US2129518A

US2129518A - Extensible bracelet clasp

Info

Publication number: US2129518A
Application number: US38594A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dalo John
Original assignee: A AND Z CHAIN Co
Current assignee: A AND Z CHAIN Co
Priority date: 1935-08-30
Filing date: 1935-08-30
Publication date: 1938-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 1955-09-06

Description

Segph, 1938. J. DALO EXTENSIBLE BRACELET CLASP Filed Aug. 5o, 1935y ff f : l CDN.

Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES' 2,129,513y f EX'rENsiLE BRACELET' oLAsP John Dalo, Providence, R. I.',;a"ssignor to A and Z Chain Company, Providence, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application August 30,

7 Claims'.

This invention relates to clasps and more particularly to extensible clasps for connecting the ends of watch-bracelets or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro--v 5 vide a clasp of the type indicated which may be manually contracted to adjust the length of the bracelet.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated which will yield to permit a limited expansion and contraction in its adjusted relationship to hold the bracelet snugly on the wrist of the wearer. f

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated includingl foldable members for extending the length of the bracelet, to permit it to be passed over the hand, and then collapsed to tightenthe bracelet around the wrist.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of the type indicated which is neat and ornamental in appearance, of a compact and simple structure permitting economical manufacture and assembly; and one which is positive in its operation to latch the parts in adjusted relationship.

These and other objects will become more apparent from the following description of onev form of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is for purposes of -illustration only and. not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims. In the drawing:

Fig. l is a plan View of a two-part bracelet connected by the extensible clasp forming the subject-matter of the present application;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the clasp showing its pivoted sections in extended relationship and illustrating the manner in which the sections are folded into overlying relationship;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the clasp showing its sections in extended relationship;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the clasp taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and'showing the means for latching the extensible slide in its innermost contracted relationship with respect to the foldable members;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the slide extended to its outermostposition with its controlling spring compressed;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1 and showing the projecting lug for releasing the latching means;

Fig. '7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 taken on line ..1--1 of Fig. 1 and showing the spring for yield- 1935-, seriarN. 38,594 v (onze-71) ingly holding the slide in adjusted relationship V with respect to the foldable members;

. Flg.8 is a detail perspective View of the rackbar, mounted on the slide;

Fig. 9, is1a detailed perspective View of the extensible slide; ,and

Fig.. 10'is a detailed perspective View of the pawl. for latching engagement with the rack-bar. Referring now to Fig.,l of the drawing, the clasp member II) forming the subject-matter of the present application is shown as connecting theends of the sections II and I2 of a `two-part bracelet.. The bracelet sections as illustrated comprise a pluralityof flexibly connected links having terminal connectors I3 at their outer ends for attachment to the bails of a wrist-watch, not shown,l but it is to be understood that any other prevailing mode `ofbracelet may be substituted, such as fabric, leather, mesh or the like and that the terminal connectors I3 may take other forms.

Thefpreferred illustrated embodiment of the extensible Lclasp Ill is comprised of a plurality of foldable sections including a body member or housing I4, a pairof cooperating slidable members` y I5'and I6 forming a connecting link, and an end section I'I.A The body member. or housing I4 is in the form vof a plate I8, preferably of sheetmetal, Vcurved longitudinally throughout its length` to conform to the contour of the wrist. The plate I8 has opposite side portions I9 and 2|] folded downwardly and inwardly with their edges 2| and `22 terminating in parallel spaced-apart relationship, see Figs. 6 and 7. The plate. I8, togetherwith the folded sides` I9 and 20, provide longitudinallyfextending channels 24 and 25 at the opposite vsides `of the body member. `At one end the plate portion I8 `extenclsbeyond the folded sides I9 andZIl and is bent to form a closed loop 26, while the opposite end of the plate portion I8 is rounded-as at 21, see Fig. l, to provide a ngerI-piece ,for 'prying the clasp open. A pivot-pin 28 extends between the folded sides I9 and 20 of the plate I8 at the end of the body member I4 adjacent the finger-piece 2l.

The member I5 forming one part of the connecting link Iis of rectangular shape with a cen--k trally-depressed groove 32 extending throughout tliegreater portion of its length and forming side rails 33 and 34. .The member I5 is pivotally connected to .thebody member I4 by a loop 35 at its end embracing thepivot-pin 28 and the si-de rails 33 and 34 are adapted to slide in lateral channels 3B and 31 of usual construction in the linkwmember IB. vfl'lrle relative sliding movement of. the members I5 and I6 is limited by the engagement of a detent 38 on the member I6 with the opposite ends of the groove 32 in the member I5 into which the detent projects. At its outer end the member I6 is provided with a loop 46 for pivotal connection with the end section I'I of the clasp.

