Device and methods for removing earrings
AssigneeFortay Jewelry Products LLC
InventorsAndreas C. Pfahnl, Patrick R. Corneille, Jason R. Gerold, Katja U. Pfahnl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and related methods to remove stud-type earrings. The removal devices include tips that easily interface with the earring post and backer to facilitate removal. The tips are coupled to a structure with a spring characteristic. Simple squeezing of the structure actuates the tips to separate the backer from the post. The spring characteristic is biased to keep the tips spaced apart, or open, in the absence of a squeezing force.
Claims23
A device for removing an earring held in position at least in part by a backer engaging a post of the earring, said device comprising:
- a first tip having a contact surface;
- and
- a second tip comprising a backer engaging feature;
- and
- a structure that couples the first tip to the second tip, said structure comprising a spring characteristic;
- wherein:
- the spring characteristic is biased to cause the first and second tips to be separated from each other in a neutral position corresponding to an absence of a squeezing force applied to the coupling structure;
- the first tip is able to engage the post during at least a portion of the time that the second tip engages the backer;
- and
- the structure is coupled to the tips in a manner such that applying a squeezing force to the structure causes the tips to move towards each other such that the contact surface of the first tip engages and applies a force against the post of the earring and the backer engaging feature of the second tip engages and applies a force against the backer to help remove the backer from the post.
A device for removing an earring held in position at least in part by a backer engaging a post of the earring, said device comprising:
- a first tip having a contact surface and comprising a projection extending from the contact surface, the projection being sized to fit between first and second features of the backer in a manner effective to engage the post of the earring during at least a portion of the time that the device is used to help remove the backer from the post;
- a second tip comprising at least one backer engaging feature that fits against a feature of the backer in a manner effective to engage the backer during at least a portion of the time that the device is used to help remove the backer from the post;
- an arcuate structure coupling the first and second tips and having a spring characteristic such that applying a squeezing force to the structure causes the first and second tips to move towards each other, said spring characteristic being biased such that the first and second tips are spaced apart in a neutral position in the absence of the squeezing force;
- and
- a first alignment feature associated with the first tip and a second alignment feature associated with the second tip, said alignment features cooperating to help the first and second tips move toward each other in a desired alignment during at least a portion of the time that the squeezing force is applied to the arcuate structure.
A method of removing an earring held in position at least in part by a backer engaging a post of the earring, said method comprising the steps of
- providing a device comprising a first tip having a contact surface, a second tip comprising a backer engaging feature, and a structure that couples the first tip to the second tip, the structure comprising a spring characteristic that is biased to cause the first and second tips to be separated from each other in a neutral position corresponding to an absence of a squeezing force applied to the coupling structure and that allows movement of the first tip relative to the second tip;
- engaging the backer engaging feature of the second tip with the backer of the earring;
- squeezing the device to move the first tip toward the second tip;
- contacting a tip of the post of the earring with the contact surface of the first tip;
- and
- after contacting the post tip with the contact surface of the first tip, removing the backer from the post.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.