US2612302A - Bracelet - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1952 D|NSTMAN 2,612,302

' BRACELET Filed April 13, 1948 IN VEN TOR.

HYMAN DINSTMAN QML QWL L Patented Sept. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT] 2,612,302

BRACELET D'ins-tman, New York, N. Y., a'ssignor to "L D. Watch Case Co. Inc., :Iamaica, 2., :a corporation of New York Application April .13, 19.48, Serial .No. 1203692 One object of the invention "is to provide a hinged connection of .the 'arcuate arms to the watch case body to permit abnormal hinged ,or swinging movement of said arms on the "body without subjecting it'to excessive'strain.

A further objector the invention 'is to-provide a hinged support'for connecting thearcuate-arms of a bracelet to the central body or supporting portion of the bracelet which "permits, against spring biased resistance, relative movement of each arm, first against one spring and then,-'upon continued movement, -'against' both springs.

Other and more "detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the -following-description of the embodiment thereof illustrated in the attached drawing.

"In theaccompanyin'g drawing- Figure l is a side=elevaitional view of a structure in accordance with this invention showing the bracelet in clo'sed position;

Figure "-2 is a similar view somewhat enlarged along a central plane-showing =in=cross section in greater detail the structure of the invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure "2 of *the right hand portion offlihe braceletshowing oneof the arms fully opened;

Figure 4 is :an elevational view similar to that of Figure 2 with portions :df the :a-rm's omitted showing them fully swung 'open;

Figure 5 is across 'sectional detailed viewltaken on the line 5--5 of Figure 2; and

Figure dis a detailed view of cne cf the hinged joints on across sectional p'lane similar 'to the smaller view of FigurefZ.

In the bracelet art therea type of bracelet made consisting of a central bo'dlyportion :in the viorm of 'a watch"case whichpaslis usual for' w-atch cases, is made in the form 'of a -rela'tiveiy :thin metal housing having -a removable 'back and a transparent front orcrystal. l ivotally mounted on the end walls of this housing-area pair of spring biased clasp 'arms'which complete in essence the bracelet structure and by means of which it is attached on and detached from the wearers wrist. "The clasp arms tare pivotally "mounted "on the watch housing and'havearelatively limited swinging mo-vment on their pivotal supports. As --a result, should the wearer s wrist be larger than that for which the bracelet is designed the wearer in attaching it to the wrist naturally tends to open the arms an amount greater than that allowed by the lim-it'ed pivotal swinging movement of the arms on the housing. As a result, the relatively thin "walled metal =housm ing is subjected'to aben'ding-toree in a direction since the "back '-is usually held in place by :snap action, =i.-e. fric'tionally.

The -purpose of this invention is to provide a similar construction in which the clasp-arms :are double spring biased and are pivotally mounted on the watch case housing, each on a pivot --point arranged so that normal swinging movement of the arms against resistance of one spring will allow the attachment of the bracelet Ito the wrist under allnormal circumstances. However, :in the 'case of a wearer who has a larger than lnormal wrist-for whichlthe watch is-designedgitfisapossible to' -open the clasp arms ='a still greater siistance by :continued :outward l'swinging movement :at

whichltime :rctationeis a'gainstithezreaotioncf both springs. The arms :are :each :urged :back; to .nor- ;mal closed position when released first by both springs and then sbyscneispring only. it will :be .seen that theadditionalswingingrmpVcmentmovided will prevent the application of ;a bandin stress ate :the watch :casehousing.atlleastzuntil h amovementzhas reachedthe limit fcrzwhich th structure .is:.designed. iHQWBS/ZBL atithat clasp ;arms :are swun .:so :widely apart zlihe 'rbracelet :be attached t any seiz -wrist like y vto :be encountered. llnde @d-,".W th this construc- :tinn aheibracelet mayihe attachcdztn a ivris ao =which. .itzWo111dl1.QQk nnsi li ly. In ot e iwcrds. the structure will inermitl'z ie appl cation of the ibracelet .to {wri ts sodar e that i s cl arl no ;inte.nded:-rcr .use under suohlcondi ion Th or ;sult 515' that th :wa ch .casel ousies :is no likely tome strainediandzthe ba kldcesrnc -tendioia out, ;\a conditions whi h this l-inv ntio se ks :cbviate.

'{Ihe attainment of these objects will ;be ,apparent from the followingflescription ofzth e em- :bodiment of the inv nt on illustrated ;.-in lt attached drawin as cnesiorm 1 f ilhescentralt nma n ody p rticnzof; th 'rhrac tletcomprises .-.a watchcase; hcusic iccnsisting .o thelhousing l ,lthBzJSI'l-HJII-OIMGQYBI 2 gandjthe :g-rys- -tal The small zhol e-ati l-ain Figure ".1 provides the opening through which the stem oi -the watch -may project for attac'hment -of=thehousing knob.

which causes the rack or the "housing to *l all out the invent on- 3 Rigidly attached to the opposite ends of the housing portion I are a pair of U-shaped supports 5 and 6 which may be attached to the housing by any of the usual methods employed in this art. It is to be noted that if desired and if practical, these supports 5 and 6 may be made integral with the watch housing I. Pivotally mounted in supports 5 and 6 on, the pivot pins 9 and II] respectively are the clasp arms I and 8. These pivot pins extend between the side walls of the U-shaped supports 5 and 6 and the ends are riveted over or otherwise attached therein. As clearly shown in Figure 2, coil springs II and I2 are mounted upon the pivot pins 9 and II);

respectively, with one end of each respectively anchored in a small recess in an adjacent end of each clasp arm I and 8. The other end of each of these coil springs rests upon a ledge or seat forming member 23 attached in any suitable manner to the adjacent fiat leaf spring of which the leaf spring 22 in Figure. 6 is an exampleand to which reference will be later made.

