WO2011077472A2

WO2011077472A2 - Ornamental purpose handwork

Info

Publication number: WO2011077472A2
Application number: PCT/IT2010/000515
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Bovo
Original assignee: Fratelli Bovo S.R.L.
Priority date: 2009-12-24
Filing date: 2010-12-24
Publication date: 2011-06-30
Also published as: WO2011077472A3; ITVI20090307A1

Abstract

An ornamental purpose handwork chain comprising a plurality of chains of so-called "tennis" type (1) separate and side by side each other along substantially parallel longitudinal directions, each of which constituted by a plurality of bezels (2) provided with jaws protruding from the perimetrical edge and retaining set stones (3) and coupled in series each other through connecting members in order to form a thread-like article; in addition, the chains of "tennis" type (1) are firmly coupled each other through junction means so that the set stones (3) defined along the longitudinal directions are mutually offset with respect to a transverse direction (X-X) orthogonal to the longitudinal directions defined by the chains of "tennis" type (1).

Description

ORNAMENTAL PURPOSE HANDWORK

The present invention concerns an ornamental purpose handwork, from which necklaces, bracelets and other jewellery jewels can be obtained, which uses a semimanufactured product defined with the term of "tennis" chain.

In goldsmith's field, it is defined as "tennis" chain a finished article comprising a plurality of cages, the so-called "bezels", provided with jaws (or "griffes") protruding from the upper perimetrical edge which retain set precious, semiprecious stones, zircons or other and obtained, by way of illustrative and not limiting way, through lost wax casting, machine tool machining of bars, moulding of a sheet of precious metallic material, such as gold, of thin thickness.

The bezels are arranged in series and connected each other by means of connecting members which thus allow to form the thread-like "tennis" chain finished article.

Constructively, jewels such as necklaces, bracelets, chains and anklets of "tennis" type are manufactured starting from a finished article consisting of a "tennis" chain (single line of set stones) or two or more "tennis" chains mutually arranged side by side (several lines of set stones) and made integral each other by the welding of the side by side bezels, through welding points made on the base of the cages or bezels.

At the current state of the art, in the jewels arranged in multiple lines of set stones the individual "tennis" chains are arranged side by side so that the stones belonging to lines different and distinct each other aligned transversely too, i.e. so that each bezel of a line is perfectly aligned transversely with the bezel of the adjacent line.

With such an arrangement, the aesthetic effect of the jewel derives from, beyond the quality and type of stones, the number of lines of "tennis" chains too.

In any case, the aesthetic effects which can be achieved with chains of "tennis" type and their combinations are currently limited to the constructive solutions described above, resulting rather static and anonymous due to the mere placing side by side of the various "tennis" chains such that the stones are aligned both longitudinally and transversely.

The present invention aims to overcome such a limitation of the known technique. In particular, main purpose of the invention is to provide an ornamental purpose handwork comprising a plurality of chains, from which it is possible to get jewels of various types (necklaces, bracelets, anklets and so on) falling into the so-called "tennis" category, which presents an aesthetic effect more important, sophisticated and dynamic than the equivalent jewels of known type.

It is a last but not least purpose of the invention to implement a method for manufacturing an ornamental purpose handwork which allows to extend compared to the prior art the range of aesthetical effects which can be achieved with chains of "tennis" type.

The aforesaid purposes are achieved through an ornamental purpose handwork as the attached claim 1 , as hereinafter referred for the sake of brevity.

Additional technical features of detail of the ornamental purpose handwork of the invention are highlighted in the related dependent claims.

Integral part of the present invention is also a method for manufacturing an ornamental purpose handwork as claim 12, as still hereinafter referred for the sake of brevity.

The ornamental purpose handwork object of the present invention includes multiple lines of "tennis" chains in which the stones (precious or _^semiprecious) are mutually offset, that is not perfectly aligned, with respect to the transverse direction of the handwork.

Constructively, this arrangement is achieved by positioning the single "tennis" chains side by side each other, so that the cross middle line of each of the bezels of a chain does not coincide with the cross middle line of each of the bezels of the chain immediately side by side or adjacent chain.

In practice, the particular aesthetic effect is achieved by arranging the bezels of various chains in a mutually offset way, either with constant r variable pitch or with a "honeycomb" configuration, is significantly strengthened and enhanced when the surface defined by the set stones, the so-called "pave", instead of being flat, has a convex shape, obtained by arranging side by side the lines of "tennis" chains in a non-coplanar way, but along a curved path, which extends from an angle opening lower than 90° up to 360°.

