US1820393A - Clasping device for flexible bracelets or the like - Google Patents

Description

g 1931- c. H. KESTENMAN CLASPING DEVICE FOR FLEXIBLE BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Filed FeB. 6 930 Patented Aug. 25, 1931] CHARLES 3 33mm, or inovrnnncn, nnonn Is nD, AssIeNonTo KEsrrnN An nnos gmre. oo.',1 70F PROVIDENCE; RHODE rsLANn,' A CORPORATION or nnonn ISLANID qptrs'mm pnvren ron rnnxlnnn 'nnAon-nn 'rs onlrnn LIKE i i Application 'r'll ed F ebruaryi Thisfinvention frelates to flexible loand.s,

chains: or linkages for; usein'the manufacture of articles'of jewelry-such as bracelets,

wrist-watch straps, girdles or the like, and

3 consists particularly in; an improvedgmeans for clasping the ends ofthe band or linkage inadju'sted relationshi *One object of the invention is to provide a clasping-m'eans adapted for use with-bands,

Yb chains and linkagesco'nstructed from a pluvided with rality of articulated link-elements and prov I spaced openings; alongtheir lengthy i Anotherobject' ofthe invention is to pro- 15 vide a clasping-deviceof the type specified for engagement with the serrated'or notched edges of theband,-ch'ain or linkageto fasten the endsofthebandtogether. I "Anotherobje'ct of the invention isto prozb 'videa device of thetype 'specified which' is I simple in construction and' of, compact form to adapt it to' lie closely against the flat sides of the band, chain'or linkage."

25 vide' a device ofthe-typespecifiedwhich is Another object of the invention is to prostrong and sturdy in construction andiecono'mic'al -to'manufactu re.- 1

Further objects of; theimpro'vem'ent are see'forth inth'e following'fspecificationwhich describesl a preferred- 'form of construction of-ithe' inventionj byway of example, as

illustrated :by' *the 1 accompanying drawings. Inthef'drawingS} T-Fig; 1"is a perspective view representing the endsfl 'oijtwo lengthsof man band or "40 w s, f the b V ends of the' ba'nd; or'linkage showingthev 3 present-improved clasp in section-' onvline 7 released fior unfastened; a

linkage arranged in overlappedrelationship L i seei t t together y m f 'sf h pres .ent improved clasping-deViceyl "Fig.2 isfaplan view of th overlapped thereto J i Fig. 3 is an edge view of theioverlapped Fig. 5 isa' bottom plan view of the device a: showing'the under part ofthe "clasp broken a d Sh w n th $p.ar ied 6; 93 .;-saa;.m.426,407;

away i to illustrate the detent-means which retains the parts n closed relationshipg fi Fig 6 is a front view of the clasp shown with its parts closed together;'-and' t fFigQ 7 isa composite vlew illustrating the two main elements of the clasp.

The present invention 1' concerned'pai'tics comprises a plurality of tubular link-elements arranged in adjacent parallel alinement andconnected' i-n articulated relation ship by means of U-shaped-inembersinserted into the-hollow ends'of the adjoining links to straddle the adjoining 3wallsthereof.

Linkages of this type are" adapted for'juse as wrist-watch straps 'orrbracelets and are usually provided at their opposite ends with means' for attaching them to the bails of the watch; [It is desirable that the wrist-watch strap or bracelet be adjustablein length'to a'daptyit to fit wrists of-different sizes and forthis pu'rpose the end of one'section of the b'andgor linkage is 1 overlapped withf the end of the opposite'length and made slidable therealong, with the claspingsdevice adapted to'sec'ur' the sections in any desired relation shiP-.- NT

