US1673117A - Fastening device for straps, bands, and bracelets - Google Patents

Description

Jli'n'e '12, 1928. 1,673,117

C. H. KESTENMAN FASTENING DEVICE FOR STRAPS, BANDS, AND BRACELETS v Filed Jan. 9, 1928 Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES I 1,673,117 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. IESTENHAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOB TO KESTEN- IAN BROS. II'G. OO., O]? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION BHODE FASTENING DEVICE FOR STRAPS, BANDS, AND BRACELETS.

Application filed January 9, 1928. Serial No. 245,405.

This invention relates to improvements in buckleor 'clasp-devices for fastening the ends of wrist-watch straps, bands, bracelets and the like.

6 A principal object of the improvement is to provide an extendible fastening-device on the strap, band or bracelet which, after the latter has been adjusted to the proper length to fit the wrist may be released and opened 10 out to allow the strap, band or bracelet to be slipped over the hand without unfastene ing its ends.

Another object of the improvement is to rovidea device of the type specified which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and durable in use without liability of the parts becoming broken or getting out of order.

Another object'of the improvement is to 2 provide a device of the type specified which is particularly adapted for use with metal straps, bands or bracelets without requiring a ertures therein for receiving the tongue 0 a buckle or similar fastening means.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a device of the type specified which is neat in appearance and less bulky and cumbersome than similar devices heretofore employed for like pur oses.

Further objects of t e improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accom panying drawings. In the drawings:

35 Fig. 1 is an edge view of a wrist-watch shown as having a two-part strap or band attached thereto with its ends connected by the present im roved fastening-device;

Fig. 2 is a p an view of the fastening-de-- 40 vice showing its parts in closed relation with the opposite strap-ends attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is an enlargedlongitudinal sectional view of the fastening-device showing its parts folded into closed relation; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device partly opened or unfolded;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device showing its parts in extended relation; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged part-sectional view of the cl in -means for adjustably attach- .in one :5 o the strap to the device.

0 present im roved device comprises in general a air 0 coo erating members or plates whi are hingedly connected at their ends to adapt them to be closed into folded relation, one over the other; or to be opened out into extended position to lengthen the drawn tight around the wrist with the clasping means also assuming a folded relation w th respect to the hinged members; while when the plates are opened out the clasp-member will fold back so that the strap, band or bracelet will be lengthened to a considerable extent to adapt it to slip over the hand of the wearer. The present improvement relates particularly to the detent-means for holding the two cooperating folding members or plates in closed relation and to the clasping-means for adjustably attaching one strap-length in accordance with requirements.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 2 designates a conventional type of wr1stwatch having bails 3 on its sides to which the ends of the opposite strap-sections 4 and 5 are suitably attached by looping them therethrough. The strap-section 4 is of the proper length to adapt it to encircle approximately one-half of the wrist, while the other strap-section 5 is of somewhat greater lengthto allow for its ad'ustment and also to provide for extending t e strap when the fastening-device is unfolded.

The present improved extendible fastening-device is herein shown as applied to use" with a strap or bracelet constructed of reticulated fabric such as wire mesh, but in other cases it may be employed with a leather strap or a metal band or bracelet, the term strap herein employed to designate any such rm of. band or bracelet. The main portion of the device com rises two coo ratin folding members or ates 7 and SW ich may be constructed of re atively thin sheet-metal, preferably of arcuate shape or curved in cross-section to adapt them to substantially conform to the contour of the 'wearers wrist.

The two plates 7 and 8 are tapered off or narrowed at one end and this end of the topplate 8 is slotted laterally at 10 to form a cross-bar 12. The bottom-plate 7 has its narrowed end bent or curled around at and looped through the slot 10 to adapt it to serve as a hinge-joint pivoting on the crossbar 12.

At the opposite end of the bottom-plate 7 are two cars 16 bent up from its sides and adapted to receive a cross-pin 17. The crosspin 17 serves as a means for fixedly attaching the end of the strap-section 4 a usual form of end-member 18 being employed for this purpose. As shown in Figs. 3 to 5 the end-member 18 may comprise a sheet-metal strip folded around the terminal portion of the strap-length 4 and having a hook or hooks 19 bent around the cross-pin 17.

The free end of the top-plate 8 carries an adjustable attaching-means or clasp 20 for connecting it with the end of the other strapsection 5. The clasp 20 comprises an armate-shaped panel or top-plate having downturned lateral flanges 22 adapted to enclose the sides of the underlying top-plate 8. The

clasp 20 is pivotally connected to the end of.

the foldable member or top -plate 8 by means of projections or pintles 23 formed integral with the plate and engagin through holes 24 in the side-flanges 22 of t e clasp,

Pivoted between the side-flanges 22 of the clasp 20 at the opposite end thereof is a clamping-member 25 for securing the end of the strap-length 5 to the clasp. The clamping-member 25 comprises a relatively flat plate formed with projections or trunnions 26 at one end which engage through holes 27 in the side-flanges 22 of the clasp 20. The pivoted end of the clamp 25 is provided with a lip or jaw 28 bent down at substantially right-angles to its main portion and preferably serrated or formed with teeth 29 on its under side. This serrated or toothed jaw 28 is adapted to bind against the end of the strap-length 5 when the latter is slid into place beneath it and the clamp 25 rocked into the position illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. In this way the jaw of the clamp 25 cams against the end of the strap-length to hold it securely in place beneath the top' of the clasp 20, and preferably a tongue 20 projects forwardly from the hinged end of the clamp in position to permit the fingernail to be inserted thereunder whereby to lift the clamp to release its jaw from the strap.

