US3705490A

US3705490A - Expansible bracelet

Info

Publication number: US3705490A
Application number: US147868A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard E Ripley
Original assignee: Textron Inc
Current assignee: Textron Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-28
Filing date: 1971-05-28
Publication date: 1972-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1989-12-12
Also published as: GB1303937A; AU3576271A; CA930967A; AU449020B2

Abstract

An expansible bracelet having two rows of overlapping staggered links, each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the bracelet when viewed from the top including means for adjusting the length of the bracelet to fit the wrist of the wearer at the point of sale by either expanding or contracting the required number of links in a small section of the bracelet and retaining them in their expanded or contracted positions by an ornamental member which conceals them from view when the bracelet is being worn. The remaining unexpanded links of the bracelet permit the bracelet to be expanded when attached to a watch and slipped over the wearer''s hand to his wrist.

Description

United States Patent Ripley [is] 3,705,490 [451 Dec. 12, 1972 1541' EXPANSIBLE BRACELET [72 Inventor: Richard E. Ripley, Attleboro, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Textron Inc., Providence, R.I.

22] Filed: May 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 147,868

[52] US. Cl. ..59/79 R 51 im. Cl ..Fl6g 13/24 581 Field of Search ..59/79 R, 80; 63/5 R, 6; 24/265 ws; 224/4 H 156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,053 2/1928 Kollstede 24/206 R 1,817,475 8/1931 Becker ..224/4 2,531,053 11/1950, Kehrr..... 4/265 WS 2,689,450 9/1954 Stiegele ..59/79 R 2,848,865 8/1958 Napoli ..59/80 3,307,348 3/1967 Vanover ..59/79 R 3,416,305 12/1968 Rieth ..59/79 R 3,543,507 12/1970 Vanover ..59/79 R Rieth ..59/79 R Levinger ..59/79 R [57] 7 ABSTRACT An expansible bracelet having two rows of overlapping staggered links, each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the bracelet when viewed from the top including means for adjusting the length of the bracelet to fit the wrist of the wearer at the point of sale by either expanding or contracting the required number of links in a small section of the bracelet and retaining them in their expanded or contracted positions vby an ornamental member which conceals them from view when the bracelet is being'worn. The remaining unexpanded links of the bracelet permit the bracelet to be expanded when attached to a watch and slipped over the wearer's hand to his wrist.

7 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures P'ATEm'Enumz asrz- 3.705.490

SHEET 1 UF 2 FIGIQ El" i FIG.6

INVENTOR RICHARD E. RIPLEY mental appearance of the bracelet.

EXPANSIBLE BRACELET I BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Since purchasers wrists vary in size, it is either necessary for the manufacturer to supply expansible watch bracelets in several lengths or to provide an expansible bracelet the length of which may be adjusted by the retail dealer to fit the customers wrist.

' While many attempts have been made to provide bracelets the length of which can be adjusted, they have not solved the long-felt need due to their added cost, to the difficulty of adjustment thereof by the retail dealer or to the fact that they-detract from the orna- One proposed solution is to add to an expansibl bracelet a non-expansible'section of links which inelude resilient catch members for-manipulation by; the retail dealer so that links may be added or removed from the non-expansible section. An example of this type of adjustable section is disclosed in U.S. Pat-No. 3,416,305 dated Dec. 17,1968 to Rieth. It is very ex pensive to manufacture and to assemble and time consuming for length adjustment by the retail dealer.

Becker U.S. Pat. No. 1,817,475 dated Aug. 4, 1931 proposes theuse of a pinion meshing with oppositely arranged racks to which intermediate ends'of strap-like bracelet segments are attached so that the length of the bracelet can be adjusted by turning a knob which is operativcly connected to the pinion. This device is much more expensive to manufacture and to assemble to the bracelet thanthe length adjustment means of the present invention and itwould be inoperable ;with an expansible bracelet.

Kehrer U.S. Pat. No. 2,531,053 dated Nov..2l, 1950 proposes to provide a long expansible watch bracelet having two, two-part clamps, one at each end of the bracelet. The watch bracelet may beshortened at the point of sale by opening the clamps, placing more links of the watch band in them and then closing them again. These clamps are more expensive to manufacture and more difficult to adjust than the length adjustment means of the present invention. Use of these clamps also requires providing long watch bracelets to the retail dealer whereas regular length watch bracelets may be sold by the manufacturer with the length adjustment means of the present invention thereby further reducing the cost of the bracelet to the retail dealer and to the consumer. 7

Another proposed solution is shown in Napoli U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,865 in which a series of non-expansible links are built into an end connector of a watch bracelet. These links are very expensive to manufacture and to assemble. Furthermore, the addition or removal of the links in adjusting the length of the bracelet is a time consuming and difficult task for the retail dealer.