As oneifeatureof flthe presentiinvention.the

Serratedor notched edges :of the? band? or V linkage are utilized to i provide a series "of "openings for engagement Wllllflmeans on the clasp :to secure the ends of' the band-' in ad- I j usted relationshipj Specifically, ;the pres} ent invention contemplates the: use. in combination with a band or linkage having a 1. serrated edge of 'a'clasp enclosing-the oppofsite sides of 'theloverlying' lengths of, the

band and provided hinged or otherwise bular link-elements 2 extendingtransver'sely i movable means for; engagingwithflthe of the band with their sides in abutting relationship. Inserted into the hollow ends of the flat tubular elements 2 at each side of the band are a series of connecting-elements 3 which may be of any suitable structure, for instance, of bifurcated shape to adapt their legs to straddle the adjoining side walls of two adjacent links. The U- shaped or bifurcated connecting-elements 3 are held in place within the ends of the tubular link-elements 2 by any suitable means, for example, by the interlocking of their legs as shown and described in my pending application for patent hereinbefore referred to. It will be noted from Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings that the connectingelements 3 have relatively square ends disposed outwardly beyond the ends of the tubular links 2 and spaced slightly apart along the length of the band or linkage, whereby they form openings or notches 5.

The present improved clasping-device comprises a bottom member 6, shown in detail in Fig. 7 preferably constructed from sheet-metal with a base-strip or plate 7 having opposite upwardly bent flanges 8 at its sides. The flanges 8 are formed at one end with upwardly projecting ears 9 provided with alined holes 10 for receiving a hingepin 11, see Figs. 2 and 3. At the opposite ends of the flanges 8 are narrow slots or openings 12 extending parallel with the base-plate 7 and employed for a purpose as later explained.

The upper movable clasp-element or clamp 15 is similar in shape to the bottom member 6, being provided with a top-plate 16 having downwardly bent flanges 17 at its sides.

The flanges 17 V have ears 18 at their ends,

projecting upwardly at the rear of the topplate 16, their arrangement being opposite to that of the ears 9 on the member 6. The ears 18 are provided with alining holes 19 for the hinge-pin 11 previously mentioned. Bent down from the forward edge of the top-plate 16 are lugs or prongs 20 whose edges abut the sides of the lateral flanges 17. The prongs 20 are adapted to engage in the notches 5 between the edges of the connect.- ing-members 3 for the links 2 of the bracelet above described. The forward edge of the top-plate 16 of the member 15 is curled upwardly at 21 to form a lip under which the finger nail may be inserted to lift the clampmember to disengage it from the band or linkage. At the forward ends of the flanges 17 the metal is punched in or indented to form projections or protuberances 23 on their inner faces which are adapted to snap into the slotted openings 12 in the flal'iges 8 of the member 6 when the parts are closed together in clasped relationship. 'The two elements 6 and 1.5 are assembled in cooperative relationship in the manner as next ex plained.

Where the band or linkage is to be used as a wrist-watch bracelet it may comprise two lengths or sections 25 and 26 connected at their ends to the bails of the watch; but in other cases, where used for an ornamental bracelet, the linkage may be made in one length with its ends connectedby the clasping-means. The end-link 27 of the length 25 is formed with a circular loop'28, see Figs. 3 and 4, adapted to fit between the ears 9 of the bottom clasp-member 6 and to 're ceive the hinge-pin 11, whereby to anchor this end of the bracelet to the clasp. The upper clasp-member 15 is arranged with its side'flanges 17 overlapping the flanges 8 on the bottom member 6, its ears 18 being alined with the ears 9 and the ends of the hinge-pin 11 projecting through the holes 10 and 19 to hinge the upper member to the lower one. In this manner the clasp is attached to the end of the section 25 of the linkage with its upper member or clamp 15 adapted to swivel on the pin 11 to close down on the bottom member 6.

The other section 26 of the linkage is inserted through the clasp above the basepl ate 7, and usually the terminal portion of this part of the bracelet is provided with a slide 30 slidable along the section 25. The slide 30 may be constructed of a narrow strip of metal having portions 31 bent down from its ends to enclose the edges of the section 25 of the band and provided with alining holes for receiving a cross-pin 32. The cross-pin 32 extends through a loop in the end-link 33 of the band section 26 with its ends riveted through the holes in the end portions 31 of the slide 30.

