Patent Application
20240115016
Jewelers performing work on delicate and expensive settings are often required to manipulate and otherwise bend certain portions of the setting in order to place or remove gems from the setting. Such settings often include prongs or the like made from precious metals that must be gripped with enough control to bend the prongs away from the gem without contacting or possibly damaging the gem, some of which may be relatively soft compared to the material of the tool being used to grip the prong. Jewelers have a variety of tools currently at their disposal for such manipulation of settings and their components, however, these tools are often somewhat cumbersome for the required task.
In addition, a jeweler may sometimes need to perform multiple tasks on the same setting such as both prying a prong away from a gem and subsequently bending the prong back into place to reset the gem once the repair or other work is performed. What have been needed are jewelry setting tools that enable a jeweler to confidently and controllably grasp desired portions of a delicate setting without contacting or otherwise damaging any portion of the setting or associated gem or gems. In addition, what have been needed are jewelry setting tools that include multiple functions that allow a jeweler to conveniently perform multiple different functions on a setting without having to change tools.
Some embodiments of a jewelry setting tool may include a grip body having a plate with a disc shape having an outer perimeter, a thickness disposed between a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface that is parallel to the first lateral surface, and a center point at a center of the outer perimeter of the disc shape. The grip body also includes a grip element disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate. The grip element may include a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter and with an apex of the terminal edge extending along an edge axis that is perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces. A pivot surface may be disposed on the outer perimeter of the disc shaped plate and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge with a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface. The jewelry setting tool may also include an offset bar having a first end and a second end. The first end of the offset bar may be secured to the grip body with a longitudinal axis of the offset bar disposed perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces. A torque mechanism may be secured to the offset bar with a longitudinal axis of the torque mechanism disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the offset bar and with the torque mechanism configured to apply torque to the grip body through the offset bar with a moment of the torque applied being perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces of the grip body.
Some embodiments of a jewelry setting tool may include a grip body having a plate with an outer perimeter, a thickness disposed between a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, and a grip element disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate. The grip element may include a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter. The grip element may also include a pivot surface which is disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate and which is spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge with a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface. A torque mechanism may be secured to the grip body and be configured to apply torque to the grip body with a moment of the torque applied being perpendicular to the plate.
Some embodiments of a grip element for a jewelry setting tool may include a grip slot disposed transversely through a thickness of a plate from a first lateral surface to a second lateral surface of the plate, the grip slot extending inwardly from an outer perimeter of the plate. The grip element may also include a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter of the plate and with an apex of the terminal edge extending along an edge axis that is perpendicular to the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of the plate. A pivot surface may be disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge with a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface.
Certain embodiments are described further in the following description, examples, claims and drawings. These features of embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying exemplary drawings.
The drawings are intended to illustrate certain exemplary embodiments and are not limiting. For clarity and ease of illustration, the drawings may not be made to scale, and in some instances, various aspects may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of particular embodiments.
As discussed above, there is a need for jewelry setting tools that enable a jeweler to confidently and controllably grasp desired portions of a delicate setting without contacting or otherwise damaging any portion of the setting or associated gem or gems. Discussed herein are jewelry setting tool embodiments that may include one or more grip elements that may be used to gently but controllably grasp elements of a jewelry setting such as a gemstone prong. Some of the jewelry setting tool embodiments discussed herein may also include secondary tool elements including pry wedges, hammer elements etc. that may allow a jeweler to perform multiple functions with the same jewelry setting tool.
Embodiments of the grip element 14 may include a grip hook 32 having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge 34 that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter 22 of the plate 18. The grip element 14 may also include a pivot surface 36 disposed on the outer perimeter 22 of the plate 18 and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter 22 from the terminal edge 34 with a gap 38 disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge 34 of the grip hook 32 and the pivot surface 36.
The torque mechanism 16 may be secured to such grip body embodiments 12 and be configured to apply torque to the grip body 12 and associated grip element 14 (or grip elements 14 for those grip bodies 12 having a plurality of grip elements) with a moment of the torque 42 applied being perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plate 18 as shown in
Referring to
It should also be noted that although the gap 38 shown for the jewelry setting tool embodiment 10 is formed by a grip slot 44, any other suitable transverse void configuration in the plate 18 that provides an appropriate clearance between the grip hook 32, including the terminal edge 34 thereof, and the pivot surface 36 may be used for the embodiments discussed herein. In some instances, for any of the grip element embodiments 14 discussed herein, the grip hook 32 and the pivot surface 36 may be secured in a solid fixed relation to each other to prevent any variation in the separation therebetween that might cause an inconsistent grip in some cases. For some embodiments, an outer surface 40 of the grip hook embodiments 32 may be configured to follow a contour of the outer perimeter 22 that intersects or nearly intersects the position of the pivot surface 36 notwithstanding the gap 38 disposed therebetween.
