GB2239161A

GB2239161A - Item of jewellery

Info

Publication number: GB2239161A
Application number: GB8929105A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl George Winn
Original assignee: C W JEWELLERY MANUFACTURERS LI
Current assignee: C W JEWELLERY MANUFACTURERS LI
Priority date: 1989-12-22
Filing date: 1989-12-22
Publication date: 1991-06-26
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-22
Also published as: GB8929105D0; GB2239161B

Abstract

An item of jewellery such as a hollow earring comprises first 1 and second 2 parts which each comprise a shell affording convex and concave faces, each of the parts affording, at their edges 4, 5 formations which interfit with one another. The pans 1, 2 are joined by means of a joining material such as solder applied to the item in the region of the formations at the edges 4, 5. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Item of Jewellery" Description of Invention This invention relates to an item of jewellery and a method of making the item.

It is known to make items of hollow jewellery by joining together parts which comprise the item by applying solder powder to a surface or surfaces of the parts, which surfaces abut against one another in the finished item, and which surfaces usually are provided at an edge of the parts, and clamping the parts together and then passing the assembly through an oven to melt the solder and thus, after cooling, securing the parts together. However, the following problems often arise during this method of manufacture.

During heating the parts and/or clamping means which clamp the parts together often move so that the parts are not properly juxtaposed.

Moreover, sometimes the solder becomes too fluid and escapes from the interface between the two parts leaving gaps between the abutting surfaces of the parts so that the joining thereof is unsatisfactory.

According a first aspect of the invention, we provide an item of jewellery comprising first and second parts which each provide an edge, the edge of the first part being located within the edge of the second part.

The edges of the first and second parts may define complementary shapes.

The first and second parts may each comprise a shell having a concave and a convex face, the edges being afforded at or near a lip of at least one of the concave or the convex faces.

The item of jewellery may be hollow.

Preferably, the edge of the first part comprises a first formation which interfits with a second formation comprising the edge of the second part and preferably the first and second formations each are flanges the dimensions of which are such that the first formation nests snugly within the second formation.

The parts may be joined together by means of a joining material such as solder.

The item may be an earring.

According to a second aspect of the invention, we provide a method of making an item of jewellery comprising the steps of: Applying a joining material to, or adjacent to, at least one of an edge of a first part of an item according to Claim 1 and an edge of a second part of an item according to Claim 1, juxtaposing the first and second parts and bringing them together such that the edges thereof interfit with one another, and curing or setting the joining material such that the first and second parts are permanently secured to one another.

The method may include the step of holding the two parts together in a clamp during the curing or setting process.

Preferably, the joining material is solder powder, and the setting or curing step includes heating the assembly of first and second parts with the solder powder in an oven so that the solder powder is fluidised and then cooling the assembly so that the solder adheres to both parts and secures them to one another.

The joining material may comprise an adhesive.

The parts of the item may comprise parts of an item in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hollow earring comprising two parts which have been joined together; FIGURE 2 is a section through the earring taken on the line A-A in Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a section through an earring of different shape to that shown in Figure 1 taken on a similar section line with reference to an eye of such an earring as the line A-A is taken with respect to the eye in the earring as shown in Figure 1.

A hollow earring comprises first 1 and second 2 parts respectively. The parts 1, 2 each comprise a shell which affords concave and convex faces. Each of the parts 1, 2 affords an eye 3, but it will be 4 that only one of the parts 1, 2 need afford an eye. The eye 3 affords means by which the earring may be secured to the ear of a user thereof by means of a pin or ring or such like. Longitudinally extending edges 4, 5 of the first and second parts respectively interfit with one another such that an edge 4 of the first part 1 is located within the edge 5 of the second part 2. The edges 4, 5 of the parts 1, 2 define the same shape in longitudinal section so that the first and second parts may be assembled together with an edge 4 of the first part fitting snugly within the edge 5 of the second part.

In the item of jewellery as shown in Figure 3, the edges 4, 5 simply comprise respective lips of the first and second parts 1, 2 respectively. However, in the earring shown in Figures 1 and 2 the interfitting edges 4, 5 comprise formations which are specially adapted to interfit with one another.

The earring as shown in Figure 1 is formed applying powdered solder to or near one or both of the edges 4, 5 of the parts 1, 2, assembling the parts 1, 2 together so that the edges 4, 5 interfit as shown in the drawings and then passing the assembled parts through an oven so that the solder is liquified. After the solder is cooled, the parts 1, 2 are permanently secured to one another.

It will be understood, if desired, an adhesive other than powdered solder may be used in order to secure the parts 1, 2 together and, moreover, the earring could be formed from two parts which are joined at a transversely extending interface rather than a longitudinally extending interface. Moreover, if desired, the hollow earring could be formed of more than two parts and the method could be applied to earrings of many shapes and to produce items of jewellery other than earrings.

Using the method according to the invention the first and second parts 1, 2 are less likely to become dislodged from one another during the curing or setting process thus resulting in a greater proportion of satisfactorily joined parts during manufacture of the earrings than is presently obtained using conventional methods.

Especially using first and second parts such as those shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which a flange is afforded on each part 1, 2 because the respective edges 4, 5 thereof comprise a distinct formation thereof, the possibility of solder leaking out from the region of interface between the two parts 1, 2 during heating is considerably reduced.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in the terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, or a class or group of substances or compositions, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An item of jewellery comprising first and second parts which each provide an edge, the edge of the first part being located within the edge of the second part.

2. An item according to claim 1 in which the edges of the first and second parts define complementary shapes.

3. An item according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the first and the second parts each comprise a shell having a concave and convex face, the edges being afforded at or near a lip of at least one of the concave or the convex faces.

4. ' An item according to any one of the preceding claims which is hollow.

5. An item according to any one of the preceding claims in which the edge of the first part comprises a first formation which interfits with a second formation comprising the edge of the second part.

6. An item according to claim 5 in which the first and second formations each are flanges, the dimensions of which are such that the first formation nests snugly within the second formation.

7. An item according to any one of the preceding claims in which the parts are joined together by means of a joining material such as solder.

8. An item according to any one of the preceding claims which is a earring.

9. An item substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of making an item of jewellery comprising the steps of: a) applying a joining material to, or adjacent to, at least one of the edge of the first part of an item according to claim 1 and an edge of a second part of an item according to claim 1, b) juxtaposing the first and second parts and bringing them together such that the edges thereof interfit with one another c) curing or setting the joining material such that the first and second parts are permanently secured to one another.

11. A method according to claim 10 which includes a step of holding the two parts together in a clamp during the curing or setting process.

12. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the joining material is solder powder and the setting or curing step includes heating the assembly of first and second parts with the solder powder in an oven so that the solder powder is fluidised and then cooling the assembly so that the solder adheres to both parts and secures them to one another.

13. A method according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the joining material comprises an adhesive.

14. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13 in which the parts of the item comprise parts of an item in accordance with claims 1 to 9.

15. A method substantially as descibed hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.

16. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.