Invisible setting and methods for effecting same

Abstract

A mounting holds a grooved gemstone invisibly to a setting. One end of the mounting has arms or extensions, reinforced by struts, to receive the gemstone and protrusions extending inwardly from the arms to fit in the grooves of the gemstone, the mounting further comprising a retainer which is inserted into the setting, and then twisted to retain the mounting in place and may lever the arms to press harder into the groove. The mounting is adjustable. The retainer may be cylindrical, with a lengthwise split to make the deformation easier. As an alternative, the insertion may comprise planar members which are likewise inserted and then distorted. The mounting may have two or more gemstone compartments. Multiple coronets may be fitted on a molded base with reinforcements between the coronets.

1 . A mounting for holding a grooved gemstone invisibly to a setting, the mounting having a first end with extensions to receive the gemstone, and protrusions extending inwardly from said extensions at a location weakened by a reduction in thickness in relation to predetermined wall thicknesses of said mounting, said protrusions to fit within respective mounting grooves of the grooved gemstone, the mounting further comprising a holding configuration for lockingly holding said mounting to said setting, an angle at which said protrusions extend from said mounting being variable by application of pressure across said weakened location. 
     
     
         2 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions form arcs of a circle to receive a rounded gemstone. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions are at least one of the group consisting of:
 respectively straight and parallel, to receive a rectangular gemstone; and   bifurcated and angled with respect to each other, to receive separate gemstones.   
     
     
         4 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A mounting for holding a grooved gemstone invisibly to a setting, the mounting having a first end with extensions to receive the gemstone and protrusions extending inwardly from the extensions to fit within respective mounting grooves of the grooved gemstone, the mounting further comprising reinforcement thickenings on inner walls of said mounting and a holding configuration for lockingly holding the mounting to the setting, wherein said holding configuration is configured to protrude at least partially from a first end forming a base part of said setting towards a second end away from said base part for extension through said setting, said holding configuration being deformable by a deformation tool applied to said second end after extension through said setting to carry out said locking, said deformation being effective to press said mounting into said setting and thereby to cause said setting to lever said mounting to push said protrusions into said groove. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting of  claim 9 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions form arcs of a circle to receive a rounded gemstone. 
     
     
         11 . The mounting of  claim 9 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions are one member of the group consisting of:
 being respectively straight and parallel, to receive a rectangular gemstone; and   being bifurcated and angled with respect to each other, to receive separate gemstones.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The mounting of  claim 1  wherein said holding configuration is configured to protrude at least partially from a first end forming a base part of said setting towards a second end away from said base part for extension through said setting, said holding configuration comprising two substantially parallel legs, said two legs being separately deformable after extension through said setting to carry out said locking, said deformation being effective to press said mounting into said setting and thereby to cause said setting to lever said mounting to push said protrusions into said groove. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting of  claim 13 , wherein said legs extend centrally under said mounting. 
     
     
         15 . The mounting of  claim 13 , wherein said legs are separated by substantially a width of said mounting. 
     
     
         16 . The mounting of  claim 13 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions form arcs of a circle to receive a rounded gemstone. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting of  claim 13 , wherein said extensions and said protrusions are one member of the group consisting of:
 being respectively straight and parallel, to receive a rectangular gemstone; and   being bifurcated and angled with respect to each other, to receive separate gemstones.   
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The mounting of  claim 1 , wherein said holding configuration is configured to protrude at least partially from a first end forming a base part of said setting towards a second end away from said base part for extension through said setting, said holding configuration being deformable after extension through said setting to carry out said locking, said deformation being effective to press said mounting into said setting and thereby to cause said setting to lever said mounting to push said protrusions into said groove, wherein said extensions are bifurcated and angled with respect to each other, to receive separate gemstones. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting of  claim 1 , being extended for holding a plurality of grooved gemstones invisibly, the mounting comprising a base with parallel rows of coronets, the coronets comprising oppositely facing extension pairs to receive the gemstones and protrusions of each extension pair extending inwardly to facing extension of a respective pair to fit within respective mounting grooves of the grooved gemstones, the mounting further comprising spacings between said coronets, the spacings being shaped to receive wall supports after insertion of said gem stones, said wall supports pressing outwardly on adjacent extensions to force said protrusions to be retained in said grooves. 
     
     
         21 . The mounting of  claim 20 , wherein said base comprises end supports. 
     
     
         22 . The mounting of  claim 20 , wherein said coronets are substantially U shaped. 
     
     
         23 . The mounting of  claim 20 , wherein said base comprises injection-moulded plastic and said coronets are metallic, or wherein said base comprises coronet receptacles and said coronets are U shaped with a lower part of said U shape configured to fit in said receptacles. 
     
     
         24 . The mounting of  claim 20 , wherein respective coronets of a row are connected. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The mounting of  claim 20 , wherein said coronets are soldered onto said receptacles. 
     
     
         27 . The mounting of  claim 9  extended to comprise a plurality of locations for holding respective gemstone mountings between supports, said location comprising extensions with lateral protrusions for extending into grooves of respective gemstones to hold said gemstones, said extensions being arranged back to back and configured to receive inserts after insertion of said gemstones, said inserts pushing said extensions to securely close said respective lateral protrusions of respective supports into said grooves to hold said gemstone to said mounting. 
     
     
         28 . The mounting of  claim 27 , wherein said supports and extensions comprise a soft metal. 
     
     
         29 . The mounting of  claim 20  when incorporated into an item of jewelry such that the item of jewelry comprises a base and a plurality of coronet mountings for mounting gemstones and a plurality of gemstones mounted on said plurality of coronet mountings and invisibly mounted on said item of jewelry, the item of jewelry further comprising wedges inserted between said coronets to secure walls of said coronets into grooves of said gemstones. 
     
     
         30 . The item of jewelry of  claim 29 , wherein said base comprises injection moulded plastic and said plurality of coronet mountings are made of metal. 
     
     
         31 . The item of jewelry of  claim 29 , wherein said gemstones when assembled provide a non-planar outer outline to said item, said outline comprising curvature. 
     
     
         32 . A method of making jewelry using gemstones, the method comprising:
 inserting grooves into said gemstones;   mounting said gemstones to a setting by:   providing a setting having a plurality of mounting locations,   providing mounting coronets at each mounting location, the mounting coronets having arms and protrusions at a distal end of respective arms to fit into said grooves;   pressing said gemstones into respective coronet mountings;   inserting wedges between said coronets, said wedges pressing said arms inwardly to lock said protrusions into said grooves, thereby mounting respective gemstones via inward pressure on a body of said gemstone.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said gemstones are flawed gemstones or false gemstones made of material weaker than a gemstone. 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)