US2656919A - Display card for bracelets and the like - Google Patents

Description

oct. 27, 1953 w. KRUSf 2,656,919

DISPLAY CARD FOR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Filed June 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l A yg f E fi@ /2 ,4f Y 2a zg! Oct. 27, 1953 w. KRusT 2,656,919

DISPLAY CARD FOR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE FiledJune 14, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A llllnlil A ff 4 d 2 wwwulegwwwnu Patented Oct. 27, 1953 DISPLAY CARD FOR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Walter Krust, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Jacoby- Bender, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 14, 1950, Serial No. 168,073

14 Claims. l

The present invention relates to a card particularly adapted for the display `of bracelets, chains, and other flexible and sometimes resilient decorative articles.

Various articles of jewelry, such as bracelets,

are often attached to supports for display purposes, to facilitate handling of the article, and when the bracelet is mounted in juxtaposition to appropriate decorative or trade-mark matter, for advertising purposes. More specifically, it is a relatively widespread practice to package bracelets such as wrist watch bracelets on individual cards so thatthebracelets will be displayed to best advantage and will be properly identified as to type, make, composition and the like.

Display of a bracelet in such a manner is attractive and eye-catching, and often causes a prospective purchaser to prefer a bracelet thus packaged and displayed over one` sold or displayed in bulk. However, a purchase is not usually consummated until the prospective purchaser has viewed the bracelet off the display card and preferably on his own Wrist. This necessitates removal of the bracelet fromthe supi port and, if the customer is dissatised, or if the purchase is for gift purposes, the replacement of the bracelet on the support. This presents a serious problem to the jeweler as well as to the manufacturer.

Insofar as the jeweler is concerned, he is interested in a securing means which permits the bracelet to be readily removed from the support for exihibition andto be readily replaced on the support. The securing means must therefore be readily releasable Without requiring any partien ular skill, special tools, or any appreciable time, since a jeweler, to make a single sale, may have to remove and replace `a relatively large number of bracelets from their individual displayV supports. The jeweler also requires a `securing means which permits thebracelet to be displayed in themost attractive manner possible, in order to facilitate the selling thereof.

Insofar as the manufacturer is concerned, he must not only satisfy thejeweler, thus insuring that his merchandise will be sold more readily than that cf his competitors, but must also` provide'means for securingthe bracelet to the display card which presents as little difficulty of assembly and manipulation as is possible,` keeping uppermostiin his mind the fact `that the` nec-` essary labor involved in assembling the display card itself and hand-attaching the bracelets to the cards is an important factor in his overall costs;

The securing means must be adequate toretain the bracelet on the card through all the vicissitudes of packing, shipping, unpacking and handling, and the said securing means must be as inconspicuous as possible in order not to mar the attractive appearance of the bracelet.

Usually these two desiderata are contradictory, since the more positive the securing means, the more the appearance of the bracelet is marred.

`A major problem `involved in devising a proper Itype of securing means derives from the fact that bracelets are made in varying lengths, mens bracelets generally being longer than ladies bracelets, `and both mens and ladies bracelets being available in different `lengths so as: to ac commodate different size wrists.` It is, of course, extremely desirable that any securing means be interchangeable for use with bracelets of different lengths and types, thus simplifying inventory. packaging and distribution.

Another problem involved arises -from the fact that, particularly when watch bracelets are involved,` the end portions of those bracelets differ according to Whether the bracelets are to be used with mens watches or with ladies watches. In mens watches the end portions of the `bracelet are adapted to be secured between spaced lugs, i

andconsequently take the form of tubes through which a retaining pin, preferably of the spring` type, can be passed. In ladies watches only a single apertured lug is employed on each side of the Watch, and consequently the end portions of bracelets adapted to be used with ladies watches are generally of ring-shape, the ring being openable so as to be engaged with the watch lug and then closable so as to lbe secured thereto.

