US2555195A - Two-way adjustable clasp - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1951 o. R. KosTKA 2,555,195

TWO-WAY ADJUSTABLE CLASP Filed Oct. 28, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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May 29, 1951 o. R. KsTKA 2,555,195

Two-WAY ADJUSTABLE CLASP Filed oct. 28,'1948 2 sheets-sheet 2'- IN V EN TOR.

www@ 5M@ Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES NT OFFICE TWOWAY ADJUSTABLE CLASP Application October 28, 1948, Serial No. 57,053

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in two-way adjustable clasp and has for an bject an improved clasp for use in connection with wrist bands, necklaces and the like having a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and unfold and in which such clasp is self-opening and closable by operation of one hand of the user, it being understood that the wrist on which the bracelet is being placed renders that particular hand unserviceable for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved clasp for bracelets and the like in which nice adjustment is had by the use of an adjustment bar having a pawl adapted to move in either direction over a wave plate thereby providing a dual-directional adjusting arrangement, the operation of which is eiected by the simple expedient of applying manual pressure in either direction to the adjustment plate, either to draw said plate out from the clasp or to push the same into the clasp a desired distance thus enlarging or diminishing the diameter of the bracelet.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a two-way adjustable clasp in which the opening and closing of the same is made possible of achievement by the activity of a single hand of the user and in which also the matter of adjustment of the diameter of the bracelet by the adjusting device is similarly accomplished by one hand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved two-way adjustable clasp in which the opening of the clasp is automatic upon the movement of the adjustingdevice to enlarge the circle of the bracelet to the maximum position of such adjusting device; this all being attended without any strain to the parts or mechanical structure of the clasp.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention are, to provide a smooth working adjustment device, to relieve pressure on the arm in the manner in which expansion bracelets exert such pressure and in the manner in which spring-controlled slide clasps exert such pressure; in which easy closing and opening is provided; in which should the clasp catch on some foreign object the same will not break, but will automatically open thus calling the wearers attention to the fact, it being understood that the bracelet is still attached around the wrist; in which when washing the hands it is not necessary to remove articles of jewelry and thus eX- pose the same to loss, but the improved clasp enables the bracelet to be pushed up on the arm 2 instead; in which the closed clasp will have more balance. i

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several Views,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a form of the improved two-way adjustable clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated in the opened and expanded condition.

Figure 2 is a similar View with the clasp closed and partially contracted.

Figure 3 is also a perspective View showing the closed and fully contracted position.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line of Figure 3 and shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a similar View taken on the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective View of the bottom section and a portion of the .center or middle section in the fully expanded and opened position.

Figure 7 is a .greatly magnied cross-section taken on the line 1-7 in Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the top section.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the middle or center section.

Figure 10 is a bottom perspective view of a form of adjustment plate employed.

Figure 11 is a bottom perspective view of a form of cover employed.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a form of coil hinge spring employed between the bottom and middle sections.

Referring more particularly to the drawings. 25 represents a bracelet with which the invention may be associated, although it will be understood that the clasp of this invention is applicable to necklaces or any other bands which are adapted to encircle and be secured to any desired member of the body or other part. The bracelet shown may, for instance, be that type of bracelet customarily used for the purpose of holding wrist watches upon the human wrist.

The ends of the bracelet are secured or fastened to the opposite end portions of the improved clasp which comprises generally the three .partsincluding the top section A, center section B and bottom section C. These parts are hinged together` in a manner to hold in an overlapping relationship upon one another to close the clasp.

The top section A comprises a top wall 25 which may be curved to conform to the curvature of the Wrist or other part to which the clasp is to be applied. Inturned side flanges 2l are provided on the top wall 26 and at the bracelet end is a slotted connection 28 for receiving the usual hook on the bracelet and for coupling this top section A to one end of the bracelet 25. At its opposite end the top wall 25 has an inturned flange 29. This is the joint end of the top section and this flange 29 is for the purpose of concealing the joint made with the center section B. At this joint end the side flanges 21 are formed with aligned holes 33 to receive the pivot pin 3| by which the center section B is hinged to the top section A. Inturned lugs 31 are carried on the free edges of the flanges 21 of the top section A at the joint end thereof. These lugs are spaced from the top wall 26 and from the flange 29 and pivot pin 3|.

