Method of forming chain links

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6484488
  • Patent Number
    6,484,488
  • Date Filed
    Friday, November 16, 2001
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 26, 2002
    21 years ago
Abstract
Several methods of forming links for use with the creation of rope chains is disclosed, whereby the outer peripheries of such links are contoured prior to assembly into rope chains. In one embodiment, the wire used in the formation of intertwinable links is contoured and then cut into individual, pre-contoured links. In another embodiment, the outer periphery of non-contoured links are individually contoured prior to the intertwining of such links to form actual rope chains. In another embodiment, individual links are stamped with inner and outer peripheries of different shapes. In yet another embodiment, individual links are collectively contoured, preferably after arrangement on a support such as an ice lathe or a mandril. Such contouring can be accomplished by hand, machine or the like. If such links are not already provided with a gap, then a gap can be formed into the links as part of the contouring step.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to a method of forming chain links for use in making fine jewelry rope chains, and more specifically, to method of contouring the outer periphery of individual links.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




A fine jewelry “rope” chain is usually comprised of individual links intertwined to form a chain having the appearance of a double helix. The intertwining of such links is customarily done by hand, with gaps facilitating the interengagement or intertwining of links to form a chain. The rope chain art has evolved considerably since its inception, to the extent that a layman probably takes for granted the complicated and various methods used to create a highly decorative and ornamental piece of jewelry.




The appearance of individual links and the manner in which such links are intertwined to form a chain usually dictate the appearance of the resultant chain. The prior art is replete with rope chains formed from solid and hollow links having all different shapes and sizes. Such links are also formed using a variety of methods. Conventionally, a solid or hollow wire is wrapped around a supporting core and then cut so that the wire separates into individual pieces, each piece having a gap for intertwining with other pieces (the term “wire” is customarily used in the jewelry rope chain art and will be used herein to designate a solid strand of material, or a flat, stamped material that has been rolled into an elongated strand of tubular cross-section). After the wire is cut, and before the individual pieces can be intertwined, the pieces are flattened into links. Other methods of creating links are known in the art, including punching an individual link from a sheet of material using a one-step process as taught by Rozenwasser in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,477 or a two-step process as taught by Grando in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,704.




Recently, there has been a movement in the rope chain field toward highly decorative surface ornamentation, where the outer surface or periphery of individual chain links are modified or materially altered, both before and after they have been formed into a rope chain. Surface ornamentation usually occurs after the links have been assembled into a rope chain, through methods widely known in the art. This usually involves the creation of a rope chain, followed by the faceting, notching, cutting, bending, deforming, scraping or the like, of distinct portions of such chain, until the desired surface effect is achieved on exposed portions of individual links and the chain as a whole.




Certain methods of surface ornamentation are dependent or preferred based on the type of link used to form the chain, while other methods are preferred depending on the desired effect one wishes to achieve. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,220 to Strobel and U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,584 to Strobel et al., disclose the incremental deforming, by a blunt, burnishing tool, of a hollow link rope chain, which, after several passes by such tool, results in individual links having flattened exposed surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,625 to Ofrat et al. discloses the use of a diamond cut forming machine to create diamond cut facets extending spirally around the longitudinal center of the chain, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,540 to Rozenwasser discloses the use of a diamond-cutting edge to create shallow depressions along the surface of a thin plate of metal that will eventually be formed into a wire and then a link. The Rozenwasser '540 patent also discloses the creation of shallow depressions on a wire prior to dividing or cutting into links, while U.S. Pat. No. 5,412,935, also to Rozenwasser, discloses the cutting of facets into a link having a raised surface. See also U.S. Pat. No. 5,537,812 to Rozenwasser. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,471,830 and 5,526,639 to Gonzales disclose the cutting of an assembled rope chain to create a continuously curved surface.




In addition to providing surface ornamentation in the form of faceting and contouring, the overall appearance of rope chains has in the past been altered by using links of various shapes. For example in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 368,048 and 370,184 and 370,426 all to Rozenwasser, modified “C”-shaped links are intertwined to form jewelry rope chains having unique overall designs. While the design of each link is ornamentally unique, each link has a consistent inner and outer peripheral surface and profile and a consistent thickness along such profile.




