WO2015107489A1 - Jewel and method for manufacturing it - Google Patents

Abstract

A jewel (10), comprising a single wire made of metallic material (11) that supports a plurality of ornamental elements (12, 13, 14), each provided with a through hole (48), such as pearls and the like, the ornamental elements (12, 13, 14) being crossed, according to a preset order, by the supporting wire (11) so as to define successive turns (50, 51, 52) of a spiral shape, each turn (50, 51, 52) having at least one ornamental element that composes it and is crossed in its through hole (48) by a portion (11b, 11d, 11e) of wire (11) of a subsequent turn.

Description

JEWEL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING IT

The present invention relates to a jewel and to a method for manufacturing it.

In particular, such jewel is adapted to provide necklaces, bracelets and the like.

Currently, bracelets, necklaces or other similar ornamental items are known which have a spiral configuration by means of a supporting wire, generally made of nylon or ordinary sewing thread, that is passed through a plurality of pearls, beads and the like of various materials, colors and shapes, according to a preset and ordered sequence, so that the pearls and beads, when the work is finished, form on the final item patterns or simply spiral lines.

Although these ornamental items are widespread, they cannot be sold as jewels since they are made of components made of plastic material or other "cheap" materials such as beads made of plastics, glass or wood.

However, the use of pearls and beads made of precious or enhanced materials, such as gold, silver or alloys thereof, does not blend well with the use of a nylon thread or other sewing thread or cord, which can be easily eroded by friction against the rims of the holes provided in the pearls and beads made of metallic material.

Furthermore, the use of a wire made of nylon or other plastic material degrades the overall visual impact of the jewelry product.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a jewel structure that is capable of obviating the cited limitations of the background art.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a jewel that is entirely made of valuable and high-quality materials and at the same time is strong and sturdy.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jewel that can be manufactured in a plurality of different manners so as to obtain a visual impact that follows the tastes of the manufacturer and of the buyer. Another object of the invention is to provide a method for providing a similar jewel according to said invention.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a jewel, characterized in that it comprises a single wire made of metallic material that supports a plurality of ornamental elements, each provided with a through hole, such as pearls and the like, said ornamental elements being crossed, according to a preset order, by said supporting wire so as to define successive turns of a spiral shape, each turn having at least one ornamental element that composes it and is crossed in its through hole by at least one portion of wire of a preceding or subsequent turn.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of three preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the jewel according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jewel according to the invention in a first embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of a jewel according to the invention in its first embodiment;

Figures 3 to 5 are schematic views each of a step of production of a jewel according to the invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a jewel according to the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the jewel of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a jewel according to the invention;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the jewel of Figure 8.

With reference to the figures, a jewel according to the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The jewel 10 comprises a single wire 1 1 , made of metallic material, which supports a plurality of ornamental elements, designated for example by the numerals 12 to 47 in Figure 2, each with a through hole 48, such as pearls and the like.

Such ornamental elements are crossed according to a preset order by the supporting wire 1 1 , so as to define successive turns, designated by the numerals 50, 51 and 52 in Figures 3, 4 and 5, of a spiral figure, each turn having at least one ornamental element that composes it and is crossed in its through hole by a portion of wire of a preceding or subsequent turn.

For example, the first embodiment, shown schematically in Figure 2, shows a first turn 50, for example for beginning the jewel 10, a second turn 51 and a third turn 52.

For example, as shown clearly in Figure 3, the fourth ornamental element 15 is crossed by a first portion 1 la of the wire 1 1 and by a second portion 1 1 b of the wire 1 1.

The first portion 1 la is part of the first turn 50 of wire 1 1 , while the second portion l ib exits from the twelfth ornamental element 23, which is part of the second turn 51.

The second portion of wire 1 1 be exits from the fourth ornamental element 15 and enters the thirteenth ornamental element 24, which is part of the second turn 51.

Likewise, the seventh element 18 of the first turn 50 is crossed, in the corresponding through hole 48, by a first portion of wire 1 lc, which is part of the first turn 50, and by a second portion of wire l i d, which exits from the fifteenth element 26, which is part of the second turn 51.

The second portion of wire l id exits from the seventh ornamental element 18 and enters the sixteenth ornamental element 27, which is part of the second turn 51.

Again likewise, the first ornamental element 12 of the first turn 50 is crossed also by a portion of wire l ie that lies between the eighteenth ornamental element 29 and the tenth element 21 , said elements being part of the second turn 51.

In this manner, the first turn 50 and the second turn 51 are joined to each other firmly and stably.

In order to increase the coupling among the various turns, the wire 1 1 that passes with its portion l ie through the first ornamental element 12 of the first turn 50 then crosses, with a portion 1 If, two ornamental elements 21 and 22 of the subsequent turn, i.e., the second turn 51 , before being made to pass, with a consecutive portion thereof 1 lg, through the first ornamental elements 30, 31 and 32 of the third turn 52.

