Decorative member and process for producing the decorative member

Abstract

 A decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion (4) having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion (5) having a cone shape and a holder (3) which comprises three or more nails tightly attached to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel at linear contacting portions and fixes the jewel; and a process for producing the decorative member in which the nails (3) have a structure such that a solid angle formed by the three or more nails is smaller than a solid angle formed by side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and a culet of the jewel as an apex and, when the jewel is inserted between the nails, the nails each have a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond a girdle of the jewel at an end portion thereof and can be bent inward, which process comprises inserting the jewel into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in a radial direction, fixing the jewel by bending the portions for bending of the nails inward at a position of the girdle of the jewel and cutting off unnecessary end portions of the nails while portions of the nails used for fixing the jewel are left remaining.
The decorative member has no possibility of detachment of the jewel, exhibits excellent appearance and does not cause allergic irritation. The decorative member is produced in accordance with the above process.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a decorative member and a process for producing the decorative member. More particularly, the present invention relates to a decorative member having a jewel fixed by a holder which has no possibility of detachment of the jewel, exhibits excellent appearance and does not cause allergic irritation and a process for producing the decorative member which enables fixing the jewel to the holder easily without causing damages on the jewel.

2. Description of Related Art

[0002] Decorative members such as pierced ornaments, ear rings, pendants, rings and brooches in which a jewel such as diamond is fixed have been loved and popularly used by many people since ancient times. Various attempts have been made to fix a jewel in a decorative member. Figure 1 shows a diagram describing an example of conventional decorative members. In this example, a jewel 1 is placed in a jewel stand 2. End portions of nails 3 which is in the form shown by A are bent in the direction shown by the arrow. The nails are deformed into the form shown by B and the jewel is fixed. In this example of the decorative member, the jewel can be fixed easily and the possibility that damages are formed on the jewel is small. However, the pavilion portion of the jewel and the holder, in particular, the jewel stand are separated from each other and side portions of the jewel are hidden behind the jewel stand. When the decorative member is looked at in the side directions, the nails and the jewel stand occupy major portions of the member. The jewel itself is behind these portions and cannot be seen well. Therefore, such a decorative member exhibits rather poor appearance.

[0003] Figure 2 shows a diagram describing another example of conventional decorative members. This example of the decorative member has a structure generally used for rings with raised nails. End portions 3 of the nails in the form shown by C is caulked in the direction shown by the arrow. The nails are deformed into the form shown by D and a jewel 1 is fixed. Since this example of the decorative member does not have a jewel stand, the jewel can be seen in the side directions and the decorative member exhibits excellent appearance. However, since the jewel is held just by caulking the nails, there is the possibility that damages are formed on the jewel when the nails are caulked by an excessively great force to prevent detachment of the jewel. On the other hand, there is the possibility that the jewel is detached when the nails are caulked by a weak force to prevent formation of damages on the jewel. Since considerable strength is required for the setting, the holder must have a thick structure, resulting in a bulky shape. Moreover, fixing the jewel in accordance with this method requires highly excellent skill.

[0004] Decorative members in which a jewel is fixed to a holder by brazing have heretofore been produced. Since a decorative member produced by fixing a jewel to a holder by brazing has no nails, the decorative member exhibits excellent appearance when the member is looked at in the side directions. However, the jewel is exposed to a high temperature when the jewel is fixed by brazing and there is the possibility that the surface condition of the jewel deteriorates. There is also the possibility that the portion fixed by brazing is broken and the jewel is detached. To prevent such problems, it is occasionally conducted that, using several types of brazing materials having different temperatures of melting, the central portion of the jewel is fixed with a brazing material having a high temperature of melting, portions in the periphery of the central portion are fixed with a brazing material having an intermediate temperature of melting and portions further in the periphery of the above portions are fixed with a brazing material having a lower temperature of melting. However, fixing by brazing in a plurality of times as described above requires a great amount of labor and it is inevitable that cost of production of the decorative member increases. Moreover, when a brazing material is used for fixing a jewel in a decorative member which is used in close contact with the skin such as pierced ornaments, there is the possibility that the brazing material causes allergic irritation depending on the characteristic of the person.

