US3319308A

US3319308A - Jewelry clasp

Info

Publication number: US3319308A
Application number: US472176A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard F Williams
Original assignee: KESTENMAN BROS Mfg Co
Current assignee: KESTENMAN BROS Mfg Co
Priority date: 1965-07-15
Filing date: 1965-07-15
Publication date: 1967-05-16
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-16

Description

y 9 v H. F. WILLIAMS 3,319,308

JEWELRY CLASP Filed July 15, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HOWARD F. WILLIAMS .3 BY 'twhpc ATTO R N EYS May 16, 19 67 H. F. WILLIAMS JEWELRY CLASP 7 Filed July 15. 1965 I 2 Sheets-Sheet P FIG.7

INVENTOR. HOWARD F. WILLIAMS FIG.-8.

AT TOR N EYS United States Patent 3,319,308 JEWELRY CLASP Howard F. Williams, Cranston, R.I., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Co., Providence, ILL, a corporation of Rhode Island Filed July 15, 1965, Ser. No. 472,176 1 Claim. (til. 242t)6) This invention relates to wristwatch straps, bands and bracelets, and more particularly to an improved clasp for fastening the same in adjusted relationship on the wrist of the wearer.

One object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple and compact clasp of the type indicated which is adapted to be used with the straps and bracelets of conventional type for conveniently fastening them in place.

Another object is to provide a clasp of the type indicated which may be used for connecting the ends of a flexible mesh bracelet of metal and is also adapted for use with leather straps.

Another object is to provide a clasp of the type indicated with its parts constructed of precious or plated sheetmetal shaped to provide a neat and ornamental appearance without external projections.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the present improved clasp and a slightly modified form thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a flexible metal band or bracelet adapted for use with Wristwatches;

FIG. 2 is an edge view of the same showing the overlapping portions thereof attached by the present improved clasp;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the clasp shown in open or in released relationship on the watch band or bracelet;

FIG. 4 is a similar sectional view of the clasp shown attached to one end of a length of the bracelet enclosing the underlying length thereof and closed to grip the same for connecting the two portions thereof;

FIG. 5 is a comprehensive perspective view of the several parts of the improved clasp shown individually in disassembled relationship;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, and showing the clasp applied to a chain link bracelet;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the clasp as of slightly modified construction to adapt it for use with a leather strap or band; and

FIG. 8 is a part-sectional plan view on line 8-8 of,

FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIG. 5 of the present drawings, the main or base portion 2 of the clasp is constructed in U-shape with a flat bottom wall 3 and upstanding side flanges 4 and 5, shown herein as of substantially ovate outline in side view. Held in

holes

7, 7 in the flanges 4 and 5 to extend therebetween is a headed pin 10 which connects the means for fastening the clasp to the end of one length b of the bracelet B (FIG. 3). Such means may comprise an element 12 having opposed substantially flat lip-like portions 14 and 15 (FIG. 5) joined together by a circular bent connecting strip 16 of the metal, shown most clearly in FIG. 5. The circular connecting strip 16 receives the pin 10, previously mentioned, to connect one end of the bracelet length b to the clasp as shown in FIG. 3. The lips 14 and 15 overlap the opposite sides of the end of the bracelet length b and may be secured thereto by any suitable gripping means such as shown in FIG. 3. The element 12 has small projections 17 at the ends of its lip portion 15 which engage in rectangular holes 18 in the flanges 4 and 5 of the member 2 (FIG.

3,3l9,3ll8 Patented May 16, 1967 "ice 5). Such means prevent any rotary displacement of the bracelet length b around the pin 10 that attaches it to the clasp.

Pivoted between the flanges 4 and 5 of the main member 2 is a clamping lever 20 (FIG. 5) of substantially arched formation having hinge-

ears

21, 21 constructed from spaced-apart strips of the sheet-metal bent around to embrace the headed pin 10 (FIG. 8). As shown in FIG. 5 the clamping lever 20 may be ornamented or embellished on its upper surface by engraving, embossing or other means.

A second pin 22 (FIG. 7) formed with reduced pintles 23 at its ends (FIG. 8) may be provided to engage holes in the side flanges 4 and 5 of the main member 2 to position it for insertion through a loop 1 at the end of the strap length s. As an added feature of the present improvement, one side flange 5 of the main member 2 may have an extension in the form of a flat arm 25 (FIG. 8) bent around to extend between the sides of the loop I at the end of the strap length s to prevent any rotary displacement of the strap around the pin 22 that attaches it to the clasp.

