US1696577A - Connecter for wrist-watch strap, band, or bracelet - Google Patents

Description

. Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,577

c:.H. KEsTl-:N'MAN CONNECTER FOR WRIST WATCH STRAP, BAND, OR BRACELET Filed Jan. 14, 192e Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

tlltll'llED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE XSLAND, ASSIGNOR TO yKES'SN- -1VIAN BROS. MFG. CO., OF PBOVID]i|.\l"('l2lil,y RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CONNECTER FOR WRIST-WATCH STRAP, BAND, OR BRACELET.

Applicatonled January V14, 1928. Serial No. 246,787.

rlhis invention relates to an improved connecter for attaching straps, bands and bracelets towrist-tvatches, and particularly to means for rendering the device adjustable to lit diflerent forms of bails as provided on different styles of Watchcases- A. principal object of the invention is to provide a connecter or attaching-device adapted to engage with the cross-bar forming part of the bail or loop on a Wrist-Watch case, and having means for adjusting the Width of the engaging portion of the connecter in accordance With varying lengths of cross-bars used on different types of Watch-cases.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a device of the type specified which is capable of adjustment throughthe substitution of one part or element for another Without requiring the use of tools or instruments to lit the connecter to the bail of the Watch.

Another object of the invention is 4to provide a device of the type specified wherein the adjusting-means forms a continuation of the connecter or attaching-device itself Without revealing unsightly ,joints or obtrusive mechanical projections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which is strong and rigid in construction and not liable-'to become detachedr deranged When applied to use on the Watch.

Another object ofthe invention is to vprovide a device of the type specified which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture and convenient to applj7 for the pur-` pose specified.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device as rillustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View showing a conventional form of Wrist-Watch -having a metalstrap or bracelet connected thereto by means of the present improved attaching device;

Fig'. 2 is a greatly enlarged plan vievv of the attaching-device showing a portion of the connecter in section and illustrating it as attached to the cross-bar of the bail on the Wrist-Watch case;

Fig. 3 is a compositeview illustratingthe several kparts of the attaching-device and its adjusting-means in disassembled vrelation with respect to the hail ofthe Watch-case; and N Fig. d is a longitudinal sectional view il lustrating one form of tubularcrossbar orV bail element adapted for use with the present improved connecter or attachingdevice.

Referring to the drawings, the lpresent improved device comprises in general a hook or loop-member which may be formed as a part of or fastened to the end of the wristf Watch strap, band or 'bracelet to adapt it to engage with the cross-bar forming a part of the bail on the side of the Watch-case; the i connecter loop being of a deiinite Width and adapted to be used in vconjunction with spacer-hubs Vor bosses held in place at the sides of the loop by means of a tieor connecting strip. f j j Fig. l of the drawings illustrates the Watch-case 2 as of conventional oblong or part-hexagonal `shape and provided lWith the usual attaching loopsfor bails 3 on its sides. The hails 3 are generally constructedv With opposite parallel lugs or ears l projecting from vthe sides of the Watch-case 2 and, provided with suitable holes for receiving the ends of the cross-bar 5, see Fig. y3, which constitutes the connecting member for the strap, band or bracelet. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the crossnbar 5 is constructed as fa tubular shell of proper length to lit between the tvvo ears i on the side of the-Watclifcase 2 and having telescopic projections or pintles at its ends Vfor engaging the holes in the ears to fasten the bar in place. This form of cross-bar is of usual construction and its method of operation adapts it to be insertedthrough a loop at the end of a strap, band or 4bracelet and then engaged with the ears on the watch-case in attaching the strap thereto while providing for the disconnection of the strap when required.

The present improved connecter or attaching-device is adapted for use more particularly with metal straps, bands and bracelets such as are now generally in vogue, especially for gentlemens wrist watches. The watch-cases are madel in many different shapes and sizes and consequently the bails on the sides thereof are not of uniform width. It is desirable, however, that the metal straps, bands and bracelets be made of a standard width and adapted for attachment to bails of different types on the many styles of watches handled by retailers. The present attaching-device accomplishes this object through the use of an improved adjustable connecter' as next described.