[0005] Therefore, a decorative member which has no possibility of detachment of a jewel fixed in the decorative member, exhibits excellent appearance and does not cause allergic irritation and a process for producing a decorative member which enables fixing the components to each other easily without forming damages on the jewel and provides a decorative member which exhibits excellent appearance and does not cause allergic irritation have been desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a decorative member comprising a jewel fixed to a holder which has no possibility of detachment of the jewel fixed in the decorative member, exhibits excellent appearance and does not cause allergic irritation and a process for producing the decorative member which enables fixing the jewel to the holder easily without forming damages on the jewel.

[0007] As the result of intensive studies by the present inventors to overcome the above problems, it was found that, when a holder comprising nails which are disposed at positions at the inside of a surface corresponding to the side face of the pavilion of the jewel before the jewel is inserted and fixed and have a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond the girdle of the jewel is used and the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction and fixed by bending the portions for bending of the nails inward at the position of the girdle of the jewel and cutting off unnecessary end portions of the nails, damages are not formed on the jewel, detachment of the jewel can be prevented, the nails are attached tightly to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel at linear contacting portions and a decorative member exhibiting excellent appearance can be produced. The present invention has been completed based on this knowledge.

[0008] The present invention provides:

(1) A decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which comprises three or more nails tightly attached to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel at linear contacting portions and fixes the jewel;

(2) A decorative member described in (1), wherein the nails of the holder are fitted into grooves formed in the crown portion or in the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel;

(3) A decorative member described in (2), wherein the grooves in the crown portion has a shape fitting that of the nails of the holder and a surface of the jewel and a surface of the nail form a continuous smooth surface in the crown portion;

(4) A decorative member described in (1), which is a pierced ornament in which the holder and a post are fixed to each other by assembling together;

(5) A decorative member according to Claim 4, wherein a hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting an end portion of the post into the hole and brazing the end portion of the post to the holder at an inside of the hole;

(6) A decorative member described in (4), wherein an external screw is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, an internal screw is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by screwing the post into the bottom portion of the holder;

(7) A decorative member described in (4), wherein a penetrating hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, a portion having a greater diameter is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting the post through the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails, placing the post in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts an upper end portion of the penetrating hole and caulking the post and the holder together;

(8) A process for producing a decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which fixes the jewel, the holder comprising three or more nails, the nails being arranged in a manner such that a solid angle formed by the three or more nails is smaller than a solid angle formed by side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and a culet of the jewel as an apex and, when the jewel is inserted between the nails, the nails each having, at an end portion thereof, a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond a girdle of the jewel and can be bent inward,
   which process comprises inserting the jewel into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in a radial direction, fixing the jewel by bending the portions for bending of the nails inward at a position of the girdle of the jewel and cutting off unnecessary end portions of the nails while portions of the nails used for fixing the jewel are left remaining;

(9) A process described in (8), wherein grooves are formed in the crown portion or in the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel and the nails of the holder are fitted into the grooves;

(10) A process described in (9), wherein the grooves in the crown portion has a shape fitting that of the nails of the holder and a surface of the jewel and a surface of the nail form a continuous smooth surface in the crown portion;

(11) A process described in (8), which is a pierced ornament in which the holder and a post are fixed to each other by assembling together;

(12) A process described in (11), wherein a hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting an end portion of the post into the hole and brazing the end portion of the post to an inside of the hole;

(13) A process described in (11), wherein an external screw is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, an internal screw is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by screwing the post into the bottom portion of the holder;

(14) A process described in (11), wherein a penetrating hole is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, a portion having a greater diameter is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting the post through the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails, placing the post in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts an upper end portion of the penetrating hole and caulking the post and the holder together;

(15) A process described in (8), wherein the three or more nails of the holder are brazed to a ring member for inserting and supporting the pavilion portion of the jewel; and

(16) A process described in (15), wherein the decorative member is a pendant head in which a portion for attaching a chain is formed on two nails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] 

Figure 1 shows a diagram describing an example of a conventional decorative member.

