System and methods for assembling chain elements using a coupling mechanism
View Patent ↗The disclosure herein relates to methods used to facilitate the assembly of chain-links. In particular, the disclosure relates to using a coupling mechanism comprising at least one coupling pin and at least one coupling socket to form a chain element in various ornamental and decorative forms. Accordingly, the coupling socket of a chain-link element is configured to accommodate a pin-head associated with the coupling pin in a pin-bed associated with the coupling socket. Furthermore, the coupling mechanism comprising a locking mechanism configured to fasten the pin-head into its associated pin-bed. Thus, the disclosed coupling mechanism provides an alternative to using soldering technique in the chain making field, enabling to assemble chain-link elements, especially of jewelry chains, which are typically made of precious metals, mainly gold and silver.
1. A chain-link configured to connect with at least one mating chain-link to form a chain element, said chain-link comprising:
a shaped-body having a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis;
at least one coupling-pin comprising a shank protruding distally from said shaped-body, said shank having a shank-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a shank-width measured along said lateral axis; and a pin-head extending from the distal end of said shank said pin-head having a head-thickness measured along said vertical axis and a head-width measured along said lateral axis,
at least one coupling-socket, comprising:
a pin-bed within said shaped-body, said pin-bed configured to accommodate a mating pin-head associated with said mating chain link; and
a coupling-slot extending through said shaped-body along a vertical axis traversing said pin-bed at an angle and configured to enable introduction of said mating pin-head into said pin-bed; and
a locking mechanism configurable to secure said mating pin-head associated with said mating chain-link, within said pin-bed associated with said chain link;
wherein said locking mechanism is configurable to secure said pin-head associated with a first link-element within said pin-bed associated with a second link-element; and
wherein said coupling-slot has a slot-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a slot-width measured along said lateral axis, and wherein said slot-length is larger than said head-width and said slot-width is larger than said head-thickness but smaller than said head-width.
2. The chain-link of claim 1 , wherein said locking mechanism comprises at least one molded locking strip configured to prevent said mating pin-head to move out of said pin-bed.
3. The chain-link of claim 1 , wherein said chain element is selected from a group comprising a necklace, a necklet, a bracelet, an armlet, a strap, a strip, a ribbon, a band, an earring, an anklet, a chain extender and combinations thereof.
4. The chain-link of claim of claim 1 , wherein said shaped-body is made of material selected from a group of gold, silver, steel, aluminum, copper, brass, nickel, rhodium, platinum, palladium, copper or combinations thereof.
5. The chain-link of claim 1 , said pin-bed comprising: a first depression and a second depression;
wherein said first depression and said second depression form two support shelves configured to support said pin-head.
6. The chain-link of claim 1 , said head-width being greater than said shank-width.
7. The chain-link of claim 5 , said first depression having a first-shoulder-length measured along said lateral axis; and said second depression having a second-shoulder-length measured along said lateral axis;
wherein said first-shoulder-length and said second-shoulder-length is larger than said head-thickness.
8. The chain-link of claim 5 , said pin-bed having a pin-bed-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a pin-bed-width measured along said lateral axis; and
wherein, said pin-bed-length is shorter than said shank-length, and said pin-bed-width is larger than said shank-width.
9. A chain coupling mechanism configured to connect a first link-element with a second link-element, said chain coupling mechanism, comprising:
at least one coupling pin comprising a shank protruding distally from said first link-element, said shank having a shank-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a shank-width measured along said lateral axis; and a pin-head extending from the distal end of said shank, said pin-head having a head-thickness measured along said vertical axis and a head-width measured along said lateral axis; and
at least one coupling socket within said second link-element, comprising:
a pin-bed configured to accommodate said pin-head associated with said first link-element;
a coupling-slot extending vertically through said second link-element traversing said pin-bed at angle and configured to enable introduction of said pin-head associated with said first link-element in said pin-bed; and
a locking mechanism;
wherein said locking mechanism is configurable to secure said pin-head associated with said first link-element within said pin-bed associated with said second link-element; and
wherein said coupling-slot has a slot-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a slot-width measured along said lateral axis, wherein said slot-length is larger than said head-width and said slot-width is larger than said head-thickness but smaller than said head-width.
10. A chain coupling mechanism configured to connect a first link-element with at least one second link-element, said chain coupling mechanism, comprising at least one of: a coupling pin and a coupling socket,
said coupling pin comprising a shank protruding distally from said first link-element, said shank having a shank-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a shank-width measured along said lateral axis; and a pin-head extending from the distal end of said shank, said pin-head having a head-thickness measured along said vertical axis and a head-width measured along said lateral axis from a first lateral face to a second lateral face;
wherein said coupling pin is configured to be introduced into at least one coupling socket via a coupling-slot extending vertically through said second link-element and such that said pin-head associated with said first link-element is accommodated by a pin-bed within said second link-element, said pin-bed configured to accommodate said pin-head; and
said coupling socket, comprising:
a pin-bed within said second link-element, said pin-bed configured to accommodate a pin-head associated with said first link-element; and
a coupling-slot extending vertically through said second link-element traversing said pin-bed at an angle and configured to enable introduction of a coupling pin associated with said first link-element; and
a locking mechanism;
wherein said locking mechanism is configurable to secure said pin-head associated with said first link-element within said pin-bed associated with said second link-element, and
wherein said coupling-slot has a slot-length measured along said longitudinal axis and a slot-width measured along said lateral axis, wherein said slot-length is larger than said head-width and said slot-width is larger than said head-thickness but smaller than said head-width.
11. The chain coupling mechanism of claim 10 , consisting of said coupling pin configured to couple with an element having a mating chain coupling socket.
12. The chain coupling mechanism of claim 10 , consisting of said coupling socket configured to couple with an element having a mating chain coupling pin.
13. The chain coupling mechanism of claim 10 , comprising a plurality of said coupling pins.
14. The chain coupling mechanism of claim 10 , comprising a plurality of said coupling sockets.