Still another proposed solution is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,658,053 dated Feb. 7, 1928 to Kollstede wherein the bracelet is non-expansible and is composed of two strips of metal, the outer ends of which are at tached to the watch and the inner end portions of which overlap in face to-face relationship. The inner end portion of one of these strips is provided with a series of longitudinally spaced openings and a resilient finger is struck up from the inner end portion of the outer strip. This finger may be passed through an appropriate opening of the inner end portion of the other strip to adjust the length of the bracelet. The finger is held in adjusted position by a clasp or sleeve which covers it and resiliently presses protruberances formed on one of the strips into cavities formed in the clasp.

The combination disclosed in this patent is not adapted for use with an expansible bracelet, it is more expensive tov manufacture, a longer length of bracelet must be provided and in use, it is more difficult for the retail dealer to adjust the length of the bracelet than with the bracelet of the present invention.

Expansion bracelets of the type shown in Vanover U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,348 dated Mar. 7, 1967 utilize U- shaped connecting members to hold the links together and provide an expansible bracelet. These connecting members are held in the links by tabs bent upwardly at the ends of the bottom links and tabs are also bent links. The lengthv of such bracelets are adjusted by bending the tabsoutwardly, removing the U-shaped connecting members and either removing links or adding links to shorten or lengthen the bracelet and then reassembling the U-shaped connecting members in the links respectively. This is a time consuming a delicate operation and an inconvenience to the retail dealer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this'invention is to provide an expansible bracelet, which may be either a watch bracelet or an identification bracelet, with means for adjusting its length which is simple for the retail dealer to use and which requires a minimum of his time.

Another object is to provide such adjusting means which can be used to lengthen a'bracelet to a plurality of longer lengths so that the manufacturer is not required to incur the cost of manufacturing a long length of bracelet which can only be shortened by the use of the length adjusting means.

A still further object is to provide an adjusting means which is very inexpensive to manufacture and-to assemble with an expansible bracelet.

Another object is to provide an adjusting means which has an attractive appearance and does not detract from the ornamental appearance of the bracelet.

A still further object is to provide an adjusting means which permits the relatively expensive top shells to be omitted from at least some of the links of the bracelet thereby further reducing its cost to the manufacturer, the retail dealer and the consumer.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings in which one embodiment of the invention is chosen for the purposes of illustration.

According to one aspect of the invention, the expansible bracelet includes a linkage of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,348 dated Mar. 7, 1967 to Vanover although the links may be longer and wider and only one spring instead of two may be used in each link. The linkage comprises two rows of overlapping staggered links, a top row and a bottom row, each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage when viewed from the top. Most of the top links are provided with ornamental top shells. There is a leaf spring located in each top link and in each'bottom link. The links of the top row are connected to the links of the bottom row by U-shaped connecting members, the legs of which are positioned between the ends of the springs and the outer walls of the top and bottom links respectively. Tabs are bent upwardly at the ends of the bottom links to hold the U-shaped connecting members in the links and tabs are bent downwardly at the ends of the top shells to conceal the upper parts of the bights of the connecting members when the bracelet is viewed from the side.

When the linkage is expanded by stretching it from its contracted position to an expanded position, the ends of the springs are deflected by rotation of the legs of the connecting members and the links continue to extend in a direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage. Upon release of the stretching force, the

springs, acting upon the legs of the connecting members, return the linkage to its contracted position.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the means for adjusting the length of the bracelet comprises an ornamental plate member, the upper surface of which is designed to combine with the ornamental surfaces of the top shells of the links to provide the desired ornamental appearance of the entire bracelet. For example, in the embodiment which is shown in the drawings, it provides the appearance of a buckle but it can be impressed with the design of the top shells of the bracelet if desired.

This plate member is curved longitudinally to generally conform with the curvature of the wrist of the wearer. The plate member has a pair of end flanges, a pair of side flanges and two pairs of tabs, one pair near each end of the plate member.

The top shells may be omitted from a plurality of the top links which underlie the plate member near the center of the bracelet, since they continue to be concealed by it when the bracelet is lengthened.

To assemble the length adjusting means with the bracelet, one of the end flanges of the plate member (the first end flange) is inserted between the side of the first end top link which has its top shell removed and the side of the top shell of the adjacent top link. Then the end flange at the opposite end of the plate member (the second end flange) is inserted between the adjacent sides of two top links which are provided with top shells. The pair of tabs near the end of the plate member which is above said first top link (the first pair of tabs) are then bent inwardly beneath the inner wall of that top link thereby to secure that end of the plate member to that top link. The tabs near the other end of the plate member are not bent inwardly beneath the inner wall of the top link which underlies that end of the plate member so that when the bracelet is sold, that end of the plate member is retained by the first pair of tabs and also by the pressure of the sides of two top shells against the second end flange.