Figure 2 shows a diagram describing another example of a conventional decorative member.

Figure 3(a) shows a plan view and Figure 3(b) shows a partial side view of an embodiment and Figure 3(c) shows a diagram describing an embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention.

Figure 4(a) shows a plan view and Figure 4(b) shows a partial side view of another embodiment and Figure 4(c), Figure 4(d) and Figure 4(e) show diagrams describing another embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention.

Figure 5(a) shows a plan view and Figure 5(b) shows a partial side view of another embodiment and Figure 5(c), Figure 5(d) and Figure 5(e) show diagrams describing another embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention.

Figure 6(a) shows a plan view and Figure 6(b) shows a side view of a jewel to which the process of the present invention can be applied.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a holder used in the process of the present invention.

Figure 8(a), Figure 8(b) and Figure 8(c) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the process for producing a decorative member of the present invention.

Figure 9(a) and Figure 9(b) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament.

Figure 10(a) and Figure 10(b) show diagrams describing another embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament.

Figure 11(a) and Figure 11(b) show diagrams describing still another embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament.

Figure 12(a) shows a plan view, Figure 12(b) shows a side view and Figure 12(c) shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the pierced ornament produced in accordance with the process of the present invention.

Figure 13(a) and Figure 13(b) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the pierced ornament produced in accordance with the process of the present invention.

Figure 14(a) shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the holder used in the process of the present invention. Figure 14(b) shows a front view and Figure 14(c) shows a side view of a pendant head using the holder.

[0010] The numbers in above Figures mean as listed in the following:

1:

A jewel

2:

A jewel stand

3:

A nail

4:

A crown portion

5:

A pavilion portion

6:

A post

7:

A groove

8:

A table

9:

A culet

10:

A girdle

11:

An end portion of a nail

12:

A portion for bending

13:

A hole

14:

An external screw

15:

An internal screw

16:

A penetrating hole

17:

A portion having a greater diameter

18:

A ring member

19:

A portion for attaching a chain

20:

A chain

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] The decorative member of the present invention comprises a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which comprises three or more nails tightly attached to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel at linear contacting portions and fixes the jewel. The jewel used in the present invention is not particularly limited. Examples of the jewel include diamond, ruby, sapphire, emerald, aquamarine, spinel, zircon, garnet, opal, jade, amethyst, turquoise, pearl, amber, various artificial jewels and various imitation jewels.

[0012] Figure 3(a) shows a plan view and Figure 3(b) shows a partial side view of an embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention. Figure 3(c) shows a diagram describing the embodiment. The present embodiment of the decorative member is a pierced ornament. A jewel comprising a crown portion 4 having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion 5 having a cone shape is held by a holder which comprises three nails 3 and a post 6 is fixed to the holder. The three nails are tightly attached to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel. The holder and the jewel are integrally attached and the nails of the holder are attached to the faces of the jewel tightly at linear contacting portions without forming gaps. Therefore, when the pierced ornament is attached to an earlobe by passing the post through a hole in the earlobe, the nails are hardly seen form the outside since the nails are buried into the earlobe and the jewel alone exhibits brilliant appearance.

[0013] Figure 4(a) shows a plan view of another embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention. Figure 4(b) shows a partial side view of the embodiment and Figures 4(c), 4(d) and 4(e) show diagrams describing the embodiment. The present embodiment of the decorative member is a pierced ornament. Nails 3 of a holder are fitted into grooves 7 formed in a crown portion or in a crown portion and a pavilion portion of a jewel. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4(c), grooves 7 are formed mainly in the crown portion 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4(d), grooves 7 are formed in an area ranging from the crown portion 4 to a middle portion of the pavilion portion 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4(e), grooves 7 are formed in an area ranging from the crown portion 4 to the entire portion of the pavilion portion 5. In the present embodiment of the pierced ornament, the end portions of the nails 3 are protruded at the surface of the crown portion 4 as shown in Figure 4(b). However, in the portions of the jewel in which the grooves are formed, the nails are fitted into the grooves. Therefore, the nails are more hardly seen and the pierced ornament exhibits more excellent appearance when the pierced ornament is attached to an earlobe. Since the nails are fitted into the grooves formed in the jewel, the jewel can be held more firmly.