Two embodiments of display cards are therefore here disclosed, the 'rst being particularly adapted for use with bracelets for ladies watches andthe second being particularly adapted for use with bracelets for mens watches. However, the sec ond embodiment is usable with either type of bracelet and the rst embodiment can, through suitable modification, be used with rnens brace- `braceletscr the like infull length condition, and

sometimes, if desired, in slightly extended condition.

It is a prime object of the present invention to devise a display card structure Which is capable of achieving the above desiderata and which is at the same time extremely inexpensive and capable ofA massiproductioniandassembly at no appreciable increase in expense vvhen'-l com-V pared to the less functionally satisfactory devices of the prior art. More specifically, the display-f cards of the present invention are capablefbe.- ing adapted to bracelets of diiferent' lengths of holding those bracelets in full length or partially extended condition, whicheven may: be. desired... in permitting the bracelet torba-readily removed from or replaced upon the display card and in so facilitating the initial assemblyy ofithe. displet7 card itself and of the bracelet on the display card as to give rise to a substantial saving in labor costs which will ccunterbalance any additional expenseinlmaterials involved;n

To: this end; display'cardsi are providedhavins; a movable fastener'secured: tdlthe; card: alcdiiiic.-A tionally; held in adjusted position;` the; faste-ner being movable betweeneonepposition, inwhichithef bracelety is readily removed: from or'replaced'; onto thel card', and'A anot-herf position,l in which the.- bracelet is secured; to: the-card` in` any condition desired; Inf order'to; displayft'he bracelet-.tof best effect, the structural portions oi thefastener are` positioned. onl the` underside: of. the support;A ai iinger'or iingersextendingnpwardly'therefrom'zto the" top' side ci the' support engaging, the bracelet end.. The fastener'proper: isrpreferably. constructed ofi one pieceu of materiaL. and; the, same means which secures-i iti tot the; support also; provides for'thelfrictional effect'whichpermitsit; to stayin any-position in :.Whichit may be placed..

With ladies bracelets ai singleingerf capal'ile.v of beingreceived Within theringy-like; end por.- tions is sufli'cient; Such a fastenerris disclosedin. Figs. 1 5 ofthe-speciication. WithA mensfbracef. lets-a pair of'fingers are employed,l theseziingers4 being adapted to be receivedy Within4 thetubulal" end portion'A of" the bracelet at". opposite sides; thereof; therngers being.spring-urgediso as to,` grasp the tubular: portion and holcliirin:position'.v on the support. Suche a fastenerV is; disclosed in Figs.' 6,195.V This latter type of..y fastener; couldw also easilyv be employedvwit-h theringftype.endI

portions of ladies bracelets.v

They term displayvv card as use dinthis; specim iication and in the claims hasA referencetoren-,ill-A dividual support upon which.` a single bracelet is.

Fig. 2. is a front elevational View ofthel display l card oi Fig. 1, a bracelet secured thereon being shown in broken lines;-

ligl Slis a bottom planvievv'thereof;V '1 Fig.A 4; is; a; cross-sectional view thereof" tek-6.11

4 along the line 4 4 of Fig. l on a slightly enlarged scale and showing a bracelet in position on the card, the fasteners on the card being in position for removal or replacement of the bracelet;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the fasteners in position for securing the bracelet tothedlsmav card?.

Figs-.- 5A and 5B`-are fragmentaryfthree-quarter perspective bottom views of portions of the dis- 'i play card, showing alternative fastener embodiments;

Eig, 6'is a top plan View of another embodiment of the present invention particularly adapted'ifor.1 usefivitlnmens bracelets or bracelets having tubularf endpieces Fig. 7 isa'fbottoinC plan view of the embodiment ofA Fig, ,6;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the fastenerf and clamp utilized therein;

Fig. 8A is a perspectivev View of an alternative embodiment -of, clamp;`

Eig; 9.1is a. cross-Sectional view.r of: the embodm ment.; Qi: Fig. 6., takenalong :the line 9-9.- therecf; Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional viewftaliell alungii'zh. lineie-l ofFigrf;

Fig- 1 1-1. isf a, fragmentaryftop vier/shcwing the fastener, ogf-v Fig;` 6' in, conjunction` with. a mengs.

Watch'braceletmart of the 'topgofther tubular end pieceofthat bracelet. being broken away; forfpurposes 0ff clarity;v

Fig;4 12 isa crossesectional view takenalong thefline; I 2f-l'2l of-Figf.. 1111;

Fig. 18,: sazcross-sectional .Vievv'taken along-the line. I;3:l3 ofFfig; 1l; and. showingl the4 fastener 'fin a pcsition'inl Whichztheibraceletisislackzon the support; and

Fig. V14 .isazview'similar to Fig,..l3fb.ut showing tbefastener ina1position such that the bracelet is stretchedfouttpfitsifull length.

The; display' card ofv the. present invention, viewedf generically, comprises the,A support gen.:- erallyf designated A on-.theiupperl surface Bi of: Whiclra bracelet G: or- C.' is adaptedtp be` se-v cured. between` thefasteners D andr E: At least moneofithesei-fasteners, here shownas the fastener Figs., 5 and 14'); frictionally retainedin Whatever position ity may E2 is movabletoward; andV away'from the: otherfastenerf D; between one, position. in which the bracelet C, isslack (see Figs. 4 andilSl` andV an.- other position in which the bracelet() is grasped' between' the fasteners: D. and E andvsecured to the supportA in. stretched or tautcondition (see The movable fastener E is such as cardboard which may have a layer of` felt, plush or other fabric-4.1secured to the upper surface B .thereof in order'to contrast with and enhance the appearance .of the. bracelet C: adaptied toybe placed thereon. Asi speciiicallyV illus:

limited, the Strip 4; of felt. or the like, does. not ex: tendall the Way across; the VWidth of themember 2,.in orderto provide Sloae-:ffory printing advertis- ,ingand trade-mark matter,` butithis'l is not essential to the invention. The lengthv ofthe mem ber 2 such that it'. can accommodate; dierent;

standard lengths of bracelets.`

Having specificl referencerstito the mentzillustrated in Figs. 1-,53 which embernment is particularly adapted for use with bracelets having ring-like end pieces such as are usually used to secure the bracelet to the lugs on ladies watches7 slot 3 is provided in the support A and the strip 4 thereon near the end I1 thereof and the rst fastener D is secured to the support A, a body portion Il thereof being held on the underside ID of the member 2 by means of rivet or eyelet I2, and a finger I4 being bent up therefrom so as to pass through the slot 6 and eX- tend above the upper surface B of the support A, an extension i6 being bent at right angles thereto parallel to the top surface B of the support A and directed toward the adjacent end I1 of the support A. The finger I4 is adapted to be passed through an end ring I8 of the bracelet C when that bracelet is positioned on the support A.

A second and substantially elongated slot 2li is provided in the support A and the strip 4 adjacent the opposite end 22 thereof, the slot 2i! being oriented so that it extends toward and away from the first fastener D and preferably longitudinally of the support A.

The second fastener E comprises a body 24 formed of some resilient material such as spring steel and provided with a slot 26 extending lengthwise thereof. At each end of the body 24 are upturned fianges 28, 28', the fiange 28 being shown as extending across the entire width of the body 24 at one end thereof whereas each of the two fianges 28 extends only partially across the width of the body 24 at the other end thereof, an extension 30 of the body 24 projecting between the flanges 28* and being turned upwardly so as to l define the finger 32 which extends through the slot 20 and above the support A. The finger 32, like the finger I4, is preferably provided with` a portion 34 turned out at right angles thereto and parallel to the support A and directed toward the end 22 of the support A. The Width of the slot 20 is only slightlylgreater than the width of the finger 32, the latter being slidable along the length of the slot 20 as the body 24 of the second fastener E moves relative to the support A.

rfhe second fastener E issecured tothe support A by means of an eyelet or rivet 3B passing through the support A and through the slot 25 in the body 24, a washer 38 being interposed between the rivet or eyelet 36 and the outer surface of the body 24.

