Fixing system for fixing a jewellery element to a piece of jewellery and piece of jewellery

The present invention relates to a fastening system for fastening a jewellery element (3) to an item of jewellery (12) and an item of jewellery comprising the fastening system according to the invention. The fastening system comprises a setting constructed on the item of jewellery (12) with a support part (1) and a fastening device (2) and a jewellery element (3) releasably fastenable on the support part (1) of the setting by means of the fastening device (2), the support part (1) comprising an aperture (4) which is capable of at least partially receiving the jewellery element (3). According to the invention the fastening device (2) is constructed on the support part (1) and comprises an externally actuatable leaf spring (21) and a latching element (22) constructed on the leaf spring (21), the jewellery element (3) comprising a recess (5) which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element (22) of the fastening device (2) when the jewellery element (3) is located in the aperture (4) of the support part (1).

The present invention relates to a fastening system for fastening a jewellery element to an item of jewellery.

The fastening system comprises a setting constructed on the item of jewellery with a support part and a fastening device and a jewellery element releaseably fastenable on the support part of the setting by means of the fastening device. The support part further comprises an aperture which is capable of at least partially receiving the jewellery element.

The item of jewellery comprises a support part, a fastening a device and a jewellery element releaseably fastenable on the support part by means of the fastening device. The support part further comprises an aperture which is capable of at least partially receiving the jewellery element.

Due to their considerable variability and good adaptability to different occasions, items of jewellery with exchangeable jewellery elements are enjoying increasing popularity.

Fr-A-2 764 784 discloses an item of jewellery with an annular element and a jewellery element fastenable thereto, in which the annular element comprises a groove which is curved corresponding to the curve of the annular element. A leaf spring is provided in the groove. The leaf spring comprises a bead with which it can prevent a web of the jewellery element inserted into the curved groove from moving within the groove. The jewellery element is held on the annular element via the web and the leaf spring.

An item of jewellery with a support part (such as a ring or a brooch) and a removable jewellery element (such as a precious stone or a pearl) is known for example from DE 196 53 163.2, the jewellery element being removably fixable to the support part by means of a web. The web is guided through a through bore constructed in the jewellery element and can be engaged into recesses constructed in the support part. The web preferably comprises at least one elastically displaceable end part therefor, whereby the jewellery element is removable from the support part by manipulating the web, however an undesired inadvertent release of the connection of the jewellery element and the support part is prevented.

The known solution is particularly disadvantageous in that the fastening of the jewellery element to the support part and the release of the jewellery element from the support part is relatively awkward due to the separate web, as in the intervening period the web is only loosely arranged in the through bore constructed in the jewellery element. Therefore the web can easily slip out and become mislaid when, to fasten the jewellery element to the support part, the jewellery element has to be brought together with the web held therein onto the support part. Furthermore when the jewellery element is fastened to the support part, releasing the web is generally only possible with aids, such as for example clamps or pins, as directly gripping the web is prevented by the presence of the jewellery element.

The object of the present invention is therefore to construct a fastening system for fastening a jewellery element to an item of jewellery in such a manner that, on the one hand, the jewellery element can be easily released from the item of jewellery and be fastened again to the item of jewellery without a separate tool, and on the other hand an inadvertent release of the connection of the jewellery element and the item of jewellery is reliably prevented.

it is a further object of the present invention to construct an item of jewellery in such a manner that the jewellery element on the one hand can be easily removed from the support part and reinserted without a separate tool and yet an inadvertent release of the connection of the jewellery element and support part is reliably prevented.

In summary, it is therefore the object of the present invention to construct a fastening device of a fastening system to fasten a jewellery element to an item of jewellery and a fastening device of an item of jewellery in such a manner that on the one hand the jewellery element can easily be removed from the item of jewellery and support part without a separate tool, and on the other hand an inadvertent release of the connection of the jewellery element and item of jewellery and support part is reliably prevented.

The fastening system to fasten a jewellery element to an item of jewellery according to the present invention comprises a setting constructed on the item of jewellery with a support part and a fastening device and a jewellery element releasably fastenable to the support part of the setting by means of the fastening device. Moreover the support part comprises an aperture which is capable of at least partially receiving the jewellery element.

According to the invention the fastening device is constructed on the support part and comprises an externally actuatable leaf spring and a latching element constructed on the leaf spring. The jewellery element further comprises a recess which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element of the fastening device when the jewellery element is located in the aperture of the support part.