[0014] Figure 5(a) shows a plan view of still another embodiment of the decorative member of the present invention. Figure 5(b) shows a partial side view of the embodiment and Figures 5(c), 5(d) and 5(e) show diagrams describing the embodiment. The present embodiment of the decorative member is a pierced ornament. Nails 3 of a holder are fitted into grooves 7 formed in a crown portion or in a crown portion and a pavilion portion of a jewel. The grooves in the crown portion has the shape fitting that of the nails of the holder and the surface of the jewel and the surface of the nail form a continuous smooth surface in the crown portion 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5(c), grooves 7 are formed mainly in the crown portion 4. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5(d), grooves 7 are formed in an area ranging from the crown portion 4 to a middle portion of the pavilion portion 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5(e), grooves 7 are formed in an area ranging from the crown portion 4 to the entire portion of the pavilion portion 5. In the present embodiment of the pierced ornament, as shown in Figure 5(b), the surface of the nails 3 and the surface of the crown portion 4 form a continuous smooth surface. In the portions of the jewel in which the grooves are formed, the nails are fitted into the grooves. Therefore, the nails are more hardly seen and the pierced ornament exhibits more excellent appearance when the pierced ornament is attached to an earlobe. Since the nails are fitted into the grooves formed in the jewel, the jewel can be held more firmly.

[0015] When the decorative member of the present invention is a pierced ornament, it is preferable that a holder and a post are fixed to each other by assembling the holder and the post together. In conventional pierced ornaments, a holder and a post are fixed to each other frequently by brazing. However, since the portion at which a holder and a post are fixed to each other contacts an earlobe tightly all the time when the pierced ornament is used, the pierced ornament causes allergic irritation by the brazing material for some persons. When allergic irritation takes place, the use of the ornament is occasionally forced to give up even when the ornament has been purchased at a high price. In the pierced ornament as an embodiment of the present invention, the holder and the post are fixed to each other by assembling together and there is no possibility that a brazing material directly contacts skin. Therefore, there is no possibility of allergic irritation and the pierced ornament can be purchased and used with safety.

[0016] In the pierced ornament as an embodiment of the present invention, the method of fixing the holder and the post to each other by assembling together is not particularly limited. For example, the holder and the post can be assembled together by forming a hole at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, inserting an end portion of the post into the hole and brazing the end portion of the post to the holder at the inside of the hole. The hole may be a penetrating hole or a non-penetrating hole having a closed upper portion. By brazing the post to the holder at the inside of the hole, the brazing material is not exposed in the portion which contacts the skin and there is no possibility that allergic irritation takes place.

[0017] The holder and the post can also be assembled together by forming an external screw at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other and an internal screw at an end portion of the post and screwing the post into the bottom portion of the holder. When the portion of the screw is caulked after the post has been screwed into the bottom portion of the holder, the holder and the post can be fixed to each other more strongly and firmly.

[0018] The holder and the post can also be assembled together by forming a penetrating hole at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, forming a portion having a greater diameter at an end portion of the post, inserting the post through the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails, placing the post in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts an upper end portion of the penetrating hole and caulking the post and the holder together.

[0019] In the process for producing a decorative member of the present invention, a decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which fixes the jewel is produced. The holder comprises three or more nails and the nails are arranged in a manner such that the solid angle formed by the three or more nails is smaller than the solid angle formed by side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and the culet of the jewel as the apex. When the jewel is inserted between the nails, the nails each have, at an end portion thereof, a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond the girdle of the jewel and can be bent inward. The process comprises inserting the jewel into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in a radial direction, fixing the jewel by bending the portions for bending of the nails inward at a position of the girdle of the jewel and cutting off unnecessary end portions of the nails while portions of the nails used for fixing the jewel are left remaining.