To adjust the length of the bracelet at the point of sale, it is attached to a watch and placed on the wrist of the customer. If it requires lengthening, the second end flange is moved slightly upwardly from between said sides of the two top shells and the links beneath the plate member are expanded until the bracelet fits the wrist. Then the second end flange is inserted between the adjacent sides of the top shell of the top link which is beneath the end of the plate member and the top shell of the top link.which isoutside of that end of the plate member and adjacent to it. Then the second pair of tabs are bent inwardly beneath the underlying top link, thereby to hold that end of the plate member to the underlying top link. During length adjustments, only the links which are beneath the plate member are expanded and after the plate member has been completely attached to the linkage, these expanded links are securely held in their expanded positions by the end flanges of the plate member and by the two pairs of tabs.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the bracelet may be adjusted to four lengths, one with seven top links beneath the plate member, a second with six top links beneath the plate member, a third with five top links beneath the plate member-and a fourth with four top links beneath the plate member. This provides sufflcient adjustability to accommodate the majority of wrist sizes.

It is unnecessary to remove the top shells from any of the top links but it is preferred because this saves goldfilled material which is customarily used in the top shells.

The adjustment means may be used by selling the bracelet with the links which are beneath the plate member expanded, and, in this case, the retail dealer can shorten the bracelet by contracting such links and then attaching the free end of the plate member to the underlying top link.

The adjustment means of this invention may also be used with the types of linkages shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,689,450, dated Sept. 21, 1954 to Stiegele and 3,543,507, dated Dec. 1, 1970 to Vanover and Flaig. It may also be used with linkages which do not utilize ornamental top shells but in which the ornamental design is applied to the upper surface of the top links.

It will be apparent to persons skilled in the art that this invention has solved the recognized long-felt need for an expansible bracelet embodying means for adjusting its length which is simple for the retail dealer to use, which requires a minimum of his time and which can be used with an expansible bracelet to provide either a plurality of longer lengths or a plurality of shorter lengths. This invention also provides such an expansible bracelet which is very inexpensive to manufacture and assemble due to (i) the simplicity of the construction of the means for length adjustment, (ii) the fact that a regular length instead of a long length bracelet may be used with it and (iii) the fact that top shells may be omitted from at least some of the top links which underlie the plate member of the length adjustment means when all of said top links are in contracted positions. The invention also provides an adjusting means which has an attractive appearance when combined with the bracelet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view looking at the top of an expansible bracelet embodying this invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged plan view looking at the bottom of the central part of the bracelet of FIG. I with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the central part of the bracelet of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the bottom of the means for adjusting the length of the bracelet; H y 1 FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view looking at the top of the central part of the bracelet with the means for adjusting the length of the bracelet removed and shown in dot dash and with two top links broken away and shown in section on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view looking at the top of the central part of the bracelet fully expanded with the means for adjusting the length of the braceletremoved and shown in-dotdash and with two top links broken away and shown in section similar to the section of FIG. 5 except that the links are in expanded positions;

FIG.-7 is an enlarged plan view Iookingat the bottom of the central partof the bracelet fully expanded, with the means for adjusting the length of the bracelet attached and one of the bottom linksbroken away and shown in section; r l

I FIG. 8 is any enlarged perspective view of one of the leaf springs used in the toplinks;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the U-shaped interconnecting means .used for connecting the links of the top row of linksto the links of the bottom row oflinks; I l r l .FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view looking 'at the bottom of a toplink showing the tabs for holding the top shell on the top-link but with one tab in its position before being bent inwardly; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross section of a top link and bottom link in contracted positions, the section being taken on the'line 11-11 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT I The expansible bracelet 10 shown in the drawings includes a linkage of the type shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,307,348 dated Mar. 7, 1967 to Vanover, 3,416,305 dated Dec. 17, 1968 to Rieth, 2,689,450 dated Sept. 21 I954 to Stiegele and 3,543,507 dated Dec. l, 1970 to Vanover and Flaig. The linkage comprises two rows of overlapping staggered links, a top row 12 and a bottom row (see FIG. 3), each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage when viewed from the top (FIG. 1) or bottom (FIG. 2). The top link 13 (FIGS. 10 and 1 1) is provided with an ornamental top shell 14, which is secured to the top link by four tabs 15 which are bent inwardly into notches 16 provided in the inner wall of the top link as shown in FIG. 10.

