Backing for an earring, and earring with a backing

Abstract

The invention relates to a backing for an earring, and to an earring with a backing. The backing is particularly suitable for a stud earring but is not limited to those applications and can also be used for a drop earring or hook earring if desired. The backing has a hole which is sized to accommodate a post of the earring and to be a frictional fit upon the post, the backing having a substantially planar surface which lies against the user's ear lobe in use, the hole extending in a direction which is substantially aligned with the substantially planar surface. The earring has a post with a first portion, a second portion and a bend between the first portion and the second portion. The backing is designed to fit to the second portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An earring with a backing for the earring, the earring having a post with a first portion, a second portion and a bend between the first portion and the second portion, the backing being flexible and resilient and configured for securement to the second portion of the post and further configured to secure the earring to a user's ear by way of the second portion of the post in use with a part of the user's ear lobe sandwiched between the earring and the backing, the backing having a hole which is sized to accommodate the second portion of the post and to be a frictional fit upon the second portion of the post, the backing having a side wall and a substantially planar surface which lies against the user's ear lobe in use, the side wall having two indents located at opposing sides of the hole, the hole extending in a direction which is substantially aligned with the substantially planar surface, the backing having a trough with an end at the approximate centre of the substantially planar surface, the trough extending to a part of the side wall of the backing, the trough having side walls which taper towards the hole, the side walls of the trough converging to a neck which is adjacent to the hole and which is narrower than the hole, the hole extending from the end of the trough at the approximate centre of the substantially planar surface to another part of the side wall and being open at the another part of the side wall, the second portion of the post being longer than the hole whereby the second portion can project from the hole at the another part of the side wall when the backing is fitted to the earring. 
     
     
         2 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the hole extends in a direction which is less than 30° away from precisely parallel with the substantially planar surface. 
     
     
         3 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the hole is linear. 
     
     
         4 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  having a second surface which opposes the substantially planar surface, and in which the second surface is domed. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the trough extends only part-way through the backing. 
     
     
         10 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the hole has an edge and in which the edge of the hole is aligned with the bottom of the trough. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  made of silicone. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the bend is an approximate right angle. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the indents are equally spaced from the hole. 
     
     
         17 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 1  in which the neck defines an end region of the trough which is sized to accommodate a part of the post. 
     
     
         18 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 17  in which the end region almost completely surrounds the part of the post in use. 
     
     
         19 . The earring with a backing according to  claim 12  in which the backing has an additive with antimicrobial properties.