Nested in the supports 5 and 6 are U-shaped fixtures I3 and I4 which have a shape complementary to the supports 5 and 6 and are secured therein in any suitable manner. The side walls of the members I3 and I4 extend above theside edges of the supports 5 and 6 as clearly shown in Figure 4. As is obvious the pivot pins 9 and Ill also pass through the side walls of members I3 and I4. These side walls extend beyond the bottom wall of each U-shaped fixture to form a; pair of projecting side arms as clearly shown in Figures 2, 5 and 6, for example, in which the pivot pins I5 and I6 respectively are secured. Each pivot pin has mounted thereon a sleeve as represented for example by the sleeve II on the pivot pin I6, see Figure 6. Attached to these sleeves are a pair of covers or caps I8 and 19 which in the case of the cover I9, see Figure 6, is provided with the extension I9 which projects around the sleeve I1 and to which it is attached in any suitable manner, as by solderin so that the sleeve I! rotates with the cover I9 on the pivot point I6. The construction at the other side of the bracelet is exactly the same as indicated in Figure 2. The covers l8 and I9 may be of decorative construction and may be provided with jewels or other decorative ornaments 20 and 2|.

As clearly shown in Figure 6, the extension IQ of the cover I9 is arranged to engage the free endof the flat spring 22 which has a U-shaped formation at that end, integral with a wider section 22" at the other end. 'As clearly shown in Figure 5, the wider section 22 is of such length 1 as to fit snugly between the side walls of the member I4 of the bracelet and abuts along its wide free edge against the adjacent edge I4, see

Figure 5, of the bottom wall of the member I l.

The free end of the U-shaped portion of the spring 22 is arranged to be engaged by the end edge of the extension I9 of the cover I9, as clearly shown in Figure 6. With regard to the details of the other spring 22, and cap I8, it is noted that the construction is the same for the left hand'side of the bracelet. 7

Upon consideration it will be seen' that if the springs 22 are of heavier or stiffer construction than the springs II and I2 that the arms I and 8, upon being pulled outwardly, will first pivot on their pivotal supports 9 and I0 respectively, against the reactions of springs I I and I2. .I-Iowever, when the arms -'I and 8 swing out far enough to engage the ends of the covers I8 and I9, it

will be seen that they will pivot on their pivot pins I 5 and I6 against the resistance of the associated springs 22. Since the covers I8 and I9 can pivot in this manner, it will be seen that they will offer no resistance to the swinging movement of the arms I and 8 so that those arms can be swung out into substantially a straight line as indicated in Figure 4, without putting any stress on the watch case I2. Of course, when the parts reach the limit of their movement, that is, when the covers I8 and I9 are jammed by the arms I and 8, so that no further pivotal movement of the arms and covers can take place, strain is then applied to the watch case housin but at this time the bracelet arms have opened beyond any possible useful point so that this conditionis not likely to be attained in any normal or even possibly abnormal treatment of the structure. When the arms are released the springs II, I2 and 22 all act to return the arms and covers to their normal positions as shown in Figure 1 From the above description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the structure herein disclosed is admirably adapted to avoid the difl'lculties of similar prior art structures in a practical manner.

Those skilled in the art will likewise appreciate that the details of construction are capable of some variation without departure from the subject matter herein disclosed. For example, as will be readily apparent various other forms of springs may be substituted for those specifically illustrated. Also, it will be understood that although the advantages of this invention are most eilective for use with a thin walled housin having a frictionally attached cover they are also of utility with other forms of central body portions of-a type, for example, which may not comprise a watch case housing and may not have a irictionally attached part. I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as herein given for illustrative purposes but rather by the scope ofthe claims granted me.

What is claimed is:

l. A bracelet as disclosed comprising a central body portion, a pair of arcuate clasp arms, means forpivotally supporting said clasp arms on opposite ends of said body portion, means for resiliently resisting pivotal movement of said arms and spring biased means independently pivoted on the same ends of said body portion, said arms when pivoted an excessive amount on their pivot pins moving into engagement with said spring biased means to displace them in opposition to their spring bias.

2. In the combination of claim 1 said spring biased means comprising decorative cover members each pivotally mounted atone end and overlying the adjacent ends of said clasp arms at the other. I l

3. In the combination of claim 1, said last means each comprising a cover member and a flat spring arranged to be tensed by pivotal movement of said cover members.

4. In the combination of claim 1, said last means comprising cover members and flat springs each arranged to be engaged at one end by said cover members and engaging an abutment on said body portion at the other end, and said resilient means comprising coil springs bearing at one end on said flat springs for holding them in position against said abutments.

5. A watch bracelet comprising a central body portion forming a watch case, a pair of clasp arms pivotallysupported on an opposite pair of sides of said watch case, cover members also pivotally mounted at thesame sides of said Watch case and arranged to overlie the adjacent ends I of said clasp arms and spring means for resilient- I ly resisting pivotal movement of said arms and cover members, said cover members being arranged to be engaged by said clasp arms upon a limited movement thereof to cause pivotal movement of said cover members when said clasp arms are moved still further in the same direction.

6. In the combination of claim 5, separate preloaded springs for resisting pivotal movement of each of said clasp arms and cover members and holding said arms and cover members in normal closed position, the spring for each of said arms having one end bearing on the spring for the associated cover member.

7. In the combination of claim 5, separate her- 6 mally flexed springs for holding said arms and cover members in normally closed position and for independently resisting pivotal movement of each of said clasp arms and cover members.

HYMAN DINSTMAN.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Sept. 2,. 1940

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