GB2297679A - Earring construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A cup pin for an earring is manufactured by driving a pin (6) through an undersize hole (7) in a disc-form element (5) until the element engages in a circumferential groove (8) in the pin. First and second supports (15 and 11), for the pin and disc respectively, form complementary die parts between which the disc becomes shaped to assume the form of a cup (2) in the same single stage process. The disc is a sufficiently snug fit in the pin groove for it to be retained without any soldering or other additional means of securement.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO JEWELLERY This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to jewellery, particularly but not exclusively earrings.

Stud type earrings commonly consist of a pin which passes through the ear and on a front end of which a metal stud or other larger diameter element is provided which is displayed on the ear lobe. A so-called butterfly is introduced behind the ear from the rear of the pin to retain the pin in the ear.

When mounting a pearl or some other types of items on the front of the pin it is known to provide a cup which accommodates the item. The cup is ordinarily soldered to the pin. Commonly a front end portion of the pin extends into the cup and aids in retaining the pearl or the like.

This technique faces a number of problems, particularly the number of stages involved: forming the cup; positioning it accurately on the pin; soldering the two together; and cooling. This is costly and time-consuming. Furthermore, by its very nature soldering can have a deleterious effect on the appearance of the product. Substandard products are also encountered due to poor positioning and/or soldering.

The present invention aims to overcome all of these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect the invention provides an article of jewellery comprising a pin and a transversely extending element provided with an aperture through which the pin extends, the element being retained on the pin by engagement within a circumferential groove in the pin.

A snug fit so obtained can ensure that the element is retained on the pin at the desired location but without requiring soldering, glue or any other such additional means.

Preferably the groove is continuous about the pin. Most preferably it is annular.

Preferably the transversely extending element is in the form of a cup or a disc.

According to a second aspect the invention provides a method of forming an article of jewellery comprising the steps of placing an element against a first support, placing a pin provided with a circumferential groove against a second support, and effecting a relative movement between the supports whereby the pin becomes forced through the element until the element engages within the groove.

In this way a highly reproducible, clean and aesthetically pleasing article can be formed.

The element may be elastically deformed as it passes over the pin, to snap into place upon reaching the groove. Preferably the element is provided with a pre-formed aperture, so as to aid the passage of the pin through the element. In such circumstances the perimeter of the element about the aperture engages with the groove.

The pin diameter at the groove may be slightly greater than that of the aperture (although less than the normal diameter of the pin) or approximately the same as the aperture. Each of these configurations should give the snug fit required.

Most preferably the transversely extending element is in the form of a disc or cup.

Preferably the thickness of the cup or disc material matches the axial length of the groove in the pin or is slightly less than it.

The transversely extending element may be introduced pre-formed.

Alternatively the element may be introduced as a flat disc or other form which is to be deformed to the desired shape, such as a cup shape, as part of a single stage process. In this way the method is executed with the minimum number of stages.

Preferably a die of the desired shape for the transversely extending element acts as the support for the element during the method. Most preferably the second support has a portion forming a second die of complementary shape to that desired for the transversely extending element. As well as encouraging the correct shape formation, this can also encourage the material of the radially extending element to pass into the groove.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a prior art pin and cup, for a stud type earring; Figure 2 shows suitable apparatus for producing a pin and cup assembly for an earring in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 shows an assembled pin and cup; and Figure 4 shows an earring made in accordance with the invention.

In the prior art technique of making a pin and cup assembly for an article of jewellery, a pin 1 of constant diameter is inserted through an aperture in a preformed element in the form of a cup 2 and positioned in the desired configuration in a jig. A small amount of solder 3 is then introduced to the junction to secure the cup 2 and pin 1 upon cooling.

In accordance with the present invention, a pin and cup assembly is formed, as illustrated in Figure 2, from a flat metal disc 5 of resilient deformable material and a metal pin 6. The disc has an aperture 7 in it which is slightly smaller in diameter than the majority of the pin 6 but which substantially corresponds in diameter with a continuous annular circumferential groove 8 in the pin 6.

The groove 8 is provided on the pin 6 at the desired distance from its end to give a required pin end to cup base distance.

To form the cup and pin assembly the disc 5 is placed against a first support in the form of a shaping die 10. The die 10 consists of a metal block 11 provided with a dish-shaped depression 12 of the same configuration as is desired for the cup. The die 10 is also provided with a central bore 13 to accommodate the passage of the pin 6.

A front end portion of the pin 6 is placed in a bore 14 in a movable second support comprising a die-forming block 15 and is a snug fit therein. The depth of the bore 14 in the block 15 is such that the top edge of the groove is flush with the limit of the block 15. This ensures accurate positioning of the groove 8 and disc 5.

Once in position the block 15 is brought down, as indicated by arrow A, and pressure is applied to force the pin 6 through the slightly too small aperture 7.

The resistance causes force to be transferred to the disc 5, causing a body portion of the disc to become shaped and assume the form of a cup. The deformation is also, or even solely, caused by the block 15 which is also of complementary shape to that desired for the cup.

Continued application of force pushes the pin 6 through the aperture 7 until the groove 8 reaches the aperture 7. The resilient nature of the material forming the cup 2 provides that around the aperture 7 the element is elastically deformed as it passes over the pin, and the element snaps into place in the groove. Shaping the block 15 in the way described also encourages material to enter the groove 8 during formation to give a strong fastening.

Pressure can then be released and the assembled structure removed from the block 15.

As illustrated in Figure 3 the final assembly comprises a pin 6 and cup 2 of the desired configuration. A snug fit of the cup base in the groove 8 enables the cup to be retained without additional means of securement.

Figure 4 illustrates an earring constructed in accordance with the invention and comprising a cup and pin assembly manufactured in the manner just described. The cup 16 is generally cylindrical in form and is secured over one end of a hollow tubular member 17 forming an open ring. The pin 18 is of the same curvature as the ring 17 and enters an orifice in an end cap 19 fitted over the adjacent end of the ring. The ring is springy and can be opened for insertion of the pin through an ear, a rear end portion of the pin returning through the end cap 19 to close the ring when the earring has been fitted.

Claims (13)

1. An article of jewellery comprising a pin and a transversely extending element provided with an aperture through which the pin extends, the element being retained on the pin by engagement within a circumferential groove in the pin.

2. An article according to claim 1 in which a snug fit of the element in the groove enables the element to be retained on the pin without additional means of securement.

3. An article according to either of claims 1 and 2 in which the groove is continuous about the pin.

4. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the transversely extending element is in the form of a cup.

5. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 being an earring.

6. A method of forming an article of jewellery comprising the steps of placing an element against a first support, placing a pin provided with a circumferential groove against a second support, and effecting a relative movement between the supports whereby the pin becomes forced through the element until the element engages within the groove.

7. A method according to claim 6 in which the element is provided with a pre-formed aperture to aid the passage of the pin through the element.

8. A method according to either of claims 6 and 7 in which the element is elastically deformed as it passes over the pin and snaps into place upon reaching the groove.

9. A method according to any one of claims 6,7 and 8 in which the first and second supports comprise die parts by means of which a body portion of the element becomes shaped during said relative movement between the supports.

10. A method according to claim 9 in which the shaping of the body portion results in the element assuming the form of a cup.

11. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 10 being a method of forming an earring.

12. An earring comprising a cup pin substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of forming an earring substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.