AU2008100644A4 - The method of providing an ornamental item - Google Patents

Description

00 Description 0 This invention relates to the manufacture of ornamental items, and in particular, such items in the form of jewellery.

A known idea in relation to jewellery design is to incorporate an imprint of a fingerprint into a jewellery item. Jewellery of this nature, apart from having an O unique and attractive appearance, can also hold strong sentimental value for the owner 0of the jewellery.

00 For consumer convenience, and to improve on previous methods of fingerprint collection and to expand on the idea to include toe prints, hand or foot prints, an animals paw print, or any form of handwritten text or drawn artwork, the manufacturer provides an imprint item 10 as shown in figure 1, which is a ink strip, to the customer. This is where a high quality ink has been placed between 2 sheets of film. The film on imprint item 10 is then peeled apart to expose the ink.

The desired imprint to be captured item 12 in figure 2, shown here as a fingerprint, is then placed onto item 10, figure 1 to be coated in ink item 14 figure 2. The inked print is then pressed onto a piece of paper item 16 where the ink imprint is then recorded item 18. It is important to note that this process can be repeated a number of times, which previously has not been the case, until a clear and detailed imprint is obtained. It also needs to be a process that can be mailed to and from the customer with ease and without casing damage to the imprint.

In the case of the imprint being handwritten text or drawn artwork this can be supplied to the manufacturer as is or in a photocopied format.

Previous methods of collection of fingerprints have been complex and require multiple steps that can not be repeated. It was also reliant on the collection material to come back through the postal system undamaged. Collecting the imprint in this way also limited the end jewellery item design.

00 Once the ink impression item 18, or message is supplied to the manufacturer, it is then transferred with the use of a computer to a digital image. Using the aid of computer programs the image is converted into a 3D image.

The 3D computer image is then incorporated into a 3D jewellery design item figure 3. The 3D jewellery design shown here item 20 is for a pendant but could be, but not limited to, a charm, a dress ring, or cufflinks.

_The complete 3D jewellery design is then transferred to a 3D modelling cutter item 22 00 figure 4. Where the desired finish of the jewellery product is silver or gold the modelling cutter item 22 produces the jewellery piece out of modelling wax item 24 figure 4. Figure 5 shows the finished jewellery piece, produced by the modelling machine item 22 figure 4 which incorporates the 3D imprint design original obtained in item 18 figure 2. Figure 26 could be made from modelling wax where the item is to be produced from gold or silver or the finished material where a resin may be used.

Where the finished product is to be gold or silver the wax model is then used in the known jewellery technique of ???lost wax casting??? After the casting of the jewellery piece in gold or silver is complete the item is then polished and in the case of a pendant may have a chain added.

The finished jewellery item is then supplied to the customer.

Claims (4)

1. A method of providing a metal ornamental item including the steps of: Providing a material that is suitable to make a copy of the desired imprint. Obtaining an imprint from the imprint material. Processing the copy of the imprint to transform it into a digital format on a computer. Converting the digital image into a 3D image. 00 Transferring the 3D image to be incorporated into a 3D computer jewellery design. The complete 3D computer jewellery design incorporating the 3D image is transferred to a 3D modelling cutter where the complete design is cut out of jewellery wax.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the desired imprint includes one of the follow: An imprint of a fingerprint. An imprint of a toe print. An imprint of a hand print An imprint of a foot print An imprint of a animals paw print. A copy of handwritten text. A copy of drawn artwork.

3. A method as claim in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the ornamental item is an item of jewellery being of at least one of gold or silver.

4. To obtain the imprint without the direct impression having to be of wax. A ornamental item as herein before described with the reference to figures 1-5 of the accompanying drawings.