The faceting and contouring of assembled rope chains has become fairly complicated to meet the demands for unique surface configurations. This has resulted in contouring methods and machinery of increased complexity. There exists a need, therefore, for a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains that is relatively uncomplicated, efficient to implement, inexpensive in its operation, and provides the designer with a multitude of contouring options unseen or unexperienced in the prior art. Recognizing this need, the present inventor has devised a method of creating ornamentally desirable rope chains by fashionably contouring the outer periphery of individual links, thereby avoiding the costly process of enlisting complicated machinery to act upon ever-increasingly complicated rope chain configurations. More specifically, one embodiment of the method of the present invention involves the arrangement of individual links onto a mandril, followed by the contouring of the outer periphery of such links by hand, machine or the like. After the individual links have been contoured as desired, the links are removed from such mandril and assembled into rope chains using methods known in the art. In other embodiments, the outer peripheries of individual links are contoured without the use of a mandril.




OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains that is relatively uncomplicated, efficient to implement, inexpensive in its operation, and provides the designer with a multitude of contouring options.




It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains by contouring the outer periphery of individual chain links prior to assembly into rope chains.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains by contouring the outer periphery of a coiled wire prior to separation into individual links and assembly of such links into rope chains.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains by arranging individual chain links onto a mandril prior to contouring the outer periphery of such links.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of creating fashionably contoured rope chains by arranging individual chain links onto a mandril and contouring the outer periphery of such links along one or a variety of locations along such outer periphery.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links by contouring the outer peripheries of such links, whether created from a wire, a punching process or the like, while arranged on a mandril.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links by contouring the outer peripheries of such links by hand, machine or the like.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links by arranging such links on a preferably flexible mandril for passage through contouring apparatus.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links by punching, stamping or die extruding links with contoured outer peripheries.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links having inner and outer peripheries of different shapes.




It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of forming chain links having a non-uniform thickness.




Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Individual chain links used in forming jewelry rope chains are provided, being formed from solid or hollow wire, punched or the like, and being produced using methods known in the art. The outer peripheries of such links are contoured prior to assembly into rope chains. In one embodiment, the outer periphery of links are contoured during the creation of the link, which can occur during a stamping process, or while the link material is still in the form of a wire. In another embodiment, non-contoured links are arranged on a mandril, and the outer peripheries of such links are then contoured as desired. Contouring of the outer periphery can be accomplished by hand, machine or the like. Prior to contouring of the outer periphery, the individual chain links or material made therefrom may or may not have a gap for intertwining with other links to form a rope chain. If individually created links are not provided with a gap, i.e., if the links have continuous inner and outer peripheries, then a gap can be formed into such links as part of the contouring step. The outer peripheries of wire or links used in the formation of rope chains may be contoured using a single stroke or pass by a contouring mechanism, or several passes, until the desired contouring is achieved.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an isometric view of a wire wound around a support illustrating a prior art method of forming links for the assembly of rope chains.





FIG. 2

is a front view of a prior art link used in the assembly of rope chains.





FIG. 3

is an isometric view of one method of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains, illustrating the contouring the outer periphery of a wire prior to segmenting into individual links.





FIG. 4

is a front view of an individual link having a contoured outer periphery formed in accordance with a method of the present invention.





FIG. 5

is a diagrammatic view of a stamping method of forming chain links having contoured outer peripheries for assembly into rope chains and the like.





FIG. 6

is a front view of a link that will be contoured in accordance with one method of the present invention.





FIG. 7

is an isometric view of a mandril onto which links are arranged prior to contouring the outer peripheries of such links.





FIG. 8

is an edge view of a link arranged on a mandril.





FIG. 9

is an isometric view of a plurality of links slidably arranged on a mandril.





FIG. 10

is an isometric view of a mandril provided with a stopping means along one edge thereof.





FIG. 11

is a top, diagrammatic view of a link-loaded mandril being passed through contouring apparatus.





FIG. 12

is a top, diagrammatic view of a link-loaded mandril being passed on each side through a single contouring apparatus.





FIG. 13

is a top, diagrammatic view of a link-loaded mandril being passed through multiple contouring apparatus.





FIGS. 14



a


through


14




bp


illustrate a variety of individual link configurations capable of being produced in accordance with the method of the present invention.





FIG. 15

is an edge view of a link having continuous inner and outer peripheries arranged on a mandril.





