US2637090A

US2637090A - End clasp for bracelets or the like

Info

Publication number: US2637090A
Application number: US194631A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kupchick Edward
Original assignee: BENRUS WATCH CO Inc
Current assignee: BENRUS WATCH CO Inc
Priority date: 1950-11-08
Filing date: 1950-11-08
Publication date: 1953-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 1970-05-05

Description

y 5, 9 E. KUPCHICK 2,637,090

END CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Filed NOV. 8, 1950 v 2 SI-iEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. fan/A90 ,ZUPCH/CK ""yMw A May 5, 1953 E. KU'PcHIcK END CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Filed Nov. 8, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 IN V EN TOR. Oh/A e0 K C Patented May 5, 1 953 END CLASP FOR BRACELETS OR THE LIKE Edward Kupchick, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Bcnrus Watch Company, Inc., New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New .York

Application November 8, 1950, Serial No. 194,631

17 Claims.

The present invention relates to an end clasp for a bracelet or the like, and in particular to one especially adapted for use in securing the end of a bracelet to a watch lug.

Small watches, such as those customarily worn by ladies, are generally provided with a single horizontally apertured Watch lug at either end thereof to which a bracelet or strap of any suitable design or construction is adapted to be secured. Since watch bracelets or straps are often purchased separately from the watch, the ends of those bracelets must be provided with clasps by means of which the bracelets can be secured to the watches. The Watches, and also often the bracelets, are comparatively expensive items, so that it is. absolutely essential that the attachment between the watch and the bracelet be positive and fool-proof in nature, preventing the two from accidentally becoming separated while the watch is being worn and thus obviating damage to and possible loss of the watch. It is a further important requirement of end clasps used for this purpose that functional parts thereof be hidden from view to as great a degree as possible in order not to detract from the attractive and decorative appearance of the watch-bracelet combination. As a corollary to the above, the structure of the end clasp must be such that its appearance is sufficiently decorative as not to clash with the artistic configuration of the watch and bracelet which it connects, and to blend therewith in as smooth a manner as possible, so that the eye of an observer will not be aware of an unsightly gap between the end of the bracelet and the watch.

It is also most desirable that attachment of the bracelet to the watch be achieved in as simple a manner as possible so that it can be accomplished in a relatively short space of time and by persons without any particular mechanical aptitude and without special equipment. The importance of this factor will become apparent when it is realized that, bracelets sold by a jeweler ordinarily being attached to the watch by him, a considerable economic loss is incurred if, as has been the case generally in the past, the attachment must be performed by a watchmaker or other skilled artisan whose time is exceedingly valuable. If the end clasp construction is such that the bracelet end may be secured to a watch by a salesman or, even better, by the customer himself, at home, an appreciable source of economic inefficiency will be eliminated. Moreover, if the owner can himself conveniently separate and reconnect the watch and bracelet, it

is possible for the owner to own more than one bracelet at a time for a given watch, changing bracelets to conform to the dictates of fashion, the style of outfit worn, or the whim of the user.

The watch clasp of the present invention achieves all of the above desirerata with a construction which is simple, susceptible of mass production and ready assembly, and consequently relatively inexpensive to fabricate. It consists, broadly considered, of a housing within which a retaining member is slidable between a watch-lug grasping position, in which it extends out of the housing and through the horizontal aperture in the watch lug so as to define a substantially closed retaining loop in conjunction with the housing, and a Watch-lug-releasing position, in which the retaining member is substantially completely withdrawn within the housing so as to be removed from the horizontal aperture in the watch lug. A latch mechanism is provided, effective to hold the retaining member in its lug-grasping position, the latch mechanism being accessible from outside the clasp and being disengageable so that the retaining member can be moved from lug-grasping to lug-releasing position.

