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  Process for forming hollow costume jewelry articles coated with a film of precious metal or metallic alloyUSPTO Application #: 20070295029Title: Process for forming hollow costume jewelry articles coated with a film of precious metal or metallic alloy Abstract: A process therewith, with the electro-deposition method, a not precious metal or metallic alloy “shell” (2) is produced, openings (3) are made therethrough the low flux (1) is made to drip outside by melting, then metallic “plugs” (4) are applied by brazing, then the coating is made with galvanic bath with a precious metal or metallic alloy film (5). (end of abstract) Agent: Young & Thompson - Arlington, VA, US Inventor: Marco Giannini USPTO Applicaton #: 20070295029 - Class: 063034000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Jewelry, Miscellaneous, Plated Or Covered With Noble Metal Or Substance The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070295029. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a process for forming hollow costume jewellery articles coated with a precious metal or metallic alloy, therefore not precious metal articles which are usually bulky, empty and then light, directed to the ornamental and fashion field. [0002] Ornamental articles made of not precious metal are known, such as for example copper and the alloys thereof, zama and still other metals, usually produced by microcast, therefore full and, if bulky, heavy to be worn. In order to overcome such last inconvenient, due to the fact that the articles are bulky and heavy, they are produced with the casting process therewith, starting from a thin metallic plate, two shells are implemented which are then coupled therebetween and, at last, welded along the seam. In this way the implemented item results to be relatively light. [0003] The articles produced by microcast and those produced by casting and welding are cleaned and degreased onto the surface, then usually coated with a copper layer, or a layer of different metal, by means of a galvanic bath; at last, they are coated with a precious layer by electrolysis so as to make them to appear brilliant and precious. [0004] The known procedures in the first case produce heavy articles which can be used then for very small ornamental articles. In the second case, even if they are relatively light, they require expensive moulds and a complex subsequent processing. In one case or in the other one the finished costume jewellery articles result to be relatively expensive and therefore not always easy to be marketed. [0005] In the precious metal field, gold and silver in particular, the thick articles are usually produced with the electro-deposition process. Such method provides to implement with a current-conducting product having a low melting temperature, hereinafter called "low flux" for brevity, a model reproducing the item to be implemented, then by means of an electrolytical process it is coated with a thick layer of precious metal, then several holes are made therein. The item is then heated at the melting temperature of the low flux therewith the core thereof is made, of about 200-250.degree. C. in order to allow to empty thereof by dipping outside through said holes. The low flux could be then recovered and therefore used again. Once performed the emptying procedure, the low flux traces remained inside the item are removed with a chemical bath suitable to melt it so as not to alter the title of the golden "shell", or any other precious metal therewith the article to be constructed is made. The so-emptied article will be polished and/or subjected to finishing to be then marketed. [0006] In the so-produced precious metal items the holes are visible, which at first have been used to drip the low flux brought to melting, then to allow to melt into the acid bath, wherein the low flux is dipped, the low flux traces which have remained inside the ornamental article itself, then to remove them so as not to alter the title thereof. [0007] Such method cannot be performed in the production of costume jewellery articles made of copper alloy since the acid bath therethrough the low flux traces remained inside the "shell" are removed would corrode them and would bring into solution also the copper and the alloy thereof, thus destroying the "shell" reproducing the article to be implemented. [0008] Furthermore, the gilding with an electrolytical bath cannot be performed as the low flux remained inside the "shell" would melt into the bath and it would make ugly the obtained gilting which would result to be of spotted type. Furthermore, such galvanic bath could not be used any more to perform the gilting of other precious metal items since the dissolved low flux would hinder the implementation thereof, it would render the surface spotted and it would alter the title of the precious articles subjected to gilting. All this does not make possible the production of items made of copper, or copper alloy, with the electro-deposition process and with final gilting of the surface thereof. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] An aim of the present invention is to detect the process therethrough the implementation of hollow bulky ornamental articles is made possible, constituted by a not precious metal or metallic alloy shell, without openings, uniformly coated with a layer of precious, or however valuable, metal. [0010] Another aim of the present invention is the production of items therewith the human body can be adorned, or accessories in the fashion field, implemented with not precious metal or metallic alloy resulting to be hollow and therefore light and be coated with a thin layer of precious, or however valuable, metal which makes them of great value. [0011] At last, another aim of the present invention is the production of items made of not precious metal or metallic alloy, copper and the alloys thereof in particular, appearing to be without unaesthetic holes onto the surface. The invention which has allowed to achieve such results concretizes in a process constituted by a sequence of steps providing: [0012] implementing the model in conducting material with low-melting and low-flux temperature; [0013] coating by electrolysis said low flux model with copper, the alloys thereof or other not precious metal or metallic alloy, to implement a coating "shell" reproducing the shape of the model; [0014] implementing openings onto the coating "shell" made of not precious metal or metallic alloy until reaching the low flux inner core; [0015] heating the coating "shell" and emptying the low flux content thereof through said openings; [0016] filling said openings with conducting metallic members ("plugs"), resorting to brazings, then weldings with low-melting temperature weld metal; [0017] cleaning-smoothing the "shell" at least in the places wherein the filling members have been applied by brazing; [0018] coating by electrolysis the metallic "shell" with a layer of golden alloy film or however with a precious metal film. [0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to the so-obtained product which results to be bulky, light and with uniform surface, without holes, coated with precious, or however valuable, metal or metallic alloy which makes it to appear of high quality. [0020] Such invention results to be advantageous since it allows implementing costume jewellery ornamental articles with however shaped surfaces, without unaesthetic holes, light and bulky appearing to be made of precious, or however valuable, metal or metallic alloy, therefore high-quality ornaments. It results to be advantageous since the openings or holes made onto the "shell" can also be relatively big, so as to make rapid the emptying process by melting the low flux core, with the almost complete recovery of the same to be used again. It results to be advantageous as it is not provided to resort to any phase with acid coming in contact with the low flux, therefore any risk of polluting with low flux the used acid bath is avoided. It results to be advantageous since the application of "plugs" onto the openings protects the bath, therewith the electrolytical coating is made, from the low flux pollution and the coating obtained onto the produced articles results to be uniform and perfect, like the one performed onto full not precious metal articles or onto those obtained from cast, coupled and then welded shells. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] The invention will be described in details hereinafter by referring to the preferred embodiment solution and to the schematic drawings illustrating it, wherein: [0022] FIG. 1 is the front view of a low flux annular structure, sectioned by a median plane; [0023] FIG. 2 is the front view of the annular structure of FIG. 1, coated with a "shell" obtained by electro-deposition with a not precious metal or metallic alloy, sectioned by a median plane; [0024] FIG. 3 is the front view of the structure of FIG. 2 whereon two openings or emptying holes have been made, therewith the low flux inner core is reached; [0025] FIG. 4 is the front view of the structure of FIG. 3 once it has been emptied by melting the inner or low flux core and the emptying openings have been filled with brazed metallic "plugs"; [0026] FIG. 5 is the front view of the structure of FIG. 4 once the outer portions of the "plugs" have been smoothed, then the product has been coated by electrolysis with a precious metal or alloy film; [0027] FIG. 6 is the front view of the back of the annular structure of FIG. 5, from the side wherein there are the "plugs" hidden to the sight by the coating film; [0028] FIG. 7 exemplifies a pendant implemented with the described process and wherein, apart from the "plugs", the attachment annular structure has been applied before proceeding to coating with the precious film through the electrolytical bath. 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