METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MULTI-LAYER ROTATABLE JEWELRY RING
A method for creating a jewelry ring made of multiple stacked rings that are counter-rotatable with respect to each other. Using precise CNC machining, two ring blanks are formed to have complimentary shaped bearing ends that interlock with each other to prevent axial dislocation, but also provide complimentary bearings so that the rings are counter-rotatable to each other. These ring blanks are sized relative to each other so that after being formed, they can be aligned at their complimentary ends and the smaller ring enlarged to snap into the larger ring. The method also requires precise interior diameter smoothing and post-processing, so that the slight separation between the two stacked ring blanks cannot be felt by the wearer. A two-ring and a three-ring version are fully disclosed, but by logical extension this method can be used to make any number of stacked rings.
The invention lies in the field of jewelry ring assembly, and particularly to improved rotatable rings and methods of their manufacture.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is typical in the art of jewelry to incorporate alternate wearability in a single piece, such as by providing for interchangeable decorative elements. One such convention in the field of jewelry rings is to incorporate a rotatable element. Most commonly an outer ring is rotatable around a base ring, which has a diameter less than that of the outer ring, thus allowing the outer ring to rotate. Typically, the base ring comprises annular edges that are greater than the diameter of the outer ring, in order to keep the outer ring in place. This structure poses challenges for assembly, because it often involves soldering two base pieces to form the base ring, or the process of shaping or flaring the outer edges of the base ring. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,678,428 (Pasquetti), U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,732 (Ofiesh).
SUMMARYIt is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified process for making a rotatable jewelry ring. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a jewelry ring comprising multiple rings in a stacked configuration, such that the stacked rings are counter-rotatable with respect to each other, yet still attached to one another so that they form a single ring. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a general method for assembling stacked, rotatable rings, which can be extended to stacking ring combinations of any number.
Reference will now be made to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Given these complementary forms, the rings can be fit together as follows: convex bearing surface 9 and concave bearing surface 4 are aligned so that they will be in slidable contact with one another, and flat bearing surface 9a and flat bearing surface 4b are aligned so that they will be in slidable contact with one another. Due to the diameter of the first ring being smaller than that of the second, the first formed ring 1 can be fitted 103 into the second formed ring 2, aligning convex bearing surface 9 with the concave bearing surface 4 and the first ring's flat bearing surface 9a with the second ring's flat bearing surface 4b. Using a jig or other ring sizing means, first formed ring 1 is enlarged 104 until its interior diameter 7 is flush with interior diameter 8 of second formed ring 2.
The alignment of the bearings enables rotation of the stacked rings in opposite directions around the central axis while preventing the rings from axial separation. The stacked rings will slide freely within the bearings without the need for lubricant. Thus, the first and second rings now form a single interconnected ring 3, as illustrated in
With reference to
With reference to
Because first ring 1 and third ring 1a have diameter slightly less than that of second ring 2, first and third rings 1 and 1a can be fitted 203 into the formed second ring 2, aligning convex bearing surface 9 of formed first ring 1 with first concave bearing surface 4 of formed second ring 2 and flat bearing surface 9a of formed first ring 1 with first flat bearing surface 4b of formed second ring 2, and aligning convex bearing surface 19 of formed third ring 1a with second concave bearing surface 14 of formed second ring 2 and flat bearing surface 19a of formed third ring 1a with second flat bearing surface 14a of formed second ring 2. Using a jig, the first and third rings 1 and 1a can next be enlarged 204 until their inner diameters 7 and 17, respectively, are flush with the inner diameter 8 of formed second ring 2. Expansion can alternatively be performed by conventional methods, other than through use of a jig, for instance by using a ring sizer.
The first, second, and third formed rings will now be slidably interconnected and fixed within their bearings without being able to be pulled apart. The alignment of the bearings enables rotation of the stacked rings in opposite directions around the central axis while preventing the rings from axial separation. The stacked rings will slide freely within the bearings without the need for lubricant. Thus, the first, second and third rings now form a single interconnected, stacked ring similar to the example illustrated in
Decorative techniques can subsequently be applied 206 to the connected ring. For instance, the exterior surface of the ring can be machined for texture or gem settings. Diamonds and other gems can be applied, as well as plating and other finishes, such as rhodium finishing.