Said purposes and advantages, as well others that will emerge further on, will appear greatly from the following description relating to a preferred embodiment of the ornamental purpose handwork object of the invention, given as an illustrative and indicative, but not limiting, way with the help of the attached drawing tables, in which:

- figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the handwork of the invention, with flat pave;

- figure 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the handwork of the invention, with flat pave;

- figure 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the handwork of the invention, with flat pave;

- figures 4-5 are two, perspective and section respectively, views a fourth embodiment of the handwork of the invention, with convex pave;

- figures 6-8 are three, plan and two sections respectively, views of additional embodiments of the handwork of the invention, with convex pave.

As it can be seen in figure 1 , the handwork consists of a plurality of chains of "tennis" type distinct each other indicated with the reference number 1 , arranged side by side, mutually offset longitudinally by a pitch "P" of constant value and coplanar, so as to define a flat stones surface or "pave" 10.

In particular, the chains of "tennis" type are side by side each other along longitudinal directions substantially parallel each other.

In accordance with the invention, the chains of "tennis" type 1 are firmly coupled each other through junction means, not shown for ease of exposition, so that the set stones 3 defined along the longitudinal direction are mutually offset with respect to a transverse direction X-X orthogonal to the longitudinal directions defined by the chains of "tennis" type 1 themselves.

In this case, the junction means include any of the material able to firmly unite each other distinct and independent bodies selected from the group consisting of welding points or beads, adhesives substances and the like. Preferably, the junction means are applied on the outer side edge and near the corners of the various bezels 2 offset and partially facing each other and arranged along the longitudinal directions firstly introduced: such a constructive trick provides structural stability and, at the same time, articulation and flexibility to the ornamental purpose handwork of the invention.

As figure 2 shows, in a second embodiment of the handwork of the invention, the plurality of chains of "tennis" type, indicated by the reference number 1 , are arranged side by side, mutually offset longitudinally by a pitch "P" of variable value and coplanar, so as to define a flat stones surface or "pave" 20.

With these arrangements, the bezels 2' and 2" and, as a consequence, the stones 3 are not mutually aligned in the transverse direction X-X of the ornamental purpose handwork.

As illustrated in figure 3, in a third embodiment of the handwork of the invention, the plurality of chains of "tennis" type, indicated by the reference number 1 , are arranged side by side, mutually offset longitudinally and coplanar, so as to define a honeycomb K stones surface or "pave" 30. In addition, as shown in figures 4-8, the stones surface or "pave" 40 may be convex with the mutually side by side lines of chain of "tennis" type 1 , for an opening 40.1 lower than 180°, an angle opening 40.2 of 360°to 40.3 and an angle opening 40.3 lower than 360°.

As previously said, a method for manufacturing ornamental purpose handwork is also object of the present invention.

The method of the invention includes the following:

- arranging a plurality of chains of the so-called "tennis" type distinct each other, each of which consisting of a plurality of bezels 2 provided with jaws protruding from the perimetrical edge and retaining set stones 3 and coupled in series each other through connecting members, not shown, in order to form a thread-like article;

- drawing each other near the chains of "tennis" type 1 along longitudinal directions substantially parallel each other.

According to the invention, the method includes the operation of firmly coupling each other the chains of "tennis" type 1 so that the set stones 3 defined along the aforesaid longitudinal directions are mutually offset with respect to a transverse direction X-X orthogonal to the longitudinal directions defined by the chains of "tennis" type 1.

Preferably but not necessarily, the operation of arranging each of the chains of "tennis" type 1 consists in an operation of a moulding, starting from a thin sheet of precious metallic material, of the bezels 2, through which their mutual connection is obtained as well, and in a subsequent setting of the stones 3 in the bezels 2.

In particular, the operation of firmly coupling each other the chains of "tennis" type 1 is any of the operations of stable junction chosen from the group consisting of welding (by sintering, laser, with deposit material and so on), gluing and the like.

By way of example, it will be possible to manufacture chains of "tennis" type comprising bezels of round shape and connected each other by various modes and techniques.

On the basis of the foregoing, it is, therefore, understood, that the ornamental purpose handwork of the invention achieves the purposes and reaches the advantages yet mentioned.

