US2608050A - Expansible bracelet - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 26, 1952 BENDER 2,608,050

EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Filed June 20, 1947 INVENTOR JOSEPH M. BENDER BY 5 Y %w9 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 26, 1952 UNITED STATES EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Joseph M. Bender, Manhasset, N. Y., assignor to J acoby-Bender, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 20,

1 Claim. 1

The present invention relates to an expansible bracelet composed of a plurality of telescoping links the resilient expansibility and contractibility of which is derived from a single spring extending through the length of said bracelet, in which means are provided for effectively dividin the single spring into a plurality of separately acting spring segments.

Expansible bracelets the expansibility of which is derived from the resilience of a single spring extending therethrough are well known. They have, however, sufiered from the very serious disadvantages that the telescoping elements defining the bracelet would not remain in proper spaced relationship one to the other, that a pull exerted at one portion of the bracelet to expand the same Would stretch the spring at that portion but would leave other portions of the spring substantially unstretched, thereby rendering the spring subject to being stretched beyond its elastic limit, and that a break in the spring anywhere along its length would completely destroy the resilient contractibility of the bracelet and render it completely useless.

Because of these substantial defects, the art has turned to the employment, in lieu of a single expansible spring, of a plurality of separate contractable springs each of which is active between a pair of adjacent telescoping links. This mode of construction has proved eifective in eliminating the defects above enumerated but has resulted in a structure the component parts of which are more expensive and the assembly of which is far more complicated, and therefore more time consuming and more expensive, than was the case with single spring bracelets. Despite the increase in cost, however, the multiple spring construction has been widely used, particularly in the better class expansible bracelet.

It is the prime object of the present invention to provide a bracelet construction which eliminates the mechanical and operational defects of the early single spring bracelets while at the same time employing a single spring for the entire bracelet, thus avoiding the added expense and assembly difficulties of the multiple spring bracelet.

It is another object of the present invention to devise a telescoping link expansible bracelet construction employing a single spring in which the telescoping links are fixed in position relative to said spring.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide such a bracelet in which the single spring is divided into a plurality of separately acting spring segments, the extensibility of each of 1947, Serial No. 755,994

2 those segments being limited so as to prevent any segment from stretching beyond its elastic limit and to ensure that all of the segments assume a relatively equal share of the expansion of the bracelet.

It is-still another object of the present invention to provide a bracelet construction. employing a single spring which so coacts with the individual telescoping links of the bracelet that, should the spring break at any point, the resilient expansibility and contractibility of the bracelet would not be completely destroyed but would be impaired only to a minor degree.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a construction which is efiicient in operation, pleasant in appearance, simple of fabrication, and extremely easy to assemble.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an expansible bracelet of the type described as defined in the appended claim and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a bracelet made according to the present invention, the bracelet being shown in fully contracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 except that the bracelet is shown in full expanded condition;

Fig, 3 is a view on an enlarged scale, partially broken away, illustrating the details of construction of one embodiment of the present invention, whereby a link is positively engaged with the spring;

Fig; 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing an alternative embodiment;

Fig. 5 shows yet another manner in which a link may be engaged with the spring, particularly adapted for the end links of the bracelet;

Fig. 6 illustrates a spring engaging insert which may be employed as an alternative construction; and

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view of a link with the insert therein.

The bracelet comprises a plurality of telescoping links, here shown as hollow shells 2 with hollow connectors 4 therebetween, the links being so arranged as to permit extensibility of the bracelet by relative sliding motion of one with respect to the other. The connectors 4 are telescopically slidable within the shells 2 in the direction of extensibility of the bracelet, the connectors being provided with lips 6 which engage with stops 8 which may be formed as part of the end walls 9 of the shells 2 so as to prevent disengagement of the connectors 3 from the shells 2. When the bracelet is fully contracted (see Fig. 1), the connectors 4 are completely contained within adjacent shells 2, and are therefore hidden from view, half of each connector 4 being received within adjacent shells 2. When the bracelet is expanded, the shells 2 move with respect to one another in the direction of expansion, this motion being permitted within limits by the connectors 4, the shells Zsliding over and exposing the connectors 4 until positive engagement of the lips B with the stops 8 terminates and limits such mo tion (see Figs. 2 and 3).

To each end of the bracelet is fastened a clasp or bail II! to which, for example, a wrist watch may be attached. In its usual form, the watch is permanently attached to the bracelet, and may be taken off and put on the wrist of the user by causing the bracelet to expand so as to fit over the hand of the user. It is therefore essential that means be provided, once the bracelet has been expanded, to cause the same to contract so that the same bracelet which will fit over a hand will also snugly contact the wrist of the user in order to retain the watch thereon. To this end, a spring I2, here shown in the form of a helix, extends through each of the shells 2 and connectors 4 and is appropriately anchored at its extremities to links I6 at the extremities of the bracelet. Many methods of anchoring may be employed all of which are well known to those skilled in the art. Fig. 5 illustrates one such method in which tabs I4 are struck from the top and bottom walls of the end links I6, thetabs engaging the spring I2 to positively anchor the same in place. These links I6 may vary widely in shape and design. It is to be understood that while it is desirable, in order to achieve most effective use of the spring I2, that it be anchored to the links at the far ends of the bracelet, such an arrangement is not necessary and the term end link refers to those two links toward either end of the bracelet to which the extremities of the spring I2 may be anchored.

