GB2238269A - Jeweller's clamping tool - Google Patents

Abstract

A jeweller's tool for use in mounting a disc means, preferably a coin (5) and bezel (4), in a ring setting (1) provided with sockets (2). Fixed arms (8) on a body (6) are adapted to cooperate with the ring setting (1) to hold it within the tool. A movable press plate (11), provided with a die (13) appropriate to the selected coin, contacts an obverse face of the disc means to urge the disc means into engagement with the setting (1), there being threaded engagement between the shank (10) of the press plate (11) and the body (6). The press plate (11) holds the disc means (4, 5) and setting (1) in engagement. A foot (9) supports the tool on a surface with the fixed arms and a reverse face of the disc means uppermost, whereby legs (3) of the bezel (4) may then be bent over, using either a screwdriver or a special tool. <IMAGE>

Description

JEWELLER'S TOOL The present invention relates to a tool for use by jewellers. More particularly, but not exclusively, it relates to a tool for use by jewellers in assembling rings carrying coins.

It is well known to provide jewellery, especially rings, by mounting a coin such as a sovereign, halfsovereign, Krugerrand, Britannia or the like into a ring so that one face (the obverse), of the coin faces outwardly as a decorative feature. The word "coin" as used herein is intended to mean not only coins of the realm such as described above but also medallions, tokens and other discshaped decorative objects. When coins such as sovereigns are used, the value of the coin far outweighs that of the ring setting into which it is placed. Furthermore, the size of the sovereign or other coin is standard whereas the ring must be adapted to fit the finger of the user. For these reasons, it is common for jewellers shops to maintain a small stock of coins and a comparatively large stock of ring settings.Once a customer has specified the ring size required and the coin required, a ring may be assembled on the spot to suit the requirements.

In order to assemble a coin to a ring, it is usual to provide a bezel which comprises an annulus of "L"-shaped cross-section adapted to surround a coin of particular size. One leg of the "L" encloses an edge of the obverse phase of the coin, the other leg extending concentrically around the rim of the coin. This other leg is provided with a plurality of legs which extend inwardly of the ring from the bezel and are so spaced as to cooperate with apertures in the ring setting. For convenience, the coin and bezel combination will hereinafter be referred to as a disc means.

As stated above, the disc means is provided with extending legs adapted to cooperate with apertures in the ring setting and be folded over to hold the disc means in place. Conventionally, this is done by hand and in such cases, it is extremely difficult to hold the disc means firmly against the apertures on which they abut during the step of folding over the legs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for use by jewellers which will overcome the above disadvantages and enable such coin rings to be assembled easily and with a better degree of firmness of connection.

According to the present invention there is provided a jeweller's tool for mounting a disc means, as hereinbefore defined, in a setting, the tool comprising fixed arm means adapted to cooperate with the setting to hold it within the tool, movable press means adapted to contact an obverse face of the disc means to urge the disc means into engagement with the setting, held within the fixed arm means, and to hold the disc means and setting in engagement, and foot means adapted so to support the tool on a surface that the fixed arm means and a reverse face of the disc means are uppermost.

The setting is preferably a ring setting having a plurality of apertures for cooperation with the disc means.

The disc means may comprise a coin, as hereinbefore defined, within a bezel, said bezel having a plurality of legs adapted to project beyond a reverse face of the coin and be engageable with corresponding sockets in the setting.

The movable press means may comprise a die dimensioned to correspond with a bezel surrounding a particular coin, said die being detachably fitted to the press means and being replaceable by a different die dimensioned to correspond with a bezel surrounding a different coin.

The foot means may serve as an actuator for the press means. In this case, the foot means and the press means are connected by means of a screw-threaded shank engaging with a correspondingly screw-threaded aperture in an extension of said fixed arm means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tool embodying the invention taken along the line I-I of Figure 2; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the tool; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a ring setting for use with a tool embodying the invention; and FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown a ring setting 1 having a circular aperture on its display face. Arranged around the interior surface of the circular aperture are four sockets 2, spaced substantially equiangularly. When a customer wishes to buy a coin ring, a ring setting is chosen to suit the finger of the intended wearer and which has an aperture dimensioned to accommodate the selected coin and bezel. The bezel and coin are then assembled and placed in the aperture The bezel has four legs 3 extending beyond the rearward face and each is adapted to cooperate with a respective socket 2.Hitherto, the disc means, i.e. the bezel and coin, have been held in place with one finger while the ends of the legs 3 are turned over by use of a suitable tool, such as a screwdriver, to clamp the coin between one face of the bezel 4 and the sockets 2. As stated above, this may lead to a loose fit of the coin 5.

