Patent Publication Number: US-9901152-B2

Title: Handle bag

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to articles of jewelry, for instance a bag handle or a watch, in particular, a wrist watch strap, necklace, or bracelet. The articles of jewelry may or may not be made from a precious metal. For instance, the invention relates to articles of jewelry having a crocodile skin aspect. 
     The invention further relates to methods for manufacturing such articles of jewelry. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Articles of jewelry, in particular bag handles or wrist watch straps, with a crocodile skin aspect are well known. 
     The crocodile skin aspect is generally provided with only one plate made from metal or leather. The plate has an upper face and a lower face opposite the upper face and has a plurality of ribs provided to both the upper and lower faces. The ribs are configured to reveal a design of the type crocodile skin aspect. Such known articles of jewelry have a rigid crocodile skin aspect. 
     The invention is directed to an article of jewelry having a natural crocodile skin aspect, which is simple to manufacture, and a method for manufacturing such an article, which is simple to implement, convenient, and economic. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention accordingly provides an article of jewelry comprising a first panel and a second panel facing the first panel, both panels being formed by a plurality of single pieces that are distinct from each other, first linking elements being configured to rigidly assemble the single pieces respectively of first and second panels which face each other and second linking elements being each configured to assemble at least two the single pieces of the first panel or the second panel so that the two single pieces are movable with respect to each other. 
     The invention is based on the observation that the natural skin aspect for instance of a crocodile or a snake is due to the fact single pieces, also named scales, move relatively freely in relation to one to another. 
     The single pieces of the first panel are each distinct from each other, and it is the same for the single pieces of the second panel. Further, the assembly of the single pieces of the first panel with the single pieces of the second panel is obtained thanks to the first linking elements which rigidly assemble the single pieces which face. Thus, a relatively flat plate is obtained, the plate having for instance a crocodile skin aspect. 
     Thanks to the second linking elements which areeach linked with at least two single pieces of at least one of the first panel and the second panel, the article allows the two single pieces to move relatively with respect to each other. 
     Since the single pieces of the first panel or of the second panel are assembled with a relative mobility, and since the single pieces of the first panel and the second panel are rigidly assembled, the article of jewelry according to the invention provides a natural skin aspect for instance of crocodile. 
     According to features preferred as being very simple, convenient and economical for embodying the article according to the invention:
         the second linking elements are each configured to cooperate with at least two of the first linking elements;   the second linking elements are each configured to assemble between two and six single pieces of either first or second panels;   the first linking elements are formed by pins which project from the first panel and which are configured to be fixed to the second panel;   the second panel comprises a plurality of holes each being configured to receive a free end of a pin;   at least one of the second linking elements is formed by a frame having at least two eyes, each eye being configured to surround a pin;   the first and second panels each have a plurality of single pieces which are of different shapes;   the single pieces of the first panel which face the single pieces of the second panel have similar outlines;   the article has a general rectangular shape comprising a middle zone and two lateral zones and the single pieces in the middle zone have each an outline defining a perimeter which is similar to the perimeter defined by an outline of each of the single pieces in the lateral zones;   each single piece of first and second panels is assembled to other single pieces by at least two first linking elements and by at least two second linking elements;   the article has two lateral faces and a flange which projects from the first panel and covers partially the second panel; and/or   the article is at least partially made from a precious metal.       

     The invention further provides a method for manufacturing an article of jewelry as described above, comprising the following steps:
         providing a first panel having a plurality of single pieces and having first linking elements on the single pieces;   providing a second panel having a plurality of single pieces;   providing second liking elements;   mounting the second linking elements on the first linking elements to assemble at least two the single pieces of the first panel so that the two single pieces are moveable with respect to each other;   facing the first panel to the second panel; and   fixing the first linking elements to the second panel to rigidly assemble the single pieces respectively of the first and second panels which face       

     The method according to the invention is simple to implement, convenient and economic. 
     According to features preferred as being very simple, convenient and economical for embodying the article according to the invention:
         the first linking elements are formed by pins and the second panel comprises holes configured to receive free end of the pins and the step of fixing the pins to the second panel is made by welding; and/or   the method further comprises a step of polishing an outer face of the second panel.       

    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description of the invention continues now with a detailed description of a preferred embodiment given hereinafter by way of non-limiting illustration and with reference to the appended drawings. In these drawings: 
         FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of an article of jewelry according to the invention, respectively in a first position and in a second position; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the article illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing a first panel, second linking elements and a second lower panel; 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are bottom views respectively of the first panel and of the second lower panel shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of second linking elements shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing the first panel on which second linking elements are mounted. 
