Chainmaille layout tool and methods of making chainmaille using a layout tool

Abstract

Layout tools for making chainmaille. The tool has a substrate with grooves, cuts, or slots formed through a top surface thereof. Each pair of cuts forms a generally v-shaped pattern along a length of the top surface. Each of the pairs of the cuts are spaced apart, have a length, and form an angle that provides a straight line path that intersects at least four of the cuts configured to receive rings to form a chainmaille. Another tool also has a substrate with grooves, cuts, or slots formed through a top surface thereof. Each cut passes through a common point. Each cut has a length corresponding to a diameter of a ring, and each of the cuts has a depth that is a function of at least the number of rings and a wire diameter of the rings.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A layout tool for making chainmaille, comprising:
 a substrate having a plurality of cuts or slots formed through a top surface thereof, adjacent pairs of the cuts forming a generally v-shaped pattern along a length of the top surface, wherein each of the pairs of the cuts are spaced apart, have a length, and form an angle that provides a straight line path that intersects at least four of the cuts configured to receive rings to form a chainmaille.   
     
     
         2 . A layout tool for making chainmaille, comprising:
 a substrate having a plurality of cuts or slots, each one passing through a common point, each of the cuts having a length corresponding to a diameter of a ring, the ring having a wire diameter,   
     
     
         3 . The layout tool of  claim 2 , wherein each of the cuts has a depth that is a function of at least the number of rings and the wire diameter of the rings. 
     
     
         4 . The layout tool of  claim 2 , wherein a first of the cuts has the deepest depth of the other cuts, and subsequent cuts next to the first of the cuts have progressively shallower depths compared to the preceding cuts. 
     
     
         5 . A layout tool for making chainmaille, comprising:
 a substrate having a first plurality of cuts and a second plurality of cuts,   the first plurality of cuts formed through a top surface thereof, adjacent pairs of the cuts forming a generally v-shaped pattern along a length of the top surface, wherein each of the pairs of the cuts are spaced apart, have a length, and form an angle that provides a straight line path that intersects at least four of the cuts configured to receive rings to form a chainmaille, and   each of the second plurality of cuts passing through a common point, each of the second plurality of cuts having a length corresponding to a diameter of a ring, the ring having a wire diameter, and each of the second plurality of cuts having a depth that is a function of at least the number of rings and the wire diameter of the rings.   
     
     
         6 . A layout tool for making chainmaille, comprising:
 a substrate having a first plurality of cuts and a second plurality of adjacent cuts,   the first plurality of cuts formed through a top surface thereof, the second plurality of adjacent cuts forming a generally alternating slot pattern along a length of the top surface, wherein each of the pairs of the cuts are spaced apart and have lengths that provide an overlap of the wire diameters of the rings such that connector rings can encircle the ring where they overlap.   
     
     
         7 . A method of making a chainmaille using a layout tool having a substrate, comprising:
 providing a substrate having a plurality of cuts, each one passing through a common point, each of the cuts having a length corresponding to a diameter of a ring, the ring having a wire diameter;   inserting a first closed ring having the wire diameter into a first of the cuts;   inserting a second open ring having the wire diameter through the first closed ring and into a second of the cuts adjacent to the first of the cuts and then closing the second open ring; and   inserting a third open ring having the wire diameter through the first closed ring and through the second closed ring and into a third of the cuts adjacent to the second of the cuts and then closing the third open ring.   
     
     
         8 . A method of making chainmaille using a layout tool having a substrate, comprising:
 providing a substrate having a plurality of cuts or slots formed through a top surface thereof, adjacent pairs of the cuts forming a generally v-shaped pattern along a length of the top surface, wherein each of the pairs of the cuts are spaced apart, have a length, and form an angle that provides a straight line path that intersects at least four of the cuts configured to receive rings to form a chainmaille;   inserting a plurality of closed rings into at least some of the cuts such that one of the closed rings is inserted into each of the at least some of the cuts; and   inserting at least one open ring along the straight line path through two adjacent pairs of the plurality of closed rings arranged in the v-shaped pattern and then closing the open ring.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising inserting a second open ring along the straight path through the two adjacent pairs of the plurality of closed rings and then closing the second open ring.