EP3206522B1

EP3206522B1 - Link or collet element for producing jewellery products and jewellery products made through such link or element

Info

Publication number: EP3206522B1
Application number: EP15818066.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Davis FONSATO
Original assignee: Antiche Teorie Orafe Srl
Current assignee: Antiche Teorie Orafe Srl
Priority date: 2014-10-14
Filing date: 2015-09-30
Publication date: 2019-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2035-09-30
Also published as: EP3206522A1; WO2016059655A1; ES2727475T3

Description

The present invention refers to a link or collet element for producing jewellery products, costume jewellery products and the like, such as bracelets, rings and necklaces. The present invention further refers to jewellery products such as, for example, bracelets, rings and necklaces made through such link or collet element.
As known, the majority of ornamental bracelets, as well as many types of necklaces, are made of structures composed of a repetition of collet elements or links, each one of such elements being connected or linked to the following one through more or less complex connecting systems, in order to compose a relatively flexible link-type structure. In particular, some bracelets, like those typical for watches, are usually composed of links mutually connected in succession through connections made of cut and holed elements which are mutually coupled by means of pins or screws which make mortise-type connections. Such bracelets however, in addition to being particularly complex and burdensome to make, are scarcely flexible and, consequently, relatively uncomfortable and scarcely practical. In order to at least partially solve such inconveniences, document GB-A-1218164 disclose a bracelet, in particular for watches, composed of a plurality of links mutually connected in succession through at least one flexible wire passing through the links themselves: moreover, each link cooperates with the following one through shaped surfaces, respectively as semi-cylindrical surface and corresponding semi-cylindrical recess, to allow the rotation of each link with respect to adjacent links. Such rotation however is limited by the presence of a chute in each link, which defines a clearance angle, strongly impairing the global flexibility of the whole bracelet.
Links and collet elements are also known, which solve the above prior art problems allowing the production of highly flexible jewellery products, costume jewellery products and the like, in a quicker, more practical and economical way with respect to what is proposed by the known art, and moreover provide jewellery products such as, for example, bracelets, rings and necklaces, which are flexible though being composed of a succession of collet elements or links mutually connected through at least one flexible wire passing through the collet elements themselves, such elements mutually cooperating through hinging surfaces which allow their mutual rotation.
However, prior links or collet elements, due to their arrangement, have a single spot for supporting distortions and impacts to which the end product is subjected during its working life, and namely the welding spot between the flexible wires and the product opening and closing device. Such welding spot sometimes is broken and implies the opening of the bracelet or necklace with obvious discomforts for the end user.
WO 2012/001713 discloses a link or collet element according to the preamble of Claim 1.
Therefore, object of the present invention is providing a link or collet element which can be operatively coupled with an adjacent link or collet element in an unmovable and sturdy way, but however simultaneously allows a wide rotation between the the two coupled links, in order to adapt the end product to the round shape of the wrist or neck around which it is resting.
A further object of the present invention is providing a jewellery product, costume jewellery product and the like by mutually operatively coupling a plurality of links or collet elements as mentioned above.
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained by a link or collet element for producing jewellery product, costume jewellery product and the like, as claimed in the respective independent claims.
Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
It is intended that the enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.
It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the enclosed claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a partial perspective view of a first embodiment of a jewellery product made with links or collet elements of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view of a link of the product in Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the link of Figure 2;
Figure 4 shows another perspective view of the link of Figure 2 coupled with two flexible wires;
Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the link of Figure 2;
Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a jewellery product composed of a series of links or collet elements according to the present invention;
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of one of the links of Figure 6;
Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of a jewellery product composed of a series of links or collet elements according to the present invention; and
Figure 9 shows a perspective view of one of the links of Figure 8.

With reference to the Figures, it is possibile to note three preferred, but absolutely not limiting, embodiments of links or collet elements 1 of the present invention, adapted to be mutually joined in order to form respective jewellery products, costume jewellery products 3 and the like, obtained through a plurality of links or of collet elements 1 as described below, namely products 3 composed of a succession of links or collet elements 1 mutually connected through at least one flexible wire 5 passing inside the respective through-hole 15 of each link or collet element 1, in general each link or collet element 1 having its own hinging surface engaging the respective hinging surface of an adjacent and successive link or collet element 1.
Obviously, if, as shown in the Figures, each link or collet element 1 is equipped with two parallel through-holes 15, it is possibile to use both two different flexible wires 5, each of which passing in a respective series of corresponding through-holes 15, and a single flexible wire 5 bent as a U and/or closed as a ring in its ends in order to pass in each series of corresponding through-holes 15.
The jewellery product 3 can clearly be composed of a plurality of links or collet elements 1, each of which has a differently ornated upper surface. For example, the product 3 can be composed of a succession of links or collet elements 1 of the invention, in which the mounting elements 9 allow placing therein and fastening at least one precious stone (not shown). Several configurations of such product 3 are obviously possible.
According to the present invention, as shown in the Figures, the link or collet element 1 of the invention is used for producing jewellery products, costume jewellery products 3 and the like, such as bracelets, rings and necklaces, and comprises:

a supporting body 7 equipped on at least one first side thereof with a plurality of mounting elements 9 and equipped with at least one through-hole 15 adapted to contain therein a flexible joining wire 5;
at least one engaging element 11 placed on a second side of the supporting body 7 and adapted to operatively engage, in succession: (a) at least one pin 12 with which the supporting body 7 of another link or collet element 1 is equipped, after having penetrated inside a central hole 16 with which the supporting body 7 of the other link or collet element 1 is equipped; and (b) a fastening seat 13 with which the supporting body 7 of its own link or collet element 1 is equipped, after the engaging element 11 has been bent on itself.

