US3584456A - Expansible linkage - Google Patents

Expansible linkage Download PDF

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Publication number
US3584456A
US3584456A US770944A US3584456DA US3584456A US 3584456 A US3584456 A US 3584456A US 770944 A US770944 A US 770944A US 3584456D A US3584456D A US 3584456DA US 3584456 A US3584456 A US 3584456A
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United States
Prior art keywords
link element
projections
pair
upper link
linkage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US770944A
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English (en)
Inventor
Tetsuzo Shibuya
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3584456A publication Critical patent/US3584456A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
    • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
    • A44C5/02—Link constructions
    • A44C5/04—Link constructions extensible
    • A44C5/06—Link constructions extensible having lazy-tongs

Definitions

  • the lower link element is shaped in the form of a sheath having am opening at the center of its upper surface.
  • the upper link element has a pair of projections which are located in positions adapted to be freely turnable in the opening of the lower link element, and wire spring means are inserted with said lower link element and engaging with the projections of said upper link element.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide novel and useful expansible linkages in which the above disadvantages can be avoided.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible linkage having an extremely simplified structure without any central mechanical pivotal element.
  • a further objection of the invention is to provide an expansible band which is capable of performing a safe action of ex pansion and contraction.
  • the present invention relates to the improvements in the expansible linkage for use in articles of jewelry such as bracelets, bands, belts and the like.
  • an expansible linkage for article of jewelry comprising a plurality of pairs of link elements, each pair of link elements consisting of a lower and an upper link element connected to each other at their centers in superimposed relationship to form an X- shaped link unit, and means for pivotally connecting each pair of link elements to adjacent pairs of link elements of the same form and construction characterized in that said lower link element is shaped in the form of a sheath having an opening at the central portion of its upper surface, while said upper link element is shaped in the form of an elongated plate adapted to cover the upper surface of said lower element, said upper link element having a pair of projections which are located in positions adapted to be freely turnable in the opening of said lower link element, respectively, and that wire spring means are enclosed within said lower link element and engage with said projections of said upper link element, respectively, whereby to provide a connection of said lower and upper link elements at their center portions and to exert a force against each upper and lower link element and tend to swing them on said connection to bring them
  • projections of the upper link element are located near the opposite elongated side edges of said element, respectively.
  • wire spring means are substantially U-shaped and one end of each spring means is engaged with and retained by the projections of said upper link element while the other end of the spring bears against the side of said lower link element.
  • wire spring means may comprise both one wire of preferably S-shape and a pair of wires. Further, each of the projections has a lateral extension at its free end.
  • an expansible linkage in which projections are formed on the central portions of the elongated edges of the upper link element and the elongated sides of the lower link element are cut away at their respective portions corresponding to said projections of the upper link element.
  • wire spring means are substantially of arch shape and engage at their respective apex portions with said projection of the upper link element.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of an expansible linkage according to the present invention shown in a contracted position
  • FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the linkage in an expanded position
  • FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, perspective view of an embodiment of the lower link element according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the lower link element
  • FIG. 5 is a enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of the upper link element
  • FIG. 6 is a enlarged perspective view of another embodiment of the upper element
  • FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of an expansible linkage according to the invention shown in an expanded position, the linkage being partly broken away at an upper link element thereof to show the internal structure;
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 in case wire spring means are in the form of a U-shape.
  • FIG. 9 is a enlarged perspective fragmentary view of one element showing the relation between. the upper link element and wire springs means in a contracted position, a portion of the lower link element being shown broken away.
  • the expansible linkage of the present invention according to the preferred and illustrative embodiment of the invention comprises plurality of pairs of link elements, each pair of link elements consisting of a lower link element 31 and an upper link element 32.
  • the lower link element 31 is shaped in the form of a sheath having an opening 33 at the central portion of its upper surface, and the opening 33 is preferably defined by a pair of concave arcually shaped edges 34 but it may be of a complete circular shape.
  • the upper link element 32 is shaped in the form of an elongated plate adapted to cover the upper surface of the lower link element 31 and has a pair of projections 35. These projections 35 are, preferably, located near the opposite elongated side edges of the upper link element 32, respectively, and spaced apart from each other by with respect to the center, preferably, adapted to engage said arcual edges 34 of the opening of the lower link element 31, respectively.
