Patent Publication Number: US-2007107226-A1

Title: Methods of forming an article, such as an item of jewelry

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of domestic priority on prior pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/734,614, filed Nov. 8, 2005. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates generally to improved methods of forming an article, such as an item of jewelry, and, more particularly, to improved methods of forming various shapes out of tubular stock material.  
     BACKGROUND ART  
      Jewelry has been used since time immemorial as an item of personal adornment. While the style and appeal of jewelry may have changed over time, the fact remains that jewelry, in one form or another, has been around through the ages.  
      Some items of jewelry, such as earrings, pendants and the like, have been formed to have various articulated shapes and configurations. These shapes have included stars, rectangles, squares, polygonal figures of other form, almonds, crescents, and the like.  
      Because jewelry is commonly formed of a precious metal or precious metal alloy, in some (but not all) cases, these articles are formed of tubular stock.  
      The present invention provides improved ways of forming such articles, and in particular, such articulated shapes, from stock material, such as tubular stock material.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or surfaces of the disclosed embodiment(s), merely for purposes of illustration and not by way of limitation, the present invention broadly provides improved methods of forming an article, such as an article of jewelry.  
      In one aspect, an improved method broadly comprises the steps of: providing an elongated arbor ( 20 ) having an ellipse-like transverse cross-section for a portion of its longitudinal extent; providing a length of stock ( 21 ); winding the stock about the arbor; cutting the wound stock at such locations and at such angles as to form two substantially-identical members ( 23 ,  23 ), each member having a first end ( 24 ) and having a second end ( 25 ); removing the members from the arbor; arranging the members such that the first end of one of the members is arranged proximate the first end of another of the members, and such that the second end of one of the members is arranged proximate the second end of another of the members; and joining such adjacent ends of the members together to form an article.  
      The arbor transverse cross-section may be configured as an ellipse, or may be oval-shaped.  
      The article may be heart-shaped, star-shaped, rectangular, square, polygonal, almond-shaped, or may have some other shape, as desired.  
      The stock may be formed of a suitable metal (e.g., a precious metal or alloy), and the adjacent ends may be joined by soldering. The stock may be tubular and/or have a cylindrical outer surface.  
      The improved method may further comprising the additional steps of: providing a first connecting pin ( 26 ) having a first portion ( 28 ) and a second portion ( 29 ); inserting the first portion of the first connecting pin into a marginal end portion of one of the members adjacent the first end; and inserting the second portion of the first connecting pin into a marginal end portion of the proximate member adjacent its first end.  
      The improved method may further comprising the additional steps of: providing a second connecting pin ( 30 ) having a first portion ( 31 ) and a second portion ( 32 ); inserting the first portion of the second connecting pin into a marginal end portion of one of the members adjacent its second end; and inserting the second portion of the second connecting pin into a marginal end portion of the proximate member adjacent its second end.  
      The wound stock may be optionally heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to cause the stock to substantially retain the shape of the arbor, when the arbor is removed.  
      A plurality of convolutions of the stock may be wound about the arbor, and the convolutions may be cut in the same saw pass to form a plurality of the members.  
      In another aspect, the invention provides an improvement in a method of forming an article of jewelry, which improvement comprises the steps of: providing a first and second tubular members ( 23 ,  23 ); providing a connecting pin ( 26 ) having a first portion ( 28 ) and a second portion ( 29 ); inserting the connecting pin first portion into a marginal end portion of one of the members; and inserting the connecting pin second portion into a marginal end portion of the other member.  
      The members may be formed of a precious or semi-precious metal or alloy. The connecting pin may also be formed of the same material as the members.  
      The improvement may further comprise the additional step of: soldering the connecting pin to the first and second members. The solder may contain the same or a similar material as the members.  
      The first portion may have a first axis, and the second portion may have a second axis. These two axes may be coplanar and arranged at an angle with respect to one another.  
      The connecting pin may be substantially V-, L- or U-shaped, or may have some other shape, as desired.  
      Accordingly, the general object of the invention is to provide improved methods of forming an article.  
      Another object is to provide improved methods of forming an article of jewelry.  
      Another object is to provide improved methods of forming an article from a length of tubular stock material.  
      Still another object is to provide an improved method of connecting adjacent pieces or members to form an item of jewelry.  