The latch mechanism comprises a slot in the housing through which extends an element secured to the retaining member and resiliently urged in such a direction as to snap into a widened portion of the slot through which it extends when the retaining member is in luggraspingv position. The element extending through the slot in the housing therefore serves the dual purpose of a latch element and a manuallymanipulatable element by means of which the retaining member may be moved. In order to simplify the construction of the device and reduce the number of parts required to make it up, the element and the retaining member are preferably formed integrally from a piece of resilient material which is reversely bent but which resiliently tends to return to its original unbent condition, this resilient action tending to cause the adjacent portions of the retaining member connected by the reverse bend to separate, the element which extends through the slot in the housing being integral with one of "said adjacent portions so as to move therewith.

To the accomplishment of the above objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to an end clasp construction as defined in the appended claims and. as described in this specification,

taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a watch and bracelet connected by the clasp of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View of the clasp taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. l and showing that clasp secured to the end of an expansible bracelet of conventional type;

Fig. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the clasp of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view-of the clasp. of Fig. 2 taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4. but showing the retaining member in lug-releasing position.

While the end clasp of the present invention is specifically designed for use; in conjunction: with a bracelet or the like adapted to be secured to a watch provided with a horizontally aper-- tured Watch lug, certain broader aspects of the invention as presently analyzed-"are not limited? specifically thereto. I

The clasp of the instant invention comprises a housing generally designated Ahaving spaced. fingers B projectingforwardlytherefrom, a retaining member C being mounted. within the housing and movable therewithin between the lug-grasping position best shownin Figs. 1 and 4, in which it extends out of the housing A and across-the space between the-fingers B so as to define a substantially closed retaining loop, the retaining member C passing through the horizontal aperture 20f a watch log 4' which forms a part of a watch case 6; and the lug-releasing position shown in Fig. 5, in. which the reta ning member'C is substantially completelywithdrawn within the housing A so as. to be removed from the aperture 2 in: thewatch lug- 4. A latch mechan sm generally designated: D and best shown in operative engagement in- Fig. 4 acts tohold the retaining member C inone of its positions, and preferably its: lug-grasping position, secure against accidental dislodgement therefrom, the latch mechan sm D being. manually disengageable fromv the exterior of the housing A in order that the retaining member C may be moved from. said one position. to its other. position.

The housing A is here shown as defined by two parts, an ornamental top shell 8 and a bottom plate l0, each formed in integral. fashion from suitable sheet material, the shape of each being such that it can readily be fabricated by mass production methods such as stamping or drawing operations.

The bottom plate 10 base horizontal wall [2 provided with an aperture [4 by means of which the bottom plate It! may be secured to the last bottom link l6 of an exoansible bracelet of conventional type composedof alternate bottom links I'Ga'nd top links l8 pivotally connected bv means of rivets 2D and provided with spring elements (not. shown) for maintaining the bracelet in contracted condition. A rivet secured to the end: of the last bottom link l6 passes through the aperture M in the bottom plate l0, thus securing the end clasp to the bracelet.

At the outer end. of the horizontal wall l2 the body of the bottom plate [0 is bent downwardly so as to define a first substantially vertical wall 22, and is then bent horizontally to-define a lowor horizontal wall 24, which is provided with outwardly projecting spaced fingers 2'6, and a second substantially vertical wall 2 8- is bent upwardly from the forward edge of the lower hori- 4 zontal wall 24 between the fingers 28. This second vertical wall 28 is here shown as arcuate in plan (see Figs. 4 and 5), and has an inwardly bent lip 30 at the top thereof. The lower horizontal wall 24 is provided with an arcuate slot 32 concentric with the arcuate second vertical wall 28, one end of the slot 32 being provided with a widened part 341 The retaining member C is also arcuate in shape and concentric with the second vertical 'wall 28 and the slot 32, said retaining member C resting upon andbeing slidable over the lower horizontal wall 24, at least a portion of the retaining member 0 being slidable over and along theslot 32. The arcuate second vertical wall 28 constitutes-an .internal bearing for the retainingmember. C, guiding it in its arcuate sliding motion, and'the in-b'ent lip 30 at the top of the second vertical wall 28 prevents undesired upward movement of the retaining member. C and thus keeps it in the channel defined by. the vertical walls 22-and- 28and the lower horizontal wall- The retaining member C is formed from a single strip of resilient material bent upon itself so as to define a pair of