Claims
1. A method for making a jewelry ring comprised of two stacked rings counter-rotatable to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. obtaining a first ring blank and a second ring blank with inner diameter larger than that of the first ring blank;
- b. forming the first ring blank as follows: at one edge of the first ring blank, a convex bearing surface recessed from and facing the outer diameter of said first ring blank, wherein the convex bearing surface is connected to the first ring blank by a flat bearing surface recessed from the convex bearing surface;
- c. forming the second ring blank as follows: at one edge of the second ring blank, a flat bearing surface recessed from and facing the inner diameter of said second ring blank, wherein the flat bearing surface is connected to the second ring blank by a concave bearing surface recessed from the flat bearing surface;
- d. aligning the convex bearing surface of the first formed ring with the concave bearing surface of the second formed ring, and the flat bearing surface of the first formed ring with the flat bearing surface of the second formed ring;
- e. enlarging the first formed ring so that the inner diameter of the first formed ring is flush with the inner diameter of the second formed ring, resulting in a single connected ring comprised of the first and second formed rings counter-rotatable to each other; and
- f. post-processing the single connected ring by smoothing its inner diameter.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein prior to forming the first and the second ring blanks they are semi-finished.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the post-processing step additionally comprises shaping the inner diameter of the single connected ring into a convex surface.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the post-processing step additionally comprises shaping the inner diameter of the single connected ring into a convex surface.
5. A method for making a jewelry ring comprised of three stacked rings counter-rotatable to each other, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. obtaining a first ring blank, a second ring blank and a third ring blank, wherein the second ring blank has inner diameter larger than that of the first and third ring blanks;
- b. forming the first ring blank as follows: at one edge of the first ring blank, a convex bearing surface recessed from and facing the outer diameter of said first ring blank, wherein the convex bearing surface is connected to the first ring blank by a flat bearing surface recessed from the convex bearing surface;
- c. forming the second ring blank as follows: (i) at one edge of the second ring blank, a first flat bearing surface recessed from and facing the inner diameter of said second ring blank, wherein the first flat bearing surface is connected to the second ring blank by a first concave bearing surface recessed from the first flat bearing surface; and (ii) at the other edge of the second ring blank, a second flat bearing surface recessed from and facing the inner diameter of said second ring blank, wherein the second flat bearing surface is connected to the second ring blank by a second concave bearing surface recessed from the second flat bearing surface;
- d. forming the third ring blank as follows: at one end of the third ring blank, a convex bearing surface recessed from and facing the outer diameter of said third ring blank, wherein the convex bearing surface is connected to the third ring blank by a flat bearing surface recessed from the convex bearing surface;
- e. aligning (i) the convex bearing surface of the first formed ring with the first concave bearing surface of the second formed ring, and the flat bearing surface of the first formed ring with the first flat bearing surface of the second formed ring; and (ii) aligning the convex bearing surface of the third formed ring with the second concave bearing surface of the second formed ring, and the flat bearing surface of the third formed ring with the second flat bearing surface of the second formed ring;
- f. enlarging the first formed ring and the third formed ring until the interior diameters of the first and third formed ring are flush with the interior diameter of the second formed ring, resulting in a single connected ring comprised of the first and second formed rings counter-rotatable to each other and the second and third formed rings counter-rotatable to each other; and
- g. post-processing the single connected ring by smoothing its inner diameter.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein prior to forming the first, second and third ring blanks they are semi-finished.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the post-processing step additionally comprises shaping the inner diameter of the single connected ring into a convex surface.
8. The method of claim 6 wherein the post-processing step additionally comprises shaping the inner diameter of the single connected ring into a convex surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 7, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 13, 2019
Inventors: Neville Tata (Mumbai), Saumil Choksi (Mumbai), Shitalkumar Patel (Thane)
Application Number: 15/835,105