The wire 1 1 is made of metallic material that comprises a noble metal such as gold, silver and the like.

By way of nonexclusive example, the wire 1 1 is made of an alloy of gold with silver, brass and copper, so as to provide a yellow wire, or of an alloy of gold, with silver and an Alloy C, known commercially by the name "Pandora", of the company Dal Trozzo Luigi S.n.c, in order to provide a white wire.

The wire 1 1 is provided so as to have technical characteristics of malleability and tensile strength that prevent its easy curving and bending during the provision of the jewel 10, i.e., during the threading of the ornamental elements, and allow such wire not to break when it is subjected to the typical stresses of use of a bracelet or necklace.

In particular, a method for providing a jewel as described above according to the invention comprises the following consecutive steps:

a. determining one or more ordered groups of ornamental elements, for example the ordered groups 55, 56 and 57, and the ornamental elements

12, 13 and 14 that define the first ordered group 55,

b. threading on a wire made of metallic material 1 1 one or more of the ordered groups 55 so as to define a first end turn 50,

c. threading the wire 1 1 again in the first ornamental element 12, or in the first consecutive ornamental elements, of the first turn 50, d. threading the wire 1 1 in one or more ordered groups 56 of ornamental elements, for example 21 , 22 and 23, so as to define a first part of a subsequent turn 51 ,

e. threading the wire 1 1 in one or more ornamental elements of the preceding turn, for example the ornamental element 15 of the turn 50,

f. threading the wire 1 1 in one or more additional ordered groups 56 of ornamental elements so as to define another part of the subsequent turn 51 and then threading the wire 1 1 in one or more ornamental elements of the preceding turn 50,

g. repeating the preceding step until the turn, for example the second turn 51 , is completed,

h. threading the wire again in the first ornamental element 12 or in the first consecutive ornamental elements of the preceding turn, in this case the first turn 50, and then in the first consecutive ornamental elements 21 and 22 of the last completed turn, i.e., the second turn 51 ,

i. repeating steps d. to h. until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel 10 has been reached.

Figures 3 to 5 show some of these steps by way of example for a first embodiment of a jewel according to the invention.

Figure 3 shows clearly ordered groups 55 of three ornamental elements, two first elements, for example 12 and 13, of a first type, and a second ornamental element 14 of a second type; the first turn 50 comprises three of the ordered groups 55, in sequence one after the other on the wire 1 1.

The wire 1 1 passes through the first ornamental element 12 of the first turn and then passes through a second group 56, constituted by the same ornamental elements of the first ordered group 55 arranged in reverse order, which defines the beginning of the second turn.

After passing through all the elements of the second group 56, the wire passes through an ornamental element 15 of the first turn 50 and then passes through a subsequent second group 56 of the second turn 51 , to then reenter an ornamental element 18 of the first turn 50, to then pass through an additional subsequent second group 56 of the second turn 51.

At the end of the second turn 51 , the wire passes through the first element 12 of the first turn 50, then in the first two elements 21 and 22 of the second turn 51 , and then enters the third initial group 57 of the third turn 52, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

By repeating the steps for the second and third turns the spiral jewel structure 10 of the desired length is obtained.

Another similar method for providing a second embodiment of a jewel 1 10 according to the invention, shown in Figure 7, comprises the following consecutive steps:

a. determining one or more ordered groups, for example 155, 156, 157 snd 158, of ornamental elements, for example 112, 1 13 and 1 14, with at least one ornamental element 1 12, of at least one group having an elongated shape, such as a tube or the like,

b. threading on a wire made of metallic material 1 1 1 one or more of the ordered groups, for example 155 and 156, so as to define a first end turn, c. threading the wire 1 1 1 again in one or more ordered groups 157 of ornamental elements, so as to define a subsequent second turn,

d. threading the wire 1 1 1 in one or more ornamental elements 1 13, 1 14 and 1 15 of the preceding turn, i.e., the first turn,

e. threading the wire 1 1 1 in one or more additional ordered groups of ornamental elements 158 so as to define a new turn, i.e., a third turn,

f. threading the wire 1 1 1 in one or more ornamental elements, for example 1 19 and 120, of the preceding turn, i.e., the second turn,

g. repeating steps e. and f. until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel has been reached.

This method is shown schematically by way of example in Figure 6. The basic ordered group 155 of ornamental elements comprises for example an elongated tubular element 1 12 and two spherical elements 1 13 and 1 14.

Two of the ordered groups 155 and 156 are threaded on a wire 1 1 1 made of metallic material so as to define a first end turn.

The second group 156, like the first group 157, comprises an elongated tubular element 1 15 and two spherical elements 1 16 and 1 17, the two elongated tubular elements 1 12 and 1 15 being located mutually opposite in the first turn.