adjacent portions

36, 38 connected-by integral reverse bend 40, the portion 36 being; on the outside of the retaining member C and having a free end 42 which tends to spring outwardly from the-portion. 38 by reason of. the inherent resilience of the strip from which the retaining member C is formed. If desired. the other end of the retainer member C may also be formed by means of a reverse bend. 44,.but the outer portion 46 need not be so constructed as to tend to separate from the inner portion 38. A downwardly extending element 48. is secured to,, and. preferably integrally formed with, the free end42 of the portion 36 of the retaining member C, the element 43 extending through and projecting downwardly from the slot 32. in the lower horizontal wall Z l. The length of the slot 32 is substantially equal to the travel of the retaining member C between its lug-grasping and lug-releasing positions, the widened portion 34 of the slot. being in the direction in which the free end 42 of the portion 36- of the retaining member C is resiliently urged, the widened slot portion 3 5 being preferably positioned at that end of the slot 32 in which the element 48- is positioned. when the retaining member C is in its lug-grasping position.

The shell 8 is, provided with a top surface 50 of any ornamentation desired, and preferably an ornamentation which conforms to.or matches the ornamentation of the top. links iii .of the bracelet. It conforms in. plan to the configuration of the bottom plate [0 and is pro.- vided with a rear wall 52, side walls 54 and. end walls 55 adapted to encompass and fit over the side and end edges respectively of the bottom plate ill, tabs 58 depending from the

walls

52 and 54. being bendable under the bottom plate ill: in order to secure the shell 8 thereto and define the housing A. The inner surfaces of those portions of the shell 8 which overlie the fingers 26 of the bottom plate i5 terminate in stepped

bottom edges

60 and 52, the bottom edge 68 being adapted to rest on the inbent lip (ii! on the top of the second vertical wall .228, and the bottom. edge 62 being spaced from the top surface of thefingers 26 of the bottom plate It so asto define an aperture therebetwecn through which the retaining member C may pass. Cooperating opposing apertures are thus formed in the housing A on'the inner surfaces of the fingers B of that housing at or near the tips thereof.

The mode of operation of the end clasp of the present invention will, in the main, be fully apparent from the previous description. When the retaining member C is in lug-releasing positionl it will be substantially completely received inside the housing A, as shown in Fig. 5, the ele-, ment 48 projecting downwardly through the slot 32 being moved all the way to the counterclockwise end of said slot as viewed in Fig. 5. The slot 32 therefore acts to limit the degree of motion of the retaining member C in a counterclockwise direction and to determine the lug-releasing position thereof. In this position the space between the fingers 26 is open, so that a watch lug 4 may be moved into that space preparatory to securing the clasp thereto.

When the watch lug 4 has been positioned between the fingers 26 with its horizontal aperture 2 appropriately vertically disposed, the retaining member C may be moved to its lug-grasping position by manually sliding the element 48 through the slot 32 in a clockwise direction, thus causing the tip 40 of the retaining member C to move out of the aperture in the upper finger of the housing, through the horizontal aperture 2 in the lug 4, and into the opposed aperture in the lower finger of the housing, thus defining a substantiallyclosed retaining loop which passes through the aperture 2 in the lug 4 and positively attaches the clasp to the watch 6. The resilient nature of the retaining member C causes the portion 36 to spring radially outwardly and thus force the element 48 carried thereby into the widened portion 34 of the slot 32 when the retaining member C has reached its lug-grasping position. The interengagement between the element 4B and the widened slot portion 34 constitutes the latch mechanism D which releasably but positively holds the retaining member C in its lug-grasping position.