The construction thus far described corresponds to the prior art single spring bracelets. It will be clear that if such a. bracelet be grasped at any one point and pulled in order to extend the same, the spring I2 will be stretched, and I that the major deformation thereof will take place at the point of application of the pull. As

With a bracelet as thus far described, in which only the end links I6 are anchored to the spring I2, the other links are free to slide along the spring. This condition is not of importance when the spring is permitted to contract fully so that the connectors 4 are all received within the shells 2, as in Fig. 1. However, in the normal use of such a bracelet, it must be retained on the wrist in a slightly'expanded condition in order that contractions as well as expansions of the wrist can be accommodated. In such a slightly expanded condition, portions of the connectors 4 will be exposed and, if the connectors 4 and shells 2 are free to move or slide along the length of the spring I2, the exposure of the connectors 4 will not be uniform throughout the length of the bracelet. Thus, one connector 4 might be completely exposed, while the next two or three might be completely hidden, giving rise to an unaesthetic appearance.

It will also be clear that should the spring I2 break at any point along its length, the resilient contractibility of the bracelet would be completely destroyed. The shells 2' would be free to slide away from one another to whatever extent is permitted by the connectors 4 and no force would exist to tend to cause the shells 2 to come together.

In order to eliminate the above disadvantages, I have provided a number of links, preferably equally spaced along the length of the bracelet between the end links, with a spring anchoring member which positively engages the spring I2 as it passes through each of those links and thus divides the single spring I2 into a plurality of separately acting spring segments. Best results are obtained if every alternate link, that is to say, every shell 2 or every connector 4, is provided with such a spring anchoring member. By thus constructing the bracelet, a single spring I2 is employed which effectively acts as though a the pull is applied, that portion of the spring I2 near the point of application is first stretched without affecting in any way the remainder of I the bracelet. As the pull continues, that portion of the spring I2 near the point of application will be further stretched while those portions of the spring I2 farther and farther removed from the point of application will be stretched less and less. It will be apparent that one excessive pull applied to a bracelet of this type may well so distort the spring I2 at the point of application that the elastic limit of the spring at that point will be exceeded and the spring will take a permanent set. Thereafter, the bracelet will never again return to its snugly contracted condition. Not only will this destroy the appearance of the bracelet, but the bracelet will no longer hug the wrist snugly. Even if a single pull does not stretch the spring I2 beyond its elastic limit, a series of strong pulls at the same point may well so fatigue the spring that lesser pulls will ultimately give rise to the same unsatisfactory condition.

separate spring were employed to connect each pair of adjacent shells 2 or connectors 4.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. '3, 'each shell 2, or any desired number of said'shells, preferably equally spaced along the length of the bracelet, is provided with a lug I8 which projects inwardly from one wall of the shell 2 and intersects the helical spring I2, passing between two adjacent convolutions thereof. In order to provide for free and uniform telescoping of the con nectors 4 into the shells 2, the lug I8 is'positioned mid-way along the length of the shell 2, projecting from the bottom wall I9, and the bottom wall 2I of the connector 4 is provided with a channel 20 adapted to receive the lug I8 when the connectors 4 are fully enclosed by the shells 2'.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4, a pin 22 is passed through apertures in the side walls 23 of the shell 2 in such a position as to intersect the spring I2 and pass between two adjacent convolutions thereof. The pin 22 is secured in the side walls 23 of the shell by an suitable method such as by spinning the ends thereof.

In each of the illustrations, the spring anchoring member is shown in the shells 2 because it is desirable, in order to produce a symmetrical appearance, that the shells 2 be slidable away from one another to expose the connectors 4 when the bracket is extended. However, many of the desirable effects of the described construction would be achieved were the spring anchoring member provided in the connectors 4 or in a suitable combination of connectors 4 and shells z. In such a case, the construction of Fig. 5 could be employed for anchoring connectors ,4 to the spring l2. The embodiment of Fig. 3 is particularly desirable because of the ease with which a bracelet embodying that contruction may be assembled. Th'eshell'Z may be formed of a single appropriately shaped sheet of metal or the like. The two sheet edges 24 and 28 are adapted to meet when the sheet is bent to shell form,-. the line of meeting preferably extending parallel to the spring i2 and directly therebelow. The lug I8 is an integral extension of said sheet at one of said edges, so bent with relation to the remainder of the sheet as to assume the illustrated position when the shell has been formed.

