US2121147A - Clasp - Google Patents

Description

D. M. GOODRICH 2,121,147

CLASP Filed July 11, 1936 DA W0 /Y GOODE/CH. INVENTOR.

BY v ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 11,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clasps, and this application constitutes a continuation-impart of the division subject matter contained in my co-pending application Serial No. 73,315 for Garment supporter, filed April 8, 1936.

One of the main features of this invention resides in a clasp which may be releasably attached to the fabric of a shirt or other delicate flexible material without mutilating the same.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a clasp which consists of a recessed body member and a key slidably insertible into the recess of the body member to securely grip a flexible material therebetween. Whereas, I am aware that clasps having sliding wedgekeys have been devised, my improved clasp distinguishes thereover in a novel manner for the reason that the key may be inserted into either end of the recess to render the same convenient for assembly and disassembly of the key and the recess member by either a right or left handed person, especially when the clasp is to be applied or removed froma shirt or other garment when in position upon a wearer.

A further feature of the invention is to provide a clasp in which the gripping key may be locked against sliding movement with respect to the body member to overcome any possibility of the accidental sliding of the key member or body member relative to: each other which may be caused by side pulling strains imparted to the clasp.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a clasp having the above mentioned feature of utility and construction which is, simple and inexpensive of manufacture, and which may be made of various materials and designs to be attractive when displayed upon outer garment apparel.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the specification is proceeded with and read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved clasp used in association with a trousers supporter, the latter being shown in position upon a wearer.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clasp with the parts thereof in separated condition.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of clasp with parts in separated condition.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the 1936, Serial No. 90,069

clasp shown in Figure 4, but with the coacting parts in locked position upon a piece of flexible material.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, and more particularly to the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, the numeral i0 designates my improved clasp-in its entirety, and which is shown in Figure 1 of the drawing as being used in connection with a trousers support H. The clasp member In is illustrated as being attached to the exterior of a shirt 12 whereas the supporting means H suspended from the clasp I0 is employed for supporting a pair of trousers l3. Although I have specifically illustrated the clasp ill asYbeing used for the purpose above mentioned, it will be appreciated that the clasp ID has many other uses, and I do not wish to restrict the invention to any particular use.

The clasp i0 includes a flat body, member M which is shown in the drawing as being of a circular disklike shape and extending across one of the flat faces of the body member is a recess I5, the side walls of the said recess being straight and parallel and undercut as at I6. By extending the recess I5 entirely across the face of the body member l4, opposite ends of the recess open at opposite side edges of the body member for a purpose to be presently explained. While I have shown and described the body memberv M as being of circular disk shape, it is obvious that the same may be elongated or other desired configuration without departing from the function of the same as will be hereinafter more fully appreciated.

The body member l4 may be made of any composition of material, and various shapes or designs, and the circular disk-like shape illustrated in the drawing is but one example.

Releasably associated with the body member I4 is a key member I! having straight parallel beveled side edges Iii-l8. The key member 61 is a width to freely slide into the recess it? with the beveled edges lB-l 8 coacting with the undercut walls Iii-I6 of the recess for the purpose of guiding the key member in its sliding movement and for preventing lateral separation of the key member and body member relative to each other. The end edges l9l9 'of the key member I! are curved to conform to the curvature of the peripheral edge of the body member l4, and the said curved edges l9--l9 are flush with the peripheral edge of the body member when the key member is fully inserted therein. The key member l1 may be made of any suitable material and preferably of the same material as that from which the body member I4 is constructed, in order that the appearance of the two members may coincide when in assembled relation.

When applying the clasp ID to one side of a piece of flexible material such as the exterior of the shirt [2, the body member 14 is applied flat against the outside of the material with the recess I5 facing inwardly. The key member I I is applied to the inside of the material and the operator after seating a portion of the material into the recess l 5 proceeds to insert the key member l1 into the recess l5 through either end thereof. When the key member I! is fully inserted as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, that portion of the flexible material seated in the recess is securely gripped, thus the clasp member is in fastened position upon the shirt material.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that by having the recess l5 open at opposite ends of the body member I4 that the key member I! may be conveniently inserted by either a right or left handed user.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein the same construction as previously described is retained but in which a means is provided for locking the key member I1 and body member l4 against movement relative to each other. The locking means includes a flat element 20 pivoted centrally of the disk body M as at 2|. The opposite ends of the elements 20 are bent inwardly to provide flanges 22 which overlie the peripheral edge of the body member I 4. The flanges 22 may be moved clear of opposite ends of the recess I5 by imparting a turning movement to the element 20 to enable insertion of the key member I! or during its removal from the recess IE, but when the key member I! is in an inserted position within the recess I 5, the element 20 is turned so that the flanges 22 overlap the ends of the key member I I. With the element 20 in locking position, it will be appreciated that any strain upon the clasp which might tend to cause a sliding movement of the body member l4 and key member I! relative to each other is prevented.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiments of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:-

1. A clasp member adapted to be detachably secured to one side of a piece of flexible material comprising a flat body having a recess extending the length of one side thereof, the walls of said recess being parallel and undercut, said recess adapted to have one side of a portion of a piece of flexible material seated therein, and a flat key member having straight parallel side edges slidable into said recess through either end thereof and from the other side of a piece of flexible material to clamp a portion thereof between said key member and the walls of said recess, and means carried by said flat body for overlying the ends of said recess for releasably locking said key member against sliding movement in either direction when the same is wholly inserted into said recess.

2. A clamp comprising a body member having a recess extending the length of one side thereof, the opposed walls of said recess being parallel, a key member having parallel side edges slidable into said recess from either end thereof, and means pivotally carried by said body member and movable over the ends of said recess for releasably locking said key member against sliding movement relative to said body member when Wholly inserted within said recess.

3. A clasp comprising a disklike body member having a recess provided in one face thereof and extending entirely thereacross, the opposed walls of said recess being parallel and undercut, a key member slidable into said recess from either end thereof and being of a length to extend the length of said recess, said key member having parallel beveled side edges for coacting engagement with the undercut walls of said recess, and a locking member pivoted centrally to the other face of said disklike body member and provided with inwardly extending elements at the ends thereof which overlie the peripheral edge of said disklike body member for movement to a locking position in lapping relation to the ends of said recess to prevent accidental sliding of said key member relative to said body member.

4. A clasp comprising a body member having a channel extending the length of one side thereof, the opposed walls of said channel being undercut, a key member slidable into said channel from either end thereof and being of a length ap- Droximating the length of said channel, said key member having parallel beveled side edges for coacting engagement with the undercut Walls of said recess, and a pivoted locking member mounted on said body member and provided with inwardly extending elements at the ends thereof for overlying the ends of said channel when the same is turned to a position substantially parallel to the length of said channel to prevent accidental sliding of said key member relative to said body member.

5. A clasp comprising in combination, a pair of separable slidably interfitting members of substantially equal lengths adapted to grip a flexible material therebetween, said members being separable by sliding the same in either of two directions, and a locking member pivoted to one of said members and provided with inwardly extending elements at the ends thereof for overlying the ends of the other of said members to prevent accidental sliding of one member relative to the other. I

6. A clasp comprising in combination, a channeled member, a key member slidably interfitting Within said channeled member and being of substantially the same length and slidable into and out of either end thereof, and a locking member pivoted to one of the members and provided with inwardly extending elements at the ends thereof for overlying the ends of the channel of said channeled member to prevent accidental sliding movement of one member relative to the other member.

DAVID M. GOODRICH.

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