Abstract:
The present invention relates to crimpers and shears used in the jewelry making industry. The invention includes a new and improved set of tools for crimping multiple sleeve sizes used in the making of necklaces, bracelets, and the like. One embodiment provides a single tool that is operable for crimping bead sleeves of one or more sizes. Another embodiment combines both crimping and shearing functions in a single tool.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to devices for crimping and finishing beadwork. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Beadwork is the art or craft of attaching beads to one another or to cloth, usually by the use of a needle and thread or soft, flexible wire. Most cultures have employed beads for personal adornment such as jewelry. Beads have also been used for religious purposes, as good luck talismans, and as curative agents. Archaeological records show that people made and used beads as long as 5,000 years ago. 
     In modern day beadwork, beads are generally threaded onto a beading wire and secured using a crimping technique. Such techniques involve the use of a crimping device and crimp beads. The crimp beads provide a finished end of the beaded piece and create a loop for clasp attachment. 
     Modern crimping devices generally resemble a pair of pliers with a raised boss and mated recess on the inner surfaces of the plier jaws. The crimping sleeve is pressed between the boss and recess, thereby flattening the crimping sleeve against the two ends of the looped beading wire. The crimping sleeve is folded and again pressed, forming a generally u-shaped cross section. Both steps must be performed to insure a secure hold. The weakness of this method is that it has very little tolerance for error and often results in a non-secure finish to the work. 
     The present invention addresses such issues. It provides a modified crimping tool that provides a firmly secured finished end to the bead work while tolerating a wide range of craftmanship error. Moreover, the tool of the present invention eliminates the necessity to perform a second step, thereby saving time and effort. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is directed towards a new and improved tool for craft work, particularly beading. In one embodiment, the shear and crimping functions are combined in a single tool. In a second embodiment, multiple crimping positions are provided to accommodate different sleeve sizes. The crimpers of the present invention eliminate the need for a second step, thereby increasing efficiency and simplifying the process. 
     For the purposes of this invention, the term “beading wire” refers to metallic wire, plastic line, nylon coated metallic wire, monofilament line and the like used for the making of jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets. 
     With the above summary in mind, it is an objective of this invention to provide:
         a crimping tool that provides a simple, secure lock to a finished line of beadwork,   a crimping tool that can accommodate several crimping sleeve sizes into a single tool.   A crimping tool that can provide both shearing and crimping functions into a single tool.       

     These goals are realized by the following sets of embodiments. 
     First Set of Embodiments 
     A crimper for beadwork is described. The crimper ( 101 ) comprises a first crossed member and a second crossed member. The first crossed member has a first handle at one end, a first jaw ( 105 ) at the opposite end and a first joint section ( 106 ) in between. The second crossed member has a second handle at one end, a second jaw ( 104 ) at the opposite end and a second joint section in between. The first joint section is rotatably connected to the second joint section in a scissor-like fashion. 
     The first jaw of the first crossed member has a first long dimension and a first width. A recessed dip ( 102 ) is positioned across the first width of the first jaw ( 105 ). The second jaw ( 104 ) of the second crossed member has a second long dimension and a second width. A protruding boss ( 103 ) is positioned across the second width of the second jaw ( 104 ), such that a crimping site is formed by the protruding boss ( 103 ) being mateably positioned within the recessed dip ( 102 ) as the jaws are closed. 
     The protruding boss further has a serrated surface. The serrated surface comprises a parallel series of alternating teeth and grooves. The parallel series is perpendicular to the long dimension of the second jaw, such that upon deployment of a wire-threaded beading sleeve between the jaws of the crossed members, a crimp is formed that disrupts and prevents any direct line of force being applied to the wires across the length of the crimping sleeve. 
     The crimper of the first embodiment may further comprising an additional crimping site. The additional crimping site is identical to the original crimping site except that it is spatially offset and is of a different size. The first jaw may further comprises a first tip opposite the first joint section. The second jaw may further comprises a second tip opposite the second joint section, and wherein cutting blades are incorporated into the first tip and the second tip, such that the crimper is enabled to perform the functions of both crimping and cutting. Multiple crimping sites may be incorporated as well. 
