US1081501A - Clasp. - Google Patents

Description

F. HIRSH.

CLASP.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 23, 1911.

1,081,501 I. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

UNTTFQE STATES ra'rnn'r carton CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.16,1913.

Application filed March 23, 1911. Serial No. 616,345.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, F RED HnisH, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive yet attractive and efficient clasp; and this object I attain by certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top or face view showing one embodiment of my invention; F ig. 2, a side view thereof; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Figs. t and 5, views illustrating respectively the blanks from which the two members of the clasp illustrated in the preceding figures are formed; and Figs. 6 and 7, views in perspective illustrating modified forms of what may be designated as the hinged clamping member of the clasp.

Similar reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

As here illustrated the clasp consists of a U-shaped back or body piece 1, the top or face of which is preferably stiffened by a marginal raised rib 2 upset therefrom, and of a hinged member, comprising the lever arm 3 and lateral wings 4 bent inwardly at substantially right angles therewith,which is pivotally mounted on the face of the body piece, as by bending its inner end 5 around a pintle 6 formed in the face of the body piece by a slit 7 and opening 8, so that the.

inturned lateral wings may swing through and below the face to act in cooperation with the back of the body piece. One of the lateral wings is provided with an outwardly projecting catch or detent 9 which may be formed by suitably upsetting the material of the wing and which is adapted, as the lever arm is swung inwardly to closed position, to snap past and into engagement with an edge of the face of the body piece at the side of the opening 8 to lock the parts together; and a longitudinal opening or slit 10 is preferably cut in the lever arm to improve the spring action of the catch as it is snapped past the edge of the body piece. The action of the clasp as a whole is or may be improved, and the clasp adapted to use with fabrics of different thicknesses, by cutting out the back of the body piece so as to form a springtongue 11 of that portion thereof which is beneath and with which the hinged clamping member cooperates, and it may also be desirable in certain cases to upset this spring-tongue so as to form a raised rib 12 which will extend longitudinally between the lateral wings of the hinged member when the clasp is closed. The lateral wings of the hinged member may serve dir'ectly as clamping jaws, as in the form of clasp already described, and, if desired, their ends may be extended and bent around and brought together beyond the hinge, so as to form an additional contact edge, as at et in the modified form of the hinged member shown in Fig. 6; or these lateral wings may serve to grlp and secure in place a block or piece 13, of rubber or other similar yielding and clinging material, as illustrated. in the second modification of the hinged member shown in Fig. 7. This last modification will prove a very desirable feature where, as in case the clasp is used as a neck-tie fastener or as part of a hose supporter, it is desired to hold a soft and delicate fabric firmly without slipping or abrasion.

The two clasp members are made from sheet metal or of any other suitable mate- 'rial, and each may be stamped out and shaped by a single operation of suitable dies.

The clasp is simple, easily and cheaply manufactured, strong, durable, and eflicient.

While I have shown and described above what I now consider the best forms of my improved clasp, it will, of course, be understood that the same may be variously modified in its details, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A clasp comprising a substantially U- shaped body piece, a clamping member hinged at one end to the upper side of the body-piece and provided with lateral jaws which are bent at substantially right angles therewith and are adapted to swing downwardly through an opening in that side of the body-piece, and a spring-tongue which is formed within and as a part of the lower side of the body-piece with sides extending parallel to the lateral jaws of the clamping member and which is adapted to cooperate with the clamping member.

2. The combination, in a clasp, of a sub stantially U-shaped body-piece, a clamping member which comprises a lever-arm pivoted at one end to the upper side of the body-piece and provided with lateral jaws extending downwardly at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to be swung through an opening in the upper side of the body-piece, a longitudinal slot formed in the lever-arm between the lateral jaws and extending nearly the entire length of the lever-arm, and a spring-tongue formed within and as a part of the lower side of the body-piece with sides extending parallel to the sides of and adapted to cooperate with the clamping member.

3. The combination, in a clasp, of a substantially U-shaped body-piece, a clamping member which comprises a lever-arm pivoted at one end to the upper side of the body-piece and provided with lateral jaws extending downwardly at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to be swung through an opening in the upper side of the body-piece, a longitudinal slot formed in the lever-arm between the lateral jaws and extending nearly the entire length of the leverarm, an outwardly projecting catch or detent upon one of the said lateral jaws below the plane of the lever-arm adapted to snap past and into engagement with an edge of the opening in the upper side of the bodypiece, and a spring-tongue formed within and as a part of the lower side of the bodypiece with sides extending parallel to the sides of and adapted to cooperate with the clamping member.

4. A clasp comprising a substantially U- shaped body-piece having an opening in its upper side which is inclosed on all sides, a lever-arm pivotally mounted at one end upon the upper side of the body-piece and provided with lateral aws bent at right angles therewith and adapted to swing downwardly through the opening in the upper side of the body-piece and a catch projecting outwardly from one of said lateral jaws below the plane of the lever-arm and adapted to snap past and into engagement with an edge of the said opening when the hinged lever-arm is swung downwardly to closed position upon the upper side of the bodypiece. V

5. The combination, in a clasp, of a substantially U shaped body piece having formed in its upper side an opening which is inclosed on all sides and a clamping memher which comprises a lever-arm pivoted at one end upon the upper side of the bodypiece and provided with lateral jaws extending downwardly at substantially right angles thereto and adapted to be swung through the opening in the upper side of the body-piece, a longitudinal slot formed in the lever-arm between the lateral jaws and extending nearly the entire length of the leverarm, and an outwardly projecting catch or detent upon one of the said lateral jaws below the plane of the lever-arm and adapted to snap past and into engagement with an edge of the said opening in the upper side of the body-piece.

6. A clasp member formed of resilient metal and comprising a lever-arm which is adapted to be hinged at one end, lateral jaws which are formed integral with and bent at substantially right angles to the lever-arm, a catch which projects outwardly from one of the lateral jaws below the plane of the lever-arm, and a longitudinal slot which is formed in the lever-arm between the lateral jaws and extends nearly the entire length of the lever-arm to facilitate the spring act-ion or the lateral jaw carrying the catch or detent.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRED HIRSH.

Witnesses MAY FREVERT, FRANK SOHUMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

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