Method for Manufacturing a Recloseable Version of a Ring Which May Be Irregular in Shape or Design

Abstract

Method of manufacturing a recloseable version of a ring including: providing a first computer file defining a three dimensional ring volume of a ring that is not recloseable; providing a second computer file representing a three dimensional cutout volume defining a cutting block; adjusting parameters of the cutting block defined by the second digital file as necessary to size and/or dimension the cutting block to overlay of the cutting block over the ring; and overlaying the cutting block over the ring to remove portions of the three dimensional ring volume defined by the first computer file wherever the three dimensional ring volume and the three dimensional cutting block volume overlap, wherein the remaining volume defined by the modified first computer file corresponds to at least one portion of a recloseable version of the ring defined by the first computer file.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of manufacturing a recloseable ring, comprising:
 providing a first computer file configured to define a three dimensional ring volume of a ring that is not recloseable;   providing a second computer file representing a three dimensional cutout volume defining a cutting block;   providing a processor adapted to receive and manipulate the first and second computer files;   adjusting parameters of the cutting block defined by the second digital file as necessary to size and/or dimension the cutting block to facilitate the proper overlay of the cutting block over the ring; and   using the processor to overlay the cutting block over the ring and remove portions of the three dimensional ring volume defined by the first computer file wherever the three dimensional ring volume and the three dimensional cutting block volume overlap, wherein the remaining volume defined by the modified first computer file corresponds to at least one portion of a recloseable version of the ring defined by the first computer file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the first computer file with different cutting blocks so that three modified computer files are generated which define volumes corresponding to first and second shanks and a latch which can be assembled to form the recloseable version of the ring. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second computer files are computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) files. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising manufacturing the recloseable version of the ring using an automated process to generate the components defined by each of the three modified computer files. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of manufacturing further comprises using a casting process. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that have a varying shank thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that have a varying widths. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that are irregularly shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving the first computer file via electronic transmission from a person who wants their ring design made as a recloseable ring without significantly modifying the appearance of the design when the recloseable ring is secured in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a recloseable version of a custom designed ring, comprising:
 providing a website configured to allow the upload of a first computer file configured to define a three dimensional ring volume of a ring that is not recloseable;   providing a second computer file representing a three dimensional cutout volume defining a cutting block;   providing a processor adapted to receive and manipulate the first and second computer files;   adjusting parameters of the cutting block defined by the second digital file as necessary to size and/or dimension the cutting block to facilitate the proper overlay of the cutting block over the ring; and   using the processor to overlay the cutting block over the ring and remove portions of the three dimensional ring volume defined by the first computer file wherever the three dimensional ring volume and the three dimensional cutting block volume overlap, wherein the remaining volume defined by the modified first computer file corresponds to at least one portion of a recloseable version of the ring defined by the first computer file.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising using the first computer file with different cutting blocks so that three modified computer files are generated which define volumes corresponding to first and second shanks and a latch which can be assembled to form the recloseable version of the ring. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second computer files are computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) files. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising manufacturing the recloseable version of the ring using an automated process to automatically generate wax objects corresponding to the modified computer files that can be used to cast the components needed to make the recloseable version of the custom ring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that have a nonstandard and/or varying shape. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a recloseable version of a ring, comprising:
 providing a first computer file configured to define a three dimensional ring volume of a ring that is not recloseable;   providing a second computer file representing a three dimensional cutout volume defining a cutting block;   providing a processor adapted to receive and manipulate the first and second computer files;   adjusting parameters of the cutting block defined by the second digital file as necessary to size and/or dimension the cutting block to facilitate the proper overlay of the cutting block over the ring;   using the processor to overlay the cutting block over the ring and remove portions of the three dimensional ring volume defined by the first computer file wherever the three dimensional ring volume and the three dimensional cutting block volume overlap, wherein the remaining volume defined by the modified first computer file corresponds to at least one portion of a recloseable version of the ring defined by the first computer file;   using the modified first computer file to automatically generate a wax object of the at least one portion of the recloseable version of the ring;   casting the at least one portion of the recloseable version of the ring; and   assembling the recloseable version of the ring.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising using the first computer file with different cutting blocks so that three modified computer files are generated which define volumes corresponding to first and second shanks and a latch which can be assembled to form the recloseable version of the ring. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that have a varying shank thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that have a varying widths. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of adjusting the parameters of the cutting block allows the components for a recloseable ring to be generated for rings that are irregularly shaped. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising receiving the first computer file via electronic transmission from a person who wants their ring design made as a recloseable ring without significantly modifying the appearance of the design when the recloseable ring is secured in a closed position.