The wire that exits from the second one of the two spherical elements 1 16 and 1 17 is then inserted in a third ordered group 157 of ornamental elements so as to define a subsequent second turn, the wire passing first through an elongated tubular element 1 18 and then through the two spherical elements 1 19 and 120.

By pulling the wire, the elongated tubular elements move mutually closer.

The wire 1 1 1 is then inserted in the first two spherical elements 1 13 and 1 14 of the preceding turn, i.e., of the first turn, and then in the elongated tubular element 1 15 that follows them.

An additional ordered group 158, which comprises in sequence two spherical elements 121 and 122 and an elongated tubular element 123, is threaded on the wire that exits from the first tubular element 1 15 of the first turn so as to define a new turn, i.e., a third turn.

Then the wire 1 1 1 is threaded in two spherical ornamental elements 120 and 1 19 of the preceding turn, i.e., the second turn.

By pulling the wire 1 1 1 , the last elongated tubular element 123 is arranged diagonally with respect to the preceding elongated tubular element 1 15.

The sequence described above, i.e., exit from a freshly threaded ordered group that comprises in the following order an elongated tubular element and two spherical elements and passage through the two spherical ornamental elements of the preceding ordered group, is repeated until the desired length for the jewel is reached.

In this manner, with this method a jewel 1 10 that resembles a DNA helix, as shown in Figure 7, is determined.

A further method for the provision of a third embodiment of a jewel according to the invention, designated in Figures 8 and 9 by the numeral 210, comprises the following consecutive steps:

a. a first ordered group 255 comprising four spherical beads having a larger diameter and four second ordered groups 256, 257, 258 and 259, each comprising five smaller-diameter spherical beads, are determined,

b. the larger-diameter spherical beads 212, 213, 214 and 215 of the first group 255 are threaded on a wire 21 1 made of metallic material, a smaller-diameter spherical bead, respectively 216, 217, 218 and 219, being interposed between two consecutive larger-diameter spherical beads; the first turn is thus defined;

c. the wire is threaded again in the first two ornamental elements of said first turn, i.e., in the first larger-diameter bead 212 and in the first smaller-diameter bead 216;

d. the wire 21 1 is threaded in the ornamental elements of a first one of the second ordered groups of ornamental elements 256, so as to define a first part of a subsequent turn,

e. the wire is threaded in the second smaller-diameter bead 217 of the first turn, i.e., of the preceding turn,

f. the wire is threaded in a second one of the second ordered groups 257, so as to define another part of said subsequent second turn, and then the wire is threaded in another ornamental element of the preceding turn, i.e., the third smaller-diameter bead 218 of the first turn;

g. the preceding step is repeated until the turn is completed;

h. the wire is threaded again in the first consecutive ornamental elements of the last completed turn, i.e., in the smaller-diameter beads 216 of the first turn, and in the smaller-diameter beads 220, 22 and 222 of the second groups 256 of the second turn;

i. now a new first ordered group of larger-diameter beads 255 is threaded on the wire so as to define a third turn, arranging each one of the larger-diameter beads between two central smaller-diameter beads of two consecutive second groups, for example the larger-diameter bead 223 between the two central smaller-diameter beads 222 and 224;

j. the wire 21 1 is threaded in the first central smaller-diameter bead 222, ending the third turn,

k. steps d. to j. are repeated until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel is reached.

By means of the exemplified methods, one obtains jewels 10, 1 1 and 210, indeed having a spiral structure, which at the same time are strong and flexible and can be made entirely of components made of precious materials, both the ornamental elements, i.e., the pearls and the like, as well as the wire made of metallic material 1 1 , 1 1 1 and 21 1.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

In particular, the invention provides a jewel that is made entirely of valuable and high-quality materials at the same time is strong and sturdy.

Such a jewel is currently not commercially available and allows to offer on sale jewels such as bracelets, necklaces and the like that have a spiral structure that is self-supporting and is provided entirely by means of elements made of precious materials.

Moreover, the invention provides a jewel that can be manufactured in a plurality of different manners so as to obtain a visual impact that follows the tastes of the manufacturer and the buyer, since it is sufficient to change the type of ornamental elements and the sequence of such ornamental elements in the ordered groups that are threaded by the wire one after the other. The invention further provides a method for providing a similar jewel.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. PD2014A000008, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A jewel (10), characterized in that it comprises a single wire made of metallic material (1 1) that supports a plurality of ornamental elements (12, 13, 14), each provided with a through hole (48), such as pearls and the like, said ornamental elements (12, 13, 14) being crossed, according to a preset order, by said supporting wire ( 1 1) so as to define successive turns (50, 51 , 52) of a spiral shape, each turn (50, 51 , 52) having at least one ornamental element that composes it and is crossed in its through hole (48) by a portion (l i b, l id, 1 le) of wire (1 1) of a subsequent turn.