Fig. 1 illustrates the wrist-watch strap or bracelet as comprisingtwo lengths or sections of a metal band 10 which may be joined at their overlapping ends by any suitable clasping means 11 to adapt the strap to be adjusted in length to lit the wrist of the wearer. Each strap-length 10 is provided at its opposite end with a hook or loop 12, sce Fig. 3, which may be formed by bending the metal into cylindrical shape. In other cases where the band or bracelet is constructed of recticulated metal fabric, such as wire mesh, the connecter or loopmember may comprise a separate element suitably attached 'by soldering or otherwise to the end of the band. The hook or loop 12 is adapted to receive the cross-bar 5 which, with the ears 4, forms the bail on the side of the watch-case 2, and obviously this part must be adapted to engage around the bar with its sides in abutting relation with respect to the ears 4 in order that it may be connected neatly with the bail without side play thereon.

1Where the `cross-bar 5 of the bail is of a length corresponding to the width of the loop 12 on the band or bracelet no adjusting means is required, but in many cases, particularly on gentlemens watches, the cross-bar of the bail is much longer than required for the width of the strap. Therefore, to adapt the connecter to be used with longjbars I provide attachable spacer-hubs or bushings 14 which may be tted to the cross-bar 5 to lill the space between the sides of the loop 12 and the ears 4. These spacerhubs or bushings 14 may be made in graduated widths in accordance with the varying lengths of the cross-bars on different types of watches, but obviously it would be inconvenient to provide such hubs or bushings as separate elements for individual application to the fastening-device. That is to say, such hubs or bushings must be quite small and if used separately they would be inconvenient to handle in fitting them in nosas?? place and apt to become lost in shipping or handling.

The present invention therefore contemplates the provision of pairs of associated spacer-hubs or bushings connected together in the form of a single element adapted for convenient handling and application in litting the attaching-device or connecter, to the bail of the wrist-watch. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the spacerhubs or bushings 14 may be connected by a tie comprising a relatively narrow strip of metal 15 formed integral with the hubs. Conveniently, the complete adjusting element preferably constructed from flat stock rolled into the form shown, or it might be made from a single length of tubing cut away at the center to leave a narrow strip or tie 15 connecting the hub-portions 14 at its ends. The connecting strip 15 is bent or bowed outwardly in offsetI relation to adapt it to overlie the inturned end-portion 16 of the hook or loop 12, and the opposite sides of the hook are preferably cut away to form notches 17 for the reception of the bentportions 18 of the strip. rlhrough such engagement of the bent-portions 18 of the strip 15 in the notches 1'4" the end-hubs or bushings 14 are held firmly in place on the loop 12 and prevented from turning after the connecter has once been attached to the cross-bar 5 of the bail on the watch-case.

My improved connecter or attachingdevice is applied to use in the manner as next explained: IVhen the strap or bracelet 10 is of a width corresponding to the length of the cross-bars 5 in the bails on the watchcase the strap may be connected to the hails by simply removing their cross-bars in the manner as previously explained, inserting them through the loops 1Q and then replacing the bars by telescoping their end-pintles 6 to permit them to be inserted into the holes in the ears 4. In cases where the cross-bars 5 are longer than the width of the strap or band 10 an adjusting device isv employed of suitable width to lill the gaps between the sides of the connecter and the ears 4. As before stated these adjusting elements may be made in varying sizes in accordance with cross-bars of lengths and since they are of relatively lightweight and economical to manufacture a supply of graduated sizes may be furnished, say three or four, with each wrist-watch strap or bracelet.

In most cases the jeweler or other retailer selling the watches and bracelets will be. supplied with sets of adjusting-devices in graduated sizes, and to lit the strap or bracelet connecter to the watch bail is a simple and easy matter. After determin' different.

