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(11) | EP 1 595 469 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Composable article for use in goldsmithery and costume jewellery |
| (57) A composable article for goldsmithery and costume jewellery, comprising at least
one element (1) with a central window (2) and at least one insert (3) suitable for
fitting inside said window, with snap-on connection means (4, 7) suitable for reversibly
securing said insert inside said window. |
[0001] The present invention generally refers to the field of goldsmithery and costume jewellery and, more particularly, relates to a composable article that can be used to manufacture goldsmithery or costume jewellery products like a necklace, a bracelet or a pendant.
[0002] Known composable articles of the above-mentioned type are assembled mainly to form bracelets and other chain-like items. In a first type of bracelet of this kind, a band of metal fabric forms the support for a plurality of tubular attachments with a square cross-section, arranged coaxially to the metal band. These attachments can carry alphanumerical characters so as to enable the composition of words or, more in general, they may carry all sorts of decorative motifs. Another type of bracelet of this kind is formed by unit elements or modules comprising two plates connected slidingly and elastically to each other. These modules can be reversibly connected to each other in a linear sequence. As in the previously-described type, one of the two plates carries alphanumerical characters and/or decorative designs, so that by suitably joining the modules together, words or decorative sequences can be composed at will.
[0003] With the above-described conventional systems, the composition of the bracelets is somewhat laborious and often demands the use of specific tools. Moreover, because of the limited thickness of the plates, the alphanumerical characters and decorations can only be applied to them using welding or enamelling techniques.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a composable article of goldsmithery and costume jewellery formed by modular elements and usable to manufacture complex, chain-linked items such as bracelets.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of goldsmithery and costume jewellery of the above-mentioned type in which the use of a wider variety of metal materials (including precious metals) and non-metal materials than is currently achievable with the known systems is allowed.
[0006] These objects are achieved with the composable article of goldsmithery and costume jewellery according to the present invention, which comprises at least one substantially annular element with a central window and at least one insert suitable for being contained within said window, and snap-on connection means for reversibly locking the insert inside the window. The insert can thus be made of the desired thickness and of any, sufficiently stiff material
[0007] The invention will be illustrated in further detail in the following description of one of its embodiments, made as a non-limiting example with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:
- figure 1 is a plan view of a modular element for an article according to the present invention;
- figures 2 and 3 show a side view and a plan view of the insert for the modular element of figure 1;
- figure 4 shows a possible means of reversible snap-on connection for the modular element of figure 1;
- figure 5 is a schematic plan view of a composable article having a chain-like structure that can be made with the modular element of figure 1.
[0008] Referring to the figures from 1 to 4, the numeral 1 is used to indicate a generally annular element defining a window 2 therein. From opposite sides of annular element 1 there extend a central projection 1a and, respectively, two side projections 1b, lying substantially coplanar to the annular element 1, or in any case extending therefrom in the same direction and without any significant discontinuity. The width of the central projection 1a, is substantially equal to the gap between the two side projections 1b, so that the central projection 1a of one element 1 can be inserted between the two side projections 1b of another identical element 1 in order to create an articulated connection by means of a pin, or pair of pins (not shown), the position of which is indicated by an axis X in figure 1.
[0009] The window 2 may be of any shape, though in general a quadrilateral shape is preferred. An insert 3 fits inside the window 2 and has the same shape as the window 2, though it may not be of the same thickness, so it can also be made to project from the plane of the annular element 1.
[0010] The insert 3 is provided with snap-on connection means suitable for securing it reversibly inside the window 2.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the snap-on connection means comprise a pair of elements 4 projecting elastically from opposite sides of the insert 3, and engaging within through holes 5 correspondingly formed in the inner wall of annular element 1 delimiting the window 2. The elements 4 are elastically forced outwardly relative to the annular element 1, so that a pressure can be exerted thereon to make them withdraw inside their seats and thus enable the insert 3 to be fitted inside the window 2. Once the elements 4 are aligned with the holes 5, they are free to extend outwardly again and thus engage within the holes 5, whereby the insert 3 is secured to the annular element 1. Advantageously, the elements 4 have a rounded profile to facilitate the engagement of the insert 3 in the window 2.
[0012] To separate the insert 3 from the annular element 1, it is necessary to use a pincers tool with two opposite pointed tips suitable for engaging in the through holes 5 from the outside in order to push the elements 4 inside the insert 3 and thus disengage them from the through holes 5.
[0013] In an embodiment particularly preferred for its simplicity of construction, as illustrated in figure 4, the means of connection comprise a tubular member 6, with two cursors 7 projecting from the ends thereof, and are elastically pushed in opposite directions by a spring 8 placed inside the tubular member 6. The tubular member 6 has a structure typical of those used in metal watchband spring bars and is positioned and locked in any known manner inside a hole 9 passing transversally through the insert 3, as shown in figure 3.
