Setting Aesthetic Elements on Non-Ductile Ceramic Supports

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for setting aesthetic elements, such as precious stones, are limited to ductile metals and fail to ensure long-term retention on materials without plastic deformation, like ceramics or silicon, due to the lack of mechanical retention in adhesive bonding.

Innovation Solution

A decorative piece with a support made of a non-plastically deformable material featuring hollows filled with a deformable metallic substrate, including gripping means that deform to securely hold aesthetic elements, allowing for various deformation methods like plastic, elastic, or thermal expansion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If adhesive bonding is used to set aesthetic elements on non-ductile materials, then the support can be made from hard and brittle materials like ceramics or silicon, but the retention of stones is not ensured due to lack of mechanical retention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial selection for supportVSAvoidretention of aesthetic elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses a composite structure where a deformable metallic substrate is integrated into a non-ductile support material (ceramic, silicon, composite, or intermetallic alloy). This composite approach allows the support to maintain its hard and brittle properties while the embedded metallic substrate provides the necessary plastic deformation capability for mechanical retention of aesthetic elements through setting means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If conventional setting method with ductile metals is used, then mechanical retention of stones is ensured through plastic deformation, but the support cannot be made from hard and brittle materials without plastic deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical retention of aesthetic elementsVSAvoidmaterial selection for support

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the support structure into two distinct functional parts: a non-ductile support material (ceramic, silicon, composite, or intermetallic alloy) that provides structural integrity and aesthetics, and a separate deformable metallic substrate embedded within it that provides the plastic deformation capability needed for mechanical setting of aesthetic elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Strength

If the support material has high elastic limit and low elongation before rupture, then the material has sufficient strength, but the gripping means cannot be folded down without breaking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength of support materialVSAvoidsetting operation feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality by providing different material properties in different regions of the support structure. The outer support material maintains high strength with high elastic limit and low elongation, while the embedded metallic substrate provides local plastic deformability with lower elastic limit and higher elongation, enabling the setting operation to proceed without breaking the gripping means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the secure setting of aesthetic elements on materials without plastic deformation, ensuring long-term retention and maintaining the appearance of embedding within the non-deformable material.

Implementation Method 1

Cold plastic deformation of crystalline metals is made possible by the movements of the lattice dislocations present in the crystal lattices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Implementation Method 2

Cold plastic deformation of crystalline metals is made possible by the movements of the lattice dislocations present in the crystal lattices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLattice dislocation movement:

Implementation Method 3

The invention also concerns a method for setting at least one aesthetic element on a support which includes the steps of: ... making said substrate undergo plastic or elastic deformation or thermal expansion in order to set said at least one aesthetic element in said at least one housing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS11229264B2Decorative piece produced by setting

Publication Date: 2022.01.25 OMEGA SA

AI summary

A decorative piece includes a support made of a material having no usable plastic deformation in which at least one hollow is arranged. The hollow is filled with a first material forming a substrate in which at least one housing is arranged. The housing is arranged so that at least one aesthetic element is housable therein. The substrate further includes a gripper elastically deforming to retain the aesthetic element in the housing. The gripper further includes at least one setting element. A method for setting an aesthetic element on a support includes taking a support provided with at least one hollow, taking at least one aesthetic element, filling the hollow with a first material, making a setting hole and a gripper in the first material, and setting the aesthetic element by placing it in the hole and by deforming the gripper so as to retain the aesthetic element.