Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-23
2001-11-06
Jones, David (Department: 3725)
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Ornamental
C059S035100, CD11S013000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06311470
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to decorative chains known as twisted rope chains, and relates in particular to a thin-walled double helix jewelry chain reinforced by a spiral strand of thin wire.
2. Description of Prior Developments
Serpentine chains formed of precious metals such as silver and gold are available in numerous sizes and configurations. Such chains, referred to as twisted rope chains, are formed by a series of interlocked loops or links which are arranged and interconnected in an intertwined spiral or double helix configuration.
Designers of such chains have long sought to reduce the amount of precious metal required in their construction. One approach has been to reduce the wall thickness of the metal used to form the chain links. However, if the thickness of the links becomes too thin, the resulting chain will be weak and highly susceptible to damage and breakage.
Accordingly, a need exists for a decorative chain having thin-walled links yet which has a strength equal to or greater than chains formed with links having thicker walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been developed to fulfill the needs noted above and therefore has as an object the provision of a twisted rope chain formed of thin walled links yet which has a strength equal to or greater than chains formed with links having thicker walls.
Another object of this invention is the provision of a twisted rope chain which is reinforced in such a manner that the reinforcement is virtually undetectable to a casual inspection.
Yet another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of decorative spiral chains by reducing the amount of precious metal required to construct the chains.
These and other objects are met by the present invention which is directed to a decorative jewelry chain constructed with links having walls thinner than those previously believed acceptable for adequate chain strength. Each chain is reinforced with one or more reinforcing strands or filaments. These stands or filaments are preferably formed of a precious metal the same as that from which the chain links are constructed, e.g. gold or silver.
At least one solid strand of wire is preferably intertwined with the chain links in a spiral configuration. The wire or wires nest within spiral grooves defined between the individual chains of the double helix twisted rope chain.
The reinforcing wire is permanently connected to the twisted jewelry chain by crimping, soldering, brazing or any other conventional technique. A clasp connector may be permanently attached to one or both ends of the chain to further permanently fix the reinforcing wire to the twisted chain.
The aforementioned objects, features and advantages of the invention will, in part, be pointed out with particularity, and will, in part, become obvious from the following more detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which form an integral part thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1030215 (1912-06-01), Wacker et al.
patent: 4651517 (1987-03-01), Benhamou et al.
patent: 4996835 (1991-03-01), Rozenwasser
patent: 235980 (1907-12-01), None
Rosenwasser Avram Moshe
Rosenwasser David
D&W Jewelry, Inc.
Jones David
Rosenman & Colin LLP
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