Jewelry items

Abstract

The present invention relates to an article of jewelry comprising at least one transparent wall forming a housing adapted to receive at least one precious or semi-precious stone movable in a substantially transparent liquid within the housing, and at least one component movable in the liquid and having the same refractive index as the liquid, the component being substantially optically invisible when immersed in the liquid. The housing is delimited by two walls, the inner surfaces of which are preferably parallel to each other, into which the at least one precious or semi-precious stone is inserted to form a movable decorative element, the component being substantially optically invisible when immersed in the liquid, and comprising an axis of rotation and two guide surfaces adjacent to the inner surfaces, respectively, which allow the movable decorative element to move freely in translation and rotation within the liquid around the axis of rotation within the housing.

Description

Cross-reference to related applications

[0001] This patent application is the national phase application of International Application No. PCT / IB2021 / 055585 filed on June 24, 2021, which claims the priority of Swiss Application No. CH00861 / 20 filed on July 14, 2020, and the disclosure content thereof is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to movable decorative elements intended to rotate and translate within articles of jewelry, particularly rings and pendants, and to practical articles decorated with movable decorative elements, particularly watches, spectacle frames or high-quality leatherware products.

Background Art

[0003] The mobility of decorative elements in watches or jewelry enhances the aesthetic effect when the user moves them, adding further visual appeal to the watches or jewelry and emphasizing their value. It is known to place jewelry elements such as gemstones, or even gemstones polished and mounted in a hemispherical shape with at least one degree of freedom, around or even on top of the dial of a watch, in channels or enclosed spaces where these jewelry elements are movable.

[0004] Furthermore, gemstones or semi-precious stones have been placed in a liquid. US1730257A describes improvements to a type of composite gemstone containing a group of immersed small gemstones, and the group of small gemstones is movable within a substantially transparent liquid within a substantially transparent housing, where the liquid space leaves a space between the small gemstones when they are set in a moving state. The improvement consists of a plurality of substantially transparent spacers having properties related to a liquid that mixes with the small gemstones and is movable in the liquid and renders them substantially optically invisible when they are in the liquid.

[0005] The applicant possesses extensive expertise in the implementation of articles containing movable decorative elements and seeks to achieve entirely different technical effects. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The object of the present invention is to provide a jewelry article comprising gemstones or semi-gemstones arranged on a movable part to constitute a decorative element that moves in a liquid, so that the movement and spinning effect of the movable decorative element are slowed down, and so that these movements can be visualized in slow motion, like a video slow-motion effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the present invention, a jewelry article comprises at least one transparent wall forming a housing provided for receiving at least one stone which is a gemstone or semi-gemstone and is movable and immersed in a substantially transparent liquid within the housing; and at least one component which is movable in the liquid and has the same refractive index as the liquid, wherein the component immersed in the liquid is substantially optically invisible. The housing is preferably divided by two walls whose inner surfaces are parallel to each other. The component immersed in the liquid is substantially optically invisible in that the stone is inserted into the component to form a movable decorative element, and comprises a pivot axis and two guide surfaces adjacent to the inner surface, respectively, which allow the movable decorative element to move freely in translation and rotation in the liquid about the pivot axis inside the housing.

[0008] As a result of the effects of the present invention, a movable decorative element placed in a liquid can produce a special effect that slows down the movement of the movable decorative element and the movement of the spinning effect 10, making these movements visible in slow motion, similar to a video slow-motion effect achieved by accelerating the frame rate during filming to slow down the projected movement.

[0009] In one embodiment, the stone is inserted into a movable part that forms a socket surrounding the stone.

[0010] The liquid is filled into each space between the inside of the movable part and the stone so that it is not visible.

[0011] In one embodiment, the movable part is arranged to receive a plurality of gemstones or semi-gemstones. According to this embodiment, it is an assembly of a plurality of gemstones or semi-gemstones that turn on movement on its own.

[0012] In this embodiment, the plurality of gemstones or semi-gemstones have different densities and are arranged to direct the movement of the movable part.

[0013] In one embodiment, the movable part has a drag coefficient (Cx) in the liquid that determines the movement of the movable decorative element.

[0014] To accelerate the slow rotation of the movable decorative element, the movable part is provided with fins arranged around its periphery. The socket has fins to promote rotation (spin effect) during translational motion, while the effect of the decorative element moving in the liquid is generally to slow down this spin effect.