The means for connecting the opposite length b of the bracelet B or the length s of the strip S to the clasp may comprise a relatively fiat clamping element 29 such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The element 29 has small projections 30 at its ends for engaging in rectangular holes 31 in the flanges 4 and 5 of the member 2 (FIG. 5) whereby to, mount it to overlie the top of the bracelet length b (FIG. 6) or the length s' (FIG. 7) of the strap length S. Portions of the metal may be cut away from the member 29 and bent down to provide teeth 32 engageable with indentations in the top of the bracelet section b (FIG. 4). Preferably, the clamping member 29 has a whole series of teeth 32 formed by cutting away parts in the metal (FIG. 5) and bending down the cut away portions. The clamping member 29 cooperates with the flat bottom wall 3 of the main member 2 (FIG. 4) to securely grip the bracelet length b' when the clasp is used with a bracelet constructed of flexible mesh such as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. On the other hand, for straplike bands S such as shown in FIG. 7, or link bracelets as illustrated in FIG. 6, a fiat plain-faced member 33 is preferable for use as the upper clamping means. With this latter type of clamping means, scratching, abrading or otherwise marring the upper polished surface of the strap or band is avoided. To render the clamping means secure for this last-mentioned use the bottom wall 3 of the main member 2 may have one or more projections or teeth 34 (FIG. 7) for biting into the under side of the strap. On the other hand, when the clasp is used with a link bracelet such as shown in FIG. 6 a rounded projection or tooth 35 is provided for engaging the circular indentations 37 on the under side of the bracelet links.

Because of the eccentric support of the clamping element 29, it normally assumes an incline-d position so that the bracelet free end can be introduced easily thereunder.

The rockable clamping lever 20 is constructed with means for forcibly binding the two flat parts of the clasp against the opposite sides of the strap or bracelet, as the case may be, by a camming action (FIGS. 4 and 7). As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the camming means may consist of projections 40 on the under side of the bent around hinge-ears 21 of the clamping lever 20. As previously explained, the hinge-ears 21 are spaced apart for receiving the circular connecting strip 16 of the element 12, which fastens the bracelet length to the clasp when certain of its parts are assembled in connected relationship.

It will be understood that to apply the band or bracelet to the wrist of the wearer it is placed therearound with the clasp attached to the end of the length overlying the top of the wrist and its remaining length carried around under the wrist and brought up for insertion through the clasp beneath the clamping element 29. Then the operating lever 20 is pressed down to engage its cam-like projections 40 on the hinge-ears 21 with the top of the clamping or binding element 29 to force it against the top of the strap, band or bracelet. This causes the member 29 to cooperate with the bottom wall 3 of the main member 2 so that its teeth 32 will engage in the indentations in the top of the bracelet length b to securely grip it in adjusted relationship. In other cases the same action takes place when the clamping element 29 without teeth is used and pressed down to cooperate with the bottom wall 3 of the main member 2. In such instance, the rounded projection 35 will engage the indentations 37, sometimes provided on the under side of the links of the bracelet B, to prevent it from sliding through the clasp. In each instance, the camming member 40 makes frictional contact with the upper side of the clamping element 29 or 33 to prevent release of the operating lever 20 so that a secure fastening of the bracelet is assured.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides a particularly neat and attractive bracelet clasping device which may be varied slightly in construction to adapt it for use with different types of watch bracelets. That is to say, the main elements of the device are of standard construction which may be assembled by the addition of certain small elements to adapt the clasp to be used for either straps, metal bands or link bracelets. In this way, an extremely versatile clasp is provided of ornamental appearance and without alteration in its general form of construction.

While the invention is herein shown and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction with slight modifications thereof, its main constituents remain the same as defined in the combinations of the following claim. Without limiting myself to the exact details of construction shown and described, I claim:

As an article of jewelry, a clasp for Wristwatch straps. bands and bracelets comprising a main member having A bottom wall and upstanding side flanges, a pin connected to said side flanges, an attaching member connected to said pin and provided with relatively flat lips for engaging across the opposite sides of a length of the strap, band or bracelet at one end thereof, means for preventing rotative displacement of said attaching member relative to said main member, a relatively flat clamping element held between the side flanges of said main member overlying the opposite length of the band or bracelet inserted through said main member above its bottom wall, said clamping member having -a width less than the height of said side flanges and having leading and trailing transverse edges, said clamping member having a pair of aligned projections on opposing ends thereof and adjacent said leading edge, said side flanges having aligned holes receiving said projections so that said clamping member is supported on an axis displaced from its center of gravity, an operating lever pivoted on said pin between the side flanges of said main member, and carnming means on said operating lever adapted to engage against the top of the clamping element at a locus spaced from said projections and toward said trailing edge to cause it to cooperate with said bottom wall of said main member for gripping the band or bracelet to connect it with said clasp in adjusted relation on the wrist of the wearer.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,435 12/1927 Bernstein 24l91 1,701,060 2/1929 Armbust 24-191 2,015,308 9/1935 Heer 24-191 X 2,016,712 10/1935 Freysinger 24-191 FOREIGN PATENTS 493,017 9/1938 Great Britain.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.