodiments were chosen and described in order to best disclose various principles of this disclosure and various practical applications thereof, and to enable others of ordinary skill in a pertinent art to understand this disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to a particular use contemplated.

[0052] This detailed description has been presented for various purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be fully exhaustive or limited to this disclosure in various forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations in techniques and structures will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in an art without departing from a scope and spirit of this disclosure as set forth in various claims that follow. Accordingly, such modifications and variations are contemplated as being a part of this disclosure. Scope of this disclosure is defined by various claims, which include known equivalents and unforeseeable equivalents at a time of filing of this disclosure.