Decorative Stone Frame with Protruding Grooves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decorative elements with stones assembled in a closed frame often have visible fixing means on the rear face, which cannot be a second decorative face, and previous solutions like T-shaped rails were insufficiently resistant, causing the stones to fall apart under pressure.
Innovation Solution
A decorative element with stones assembled in a closed frame where the inner contour has protruding sections fitting into grooves on the stones' faces, providing better wedging and resistance, with all fixing means concealed on both decorative faces, using bars that cross the frame's contour at two opposite points, ensuring the frame's sides are fully integrated into the stones' grooves.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If T-shaped rails are used to fix stones, then the fixing means can be concealed on the front face, but the structure becomes insufficiently resistant and stones fall apart under pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from T-shaped rails (2D cross-section) to bars with protruding sections that extend into grooves (3D integration). The protruding sections create a interlocking mechanism that adds dimensional complexity and mechanical strength while maintaining concealment on the front face.
Solution Approach 2:
The bars are nested within grooves cut into the stones, with protruding sections that fit into corresponding grooves. This nesting creates a integrated structure where the fixing means are embedded within the stone assembly rather than protruding, achieving both concealment and strength.
2Strength
If the rear face shows visible fixing means, then the structure is mechanically stable, but the rear face cannot be a second decorative face
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the fixing function with the decorative function by making the bars and grooves entirely concealed within the stone assembly. Both front and rear faces can display stones without revealing fixing means, allowing the rear face to serve as a second decorative face while maintaining mechanical stability.
3Device complexity
If flat or round rods are used instead of T-shaped rails, then the structure is simpler, but the stones lack sufficient support and fall apart
Solution Approach 1:
The bars have protruding sections with specific geometries (angles between 60° and 120°) that provide localized support points within the grooves. This creates areas of concentrated support where needed, rather than uniform distribution, providing both simplicity and adequate support for the stones.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 5~7
Figure 8~10
AI summary
The invention relates to a decorative element comprising a number of stones (4) assembled in a closed frame (2) to form two decorative faces, the stones comprising two opposite external faces (10, 12), which are decorative, and internal faces serving as joins (20, 22) between these stones, and as edging (24, 26) with the interior contour of the frame (32), some of these internal faces (22, 24) having grooves (28) arranged inside the volume of the frame (2) and accepting strips (34) the ends of which cross the contour of this frame at two opposing points in order to be secured. According to the invention, said decorative element is characterized in that the interior contour (32) of the frame (2) has a protruding cross section which fits into corresponding channels made in the internal edging faces (24, 26) of the stones (4). Applicable for example to the creation of jewellery.