The center section B consists generally of a plate 32 also curved to conform generally to the curvature of the top section and adapted to fit Within the side flanges 21 of the top section. At one end the plate 32 is rolled over to form a barrel 33 for receiving therethrough the pivot pin 3|. At its other end the plate 32 is formed with spaced barrels 34 having a space 35 therebetween for receiving the coil spring 38. An ear 36 may be pushed out from the material of the plate 32 toward its inner side to anchor the long arm 49 of the coil spring 33. The barrel 33 is of a length to extend across between the side flanges 2l, but the plate 32 is narrower than the barrel length to provide clearance permitting this plate 32 to swing about the pivot pin 3| in the opening and closing movements of the clasp sections and without interference from the inturned lugs 31 on the anges 21 of the top section lat the joint end thereof.

The spring helix 38 may be wound of an appropriate number of convolutions and such helix occupies the space 35 between the barrels 34. The outer ends of these barrels project beyond side edges of the narrow plate 32 to substantially contact the side flanges 21 of the top section A when the center section B is folded into such top section A.

A pivot pin 39 engages removably through the spaced barrels 34, through the spring helix 38 and through the bottom section C to pivotally unite the center and bottom sections B and C for a relative folding operation. A long arm 40 of the spring 38 extends along the inside surface of the plate 32 and has a hook 42 or other form of connection thereon adapted to hook into the ear 36 of the plate 32 whereby to anchor this long arm of the spring to the center section B. A short arm 4I also extends off the spring helix 38 in position to rest against the bottom section C.

The bottom section C comprises a number of parts which includes a bottom member 43 curved to conform generally to the curvature of the wrist or other parts and having outstanding flanges 44 along its longitudinal edges; such flanges having inturned free edges 45 except that these inturned edges 45 are cut away, as indicated at 4B, at the joint or hinged end of the bottom section C in order to provide clearance for the application of the spaced barrels 34 and the free rotation of the center and bottom sections B and C relatively to one another. The flanges 44 have aligned pivot holes 41 therein at the cutaway portions to receive the pivot 39 which also passes through the spaced barrels 34. Upturned end stops 48 are provided transversely at the ends of the bottom member 43.

In the bottom member is received a curved wave plate 49 the bottom surface of which may be smooth, but the outer convex surface of which is formed with alternating crests and troughs in a wave-like pattern with the outer edges of the crests preferably rounded and diminishing in width toward their outer ends in order to form continuous wave-like surfaces on which a similarly rounded pawl 54 may ride in and out when moving over the Wave surface of the plate 49 in either direction. This wave plate has a clearance slot 53 at one end which end is fitted into the joint end of the bottom member 43. The clearance slot comes opposite the space 35 between the barrels 34 and provides a clearance for the short arm 4| of the spring helix 38. In other words, the short arm 4| passes through the clearance slot 59 in order to rest against and directly contact the outer surface of the bottom member 43.

The opposite end of the wave plate 49 is reduced in width attended by the formation of stop shoulders 52.

An adjustment bar 53, also preferably curved, carries at one end the rounded pawl 54 which projects laterally in the direction of the concave side of the bar 53 and is positioned to slide over the convex wave surface of the plate 49. The opposite end of the adjustment bar 53 is formed with a slotted connection end 55 for attachment to the hook at the other end of the bracelet, necklace or other encircling member to which the clasp is attached. The adjustment bar 53 intermediate its ends is provided with notches 55 opening through its side edges in position to permit the passage therethrough of the locking lugs 31 on the top section A in the act of relative swinging or pivoting of the center and bottom sections B and C in the folding and unfolding movements of the clasp.

The adjustment bar is narrow intermediate its ends to provide the opposed pair of shoulders 51 and 58.

