Abstract:
A method of creating memorial jewelry using a precious metal pliable moldable substance and combining it with ash from cremated animal or human remains.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM  
       [0001]     This patent claims priority based upon the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/696197 on Jul. 1, 2005. 
     
    
     FEDERAL FUNDS NOTICE  
       [0002]     No Federal money or grant was used in the development of this invention.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Far into the distant past, it is known that the living have attempted to memorialize those who have passed on from this world. Early literature refers to the keeping of a lock of hair of the deceased, and gravestone markers are usually made of a long lasting material such as stone. According to Buddhist sources, the Buddha&#39;s cremated remains were divided among eight Indian rulers, who enshrined them in reliquary mounds known as “Stupas”. For thousands of years, the ashes of certain living Buddhas, feudal lords and people of high status have had their bone ashes mixed with mud and rubbed into mud balls which are then buried in a coffin. Recently there has been a trend towards the creation of articles of manufacture which contain actual parts of the decedent loved one.  
         [0004]     For instance, “Reef balls,” which are hollow concrete cones cast with grapefruit size holes in them, are widely bought by costal states and used to create fish habitats offshore. Now, some persons after cremation are having their ashes mixed with concrete and formed into “Reef balls” which are then deposited on the ocean floor.  
         [0005]     This invention is directed to a way to create memorial jewelry using a commercially available substance known by such names as “Clay Containing Precious Metal”, “Precious Metal Clay®” or “Art Clay®” and combining it with ash from cremated animal or human remains. These “Clays containing precious metals” are not really clay however. They are more accurately described as “Precious Metal Pliable Moldable Substances” which consist of extremely fine, precious metal powder, suspended in an organic binder. When heated to a high temperature, the binder burns off and the metal powder fuses together, leaving behind a solid piece of pure silver or gold. For purposes of this application, the term “clay containing precious metal” or similar terms wherever used are meant as synonyms for these Precious Metal Pliable Moldable Substances regardless of how they are described by their commercial names.  
       RELATED ART  
       [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,720 (Yamamoto) discloses a portable tomb containing DNA fragments of tissue sealed in a transparent container.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,369 and 5,836,265 (Barber) describe “Reef Balls”.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,028 (Volpe) describes a portable modular underwater burial marine habitat utilizing reef balls which can contain human remains.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,785,938 (Johansen) discloses a crematory urn in the shape of the deceased.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,615,463 (Hojaji) discloses a method to convert ashes or other remains into solid objects requiring precise calcining, additives and homogenization.  
         [0011]     However none of these patents has the simplicity and ease of use that the present invention does for creating memorial jewelry.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     The present invention is for a very efficient process to create memorial jewelry out of commercially available Precious Metal Pliable Moldable Substances by combining them with ash from cremated animal or human remains that is to be the basis of the memorial.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     Ash from a cremated human or animal is pulverized slightly to reduce the size of the particles to the approximate consistency of typical beach sand. The particle size does not need to be precise. Larger particles add more texture to the finished product and finer particles leave the finished product with a smoother finish. The pulverized ash is then mixed with a precious metal pliable moldable substance, in approximately a ratio of 1:10 parts ash to precious metal pliable moldable substance. Other substances such as beach sand, hair, earth, plant, or flower clippings may also be used to create a piece of memorial jewelry embodying the desired substance.  
         [0014]     “Precious Metal Pliable Moldable Substances”, or “Clay Containing Precious Metals” are common terms used for a type of commercially available substance containing precious metal comprised of precious metal components of approximately 80% of gold, silver or other precious metals, mixed with organic binders and water. After firing, the end product is 99.9% pure silver or 24 k gold. Currently the best known embodiments commercially available in the United States by registered trademark names are: Precious Metal Clay (PMC®) produced by Mitsubishi Materials Corp., and Art Clay®, sold by Aida Chemical Industries, both headquartered in Japan. Both companies have introduced several versions of their product to meet different needs.  
         [0015]     Typical examples of the best embodiment currently available by product model names would be PMC Original, PMC Plus, PMC 3, and PMC Gold manufactured by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation and distributed in the United States by Rio Grande in Albuquerque. Also, Art Clay Silver Standard, Art Clay Silver Low Fire Series, and Art Clay Gold manufactured by Aida Chemical Industries in Japan and distributed in the United States by Art Clay World in Oaklawn, Ill.  
         [0016]     Once the precious metal pliable moldable substance and ash are mixed, and a jewelry design is selected, the mixture is formed either by freehand, pushed into a mold, or manipulated in such a way as to form a piece of unfinished jewelry. The unfinished jewelry is next air dried and then fired in a kiln or torched by hand to a temperature not exceeding 1650 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of clay containing precious metal that is used. All currently known commercially available versions of precious metal pliable moldable substances can usually be fired together as long as the temperature does not go above 1650 degrees F. (900 degrees C.). Refer to  FIG. 2  for an example of the time and temperature schedules needed to achieve a dense metal suitable for creating the jewelry embodied by this invention process. After firing the unfinished jewelry is cooled in water or air to approximately 70° F. and then polished by tumbler and/or by hand to desired smoothness. The memorial jewelry is then ready to wear or carry. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  describes the process flow starting with the ashes from a cremated human or animal, mixing the ashes with clay containing precious metal (aka a precious metal pliable moldable substance), forming a jewelry design, firing, and finishing the memorial jewelry.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a chart that describes the optimal time and temperature needed to achieve a dense metal suitable for creating the jewelry embodied by this invention process using the best known embodiment comprised of the commercially available products, PMC, PMC+, and PMC3 manufactured by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an initial ash residue from a cremated human or animal ( 1 ) which is then pulverized slightly to reduce the size of the particles to the approximate consistency of typical beach sand ( 2 ); The particles are then mixed with clay containing precious metal (aka a precious metal pliable moldable substance) in approximately a ratio of 1:10 parts ash to clay containing precious metal by volume ( 3 ); Once the jewelry design is selected ( 4 ); the mixture is formed either by freehand, pushed into a mold, or manipulated in such a way as to form a piece of unfinished jewelry ( 5 ); The unfinished clay containing precious metal (aka a precious metal pliable moldable substance) and ash mixture is then air dried ( 6 ); The clay containing precious metal (aka precious metal pliable moldable substance) and ash mixture is then fired in a kiln or torched by hand to a temperature not exceeding 1650 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of clay containing precious metal (aka precious metal pliable moldable substance) that is used ( 7 ); The fired jewelry is cooled in water or air to approximately 70 degrees F. ( 8 ); and then polished by tumbler and/or by hand to desired smoothness ( 9 ); The memorial jewelry is now ready to wear or carry ( 10 ).  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows that the temperature and time for firing can be as long as 30 minutes at 1,110 [deg] F. and as short as 10 minutes at 1,650 [deg] depending on what type of precious metal clay (aka precious metal pliable moldable substance) is being used.