The end section II comprises a base plate 4| with its opposite sides 42 and 43 folded upwardly to provide projecting flanges. A pin 44 extends between the side anges 42 and 43 at one end of the section and is embraced by the loop on the link member I6 for pivotal connection therewith. The width of the end section I'I is substantially equal to the spacing between the parallel edges 2| and 22 of the body member or housing I4 and the flanges 42 and 43 on the section have detents 45 for cooperation with these edges. The opposite end of the end section II has a loop 46 for embracing the end link of the bracelet section I2 to provide a flexible connection therewith. As thus far described the clasp is not materially .different from those heretofore used, the link members I5 and I6 being adapted to telescope one into the other and together with the end section I'I to fold into the body member or housing I4 in overlying relationship in the manner shown by dash lines in Fig. 2; the link members and end section being curved throughout their length to conform to the longitudinal curvature of the body member. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the link members I5 and I6 lie wholly between the flanges 42 and 43 on the end section I 'I and the flanges lie wholly between the terminal edges 2| and 22 of the folded sides of the body member I4. The folded sections are latched together by the engagement of the detents 45 on the side flanges 42 and 43 of the end section I'I with the edges 2| and 22 of the folded sides I9 and 26 of the body member I4. To maintain the connecting link and end section properly positioned in the body member or housing I4 a projecting lug 4'I formed on the link member I6 engages the plate I8.

The present invention is directed particularly to the adjustable features of the clasp for manually contracting its length and for providing a resilient yielding action to permit limited expansion and contraction in its length when the parts are in adjusted relationship. To this end a slide 50 in the form of a hollow rectangular frame, shown in inverted position in Fig. 9, is mounted in the body member I4 for relative longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The slide 50 is preferably formed by a plate of sheet-metal having its sides 5I and 52 folded downwardly and then inwardly to provide channels 53 and 54 adapted to nest in the channels 24 and 25 of the body member I4 with a close sliding t. The central portion of the slide 50 is cut away between the channels 53 and 54 and throughout the greater portion of its length, thus forming crossbars 55 and 56 at its opposite ends. The crossbar 55 is flexibly connected to the end link of the bracelet section I I by any suitable means such as the looped band 5I shown in Figs. 2 and 3. At the rearward end of the slide 50 adjacent the crossbar 56 the end of the folded side portion 5| is slotted in bifurcated form as shown in Fig. 9 and thereafter bent at right-angles toward the crossbar 56 to provide a bearing 58, see Fig. 4. At its forward end the folded bottom portion of the channel 54 is formed with a longitudinal slot 59.

One-way latching means are provided which permit the slide 50. to be moved into contracted relationship with respect to the body member I4 to adjust the length of the bracelet while acting to hold the slide in its adjusted position. The latching means includes a member 6U carried by the slide 50 and movable thereon to provide a limited expansion and contraction of the clasp. Although the latching member 6I) may be either a pawl or a toothed rack, in the present illustrated embodiment it is in the form of a rack-bar shown in detail in Fig. 8. The rack-bar 6|) is mounted for sliding movement in the channel 54 of the slide 50 by means of an extension rod 6| formed integrally therewith with its end projecting rearwardly through the bearing 58 and with a lug 62 at its forward end projecting through the slot 59. The rack-bar 60 is provided with a series of teeth 63 which project inwardly toward the open center of the slide 58. Each of the teeth 63 has one side 64 inclined inwardly and forwardly toward the crossbar 55 and its opposite side 65 parallel with the crossbar.

The rack-bar 60 is yieldingly held in a forward position with respect to the slide 50, as shown in Figpll, by a helical compression spring 66 surrounding the rod 6| and acting between an abutment 61 on the bar and the bearing 58 on the slide through which the rod extends. The forward movement of the rack-bar 60 with respect to the slide 50 is limited by the engagement of the lug 62 with the end of the slot 59 and the outward movement of the slide 50 is limited by a lug 69 projecting inwardly from the abutment 61 on the' rack-bar and engaging the bearing housing 26 at the forward end of the body member I4, see Fig. 5.