A flat spring 59 is disposed outwardly of the adjustment bar for the purpose of bearing on the adjustment bar to urge the same with light or appropriate pressure against the wave plate 49. This flat spring may be given a slight curvature in a direction opposite to the curvatures of the other members of the bottom section C or its end portions may be slightly offset outwardly in order that its intermediate portions may bear with the requisite pressure upon the outer convex side of the adjustment bar 53. These offset ends of the flat spring 59 engage transverse inturned stops 69 and 6| formed upon the cover 62 which is also preferably rounded or curved in conformity to the curvature of the bottom member 43, the wave plate 49 and the adjustment bar 53. A gap 53 is made intermediately of the transverse inturned stop 5|] at the joint end of the cover in order to mate with the space 35 between the barrels 34 and the clearance slot 53 of the wave plate 49 thus accommodating the helical spring 38. The cover plate 52 at its opposite end has the short inturned flanges 64 which subserve several functions, for instance in the assembled position of the members of the bottom section C. These short inturned anges 64 are sufficiently deep to engage the vbottom member 43 to limit and restrict the radial movement of .the cover 62 inwardly relative to the bottom member 43, this being for the purpose of preventing too great pressure upon the members of the holding device consisting of the adjustment bar pawl 54 and the Wave plate 49. Furthermore, these short inturned flanges S4 of the cover 62 as to the opposite end walls thereof form stops in cooperation with the opposed shoulders 5'1 and 58 of the adjustment bar 53. It is understood that the width of the intermediate portion of the adjustment bar 53 is such that the same fits rather snugly although slidably between the short inturned flanges 64, but the end portions of the adjustment bar 53 are wider than the space between the flanges 6d and the shoulders 51 and 58 are so located as to strike the opposite ends of the flanges 64 in the full inner and outer positions of the adjustment bar 53 respectively.

The bottom member 43 of the bottom section C is wider between flanges 44 than all of the other members of the bottom section C in order to permit all of these members to slide within the confines of thhe flanges 44 and their inturned edges 45. The wave plate 49 as to its major width fits closely into the flanges i4 of the bottom member 43 with its ends engaging the upturned end stops 48. However, the reduced end and shoulder portion of the wave plate 4,9 is narrower than the space between the flanges 44 of the bottom member 43 for the purpose of receiving the short inturned flanges 54 of the cover 52 and permitting the free ends of these short inturned flanges 55 to seek and contact with the bottom member 43.

In this connection these short inturned flanges 64 subserve an additional function which flows from the fact that the inner ends of the short inturned flanges 54 engaging the shoulders 52 of the wave plate 49 and the Wave plate in turn engaging the upturned end stops 453 of the bottom member 53, such arrangement preventing relative sliding of the cover 62 with reference to the bottom member 43 in the direction of the joint end of the bottom section C. Relative sliding movement of the bottom end cover members 43 and 62 in the opposite direction is prevented because of interengagement of the end stops 48 and 6I.

In operation With the sections A, B and C in the open or outwardly unfolded condition, the bracelet may be slipped over the Wide portion of the hand and brought to a correct position on the narrower Wrist. This condition is shown in Figure 1 where the coil spring 38 through its long and short arms 4e and 4I bearing upon respectively the center and bottom sections B and C biases these sections to a partially folded or pivoted position in which the sections do not extend out in a straight line or do not naturally drop into a condition more than 180 apart, but such coil spring tends to hold the sections B and C in such an angular relationship in which the top section A and bottom section C may be grasped in the fingers of one hand and pivoted and folded together by the simple movement together of the fingers and thumb of one hand. To accomplish the interlocking of the members A, B and C together in the final folded condition of the clasp it is necessary that the adjustment bar 53 must be pulled out to the full outer limit of its movement Where such adjustment bar exposes its notches 56 on the outside of the cover S2 and bottom member 43 in position to receive the locking lugs 3l on the top section A. These locking lugs 37 pass from the upper to the lower side of the adjustment bar 53 which is thereupon moved in- Wardly of the bottom section C, thus presenting to the locking lugs 31 the blank unremoved edges or full Width of this bar 53. Both the adjustment bar 53 and the locking lugs 3l are rigid and thus all members A, B and C of the clasp are thereby locked together in their folded position in which they have constricted the bracelet 25 about the wrist or other member. The further constriction of the bracelet 25 about the wrist is achieved by pushing the adjustment bar 53 to greater degree within the clasp. This movement of the adjusting bar is resisted by the movement of the rounded pawl 54 over the wave plate 49, but this resistance is subject to the light pressure of the flat spring 58 and the load of this spring may be selected to give any desired pressure. Such pressure is overcome by the manual thrust exerted upon the adjustment bar '53. Due to the particular formation of the crests and troughs of the waveplate 49 in association with the rounded pawl 54 such adjustment bar 53 may by adequate manual pressure be moved in and out, that .is in opposite directions so as to either constrict or enlarge the diameter of the bracelet to t wrists or other members of various sizes. Moreover, when a bulging of the wrist or other member occurs, such for instance as unconsciously occurs during body muscular movements, the clasp of this invention will yield permitting of automatic enlargement of the circle of the bracelet to follow and not to oppose such muscular enlargement and therefore the device is free of the disadvantages of so-called elastic or resilient bracelets which hug the wrist producing a steady pressure upon the flesh which marks the same.

