US3007301A - Ornamental linkage having recessed connecting tabs - Google Patents

Description

ORNAMENTAL LINKAGE HAVING RECESSED CONNECTING TABS J. F. SAND Nova 7, 1961 Filed Nov. 5, 1957 /9 INVENTOR.

J HN E SAND A TTORNEY United States Patent F ORNAMENTAL LINKAGE HAVING RECESSED CONNECTING TABS I John F. Sand, Convent Station, N.J., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Gemex Precision Metals, Inc., Union, N.J., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 694,603 1 Claim. (Cl. 59-80) The present invention relates to watch bracelets and more particularly to a bracelet that can be conveniently adjusted in length. i V

At the present time there are various commercially available watch bracelets formed of a series of links secured together by complex mechanical arrangements. When a purchaser of one of these bracelets finds that it must be adjusted in length to conform to the size of his wrist, he must take it to a jeweler for such adjustment. The design and complexity of presently available watch bracelets is such that adjustment must be done professionally rather than by the owner. It is therefore proposed that a watch bracelet be provided which would be sold along with extra links and of such design that by a simple operation each owner could insert or remove links to accommodate the bracelet to his wrist size. It is to this general problem that the present invention is directed.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide an improved link type watch bracelet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a link type watch bracelet wherein selected links may be conveniently added or subtracted to adjust the length of the bracelet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable watch bracelet which can be readily and conveniently adapted to an individuals wrist size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bracelet formed of a series of links that are of simple construction and hinged together to form a flexible band.

In accordance with these and other objects, there is provided a watch bracelet having a series of abutting top links. Each such link has a plate forming the underside thereof, with four depending prongs. Two prongs are located along each plate edge and positioned a fixed distance apart. A series of bottom links of substantially the same width as said top links are positioned adjacent the undersurface of the series of upper links. Each bottom link has a pair of slots or openings passing therethrough to receive the four prongs along the abutting edges of adjacent top links. The pair of prongs passing through each bottom link slot are bent in opposite directions longitudinally of the bracelet to form a continuous linkage which is flexible to comfortably fit the contour of a wrist.

The bent-over prongs fit into channels cut into the undersurface of each bottom link at the slot positions so that the prongs are flush with the undersurface of the bracelet to avoid discomfort when in use. An especially novel feature is that the prongs can be conveniently bent by prying with an awl or other pointed instrument. In this way it is a simple matter for a person to add or subtract links to adjust the length of the bracelet.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a specific embodiment thereof taken with the drawings in which- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a bracelet in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 showing the bracelet in an expanded condition;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of a portion of an inexpansible section of the bracelet of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. '3;

3,007,301 Patented Nov. 7, 1961 FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the bracelet of the present invention showing the bottom of the bracelet and illustrating how a pair of links can be added or removed.

, Referring now to the drawings there is shown a .watch bracelet generally indicatedby numeral 10. The bracelet maybe considered as being made of three sections 11, 12 and 13. Sections 11 and 13 are inexpansible or of a fixed length whilesection 12 is made of spring urged expansiblclinks. End pieces 14 and 15-iare secured to the outer ends of sections 11 and 13 respectively to secure the bracelet to a watch case. It is seen then that when bracelet '10 is secured to a watch and positioned on the v wrist of a wearer, thecenter section 12 will expand to adjust the bracelet length to the necessary length. Sections 11 and 13 on the other hand will remain at their predetermined lengths.

It is readily understood that when the bracelet is worn by a person having a large wrist, the section 12 will expand a greater amount than it would when positioned on a smaller wrist. This greater expansion of the spring tensioned center section 12 will of course result in a greater tensioning force on the individuals wrist. Thus it is desirable to provide a bracelet which is readily and conveniently adjustable in length to provide for individuals having different size wrists. Accordingly, sections 11 and 13 of the bracelet have been designed to provide for convenient removal or addition of links.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of section 13 which is of identical construction as section 11. Section 13 comprises a series of abutting top links 16 which comprise a top shell 17 and a top link plate 18. Each side of the top shell has a cutout portion 19 along the bottom edge thereof as seen more clearly in FIG. 6. A tongue extension 21 along each edge of the top link plate 18 is received in the cut-out portions 19 so that the plate will fit in place within the top shell with the bottom surface of the plate flush with the bottom edge of the top shell. Each plate is prevented from falling out of its place within the top shell by means of four prongs 22 which are formed integral with the sides of the shell and bent over to firmly hold each top plate in place. Formed integral with each top link plate are four prongs 23 having an enlarged base portion, a narrow center portion and a circular outer end as seen more clearly in FIG. 6.

A series of bottom links 24 are provided and positioned along the undersurface of the series of top links. Each bottom lnik 24 is of substantially the same width as each of the top links so that an equal number of bottom links will abut together when positioned beneath the series of upper links. A pair of longitudinal channels 25 and 26 are cut in the undersurface of each bottom link near the outer ends thereof. A pair of slots 27 and 28 pass through each bottom link near the outer ends thereof at the locations of the channels. The distance between the slots 27 and 28 is equal to the distance between prongs 23. Thus when a bottom link is correctly positioned in place below a pair of adjacent top links, a slot such as 27 will receive a pair of adjacent prongs 23 of abutting top links. Similarly slot 28 will receive the other corresponding adjacent prongs 23 so that when the prongs are bent over in opposite directions longitudinally of the bracelet a hinged joint is formed. It is seen then that each section 11 and 12 is made of two series of links which are hinged together to provide the necessary flexibility for the bracelet. In order to adjust the length of one of the inexpansible sections 11 or 13, it is only necessary to pry up the prongs 23 with a pointed instrument such as an awl. This can be conveniently done since the prongs are readily accessible and made top link bent up, the associated bottom link may be lifted" out of place and then the corresponding top link removed as shown in FIG. 6. Then by bringing the two separated portions of the bracelet together, and bending the prongs downward again the bracelet is shortened. Similarly pairs' of top and bottom links may be added to lengthen the bracelet.

Though the present invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment thereof it is understood that this is not to be considered as limiting the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What is claimed is: v A watch bracelet comprising a series of abutting top links, each of -said top links comprising a top shell having a cut-out portion in each side along the bottom edges thereof, a top link plate having a tongnie along opposite edges thereof, said top link plate being located in place within said top shell, said tongues being received within said cut-out portions, a pair of prongs formed integral with said plate along each lateral edge thereof, a series of bottom links having a width substantially equal to the width of each of said top links, each of said bottom links being located adjacent the u'ndersurfaces of a pair of adjacent top links and centered therebetween, a pair of longitudinal channels formed in the undersurface of each bottom link near the ends thereof, a pair of slots passing through each bottom link and adapted to receive a pair of prongs of adjacent top links whereby said prongs may be bent over and received within said channels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,092,427 :Brassler -i Apr. 7, 19 14 1,219,683 Wachenheimer et al. Mar. 20, 1917 1,443,512 Veigel Jan. 30, 1923 2,263,338 Kes'tem'nan Nov. 18, 1941 2,421,720 Singer June 3, 1947 2,515,817 Angenstein July 18, 1950

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