Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to jewelry, specifically to finger rings with inlays.
2. Prior Art
Jewelry items such as finger rings have been traditionally manufactured using precious metals such as gold or platinum. More recently, rings made from higher strength materials such as titanium, stainless steel, and tungsten have become popular. These rings are typically turned on computer controlled lathes from barstock instead of cast like the precious metals typically are. Another method of forming high strength rings, taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,045 to West (2000) involves forming powdered metal or ceramic into a ring shape and sintering it at high temperature. Rings of high strength materials are often visually enhanced by the addition of precious metal inlays. These inlay materials normally start as flat wire and are hammered or pressed into grooves in the ring surface. Inlaying by this method can be done cold or by heating the inlay metal to soften it. The material is usually soldered, brazed, or welded at the starting and ending point. Another method of inlaying material, taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,667 to West (2003) involves heating the ring until a precious metal with a lower melting point flows into a channel. Another method taught by U.S. Pat. No. 6,928,734 to West (2005) involves pressing a powdered metal into a grooved ring and sintering the metal at a lower temperature than the melting point of the ring.
Because the high strength metals are essentially gray in color, using an inlay material of a different color and texture would enhance the looks of the ring. An inlay of something other than metal would stand out from what is commonly done, thus would have commercial value. Using materials that are typically associated with high value items such as burl maple dashboards or rosewood pens would add a unique appearance and add value to a ring. Other potentially high perceived value inlay materials include stone and polymers such as acrylics. Ideally, such an inlay would be seamless for the sake of appearance. Rings made entirely from materials such as wood or stone have been made since antiquity, but are generally very thick due to strength considerations. Such materials are usually relatively fragile, so could not be used as a ring of typical thickness by themselves. These materials would not typically stretch without cracking in order to be inset into a ring, and they could also be damaged by excessive heat caused by any soldering or brazing.
Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to:
It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and provide a means to inlay continuous decorative inlays of wood, plastics, stone, and other materials not previously possible into high strength machined rings. The ring is made in two telescoping halves that nest together and provide a hard stop to keep from crushing the more delicate inlay. The advent of the high strength materials allows the telescoping parts to be extremely thin, allowing more room for the weaker inlay material, and allowing the ring to stay a comfortable thickness. This technique also allows the divide line between parts to be very thin, low, and unseen. The divide line is also located so that the wearer cannot feel it.
The high modulus of the preferred embodiment ring materials allows the very thin outer piece to expand over the opposed inner piece then constrict back to the original dimension without deformation and hold the parts together. Lower modulus materials such as traditional precious metals would deform and not hold their shape if they were machined as thin.
A feature of the present invention is to allow the rough machining marks of the telescoping surfaces to match and act like tiny threads that hold the two halves firmly together. CNC (Computer Numeric Control) lathes can easily match the turning pitch on the two parts. This saves time in the manufacturing operation over chasing threads, with the additional advantages of not having to allow extra room to relieve the threads, and not having a large gap or sharp edges at the seam between parts. It also allows a looser machining tolerance to the very thin parts, which might tend to deflect while machining.
There are other advantages of the current invention over threaded sections. The threaded sections need more overlap, so the sections would have to be thicker, thus reducing the area reserved for the inlay. Threads also act as stress risers, so some additional material would be needed to avoid cracking issues. There would also have to be extra clearance for tool deceleration and width, which would not allow for full thread contact. The problem of galling of threads, common with titanium, and poorly formed threads, common with powdered metal tungsten parts are also avoided. By not having normal threads, this invention will also not need orienting tangs, which would be felt on a ring and annoying to the wearer. The pieces will also not unscrew inadvertently since the metal halves grip onto each other so tightly.
Assembly of the two parts is also easier than with threads since the parts don't have to be fixtured and screwed together. They are simply pressed together by a vise, press, or other means.
Another advantage of the current invention is that the ring halves are separable. This allows interchangeable inlays. If the inlay got damaged and had to be replaced, the two halves of the ring could be pried apart with a press or opposed prying tools. The high modulus materials used in the preferred embodiment should withstand multiple separations without damage. Any ring that is made from parts that are swaged, formed, or brazed together would not be separable. Because the pry tool is used in the groove that is normally covered by the inlay material, any marking of the groove surface during prying the halves apart would not be seen when a new inlay is inserted.
If the inlay is damaged or the wearer would like a different inlay, the inlay may be replaced. The old inlay is removed by cutting or cracking. Because the ring halves sections 10 and 14 are press fit together, a leveraged pry tool can be placed between stop walls sections 32 and 36 to force the halves to telescope apart. Since the tool only touches the inside surfaces, a new inlay can be replaced, and no evidence of damage by prying will be visible. The high strength materials used for the rings allow the ring to be taken apart numerous times without damage.
This application claims the benefit of the provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/624769, filed 2004 Nov. 3 by the present inventor.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60624769 | Nov 2004 | US |