Hinged backing apparatus for jewelry and piercings

Abstract

Various aspects described or referenced herein are directed to different apparatus and systems relating to hinged backing apparatuses for jewelry and piercings. One aspect disclosed herein relates to articles of jewelry and particularly stud earrings and other jewelry to be introduced and fixed in a hole practiced in some parts of the body (earlobes, mouth, nostril, etc.).

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus to be placed in a piercing made in the human body, comprising:
 a shaft designed to pass through said piercing and a locking member, said shaft comprising a removable segment and a support intended to receive said removable segment, one in the extension of the other;   said segment being provided to bear a decorative pattern at an end opposite the support, and the support cooperating with a locking member;   said locking member being articulated at one end of the support opposite said segment, so as to assume a first position, in which the locking member is in the extension of said shaft, and a second position, in which the locking member is substantially perpendicular to the shaft; and   an elastic member cooperating with said support and the locking member to ensure the stability of said first and second positions.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the end of the support opposite said segment has a flattened shape and is engaged between two parallel axial extensions of the locking member, aid flattened end and the two extensions having openings positioned opposite one another that are passed through by a hinge pin. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the elastic member is formed by a compression spring housed axially in a cavity of the locking member, said spring comprising a first end bearing at the bottom of said cavity and a second end engaged, at least indirectly, with the flattened end of the support. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the bottom of the cavity comprises a spherical tip forming a bearing point for the first end of the spring. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a piston inserted between the second end of the compression spring and the flattened portion of the support. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a piston inserted between the second end of the compression spring and the flattened portion of the support. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the end of the segment opposite the support comprises a decorative element. 
     
     
         8 . A removably attachable hinged backing apparatus for jewelry comprising:
 a stem having a first end portion affixable to a jewelry mounting bracket, the stem having a second end portion;   a pivot backing assembly including:   a pivoting backing member;   a stem connector member; and   a pivoting joint assembly;   wherein the pivoting backing member movably secured, via the pivoting joint assembly, to the stem connector member in a manner which enables the pivot backing member to movably pivot relative to the stem connector member;   wherein the pivot backing assembly is designed to be removably attachable to the stem.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the pivot backing assembly is designed to be removably attachable to the stem such that the pivot backing assembly may be removed/attached from/to the removable stem without requiring removal or modification of the any portion of the pivoting joint assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 wherein the stem portion is cylindrical in shape; and 
 wherein the pivoting backing member is cylindrical in shape. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein:
 wherein the stem portion is cylindrical in shape; 
 wherein the pivoting backing member is is cylindrical in shape; and 
 wherein the stem includes a threaded cavity portion disposed at the second end of the screw; and 
 wherein the stem connector member includes a male threaded connector portion which is adapted to screw into the threaded cavity portion of stem to thereby enable the pivot backing assembly to be removably attachable to the stem. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8 :
 wherein the pivoting backing member includes a tension adjustment mechanism for enabling dynamic adjustment of tension of the pivoting joint assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8 :
 wherein the pivoting backing member includes a cavity;   wherein the pivoting backing member includes a tension adjustment mechanism for enabling dynamic adjustment of tension of the pivoting joint assembly; and   wherein the tension adjustment mechanism includes:   a spring housed axially in the cavity of the pivoting backing member.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8 :
 wherein the pivoting backing member includes a cavity;   wherein the pivoting backing member includes a tension adjustment mechanism for enabling dynamic adjustment of tension of the pivoting joint assembly; and   wherein the tension adjustment mechanism includes:   an adjustable spring housed axially in the cavity of the pivoting backing member;   a rotatable set screw housed axially in the cavity of the pivoting backing member;   wherein the tension adjustment mechanism is designed to enable dynamic adjustment of a compression and tension of the spring via rotation of the set screw.   
     
     
         15 . A removably attachable hinged backing system for jewelry comprising:
 stem means for securing a jewelry mounting bracket to a pivoting backing means, wherein the stem means is configured to be placed in a piercing made in the human body;   pivoting backing means for securing the stem means within the piercing, and wherein the pivot backing means is adapted to be moved to a first position for securing the stem within the piercing, and wherein the pivot backing means is adapted to be moved to a second position for facilitating insertion and removal of the stem into/from the piercing;   connector means for removably securing the stem means to the pivoting backing means to enable the stem means to be removably attachable and detachable to/from the pivoting backing means.   tension adjustment means for enabling dynamic adjustment of tension associated with movement of the pivot backing means.