Pierced earring locking and holding system

Abstract

A pierced earring holding and locking system is provided that securely retains the locking system in both locked and unlocked configurations by providing an engagement mechanism in the body of the locking system, such as a spring or interlocking surface projections and depressions. The body of the locking system may include a shaft, arms extending from the shaft, and a recess formed between the arms. A locking bar is pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with the locking bar substantially parallel to the shaft, and a second position with the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the shaft. The body section further may include a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A locking and holding system for an earring comprising:
 a body section comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a pair of arms extending from the shaft; and 
 a recess formed between the pair of arms; and 
   a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft;   wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and   wherein the body section further comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving an edge of the locking bar in the first position. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the shaft comprises:
 two intertwining members having spiral forms that spiral in opposite directions and having the chamber formed between them, each of the intertwining members having one of the pair of arms affixed at corresponding ends of the intertwining members.   
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the pair of arms are integrally formed with intertwining members of the shaft;
 wherein the pair of arms substantially meet at respective distal ends of the pair of arms; and   wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the distal ends of the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the body section, such that the locking bar is configured to pivot about the distal ends of the pair of arms.   
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein each of the arms and the locking bar the comprise a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the arms and the locking bar comprise a hole formed therethrough configured to receive a pivot pin configured to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein one or both of the pair of arms comprises a pivot pin formed thereon and extending towards the opposing arm, and wherein the locking bar comprises a hole formed therethrough configured to receive the pivot pin to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein each of the arms comprises a hole formed therethrough and the locking bar comprises a pivot pin arranged thereon configured to be inserted into each of the respective holes on the pair of arms to secure the locking bar to the pair of arms and about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the cap member is ball-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking bar comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof and at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the body section further comprises a base configured to be secured to the earring. 
     
     
         15 . A locking and holding system for an earring comprising:
 a body section comprising:
 a shaft; 
 a pair of arms extending from the shaft; and 
 a recess formed between the pair of arms; and 
   a locking bar pivotally engaged with the body section and movable between a first position with a longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially parallel to a central axis of the shaft, and a second position with the longitudinal axis of the locking bar substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the shaft;   wherein the body section and the locking bar are integrally connected at a pivot point about which the locking bar pivots between the first position and the second position; and   wherein the body section further comprises an internal engagement means configured to engage with the locking bar in the first position and impede pivoting of the locking bar from the second position into the first position.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the internal engagement means comprises a spring biased towards the locking bar, the spring being compressed by the locking bar when the locking bar is in the first position, and wherein the shaft further comprises a chamber housing the spring. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the body section further comprises a cap member disposed on a first end of the spring positioned nearest to the locking bar, wherein the cap member extends into the recess such that it impedes pivoting of the locking bar into the first position when the spring is in a decompressed form. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the cap member comprises a channel disposed on a surface proximal to the recess, the channel being dimensioned for receiving and retaining an edge of the locking bar in the first position. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the pair of arms comprises at least one projecting member arranged on a surface thereof extending into the recess and the locking bar comprises at least one dimple configured to receive the at least one projecting member when the locking bar is in the first position.