US1678707A - Clasp for bracelets - Google Patents

Description

July 31. 1928. 1,678,707

A. L. NEWMAN CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed March 2. 1928 .46 if?! fz'f/ Patented July 31, 1928. I

` yUNITED STATES ALMYR L. NEWMAN, OF WARVICK, RHODE ISLAND.

CLASP non BRACELETS.

"fm-j@ Application inea March 2, 192s. serial No. 258,605.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasping-device wherein the coupling-` or clasping-means may be folded' closely against the bracelet link or unit to provide a smooth unbroken surface without sharp edges or projections liable to catch in the garments of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasping-device which is neat and more finished in appearance, and sturdier and more durable inl use than similar devices heretofore employed for like purposes.

Further objects of ther improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventionaltype of flexible wrist-watch bracelet and showing my improved claspingdevice as applied to use therewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the bracelet with its link-elements shown in section on the line 2#2 of Fig. 3, and one of the links illustrated as embodying the present improved clasping-device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the link-elements shown in part section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional viewv of the link unit carrying the clasping-device, taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a composite view showing one of the box-link units of the bracelet in perspective andalso illustrating the center link which carries the clasping-device ywith the clasp shown as open; and

Fig. 6Lis a perspectiveview of the inner slide-linkof the bracelet. l

The present improved' clasping-device is adapted for use with various types offlexible and expansible link bracelets such as commonly used on wrist-watches, and I have preferred to herein illustrate a form of construction of the bracelet as disclosed in my copending application for Letters Patentl Serial No. 205,117, filed July 12, 1927 As herein shown the bracelet proper comprises a series of outer tubular box-links 2 assembled with inner slidable connectinglinks 3 which are normally maintained telescoped within the box-links under tension of suitable coil-springs 4. In Figs. 2 to 6 of the `present drawings the link-elements are shown in inverted' position or bottom side up as compared withfthe position they assume in the bracelet. The box-links 2 are formed with relatively flat top-portions 5 having sides 6 bent at right-angles thereto, and bottom-portions 7 folded inwardly therefrom with their edges meeting in closely abutting relation at 8. The bottom-sections 7 of the box-link 2 have tabs or extensions 9 at one end which are folded inwardly and cut away to form a cross-bar 10 to provide means for coupling or hooking vthe next adjacent slidelink thereto.k The opposite end of the boxlink 2 is provided with ears or tabs 11 bent inwardly to serve `as abutment-s for the .spring 4, the ears being spaced away from the sides 6 of the link to adapt the sides of the slide-link 3 to slide therebetween.

The inner slide-link takes the form ofy a shallow tray having a relatively flat topportion 15, sides 16 bent at right-angles thereto and an end-strip 17 extending be-y tween thesides.l At its opposite end the topportion 15 is extended beyond the sides and bent around to form a hook 21, see Figs. 2 and 3. The hook 19 on one of the slides, shown in Fig. 6which is employed for connection with the link carrying the claspmember is cut, away to form a rectangular slot or opening 20, see also Fig. 5. The, slides 3 are inserted in the tubular box-links 2 before the end-tabs or ears 11 are folded inwardly from itsbottom-strips, the spring 4 being placed inside the slide-link with one end abutting its end-strip 17. The ears 11 are then bent-downwardly -to engage the opposite end of thespriiig to hold it under compression whereby its acts to normally maintain the slides telescoped within the box-link 2 while providing for drawing it out therefrom to expand the bracelet. The hooks 21 on the slides 3 which are connected permanently with the adjacent box-links 2 are narrowed or out away at their ends to adapt them to be inserted through the openings between the tabs 9 and bent around the cross-bars 10 in the manner as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. This con-v struction provides for assembling the linkunits with the slide 3 in one box-link 2 hingedly coupled to the end of the next ad jacent box-link in the series.

In the present typey of flexible and expansible bracelet it has heretofore been the usual practice to couple the link-units together permanently, for example in the manner as last explained, and with this arrangement it is necessary lto stretch or extend the bracelet in slipping it over the hand when applying it to or removing it from the wrist. It has been found, however, that, this repeated stretching` or extending of the linkelements soon weakens the springs so that they lose their te-nsion and fail to act to maintain the links in telescoped or contracted relation. The connections between the links of the bracelet therefore become loose with the joints open so that the bracelet does not sit snugly on the wrist.

Bracelets* of the present type generally have a fasteni`ng-device or clasp 22' at either end, as shown in Fig. 1, for attachment to the bails of the wrist-watch and in some instances these clasps are resorted to for fastening the bracelet in place on the wrist and removing it therefrom. The bail clasps, however, are not intended for this purpose and are liable to get outoforder. and become insecure for attaching the bracelet to the wrist-watch. It has therefore been proposed to provide a clasping-device at the center of the band or bracelet for fastening its two opposite sections together to provide for its convenient application to and removal from the wrist. It -isl the object ofthe present inventionv to provide a claspingdevice for this purpose and the improved construction andv arrangement of the device will next be de scribed in detail.

Usually the clasping device is applied to the central link in the bracelet so that it may be divided into two equal sectionswhen it is unclasped to place it on or remove it from the wrist. In the present construction the central box-link 23, shown in detail in Fig. 5, is of substantially the same form and ar rangement as the other box-links 2, having a flat top-portion 24, sides 25 bent downwardlytherefrom and bottom-,strips 26 fold ed over to meet at the center. At one end of the box-link 23 are tabs 27 bent down to form a cross-bar 36, shown in Fig. 2, similar in construction to the cross-bar 10 on the other box-links 2. The opposite end of the box-link 23 is constructed without the inwardly bent tabs or ears, but is provided with a cross-pin 28 reaching across its opening with its ends riveted through holes' in the sides 25. The top-portion 24 is outy away at this end of the link to` provide a recess 29 for receiving the end of the clasp 30 to be next described.