[0020] The process of the present invention can be applied to a decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape. Figure 6(a) shows a side view of an example of the jewel to which the process of the present invention can be applied and Figure 6(b) shows a plan view of the example. The jewel of the present example comprises a crown portion 4 having an approximately truncated circular cone shape and a pavilion portion 5 having an approximately circular cone shape. The upper face of the crown portion forms a table 8 and the apex of the pavilion portion forms a culet 9. The side face of the crown portion and the side face of the pavilion are connected to each other at a girdle 10. The jewel to which the process of the present invention can be applied is not limited to the jewel which comprises a crown portion having an approximately truncated circular cone shape and a pavilion portion having an approximately circular cone shape. The process of the present invention can be applied to jewels comprising a crown portion having any type of truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having any type of cone shape. For example, the jewels may comprise a crown portion having an approximately truncated elliptic cone shape and a pavilion portion having an approximately elliptic cone shape, a crown portion having an approximately truncated pyramid shape and a pavilion portion having an approximately pyramid shape, a crown portion having an approximately truncated hexagonal pyramid shape and a pavilion portion having an approximately hexagonal pyramid shape or a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape, in which the sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the cones is a shape of a heart.

[0021] In the process of the present invention, a holder comprising three or more nails is used. Figure 7 shows a side view of an embodiment of the holder used in the process of the present invention. The holder of the present embodiment comprises three nails 3. For jewels which comprise a crown portion having an approximately truncated circular cone shape and a pavilion portion having an approximately circular cone shape, in general, the holder comprising three nails can be advantageously used. For jewels which comprise a crown portion having a truncated pyramid shape and a pavilion portion having a pyramid shape, it is preferable that a holder comprising four nails is used. The number of the nail in the holder used in the process of the present invention can be suitably selected in accordance with the requirements for design of the decorative member and the necessity for covering undesirable portions of the jewel.

[0022] In the process of the present invention, a holder in which the nails are arranged in a manner such that the solid angle formed by the three nails is smaller than the solid angle formed by the side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and the culet of the jewel as the apex is used. The solid angle of the jewel can be obtained as the area which is cut out on the surface of a unit sphere having the center at the culet by the cone having the apex at the culet. The solid angle formed by the three or more nails is not the solid angle of a polyhedral cone formed by planes containing two nails adjacent to each other but the solid angle of a cone having a shape corresponding to the shape of the pavilion portion of the jewel which is fixed by the three or more nails. For example, when the jewel shown in Figure 6(a) is fixed by using the holder shown in Figure 7, the solid angle formed by the three nails is the solid angle of a circular cone formed by the three nails as the generators since the jewel shown in Figure 6(a) has a pavilion portion having an approximately circular cone shape. In the process of the present invention, the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction when the nails in the holder are arranged in a manner such that the solid angle formed by the three nails is smaller than the solid angle formed by the side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and the culet of the jewel as the apex and the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure. Since the jewel is held by the force of recovery of the elastic deformation when the jewel is fixed to produce a decorative member, an excessively strong force is not applied to the jewel and the jewel can be firmly held.

[0023] In the process of the present invention, a holder in which the nails each have, at an end portion thereof, a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond a girdle of the jewel and can be bent inward is used. For example, when the jewel shown in Figure 6(a) is fixed by using the holder shown in Figure 7, the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure. When the culet of the jewel reaches the portion where the three nails contact each other, the end portions of the nails extend beyond the girdle and reach the crown portion of the jewel. The portion of the nail between the end portion and the portion contacting the girdle is the portion for bending. By using this portion for bending, the nails are bent inward at the position of the girdle and the jewel can be fixed without applying an excessively strong force to the jewel. The unnecessary end portions of the nails are cut off while portions of the nail used for fixing the jewel are left remaining. After the cut portions of the nails are treated for finishing, the decorative member is completed.

