WO2009077756A1

WO2009077756A1 - A mounting device for a precious stone

Info

Publication number: WO2009077756A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/004168
Authority: WO
Inventors: Louisa Taylor; Jason Holt; Robin Wells
Original assignee: R. Holt & Co. Limited
Priority date: 2007-12-17
Filing date: 2008-12-17
Publication date: 2009-06-25
Also published as: GB0724530D0; GB2455712A; GB2455712B

Abstract

A mounting device for an article (5) of a predetermined shape, such as a gemstone, has two article engaging members (1, 2) each having opposed first and second engaging face sections (12, 13) adapted to engage an associated edge face of the article (5). The two members (1, 2) are adapted to be releasably secured together to form a mount in which the first face sections (12) are juxtaposed to form a first article engaging face and the second face sections (13) are juxtaposed to form a second article engaging face opposed to said the first engaging face. The engaging faces are shaped to mate with the edge face of the article (5) to restrain the movement of the article relative to the mount in three dimensions.

Description

A MOUNTING DEVICE FOR A PRECIOUS STONE

The present invention relates to a mounting device for holding an article, particularly but not exclusively, a precious or semiprecious stone, in such a way that the article is held securely in the device but is releasable to enable another article of generally the same size and shape to be put in its place.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand in the jewellery industry for consumers to be able to customise their own jewellery. In order to do this it is known to provide a number of elements or components which can be added to or taken away from a main item of jewellery, such as a necklace or bracelet, to create a different effect. If the article includes a gemstone it is often the most expensive part of the item of jewellery and it can therefore be costly to change. This is particularly the case with gemstones which are usually held securely in a setting and it is this entire setting which has to be added or removed from the item of jewellery. Traditionally, stones are held in a setting within a piece of jewellery normally using metal which means that the stone is permanently retained in the metal part of the jewellery.

It has been proposed to have a gemstone holding system in which the stone can be removed from the system but in these known systems the stones are held in place by threads or other means which involves piercing the stone in order to hold it to the base setting. This inevitably detracts from the full beauty of the stone as it is only seen in context in the metal setting as it cannot be released and held as a complete and separate article. The holes also damage and disfigure the stone and reduce its inherent value considerably.

It is also known to grip a gemstone with a resilient force provided by a resilient ring with resilient arms, but this device has the disadvantage that if the gripping force is strong enough to ensure that the stone cannot be accidentally dislodged under any circumstances, the engaging force has to be so large as to risk damage to the stone. Furthermore, this solution can only be used, from a practical point of view, with base metals having a high modulus of elasticity, which are able to generate a high clamping force. The concept would not be practical using precious metals such as 18 carat gold and silver, which are relatively soft and unable to generate a significant resilient force. The present invention seeks to provide a solution to the problems associated with the known systems.

According to the present invention there is provided a mounting device for an article of a predetermined shape, including two article engaging members each having opposed first and second engaging face sections adapted to engage an associated edge face of the article, the two members being adapted to be releasably secured together in a positive interlocking manner to form a mount in which the first face sections are juxtaposed to form a first article engaging face and the second face sections are juxtaposed to form a second article engaging face opposed to said the first engaging face, the engaging faces being shaped to mate with the edge face of the article to restrain the movement of the article relative to the mount in three dimensions.

Preferably, the article engaging faces are curved in two mutually perpendicular planes. The device may also include first resilient means arranged to bias the article into engagement with the article engaging faces.

The first resilient means may comprise a curved elongate spring mounted in one of the article engaging members and adapted to urge the article into the article engaging faces.

Preferably, the first resilient means is located in a groove in one of said engaging members.

Preferably, the two article engaging members are biased together and secured together by second resilient means, in which case, the second resilient means may comprise a curved member located in a groove in one of the engaging members so as to project from the groove, the other engaging member having a lip engageable over the resilient means, the resilience thereof acting on the lip such as to firmly clasp the two members together.

