Non-pierced Earring with Elastic Coupling and Fitting Implement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-pierced earrings often deform when attempting to widen the space for attachment, are less fashionable due to conspicuous hinged portions, and apply excessive pressure causing pain when worn.
Innovation Solution
A non-pierced earring design featuring a coupling unit made of elastic wire with ear contact units that distribute pressure evenly, using superelastic materials and buffers to prevent pain, along with a fitting implement to assist in attachment without deforming the earring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If non-pierced earrings use elastic wire material to enable easy attachment, then the earring can be attached without piercing, but the wire may deform plastically when wearers try to widen the space between both ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fitting implement as an intermediary tool between the wearer's fingers and the earring's coupling unit. This implement provides the necessary force to widen the coupling unit without risking plastic deformation, while the earring itself maintains its elastic integrity for normal wear and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent specifies using superelastic wire material with elastic deformabilities of 2.0% to 7%, which is significantly higher than conventional elastic materials. This parameter change in material properties allows the coupling unit to withstand the widening operation without plastic deformation while still maintaining ease of attachment through elastic flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If non-pierced earrings use hinged portions to secure the earring, then the earring can be attached without piercing, but the hinged portions are conspicuous and reduce decorativeness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hinged portion from the visible front surface of the earring and relocates it to the back side, where it is hidden from view. This allows the front surface to maintain a clean, pierced-earring appearance while the back side contains the functional hinged mechanism for attachment and removal.
3Strength
If non-pierced earrings use coil springs to generate pinching force, then the earring can be attached without piercing, but excessive pressure is applied on the earlobes causing pain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ear contact units wider than the coupling unit, creating a local quality difference where the pressure-bearing surface is enlarged. This distributes the pinching force over a larger area of the earlobe, reducing pressure intensity and preventing pain while maintaining sufficient holding strength.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for secure attachment without pain, maintaining the aesthetic of pierced earrings and preventing deformation, while the fitting implement facilitates attachment regardless of finger strength.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling unit is made of an elastic wire material. The coupling unit is bent so as to maintain a predetermined distance between both ends.
Implementation Method 2
The elastic wire material may be high-strength piano wire or a superelastic wire material. Superelasticity is a property of regaining the original shape when deforming force is removed even after being deformed by a large distortion of more than 0.5%.
Implementation Method 3
since the ear contact units are wider than the coupling unit, pressure on the earlobe due to the coupling unit is distributed. Thus, no pain is experienced even after being worn for a long time.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-pierced earring can be secured to the earlobe with elastic restoring force of itself, and causes no pain. An implement 6 for fitting, on an earlobe, a non-pierced earring that includes a coupling unit made of an elastic wire material and bent so as to maintain a predetermined distance between both ends, and a pair of ear contact units wider than the diameter of the coupling unit and respectively disposed at both ends of the coupling unit with principal surfaces facing each other includes a pair of levers 7 and 8 each having a front end portion and a rear end portion and coupled to each other between the front end portions and the rear end portions via a rotation shaft so as to cause the front end portions to open or close when the rear end portions close or open.