JEWELRY MAKING APPARATUS AND METHOD
A method and apparatus for making jewelry is provided. The apparatus includes a curved form attached to a handle and a grip head attached to a grip head handle. A pivot connection joins both handles, with the grip head being positioned in proximity to the curved form. In order to form a cuff style bracelet, first and second ends of a work piece are sequentially inserted, held in position by the grip head against the form, and then bent around the form.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/779,175, filed Mar. 3, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlled bending of items, and in particular for making jewelry.
BACKGROUNDProducing custom jewelry is a highly skilled art that takes years of practice to develop. In particular, it is difficult to produce a cuff style bracelet which has two symmetrical curved sides with a uniform shape and size. Presently, such bracelets are produced by shaping a work piece against a conical or elliptical curved form using various silver-smithing techniques which require significant skills to perform because it is difficult to hold and shape the work piece simultaneously, as well as manipulate tools, such as a mallet used for forming the bracelet. While other forming tools exist, none of them perform adequately for holding the work piece against the desired form or creating a symmetric shape.
SUMMARYIn one aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for making jewelry that includes a curved form attached to a handle. A grip head is attached to a grip head handle, and a pivot connection joins both handles. This allows a workpiece to be gripped and held against the curved form in a secure manner in order to allow a user to form the workpiece into a cuff-type bracelet.
The invention also provides a process of creating an open bracelet that is significantly easier than the prior known processes. The forming tool with a grip head is used to grip the work piece during the forming process. A user then bends the workpiece over the curved form attached to the tool handle, allowing easier and symmetric forming of the bracelet.
The invention also allows the formation of jewelry using a variety of materials which heretofore could not be easily and accurately worked by anyone other than a highly skilled artisan.
For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
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Those skilled in the art will recognize that the curved form 20 can be created from metal, plastic, wood, a composite or any other stock material that has sufficient hardness and durability to resist surface deformation during the jewelry making process. The curved form 20 can be produced through any one, or a combination, of fabrication techniques including, but not limited to, molding, casting, machining, extruding, or any other suitable means. The curved form 20 can be open or closed and the elliptical loop 26 can be produced using different x-axis 25 or y-axis 24 dimensions so jewelry of different sizes can be produced. The stop 21 can be integral to the curved form 20 or the stop 21 can be a separate device that is mechanically fastened to the curved form 20. Additionally, the elliptical loop 26 can be a separate part that is mechanically fastened to the handle 30 such that the elliptical loop 26 is removable.
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The invention represents a significant improvement over the tools presently used to create open bracelets because a novice user can quickly and easily produce symmetrical designs: a result that previously required advanced skills. The invention accommodates different shapes, sizes and thickness of work pieces without increasing the level of skill needed to produce a satisfactory result. Unlike other tools used to produce open bracelets, this invention can be used in a jewelry store, craft store, craft show, educational or other type environment to allow a customer, hobbyist, or professional to form their own piece of custom jewelry with very little oversight or supervision because it allows custom pieces to be quickly and efficiently produced.
Claims
1. An apparatus for making jewelry comprising:
- a curved form attached to a handle;
- a grip head attached to a grip head handle; and
- a pivot connection joining both handles, with the grip head being positioned in proximity to the curved form.
2. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved form comprises material formed into an elliptical loop with a stop located in proximity to a first end of the loop and a second end of the loop is attached to the handle.
3. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elliptical loop is a curve that is at least 180 degrees.
4. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second end of the loop is integrally attached to the handle.
5. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivot connection comprises a pair of pivot blocks located on the handle and a pivot pin extending through the pivot blocks and the grip head handle.
6. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 4, wherein the handle includes a slot through which the grip head handle extends; the pivot blocks are mounted parallel to each other on opposite sides of the slot in the handle; the pivot pin is inserted through a pivot hole in the grip head handle; and one end of the pivot pin is fixed to one of the pivot blocks and an opposite end of the pivot pin is fixed to the opposite pivot block.
7. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip head is moveable from a first position, spaced apart from the curved form to a second position, where the grip head rests against the curved form.
8. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the curved form is removably attached to the handle.
9. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the handle and grip head handle have an ergonomically shaped form.
10. The jewelry making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip head is comprised of a grip head body with a grip head face, and the grip head body is removable from the grip head handle.
11. A method of bending bracelets comprising:
- providing an apparatus having a curved form attached to a handle, a grip head attached to a grip head handle, and a pivot connection joining both handles;
- placing a first end of an un-formed work piece against the curved form;
- holding the first end of the un-formed work piece against the curved form with the grip head by moving the handle and the grip head handle toward one another;
- bending the work piece over the curved form to create a partially formed work piece;
- releasing the partially formed work piece by moving the handle and the grip head handle in opposite directions; and
- removing the partially formed work piece.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
- placing a second end of the partially formed work piece against the curved form;
- holding the second end of the partially formed work piece against the curved form with the grip head by moving the handle and the grip head handle toward one another;
- bending the partially formed work piece over the curved form to create a completed work piece;
- freeing the completed work piece by releasing the grip head handle; and
- removing the completed work piece.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the completed work piece is symmetrical.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein a stop is located on the curved form, and the method further comprises placing the first end of the un-formed work piece against the stop prior to moving the handle and the grip head handle toward one another to grip the un-formed work piece.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:
- placing a second end of the partially formed work piece against the stop on the curved form;
- holding the second end of the partially formed work piece against the curved form with the grip head by moving the handle and the grip head handle toward one another;
- bending the partially formed work piece over the curved form to create a completed work piece;
- freeing the completed work piece by releasing the grip head handle; and
- removing the completed work piece.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the completed work piece is symmetrical.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2007
Inventor: Mathew Citrenbaum (Philadelphia, PA)
Application Number: 11/681,360
International Classification: A44C 27/00 (20060101);