U.S. patent application number 09/732730 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-24 for gem.
Invention is credited to Bamminger, Wolfgang, ofner, Herbert, Reisigl, Emil, Weingrtner, Harald, Winter, Michael.
Application Number | 20020007648 09/732730 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 3688019 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020007648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bamminger, Wolfgang ; et
al. |
January 24, 2002 |
Gem
Abstract
A gem having a faceted crown which is inclined with respect to
the main axis and which is defined on the one hand by a preferably
flat table and on the other hand by a peripheral edge of the gem,
and a faceted pavilion which is inclined with respect to the main
axis and which adjoins the peripheral edge and which converges to a
tip, wherein the facets (3) of the crown (2) are all inclined at
the same crown angle (.beta.) with respect to the main axis (1),
while the facets (7, 7') of the pavilion (6) are inclined at two
different pavilion angles (.alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2) with
respect to the main axis (1), wherein the facets (7) of the
pavilion (6) which are inclined at a first pavilion angle
(.alpha..sub.1) extend to the peripheral edge (5) and the facets
(7') of the pavilion (6) which are inclined at a second pavilion
angle (60 .sub.2) start from the tip (8) without reaching the
peripheral edge (5).
Inventors: |
Bamminger, Wolfgang;
(Schwaz, AT) ; ofner, Herbert; (Wattens, AT)
; Reisigl, Emil; (Wattens, AT) ; Weingrtner,
Harald; (Sautens, AT) ; Winter, Michael;
(Schwaz, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
Suite 800
2033 K Street, N.W.
Washingion
DC
20006
US
|
Family ID: |
3688019 |
Appl. No.: |
09/732730 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
63/32 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 17/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
63/32 |
International
Class: |
A44C 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 20, 2000 |
AT |
A 1276/2000 |
Claims
1. A gem having a faceted crown which is inclined with respect to
the main axis and which is defined on the one hand by a preferably
flat table and on the other hand by a peripheral edge of the gem,
and a faceted pavilion which is inclined with respect to the main
axis and which adjoins the peripheral edge and which converges to a
tip, characterised in that the facets of the crown are all inclined
at the same crown angle (.beta.) with respect to the main axis,
while the facets of the pavilion are inclined at two different
pavilion angles (.alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2) with respect to the
main axis, wherein the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at
a first pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.1) extend to the peripheral
edge and the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at a second
pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.2) start from the tip without reaching
the peripheral edge.
2. A gem as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the number
of facets of the crown, the number of facets at the first pavilion
angle (.alpha..sub.1) and the number of facets at the second
pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.2) are the same and preferably 8, 12 or
16.
3. A gem as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that the facets
of the pavilion which are inclined at the second pavilion angle
(.alpha..sub.2), in a view from below directed on to the tip of the
gem, extend radially over a distance of between 25% and 75% of the
projected tip-peripheral edge spacing.
4. A gem as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises ground glass.
5. A gem as set forth in claim 4, characterised in that the
refractive index of the glass is between 1.50 and 1.65.
6. A gem having a faceted crown which is inclined with respect to
the main axis and which is defined on the one hand by a preferably
flat table and on the other hand by a peripheral edge of the gem,
and a faceted pavilion which is inclined with respect to the main
axis and which adjoins the peripheral edge and which converges to a
tip, characterised in that the facets of the crown are all inclined
at the same crown angle (.beta.) with respect to the main axis,
while the facets of the pavilion are inclined at two different
pavilion angles (.alpha..sub.1, .alpha..sub.2) with respect to the
main axis, wherein the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at
a first pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.1) extend to the peripheral
edge and the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at a second
pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.2) start from the tip, wherein the
crown angle (.beta.) is between 40.degree. and 44.degree.,
preferably about 42.degree., the first pavilion angle
(.alpha..sub.1) is between 40.degree. and 44.degree., preferably
about 42.degree., and the second pavilion angle (.alpha..sub.2) is
between 32.degree. and 36.degree., preferably about 34.degree..
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a gem having a faceted crown which is
inclined with respect to the main axis and which is defined on the
one hand by a preferably flat table and on the other hand by a
peripheral edge of the gem, and a faceted pavilion which is
inclined with respect to the main axis and which adjoins the
peripheral edge and which converges to a tip.
[0002] In the case of artificial gems, in particular of glass,
there is from time to time an interest in achieving a reflection
characteristic which radiates in as wide-spread a fashion as
possible, when there is central illumination on to the table.
[0003] In order to achieve that, the invention proposes that the
facets of the crown are all inclined at the same crown angle with
respect to the main axis while the facets of the pavilion are
inclined at two different pavilions angles with respect to the main
axis, wherein the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at a
first pavilion angle extend to the peripheral edge and the facets
of the pavilion which are inclined at a second pavilion angle start
from the tip without reaching the peripheral edge.
[0004] The applicants' measurements have shown that a widening of
the reflection characteristics can be achieved by cutting a second
pavilion angle, that is to say a second layer of facets, which are
inclined at a shallower angle with respect to the main axis. Upon
central illumination in the direction of the main axis on to the
table therefore relevant levels of radiation intensity are still to
be expected even at relatively large angles with respect to the
main axis.
