US2876521A - Watch band and clasp - Google Patents

Description

vMarch 10,1959 N. LEGMAN 2,876,521

WATCH BAND AND CLASP Filed April 25, 195e JNVENTOR.

NATHAN LEGMAN K El?.

UnitedSfafsSParser@ WATCH BAND AND CLASP Nathan Legman, Bronx, N. Y. Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,611

' 1 Claim. (ci. 24z65) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in watch band clasps or latches for attaching a watch band or strap to a watch.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved watch band connector and release latch `tor removably attaching a watch band to a watchcase band post and for quickly and easily changing a watch band when it has become worn, soiled, or needs changing for any other reason.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming a single simply made strap end housing having one end removably to hold an end of a watch strap and another hook end adapted to hook around a watchcase band post with a positive acting closure member movably mounted in the housing releasably to lock the band post in the hook end of the housing.

y' For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front view of a wrist watch and strap having a pair of watch band connector and release latches constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of part of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, parts being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch and a portion of one of the straps of the watch band.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2, parts being omitted.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the latch being removed or put on a band post.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the closure member of the latch.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the housing of the latch.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l0 but showing the open position of the latch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the watch band connector and release latch in accordance with the rst form of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 8, inclusive, is designated generally by the reference numeral 15. f

In Fig. 1, two latches 15 are shown holding the straps 16 and 17 of watch band 18 to the cylindrical band posts 19 and 20 mounted between projecting ears of the case 21 of wrist watch 22. While band 18 has been shown as a leather band, it may be plastic, cloth, metal or any other band material.

Latch 15 has a strap end housing 23 of sheet metal 2 having a rear end portion 24 adapted to hold the end of a fiat watch strap, a front end hook portion 25 adapted to tit around a watchease band post 19 or 20 and two spaced opposed side portions 26 and 27.

A closure member 28 has two spaced trunnions 29 and 30 at the rear end 31 which pivotally iit into openings 32 and 33 in the spaced opposed side portions 26 and 27, respectively, ofthe housing 23.

Closure member 28 has a front or free end 34 adapted to move into a locking position adjacent and inside the front end hook portion 25 of housing 23 to lock a watchcase band post 19 or 20 in the front end hook portion.

A spiral spring or spring means 35 is mounted in the housing 23 between the closure member 2S and the housing and between the front end hoolcportion 25 o f the housing and the trunnions 29 and 30 of the closure merriber. The spring 35 engages the closure member 28 abutting against it and the housing 23 to bias the closure member into the post locking position shown in Fig. 5. Spring 35, however, permits movement of the closure member on its trunnions to the open position shown in Fig. 6 and in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

Rear end portion 24 of housing 23 has a central tab 36 adapted 'to extend through an opening 37 in strap 16 or 17 of watch band 1S and bend over and against one side 38 of the strap in a locking position to lock the strap removably in the housing.

Rear end portion 2e of housing 23 also has two opposed flap portions 39 and 40 adapted to bend over a watch strap adjacent the portion 41 of central tab 36 bent over and against side 38 of the Strap. The tlap portions 39 and 40 are each about one-third the width of the watch strap when bent over the strap, and abut the edges of the central tab 36.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, is characterized by the provision of a latch 50 having a housing 51 with a rear end portion 52, a front hook end portion 53 and spaced side portions 54. In addition, the housing 51 has a slide plate channel 55 longitudinally disposed in which is slidably mounted a closure member or slide plate 56.

Channel 55 has a handle slot opening 57 and slide plate 56 has a handle 58 which extends out the opening 57 for moving the slide plate.

A channel blocking member 59 is mounted in the channel S5 and slide plate 56 has a rear end 60 spaced from the channel end blocking member. A spring 61 is mounted between the rear end 6i) ofthe slide plate 56 and member 59 continually to bias the free or front end 62 of slide plate 56 into the hooi: end portion 53 of the housing.

Rea-r end portion 52 of housing 51 has spaced strap engaging teeth 63 removably to hold a strap end 64 in the housing 51.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as delined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A watch strap connector and clasp for a watchcase comprising a housing formed of pressed sheet metal with a front end hook portion adapted to lit around a cylindrical post of a watchcase said hook portion having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the post and having a width substantially equal to the length of the post, a closure member formed of sheet metal movably mounted in the housing and having a width equal to the width of said hook portion, said closure member having 2,876,521` APatented ,Mata 1Q, 195.3

lla. free end adapted to move into a locking position adjacent and inside the hook portion to lock said post in said hook portion, spring means in the housing engaging the closure member to bias said closure member .into post locking position, said housing having a rear end portion with an integrally formed central tab, and with openings in opposed side portions thereof, and a flat strap having a width less than the width of said housing and having an opening, said central tab extending through the opening in said strap and bent over against one side of the strap removably locking the strap in the housing, said rear end portion further having two opposed ap portions integrally formed thereon and bent over the strap adjacent the central tab, said flap portions each extending across substantially one-third the width of the strap and abutting against the central tab, said ap portions and central tab constituting one wall of the housing, said closure member having spaced trunnions pivotally mounted in the openings in opposed side portions of said rear end portion, said spring means being a coil spring inounted between theclosure member and the housing and between said hook portion and trunnions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 226,559 Shelby Apr. 13, 1880 315,175 Sly Apr. 7, 1885 322,438 Gibbons July 21, 1885 482,302 Cox Sept, 6, 1892 1,243,493 Douglas -2--- Oct. 16, 1917 1,520,203 NewmanV Dec. 23, 1924 1,544,538 Anshen June 30, 1925 2,571,971 Vogel Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,967 Great Britain 1913 368,861 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1932 691,141 Germany May 17, 1940

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