GB2349849A

GB2349849A - Jewellery or other articles formed by inlaying a member into the recess of a support

Info

Publication number: GB2349849A
Application number: GB9910979A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Earnest Powers
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-13
Filing date: 1999-05-13
Publication date: 2000-11-15
Also published as: GB9910979D0

Abstract

A member 10 (eg of precious metal) is inlaid into a recess 6 of a metal support 4 to form eg a pendant jewellery cross, the recess being surrounded by an upstanding metal rim 8. Force is then applied downwardly (in direction A) to expand the rim laterally so as to extend 12,14 over the peripheral edges of the inlay member 10 and grip those edges against the base of the recess.

Description

2349849 A METHOD OF INLAYING This invention relates to a method of

inlaying an inlay member into a metal member.

The invention also concerns a metal member or article bearing an inlay member inlaid by the method.

The metal member may be or form part of a jewellery article.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of inlaying in which an inlay member may be readily and securely inlaid into a metal member.

According to the invention a method of inlaying an inlay member into a metal member comprises providing a metal support member with a recess therein having an upstanding rim part along at least part of a periphery of said recess, placing an inlay member in the recess with a peripheral edge part of the inlay member alongside said rim part, applying force to the support member to compress the rim part relative to its upstanding direction to expand said rim part laterally whereby a lateral expansion of the rim part is into the recess so that an expanded portion of said rim part extends over said edge part of the inlay member and grips the edge part against a base of the recess.

The inlay member may be formed of metal. Either or both the support member and the inlay member may be formed of precious metal for example silver, gold or platinum.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

2 Figure 1 is a plan view of a recessed metal support member for use in the method according to the invention to make an inlaid jewellery item in the form of a pendant; Figure 2 is a plan view of an inlay member to be inlaid into the support member in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on line III-III in Figure 1 taken when the inlay member in Figure 2 is disposed in the recess in the support member; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 after compression of a rim on the support member; and Figure 5 illustrates an enlargement of the region encircled at V in Figure 4.

With reference to the drawing an item 2 comprises a metal support member 4 formed with a recess 6 surrounded by a peripheral rim 8 which is upstanding from a planar base of the recess. The metal support member 4 and its recess 6 may be simultaneously or separately formed using one or more dies.

An inlay member 10 which may be flat or planar, and may be of metal, has a peripheral shape substantially the same as that of the recess 6 so that when the inlay member is placed in the recess the peripheral edge of the inlay is near to or against the rim 8 at the periphery of the recess (see Figure 3). The upright rim 8 is compressed by force applied thereto along direction A, for example by a press or forging technique, causing 3 the rim to bulge or expand laterally as bulges indicated at 12 and 14 in Figures 4 and 5. The rim expansion 12 bulges inwardly of the recess 6 and over the edge of the inlay member 10 so as to grip, retain or press the edge of the inlay member against the base of the recess.

In Figure 1 the metal item 2 can be a jewellery item in the form of a pendant which in Figure 1 is cross-shaped and may have one of a pair of inter-linked rings 12 secured to it for, for example, attachment to a chain.

The support member 4 may be formed of any suitable metal, and as such that may include a precious metal, for example silver, gold, or platinum. The inlay member 10 may also be formed of a precious metal, for example the aforesaid silver, gold, or platinum.

Preferably, the inlay member 10 and the support member 4 are of different colours, for example different shades or types of gold.

The method of inlaying may be used to form other jewellery items, for example rings, earrings, broaches, clips, necklaces, bracelets. Or the method may be used to form non-jewellery items, for example handles of cutlery or other articles, plates, dishes, bowls, cups, containers, panels.

Alternatively to metal, the inlay member 10 may be formed of any suitable non-metallic material, for example paper, cardboard, textile fabric, synthetic plastics material, bone, horn, mother of pearl, semiprecious stones or minerals, or tough glass or ceramic.

If desired the rim 8 may be interrupted.

Claims

4 CLAIMS

1 A method of inlaying an inlay member into a metal member comprising providing a metal support member with a recess therein having an upstanding rim part along at least part of a periphery of said recess, placing an inlay member in the recess with a peripheral edge part of the inlay member alongside said rim part, applying force to the support member to compress the rim part relative to its upstanding direction to expand said rim part laterally whereby the lateral expansion of the rim part is into the recess so that an expanded portion of said rim part extends over said edge part of the inlay member and grips the edge part against a base of the recess.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the inlay member is a substantially planar member.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which said base is substantially planar.

4. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which said rim part extends substantially continuously around the recess.

5. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which a die is used in forming the recess.

6. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the inlay member is formed of metal.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, in which the inlay member is formed of precious metal.

8. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the support member is formed of precious metal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, in which the precious metal is silver, gold, or platinum.

10. A method of inlaying an inlay member into a metal member, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the 10 accompanying drawing.

11. An article of metal comprising a metal support member bearing an inlay member inlaid into the support member by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10. 15

12. An article as claimed in claim 11, in which the article is a jewellery article.

13. A jewellery article as claimed in claim 12, in which the article is a 20 pendant.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A method of inlaying an inlay member into a metal member comprising providing a metal support member with a recess therein having an upstanding rim part along at least part of a periphery of said recess, placing an inlay member in the recess with a peripheral edge part of the inlay member alongside said rim part, applying force to the support member to compress the rim part relative to its upstanding direction to expand said rim part laterally whereby a lateral expansion of the rim part is into the recess so that an expanded portion of said rim part extends over said edge part of the inlay member and grips the edge part against a base of the recess.

1 1 - 1 1 1 1 ') 0 1 1 1 -7 8. A method as claimed in any one preceding claim, in which the support member is formed of precious metal.

10. A method of inlaying an inlay member into a metal member, substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to the 10 accompanying drawing.

11. An article of metal comprising a metal support member bearing an inlay member inlaid into the support member by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10. 15 12. An article as claimed in claim 11, in which the article is a jewellery article.