Ear piercing earrings stud

Abstract

An ear piercing stud includes a post including a sharpened first end and a second end and a setting portion including a base secured to the second end of the post and a plurality of prongs configured to retain a stone in the setting portion. The prongs have a substantially constant thickness along length and width dimensions thereof. The base has a substantially same thickness as the plurality of prongs. The plurality of prongs are bent into a configuration having two side portions coupled together at an angle. Ridge-like strengthening structures run in a lengthwise direction along a central portion of each of the plurality of prongs. The setting portion is formed of a heat treatable gold alloy that increases in strength upon heat treatment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ear piercing stud comprising:
 a post including a sharpened first end and a second end; and   a setting portion including a base secured to the second end of the post and a plurality of prongs configured to retain a stone in the setting portion, the prongs having a substantially constant thickness along length and width dimensions thereof, the base having a substantially same thickness as the plurality of prongs, the plurality of prongs bent into a configuration having two side portions coupled together at an angle, ridge-like strengthening structures running in a lengthwise direction along a central portion of each of the plurality of prongs, the setting portion formed of a heat treatable gold alloy that increases in strength upon heat treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The ear piercing stud according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prongs are approximately 0.008 inches in thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The ear piercing stud according to  claim 1 , wherein the ear piercing stud is adapted to be inserted in an ear piercing gun. 
     
     
         4 . The ear piercing stud according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of prongs each include a radius that runs perpendicular to a force applied to the stone during an ear piercing process. 
     
     
         5 . The ear piercing stud according to  claim 1 , wherein the setting portion includes a base, and wherein the plurality of prongs substantially direct an applied force to a center of the base of the setting portion which transfers the applied force to the center of the post.