GB2105773A

GB2105773A - Wrist bracelet clasp

Info

Publication number: GB2105773A
Application number: GB08127673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yi-Linsen
Original assignee: SEN YI LIN
Current assignee: SEN YI LIN
Priority date: 1981-09-14
Filing date: 1981-09-14
Publication date: 1983-03-30
Also published as: SG61285G; HK94185A; GB2105773B

Abstract

A clasp 1 for a wrist bracelet comprises upper and lower pivotally interconnected arms 2, 3 provided for connecting the upper arm 2 to one end 7 of the wrist bracelet is attached to flanges 6 of arm 2 while the other end 17 can be passed between a pivotally mounted locking member 11 and the lower arm 3. The arms 2, 3 are movable between a) a spaced apart position wherein the free end 17 of the bracelet may be slid freely beneath the locking member 11, thereby allowing a wearer to obtain a comfortable fit, and b) a closed position wherein the arms 2, 3 are pressed together and the locking member 11 restrains further movement of the free end 17 of the bracelet. The arms are held in the closed position by engagement of a hook with a pin 10. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wrist bracelet clasp This invention relates to a clasp for a wrist bracelet such as a metal watch strap.

The object of the invention is to provide a clasp which allows a substantially inflexible wrist bracelet, in particular a metal watch strap, to readily accommodate large or small wrist sizes without the need of any permanent adjustment to the bracelet ortho the clasp.

According to the invention there is provided a clasp for a wrist bracelet comprising first and second pivotally interconnected arms, means for connecting said clasp to one end of a bracelet, said first arm being provided with means for freely receiving therethrough a selectively variable length of the other end of the bracelet and a locking member adapted to lockingly engage said other end when a desired length has been passed through said receiving means, said locking member being actuated by pivotal movement of said arms from a first, spaced apart, position to a second, substantially coextensive position, said arms being releasably held in said second position by catch means.

Thus, in use, the correct effective length of the bracelet is chosen simply by wrapping the bracelet around the wrist and, with the clasp in the unlocked position, pushing the free end of the bracelet through the receiving means, for example an opening defined between the locking member and the first arm until a comfortable fit is obtained. The second arm is then moved to the second position wherein the locking member is actuated and further movement of the free end of the bracelet through the opening is restrained and, thus, the bracelet is firmly secured round the wrist. In a preferred embodiment the first arm comprises an elongate plate provided with upwardly projecting sidewalls between which extends a transverse pin vertically spaced from the elongate plate.The locking member advantageously comprises a locking plate which is pivotally mounted on the pin and which has a downwardly projecting flange along one edge thereof. The sidewalls, locking plate and elongate plate thus define a substantially rectangular opening adapted to receive the free end of the bracelet. An inclined opening is conveniently provided in the elongate plate behind the locking plate. Thus, as more of the bracelet is pushed into the clasp through the receiving means, the free end of the bracelet emerges from the clasp through the inclined opening so as to be received in a space formed between the catch and the wearer's wrist.

Preferably, the catch means comprises a downwardly projecting hook portion mounted on the second arm which is adapted to selectively engage the transverse pin carried by the first arm. In the locked position the second arm is firmly pressed against the first arm so that the hook portion clips round the transverse pin; the second arm engages the locking member and causes it to pivot so that the flange thereof is pressed tightly against the free end of the bracelet.

The first arm of the bracelet may be conveniently secured to the second arm by means of a pin.

Advantageously, the first arm is additionally provided with one or more tabs projecting upwardly from the elongate plate and disposed beneath the locking plate. Thus, in the locked position the free end of the bracelet is tightly pressed against the tabs and movement of the bracelet through the clasp is further restrained. The tabs are particularly advantageous if the clasp is to be used with a metal watch strap comprising a plurality of individual bars or like members. In this case the tabs may extend into the gaps between the bars and engage the edges of one or more of the bars. Preferably, both arms are generally curved along their lengths so as to fit comfortably over a wrist.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa plan view from above of a wrist bracelet clasp in accordance with the invention in the locked position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the clasp of Figure 1 in an unlocked position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the clasp in use with a wrist bracelet and in the locked position.

Figure 4 is a plan view from below of the bracelet clasp shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the clasp in use with a wrist bracelet and in the locked position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the clasp in use with a wrist bracelet and in the locked position.

