Ornamental chain made up of successive elements each having a generally spherical shape

DETAILED DESCRIPTION An object of the present invention is to provide an ornamental chain in which at least one of the successive elements which make up said chain includes a hollow body inside which an insert is fixed that is designed to retain a link member that is linked to an adjacent element of the chain, said insert being constituted by at least one sleeve.
In characteristic manner, the sleeve includes a slot that is wide enough to enable the shank of the link member to pass therethrough.
As a result of the invention, each element of the chain, as defined above, is not directly engaged with the link member.
It is the insert fixed inside the hollow body which serves to retain the link member.
This enlarges the choice of materials that can be used to make the hollow body.
The invention also enables a wide range of embodiments of said hollow body.
Setting a precious stone on the element is also facilitated since the hollow body can be designed to receive a specific support piece.
In a particular embodiment, the hollow body is spherical and it is advantageously made by turning, thereby enabling a particularly pleasing surface appearance to be obtained.
Still in a particular embodiment, the insert is fixed in a bore passing through the hollow body.
The insert can be retained as a force fit inside the hollow body.
The insert can have substantially no elasticity towards the outside.
When it is desired to mount a precious stone on the element, the hollow body preferably includes a blind bore of axis perpendicular to the axis of the insert in order to receive a support piece for said stone.
Another object of the invention is to use the above-mentioned support piece to improve the hold of an insert serving to retain a link member in the hollow body of an element of the chain.
In a particular embodiment, the support piece has a fork designed to be engaged astride the insert which advantageously presents a narrowing of its outside section.
The support piece can thus assist in holding the insert in the hollow body of the element