Abstract:
Provided are tools, tool kits, and associated methods for forming and/or clasping needs associated with, for example, jewelry making activities. The tools herein releasably secure forming pegs and restrain lateral movement of the forming pegs to a first line of action. The tools also translate an actuation force along a second line of action to relative lateral movement of the forming pegs along the first line of action.
Abstract:
A system and method for orthodontic alignment includes a radiographic template. The radiographic template has a plurality of metallic markers. A negative impression of a patient's dental arch is made. At least one orthodontic treatment aligner is produced. The aligner is manufactured based in part on a computed axial tomography (CT) scan of a patient wearing the radiographic template and a separate scan of the radiographic template, wherein the data is processed by superimposition of the orthodontic aligner on the CT images of the patient including a jaw in axial and panoramic views. In this manner, the tooth above the gum line, represented by the negative impression as well as the tooth below the gum line, represented by the CT data is used to design the orthodontic aligner.
Abstract:
Machine for manufacturing a continuous strip of metal lattice by means of a single flexible metal wire continuously supplying said machine, said lattice being produced by repeating a same motif of metal wire in a plane, each motif being superposed on the preceding motif with an offset of constant pitch in the axial direction in which the strip of lattice is produced, said machine comprising: a stage at which the metal wire is stored; a stage at which the machine is continuously supplied with metal wire; a shaping stage at which said wire is configured in a succession of identical motifs; a transfer stage for displacing each motif of metal wire successively towards the plane at which the strip of lattice is formed; a stage at which each motif is maintained in a plane and offset at a constant pitch before the subsequent motif arrives; and a stage at which the motifs are affixed to one another. The invention also relates to a strip of lattice formed by repeating a single motif offset along the axis in which said strip is produced, said motifs being welded to one another on a level with at least some of their intersections, and a method of manufacturing a strip of lattice on a continuous basis by means of a single metal wire, characterised by the following steps: winding the metal wire around a shaping drum so that each turn then constitutes an identical motif; separating the turns in the direction of the axis of the shaping drum; depositing the turns on a shaping plane of the lattice oriented perpendicular to said axis of the shaping drum; continuously displacing said plane, in synchronisation with the winding, separating and depositing speeds of the turns in order to create an offset between the turns and form the succession of said repetitive patterns of the lattice; and welding at least some of the intersection points of said motifs constituting the lattice.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing jewelry and a chain article formed therefrom that results in a product substantially lighter than its solid counterpart. A length of wire mesh or woven wire type of nullfabricnull having a hollow seamed wire with a non-precious core of a width and length corresponding generally to the proportions of the jewelry chain to be created is provided. The non-precious core is then removed by one of many methods. Then, a series of hollow link sections are received on the length of wire mesh such that the interior surfaces of the links surround the mesh. The links are arranged in an end-to-end abutting relationship upon the mesh until the length of chain desired is reached. Alternatively, a spiral resembling a spring may be used. Upper and lower die members are brought into contact with the preformed chain and forced there against with a magnitude of pressure and for a duration of time sufficient to deform the links or spiral and bring the inner surfaces thereof into at least partial engagement with the mesh.
Abstract:
A method of manufacturing jewelry and a chain article formed therefrom which provides an embossed, decorative pattern in either surface of an omega-style chain. A length of wire mesh or woven wire type of "fabric" of a width and length corresponding generally to the proportions of the jewelry chain to be created is provided whereon a series of hollow link sections are received such that the interior surfaces of the links surround the mesh. The links are arranged in end-to-end abutting relationship upon the mesh until the length of chain desired is reached. Upper and lower die members are brought into contact with the preformed chain and forced thereagainst with a magnitude of pressure and for a duration of time sufficient to deform the links and bring the inner surfaces thereof into at least partial engagement with the mesh. The contour of the operating surfaces of the upper and lower dies may be of any desired ornamentation, as the finished chain conforms thereto, and at least one of the working surfaces of the upper and/or lower dies is provided with an ornamenting pattern which forms a corresponding embossed expression in at least part of one surface of the chain.
Abstract:
A flexible tubular item having an outer flexible section of hollow tubing with a first end and a second end, a flexible wire positioned within the hollow tubing, a flexible paint layer covering an exterior surface of the flexible wire, and a viscous liquid contained within the hollow tubing. The hollow tubing is a transparent vinyl tube. The flexible wire is copper wire having a bend resistance greater than the bend resistance of the hollow tubing. The liquid is mineral oil filling the area around the flexible wire within the hollow tubing. Ball members are affixed in liquid-tight relationship within the first and second ends of the hollow tubing. These ball members are acrylic spheres having a diameter greater than the interior diameter of the hollow tubing.
Abstract:
Band making apparatus, comprising a mandrel rotatable about an axis, a source of wire, a guide and control system for presenting the wire to the mandrel to be wound thereabout, for causing successive turns of the wire on the mandrel to form the band, and for causing completed portions of the band to be fed from the mandrel along the axis, and cut-off mechanism arranged to receive the band from the mandrel and automatically successively cut off band segments of predetermined length.
Abstract:
A process for the manufacture of a highly resilient and pliant expandable band, characterized in that an annealed resilient metallic wire is wound repeatedly and continuously into a bandshaped or endless structure composed of a series of closely adjacent coils having the same number of turns, for each coil, so that every other coil is wound from top to bottom or vice versa and the interposed coil between such every other coil is wound from bottom to top or vice versa; the structure thus obtained is then subjected to a compressive force from its periphery; wedge pins are then inserted into any desirable coils and trimmed in their shape; and the overall structure is then subjected to quenching treatment from a high temperature.
Abstract:
A method of making jewelry from precious metals, such as gold, platinum, etc., and their alloys, comprises starting with a rectangular strip of wire mesh, (known in the trade as ''''milanese''''), adding additional wire coils of progressively shorter length to opposite margins, placing the loosely woven mesh into a shaping press to progressively compress the mesh into a circular or oval shape, coating one face with molding wax, electroplating the other side with copper, annealing and scouring the first surface, hammering the surface to crush the wires into a denser mass while retaining its circular, or oval, shape, reannealing and re-scouring the mesh, coating the hammered surface with wax, repeating the copper electroplating step on the back, placing the plated surface in contact with a die having the desired design, hammering the first face again while the coppered surface contacts the die and removing the copper by acid etching.