When it is desired to release the watch 6 from the clasp the element 43 is manually moved radially inwardly so as to disengage itself from the widened slot portion 34, the element 48 then being manually slid along the length of the slot 32 in a counterclockwise direction so as to cause the retaining member C to move to its lug-releasing position.

Although the counterclockwise end of the slot 32 is not provided with a widened portion, the resilient separating action of the portion 36 with respect to the portion 38 causes the element 48 to be resiliently outwardly urged into frictional contact with an edge of the slot 32, that frictional engagement serving to'hold the retaining member C in lug-releasing position, although not in as positive a manner as if a widened slot portion had been there provided. This same frictional engagement between the element 48 and an edge of the slot 32 will prevent free or loose movement of the retaining member C within the housing A even in its intermediate positions. Hence, even if the element 48 should be accidentally moved out of the widened slot portion 34, thus disengaging the latching means D, it does not necessarily follow that the retaining member C will move out of the aperture 2 in the watch lug 4. On the contrary, it will tend to remain in whatever position it may be placed, thus rendering less likely any accidental detachment of bracelet from watch.

The parts of this clasp are all constructed of sheet material in a manner susceptible of mass production. In particular, attention must be dirooted to the retaining member 0 which is formed of a strip of resilient materia1 reversely bent upon itself and arcuately shaped by means of suitable dies. Assembly of the parts is extremely simple, and the parts, when assembled, define a clasp of attractive appearance and improved function.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been here disclosed, variations may be made in the details thereof within the scope of the present invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a housing, a retaining member secured therein and movable between a housed position in said housing and a grasping position out of said housing, said housing having a slot therethrough in the direction of motion of said member, said slot having a widened part at a position therealong corresponding to one of said positions of said retaining member, said retaining member comprising resilient material having adjacent portions connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from the other, said member being oriented in said housing so that the direction of said separation is in the direction of widening of said slot, and an element secured to and movable with said one of said portions, extending out through said slot so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and being engageable in said widened slot part when said member is in one of said positions so as to releasably hold said member in said position.

2. A clasp comprising a housing, an arcuate retaining member secured therein and movable in the direction of its are between a housed position in said housing and a grasping position partially out of said housing and terminating adjacent said housing so as to define a substantially closed retaining loop, said housing having an arcuate slot therethrough in the direction of motion of said member and concentric with said member, said slot having a radially widened part at a position therealong corresponding to one of said positions of said retaining member, said retaining member comprising resilient material having adjacent portions connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from the other, said member being oriented in said housing so that the direction of said separation is radial with respect to the curvature of said member, and an element secured to and movable with said one of said portions, extending out through said slot so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and being engageable in said'widened slot part when said member is in one of said positions so as to releasably hold said member in said position.

3. A clasp comprising a bottom plate and a top shell secured thereto so as to define a housing, said bottom plate having an arcuate slot therethrough with a widened portion positioned therealong, and said top shell having a wall with an aperture therein, an arcuate retaining member on said bottom plate concentric with said slot and movable over said bottom plate in the direction of its are between a housed position insaid housing and a grasping position in which a part of said member extends out of said housing through the aperture in said wall of said top shell and terminates adjacent a portion of said housing spaced from:sa1d aperture so as to define" a cl'ose'cl' re t'ainihg" loop; said retaining member" comprising resilient material having adjacent portions con-- nected by a reverse bend; the inherent 1 resilience of said member causing'one of said adjacent portions'to separatefrointhe other, said memberbeing'ori'ented in said housing so. thatt'he direction of said separation is radial with respect to" the: curvature.- of said: member, and: an element secured: to. and movable with said one of said: poi"- tions;.ext'ending: out through said slot so assto -be accessible. from the? outsideof said housing, and being engageable in said widenedslot part when said member is in one of said positions so as to releasably hold. said member: in: said! position.

