Turning – Process of turning
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-25
2001-08-28
Tsai, Henry (Department: 3722)
Turning
Process of turning
C082S047000, C063S010000, C063S026000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a tool and method for creating a seat in jewelry for receiving a gemstone, and more particularly to such a tool shaped to more precisely form the seat to the gemstone.
Gemstones are set using a cutting tool to form a seat in a setting of the jewelry. The gemstone is positioned in the seat and the setting is deformed around the gemstone to secure it therein. Though successful, the methods and tools utilized in the prior art do not fully address structural considerations, alloy strengths, or stress-related fatigue with regard to the settings used to secure the gemstones. As a result, when settings are prepared using the methods and tools of the prior art, a substantial risk of weakening the structural integrity of the setting exists. Additionally, there is a significant risk that as the setting is being manually deformed, the crown and girdle of the gemstone could be damaged.
Typically, in the methods of the prior art, as illustrated in
FIG. 1A
, a notch
200
having two surfaces is cut into a setting, such as a prong-type setting having prongs
9
, and a gemstone
3
is set into the notch, as shown in FIG.
1
B. The gemstone has a crown, a pavilion, and a girdle between the crown and pavilion. As illustrated in
FIG. 1B
, the notch
200
must be cut deep enough to accommodate the girdle of the gemstone. When the girdle is positioned against the inner face of the setting, a gap is present between the crown of the gemstone being set and the setting in the notch. Once the gemstone is positioned, the setting is manually deformed and pressed against the crown of the gemstone, thus closing the gap and securing the gemstone within the setting. Referring to
FIG. 1B
, it may be seen that the notch
200
is V-shaped, but that the profile of the gemstone is polygonal. In order to receive the gemstone in the notch without a substantial gap between the inner surface of the notch and the girdle, the angle of the notch is substantially greater than the angle between the crown and pavilion of the gemstone. Thus, when the setting is bent to secure the gemstone in the notch, substantial plastic deformation of the setting occurs, as illustrated by the cross-hatched, triangular area
100
in
FIG. 1C. A
bending movement causes the inner face of the setting to be compressed, while the outer edge of the setting is elongated. These weakened setting areas are subject to chemical attack and reduced structural strength along grain boundaries.
Additionally, the present setting methods increase the potential of damage to the gemstone being set. Using the methods of the prior art, a setting prepared and manually deformed to secure the gemstone in place pinches the gemstone obliquely from above and below, but not uniformly on all sides of the gemstone being set. A gap, as shown in
FIGS. 1B and 1C
is created between the girdle of the gemstone and the setting. When the setting is manually deformed to secure the gemstone, the pressure applied to the gemstone on both sides of the gap can weaken the stone and cause this area of the gemstone to break, especially if the grain of the crystalline structure is aligned with the setting at a cleavage point of the stone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects and features of the present invention may be noted the provision of a tool and method for cutting a seat in a setting which more accurately forms the seat to conform to the profile of the gemstone; the provision of such a tool and method which reduce fatigue in the setting process when the gemstone is secured; and the provision of such a tool and method which lessen the opportunity to damage the gemstone.
Generally, a tool of the present invention comprises a cylindrical shank portion having a smooth outer surface and a bur cutting portion attached at one end. The bur cutting portion has cutting surfaces disposed for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shank portion and includes three cutting surfaces. The first and second cutting surfaces are generally conical and the third, located between the two conical cutting surfaces, is generally cylindrical in shape. When employed, the tool cuts three distinct faces into the setting prongs to form the seat for the gemstone.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method of setting a gemstone having a profile including at least three notch surfaces in a metallic base generally comprises the step of cutting notches into the inner surface of each setting prong. Each notch has as least three notch surfaces, each surface being complementary to a corresponding profile surface of the gemstone. The gemstone is set in the setting prongs so that portions of the gemstone profile surfaces are received in respective notches. The gemstone is secured within the base by manually deforming the setting prongs such that the notch surfaces of each notch substantially conform to the corresponding profile surfaces of the gemstone.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
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Senniger Powers Leavitt & Roedel
Tsai Henry
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