To assemble a bracelet of this type, the end links it and the desired number of connectors 4 are laid end to end, the spring i2 is freely threaded through them, and the spring is anchored to the end links [6 as by the pressin in of the tabs it of Fig. 5. The preformed metal sheets which are to become the shells 2 have preferably been preformed almost to shell shape and are caused to fit over adjacent halves of two connectors 4, the sheet then being clamped or pressed to cause the edges 24 and 26 to meet, thus defining the shell 2. Simultaneously, the lug 3, having already been given its proper angular relationship to the remainder of the shell, engages with the spring I2 by passing between two adjacent convolutions thereof.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 4 is somewhat more difiicult to assemble, but presents certain features, particularly of appearance, which give it advantages over the previously described construction in certain applications. The shells 2 are initially formed with the stops 8 parallel to the side Walls 23 of the shell so that the connectors i are freely insertable into the shells 2. The desired number of alternating shells 2 and connectors 4 are telescoped together, after which the stops 8 are bent 90 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus preventing escape of the connectors 4 from the shells 2. The spring I2 is then threaded through the bracelet and anchored in any appropriate manner to the end links l6. Thereafter, the pins 22 are passed through the previously apertured side walls of the shells 2 so as to intersect the spring I2 as it passes through each of those shells by passing between adjacent convolutions thereof. The ends of the pins 22 are spun over in order to retain the pins in the shells.

An alternative construction is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. An insert 23 comprising a bottom wall 30 and upturned side walls 32 is adapted to be received within a shell 2, retained therein by the stops 8 previously described. It is desirable that the insert 28 fit snugly within the shell 2 so that there is no relative motion between the two, and to this end the tops 34 of the side Walls 32 are curved to conform to the tops of the side walls of the shell 2. A portion of the bottom 30 of the insert 28 is punched up to define the spring engagin lug 36 which, as illustrated in Fig. 7, is adapted to pass between adjacent convolutions of the spring 12 so as to perform the same function as the spring engaging lug 18 of Fig. 3 or the pin 22 of Fig. 4. This particular construction presents the advantage that the shell 2 may present a clean and unbroken appearance externally, thus enhancing the appearance of the bracelet.

By the constructions above described, an easily assembled bracelet employing a single spring .for expansibility is formed, insofar as itsoperation is concerned, into a'lbracelet havin a plurality of separately acting sspringysegments In the preferred embodiment," in'which-eachshell 2 is provided :with a spring anchorin member,the shells 2 will be equally spaced along the length of the bracelet even when the spring is partially or wholly extendedbecaus'e each of the shells 2 is positively anchored to the spring l2 asit passes through the shell. A uniform appearance is thus ensured no matter in which condition the bracelet is retained.

Undue expansion of any given spring segment is prevented. If an expanding pull be applied to any one of the shells 2 of the bracelet, that pull will be applied, via the spring anchoring member in that shell, to the spring at that point and that shell 2 will therefore be slid away from the shells 2, on either side thereof. Once this separation has reached the limit permitted by the length of the connectors 4, the connectors 4 adjacent to the shell 2 being pulled will positively pull the shells 2 adjacent to the shell being pulled. Those shells will in turn, via their own spring anchoring members, act upon and stretch the spring passing through themselves. Thus, the

maximum amount which any one of the segments into which the spring [2 is divided may expand is limited by the distance between successive spring anchoring members when the bracelet is in maximum expanded position. Any expansion in excess of this amount will be positively transmitted to the adjacent spring segments, and so on along the length of the bracelet. The maximum amount which any section of the spring I2 can be expanded is therefore determined by the length of the shells 2 and connectors 4, which will be fixed by design, and a spring of suitable strength may be selected and used.

Should the spring I2 break at any point along its length, the resilient contractibility of the spring segment in which the break occurs will of course be lost, but, because the spring is anchored not only at its extremities but also at given points along its length, the expansibility and resilient contractibility of the other spring segments will not be affected by the break.

It will therefore be apparent that although I employ a single spring l2, thus attaining the advantages of inexpensiveness and ease of manufacture and assembly inherent in single spring bracelets, my construction divides that spring into a plurality of separately acting spring segments so as to achieve the functional advantages of multiple spring expansible bracelets, and this Without any appreciable increase in expenseor difficulty of fabrication.

It will be clear from the nature of the above description that many changes may be made in the design and appearance of my bracelet without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

An expansible bracelet comprising a plurality of links including hollow shells and hollow connectors telescopically slida'ble in said shells and connecting each shell to its adjacent shell but permitting a lengthwise relative motion of said shells, a one-piece insert of sheet metal in each of said shells conforming in part to the inner configuration thereof, having a length substantially equal to the length of said shell, and having an integral upstruck lug substantially midway of the length and width thereof, and a single 7 8 helical spring threaded through said links and UNITED STATES PATENTS anchored to the end links, each of said lugs pass- Number Name Date ing between adjacent convolutions of said spring 311,722 Come 3 1885 as said spring passes through said shells and 1,520,186 Kestenman 1924 inserts, whereby said single spring is divided into 6 2,302,426 Domler 1942 a plurality of separately acting spring segments. 2,433,657 Flaig 1947 JOSEPH M. BEN'DER.

a FOREIGN PATENTS REFER C S CITED Number Country Date The following references are of record in the 10. 47 ,6 1 France June 19, 1914 file of this patent:

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