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Patent Abstract
A semi-finished article with an interlinked structure for the goldsmith
and costume jewelry field comprising two chains arranged side-by-side
in the same plane, spaced apart from each other and connected with
each other by means of a plurality of crosspieces extending from
a link of one chain to a link of the other chain.
Patent Claims
1. A semi-finished article with an interlinked structure for the
goldsmith and costume jewelry field, comprising at least two chains
arranged side-by-side in the same plane, spaced apart from each
other and connected to each other by means of a plurality of crosspieces
extending from a link of one chain to a link of the other chain.
2. A semi-finished article according to claim 1, wherein the at
least two chains are parallel with each other.
3. A semi-finished article according to claim 1, wherein the at
least two chains are arranged at an increasing or decreasing distance
from each other.
4. A semi-finished article according to claims 2 or 3, wherein
said crosspieces are equally spaced apart from each other.
5. A semi-finished article according to claims 2 or 3, wherein
said crosspieces are arranged at a variable distance apart according
to a prefixed sequence.
6. A semi-finished article according to claim 1, wherein from at
least one of said chains there extends a further plurality of crosspieces
connecting the links of that chain to the links of a further chain,
so as to form a multiple interlinked structure.
7. A semi-finished article according to claim 1, wherein at least
one of said chains is coupled with a further chain, further crosspieces
extending from the links of said further chain to the links of another
chain, so as to form a multiple interlinked structure.
8. A semi-finished article according to claim 1, wherein the chains
are made of different metals.
9. A method for the manufacture of a semi-finished article with
an interlinked structure for the goldsmith and costume jewelry field
formed by at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same
plane and spaced apart from each other and connected to each other
by means of a plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of
one chain to a link of the other chain, comprising the following
steps: feeding two chains along a first forwardly moving direction;
feeding a metal wire in a second direction perpendicular to said
first forwardly moving direction; cutting said wire into portions
of a length equal to the length of said crosspieces; translating
the portions obtained in this manner to arrange them between two
respective links of the two chains; and welding the ends of said
portions to the sides of the respective links of said chains.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein one of said two chains
is replaced by a previously formed semi-finished article, a further
group of crosspieces being connected to one chain of said previously
formed semi-finished article for connection to the links of a further
chain.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein two or more of said
semi-finished articles with an interlinked structure are laid side
by side in the same plane and welded along two adjacent chains.
12. A method according to claim 9, wherein said chains are made
of different metals.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said
chains is made of a soluble metal.
14. A method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of said
chains consists of links alternately made of precious metal and
soluble metal.
15. A method according to claim 9, wherein said crosspieces are
arranged between two respective links of said chains in such a manner
as to be spaced either equidistantly or at a distance that varies
according a prefixed sequence.
16. A method for the manufacture of a semi-finished article with
an interlinked structure for the goldsmith and costume jewelry field
formed by at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same
plane and spaced apart from each other and connected to each other
by means of a plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of
one chain to a link of the other chain, comprising the following
steps: feeding two chains along a forwardly moving direction; feeding
portions of a metal wire of a length equal to the length of said
crosspieces to arrange them between two respective links of the
two chains; and welding the ends of said portions to the sides of
the respective links of said chains.
17. Articles of the goldsmith or costume jewelry field, such as
necklaces, chokers, bracelets, ear rings, pendants and the like
made from a semi-finished article with interlinked structure comprising
at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same plane, spaced
apart from each other and connected to each other by means of a
plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of one chain to a
link of the other chain, wherein said crosspieces are flattened
to increase the ratio between their exposed surface and their weight.
18. Articles of the goldsmith or costume jewelry field, such as
necklaces, chokers, bracelets, ear rings, pendants and the like
made from a semi-finished article with interlinked structure comprising
at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same plane, spaced
apart from each other and connected to each other by means of a
plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of one chain to a
link of the other chain, wherein said crosspieces are shaped or
deformed to increase their brightness.
19. Articles of the goldsmithery or costume jewelry field, such
as necklaces, chokers, bracelets, ear rings, pendants and the like
made from a semi-finished article with interlinked structure comprising
at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same plane, spaced
apart from each other and connected to each other by means of a
plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of one chain to a
link of the other chain, wherein their structure comprises an alternated
sequence of links and crosspieces aligned to each other.
20. Articles of the goldsmithery or costume jewelry field, such
as necklaces, chokeres, bracelets, ear rings, pendants, and the
like, made from a semi-finished article with interlinked structure
comprising at least two chains arranged side-by-side in the same
plane, spaced apart from each other and connected to each other
by means of a plurality of crosspieces extending from a link of
one chain to a link of the other chain, characterized in that their
structure comprises a sequence of links with crosspieces radially
extending from said links.
Patent Description
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of
goldsmithery and costume jewelry and, more particularly, has as
its object a semi-finished article with an interlinked structure
for the goldsmithery and costume jewelry field, suitable in particular
for the production of necklaces, chokers, bracelets, ear rings,
pendants and similar products.