FIG. 16

is an edge view of a link-loaded mandril passing through contouring apparatus.





FIG. 17

is a representation of a rope chain created from links formed in accordance with method of the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Rope chain links are usually contoured after the links are formed into chains by passing such chains through contouring implements, such as cutters, presses and the like. Solid links are conventionally contoured or faceted by cutting, while hollow links are conventionally contoured or faceted by pressing or stamping.




In accordance with the method of the present invention, contouring of the outer periphery of chain links occurs prior to assembly of such links into rope chains. In one embodiment, the wire used in the formation of intertwinable links is contoured and then cut into individual, pre-contoured links. In another embodiment, the outer periphery of non-contoured links are individually contoured prior to the intertwining of such links to form actual rope chains. In yet another embodiment, individual links are collectively contoured after they are arranged on a supporting structure, such as a mandril. Such links may be contoured by hand or machine as the case may be. If a machine is used to contour links supported on a mandril, for example, it is preferable that the links are supported on a flexible mandril, particularly if the passage of links through or by contouring apparatus occurs along a circuitous route. It will be understood that chain links or links of any size, shape, thickness, material and cross-section may be used, for the method of the present invention is not meant to be limited to any particular link configuration. Therefore, while certain link cross-sections are shown for purposes of illustrations, whether they be annular or rectangular, it will be understood that the overall shape of the link could also be oval, triangular, square or the like.




In accordance with another aspect of the method of the present invention, nonintertwinable links, i.e., rings or links initially without gaps for intertwining to form rope chains, may be arranged on a supporting mandril, with the gaps formed into such links as part of the contouring process. In other words, as the outer peripheries of the links are being contoured, a gap will be cut between the inner and outer peripheries of such links for intertwining with other links to form rope chains. Consequently, the contouring and the gap creation can be accomplished during a single manufacturing process, which reduces costs, improves efficiency and prevents the creation of a link initially provided with a gap, which can be a complexity when links are formed by stamping or punching.




The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention.




Intertwinable links used in the formation of jewelry rope, chains are usually created using one of two well known methods.

FIG. 1

illustrates one method that is well known in the art, where a solid or hollow wire


5


is first coiled around a support structure


7


and then a portion of such wire is sliced along the longitudinal axis of the support structure


7


to form individual wire segments, which segments are then flattened into intertwinable links. Another well known method of forming links is by stamping or punching, an example of which is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,477 to Rozenwasser.





FIG. 2

is a front view of a conventional link


10


used in the formation of rope chains, said link


10


having an outer periphery


12


of a predetermined shape, an inner periphery


14


of a predetermined shape, a gap


16


and a thickness


18


. The outer periphery


12


of said link


10


is divided into a gap location


20


along which contouring is not useful, and a contouring surface


22


along which contouring is possible. Said link


10


may be formed from a solid or hollow wire


5


as is known in the art shown in

FIG. 1

, or may be formed by stamping or punching as is also known in the art. Other methods may also be used to form a link that is to be contoured in accordance with the methods of the present invention. Also, it will be understood that while wires and links of certain profiles and cross-sectional configurations are used herein for purposes of illustration herein, any shaped wire and any shaped link may be used.




The conventional link


10


of

FIG. 2

used in the assembly of rope chains has certain noteworthy characteristics. First, the inner and outer peripheries


12


and


14


respectively have the same or similar shape. In

FIG. 2

, the link


10


has an annular configuration along its inner and outer periphery. Second, the thickness


18


of the link


10


is generally consistent from end to end. Contrary to convention, the links of the present invention, after they have been contoured in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, however, generally do not have consistent inner and outer peripheries, and generally do not have a consistent thickness throughout.




In accordance with one method of the present invention of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains, as shown in

FIG. 3

, a contouring apparatus


90


is drawn across, or is passed across the outer periphery


30


of the wire


5


while the wire


5


is supported on a support structure


7


. One such support structure


7


might be an ice lathe as shown and as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,737,910 to Rozenwasser. Similarly, the contouring apparatus could be stationary, and the wire


5


passed thereby. The outer periphery


30


of the wire


5


is contoured, while the inner periphery


32


remains unaffected, or retains its original shape. Once the outer periphery


30


of the wire has been contoured as desired, the wire is separated into segments and flattened into chain links.





