US1724561A - Clasp - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 13, 1929- J. cARoLlN 1,724,561

CLASP Filed May 16, 1928 lNVENTOR /M ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

i 1,724,551 Nr oFFIcE.

FRANK J. CAROLIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 KOHN COMPANY, 0F

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CLASP.

Application filed May 16,

This linvention relates to improvements .in clasps especially clasps forv bracelets, neckchains, watch-chains, pendants, sautoirs, and other articles of jewelry.

An object of the invention is to provide a clasp which is of novel but simple construction and by which two parts, such as the ends of a bracelet, can be securely held together but readily released when the parts are to be separated.

The nature of the invention is set forth in the following description and the novel features are pointed out in the appended claims. The drawings show' a preferred embodiment of my invention, but I reserve the rlght to make changes in the shape, size and arrangement of the parts which come within the principle and scope of the invention and are embraced by the meanings of the broad terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

On said drawings,

Figure l is a top plan of the clasp according to -my invention; uniting the ends of a bracelet; T

Figure 2 is aj section on line 2 2, Figure 1, showing the clasp closed;

Figure 3 is a similar View of the clasp open; and

Figure 4 is a section on line 14, Figure 1.

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

' The article of jewelry of which my improved clasp may be a part may comprise a number of links 1 connected to one another by means of hinges 2.A If the article of jewelry is a bracelet, as illustrated on the drawing, the links 1 at the ends of the bracelet will be oined by my improved clasp 1a so that the ends of the bracelet `can be releasably secured together to enable the bracelet to be worn on the ownerswrist and removed therefrom at will. The link or part 1 at one end of the bracelet will carry an aperture or integral loop 3 and the clasp 1a which is connected by a similar hinge 2 with the cooperating part or link 1 at the other end of the bracelet comprise a body with a hook 4 attached to it by a hinge 5. Preferably the clasp and the links are all made of metal as will be understood.

The loop 3 aforesaid is shown in Figure 1 as placed at the right or free end of the link 1 carrying it. The hook 4 which engages this loop 3 will be secured adjacent the middle of the body of the clasp 12L carry- 1928. seria No..27s,113.

ing this hook by the hinge 5 and the hook and the hinge will preferably be on the bottom face of this body of the clasp so as to be partly hidden when the bracelet is put on the wrist of the wearer'. One part of the hook, shown at 6, is doubled over to form aloop or bill and has its extremity 7 bent awayvfrom the remainder of the hook to 'a slight extent so that this end can be slipped through said loop 3; the hook being resilient to allow the part 6 to yield when the con'- nection of the hook with the loop is made. Normally, however, this extremity presses against the remaining or opposite part of the hook so as to keep the clasp from becoming unfastened of itself.

,The end of the body of clasp'la, remote from the extremity which is connected to the adjacent link,V has a rrecess (8) flanked by a pair of fingers (9) which haveinside projections 10 at their extremities'. These gers are resilient and are spaced apart about the same distance as the width of the portion 6 of the hook 4. To make the hook 4 engage the aforesaid loop 3, the body of the clasp 1a mounting this hook will be swung so as to be spaced somewhat from the part 6v of the hookso that the extremity 7 of the j hook can be slipped through the body of the clasp 1a carrying the'hook is folded down until the lingers 9 make con# tact with the sides ofthe part 6. A slight pressure of the wearers lingers is enough to make the parts 9 snap past the opposite edges of the portion 6 so that the fingers 9 will pass underneath the part 6, and thusthe end of the body of lthe clasp 1a having'the recess 8 grips-the part 6 of the hook'4 and holds it in secure engagement. The hook isthus in vpart covered beneath thefbody ofl the clasp 1a to which it is attached by the hinge 5; but the clasp can be released by swinging up` the body carrying the hook engaging the hook from said loop 3.

this loop. Then The body of the-clasp 1a bearing the hook 100 4 may be made up of two sections, atop 11 and a bottom 12. The top 11 may be convex and the bOttOm 12 may b *eflat and these two i sections maybe secured in any suitable manner. Both sections may be shaped at one end 105 to form the notch 8 while the lingers 9 having the inwardly-extending projections 10 may be carried by the bottom 12. The sides of the portion 6 may have notches 13 in such position that the projections 10 can slip past 110 4 and then disthe inner ends of these notches when the body of the clasp is folded down upon the hook as shown in Figure 2. The hinge may comprise a pair of perforated lugs on the bottom 12 vand the hook may have a bearing with a bore therethrough to be between these lugs, the bearino` and the lugs being connected by an orcinary pin which forms the pivot of the hinge. As shown in Figure 1, the bottom 12 may have the shape indicated in dotted lines; being cut out somewhat at the end of the link remote from the recessed wall to provide a resilient tonguellt. This tongue lies over the hinged end of the hook, and the perforated lugs above mentioned will be at the opposite sides of the bottom of the clasp flanking this tongue 14. The hinge end of the hook will carry a lateral projection 15 rounded on one side at the end. lVhen the body of the clasp 1a carrying the hook is folded down upon the hook as indicated in Figures 1 and 2,` the end of this projection will press against the resilient tongue 14:, so that the hook tends to be held in the position shown in Figure 2; and when the body of the clasp 1a is raised, as in Figure 3, the straight side of this projection will press against the resilient tongue 14: and the hook then tends to be held in a position extending at right angles to the bottom of the body of the clasp.

The links 1 may be shaped like the clasp 1u with convex tops but need not have the bottom sections 12. The hinges joining the links together and to one end of the clasp may simply be in the form of Vrings made of a strip of metal bent to bring the ends together and flattened somewhat and passing through suitably shaped openings like the above mentioned aperture 3, in the adj acent ends of 'the links.

'The invention is thus very simple in construction but works very eiiiciently to hold two parts together. At the same time it is easy to manipulate but-on account of the fact that the hook is attached to the under side at-one of the links, most of the *hook is entirely hidden from-view and doesnot interfere with the ornamental appearance of the article carrying it.

1. A clasp comprising a body composed of a main portion and a resilient portion eX- tending longitudinally of the main portion, said main portion having a notch at one end thereof, said resilient portion formed with ingers at the end thereof corresponding with the notched end of the main portion, and a member attached by a hinge to said body and provided with a part adapted to enter said notch and to be gripped by said fingers.

2. A clasp having a body, a hook hinged to the lower facev of the body, the latter being adapted to be folded down upon said hook, and having fingers at one end to grip the. hook near the free end of the hook.

` 3. A clasp having a body, a hook hinged to the lower face of the body, the hook having a projection to engage the lower face of the body, the latter having a portion of its lower face resilient so that said projection ytends to hold the hook in position close to the lower face of said body or projecting at right angles therefrom, the body having a recess at one end with lingers having inward-extending projections at the sides of said recess, the opposite sides of the hook having notches so that when the body and the hook are folded together said projections slip past said notches, thus holding said body and said hook in yielding engagement.

4:. A clasp comprising a `body having a flat lowerl face and a convex upper face, a hook hinged to the lower face of thev body, the hook having a projection to engage said lower face, the latter having a portion re- 1 silient so that said projection tends to hold the hook in position close to said lower face or projecting at right angles therefrom, the body having a recess atfone end with fingers having inwardly-extending projections at both sides of the recess, the hook having a portion doubled over and presented to the lower face of the body, the sides of said portion having notches so that `when they body and hook are folded together said projections slip past said notches, thus holding said body and said hook in yielding engagement. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention, `I have signed my name hereto.

FRANK J. CAROLIN. f

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