Hollow diamond cut rope chain with multi-faceted surfaces

• US 5,581,993 A
• Filed: 07/31/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aurafin LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: OroAmerica, Inc. (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strobel, Kalman
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAVID B
• Application Number:
  US08/509,707
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 59/80, 59/3, 59/82, 59/78, 59/35.1, 59/30
• US Class Current: 59/35.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 11/00 Watch chains; Ornamental chains fastening devices for watch or ornamental chains A44C5/18
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/44 fancy goods, e.g. jewellery products
• CPC Class Codes: B21L 11/005 Making ornamental chains B21L11/02 - B21L11/14 take precedence; ornamental chains A44C
• CPC Class Codes: B21L 15/00 Finishing or dressing chains or chain links, e.g. removing burr material, calibrating B21L9/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B21L 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass

Abstract

By means of having taken advantage of certain physical properties of solids with a manufacturing process of incrementally deforming hollow links, there is produced new hollow simulated diamond cut multifaceted jewelry rope chain, which results in a product weighing up to 60% less than its solid counterpart, but which in its aesthetic looks is similar to solid diamond cut jewelry chains, and furthermore, with a hardness greater than the same hollow chain that has not gone through the process. This invention presents a new diamond cut chain, which costs a fraction of the price of a solid chain aesthetically similar, and in which the chain may vary in cross-section, such as forming a square or a hexagon.

Claims

1. The process of manufacturing a hollow diamond cut rope chain comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of hollow segmented links, said links having an annular configuration interrupted by an inner gap along an inner circumference of said annular links, said links having a curved outer wall portion spaced apart from said inner circumferential gap, said outer wall portion having a center opposite said inner gap and said links having opposite said curved outer wall portion two inner wall portions separated from each other by said inner gap along said inner circumference of said annular links,

applying said links in a rope chain configuration;

retaining said chain along a given path; and

advancing a blunt burnishing tool against said links of said chain go apply a plurality of incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links until said wall against which said deformative force is being applied is pushed back toward said opposite inner wall portions of said hollow link said outer wall portions being flattened by said application of said incremental blunt force to form a first flattened facet;

further advancing said blunt burnishing tool so that it is applied to an area adjacent to said first flattened facet until said outer wall portion is flattened to form a second flattened facet as aforesaid; and

continuing said advancement of said chain until a final further flattened facet is formed adjacent to said first and second flattened portions.

2. The process as in claim 1, wherein said advancing of said blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links is selectively administered, such that portions of said outer wall portions are flattened during said selective administration of said advancing blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links.

3. The process as in claim 1, wherein said blunt force is applied against said outer wall portions of said links, against a void within said links until a portion of said outer wall is depressed inward and adjacent to said opposite inner wall portions of said links.

4. The process as in claim 1, wherein the force is applied obliquely off centers against said links, off of the center of said curved outer wall portion of said links.

5. The process as in claim 1, further comprising imparting one or more adjacent flat reflective surface facets upon said outer wall portions of said links, including the steps of applying in multiple successive passages incremental blunt force in both inward and longitudinal directions with respect to said hollow links against selected portions of said outer wall portions of said links, deforming said outer wall portions inward until said outer wall portions are adjacent to said inner wall portions, and reciprocably flattening said inner wall portions inward toward said outer wall portions.

6. The process as in claim 1, wherein said tool is advanced longitudinally and inwardly, with respect to said rotating holding means against said curved outer surface of said links.

7. The process as in claim 1 wherein said outer wall portion is flattened by said application of said incremental deformative thrusts for a distance exceeding the wall thickness of said outer wall portion.

8. The process as in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of incremental deformative thrusts pushes back the curved outer wall portions of said hollow links for a distance of approximately 0.002 inches toward said opposite inner wall portions of said hollow links and said outer wall portions of said hollow links have a thickness of from 0.002-0.008 inches.

16. The process as in claim 6 wherein said one or more incremental deformative thrusts pushes back said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links for a distance of approximately 0.002 inches toward an opposite inner wall portions of said hollow links and said outer wall portions of said hollow links have a thickness of from 0.002-0.008 inches.

9. The process of manufacturing a hollow diamond cut rope chain, comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of hollow segmented seamless links, said links having an annular configuration;

applying said seamless segmented links in a rope chain configuration;

retaining said chain along a given path;

applying a blunt burnishing tool against said links to apply a one or more incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force against an outer wall portion of said seamless links until said outer wall portion against which said blunt force is applied is pushed back toward an opposite inner wall portion of said seamless links, said outer wall portion being flattened by said application of blunt incremental force to form a first flattened facet;

further advancing said blunt burnishing tool so that it is applied to an area adjacent to said first flattened facet until said outer wall portion is flattened to form a second flattened facet as aforesaid; and

continuing said advancement of said chain until a final further flattened facet is formed adjacent to said first and second flattened portion.

10. The process as in claim 9, wherein said blunt force is applied obliquely off center against said seamless links, off a center of said curved outer wall portion of said links.

11. The process as in claim 9, wherein said tool is advanced longitudinally and inwardly, with respect to said lathe drum, against said curved outer surface of said links.

12. The process as in claim 9, wherein said advancing of said blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links is selectively administered, such that portions of said outer wall portions are flattened during said selective administration of said advancing blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links.

13. The process as in claim 9, wherein said blunt force is applied against said outer wall portions of said links, against a void within said links until a portion of said outer wall is depressed inward and adjacent to said opposite inner wall portions of said links.