         FIG. 8  shows a handle bag with sides made from the article of jewelry of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an article of jewelry  1 , forming at least one side of a handle bag, in two distinct positions, respectively flat and not flat (or incurved). 
     The article of jewelry  1  is here made from a precious metal, for instance gold. 
     The article  1  has a natural crocodile skin aspect. 
     The article  1  comprises an upper first panel  2  and a lower second panel  3  which are both made from gold. 
     The first and second panels  2  and  3  each comprise a plurality of single pieces  4  and  5 . 
     The first and second panels  2  and  3  each have a generally rectangular shape comprising a middle zone  6  and two lateral zones  7  and  8 . 
     The first panel  2  faces the second panel  3  and the single pieces  4  thus face the single pieces  5 . 
     The single pieces  4  and  5  which face have similar outlines. 
     The single pieces  4 , respectively  5 , of the first panel  2 , respectively of the second panel  3 , have not all the same shapes and since they are of different shapes, they also have different outlines. 
     As shown on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the different outlines and shapes of the single pieces  4 , respectively  5 , reproduced a crocodile skin aspect. 
     The single pieces  4  and  5  which are situated in the middle zone  6  of the article  1  have each an outline defining a perimeter which can be similar to the perimeter defined by the outline of each of the single pieces  4  and  5  situated in the lateral zones  7  and  8 . 
     In variant, the single pieces  4  and  5  situated in the lateral zones  7  and  8  have each an outline defining a perimeter which can be smaller or larger than the perimeter defined by the outline of each of the single pieces  4  and  5  in the middle zone  6 . 
     The article  1  has a front face  10 , a rear face  11  and two lateral faces  12  and  13 . 
     The article  1  extends longitudinally between the lateral ends  12  and  13  (defining a longitudinal axis) and comprises an axis of symmetry perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and situated in the middle zone  6 . 
     Thus, the single pieces  4  and  5  situated in the lateral zone  7  have the same shapes than the shapes of the single pieces  4  and  5  situated in the lateral zone  8 . 
     The article  1  further comprises flanges  15  which project from the first panel  2 . 
       FIG. 1  shows the article  1  as being a flat plate and  FIG. 2  shows the article  1  as being a curved plate. 
       FIG. 2  shows that the single pieces  4  and  5  of the article  1  are movable with respect to each other. 
     We now describe in details the article  1  with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 7 . 
     The article  1  further comprises first linking elements and second linking elements. 
     The first panel  2  has an outer face  25 , an inner face  26  opposite to the outer face  25 , two opposite lateral ends  27  and  28 , a front end  29  and a rear end  30 . 
     Here, the first linking elements are formed by pins  20  which project from the inner face  26  of the first panel  2 , as shown on  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     Each pin  20  has a cylindrical shape or a slightly truncated shape with the section of the free end of the pin  20  which is smaller than the section of the pin  20  where it projects from the inner face  2  of the first panel  2 . 
     The flanges  15  which project from the lateral ends  27  and  28  and from the rear end  30  are here formed each with a respective single piece  4 . 
     Here, the pins  20  are also formed with the respective single piece  4  from which each pin  20  projects. 
       FIG. 4  shows that the single pieces  4  have different shapes and thus have outlines which define different perimeters. 
     For instance, the single piece  4   a  is at the front end  29  and has a shape which includes six scales. The single piece  4   a  further comprises four pins  20 . 
     For instance, the single piece  4   b  is in the middle zone  6  and has a shape which includes only one scale (bigger than the scales of the single piece  4   a ) and further comprises four pins  20 . 
     The single piece  4   c  is situated at the lateral end  27  and has a shape which includes three scales and also a part of the flange  15 . The single piece  4   c  also comprises two pins  20 . 
     The single piece  4   d  is situated in a lateral zone  8  of the article  1  and has a shape which includes nine scales and also comprises six pins  20 . 
     Each single piece  4  is provided with a central recess  23  defining a peripheral wall  24 . 
     The pins  20  are here disposed along outline of each single piece  4 , for instance at the corners and in particular along the peripheral wall  24  in the recess  23 . 
     The second lower panel  3  has an outer face  35 , an inner face  36  opposite to the outer face  35 , two opposite lateral ends  37  and  38 , a front end  39  and a rear end  40 . 