The latching means also includes a yielding pawl 10 shown in detail in Fig. 10 for cooperation with the teeth 63 on the rack-bar 6I) to latch the slide 50 against outward movement with respect to the body member I4 while permitting the parts to be contracted to adjust the length of the bracelet. The pawl 'I0 is in the form of an L-shaped spring having one end II rigidly fixed to the side wall 20 of the body member I4 and extending forwardly within the channel 53 in the slide 50. The opposite end 'I2 of the leafspring is bent at substantially right-angles and extends through the hollow bearing 26 formed by the loop 26 at the forward end of the body member I4. The end 'I3 ofthe bent portion I2 which cooperates with the teeth 63 on the rack-bar 60 has an angular face corresponding with the angle of the inclined side 64 of the teeth. The bent end portion I2 of the latching member III is provided with a forwardly-projecting lug 'I4 which extends through a slot 'I5 in the bearing 26 and upwardly to a position adjacent the top of the body member I4. The end of the lug is preferably serrated as at 'I6 to facilitate its engagement by the finger to move the pawl out of engagement with the teeth 63 of the rack-bar 60 to release the slide 50. The mode of operation of when complete clasp is as next explained. v

With the foldable sections I4, I5, I6 and II of the clasp in extended relationship as illustrated in Figs 2 and 3 and with the slide 5|) withdrawn from the housing I4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, the bracelet sections I I and I2 connecting a watch or like article of jewelry are passed vover the hand of the wearer. The clasp is then collapsed by first sliding the member I5 telescopically into the member I 6 and folding the sections I4, I6 and I'I in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The end section II is then pressed into the body member or housing I4 to cause the detents 45 to snap by thefspaced-edges2Iand12121- to latch the parts in folded relationship. Inthis'ffolded' aser sembly the projecting lug 41 on the sectionA I6 vengages against the plateportion I8. of the body member I4, see Fig. 7.' The lug 41 together with the pivot-pin 28 holdxthe intermediatelinkmem-- ber I6 spaced fromthe plate I8 so that the slide -50 may move freely in the body member I4.y i

The slide 5l] is then telescopedinto-thebody member I4 to contract Vthe clasptovadjust thelength of the bracelettoi conform 'to the wrist. The two parts are moved into contracted relationship by manually pressing the endrof the slide 50 and the opposite endof the-body member I4 between the fingers. Duringt this inward movement of the slide SI1-,with respectto the body member I4 the latching end 13of-theyie1ding of one of the teeth 63 rontherack-bar 60 is er1-v gaged by the correspondingly-shapedside ofthe end 13 of the pawl 10 `tolatchthe-rack-bar 60.' in adjusted relationship with respect tothe body member I4.

'I'he slide 5U may then have a limited expansion and contraction to conform to the flexing of the wrist due to the yielding of the spring 66 which acts between the abutment 61 on the rack-bar and the lug 58 on the slide 50. As the slide 50 is drawn out of the body member I4y it moves with respect to the rack-bar 60 against the compression of the spring 66 and has a range of movement as indicated in Fig. 5. vWhen the slide 50 is released the spring 66 acts between the abutment 61 on the rack-bar 6U and the bearing lug 58 on the slide to draw the latter into the body member I4, this movement being limited by the engagement of the lug 62 on the rack-bar with the end of the slot 59. In this manner the slide 50 is yieldable with respect to the rack-bar 60 and body member I4 to which it is latched to adapt the length of the bracelet to be automatically adjusted within definite limits.

When the bracelet is to be removed from the wrist the finger-nail is inserted under the lip 21 on the body member I4 to pry it awayfrom the end section I1. The sections of the clasp may then be extended to the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and the bracelet removed over the hand. When again applied to the wrist and collapsed f the clasp will be properly adjusted to fit the wrist due to the latching engagement of the pawl 10 with the rack-bar 60. In other words, when once adjusted the clasp will retain its adjustment even though the folded sections are extended. If however, the bracelet is found to be too tight or for any other reason it is desired to extend the length of the clasp the latching end 13 of the pawl 10 may be moved away from the teeth 63 on the rack-bar 60 to release the slide 50. To accomplish this result the serrated end 16 of the projecting lug 14 o-n the pawl is engaged by the finger and slid to the right as viewed in Fig. 6. The slide 50 may then be freely withdrawn from the body member I4 having a range o-f adjustment from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5; the inwardly-directed lug 69 engaging the bearing 26 on the body member I4 to limitits outward movement. The length of the bracelet can then be readjusted in the manner as previously explained by moving the slide 50 into contracted relationship with the body member I4, this adjustment being permitted by the sliding ofr the'teeth on therack-bar. overthe inclined end of the pawl. j y' I I wAlthoughA the sections. ofthe clasp have. been described fas? preferably Jmade of)` sheet-metal.;

folded or bent to* shapeffit is to be understood that they may be made of any other suitable man--v I4 andthe slide 50 and still be within the scope:

ofthe present invention.

