Device for joining and/or supporting jeweller articles, such as precious metals and pearls

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for joining elements forming jeweller articles, such as precious metals and pearls, which device comprises: a pair of pin arranged at respective cross sections of a metal half-ring shaped link, made of a precious material; a pair of opposite holes arranged on the outer surface of a pearl so that the pair of pins can be housed in the holes to form a coupling element between the pearl and the metal ring-shaped link.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for coupling elements forming jeweller articles or precious articles in general. More specifically, the present invention relates to a device allowing to easily and quickly join element made of precious metals to elements comprising pearls. Prior devices used for coupling the above mentioned precious elements usually comprise a housing in which are set pearls and possible precious stones. These prior devices, however, greatly limit making and decorating possibilities in the jewellery field. Moreover, the mentioned prior devices frequently use glueing substances for firmly holding the pearls in their housings, thereby, frequently, the glued pearls can detach and be lost. The document EP-A-0 898 918 discloses a jeweller article substantially according to the preamble of claim 1. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned problems, by providing a device which allows to firmly and quickly join elements forming jeweller articles. This object is achieved by a jeweller article according to claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be disclosed hereinafter, by way of an illustrative, but not limitative example, in preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jeweller article, including a metal chain, and provided with a first embodiment of the joining device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the jeweller article shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the jeweller article shown in Figures 1 and 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be disclosed hereinafter by way of a merely indicative example. With reference to Figures 1 and 3, the joining device 10, according to the invention, comprises: a first pair of pins 11, 12; a first pair of opposite holes 13 and 14; a second pair of pins 15 and 16 and a second pair of opposite holes 17 and 18. The device 10 has been applied to a jeweller article comprising a metal chain construction made of a precious material. At one end of the mentioned metal chain is arranged a metal half-ring shaped link, at the cross-sections of which are provided pin elements. On the outer surface of the pearl are provided opposite holes, specifically designed for engaging therein said pins. In particular, the pearl is mounted by spreading apart the end portions of the link, which link will automatically re-close owing to the resiliency of the metal material thereof. The procedure for mounting the pearl, according to the invention, is very simple and provides the following operating steps: a) spreading apart the end portions of the metal element; b) engaging the pins in their respective holes formed on the surface of the pearl; c) releasing the end portions of the metal element, so as to lock the pearl in its related housing. In order to provide a better coupling, it is provided, according to the present invention, to apply on the surface of the mentioned pins a suitable adhesive substance. Thus, it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since the invention provides a device allowing to easily and firmly join elements forming jeweller articles. In this connection it should be apparent that the inventive device can be also used for different elements, both in the jeweller field and in the gift article field. While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with. reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiment is susceptible to many modifications and variations, all of which will come within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: A jeweller article comprising a pearl having a pearl surface on which are formed hole means for engaging therein resilient metal link means, characterized in that said hole means comprise two pairs of opposite holes (13, 14; 25, 26) formed on said surface of said pearl and that said link means comprise two half-ring links each having a respective pair of end pins (11, 12; 15, 16), said holes being provided for receiving each by a resilient plugging one pin of a respective said pair of pins, said pins of each said pair of pins (11, 12) being resiliently plugged-in into said holes (13, 14; 17, 18) by spreading apart said two half-ring links, so as to provide an integral element of a chain-pearl jeweller article. A jeweller article according to Claim 1, characterized in that each pin (11, 12, 15, 16) comprises a base element provided with a spring, engaged in a hole, formed on a cross-section of each said half-ring shaped link, and a projecting ring element engaged in a said hole (13, 14, 17, 18) formed on said surface of said pearl. A jeweller article according to Claim 1, characterized in that said pins (11, 12; 15, 16) are coated by a glue material.

Inventors: BROGGIAN ANDREA, BROGGIAN, ANDREA
Applicants: BROGGIAN DIFFUSIONE S P A, BROGGIAN DIFFUSIONE S.P.A
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A44C17
IPC codes: A44C17, A44C5