GB2299259A

GB2299259A - Ornamental chain

Info

Publication number: GB2299259A
Application number: GB9606756A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Silverio Cerato
Original assignee: Silmar SpA
Current assignee: Silmar SpA
Priority date: 1995-03-29
Filing date: 1996-03-29
Publication date: 1996-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-29
Also published as: JP3029544U; IL117676A0; ITVI950050A0; ITVI950050A1; MY113590A; CA2172784A1; GB9606756D0; GB2299259B; IT1280297B1; TR199600267A1; DE29605712U1; IL117676A

Abstract

An ornamental chain comprising links formed by rings shaped in such a manner to allow close fitting with each other, said links being subjected to gradual compression and beating operations resulting in a chain composed of offset bands formed on a flat or slightly convex surface with no observable spaces between said bands.

Description

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an ornamental chain BACKGROUND OF ThE INVENTION It is known that one of the production steps in the manufacture of the chains which are used in the jewelry field consists of providing small rings, particularly shaped rings, which are then linked together forming a chain and the chain has a particular conformatton according to the manner how the small rings are linked together. Thn chain which is obtained is then subjected to two operations of well known type, that is, a compressnon and beating.

With the operations mentioned hereinabove, there are obtained some bands substantially flat in which the original links which have been formed by linking the small rings together are transformed in bands one next to the. other which are broached and slightly offset one with respect to the other thus achieving a particular aesthetic effect.

With the operations of compression and beating which are carried out by means of the apparatuses and the processes known at present, there is obtained as a final result a semi-flnisheå product in the shape of a chain in which the broached bands in addition to being offset one with respect to the other, are placed one next to the other but in a manner according to which they do not perfectly mate one with respect to the other.

Therefore, there are present between each element and the next one which constitute each single band, some spaces which even of a smaller size are visible and decrease the final aesthetic effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An'object of the present invention is to provide a sem-finished product which constitutes an ornamental chain, in which the chain after having gone through the operations of compression and beating, has the surface either flat or slightly convex depending upon the production requirements and on the surface of the chain it is not possible to see with a normal observation any discontinuity or any space between one element and the next element of the same chain so that a uniformity is achieved which gives in this manner to the product an anesthetic result which is novel with respect to the results which have been obtained with similar chains.

The crux of the present invention resides in the fact that the small rings which constitute the links are shaped in such a manner that they present a profile which makes the reciprocal approach easier and permit the operations of compression and beating to be of the gradual type, that is by continuously modifying the work parameters of the operating machine to ensure the reciprocal approach of the elements which constitute the links in a perfect and total manner.

The operations of compression and beating which are carried out in a gradual manner permit in addition to the use of links of different diameter of the thread and different dimensions of the rings, to obtain a semi-finished product for the production of chains of the "degrade"' type that is chain which presents variations of the dimensions only in the direction of the length, and also in the thickness direction.

A further and important aesthetic effect is achieved in view of the uniformity characteristic of the surface with the process according to the present invention,that rings nay be used with alloys of different colors, these rungs being positioned either in a spread manner or in such a manner to constitute sections or portions of the chain.

By using a particular conformation of the flat or convex band obtained with the operations of compression and beating of the gradual type, and exhibiting sections of dlffp,rent width, one obtains an ornamental product constituted by necklaces and bracelets, products being constituted by a central portion of the chain having a width which is greater with respect to the two lateral sections which close the chain, and one also provos that the portions of the chain which join the same sections having a different width have a profile which gradually joins the later sections.

Another possible conformation of the chain of the present invention consists of the fact that the chain presents in the interior of a section having constant length two or more portions sy=etrically opposite one to the other and reciprocaily joined, both having a profile which increases or decreases, these sections having different length, different width and different inclination of the profile with respect to the taxis.

Further, it should be stressed that the invention covers all the types of chain capable of undergoing the operations of cowpression and beating such as the curb chain type, the double, the triple, the quadruple, quintuple, the type having fox tail, etc. and the surface of the chain may be glazed, similar to a diamond, brushed or embellished with different designs which may be minted or pressed in different processes.