l, Having now described the invention it will be observed .that an improved clasp is provided having-'a Vsimple and compact structure for yieldingly holding a bracelet in adjusted position. It will also be apparent that the clasp provides for man` ually contracting a pair of sliding members intov adjusted relationship While adapting them to be freely movable' inwardly and automaticallyextended under the control of resilient means.

Althoughfonly one- ,embodiment of the invention .is herein shown and described it is noted that variations maybe made in the form and ar'` rangement? of the-parts within the spirit and scopefof thezinvention. Therefore, without limitingy 'myselffin this respect, I :claim:

1. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a plurality of foldable members, a slide on one of the foldable members having oppositely disposed channels at its sides, a ratchet means in one of the channels on the slide, a spring carried by the cooperating foldable member and lying in the channel at the opposite side of the slide, said spring being formed with a pawl to yieldingly engage the ratchet, and means on the spring projecting from the end of the foldable member for releasing said spring from engagement with the ratchet to release the slide.

2. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a plurality of members adapted to be folded into overlying relationship with an opening therebetween, a slide between the folded members, a rack-bar on the slide and movable longitudinally thereof, a pawl having one end xed to one of the folded members and its opposite end yieldingly engaging the rack-bar, said pawl and rack-bar having inclined teeth for permitting the slide to be telescoped into the folded members, a spring between the rack-bar and slide for yieldingly holding the latter in adjusted position, and a. finger-grip on the pawl for manually moving it out of engagement with the rack-bar to release the slide.

3. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a plurality of members adapted to be folded into overlying relationship with an opening therebetween, a slide in the opening between the folded members for adjusting the length of the clasp, said slide having a channel at one side, a rack-bar slidably mounted in the channel in the slide, a spring in the channel acting between the rackbar and slide, and a latching member on one of the foldable members arranged to cooperate with the teeth on the rack-bar to hold the slide in adjusted position with respect to the folded members.

4. In a device of the type indicated, a clasp member having inturned flanges at its sides to provide spaced channels, a slide in the clasp member having channels at its sides nested in the channels on the clasp member, a rack-bar in the channel at one side of the slide, guiding means in the channel for mounting the rack-bar for movement therein, a spring acting between the slide and the rack-bar, and a resilient pawl on the clasp member for cooperation with the rackbar, the end of the pawl and the teeth onthe rack-bar being formed to adapt their sides to slide past each other when the slide is moved into the clasp member and to latch against movement in the opposite direction, and a projection on the pawl for moving it away from the rackbar to release the slide.

: 5. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a pair of members connected to slide relatively of each other, said members being adapted to connect the opposite ends of a bracelet, a toothed ratchet on one of the slidable members, a yielding pawl on the other member having an inclined portion adapted to slide past the teeth on the ratchet in one direction and to interlock therewith to prevent its movement in the opposite direction. and a spring connectingy the ratchet and the member on which it is, mounted to provide a limited relative movement therebetween.

6. In an extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a pair of members connected to slide relatively of each other, said members being adapted to connect the opposite ends of a bracelet, a ratchet mounted on one of the sliding members and movable longitudinally thereof, a resilient pawl on the other memberv cooperating with the ratchet, said pawl being slidable along the ratchet as the membersare slid into contracted relationship and interlocking to resist extension movement of the members, and a spring between the ratchet and member on which it is mounted adapted to yield to provide a limited relative movement therebetween.

7. An extensible clasp for bracelets comprising a pair of members connected to slide one with respect to the other, said members being adapted to connect the opposite ends of a bracelet, a ratchet mounted on one of the members and movable longitudinally thereof, a resilient pawl on the opposite .member inclined with respect to the ratchet and engageable therewith, said pawl being adapted to slide along the ratchet as the members are slid into contracted relationship and interlocking to holdthe members in adjusted relationship, a spring between the ratchet and member on which it is mounted, said spring adapted to yield to provide limited extension movement between the sliding members, and a finger grip on the pawl for manually releasing it from the ratchet.

JOHN DALO.