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Patent Abstract
A composable article for for the production of gold items jewelry
and the like is disclosed. The article comprises at least one element
having a central window or frame at least one insert suitable for
fitting inside the frame, and at least one snap connector suitable
for reversibly securing the insert inside the frame.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A composable article production of gold items, jewelry and the
like, comprising at least one element with a central frame and at
least one insert suitable for being housed within the frame, and
at least one snap connector suitable for reversibly securing the
insert in the frame.
2. The composable article set forth in claim 1, wherein the snap
connector comprises at least one pair of elements projecting elastically
from opposite sides of the insert suitably for engaging corresponding
holes in an edge of the frame, the holes passing through the edge.
3. The composable article set forth in claim 1, wherein the snap
connector comprises at least one tubular member, cursors being engaged
within the ends of the tubular member with an elastic member arranged
between the cursors so as to keep them projecting at least partially
and enabling their withdrawal when pressure is applied thereon,
the tubular member being arranged generally transversely inside
the insert.
4. The composable article set forth in claim 1, wherein two or
more inserts are housed side-by-side within the frame.
5. An ornamental chain-like structure comprising a sequence of
modular elements articulated to one another, each element having
a substantially annular element with a central frame and at least
one insert housed within the frame, at least one snap connector
being provided for reversibly securing the insert within the frame.
6. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein the snap connector
comprises at least one pair of elements projecting elastically from
opposite sides of the insert suitably for engaging corresponding
holes in an edge of the frame, the holes passing through the edge.
7. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein the snap connector
comprises at least one tubular member, cursors being engaged within
the ends of the tubular member with an elastic member arranged between
the cursors so as to keep them projecting at least partially and
enabling their withdrawal when pressure is applied thereon, the
tubular member being arranged generally transversely inside the
insert.
8. The structure set forth in claim 5, wherein two or more inserts
are housed side-by-side within the frame.
9. A pendant or an ear-ring which comprises at least one modular
element having a substantially annular element with a central frame
and at least one insert housed within the frame, at least one snap
connector being provided for reversibly securing the insert within
the frame.
10. The pendant or ear-ring set forth in claim 9, wherein the snap
connector comprises at least one pair of elements projecting elastically
from opposite sides of the insert suitably for engaging corresponding
holes in an edge of the frame, the holes passing through the edge.
11. The pendant or ear-ring set forth in claim 9, wherein the snap
connector comprises at least one tubular member, cursors being engaged
within the ends of the tubular member with an elastic member arranged
between the cursors so as to keep them projecting at least partially
and enabling their withdrawal when pressure is applied thereon,
the tubular member being arranged generally transversely inside
the insert.
12. The pendant or ear-ring set forth in claim 9, wherein one or
more inserts are housed side-by-side within the frame.
Patent Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally refers to the field of goldsmithery
and costume jewellery and, more particularly, relates to a composable
article that can be used to manufacture goldsmithery or costume
jewellery products like a necklace, a bracelet or a pendant.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Known composable articles of the above-mentioned type are
assembled mainly to form bracelets and other chain-like items. In
a first type of bracelet of this kind, a band of metal fabric forms
the support for a plurality of tubular attachments with a square
cross-section, arranged coaxially to the metal band. These attachments
can carry alphanumerical characters so as to enable the composition
of words or, more in general, they may carry all sorts of decorative
motifs. Another type of bracelet of this kind is formed by unit
elements or modules comprising two plates connected slidingly and
elastically to each other. These modules can be reversibly connected
to each other in a linear sequence. As in the previously-described
type, one of the two plates carries alphanumerical characters and/or
decorative designs, so that by suitably joining the modules together,
words or decorative sequences can be composed at will.
[0003] With the above-described conventional systems, the composition
of the bracelets is somewhat laborious and often demands the use
of specific tools. Moreover, because of the limited thickness of
the plates, the alphanumerical characters and decorations can only
be applied to them using welding or enamelling techniques.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a composable
article of goldsmithery and costume jewellery formed by modular
elements and usable to manufacture complex, chain-linked items such
as bracelets.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
article of goldsmithery and costume jewellery of the above-mentioned
type in which the use of a wider variety of metal materials (including
precious metals) and non-metal materials than is currently achievable
with the known systems is allowed.
