Earring post and connector assembly

An caning post and connector assembly comprising:

• a generally straight post of circular cross section having an ornamental end and a free opposite end provided with an annular groove;
• a unitary connector formed from an initially flat sheet metal piece bent to form first, second and third spaced surfaces, the first and second surfaces including one of a pair of aligned circular holes sized slightly larger than the post to receive the free end of the post and to hold the post on the axis of said pair of aligned circular holes;
• the second surface partially cut from an interior portion of the piece;
• the third surface having a third circular hole sized to receive the post, said third surface being manually deflectable from a position in which said third hole is non-aligned with said axis to a connecting position against an abutment surface in which said third hold is in direct axial alignment with said post and said pair of aligned holes to permit the post to be inserted through said third hole, and said third surface operative to return to a locking position exerting a radial bias against the post and capturing an edge of one of said second and third surfaces in said groove upon release from said connecting position.