[0024] In the process of the present invention, the process for producing the holder having three or more nails is not particularly limited. For example, The holder can be produced by brazing three or more nails to each other at the portions where the nails contact the culet of the jewel. The holder can also be produced by welding three or more nails at the portions where the nails contact the culet of the jewel. The holder having three or more nails can also be produced by mechanical working. The force of the nails of the holder holding the jewel is decided by the difference between the sold angle formed by the side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and the culet of the jewel as the apex and the solid angle formed by the three or more nails when the material and the thickness of the nails are the same. Therefore, the force of the nails holding the jewel can be easily adjusted by adjusting the solid angle formed by the three or more nails.

[0025] Figure 8(a), Figure 8(b) and Figure 8(c) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the process for producing a decorative member of the present invention. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 8(a), a jewel is inserted into a holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction. Since the solid angle formed by the three or more nails 3 of the holder is smaller than the solid angle formed by the side faces of the pavilion portion 5 of the jewel and the culet 9 of the jewel as the apex, the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction and press the side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel by the force of recovery when the jewel is inserted by applying a pressure. When the culet of the jewel reaches the portion where the three or more nails contact each other, as shown in Figure 8(b), the nails 3 are tightly attached to the side faces of the pavilion portion 5 at linear contacting portions. The end portions 11 of the nails extend beyond the girdle 10 and portions for bending 12 which reach the side of the crown portion 4 are formed. The portions for bending are bent inward at the position of the girdle and the jewel is fixed. As shown in Figure 8(c), the unnecessary end portions of the nails are cut off while portions of the nail used for fixing the jewel are left remaining. After the cut portions of the nails are treated for finishing, the decorative member is completed.

[0026] When a pierced ornament is produced in accordance with the process of the present invention, it is preferable that the holder having three or more nails and the post are fixed to each other by assembling together. By fixing the holder and the post to each other by assembling together, the materials of the holder and the post can be selected each independently. For example, platinum plated with rhodium exhibiting excellent appearance may be used for the nails of the holder and gold rarely causing allergic irritation may be used for the post. In this construction, unlike the case in which the holder and the post are brazed, there is no possibility that a brazing material causes allergic irritation and the post can be firmly fixed to the holder. Moreover, the jewel can be placed as low as possible and as close as possible to the skin. In other words, the jewel can be set at a position such that the distance between the jewel and the skin is extremely decreased. From the standpoint of design, the lower the position of the jewel, the more smart and the more excellent the appearance. When the pierced ornament in which the holder and the post are fixed to each other by assembling together is attached to an earlobe, the nails are hardly seen from the outside and the pierced ornament is in an excellent condition, appearing as if the jewel alone is attached to the earlobe.

[0027] Figure 9(a) and Figure 9(b) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 9(a), a hole 13 is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where three nails 3 contact each other. After a brazing material such as a silver brazing material is placed into the hole, an end portion of the post 6 is inserted into the hole and the holder and the post are brazed together by heating. Since the brazing is made at the inside of the hole, the brazing material which tends to cause allergic irritation is not exposed to the outside and a pierced ornament showing excellent safety can be produced. In the present embodiment, after the holder and the post are brazed together, a jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure while the three nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction as shown in Figure 9(b). When the culet of the jewel reaches the portion where the three or more nails contact each other, the end portions 11 of the nails extend beyond the girdle 10 and portions for bending 12 which reach the side of the crown portion 4 are formed at the end portions of the nail. The portion for bending is bent inward at the position of the girdle and the jewel is fixed. The unnecessary end portions of the nails are cut off while portions of the nail used for fixing the jewel are left remaining. After the cut portions of the nails are treated for finishing, the decorative member is completed.

[0028] Figure 10(a) and Figure 10(b) show diagrams describing another embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 10(a), an external screw 14 is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails 3 contact each other and an internal screw 15 is formed at an end portion of the post 6. The post is screwed into the bottom portion of the holder. Where necessary, the holder and the post can be fixed to each other more firmly by caulking the portion of the screw after the post is screwed into the bottom portion of the holder. In the present invention, the order of fixing the jewel by the holder and screwing the post into the holder is not particularly limited. The post may be screwed into the bottom portion of the holder after the jewel has been fixed by the holder. Alternatively, the jewel may be fixed by the holder after the post has been screwed into the bottom portion of the holder. In the present embodiment, since grooves are formed in the jewel, the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure in a manner such that the nails are fitted into the grooves while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction as shown in Figure 10(a). When the culet of the jewel reaches the portion where the three or more nails contact each other, the portion for bending is bent inward at the position of the girdle. The obtained assembly is finished so that the surface of the nails and the surface of the jewel form a smooth continuous surface as shown in Figure 10(b) and the jewel is fixed.

