ELEMENTS FOR TRINKETS

Abstract

A modular element for making jewellery items, trinkets, and the like, having a convex outer surface and a through hole arranged at the top of the outer surface, where a wire, chain, or support for making the jewellery item, trinket, and the like can be inserted through the through hole, a main axis of symmetry passing through the hole, including a concave inner surface intended to at least partially accommodate the outer surface of a second element adjacent to the first one, where the outer surface can be inscribed on a rotation surface whose generatrix is an arc of a conic section and whose axis of rotation coincides with the main axis of symmetry. Embodiments also include a jewelry item.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to elements for making trinkets.

More particularly, the invention relates to modular elements intended to be assembled together by means of a threadlike support, such as a chain or a string, in order to obtain bracelets, necklaces or other jewellery items.

BACKGROUND

At present, various types of elements for making trinkets such as bracelets and necklaces, which are also connected with a wire or chain, are available on the market. Generally speaking, if said elements were mounted too close together, possibly in order to achieve a certain aesthetic effect to cover the string, the trinket would be too rigid, and could even prevent the twisting and/or rotation of the individual elements about the axis of the joining chain.

One of the main drawbacks of such variant is shown by the fact that the chain or string connecting and holding the elements together becomes visible when the bracelet is bent beyond a certain threshold, often reached and exceeded even simply by wearing it, and in any case undermining the regularity and structural harmony that the jewels usually aim to achieve.

For example, consider the case where the bracelet is folded to bring the elements positioned at the ends of the chain segment closer together in order to achieve the closure of the bracelet.

In this situation, trinkets and bracelets in the background art can only ensure that the underlying chain remains covered and hidden from view when the angle of inclination between an element and the first neighbouring one thereof remains below a rather low value, which can easily be exceeded during everyday use.

Examples of bracelets of similar background art are described in documents ITVI980001U1, FR2634359A1, DE29612242U1 and JPS5717510U.

In addition, the string holding the elements together often becomes loose with use, distancing the elements from one another.

To date, the best option for maintaining a certain uniformity in the appearance of the trinkets as well as a certain flexibility, consists in using mesh structures comprising a plurality of consecutively interwoven elements to form a segment of a certain length; mutually interlocking joining elements are placed on the opposite ends of the segment for the closure of the trinkets.

This embodiment leaves the functionality and practicality of the trinkets unaltered, but only partially satisfies the consumers' demands concerning aesthetics and appearance. A possible alternative available on the market provides introducing a given number of modular elements of various sizes and shapes along a thin support, e.g. a chain, each with a through-hole; in order to ensure the flexibility of the assembly, spaces are left empty to accommodate the deformations of the chain and the movements of the elements along it.

Although possible, the possibility of varying the shape and appearance of the elements remains in any case insufficient as it is limited by the need to preserve the mobility of the structures, and therefore the connections between the various elements.

Manufacturers of bracelets and jewellery items currently manage to keep the flexibility of their items high, but only by accepting to limit themselves to a rather small assortment of products, in particular with regard to the structures and morphologies thereof.

SUMMARY

This invention intends to solve the disadvantages mentioned in the background art. It is a further aim of this invention to propose modular elements that allow making jewellery items with better mobility than those made with the solutions obtained by the known background art.

It is also an aim of this invention to propose elements for making trinkets which allow the trinkets to be easily modified, while maintaining a high level of aesthetics without sacrificing flexibility.

In particular, the aim of the invention is to make modular elements for making trinkets which are able to keep the chain or the connecting string inserted therein hidden even when the reciprocal inclination and/or rotation between one element and the neighbouring one thereof reaches increased angles compared to the available background art.

Therefore, the object of this invention is a modular element for making jewellery items, trinkets and the like, having a convex outer surface and a through hole arranged at the top of said outer surface, wherein a wire, a chain or a support for making said jewellery item, trinket and the like can be inserted through said through hole, characterised in that it comprises a concave inner surface, and in that said inner surface is intended to at least partially accommodate the outer surface of a second element adjacent to the first one.

Also according to the invention, said outer surface may have a profile which is a portion of an ellipsoid.