FIG. 4

is a front view of a link


25


produced in accordance with the method illustrated in FIG.


3


. The link


25


has a plurality of grooves


34


-


38


along the outer periphery


30


, a gap


40


and an inner periphery


32


that remains unaffected by the contouring apparatus


90


. The gap


40


might be formed during the contouring operation by contouring the outer periphery


30


through to the inner periphery


32


. The grooves


34


-


37


in

FIG. 4

along one side of the outer periphery


30


have the same appearance, while the groove


38


along the other side has a different appearance. Consequently, the contouring operation does not have to be consistent along the entire outer periphery, although it could be if desired.




In accordance with another method of the present invention of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains, as shown in

FIG. 5

, a link


45


might be stamped or punched from a single sheet


50


, with such link


45


having a contoured outer periphery


46


and an non-contoured inner periphery


47


. The contouring can comprise a plurality of grooves


48


,


49


on opposite sides, which create a symmetrical appearance along the vertical axis through the center of the link. Several links


45


, therefore, can be assembled into rope chains and other jewelry items that have inner and outer peripheries of different shapes or profiles. In accordance with yet another method of the present invention of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains, such links might also be die extruded or the like, having inner and outer peripheries of different shapes or profiles.





FIG. 6

is a front view of a link


60


used to illustrate another method of the present invention of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains. Link


60


has a non-contoured outer and inner periphery


62


and


64


respectively, a gap


66


and a thickness


68


. In accordance with yet another method of the present invention of forming chain links for assembly into rope chains, the outer peripheries


62


of individual links


60


are contoured in unison by, for example, loading such links onto a mandril, which provides a support structure for group contouring.





FIG. 7

is an isometric view of a mandril


100


having an outer periphery


110


of a predetermined shape, that, for purposes of explanation, has a cross-section generally in the form of an inverted “T”, comprised of a primary support section


120


and an extended support section or protrusion


130


. The mandril


100


also has a first end or edge


140


and a second end or edge


150


, and may be rigid or flexible depending on the needs of the user. The mandril


100


is designed to support a single link


60


or a plurality of links slidably arranged thereon, for eventual passage of the link-loaded mandril through contouring apparatus.





FIG. 8

is an edge view illustration of link


60


situated about or arranged on a mandril


100


, with the outer periphery


110


of mandril


100


designed to accommodate the inner periphery


64


of link


60


, so that link


60


can slide along the outer periphery


110


of mandril


100


. The support section


130


of mandril


100


extends or protrudes into the gap area


66


of the link


10


, which section


130


further supports and centers the link


60


on the mandril


100


. Again, while

FIG. 8

illustrates for purposes of explanation a link having a generally rectangular inner periphery slidably arranged on a mandril having a generally rectangular outer periphery, it will be understood that both the mandril and the link may be designed using other shapes, so long as the link is capable of sliding along the outer periphery of the mandril and is supportably received thereon. The clearance


125


between the outer periphery


110


of the mandril


100


and the inner periphery


64


of the link


60


will generally be sufficient enough to permit sliding of the link


10


along the mandril, but not too great so that the link


60


wobbles or rocks from side to side on the mandril


100


, or is rotatable on or around said mandril. In other words, movement of the link on or along the mandril is preferably restricted to the axial direction, i.e., along the axis of the mandril. It is not necessary, however, that the clearance


125


be the same between the link and the mandril on all sides of the mandril. Since a link-loaded mandril will be passed through contouring apparatus, such links should be sufficiently supported on the mandril so that such contouring of the outer periphery is consistent, and the clearance


125


between the mandril and the links arranged thereon, particularly adjacent the link section or sections being contoured, should not be great enough to frustrate the consistent contouring of the outer periphery of such links.





FIG. 9

is an isometric view of a plurality of links


60




a-




60




g


slidably arranged on a mandril


100


. The links will generally be loaded along an entrance end


150


or edge of the mandril, and slid or extended to the opposite end


140


, where such links will be prevented from sliding off the mandril using a stopping means or member


142


(see

FIG. 10

) coupled to or disposed at the end


140


of the mandril


100


opposite the entrance end


150


. The stopping member


142


, illustrated in

FIG. 10

, could take the form of a pin, wall or the like, and an equivalent stopping member could also be disposed at the entrance end of the mandril after the links have been arranged thereon to prevent such links from sliding off the entrance end of the mandril. Once links are arranged on a mandril, a hand tool may be drawn across the outer peripheries of such links to contour such outer peripheries as desired. Such hand tool may be used to cut, score, bend or otherwise deform the outer peripheries of such links until the desired surface configuration is achieved. The contouring operation does not, however, effect the contouring of the inner peripheries of such links.




