Patent Publication Number: US-2013247614-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for attaching stones to non-metal mounts

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for attaching crystals, gemstones, birthstones, gems, or similar items (collectively “stones”) to non-metal (such as plastic) mounts. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     When crystals, gemstones, birthstones, gems, or similar items, (collectively “stones”) are set in a metal mount, it is common for the metal mount, or portions of the metal mount, to be reshaped to ensure that the stone is securely restrained in the metal mount. This process is typically performed by a jeweler when he/she sets a stone in jewelry such as a necklace or a ring. For example, the metal mount included in a ring may consist of three, four, five, or six metal prongs which the jeweler reshapes to ensure that the stone is securing restrained within the metal mount. However, when a non-metal (such as plastic) mount is used, oftentimes the non-metal mount cannot be reshaped to ensure that the stone is securely restrained within the non-metal mount. Heretofore, adhesives such as glue have been used to attach the stone to the non-metal mounts, or to portions of the non-metal mount. Unfortunately, many stones are lost when the adhesive fails and the stone falls from the non-metal mounts. One example of these non-metal mounts is a plastic mounts. If a jeweler attempts to reshape the prongs of a plastic mount, the prongs typically break off. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus for securing a first stone to a non-metal mount, the mount comprising a base and a cap which, in cooperation with the base, prevents the first stone from being lost. The first stone may be one of a crystal, a gemstone, a birthstone, a gem, or a similar item. The base may be attached to the cap through the use of screws, snaps, Velcro, glue or a thread connection between the base and the cap. The base may include an elevated pedestal on which the first stone rests, and the elevated pedestal may be configured such that a portion of the first stone extends outside of said cap. The base/cap combination may securely affix the stone between the base and the cap, or it may be designed such that the stone may move between the base and the cap. The mount may also be designed to permit a user to remove the cap from the base and to replace the first stone with a second stone. In other embodiments, one, or more, inner sections of the cap are shaped to conform to the outside portions of the first stone. 
     In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of retaining a stone within a non-metal mount, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a first stone in a base of the mount, and affixing a cap of the mount to the base such that the first stone is retained in the space between the base and the cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, but rather the emphasis is generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments. The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be better understood from the following description of embodiments of the invention, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partially exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a partially exploded side view of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the apparatus for attaching a stone to a non-metal setting; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference will be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and show by way of illustration embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, and logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The progression of processing steps described is exemplary of embodiments of the invention; however, the sequence of steps is not limited to that set forth herein and may be changed as is known in the art, with the exception of steps necessarily occurring in a certain order. 
     While crystals, gemstones, birthstones, gems, or similar items, (collectively “stones”) have been used in jewelry for decades, over the last few years the use of stones has been expanded to include decorations on a plethora of items including, but not limited to, rings, necklaces, bracelets, headbands, clothing, mobile phone cases, watches, purses, dog collars, etc. In many of these settings the mount and the attached stone is subject to harsh treatment such as when an article of clothing adorned with one or more stones is washed in a washing machine and dried in a dryer. 
     Prior to the present invention, the most reliable and dependable method of securing a stone to its mount was to use a metal mount and to reshape the metal mount, or to reshape portions of the metal mount (such as the metal prongs of a ring), so that the stone was physically constrained by the mount or a portion thereof. While this method of reshaping the mount to attach a stone was acceptable when a metal mount was used, it could not be used when a non-metal, such as a plastic mount, was used. If a jeweler attempted to reshape many types of non-metal mounts, such as a plastic mount, to physically constrain the stone, the mount, or a portion of the mount, would break. Jewelers and others that wished to attach a stone to a non-metal mount had to resort to gluing the stone to the non-metal mount. However, all too often the adhesive used to glue the stone to the non-metal mount would deteriorate over time and the stone would fall out and be lost. 
