Patent Publication Number: US-2015068046-A1

Title: Jeweled article and method for making jeweled article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application relates to the same subject matter as co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/876,467, filed by the same applicant on Sep. 11, 2013. This application claims the Sep. 11, 2013 filing date as to the common subject matter. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a jeweled article and method for making a jeweled article. It applies particularly to the use of a jewel housing having serrations placed in a relief of an article, and will be described with particular reference thereto. 
     2. Background of Invention 
     Many ornaments and other articles are decorated with jewel inserts. These inserts allow for attractive designs on the articles, such as flatware. The process of the present invention allows for the use of a jewel inserted in a housing which is in turn inserted in an article which allows the jewel to become securely attached to the article. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the invention, a decorated article and a method for decorating an article are provided. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the housing. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a bottom view of the housing. 
         FIG. 4   b  is a cross section view of the housing. 
         FIG. 4   c  is a detail view of a lip of the housing. 
         FIG. 4   d  is a detail view of a serration on the outer surface of the housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an article embodying the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-5 , a jeweled article and a method of making a jeweled article is provided. 
     The process for making a jeweled article of manufacture includes the step of creating a void in an article. The article may be metal or similar material, so that a void of precise dimensions may be created. For example, the void in a metal article may be created by a laser engraver. The laser engraving is to be performed on a top surface of the article. The depth of the relief of the void is appropriate to contain the housing, but may have a diameter of approximately between 2.5 and 8 mm. 
     After the void is created, a jeweled decoration  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is formed. The jeweled decoration  10  comprises a housing  12  and a jewel  14 . The housing  12  is illustrated in  FIG. 1-4 . The jewel  14  may be glass, stone, ceramic, crystal or some other equivalent material known in the art. The housing  12  may be made of stainless steel or another equivalent material. The housing  12  includes a top portion  16  having an inner lip  18 . The lip  18  has a shape that prevents the jewel  14  from being removed from the housing  12  after the housing has been inserted in the jeweled article. For example, the inner lip  18  may have a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of a top portion of the jewel  14 . 
     On an outer surface  20  of the housing are one or more serrations  22 , as shown in  FIG. 4   d . As shown, the serration faces outward from the outer surface of the housing. The serration is shown to be about the middle of the outer surface of the housing. However, it may be located at any point on the outer surface of the housing which would allow the housing to be secured to the article. The serration may be about a 70 degree angle having a top surface  24  that is approximately perpendicular to the outer surface  20  of the housing. The serration may be a single point or may comprise several points which may be evenly or unevenly distributed around the outer surface of the housing. As shown, the housing  12  may be round; however the housing  12  may also be of any shape complementary to the void created in the article. 
     In addition, a bottom element  26  may be provided, to secure the jewel  14  within the housing  12 . The bottom element  26  may be a ring to allow more light into the jewel of the jeweled article. The bottom element may be made of stainless steel or an equivalent material. In one embodiment, a bottom ring  26  has an outer circumference that is slightly less than the inner circumference of the housing  12 . The bottom element  26  may secure the jewel  14  through frictional resistance with the inner surface of the housing. Alternatively, glue or another fastening material may be used. 
     The method of creating the jeweled decoration of the invention is as follows. A jewel  14  is placed within the housing  12 . The housing  12  is placed in a complementary void in an article to be decorated. Placement is made by pressing the housing  12  into the void. The pressure may be applied by hand or machine. One or more serrations  22  on the outer surface  20  of the housing  12  contact the wall of the void such that as the housing  12  is secured within the void. 
     The inner lip  18  of the housing  12  secures the jewel within the housing within the void in the article. In an alternative embodiment, before the housing is placed within the void, a bottom element is placed so that is secures the jewel within the housing. The bottom element may be a ring to allow more light into the jewel of the jeweled decoration. 
     The article created by the method taught is highly decorative and provides a novel way to decorate an article with a jewel that is attractive and securely embeds the jewel within the article. 
     It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.