DEMEGLIO, Roberto (Via Roma 18, Moriondo Torinese, I-10020, IT)
CLAIMS
1.- Item of jewellery of the type comprising:
- an annular element (2) consisting of a tubular helical spring (2) ; and
- a plurality of decorative elements (5) carried by the annular element, characterized in that said annular element carries means (7) suitable to limit the maximum extension of said tubular helical spring (2) .
2.- Item according to claim 1, wherein said means suitable to limit the maximum extension of said tubular helical spring comprise a chain (7) housed inside said tubular helical spring (2) and extending along a closed path.
3.- Item of jewellery according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein said decorative elements comprise ring-shaped decorative elements (5) carried by the tubular element. |
ITEM OF JEWELLERY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present 'invention relates to an item of jewellery. BACKGROUND ART
In the prior art items of jewellery are known comprising: an annular element consisting of a tubular helical spring (for example a steel helical spring closed to form a ring) and a plurality of decorative elements (preferably made of precious material, for example gold or silver) carried by the annular element.
Thanks to the presence of the tubular spring, the items of jewellery are easy to put on because they are radially deformable. However, in certain conditions of use, the deformation applied to the spring could be excessive and result in irreparable damage thereto.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide an item of jewellery in which the deformation of the spring is limited to a maximum value suitable to prevent damage thereto.
The above objective is achieved by the present invention which relates to an item of jewellery of the type comprising: an annular element consisting of a tubular helical spring; and a plurality of decorative elements carried by the annular element, characterized in that said annular element carries means suitable to
limit the maximum extension of said tubular helical spring.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings of a preferred non- limiting embodiment thereof in which:
• figure 1 is a perspective view of an item of jewellery produced according to the present invention;
• figure 2 shows the item of figure 1 illustrated with some parts removed.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the attached figures designated as a whole by number 1 is an item of jewellery (for example a bracelet, or a ring or a necklace) comprising: - an annular element 2 (visible in figure 2) consisting of a tubular helical spring (for example a steel helical spring closed to form a ring) ; and
- a plurality of decorative elements 5 (preferably made of precious material, for example gold or silver) carried by the tubular element 2.
The spring 2 can have an outside diameter ranging, for instance, from 1 mm to 2.5 cm.
According to the present invention, the annular element 2 carries a device 7 suitable to limit the maximum extension of the tubular helical spring 2.
Preferably the device 7 comprises a chain housed inside the tubular helical spring 2 and extending along a closed path.
The chain 7 can be of the type with round links or curb links .
In the non-deformed item of jewellery condition, the spring 2 is at rest and the chain 7 is contained inside the spring 2 with its links compact.
Manually deforming the spring 2 the latter extends and causes the chain 7 to extend; the extension of the spring 2 is however limited by the maximum extension of the chain 7. Typically the chain 7 is configured to allow the spring 2 to extend so that, when stretched to its maximum extension, it is 10-60% longer than the length of the spring 2 at rest .
The spring 2 is thus prevented from stretching excessively which could result in irreparable damage to said spring.
Preferably the decorative elements 5 comprise ring- shaped decorative elements carried by the tubular element 2.