Jewelry setting tools and methods

Abstract

A jewelry setting tool that may include one or more grip elements that may be used to grasp elements of a jewelry setting such as a prong of a gemstone setting without damaging the gemstone or any other portion of the setting. Embodiments of the jewelry setting tool may include secondary tool elements including pry wedges and hammer elements.

1 . A jewelry setting tool, comprising:
 a grip body comprising:
 a plate having a disc shape with an outer perimeter, a thickness disposed between a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface that is parallel to the first lateral surface, and a center point at a center of the outer perimeter of the disc shape, and 
 a grip element disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate, the grip element including:
 a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter and with an apex of the terminal edge extending along an edge axis that is perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces, 
 a pivot surface disposed on the outer perimeter of the disc shaped plate and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge, and 
 a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface; and 
 
   an offset bar having a first end and a second end, the first end being secured to the grip body with a longitudinal axis of the offset bar disposed perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces of the plate; and   a torque mechanism secured to the offset bar with a longitudinal axis of the torque mechanism disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the offset bar and with the torque mechanism configured to apply torque to the grip body through the offset bar with a moment of the torque applied being perpendicular to the first and second lateral surfaces of the grip body.   
     
     
         2 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal axis of the offset bar intersects a center point of the plate. 
     
     
         3 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 2  wherein the grip element comprises a grip slot disposed transversely through the thickness of the plate from the first lateral surface to the second lateral surface, the grip slot extending inwardly from the outer perimeter of the plate and further comprising a slot angle formed by a longitudinal axis of the grip slot and a radial line extending from the center of the plate and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the grip slot at the gap. 
     
     
         4 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 3  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about degrees to about 55 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 4  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about degrees to about 50 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 5  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about 42 degrees to about 48 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 3  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot width of about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 7  wherein the slot width is about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 7  wherein the slot width is about 1.8 mm to about 2.2 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of grip elements disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate. 
     
     
         11 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  further comprising a secondary tool disposed on the second end of the offset bar. 
     
     
         12 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 11  wherein the secondary tool comprises a hammer having a face surface disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the offset bar. 
     
     
         13 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 11  wherein the secondary tool comprises a pry wedge. 
     
     
         14 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 13  wherein the pry wedge comprises a terminal edge which faces away from the grip body and is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torque mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the torque mechanism comprises a handle. 
     
     
         16 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 15  wherein the handle has a longitudinal length of about 75 mm to about 180 mm. 
     
     
         17 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the offset bar comprises a cylindrical configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 17  wherein the cylindrical configuration of the offset bar has an outer transverse diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the plate has a circular configuration at the outer perimeter thereof with an outer diameter of about 7 mm to about 22 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 19  wherein the plate has an outer diameter of about 18 mm to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         21 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 19  wherein the plate has an outer diameter of about 15 mm to about 17 mm. 
     
     
         22 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 19  wherein the plate has an outer diameter of about 7 mm to about 9 mm. 
     
     
         23 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the plate comprises a uniform transverse thickness disposed between the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of about 1 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         24 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 23  wherein the plate comprises a uniform transverse thickness of about 1.3 mm to about 1.7 mm. 
     
     
         25 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the longitudinal axis of the torque mechanism is disposed about 5 mm to about 10 mm from the grip body along the longitudinal axis of the offset bar. 
     
     
         26 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 1  wherein the plate comprises a high strength material. 
     
     
         27 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 26  wherein the high strength material comprises a high strength metal alloy. 
     
     
         28 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 27  wherein the high strength metal alloy comprises tool steel. 
     
     
         29 . A jewelry setting tool, comprising:
 a grip body comprising:
 a plate with an outer perimeter, a thickness disposed between a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, and 
 a grip element disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate, the grip element including:
 a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter, 
 a pivot surface disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge, and 
 a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface; and 
 
   a torque mechanism which is secured to the grip body and which is configured to apply torque to the grip body with a moment of the torque applied being perpendicular to the plate.   
     
     
         30 . A grip element for a jewelry setting tool, comprising:
 a grip slot disposed transversely through a thickness of a plate from a first lateral surface to a second lateral surface of the plate, the grip slot extending inwardly from an outer perimeter of the plate;   a grip hook having a tapered outer end portion with a chisel-like shape and a terminal edge that is directed towards a circumferential orientation of the outer perimeter of the plate and with an apex of the terminal edge extending along an edge axis that is perpendicular to the first lateral surface and the second lateral surface of the plate;   a pivot surface disposed on the outer perimeter of the plate and spaced circumferentially about the outer perimeter from the terminal edge; and   a gap disposed across a circumferential orientation between the terminal edge of the grip hook and the pivot surface.   
     
     
         31 . The grip element of  claim 30  further comprising a slot angle formed by a longitudinal axis of the grip slot and a radial line extending from a center of the plate and intersecting the longitudinal axis of the grip slot at the gap. 
     
     
         32 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 31  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about degrees to about 55 degrees. 
     
     
         33 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 32  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about degrees to about 50 degrees. 
     
     
         34 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 33  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot angle of about 42 degrees to about 48 degrees. 
     
     
         35 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 30  wherein the grip slot comprises a slot width of about 0.5 mm to about 2.5 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 35  wherein the slot width is about 0.8 mm to about 1.2 mm. 
     
     
         37 . The jewelry setting tool of  claim 35  wherein the slot width is about 1.8 mm to about 2.2 mm.