Finally, for the purpose of manufacturing the chain of the present invention, any type of metal may be used, z precious metal as ell as non-precious metal and the rings nay be empty or solid.

The above as well as other characteristics of the invention will become more evident by reference to the accompanying drawings of which: ~~ Fig. I illustrates a first type of linking of the chain prior to the compression operation.

Fig. 2 illustrates a transversal cross-section according to line II-II' of Fig. 1 of the chain made with rings of the flat type.

Fig. 3 illustrates a transversal cross-section according to line 11-11' of Fig. 1 of the chain made with rings of the convex type.

Fig. 4 illustrates a second type of linking of the chain prior to the conpression operation.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the chain of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transversal cross-section according to line VI-VI of Fig. 4 of the chain made with rings of the flat type.

Fig. 7 illustrates a view of the surface of the chain of the invention after a beating operation.

Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of the chain of the invention alter the beating operation.

Fig. 9 illustrates a view of the surface of the chain of the type "degrade"' after the beating operation.

Fig. 10 is--a side view of the chain of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 illustrates a view of the surface of the chain of the type having a flat section or a convex section after the beating operation.

Fig. 12 illustrates a side view of the chain of Fig. 11.

As it is shown in Figs. 1-6, the chains 1 and 2 are made by using rings differently shaped and differently linked together, in particular with flat rings 3 and convex rings 4, in order to form the chain of figures 1,2,3 which is commonly called the "empty curb chain" type and rings 5 to forum the chain of Figs.

4-6 which is commonly called the "solid curb chain" type.

Due to the particular conformation of the rings and subjecting the chain obtained with the above mentioned rings to the operations of compression and beating of the gradual type which constitutes the main characteristic of the process of this invention, one obtains at the end of the process semi-finished works 6, 7 and 8 of the type shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 11 in the upper view and Figs. 8, 10, and 12 in the side view.

As shown in the above figures, the chain after the operations of compression and beating is transfo=ed in a band which is flat or slightly convex in which the rings are transformed in elements 6, 7 and 8, which in addition to forming bands which are broached and put one adjacent to the other, offer the characteristic of being perfectly mating, a fact which constitutes the characteristic of the product.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1) An ornamental chain which comprises links formed by rings, said rings being linked amongst themselves with a type of work called of the "curb chain type", double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, having a dove tail and other commonly knows types, characterized by the fact that rings (3),(4) and (5) are shaped in such a manner to present a profile which makes the reciprocal approach easier and characterized by the fact that the said rings have been subjected to the operation of compression and beating of the gradual type.

2) The chain according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that said chain has several elements and a surface and on said surface broached bands are formed, said bands are one next to the other, and offset with respect one to the other, and said surface is free of discontinuity or spaces between one element and the next element of said chain.

3) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the rings which constitute the chain are made of a thread, said rings are empty or solid, flat or convex, made of precious metal or non-preclous metal and they are obtained with alloys of different colors, differed. diameter of said thread and different shape.

4) The chain according to one or more of the preceding clams characterized by the fact that said chain has a profile, the profile is of the degrade' type and has variation of the dimensions in at least one direction of the length and in the direction of the thickness, the chain has a different profile in different portions and the profile joins said portions gradually.

5) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that said chain has a surface and said surface is glazed, similar to a diamond, is brushed or is embellished with coined designs or designs pressed thereon.

6) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that it offers a transversal cross-section of the flat type.

7) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that it has a transversal cross-section of the convex type.

8) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that it has in the interior thereof a section having constant width and two portions symmetrically opposite to one another, said two portions being reciprocally joined, both said portions having an increasing or decreasing profile.

9) The chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that it has two portions symmetrically opposite one to the other with an increasing or decreasing profile and a portion of a constant width is interposed between said two portions.

10) A chain according to one or more of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that it has 2 plurality of portions having increasing or decreasing profile.