Method of Forming Rings from Beading Wire Using Grooved Ring Forming Mandrel

Abstract

A graduated polymeric ring forming mandrel and a method of forming a ring from beading wire are provided. The mandrel has a plurality of longitudinal grooves and a plurality of segments with diameters corresponding to ring sizes. The segments correspond to at least ring sizes 4 through 16 (North American sizing). The mandrel length is about 6 to 15 inches. The grooves are at least about 0.010 inches deep. The mandrel material is selected from an engineering resin or a compatible resin mixture. The ring forming method includes wrapping wire with beads/findings around a mandrel segment producing a helical preform, adding findings to each succeeding wrap, and stabilizing the appearance by joining the ends by knotting or use of a finding, moving the preform to another mandrel section with grooving or a smaller diameter, and either applying a finding or toroidally wrapping additional wire around the wire.

As our invention, we claim: 
     
         1 . A method of forming a ring from beading wire comprising the steps of:
 a.) providing a graduated polymeric ring forming mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal grooves provided therein, said ring forming mandrel having a plurality of cylindrical segments corresponding to a plurality of ring sizes;   b.) wrapping a length of beading wire with beads and/or findings deployed thereupon around a chosen cylindrical segment of the mandrel leaving a small tail projecting therefrom at each end to form a helical preform;   c.) adding beads and/or findings to each succeeding wrap of beading wire until desired appearance has been achieved; and   d.) stabilizing the desired appearance of the ring by at least one stabilization step chosen from the group consisting of:
 (1) bringing the ends of the helical preform into close proximity and joining them either by knotting or use of an appropriate finding such as a crimp tube, and 
 (2) moving the helical preform to a section of the ring forming mandrel having spacing to accept toroidal wraps of beading wire, said spacing being provided either by grooving or movement to a cylindrical segment with lesser diameter, and thereafter constraining the helical preform wire in place by: (a) applying an appropriate finding around the preform wire, and/or (b) toroidally wrapping at least a portion of the preform wire with additional wire. 
   
     
     
         2 . A graduated polymeric ring forming mandrel having a plurality of longitudinal grooves provided therein, said ring forming mandrel having a plurality of cylindrical segments having a diameter corresponding to a plurality of ring sizes, said cylindrical segments including at least ring sizes 4 through 16 (North American sizing) and said ring forming mandrel having a length of from about 6 to about 15 inches, said grooves having a depth of at least about 0.010 inches, said polymeric ring forming mandrel consisting essentially of an engineering resin chosen from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; nylon 6; nylon 6-6; polyamides; polybutylene terephthalate; polycarbonates; polyetheretherketone; polyethylene terephthalate; polyimides; polyoxymethylene; acetal; polyphenylene sulfide; polyphenylene oxide; polysulphone; polytetrafluoroethylene; polyvinyl chloride; ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and compatible admixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . A graduated polymeric ring forming mandrel having a plurality of cylindrical segments having a diameter corresponding to a plurality of ring sizes, said cylindrical segments including at least ring sizes 4 through 16 (North American sizing) and said ring forming mandrel having an overall length of about 6 to 15 about inches, said polymeric ring forming mandrel consisting essentially of an engineering resin chosen from the group consisting of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene; nylon 6; nylon 6-6; polyamides; polybutylene terephthalate; polycarbonates; polyetheretherketone; polyethylene terephthalate; polyimides; polyoxymethylene; acetal; polyphenylene sulfide; polyphenylene oxide; polysulphone; polytetrafluoroethylene; polyvinyl chloride; ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene and compatible admixtures thereof.