EP1005279B1 - Ornamental chain consisting of successive elements each having a general spherical shape - Google Patents

Abstract

An ornamental chain made up of successive elements, in which at least one of said elements includes a hollow body inside which an insert is fixed that is designed to retain a link member that is linked to an adjacent element of the chain, said insert being constituted by at least one sleeve. The sleeve includes a slot that is wide enough to enable the shank of the link member to pass therethrough.

Description

The present invention relates to an ornamental chain composed of elements successive ones each having a spherical general shape for example.

It is known to make a so-called ball chain by means of a process consisting of to repel at regular intervals the material of a wire to form zones widened with a narrowing of the mid-length section, to wrap each by a sheet of metal shaped into a ball and then break the wire at the narrowing of each enlarged area inside the balls.

This process is not particularly well suited to the production of a chain ornamental, especially because the balls thus made do not lend themselves easily to crimping precious stones.

French patent FR-1 237 084 discloses a pearl necklace each of which bead comprises an insert, elastically deformable, having a flange for to retain the head of a connecting member connected to an adjacent bead. This patch is in the form of a split sleeve longitudinally. When setting up the head of the connecting member, the sleeve can deform elastically. Such a necklace pearls does not offer complete satisfaction. In particular, the patch can be difficult to achieve in some cases because the rim tends to oppose its deformation elastic. There is also a risk of bead detachment in case of strong traction accidentally exerted on the collar.

The present invention relates to an ornamental chain in which one to less successive elements that compose it comprises a hollow body inside which a shaped insert is fixed to retain a connecting member connected to an adjacent element of the chain, this insert being constituted by at least one sleeve.

Typically, the sleeve has a sufficiently wide slot to allow the passage of the body of the connecting member.

Thanks to the invention, each element of the chain as defined above is not not in direct contact with the liaison body.

It is the insert fixed inside the hollow body which serves to retain the connecting member.

This broadens the choice of materials that can be used to make the body hollow.

The invention also allows a wide variety of embodiments of this hollow body.

The setting of a gemstone on the element is further facilitated since the hollow body may be shaped to receive a specific support piece.

In a particular embodiment, the hollow body is spherical and it is advantageously made by bar turning. which makes it possible to obtain a particular surface appearance aesthetic.

Still in a particular embodiment, the insert is fixed in a through hole the hollow body.

The insert may be retained by interference fit within the hollow body.

The insert may have no elastic elasticity towards the outside.

When you want to mount a gemstone on the element, the hollow body preferably comprises a blind hole with an axis perpendicular to that of the insert for receiving a support piece of this stone.

Another object of the invention is to use the aforesaid support piece for improve the maintenance of an insert for retaining a connecting member in the hollow body of an element of the chain.

In a particular embodiment, this support piece has a fork shaped to engage astride the insert, which advantageously has a narrowing of its outer section. This support piece can thus participate in maintaining of the insert in the hollow body of the element.

In a particular embodiment, the insert and the connecting member are shaped so that the latter is retained in the insert with a possibility of rotation around it of the axis of the insert. Preferably, the insert and the connecting member are shaped such that so that the latter is retained in the insert with a possibility of displacement along the axis of the insert. Advantageously, the connecting member comprises an enlarged head at its end retained in the insert and the latter has a narrowing of its inner section. Of preferably, the insert is constituted by two longitudinally split sleeves and having each a narrowing of its inner section. These sleeves are advantageously shaped to fit one into the other. The liaison body may consist of a pion with two heads, whose length is between 2 and 20 mm for example.

In another particular embodiment, the connecting member is mounted in the insert with a possibility of pivoting along an axis of articulation perpendicular to the axis of the insert. Advantageously, the connecting member has a body of cross section rectangle, long sides perpendicular to the aforementioned axis of articulation and provided with two holes at its ends, each for the passage of an ankle. Preferably each peg is engaged by its ends in holes made on the insert. which can be monobloc.

Advantageously. the insert has at its axial ends spherical surfaces for example, lying in the extension of the outer surface of the body hollow, which is interesting from an aesthetic point of view.

• la figure 1 est une coupe d'une chaíne ornementale selon l'invention, représentant deux éléments consécutifs,
• la figure 2 représente isolément le corps creux de l'un des éléments de la figure 1,
• les figures 3 et 4 sont des coupes représentant isolément les deux manchons constituant l'insert fixé dans le corps creux d'un élément de la figure 1,
• les figures 5 et 6 illustrent la mise en place d'un premier organe de liaison dans l'un des manchons et les figures 7 et 8 celle d'un deuxième organe de liaison dans l'autre manchon,
• les figures 9 et 10 illustrent le montage des deux manchons à l'intérieur du corps creux de l'élément,
• la figure 11 représente isolément une pièce de support pour pierre précieuse.
• la figure 12 représente cette pièce de support en place à l'intérieur du corps creux,
• la figure 13 représente un élément d'extrémité assemblé au reste de la chaíne,
• la figure 14 est une vue schématique de dessus d'un élément conforme à un troisième exemple de mise en oeuvre de l'invention,
• la figure 15 est une vue schématique en coupe selon le trait de coupe XV-XV de la figure 14.
• la figure 16 est une vue de face selon la flèche XVI de la figure 14,
• la figure 17 est une vue de côté selon la flèche XVII de la figure 16,
• la figure 18 représente isolément, en perspective. l'insert de l'élément représenté sur les figures 14 à 17,
• la figure 19 est une vue schématique, en perspective, représentant deux éléments assemblés, et
• la figure 20 est une vue analogue à la figure 19, les corps creux des éléments étant enlevés pour laisser apparaítre les inserts et les organes de liaison.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention and on examining the appended drawing, in which:

• FIG. 1 is a section of an ornamental chain according to the invention, representing two consecutive elements,
• FIG. 2 represents, in isolation, the hollow body of one of the elements of FIG.
• FIGS. 3 and 4 are sections representing in isolation the two sleeves constituting the insert fixed in the hollow body of an element of FIG. 1,
• FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate the introduction of a first connecting member in one of the sleeves and FIGS. 7 and 8 that of a second connecting member in the other sleeve,
• Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the mounting of the two sleeves inside the hollow body of the element,
• Figure 11 is an isolated piece of support for gemstone.
• FIG. 12 represents this support piece in place inside the hollow body,
• FIG. 13 represents an end element assembled to the rest of the chain,
• FIG. 14 is a schematic view from above of an element according to a third exemplary implementation of the invention,
• FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view along section line XV-XV of FIG. 14.
• FIG. 16 is a front view along arrow XVI of FIG. 14,
• FIG. 17 is a side view along arrow XVII of FIG. 16,
• Figure 18 represents in isolation, in perspective. the insert of the element shown in FIGS. 14 to 17,
• FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing two assembled elements, and
• Figure 20 is a view similar to Figure 19, the hollow bodies of the elements being removed to reveal the inserts and the connecting members.

The ornamental chain 1 of which only two successive elements have been represented 2 identical in Figure 1 goes into the manufacture of a bracelet or a necklace for example.

Each element 2 comprises a hollow metal body 3 made by bar turning, having a spherical outer surface 4.

This hollow body 3 is traversed by a drilling 5 of axis X coincides with a diameter and has a blind hole 6 of greater diameter than that of the Y-axis piercing 5. perpendicular to the X axis and leading to the hole 5.

Each element 2 houses an insert 7 constituted by the assembly of a sleeve female 8 and a male sleeve 9, shown in isolation in Figures 3 and 4.

These sleeves 8 and 9 have at one axial end spherical surfaces respectively referenced 10 and 11, which are located once the insert 7 in place on the inside of the hollow body 3 in the extension of the spherical surface 4 of the latter, as can be seen in Figure 1.

The female sleeve 8 has a symmetrical outer surface of revolution around the X axis, provided with a shoulder 12 which delimits on the side of the end 10 a cylindrical surface of revolution whose diameter corresponds substantially to that of the piercing 5 of the hollow body 3 and the side of the end 14 opposite a surface 15 also cylindrical of revolution whose diameter is smaller than that of the surface 13.

The male sleeve 9 has a symmetrical outer surface of revolution, provided with shoulders 17 and 18 which define between them a cylindrical surface 19 of revolution whose diameter is the same as that of the surface 15 of the female sleeve 8.

The shoulder 18 delimits, on the side of the end 11, a cylindrical surface 20 of revolution whose diameter is the same as that of the surface 13 of the female sleeve 8.

The shoulder 17 delimits. on the side of the opposite end 16, a surface 21 cylindrical of revolution whose diameter is smaller than that of the surface 19.

The inner section of the male sleeve 9 has a constant diameter in a region 25 extending over most of its length and narrowing to 26 in the vicinity from the end 11.

The inner section of the female sleeve 8 is staggered and narrows at 22 to neighborhood of the end 10.

The inside diameter of the mouth of the female sleeve 8 at the level of the end 14 corresponds to that of the surface 21 of the male sleeve so that the sleeves 8 and 9 can be inserted to form the insert 7, the shoulders 13 and 17 coming in support of each other.

The diameter of the inner section of the female sleeve 8 in the region 23 intermediate between the narrowing 22 and the mouth 24 is equal to that of the section inside of the male sleeve 9 at the end 16.

The diameters of the constrictions 22 and 26 are equal.

Two successive elements 2 are interconnected by a connecting element which in the exemplary embodiment described in the form of a pin 30 having a 32 cylindrical body of revolution and at its ends two heads 31 of a larger diameter.