Hand contouring can be somewhat difficult, particularly if the metal is hard or the desired outer periphery contour is intricate. Conventional contouring is usually accomplished by diamond-cutting contouring apparatus or by punches, presses or the like.

FIG. 11

is a top, diagrammatic view of a mandril


100


with a plurality of links


60


, arranged thereon, defined collectively as a link-loaded mandril


300


, being passed through contouring apparatus


200


and


250


. Similarly, the contouring apparatus could movably act upon a link-loaded mandril for contouring of the links, and it is not necessary that the link-loaded mandril be the moveable part that travels through the contouring apparatus. Contouring apparatus


200


and


250


may be cutters, shapers or the like, and act upon any portion of the outer peripheries, and preferably the contouring surface and not the gap location, of the links that are passed therethrough. For example, while

FIG. 11

illustrates the contouring of opposite sides of the links, it will be appreciated that the upper and lower portions of the outer peripheries of the links may also be contoured, depending on the design of the contouring apparatus and the section of the links passed therethrough. Furthermore, while a pair of contouring apparatus


200


and


250


is shown, only one contouring apparatus,


200


or


250


for example, may be necessary if only one side of the outer periphery of the links are to be contoured, or, as illustrated in

FIG. 12

, if opposite sides are to be contoured in an identical manner and a link-loaded mandril


300


can be passed through such contouring apparatus once along each side of the mandril.





FIG. 13

is a top, diagrammatic view of a link-loaded mandril


300


, showed representatively by a single line, being passed through three pairs or sets of contouring apparatus


200




a-c


and


250




a-c.


The first two pairs of contouring apparatus


200




a,b


and


250




a,b,


for example, might contour the sides of the outer peripheries of the links, while the third pair of contouring apparatus


200




c


and


250




c,


for example, might contour the upper and lower portions of the outer peripheries of the links. It will be appreciated, with particular reference to

FIGS. 11 and 12

, that the mandril upon which the links are loaded or arranged should preferably be flexible to allow a link-loaded mandril to pass through contouring apparatus if such passage occurs along a circuitous route. A flexible mandril also allows a link-loaded mandril to repeatedly pass through the same contouring apparatus so that different portions of the outer peripheries can be contoured, see

FIG. 11

, or to pass through different contouring apparatus arranged in a non-linear fashion as shown for example in FIG.


12


.




While

FIGS. 7-13

illustrate the use of a mandril for practicing the method of the present invention, other contouring apparatus may be used in a similar manner. For example, instead of using a mandril, groups of links might be arranged on an ice lathe, which is known in the art for contouring assembled chains, and then such links might be similarly frozen and contoured until the outer periphery assumes a desired appearance. Other supporting apparatus might be used to produce a similar desired effect.





FIGS. 14



a-




14




bp


illustrate a variety of individual link configurations capable of being produced in accordance with any of the methods of the present invention, each link having a uniquely and fashionably contoured outer periphery, with a non-contoured inner periphery, and a non-uniform thickness along at least one portion of the link as compared with other portions of the link. Such figures are only representative, and are by no means exhaustive of the possible contouring variations capable of being produced using the method of the present invention. Many of the links illustrated in

FIGS. 14



a-




14




bp


have unique outer peripheral surface features. For example, some links have at least one concave surface


70


on at least one outer wall, while others have at least one flat surface


71


. Other features present on at least one outer wall include at least one laterally tapering wall


72


toward one end of the outer periphery, an indent


73


, a convex surface


74


, an outer peripheral surface


75


that is parallel in profile to the adjacent inner peripheral surface, a protrusion


76


and a plurality of “C”-shaped indentations. Other features not specifically detailed above will also be apparent with reference to such figures. The outer peripheries can also be contoured so that the links appear symmetrical about the vertical axis as shown in

FIG. 14



a,


or non-symmetrical about any axis as shown in

FIG. 14



d.


