EA007233B1 - Method for setting a stone in a metal element - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for setting a girdle (9) in a piece of metal (1), said method comprising the following steps: at least one hole (2) is pierced in the piece of metal (1) for receiving the stone, a stone (5) is placed in each hole (2), a tool (6) is applied perpendicularly to the surface of the piece of metal and close to the periphery of each hole (2), the end of said tool (6) having a tip (12) for pushing back a lip (8) of metal onto the girdle (9) of the stone, and forming at least one imprint comprising at least one light-reflecting facet.

Description

This invention relates to a method of installing a stone in a metal part.

The installation of precious stones in metal parts is widely known in jewelry and in the manufacture of watches.

In accordance with one traditional method, the worker applies the shtihel obliquely to the surface of the metal in order to deform it. Acting in this way, the metal is deformed in order to form a lapel, completely covering the stone around the circumference and fixing it on the metal part.

This method is satisfactory, except that the deformation of the metal leads to the formation of burrs, which spoil the smooth surface of the jewelry made in this way.

Another disadvantage of this method is that it allows you to place stones only in metals such as gold and silver, that is, metals with a certain ductility. Indeed, when it comes to the application of this method to solid metals, such as titanium, it turns out that the effect of sticking at an angle to the surface of the metal part does not allow the formation of a flap, since the metal breaks off, forming chips.

Another drawback of the current installation method is mosaic, that is, the installation of many stones next to each other on the surface of a single jewelry or watch. In this case, the area of the metal, bordering on the stones, looks dark, and does not in the best way affect the quality of the product.

Thus, the purpose of this invention is to propose a method for installing stones in parts made of solid metals, such as titanium.

Another object of the invention is to propose a method of installation, allowing to increase the cost of the product with installed stones.

In accordance with the present invention, this method, designed to install at least one stone with a girdle in a metal part, includes the following steps:

drilling in a metal part at least one hole for installing a stone, placing one stone in each hole, applying perpendicular to the surface of the metal part and close to the edge of each hole of the tool, the end of which is the tip for bending the metal edge onto the girdle and forming at least one print containing at least one reflective face.

Thus, the method according to the invention allows to place stones in a very solid metal due to the perpendicular action of the tool in the process of deformation of the metal and the formation of the edge. In addition, the print, forming the edge, has at least one facet, which gives additional visual appeal.

In one embodiment, the tool is applied manually.

In another embodiment, the tool is applied mechanically.

The invention also relates to a tool that allows you to implement a method at the end of which there is at least one surface, ending in a tip.

The tool may have different forms:

tool with a cone end, ending in a tip;

tool with a tetrahedron end, terminated by a tip, a tool with an end having several faces converging in one tip;

The tool has an end with a radius of 0.2 to 0.5 mm.

The invention also relates to a product, such as a piece of jewelry or a watch, containing one metal piece on which at least one stone with a girdle is located, characterized by the fact that at least one stone has at least one print with a facet, made on the surface of the metal part and forming the edge covering the girdle.

Preferably, the entire surface of the metal part, bordering several stones, is completely covered with prints.

For a better understanding, the description of the invention is given with reference to the attached drawing, which shows, without limiting the scope of protection, an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

FIG. 1-3 depict the various stages of the method; FIG. 4 is a top view of a product manufactured by this method; FIG. Figures 5-8 show several possible implementations of a tool that allows for a method.

FIG. 1 shows in section a metal part 1 with a hole 2, as is well known from existing installation technologies. From the surface of the metal part 1, the hole 2 has a conical base 3 and a cylindrical part 4. It can be seen that the conical base 3 on which the stone will be located is very close to the metal surface.

- 1 007233 part 1, this distance can be in the range from 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

FIG. 2 shows stone 5 placed in hole 2 before the installation process begins. FIG. 2, the tool 6 can be seen approaching the surface of the metal part 1 in a direction perpendicular to it. The tip of the tool 6 shown in FIG. 2, has a conical shape with a tip 12 at the end.

If you look at FIG. 3, you can see the tool that will be applied to the surface of the metal part 1. When working with the tool, the substance forming the metal part 1 is squeezed out in opposite directions from the tip of the tool 6 and is displaced in such a way that it forms an edge 8 on the girdle 9 of the stone 5, previously inserted into the hole. This edge 8 also allows to fix a stone 5 in the aperture.

The next stage of the method consists in forming with the help of the tool 6 other impressions 11 on the surface of the metal part 1 bordering on the stones 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, you can see a lot of impressions 11, made on the surface between the stones. In the example above, these 11 prints have faces, in this case four. Prints 11, adjacent to the stones, allow them to hold, the remaining prints 11 are designed to reflect light.

FIG. 5-8 shows several embodiments of the tool. These embodiments of the tool do not exhaust the whole multitude of types, but they all have one common feature: their ends end with a tip 12. This tip 12, perpendicularly applied to the metal surface, allows the edge 8 to be squeezed out even in the hardest metal itself.

FIG. 5 shows a tool with a pyramid end;

in fig. 6 shows a tool with a tetrahedron end;

in fig. 7 shows a tool with a tapered end;

in fig. 8 shows a tool having four faces at the end.

The described method has many advantages. It allows you to place stones in very hard metals, such as titanium, since the tool used to deform the metal and form an edge around the girdle of the stone acts perpendicular to the surface of the metal part into which the stones are inserted.

In addition, the fact that the tool has an end that performs an impression on a smooth surface gives an additional effect, namely, that the impression made to hold the stone also reflects light.

Increasing the number of such impressions between the stones create a reflective zone that enhances the brilliance of the stones. The dark zone, which is obtained when finishing, made according to traditional technologies, thanks to this invention disappears and gives way to a zone reflecting light.

Finally, the impact of the tool does not give chips, so jewelry or watches, in the manufacture of which this method is applied, have a smooth surface, without protrusions and burrs.

Another advantage of this method is that it allows you to place stones on an internal or curved surface.

Finally, the surface, the stones on which are installed by the method according to the invention, has an even, regular appearance, as if the stones are aligned in rows and columns.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the implementation described above as an example. Quite the contrary, it covers a variety of forms of implementation.

You can assume the tools of another form. Obviously, this method can be installed precious, semi-precious or artificial stones of any kind.

It is also clear that although the method is suitable in particular for the installation of stones in solid metals, such as titanium, it can be equally applied to metals such as gold, silver or steel.

Claims (10)

1. A method of installing at least one stone (5) with a girdle (9) in a metal part (1), comprising the following steps: drilling in a metal part (1) at least one hole (2) for installing a stone, placing one stone (5) in each hole (2), applying perpendicular to the surface of the metal part and close to the edge of each hole (2) of the tool (6), the end of which is a point (12) for bending the metal edge (8) onto the girdle (9) , and the formation of at least one print (11) containing at least at least one reflective face. - 2 007233 point. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is applied manually. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the tool is applied mechanically. 4. A tool (6) for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has at least one surface that converges at the tip (12). 5. The tool (6) according to claim 4, characterized in that it has an end in the form of a cone, ending 6. The tool (6) according to claim 4, characterized in that it has an end in the form of a tetrahedron ending with a tip. 7. The tool (6) according to claim 4, characterized in that it has several faces at the end that converge at one point. 8. The tool (6) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that its tip has a radius of 0.2 to 0.5 mm. 9. A product, such as jewelry or a watch, containing a metal part (1), on the surface of which at least one stone (5) is located with a girdle, characterized in that at least one stone (5) has at least one print with a face made on the surface of the metal part (1) and forming an edge covering the girdle (9) of the stone (5). 10. The product according to claim 9, characterized in that the entire surface of the metal part (1), bordering two or more stones (5), is covered with prints (11).