14. The process as in claim 9, further comprising imparting one or more adjacent flat reflective surface facets upon said outer wall portions of said links, including the steps of applying in multiple successive passages incremental blunt force, in both inward and longitudinal directions with respect to said hollow links, against selected portions of said outer wall portions of said links, deforming said outer wall portions inward until said outer wall portions are adjacent to said inner wall portions, and reciprocably flattening said inner wall portion inward toward said outer wall portions.

15. The process as in claim 9 wherein said outer wall portion is flattened by said application of said incremental deformative thrusts for a distance exceeding the wall thickness of said outer wall portion.

17. The process of manufacturing a hollow diamond cut rope chain comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of hollow segmented links, said links having, an annular configuration interrupted by an inner gap along an inner circumference of said annular links, said links having a curved outer wall portion spaced apart from said inner circumferential gap, said outer wall portion having a center opposite said inner gap and said links having opposite said curved outer wall portion two inner wall portions separated from each other by said inner gap along said inner circumference of said annular link;

applying said links in a rope chain circumference;

retaining said chain along a given path;

advancing a blunt deformation tool against said links to apply a plurality of incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links until said wall against which said deformative force is being applied is pushed back toward said opposite inner wall portions of said hollow link, said outer wall portion being flattened by said application of said incremental blunt force, wherein said incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force comprises incrementally and alternately striking and retreating from said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links, and where said blunt burnishing tool is a hammer.

18. The process as in claim 17, wherein said advancing of said blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links is selectively administered, such that portions of said outer wall portions are flattened during said selective administration of said advancing blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links, wherein said selective administration of said advancing of said blunt burnishing tool comprises selectively striking and retreating from said curved outer wall portions of said links, and wherein said blunt burnishing tool is a hammer.

19. The process as in claim 17, wherein said blunt force is selectively and alternately applied against said frozed outer wall portions of said links, against a void within said links until a portion of said outer wall is depressed inward and adjacent to said opposite inner wall portions of said links.

20. The process as in claim 17, wherein the force is incrementally, selectively and alternatively applied obliquely off center against said links, off of the center of said curved outer wall portion of said links.

21. The process as in claim 17, further comprising imparting one or more flat reflective surface facets upon said outer wall portions of said links is, including the steps of applying in multiple successive passages selective and alternate incremental blunt force against said hollow links, in both inward and longitudinal directions with respect to said hollow links against selected portions of said outer wall portion of said links, deforming by bluntly striking said outer wall portions inward until said outer wall portions are adjacent to said inner wall portions, and reciprocably flattening said inner wall portions inward toward said outer wall portions.

22. The process as in claim 17, further comprising shearing off irregular exterior surface portions of said links.

23. The process as in claim 17, wherein said tool is advanced longitudinally and inwardly, with respect to said rotating holding means against said curved outer surface of said links.

24. The process as in claim 17, wherein said hammering comprises applying a blunt force with a hammering tool activated by a power source with an alternating stroke, and wherein said hammering tool moves perpendicular to said chain while said rotating holding means is rotating said chain.

25. The process as in claim 17 wherein said outer wall portion is flattened by said application of said incremental deformative thrusts for a distance exceeding the wall thickness of said outer wall portion.

26. The process as in claim 17 wherein said one or more incremental deformative thrusts pushes back said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links for a distance of approximately 0.002 inches toward an opposite inner wall portions of said hollow links and said outer wall portions of said hollow links have a thickness of from 0.002-0.008 inches.

27. The process of manufacturing a hollow diamond cut rope chain, comprising the steps of:

preparing a plurality of hollow segmented seamless links, said links having an annular configuration;

applying said seamless segmented links in a rope chain configuration;

retaining said chain along a given path;

applying a blunt deformation tool against said links to apply a one or more incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force against an outer wall portion of said seamless links until said outer wall portion against which said blunt force is applied is pushed back toward an opposite inner wall portion of said seamless links, said outer wall portion being plattened by said application of blunt incremental force, wherein said incremental deformative thrusts of blunt force comprises incrementally and alternately striking and retreating from said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links, and wherein said blunt burnishing tool is a hammer.

28. The process as in claim 27, wherein said tool is advanced longitudinally and inwardly, with respect to said lathe drum, against said curved, outer surface of said links.

29. The process as in claim 27, wherein said advancing of said blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links is selectively administered, such that portions of said outer wall portions are flattened during said selective administration of said advancing blunt burnishing tool against said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links.

30. The process as in claim 27, wherein said blunt force is selectively and alternately applied against said outer wall portions of said links, against a void within said links until a portion of said outer wall is depressed inward and adjacent to said opposite inner wall portions of said links.

31. The process as in claim 27, further comprising imparting one or more flat reflective surface facets upon said outer wall portions of said links, including the steps of applying in multiple successive passage selective and alternate incremental blunt force, against said hollow links, in both inward and longitudinal directions with respect to said hollow links, against selected portions of said outer wall portions of said links, deforming by bluntly striking said outer wall portions inward until said outer wall portions are adjacent to said inner wall portions, and reciprocably flattening said inner wall portion inward toward said outer wall portions.

32. The process as in claim 27 wherein said outer wall portion is flattened by said application of said incremental deformative thrusts for a distance exceeding the wall thickness of said outer wall portion.

33. The process as in claim 27 wherein said one or more incremental deformative thrusts pushes back said curved outer wall portions of said hollow links for a distance of approximately 0.002 inches toward an opposite inner wall portions of said hollow links and said outer wall portions of said hollow links have a thickness of from 0.002-0.008 inches.