Of course, the contouring possibilities are limitless. However, in each case, only the outer periphery is contoured without affecting the inner periphery. Another feature of all links shown in

FIGS. 14



a


through


14




bp


is that the thickness of each link is not uniform in at least one portion of the link.

FIGS. 14



n


and


14




o


in particular illustrate a simple rectangular link where the outer periphery has been contoured so that the thickness of the vertically extending portions


78


is different from the horizontally extending portions


79


, while the profile of the inner periphery remains unchanged. Of course, while

FIGS. 14



n


and


14




o


illustrate a symmetric outer peripheral contouring resulting in a non-uniform thickness throughout the link, such contouring could also be non-symmetric as shown in many of the links illustrated in

FIGS. 14



a


through


14




bp.


Irrespective of the symmetrical nature of the outer peripheral contouring, the thickness along at least one portion of the perimeter of all of the links illustrated in

FIGS. 14



a


through


14




bp


is not uniform, whereas a prior art link of

FIG. 2

, which would be assembled into a rope chain as is, i.e., without a contoured outer periphery, would have a uniform thickness


18


throughout.





FIG. 15

illustrates an edge view of a link


400


arranged on a mandril


500


, where said link


400


has a continuous outer periphery


420


and a continuous inner periphery


430


, with a thickness


450


defined therebetween. Link


400


is not initially capable of being intertwined with other links to form a rope chain as is known in the art, since such link has continuous inner and outer peripheries with no gap defined therein. However, in accordance with the method of the present invention and with particular reference to

FIG. 16

, a gap


440


may be formed in the link


400


, for enabling said link


400


to intertwine with other links to form a rope chain, as part of the contouring step. In other words, a gap


440


may be contoured into or through the links using contouring apparatus


600


having a gap-creating contouring bit


610


, while the remaining outer periphery of the links may be fashionably contoured as described in any of the above described methods. The contouring of the outer periphery of the links and/or the creation of a gap in a link having continuous inner and outer peripheries can occur simultaneously, or at different times, depending on the construction of the contouring apparatus acting upon a link-loaded mandril.





FIG. 16

illustrates the creation of a gap region


440


in a link


400


or a plurality of links loaded or arranged on a mandril as previously described. The mandril


500


of

FIGS. 15 and 16

is not equipped with a protrusion akin to the protrusion


130


of mandril


100


describe d previously, for the obvious reason that the links


400


are not initially provided with a gap to accommodate such a mandril protrusion. Even though the links


400


are not initially created or provided with a gap, and the mandril


500


is not provided with a gap-extensive protrusion member, the links remain supported on the mandril


500


by the interaction between the outer periphery


510


of the mandril


500


and the inner periphery of the link or links


400


, both before and after a gap is fashioned or contoured into the links. For example, the rectangular configuration of both the outer periphery of the mandril and the inner periphery of the link and the slidable clearance present therebetween when the links are arranged on the mandril, prevent the links from rotating or rocking or wobbling about the mandril, thereby assuring consistent contouring of the outer peripheries of the links. Other mandril and link shapes and cross sections will also be operative, so long as the mandril prevents the links from rotating about the mandril or otherwise jeopardizing the consistent contouring of the outer periphery of the links during passage through contouring apparatus.




Once the outer peripheries of the links have been contoured, which might or might not include the creation of a gap depending on whether or not the links have been provided with a gap, the links are removed from the mandril and assembled into rope chains as illustrated in FIG.


17


. While the method of the present invention is particularly applicable to a method of forming links for use in rope chains, it will be understood that such links may be used for other purposes. For example, fashionably contoured links might be used to create other items of jewelry, such as earrings, bracelets, or the like, or such contoured links might be used in other areas of commerce not necessarily related to jewelry items.