Referring to the drawings, a wrist bracelet clasp 1 comprises two pivotally interconnected arms in the form of an upper plate 2 and a lower plate 3; the plates 2,3 are preferably formed from stainless steel and are generally curved along their length so as to lie comfortably on the wrist of the wearer. The plates 2, 3 are hingedly connected at one end by a conventional hinge 4. The upper plate 2 is formed with a stepped portion 5 towards its free end and two small flanges 6 are disposed adjacent the stepped portion. The flanges 6 each have a small hole formed therein and, as shown in Figure 3, one end 7 of a wrist bracelet, for example a metal watch strap, may be secured thereto by means of a pin extending between flanges 6.Thus, the end 7 of the strap lies adjacent the step portion and the upper surface of the strap is flush with the upper surface of the free end of the plate 2. The free end of the plate 2 is additionally provided with a downwardly projecting hook portion 8 on its under side.

The lower plate 3 is formed with upwardly projecting side walls 9 along its longitudinal edges. A transverse pin 10 disposed towards the free end of the lower plate and upwardly spaced therefrom is secured to and extends between the side walls 9. A locking plate 11 having a downwardly projecting flange 12 along the rear edge thereof is pivotally mounted on the pin 10. A substantially rectangular opening is thus defined between the locking plate 11, the side walls 9 and the lower plate 3. A slot 13 of similar width to the hook portion 8 of the upper plate 2 is formed in the locking plate 11 adjacent the pin 10. The lower plate 3 is additionally provided with two small upwardly projecting tabs 14 disposed beneath the locking plate. The lower plate 3 is divided longitudinally by an inclined opening 14 which extends between the sidewalls 9 across the plate 3.

The use of the clasp 1 with a wrist bracelet or metal watch strap comprising a plurality of individual bars 16 or like members will now be described with particular reference to Figures 2 and 3. The first end 7 of the bracelet is permanently secured to the upper plate 1 as previously described. The bracelet is then wrapped round the wearer's wrist and, with the clasp in the unlocked position shown in Figure 2, the free end 17 of the bracelet is passed between the side walls 9 of the lower plate 3 through the opening defined by the lower plate 3 and the locking plate 11; the bracelet is then pushed further into the clasp 1 until the free end 17 emerges from the inclined opening 15 formed in the lower plate.The effective length of the bracelet may therefore be selected in accordance with the size of the wearer's wrist simply by pushing the appropriate length of bracelet through the opening 15 so that the bracelet is suitably tight.

Once a snug fit is obtained, the clasp is locked simply by pushing the upper plate 2 firmly against the lower plate 3 so that the hook-portion 8 of the upper plate passes through the slot 13 in the locking plate 11 and clips round the transverse pin 10 carried by the side walls, as shown in Figure 3.

In this position the plates 2, 3 are clipped together and the upper plate 2 engages the locking plate 11 and urges the flange 12 thereof towards the lower plate 3 so that the free end 17 of the bracelet becomes tightly clamped between the flange 12 and the lower plate 3. The free end 17 of the bracelet is prevented from sliding out of the clasp 1 when it is in the locked position by the upwardly projecting tabs 14 of the lower plate 3. The bracelet is firmly pressed onto thetabs 14 by the flange 12 and the tabs 14 engage the edge of one of the bars 16 or like members of the bracelet. Thus, an inflexible wrist bracelet or metal watch strap may be readily adapted to accommodate large or small wrists without the need to any permanent adjustment to the strap or the fastening clasp.

Claims

1. A clasp for a wrist bracelet comprising first and second pivotally interconnected arms, means for connecting said clasp to one end of a bracelet, said first arm being provided with means for freely receiving therethrough a selectively variable length of the other end of the bracelet and a locking member adapted to lockingly engage said other end when a desired length has been passed through said receiving means, said locking member being actuated by pivotal movement of said arms from a first, spaced apart, position to a second, substantially coextensive position, said arms being releasably held in said second position by catch means.

2. A clasp as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first arm comprises an elongate plate provided with upwardly projecting sidewalls between which extends a transverse pin vertically spaced from the elongate plate, the locking member comprising a locking plate which is pivotally mounted on the pin and which has a downwardly projecting flange along one edge thereof.

3. A clasp as claimed in claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises a substantially rectangular opening defined by the side walls, the elongate plate and the locking plate.

4. A clasp as claimed in claim 2 or 3 further comprising one or more tabs projecting upwardly from the elongate plate and disposed beneath the locking plate.

5. A clasp as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the catch means comprises a downwardly projecting hook portion mounted on the second arm which is adapted to selectively engage the transverse pin carried by the first arm.

6. A clasp as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the first arm is provided with an inclined opening positioned adjacent the receiving means.

7. A clasp as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the first and second arms are interconnected by means of a pin.

8. A clasp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second arms are generally curved along their lengths.

9. A clasp for a wrist bracelet substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.