  • the expansible linkage according to the invention also includes spring means, which are preferably a pair of wire springs 36 enclosed within the lower link element 31 and adapted to engage with the projections 35 of the upper link element 32, respectively, whereby to provide a connection of the lower and upper link elements at their central portions.
  • spring means which are preferably a pair of wire springs 36 enclosed within the lower link element 31 and adapted to engage with the projections 35 of the upper link element 32, respectively, whereby to provide a connection of the lower and upper link elements at their central portions.
  • wire springs 36 exert a force against each upper and lower link element and tend to swing them on their central connection to bring them into substantial alignment.
  • the contraction is effected by utilizing the repelling force resulting from the deformation of wire springs 36, so that the linkage can be contracted extremely easily and effectively.
  • wire springs 36 may be substantially of U-shape and one end of each spring is engaged with and retained by the projection of the upper link element while the other end of the spring bears against the side of the lower link element as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the function and effectiveness are, of course, not at all different from those in the preceding structure described above.
  • the invention also comprehends a structure for firm clamping of wire springs 36 with respect to the projections 35 of the upper link element.
  • lateral extension 43 may be formed at the free end of the top portion 42 of each projection 35 so as to cover the wire springs 36 even at the maximum angle of turning, or wire springs 36 may be substantially of arch shape and engage at their respective apex portions with the projections of upper link element as shown in FIG. 9 so as to clasp the neck 41 of the projections 35 at the maximum angle of turning, or both of these measures may be used in combination, thereby preventing the disengagement.
  • projections 35 are formed on the central portions 39 of the elongated edges of the upper link element 32 as shown in FIG. 6 and elongated sides 40 of the lower link element 31 are cut away at their respective portions corresponding to said projections 35 of the upper link element as in FIG. 4.
  • projections 35 serve to maintain the function of connecting the lower and upper elements by pressing and clasping of the wire spring 36. These functions are, also, attained by the projections 39 as shown in F 10. 6.
  • the elongated sides of the lower link element must be cut away at portions corresponding to the projections so as to be freely turnable at their central portions with respect to each other.
  • the connection between the lower and upper elements is effected by the wire springs inserted therein, there is no need of providing pivot or similar mechanical connections such as in the conventional linkages. Further, the expansion of the linkage is effected while pressing the wire springs by the projections formed on the upper element, and the contraction is effected by utilizing the repelling force resulting from the deformation of the wire springs, so that the linkage can be contracted easily and effectively.
  • the present expansible linkage is very simple in structure and can be decreased in thickness and has a beautiful appearance and satisfactory expansibility. Further, since this construction makes it easy to take off a pair or pairs of links from the linkage, the linkage is advantageous in repair.
  • An expansible linkage for articles of jewelry such as bracelets, bands, belts and the like, comprising a plurality of pairs of link elements, each pair of link elements consisting of a lower andan up er link element pivotally connected to each other at their cen ers ll'l superimposed relationshtp to form an X-shaped link unit, and means for pivotally connecting each pair of link elements to adjacent pairs of link elements of the same form and construction, in that said lower link element is shaped in the form of a sheath having an opening at the central portion of its upper surface, while said upper link element is shaped in the form of an elongated plate adapted to cover the upper surface of said lower element, said upper link element having a pair of projections which enter into said opening of said lower link element; that spring means are enclosed within said lower link element and engage with said projections of said upper link element, so as to exert a force against each upper nd lower link element to tend to swing them on said connection to bring them into substantial alignment; and that said projections are formed on the central portions of
  • said spring means comprises a pair of substantially U-shaped wire members, one end of each of said wire members being engaged with and retained by one of said projections of said upper link element while the other end thereof bears against the side of said lower link element.
  • each of said projections of said upper link element has a lateral extension at its free end.
  • said spring means comprises a pair of substantially arch-shaped wire members which engage at their respective apex portions with said projections of said upper link element.

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  • Adornments (AREA)
  • Buckles (AREA)
US770944A 1967-10-31 1968-10-28 Expansible linkage Expired - Lifetime US3584456A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP7002867 1967-10-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3584456A true US3584456A (en) 1971-06-15

Family

ID=13419718

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US770944A Expired - Lifetime US3584456A (en) 1967-10-31 1968-10-28 Expansible linkage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3584456A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE1806474A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1250465A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1250465A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-10-20
DE1806474A1 (de) 1969-06-26

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