      These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from the foregoing and ongoing written specification, the drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a transverse cross-sectional view of an arbor with at least one convolution of tubular stock material wrapped thereabout, this view also showing the opposed kerf-receiving indentations in the arbor.  
       FIG. 2  is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the tubular stock material as having been cut in opposed places.  
       FIG. 3  is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the two identically-configured members that remain after the convolution of stock material has been cut, and the arbor removed.  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded aligned view showing the two members depicted in  FIG. 2  as being repositioned and aligned so as to simulate a heart-shaped article, with the first and second connecting pins positioned therebetween.  
       FIG. 5  is an elevational view of the assembled heart-shaped article of jewelry.  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged elevational view of the connecting pin used to join the upper or first marginal ends of the members shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged elevational view of a second connecting pin that is used to join the lower adjacent or second ends of the members shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 8  is an elevational view of a second article of jewelry, this being a rectangle.  
       FIG. 9  is an elevational of a third item of jewelry, this being in the shape of a star.  
       FIG. 10  is an elevational view of a fourth item of jewelry, this being in the shape of an almond. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference numerals are intended to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently throughout the several drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further described or explained by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description is an integral part. Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., crosshatching, arrangement of parts, proportion, degree, etc.) together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following description, the terms “horizontal”, “vertical”, “left”, “right”, “up” and “down”, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally”, “rightwardly”, “upwardly”, etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure faces the reader. Similarly, the terms “inwardly” and “outwardly” generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.  
      Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly, to  FIG. 1  thereof, the present invention broadly provides an improved method of forming an article. In  FIGS. 1-5 , the article is shown as being a heart-shaped item of jewelry. Other shapes and configurations are shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . However, the illustrated shapes and configurations are merely illustrative, and are not exhaustive of all possible shapes and configurations that may be formed.  
      Adverting to  FIG. 1 , the improved method is performed by providing an elongated arbor, generally indicated at  20 , having an ellipse-like transverse cross-section for a portion of its longitudinal extent. The arbor may have an exact elliptical transverse cross-section, or may have an oval-shaped cross-section with parallel top and bottom surfaces, such as shown in  FIG. 1 . As used herein, the word “ellipse-like” is intended to generically refer to, and to cover and include, both true elliptical and oval-shaped transverse cross-sections.  
      Thereafter, a length of stock material, generally indicated on  21 , is wound about the arbor. The length may be wound in one convolution, or in multiple convolutions, as desired. In  FIG. 1 , only one convolution is seen, since the reader is viewing the convolution(s) from the top. However, it should be clearly understood that there could be a plurality of adjacent convolutions.  
      Still referring to  FIG. 1 , two opposing vertically-elongated slots, several indicated at  22 , extend into the arbor from its upper and lower surfaces, and are aligned with the intersection of its major axis x-x and its minor axis y-y. These recesses are provided to receive and accommodate the kerf of a saw by means in which the convolution(s) may be cut or severed into two identical members.  
       FIG. 2  is a view showing the two members after the convolution has been cut on opposite sides. What is left are two identically-configured members, severally indicated at  23 . Each member is shown as having a first end  24  and a second end  25 . These two ends of the adjacent members normally face one another, and are separated by the kerf of the saw cut.  
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view showing the members, after the arbor has been removed.  
       FIG. 4  is a view showing the members  23  as having been reoriented so as to simulate a heart-shaped element, with the first ends thereof  24 ,  24  arranged in horizontally-aligned relation, and with the second ends  25 ,  25  arranged in horizontally-aligned relation, and with the first and second connecting pins  26 ,  30  arranged between the member first and second ends, respectively.  
      In the preferred embodiment, the stock material is formed of a hollow tube. This tube may have a cylindrical outer surface, as shown, or may have an outer surface of some other shape and configuration. For example, square tubing might be used. In any event, for the purpose of the following description, the stock material is described as being of a thin-walled cylindrical tubular metal, such as a precious metal containing a suitable gold alloy.  
       FIGS. 6 and 7  depict the connecting pins  26 ,  30  that are adapted to be inserted between the upper and lower ends of the members shown in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 6 , the upper or first connecting pin, generally indicated at  26 , is shown as having a first portion  28  and a second portion  29 . Connecting pin  26  is formed by bending a length of solid cylindrical material, typically containing the same precious metal alloy as that of members  23 . In  FIG. 6 , connecting pin  26  is adapted to be inserted into the adjacent upper ends  24  of members  23 . Hence, the first and second portions of the connecting pin are separated by an obtuse included angle of Θ 1 .  
