US2540522A - Clasp for bracelets - Google Patents

Description

Feb- 6, HOMERIN CLASP FOR BRACELETS Filed June 4, 1946 EE L W gnu; M" I! m Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASP FOR BRACELETS 7, Phillip G. Homerin, Peoria, Ill. Application June 4, 1946, Serial No. 674,328

3 Claims.

T The present invention relates to new and use-' ful improvements in clasps or fastening devices for connecting the'ends of bracelets, metal straps,

bands, ,and similar linkages.

' An important object of the present invention is to provide-a clasp or fastening device of this 'charact:r which provides a safe and secure connection between the ends of a bracelet or the like, and which at the same timemay be'easily and'quickly released, when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp of this character wherein a pulling force exerted on the links of the bracelet will cause a tightening effect on the clasp. 'A still further object is to provide a bracelet or the like of linkage construction which may be manufactured from machine metal parts and assembled with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide an article of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary top plan view of a bracelet constructed in accordance with my invention, and showing the clasp in connected position.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the end link of the bracelet removed from the clasp.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clasp.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of il ustrating I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates the bracelet generally and which is composed of a plurality of metal links 6.

Each link is of substantially tray-like construction and includes a bottom I, side walls 8 and end walls 9. The end walls 9 are formed as extensions of the bottom I and are curved upwardly and inwardly with their extremities I0 overlying the bottom 1 in vertically spaced rela- I tion therefrom, to provide loops H at the ends of the links which are free from the side walls 8. The extremities in of the loops II are adapted to overlie the ends of a stone or other ornament I2 positioned in the link between the side .walls 8 to thus secure the stone against displacement in the link.

The loops ll of adjacent links are connected to each other by means of bails l3. v

The end bails at the ends of the bracelet are connected to each other by means of a clasp device designated generally at M, and which comprises an elongated metal plate l5 having one end curved upwardly and inwardly to form a hook l6 and having its other end curved up: wardly and inwardly, as shown at ll,and ter minating in a horizontal plate l8 which is spaced above the bottom'plate l5 of the clasp.

The sides of the bottom plate l5, of'the clasp; are formed with a-pair' of upwardly extending guides 19 disposed in opposed relation-with respect to each other'at the sides of the clasp and extending upwardly at the sideedges of the upper plate l8.

1 The clasp. M is of anar a adapted to receive one of the'endlinks Gtby tilting one end:of the link downwardly under the upper plate l8 between the guides l9, and then snapping the other end of the link underthe hook I6 of the clasp, the hook I 6 passing through the bail l 3, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

3 The bail l3 at the other end of the bracelet is engaged by the hook ll of the clasp to thus secure the ends of the bracelet to the clasp.

In order to release the link from the clasp H, the end of the link adjacent the hook I6 is raised upwardly to free the same from the hook l6, after which the link may be moved longitudinally of the clasp until the free end of the link is withdrawn from under the upper plate [8 and from between the guides i9. 7

It is believed that the details of construction, manner of use and advantages of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

It is to be understood, however, that even' though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, the same is susceptible of certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A clasp for a bracelet of the type wherein a plurality of separate ornament holding links are flexibly connected at their ends by means of balls I forming openings between the links, the bracelet havingidisconneoted and links, one enddink only having a bail connected to its free end and forming an opening, said clasp comprising a flat plate to be arranged adjacent to the bottom of the end link without the bail, the fiat plate being bent upwardly at one end to form an integral resilient inclined lateral extension to enter the opening of the bail connecting the end link without the bail and the next adjacent link, the free end of the inclined lateral extension snapping over the adjacent end of the end link without the bail to form therewith a detachable connection, the flat plate being bent upwardly at its opposite end to form an integral lateral extension projecting through the opening of the bail connected to the free end of the end link, a generally horizontal longitudinal extension carried by the last-named lateral extension and spaced laterally from the flat plate and engaging over the free end of the end link without the bail, and upstanding side elements secured to the hat plate and projecting laterally thereof to engage upon opposite sides of the end link without the bail.

2'. A bracelea comp-risi ng a plurality of separate ornament holding links, bails flexibly connecting the ends of the links and forming openings between the links, one: pair of the links being disconnected to form'- end links, a bail connected to the free end of one end link only and forming an opening, and a clasp for detachablyconnecting the end linksand including a fiat plate to be arranged beneath the end link without the bail, an upstanding inclined resilient extension secured to one end of the fiat plate and extending through the opening of the bail connecting the end link without the bail and the next adjacent link, the inclined resilient extension snapping over the adjacent end :of the end link without the bail to form therewith a detachable connection, an upstanding extension secured :to the opposite end oft-he fiat plate and extending through the opening of the bail connected to the free end of the and link, a generally horizontal longitudinal extension carried by the last-named upstanding extension and spaced laterally from and above the flat plate for engaging over the free end of the end link without the bail, and upstanding guide plates secured to the opposite sides of the fiat plate and extending near the free end of the horizontal extension to form therewith a pocket receiving the free end of the end link without the bail.

3. In a flexible bracelet, first and second end links: having their free ends arranged adjacent to each other, a bail carried by the free end of the first end link, a bail carried by the end of the second end link remote from its free end, a

clasp including a plate arranged adjacent to the bottom of the second end link and bent at one end for forming a resilient lateral extension engaging through the bail carried by the second end link and snapping over the adjacent end of such end link, the plate having its opposite end bent for forming a substantially U-shaped extensionenga'ging through the :bail oi the first end link and having its free end spaced laterally of the plate and engaging over the free: end; of the second end link to prevent disengagement of the bail of the first end link and U-shaped extension, said resilient lateral extension and said free end of the U-shaped extensionholding the second end link within the clasp, and transverse-side extensions carried by the plate and disposed at substantially right angles thereto and extending toward the free end of the U-shaped extension.

PHILLIP G. HOMERIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references "are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 272,829 Cockshaw Feb. 20, 1883 1,715,153 Wallenthin May 28, 1929 1,729,793 Myrberg Oct. 1, 1929

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