The length of the eyelet or rivet 36 is `such that the portion of the body 24 directly engaged thereby is held closer to the bottom surface ID of the support A than the height of the flanges 28 and 2B. As a result the body24 is bowed, as is clearly shown in 4 and 5, the ends of the flanges 28 and 28 being pressed against the lower surface lo of the support A through the inherent resilience of the body 24 and hence generating a frictional resistance to movement. The length; of the slot 2t corres-ponds substantially to the length of the slot 23, the second fastener E thus being slidable in the direction of the slot 20`and hence toward and away fromthe first fastener Djthe second fastener E being frictionally retained in` whatever position `it may beplaced.`

The display card of Figs. 1 5 can be assembled in an exceedingly simple manner. Supports A,

with the felt or` plush layer 4 secured thereto as' desired, and with the slots and 2Il` already formed therein, require merely two simple eyeleting operations fo-r complete assembly of the structure. The first fastener D isplaced in posi-1 tion bythreading the finger I4 through the slot E from the underside thereof until the body portion 8 lies snugly against the bottom surface I0 of the support A, the slot 6 being somewhat lengthened in order to permit that operation, and then the first fastener D is eyeleted into place. The second fastener E is then placed in position, its finger 32 passing freely through the slot 2G; and an eyelet is then passed through the slot 26 in the body 24.

'Ihe manner of use of this embodiment of the present invention will in the main be apparent from the above discussion. When it is desired to place a bracelet upon the card, the second fastener E is moved toward the first fastener D, as shown in Fig. 4, until the fingers I4 and 32 are sufficiently close together so that the end links I8 and I8 of the bracelet C can be freely passed over the fingers I4 and 32 respectively and their respective outbent portions IS and 34. Once the bracelet C has been placed in position it can be secured to the support A simply by moving the second fastener E away from the first fastener Duntil the fingers I4 and 32 engage the outer portions of the end links I8 and I3 of the bracelet C, thus holding the bracelet taut in full length condition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. In this position the bent portions It and 34 of the fingers I4 and 32loverlie the end links I8 and I3 and Of course, the first fastener D could itself be movable toward and away from the second fastener but for many applications only one movable fastener rhas been found necessary.

Alternative constructions of the fasteners E are disclosed in Figs. 5A and 5B.` In Fig. 5A the flanges 28, 28' are dispensedwith, dimples 2li be-` ing punched into the underside of the fastener body 24' so as to form upward projections which engage the underside lli of the support member 2 and are pressed thereagainst by the eyelet 36, the fastener body 24 being preferably slightly bowed, as in Figs. 4 and 5, to insure good frictional engagement. Fig. 5B discloses a simplified embodi` ment in which no upward projections such as the flanges 23, 28 or the dimples 29 are provided the fastener body 24 `being flat and the eyelet pressing against the underside I@ of the support member'2 so as to achieve good frictional engage-` ment all along the length of the body 24", but

particularly at those portions of its length which may be adjacent the eyelet 355 at any given time. Turning now to the embodiment of FigsvG-M, which is particularly adapted for use with mens bracelets,v the first fastener D and the second fastener it areboth shown as movable toward and away from the other and are identical in construction. A description of one will therefore suflice for both.

Thesupport member Zand the fabric layer `4 are provided with two elongated slots 2li, 2li', one i at each end thereof and each directed toward and awayfrom the other, and it is through these slots the clamps as, so pieces that the arms 42 of the fasteners are pressed between the surface I of the support A and the concave wing portions 54, are secured to the support A.