[0029] Figure 11(a) and Figure 11(b) show diagrams describing still another embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament. In the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 11(a), a penetrating hole 16 is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where three nails 3 contact each other and a portion having a greater diameter 17 is formed at one end portion of a post 6. The post is inserted into the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails. The post is placed in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts the upper end portion of the penetrating hole and the post and the holder are assembled together by caulking. Then, the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure in a manner such that the nails are fitted into the grooves while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction as shown in Figure 11(a). When the culet of the jewel reaches the portion where the three or more nails contact each other, the portion for bending is bent inward at the position of the girdle. The obtained assembly is finished so that the surfaces of the nails and the jewel form a smooth continuous surface as shown in Figure 11(b) and the jewel is fixed.

[0030] Figure 12(a) shows a plan view of an embodiment of the process of the present invention to produce a pierced ornament. Figure 12(b) shows a side view and Figure 12(c) shows a perspective view of the embodiment. Figure 13(a) and Figure 13(b) show diagrams describing an embodiment of the pierced ornament produced in accordance with the process of the present invention. The pierced ornament of the present embodiment is assembled by the force of springs. In the pierced ornament of the present embodiment, a jewel is held by three nails 3 in an excellent balance as shown in Figure 13(a). As shown in Figure 13(c), the pavilion portion of the jewel and the nails are tightly attached to each other at linear contacting portions and the force of springs works also in the direction of the lower portions of the jewel. The post 6 and the nails 3 of the holder of the pierced ornament are integrally attached to each other. Therefore, the nails are hardly seen when the pierced ornament is attached to an earlobe and the pierced ornament exhibits excellent appearance.

[0031] In the process of the present invention, a holder in which three or more nails are brazed to a ring member for inserting the pavilion portion of a jewel may be used. Figure 14(a) shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the holder used in the process of the present invention. In the present embodiment of the holder, three nails 3 are brazed to a ring member 18 for inserting and supporting the pavilion portion of a jewel. The holder of the present embodiment can be advantageously used for producing a pendant head. When the holder of the present embodiment is used for a pendant head, it is preferable that a portion for attaching a chain 19 is formed on two nails of the holder. In the present embodiment of the holder, the jewel is inserted into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in the radial direction. When the side face of the pavilion portion contacts the ring member and is supported by the ring member, the end portions of the nails extend beyond the girdle and portions for bending which reach the side of the crown portion are formed at the end portions of the nails. The portion for bending is bent inward at the position of the girdle and the jewel is fixed to the holder. Unnecessary end portions of the nails are cut off while portions of the nail used for fixing the jewel are left remaining. The obtained assembly is finished so that the surfaces of the nails and the jewel form a smooth continuous surface and the pendant head is produced. Figure 14(b) shows a front view of a pendant head produced by using the above holder. A chain 20 is attached to the portions for attaching a chain 19. The table of the jewel is hung approximately perpendicularly and faces frontward. Figure 14(c) shows a side view of this pendant head.

[0032] The process for producing a decorative member of the present invention is most characterized in that the pavilion portion of a jewel and a holder are integrally attached and the holder is attached to the surface of the pavilion tightly at linear contacting portions without gaps. In the holder in the process for producing a decorative member of the present invention, no forces are concentrated at any one point of the jewel and there is no possibility that damages are formed on the jewel since three or more nails are tightly attached to the side face of the pavilion of the jewel at linear contacting portions. The decorative member exhibits a stable balance since the jewel is fixed by three or more nails and detachment of the jewel can be effectively prevented. When the decorative member produced in accordance with the process of the present invention is attached to the body and used, there is little possibility that the jewel hits the body and the decorative member can be used comfortably. In the decorative member produced in accordance with the process of the present invention, excellent appearance of the jewel is emphasized since the nails are hardly seen. The pierced ornament produced in accordance with the process of the present invention exhibits excellent effect of the ornament since the nails are hardly seen when the pierced ornament is attached to an earlobe.

