U.S. patent application number 10/658587 was filed with the patent office on 2004-04-29 for method for manufacturing of a mesh jewel.
Invention is credited to Varga, Miklos.
Application Number | 20040078975 10/658587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26318329 |
Filed Date | 2004-04-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040078975 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varga, Miklos |
April 29, 2004 |
Method for manufacturing of a mesh jewel
Abstract
A mesh jewel comprising a mesh formed by at least one metallic
wire section 4 arranged along a mesh surface, wherein the mesh
comprises nodes located at adjoining wire section parts of said at
least one wire section 4. At least some of the nodes are formed
with a node element 1 comprising a pin 2 arranged in cross
direction to the mesh surface and means for preventing displacement
in an axial direction of the pin 2 of the wire section parts
adjoining the pin 2 of the node element 1. The inventive method for
manufacturing the mesh jewel comprises the steps of forming a mesh
with at least one metallic wire section 4 by arranging it along a
mesh surface, wherein the mesh comprises notes at adjoining wire
section parts of said at least one wire section 4. According to the
invention, pins 2 are arranged in cross direction to the mesh
surface, and said at least one wire section 4 is arranged so as to
pass by the pins 2 and ends of said at least one wire section 4 are
attached to the mesh jewel, wherein the pins 2 are fitted with
means for preventing displacement in an axial direction of the pins
2 of the wire section parts adjoining the pins 2.
Inventors: |
Varga, Miklos; (Budapest,
HU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KNOBBE MARTENS OLSON & BEAR LLP
2040 MAIN STREET
FOURTEENTH FLOOR
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
26318329 |
Appl. No.: |
10/658587 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10658587 |
Sep 9, 2003 |
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10030755 |
Sep 4, 2002 |
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10030755 |
Sep 4, 2002 |
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PCT/HU00/00037 |
Apr 28, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
29/896.4 ;
29/896.412 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B21F 27/12 20130101;
Y10T 29/49588 20150115; A44C 27/00 20130101; Y10T 29/49593
20150115; B21F 15/06 20130101; A44C 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
029/896.4 ;
029/896.412 |
International
Class: |
A44C 027/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 28, 1999 |
HU |
P 990406 |
Oct 6, 1999 |
HU |
P 9903394 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for manufacturing a mesh jewel by forming a mesh with
at least one metallic wire section by arranging the mesh along a
mesh surface, wherein the mesh comprises nodes at adjoining wire
section parts of said at least one wire section, and wherein at
least some of the nodes are formed with a node element fixing the
adjoining wire section parts together, the method comprising the
steps of arranging pins in cross direction to the mesh surface,
arranging said at least one wire section so as to pass tangentially
to or bent on the pins, and attaching ends of said at least one
wire section to the mesh jewel, wherein ends of the pins are closed
by retaining means so as to prevent displacement of adjoining wire
section parts in an axial direction of the pin, said retaining
means comprising retaining elements arranged at the ends of the
pins.
2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of: forming a shaping piece having a surface corresponding to the
mesh surface, securing along the surface of the shaping piece pins
fitted with respective retaining elements at least at their ends
facing the shaping piece, arranging the at least one wire section
along the surface of the shaping piece, and removing the shaping
piece.
3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pins secured along
the surface of the shaping piece are fitted with respective
retaining elements only at their ends facing the shaping piece, and
wherein, after arranging the at least one wire section, free ends
of the pins are closed by further retaining elements or
closings.
4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pins secured along
the surface of the shaping piece are fitted with retaining elements
at both of their ends.
5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of
fixing the wire section parts abutting the pins to the pins by
soldering or welding.
6. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of
placing the shaping piece onto a rigid jewel body, and arranging
the at least one wire section fixedly attached to the jewel
body.
7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of
forming through holes in the jewel body and attaching the at least
one wire section to the jewel body by looping it through the
through holes.