     The first panel  2  further comprises a band of material  50  configured to link both the first panel  2  and the second lower panel  3  (which form a side of the handle bag) with the bottom of the handle bag. 
     The second lower panel  3  also comprises a flange support  16  situated at the rear end  40  and partially at the lateral ends  37  and  38  and the flange support  16  is configured to support the flange  15  when the latter comes into abutment against the flange support  16 . 
     The support flange  16  which project from the rear end  40  and from the lateral ends  37  and  38  are here formed with a respective single piece  5 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 5  show that each single piece  5  comprises holes  22 . 
     The holes  22  through the material of the second lower panel  3 . 
       FIG. 5  further shows that the single pieces  5  have different shapes and thus have outlines which define different perimeters. 
     For instance, the single piece  5   a  is at the front end  39  and has a shape which includes six scales. The single piece  5   a  further comprises four holes  22 . Single piece  5   a  is configured to face the single piece  4   a  of the first panel  2 . 
     For instance, the single piece  5   b  has a shape which includes only one scale (bigger than the scales of the single piece  5   a ) and further comprises four holes  22 . Single piece  5   b  is configured to face the single piece  4   b  of the first panel  2 . 
     The single piece  5   c  is situated at the lateral end  37  and has a shape which includes three scales and also a part of the flange support  16 . The single piece  5   c  also comprises two holes  22 . The single piece  5   c  is configured to face the single piece  5   c  of the first panel  2 . 
     The single piece  5   d  is situated in a lateral zone  8  of the article  1  and has a shape which includes nine scales and also comprises six holes  22 . Single piece  5   d  is configured to face the single piece  4   d  of the first panel  1 . 
     Each single piece  5  is provided with a central recess  33  defining a peripheral wall  34 . 
     The holes  22  are here disposed along the outline of each single piece  5 , for instance at the corners and in particular along the peripheral wall  34  in the recess  33 . 
     The holes  22  are configured to face the pins  20  of the first panel  2 . 
     The holes  22  are also configured to receive the free end of the pins  20  situated on the single pieces  4  which face the single pieces  5  in which are made the holes  22 . 
     When the free ends of the pins  20  are introduced into the holes  22 , the first panel  2  and the second lower panel  3  are fixed together and in particular, the single pieces  4  of the first panel  2  are rigidly assembled with the single pieces  5  of the second lower panel  3  which face the single pieces  4 . 
     Each pin  20  is thus configured to rigidly assemble the single pieces  4  which face the single pieces  5 . 
     The second linking elements are here formed by a frame  21  which comprises a plurality of arms  41  which are interconnected with eyes  42 . 
       FIG. 6  shows different frames  21   a - d.    
     The frame  21   a  has a rectangular shape. The frame  21   a  comprises four arms  41  having each a toric section and four eyes  42  having each a toric section too. 
     Each arm  41  is connected to two eyes  42  and each eye  42  is thus connected to two arms  41 . 
     The eyes  42  have each a central aperture  43  which through the center of the eyes  42 . 
     The frame  21   b  is almost similar to the frame  21   a  except that the frame  21   b  has a rhomb shape. 
     The frame  21   c  is almost similar to the frames  21   a  and  21   b  except that the frame  21   c  has neither a rectangular shape nor a rhomb shape but rather a shape of parallelepiped. 
     The frame  21   d  has a triangular shape and comprises three arms  41  and three eyes  42  which each comprise an aperture  43 . 
     Each arm  41  of the frame  21   d  is connected to two eyes  42  and each eye  42  is connected to two arms  41 . 
     The apertures  43  of the frames  21   a - d  have a diameter corresponding to the section of the pins  20 . 
     Each eye  42  is configured to surround a pin  20 , as shown on  FIG. 7 . 
     The frames  21  are each mounted on a plurality of pins  20 , depending on the number of eyes  42  of the frame  21  and depending on the shape of the frame  21 . 
       FIG. 7  further shows frame  21  having only two eyes  42 , this frame being also named  21   e . The frame  21   e  does not comprise arm. 
       FIG. 7  shows that the frames  21  are each configured to cooperate with at least two pins  20 . 
     In particular, the frames  21  are each configured to cooperate with two to six pins  20 , which pins  20  each project from distinct single pieces  4  of the first panel  2 . 
     Thus, each frame  21  is configured to assemble at least two single pieces  4  of the first panel  2  so that the at least two single pieces  4  are movable with respect to each other. 