As the fastening device of the setting of the fastening system according to the invention is produced in the form of a leaf spring constructed on the support part and provided with a latching element, the fastening device has no component separate from the support part when the setting is ready for use. As the fastening device does not therefore have to be specially arranged on the support part when the jewellery element is fastened and therefore also cannot be mislaid, fastening the jewellery element to the item of jewellery by means of the fastening system according to the invention is particularly easy.

As the leaf spring is furthermore externally actuatable, the jewellery element can easily be removed from the support part of the setting and thus from the item of jewellery and fastened again to the support part and thus to the item of jewellery without a separate tool.

Furthermore, due to the low thickness, compared to spiral springs, of the leaf spring used according to the invention, it is possible for the setting for fastening a jewellery element to an item of jewellery to be of particularly compact construction.

As the jewellery element to be held by the setting of the fastening system according to the invention comprises a recess which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element of the fastening device when the jewellery element is located in the aperture of the support part, it is further ensured that the jewellery element is releasably and yet reliably held on the support part of the setting and thus on the item of jewellery.

According to a preferred embodiment of the fastening system according to the invention an actuation element is further provided on the fastening device of the setting, to facilitate the external actuation of the leaf spring. By providing an actuation element on the leaf spring it is possible, for example, to increase a point of application of a force producing the actuation of the leaf spring or possibly to guide it beyond the support element of the setting and through the support element. Furthermore the point of application of a force producing the actuation of the leaf spring can be guided by means of the actuation element at a point on the item of jewellery where the overall aesthetic impression of the item of jewellery is not or only slightly reduced and an inadvertent actuation of the leaf spring can possibly be avoided.

Moreover it is particularly advantageous when the actuation element is constructed in the form of a lever which is arranged perpendicular to an extension direction of the latching element on the fastening device.

To ensure particularly simple operability of the actuation element it is further advantageous when a notch is provided in the support part to guide a movement of the actuation element.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the fastening system according to the invention the support part comprises a groove and the leaf spring of the fastening device is arranged in the groove of the support part.

It is particularly advantageous when the groove of the support part is of annular construction and surrounds the aperture for the jewellery element and the leaf spring is of correspondingly curved construction. In this case the leaf spring can be particularly easily fastened to the support part by snapping into place in the groove.

It is furthermore very advantageous when the leaf spring of the fastening device together with the latching element is tangentially displaceable in the groove of the support part after a radial actuation of the leaf spring. It is thus possible in a simple manner to release the cooperation between the latching element of the fastening device and the recess of the jewellery element permanently so that the jewellery element can be particularly easily released from the setting of the fastening system according to the invention and thus from the item of jewellery.

The aperture for the jewellery element in the support part can be particularly easily provided when it is designed as a cylindrical bore. With a corresponding configuration of the jewellery element and the recess constructed in the jewellery element this moreover allows a rotatability of the jewellery element fastened by means of the fastening device to the support part.

The secure and reliable functioning method of the fastening device of the setting of the fastening system according to the invention can in particular be further improved in that in the support part perpendicular to the aperture for the jewellery element a bore is constructed in which the latching element of the fastening device projecting into the aperture is guided.

Preferably the jewellery element of the fastening system according to the invention can be constructed as a setting for a precious stone or a pearl.

To increase the variability further of the fastening system according to the invention the jewellery element can comprise a cylindrical portion and a head and be constructed to fasten releasably at least one decorative element comprising a bore to the support part. It is thus possible to provide further decorative elements on the support part of the setting and thus on the item of jewellery additional to the jewellery element releasably fastened to the support part.

If a rotatability of the jewellery element in the setting of the fastening system according to the invention is to be ensured, then it is advantageous when the recess provided in the jewellery element is constructed in the form of an annular groove.

To allow particularly easy fastening of the jewellery element to the setting and thus to the item of jewellery, the jewellery element preferably comprises a chamfer below the recess which is constructed to effect a displacement of the latching element constructed on the leaf spring when the jewellery element is inserted into the aperture of the support part.

The item of jewellery according to the present invention which achieves the same inventive principle as the fastening system according to the invention, comprises a support part, a fastening device and a jewellery element releasably fastened to the support part by means of the fastening device, the support part comprising an aperture which is capable of at least partially receiving the jewellery element.