       FIG. 7  is a view of a second connecting pin, generally indicated on  30 , which is insertable into the adjacent upper ends of members  23  in  FIG. 3 . Member  30  is shown as being a single unitary member bent from solid cylindrical stock into the form of a V. Member  30  has a first portion  31 , a second portion  32 . These two portions are separated by an acute included angle of Θ 2 .  
      When wrapping the tubular stock material  21  about the arbor, the material and the arbor may be heated to a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient length of time to cause the stock to substantially retain the shape of the arbor when the arbor is removed. In other cases, the wound stock material may plastically deform and simulate the shape of the arbor. The optional heat treating step is considered to be a matter of design choice.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4-7 , as previously indicated, the first and second portions of lower connecting pin  30  are inserted into the marginal end portions adjacent member second ends  25 , and second ends  25  are brought into close proximity to one another. Similarly, the first and second portions of upper connecting pin  26  are inserted into the marginal end portions adjacent facing member end faces  24 ,  24 , which are then drawn into close proximity to one another. Once so positioned, the joints between the connecting pins and the members may be suitably soldered, preferably using a similar precious metal solder, to securely hold the heart-shaped article  37  together in its final form, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Of course, other eyes and the like may be thereafter attached to the article to the heart-shaped member.  
       FIG. 8  illustrates another item of jewelry, this being in the form of a rectangle. In this case, the article of jewelry is formed by initially providing four straight lengths of tubular material,  33 ,  33 ,  34 ,  34 , and then by placing the marginal end portions of 90° L-shaped connecting pins, severally indicated at  35 , into the adjacent open ends. Thereafter, the article  36  assembled by suitably soldering the connecting pins to the adjacent members.  
       FIG. 9  is a view of yet another item of jewelry, this being in the point of a five-sided star  38 . Here again, the various parts and components the various straight portions are formed by cutting lengths of tubing, severally indicated at  39 , to the appropriate lengths. Thereafter, suitable connecting pins  40 ,  41  are placed in the adjacent ends of the various members, and the assembly is formed by suitably soldering the connecting pins to the adjacent members.  
       FIG. 10  is a view of yet another item of jewelry  42 , this being in the form of an almond shaped member. Here again, the connecting pins  43 ,  43  are inserted into the ends of two arcuately-shaped members  44 ,  44 , and the joint is soldered to hold the assembly together.  
      Therefore, the invention broadly provides an improved method of forming an article, which broadly includes the steps of: providing an elongating arbor having an ellipse-like transverse cross-section for a portion of its longitudinal extent; providing a length of stock; winding the stock about the arbor; cutting the wound stock at such locations and at such angles as to form two substantially-identical members, each member having a first end and a second end; removing the members from the arbor; arranging the members such as the first end of one of the members is arranged proximate the first end of another of the members, and such that the second end of one of the members is arranged proximate the second end of another of the members; and joining such adjacent ends of the members together to form the article.  
      As previously noted, it is presently preferred that the stock material be tubular in order to facilitate the use of connecting members, as described herein. However, it is possible to form the item of solid stock material, and to simply solder the adjacent ends together without the use of the connecting pins.  
      Modifications  
      Of course, the present invention expressly contemplates that many changes and modifications may be made. For example, the connecting pins are typically formed by bending a length of cylindrical rod-like material into a V-shape, an L-shape, a U-shape, or whatever other shape may be desired. The included angle may be acute, right, or obtuse, as desired. For example, the included angle of the connecting pins may be on the order of 50°, 90°, 60°, 123°, 125°, 45°, 37°, 30°, 75°, 26° or such other angle as may be desired.  
      As previously indicated, while the invention is intended for use as an item of jewelry, it may be desirable to form the various members and the connecting pins of a suitable precious metal alloy. However, this is not invariable, and may be changed.  
      Geometric shapes other than shown or described may also be formed as well.  
      Therefore, while several different sequences of the improved method forming the article have been shown and described, and several modifications and changes thereof discussed, persons skilled in this readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.