4'. A, claspv comprising bottom plate having, inconnected sequence. a horizontal. walladapted to bezsecured to an end of. a. bracelet or. the. like, a firstvertical wall bent, downwardly therefrom, a lower horizontal wall terminating in forwardly projecting, laterally-spaced fingers connected by said lower horizontal wall, and. a second. vertical wall bent upwardly from. the forward edge of. said lower horizontal wall between said fingersone of said. vertical. walls being arcuate in shape, a top shell, overlying. and. secured. to. said. bottom. plate so. as to define a housing therewith, said top shell having awall. with an aperture therein adjacent the top of one off said fingers, said lower horizontal wall having aslot therein concentric with the. curvature of said one of said vertical walls, said slot having awidened' part positioned therealong; andan arcuate' retaining member concentric. with said slot andlslidable in the direction of its are over said lower" horizontalwall and along said one of said vertical walls, the latter acting as a bearing therefor, between a housed position within said housing and a grasping position in which a part of said member extends out of'said housing through the; aperture in theendwallof said top shell and terminates adjacent the tip of the other of'said fingers so as to define a substa-n tially closed retaining loop, and an element seoure'dto said member, projecting out through said slot so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and resiliently urged in the direction of the: widening of said slot so as to engage in said widened slot part when said member is in one of said positions so as to hold said member in. said position.

5; The claspof' claim 4', in which; said retaining member. comprises resilient material having ad jacent portions connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of' said adjacent portions to separate" from the other in. a radial direction corresponding tothe widenedv part of said slot, said element being secured. to said one of" said portions:

6'. The clasp'of claim in which 11713 the second of said vertical walls which is arcuate in shape, the ends of' said second vertical wall being positioned short of the tips of said fingers, thereby to define, in conjunction with the walls of'said top shell, apertures in the walls of said housing adjacent the tips of each of said fingers and on the inner surfaces of said housing, said retaining member having a length such that when it is moved to retaining position its tip passes'out through one of said apertures and reenters said housing through the other of said apertures.

'7. The clasp of claim 6, in which said retaining member comprises resilient material: having adjacent portions connected by a: reverse bend, the: inherent; resilience of said member causing one of said adjacentv portions to. separate. from 8; the'othera radial. direction corresponding to the widened part of saiduslot, said. elementv being. securedto: said: one ofsaid portions.

8. A clasp comprising a bottom. plate; having, in connected sequence; a horizontal wall adaptedto: be secured. to amend of: a bracelet or thelike. afirst vertical WZLHX. bent downwardly therefrom, alower. horizontal; wall terminating in. forwardly projecting, laterally-spaced fingers. connected. by said lowerhorizontal wall, and a second vertical wall bent upwardly from the forward edge ofsaid lower. wall between said fingers and having an. inwardly bent hp at the top thereof, one. of said ver ical wallsbeing arcuate in shape, a: top

- shell. overlying and secured to'said bottom. plate so as-toclefine a housing therewith, sai-cltopshell having. a wall with. an aperturev therein adjacent the tip of one of said, fingers, said lower. horizontal. wall. having. aslot therein concentric with the curvature of said. one of said vertical wall's ,,said slot. having a widened part near one. of its ends, and an arcuate retaining member concentric. with. said slot and slidable in. the. direction of its are over. said. lower horizontal. wall and along said. one of said. vertical walls, the

latter acting as a bearing therefor and said. lip holding. saidv member against vertical. movement, between a housed position, within said housing a. grasping position in. which a part. of. said m mber extends outof said housing through the aperture in a wall thereof and terminates. ad.- jacent the tip. of the other of' said fingers. so as to define .a. substantially closed retaining, loop, said slot having a length. substantially equal to the travel ofsaidmember between said portions. and an. element secured to said member, projecting, out through said slot. so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and. resiliently urged in the direction of the widening of' said slot so as to engage in said widened slot part whensaid member is in one of said. positions so as to hold said member in said position.

