Jacket for an earring stud

Abstract

A jacket for an earring stud having a post is provided. The jacket includes a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer. The connecting member may pierce the ear or frictionally engage the ear to secure the earring in place. The jacket includes an ornamental section which is carried by the connecting member and incorporates a selected jewelry design. In one embodiment, the ornamental section comprises a gemstone mount for securing a plurality of gemstones on the connecting member. A stud mount is joined with the ornamental section and defines an opening proportioned for receiving the post of a stud which can be releasably mounted thereon and changed as necessary or desired to change the color and/or configuration of the jacket. In one embodiment, the design member of the ornamental section can be interchanged with other selected design members to alter the appearance of the jacket.

1 . A jacket for an earring stud having a post, the jacket comprising:
 a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer;   an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a selectively removable jewelry design component, said ornamental section configured with a planar surface such that said jewelry design component is mountable on the planar surface of said ornamental section while the connecting member is received in an earlobe piercing of a wearer; and   a stud mount joined proximate said ornamental section and defining an opening therein proportioned for receiving the post of said stud which can be releasably mounted thereon.   
     
     
         2 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member comprises a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein said connecting member includes a pair of cooperating clips which hold the earring on the earlobe of a wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The jacket of  claim 1 , wherein said selected jewelry design component comprises a gemstone mount configured to selectively receive a plurality of gemstones, glass, crystals, or the like. 
     
     
         5 . The jacket of  claim 1  wherein said selected jewelry design component comprises a member having a selected design placed thereon. 
     
     
         6 . A jacket for an earring stud, the jacket including:
 a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer, said connecting member comprising a hoop which is received in the earlobe piercing of a wearer;   an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a gemstone mount having one or more registering slots configured to selectively receive one or more detents respectively provided on a plurality of gemstones, glass, crystals, or the like, the detents having enlarged sections at distal ends thereof to fit in enlarged sections of the registering slots; and   a stud mount joined proximate the ornamental section, and defining an opening therethrough proportioned for receiving the post of a stud which can be releasably mounted therein, and such that the post extends through the stud mount to be secured by a friction clutch behind the stud mount.   
     
     
         7 . A combination earring including:
 an earring stud having a post and a friction clutch;   a connecting member for releasably securing the earring to the earlobe of a wearer;   an ornamental section carried by said connecting member, said ornamental section including a planar base and a design component, said design component having one or more detents configured to be releasably mounted in a keyhole slot fitting on a front of said planar base for interchangeability; and   a stud mount joined proximate said ornamental section base and defining an opening therein proportioned for receiving the post of said stud, which can be releasably mounted thereon, such that a distal end of said stud extends out of a distal end of said opening to be secured therein by said friction clutch.   
     
     
         8 . The combination earring of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more detents have enlarged portions at distal ends thereof configured to fit into an enlarged section of the keyhole slot fitting and to slide to a point at which the enlarged portion of the detents are spaced away from the corresponding enlarged sections of the keyhole slot fitting when the design component is mounted on the planar base.