8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of
forming fixing pins secured to the jewel body and attaching the at
least one wire section to the jewel body by means of the fixing
pins.
9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps of
creating a jewel structure by fixing the pins with the retaining
elements by means of distance rods to the jewel body, and, after
heating the jewel structure, pulling the shaping piece made of a
thermoplastic material onto the jewel structure.
10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the steps
of: creating a jewel structure by fixing distance rods to the jewel
body, after heating the jewel structure, pulling the shaping piece
made of a thermoplastic material onto the jewel structure,
adjusting free ends of the distance rods according to the surface
of the shaping piece, and forming the pins with the retaining
elements on the free ends of the distance rods.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps
of removing the shaping piece before arranging the at least one
wire section, and arranging the at least one wire section along the
shortest paths between the pins.
12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of
forming the jewel structure integrally by casting.
13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps
of creating a latticework having a three-dimensional surface
corresponding to the mesh surface and providing it with pins fixed
to lattice knots of the latticework, and arranging the at least one
wire section along the surface of the latticework and fixedly
connected to the latticework by means of the pins.
14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the steps
of: creating a shaping piece having a three-dimensional surface
corresponding to the mesh surface, forming the latticework along
the surface of the shaping piece, fixing the pins to the lattice
knots of the latticework, and removing the shaping piece.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, after arranging the
at least one wire section the retaining elements are attached to
the free ends of the pins by soldering or welding.
16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step
of forming the latticework with the pins fixed to the lattice knots
integrally by casting.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the retaining means
are formed integrally with the pins.
18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the latticework is
formed fixedly attached to a jewel body.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the fixing pins are
secured to the jewel body, and the at least one wire section is
arranged fixedly attached to the jewel body by means of the fixing
pins.
20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the steps
of forming the jewel body, the latticework with the pins fixed to
the lattice knots, and the fixing pins integrally by casting.
21. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mesh jewel is
formed of at least one of platinum, gold, silver, titanium and
stainless steel.
22. The method according to claim 2, wherein the shaping piece is
made of a material completely removable by heat treatment or by
applying a solvent.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/030,755 filed Sep. 4, 2002 which is a
national phase of the International Application PCT/HU00/00037
filed Apr. 28, 2000, which designates the United States and claims
priority to Hungarian Patent No. P 99 01406 filed on Apr. 28, 1999
and Hungarian Patent No. P 99 03394 filed on Oct. 6, 1999 all of
which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a method for manufacturing of a
mesh jewel.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] For producing jewels, high purity precious metals, for
example platinum, gold or silver are generally used. High purity
precious metals have a very high specific weight and they are very
expensive, consequently large size jewels made of these metals are
relatively heavy and expensive. Heavy jewels cause discomfort to
people wearing them, and the high price does not allow a broader
distribution of these jewels. In addition, it is a known fact that
relatively thick pure precious metal pieces are difficult to
machine, i.e. that they are difficult to cut, bend and draw.
[0006] A known solution for eliminating these problems in the jewel
industry is the producing of so called mesh jewels, which comprise
a mesh made of precious metal wire, arranged in a plane or along a
three dimensional surface. This mesh enables the manufacturing of
large size, attractive and yet low weight and not too expensive
jewels.
[0007] A mesh jewel and a method for its manufacturing are
described for example in EP 0 495 100 A1. This known mesh jewel
comprises a precious metal mesh arranged in a plane and fitted in a
precious metal setting. The precious metal mesh is produced by
laying at random a large number of metal wires bent in different
shapes, followed by pressing, and then the metal wires are fixed to
each other at the nodes. This fixing can be for example a diffusion
joint assisted by heat treatment. Next, the mesh is subjected to
cold working, polishing and then it is placed into the setting.
This known method is primarily suitable for producing meshes
arranged in a plane, and the mesh may not have a complicated three
dimensional shape. In the case of a larger surface mesh, another
problem arises, namely that the mesh will not be sufficiently rigid
and in the course of use the mesh jewel is subjected to a permanent
deformation. Furthermore, this known method does not enable the
fitting of decorative elements along the surface of the mesh.