Again according to the invention, said portion of ellipsoid may coincide with a semi- ellipsoid, and the ratio of the major axis to the minor axis of said ellipsoid is about 0.5.

Advantageously according to the invention, said element may extend along the direction parallel to the major axis of said ellipsoid for a length equal to about 7/16 of said major axis.

Further according to the invention, said outer surface may have a profile which is a portion of a sphere.

Preferably, said portion of a sphere may be that comprised between said hole and a plane perpendicular to an axis of said hole and located at a distance from the centre of said sphere equal to 3/16 of the diameter thereof.

A further object of this invention is a jewellery item, such as trinkets and the like, comprising a plurality of modular elements according to any one of the preceding claims, and a support, such as a wire, chain or the like, inserted in the through holes of each of said modular elements, wherein a convex portion of said outer surface of each of said elements is at least partially inserted in a concave portion of said inner surface of an adjacent element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example according to some of its preferred embodiments, with the aid of the attached figures, wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B show front, side, rear and perspective views of a first embodiment of a modular element according to the invention;

FIGS. 1C and 1D show a side view and perspective view of a portion of trinket made from the modular elements of FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are three-dimensional renderings of the same elements and portions of FIGS. 1A-1D, highlighting the special surface processing;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show schematic side views of the same elements and portions of FIGS. 1A-1D, in particular concerning the distinctive proportions of such first embodiment;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show front, side, rear and perspective views of a second embodiment of a modular element according to the invention;

FIGS. 4C and 4D show a side view and perspective view of a portion of trinket made from the modular elements of FIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIGS. 5A and 5B show schematic side views of the same elements and portions of FIGS. 4A-4D, in particular concerning the distinctive proportions of such second embodiment;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of trinkets made using the first and second embodiment of the elements, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A-1D show modular elements 1 according to a first embodiment thereof, and portions of trinkets that can be made by assembling several modular elements 1.

In this embodiment, the modular element 1 has a substantially dome, cap or shell shape.

The elements 1 have a convex outer surface 11 and a concave inner surface 12.

Element 1 may be made of a variety of materials, such as precious and/or semi-precious metals, natural and/or synthetic polymers, ceramic and/or stone materials, either alone or in combination, in order to embellish the final product and make it more valuable.

The outer surface 11 has niches or notches 13 reminiscent of an elliptical shape, the result of surface processing intended to improve the aesthetic appearance of the trinket made from element 1.

In other embodiments, the outer surface 11 may have niches or notches 13 of any shape, for example polygonal, diamond shaped, or rombhoidal.

Further, to provide a desired or advantageous result, these niches or notches 13 may present an amplitude of between 0.1 mm and a few millimeters.

Of course, other surface processing is possible. In particular, FIGS. 2A and 2B show two possible aesthetic variants, which can be obtained by specific operations to be carried out on the surfaces of the elements 1.

In this particular case, the operation carried out is called “diamond cutting”, referring to the final appearance given by the notches 13 to the surface 11, as it is reminiscent of the facets typical of certain processed precious stones, such as diamonds.

Returning to FIGS. 1A-1D, the inner surface 12 on the other hand, is smooth and substantially free of relief features or recesses.

Element 1 also has a through hole 14 positioned at the top of the convex outer surface 11, although it may be positioned at different locations on element 1. If the hole is positioned on the top of the outer surface 11, it is possible to identify an axis of symmetry X for the modular element 1, which is centred relative to the hole 14 itself and passing through it.

A string or a chain (not shown in the figures) is operatively threaded through said hole 14 in order to support the structure made by a plurality of elements 1 arranged in series, so as to obtain segments, like the one shown in FIG. 1C, in which it is evident how the concave inner surface 12 at least partially accommodates the convex outer surface 11 of the element 1 adjacent thereto.

In particular, the shape of element 1 is such that its profile, seen in section along a plane passing through the main axis of symmetry X thereof, has a course which is substantially referable to a conical curve, or at least to a portion or arc thereof.

Since the profile thereof develops three-dimensionally in space, the course thereof is also similar to that of a corresponding quadric surface, i.e. the one generated by the rotation about that axis of symmetry of the conic, which makes it possible to obtain a rotation surface corresponding to the three-dimensional profile of the modular element.

