Multiple gem setting having a component of gems set in fusion adhesive foil

Abstract

A component comprising a plurality of gemstones containing visible faces and seating faces, said gemstones being mounted by their seating faces in a given arrangement and with a given mutual spacing therebetween in respective recesses in a support, said support being a continuous foil of fusion adhesive. The component is made in an apparatus that includes a plate with a heating chamber on one side and a vacuum chamber on the other. The stones are arranged in recesses on the plate with their seating faces outward, a sheet of adhesive foil (transparent or colored) is positioned thereover, heated into a thermoplastic state and drawn down by vacuum to surround and adhere to the seating faces. The component (foil with stones affixed) is then placed in a recessed jewelry setting with each stone in a recess, and again heated to fuse the foil to the setting.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.