According to the invention the fastening device is constructed on the support part and comprises an externally actuatable leaf spring and a latching element constructed on the leaf spring. The jewellery element further comprises a groove which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element of the fastening device when the jewellery element is located in the aperture of the support part.

As the fastening device according to the present invention is produced in the form of a leaf spring constructed on the support part and thus represents no separate part which has to be specially arranged on the support part when the jewellery element is fastened and thus can become mislaid, the fastening of the jewellery element to the support part is particularly easy. As the leaf spring is furthermore externally actuatable, the jewellery element can be easily removed from the support part and reinserted without a separate tool. Due to the low thickness, compared to spiral springs, and clear form of the leaf spring used according to the invention, it is furthermore possible to incorporate this easily into the design of the support part and thus the item of jewellery according to the invention, so that the solution according to the invention is particularly aesthetic. Due to the groove provided on the jewellery element of the item of jewellery according to the invention, and which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element of the fastening device when the jewellery element is located in the aperture of the support part, it is further ensured that the jewellery element is releasably and yet reliably held on the support part.

According to a preferred embodiment the leaf spring of the fastening device is arranged on an outer surface of the support part and can thus represent a design feature of the item of jewellery.

Moreover it is particularly advantageous when the leaf spring of the fastening device is flush mounted in the outer surface of the support part, as the item of jewellery according to the invention can thus be particularly comfortably handled and an inadvertent actuation of the fastening device, for example by becoming caught on clothes or the like, can be avoided.

To ensure particularly easy operability of the fastening device it is further advantageous when the support part is constructed in such a manner that an actuation of the leaf spring is possible by reaching behind.

According to a preferred embodiment the support part can comprise in the region of the aperture for the jewellery element a chamfer therefor, which is covered by a side edge of the leaf spring.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment the support part is constructed as a jewellery ring and the leaf spring of the fastening device is of correspondingly annular construction.

The aperture for the jewellery element in the support part can be particularly easily provided if it is designed as a cylindrical bore. With a corresponding embodiment of the jewellery element this moreover allows a rotatability of the jewellery element fastened to the support part by means of the fastening device.

The safe and reliable functioning method of the fastening device of the item of jewellery according to the invention can in particular be further improved when in the support part perpendicular to the aperture for the jewellery element a bore is constructed in which the latching element of the fastening device projecting into the aperture is guided.

Preferably the jewellery element can be constructed as a setting for a precious stone or a pearl.

To further increase the variability of the item of jewellery according to the invention the jewellery element can comprise a cylindrical portion and a head and be constructed to fasten releasably at least one decorative element comprising a bore to the support part. It is thus possible to provide further decorative elements on the support part of the item of jewellery according to the invention in addition to the jewellery element releasably fastened to the support part.

In the following drawings elements exercising essentially similar effects are provided with the same reference numerals. To increase the clarity of the drawings the item of jewellery is not specifically shown inFIGS. 1,2A and2B.

According to a particularly preferred first embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 1in cross section, the fastening system according to the invention for fastening a jewellery element3to an item of jewellery comprises a setting provided on the item of jewellery (not shown) with a support part1and a fastening device2constructed on the support part1.

The fastening device2comprises an externally actuatable leaf spring21, and a latching element22constructed on the leaf spring21. According to the particularly preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 1an actuation element10in the form of a lever is fastened to the leaf spring21in the region of the latching element22. Moreover the lever, as depicted, is preferably oriented perpendicular to the extension direction of the latching element22. As is clear fromFIG. 1, the actuation element serves to guide the point of application of a force producing the actuation of the leaf spring21downwards and beyond the support element1of the setting, to facilitate an external actuation of the leaf spring21.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the support element can however also comprise a notch (for example in the form of a chamfer or groove) which facilitates an external actuation of the leaf spring21.

The fastening system according to the invention shown inFIG. 1further comprises a jewellery element3releasably fastened to the support part1of the setting by means of the fastening device2.

In the support part1of the setting an aperture4in the form of a cylindrical bore is introduced which predominantly receives the jewellery element3. Perpendicular to the aperture4for the jewellery element3the support part1further comprises a bore9, in which the latching element22of the fastening device2projecting into the aperture4is guided. Moreover the latching element22projects into the aperture4for the jewellery element3when the leaf spring21is not actuated.