Fig. 5 of the drawings illustrates the three hinged . members 7, 8 and 20 as stretched out in extended'relation and when the parts are closed together as shown in Fig. 3 the clasp 20 will fold back into over lying position with respect to the plate 8 with its flanges 22 overlying the edges thereof. It will be noted that the top of the" clasp 20 is slightly beveled along its sides as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 to enhance its ornamental appearance and at its forward end is a curved lip or tongue 34 to provide for convenience in lifting the catch to open the device by insertin the fin er-nail thereunder. The top-mem er 8 is rou ht down against the bottom of the mem er 7 to stretch the strap around the wrist and the two members or plates 7 and 8 are held in closed relation by means of an improved detent-catch as next described.

Referring to Figs. 3m 5, the plate 7 carries a detent-catch 31 preferably formed integral therewith by shearing away a strip of the metal which is bent outwardly and curved over as illustrated most clearly in Fig. 4. The top-plate 8 is formed with a longitudinal slot or aperture 32 extendin approximately two-thirds of its length an having a square end 33, see Fig. 4, adapted to snap across and engage with the curved lip or detent-catch 31 when the parts are closed together as illustrated in Fig. 3. The purpose of slitting or slotting the plate or member 8 throughout the greater portion of its length is to provide a bifurcated structure which renders the plate more resilient or yielding to adapt it to lengthen out as the end of the aperture snaps over the detentcatch 31. When in open relation the topplate 8 is bowed or curved to a somewhat greater extent than the bottom-plate 7 so that after it is folded into overlying relation with the bottom-plate pressure must be exerted on its convex or upper face to cause it to conform thereto. Such pressure causes the plate 8 to lengthen out whereby the end 33 of its slot or aperture 32 will snap over the curved catch 31 and then engage securely therewith.-

The' complete device operates as follows: The strap, band or bracelet is applied to the watch 2 by attaching the ends of the strap-lengths 4 and 5 to its bails 3. The presentimproved fastening-device is permanently attached to the end of the stra length 4 by means of the connector or en member 18 in the manner as previously explained. To attach the watch to the wrist the'strap-lengths are placed therearound and the free end of the section 5 passed in under the jaw 28 of the clamp 25 after the latter has been swung into open position. The strap is then adjusted to the proper length and the clamp 25 closed down to securely hold the end of the strap against the top of the clasp 20 in the manner as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The adjustment in the len th of the strap is made by trial with the astening-device folded into closed relation in order to secure the proper fit. After this adjustment has once been made, however, the ends of the two strap-lengths need never be. disconnected unless'it becomes necessary to change the length of the strap due to stretch therein. .After the adjustment has been completed the members 7 and 8 are folded together by swinging them into the position illustrated in Fig. 4, and finally closing thetop-member 8 down against the bottom-plate 7. After the parts are closed in this relation a slight pressure on the top of theclasp 20 will cause the top-plate 8 to flex along its bifurcated portion whereby it is lengthened out to a slight extent so that the end 33 of the slot 32 will snap over the rounded side of the detent-catch 31. Thereupon-the resiliency or spring tension of the top-plate 8 will cause it to maintain the catch 31 in secure engagement with the end of the slot 32 so that the parts cannot spring open or become accidently released.

\Vhen it is desired to remove the watch from the wrist it is only necessary to insert the finger-nail under the tongue 34 on the clasp 20 whereby to lift the top-plate 8 to release it from the detent-catch 31. The parts can then be opened into extended relation as illustrated in Fig. 5 so that the band or bracelet may be slipped off over the hand without unfastening its ends.

It will be observed that the present improvement provides an extremely simple and eihcient device for the purpose specified with the parts constructed from stampings to render them economical to manufacture.

The improved construction of the detent means for locking the two folding plates in closed relation provides the utmost simplicity without the use of extraneous parts while rendering the whole device more secure and efiicient in action to prevent unwarranted release of the strap or bracelet. Another feature of the invention consists in the improved clasping-means for attaching the adjustable strap-len th which may be used with any type 0 strap either leather or metal. Moreover, the arrangement of this more convenient to operate in opening and closing the folding members.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the device it is obvious that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect,

I claim:

1. In a device of the type specified, the

combination of arcuate-shaped members hinged together to adapt them to fold into overlying relation, one of said members hav-- ing a longitudinal slot dividing it into resilient spring portions, a detent-projection -on the other member adapted to be inserted through the slot in the first member when the latter is flexed to extend its length whereby it will snap over the edge' of the slot to secure the members in closed relation,

and means for attaching the ends of straplengths to the free ends of the members.

2. In a device of the type specified, the combination of two arcuate-shaped members hinged together to adapt them to be folded into overlying relation, one of said members having a greater curvature than that of the other member, an 'aperture in one member dividing it into bifurcated form to provide opposite resilient spring arms, a curved detent-projection on the other member adapted to enter through the slot in the bifurcated member to snap over its edge to secure the members in folded relation, and means for attaching the ends of strap-lengths ,to the free ends of both members.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

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