     Indeed, each aperture  43  of the frames  21  is configured so that the pin  20  which is introduced into the aperture  43  can move due to a relative gap. 
     We will now describe the method for manufacturing such article of jewelry  1 . 
     First, the single pieces  4  of the first panel  2  which are distinct are placed next to each other to form the desired pattern, in other word a crocodile skin aspect. 
     The pieces  4  which define the bigger scales are placed in the middle zone  6  and the pieces  4  which define the smaller scales are placed in the lateral zones  7  and  8  near the middle zone  6 . 
     The frames  21  are each mounted on the pins  20  of the first panel  2 , depending on the shape of the frames  21 , on the number of eyes  42  of the frames  21  and on the configuration of pins  20 . 
     The frames  21  are mounted on the pins  20  until the free end of each pin  20  through an aperture  43  of an eye  42 . 
     In the pre-assembled state, the single pieces  4  of the first panel  2  are linked together thanks to the pins  20  and to the frames  21 . The single pieces  4  can move with respect to each other. 
     Next, the single pieces  5  of the second lower panel  3  which are distinct are placed next to each other to form the desired pattern, in other word a crocodile skin aspect too. 
     The pieces  5  which define the bigger scales are placed in the middle zone  6  and the pieces  5  which define the smaller scales are placed in the lateral zones  7  and  8  near the middle zone  6 . 
     The first panel  2  and the second lower panel  3  are then placed so that they are facing and in particular each single piece  4  faces a single piece  5  which has a similar outline. 
     In the pre-assembled state, the pins  20  face the holes  22 . 
     The first and second panels  23  are clamped so that the pins  20  are each introduced into a respective hole  22 . 
     The first and second panels  2  and  3  are clamped until the free end of each pin  20  slightly projects from the outer face  35  of the second lower panel  3  (through the holes  22 ). 
     A step of welding the pins  20  into the holes  22  is carried out in order to fix the pins  20  in the holes  22  and thus in order to fit the first panel  2  with the second lower panel  3 . 
     Finally, a step of polishing the outer face  35  of the second lower panel  3  is carried out in order to remove burrs from the step of welding (close to the holes  22 ). 
     The article of jewelry  1  is thus manufactured so that the single pieces  4  and  5  which face are rigidly assembled and with the single pieces  4 , respectively  5 , of the first panel  2 , respectively of the second lower panel  3 , which are movable with respect to each other. 
     Further, the flanges  15  covers the lateral ends  37  and  38  of the second lower panel  3  and come into abutment against the flange support  16  of the second lower panel  3 . 
     The article  1  made from gold material and manufactured according to the method described above provides a natural crocodile skin aspect, in other word with the scales which are not rigid and static but rather which are movable with respect to each other. 
     In variants that are not illustrated:
         the article is not made from gold but rather from titanium or from platinum or from silver or from diamond or from another precious metal or not precious metal or from a mix of any one;   at least one second linking element does not comprise a frame having a toric section but rather a frame having a rectangular section and the holes configured to receive the first linking elements are larger than the perimeter of the first linking elements;   at least one second linking element does not comprise a frame which surround each eye but rather a frame having a cross shaped, in other words a frame having a plurality of arms which each extend from a central base;   at least one second linking element does not comprise eyes but rather hooks configured to be taken with the first linking elements;   at least one second linking element is provided with a single piece of the article, in other word the single piece and the second linking element are made from a unique piece and the unique piece does not comprise first linking element;   the first linking elements do not project from the first panel but rather from the second lower panel;   both the first panel and the second lower panel comprise first linking elements;   the flange of the article does not project from the first panel but rather from the second lower panel;   the single pieces which face have not the same shape and outline but rather they have different shapes and outlines;   the article of jewelry does not comprise any axis of symmetry;   the single pieces have all the same shape and outline;   the pins are not formed with the first panel but rather they are initially distinct from the first panel and next fixed to it;   the pins are not disposed at the outline of the single pieces but rather they are disposed at the center of the single pieces;   the single pieces of the article have not a shape which allow to obtain a natural crocodile skin aspect but rather a natural snake skin aspect or a natural turtle skin aspect; and/or   the article of jewelry described above is not a part of a handle bag but rather for instance a part of wrist watch strap or a part of necklace or a part of bracelet.       

     It should be noted more generally that the invention is not limited to the examples described and represented.