[0008] Another solution known to the jewel industry is when--by the
manual arrangement of the precious metal wire--a three dimensional
mesh surface is formed, and the wire nodes are soldered or welded
one by one. This solution, however, does not allow the
accomplishing of sufficient rigidity in the case of larger size
jewels, and it is very difficult to fit decorative elements along
the three dimensional surface.
[0009] A further mesh jewel and a method for its manufacture are
described in DE 29 19 912 A. This mesh jewel comprises node
elements at crossings of the metal wire sections forming the mesh.
The node elements are formed as balls having two through bores
arranged in crosswise direction to each other through which the
wire sections are inserted. These node elements are, however,
difficult and costly to manufacture, and do not allow the crossing
of more than two wire sections at a node. Furthermore, there is no
teaching in DE 29 19 912 A about fixing these node elements in
space. Therefore, this known mesh jewel can not be manufactured
with a dense mesh and with a sufficient rigidity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide a mesh jewel
which--with a relatively low weight--has sufficient rigidity even
in the case of larger dimensions to prevent permanent deformation
even during prolonged use, and which enables the fitting of
decorative elements along the mesh of the mesh jewel. It is another
object of the invention to provide a simple and cost-efficient
method for manufacturing the mesh jewel.
[0011] According to a first aspect, the invention is a mesh jewel
comprising a mesh formed by at least one metallic wire section
arranged along a mesh surface, wherein the mesh comprises nodes
located at adjoining wire section parts of said at least one wire
section, and wherein at least, some of the nodes are formed with a
node element fixing the adjoining wire section parts together.
According to the invention, the mesh jewel has node elements
comprising a pin arranged in cross direction to the mesh surface,
wherein the wire section parts adjoining the pin are tangential to
or bent on the pin, and wherein ends of the pin are closed by
retaining means so as to prevent displacement of the adjoining wire
section parts in an axial direction of the pin, said retaining
means comprising a retaining element arranged at an end of the
pin.
[0012] The inventive mesh with the node elements results in a
higher rigidity mesh jewel, which enables the manufacturing of
larger and thus more decorative jewels with a low total weight. In
addition, the higher rigidity further reduces the risk of permanent
deformation when the jewel is in use. Furthermore, the node
elements--by themselves or with decorative elements fixed to
them--are suitable for creating a more attractive jewel.
[0013] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the retaining
element can be formed for example as a flange, a ball having a
bore, a setting holding a gem, or a soldered, welded, bonded or
adhesive closing. The retaining elements can be fitted onto the end
of the pin and fixed to the pin by soldering or welding, but they
can be is formed integrally with the pin as well.
[0014] The mesh can be made more rigid, if the wire section parts
adjoining the pins of the node elements are fixed to the node
elements by soldering or welding. The at least one wire section is
tangential to or bent on the pins of the node elements, and passes
by the pins at least twice from different directions.
[0015] The mesh surface can be planar, a three-dimensional curved
surface or a three-dimensional surface defined by planes.
[0016] In another preferred embodiment, the mesh jewel comprises a
latticework formed along the mesh surface, wherein the at least one
wire section is arranged along a surface of the latticework and is
attached to node elements fixed to lattice knots of the
latticework. In this embodiment the latticework ensures the spatial
fixing of the node elements. The fixing of the node elements is
very important because in this way the wire section can be
tightened on the pins of the node elements, thereby providing a
more rigid structure. In this way, the latticework according to the
invention allows the producing of a more rigid mesh jewel, which is
larger and thus more decorative, with a low total weight. The
higher rigidity also reduces the risk of the jewel suffering a
permanent deformation while being worn.