[0006] These objects are achieved with the composable article of
goldsmithery and costume jewellery according to the present invention,
which comprises at least one substantially annular element with
a central window and at least one insert suitable for being contained
within said window, and snap-on connection means for reversibly
locking the insert inside the window. The insert can thus be made
of the desired thickness and of any, sufficiently stiff material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be illustrated in further detail in the
following description of one of its embodiments, made as a non-limiting
example with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a modular element for an article
according to the present invention;
[0009] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a side view and a plan view of the insert
for the modular element of FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 4 shows a possible means of reversible snap-on connection
for the modular element of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a composable article
having a chain-like structure that can be made with the modular
element of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring to the figures from 1 to 4, the numeral 1 is used
to indicate a generally annular element defining a window 2 therein.
From opposite sides of annular element 1 there extend a central
projection 1a and, respectively, two side projections 1b, lying
substantially coplanar to the annular element 1, or in any case
extending therefrom in the same direction and without any significant
discontinuity. The width of the central projection 1a, is substantially
equal to the gap between the two side projections 1b, so that the
central projection 1a of one element 1 can be inserted between the
two side projections 1b of another identical element 1 in order
to create an articulated connection by means of a pin, or pair of
pins (not shown), the position of which is indicated by an axis
X in FIG. 1.
[0013] The window 2 may be of any shape, though in general a quadrilateral
shape is preferred. An insert 3 fits inside the window 2 and has
the same shape as the window 2, though it may not be of the same
thickness, so it can also be made to project from the plane of the
annular element 1.
[0014] The insert 3 is provided with snap-on connection means suitable
for securing it reversibly inside the window 2.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the snap-on connection means
comprise a pair of elements 4 projecting elastically from opposite
sides of the insert 3, and engaging within through holes 5 correspondingly
formed in the inner wall of annular element 1 delimiting the window
2. The elements 4 are elastically forced outwardly relative to the
annular element 1, so that a pressure can be exerted thereon to
make them withdraw inside their seats and thus enable the insert
3 to be fitted inside the window 2. Once the elements 4 are aligned
with the holes 5, they are free to extend outwardly again and thus
engage within the holes 5, whereby the insert 3 is secured to the
annular element 1. Advantageously, the elements 4 have a rounded
profile to facilitate the engagement of the insert 3 in the window
2.
[0016] To separate the insert 3 from the annular element 1, it
is necessary to use a pincers tool with two opposite pointed tips
suitable for engaging in the through holes 5 from the outside in
order to push the elements 4 inside the insert 3 and thus disengage
them from the through holes 5.
[0017] In an embodiment particularly preferred for its simplicity
of construction, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the means of connection
comprise a tubular member 6, with two cursors 7 projecting from
the ends thereof, and are elastically pushed in opposite directions
by a spring 8 placed inside the tubular member 6. The tubular member
6 has a structure typical of those used in metal watchband spring
bars and is positioned and locked in any known manner inside a hole
9 passing transversally through the insert 3, as shown in FIG. 3.
[0018] If the insert is of considerable size, and particularly
in the case of significantly long inserts, it may be necessary to
provide for two or more equally spaced apart spring bars along the
insert length.
[0019] FIG. 5 shows a length of bracelet achievable with the modular
element of FIG. 1. In particular, to make the bracelet more comfortable
to wear, the modular elements may have a curved shape. It is clear
from the above description that the bracelet is very quick and easy
to assemble and disassemble in order to compose words or create
decorations.
[0020] The annular element 1 can also be made so as to contain
several inserts arranged side by side. To this end it is sufficient
to have a window 2 of a length corresponding to the total length
of the inserts and a number of pairs of holes 5 corresponding to
the number of inserts the window 2 is designed to contain. This
variant is particularly useful for making charms and pendants in
a single module with several inserts engaged therein, or also for
making relatively wide bracelets, in which the inserts are also
aligned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet and
the modular elements forming the bracelet are articulated along
the longer sides of the annular elements 1.
[0021] The structure of the article according to the present invention
is particularly advantageous because it enables metal and other
materials, even very different from each other, to be combined In
fact, the annular element 1 and the insert 3 can be made in the
same precious or non-precious metal or in metals thay may differ
both in nature and in chromatic features, e.g. gold and silver,
or yellow gold and white gold. Likewise the annular element 1 can
be made of a precious or non-precious metal, while the insert 3
can be made of wood, leather, glass, semiprecious stones, or plastic.
In addition, since it is possible the use of inserts of considerable
thickness, the inserts can also be studded with diamonds.
[0022] The article according to the present invention can be used
not only for the manufacture of bracelets, but also to make ear-rings
and pendants in general. |