In both embodiments each of the fasteners D and E can be integrally formed in a cutting, stamping or bending operation well adapted for mass production and consequently may be produced very inexpensively. The clamp 43 of the embodiment of Figs. 6-14 can be similarly produced. Assembly of the display card can be carried out by semi-skilled personnel in a semi-automatic and expeditious manner. Thus the cost of the display card is not appreciable.

The facility of use of the present invention is, however, extremely marked when compared with the prior art structures. Not only may bracelets of varying lengths be accommodated on the same display card and by the same structure, but each bracelet may be displayed in a manner best adapted to show off its most attractive attributes and each bracelet may be removed from or replaced on the support in no time at all by unskilled personnel and without in any way destroying or distorting the display card structure itself.

Only two specific embodiments of the present invention are here disclosed but it will be apparent that many variations may be made in the de sign thereof all within the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A display card for bracelets and the like comprising a support on the top surface of which the bracelet or the like is adapted to be placed, a first fastener projecting above said top surface for engaging one end of said bracelet, said support having a slot spaced from said first fastener and extending toward and away therefrom, and a second fastener comprising a U-shaped resilient body having a base and arms mounted below said support, the ends of said arms having fmgers passing through the slot in said support and projecting above the top surface of said support for engaging the other end of Said bracelet, said fingers being urged apart by the resilience of said U-shaped body, and a clamp secured to said sup port and having passages through which the arms of said U-shaped body are movable, said clamp pressing said body against and into frictional enn gagement with the bottom surface of said support, said second fastener thus being manually movable toward and away from said first fastener and frictionally retained in the position to which it is moved.

2. The display card of claim 2, in which said passages are tapered in cross-section, so that when said arms are moved toward or away from one another they are wedged therein, thus increasing the frictional force tending to retain said second fastener in its position along said support.

3. The display card of claim 2 in which said clamp comprises a central portion, prongs ex tending upwardly therefrom and passing through said support for securing said clamp thereto, and concave wing portions on either side of said central portion, said wing portions defining, in conjunction with the bottom surface of said support, theV passages through which the arms of said U-shaped body are movable.

4. A display card for bracelets and the like comprising a support on the top surface of which the bracelet or the like is adapted to be placed, a first fastener projecting above said top surface for engaging one end of said bracelet, said sup- I0 port having a slot spaced from said first fastener and extending toward and away therefrom, and a second fastener comprising a U-shaped resilient body having a base and arms mounted below said support, the ends of said arms having fingers passing through the slot in said support and projecting above the top surface of said support for engaging the other end of said bracelet, said vfingers being urged apart bythe resilience of said U-shaped body, and a clamp secured to said support and having passages through which the arms of said U-shaped body are movable, said passages being wider than said arms so as to permit a degree `of relative motion of said arms toward and away from one another, said clamp pressing said body against and into frictional engagement with the bottom surface of said support, said second fastener thus being manually movable toward and away from said first fastener and frictionally retained in the position to which it is moved.

5. The display card of claim 4, in which said passages are tapered in cross-section, so that when said arms are moved toward or away from one another they are wedged therein, thus increasing the frictional force tending to retain said second fastener in its position along said support.

6. A display card for bracelets and the like comprising a support on the top surface of which the bracelet or the like is adapted to be placed, a first fastener `projecting above said top `surface for engaging one end of said bracelet, said support having a slot spaced from said first fastener and extending toward and away therefrom, and a second fastener comprising a U-shaped resilient body having a base and arms mounted below said support, the ends of said arms having fingers passing through the slot in said support and projecting above the top surface of said supn port for engaging the other end of said bracelet, said fingers being urged apart by the resilience of said U-shaped body and having oppositely di rected end portions substantially parallel to said top surface and extending substantially perpendicular to the length of said slot, and a clamp secured to said support and having passages through which the arms of said U-shaped body are movable, said clamp pressing said body against and into frictional engagement with the bottom surface of said support, said second fastener thus being manually movable toward and away from said first fastener and frictionally re tained in the position to which it is moved.

