US4864778A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for mounting and faceting gemstones
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-07-01
•
Granted: 1989-09-12
•
Expires: 2007-07-01
Abstract
Abstract Gemstones are positioned for adherence to a faceting machine dop with apparatus that includes a transparent, target bearing base and x-y centering bars. A mirror lap wheel is also disclosed to which a lap film is mounted after flush facet contact with the transparent base is observed.
Inventors
- 👤 C. R. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:45
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B9/00; B24B9/02; B24B9/06; B24B9/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for mounting gemstones to dops comprising an at least partially transparent base having a flat upper surface defining an xy-plane that bears a target; means for centering and holding a gemstone upon said base upper surface over said target with a flat facet of the gemstone verifiably positioned in said xy-plane flushly upon said base upper surface by visual reference to an image of the facet through said base; and means for guiding a dop along an axis oriented normally to said base upper surface in alignment with said target into contact with a gemstone centered and held by said centering and holding means over said target flushly upon said base upper surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
Apparatus for mounting gemstones to dops comprising an at least partially transparent base having a flat upper surface defining an xy-plane that bears a target; means for centering and holding a gemstone upon said base upper surface over said target with a flat facet of the gemstone verifiably positioned in said xy-plane flushly upon said base upper surface by visual reference to an image of the facet through said base; and means for guiding a dop along an axis oriented normally to said base upper surface in alignment with said target into contact with a gemstone centered and held by said centering and holding means over said target flushly upon said base upper surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said target comprises a crosshair marking on said base upper surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said base has a flat lower surface oriented parallel with said upper surface whereby said base may be set flush atop a lap with the distance of a gemstone facet positioned flushly upon said base upper surface from the lap equal to the spacing between said upper and lower surfaces of said base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said base has a beveled side through which the facet image may be observed reflected from the base lower surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gripping and centering means comprises a pair of mutually parallel x-axis centering bars oriented parallel to the x-axis and which straddle said target and a pair of mutually parallel y-axis centering bars oriented parallel to the y-axis and which straddle said target and transverse said pair of x-axis centering bars.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said gripping and centering means further includes means for simultaneous moving each of said x-axis centering bars towards or away from said target and for simultaneous moving each of said y-axis centering bars towards or away from said target.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said pair of x-axis centering bars are spring biased towards said target and said pair of y-axis centering bars are spring biased towards said target.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein each of said bars moving means comprises a rotary element coupled with said bars.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said gripping and centering means is detachably mounted to said base and has dependent legs adapted to be slidably mounted about sides of said base in aligning the gripping and centering means with the base.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said dop guiding means comprises a lid having a channel through which a dop may be frictionally slid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said gripping and centering means has upwardly extending sides against which said lid may be slidably guided and mounted thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said gripping and centering means sides are formed with ledges upon which lid may be supported.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of mounting a gemstone on a dop comprising the steps of: (a) placing the gemstone upon a transparent support that has a targeted position; (b) positioning the gemstone at the targeted position by visual reference through said transparent support to the location of the surface of the stone in direct contact with the transparent support and to the targeted position; and (c) moving a dop along an axis extending from the targeted position onto the gemstone for adherence thereto by an adhesive agent placed on the dop or gemstone.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of mounting a gemstone on a dop comprising the steps of: (a) placing the gemstone upon a transparent support that has a targeted position; (b) positioning the gemstone at the targeted position by visual reference through said transparent support to the location of the surface of the stone in direct contact with the transparent support and to the targeted position; and (c) moving a dop along an axis extending from the targeted position onto the gemstone for adherence thereto by an adhesive agent placed on the dop or gemstone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the gemstone has a flat facet that is placed upon the transparent support, and wherein the image of the facet is observed through the transparent support for verification that the flat facet is positioned flushly upon the support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US557981A
Cited
US1261766A
Cited
US1284109A
Cited
US2109849A
Cited
US2399052A
Cited
US2428859A
Cited
US2724220A
Cited
US2950585A
Cited
US3144737A
Cited
US3818641A
Cited
US3916584A
Cited
US3959935A
Cited
US4274232A
Cited
US4240232A
Cited
US4417564A
Cited
US4418500A
Cited
US4691481A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |