Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to an improved gem or synthetic stone setting for an inside bezel mounting that results in considerable time and cost savings in order to provide a precisely calculated bezel angle face and contiguous finish on the inside bezel face for enhanced light brilliance. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   In the world of setting stones, either gem stones or synthetic stones, for an inside bezel setting, conventionally the stones were mounted from the top down. The conventional gem setting for an inside bezel setting is expensive and time consuming due to the difficult task of trying to maximize the refractive light out or in to the crown of the stone. The present invention dramatically improves the setting for either gem or synthetic stones (regardless of their shapes) for the inside bezel mounting. The present invention provides a major aesthetic advantage of pre-establishing the bezel angle face which can be precisely calculated and maximized for refracted light out or reflected light in through the crown of the stone before permanently completing the setting. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The present invention is an improved setting for either gem or synthetic stones, round, oval or pear-shaped either faceted or cabochon utilizing the aesthetic and inherently protective (shielding) properties associated with the classic inside bezel mounting. The invention, self-centering setting provides for the stone to be permanently set with minimum risk to the stone during the actual setting process. Additional advantages associated with the present invention are the considerable labor and time savings, resulting in reduced costs, reduced breakage and more importantly providing a cost effective method to obtain the predictable angle and contiguous finish on the inside bezel face. This action can be accomplished by finishing and polishing the bezel face pre-stone setting which previously was an impossible task due to the nature of the top down inside bezel setting techniques. The major aesthetic advantage of pre-establishing this bezel angle face is that this angle can be precisely calculated thus maximized for the refracted light out or the reflected light in through the crown of the stone using the present invention. 
   In the present art of inside bezel setting, stones are mounted and set from the top down. As for round stones, the process typically involves drilling a hole approximately ⅔ the diameter of the stone and then cutting a seat the diameter of stone at a depth commensurate with the table sitting flush with the top of the mounting. The seat and/or new bearing surfaces are at a pitch, which reflects the pavilion angles and/or the lower half of the stone. 
   After the stone is placed into its seat from above, the metal corner at the top of what was of the open cylinder is then “hammered” down in a series of progressive spiral rotations. Through each rotation, the metal spreads in the direction of the center of the interior forming the bezel. This action effectively terminates at the crown of the stone typically reducing the interior diameter by 10%. The result is covering the stone and preventing the stone from coming out of its setting. The bezel is then carefully trimmed at the stone and metal interface paying particular attention not to nick and damage the stone, then polished to blend the peens from hammering. 
   Additionally, it should be noted that there are other styles included in the present art of stone setting. The most popular are “prong” and their variations, two, three, four, six or more prongs. This popularity is due primarily to the manufacturing considerations and the associative costs. 
   Currently, prong settings are the least labor consuming technique in production. After the seat has been cut and the stone placed into position from the top, the prongs are then bent in the direction of the center of the stone until the prongs lie on top of the crown surfaces of the stone. The prongs are then trimmed and then polished. 
   However, there are compromises for the consumer in conjunction with the prong set mountings. This is due in part to the nature of the prong itself. The prong typically is an extruded form of half round or rectangularly shaped wire that extends from the girdle to the table usually at a height that is eight percent (8%) of the diameter of the stone, or half way up the main bezel facet. The prong, a key component to keeping the stone in place is however subject to misalignment, shifting, being snagged on clothing, hair or other objects and ultimately lost. 
   Additionally, environmental exposure for primarily colored stones and diamonds is risky. The only protection afforded the crown from side impacts are the prongs, which collectively represent twelve percent (12%) of the surface area in a typical four prong setting. Abrasion at the facet junctions, and fracturing at the girdle are typical problems associated for colored stones in “prong” mountings. 
   Furthermore, present “inside bezel” settings require exceptionally fine detailed workmanship by those highly skilled in the art, hence labor costs are very prohibitive in a production environment. Secondarily “prong” style mountings are inexpensive to produce but ultimately leave the consumer with problems of durability, and potential loss of investment. The present invention is an improved method for setting stones which is attractive, durable and easy to implement. 
   While several types of settings exist, none securely fixes a gem within a setting while maximizing the visible area of external reflection with the adjunct concentric bezel face thus enhancing the results of internal refraction too. Also, none is as easy to install as the present invention. 
   In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1   a  is a top plan view of the present invention including a gem. 
       FIG. 1   b  is a left side perspective view of the present invention including a gem. 
       FIG. 1   c  is a right side perspective view of the present invention including a gem. 
       FIG. 1   d  is a front perspective view of the present invention including a gem. 
       FIG. 2   a  is a side elevation view (exploded) of the invention before a gem is set. 
       FIG. 2   b  is a side elevation view in cross section of the present invention including a gem at a point where a gem is being placed within the setting. 
       FIG. 2   c  is a cross section side elevation view of the present invention including a gem at a point after a gem is placed inside a setting and before it is secured  FIG. 2   d  is a cross sectional side elevation view of the present invention including a gem at a point after a gem is secured within a setting. 
       FIG. 2   e  is a bottom plan view of the present invention including a gem at a point after a gem is secured within a setting. 
       FIG. 3   a  is a bottom, perspective (exploded) view of the invention before a gem is set. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a bottom perspective view of the invention with a spring mount in place. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a side perspective (exploded) view of the invention before a gem is set. 
       FIG. 3   d  is a bottom perspective view of the invention with a spring mount in place. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a bottom plan view of an alternative embodiment containing a gem. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment containing a gem. 
       FIG. 4   c  is a (partial) bottom perspective and enlarged detail view of an alternative embodiment with the gem and spring in place. 
       FIG. 4   d  is a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment. 
       FIG. 4   e  is a bottom perspective view of an alternative embodiment at a point when a gem is inside the setting and before it is secured within the setting. 
       FIG. 4   f  is a (partial) bottom perspective view cut away in detail of an alternative embodiment at a point after a gem is secured within the setting. 
       FIG. 4   g  is a (sectional) bottom enlarged cut away perspective view in detail of a fastener of an alternative embodiment after a gem is placed in the setting and secured. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The present invention is an improved setting for a gem. The invention is also a method for placing a gem in a setting. 
   The invention is shown as  10  in  FIGS. 1   a - 1   d . The invention is shown as used, securing a gem  12 . The setting  14  surrounds the enclosed gem  12 . The setting can be used for a ring; however, the setting  14  may have voids  16  or other structure for fastening the setting  14  to a bracelet (not shown), so that the setting  14  may be used for a pendant, bracelet, earring, or other form of jewelry. The setting  14  has a bezel  18  which secures the gem from coming out of the top of the setting  14 . As shown, the bezel  18  is located around the circumference of the inside void in the setting  14 . However, the bezel may alternatively be only a portion of the circumference. 
     FIGS. 2   a - 2   e  illustrate the inventive process for securing a gem within a setting. A circular spring  20  is used to secure the gem  12  within a cavity  22  in the setting  14 . As shown, the spring  20  is generally circular in shape with a gap  24  which allows the spring  20  to be compressed to fit within the circumference of the cavity  22 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The cylindrically shaped spring  20  has a smooth exterior surface as does the passage interior surface  22  for mounting said spring in said passage and for allowing flush engagement to hold the spring anywhere in the passage to accommodate stones of different profile depths. However, the spring  20  may spiral within itself or have other configurations known in the art. Also, although the spring is shown to be cylindrical, other shapes may be preferred. The shape is dependent upon the object (stone) being secured. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2   b , a gem is placed on the spring so that the gem is secured into the setting  14  from the bottom portion of the setting. The gem is then placed generally against the bezel  18  of the setting  14  as the spring  20  is located within the cavity  22  of the setting, as shown in  FIG. 2   c . One or more countersunk prongs  26  are located on the setting  14  so that the prongs extend beyond the bottom portion of the spring  20  when it is properly positioned inside the cavity of the setting. In the preferred embodiment, two countersunk prongs  26  are used, and are made of a bendable material, such as gold, silver or platinum. 
   The countersunk prongs  26  ( FIG. 2   c ) are then bent toward the center of the cavity so that the spring  20  is secured within the cavity  22  as shown in  FIGS. 2   d - 2   e . Thus, the gem  12  is secured within the setting between the bezel  18  and the spring  20 . The countersunk prongs  26   a  in  FIG. 2   d  make only slight, if any intrusion into the circumference of the gem beyond the spring. 
   The preferred embodiment of the setting is shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d . In the preferred embodiment, the spring  20  is of a predetermined size with a predetermined gap, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   c . In this embodiment, the size of the spring and the gap are made so that the gap  24  disappears when it is placed within the setting  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 3   b  and  3   d . The spring is shown to be generally cylindrical; however, it may be of any desired shape, including generally conical, so that it engages frictionally with the inside perimeter of the cavity in the setting. 
   The countersunk prongs  26  are preferred to be located on the setting itself, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a - 3   d . As shown, the countersunk prongs  26  are located within a depressed area  28  in the bottom of the setting. As shown, the area  28  is chamfered; however, other shapes for the depression may be used. In addition, other shapes for the countersunk prongs are also considered in this invention. As shown, only slight movement of the countersunk prongs is necessary to secure the gem  12 . Although two countersunk prongs are shown, one may be used, or, to secure the gem more surely, more countersunk prongs may be used. Also, it may be preferred that the countersunk prongs are tapered to maximize the area securing the spring and minimize any intrusion into the visible area of the gem. 
   An alternative embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   g . In this embodiment, the spring  20  includes a spacing  30 . Although it is preferred that the spacing  30  is located at the gap  24  of the spring  20 , the spacer may be located anywhere on the lower portion of the spring  20 . In this embodiment, the spacing  30  acts as a guide for a single countersunk prong  32 . In this embodiment, several spacings may be used for several countersunk prongs. Also, as shown, the prong is tapered so that the prongs provides a wedging effect into the spacing  30  on the spring  20 . The wedging effect makes the spring secure against the inner circumference  34  of the cavity  22 . Thus the gem is secured tightly in the setting  14  in this embodiment. 
   Therefore, the invention includes a countersunk prong stone mount comprising: 
   an outer portion having an inside bezel over a gem for retaining the gem; 
   a generally circular inner spring portion located within the outer portion below the gem; and 
   one or more mechanically bendable countersunk prongs for retaining the inner spring portion within the outer portion. 
   The invention is also a method for mounting a gem using countersunk prongs in a setting from the bottom of the setting, comprising the steps of: 
   placing the gem inside a void in an outer portion of a setting having an inside bezel located on the inner perimeter of the void, whereby the countersunk prong or prongs prevents the gem from passing through the outer portion; 
   simultaneously pressing down against the stone and bezel thus creating a synergetic effect in the setting of the stone “down and out; 
   “placing a generally circular spring under tension with a front side and a back side within the void behind the stone, so that the gem is secured by the spring between the front side of the spring and the bezel; and 
   bending one or more countersunk prongs over the back side of the spring so that the gem and the spring are secured within the setting. 
   The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Technology Category: 1