7. The display card of claim 6, in which said passages are tapered in cross-section, so that when said arms are moved toward or away from one another they are wedged therein, thus increasing the frictional force tending to retain said second fastener in its position along said support.

8. The display card of claim l in which said clamp comprises a central portion, prongs ex tending upwardly therefrom and passing through said support for securing said clamp thereto, and concave wing portions on either side of said central portion, said wing portions defining, in conjunction with the bottom surface of said support, the passages through which the arms of said U- shaped body are movable.

A display card for bracelets or the like comprising a support on the top surface of which a bracelet or the like is adapted to be placed, a first fastener projecting above said top surface for engaging one end of said bracelet., and a second; fastenersi adjustably nfiountedf.orirsaixlf` supey port.y proj'ectings ab'oile, .saidf top surfaiseeh spaced from-said fastener and movabletoward:andati/alil from. saidf-rst fastener,- fon; engagiiigrthe.y other end rof Isaid bracelet', saidJ asecon'd; Y'fastener coniprising, av pair @of lfingers.i resiliently,'urged;apart, means for and ifrictionallyl holdingsa-id secondJ fastener infadjustedr-.positon onsaidfrsupportrz" 10. The4 displayv card .ofclam 9; in-Whchssaid fingers :have oppositelycLdirectediendportions sub1- stantially .parallelL to. saidtopsurfacera 11; Af display cardazforl bracelets or, the: like comprisingra supportion the topsurface of which: abracelet or.the-likefisgadapted to be.p1aced, a first fastener projecting abovesaid ,topi .surface for engaging. one end: vfof-.said bracelet; said-super port vhaving 4afslotV spaced fromz said first-fastener and extendingftoward:'.andfaway therefrom, andy a `secondfastener .adjnstablyimountedin*andbeloW; saiclrsuppori:` .for motionin: .the direction-vof said slot and havinga,V pairofxngers passing through. .said Vslot A andirprojectingabove ysaid Atop surfacefoxt engaging .theothenenct 0f 'said-bracelet,v .sa-id.vv `fingers being: resilientlylurged apart,-and means for frictionally holding said second: fas-v tener in. adjusted position: on` said-supporte 12; This displaycardfrof cl'aim=11,'in`which saidi fingers have oppositely directed end portionsA substantially'.parallel-to said top. surface and exltending substantialhr -perpendicularto theflengthE of-saidl` slot.

13. A-`display.-` card for@bracelets4A and-the xlike comprisinga. support f on'l thegtoposurfacefof which'. a bracelety orhthe like is f adaptedf to- -lo'ewplacedf a first .fastener projecting -above-said 4top Nsurface forfengaging oneendof said/bracelet, said--sup port @having;aslot Aspaced from: sadarst 'fasteners and extendingVV toward:` andawav therefronsga second fastener comprising -a body; mounted fon the undersurface of said support-andf.havingga pair of fingerspassing throughsaidislot and projecting above` said topil surface/forE engaging the otherend of said.,bracelet^, said 'fingersfbeng resiliently urged apart; and afunitaryfastening:v means of fixedv effective lengthsimultaneously engaging sadsupport and saidsecond-:fastener and pressing said second fasteneragainst theaml dersurface of vsaid support/,L said secondffastener being manually rnovable'inT the vdirection' ;ofjsard slot to adj usted position and rretained `inesaidiaflfA justed positionfby friction.

1.4. The'display vcard of' claim.l3;-, infwhichsaid fingers have loppositely directed end-portions:suba stantially parallelV 'tof said: 1 top surface: .anda` exvi tending substantiallyfperpendicularftorthe length ofsaid-slot.l

WALTER` KRUST: 1

RefereneesCited intheyfi'leof this ;p,ate!v1-tV UNITED' STATES PATENTS l' FOREIGN PATENTS? Country. Date: Great Britain' Nov; 2211923' Number Number A

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