[0033] To summarize the advantages of the present invention, the decorative member has no possibility of detachment of a jewel fixed in the decorative member, exhibits excellent appearance and, when the decorative member is a pierced ornament, does not cause allergic irritation and a jewel can be fixed to a holder easily without forming damages on the jewel in accordance with the process for producing a decorative member.

Claims

1. A decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which comprises three or more nails tightly attached to the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel at linear contacting portions and fixes the jewel.

2. A decorative member according to Claim 1, wherein the nails of the holder are fitted into grooves formed in the crown portion or in the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel.

3. A decorative member according to Claim 2, wherein the grooves in the crown portion has a shape fitting that of the nails of the holder and a surface of the jewel and a surface of the nail form a continuous smooth surface in the crown portion.

4. A decorative member according to Claim 1, which is a pierced ornament in which the holder and a post are fixed to each other by assembling together.

5. A decorative member according to Claim 4, wherein a hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting an end portion of the post into the hole and brazing the end portion of the post to the holder at an inside of the hole.

6. A decorative member according to Claim 4, wherein an external screw is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, an internal screw is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by screwing the post into the bottom portion of the holder.

7. A decorative member according to Claim 4, wherein a penetrating hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, a portion having a greater diameter is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting the post through the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails, placing the post in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts an upper end portion of the penetrating hole and caulking the post and the holder together.

8. A process for producing a decorative member comprising a jewel which comprises a crown portion having a truncated cone shape and a pavilion portion having a cone shape and a holder which fixes the jewel, the holder comprising three or more nails, the nails being arranged in a manner such that a solid angle formed by the three or more nails is smaller than a solid angle formed by side faces of the pavilion portion of the jewel and a culet of the jewel as an apex and, when the jewel is inserted between the nails, the nails each having, at an end portion thereof, a portion for bending which reaches the crown portion beyond a girdle of the jewel and can be bent inward, which process comprises inserting the jewel into the holder by applying a pressure while the nails are elastically deformed by expansion in a radial direction, fixing the jewel by bending the portions for bending of the nails inward at a position of the girdle of the jewel and cutting off unnecessary end portions of the nails while portions of the nails used for fixing the jewel are left remaining.

9. A process according to Claim 8, wherein grooves are formed in the crown portion or in the crown portion and the pavilion portion of the jewel and the nails of the holder are fitted into the grooves.

10. A process according to Claim 9, wherein the grooves in the crown portion has a shape fitting that of the nails of the holder and a surface of the jewel and a surface of the nail form a continuous smooth surface in the crown portion.

11. A process according to Claim 8, which is a pierced ornament in which the holder and a post are fixed to each other by assembling together.

12. A process according to Claim 11, wherein a hole is formed at a bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting an end portion of the post into the hole and brazing the end portion of the post to an inside of the hole.

13. A process according to Claim 11, wherein an external screw is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, an internal screw is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by screwing the post into the bottom portion of the holder.

14. A process according to Claim 11, wherein a penetrating hole is formed at the bottom portion of the holder where the three or more nails contact each other, a portion having a greater diameter is formed at an end portion of the post and the holder and the post are assembled together by inserting the post through the penetrating hole from an upper position of the nails, placing the post in a manner such that the portion of the post having a greater diameter contacts an upper end portion of the penetrating hole and caulking the post and the holder together.

15. A process according to Claim 8, wherein the three or more nails of the holder are brazed to a ring member for inserting and supporting the pavilion portion of the jewel.

16. A process according to Claim 15, wherein the decorative member is a pendant head in which a portion for attaching a chain is formed on two nails.

Drawing