[0002] The invention also relates to a method for the production
of said semi-finished article and the goldsmithery and costume jewelry
products manufactured therefrom.
2. BACKGROUND ART
[0003] A nowadays well-consolidated tendency of the above mentioned
field, sustained by a market that pays ever greater attention to
the aspects of an economic nature, is to propose models characterized
by a high ratio between the exposed surface and their weight, i.e.
models that are both light and relatively eye-catching. Of course,
complying with this requirement must not affect negatively the mechanical
resistance of the product and its looseness, in particular as far
as necklaces are concerned. Another important requirement that must
always be met is to make available a product that will be suitable
for being subjected to surface treatments that will further enhance
its brightness.
[0004] Other requirements of a general character that have to be
met together with those that have just been mentioned concern the
possibility of producing semi-finished products usable as a basis
for the production of a large variety of articles in this field
by means of a simple and economic manufacturing method to be carried
out preferably by conventional machinery needing only minor modifications
to fit to the new production.
[0005] Finally, a constant need to be taken always into account
in the goldsmithery field is to find new ornamental shapes and new
production techniques featuring an high flexibility so as to make
easier or also stimulate the creative activity of the designers.
[0006] With these object in mind, the present invention provides
a new semi-finished product with an interlinked structure, as well
as a production method thereof, providing the base material for
manufacturing such goldsmithery products as necklaces, chokers,
bracelets, ear rings, pendants and other similar articles in a large
variety of different models.
[0007] Another object of the present invention is to achieve the
result mentioned above by means of a simple and economic procedure
that can be readily automated with the use of machines having a
substantially conventional structure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] These objects are attained by means of the semi-finished
article with an interlinked structure according to the invention
which is made up of at least two chains arranged side-by-side in
the same plane and spaced apart from each other and connected to
each other by means of a plurality of crosspieces extending from
a link of one chain to a link of the other chain.
[0009] The production process of the semi-finished article has
the essential features set forth in claim 9 hereinbelow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the description set forth below of an
exemplary embodiment not to be considered limiting in any way, such
description making reference to the drawings attached hereto, in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a length of the semi-finished article with
an interlinked structure according to one aspect of the invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a variant of the semi-finished article with
a multiple interlinked structure according to the invention;
[0013] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a plan view and a side elevation of the
semi-finished article of FIG. 1 after it has been submitted to a
finishing treatment;
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a length of the semi-finished article according
to another aspect of the invention obtained from a pair of alternate
link chains made of different metals;
[0015] FIG. 6 shows the semi-finished article of FIG. 5 after the
links made of one of the two metals are removed;
[0016] FIG. 7 shows the article according to a further aspect of
the invention obtained from two chains made of different metals;
[0017] FIG. 8 shows the article of FIG. 7 after removal of one
of the two chains;
[0018] FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 show three semi-finished articles according
to the invention of the variable width type with the crosspieces
arranged in various patterns.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] With reference to FIG. 1, the base version of the semi-finished
article with an interlinked structure according to the invention
is formed by two chains 1 and 2 connected to each other by means
of a plurality of crosspieces 3 that extend between the two chains
1 and 2 from a link of one chain to a link of the other chain. In
the illustrated embodiment the two chains 1 and 2 are parallel with
each other and the crosspieces 3 are equally spaced apart and of
equal length. In the variation shown in FIG. 2 the semi-finished
article with an interlinked structure according to the invention
has a multiple form constituted by a central chain 4 and two side
chains 5 and 6 parallel with each other in which the links of the
central chain 4 are linked to homologous links of the side chains
5 and 6 by two groups of crosspieces 7 and 8. A variation of the
semi-finished article in multiple form, not shown in the drawings
inasmuch as it is readily comprehensible for a person skilled in
the art, envisages the central chain 4 being substituted by two
chains that are paired along one side of their links, while two
groups of linkage crosspieces extend from their opposite sides to
join them to side chains. The number of chains may be increased,
of course, and correspondingly increased the groups of linkage crosspieces
as well; likewise the designer may vary the width of each group
of crosspieces or the type of the chains, thus obtaining semi-finished
products of a more or less complex structure.
[0020] In both cases, and generally in the spirit of the present
invention, the chains to be utilized are characterized by a relatively
simple structure, as in the case of the so-called "forzatina"
chain, "gourmette" chain, "rol", "veneziana",
beed chain and the like. All these well-known chains have a structure
such that the side of their links are large enough to allow the
connection to the linking crosspieces.
[0021] The chains, as well as the linking crosspieces, can be made
of precious or non-precious metal. Different precious or non-precious
metals or having different chromatic features may be used for the
same article.
[0022] As regards the section of the crosspieces, it may by of
any shape (i.e. circular, oval, quadrilateral, triangular, polygonal).
The optimal dimension of the section of the wire, which the crosspieces
are made of, will be that sufficient to give the maximum exposed
surface as a result of flattening without useless increase of the
weight of the product, which would occur beyond a certain wire section
size.