[0005] It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the facets
of the pavilion which are inclined at the second pavilion angle, in
a view from below directed on to the tip of the gem, extend
radially over a distance of between 25% and 75% of the projected
tip-peripheral edge spacing (grinding depth of the second layer of
between 25% and 75%).
[0006] A further alternative configuration of the invention is
characterised in that the facets of the crown are all inclined at
the same crown angle with respect to the main axis while the facets
of the pavilion are inclined at two different pavilion angles with
respect to the main axis, wherein the facets of the pavilion which
are inclined at a first pavilion angle extend to the peripheral
edge and the facets of the pavilion which are inclined at a second
pavilion angle start from the tip, wherein the crown angle is
between 40.degree. and 44.degree., preferably about 42.degree., the
first pavilion angle is between 40.degree. and 44.degree.,
preferably about 42.degree., and the second pavilion angle is
between 32.degree. and 36.degree., preferably about 34.degree..
[0007] Further advantages and details of the invention are
described in greater detail with reference to the specific
description hereinafter.
[0008] FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c show a 12-facet gem (chaton) in
accordance with the state of the art, which has a single-layer
crown and a single-layer pavilion,
[0009] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c show an embodiment of a gem (chaton)
according to the invention, having a second pavilion layer with a
50% grinding depth,
[0010] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show a further embodiment of a gem
according to the invention with a second pavilion layer with a
grinding depth of 75%,
[0011] FIG. 4 shows measurement of the height angle theta,
[0012] FIG. 5 shows measurement of the width angle phi,
[0013] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 each show diagrammatic representations of
the reflected light strength in dependence on the height angle
theta with a constant angle phi=0, wherein FIG. 6 concerns a gem
according to the state of the art as shown in Figures 1a, 1b and
1c, FIG. 7 shows a gem according to the invention as shown in FIGS.
2a, 2b and 2c and FIG. 8 concerns a gem according to the invention
as shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c.
[0014] The gems illustrated in the Figures are of the type of a
so-called chaton.
[0015] The 12-facet chaton shown in Figures 1a, 1b and 1c has a
crown 2 with twelve facets 3, which is inclined with respect to the
main axis 1 and which is delimited by a flat table 4. Adjoining the
peripheral edge 5 which can also be in the form of a girdle
bevelled parallel to the main axis 1 is the pavilion 6 which also
has twelve facets 7 which converge to a tip 8. The crown angle is
denoted by .beta. and the pavilion angle by .alpha..
[0016] A 12-facet chaton as shown in Figures 1a, 1b and 1c gives,
for a width angle phi 0 in dependence on the height angle theta a
reflection characteristic as is shown approximately in FIG. 6.
[0017] An increase in the width of that reflection characteristic,
that is to say relevant levels of light intensity with greater
angles theta, can be achieved if, in accordance with the invention,
there is ground in from the tip 8 a second layer of facets with a
second pavilion angle, as is shown by FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 3a, 3b
and 3c. The crown 2 of the gem according to the invention is in
that respect of the same configuration as in the state of the art,
that is to say of a single-layer configuration with a single crown
angle .beta. of the facets 3 with respect to the main axis 1.
[0018] Now, in accordance with the invention, on the pavilion 6,
there are twelve facets 7 which are inclined at the pavilion angle
.alpha..sub.1 with respect to the main axis 1. In addition there
are twelve further facets 7' which are inclined at a second
shallower pavilion angle .alpha..sub.2 with respect to the main
axis 1 and which are ground in from the tip 8 but without reaching
the peripheral edge 5.
[0019] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c the facets
7', in the view from below directed on to the tip 8 of the gem, as
in FIG. 2c, extend radially outwardly over a distance of 50% of the
projected tipperipheral edge spacing. Reference is made here to a
grinding depth of the second layer of 50%.
[0020] Such a gem in accordance with the invention, as shown in
FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, affords a reflection characteristic as is
shown approximately in FIG. 7. In comparison with FIG. 6, there are
light components with greater theta angles, that is to say a
distribution of light which radiates more widely.
[0021] FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c show an embodiment of a gem according to
the invention with a grinding depth of 75%. That affords the light
distribution approximately as shown in FIG. 8.
[0022] In accordance with a variant of the invention there is
provided a gem in which the crown angle .beta. is between
40.degree. and 44.degree., preferably being about 42.degree.. The
first pavilion angle .alpha..sub.1 is desirably between 40.degree.
and 44.degree., preferably being about 42.degree., while the second
pavilion angle .alpha..sub.2 is between 32.degree. and 36.degree.,
preferably being about 34.degree.. With those angles, particularly
in the case of a gem of ground glass with a refractive index of
between 1.50 and 1.65, the reflection characteristic is good and
radiates widely.
[0023] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to
the embodiments illustrated by way of example, for example the
number of facets may differ. Even numbers of facets 8, 12 or 16
have proven to be preferable. In principle however other numbers of
facets, in particular odd numbers of facets, are certainly
conceivable and possible. The number of facets of the crown on the
one hand and the pavilion on the other hand also do not necessarily
have to be the same, although an identical number of facets in the
crown of the first pavilion angle and the second pavilion angle has
been found to be advantageous.
* * * * *