In other words, it can be said that each modular element has a three-dimensional profile which essentially corresponds to a rotation surface obtained by rotating at least a portion of a conic section (generatrix curve) about the straight line corresponding to the main axis of symmetry X of the modular element 1 itself (axis of rotation).

Some examples of possible highly symmetrical curves, whose portions can be used as generatrixes thus allowing the desired advantages to be obtained, are the circumference, the ellipse and the parabola.

If opportunely sectioned and rotated, these curves generate rotation surfaces that correspond to truncated portions of sphere, ellipsoid and paraboloid, respectively.

Specifically, the respective axes about which rotation can preferably take place are:

• • the diameters for the sphere,
  • the axes of symmetry passing through the centre of symmetry for the ellipse,
  • the axis of symmetry perpendicular to the directrix line for the parabola.

It should be noted that even if the outer surface 11 of the modular elements 1 is not perfectly smooth, e.g. due to any surface processing, the basic profile will in any case follow the course of a rotation surface, and the improved mobility and aesthetic quality will not be compromised; this is especially true if the surface processing carried out avoids excessively pronounced protrusions or overhangs from being obtained.

In general, it will be sufficient for the profile of the modular element to be inscribable within the rotation surface.

Preferably, if the generatrix curve chosen is an ellipse, the highly symmetrical surface that ensures the best advantages from an aesthetic and functional point of view is the ellipsoid obtained by rotating the corresponding ellipse about the axis passing through the major semi-axis or the minor semi-axis thereof, thus obtaining a spheroid with two main axes of symmetry perpendicular to the axis of rotation that have equal length.

Thus, by sectioning the ellipsoidal rotation surface obtained along planes perpendicular to the main axis of symmetry X, the curves in the plane will be circumferences.

It will be possible to ensure total contact between adjacent elements if they rotate about the main axis X, and almost total contact if they rotate (or tilt) about an axis perpendicular to the main axis of symmetry X. FIGS. 3A and 3B show that in the first embodiment under consideration, the shape of element 1 can be traced back to that of an ogive or a semi-ellipsoid.

In particular, the profile of the first embodiment of the modular element 1, shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, comes from an ellipsoid or spheroid 3 wherein the ratio of the major axis a to the minor axis b is equal to 2.

Since the ellipsoid 3 coincides with the rotation surface obtained by rotating a portion of an ellipse about the major or minor semi-axis thereof, the ellipsoid 3 obtained is a spheroid.

Starting from the centre O of such ellipsoid or spheroid 3, the profile sought is obtained by considering the corresponding semi-ellipsoid 31 and cutting the same ellipsoid 3 in a plane perpendicular to the major axis a.

Further, to provide additional desired or advantageous results, the plane cutting the ellipsoid 3 may cut it at the axis of the ellipsoid itself. For example, the axis may be the minor axis (as depicted in FIG. 3), or the major axis (not shown).

The length of the semi-axis section indicated by the letter c, at which the cut is made, is 7/16 of the length of the major axis a of the ellipsoid or spheroid 3.

In this case, a restriction ring 24, which restricts the cross section of major opening 20, is applied to the element 1 at the cut, so that the following element 1′ is prevented from fully entering the first element 1, and thus from risking getting stuck with each other and thereby losing flexibility in the resulting jewelry.

This determines that the ratio between the section of semi-axis c and the major axis a of the ellipsoid 3, i.e. c/a, is equal to 0.4375; in other words, if we imagine that we divide the major axis a of the ellipsoid or spheroid 3 into sixteen equal parts, the length of section c is equal to seven of these parts.

FIGS. 4A-4D show a second embodiment of the elements 1 and portions of trinkets or of a generic jewellery item that can be made by assembling the elements 1.

Also in this case, the elements 1 appear substantially as caps, but this time the niches or notches 13 on the outer surface 11 thereof are substantially polygonal in shape, more precisely parallelogram-shaped. Naturally, different surface processing of said elements 1 from that shown in the figures, may be provided.

