Ball-shaped jewelry and method of making same

Abstract

A jewelry includes a body made from a metal and having a hollow interior. The body has a seamless exterior wall substantially enclosing the hollow interior. The wall includes at least one opening which extends completely through the wall so as to define a design formed directly in the wall.

1 . A jewelry comprising a body made from a metal and having a hollow interior, said body having a seamless exterior wall substantially enclosing said hollow interior, said wall including at least one opening which extends completely through said wall so as to define a design formed directly in said wall.  
   
   
       2 . The jewelry of  claim 1 , wherein said wall has a generally spheroidal shape.  
   
   
       3 . The jewelry of  claim 2 , wherein said wall has a hole for allowing a wire to extend therethough so as to mount said body to the wire.  
   
   
       4 . The jewelry of  claim 3 , wherein said wall includes an annular projection extending substantially radially inwardly from said wall and surrounding said hole for reinforcing a portion of said wall defining said hole.  
   
   
       5 . The jewelry of  claim 4 , wherein said annular projection is formed monolithically with said wall.  
   
   
       6 . The jewelry of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, each of which extends completely through said wall, said plurality of openings defining a person's name.  
   
   
       7 . The jewelry of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, each of which extends completely through said wall, said plurality of openings defining a person's name.  
   
   
       8 . A method for making a jewelry which has a substantially enclosed body made from a metal and having a hollow interior, the body having a seamless exterior wall substantially enclosing the hollow interior, the wall including at least one opening which extends completely through the wall so as to define a design pattern formed directly in the wall, said method comprising the steps of: 
 forming a design corresponding to the body with the use of a computer;    making an expendable model corresponding to the design with the use of a three-dimensional model forming machine;    forming a mold with the use of the model; and    pouring molten metal into the mold so as to form the body.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the wall has a generally spheroidal shape.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the wall has a hole for allowing a wire to extend therethough so as to mount the body to the wire.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the wall includes an annular projection extending substantially radially inwardly from the wall and surrounding the hole for reinforcing a portion of the wall defining the hole.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the annular projection is formed monolithically with the wall.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, each of which extends completely through the wall, the plurality of openings defining a person's name.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said at least one opening includes a plurality of openings, each of which extends completely through the wall, the plurality of openings defining a person's name.