For example, the pin 30 can be made from a metal wire by repelling locally and at regular intervals the material of this wire to form expanded areas each presenting at mid-length a narrowing section and then cutting the wire at level of these narrowing.

The diameter of the body 32 is slightly smaller than that of the constrictions 22 and 26 while the diameter of regions 23 and 25 is slightly greater than that of heads 31.

The sleeves 8 and 9 are axially split along their entire length in the example described to allow the introduction into each of the head 31 of a pin 30, as illustrated in Figures 5 and 7.

In the case of the female sleeve 8, the head 31 is introduced through the end 14, the axis of the body 32 then being substantially perpendicular to the axis X, then the pin 30 is moved parallel to itself until the head 31 abuts against the narrowing 22.

Then the pin 30 is rotated a quarter of a turn to take the position represented in dashed lines in FIG. 5, the body 32 then being substantially coaxial with the axis X.

The opening width of the slot 33 made on the female sleeve 8 is slightly greater than the diameter of the body 32 of the pin 30.

Similarly, the pin 30 is placed in the male sleeve 9 by introducing the head 31 by the end 16, the axis of the body 32 then being substantially perpendicular to the X axis, then sliding the pin 30 parallel to itself until the head 31 come up against the narrowing 26.

The pin 30 is then rotated a quarter of a turn so as to bring the body 32 in the X axis of the sleeve 2, as shown in Figure 7 in dashed lines.

Once the heads 31 of the pins 30 in place in the sleeves 8 and 9, the latter are introduced by their ends 14 and 16 into the bore 5. as illustrated in FIG. 6, and fit into each other to form the insert 7, as can be seen on Figure 10.

Preferably, the interlocking of sleeves 8 and 9 is effected with an adjustment tight so that they remain assembled by friction. Sleeves 8 and 9 may have no noticeable elasticity.

The sleeves 8 and 9 are retained inside the bore 5 by tight fit on the one hand the surface 13 of the male sleeve 8 and on the other hand the surface 20 of the sleeve male 9.

Of course, it is not beyond the scope of the present invention to perform the assembly sleeves 8 and 9 and their fixing in the hollow body 3 by welding or by any other conventional means.

In the embodiment described, a gemstone 45 is set on each element 2 by means of a support piece 40 shown in isolation in FIG. 11.

This support piece 40 is in the form of a cylindrical body of hollowed out at the bottom to form a fork 41 intended to commit to on the insert 7 and recessed at the top to form a conical housing 42.

The opening width of the fork 41 corresponds to the diameter of the surfaces 13 and 20.

The diameter of the support piece 40 corresponds to that of the blind hole 6 so that it is held there by tight fit.

The housing 42 is surmounted by a thin wall 44 to be repelled on the top of the stone 45 during the crimping operation.

The bottom 43 of the housing 42 is pierced to allow once the support piece 40 inserted without the stone 45 in the hollow body 3 to make a countersink 46 in the insert 7 to receive the inner end of the stone 45.

The engagement of the fork 41 on the insert 7 is done with friction, which provides both an additional holding force of the support piece 40 and the insert 7 inside the hollow body 3 and strengthens the holding of the assembly of the sleeves 8 and 9.

FIG. 13 shows an element 2 as previously described, assembled by a pin 30 to an end element 2 'which differs from the element 2 in that the hollow body 3 'and the support piece 40' are slightly larger and in that the piercing 5 is not through but blind and accommodates a 7 'monobioc insert.

More particularly, this insert 7 'is constituted here by a sleeve whose section interior has a narrowing, mounted with a snug fit in the bore 5 and split longitudinally for mounting the head 31 of the pin 30, like the sleeves 8 and 9 previously described.

Preferably, as shown, the pieces 30 are retained with some play inside the inserts 7 and 7 'and the successive elements of the chain thus have a possibility of rotation between them around the axis X and translation along this axis X.

Thanks to this mobility, we can obtain interesting aesthetic effects. relative orientations of the stones then never being fixed.

The insert fixed in the hollow body of an element 2 or 2 'can serve, without within the scope of the present invention, to retain one end of a connected link at the other end to a bulb chain obtained by the conventional process beginning.

In the embodiment of Figures 14 to 20. the elements 2 "of the chain each comprise a hollow body 3 identical to the one shown in FIG.

This hollow body receives an insert 7 "shown in isolation in FIG. support piece 40 identical to that previously described with reference to FIG. 11.

The elements 2 "are joined by connecting members 50 with a possibility of rotation along an axis of articulation Z perpendicular to the axis X inserts 7 ".

More particularly, each connecting member 50 comprises a body 51 of rectangular cross section, long sides perpendicular to the hinge axis Z, provided at both ends with bores 52 in which are engaged pins 53 engaging at their ends in holes 54 of the insert 7 ". 54 intersect the X axis perpendicularly.

