Removable jewel support device

A removable jewel support device with an ornamental element (3) supported by a hooking element (4) has a stem (4a) and a bulge (4b); the device (1) includes a first housing (5) for accommodating an O-ring (7) to lock the stem (4a) in a support condition (S) of the jewel (2). The device (1) includes:          a base (10) having the first housing (5) with a rear opening (8) externally surrounded by a second housing (9);     a fixing element (11) inserted in the first housing has a front hole (12a) and a rear hole (12b) with the O-ring (7) enclosed inside.       In an assembly condition (A) the stem (4a) is inserted into the fixing element (11) passing from the front hole (12a), through the O-ring (7) and the rear hole (12b) until the bulge (4b) protrudes, at least partially, from the rear opening (8) into a support condition (S).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is part of the jewelry and costume jewelry field and in particular it refers to a removable jewel support device.

PRIOR ART

A known removable jewel support device comprises a housing, provided with a peripheral internal groove in which an elastic ring, so-called O-ring, is inserted. The precious element, for example consisting of one or more elements chosen among precious stone, pearl, precious or non-precious metal element, is supported by a stem whose free end has a bulge.

The jewel is then assembled by inserting the bulge into the housing of the jewel support device by forcibly passing the stem through the O-ring which locks it in cooperation with the bulge, thus fixing the precious element to the support device of the jewel itself.

Patent JP3079184B1 discloses a removable jewel support device with the latter essentially consisting of an ornamental device supported by at least one hooking element provided with a stand and a bulge; said device comprises at least a first housing for receiving an O-ring assigned to lock the stand in a support condition of the jewel element by the device and it comprises a base having the first housing which has a rear opening.

Patent KR20090004543U discloses a pendant with a fingerprint ornament with a pin which is inserted in a frame with a first housing and a second housing wherein the second housing is used to help removing the ornament from the housing by inserting a pin in the back of the first housing.

The main disadvantage of the known jewel support device lies in the fact that the jewel is supported and locked in correspondence with the stem by only the elastic element interposed between the bulge of the stem and the body of the jewel: this locking is often loosened as the bulge and the jewel itself contact with clearance the O-ring and are therefore subject to unwanted displacements and movements. In other words, the jewel is not firmly and securely fixed to the support device.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to propose a removable jewel support device in which the jewel is firmly anchored to the device itself.

Another object is to propose a device in which the jewel is removable and therefore interchangeable with ease and practicality, while at the same time maintaining a firm safety anchoring of the jewel to the device capable of avoiding unwanted detachment and therefore loss.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference toFIG.1to5, numeral1indicates the removable jewel support device comprising an ornamental element3commonly and mainly consisting of one or more elements, also combined together, which are selected among various materials, for example precious stone, pearl, precious metal element (gold, silver, platinum, etc.), or less valuable materials (copper, brass, silver laminates, steel, etc.). The combination of the device1and jewel2defines both jewelers and costume jewelry.

The jewel2consists of the ornamental or decorative element3and a hooking element4provided with a stem4aand a bulge or bulb4b. The ornamental element3is locked to the hooking element4in a known way, for example by gluing, welding or supported by staples. It is also provided that the ornamental3and hooking4elements are preferably of the same material, for example gold, silver, platinum or steel.

In the preferred embodiment, the device1essentially consists of a base10having a first housing5made in an almost central area which has a front opening6and a rear opening8.

The base10provides a second housing9which externally surrounds the first housing5and which is intended to accommodate the jewel2inside it, even partially.

The device1also comprises a fixing element11which is constituted by a cover11aprovided with a front hole12aand a hollow block11bwith front opening and provided on its back with a rear hole12b.

An elastic ring or O-ring7is housed inside the internal cavity of the hollow block11b, while the cover11ais arranged on the front opening6of the block11bso that the O-ring7is locked inside the fixing element11, so that the axis of the hole of the O-ring is almost axial with the axis of the front12aand rear12bholes.

The fixing element11is cylindrical and is locked into the first housing5by embedding and/or gluing and/or welding and/or interlocking.

A variant, not illustrated, of the device1provides to produce a plurality of first housings5, each assigned to house a respective fixing element11. Obviously, the hooking element4will provide corresponding stems for coupling with each respective fixing element11.

The device1also provides a support element13protruding from the edges of the second housing9, preferably fixed at the sides of the base10and assigned to allow for the suspension of the device1to a jewelry or costume jewelry element chosen, for example, among a chain, a necklace, a ring, a latch element, a pendant, etc.

The second housing9has a substantially cylindrical or preferably straight prism shape.

The use of the device1for defining the jewel provides that the fixing element11is inserted in the first housing5of the base10in an assembly condition A in which the stem4ais inserted into the fixing element11passing from the front hole12a, through the O-ring7and the rear hole12b, until the bulge4bprotrudes, even partially, from the rear opening8in correspondence with a support condition S of the removable jewel2by the device1.

In the support condition S, the front hole12a, the rear hole12band the rear opening8are coaxial through holes and therefore arranged on the same axis as the stem4a.

In this supporting condition S, the jewel is firmly anchored to the base10since the stem4a, the bulge4band the attachment portion of the stem4ato the bottom of the hooking element4are in close contact with the internal walls of the O-ring7.

Furthermore, the jewel2is further locked to the base10because it is partially housed in the second housing9and it is practically embedded or in any case firmly locked therein.

Referring now toFIGS.6and7, the device1further comprises a jewelry accessory14assigned to contact the bulge4bto allow for the latter to be pushed beyond the O-ring7in the passage of the device1from the support condition S to a removal condition R thereof from the device1.

It has been advantageously shown that the jewel2is both removable from the base10, thus being interchangeable, and firmly locked to the jewel support device in the support condition S.