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[ Article appeared in National Jeweler
magazine,
November 2003 issue]
Zoltan David Receives Patent For
Three Dimensional Inlaying
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently awarded
designer Zoltan David, co-owner of Zoltan David Precious Metal Art in
Austin, a patent for his signature technique of precious metal inlaying.
The patent, number 6,594,901, was awarded for a method of inlaying one
precious metal into a contrasting one to produce a durable,
three-dimensional raised design or pattern.
David first discovered the technique
seven years ago while working on a ladies' anniversary
band one night in his studio. That first
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band—platinum inlaid with 22-karat gold to form a sphere pattern —
eventually evolved into a ring called the Duchess, which won three
design awards at the 2001 American Gem Society Conclave.
"When I did it, I thought to myself, 'I've never seen this
before. This
is awesome.' I thought it was one of the best ideas I ever had," David
said. "When I showed that first ring to my wife, her eyes went wide."
After first relying on copyrighting and trade dress law to protect the
inlaying technique, David decided to pursue the patent about four years
ago when an overseas manufacturer approached him and inquired about
copying it.
"After that, I really did it just to protect proprietary property so
that the large manufacturers oversees don't pick up on it," David said.
"The more I used it, the more I realized the value of it. It's shaped my
work a lot in the sense that it opened up a vista that I don't see an
end to."
The patent gives David the right "to exclude others from making, using,
offering for sale or selling" the invention in the United States or
"importing" the invention into the United States. The patent is valid
for 20 years starting from Aug. 21, 2001, the date the application for
the patent was filed.
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