A further difference to the first embodiment lies in the shape of the profile of said element 1, which in this case can be traced back to a portion of a sphere and which is illustrated in more detail below.

The other technical features of such second embodiment are substantially similar to those of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1A-1D.

It is understood that the same reference numbers on different figures identify the same features; for this reason, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1A-1D for further details on these features.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show how the profile of such second embodiment of the elements 1 is mutated from a sphere, or (in terms of profile) from a circumference.

In particular, reference is made to the axis of symmetry j of said sphere passing through the hole 14, therefore in the embodiment under consideration, through the top of the outer surface 11.

The element 1 is obtained by considering the portion of sphere 4 obtained by a section plane perpendicular to said axis of symmetry j and located after the diameter, and in particular at a distance from the top of the outer surface 11 equal to 11/16 of the diameter of the sphere.

Therefore, the distance between said plane cutting the sphere perpendicularly to said axis of symmetry j and the centre K of the sphere is equal to 3/16 (1/d=0.1875) of the diameter d.

The two embodiments described differ therefore, in the starting forms from which the element 1 is derived and in the proportions thereof.

It is clear that many other types of shapes and profiles can be used to make jewellery items in addition to those described above, provided that the effect described above can be achieved.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, we observe embodiments of trinkets 100, specifically bracelets, produced respectively by means of the first and second embodiment of the modular elements 1.

The trinket 100 of FIG. 6A is a variant made on a continuous, closed support, while the one of FIG. 6B uses an open spiral support, at the ends of which possibly removable closure elements 101 are positioned.

The shapes of the elements 1 described above make it possible for the inner surface 12 of each element 1 to slide with the outer surface 13 of an adjacent element 1 when they are assembled in the form of a bracelet, necklace or other.

Moreover, when placed alongside two other elements to create a trinket or a generic jewellery item 100, each element 1 has a portion that protrudes from the next one for a length equal to half the diameter d of the sphere 4 or of the minor axis b of the ellipsoid 3, until the trinket 100 is oriented in a substantially rectilinear way, such that the inner surface 12 of an element 1 and the outer surface 11 of another element 1 adjacent to the first one, can freely slide while always remaining in contact with each other.

Thus, jewellery items 100 can be obtained wherein the selected support, i.e. wire or chain, for the modular elements 1 can be occupied seamlessly, while maintaining the increased aesthetics of the products.

At the same time, the resulting jewellery item retains a high degree of flexibility and can be bent considerably, virtually irrespective of the elasticity of said support and the density of the assembled elements 1.

The shape of the modular elements 1 and the manner in which they interact when accommodating bending and rotation of the support in space improve the described embodiment relative to the known art, allowing greater degrees of freedom and versatility in the assembly of jewellery items 100.

Each element 1 has a tapered section, whose convex profile portion has a section of smaller diameter, or width.

Such convex profile section is accommodated within an adjacent element.

More precisely, this convex portion having smaller section is at least partially located within the concave profile portion of an element 1 adjacent to the first one; this concave profile clearly has a greater width, such as to be able to accommodate the convex portion and accompany the movements thereof.

It is therefore clear that element 1, and, in particular, the through hole 14, presents two openings 20, 22: a major opening 20 to allow at least partial insertion of the successive element and of the string for connecting the elements, and a minor opening 22 through which the string is configured to pass, but where an adjacent element 1′ would not be able to pass.

Further, as can be clearly seen from FIG. 1A and 2A, the major opening 20 has a cross section that is smaller than the maximum cross section of the external surface 11 of the element itself. Therefore, in an advantageous or desired effect, one element 1 cannot be fully inserted inside the adjacent element 1′. Conveniently, in particular, the part of the element 1 that remains outside the adjacent element 1′ is equal or larger in length (i.e. along the X axis) than the part that sits inside.

This can be achieved as shown in FIG. 2A, 3 or 4 with a restriction ring 24, which restricts the cross section of major opening 20. This is particularly necessary when the section of the element 1 is divergent, as in the case of a parabola or of an hyperbole.

In the case where the section of the element 1 is convergent, as in the case of an ellipse (or a sphere), this can be achieved by cutting the element after the point of maximum extension, i.e. after the diameter of the sphere or after the axis of the ellipse.

