Kit for jewellery

Abstract

A kit for jewellery is provided including a support element 12 , such as a ring shank, and a collet 14 . The support element 12 includes facing support surfaces between which the collet 14 can be inserted in an insertion direction. The support element 12 and the collet 14 each include a guiding element 24, 16 , one of which includes a ridge and the other of which includes an elongate recess. The ridge and recess are configured upon insertion of the collet 14 between the support surfaces to interlock to hold the collet in position; the collet 14 being removable from the support element 12 by manipulation solely of the collet 14 including pulling the collect 14 in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. Insertion and removal of the collet 14 causes no strain or no unrecoverable strain on the support element 12.

1 . A kit for jewellery, including a support element and a collet; the support element including first and second support arms ending respectively in first and second support surfaces which are spaced and which face each other for the collet to be inserted between them in an insertion direction; the first support surface including a first guiding element; the collet including first and second walls arranged to abut respectively the first and second support surfaces when the collet is inserted therebetween, the first wall of the collet including a second guiding element; wherein one of the first and second guiding elements includes a ridge and the other includes an elongate recess; wherein upon insertion of the collet between the first and second support surfaces the first and second guiding elements interlock to hold the collet in position with the first and second support surfaces in abutment with the first and second walls; the collet being removable from the support element by manipulation solely of the collet including pulling the collet in a direction opposite to the insertion direction, insertion and removal of the collet causing no strain or no unrecoverable strain on the support element. 
     
     
         2 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element exhibits elastic deformation at strains up to a first amount of strain and plastic deformation at strains above the first amount of strain, wherein insertion and removal of the collet cause strain less than the first amount of strain. 
     
     
         3 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the second support surface includes a third guiding element and the second wall includes a fourth guiding element; wherein one of the third and fourth guiding elements includes a ridge and the other includes an elongate recess; wherein upon insertion of the collet between the first and second support surfaces the third and fourth guiding elements interlock to hold the collet in position with the first and second support surfaces in abutment with the first and second walls. 
     
     
         4 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the collet is removable from the support element solely by pulling on the collet by hand in a direction opposite to the insertion direction. 
     
     
         5 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein insertion and removal of the collet causes distortion of the support element of no more than 2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . A kit according to  claim 5 , wherein insertion and removal of the collet causes distortion of the support element of no more than 1 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A kit according  claim 1 , wherein the first and second support surfaces have a taper, and the first and second walls have a corresponding taper. 
     
     
         8 . A kit according to  claim 7 , wherein the taper of the first and second support surfaces is arranged such that the spacing between the first and second support surfaces decreases along the direction of insertion. 
     
     
         9 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the collet and/or support element include precious metal. 
     
     
         10 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the collet and/or support element are made from non-precious material. 
     
     
         11 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the second guiding element includes an elongate recess which provides an opening in a first end of the collet, the first end of the collet being transverse to the first and second walls. 
     
     
         12 . A kit according to  claim 11 , wherein the or a fourth guiding element includes an elongate recess which provides an opening in the first end of the collet. 
     
     
         13 . A kit according to  claim 1  wherein the first guiding element is provided with at least one pin or hole and the second guiding element is provided with a corresponding hole or pin for each of the at least one pin or hole on the first guiding element, the at least one pin or hole of the first guiding element and the corresponding holes or pins of the second guiding element being arranged to co-operate upon insertion of the collet into the support element to provide additional solidity to the interlocking. 
     
     
         14 . A kit according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one pin or hole of the first guiding element is a plurality of pins or holes. 
     
     
         15 . A kit according to  claim 13 , wherein the or a third guiding element is provided with at least one pin or hole and the or a fourth guiding element is provided with a corresponding hole or pin for each of the at least one pin or hole on the third guiding element, the at least one pin or hole of the third guiding element and the corresponding holes or pins of the fourth guiding element being arranged to co-operate upon insertion of the collet into the support element to provide additional solidity to the interlocking. 
     
     
         16 . A kit according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one pin or hole of the third guiding element is a plurality of pins or holes. 
     
     
         17 . A kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the support element is a ring shank. 
     
     
         18 . A kit for jewellery, including a plurality of support elements as described in  claim 1  and a plurality of collets as described in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of support elements and the plurality of collets includes at least two different designs. 
     
     
         19 . An item of jewellery made from a kit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . An item of jewellery according to  claim 19  wherein the item is a ring