Some embodiments of the grip body 12 may include a plurality of grip elements 14. Referring to
Each grip element 14′ of the second set of grip elements 14′ has a slot width 62′ which is less than the slot width 62 of the grip slots 44 of the first set, however, any desired distribution of slot widths 62 may be used depending on the type of work to be performed. The four grip elements 14′ of the second set are also evenly distributed about 80 degrees to about 100 degrees from each other (and about 40 degrees to about 50 degrees from each adjacent grip element 14 of the first set) about the outer perimeter 22 of the plate 18. In general, for some embodiments, the slot width 62 of the grip slot embodiments 44 may be about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. In other cases, the slot width 62 may be about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm for narrower slot widths and about 1.8 mm to about 2.2 mm for wider slot widths.
In some cases, the plate 18 may have a circular configuration at the outer perimeter 22 thereof with an outer diameter of about 7 mm to about 22 mm generally. For some embodiments, the plate 18 may have an outer diameter of about 18 mm to about 20 mm. For some embodiments, the plate 18 may have an outer diameter of about 15 mm to about 17 mm. In some instances, the plate 18 may have an outer diameter of about 7 mm to about 9 mm. For each of these embodiments, the plate 18 may have a non-circular configuration wherein the same or similar dimensions may be applied as an outer transverse dimension.
In some cases, the plate 18 may also have a uniform transverse thickness 24 disposed between the first lateral surface 26 and the second lateral surface 28 of about 1 mm to about 3 mm, more specifically, a uniform transverse thickness of about 1.3 mm to about 1.7 mm. For each of these embodiments, the plate 18 may also have a non-uniform transverse thickness 24 with the same or similar dimensions of transverse thickness 24. In addition, for some embodiments, the plate 18 may include a high strength material such as high strength metal alloys or the like including tool steel such as 4140 tool steel.
The grip body 60 includes a plurality of grip elements 14, 14′ disposed on the outer perimeter 22 of the plate 18. The grip elements 14 may include the grip hook 32 having the tapered outer end portion with the chisel-like shape and the terminal edge 34 that is directed towards the circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter 22 and with the apex of the terminal edge 34 extending along an edge axis 84 that is perpendicular to the first lateral surface 26 and second lateral surface 28 as shown in
The offset bar 68 has a first end 86 and a second end 88, the first end 86 may be secured to the grip body 60 with the longitudinal axis 72 of the offset bar 68 disposed perpendicular to the first lateral surface 26 and second lateral surface 28 of the grip body 60. The torque mechanism in the form of the handle 16 may be secured to the offset bar 68 with the longitudinal axis 74 of the handle 16 disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 72 of the offset bar 68. The handle 16 is configured to apply torque to the grip body 60 through the offset bar 68 with a moment of the torque 42 applied being perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces 26, 28 of the grip body 60. For some embodiments, the longitudinal axis 72 of the offset bar 68 intersects the center point 54 of the plate 18. In some cases, the handle 16 is secured to the offset bar 68 with the longitudinal axis 74 of the handle 16 being disposed about 5 mm to about 10 mm from the grip body 60 along the longitudinal axis 72 of the offset bar 68 as indicated by arrow 92 in
Some embodiments of such a jewelry setting tool 82 may include the optional secondary tool 76 disposed on the second end 88 of the offset bar 68. For the embodiment shown in
Features described herein with respect to different methods of use or different features, instruments, components, or their order of use may interchangeably be used among the various methods without taking away from the spirit of the methods and devices of the present disclosure. The presence or absence of a particular step or component should not be construed as limiting the methods described herein,
With regard to the above detailed description, like reference numerals used therein may refer to like elements that may have the same or similar dimensions, materials and configurations. While particular forms of embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments discussed. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited by the foregoing detailed description.
The entirety of each patent, patent application, publication and document referenced herein is hereby incorporated by reference. Citation of the above patents, patent applications, publications and documents is not an admission that any of the foregoing is pertinent prior art, nor does it constitute any admission as to the contents or date of these documents.
Modifications may be made to the foregoing embodiments without departing from the basic aspects of the technology. Although the technology may have been described in substantial detail with reference to one or more specific embodiments, changes may be made to the embodiments specifically disclosed in this application, yet these modifications and improvements are within the scope and spirit of the technology. The technology illustratively described herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element(s) not specifically disclosed herein. Thus, for example, in each instance herein any of the terms “comprising,” “consisting essentially of,” and “consisting of” may be replaced with either of the other two terms. The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and use of such terms and expressions do not exclude any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the technology claimed. The term “a” or “an” may refer to one of or a plurality of the elements it modifies unless it is contextually clear either one of the elements or more than one of the elements is described. Although the present technology has been specifically disclosed by representative embodiments and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be made, and such modifications and variations may be considered within the scope of this technology.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. section 119(e) from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/413,899 filed Oct. 6, 2022, by R. Habchi, entitled “Jewelry Setting Tools and Methods”, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63413899 | Oct 2022 | US |