In execution phase, changes could be made to the ornamental purpose handwork consisting, for instance, in a number of chains of "tennis" type different from the one shown in the drawings that follow.

Of course, the combinations which can be obtained using the arrangement described above are infinite, without going out of the inventive concept expressed by the following claims.

In addition, other embodiments, not shown, of the ornamental purpose handwork here claimed could provide that the set stones defined only along some of the longitudinal development directions of the chains of "tennis" type are mutually offset with respect to the transverse direction orthogonal to them, which does not compromise the advantages of the present invention.

It is clear that many other variations may be made to the ornamental purpose handwork in exam, without departing from the principle of novelty intrinsic in the inventive idea expressed here, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details can be changed, as needed, and replaced with others technically equivalent.

Where the constructive features and techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference numbers or signs, those reference signs have been introduced with the sole objective of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and therefore they have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified, by way of example only, by these reference signs.

Claims

1. Ornamental purpose handwork chain comprising a plurality of chains of so-called "tennis" type (1 ) separate and side by side each other along substantially parallel longitudinal directions, each of said "tennis" chains (1) being constituted by a plurality of bezels (2) provided with jaws protruding from the perimetrical edge and retaining set stones (3) and coupled in series each other through connecting members in order to form a thread-like article, characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are firmly coupled each other through junction means so that said set stones (3) defined along at least two of said longitudinal directions are mutually offset with respect to a transverse direction (X-X) orthogonal to said longitudinal directions defined by said chains of "tennis" type (1).

2. Handwork as claim 1) characterized in that said junction means include any of the materials able to firmly unite each other distinct and independent bodies selected from the group consisting of welding points or beads, adhesives substances and the like.

3. Handwork as claim 1) or 2) characterized in that said junction means are applied to the outer side edge and near the corners of at least two of said bezels (2) offset and side by side each other and arranged on at least two of said longitudinal directions.

4. Handwork as any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are arranged side by side in such a way that the cross middle line of said bezels (2') of one of said chains (1 ) is different and distinct from the cross middle line of said bezels (2') of the adjacent chain (2).

5. Handwork as any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are mutually offset, according to said longitudinal directions, of a pitch (P) of constant value and coplanar in order to define a flat stones surface or "pave" (10) or honeycomb.

6. Handwork as any of the claims from 1) to 5) characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are mutually offset, according to said longitudinal directions, of a pitch (P) of variable value and coplanar in order to define a flat stones surface "pave" (20) or honeycomb.

7. Handwork as any of the from claims 1 ) to 5) characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are mutually offset, according to said longitudinal directions, and coplanar in order to define a stones surface or "pave" (30) honeycomb-shaped (K).

8. Handwork as any of the claims from 1 ) to 5) characterized in that said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) are mutually offset, according to said longitudinal directions, and arranged on a curved path in order to define a convex stones surface or "pave" (40).

9. Handwork as claim 8) characterized in that the angular opening of said stones surface or "pave" (40.2) is 360°.

10. Handwork as claim 8) characterized in that the angular opening of said stones surface or "pave" (40.1 ) is less than 360°.

1 1 . Handwork as claim 8) characterized in that the angular opening of said stones surface or "pave" (40.3) is less than 180°.

12. Method for manufacturing ornamental purpose handwork including the following operations:

- arranging a plurality of chains of the so-called "tennis" type (1 ) distinct each other, each of which consisting of a plurality of bezels (2) provided with jaws protruding from the perimetrical edge and retaining set stones (3) and coupled in series each other through connecting members in order to form a thread-like article;

- drawing each other near said chains of "tennis" type (1 ) along longitudinal directions substantially parallel each other,

characterized in that it comprises the operation of firmly coupling each other said chains of "tennis" type (1) so that said set stones (3) defined along at least two of said longitudinal directions are mutually offset with respect to a transverse direction (X-X) orthogonal to said longitudinal directions defined by said chains of "tennis" type (1 ).

13. Method as claim 12) characterized in that said operation of arranging each of said chains of "tennis" type (1) is an operation of moulding, starting from a thin sheet made of precious metallic material, said bezels (2), through which their mutual connection is got, and in a subsequent setting of said stones (3) in said bezels (2).

14. Method as claim 12) or 13) characterized in that said operation of firmly coupling each other said chains of "tennis" type (1) is any of the operations of stable junction chosen from the group consisting of welding, gluing and the like.