Flesh tunnel finding, dangle jewelry and method
View Patent ↗A finding used with dangle jewelry with a decorative jewel element configured to attach to a flesh tunnel or an orifice formed in an earlobe. The finding includes a single, thin rigid wire with two longitudinally aligned posts formed on opposite ends configured for insertion into the opposite ends of the flesh tunnel or orifice. The sections of the wire adjacent to the posts form earlobe extending sections that extend downward over the opposite surfaces of the earlobe. Formed below the earlobe extending sections is a compression ring with two side elements on opposite sides of the finding's longitudinal axis. Each side element is integral with the earlobe extending section located on the opposite side of the earlobe. When the two side elements are forced inward the two posts located are forced apart allowing the finding to be easily attached or detached from the flesh tunnel or orifice.
1. A finding configured to be attached to a flesh tunnel inserted within an orifice, the orifice extending transversely in an earlobe from a front surface of the earlobe to a rear surface of the earlobe, the flesh tunnel including a center bore and two opposite open ends located adjacent to the front surface and the rear surface of the earlobe, the finding comprising:
a spring-tempered wire made of stainless steel and bent into an upper flesh tunnel engaging section, an intermediate earlobe section, and a lower compression ring; and
a dangle jewelry element attached to the lower compression ring;
wherein the upper flesh tunnel engaging section includes a first post and a second post, each post configured to be inserted into one of the opposite open ends of the flesh tunnel and longitudinally aligned inside the center bore to vertically support the jewelry finding from the flesh tunnel;
wherein the intermediate earlobe section includes a first leg and a second leg, the first leg being integrally formed with the first post and the second leg being integrally formed with the second post, each leg having a straight portion perpendicularly aligned with a respective post and adjacent to the front surface or the rear surface of the earlobe when the respective post is inserted into the flesh tunnel, and each leg being bent inward such that the first leg crosses the second leg;
wherein the lower compression ring includes a first side element and second opposing side element, the first side element being integrally formed with the second leg and the second side element being integrally formed with the first leg, the first and second side elements being joined to form an enclosed structure;
wherein the lower compression ring is configured to apply an inward biasing force to each leg thereby forcing each post inward through the opposite open ends of the flesh tunnel; and
wherein the lower compression ring is configured so that when sufficient inward forces are applied to the first and second side elements, the first post and the second post are forced outward from the flesh tunnel, thereby enabling the finding to be removed from the flesh tunnel.
2. The finding as recited in claim 1 wherein said dangle jewelry element is attached to a small loop that engages or integrally formed on said compression ring.
3. The finding as recited in claim 2 , wherein said wire is between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm thick.
4. The finding as recited in claim 1 , wherein said compression ring is circular or oval and said side elements are curved.
5. The finding as recited in claim 1 , wherein said compression ring is polygonal.
6. The finding as recited in claim 1 , wherein said wire is between 0.5 mm and 1.0 mm thick.