The insert 7 "externally has the same geometry as the insert 7 shown in FIG. 10, with the exception of the holes 54. It is traversed axially by a slot 58, which extends in the example described over its entire length, and has a narrowing 59 of its outer section. The slot 58 has, in the example described, a rectangular cross section, long sides perpendicular to the axes of the holes 54. The depth of the slot 58 corresponds substantially to three quarters of the largest outer diameter of the insert 7 ".

It is not beyond the scope of the invention by splitting the insert 7 "longitudinally than at its axial ends, over a distance just long enough to allow to engage the liaison bodies 50.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the insert is not split longitudinally over its entire length but only at its axial ends.

In this case, the insert may have at each of its axial ends a slot that extends over the entire height of the insert, crossing vertically.

The geometry of the stone possibly attached to the ball in which is engaged the insert then takes into account the need that the insert is not split longitudinally on all its length.

It is necessary to give the term slot used in the present description a meaning wide, the slot may have a cross section that does not necessarily two parallel ribs.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the slot for mounting the end of the connecting member does not open onto the lateral surface of the insert but only on the end surface of the insert, intended to come in the extension of the outer surface of the hollow body.

To assemble the elements 2 ", we begin by inserting the ends of two connecting members 50 in the slot 58 of the insert 7 ", for example by introducing them along the X axis of the insert 7 ", to make the holes 52 and 54 coincide, and then the ankles 53 in these. It is assumed that one of the connecting members 50 is already assembled to one element 2 "and that the other is free.

The insert 7 "is then introduced into the piercing 5 of the body 3 and the piece of support 40 is put in place, the fork 41 coming to engage on the narrowing of section 59 above.

The embodiment of FIGS. 14 to 20 makes it possible to maintain the stones in a given orientation around the X axis of the inserts.

Of course, it is not beyond the scope of the present invention by modifying the nature and geometry of the successive elements composing the chain, the latter being able to do not accommodate gems, hollow bodies of elements that can be made with pearls for example.

Claims (20)

1. An ornamental chain made up of successive elements, in which at least one of said elements (2; 2'; 2") includes a hollow body (3; 3') inside which an insert (7; 7'; 7") is fixed that is designed to retain a link member (30; 50) that is linked to an adjacent element (2; 2'; 2") of the chain, said insert (7; 7'; 7") being constituted by at least one sleeve, the chain being characterized by the fact that the sleeve includes a slot (33, 38; 58) that is wide enough to enable the shank (32; 51) of the link member to pass therethrough.
2. A chain according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said hollow body (3; 3') is spherical.
3. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said hollow body (3; 3') is made by turning.
4. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said insert (7; 7") is fixed in a bore (5) passing through the hollow body (3).
5. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the hollow body (3; 3') includes a blind bore (6) of axis (Y) perpendicular to the axis (X) of the insert (7; 7'; 7") in order to receive a support piece (40; 40') for a precious stone (45).
6. A chain according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said support piece (40; 40') has a fork (41) designed to be engaged astride the insert (7; 7'; 7") which preferably includes a narrowing of its outside section.
7. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the insert (7; 7'; 7") is retained as a force fit inside said hollow body (3; 3').
8. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the link member (30) includes an enlarged head (31) at its end retained in the insert (7; 7').
9. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the insert (7) is constituted by two longitudinally-slotted sleeves (8; 9), each having a narrowing (22; 26) of its inside section.
10. A chain according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said sleeves (8; 9) are designed to interfit one inside the other.
11. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the insert (7; 7') and the link member (30) are designed so that said link member is retained in the insert (7; 7') with the possibility of rotating about the axis (X) of the insert (7; 7').
12. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the insert and the link member are designed so that said link member is retained in the insert (7; 7') with the possibility of being displaced along the axis (X) of the insert.
13. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the link member is constituted by a pin (30) having two heads (31).
14. A chain according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the length of the pin (30) lies in the range 2 mm to 20 mm.
15. A chain according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the link member is mounted in the insert with the possibility of pivoting about a pivot axis (Z) perpendicular to the axis (X) of the insert (7").
16. A chain according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the link member (50) has a shank (51) of rectangular cross-section whose long sides are perpendicular to the pivot axis (Z), said shank being provided with two holes (52) through which a respective peg (53) passes.
17. A chain according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that each peg (53) is engaged, via its ends, in holes (54) made in the insert (7").
18. A chain according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterized by the fact that the insert (7") is a single block.
19. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that at each of its axial ends, the insert has a surface, e.g. a spherical surface, that is designed to be situated in continuation with the outside surface of the hollow body.
20. A chain according to any preceding claim, characterized by the fact that the insert is substantially without elasticity towards the outside.

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