Earring back and method of use

An earring comprising:

• a decorative portion attached to an extended post configured for extension through a piercing hole in an ear of a wearer;
• an earring back comprising an outer casing comprising an enclosed back end opposite a front end;
• said outer casing front end defining an outer casing opening into an internal cavity of said outer casing and further comprising an outer casing lip which extends outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said earring back;
• said earring back further comprising a compressible material housed within said outer casing and comprising a back end opposite a front end;
• said compressible material front end defining a compressible material opening coaxial with said outer casing opening and which extends through said compressible material a length toward said compressible material back end;
• said compressible material front end further comprising a compressible material lip which extends outward in said direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal length of said earring back;
• wherein a circumferential portion of said outer casing lip is folded over and compressed around said compressible material lip such that said compressible material lip is compressed into a compressed form defining a reduced thickness relative to a non-compressed form;
• and
• wherein said outer casing opening and said compressible material opening are configured to engage with an end of said earring post opposite said decorative portion.

A method of manufacturing an earring back comprising the steps of:

• forming an outer casing back piece with an enclosed back end opposite an open front end defining an internal cavity and comprising a back piece lip which extends outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said outer casing back piece;
• forming an outer casing front piece substantially disk-shaped with a radius larger than the radius of the back piece lip and defining an opening sized large enough to receive an earring post or extension;
• forming a compressible material component having a back end opposite a front end, said compressible material front end defining a compressible material opening extending through said compressible material component a length toward said compressible material back end, and said compressible material front end further comprising a compressible material lip which extends outward in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal length of said compressible material;
• placing said compressible material component within said outer casing back piece internal cavity with said compressible material lip abutting said back piece lip;
• placing said outer casing front piece in abutting relation to said compressible material front end with said outer casing front end opening coaxial with said compressible material opening;
• folding a circumferential portion of said outer casing front piece over and around said compressible material lip and said back piece lip;
• and
• compressing said back piece lip and an outer portion of said outer casing front piece including said folded over circumferential portion around said compressible material lip, thereby moving said compressible material lip from a non-compressed form to a compressed form defining a reduced thickness relative to said non-compressed form;
• and
• wherein said outer casing opening and said compressible material opening are configured to engage with an earring post or extension.