Chain and mounting for stones

Abstract

In one aspect, the present invention comprises a mounting for a stone. In one preferred embodiment, the mounting comprises a wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix; the loop having a plurality of notches therein; the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone. In one embodiment, the wire loop is rigid. In another embodiment, the wire loop is resilient. In another aspect, the present invention comprises a chain. In one preferred embodiment, the chain comprises a first wire loop substantially in the form of a toroidal helix, the helix having eight coils, and a first link comprising a second wire loop through a first coil of the toroidal helix and a third link comprising a second wire loop through a second coil of the toroidal helix, the first and second coils of the toroidal helix being separated by two coils of the toroidal helix.

1 . A mounting for a stone, comprising: 
 a wire loop disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form;    the loop having a plurality of notches therein;    the notches being configured to receive the edges of a stone.    
   
   
       2 . The mounting of  claim 1 , further comprising a chain link through one coil of the helix.  
   
   
       3 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein the toroidal helix comprises between four and twenty coils.  
   
   
       4 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein the toroidal helix comprises eight coils.  
   
   
       5 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is resilient.  
   
   
       6 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is rigid.  
   
   
       7 . A chain, comprising: 
 a first wire loop disposed in a substantially toroidally helical form comprising eight coils;    a first link comprising a second wire loop through a first coil of the substantially toroidally helical form;    a second link comprising a third wire loop through a second coil of the substantially toroidallly helical form;    the first and second coils of the substantially toroidally helical form being separated by two coils of the toroidal helix.