In order to avoid this problem, there is provided a tool as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tool comprises a body 6 having a screw-threaded aperture 7 in a base portion thereof. Extending upwardly, in use, from the base portion of the body 6 are a pair of arms 8 disposed at diametrically opposite points on the body 6, said arms 8 being bent at their upper, in use, end one toward the other.

The tool is adapted to stand on a surface by means of a nut 9 having a lower, in use, surface which is flat and of large area. Attached to the nut 9 is a screwthreaded shank 10 passing through the screw-threaded aperture 7 in the body 6. At the opposite end of the shank 10, and contained within the arms 8 is a press-plate 11 having a central locating pin 12. A number of dies 13, each of predetermined dimensions, are provided and adapted to rest on the press-plate 11 and be located by means of the pin 12.

In order to use the tool to produce a finished coin ring, an appropriate die 13 is selected, depending on the coin to be used, and placed on the press-plate 11. The coin 5 and its appropriately sized bezel 4 are then placed on the die 13. At this point, the nut 9 is so unscrewed that the press-plate 11 is at a lower point of its travel, i.e. nearer to the body 6 than to the ends of the arms 8.

The ring setting 1 is then placed within the arms 8 so that their mutually facing ends contact the setting at pdints A (as seen in Figures 3 and 4). The nut 9 is then turned with respect to the body 6 so that the press-plate 11 moves toward the ring setting 1. Once the legs 3 of the bezel 4 are aligned with the sockets 2, the nut 9 is screwed home to hold the disc means, i.e. the coin and bezel, within the aperture of the ring setting 1 and also to hold the assembly rigidly against the arms 8. The tool may now be placed on a surface, if it was not so placed before, and the ends of the legs 3 may be bent over, using either a screwdriver or a special tool, to hold the disc means firmly in position and in contact with the sockets 2.

Provided that the legs are bent over correctly, the disc means will thus be attached to the ring setting firmly and without the possibility of movement during use. Once the fixing is complete, the nut 9 is unscrewed with respect to the body 6 and the assembled coin ring is removed. For re-use, the same or a different die 13 may be used depending on the size of the coin needed for the next ring to be assembled.

Use of the tool enables more secure fixing of coins to rings to be attained, and, since the tool may rest on a surface with the working zone uppermost, it is comparatively easy to undertake the fixing work. The tool may be of metal or plastics material.

Claims (7)

CLAIMS:

1. A jeweller's tool for mounting a disc means, as hereinbefore defined, in a setting, the tool comprising- fixed arm means adapted to cooperate with the setting to hold it within the tool, movable press means adapted to contact an obverse face of the disc means to urge the disc means into engagement with the setting, held within the fixed arm means, and to hold the disc means and setting in engagement, and foot means adapted so to support the tool on a surface that the fixed arm means and a reverse face of the disc means are uppermost.

2. A jeweller's tool as claimed in claim 1, wherein the setting is a ring setting having a plurality of apertures for cooperation with the disc means.

3. A jeweller's tool as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the disc means comprises a coin, as hereinbefore defined, within a bezel, said bezel having a plurality of legs adapted to project beyond a reverse face of the coin and be engageable with corresponding sockets in the setting.

4. A jeweller's tool as claimed in claim 3, wherein the movable press means comprises a die dimensioned to correspond with a bezel surrounding a particular coin, said die being detachably fitted to the press means and being replaceable by a different die dimensioned to correspond with a bezel surrounding a different coin.

5. A jeweller's tool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foot means serves as an actuator for the press means.

6. A jeweller's tool as claimed in claim 5, wherein the foot means and the press means are connected by means of a screw-threaded shank engaging with a correspondingly screw-threaded aperture in an extension of said fixed arm means.

7. A jeweller's tool substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.