Earring

Abstract

An earring having a first leg with a first end and a second end, and a second leg with a first end and a second end. The first leg has a through opening through which a second leg passes and the legs are connected together in a region of the through opening so as to be pivotable relative to one another. The legs are movable between an open position and a closed position in a scissor-like fashion. Each of the legs in a region of the second end is shaped to cooperatively form a closed path in the closed position.

1 . An earring, comprising: 
 a first leg having a first end and a second end; and    a second leg having a first end and a second end, the legs being connected together so as to be pivotable relative to one another between an open position and a closed position in a scissor-like fashion, each of the legs in a region of the second end being shaped to cooperatively form a structural closed path in the closed position.    
   
   
       2 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the legs forms a larger portion of the closed path than the other of the legs.  
   
   
       3 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end of one of the legs has a pin extending therefrom and the second end of the other leg has an opening into which the pin fits in the closed position.  
   
   
       4 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the closed path is substantially circular.  
   
   
       5 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the second end of one of the legs has a circular cross-section and the second end of the other leg has an edge shaped to conform to a portion of an outer surface in a region of the second end of the one leg so that in the closed position the second ends of the legs overlap and contact one another.  
   
   
       6 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the legs are made of a stamped material.  
   
   
       7 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the legs are made of a cast material.  
   
   
       8 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the legs has a laterally projecting post at the first end and the other of the legs has a through-opening in the first end that accommodates the post in the closed position.  
   
   
       9 . The earring according to  claim 8 , wherein the post has a distal end with an angled surface for sliding engagement with an edge of the through-opening in the other leg to facilitate entry of the post into the through-opening.  
   
   
       10 . The earring according to  claim 9 , wherein the post has a notch that engages with an edge of the through-opening in the closed position.  
   
   
       11 . The earring according to  claim 1 , and further comprising a pendant element suspended from the structural closed path.  
   
   
       12 . The earring according to  claim 3 , wherein the pin is at the second end of the first leg and the opening is at the second end of the second leg.  
   
   
       13 . The earring according to  claim 12 , wherein the first leg has a laterally projecting post at the first end and the second leg has a through-opening in the first end that accommodates the post in the closed position.  
   
   
       14 . The earring according to  claim 5 , wherein the second leg has the circular cross-section at the second end and the first leg has the shaped edge at the second end.  
   
   
       15 . The earring according to  claim 14 , wherein the first leg has a laterally projecting post at the first end and the second leg has a through-opening in the first end that accommodates the post in the closed position.  
   
   
       16 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the first leg has a through opening through which the second leg passes and including a pivot that engages both legs at the location of the through-opening to enable the legs to pivot relative to one another.  
   
   
       17 . The earring according to  claim 1 , wherein the first leg terminates in a dual spaced prongs defining an opening in which a distal end of the second prong is receivable.