A recess5in the form of an indentation is constructed in the jewellery element3which in the embodiment shown is constructed as a setting for a precious stone and as a whole comprises a cylindrical form.

As is clear fromFIG. 1, the latching element22of the fastening device2and the recess5of the jewellery element3correspond to one another in such a manner that the latching element22engages in the recess5of the jewellery element3due to the spring action of the leaf spring21when the jewellery element3is located in the aperture4of the support part1. The jewellery element3located in the aperture4is thus held securely on the support part1by means of the fastening device2.

By the configuration of the recess5in the form of an indentation a rotatability of the jewellery element3fastened to the support part1by means of the fastening device2is prevented in the present case.

To allow both easy insertion of the jewellery element3in the aperture4of the support part1, and to effect an automatic displacement of the latching element22of the fastening device2constructed on the leaf spring21when inserting the jewellery element3, the jewellery element3—as shown in FIG.1—can comprise a corresponding chamfer12below the recess5.

FIGS. 2A and 2Bshow a cross sectional view through the fastening system inFIG. 1along the cutting line A—A, no jewellery element3however being arranged in the setting.

As is apparent inFIGS. 1,2A and2B, according to this preferred embodiment, in the support part1an annular groove11is further introduced which surrounds the aperture4for the jewellery element3. The leaf spring21in the embodiment shown is of a correspondingly curved construction and is held on the support part1by snapping into place in the annular groove11. Consequently the setting of the fastening system according to the invention can be particularly easily produced. It is evident that the radius of the leaf spring21, in the relaxed state, has to be selected to be smaller or the same as the inner radius of the annular groove11in the support part1.

A notch6is further introduced into the support part1which is capable of receiving the actuation element10constructed in the form of a lever, when the leaf spring21is not actuated. This is shown inFIG. 2A. The notch6serves both to keep the actuation element10in its resting position when the leaf spring21is not actuated, and also to guide a movement of the actuation element10when the leaf spring21is actuated.

According to an alternative embodiment not specifically shown the notch6can be of ramp-like construction or in the form of a guide groove surrounding the actuation element to improve the guiding of the actuation element10.

As is particularly clear inFIG. 2B, the groove11in the support part1and the leaf spring21of the fastening device2are constructed according to this particularly preferred embodiment, to allow a tangential displacement (relative to the groove11) of the leaf spring21together with the latching element22after a radial actuation of the leaf spring21following a movement of the actuation element10directed away from the aperture4. Therefore the latching element22comes to rest on the support part1, so that the cooperation between the latching element22of the fastening device2and the recess5of the jewellery element3(not shown here) is permanently released. This allows the jewellery element3held by the setting of the fastening system according to the invention to be particularly easily removed.

A second embodiment of the item of jewellery according to the invention will hereinafter be described with reference toFIGS. 3,4and5.

This second embodiment differs from the aforementioned first embodiment in particular in that the jewellery element3comprises a cylindrical portion A and a head K as shown inFIG. 3.

Therefore it is possible, via the jewellery element3, to fasten releasably a decorative element7shown diagrammatically inFIG. 4in plan view, which comprises a bore8for the cylindrical portion A of the jewellery element3, to the support part1of the setting of the fastening system according to the invention and thus to the item of jewellery.

Moreover varying heights of the cylindrical portion A of different jewellery elements3can be selected, either to be able to fasten a plurality of decorative elements7simultaneously to the support part1, or to allow an adaptation to different thicknesses of the decorative element7.

Furthermore the recess5provided in the jewellery element3according to this second embodiment is formed not from an indentation or bore but from an annular groove. In the present case this allows a rotatability of the jewellery element3fastened to the support part1by means of the fastening device2relative to the support part1and thus relative to the item of jewellery.

FIG. 5shows a side view of a fastening system according to the invention according to the aforementioned second embodiment in which the decorative element7is releasably fastened to the support part1via the jewellery element3by means of the fastening device2and thus to the item of jewellery12indicated by dotted lines.

As is indicated inFIG. 5by the ring shown by dotted lines, the setting of the fastening system according to the invention is incorporated in an item of jewellery12, for example in a ring, an earring, a brooch or a chain and constructed or arranged on the respective item of jewellery.