While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A method of producing a jewelry chain comprising the steps of:a) providing a chain link having an inner periphery and an outer periphery, said inner periphery having a respective first contour and said outer periphery having a respective first contour, b) reshaping the outer periphery of said chain link to form a reshaped chain link having an outer periphery having a respective second contour different from said first contour of said outer periphery, said inner periphery and said second contour of said outer periphery having different shapes, and c) intertwining said reshaped chain link with other similar reshaped chain links to form a jewelry chain.
  • 2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the step of intertwining said reshaped chain link with other reshaped chain links to form a jewelry rope chain.
  • 3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said reshaping further comprises the reshaping of a plurality of chain links in a group.
  • 4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said reshaping further comprises the deforming of said outer periphery of said chain link.
  • 5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said reshaping further comprises the deforming of a plurality of chain links in a group.
  • 6. A method in accordance with claim 1; whereind) said outer periphery includes at least opposing first and second outer peripheral edges and a connecting edge disposed between said first and second outer peripheral edges, and e) wherein said reshaping further comprises the forming of at least three contoured surfaces in at least one of said first and second outer peripheral edges.
  • 7. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said reshaping further comprises the forming of at least three contoured surfaces in both first and second outer peripheral edges.
  • 8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said reshaping further comprises the forming of at least four contoured surfaces in at least one of said first and second outer peripheral edges.
  • 9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said inner periphery has a circular shape.
  • 10. A method in accordance with claim 9, wherein said outer periphery has at least three planar contours.
  • 11. A method of producing a contoured jewelry chain comprising the steps of:a) forming a chain link in a first processing step, wherein said link is initially formed with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, said inner periphery having a respective first contour and said outer periphery having a respective first contour, b) reshaping the outer periphery of said chain link in a second processing step to form a reshaped chain link, wherein said outer periphery is reshaped with a respective second contour different from said first contour of said outer periphery, said inner periphery and said second contour of said outer periphery having different shapes, c) creating a plurality of reshaped chain links in accordance with said first and second processing steps, and thereafter d) intertwining said plurality of reshaped chain links to form a jewelry chain.
  • 12. A method in accordance with claim 11, further comprising the step of intertwining said plurality of reshaped chain links to form a jewelry rope chain.
  • 13. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said forming and said reshaping steps are applied to a plurality of chain links at a time.
  • 14. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said second contour of said outer periphery is reshaped to comprise at least six facets.
  • 15. A method of producing a contoured jewelry chain comprising the steps of:a) forming a chain link in a first processing step, wherein said link is initially formed with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, said inner periphery having a respective first contour and said outer periphery having a respective first contour, b) reshaping the outer periphery of said chain link in a second processing step, wherein said outer periphery is reshaped with a respective second contour different from said first contour of said outer periphery, said inner periphery and said second contour of said outer periphery having different shapes, c) creating a plurality of links in accordance with said first and second processing steps, and d) intertwining said plurality of chain links to form a jewelry chain, e) wherein said plurality of chain links are only contoured prior to the intertwining of said plurality of chain links into a jewelry chain.
  • 16. A method of producing a contoured jewelry chain comprising the steps of:a) forming a chain link in a first processing step, wherein said link is initially formed with an inner periphery and an outer periphery, said inner periphery having a respective first contour and said outer periphery having a respective first contour, b) reshaping the outer periphery of said chain link in a second processing step, wherein said outer periphery is reshaped with a respective second contour different from said first contour of said outer periphery, said inner periphery and said second contour of said outer periphery having different shapes, c) creating a plurality of links in accordance with said first and second processing steps, and d) intertwining said plurality of chain links to form a jewelry chain, e) wherein said forming and said reshaping steps are applied to one chain link at a time.
  • 17. A method of producing a jewelry chain comprising the steps of:a) forming a chain link in a first processing step by wrapping a wire around a support, said wire being formed with an inner peripheral surface adjacent said support and an outer peripheral surface opposite said inner peripheral surface, said outer peripheral surface having a first contour, b) reshaping the outer peripheral surface of said wire in a second processing step, wherein said outer peripheral surface is reshaped with a respective second contour different from said first contour of said outer peripheral surface, c) separating said wire into individual chain links, each link having an inner periphery of a shape consistent with said inner peripheral surface of said wire, each link having an outer periphery of a shape consistent with said second contour of said outer periphery of said wire, said inner and outer peripheries of said chain links having different shapes, and d) intertwining said plurality of chain links to form a jewelry chain.
  • 18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising the step of intertwining said plurality of chain links to form a jewelry rope chain.
  • 19. A method in accordance with claim 17, wherein said second contour of said outer peripheral surface comprises at least three facets.
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/473,594 filed Dec. 29, 1999.

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