US2580907A

US2580907A - Snap clasp

Info

Publication number: US2580907A
Application number: US695378A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gaupp Kurt
Original assignee: FORSTNER CHAIN CORP
Current assignee: FORSTNER CHAIN Corp
Priority date: 1946-09-07
Filing date: 1946-09-07
Publication date: 1952-01-01
Anticipated expiration: 1969-01-01

Description

Jan. 1, 1952 GAUPP 2,580,907

SNAP CLASP Filed Sept. 7, 1946 Patented Jan. 1, 1952 4 SNAP CLASP H I "kiiifosii pitiatlew oa,Nam, assi n-(immensi- Chain'0orporation, a q'iorp oration :o'f Netv liifilication September 7, 1946,-.Serial No.-695,378

I'he '5 present invention relates :to the vjsjewe'lry art,.;and has particular referenceeto a novel construction for a snap claspifor link braclets arid chains. I

The principalobiect'oftlieinvention is to provide a snap clasp for link bracelets and-chains which-isreadily -opened topermit-separation of the bracelet or chain ends, but which cannot inadvertently or accidentally open during use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a snap clasp which has a multiple lock arrangement for receiving the free end of a bracelet or chain.

Still another object is to provide a snap clasp made of a small number of stamped metal parts which are readily assembled together.

With the above and other objects and .advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more specifically defined in the claim appended thereto.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an illustrative clasp embodying the novel construction, the parts being in open position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the parts being in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through Fig. 1; and I Fig. 4 is a, similar section through Fig. 2.

It has been found desirable to provide a snap clasp for link bracelets and chains which cannot inadvertently or accidentally release the bracelet or chain ends. To this end, I provide a base made of a metal stamping which is slotted or out to have a forward and a rear link receiving recess, an inner closure plate being hinged to the forward portion of the base and seating within the base to releasably lock the free end of the bracelet or chain in the forward recess. The other end of the bracelet or chain is received in the rear recess, and is permanently locked therein by a lock plate which is secured to the base and extends over the rear recess to' close it. A cover plate is hinged to the rear portion of the base and extends over and snap engages the forward end of the inner closure plate, whereby a. permanent lock is provided for one end of a bracelet or chain and a double releasable lock is provided for the other end of the bracelet or chain.

Referring to the drawings, which are illustrative of the invention, the snap clasp l comprises Mor an. (01. 24-=241 J a' b'as'e wliich bott6ni wall" |2 a;nd tfwo' upstanding side walls -|3, M, the rair nd Wilt the botto'm w-all leeing -cur-le'd to foim an end hinge -'|-5 'The sid'e walls 1'3, 14 qiave aligned rcrward' pcrticns i |-6, l which function as pivot tans, aligne'd slots 1 8, 1'9 which form a forward recess for receiving th'e end link o'f tlie fre'e end of a bracelet or chain, upright portions 2|, 22 which form a seat for a cover as hereinafter described, and aligned slots or cut-aways 23, 24 at the rear ends which form a rear recess 25 into which the end link of the other end of the bracelet or chain is received.

An inner closure plate 26 is pivotally mounted at the forward end of the base, the rear end of the inner closure plate being curled to form a hinge 21 which seats on a pivot pin 28 secured in the side wall portions l6, H; the closure plate has edge lugs 29, 30 which frictionally seat between the side walls l3, M to releasably lock the free end of a bracelet or chain in the forward recess 20, a finger engageable lip 3|, see Fig. 4, being provided at the forward end of the inner closure plate to facilitate opening and closing. An auxiliary lock plate 32 is mounted in the base and has a flat portion 33 adapted to be permanently secured to the bottom wall |2 be tween the side wall portions 2|, 22 and an upwardly extending arcuate rear portion 34 which extends towards the end hinge l5 to permanently cover and close the rear recess 25 after the end link of the other end of the bracelet or chain is seated therein.

The upper portion of the base is closed by a cover 35, of generally box type, which has two side lugs 36, 31 depending from the rear end to seat on a pivot pin 38 which extends through the rear hinge l5, and depending sides 39, 40 which contact the upper edges of the side wall portions 2|, 22 as illustrated in Fig. 2 to form a closed housing with the base, the forward end of the cover having a depending panel 4| which resiliently snap engages the hinge 21 of the inner closure plate, see Fig. 4, when the closure plate is in closed position, a finger engageable tab 42 being provided in the panel 4| to facilitate opening of the cover plate.

All the parts are preferably made of stamped metal, although any suitable material may be used, and the assembly is simple and inexpensive. The construction provides a double lock for the free end of the bracelet or chain, as the cover must be opened and the inner closure plate must then be lifted to permit release. Further, the

inner closure plate is entirely housed within the base and its finger engageable end is at the rear adjacent the cover hinge, whereby the inner closure plate cannot be inadvertently or accidentally opened.

Although I have described a specific constructional embodiment of my invention which is particularly suitable for connecting the ends of link bracelets and link chains, it is obvious that the novel snap clasp may be used to releasably con nect other articles, such as necklaces, belts and the like, and that the size and the relative proportions and arrangement of the parts may be changed to meet the requirements for difierent uses, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A snap clasp, comprising a base having abottom wall and side walls, the side walls having aligned pivot tab forward portions and aligned slots forming a forward recess, and the bottom wall having a curled rear end forming an end hinge, the side walls being spaced from the curled rear end of the bottom wall to provide a rear recess, a lock plate fixed to the base between the side walls and having an upstanding arcuate rear portion adapted to extend over the rear recess after one end link of a. bracelet is positioned therein, an inner closure plate hingedly secured to the side wall pivot tab forward portions and movable to frictionally seat between the side walls and extend over the front recess after the other end link of the bracelet is positioned therein, and a cover hinged to the bottom wall curled rear end-and adapted to snap lock over the inner closure plate.

KURT GAUPP.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,814,475 Kestenman July 14, 1931 1,991,287 Martin Feb. 12, 1935 2,044,869 Alkin June 23, 1936 2,086,450 Tost July 6,1937 2,211,018 Levine Aug. 13, 1940 2,220,642 Gerst'enblith Nov. 5, 1940 V FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 698,192 France Jan. 28, 1931