Jewelry system, jewelry kit, jewelry, and associated methods

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to jewelry systems, jewelry kits, jewelry, and methods for assembly thereof, including a hoop-shaped earring member positioned to allow one or more additional earring members to be connected thereto. The hoop-shaped earring member can be positionable to insert into and secure to an earlobe, and can have a slot positioned in a portion of a rear periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof. The slot can be arranged to allow one or more additional earring members to be secured in the slot when positioned therein. Each of the one or more additional earring members can have a respective prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery thereof, positionable into and to be slidable along the slot, and securable in the lower periphery of the hoop-shaped earring member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earring comprising:
 a hoop-shaped earring member positionable to insert into and secure to an earlobe, the hoop-shaped earring member having a slot positioned in a portion of a rear periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof,   the slot being arranged to allow one or more additional earring members to be secured in the slot when positioned therein, each of the one or more additional earring members having a respective prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery thereof, positionable into and to be slidable along the slot, and securable in the lower periphery of the hoop-shaped earring member.   
     
     
         2 . The earring as defined in  claim 1 , the hoop-shaped earring member further including a fastener portion hingedly movable between an open position and a closed position to secure the earring member to the earlobe, to connect closely adjacent the slot, and to operate as a stop to prevent the respective prong member of the one or more additional earring members from disengaging from the slot of the hoop-shaped earring member when the fastener portion is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . An earring comprising:
 an earring member having a prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery thereof, positionable into and to be slidable along a slot positioned in a rear periphery of a hoop-shaped earring member and extending to a lower periphery thereof, and securable in the lower periphery of the hoop-shaped earring member, the hoop-shaped earring member being positionable to insert into and secure to an earlobe.   
     
     
         4 . The earring of  claim 3 , the earring member further having a slot positioned in a portion of a side periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof to thereby allow one or more additional earring members each having a respective prong member to be secured in the slot when positioned therein. 
     
     
         5 . The earring as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the earring member has one or more jewelry stones positioned therein. 
     
     
         6 . The earring as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the one or more jewelry stones of the earring member comprises a first jewelry stone positioned to face a front portion of the earring member and a second jewelry stone positioned to face a rear portion of the earring member, and wherein the slot enhances light entry between the first jewelry stone and the second jewelry stone to thereby enhance illumination of the respective first jewelry stone and second jewelry stone. 
     
     
         7 . The earring as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the prong member includes a post portion connected to and extending outwardly from the upper periphery of the earring member and a bulbous portion having a larger circumferential periphery than a circumferential periphery of the post portion, connected to a distal end of the post portion, and forming a distal end portion of the prong member. 
     
     
         8 . The earring as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the slot opening of the hoop-shaped earring member is formed to receive the bulbous portion of the prong member of the earring member when positioned therein, so that the bulbous portion extends through the slot opening to thereby allow the post portion to slidably engage the slot and to further thereby allow the post portion to slide along the slot to the lower periphery of the hoop-shaped earring member and be retained therein by the larger bulbous portion, being operable as a stop to prevent the earring member from disconnecting from the slot. 
     
     
         9 . A jewelry system comprising:
 a first hoop-shaped earring member positionable to insert into and secure to an earlobe, the first earring member having a first slot positioned in a portion of a rear periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof;   a second earring member having a first prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery thereof, positionable into and to be slidable along the first slot of the first earring member, and securable in the lower periphery of the first earring member, the second earring member having a second slot positioned in a portion of a side periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof; and   a third earring member having a second prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery thereof, positionable into and to be slidable along the second slot of the second earring member, and securable in the lower periphery of the second earring member.   
     
     
         10 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the first earring member further includes a fastener portion hingedly movable between an open position and a closed position to secure the first earring member to the earlobe, to connect closely adjacent the first slot, and to operate as a stop to prevent the first prong member of the second earring member from disengaging from the first earring member when the fastener portion is in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the third earring member has a third slot positioned in a portion of a side periphery thereof and extending to a lower periphery thereof to thereby allow one or more additional earring members each having a respective prong member extending outwardly therefrom to be secured in the third slot when positioned therein. 
     
     
         12 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 11 , where each of the second earring member and third earring member has one or more jewelry stones positioned therein. 
     
     
         13 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the one or more jewelry stones of each of the second earring member and third earring member comprises a first jewelry stone positioned to face a front portion of the respective earring member and a second jewelry stone positioned to face a rear portion of the respective earring member, and wherein the respective second slot and third slot enhances light entry between the first jewelry stone and the second jewelry stone to thereby enhance illumination of the respective first jewelry stone and second jewelry stone. 
     
     
         14 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein a circumferential periphery of the second earring member has a different overall shape from a circumferential periphery of the third earring member. 
     
     
         15 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein each of the first prong member and the second prong member includes a post portion connected to and extending outwardly from the upper periphery of the respective earring member and a bulbous portion having a larger circumferential periphery than a circumferential periphery of the post portion, connected to a distal end of the post portion, and forming a distal end portion of the respective prong member. 
     
     
         16 . The jewelry system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the first slot of the first earring member includes a slot opening and a narrower slot channel connected to and extending downwardly from the slot opening along the rear periphery to the lower periphery of the first earring member, and
 the second slot of the second earring member includes a slot opening and a narrower slot channel connected to and extending downwardly from the slot opening along the side periphery to the lower periphery of the second earring member,   the slot openings being formed to receive the bulbous portion of the prong member of the respective earring member when positioned therein, so that the bulbous portion extends through the respective slot openings to thereby allow the post portion to slidably engage the narrower channel portion and to further thereby allow the post portion to slide along the channel portion to the lower periphery of the respective earring member and be retained therein by the larger bulbous portion, being operable as a stop to prevent the respective earring member from disconnecting from the respective slot.   
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling a jewelry system comprising a first earring member and a second earring member, the method comprising:
 inserting a first prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery of the second earring member into a first slot positioned in a portion of a rear periphery of and extending to a lower periphery of the first earring member, the first earring member being positionable to insert into and secure to an earlobe; and   sliding the first prong member downwardly along the first slot to the lower periphery of the first earring member and securing the first prong member at the lower periphery of the first earring member.   
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 hingedly moving a fastener portion of the first earring member from an open position to a closed position to secure the first earring member to the earlobe, to connect closely adjacent the first slot, and to operate as a stop to prevent the first prong member of the second earring member from disengaging from the first earring member when the fastener portion is in the closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 17 , the method further comprising:
 inserting a second prong member extending outwardly from an upper periphery of a third earring member into a second slot positioned in a portion of a side periphery of and extending to a lower periphery of the second earring member; and   sliding the second prong member downwardly along the second slot to the lower periphery of the second earring member and securing the second prong member at the lower periphery of the second earring member.   
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19 , wherein inserting each of the first prong member and the second prong member into the respective first slot and second slot comprises:
 inserting a bulbous portion of each of the first prong member and the second prong member into a slot opening of the respective first slot and second slot,   wherein each of the first prong member and the second prong member includes a post portion connected to and extending outwardly from the upper periphery of the respective earring member and a bulbous portion having a larger circumferential periphery than a circumferential periphery of the post portion, connected to a distal end of the post portion, and forming a distal end portion of the respective prong member.