[0017] In a further preferred embodiment the mesh jewel comprises a
rigid jewel body to which the mesh is attached by means of through
holes or fixing node elements secured to the jewel body. In this
case the node elements can be fixed to the jewel body by means of
distance rods, thereby resulting in a more rigid jewel.
[0018] Parts of or the entire mesh jewel can be preferably formed
integrally by casting. The material of the inventive mesh jewel can
be platinum, gold, silver, titanium and/or stainless steel.
[0019] According to a second aspect, the invention is a method for
manufacturing a mesh jewel, comprising the steps of forming a mesh
with at least one metallic wire section by arranging it along a
mesh surface, wherein the mesh comprises nodes at adjoining wire
section parts of said at least one wire section, and wherein at
least some of the nodes are formed with a node element fixing the
adjoining wire section parts together, characterised by arranging
pins in cross direction to the mesh surface, and arranging said at
least one wire section so as to pass tangentially to or bent on the
pins and attaching ends of said at least one wire section to the
mesh jewel, wherein ends of the pins are closed by retaining means
so as to prevent displacement of adjoining wire section parts in an
axial direction of the pin, said retaining means comprising
retaining elements arranged at the ends of the pins.
[0020] By means of the method according to the invention, a mesh
jewel with a higher rigidity can be manufactured simply and with a
relatively low cost. The inventive method enables simple fitting of
decorative elements along the surface of the mesh.
[0021] For forming the mesh, preferably a shaping piece having a
surface corresponding to the mesh surface can be used. The shaping
piece can be placed onto a rigid jewel body, and the at least one
wire section can be arranged fixedly attached to the jewel body.
The shaping piece is preferably made of a material completely
removable by heat treating or by applying a solvent.
[0022] By means of the shaping piece, on the one hand the wire
section can be guided in a way that it is adjusted to the surface
of the shaping piece, and on the other the node elements are
thereby spatially fixed. Fixing the node elements is very important
because in this way the wire section can be tightened on the pins
of the node elements, thereby ensuring a more rigid structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] Hereinafter, the invention will, be described by means of
preferred embodiments as shown in the drawings, where
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of a mesh
jewel according to the invention partly in cross-section,
[0025] FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematical drawings depicting
manufacturing steps of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 1,
[0026] FIG. 5 is a part of the mesh of the embodiment as shown in
FIG. 1,
[0027] FIGS. 6 to 8 are front views depicting steps of
manufacturing the node elements as shown in FIG. 1,
[0028] FIGS. 9 to 11 are schematical drawings depicting
manufacturing steps of another preferred embodiment of the mesh
jewel according to the invention,
[0029] FIGS. 12 to 15 are schematical drawings depicting
manufacturing steps of a further embodiment of the mesh jewel
according to the invention,
[0030] FIG. 16 is a front view of the embodiment manufactured by
the method of FIGS. 12 to 15 partly in cross-section,
[0031] FIGS. 17 and 18 are front views depicting the manufacturing
of the node elements of the mesh jewel as per FIG. 16,
[0032] FIG. 19 is a front view of a node element made by
soldering,
[0033] FIG. 20 is a front view of a node element with a setting,
and
[0034] FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the node element as
shown in FIG. 20.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] The mesh jewel depicted in FIG. 1 is a ring which comprises
a mesh made of one or more wire sections 4, and a rigid jewel body
11, to which the mesh is fixed. Nodes of the mesh are formed with
node elements 1 arranged along a spherical surface, which node
elements 1 comprise a pin 2 arranged crosswise to the spherical
surface, a retaining element 3 arranged at an inner end of the pin
2, and a retaining element 5 arranged at an outer end of the pin 2.
In the depicted embodiment, the retaining elements 3 and 5 are
flanges, which are pulled on the ends of the pin and fixed there by
welding or soldering. These flanges ensure that wire section parts
passing by the node elements 1 are prevented in displacement in an
axial direction of pin 2, thereby enabling the design of a rigid
mesh. Node elements 1 are secured to the jewel body 11 by means of
distance rods 8 in a way that the distance rods 8 are fitted into
bores in jewel body 11, and fixed there by welding or soldering.
