Method and device for joining jewelry components

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a method of joining a decorative ornament to an earring base component includes a dapped piece (a meniscus lens shaped piece) of material joined to a threaded tube. An opening in the end of the tube connected to the dapped piece is aligned with a hole in the dapped piece. The support piece is then joined to a decorative ornament. The tube is threaded and receives a threaded rod-like base stud. The threaded base stud passes through the hole in the dapped piece and reaches the threads of the tube. The threaded tube provides alignment and increased support between the base stud and the decorative ornament.

1 . An earring having an object, a rod member, and a mechanical device for attaching the object to a linear portion of the rod member, the device comprising: 
 a dapped member having a concave surface, a convex surface opposite to the concave surface, and a circular opening, the opening having a center point and an opening diameter to receive the linear portion, the dapped member being joined to the object; and    a tube having an inner surface and a longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the tube, the tube having a largely circular annulus cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the circular annulus cross section having an internal diameter to receive the linear portion, the first end being aligned with the concave surface of the dapped member such that the longitudinal axis of the tube passes through the center point of the opening and the longitudinal axis of the tube is substantially normal to a plane tangent to the center point of the opening, the second end of the tube being set apart from the first end, the tube being joined to the dapped member;    wherein the inner surface of the tube releasably connects to an outer surface of the rod linear portion, and provides a desired alignment between the dapped member and the rod when the linear portion is connected.    
   
   
       2 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the connection between the inner surface of the tube and the outer surface of the rod portion consists of complimentary threading.  
   
   
       3 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the object is a gem basket and the earring is capable of being worn through a traditional ear piercing.  
   
   
       4 . The earring of  claim 1 , wherein the dapped member has a meniscus lens shaped cross section.  
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the dapped member has a substantially curved cross section taken along a first axis and a substantially linear cross section taken along a second axis, the second axis being substantially perpendicular to the first axis.