GB802945A - Improvements in and relating to elastic link straps, particularly watch bracelets - Google Patents

Abstract

802,945. Bracelets. RODI & WIENENBERGER, A.G. Oct. 30, 1956 [Nov. 11, 1955; Oct. 4, 1956], No. 33078/56. Class 43 An elastic link strap comprises two superimposed layers of links 10, 30 extending transversely and staggered by one half link, the links comprising shells open on the engaging sides, two side walls 31 of each link 30 engaging in two adjacent links 10 through the open side thereof and curved leaf springs 50 within the links engaging one side wall 31 of two adjacent links 30 within each link 10 and two side walls of each link 10. The side walls 31 have square or rounded tongues 31<SP>1</SP> above slots 32 in which slide bent over tabs 15 of two adjacent upper links 10. The leaf springs 50 are notched at the ends to non-tiltably engage under the tabs 15. The shells may be stamped from a metal plate and the tabs 15 bent over after inserting the side walls 31, and springs 50 in each link 10. To reduce the thickness of the strap the lower wall 33 of the lower links may be reduced in height or omitted, the tab 15 then being nearly level with or at the level of the bottom wall. The length of the bracelet is adjustable by shortening one tongue 31 so that it is easily removable through a cutout 20 made in a tab, the tongue at the other end of the side wall being removed from under the opposite tab and the lower link is removed. Alternatively both tongues are removed from one side wall and the link is secured by a connecting member 45 removably secured by a screw 47 to the lower link. The connecting member may be centrally reinforced and the upper link provided with a cut-out in a side wall to accommodate the projecting reinforcement. The upper and lower links may be identical, each having bent over ends 65' and tongues 64 which interengage. In another form the lower tube has cross bars 94 which engage in slots 83 in an upper link. The bent over part 85 of the upper link may engage with or overlap the bent up end 95 of the lower link or this end 95 may be omitted.