US 6,003,228 A · Method for making a decorative or jewelry item

Abstract

The invention is a method for making a reverse intaglio decorative or jewelry item and the product made by the method. Any suitable graphical image is scanned into digital memory. The image is changed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional by adding contour to the original image using appropriate graphics software. The contour is scaled for the production of first and second slightly different sizes. Both sized images are converted to a computer numeric control dataset for controlling a milling machine, which cuts the first contour into the underside of a cabochon of stone or crystal and the second contour into a die stamp tool. An insert is die-stamped into metal, said insert having a convex surface that matches the contour of the first contour milled into the cabochon. The insert is painted and mounted into the cabochon to form the reverse intaglio. Suitable inserts may also be produced by molding and casting rather than machining methods.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method for making a decorative item comprising the steps:

creating a digital representation of a two-dimensional image;
generating a three-dimensional contour profile for the image in digital format;
scaling the three-dimensional profile for the production of a first and a mating second reproduction of the image in three dimensions;
milling into a cabochon the scaled three-dimensional profile of the first image reproduction, said milled first image reproduction forming a recessed three-dimensional concave surface within the cabochon;
making an insert in the form of the scaled second reproduction of the image, said insert having a three-dimensional convex surface;
painting the insert on the convex surface;
and,
securing the painted insert into the recess milled into the cabochon such that the painted three-dimensional image is visible within the cabochon.

5 more elements

A method for making a decorative item comprising the steps:

creating a digital representation of a two-dimensional image;
generating a three-dimensional contour profile for the image in digital format;
scaling the three-dimensional profile of the image for the production of a first and a mating second reproduction of the image in three dimensions, the images being scaled such that an insert made in the form of the second image may fit within and conform to the size and detail of a recess made in the form of the first image;
generating a computer numerical control toolpath dataset for each of the respective first and second scaled image reproductions, each toolpath dataset respectively being employed for controlling the machining of each of the respective first and second reproductions of the image by a computer-controlled milling machine;
milling into a cabochon the scaled three-dimensional profile of the first image reproduction, said milled first image reproduction forming a three-dimensional concave recessed surface within the cabochon;
making an insert in the form of the scaled second reproduction of the image, said insert having a three-dimensional convex surface;
painting the insert on the convex surface of the insert;
fitting the painted insert into the recess in the underside of the cabochon, mating the three-dimensional detail of the insert into the three-dimensional detail of the recessed surface within the cabochon, and
securing the painted insert into the recessed surface within the cabochon.

6 more elements

A method for making a decorative item comprising the steps:

creating a digital representation of a two-dimensional image;
generating a three-dimensional contour profile for the image in digital format;
scaling the three-dimensional profile of the image for the production of a first and a mating second reproduction of the image in three dimensions;
milling into a cabochon the scaled three-dimensional profile of the first image reproduction, said milled first image reproduction forming a recessed three-dimensional concave surface within the cabochon;
milling a blank die stamp tool to produce a die stamp tool having a reproduction of the second image;
using the die stamp tool, die stamping an insert in the form of the second reproduction of the image, said second reproduction of the image on the insert having a three-dimensional convex surface;
painting the insert on the convex surface;
and,
securing the painted insert into the recess milled into the cabochon such that the painted three-dimensional image is visible within the cabochon.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method for making a decorative or jewelry item

Life of this patent

Method for making a decorative or jewelry item

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19