In this way, the element 1 includes a portion corresponding to the maximum width of the solid from which it is derived, for example—in the case of an element derived from a sphere—this includes the portion corresponding to the section provided with the maximum diameter.

It is clear that in the case of the ellipse the axis in question may be the major axis or the minor axis, depending on the direction of development of the element itself.

Otherwise, also in the case of convergent shapes, the cut can be made before the diameter or the axis, with the addition of the restriction ring 24, as shown in FIG. 3A.

An advantage of this invention is that it enables jewellery items to be manufactured in a versatile manner.

A further advantage of this invention is that the shape of the jewellery items made by means of the elements according to this invention does not substantially change even if the support (e.g. a wire) should become loose.

In detail, profiles having shapes of the type described so far ensure that when a first modular element 1 is inserted into an adjacent second element 1 so that the inner surface 12 of the second element is in contact with the outer surface 11 of the first element, the hole 14 of the first element is kept covered and hidden from view by the superimposed second element, even for increased angles of inclination.

Since the hole 14 is hidden, the chain is also hidden and covered.

Furthermore, a profile obtained in this manner ensures that two adjacent elements inserted one inside the other can freely rotate about the main axis of symmetry X thereof, passing through each hole 14, which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the generatrix curve when the elements are aligned, while remaining in contact with each other.

Even if the inner surface 12 and outer surface 11 of two adjacent elements slide over each other, while misaligning the axes of symmetry X thereof, the rotation about the axis itself is not prevented due to the increased radial symmetry of the profiles.

One advantage of the specific shape of the elements 1 is that it allows for the creation of a jewelry item that is flexible and reaches small curvature radius, and at the same time leaves little to no aperture between the elements even when bent, therefore always hiding the internal string. This effect is further enhanced when the outer surface of the element is textured with the presence of niches and notches.

This invention is described by way of example only, without limiting the scope of application, according to its preferred embodiments, but it shall be understood that the invention may be modified and/or adapted by experts in the field without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

Claims

1. A modular element for making jewellery items, trinkets, and the like, comprising a convex outer surface,a through hole arranged at the top of said outer surface, through which a wire, chain, or support for making said jewellery item, trinket, and the like, can be inserted,a main axis of symmetry passing through the hole,a concave inner surface configured to at least partially accommodate the outer surface of a second element adjacent to the first one,wherein the outer surface is configured to be inscribed in a rotation surface whose generatrix is an arc of a conic section and whose axis of rotation coincides with said main axis of symmetry, andthe through hole presents two openings: a major opening to allow at least partial insertion of the successive element and of the string for connecting the elements, and a minor opening where the string is configured to pass, and said major opening has a cross section that is smaller than the maximum cross section of the external surface of the element itself.

2. The modular element according to claim 1, wherein said conic section is a circumference, an ellipse, or a parabola.

3. The modular element according to claim 2, wherein said main axis of symmetry coincides with the axis of symmetry of the parabola.

4. The modular element according to claim 2, wherein said main axis of symmetry coincides with one of the axes of symmetry passing through the centre of symmetry of the ellipse.

5. The modular element according to claim 4, wherein said rotation surface is a spheroid, and a ratio between a major axis and a minor axis of said spheroid is approximately 0.5.

6. The modular element according to claim 5, wherein said element extends, along the direction parallel to the major axis of said spheroid, for a length equal to about 7/16 of said major axis.

7. The modular element according to claim 2, wherein said main axis of symmetry coincides with one of the diameters of the sphere.

8. The modular element according to claim 7, wherein said rotation surface is a portion of the sphere between said hole and a plane perpendicular to an axis of said hole and located at a distance from the centre of said sphere equal to 3/16 of the diameter thereof.

9. The modular element according to claim 1, futher comprising a restriction ring that restricts the cross section of major opening.

10. A jewelry item, comprising: a plurality of modular elements according to claim 1, anda support, comprising a wire or chain, inserted in the through holes of each of said modular elements,wherein a convex portion of said outer surface of each of said elements is at least partially inserted in a concave portion of said inner surface of an adjacent element.