Abstract:
A gem setting for use with a ring or other jewelry item with internal divisions having pluralities of stones in each division. Each division houses a different type or color of stone, such that the groupings of similar stones are preferably restricted to a particular region on the jewelry face. The divisions may take the form of a variety of shapes and geometric configurations.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of PCT/US02/06750, filed Mar. 5, 2002, now pending, which took priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application 60/284,742 filed Apr. 17, 2001. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a jewelry item, and more particularly to an encased gem setting for particular use in a pendant, ring or other jewelry article. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to create gem settings that individually mount each of a plurality of gemstones (see, e.g., Canadian patent No. 556, 182, issued Apr. 22, 1958). It is also known to create gem settings that hold a plurality of unmounted gemstones in an enclosure (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 1,850,190, issued Mar. 22, 1932). However, it has not heretofore been known to create a gem setting that hold two or more pluralities of unmounted gemstones segmented in a predetermined geometric arrangement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A novel gem setting comprises a base, a top, a partition joining the base and the top to define an enclosure, and one or more partitions subdividing the enclosure into at least two enclosed chambers. A plurality of unmounted gemstones is confined within said at least two chambers. The base and top are usually, but not necessarily transparent in order to permit viewing of the enclosure and gemstones. In one embodiment of the invention, the plurality of gemstones in at least one chamber are tightly packed to permit little or no movement of the gemstones. In another embodiment of the invention, the plurality of gemstones in at least one chamber are loosely packed to permit some movement of the gemstones. In yet another embodiment, the plurality of gemstones in at least one chamber all exhibit a uniform color. In another embodiment, the plurality of gemstones in at least one chamber exhibit varied colors. Chambers may be configured to represent familiar shapes. Gemstones may include synthetic as well as semi-precious and precious stones or particles of semi-precious and precious materials. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by reading the following description of specific illustrative embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the appended drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a jewelry item incorporating a first embodiment of the gem setting of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the ring of FIG.  1 . 
     FIGS. 3-11 illustrate alternative embodiments of the gem setting of the invention. 
     In the various figures, like reference numerals designate like or similar elements of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following detailed description includes a description of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a jewelry item  200  incorporating a first embodiment of a gem setting  100  of the present invention. The gem setting  100  preferably comprises an enclosure  120  for enclosing precious stones and the like  125 , said enclosure  120  defined between an upper surface  122 , a lower surface  124  and a sidewall  123 . Such enclosure  120  is preferably divided by a partition  130  into a plurality of chambers  126  and  127 , each chamber  126 ,  127  holding one or more stones  125 . The partition  130  is positioned between the upper and lower surfaces  122 ,  124  such that the partition  130  prevents stones from traveling between chambers. The partition  130  may be fixedly attached to one or both of the upper and lower surfaces  122 ,  124  of the gem setting  100  or the sidewall  123 , and it is not necessary that the partition  130  span the entirety between the upper and lower surfaces  122 ,  124  to completely separate the enclosure into its respective chambers. 
     The surfaces  122 ,  124  may be formed from a variety of opaque, translucent or transparent materials. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, such surfaces  122 ,  124  are formed from a transparent material such as glass. Such surfaces are also preferably continuous across the enclosure  120 , although discontinuous upper and/or lower surfaces are contemplated. Sidewall  123  is typically formed in a conventional manner from a gem setting material such as, but not limited to, gold, gold-plated base metal or silver, while the partition  130  is typically formed in the same manner and with the same materials used to form the sidewall  123 . While the figures illustrate a gem setting  100  incorporated into a ring  200  or the like, the gem setting of the invention may be incorporated into various other jewelry items such as, but not limited to, a pendant, cuff-link, necklace, bracelet, brooch, pin and the like. 
     FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the gem setting  300  of the present invention, having an enclosure  320  divided into chambers  326 ,  327  by an arc-shaped partition  330 . Within the chambers  326 ,  327  are respective gemstone pluralities  340 ,  350 , which gemstone pluralities are restricted to their respective chambers by virtue of the partition  330 , upper and lower surfaces (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and sidewall  323 . Each plurality of stones within each chamber is preferably defined by a consistent material characteristic. For instance, the plurality  340  in chamber  326  may be one color while the plurality  350  in chamber  327  is of a different color. Alternatively, the stones in each chamber may have the same ornamental appearance. Other characteristic variations, such as by size, hue, type of stone, and the like, may be employed. The stones may be precious, semi-precious or synthetic material, diamond, gold, silver, or other precious metals, formed in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as, but not limited to round and non-round particles, balls, nuggets and jewels. The sizes of the stones, particles, balls the like may vary from approximately 1-2 mm in width. 
     In FIG. 3, the pluralities of stones  340 ,  350  do not completely fill their respective chambers  326 ,  327 , and as a result some stones may move freely within their respective chambers. This produces a dynamically aesthetic effect that is highly variable depending on the orientation of the gem setting. 
     FIG. 4 is an alternative embodiment of a gem setting  400  of the present invention. In FIG. 4, dividing partitions  430 ,  431  and  432  define chambers  426 ,  427 ,  428  and  429 . Centermost chamber  429  contains gemstone plurality  440 , which includes stones that are sufficiently tightly packed so that said stones  440  are only partially movable. In other words, movement of these gemstones is limited or restricted. The pluralities of stones  450 ,  460  and  470  are freely movable within their respective chambers  426 ,  427  and  428 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a gem setting  500  of the present invention, having dividing partitions  530 ,  531  and  532  that define four chambers, including centermost chamber  529 . However, in comparison to FIG. 4, centermost chamber  529  is enlarged to permit freer movement of stones in the plurality  540 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a gemstone setting  600  of the present invention, in which four dividing partitions  630 ,  631 ,  632  and  633  define five chambers for the arrangement of gemstone pluralities. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a gemstone setting  700  of the present invention, wherein dividing partitions  730 ,  731  and  732  define chambers  726 ,  727  and  728  for stones  740 ,  750  and  760 . Further, dividing partitions  730 ,  731  and  732  and their respective chambers form the familiar shape of an apple. Consistent with the apple motif, the stones provided in the gem setting  700  may be appropriately colored so that, for example, the stones  750  are white, the stones  740  are red and the stone  760  located in the leaf-shaped chamber  732  is green. 
     The settings illustrated in the figures are clearly only examples, since an endless variety of shapes and stone arrangements may be formed to vary the overall appearance of the setting. For instance, the partitions and gemstone pluralities may be arranged, for example, to form a setting  800  having the shape of a pear as illustrated in FIG. 8, or to form a setting  900  having the shape of a star as illustrated in FIG. 9, or to form a setting  1000  having the shape of a crescent moon as illustrated in FIG. 10, to name a few. With respect to FIG. 9, dividing partition  930  defines a chamber  926  containing a tightly-packed gemstone  940  that is capable of little or no movement within chamber  926 . It should be noted that the present invention clearly contemplates many other variations of dividing partition configurations and shapes. 
     In addition to the dividing partitions having a variety of shapes and configurations, the sidewall enclosing partition may also have a variety of shapes or peripheral configurations. For instance, FIG. 11 illustrates a setting  1100  having a square-shaped sidewall enclosure  1123 , partitions  1130 - 1133 , chambers  1125 - 1129  and a variety of stones situated within said chambers. The enclosing sidewall partition may be a variety of shapes, such as oval, triangular, heart-shaped, octagonal, hexagonal, rectangular, polygonal or the like, and may be selected to conform with or complement shapes selected for the dividing partitions. Alternatively, it may be selected to conform with or complement a jewelry item in which the gem setting of the invention is incorporated. 
     The setting of the present invention is intended to be incorporated into a variety of jewelry items, such as a pendant, cuff-link, ring, brooch or the like. In some cases, the setting may even be removable and interchangeable between jewelry items. In addition, while each setting defines a plurality of chambers for housing pluralities of stones, not every chamber is required to be filled with stones as evidenced by empty chambers  1127  and  1129  of setting  1100  (see FIG.  11 ). Furthermore, the separate chambers may include stones of the same type or of different types depending on the desired visual effect. 
     While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.