     Second Set of Embodiments 
     A crimper for beadwork is described. The crimper comprises a first crossed member and a second crossed member. The first crossed member has a first handle at one end, a first jaw at the opposite end and a first joint section in between. The second crossed member has a second handle at one end, a second jaw at the opposite end and a second joint section in between. The first joint section is rotatably connected to the second joint section in a scissor-like fashion. 
     The first jaw of the first crossed member has a first long dimension and a first width. A recessed dip is positioned across the first width of the first jaw. The second jaw of the second crossed member has a second long dimension and a second width. A protruding boss is positioned across the second width of the second jaw, such that a crimping site is formed by the protruding boss being mateably positioned within the recessed dip as the jaws are closed. 
     The recessed dip further has a serrated surface. The serrated surface comprises a parallel series of alternating teeth and grooves. The parallel series is perpendicular to the long dimension of the first jaw, such that upon deployment of a wire-threaded beading sleeve between the jaws of the crossed members, a crimp is formed that disrupts and prevents any direct line of force being applied to the wires across the length of the crimping sleeve. 
     The crimper of the second embodiment may further comprising an additional crimping site. The additional crimping site is identical to the original crimping site except that it is spatially offset and is of a different size. The first jaw may further comprises a first tip opposite the first joint section. The second jaw may further comprises a second tip opposite the second joint section, and wherein cutting blades are incorporated into the first tip and the second tip, such that the crimper is enabled to perform the functions of both crimping and cutting. Multiple crimping sites may be incorporated as well. 
     Third Set of Embodiments 
     A crimper for beadwork is described. The crimper comprises a first crossed member and a second crossed member. The first crossed member has a first handle at one end, a first jaw at the opposite end and a first joint section in between. The second crossed member has a second handle at one end, a second jaw at the opposite end and a second joint section in between. The first joint section is rotatably connected to the second joint section in a scissor-like fashion. 
     The first jaw of the first crossed member has a first long dimension and a first width. A recessed dip is positioned across the first width of the first jaw. The second jaw of the second crossed member has a second long dimension and a second width. A protruding boss is positioned across the second width of the second jaw, such that a crimping site is formed by the protruding boss being mateably positioned within the recessed dip as the jaws are closed. 
     The recessed dip further has a first serrated surface. The first serrated surface comprises a first parallel series of alternating teeth and grooves. The first parallel series is perpendicular to the long dimension of the first jaw. 
     The protruding boss further has a second serrated surface. The second serrated surface comprises a second parallel series of alternating teeth and grooves. The second parallel series is perpendicular to the long dimension of the second jaw and mateable to the first parallel series, such that upon deployment of a wire-threaded beading sleeve between the jaws of the crossed members, a double crimp is formed that disrupts and prevents any direct line of force being applied to the wires across the length of the crimping sleeve. 
     The crimper of the third embodiment may further comprising an additional crimping site. The additional crimping site is identical to the original crimping site except that it is spatially offset and is of a different size. The first jaw may further comprises a first tip opposite the first joint section. The second jaw may further comprises a second tip opposite the second joint section, and wherein cutting blades are incorporated into the first tip and the second tip, such that the crimper is enabled to perform the functions of both crimping and cutting. Multiple crimping sites may be incorporated as well. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Description of the Items in the Figures 
     
         
           101 —crimping tool 
           102 —recessed dip 
           103 —tooth 
           104 —toothed jaw 
           105 —dip jaw 
           106 —joint 
           201 —double position/double sized crimping tool 
           202 —first sized recessed 
           203 —second sized recessed 
           204 —first sized tooth 
           205 —second sized tooth 
           401 —combination shear/crimping tool 
           402 —cutting blades 
           501 —beading wire 
           502 —crimping sleeve 
           503 —metallic core of beading wire 
           504 —pliable sheath of beading wire 
           505 —looped strand of beading wire 
           601 —crimper nose of present device 
           602 —shaped tooth 
           603 —shaped crimped sleeve with inserted bead wires 
           604 —shaped surface 
           701 —crimper nose of prior art device 
           702 —prior art tooth 
           703 —crimped sleeve with inserted bead wires 
           704 —smooth surface 
           801 —crimper nose of present device (alternative embodiment) 
           802 —upper shaped tooth (alternative embodiment) 
           901 —crimper nose of present device (second alternative embodiment) 
           902 —upper shaped tooth (second alternative embodiment) 
           903 —lower shaped tooth (second alternative embodiment) 
       
    
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1 : Crimping tool ( 101 ) for securing the ends of a beaded string. 
