Locking and holding system for jewelry

Abstract

A locking and holding system for jewelry insertable into a pierced body part is disclosed. The locking and holding system includes a shaft having at least one throat or opening, a pivot pin, and a locking bar in rotational engagement with the pivot pin. The locking bar may be rotated into a insertion orientation such that the locking bar is engaged in an interfering fit with the throat to retain the locking bar. After insertion of the shaft through the pierced opening, the locking bar may be rotated into a locking orientation to retain the item of jewelry to the person's body.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A locking and holding system for jewelry insertable into pierced body parts including: 
 a shaft having a distal end, wherein the distal end includes an opening having a throat dimension t;    a pivot pin fixedly located relative to the shaft; and    a locking bar that is pivotally engaged with the pivot pin to permit rotation of the locking bar about the pivot pin, the locking bar having a width dimension w that is equal to or greater than the throat dimension t of the opening, whereby when the locking bar is pivoted into an orientation such that the locking bar is substantially parallel to the distal end of the shaft, the locking bar is positioned within the opening and retained therein by the interfering engagement between the locking bar and the opening.