9. ,The clasp of claim 8, in which said retaining member comprises resilient material having adjacent portions connected by' a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent, portions to separate from the other in a radial direction corresponding to thewidened part of said. slot, said element being secured to said one of said portions.

10. An end clasp for a bracelet or the like, adapted for use with a horizontally apertured watch lug, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to an end or a bracel'etand' extend longitudihally therefrom, said housing including a pairof laterally-spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the'- hous'ing proper and defining therebetween a space open at the tips of said fingers into which a watch lug may be received, a curved retaining member within said housing and slidable therewithin and through and out of one of said fingers near its tip, said retaining member being movable between a lug-grasping position, in which it extends out of said one of said fingers and across the space' between said fingers near the tips thereof so as to define a retaining loop receivable within the aperture of a watch lug, and a. lug-releasing. position, in which it is substantially completely withdrawn within. saidhousing so as tov be removed from the aperture of a Watch lug, said retaining, member comprising resilient material. having adjacent portions'connectedby a reversev bend, the inherent resilience of said member'causing one 01' said adjaeentportions toseparatefrom theother,

said one of said-portions. engaging With-said housing when saidmember is. in one of said positions so as to releasably hold said member in that position.

11. An end clasp for a bracelet or the like, adapted for use with a horizontally apertured watch lug, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to an end of a bracelet and extend longitudinally therefrom, said housing including a pair of laterally-spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the housing proper and defining therebetween a space open at the tips of said fingers into which a watch lug may be received, a curved retaining member within said housing and slidable therewithin and through and out of said flanges near its tip, said retaining member being movable between a lug-grasping position, in which it extends out of said one of said finigers and across the space between said fingers near the tips thereof so as to define a retaining loop receivable within the aperture of a watch. .lug, and a lug-releasing position,-in which it is substantially completely withdrawn within said housing so as to be removed from th aperture of a watch lug, said retaining member comprising resilient material having adjacent portions.

connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from the other, said one of said portions having an element extending therefrom, said housing having a recess in which said element is receivable when said member is in one of said positions so as to releasably hold said member in that position.

12. An end clasp for a bracelet or the lik adapted for use with a horizontally apertured watch lug, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to an end of a bracelet and extend longitudinally therefrom, said housing including a pair of laterally-spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the housing proper and defining therebetween a space open at the tips of said fingers into which a watch lug may be received, a curved retaining member within said housing and slidable therewithin and through and out of one of said fingers near its tip, said retaining member being movable between a lug-grasping position, in which it extends out of said one of said fingers and across the space between said fingers near the tips thereof so as to define a retaining loop receivable within the aperture of a watch lug, and a lug-releasing position, in which it is substantially completely withdrawn within said housing so as to be removed from the aperture of a watch lug, said housing comprising a shell and a bottom plate, said bottom plate having a slot therethrough in the direction of motion of said member, said slot having a widened part at a position therealong corresponding to a given position of said member, and said member having an element secured thereto, projecting out through said slot so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and resiliently urged in the direction of said widened slot part, said element moving into said widened slot part and retaining said member in position when said member is moved to said given position.

13. The end clasp of claim 12 in which said retaining member comprises resilient material having adjacent portions connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from the other, said member being oriented in said housing so that the direction of said separation corresponds to the direction of widening of said slot, said element. beingsecured to and movable with said one of said adjacent portions.