Preferably, the device comprises, or is adapted to be connected to, a ring, broach, ear ring, necklace or bracelet, and the article comprises one of the group consisting of; a precious or semi-precious stone, a decorative article, and/or a watch. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows a top view of a device holding an oval stone,

Figure 2 shows an exploded top view of the device,

Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 2 with one engaging part in position,

Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1 ,

Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the device of Figure 4 with one spring in place,

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of Figure 5 with two springs in place,

Figures 7 and 8 show the device being finally assembled,

Figures 9 to 12 shows the device being secured to a ring,

Figure 13 shows the device arranged as a pendant,

Figure 14 shows the device as stud earrings,

Figure 15 shows the device incorporated in a bracelet formed of thin strips of rubber, leather or plastic spaced apart by metal spaces,

Figure 16 shows an enlarged scrap view of a stone with its mounting contact points,

Figure 17 shows a presentation box for the product,

Figure 18 shows a tool for separating the two engaging members, and

Figures 19 to 26 show the presentation box and the process of assembling and disassembling the device.

Referring now to Figures 1-8, there is shown a device consisting of two engaging members, 1 and 2, adapted to the secured together to form a holding device to hold securely a gemstone 3 in a mount. The two engaging members 1 and 2 consist of essentially C-shaped elements having at their free ends inwardly directed opposing first and second face sections 12 and 13, and are, in the essential shape, a mirror image of each other.

When the two engaging members are secured together, the opposing first face sections 12 are juxtaposed to form a first engaging face which is curved in two mutually perpendicular planes. The opposing second face sections 13 are similarly juxtaposed to form a second engaging face which is also curved in two mutually perpendicular planes and is opposed to the first engaging face. The profile of the engaging faces is shaped to be substantially identical to an edge or edge face of the gemstone so that the stone 3 is a close fit between the engaging faces. To secure the stone in the device, the stone is located in a first one of the engaging members 2, as shown in Figures 3 and 7, and then the second engaging member 1 is offered up and clipped to the first member are means to be described hereinafter. The device is thus assembled as shown in Figure 1 in which the engaging faces project slightly over the top of the gemstone so as to prevent it lifting out of the mount whilst the curve of the engaging faces in the plane perpendicular to this engages round the edge of the gemstone so as to prevent the gemstone moving laterally. The gemstone is thus located securely in all three dimensions in such a way that a minimum amount of the stone face is obscured by the mounting. In a preferred embodiment, the components of the device are formed of a precious metal, preferably 18 carat gold.

Referring now to Figures 4 to 8 and 16, there is shown the manner in which the parts are assembled. As shown in Figure 4, the engaging member 2 has a curved leaf spring 4 of rectangular cross-section which is designed to fit into a recess 14 in the engaging member 2 and acts to bias the stone upwardly into engagement with the engaging faces to eliminate any free play which might arise due to slight variations in the size and shape of the stone or other article to be secured in the device. However, the mount does not rely on the resilient force to prevent the gemstone falling out of the mount This is achieved by the wrap round effect of the engaging members.

The first engaging member 1 has a groove 15 extending around its inner periphery which is adapted to accommodate an engaging spring 5 which is of circular cross-section and essentially C-shaped to extend over substantially the entire length of the engaging member 1 and to project from the groove 15. The engaging member 2 includes an upstanding flange 16 which is adapted to enter into the first engaging member to be a close fit therein. The flange 16 has a lip in the form of a rib 17 or projection extending around the periphery of the flange 16 which is arranged to engage the engaging spring 5 in the first engaging member to thereby secure the two engaging members 1 , 2 together in such a way that the engaging spring 5 provides a resilient bias to bias the two engaging members together

Referring now to Figures 9 to 11, there is shown an embodiment of the invention in which the mount is secured to a ring 6. In this embodiment, one of the engaging members has two spaced projections 19 which are adapted to engage with corresponding recesses in the ring 6. The device is then assembled in the same manner as previously described to form the ring as shown in Figure 11. Figure 12 shows an alternative embodiment in which one of the engaging members 1 or 2 is formed integrally with a ring 7. Again, the remainder of the device is assembled as described previously.

Figure 13 discloses an arrangement in which the device forms part of a pendant necklace, being suspended from a chain or like item 9. Figure 14 shows a pair of ear rings in which the mount has secured thereto pins 20 by which the ear rings can be located in pierced ears.

Figure 15 shows a further embodiment in which the frame and gemstone are secured to a bracelet formed, in this case, of a pair of parallel rubber, leather or plastic strips11 which are held in a spaced apart condition by metal spacersiO .

It will be appreciated that these embodiments are merely illustrative and that the mount may be included in many types of pieces of jewellery, decorative items, ornaments and/or desk stands.

