US1520203A - Bracelet clasp - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23,1924. 1,520,203

- A. L. NEWMAN BRACELET CLASP Filed Sept. 2'7. 1924 Patented Dec. 23, 1924.

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ALMYR L. NEWMAN, oFwAnwIcK,1ItHoDE ISLAND, AssIeNoIt TQA"; L. NEWMAN" 8.;

COMPANY, A rAaT'NnRsHIrco'NsI'sTI-NG or ALMYR L. NEWMAN AND AUeU'sTU's L. NEWMAN, BOTH or WARWICK, RHODE ISLAND, ANDREW o3 BURGESSiUF SOUTH ORANGE; NEW JERSEY, AND JOHN A. BUaenss or PROVIDENCE; RHODE ISLAND, DOING BUsI-NEss- A'I" cRANsT'oN', RHODE' IsIiAND.

BRACELET CLASP;

Application filed September 27; 19245 Serial Nor 740,347.-

To'cll whom it may con-0cm:

Be it known that I, .A-LM'Y-R L. NEWMAN,

a citizen of the United Stat'es,residing at lVarwick, in the county ofKent, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelet Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clasps for watchbracelets and like articles of jewelry and consists of improvements in the construction-of the same;

One object of the invention is to provide A. preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification and-illustrated by the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 illustrates my improved clasp as employed at the ends of a metal bracelet for fastening the same toa wrist watch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of'the clasp showing it part sectional in a vertical plane;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged bottom planview of the clasp showing a portion of its end broken'awayto illustrate the spring-operated tongue which closes the beak or hook of the clasp;

Fig. i is a plan View of the blank from i which the body of the clasp is constructed;

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the tongue of the clasp showing the bent finger or tab for fastening the spring in place; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the method of attaching the spring to the tongue.

Referring to the drawings, my improved clasp is preferably constructed from a blank 2 of relatively thin sheet-metal punched or stamped out in the form shown in Fig. 4, The main part'of the blank 2 is of substantially rectangular shape with; opposite lateral wing-s 3,3 having small tabs or lugs @projecting from their ends. The opposite ends of the wings3 have'their edges cutaway orconcavedtoward the center of the blank where they join the edges of a narrowedneck portion 5. The neck 5 flares outwardly; Into a wider rectangular strip 6 which constitutes the curved hook or beak of the clasp formed by; bending the metal around asshown in Fig; 2.;

The lateralwings 3} of the blankare bent at right angles to its main portion and; then folded inwardly, at points indicated" by the'do-t-ted lines" in Fi 4, with their edges meeting in a butte'd-seam see Fig. 3, thus forming the sides 8 andbottom 9 of a hollow, rectangular, box-like ,strucsure 10. The top and-bottom of the box 10 are slightly curved along. their length to provide an arcuate contour conforming to the shape'of the links of thebracelet-to' which'the clasp is attached, thus adaptingthe whole bracelet to fit sungly against the wrist of the wearer. of the clasp is adapted" to receive one of the sliding links of the bracelet which is normally maintained teles'coped therein by anenclosedspring held by the lugs 4 bent upwardlyat the end ofthefbox. Since the construction of the bracelet itself forms no part of the present invention, however, it is not herein shown ordesoribedan detail. The tongue or keeper 11 for closmg thebeak or hook 6- of the clasp is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. It consistsof a sheetmetal strip havingflaring later'al'e'dges and an integral narrow cross-bar 12'at oneen'd.- A narrow tab or ear 14: is sheared'out' from the metal of the tongue to adapt it to be bent upwardly at an angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 6, the spring 15 which operates the tongue 11 is constructed from a length of fine tempered wire bent intoa loop 16 and inserted under the upwardly bent car 14 with its ends twisted together to form a single leg extending perpendicular to the cross-bar 12 of the tongue. After the loop of the spring 15 has been placed under the tab 14 the latter is hammered or swaged The box portion 10;

down into the opening from which it is sheared, thus causing the edges of the open ing to bite against the wire to bind the spring firmly in place on the tongue as shown in Fig. 6.

The wings 3 of the blank 2 of the clasp are pierced with circular holes 18 which, when the blank is folded into shape, are positioned at the ends of the sides 8 of the box 10. WVhile the box 10 is being formed the opposite ends of the cross-bar 12 of the tongue 11 are inserted through the holes 18 to adapt them to serve as trunnions or pivots on which the tongue hinges. One end 19 of the cross-bar 12 is made longer than the other end and after being inserted through its respective hole it is bent at right-angles, as shown in Fig. 3, to form a crank-arm for operating the tongue 11 to open the clasp. The spring 15 is bent around the rearward edge of the tongue 11, as shown in Fig. 2, to adapt its end to bear against the under side of the neck 5 of the hook 6 to normally hold the tongue with its forward end closed against the inner edge of the hook.

In use my improved clasp operates as follows: IVhen employed on a watch-bracelet the clasp is readily attached to the loop 20 on the side of the watch 21, as shown in Fig. 1, by pressing its tongue 11 against the loo-p to enter the latter into the hook or beak 6 of the clasp. The tongue 11 then swings back under the action of the spring 15 to close the hook to prevent the escape of the loop 20. When it is required to unfasten the clasp the crank-arm 20 is pressed with the finger to swing the tongue 11 inwardly away from the end of the hook 6, whereupon the loop 20 may be readily slipped out of the clasp.

It will be observed that my invention pro- Vides a clasp of particularly neat and simple construction in which there are only two main elements, the spring for the tongue of the clasp being substantially an integral part thereof when once assembled therewith. The operative part of the spring, being formed by the twisted lengths of wire, is rendered particularly strong and durable and capable of retaining its resiliency under long periods of use. Furthermore, there are no pins, screws or rivets employed in the improved construction, the parts when once assembled being permanently held together so that the complete clasp is not liable to be broken, deranged o-r disorganized.

Having now explained the nature of my invention and a preferred embodiment thereof, I claim:

1. In a clasp for watch-bracelets or the like, the combination of a tubular box-like member having holes in its sides and a hook projecting from its end, a tongue formed with an integral cross-bar arranged with its ends journaled in the holes in the sides of the box and one of the ends bent at right-angles to provide a crank-arm for swinging the tongue, and a, spring operating on the tongue to normally maintain it in position with its end closing the mouth of the hook.

2. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a member having a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it to close the mouth of the hook, and a spring constructed of strands of wire twisted together and arranged between the hook-member and the tongue to yieldingly hold the latter with its ends closed against the end of the hook.

3. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a member having a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it to swing across the opening of the hook, and a spring formed from a length of wire bent into a loop for fastenilrg it to the tongue and having its ends twisted together and extending against the side of the hook to yieldingly hold the tongue closed against the end of the hook.

4. In an article of the type specified, the combination of a member having a hook at its end, a tongue pivoted on said member to adapt it to swing across the opening of the hook, said tongue formed with an ear bent upwardly from an opening cut through the metal of the tongue, and a spring formed from a length of wire bent into a loop with its ends twisted together, said loop enclosing the ear on the tongue and secured thereto by bending the car back into the opening, said spring extending from the tongue to bear against the side of the hook to hold the tongue closed against the end of the hook.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALMYR L. NEWVMAN.

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