The distance rods 8 serve as a firm support for the node elements
1, thereby increasing the rigidity of the mesh jewel. The distance
rods 8 are not necessarily placed into bores, but they can also be
welded or soldered to the wall of the jewel body 11.
[0036] On an external lateral surface of an upper flange part of
the jewel body 11 there are fixing node elements 1' uniformly
distributed in a circle, and they fix the mesh to the jewel body
11. Fixing pins 2' of the fixing node elements 1' are located in
bores of jewel body 11, and fixed there by welding or soldering.
The fixing node elements 1' comprise a retaining element 5'
arranged at an outer end of the fixing pins 2', which retaining
element is formed as a flange in the embodiment shown. This flange
prevents the wire section parts adjoining the fixing pins 2' in
coming off the retaining pin 2'. It is not necessary to locate the
fixing pins 2' in bores, but they can also be welded or soldered to
the wall of jewel body 11.
[0037] As it will be shown more detailed later on, the wire section
4 is arranged on the pins 2 of the node elements 1 located along
the spherical surface in a manner that it touches the pins 2
without changing direction or is bent on them, and it returns to
the pins 2 repeatedly from different directions, so that the pins 2
are surrounded by wire section 4. Parts of the wire section 4
touching the pins 2 and 2' may be fixed by laser spot welding or
soldering to respective node elements 1 and 1'.
[0038] In the manufacturing method of the preferred embodiment as
per FIG. 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, first a shaping piece 10
having a surface corresponding to a three dimensional mesh surface
to be formed is produced. The shaping piece 10 is produced of a
material that can be fully removed by heat treatment or by using a
solvent, preferably wax, for example by carving or modelling. Next,
elements consisting of the retaining element 3 formed as a flange
and the pin 2 are secured by means of the distance rods 8 to the
jewel body 11, wherein the jewel body 11 is matched in shape to the
shaping piece 10. The distance rods 8 may be formed as extensions
of the pins 2, but they can also be designed as separate elements,
fixed to the pins 2 by welding or soldering.
[0039] Furthermore, on the external lateral surface of the upper
flange part of the jewel body 1, bores located at equal spacing are
formed to receive fixing pins 2', which are secured in the bores by
welding or soldering.
[0040] Next, the spacing structure fitted on the jewel body 11 as
described above is heated up and the shaping piece 10 is pulled
onto the structure. When fitting the shaping piece 10, bulges
appearing on its surface are smoothed and so the interim phase
shown in FIG. 4 is obtained. The shaping piece 10 fixes the pins 2
and this offers an especially advantageous hold for the spacing
structure when arranging the wire section 4 and when tightening the
same.
[0041] In the next step, by arranging the wire section 4 on the
pins 2 and 2', a mesh matched to the surface of the shaping piece
10 is formed. The mesh is made of one or more wire sections 4, the
thickness of which is preferably between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. Prior to
forming the mesh, one end of the wire section 4 is fixed to one of
the pins 2 or 2'. When making the mesh, the aesthetic appearance of
the mesh jewel is to be ensured, and hence, if possible, repeated
parallel running of the wire section 4 is to be avoided. Therefore,
the wire section 4 is preferably guided in a zigzag shape by
bending it on pins 2, 2' as depicted in FIG. 5, and then wire
section 4 is repeatedly returned from different directions to the
pin 2, 2' and it is thereby surrounded from several directions by
the wire section 4. This guiding manner of the wire section 4 is
advantageous for the aesthetic impact and also for the rigidity of
the mesh jewel. The wire section 4 is tightened between the node
elements 1 and 1' in a way that the wire section 4 rests on the
surface of the shaping piece 10. Next, the free end of the wire
section 4 is fixed to one of the node elements 1. Thereby a mesh
surface following the curved surface of the shaping piece 10 is
obtained. Wire section parts 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d adjoining the node
elements 1 can be fixed by welding or soldering to the node
elements.
