Gemstone/Small Object Retriever

This invention relates to the retrieval of loose gemstones and other small objects, specifically to such gemstones and small objects that are loose in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

Background

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are in widespread use by professional jewelers and jewelry stores alike.

Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners provide an efficient means of cleaning jewelry. However, problems occur when an individual gemstone or other small object becomes dislodged from its setting while in said cleaner. A loose gemstone or other small object in said cleaner is extremely difficult to locate and retrieve from said cleaner due to the murkiness and heat of the liquid cleaning solution used in said cleaner.

Thus, if a gemstone or other small object should become dislodged from its setting while in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, one must go through the time consuming task of straining the liquid cleaning solution used in said cleaner to retrieve the loose gemstone or small object.

Objects and Advantages

Accordingly, objects and advantages of my invention are:

(a) to provide an instrument that can quickly and easily locate a loose gemstone or other small object in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner;

(b) to provide an instrument that can quickly and easily retrieve a loose gemstone or other small object from an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner;

(c) to provide an instrument that will save the user considerable time and frustration when retrieving a loose gemstone or other small object from an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner.

(d) to provide an instrument that will help prevent accidental loss of valuable gemstones or other small objects of value;

Further objects and advantages are to provide an instrument which will not damage loose gemstones or other small objects, which is simple to use, which can be used repeatedly, and which obviates the need to strain the cleaning solution each time a gemstone or other small object becomes loose in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a scale drawing of the gemstone/small object retriever with all aspects clearly labelled.

1. sighting shaft

1a. open end of sighting shaft

2. transparent lens

3. gripping mechanism

3a. squeezing point

3b. object holding point

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a basic version of my gemstone/small object retriever. The gemstone/small object retriever consists of an elongated hollow sighting shaft 1 with both ends open, a transparent lens 2, and a gripping mechanism 3. In the preferred embodiment of the gemstone/small object retriever the sighting shaft 1 is constructed from a rigid non-corrosive material such as stainless steel and is tubular in shape. However, the sighting shaft 1 can be constructed from other rigid materials such as glass, rubber, plastic, etc, and can be made in a variety of shapes including square, triangular, octagonal etc. The sighting shaft 1 is typically 6 inches long with the openings at both ends typically being 2 inches in diameter.

The transparent lens 2 is preferably constructed from glass although other transparent materials can be used. The thickness of the transparent lens 2 would typically be about 1/8 inch with the size and dimensions being the same as the open ends of the sighting shaft 1. The transparent lens 2 is bonded to one open end of the sighting shaft 1 in such a way that the bond is liquid proof.

The gripping mechanism 3 is typically nine inches in length and is constructed of a rigid non-corrosive material, preferably stainless steel. However, other rigid materials such as plastic, wood, other metals, etc, can be used. The gripping mechanism 3 consists of two strips of rigid material bonded at one end to give them tweezer-like action. The gripping mechanism 3 is "L" shaped. The gripping mechanism 3 is bonded to the length of the sighting shaft 1 in such a way that the squeezing point 3a is above the open end of the sighting shaft 1a and the object holding point 3b is directly below the transparent lens 2. Furthermore, the gripping mechanism 3 is bonded to the sighting shaft 1 in such a way that the tweezer-like action of the gripping mechanism 3 can still be effected.

Operation

To operate the gemstone/small object retriever, one first picks up the said retriever and places the gripping mechanism 3 between one's thumb and index finger at the squeezing point 3a. Then one lowers the sighting shaft 1, transparent lens 2 and object holding point 3b end first, into the cleaning solution used in the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. One then looks down the open end of the sighting shaft 1a through the transparent lens 2 to locate the loose gemstone or small object. Once located, one centers the gemstone or small object between the object holding point 3b and squeezes the gripping mechanism 3, in effect grasping the gemstone or small object at the object holding point 3b. While maintaining pressure at the squeezing point 3a one is able to retrieve the gemstone or small object from the said jewelry cleaner.

Accordingly, the reader will see that the invention provides a highly reliable time saving device which can be used by anyone with little or no training. Furthermore, this invention provides the user with a more professional appearance in the presence of customers, and this invention will eradicate the tiresome, frustrating and messy task of straining the entire amount of cleaning solution in the ultrasonic jewelry cleaner to retrieve a single gemstone or other small object.

Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.

Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.