In summary the fastening system according to the invention allows the easy fastening and removal of different jewellery elements on an item of jewellery, without a separate tool being required therefor. At the same time the fastening system according to the invention reliably prevents inadvertent release of the connection between the support part and the jewellery element.

According to a third particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 6in cross section, an item of jewellery according to the invention which achieves the same inventive idea as the fastening system according to the invention, comprises a support part1, a fastening device2constructed on the support part1with an externally actuatable leaf spring21and a latching element22constructed on the leaf spring21and a jewellery element3releasably fastened to the support part1by means of the fastening device2.

In the support part1an aperture4in the form of a cylindrical bore is introduced which predominantly receives the jewellery element3. The support part1further comprises perpendicular to the aperture4a bore9in which the latching element22of the fastening device2is guided. Moreover the latching element22projects into the aperture4for the jewellery element3when the leaf spring21is not actuated.

An annular groove5is constructed in the jewellery element3, which in the embodiment shown is constructed as a setting for a precious stone and as a whole comprises a cylindrical form.

As is clear fromFIG. 1the latching element22of the fastening device2and the groove5of the jewellery element3correspond to one another in such a manner that due to the spring action of the leaf spring21when the jewellery element3is located in the aperture4of the support part1the latching element22engages in the groove5of the jewellery element3. Consequently the jewellery element3located in the aperture4is fastened securely to the support part1by means of the fastening device2.

A rotatability of the jewellery element3fastened to the support part1by means of the fastening device2is made possible in the present case by the annular configuration of the groove5.

According to a not specifically shown alternative embodiment it is however also possible to provide in the jewellery element, instead of the annular groove, a recess (for example in the form of a bore or an indentation) which is constructed to work in cooperation with the latching element22of the fastening device2. A rotatability of the jewellery element can therefore be prevented.

To allow easy introduction of the jewellery element3into the aperture4of the support part1and possibly an automatic displacement of the latching element22of the fastening device2when the jewellery element3is introduced, the jewellery element3—as shown in FIG.1—can be correspondingly chamfered on one side.

FIG. 7shows a plan view of the item of jewellery fromFIG. 6, no jewellery element3however yet being fastened to the support part1.

As is apparent inFIGS. 6 and 7, the leaf spring21of the fastening device2according to the preferred embodiment described here, is flush mounted in an outer surface of the support part1. Thus the leaf spring21of the item of jewellery according to the invention is visible from the outside and can thus form a design feature of the item of jewellery. Furthermore by such an arrangement of the leaf spring21incorrect operation of the fastening device2by becoming caught on items of clothing or the like can be largely avoided.

To allow easy and largely trouble-free external actuation of the leaf spring21without the use of tools, the support part1of the item of jewellery shown inFIG. 6comprises in the region of the latching element22a chamfer16which allows an actuation of the leaf spring21by reaching behind. Thus the chamfer16is covered by one side edge of the leaf spring21, whereby a negative visual effect created by the item of jewellery according to the invention is also prevented by the chamfer16.

InFIG. 8the aforementioned item of jewellery according to the invention is shown in perspective. As is evident according to this preferred embodiment, the support part1is a jewellery ring and the leaf spring21of the fastening device2is of correspondingly annular construction. Alternatively, the support part could also, however, for example be a brooch or a link of a jewellery chain.

An alternative fourth embodiment of the item of jewellery according to the invention will hereinafter be described with reference toFIG. 9.

This fourth embodiment differs from the aforementioned third embodiment in particular in that the jewellery element3as shown inFIG. 3comprises a cylindrical portion A and a head K.

Therefore it is possible via the jewellery element3to fasten releasably a decorative element7, shown diagrammatically in plan view inFIG. 4and which comprises a bore8for the cylindrical portion A of the jewellery element3, to the support part1of the item of jewellery according to the invention. Moreover varying heights of the cylindrical portion A of different jewellery elements3can be selected, to be able to fasten either a plurality of decorative elements7simultaneously to the support part1or to allow adaptation to different thicknesses of the decorative element7.

FIG. 9shows a side view of an item of jewellery according to the invention according to the aforementioned fourth embodiment, where the decorative element7is releasably fastened to the support part1via the jewellery element3by means of the fastening device2.

In summary, the item of jewellery according to the invention allows easy fastening and removal of different jewellery elements on a support part without a separate tool being required therefor and at the same time reliably prevents inadvertent release of the connection between the support part and the jewellery element.