[0042] After creating the mesh, as depicted in FIGS. 6 to 8,
retaining elements 5 formed as a flange are pulled onto the pins 2,
protruding parts of the pins 2 are cut off, the retaining elements
5 are welded or soldered to the pins 2, and the external surface of
the so formed node elements 1 is smoothed and polished. In this
way, flange retaining elements 3 and 5 associated with the node
elements 1 surround the wire section parts 4a, 4b, 4c, and 4d bent
on the pin 2. The fixing node elements 1' can be produced in an
identical way with the difference that the wire section parts
adjoining the pins 2' are supported by the external wall of the
jewel body 11 and the by retaining elements 5'. Next, the shaping
piece 10 is removed by heat treatment or by using a chemical
solvent. In this way the mesh jewel shown in FIG. 1 is created.
[0043] According to the invention, instead of the fixing node
elements. 1', throughholes formed in the jewel body 11 can be
applied as well for fixing the mesh, when during the producing of
the mesh, the wire section 4 is looped by guiding it through the
through-holes.
[0044] It can be advantageous that the wire section is not guided
along a curved surface between the node elements, but along the
shortest possible path in a straight way. In the course of
manufacturing this embodiment, distance rods are fixed to the jewel
body by welding or soldering, and then the spacing structure is
heated up and the shaping piece made of thermoplastic material is
pulled onto the spacing structure. In this embodiment, the shaping
piece is necessary to be able to adjust the lengths of the distance
rods according to the surface of the shaping piece, thereby
arranging the node elements along the required surface. Next, the
node elements are formed at the ends of the distance rods adjusted
to the surface of the shaping piece or they are secured to the
distance rods. Prior to making the mesh, the shaping piece is
removed and then the wire section is arranged along the shortest
path possible between the node elements. This embodiment is
advantageous, because the wire section between the nodes is not so
easily loosed, if it is guided along the shortest path
possible.
[0045] FIGS. 9 to 11 depict the steps of manufacturing a preferred
embodiment of the invention, where distance rods are not used, and
the node elements 1 are designed unsupported, they are only fixed
by the mesh formed of wire section 4. This embodiment can be used
advantageously when the mesh can be formed in a sufficiently rigid
way to make sure that it is not subjected to permanent deformation
even during prolonged use, and in case the mesh jewel is not
subjected to any special mechanical load during use.
[0046] The manufacturing of this embodiment also starts with the
forming of shaping piece 10. Next, elements comprising the
retaining element 3 formed as a flange and the pin 2 are fixed to
the surface of the shaping piece 10. The fixing is preferably
implemented by bonding or by melting into the shaping piece 10.
[0047] Again, in a uniformly spaced way, bores are formed on the
external lateral surface of the upper flange part of the jewel body
11, into which the fixing pins 2' are placed an fixed there by
welding or soldering.
[0048] Next, the shaping piece 10 is placed on the jewel body 11,
thereby accomplishing the interim phase depicted in FIG. 11.
[0049] In the next step, the mesh consisting of the wire section 4
is prepared as described above. After the forming of the mesh,
retaining elements 5 and 5' are pulled onto the pins 2 and 2', the
protruding parts of the pins 2 and 2' are cut off, the retaining
elements 5 and 5' are fixed by welding or soldering to the nodes,
and then the external surface of the node elements 1 and 1' are
smoothed and polished. Next, the shaping piece 10 is removed as
described above.
[0050] Retaining elements 3 and 5 with the pin 2 can be preferably
made integrally, for example by lathe machining. In this case node
elements 1 made integrally are fixed by distance rods to the jewel
body or fitted on the surface of the shaping piece 10. In this
embodiment, once the mesh is formed, the shaping piece can be
immediately removed, because it is not necessary to close the pins.
