Engraved gemstone viewer

• US 20090180100A1
• Filed: 12/23/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gemex Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gemex Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Schoeckert, Kurt, Wagner, Randall M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,035,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/30
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/87 Investigating jewels G01N21/88 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/389 Precious stones; Pearls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/005 with means for adjusting the magnifying glass or the object viewed G02B25/004 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/02 with means for illuminating object viewed

Abstract

The present invention is an engraved gemstone viewer for viewing a smooth surface of a gemstone that has been micro or nano etched, engraved or embossed with an inscription such as an identification number. The gemstone is mounted on a piece of jewelry or can remain unmounted when received by the viewer. A source of light directs a light beam toward a magnifying lens coated with a reflection enhancing coating. The lens reflects the light beam along a path incident to the surface of the gemstone containing the inscription. The smooth gemstone surface specularly reflects the light beam along a path back toward the magnifying lens, which produces a viewable light image that reveals the inscription. The inscription is shown as a combination of darkened or lightened areas, lines and characters given the reduction or absence of light reflected, or highlighted by the reflection of light.

Claims

1. An engraved gemstone viewer for viewing a gemstone with a smooth surface to visibly reveal a mark or inscription, such as an image or an identification number, engraved, embossed or etched into the otherwise smooth surface, the inscription being visible to the naked eye or of such a small size as to be invisible to a naked eye, said engraved gemstone viewer comprising:

a housing forming a gemstone portal, a lens holder forming a viewing portal and frame structure that spaces said portals apart;

a magnifying lens held by said lens holder and having a focal point, said lens holder and magnifying lens being oriented to allow viewing of the smooth surface of the gemstone when the gemstone is cooperatively received proximal said gemstone portal;

a light source emitting a light directed to travel along an incident path toward the smooth surface of the gemstone, said light specularly reflecting off the smooth surface to produce specularly reflected light, said incident path and the smooth surface of the gemstone being positioned and oriented to direct said specularly reflected light to travel along a specularly reflected path through said magnifying lens and to said focal point, and a portion of said light traveling along said incident path diffusely reflecting off the inscription and traveling away from said specularly reflected path; and

,

wherein said specularly reflected light produces a light image that reveals the inscription as a reduction of light in the image, said image and inscription being viewable at said focal point of said magnifying lens.

2. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 1, and wherein said gemstone portal is fitted with a glass plate, and the gemstone is cooperatively received by pressing the smooth surface of the gemstone against said glass plate.

3. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 2, and wherein said light source is secured to said housing, said light being directed to travel along an emitted path toward said lens, said lens surface being positioned and oriented to reflect said light to travel along said incident path toward the gemstone.

4. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 3, and wherein said lens has a surface with a reflective coating, said light reflecting off said reflective coating.

5. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 2, and wherein said frame structure is an open frame structure and said housing is adapted to reduce ambient outside light from striking the smooth surface of the gemstone when the gemstone is cooperatively received by said gemstone portal.

6. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 5, and wherein said light produced by said light source is a beam of light.

7. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 6, and wherein said light source is one LED light and said beam of light is a substantially unidirectional beam of light.

8. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 2, and wherein said light source includes multiple lights.

9. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 2, and wherein the smooth surface of the gemstone containing the inscription is flat.

10. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 1, and wherein the inscription is an identification number or image.

11. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 3, and wherein said open frame structure is an elongated armature having opposed ends and a desired length for aiding in focusing said viewer, one of said ends of said armature being joined to said housing and said other end of said armature being joined to said lens holder.

12. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 11, and wherein said armature is pivotally joined to said housing and said lens holder, and wherein said engraved gemstone viewer is collapsible from an open working position to a closed storage position.

13. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 1, and wherein the gemstone is opaque.

14. An engraved gemstone viewer for viewing a gemstone with a roughened surface to visibly reveal a mark or inscription, such as an image or an identification number, engraved, embossed or etched into the otherwise roughened surface, the inscription forming a smooth surface and being visible to the naked eye or of such a small size as to be invisible to a naked eye, said engraved gemstone viewer comprising:

a housing forming a gemstone portal, a lens holder forming a viewing portal and frame structure that spaces said portals apart;

a magnifying lens held by said lens holder and having a focal point, said lens holder and magnifying lens being oriented to allow viewing of the roughened surface of the gemstone containing the smooth surface of the inscription when the gemstone is cooperatively received proximal said gemstone portal;

a light source emitting a light directed to travel along an incident path toward the smooth inscription surface of the gemstone, said light specularly reflecting off the smooth inscription surface to produce specularly reflected light, said incident path and the smooth inscription surface of the gemstone being positioned and oriented to direct said specularly reflected light to travel along a specularly reflected path through said magnifying lens and to said focal point, and a portion of said light traveling along said incident path diffusely reflecting off the roughened surface of the gemstone and traveling away from said specularly reflected path; and

,

wherein said specularly reflected light produces a light image that reveals the inscription as an increase in light in the image, said image and inscription being viewable at said focal point of said magnifying lens.

15. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 14, and wherein said gemstone portal is fitted with a glass plate, and the gemstone is cooperatively received by pressing the smooth inscription surface of the gemstone against said glass plate.

16. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 15, and wherein said light source is secured to said housing, said light being directed to travel along an emitted path toward said lens, said lens surface being positioned and oriented to reflect said light to travel along said incident path toward the gemstone.

17. The engraved gemstone viewer of claim 16, and wherein said lens has a surface with a reflective coating, said light reflecting off said reflective coating.