' proper` size ofV adjusting-member is selected and placed in position on the loop or hook 12 of the connecter. This is done by simply straddling the adjusting-member across the loop or hooi; ,12 with its hubportions 14 abutting the sides thereof. The connecting strip 15 which has an inherent spring tendw ency will thus be caused to snap into the notches 17 at the sides ofthe loop 12 so that the whole device is held lixedly in place thereon. rlhe cross-bar 5 is then inserted through the spacer-hubs 1st and loop 12 with its ends substantially flush with the ends of the opposite hubs. All that is then required is to telescope the pintles t3 within the ends of the tubular bar 5 whereby the latter may be placed between the ears l to allow the pintles to engage with the holes therein, this operation being performed in the usual manner by first inserting one of the pintles through the hole in one ear and then compressing or telescoping the other pintle by means of a knife-blade, pin or other suitable instrument to cause it to slide into position to engage in the other ear.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides a particularly simple and neat connecter or fasteningdevice for attaching` straps, bands, bracelets and the like to the bails of wrist-watches, and one which is readily adjustable in width to adapt it for use on various types of wrist-watches which have bails with crossebars of different lengths. When applied to use the adjusting means or spacer-hubs 111 at the sides of the loop or hook 12 of the connecter form a continuation thereof, and being held snugly in place by the resilient cross-strip 15 they have the appearance of being constructed integral therewith. ln other words, there are no unsightly seams, joints, shoulders or other mechanical deficiencies visible to mar the smooth and linished appearance of the device or to render it bulky and cumber- Moreover', the improved devi-ce Y is eX- tremely simple and economical to manufacture and proof against derangement or getting out of order to render it durable in use over long periods.

While l have herein described and illus trated a preferred form of construction of Vthe improved attaching-device it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of the parts thereof without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. ln a connecter for attaching wrist-watch straps, bands and bracelets to the bails of a watch-case, the combination of a loop at the end of the strap, band or bracelet for engaging around the cross-bar of the bail, spacerhubs applied'to the sides of the loop to adapt it to conform `to the length of the cross-bar, and meansl 4for detachably securing said spacer-hubs' to the loop.

2. ln a device of the type specified, the combination with a yf'ristwatch having a bail on `its side comprising projecting ears and a crossbar extending therebetween, of a connecter comprising a loop through which the cross-bar is inserted to attach. a strap, band or bracelet to the watch, spacenhubs adapted to lit the ends of the cross-bar abutting the opposite sides of the connecter loop, and means connecting the hubs to hold them in alinement to adapt them to be readily attached to the connecter-loop.

3, ln a device of the type specified, the combination with the bail of a wrist-watch comprising ears projecting from the side thereof with a cross-bar extending therebetween, of a connecter for attaching a strap, band or bracelet to the watch, said connecter having a loop adapted 'to engage around the cross-bar of the bail on the watch, and an adjusting element for extending the width of the connecter-loop to conform to cross bars of different length, said adjustingelement comprisino` a pair of opposite tubular hubs connected by a cross-tie whereby to adapt the hubs to bcplaced. in abutting relation with the sides of the connecter-loop with the cross-tie extending thereacross to retain the hubs in place.

et. In a device of the type specilied, the combination with a wrist-watch having a bail on its side comprising a cross-bar, of a connecter for connecting a strap, band or bracelet to the watch, said connecter comprising a loop for receiving the cross-bar of the bail on the watch-case and formed with notches at its sides, and an adjusting device for extending the connecter-loop to conform to the length of the cross-bar in the bail, said adjusting device comprising a pair of tubularl hubs adapted to abut the sides of the connecter-loop to form'continuations thereof and provided with a relatively thin crossstrip bowed into offset relation with respect to the hubs to adapt it to extend across the loop with its ends engaging the notches therein in the manner and for the purpose substantially as described.

5. ln a device of the type specified, the combination with a wrist-watch havinO a bail on its side provided nf'ith a crossar, of a connecter for connecting a strap, band or bracelet to the watch comprising a substantially cylindrical loop for receiving the cross-bar of the watch-bail, said loop cut away at its ends to form notches, and an adjusting device for extending the width of the connecter-loop comprising a pair of spacer hubs adapted to abut the sides of the loop to enclose the cross-bar of the bail on the watch and having resilient means extending between the hubs and adapted to lie across the loop with its ends yieldingly engaging the notches therein to detaohably hold the spacer-hubs in position at the sides of the connecter-loop.

6. The combination of a wrist watch having a pair of lugs to receive a pin, a bracelet wrist band having a loop of a width less than the distance between said lugs, a pin extending through said loop and lugs to lo eral movement of the loop between said lugs. 15

In testimony whereof l afix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

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