Furthermore, node elements 1 made integrally are advantageous,
because a recessed setting can be formed in them for a gem on an
external side of the retaining elements.
[0051] Manufacturing of another preferred embodiment of the mesh
jewel according to the invention begins as depicted in FIG. 12 in a
way that the rigid jewel body 11 is formed as an annular frame made
of solid metal. In an upper flange section of the jewel body 11,
equally spaced bores are formed in which fixing pins 2' are placed
and fixed by welding or soldering. Next, a shaping piece 10 having
a surface corresponding to a three dimensional mesh surface to be
created is placed onto the jewel body 11. In the depicted preferred
embodiment, the three dimensional mesh surface is a spherical
surface.
[0052] In the next step shown in FIG. 13, a latticework 12 resting
on the surface of the shaping piece 10 is formed, and then in cross
direction to the mesh surface, pins 2 are fixed to the lattice
knots of the latticework 12.
[0053] In the next step, the shaping piece 10 is removed for
example by heat treatment, thereby accomplishing the skeleton
structure shown in FIG. 14.
[0054] Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 15, by arranging the wire
section 4 on the pins 2 and 2', a mesh arranged along the
latticework 12 is formed. Between the node elements 1 and 1', the
wire section 4 is tightened in a way that the wire section 4
follows the surface of the latticework 12. Thereby a mesh following
the curved surface of the latticework 12 is obtained. The wire
section parts passing by the node elements 1 or 1' may be fixed by
welding or soldering to the node elements 1 or 1'.
[0055] After creating the mesh, protruding parts of the pins 2 and
2' are cut to size, retaining elements are pulled onto them, and
then the retaining elements are welded or soldered to the pins 2
and 2'. In such a way, node elements 1 and 1' are formed, where the
latticework 12 and the retaining elements surround the wire section
parts adjoining the pins 2 and 2'. After these steps, the mesh
jewel depicted in FIG. 15 is obtained.
[0056] Deviating from the above-described methods, the mesh jewel
may also be manufactured by employing a casting method known per
se. For example it is possible to produce the rigid jewel body 11
with the fixing pins 2' and the latticework 12 with the pins 2
integrally by casting. To this end, of course it is necessary to
form a master pattern in a way described above, to produce the
mould in a manner known per se. The workpiece produced by casting
can then be subjected to a deburring and/or polishing method known
per se, followed by the forming of the mesh on it, and the closing
of the ends of the pins 2 and 2'. In the given case, the total mesh
jewel, i.e. the rigid jewel body 11 with the fixing pins 2', the
latticework 12 with the pins 2 and the mesh and the closings can be
produced integrally by casting.
[0057] If this is required by the desired aesthetic effect, some of
the openings of the latticework 12 can be covered by embossed or
flat plates. The plates can be fixed by soldering or welding on the
latticework 12, but they can also be produced by the above casting
method. The openings can for example be covered in a chessboard
pattern.
[0058] In the depicted preferred embodiment, the latticework 12
follows a pattern consisting of equilateral triangles, but it can
also be designed in a square, hexagonal or random pattern.
[0059] FIG. 16 shows a partial sectional front view of the mesh
jewel made by the method shown in FIGS. 12 to 15. The nodes of the
latticework of the mesh jewel are formed with node elements 1
arranged along the spherical surface as described above, which node
elements 1 comprise the pin 2-- arranged crosswise to the spherical
surface--and the retaining element arranged on the outer end of the
pin 2. In the depicted embodiment, the retaining elements have a
ball shape fitted with a bore and they are pulled onto the ends of
the pins, where they are fixed by welding or soldering. These
retaining elements prevent the wire section parts adjoining the
pins of the node elements 1 in displacing in the direction of the
axis of pins two, thereby allowing the creation of a rigid mesh.
The latticework 12 serves as a firm support for the node elements
1, thereby increasing the rigidity of the mesh jewel.