The clasp 30 is of bifurcated shape, comprising a cross-strip 31 connecting the ends of two arms 32 which straddle the sides of the box-link 23` and are fastened to the ends of a pivot-pin 33 reaching therethrough.

The pivot-pin 33 projects through holes in l the sides 25 of the link 23 and its ends are riveted or swagedl overI tohold the latch 30 in place. At the center of the cross-strip 3'1 is a relatively narrow stripl or tab l34 bentv` into involute shape to form a latch adapted to slide across and spring into place in hooked relation with the cross-pinI 28 'at the end of the link 23. The forward edge of the cross-ban 31 is beveled off on its under side, asl shown most clearly in Fig. 5, to provide a lip 35 beneath which the fingernail may bel inserted to facilitate lifting the latch to` dis engage it from the cross-pin 28. v The latch or hook 34 is adapted to slide through the opening 2O in the end-hook 19 on the slide 3 after the latter has' been hooked around the cross-pin 28,` as shown in Fig.y 2 of thek by the dotted lines in Fig. 2i. The linger is then pressed against the cross-bar 31 of the `clasp 30 to swing it `into place to carry' its latch 34 through -thel openingk 20 in the hook 19 whereby to cause its end to snap over the pin 28 and to engage frictionally therewith..`

The resiliency ofthe latch 34Ymainta-insf itin this locking engagement with thepin 28andy the clasp is thereby securely fastened to prevent uncoupling of the parts of thebracel'et; itV being understood that the hook 19 is'pree vented from release from the pin 28 through theinterengagement of the latch 34 with the openingV 2O in the hook. That is to say, the hook 19 is held from beingturned to such an extent as to release it from the pin 28` or from moving back or raising up to el'ect such release. Y

To unfasten the two ends of the braceletsections it is only necessaryk Lto insertjthe fingernail under the lip 35 on the' clasp30 to raise or swing ftheflatter awayv from the top of the box-link' 23, whereby: the latch 34 is withdrawn from engagementwith the pin 28. After the clasp 30 has been swung into open position asv indicated byA the d'ottedlines in Fig. 2the hook4 19 may' be readily disconnected from the pin 28;. f

- It, will be observed from, the: above, that ilu my invention provides a particularly simple and elicient device for securely clasping the ends of the bracelet together. The improved clasping-device is strong and sturdy in construction with its parts proof against derangement or getting out of order so as to render it durable over long periods of use.

When the clasp 30 is closed the cross-strip 31 lits snugly within the recess or cut-away portion 29 at the end of the box-link 23, alining with the top-portion 24: of the link and forming an unbroken surface therewith. There are therefore no unsightly joints or openings between the parts and no projections or irregularities liable to catch in the garments of the wearer.

lVhile I have herein described and illustrated the improved device in a preferred form of construction by way of example, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without depart-ing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore without limiting myself in this respect I claim:

1. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of a link having a cross-member at its end, a second link having a hook at its end adapted to hook around one side of the cross-member, and a pivoted clasp on one link provided with a latch adapted to slide across and engage with the cross-member on the opposite side from the hook. i

2. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of a link-element having a cross-member at its end, a second linkelement having a hook at its end adapted to hook partly around the cross-member on the first link-element, and a clasp pivoted to the sides of the first link-element and provided at its end with a latch adapted to be sprung into engagement with the cross-member on the opposite side from the hook.

3. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of a link-element having a cross-member at its end, a second linkelement having a relatively wide hook at its end adapted to hook around the crossmember throughout its length and provided with an opening at its center, and a clasp pivoted to the rst-link-element and provided with a relatively narrow latch at its end adapted to slide through the opening in they hook on the second link-element and to frictionally engage with the cross-member on the opposite side from the hook.

4. In a clasping-device for bracelets or the like, the combination of a hollow'boxlink having a cross-member extending across its open end, a link-element having a relatively wide hook adapted to hook around said cross-member on the box-link and formed with an opening in its side, and a bifurcated clasp-member pivoted to the Sides of the box-link and provided with a latch at its end adapted to slide through'the opening in the hook on the link-element and to frictionally engage around the side of the cross-member in opposite relation to the hook.

5. In a clasping-device for watch-bracelets or the like, the combination of a boxlink having a relatively fiat top cut away at one end to provide a recess, a pin extending across the open end of the box-link, a bifurcated clasp-member having a crossstrip with arms extending therefrom in straddled relation with the sides of the boxlink and pivoted thereto at their ends and a latch at the center of the cross-strip adapted to spring around the cross-pin on the boxlink, and a second link having a relatively wide hook adapted to hook around the'crosspin on the box-link and provided with an opening in its side, the clasp being adapted to be closed into position with its cross-strip seated in the opening on the top of the boxlink and its latch projecting through the opening in the hook on the second link with its end frictionally engaged with the crossy pin to hold the parts in connected relation.

6. In a bracelet or like article, the combination of tubular box-links, a slide slidable in one of the box-links with its end projecting therefrom and formed into a hook, a cross-pin extending across the opening in the next adjacent box-link to adapt it to be engaged by the hook on the slide, and a clasping-device comprising a bifurcated member pivoted on thel last mentioned box-link and provided at its end with a latch adapted to slide past the hook on the slide-link to frictionally engage with the cross-pin to lock the parts in connected relation. j

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ALMYR L. NEWMAN.

MBU

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