Jewelry chain with stamped links and precious stones

Abstract

An improved jewelry chain comprising a plurality of links, each link comprising a head, a neck and a tail, each of the head and the tail having a socket through which successive links are attached. Links in the chain are interconnected by passing a successive link through both the head and the tail of a preceding link, thus combining one link to another by hooking a preceding single link to a successive single link at two distinct contact points to produce the jewelry chain. Upon creation of the jewelry chain, the exposed top surface of each head is modularly fitted to receive stamped, casted and/or machined plates, collets, mountings and/or sockets in which precious stones may be received and set on the surface of the bracelet.

1 . A jewelry chain comprising:
 a plurality of stamped links pressed into a folded position, each link having a head with a head aperture, a neck, and a tail with a tail aperture, wherein when said links are folded at said neck, said head aperture and said tail aperture of a preceding link are substantially aligned to receive a tail of a subsequent link through said head aperture and said tail aperture of said preceding link.   
     
     
         2 . The jewelry chain of  claim 1 , said tail having a tail tip and said head having a head tip, wherein each of said plurality of links form a raindrop shaped loop defined by said neck, said tail tip and said head tip. 
     
     
         3 . The jewelry chain of  claim 1 , the head aperture having a length dimension and a width dimension, and the tail having a width dimension that exceeds the width dimension of said head aperture but is less than the length dimension of said head socket. 
     
     
         4 . The jewelry chain of  claim 5 , the neck having a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of said head socket. 
     
     
         5 . The jewelry chain of  claim 1  wherein when a subsequent link inserted through said head aperture and said tail aperture, said subsequent link must be oriented substantially perpendicular relative to said preceding link. 
     
     
         6 . A jewelry chain comprising:
 a plurality of stamped links pressed into a folded position, each link having a head with a head aperture, a neck, and a tail with a tail aperture;   wherein said head and tail of each preceding link is held between the neck of a subsequent link, restricting butting between two links while allowing a preceding link to pivot across the neck of a subsequent link.   
     
     
         7 . The jewelry chain of  claim 6 , wherein when said links are folded at said neck, said head aperture and said tail aperture of a preceding link are substantially aligned to receive a tail of a subsequent link through said head aperture and said tail aperture of said preceding link. 
     
     
         8 . The jewelry chain of  claim 7 , further comprising a mounting plate attached to each of said plurality of stamped links. 
     
     
         9 . The jewelry chain of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of links includes a last link, said head and said tail of said last link being welded together to complete said chain. 
     
     
         10 . The jewelry chain of  claim 7 , the head aperture having a length dimension and a width dimension, and the tail having a width dimension that exceeds the width dimension of said head aperture but is less than the length dimension of said head socket. 
     
     
         11 . A stamped link utilized in the construction of a jewelry chain comprising:
 a head, said head having a head tip and a head socket;   a tail, said tail having a tail tip and a tail socket and   a neck positioned between said head and said tail;   wherein when a preceding link is folded at said neck, said head socket and said tail socket are aligned to receive a subsequent link inserted through said head socket and said tail socket.   
     
     
         12 . The link of  claim 11 , wherein when said link is folded at said neck, a raindrop shaped loop is formed between said head and said tail. 
     
     
         13 . The link of  claim 11 , wherein when said link is folded at said neck, said tail tip does not extend beyond said head tip. 
     
     
         14 . The link of  claim 13 , wherein when said link is folded at said neck, the profile of said tail does not extend beyond the profile of said head. 
     
     
         15 . The link of  claim 11 , the head socket having a length dimension and a width dimension, and the tail having a width dimension that exceeds the width dimension of said head socket but is less than the length dimension of said head socket. 
     
     
         16 . The link of  claim 15 , the neck having a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of said head socket. 
     
     
         17 . The link of  claim 11  wherein said head socket and said tail socket have respective dimensions that are substantially identical. 
     
     
         18 . The link of  claim 11 , wherein said head comprises stamped ornamental visual indicia. 
     
     
         19 . The link of  claim 11 , the head having a head surface area and the tail having a tail surface area, wherein the ratio of said head surface area to said tail surface area is greater than 1.5:1. 
     
     
         20 . The link of  claim 11  wherein when a subsequent link inserted through said head socket and said tail socket, said subsequent link must be oriented substantially perpendicular relative to said preceding link.