[0060] The fixing node elements 1' comprise retaining elements
arranged at an outer end of the fixing pins 2', which retaining
elements are, designed in the embodiment depicted as balls fitted
with a bore. These retaining elements prevent the wire section
parts passing by the fixing pins 2' in coming off the fixing pins
2'. It is not necessary to fit the fixing pins 2' in bores, but
they may also be welded or soldered to the wall of the jewel body
11.
[0061] As already described above, the wire section 4 is arranged
on the pins 2 of the node elements 1 arranged along the surface of
the latticework 12 and on the pins 2' in a way that it is in
contact without changing direction or is bent on the pins 2 and 2',
repeatedly returns from different directions to and surrounds each
pin 2 and 2'. The wire section parts in contact with pins 2 and 2'
may be fixed by laser spot welding or soldering to the node
elements 1 and 1'.
[0062] In FIGS. 17 and 18, the steps of manufacturing a node
element 1 as per FIG. 16 can be seen. For forming the node element
1, first the cylindrical pin 2 is fixed by welding or soldering to
the latticework 12. After arranging the wire sections 4 according
to the description above, the protruding part of the pin 2 is cut
to size and the free end of the pin 2 is closed by a ball shaped
retaining element 13. In the ball shaped retaining element 13a bore
is formed, which is pulled onto the free end of the pin 2, and then
the retaining element 13 is fixed by welding or soldering.
[0063] The node element 1 shown in FIG. 19 is closed by a soldered
closing 9. When creating the closing 9, the solder runs into and
between the wire section parts bent around the pin 2, and secures
the wire section parts to the pin 2 and to the latticework 12. The
melt generated in the course of soldering is then removed. Instead
of the soldered closing 9, of course, a different joint may also be
applied, for example a welded or bonded joint.
[0064] In the case of another preferred embodiment shown in FIGS.
20 and 21, the free end of the pin 2 is closed with a retaining
element 6 formed as a setting, wherein the latticework 12 and the
setting surround the wire section parts adjoining the pin 2. The
setting preferably receives a gem 7. The setting, which further
improves the aesthetic appearance of the mesh jewel, is also fixed
by welding or soldering to the pin 2.
[0065] The mesh jewel according to the invention is not limited to
the embodiments described above, but may also be formed in a
different way. It is possible for example to create a mesh jewel
without a rigid jewel body, when the mesh preferably forms a closed
body, for example a globe or a spatial heart shape. In the course
of manufacturing this embodiment, the pins fitted with retaining
elements are fixed to the surface of the shaping piece, the mesh is
formed on the surface of the shaping piece, the free ends of the
pins are closed and then the shaping piece is removed. In another
embodiment, a latticework is formed on the surface of the shaping
piece, pins are fixed to the lattice knots of the latticework, the
shaping piece is removed, the at least one wire section is arranged
as described above, and the free ends of the pins are closed. The
casting step described above can be applied of course in the case
of these embodiments as well. These embodiments are advantageous if
the mesh jewel can be designed in a sufficiently rigid manner so
that it does not suffer permanent deformation in the course of
prolonged use, and if the mesh jewel is not subjected to any
special mechanical load while being worn. Such a mesh jewel can be
for example an ear-ring, a pendant etc.
[0066] At the ends of the pins, the retaining elements may not only
be designed as a flange, ball or setting. For example the end of
the pin can be melted, thereby forming a melt sphere at the end,
and then the melt sphere is cooled. The retaining element so
designed can sufficiently prevent the displacement of the wire
section parts passing by the pin in the axial direction of the
pin.
[0067] The mesh, the nodes and in the given case the jewel body may
be made of the same precious metal, but if a varied colour effect
is to be accomplished, different precious metals can be applied for
each element. For example, a platinum wire can be soldered with
pure gold. The material of the mesh jewel can be for example
silver, white gold, green gold, red gold, pure gold, platinum,
titanium or stainless steel.
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