Patent Publication Number: US-2009229307-A1

Title: Method of decorating an article

Description:
This invention relates to a method of decorating an article, in particular a method in which decorative elements, e.g. precious stones, semi-precious stones or the like, are fixedly engaged with an article, and an article decorated by such a method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many methods have been devised and are being practiced for decorating various articles, e.g. jewelry items, watch casings or mobile phones, with decorative items. It is found that in practicing some such methods, in particular in cases where the decorative items are very small in size, it is not easy to securely fix the decorative items to the articles. The decorative items may become loose and fall off from the articles. 
     It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a method of decorating an article of manufacture and an article of manufacture in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of decorating an article of manufacture, including the steps of (a) providing an article of manufacture with a substrate made of a metal or metal alloy and having at least a recess; (b) providing at least an engagement member made of said metal or metal alloy; (c) positioning at least part of said engagement member within said recess; (d) fixedly engaging said engagement member with said substrate by laser beam welding or cold welding; and (e) fixedly engaging a decorative element with said engagement member in a snap-fit manner. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article of manufacture including a substrate made of a metal or metal alloy and having at least a recess, at least an engagement member made of said metal or metal alloy, and at least a decorative element, wherein at least part of said engagement member is positioned within said recess, wherein said engagement member is fixedly engaged with said substrate by laser beam welding or cold welding, and wherein said decorative element is fixedly engaged with said engagement member in a snap-fit manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a pendant, being an article of manufacture to be decorated by a method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a decorative item and an engagement member used in the method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a side view of the decorative item and a sectional view of the engagement member shown in  FIG. 2 , with the engagement member fixedly secured with the pendant in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows the decorative item fixedly engaged with the engagement member shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows the pendant of  FIG. 1  fixedly engaged with a number of engagement members and decorative items for decorative purposes; 
         FIG. 6  shows a watch casing, being another article of manufacture to be decorated by a method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows the watch casing of  FIG. 6  fixedly engaged with a number of engagement members and decorative items for decorative purposes; 
         FIG. 8  shows a mobile phone being a further article of manufacture to be decorated by a method according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  shows the mobile phone of  FIG. 8  fixedly engaged with a number of engagement members and decorative items for decorative purposes. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a pendant  10 , being a jewelry article, to be decorated by a method according to this invention. The pendant  10  has a body  11  made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, karat gold or gold. A number of generally cylindrical recesses  12  are formed in the body  11  of the pendant  10 . 
     An engagement component  14  and a decorative item  16  used in this method are shown in  FIG. 2 . The engagement component  14  is made of the same metal or metal alloy of which the body  11  of the pendant  10  is made. The engagement component  14  is cylindrical in shape and has a circular wall  18 . The engagement component  14  is sized and configured to be receivable within the recess  12 . Three claws  20  extend from an upper open end of the engagement component  14 . These claws  20  extend generally towards one another and a central longitudinal axis of the component  14 . As the engagement component  14  is made of a metal or metal alloy, the claws  20  possess a certain degree of flexibility. 
     The decorative item  16  is a diamond, a precious stone, a semi-precious stone, a synthetic precious stone, a piece of glass or a piece of zircon (i.e. zirconium silicate, ZrSiO 4 ). In this example, a diamond is illustrated. The diamond  16  may be of a diameter of up to 1.5 mm. 
     To decorate the pendant  10 , an engagement component  14  is positioned within one of the recesses  12 , such that only the claws  20  extend above the recess  12 . In particular, as can be seen in  FIG. 3 , when the engagement component  14  is positioned within the recess  12 , the claws  20  extend away from the recess  12 . 
     The engagement component  14  is then fixedly secured to the recess  12  of the body  11  of the pendant by laser beam welding or cold welding. Simply stated, laser beam welding is a welding technique used for joining pieces of metal or metal alloys through the use of a laser. The laser beam provides a concentrated heat source, allowing for narrow, deep welds and high welding rates. As to cold welding, such is devised upon the discovery that two clean, flat surfaces of similar metal would strongly adhere if brought into contact under vacuum. It is known in practice that the force of adhesion following first contact can be increased by pressing the workpieces tightly together, increasing the duration of contact, raising the temperature, or any combination of the above. 
     Upon fixedly securing the engagement component  14  with the body  11  of the pendant  10 , the diamond  16  is then pressed into a cavity  22  within the circular wall  18  of the engagement component  14 . As the distance between the free ends of the claws  20  is smaller than the diameter of the diamond  16 , once the diamond  16  is pressed past the claws  20  and into the cavity  22 , it is snap-fitted with the component  14  and can no longer be retrieved from it, thanks to the resilience of the claws  20 . The diamond  16  is thereby fixed engaged with the engagement component  14 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Upon fixed engagement of an engagement component  14  within each respective recess  12  of the pendant  10 , and subsequent fixed engagement of a decorative item  16  within each respective engagement component  14 , the pendant  10  is decorated as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     By using the same process, a watch casing  30 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , with a body  34  made of stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, karat gold or gold and formed with a number of circular recesses  36  may be decorated by various decorative elements  38 , such as diamonds, precious stones, semi-precious stones, synthetic precious stones, pieces of glass or pieces of zircon, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Similarly, a mobile phone  40 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , with a body  42  made of stainless steel, titanium, aluminium, karat gold or gold and formed with a number of circular recesses  44  may be decorated by a number of decorative elements  46 , such as diamonds, precious stones, semi-precious stones, synthetic precious stones, pieces of glass or pieces of zircon, as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
     It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.