Jewelry assembly

Abstract

A plurality of lower complementary stones is arranged along a linear or an arcuate row below an upper stone to enhance the appearance thereof in an item of jewelry such as a ring. The row extends generally widthwise of a shank of the ring.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to jewelry such as rings or pendants and, more particularly, to an enhanced setting in which a plurality of cut and polished stones, especially diamonds, is mounted.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] It is conventional to set a diamond or other precious or semi-precious stone on a jewelry item such as a ring by using a plurality of prongs to hold the diamond or other main stone such that the table, i.e., the flat upper surface of the main stone, is visible from the top or front of the ring when worn. In order to enhance the appearance of the main stone, it is known in the art to mount complementary stones on the ring or on the setting for the main stone. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,440 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,008 disclose a single complementary stone underneath the main stone. U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,115; U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,302; U.S. Design Patent No. D-315,698 and U.S. Design Patent No. D-412,681 disclose the use of a plurality of complementary stones at the sides of and below the main stone. U.S. Design Patent No. D-393,227 discloses the use of a plurality of complementary stones arranged circumferentially along the annular shank of a ring below the main stone.

[0005] As attractive and advantageous as these known settings and assemblies are for use as jewelry or decoration, it would be desirable to improve the amount of light directed by the complementary stones into the main stone as viewed from the front of the main stone. It would be further desirable if the complementary stones themselves are directly visible, or at least partly visible, from the front of the jewelry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to enhance the appearance of a main stone mounted on a jewelry item.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In keeping with the above object and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a jewelry assembly which comprises a support extending in a circumferential direction at least partly about a support axis, and a setting including a base mounted on the support, an upper stone mounted at an elevation above the base, and a plurality of lower complementary stones mounted on the base, at least one of the lower stones being overlaid by the upper stone.

[0008] In accordance with a first embodiment of this invention, the lower stones are arranged in a row extending in a circumferential direction at least partly about a setting axis perpendicular to the support axis. More particularly, the base includes arcuate wall portions bounding an arcuate channel in which the lower stones are held. The lower stones have individual axes of symmetry which intersect one another at a common point. The lower stones are cut and polished and have individual tables lying in planes which intersect one another.

[0009] Hence, according to the first embodiment, in the case wherein the support is an annular shank of a ring having a width dimension that extends along the support axis, the lower stones are arranged in a row that extends widthwise of the shank in a “saddle-type” setting that sits astride the shank. The tables of the lower stones face at least partly toward the front to improve the appearance of the setting and to increase the amount of light collected, reflected and refracted back toward a viewer.

[0010] In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the lower stones are arranged in a linear row that extends generally widthwise of the shank of the ring. The lower stones have individual axes of symmetry parallel to one another. The individual tables of the stones lie in a common plane parallel to the table of the upper stone.

[0011] Each of the stones is cut and polished and is a precious or semi-precious stone or gem. Preferably, diamonds are used. The invention is best implemented in a diamond engagement ring, but is also applicable for usage in pendants and earrings.

[0012] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a setting on a ring shown in broken-away view in accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 with the upper stone removed for clarity;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the setting of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of a ring with a setting in accordance with another embodiment of this invention;

[0018] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the assembled ring of FIG. 5; and

[0019] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the assembled ring of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 generally identifies a setting including a base 12, a plurality of prongs 14, 16, 18, 20 extending upwardly away from the base 12, and an upper stone 22 held by the prongs at an elevation above the base. Upper stone 22 is, as shown in FIG. 4, cut and polished with many facets and has a planar table 24, a crown 26, a pavilion 28, a vertex 30, and an axis 32 of symmetry. Upper stone 22 is preferably a gemstone, such as a diamond, but could be any other precious or semi-precious gem.

[0021] The setting 10 can be mounted on diverse items of jewelry, for example, a ring having an annular support or shank 34 extending at least partly about, and preferably completely around, a support axis 50. As best seen in FIG. 2, the shank 34 has a width dimension “W” extending along the support axis.

