WO2007038886A1

WO2007038886A1 - Clip for jewellery

Info

Publication number: WO2007038886A1
Application number: PCT/CH2006/000522
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine Glauser
Original assignee: Antoine Glauser
Priority date: 2005-10-03
Filing date: 2006-09-28
Publication date: 2007-04-12
Also published as: CH698889B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a clip for jewellery, comprising a rigid elastic wire which is designed to support a sphere or a spherically-symmetric polyhedron. The aforementioned wire forms a closed spatial curve on a sphere having a diameter that is approximately equal to the sphere or the polyhedron to be supported, said curve corresponding essentially to the sphere defined by the following Cartesian equation: X = a cos t + b cos 3t; Y = a sin t - b sin 3t; Z = c sin 2t. The curve is formed on a sphere having centre O and radius d = a + b, and c = ∑ab, wherein d is constant and b varies from a to 2a/3. The curve formed by the wire comprises two curved loops, such as to create four openings having the form of drops or a U in side view.

Description

Clip for jewelry.

The invention relates to a clip for jewelry, that is to say a clamp for maintaining a sphere or a polyhedron having a spherical symmetry, especially in precious or semi-precious or artificial material, for example gold, spinel , rock crystal, sapphire or synthetic ruby, so as to constitute a jewel, including an earring, a ring, a fibula, a pendant, a necklace or a bracelet.

The documents FR 2763803 and FR 2763805 describe suspension devices for balls or spheres constituting pendants or key-rings. The device defined in patent FR 2763803 describes a device constituted by folding or bending a continuous rod. This rod constitutes an elastic arc and encloses between its two ends a sphere according to a diameter of said sphere. The device defined in patent FR 2763805 describes a sphere support obtained from a section constituting a rod wound in a spiral shape around said sphere. In both cases an inadvertent dislodgement of the sphere is relatively easy, These devices also have the characteristic that the sphere is not interchangeable with spheres of different diameters and / or materials. _

The invention aims to provide a clip that does not have the drawbacks of known devices, that is to say a clip having a better hold of the sphere reducing the risk of unintentional dislodgement, and a great ease of change of the sphere, particularly with regard to its diameter, allowing the use of spheres of different diameters. In addition, the invention also aims to provide a clip having an improved ergonomics with respect to its attachment in the fabrics, in other words the invention aims to provide a clip for jewelry that has very little risk of getting caught in a fabric, such as a jacket or sweater.

These objects are achieved with a jewelry clip according to the invention defined in claim 1. The advantages and characteristics of the jewelry clip of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description of embodiments given solely by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a front view of an embodiment.

Figure 2 shows the same embodiment as Figure 1 but in profile view. FIG. 3 schematically represents a plan view, that is to say a view from above, of the same embodiment as that represented in FIG. 1.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show the same embodiment as that of Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the same representations, but now an opaque sphere. Figure 7 shows the same embodiment as that of Figures 1, 2 and 3, but seen at an intermediate angle between that of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 8 shows the same embodiment as Figure 7, but now an opaque sphere.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 show another embodiment respectively in views identical to those of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

FIG. 12 represents the different phases of the embodiment of the embodiment represented in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show an embodiment different from that of FIG. 1, in views identical to those of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 represent a variant of the form of FIG. execution shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15, in views identical to those of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figures 19, 20 and 21 show a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, in the same views.

According to FIGS. 1 to 3, a jewelry clip according to the invention, represented in its preferred embodiment, consists of a wire of continuous circular section deformed so as to follow a curve drawn on a sphere of center O and whose parametric Cartesian equation is as follows: X = a cos t + a cos 3t

Y = a sin t - a sin 3t

Z = a sin 2t,

With d = 2a radius of the sphere, c = a, and d constant.

This curve materialized by a wire constitutes an elastic cage intended to maintain a sphere or a polyhedron with spherical symmetry, for example: a cube, an icosahedron. Said sphere or polyhedron, which is not part of the invention, can be of any material, for example metal, stone, wood, or even be a seed like a walnut.