In order to change the gemstone, a tool 22 as shown in Figures 18, 20 and 21 has a thin blade or point 23 which is inserted between the two engaging members 1 and 2 to spring them apart to release the stone which can then be replaced by another decorative item, watch etc. The handle part of the tool is shaped to have the same profile as the engaging mount parts to facilitate securing the two parts together, as will be described hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is provided with a presentation box as shown in Figures 17-26 which includes a downwardly tapering recess 24 which facilitates the two engaging members being secured together. One of the members is placed in the recess 24 and the other member is then placed on top with the rib 17 abutting the engaging spring 5 and then the handle part of the tool 22 is placed on the device and by pushing gently down into the recess the two parts are easily clipped together. The presentation box also has a holder or recess 25 to accommodate the tool 22.

Figure 19 shows that the presentation box with the components of the device and the tool located in appropriately shaped recesses 25, 26. Figure 20 shows the assembled device with the gemstone located in the recess 24 to enable the thin blade 23 of the tool 22 to be inserted between the two engaging members to prize them apart. This serves to release the stone but the stone itself is safely located in the recess 24 so that it cannot accidentally be dropped or violently ejected. Figure 21 shows one of the engaging members removed to enable the gemstone to be released. Figure 22 shows the gemstone 3 removed from the holder. Figure 23 shows an alternative gemstone, of a different colour or different shape for example, inserted in one of the engaging members 1 , 2 which is located in the recess 24. Figure 24 shows the second engaging member placed on the gemstone to enable the tool 22 to be placed on the upper engaging member. As the profile of the handle part of the tool 22 matches the profile of the engaging member, as shown in Figure

25 the tool fits neatly over the engaging member but clear of the gemstone to thereby contact only the engaging member, so that gentle pressure downwardly pushes the engaging member until it clicks into engagement with the lower engaging member. Figure

26 shows the gemstone removed from the presentation box and the tool 22 located in its recess.

As shown in the described embodiments, the gemstone or the like is completely free of a permanent or semi-permanent attachment to any other material or product whilst the stone also does not have to be amended or processed in any way to accommodate the mounting, which allows the stone to be enjoyed to its fullest extent. Its value is also not diminished by having to be cut or otherwise interfered with to enable it to be mounted. The use of the relatively small curved engaging surfaces in the device which engage the curved periphery of the stone enables the device to securely contain the stone even though it is held at two opposing points only, without having to apply excessive force to the stone. This is in contrast to conventional mounts for items of jewellery which typically have at least three fixing points around the periphery of the stone. The present invention therefore has the advantage that by arranging the profile of the engaging faces to match that of the articles to be held in the device, maximum flexibility in the size and type of article to which the invention can be applied is achieved. Although the inherent resilience provided by the spring 4 enables the engaging members to locate slightly different sizes of stone, it is only necessary to change the engaging members themselves to enable widely differing sizes and shape of stone or other products to be mounted in the device without any other changes to the product.

Claims

1. A mounting device for an article of a predetermined shape, including two article engaging members each having opposed first and second engaging face sections adapted to engage an associated edge face of the article, the two members being adapted to be releasably secured together in a positive interlocking manner to form a mount in which the first face sections are juxtaposed to form a first article engaging face and the second face sections are juxtaposed to form a second article engaging face opposed to said the first engaging face, the engaging faces being shaped to mate with the edge face of the article to restrain the movement of the article relative to the mount in three dimensions.

2. A mounting device according to claim 1, in which the article engaging faces are curved in two mutually perpendicular planes.

3. A mounting device according to claim 1 or 2, including first resilient means arranged to bias the article into engagement with the article engaging faces

4. A mounting device according to claim 3, wherein the first resilient means comprises a curved elongate spring mounted in one of the article engaging members and adapted to urge the article into the article engaging faces.

5. A mounting device according to claim 4 wherein the first resilient means is located in a groove in one of said engaging members.

6. A mounting device according to claims 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the two article engaging members are biased together and secured together by second resilient means.

7. A mounting device according to claim 6, wherein the second resilient means comprises a curved member located in a groove in one of the engaging members so as to project from the groove, the other engaging member having a lip engageable over the resilient means the resilience thereof acting on the lip such as to firmly clasp the two members together.

8. A mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mount comprises or is adapted to be connected to a ring, broach, ear ring, necklace or bracelet.

9. A mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the article comprises one of the group consisting of; a precious or semi-precious stone, a decorative article, and a watch.