[0015] To amplify the optical effect, the movable decorative element may be positioned to move along a corridor or path defined by a projection or hollow portion located in at least one of the walls. The walls formed by these projections or hollow portions can be made invisible in the liquid, and thus the effect can be further enhanced because the decorative element cannot leave its periphery or follow any path other than the defined path, and therefore the wearer cannot see the invisible corridor or path. For example, the projections or hollow portions may be glass, liquid glycerin, and a crystal of one of the two walls of sapphire. In this embodiment, the movable decorative element appears to be able to move within the entire housing, rather than only moving within a limited periphery.

[0016] In another embodiment, the stone is held within the component by a plurality of arms that extend over the body of the component and set the stone on the body of the component, these arms being spaced apart from each other, and a lateral opening allowing the sides of the stone between the arms to be in direct contact with the liquid, and the guide surface is formed by the free ends of the arms in the form of separate contact regions spaced apart from each other around the outer surface of the opening of the component.

[0017] In one embodiment, the decorative element may consist of a bottomless hollow cylinder and a stone.

[0018] The aforementioned stone may be a gemstone, especially a diamond, or a semi-precious stone.

[0019] The movable decorative element consists of the gemstone or semi-gemstone and its parts, and its shape corresponds to, for example, a cylindrical, elliptical, square, triangular, or asymmetrical shape.

[0020] In one embodiment, the clearance between the height of the movable decorative element and the opposing inner surfaces of the wall is 0.05 to 0.3 mm, preferably 0.05 to 0.1 mm.

[0021] In one embodiment, the parallel inner surfaces of the walls are flat. However, in a modified example, the parallel inner surfaces of the walls are curved.

[0022] The ornament of the present invention can be in the form of a watch, a writing instrument, a jewel, an eyeglass frame, or high-quality leather clothing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] The features of the present invention are given only by way of completely non-limiting examples and by reading the description of several embodiments which are given only by reference to the following schematic drawings and are more clearly apparent.

[0024] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view of a wristwatch is shown with four movable decorative elements inserted between two walls and immersed in a liquid. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view of a movable decorative element that moves freely in rotational and translational motions around an axis between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 3a] A cross-sectional view of a round-shaped movable decorative element that moves freely in rotational and translational motions between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 3b] A cross-sectional view of a round-shaped movable decorative element that moves freely in rotational and translational motions between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 4] A cross-sectional view of a movable decorative element that includes two jewels, is very close to each other, and moves freely in rotational and translational motions between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 5] A top view of a movable part shaped like a fish that is intended to move freely in rotational and translational motions between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 6] A perspective view of a movable decorative element in the form of a cylinder that is intended to move freely in rotational and translational motions around an axis between two walls filled with a liquid is shown. [Figure 7]The diagram shows a top view of a clock component, comprising three movable decorative elements 4 and 6 of different sizes, which move freely in rotational and translational motion between two liquid-filled walls, spaced apart from each other, and the jewels cannot touch each other. [Figure 8] The diagram shows a cross-section of two movable decorative elements containing two jewels, filled with liquid, and freely moving in rotational and translational motion between two widely spaced walls. [Figure 9] A top view is shown of a heart-shaped movable decorative element intended to move freely in rotational and translational motion between two liquid-filled walls. [Figure 10] The image shows a partial top view of a clock featuring a movable decorative element that moves freely in rotational and translational motion between two walls, guided by a liquid-filled, invisible path. [Figure 11] The image shows a partial top view of a clock featuring a movable decorative element that moves freely in rotational and translational motion between two walls, guided by a liquid-filled, invisible corridor. [Figure 12] A side view of a movable decorative element is shown, which has an intermediate ring between the convex bottom of a socket-functioning component and the end of the arm. [Figure 13] The diagram shows a cross-section of a movable decorative element consisting of a bottomless socket and a jewel, which moves freely in rotational and translational motion between two liquid-filled walls. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0025] As shown in Figure 1, the watch shown in cross-section has a movement to which the dial is attached, and the central part is housed in a casing that is closed on one side by a back cover and on the other side by a crystal glass 1. A second crystal glass 2 is positioned between crystal glass 1 and the dial.

[0026] In this embodiment, the respective inner surfaces of each crystal glass 1 and 2 are applied to the bearing surfaces of the inner surfaces of the components constituting the watch casing, and are filled with liquid 5, leaving a predetermined height of free space between them. In this embodiment, the respective inner surfaces of crystal glass 1 and 2 are strictly flat. In modifications not shown, the respective inner surfaces of crystal glass 1 and 2 may have a slight curvature formed around one or more centers or axes of curvature according to one or more radii of curvature, particularly according to different cross-sections as shown in EP0965071. In this case, the respective curvatures given to these two inner surfaces 1 and 2 are strictly identical to each other, and the height of the free space formed between them remains constant.

