Wire bending jig for jewelry manufacture

• US 5,878,788 A
• Filed: 05/06/1998
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corrine Frances Gurry
• Original Assignee: Corrine Frances Gurry
• Inventors: Gurry, Corrine Frances
• Primary Examiner(s): Larson, Lowell A.
• Application Number:
  US09/073,803
• Time in Patent Office: 307 Days
• Field of Search: 248/220.31, 248/220.43, 29/896.4, 29/896.41, 72/457, 72/460, 140/71 R, 140/92.1, 140/102.5, 140/106, 140/123
• US Class Current: 140/92.1
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 1/002 by means of manually operated devices, e.g. pliers
• CPC Class Codes: B21F 45/00 Wire-working in the manufacture of other particular articles of pins, needles, nails, hairpins B21G; of chains B21L ; for semiconductor devices H01L24/42
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49588 Jewelry or locket making

Abstract

A wire bending jig adapted for jewelry manufacture having one or more arrays of holes for receiving bending pins. The jig has means to hold the tare end of the wire stock, freeing the hands for the work of bending wire. The bending jig may be held in one hand, mounted to a work table, or mounted in tandem on a base for complex tool construction.

Claims

1. A tool kit for bending wire into shaped articles comprising:

a. a base block having an upper and lower surface and;

b. a mandrel for bending wire consisting of a plurality of pins having an essentially cylindrical shape and;

c. a plurality of cylindrical holes for receiving said pins, wherein said holes traverse through said block between said upper and lower surfaces, each hole having a first portion and a second portion in essentially co-axial alignment and;

d. said first portion of said cylindrical holes having a diameter larger than the diameter of said cylindrical pins, and said second portion having a diameter approximately 0.032 less than the diameter of said cylindrical pins, wherein said first and second portions cooperate to form a shelf at the conjunction of said portions and;

e. said conjunction of said first and second portions of the cylindrical holes being proximal to lower block surface and;

f. wherein a plurality of said pins is inserted into said cylindrical pin receiving holes in a pattern of pins determined by the by the characteristic shape of the article.

2. Said shelf of claim 1 having a conical shape with an included angle of between 170 degrees and 90 degrees.

3. Said block of claim 1 having a mounting means for attaching said block to a handle;

said mounting means being at least one hole extending through the upper and lower surfaces of said block;

whereby an attachment means is passed through said mounting means thus attaching said block to said handle.

4. Said plurality of cylindrical pin receiving holes of claim 1 being arranged in an essentially rectangular array having a longer side and a shorter side and having at least 5 holes across the shorter side.

5. The tool kit of claim 1 further comprising:

said plurality of cylindrical pins of claim 1 having a first set of pins and a second set of pins, the sets having different diameters and;

said plurality of cylindrical pin receiving holes of claim 1 being a first array of holes for receiving pins from said first set of pins, and a second array of holes for receiving pins from said second set of pins and;

said first array of holes being arranged in an essentially rectangular array having a longer side and a shorter side and having at least 5 holes across the shorted side and;

said second array of holes being arranged in an essentially rectangular array having a longer side and a shorter side and having at least 5 holes across the shorter side and;

said second array offset from said first array wherein the holes said second array are interspersed between the holes of said first array.

6. The holes of the second array of claim 5 extending from the upper surface to approximately the lower surface of said base block.

7. The tool kit of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one means for enlarging the diameter of the said mandrel, wherein said means for enlarging the diameter is a bushing having an inner bore essentially the diameter of the mandrel and an outer coaxial cylindrical surface.

8. The tool kit of claim 1 further comprising:

at least one means for enlarging the diameter of the said mandrel, wherein the mandrel pin of claim one having at least two portions having different diameters, wherein one portion is adapted for insertion into said pin receiving holes and a mandrel portion for forming wire.

9. Apparatus for forming shaped-wire jewelry articles comprising:

a base, said base defining a first and second groups of holes extending at least part way therethrough, the holes of the first group each having a first diameter, the holes of the second group each having a second diameter less than the first diameter;

plural first pegs, said first pegs each having a diameter sized to be removably and matingly received within the holes of the first group;

plural second pegs, said second pegs each having a diameter sized to be removably and matingly received within the holes of the second group;

the first group of holes comprising plural uniformly-spaced rows of holes;

the second group of holes comprising plural uniformly-spaced rows of holes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein holes in the second group of holes are in staggered relationship with holes in the first group of holes, and wherein:

a hole in the first group is centrally located between, and equidistant from, four holes in the second group; and

a hole in the second group is centrally located between, and equidistant from, four holes in the first group.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 in which holes in at least certain of said first and second groups of holes do not extend through the base with constant diameter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in which holes in at least certain of said first and second groups of holes extend though the base, but have a smaller diameter at a bottom of the base than at a top thereof.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which holes in at least certain of said first and second groups of holes have a stepped change in diameter between the top and bottom of the base, rather than a gradual taper therebetween, said stepped change including a bevel, the bevel facilitating passage of a wire therethrough.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 in which the pegs are of uniform diameter along their length.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 in which the base comprises an elongated block of metal having mounting holes centrally formed in opposite ends thereof, said mounting holes having a diameter larger thin the second diameter.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the mounting holes are chamfered, but the holes of the first and second groups are not.

17. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a length of wire sized to fit between pegs positioned in the holes in the base, and to be shaped therearound.

18. Apparatus for forming shaped-wire jewelry articles comprising:

a base, said base defining plural holes extending therethrough, said holes being arrayed in uniformly-spaced rows, at least certain of said holes each having a stepped diameter therealong, with a first diameter along a first portion extending between a top side of the base and an intermediate transition region, and a second, smaller diameter along a second portion extending between said intermediate transition region and a bottom side of the base; and

plural pegs, said pegs each having a diameter sized to be removably and matingly received within the first portions of said holes.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said certain holes each defines a bevel at the transition region, to facilitate passing a wire therethrough to anchor the wire to the base.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a length of wire sized to fit between pegs positioned in the holes in the base, and to be shaped therearound.