14. An end clasp for a bracelet or the like, adapted for use with a horizontally apertured watch lug, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to an end of a bracelet and extend longitudinally therefrom, said housing including a pair of laterally-spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the housing proper and defining therebetween a space open at the tips of said fingers into which a watch lug may be received, a curved retaining member within said housing and slidable therewithin and through and out of one of said fingers near its tip, said retaining member being movable between a lug-grasping position, in which it extends out of said one of said fingers and across the space between said fingers near the tips thereof so as to define a retaining loop receivable within the aperture of a watch lug, and a lug-releasing position, in which it is substantially completely withdrawn within said housing so as to be removed from the aperture of a watch lug, said housing comprising a bottom plate and a shell, said bottom plate having, in connected sequence, a horizontal wall adapted to be secured to the end of a bracelet, a first vertical wall bent downwardly therefrom, a lower horizontal wall terminating in forwardly projecting, laterally spaced fingers connected by said lower horizontal wall, and a second vertical wall bent upwardly from the forward edge of said lower horizontal wall between said fingers, one of said vertical walls being arcuate in shape, said shell overlying and being secured to said bottom plate so as to define a housing therewith and having a wall with an aperture therein adjacent the tip of one of said fingers, said lower horizontal wall having a slot therethrough concentric with the curvature of said one of said vertical walls, said slot having a widened part positioned therealong corresponding to a given position of said retaining member, said retaining member being concentric with said slot and slidable in the direction of its arc over said lower horizontal wall and along said one of said vertical walls, the latter acting as a bearing therefor, and said retaining member having an element secured thereto, projecting downwardly out through said slot so as to be accessible from the outside of said housing, and resiliently urged in the direction of said widened slot part, said element moving into said widened slot part and holding said member in position when said member is moved to said given position.

15. The end clasp of claim 14, in which said retaining member comprises resilient material having adjacent portions connected by a reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from the other, said member being oriented in said housing so that the direction of said separation corresponds to the direction of widening of said slot, said element being secured to and movable with said one of said portions.

16. An end clasp for a bracelet or the like, adapted for use with a horizontally apertured watch lug, comprising a housing adapted to be secured to an end of a bracelet and extend longitudinally therefrom, said housing including a pair of laterally-spaced fingers extending longitudinally from the housing proper and defining therebetween a space open at the tips of said fingers into which a watch lug may be received, a curved retaining member within said housing and slidable therewith and through and '11 out of -one of said fingers :near its tip; said retaining member being movable -.between a luggrasping :position, in which it extends out of said one of said fingers and across the spacebetween said fingers near the tips thereof so as to define a retaining loop receivable within "the aperture of a watch lug, and a lug-releasinglposition, in which it is substantially completely withdrawn within said housing so as to be "removed from the aperture of a -watch lug, said housing comprising a bottom plate and a shell,

said'bottom plate'having, in connected sequence, a horizontal wall adapted to be secured to the end of a bracelet, a-first'verticalwall bent downwardly therefrom, a lower horizontal Wa'll ter- 'minating in forwardly projecting, laterally spaced fingers connected by saidlower horizontal wall, and a second vertical wall ben'tupward- 1y from the forward edge of said lower horizontal wall between said fingers and having aninwardly- -bent lip at the *top thereof, one of said vertical walls being arcuate in shape, said shell overlying and being secured to said bottom plate so as to define a housing therewith, said shell having a wall therein with an aperture adjacent the tip of one of said fingers, said 'lower horizontal wall having a slot therethrough concentric with the curvature of said 'one of said vertical walls, said slot having a widened part therealong corresponding to a given position or said retaining :member, said retaining member being concentric'with said slot and slidablein-the direction of its arc over .said lower horizontal wall and .along said one of said vertical walls,

the latter acting as a bearing thereforand said .lip holding said member against vertical moveretaining member comprises resilient material "having adjacent portions connected by a'reverse bend, the inherent resilience of said member causing one of said adjacent portions to separate from theother, saidmember being oriented in said housing so that the direction of said separation corresponds to the direction-of widening of said s'lot, said element being secured to and movable "with said one of said portions.

EDWARD KUPCHICK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,423A41 Lemaitre July 18, 1922 2,206,052 Schoeninger -July 2, '1940 2,411,037 Hess .Nov. 12, 1946 12,525,066 Domler. -Oct. 10, 1950