Retroreflective Chain and Manufacturing Method

Abstract

The present invention relates to jewelry and specifically jewelry with retroreflective inlays. Specifically, the invention relates to a chain link or other jewelry item, with an inlay trough formed in the chain. The inlay trough can be created in a number of ways including casting, CNC milling, photolithography and chemical milling. Once an inlay trough is created, a retroreflective material is embedded in the trough. The retroreflective material which has a bonded top layer of acrylic or polyester is then sealed into the trough with a resin layer that creates a highly reflective, water-resistant, and protective surface. The disclosed invention covers the chain or other jewelry of similar style and the method for producing the jewelry.

1 . A method for manufacturing a reflective jewelry item comprising the steps of:
 Casting metal into a jewelry body having a top side and a bottom side using a mold comprising a top mold and bottom mold;   Forming a trough in the top side of the jewelry body, the trough having a defined shape;   Cutting a retroreflective material into the defined shape, the retroreflective material comprising an adhesive layer, a retroreflective layer and a face film layer;   Placing the retroreflective material into the trough; and   Covering the top of the retroreflective material with resin.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where the metal is a non-ferrous metal from the group of silver, stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, copper, palladium, tungsten, aluminum, brass, bronze, niobium and bronze. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where the jewelry body shape is from the group of chain, rope, ring, band, cable, cuff or bead. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where the top and bottom mold are formed of a material from the group of aluminum, copper, titanium, steel, cast iron, graphite, ceramic and sand. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the top mold and bottom mold are formed of 6061 aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  where the top and bottom mold are formed of rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  where the trough is formed using a computer numerical control machine. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  where the trough is formed using photolithography. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  where the retroreflective material is engineer grade glass bead reflective tape. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  where the retroreflective material is high intensity glass bead reflective tape. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  where the retroreflective material is metalized micro-prismatic reflective tape. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  where the retroreflective material is non-metalized micro-prismatic reflective tape. 
     
     
         13 . A reflective jewelry item comprising:
 A jewelry body having a top side and a bottom side, the jewelry body being formed of metal;   The top side of the jewelry body having a trough formed therein; and   The trough containing a retroreflective material and a resin material covering the top of the retroreflective material, the retroreflective material comprising an adhesive layer, a retroreflective layer and a face film layer.   
     
     
         14 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the metal is from the group non-ferrous metal from the group of silver, stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, copper, palladium, tungsten, aluminum, brass, bronze, niobium and bronze. 
     
     
         15 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the jewelry body shape is from the group of chain, rope, ring, band, cable, cuff or bead. 
     
     
         16 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the trough is formed using a computer numerical control machine. 
     
     
         17 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the trough is formed using photolithography and chemical milling. 
     
     
         18 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the retroreflective material is engineer grade glass bead reflective tape. 
     
     
         19 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the retroreflective material is high intensity glass bead reflective tape. 
     
     
         20 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the retroreflective material is metalized micro-prismatic reflective tape. 
     
     
         21 . The jewelry item of  claim 11  where the retroreflective material is non-metalized micro-prismatic reflective tape.