     The present invention consists of a method and an apparatus, entitled an Interlocking Stone Setting Solution (abbreviated “IS 3 ”), which may be used to secure one or more stones to non-metal mounts. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of IS 3    105  which utilizes a base  110  and a cap  115  to “sandwich” the stone  120  between the base  110  and the cap  115  to securely affix stone  120  to the mounting. In one embodiment, the base  110  includes an elevated pedestal  125  which provides a platform on which the stone  120  rests. While  FIG. 1  shows an elevated pedestal  125  with a circular outside circumference  130 , other shapes may be used. Additionally, the thickness (or height) of the elevated pedestal  125  may be adjust such that the stone  120  is placed in a desired location with respect to cap  115 . A thicker (or higher) pedestal will elevate the top of the stone  120  with respect to the top of cap  115  while a thinner (or lower) pedestal will position the stone in a lower orientation to cap  115 . Depending on the thickness of the stone  120  and the vertical depth of cap  115 , a pedestal  125  may not be required. While the outside circumference  135  of base  110  is shown to be a square in  FIG. 1 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that any shape may be used. 
     Cap  115  includes both a bottom opening  140  and a top opening  145 . Bottom opening  140  is typically configured so that both the stone  120  and the top portion of the base  110  may enter into the bottom opening  140  of cap  115 . Top opening  145  is normally configured so that a portion of the stone  120  either extends through top opening  145 , or so that a portion of stone  120  is visible through top opening  145 . In addition, cap  115  may include one or more surfaces configured to match the outer surfaces of stone  120 . For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , cap  115  includes both a circular inner circumference  150  and a beveled section  155  which match the outer surface of stone  120 . 
     Cap  115  “locks” to base  110  to ensure stone  120  is not inadvertently lost. Cap  115  may lock to base  110  through a variety of fastening means, including, but not limited to, screws, snaps, Velcro, glue, a threaded connection between base  110  and cap  115 , form fitting, or any other method which ensures a secure connection between base  110  and cap  115 . In another embodiment, the connection between cap  115  and base  110  may permit stone  120  to move slightly. In one embodiment the connection between cap  115  and base  110  permits stone  120  to be rotated about its center axis. For example, if cap  115  and base  110  are configured to hold a stone on a necklace and the stone includes a vertical line in one orientation, the stone may be rotated such that the line becomes horizontal in a second orientation. 
     The bottom  160  of base  110  may be configured to wrap around items such that the bottom of base  110  will serve to attach base  110  to different objects. For example, the bottom of base  110  may take the shape of a cellular phone in that the shape of the bottom  160  of base  110  securely wraps around the phone. In other embodiments the bottom  160  of base  110  is formed into a product resulting in secure attachment between the base  110  and the product. Base  110  may be attached in this manner to, for example and without limitation, phone cases, rings, pen covers, bags, shoes, etc. In some embodiments dozens, if not hundreds, of bases  110  are attached to a product such that dozens, if not hundreds, of stones can be attached to the product. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of IS 3    105  in which stone  120  rests on top of elevated pedestal  125 . As shown in this embodiment a portion of the vertical side wall  205  of the elevated pedestal  125  is not covered by stone  120 . In other embodiments, stone  120  may be configured to completely cover elevated pedestal  125 , including the vertical side walls  205  of elevated pedestal  125 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of IS 3    105  in which stone  120  is resting on top of elevated pedestal  125 , and cap  115  is locked on base  110 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment a portion  305  of stone  120  extends above the top  310  of cap  115 . As can also be seen in  FIG. 3 , in the preferred embodiment, the inside of cap  115  is configured to match the outer shape of stone  120 . However, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that the inside of cap  115  does not necessarily need to match the outer shape of stone  120 , all that is required to practice the current invention is that the cap  115  retains the stone  120  with respect to base  110 . 
       FIGS. 4 ,  5 , and  6  show side views of IS 3    105  which correspond to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3  respectively. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate IS 3    705  with the stone removed.  FIGS. 7 and 8  include base  710  and cap  715 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  also illustrate how the top portion  720  of base  710  fits within the bottom opening  725  of cap  715 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , in one embodiment, a gap  730  may exist, between the top portion  720  of base  710  and the bottom opening  725  of cap  715 . As also shown in  FIGS. 7 &amp; 8  the inner portions of cap  715  may include portions of various shapes or configurations. For example, and without limitation, the inner portion of cap  715  includes an opening with a circumference of a first diameter  735 , a chamfered opening  740 , and an opening with a circumference of a second diameter  750 . 
     While the invention has been particularly shown with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.