The maintenance of the sphere has a balanced distribution, in particular by the six contact areas A and E, C and G, B, D, F, H of the clip with the sphere. Indeed, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, which is the preferred embodiment, the materialized curve is a dice having two points of contact AE and CG, and represents in top view a quadrifolium (Fig. 3). However, it is also possible in other embodiments that the curve has no point of contact AE and CG of the wire with itself, as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15, or presents only one only contact point CG, as shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18.

The realization of the curve is made with a rigid elastic material, for example: gold alloys, silver alloys, alloys of non-precious metals, plastics. Preferably, "Phynox" or "Nivaflex" will be used for their elasticity and their little or no oxidizable side.

In Figures 4, 5 and 6 there is shown the embodiment of Figure 1 now a sphere 1 of opaque material, for example a bead.

In order to show clearly the spatial side of a clip according to the invention, FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a view at an intermediate angle between that of FIGS. 1 and 2, and at figure 8 the same shape in a similar view but now a sphere 1 in opaque material. Figures 9, 10 and 11 show an embodiment comprising means for securing it, for the purpose of using it for an earring or as a pendant. Indeed, the parts A and E comprise a fold constituting a loop, while the end G constitutes a hook. This embodiment makes it possible to use the invention so as to constitute the elements of a bracelet or a necklace.

FIG. 12 diagrammatically shows the various phases of the embodiment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11. As can be seen in FIG. 12a, a straight wire was first taken on which one has created at both ends of the hooks 2, 3, and on its central part, at an identical distance from each end of the loops 4, 5. Thereafter the wire has been folded so as to constitute an eight, shown in Figure 12b . Finally, the two loops of said eight have been folded and rounded to form the quadrifolium shown in Figure 12c. The assembly of the parts 2, 3 and 4, 5, and / or their attachment to support elements, is carried out by any known means, for example by riveting, by welding, by gluing, by crimping, or by a combination of them. Then, depending on the material used, the part will undergo heat treatment, in order to fix it in its shape and to increase its strength and elasticity. Some embodiments (see Figures 13, 14 and 15) will include no fastening system, simply the spatial shape of the wire will have an elastic form sufficiently stable to withstand elastic deformations.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 show a variant having only one point of contact C, G. In this embodiment it will be easier to introduce a sphere, inside the cage formed by the wire, by separating the two parts A and E, while having a contact at points C and G for a central fixing area.

Figures 19, 20 and 21 show an embodiment similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but having attachment means at points A and E. The invention defines a means for retaining a sphere or polyhedron with spherical symmetry, which can be used alone or in several copies of identical or different sizes, fixed on a support constituting a jewel, for example a bracelet or a pendant.

The invention may also be used as a clasp, especially for a bracelet or a collar, in that it will be easy to introduce into a clip according to the invention (for example as shown in FIGS. 13, 14 and 15). ) a sphere linked to others, for example in a pearl necklace. The clip will be attached to one end of the necklace or bracelet while the other end of said necklace or bracelet will end with one or more spheres, one of which may be retained in the clip.

Claims

Claims.

1. Jewelry clip consisting of a rigid elastic wire for maintaining a sphere or polyhedron having a spherical symmetry, characterized in that said wire constitutes a closed spatial curve inscribed on a sphere of diameter approximately equal to the sphere or polyhedron that it must maintain, said curve following essentially the curve defined by the following Cartesian equation:

X = cos t + b cos 3t

Y = a sin t-b sin 3t

Z = c sin 2t,

curve drawn on a sphere of center O and radius d = a + b, and c = Vab, with constant d and b varying from a to 2a / 3, the curve constituted by the wire is composed of two curved loops creating four openings in the form of drops (Fig. 1) or U (Fig. 13, 16) in lateral view.

2. Clip according to claim 1, characterized in that the curve followed by the wire is a delta having the following parameter: a = b, whose top view is a quadrifolium (Figure 3).

3. Clip according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the section of the wire is circular, elliptical or oval.

4. Clip according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the section of the wire is polygonal, for example said section is rectangular or square.

5. Clip according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the wire is gold, plastic or material little or not oxidizable.

6. Clip according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises means for attaching it to an element so as to constitute a jewel, including an earring, a ring, a pendant, a fibula , a bracelet or a necklace.