In operation, the upper member or clamp 15 of the clasp is swung upwardly or lifted as illustrated in F igl 4L and the section 26 of the linkage is then free to slide through the clasp to adjust the bracelet to anydesired length. After the bracelet has been adjusted about the wrist of the wearer in this manner the clamp 15 is swung down to-engage its lugs or prongs 20 with the appropriate notches 5 in the edges of the band section 26. As the clamp 15 is closed down against the bottom member 6 the prongs or projections 20 will slide into the notches 5 and the detent-protuberances 23 on the inner faces of the flanges 17 will snap into the slots or openings 12 in the flanges 8 of the bottom member 6 to lock the parts in closed relationship. With the clamp-member of the clasp thus engaged with the notched edges of the band or linkage the ends will be securely fastened together. \Vhen it is required to loosen the bracelet the finger nail is inserted under the lip 21 on the clampmember 15 to lift the latter to release its projections 20 from the notches in the edges of the band. The two sections of the band may then be drawn out to increase the length of the bracelet whereby itmay be slipped over the hand to remove it from or place it onthe wrist.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the resent invention provides an extremely simple clasping-device for securing the ends of a strap, band or bracelet in con-.

nected relationship. The clasp comprises only two main elements which may be constructed of sheet-metal struckup in dies and assembled by inserting a hinge-pin through the ears 9 and 18 and riveting over'its ends;

The clamping-member of the clasp makes positive engagement with theedges of the band or bracelet and the detents holdthe parts in closed relationship so that the clasp cannot be accidentally released or unfastened. The meansfor fastening or anchoring the clasp to the end of the bracelet is comprised by thevhinge-pin which passes through the terminal link of one section of the band,

thus further simplifying the structure of a base-plate adapted to extend'across the underside of the linkage and provided with flanges projecting upwardly from its lateral edges, a hinge-pin extending between the i holdthe two'members in closed relationship,

and lugs on one of'said clasp-members adapted" to engage through the notches in the edges of the linkage to secure the latter in adjusted relationship in the clasp.

3. In a clasp for'bands'orlinkages having serrated edges, the combination of a bottom member having a base-plate and sideflanges bent upwardly therefrom and pierced with holes, a hinge-pin extending through the holes in theflanges, an upper member comprising a top-plate 9 provided with side flanges having holes forreceiving the ends of the hinge-pin to pivotally connect saidmember with the bottom member,'detentmeans on the side flanges of the members adapted to interengage to hold said members in closed'relationship, and lugs bent down from the top-plateof the upper memberin positionto'engage'the serrations in the edges of the linkage when the -top-member is swung down into closedposition on the bottom member. i I

vIn testimony whereof Ihereunto aflix my signature.

, CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

side flanges of said member to adapt it to v v be inserted into the end-link of one section of the linkage, and a clamp-member pivoted on said'hingapin and provided'with lateral flanges adapted to voverlap the side flanges of a the base-member when the clamp-member is closed down thereagainst, said clamp-member having lugs adjacent its side flanges.

adapted to engage theserrations in the edges of the linkage to hold the latter in adjusted;

relationship in the clasp. 1 I

2. A clasp for bracelet linkages having notches in the opposite edges thereof com- 7 prising a bottom member adapted to extend 7 across the underside of the linkage and provided with flanges at its sides projecting upwardly therefrom, a hinge-pin extending between the flanges for connection with the end-link of the linkage, a clamp-member pivoted on said hinge-pin to adaptit to close down against the top of the bottommembei and provided with sideflanges overlapping V. l the flanges on the sides ofthe'bottom momr ber, detent-protuberancesron the side flanges of one of said clasp-members, openings in the flanges or the opposite member adapted to be engaged by the detent-protuberances to a

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