2. The jewel according to claim 1 , characterized in that said wire (1 1) is made of metallic material comprising a noble metal such as gold, silver and the like.

3. The jewel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wire (1 1) is made of an alloy of gold with silver, brass and copper, so as to provide a yellow wire.

4. The jewel according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said wire (1 1) is made of an alloy of gold with silver and a C Alloy known commercially as "Pandora", of the company Dal Trozzo Luigi S.n.c, to provide a white wire.

5. The jewel according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said wire (1 1) is provided in such a manner as to have technical characteristics of malleability and tensile strength adapted to allow easy curving and bending during the provision of the jewel (10).

6. A method for providing a jewel ( 10) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising the following consecutive steps:

a. determining one or more ordered groups (55, 56, 57) of ornamental elements (12, 13, 14),

b. threading on a wire made of metallic material (1 1) one or more of said ordered groups (55) so as to define a first end turn (50),

c. threading said wire ( 1 1) again in the first ornamental element ( 12), or in the first consecutive ornamental elements, of said first turn (50), d. threading said wire (1 1) in one or more ordered groups (56) of ornamental elements (21 , 22, 23), so as to defme a first part of a subsequent turn (51),

e. threading said wire (1 1) in one or more ornamental elements (15) of the preceding turn (50),

f. threading said wire (1 1) in one or more additional ordered groups (56) of ornamental elements so as to define another part of said subsequent turn (51) and then threading said wire (1 1) in one or more ornamental elements ( 18) of the preceding turn,

g. repeating the preceding step until the turn (51) is completed, h. threading said wire again in the first ornamental element ( 12) of the preceding turn (50) and then in the first consecutive ornamental elements (21 , 22) of the last completed turn (51),

i. repeating steps d. to h. until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel (10) has been reached.

7. The method for providing a jewel (1 10) according to claims 1 to 6, comprising the following consecutive steps:

a. determining one or more ordered groups (155, 156, 157, 158) of ornamental elements (1 12, 1 13, 1 14), with at least one ornamental element

(1 12) of at least one group having an elongated tubular shape, such as a tube or the like,

b. threading on a wire made of metallic material (1 1 1) one or more of said ordered groups (155, 156) so as to define a first end turn,

c. threading said wire (1 1 1) in one or more ordered groups of ornamental elements (157), so as to define a subsequent second turn,

d. threading said wire ( 1 1 1 ) in one or more ornamental elements (1 13, 1 14, 1 15) of the preceding turn,

e. threading said wire (1 1 1) in one or more additional ordered groups of ornamental elements (158) so as to define a new turn, f. threading said wire (1 1 1) in one or more ornamental elements (1 19, 120) of the preceding turn,

g. repeating steps e. and f. until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel has been reached.

8. A method for providing a third embodiment of a jewel (210) according to claims 1 to 5, comprising the following consecutive steps:

a. determining a first ordered group (255) comprising a plurality of beads having a larger diameter (212, 213, 214, 215) and as many second ordered groups (256, 257, 258, 259) as the larger-diameter spherical beads, each second ordered group comprising a plurality of smaller-diameter beads (220, 221 , 222),

b. threading the larger-diameter spherical beads (212, 213, 214, 215) of the first group (255) on a wire (21 1) made of metallic material, a smaller- diameter spherical bead (216, 217, 218, 219) being interposed between two consecutive larger-diameter spherical beads, defining the first turn;

c. threading said wire (21 1) again in the first two ornamental elements of said first turn, i.e., in the first larger-diameter bead (212) and in the first smaller-diameter bead (216);

d. threading said wire (21 1) in the ornamental elements (220, 221 , 222) of a first one of said second ordered groups of ornamental elements

(256), so as to define a first part of a subsequent turn,

e. threading said wire in the second smaller-diameter bead (217) of the first turn, i.e., of the preceding turn,

f. threading said wire (21 1) in a second one (257) of said second ordered groups, so as to define another part of said subsequent second turn, and then threading said wire in another ornamental element of the preceding turn, i.e., the third smaller-diameter bead (218) of the first turn;

g. repeating step f. until the turn is completed;

h. threading said wire (21 1) again in the first consecutive ornamental elements of the last completed turn, for example in the smaller-diameter beads (216) of the first turn, and in the first smaller-diameter beads (220, 221 , 222) of the first of the second groups (256) of the second turn;

i. threading a new first ordered group of larger-diameter beads (255) on the wire (21 1 ) so as to define a third turn, arranging each one of the larger-diameter beads between two central smaller-diameter beads of two consecutive second groups (256, 257, 258, 259), for example the larger- diameter bead (223) between the two central smaller-diameter beads (222, 224);

j. threading the wire (21 1 ) in the first central smaller-diameter bead (222), ending the third turn,

k. repeating steps d. to j. until a preset length, or the preset number of turns, of the jewel (210) is reached.