[0027] Preferably, the crystal glass 1 of the watch also includes a device (not shown) for compensating for the thermal expansion of the liquid 5 in order to compensate for fluctuations in the volume of the liquid that are linked to temperature. This device may take different forms, such as a flexible film as disclosed in patent application WO2015 / 150910.

[0028] Therefore, as seen in Figure 1, the clock comprises two transparent walls 1, 2 forming a housing 3, which is arranged to house four movable decorative elements 4, 6 that are immersed in a substantially transparent liquid 5 and are movable. Each movable decorative element 4, 6 is provided with a socket 6, the socket 6 having approximately the same refractive index as the liquid 5, and the socket 6 immersed in the liquid 5 is substantially optically invisible. In this embodiment, the socket is made of glass and the liquid is glycerin. Other combinations are also possible. Thus, the housing 3 is separated by two transparent walls 1, 2 whose internal surfaces 1a, 2a (see Figure 2) are parallel to each other. The socket 6 immersed in the liquid 5 is substantially optically invisible and is provided with a pivot axis and two guide surfaces 6a, 6b adjacent to the internal surfaces, respectively, allowing each of the four movable decorative elements 4, 6 to move freely in translation and rotation in the liquid about the pivot axis inside the housing 3.

[0029] Therefore, movable decorative elements in a liquid can create a deceleration effect during their rotation and movement.

[0030] As shown in Figure 2, liquid is required in each space between the interior 6c of the socket 6 and the gemstone 4 in order to completely conceal the socket. In a variation not shown, an opening in the socket can be made to allow liquid to fill the space between the socket and the gemstone. In another variation not shown, liquid can be prevented from entering the socket by combining a socket and gemstone such that the interior of the socket perfectly matches the shape of the diamond.

[0031] In the embodiments shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the socket 6 is a ball formation. In the example in Figure 3a, the internal portion of the ball is aligned with the diamond 4, and the ball is, for example, cast or molded. In the embodiment in Figure 3b, the ball is filled with liquid.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the socket 6 is arranged to receive multiple jewels 4. The bottom of the socket 6 is curved.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, the socket 6 is represented by a fish, each containing multiple gems 4 within a smaller socket 6. In this embodiment, the gems 4 have different densities and are arranged to direct the movement of the socket. Thus, thanks to gems 4 of different properties, such that those closer to the fish's head are denser, this will favor the fish's "head-forward" movement and accelerate the fish's rotation.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6, the movable decorative element is cylindrical. Other geometric shapes are also possible.

[0035] Figure 7 shows a partial top view of a clock featuring three movable decorative elements 4, 6 of different sizes that move freely in rotational and translational motion between two walls filled with liquid. In this embodiment, the sockets 6 are of different sizes and invisible so that the gemstones cannot come into contact with them, creating a levitation effect. In versions not shown, multiple movable decorative elements 4, 6 may be associated with one or more sockets 6 that do not contain diamonds and act as spacers, further highlighting the movement of the movable decorative elements 4, 6 thanks to these mysterious displacements, which hinder the movement of the movable decorative elements 4, 6 as they move.

[0036] Figure 8 shows cross-sectional views of two movable decorative elements 4 and 6, which contain two jewels 4 and are freely movable between two widely spaced walls 1 and 2, and are filled with liquid 5.

[0037] Figure 9 shows a top view of a movable decorative element, which includes a heart-shaped gemstone 4 intended to rotate freely and translate between two liquid-filled walls. In this embodiment, the socket 6 has a drag coefficient Cx in the liquid that determines the movement of the movable decorative element. Thus, the molded movable part can be designed such that its movement is influenced by its drag coefficient Cx, and therefore, during its fall, preferably after pivoting on its own, the heart-shaped diamond orients towards its tip.

[0038] Figure 10 shows a partial top view of a clock with movable decorative elements 4 and 6 that are filled with liquid and move freely in rotational and translational motion between two walls guided by a path 19.

[0039] Figure 11 shows a partial top view of a clock with movable decorative elements 4 and 6 that are filled with liquid and move freely in rotational and translational motion between two walls guided by a corridor 20.

