JEWELED ARTICLE AND METHOD FOR MAKING JEWELED ARTICLE

Abstract

A process for making a jeweled article of manufacture comprising providing a void and placing a jeweled decoration in the void. The jeweled decoration includes a housing having serrations and an upper lip, wherein the upper lip secured the jewel to the housing, and the serrations secure the housing within the void in the article. In an alternative embodiment, a bottom ring is placed at a bottom end of the jewel and is secured to the inner surface of the housing so that the jewel is secured within the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application relates to the same subject matter as co-pending provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/876,467, filed by the same applicant on Sep. 11, 2013. This application claims the Sep. 11, 2013 filing date as to the common subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a jeweled article and method for making a jeweled article. It applies particularly to the use of a jewel housing having serrations placed in a relief of an article, and will be described with particular reference thereto.

2. Background of Invention

Many ornaments and other articles are decorated with jewel inserts. These inserts allow for attractive designs on the articles, such as flatware. The process of the present invention allows for the use of a jewel inserted in a housing which is in turn inserted in an article which allows the jewel to become securely attached to the article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the invention, a decorated article and a method for decorating an article are provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the housing.

FIG. 4a is a bottom view of the housing.

FIG. 4b is a cross section view of the housing.

FIG. 4c is a detail view of a lip of the housing.

FIG. 4d is a detail view of a serration on the outer surface of the housing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an article embodying the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a jeweled article and a method of making a jeweled article is provided.

The process for making a jeweled article of manufacture includes the step of creating a void in an article. The article may be metal or similar material, so that a void of precise dimensions may be created. For example, the void in a metal article may be created by a laser engraver. The laser engraving is to be performed on a top surface of the article. The depth of the relief of the void is appropriate to contain the housing, but may have a diameter of approximately between 2.5 and 8 mm.

After the void is created, a jeweled decoration 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed. The jeweled decoration 10 comprises a housing 12 and a jewel 14. The housing 12 is illustrated in FIG. 1-4. The jewel 14 may be glass, stone, ceramic, crystal or some other equivalent material known in the art. The housing 12 may be made of stainless steel or another equivalent material. The housing 12 includes a top portion 16 having an inner lip 18. The lip 18 has a shape that prevents the jewel 14 from being removed from the housing 12 after the housing has been inserted in the jeweled article. For example, the inner lip 18 may have a circumference that is smaller than the circumference of a top portion of the jewel 14.

On an outer surface 20 of the housing are one or more serrations 22, as shown in FIG. 4d. As shown, the serration faces outward from the outer surface of the housing. The serration is shown to be about the middle of the outer surface of the housing. However, it may be located at any point on the outer surface of the housing which would allow the housing to be secured to the article. The serration may be about a 70 degree angle having a top surface 24 that is approximately perpendicular to the outer surface 20 of the housing. The serration may be a single point or may comprise several points which may be evenly or unevenly distributed around the outer surface of the housing. As shown, the housing 12 may be round; however the housing 12 may also be of any shape complementary to the void created in the article.

In addition, a bottom element 26 may be provided, to secure the jewel 14 within the housing 12. The bottom element 26 may be a ring to allow more light into the jewel of the jeweled article. The bottom element may be made of stainless steel or an equivalent material. In one embodiment, a bottom ring 26 has an outer circumference that is slightly less than the inner circumference of the housing 12. The bottom element 26 may secure the jewel 14 through frictional resistance with the inner surface of the housing. Alternatively, glue or another fastening material may be used.

The method of creating the jeweled decoration of the invention is as follows. A jewel 14 is placed within the housing 12. The housing 12 is placed in a complementary void in an article to be decorated. Placement is made by pressing the housing 12 into the void. The pressure may be applied by hand or machine. One or more serrations 22 on the outer surface 20 of the housing 12 contact the wall of the void such that as the housing 12 is secured within the void.

The inner lip 18 of the housing 12 secures the jewel within the housing within the void in the article. In an alternative embodiment, before the housing is placed within the void, a bottom element is placed so that is secures the jewel within the housing. The bottom element may be a ring to allow more light into the jewel of the jeweled decoration.

The article created by the method taught is highly decorative and provides a novel way to decorate an article with a jewel that is attractive and securely embeds the jewel within the article.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A process for making a jeweled decoration for an article:

(a) creating a void having a wall in an article;

(b) composing a jeweled decoration comprising: a housing, and a jewel within the housing, wherein the housing comprises an inner lip at a top portion, and an outer surface having at least one serration wherein the inner lip forms a space having a smaller circumference than the circumference of the jewel; and

(c) placing the housing into the void,

whereby the at least one serration makes frictional contact with the wall of the void.

2. The process of claim 1, further including the step of providing a bottom element at a bottom portion of the housing before the step of placing the housing into the void, wherein the jewel is secured between the bottom element and the housing.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the bottom element is a bottom ring.

4. The process of claim 2, wherein the bottom ring is frictionally held against the housing.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the serration has an angle of approximately 70 degrees.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the void has a diameter of approximately between 2.5 and 8 mm.

7. A jeweled article of manufacture, comprising:

an article comprising a void with a wall, and

a jeweled decoration, comprising a housing, and a jewel located within the housing, wherein the housing comprises an inner lip at a top portion, and an outer surface having at least one serration wherein the inner lip forms a space having a smaller circumference than the circumference of the jewel; wherein the jewel is located within the housing, and wherein the housing is located within the void,

wherein the at least one serration is in frictional contact with the wall of the void.

8. The jeweled article of claim 7, further comprising a bottom element located at a bottom portion of the housing, wherein the jewel is secured between the bottom element and the housing.

9. The jeweled article of claim 8, wherein the bottom element is a bottom ring.

10. The jeweled article of claim 9, wherein the serration has an angle of approximately 70 degrees.

11. The jeweled article of claim 10, wherein the void has a diameter of approximately between 2.5 and 8 mm.