The engaging element 11 is projecting from the supporting body 7 and is shaped as a small rod adapted to be bent onto itself to form a half-ring.
In particular, the supporting body 7 is further equipped with a recess 12' adapted to receive the engaging element 11 of another link or collet element 1 before its insertion in the hole 16 and adapted, when operating, to allow the mutual articulated rotation of the two, mutually joined links or collet elements 1.
As shown in a non-limiting way, the through-holes 15 are two, mutually parallel, for inserting two respective flexible wires 5.
In particular, the axis of every through-hole 15 is parallel to the rotation axis of the link or collet element 1.
Still as shown in a non-limiting way, the mounting elements 9 are preferably four and are adapted to contain therein and to unmovably fasten at least one precious stone to the link or collet element 1.
With the above described link or collet element 1, it is therefore possible to make a jewellery product, a costume jewellery product 3 and the like, comprising a plurality in succession of links or of collet elements 1, wherein such links or collet elements 1 are mutually connected through at least one of the flexible wires 5 passing inside a respective one of the through-holes 15 of each of the links or collet elements 1.
In order to make the above mentioned product 3, a process is provided, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a first link or collet element 1 as described above;
b) providing a second link or collet element 1 as described above;
c) operatively coupling the first link 1 to the second link 1 through the insertion of the engaging element 11 of the first link 1 into the recess 12' and the hole 16 of the second link 1;
d) operatively coupling the engaging element 11 of the first link 1 to the pin 12 of the second link 1;
e) closing the engaging element 11 of the first link 1 through its bending and rotation around the pin 12 of the second link 1 until the free end of the engaging element 11 is housed and contained in the fastening seat 13 of the first link 1;
f) providing a third link or collet element (1) as described above;
g) repeating the steps from c) to e) for operatively coupling the third link 1 to the already coupled first and second links 1;
h) repeating the steps from b) to g) till the complete jewellery product 3 is obtained;
i) polishing the possible projecting parts of the engaging elements 11; and
j) inserting the flexible wire 5 into the through-holes 15 of the links or collet elements 1.

Claims

Link or collet element (1) for producing jewellery products or costume jewellery products (3), such as bracelets or necklaces, comprising:
- a supporting body (7) equipped, on at least one first side thereof, with a plurality of mounting elements (9) and equipped with at least one through-hole (15) adapted to contain therein a flexible joining wire (5); and

- at least one engaging element (11) placed on a second side of the supporting body (7),
characterized in that said at least one engaging element (11) is adapted to operatively engage, in succession: (a) at least one pin (12) with which the supporting body (7) of another link or collet element (1), identical to said link or collet element (1), is equipped, after having penetrated inside a central hole (16) with which the supporting body (7) of the other link or collet element (1) is equipped; and (b) a fastening seat (13) with which the supporting body (7) of its own link or collet element (1) is equipped, after said engaging element (11) has been bent on itself, said engaging element (11) being projecting from said supporting body (7) and being shaped as a small rod adapted to be bent onto itself to form a half-ring, said pin (12) allowing the link or collet element (1) to rotate with respect to another link or collet element (1) by sliding said engaging element (11) around said pin (12) of said another link or collet element (1), after said engaging element (11) is passed around said pin (12) of said another link or collet element (1) and a free end of said engaging element (11) is housed in said fastening seat (13) of said another link or collet element (1), said supporting body (7) being further equipped with a recess (12') adapted to receive the engaging element (11) of another link or collet element (1) before its insertion in the hole (16).
Link or collet element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said through-holes (15) are two, mutually parallel, for inserting two respective flexible wires (5).
Link or collet element (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said mounting elements (9) are four and are adapted to contain therein and to unmovably fasten at least one precious stone to said link or collet element (1).
Jewellery product, costume jewellery product (3) and the like, characterized in that it comprises a plurality in succession of links or of collet elements (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, said links or collet elements (1) being mutually connected through at least one of said flexible wires (5) passing inside a respective one of said through-holes (15) of each of said links or collet elements (1).
Process for producing a jewellery product, costume jewellery product (3) and the like according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
a) providing a first link or collet element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3;

b) providing a second link or collet element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3;

c) operatively coupling the first link (1) to the second link (1) by inserting said engaging element (11) of said first link (1) into said recess (12') and said hole (16) of said second link (1);

d) operatively coupling said engaging element (11) of said first link (1) to said pin (12) of said second link (1) by passing said engaging element (11) around said pin (12);

e) closing said engaging element (11) of said first link (1) through its bending and rotation around said pin (12) of said second link (1) until the free end of said engaging element (11) is housed and contained in said fastening seat (13) of said first link (1);

f) providing a third link or collet element (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3;

g) repeating the steps from c) to e) for operatively coupling said third link (1) to said already coupled first and second link (1) ;

h) repeating the steps from b) to g) till the complete jewellery product (3) is obtained;

i) polishing the possible projecting parts of the engaging elements (11); and

j) inserting said flexible wire (5) into the through-holes (15) of said links or collet elements (1).