JEWELRY DESIGN FOR LOCKET AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
A method for producing a pivotal frame assembly for a jewelry locket is provided. The method comprises the steps of stamping out a first frame element from a sheet of metal, including forming the first frame element with an extending lip, and then also stamping out a second frame element from a sheet of metal. Then, a pin is positioned along the lip, and the lip is wrapped about the pin in order to form a tubular element that is rotatable about the pin. Finally, the pin itself is attached to the second frame element, so that the first frame element is pivotally connected to the second frame element.
This application claims priority benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/790,435, filed Apr. 6, 2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis application is directed to a locket assembly produced by a stamping technique in which less metal, such as gold, may be used without compromising function, stability and strength.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA method for producing a pivotal frame assembly for a jewelry locket is provided. The method comprises the steps of stamping out a first frame element from a sheet of metal, including forming the first frame element with an extending portion, and also stamping out a second frame element from a sheet of metal. Then, a pin is positioned along the extending portion, and the extending portion is wrapped about the pin in order to form a tubular element that is rotatable about the pin. Finally, the pin itself is attached to the second frame element such that the first frame element is pivotally connected to the second frame element.
As a consequence of the inventive method, the frame elements of the locket can be made thinner, thus utilizing less metal and thereby reducing overall costs. Nonetheless, the pivoting pin is made with a thickness that is greater than the frame elements so that the hinge unit for the locket is of a sufficient size and thickness to provide both pivoting support as well as support of the two frame elements.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a jewelry locket produced by a stamping technique in which less metal may be used.
Another object of the invention is to produce a jewelry locket in which the two pivoting frame elements have a reduced thickness.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a jewelry locket in which the hinge unit, including a pivoting pen, is greater in thickness than that of the frame elements.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be apparent from the following description.
Upper support frame 17 includes an attached outwardly directed tube element 21 designed for receiving a pivoting pin 23 therethrough and an oppositely located downwardly directed latch element 25 designed for hingedly engaging an aligned cutout 27 formed in lower support frame 19 (see also
Lower frame 19, of substantially the same general size and shape of upper frame 17, is also substantially rounded in configuration and is designed to be received within the inside of base element 15 by means of a force fit, soldering, adhering or other technique for permanent attachment therewith.
Lower support frame 19 is further formed with outwardly directed fingers 29 (
Significantly, in manufacture, both upper and lower frames 17 and 19 are formed by stamping out the frame elements from a selected metal. Specifically, frame 17 is formed from a stamped metal sheet 41 (see
Thus, hinge unit 18 of assembly 11 is formed by using second extending portion 47 of metal sheet 41 within which pin 23 is disposed along thereto, after which extending portion 47 is rolled around pin 23 in order to form tube element 21. On the other hand, latch element 25 is formed by downwardly bending first extending portion 45 of sheet 41. As a result, the metal sheet 41 from which upper support frame 17 is formed can be made extremely thin without compromising the overall size or thickness of tube 21 and inserted pin 23. In other words, hinge unit 18 may be of a sufficient size/thickness to provide adequate pivoting support, yet support frame 17 as well as support frame 19 can be made extremely thin.
Also, significantly, pivoting pin 23 is of a thickness greater than that of either frame elements 17 and 19 so that hinge unit 18 is of a sufficient size and thickness to provide both pivoting support, as well as support for the frame elements.
By making frames 17 and 19 thinner, less metal is ultimately used, reducing overall cost.
After hinge unit 18 is formed, the ends of pin 23 are then soldered to the openings 32 formed in finger protrusions 30 of lower frame 19 (see
In an alternative version, the pivoting pin may be integrally formed as part of lower frame 19 (by a single stamping process). In a preferred form, the integrally formed pivoting pin is formed from an extending element to frame 19, which is wrapped or folded over to define the pin. In manufacture, the extending sheet of the stamped out upper element can then be wrapped around the now formed pivoting pin to define the tube element as before.
Under the inventive system, the stamped out frame can have a reduced thickness down to 0.2 mm, while still retaining construction integrity of the tube element, because when wrapped around the pivoting pin, either the pin itself, or at least the tube element that wraps around and contains the pin will have an overall thickness of at least 0.5 mm.
In general, the concept of the inventive system is to reduce the thickness of the two frame elements (upper and lower), while maintaining a sufficient thickness in the hinge unit. In particular, and in its most preferred form, the concept is to have the pivoting pin be dimensioned with the diameter that is greater than the thickness of the frame elements (for providing adequate pivoting support) yet reducing the overall use of metal.
The scope of the invention is now defined in the following claims:
Claims
1. A method for producing a pivotal frame assembly for a jewelry locket, the method comprising:
- stamping out a first frame element from a sheet of metal, said first frame element including a first extending portion;
- stamping out a second frame element from a sheet of metal;
- positioning a pin along said first extending portion;
- wrapping said first extending portion about said pin in order to form a tube received with and rotatable about said pin;
- attaching said pin at its ends to said second frame element in order to form a hinge unit defined by said rotatable tube and said received pin such that said first frame element is pivotal relative to said second frame element.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said metals of said frame element are the same.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said frames are substantially rounded in configuration.
4. The method of claim 1, further including stamping out said first frame element to include a second extending portion located substantially opposite said first extending portion along said frame element.
5. The method of claim 4, further including bending said second extending portion relative to said first frame element in order to form a latch element.
6. The method of claim 5, further including forming said second frame element with a latch engaging element designed to be aligned with the latch element of said first frame element for selectively engaging said first frame element to said second frame element.
7. The method of claim 1, further including forming said second frame element with a pair of fingers to which the ends of said pin are attached.
8. The method of claim 7, further including forming each said finger with a socket in which an end of said pin is fixedly received.
9. The method of claim 1, further including forming said pin with a thickness greater than that of either of said frame elements.
10. The method of claim 7, further including attaching said pin ends to said fingers by soldering.
11. The method of claim 1, further including forming each said frame element with a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm and said tube with a thickness of at least 0.5 mm.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said second frame element stamping step includes forming an extending portion to said second frame element, and wherein the method further includes the step of rolling said second frame element extending portion in order to form said pin.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 27, 2007
Inventor: Michael Talmor (Or Yehuda)
Application Number: 11/689,262