         FIG. 2 : Two position crimping tool ( 201 ) operable for accommodating two different sizes of a crimping sleeve ( 502 ). 
         FIG. 3 : Enhanced view of the nose section of a crimping tool ( 101 ) indicating the dip jaw ( 105 ), recessed dip ( 102 ), toothed jaw ( 104 ) and tooth ( 103 ). 
         FIG. 4 : Combination shear and crimping tool ( 401 ). 
         FIG. 5 : Illustration of the procedure used to secure the ends of a beaded string. 
         FIG. 6 : Detail of the crimping process a tool the present invention. 
         FIG. 7 : Detail of the crimping process using one a prior art crimping tool. 
         FIG. 8 : Alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the toothed surface is incorporated into the dip recess. 
         FIG. 9 : Alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the both the dip recess and the protruding boss are shaped to form a mated pair of serrated teeth. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 5  indicates the general setup of the finishing process for a beaded work. Typical beading wire ( 501 ) is composed of a metallic core ( 503 ) covered by a pliable sheath ( 504 ) such as nylon as shown in  FIGS. 5C-5D . The beading wire ( 501 ) is looped through a crimping sleeve ( 502 ) as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B . 
     The crimping sleeve ( 502 ) and looped strand ( 505 ) are presented to a crimping device as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 . The crimping tool ( 101 ) is generally a pair of modified pliers, having a recessed area or recessed dip ( 102 ) on the interior surface of one jaw. A mated tooth ( 103 ) is configured on the interior surface of the opposing jaw immediately opposite the position of the recessed dip ( 102 ) so that a crimping sleeve ( 502 ) is flattened upon being squeezed between the toothed jaw ( 104 ) and the recessed dip jaw ( 105 ). 
       FIG. 2  illustrates another embodiment of the invention. Here, two crimping sites ( 202 )/( 204 ) and ( 203 /( 205 ) are provided to accommodate two different bead sizes.  FIG. 4  illustrates yet an embodiment operable for both crimping and cutting. 
     The inventive difference between a prior art crimping device and the present invention is the shape of the tooth as seen in  FIGS. 6-7 . Here the crimper nose of present device ( 601 ) is compared to e crimper nose of prior art device ( 701 ). In the embodiment shown, the recessed dip ( 102 ) of each device is essentially the same. However, as indicated in the cross section cuts of  FIG. 6B  and  FIG. 7B , the present device has a shaped tooth ( 602 ), while the tooth of the prior art device ( 702 ) is smooth. As such, the crimping sleeve ( 502 ) is shaped differently as it undergoes the crimping process shown alternately in  FIG. 6C  and  FIG. 7C . The finished products,  FIGS. 6D and 7D  are quite different as can be seen by comparing the cross sections of the bead/wire profile.  FIG. 6D  has a distinctively shaped surface ( 604 ) which serves to impede and motion of the bead along the length of the wire. 
     Although the prior art product of  FIG. 7D , with its corresponding smooth surface ( 704 ) constrains lengthwise movement, such constraint is entirely dependent upon the constriction of the crimped sleeve. Nevertheless, it still allows (by virtue of the smooth surface ( 704 )) a direct, uninterrupted line of force to pull the wire between the ends of the pinched sleeve. This allowance of a direct line of force persists even if the crimped sleeve is folded and crimped a second time. 
     The present product of  FIG. 6D , on the other hand, provides reliable insurance against unintended movement through a series of “pinches” (by virtue of the shaped surface ( 604 )) along the length of the beading wire ( 502 ). Thus, the present crimper prevents a direct line of force to pull on the beading wire ( 501 ). 
     While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, numerous variations and alternate embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art, and can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Two such examples are shown in  FIGS. 8-9 . However, the focus of the disclosure, i.e., the basic embodiment of FIGS.  1 , 3 , and  6 , have proven to be the most practical to use and the simplest to manufacture. All the embodiments mentioned are conceivable in the both the two position form as well as the combination crimper/shear form.