Jewelry making apparatus and method

Abstract

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.

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.