[0023] The method for producing the semi-finished article according
to FIG. 1 envisages feeding the two chains 1 and 2 along a first
direction, feeding the wire from which the crosspieces are to be
obtained along a second direction at right angles to the one in
which the chains are fed, and subsequently cutting the wire into
portions having a length equal to the length of each crosspiece.
The wire portions cut in this manner are positioned between two
homologous links of the two chains by moving the wire portion sideways
in a direction at right angles to the plane in which the two chains
are being moved forward and then welding the ends of the piece to
the sides of the two homologous links.
[0024] The procedure for the production of a multiple semi-finished
article like that shown in FIG. 2 is altogether similar: first the
semi-finished article constituted by the chains 4 and 5 and the
crosspiece group 7 that connects the two chains are made and then
the semi-finished article formed in this manner are fed in parallel
with the chain 5 in order to proceed with connecting the respective
links by means of the crosspiece group 8. In the case of the multiple
semi-finished article with two paired central chains, the two individual
semi-finished products are first produced and then joined together
in a coplanar manner by attaching two of their chains each other
along their sides.
[0025] The production of the semi-finished article with an interlinked
structure according to the method described above can be advantageously
carried out in an automatic manner by means of an appropriate machine
comprising a unit for feeding two chains side by side in a prefixed
direction and a unit for feeding and cutting the wire into portions
of a length corresponding to the length of the crosspieces. The
same unit translates the wire portions along the feed direction
of the two chains to arrange them therebetween. The machine also
comprises a welding unit for welding these wire portions to the
sides of two homologous links of the two chains. Preferably, the
welding unit comprises two laser welders which weld the two ends
of each wire portion to the respective links. This apparatus is
not described in further detail as being easy to be assembled by
a person skilled in the art starting from components well known
in the field of goldsmithery apparatuses. For example, the wire
feeding/cutting and wire portions translating unit is of the type
commonly used for the production of crosspieces to be connected
to the respective links, such as in the case of the so-called "maglia
marina" (marine link) chain, while the unit for moving the
two chains in the same direction is of the type employed in the
machines for the production of paired chains (also known as "Bismark"
chains).
[0026] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, which will
be obvious for a person skilled in the art, the crosspieces may
be separately produced and positioned between the chains for being
welded to the chain links by means of a conventional feeder.
[0027] The semi-finished article with an interlinked structure
as shown in FIG. 1, and also its different embodiments like the
one of FIG. 2, can easily be subjected to surface polishing as a
finishing treatment and used in that way as a finished product or,
with a view to increasing the ratio between exposed surface and
weight, the crosspieces may be flattened or fashioned in various
ways, deformed in the shape of an "S" for example, to
increase their brightness. An example of a semi-finished article
in which the crosspieces have been subjected to a flattening or
pressing treatment and then fashioned in the shape of an "S",
or undulated, is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0028] The semi-finished article with an interlinked structure
according to the present invention can be subjected to successive
processing operations to obtain products of different shapes. For
example, its structure may be opened in order to obtain linear chains
characterized by an alternation of links and crosspieces 12, as
shown in FIG. 6. The opening may also give rise to linear products
in which the crosspieces 13 extend in the radial direction, as shown
in FIG. 8 and the radial crosspieces may or may not have a link
at their free end.
[0029] The operation of opening the semi-finished article can be
carried out by mechanical action, e.g. by cutting, or preferably
by chemical means, i.e. by making one of the two chains, or part
of its links, in a metal, such as copper, that proves soluble if
reacted with a strong acid compound (shown in black in FIGS. 5 and
7). The links made of chemically soluble metal are indicated at
10 in FIG. 5 and the chain made of chemically soluble metal are
indicated at 11 in FIG. 7.
[0030] For example, the chain of FIG. 6 can be produced by first
manufacturing a semi-finished article according to the invention
like the one shown in FIG. 5, wherein the two chains have alternate
links made of both a precious metal and a soluble metal like copper.
Similarly, to obtain the chain of FIG. 8, it will be necessary to
start from a semi-finished article according to the invention, wherein
one of the two chains is made of a metal soluble by means of a chemical
treatment, such as the article shown in FIG. 7.
[0031] Clearly, in this case, before subjecting the article to
chemical treatment, all the surface finishing operations will have
to be carried out to enable a firm holding of the product.
[0032] The semi-finished article according to the invention can
also be made of the variable width (so called "scalar")
type, i.e. with the crosspieces having progressively increasing
or decreasaing length, as shown in FIG. 9. According to another
embodiment of the invention, a variable pitch semi-finished article
can be manufactured, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, wherein the crosspieces
are further arranged in an alternate sequence, for example, of the
type 1-0-1-0-1 or type 1-1-0-1-0-1-10-1-0-. These alternating sequences,
together with others that can be conceived in a very obvious manner,
may also be provided for the semi-finished article shown in FIG.
1 or FIG. 2 in which the crosspieces are all of the same length.
[0033] Various modifications and alterations to the invention may
be appreciated based on a review of this disclosure. These changes
and additions are intended to be within the scope and spirit of
the invention as defined by the following claims.
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