[0014] If the insert is of considerable size, and particularly in the case of significantly long inserts, it may be necessary to provide for two or more equally spaced apart spring bars along the insert length.
[0015] Figure 5 shows a length of bracelet achievable with the modular element of figure 1. In particular, to make the bracelet more comfortable to wear, the modular elements may have a curved shape. It is clear from the above description that the bracelet is very quick and easy to assemble and disassemble in order to compose words or create decorations.
[0016] The annular element 1 can also be made so as to contain several inserts arranged side by side. To this end it is sufficient to have a window 2 of a length corresponding to the total length of the inserts and a number of pairs of holes 5 corresponding to the number of inserts the window 2 is designed to contain. This variant is particularly useful for making charms and pendants in a single module with several inserts engaged therein, or also for making relatively wide bracelets, in which the inserts are also aligned orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet and the modular elements forming the bracelet are articulated along the longer sides of the annular elements 1.
[0017] The structure of the article according to the present invention is particularly advantageous because it enables metal and other materials, even very different from each other, to be combined. In fact, the annular element 1 and the insert 3 can be made in the same precious or non-precious metal or in metals thay may differ both in nature and in chromatic features, e.g. gold and silver, or yellow gold and white gold. Likewise the annular element 1 can be made of a precious or non-precious metal, while the insert 3 can be made of wood, leather, glass, semiprecious stones, or plastic. In addition, since it is possible the use of inserts of considerable thickness, the inserts can also be studded with diamonds.
1. Composable article for use in goldsmithery and costume jewellery, characterised in that it comprises at least one element (1) with a central window (2) and at least one
insert (3) suitable for being contained inside said window (2), and snap-on connection
means (4, 7) suitable for reversibly securing said insert inside said window.
2. Composable article according to claim 1, wherein said snap-on connection means comprise
at least one pair of elements (4) projecting elastically from opposite sides of said
insert (3) and suitable for engaging in corresponding holes (5) provided in the edge
of said window (2), said holes passing through said edge.
3. Composable article according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said snap-on connection means
comprise at least one tubular member (6), cursors (7) engaged within the ends of said
tubular member (6) and elastic means (8) arranged between said cursors (7) so as to
keep them partially projecting and enabling their withdrawal as a result of pressure
exerted thereon, said tubular member (6) being arranged transversally inside said
insert (3).
4. Composable article according to any of the previous claims, wherein two or more inserts
(3) are housed side by side inside said window (2).
5. An ornamental chain-like structure, such as a bracelet, characterized in that it comprises a sequence of modular elements (1) articulated to each other, each of
said modular elements comprising a substantially anular element (1) having a central
window (2) and at least one insert (3) housed within said window (2), snap-on connection
means (4, 7) being provided for reversibly securing said insert within said window.
6. Ornamental chaim-like structure according to claim 5, wherein said snap-on connection
means comprise at least one pair of elements (4) projecting elastically from opposite
sides of said insert (3) and suitable for engaging in corresponding holes (5) provided
in the edge of said window (2), said holes passing through said edge.
7. Ornamental chain-like structure according to claim 5 o 6, wherein said snap-on connection
means comprise at least one tubular member (6), cursors (7) engaged within the ends
of said tubular member (6) and elastic means (8) arranged between said cursors (7)
so as to keep them partially projecting and enabling their withdrawal as a result
of pressure exerted thereon, said tubular member (6) being arranged transversally
inside said insert (3).
8. Ornamental chain-like structure according to any of the claims 5 to 7, wherein two
or more inserts (3) are housed side by side inside said window (2).
9. A pendant or an ear-ring characterized in that it comprises at least one modular element comprising a substantially annular element
(1) with a central window (2) and at least one insert (3) housed within said window
(2), snap-on connection means (4, 7) being provided for reversibly securing said insert
within said window.
10. Pendant or ear-ring according to claim 9, wherein said snap-on connection means comprise
at least one pair of elements (4) projecting elastically from opposite sides of said
insert (3) and suitable for engaging in corresponding holes (5) provided in the edge
of said window (2), said holes passing through said edge.
11. Pendant or ear-ring according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said snap-on connection means
comprise at least one tubular member (6), cursors (7) engaged within the ends of said
tubular member (6) and elastic means (8) arranged between said cursors (7) so as to
keep them partially projecting and enabling their withdrawal as a result of pressure
exerted thereon, said tubular member (6) being arranged transversally inside said
insert (3).
12. Pendant or ear-ring according to any of claim 9 to 11, wherein two or more inserts
(3) are housed side by side inside said window (2).