Interchangeable Jewelry System

Abstract

The present invention includes interchangeable jewelry pieces and an interchangeable jewelry product line comprising at least post style earrings, dangling earrings and pendants for necklaces. All of the jewelry items in the line have a base portion with a magnetic portion designed and dimensioned to receive and magnetically secure an interchangeable decorative cap portion. The decorative caps have a simple functional design making them relatively inexpensive to mass produce. The decorative cap portion includes a receiver portion, a substantially planar decorative material dimensioned for receipt in the receiver portion, a cover portion for protecting the decorative material, and downwardly projecting peripheral rim dimensioned to encompass the peripheral edge of a magnetic portion of the base of each of the pieces of jewelry in the product line.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to jewelry items and jewelry sets which include improved interchangeable decorative elements as well as methods of manufacture and use of same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Prior art attempts to design interchangeable jewelry systems have typically focused on relatively expensive fine jewelry market segment, rather than more affordable costume jewelry market. One example of such prior art systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,764 which shows an earring body having a flat magnet permanently attached to it, surrounded by a collar, the collar having an opening on its periphery. The removable button, or other ornamentation fits into the cap created by collar, and has, on its inside a flat armature which rests on the flat magnet mounted on the body of the earring when the unit is assembled, as shown in FIG. 3 of the '764 patent. The flat armature of the earring body is also made of a magnetizable material so that the earring design ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In another preferred embodiment of the invention, an improved pierced post style, earring is provided. The improved post style earring of this embodiment of the invention includes a post portion, backing portion, magnetic portion and an interchangeable cap portion with a design element. The post portion is dimensioned for insertion through the pierced portion of a pierced ear with the backing designed to engage the back surface of the earlobe. The magnetic portion is either permanently joined or integral with the base portion of the earring. The magnetic portion includes a peripheral edge that is dimensioned to be encompassed by an outer rim extending from the back surface of the periphery of the cap portion. At least a portion of the cap portion is formed from a magnetizable material such that the back surface of the cap portion is detachably coupled by force of magnetic attraction to the front surface of the magnetic portion of the base. The outer rim extending from the periphery of the cap portion provides additional security to the detachable coupling between the cap and base portion. Preferably, the outer rim is slightly larger in dimension than the peripheral edge of the magnetic portion so that a gap is formed therebetween which facilitates deliberate removal of the cap from the base portion in order to allow detachable coupling of a new cap with a different design element to the pierced post earring of the invention.

[0011]In still another preferred embodiment of the invention, an improved dangling pierced earring is provided, which includes a clasp portion affixed to a loop portion adapted to pass through a pierced ear, a base portion attached to the loop portion, the base portion having a magnetic portion and an interchangeable cap portion with a design element. The magnetic portion includes a peripheral edge that is dimensioned to be encompassed by an outer rim extending from the back surface of the periphery of the cap portion. At least a portion of the cap portion is formed of a sufficient amount of a magnetizable material that the back surface of the cap portion is detachably coupled by the force of magnetic attraction to the front surface of the magnetic portion of the base. The oute

Problems solved by technology

In the applicant's view, the jewelry designs of the '871 patent are also

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