In removing the bracelet it is only necessary to draw out the adjustment bar 53 until its shoulders engage the short upturned flanges 54; or in other words until the notches 56 are exposed. The coil spring 38 which has been placed under tension when the members were folded into collapsed position has its kinetic energy released and through its long and short arms reacting upon the members B and C Will automatically pivot the various members to that intermediate unfolded condition which is substantially shown in Figure 1 whereupon the circle of the bracelet and clasp is so enlarged as to readily pass over the hand and be entirely freed therefrom.

In assembling the parts of the bottom-section C the Wave plate, adjusting bar, fiat spring and cover are assembled together in this order and squeezed together so as to compress the spring and reduce the thickness to a point where these parts may be slid endwise into the bottom member beneath the inturned edges of the side flanges 45. When these parts are slid home the bottom section C becomes a unitary device which is pivoted or hinged to the intermediate or center section B and to one end of the chain of the bracelet and pivots bodily as a unit with reference to the other two sections A and B.

All of the parts may be of metal or other suitable material, appropriately strengthened if need be and embellished in accordance with any particular designs.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An extensible clasp comprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, another section slidable in opposite directions in one of said hinged sections for adjusting the clasp to a contrasted or expanded condition, resilient means acting on the slidable section for yieldably holding the slidable section in any slidable position to which manually adjusted, thc said slidable section and another of said hinged sections having located and arranged thereon mating locking elements which engage when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition and which are positioned for disengagement when the slidable section is moved to an expanded condition, and other resilient means for automatically disengaging the mating locking elements and partially unfolding the hinged sections when the slidable section is moved to such expanded condition.

2. An extensible clasp comprising a top section, a bottom section and a connecting section hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, another section slidable in opposite directions in the bottom section for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, resilient means acting between the slidable section and the said bottom section for yieldably holding the slidable section in any adjusted position to which the slidable section is moved, means for locking the sections in folded condition comprising a part in the top section engaged by said slidable section when the sections are in a folded and contracted condition, said slidable section having a slotted portion to permit movement of said part from one to the other side of said slidable section in locking and unlocking said means, and resilient means between two of the hinged sections biased to at least partially unfold said sections when said locking means is released by the movement of the slidable member to a position where the slotted portion thereof registers with said part.

3. An extensible clasp comprising a top section, a bottom section and a connecting section hinged together to fold and to unfold for closing and opening the clasp, a slide section slidable in opposite directions in the bottom section for adjusting the clasp to a contracted or expanded condition, said slide section having a cut-away portion, means acting between the slide section and said bottom section for yieldably holding the slide section in the position to which manually adjusted, a lug on the top section spaced below the end thereof which is hinged to the connecting section and adapted to be received through the cut-away portion of the slide section, said lug iitting below the slide section when the slide section is partially or wholly in the contracted position whereby to lock the hinged sections against unfolding, and resilient means between said bottom and c-onnecting sections for automatically acting to at least partially unfold the hinged sections when the slide section is moved to register the cut-away portion with said lug, said slide section movable back and forth in the space between said lug and the point of hinged connection between the top and connecting sections when the sections are folded together.

OTTO ROBERT KOSTKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,827,364 Johnson et al Oct. 13, 1931 2,065,581 Heileman Dec. 29, 1936 2,309,510 Jacobowtz Jan. 26, 1943

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