GB2121825A - Process for electro-plating eggs - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of producing an ornamental or jewellery item utilising a natural egg and comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the egg wall, removing the natural egg contents by introducing a pressure differential between the egg interior and exterior, applying a protective coating to the egg exterior surface, introducing weighted particles through the hole into the egg interior, introducing a wax bonding agent for said weights and to plug said hole, applying an electro-conductive paint to said coating, electroplating one or more metal surface coatings by immersing in an appropriate electroplating bath solution.

Description

SPECIFICATION Process for electro-plating eggs This invention relates to a processforelectroplating eggs and is particularly concerned with such a process for real or natural fresh eggs.

The inherent visual and aesthetic appeal of the natural fragility and delicacy of real eggs makes then a potentially attractive commercial proposition as the basis for novel and distinctive ornamental jewellery items, but poses particularly acute fabrication and process problems in order to achieve a suitable desired quality of finished precious or semi-precious product directly representing or evocative of the natural object and yet reasonably able to withstand the rigours of handling and usage and without undue deterioration with age.

According to the invention there is provided a method of producing an ornamental or jewellery item utilising a natural egg and comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the egg wall and removing the natural egg contents by introducing a pressure differential between the egg interior and exterior, applying a protective coating to the egg exterior surface, intro ducing weighted particles through the hole into the egg interior, introducing a wax bonding agentforsaid weights and to plug said hole, applying an electroconductive paint to said coating, electro-plating one or more metal surface coatings by immersing in an appropriate electroplating bath solution.

There now follows a description of a particular embodiment of the invention, by way of example only.

A hole is first drilled in one end ofthe fresh egg to allow extraction of the egg yolk and egg white, by either sucking out the contents with a syringe or introducing a jet of air into the egg and forcing out the content.Theinsideoftheemptyegg-shell is then washed by using a jet of water.

In orderto prevent the egg shell from being attacked by acid, a coating of acid-resistant paint is sprayed onto the egg outer surface and either airdried or heat cured in an oven at 150 Cfor20-30 minutes. Steel shots, lead shots or powder with weights ranging from 10-500gms are then introduced into the egg through the hole in the wall thereof, in order to weight down the egg during electroplating. Atthe same time, sufficient bonding agent, such as any commercially available wax having a melting point in the range of 50-200"C is introduced so that, when melted, it will bond the weights internally to the broader base ofthe egg, in orderthatthe egg will stand upright of its own accord.The hole is then sealed with wax and a layer of conductive paint is applied on the outer shell.

The egg is then passed through an electroplating copper sulphate bath at a current density of 1-2 amps/dm2for between 24 and 48 hours, until a thickness of 0.5mm to 5.0mm copper is achieved, depending upon the size ofthe egg. Any rough surface spots of irregularities on the copper plated egg are ground off a with abeltsanderandthesurfacethen buffed to a mirror finish with a polishing machine. The electroplated egg is then placed in an upright position in an oven at 1500Cto enable the wax to melt, thus holding down the steel shots, lead shots or powder in a position that will cause the egg to stand generally uprighton its base.The upright standing egg is then electro-cleaned before re-brightening in a copper plating bath at a current density of 3-4 am ps/dm2 for about 10 minutes.This isfollowed by nickel plating at 3-4 amp/dm2for4minutes. The nickel plated egg is immediately gold-striked in a gold-cyanide bath for 5-10 secfollowed by electroplating in a gold solution at a current density of 0.2-0.5 amps/dm2 for 3-5 minutes.

The gold-plated egg is finally lacquered and allowed todry.

1. Amethodofproducing an ornamental or jewellery item utilising a natural egg and comprising the steps of driiling a hole in the egg wall and removing the natural egg contents by introducing a pressure differential between the egg interior and exterior, applying a protective coating to the egg exterior surface, introducing weighted particles through the hole in the egg interior, introducing a bonding agentforsaid weights and to plug said hole, applying an electro-conductive paint to said coating, and electroplating one or more metal surface coatings by immersing in an appropriate electroplating solution.

2. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an initial copperelectro- plate is applied by immersion in a copper sulphate electrolyte.

3. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in eitherofthe preceding Claims, wherein a final gold electroplate is applied by immersion in a gold-cyanide electrolyte.

4. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claims in any of the preceding Claims, wherein said bonding agent is melted by the application of heat priorto said electroplating in orderto allow said weights to move internally to the egg basettipand thereby hold the egg in a generally upright position on its base.

5. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the electroplated egg surface is polished by buffing.

6. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein a lacquerfinish coat is applied to the electroplated egg.

7. A method of producing an ornamental item, substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. An electroplated egg produced by the method according to any of the preceding Claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Process for electro-plating eggs This invention relates to a processforelectroplating eggs and is particularly concerned with such a process for real or natural fresh eggs. The inherent visual and aesthetic appeal of the natural fragility and delicacy of real eggs makes then a potentially attractive commercial proposition as the basis for novel and distinctive ornamental jewellery items, but poses particularly acute fabrication and process problems in order to achieve a suitable desired quality of finished precious or semi-precious product directly representing or evocative of the natural object and yet reasonably able to withstand the rigours of handling and usage and without undue deterioration with age. According to the invention there is provided a method of producing an ornamental or jewellery item utilising a natural egg and comprising the steps of drilling a hole in the egg wall and removing the natural egg contents by introducing a pressure differential between the egg interior and exterior, applying a protective coating to the egg exterior surface, intro ducing weighted particles through the hole into the egg interior, introducing a wax bonding agentforsaid weights and to plug said hole, applying an electroconductive paint to said coating, electro-plating one or more metal surface coatings by immersing in an appropriate electroplating bath solution. There now follows a description of a particular embodiment of the invention, by way of example only. A hole is first drilled in one end ofthe fresh egg to allow extraction of the egg yolk and egg white, by either sucking out the contents with a syringe or introducing a jet of air into the egg and forcing out the content.Theinsideoftheemptyegg-shell is then washed by using a jet of water. In orderto prevent the egg shell from being attacked by acid, a coating of acid-resistant paint is sprayed onto the egg outer surface and either airdried or heat cured in an oven at 150 Cfor20-30 minutes. Steel shots, lead shots or powder with weights ranging from 10-500gms are then introduced into the egg through the hole in the wall thereof, in order to weight down the egg during electroplating. Atthe same time, sufficient bonding agent, such as any commercially available wax having a melting point in the range of 50-200"C is introduced so that, when melted, it will bond the weights internally to the broader base ofthe egg, in orderthatthe egg will stand upright of its own accord.The hole is then sealed with wax and a layer of conductive paint is applied on the outer shell. The egg is then passed through an electroplating copper sulphate bath at a current density of 1-2 amps/dm2for between 24 and 48 hours, until a thickness of 0.5mm to 5.0mm copper is achieved, depending upon the size ofthe egg. Any rough surface spots of irregularities on the copper plated egg are ground off a with abeltsanderandthesurfacethen buffed to a mirror finish with a polishing machine. The electroplated egg is then placed in an upright position in an oven at 1500Cto enable the wax to melt, thus holding down the steel shots, lead shots or powder in a position that will cause the egg to stand generally uprighton its base.The upright standing egg is then electro-cleaned before re-brightening in a copper plating bath at a current density of 3-4 am ps/dm2 for about 10 minutes.This isfollowed by nickel plating at 3-4 amp/dm2for4minutes. The nickel plated egg is immediately gold-striked in a gold-cyanide bath for 5-10 secfollowed by electroplating in a gold solution at a current density of 0.2-0.5 amps/dm2 for 3-5 minutes. The gold-plated egg is finally lacquered and allowed todry. CLAIMS

1. Amethodofproducing an ornamental or jewellery item utilising a natural egg and comprising the steps of driiling a hole in the egg wall and removing the natural egg contents by introducing a pressure differential between the egg interior and exterior, applying a protective coating to the egg exterior surface, introducing weighted particles through the hole in the egg interior, introducing a bonding agentforsaid weights and to plug said hole, applying an electro-conductive paint to said coating, and electroplating one or more metal surface coatings by immersing in an appropriate electroplating solution.

2. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an initial copperelectro- plate is applied by immersion in a copper sulphate electrolyte.

3. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in eitherofthe preceding Claims, wherein a final gold electroplate is applied by immersion in a gold-cyanide electrolyte.

4. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claims in any of the preceding Claims, wherein said bonding agent is melted by the application of heat priorto said electroplating in orderto allow said weights to move internally to the egg basettipand thereby hold the egg in a generally upright position on its base.

5. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the electroplated egg surface is polished by buffing.

6. A method of producing an ornamental item, as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein a lacquerfinish coat is applied to the electroplated egg.

7. A method of producing an ornamental item, substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. An electroplated egg produced by the method according to any of the preceding Claims.