[0022] The base 12 is mounted on the shank 34 and includes a pair of arcuate frame portions 36, 38 bounding a channel in which a plurality of lower complementary stones 40, 42, 44, 46 is mounted in a row extending widthwise of the shank 34 and in a circumferential direction at least partly about a setting axis 48 perpendicular to the support axis 50. Each lower stone is cut and polished and has individual axes of symmetry 52, 54, 56, 58 (see FIG. 4) intersecting one another. The stones have individual tables lying in intersecting planes. Each lower stone is preferably a gemstone, such as a diamond, but could be any other precious or semi-precious gem.

[0023] In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, the appearance of the upper stone 22 is enhanced by the lower stones 40, 42, 44, 46 which are arranged in a “saddle-type” base which sits widthwise astride the shank 34. The tables of the lower stones face at least partly upwardly toward the table 24 of the upper stone and in a curved path by which the lower stones collect, reflect and refract more light into and through the upper stone.

[0024] The lower stones can be set in the base by any of several setting techniques, such as channel setting, nick setting, prong setting, pave setting and burnishing. The size and number of the lower stones is adjustable. The setting 10 can be assembled as a discrete unit and can thereafter be mounted in a separate step on the shank. When production warrants, the setting can be pre-attached to the ring during casting or stamping.

[0025] The upper stone need not be a round center diamond as illustrated, but could be a square-shaped, rectangular-shaped, oval-shaped, or cushion-shaped, center stone. The upper stone need not be held by four single prongs as illustrated, but could be four double-prongs, four triple-prongs, half-bezel prongs, less than half-bezel prongs, v-shaped prongs, or fishtail prongs.

[0026] In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-7, the upper stone 60 is a marquise and is a pointed oval, rather than the round stone 22 of FIG. 1. The upper stone 60 is held by a pair of prongs 62, 64, rather than the four prongs of FIG. 1. A plurality of lower complementary stones, including a group of lower stones 66, 68, 70 is arranged in a row extending transversely and linearly across the width of an annular shank 72 of a ring 74. The shank 72 extends around a support axis 76. the linear row of the lower stones can extend along the support axis 76, or, as shown in FIG. 6, can extend at an angle relative to the support axis.

[0027] For enhanced appearance, the group of lower stones 66, 68, 70 can include additional groups of stones 78 extending along arcuate paths on axial ends of the shank, and further groups of stones 80, 82 extending circumferentially of the shank at opposite sides of the upper stone.

[0028] The lower stones 66, 68, 70 are overlaid by the upper stone 60, have individual axes of symmetry which are parallel to one another, and have individual tables lying in a common plane that is parallel to the table of the upper stone 60. The lower stones 66, 68, 70 collect, reflect and refract light into and through the upper stone for an enhanced appearance.

[0029] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0030] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a jewelry assembly, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0031] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

[0032] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A jewelry assembly, comprising: a) a support extending in a circumferential direction at least partly about a support axis; and b) a setting including a base mounted on the support, and upper stone mounted at an elevation above the base, and a plurality of lower complementary stones mounted on the base in a row extending in a circumferential direction at least partly about a setting axis perpendicular to the support axis, at least one of the lower stones being overlaid by the upper stone.

2. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the support is an annular shank of a ring, and wherein the setting includes a plurality of prongs extending away from the base and holding the upper stone elevated above the base.

3. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes arcuate wall portions bounding an arcuate channel in which the lower stones are held.

4. The jewelry assembly of claim 3, wherein the lower stones have individual axes of symmetry which intersect one another at a common point.

5. The jewelry assembly of claim 4, wherein the lower stones have individual tables lying in planes which intersect one another.

6. The jewelry assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the lower stones and the upper stone is a diamond.

7. A jewelry assembly, comprising: a) a support extending in a circumferential direction at least partly about a support axis; and b) a setting including an upper stone mounted at an elevation above the support, and a plurality of lower complementary stones mounted on the support in a row extending transversely of the support axis, at least one of the lower stones being overlaid by the upper stone, the lower stones having individual axes of symmetry which are parallel to one another.

8. The jewelry assembly of claim 7, wherein the support is an annular shank of a ring, and wherein the setting includes a plurality of prongs extending away from the support and holding the upper stone elevated above the support.

9. The jewelry assembly of claim 7, wherein the support includes wall portions bounding a linear channel in which the lower stones are held.

10. The jewelry assembly of claim 7, wherein the lower stones have individual tables lying in a common plane.

11. The jewelry assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the lower stones and the upper stone is a diamond.