[0040] Finally, in the previous example, the movable decorative element is attached to the support by forming a small cylindrical socket with a convex outer surface at the bottom, as shown in Figure 1. 2The diagram shows a side view of a movable decorative element, which has an intermediate ring between the convex bottom of a component that functions as a socket and the ends of several arms 8 that extend beyond the outer surface of stone 4. This very open socket has the advantage of not requiring a cylindrical socket to be hollowed out to fill with liquid.

[0041] Figure 1 3 In the embodiment shown, liquid is required in each space between the internal components of the socket 6 and the stone 4 in order to completely conceal the socket. Therefore, a bottomless cylindrical socket allows the liquid to fill the space between the socket and the stone.

[0042] This invention makes the effect of each piece of jewelry containing movable decorative elements in a liquid more striking by giving the impression that it is slowly moving and swirling in a vacuum, allowing the user to benefit from the beauty of a gemstone that rotates on its own.

[0043] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments cited and described, and different types of insertions into sockets can be imagined, for example, diamonds, rubies, mother-of-pearl, metals, etc. Similarly, gemstones can be inserted into sockets by different techniques, such as engraving, fretting, casting, bonding, etc.

[0044] As stated above, the present invention is not limited to wristwatches, but is applicable to all kinds of articles, particularly jewelry such as rings and pendants, as well as eyeglasses and writing instruments such as pens. It is also possible to envision articles equipped with the movable decorative elements according to the present invention, relating to luxury leather goods such as handbags. In general, these decorative elements, which are movable in liquid, can be applied to any utility article to give the latter its intended aesthetic effect. In particular, it is possible to include several different types of decorative elements in one article to create a unique aesthetic effect.

Claims

1. A housing comprising at least one transparent wall forming a housing for receiving at least one stone which is a gem or semi-gemstone and is movable and immersed in a substantially transparent liquid inside the housing, A jewelry article comprising at least one component that is movable in the liquid and has the same refractive index as the liquid, wherein the component immersed in the liquid is substantially optically invisible, A jewelry article wherein the housing is divided by an upper wall formed by the transparent wall and a lower wall, the inner surfaces of the lower wall and the upper wall are parallel to each other, and the component, which is arranged to allow slowing down the movement of the movable decorative element immersed in the liquid in such a way that the stone is inserted into the component to form a movable decorative element, further has two guide surfaces adjacent to each of its inner surfaces, thereby defining an axis of rotation perpendicular to the guide surfaces and the inner surface parallel to it, allowing the movable decorative element to move freely both translationally and rotationally in the liquid inside the housing.

2. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the stone is inserted into a component that forms a socket surrounding the stone.

3. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the component forming the socket has a cylindrical shape.

4. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the gemstone or semi-gemstone is cast into a spherical solid component or is contained in a hollow component that surrounds the gemstone or semi-gemstone and forms a ball filled with the liquid.

5. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein there is at least one space filled with the liquid between the inside of the component and the stone.

6. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the component is arranged to receive a plurality of gemstones or semi-gemstones.

7. The jewelry article according to claim 6, comprising a plurality of gemstones or semi-gemstones having different densities and arranged to direct the movement of the component.

8. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the component has a shape that determines the drag coefficient in the liquid, and the shape determines the desired movement of the movable decorative element in the liquid.

9. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the component comprises fins arranged to accelerate the rotation of the movable decorative element.

10. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the movable decorative element is arranged to move along a corridor or path defined by a projection or hollow portion located on at least one of the walls.

11. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the stone is held within the component by a plurality of arms that extend over the body of the component and set the stone, the arms being spaced apart from each other, allowing the sides of the stone to be in direct contact with the liquid, and the guide surface is formed by the free ends of the arms in the form of separate contact areas spaced apart from each other around the outer opening of the component.

12. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the stone is a diamond.

13. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the gemstone or semi-gemstone corresponds to the shape of the part, and the shape is selected from cylindrical, elliptical, square, triangular, or asymmetrical shapes.

14. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the clearance between the height of the movable decorative element and the opposing inner surface of the wall is 0.05 to 0.3 mm.

15. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the parallel inner surfaces of the walls are flat.

16. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the parallel inner surfaces of the walls are curved.

17. The wall is made of sapphire, the jewelry article according to claim 1.

18. The jewelry article according to claim 1, wherein the lower wall and the upper wall are transparent.

19. The article of jewelry according to claim 1, which is in the form of a watch, writing instrument, jewelry, eyeglass frame, or fine leather clothing.

Images