There is a leaf spring located in each top link and in each bottom link. The leaf spring for the top link is shown in FIG. 8 and the leaf spring 26 for the bottom link is similar except that it is narrower since the bottom links are narrower than the top links as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to provide spaces between the sides of the bottom links when thelinkage lies flat in contacted position.

The links of the top row are connected to the links of the bottom row byU-shaped connecting members 30, the

legs

31 and 32 of which are positioned betweenthe bends 27 of the springs and the outer walls of the top and bottom links respectively as shown in FIG. 11.

Tabs 21 are bent upwardly at the ends of the bottom links to hold the U-shaped connecting members 30 in the links. Tabs17 are bent downwardly'at the ends of the top shells to conceal the upper parts of the bights of the connecting members when the bracelet is viewed from the side as in FIG. 3. In assembled condition, the

legs

31 and 32 of the connecting members extend within the links in a direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage. The legs 31 of two of the four connecting members in each top-link-are located within the top link near one side thereof, the other leg 32 of one ofithese connecting members is located within an adjacent link of the bottom row and the other leg 32 of the other connecting member is located within an adjacent link in the bottom row. The other two connecting members are located near the opposite side of the linkage and their legs are located within the links near the opposite sides n ecting members are then inserted between the bends 27 of the springs andthe outer walls of the links. This causes the ends of the springs to be further deflected to their working heights shown in FIG. 11 when the linkage is in its fully contracted position of FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 11. Then the tabs of the bottom links are bent upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 and the top shells are assembled to the top links as described above.

In the contracted position of FIG. 11, the central part 28 of each spring bears against an intermediate portion I of the inner wall of the link and the bends 27 engage pairs of legs of the connecting members, thus resiliently urging the linkage to its fully contracted position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 11.

When the linkage is expanded from the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 11, the ends of the springs are further deflected from their working heights. This deflection of the springs is caused by the turning or rotating movements of the legs of the connecting members.

Upon release of the expanding or stretching force, the springs acting upon the legs of the connecting members return the linkage to its contracted position.

The means for adjusting the length of the bracelet comprises the member 40 which comprises the ornamental plate member 41. This plate member is curved longitudinally to conform generally with the curvature of the wrist of the wearer. The plate member has a pair of

end flanges

42 and 43, a pair of

side flanges

44 and 45, a first pair of tabs 4646 and a second pair of tabs 47-47.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the top shells are omitted from four of the top links which underlie the plate member.

To assemble the member .40 with the bracelet, the end flange 42 is inserted between the side of the end top link 13a and the side of the adjacent top shell 14 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Then the end flange 43 is inserted between the adjacent sides of the top shells of two adjacent top links at that end of the plate member. The tabs 46 are then bent inwardly beneath the inner wall of the top link 13a thereby to secure that end of the plate member to that top link. The tabs 47 are not bent inwardly beneath the inner wall of the top link which underlies that end of the plate member so that when the bracelet is sold that end of the plate member is retained in place by the tabs 46 and also by the pressure of the two top shells against the flange 43.

At this stage, there are seven top links and six bottom links positioned beneath the plate member as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5.

To adjust the length of the bracelet at the point of sale, it is attached to a watch and placed on the wrist of the customer. If it requires lengthening, the end flange 43 is moved upwardly slightly from between the sides of the two top shells and the links beneath the plate member are expanded until the bracelet fits the wrist. Then the end flange 43 is inserted between the adjacent sides of the appropriate top shells of the top links and the tabs 47 are bent inwardly beneath the underlying top link thereby to hold that end of the plate member to the underlying top link. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7', the central part of the linkage has been expanded so that only the four top links with their top shells removed are beneath the plate member, the link 13a at one end of the link 1312 at the other end of the expanded section.

Thus, in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the bracelet may be adjusted to four lengths, one with seven top links beneath the plate member, a second with six top links beneath the plate member, a third with five top links beneath the plate member and a fourth with four top links beneath the plate member. This provides sufficient adjustability to accommodate the majority of wrist sizes.

lt is unnecessary to remove the top shells from any of the top links but it is preferred because this saves expensive material.

The adjustment means may be used by selling the bracelets with the links which underlie the plate member expanded in which case the retail dealer can shorten the bracelet by contracting the links and then attaching the free end of the plate member to the underlying top link.

Without departing from this invention, the connecting members may be held in the links by bent portions of the leaf springs and notches in the inner sides of the legs of the connecting members as shown in said Stiegele patent by protrusions extending upwardly from the lower legs of the connecting members into openings in the inner walls of the bottom links as shown in said Vanover and Flaig patent, by connecting the upper and/or lower legs together or by other means known to persons skilled in the art. Furthermore, springs may be employed in only one row of links as shown in said Vanover and Flaig patent.

This invention has solved the recognized long-felt need for an expansible bracelet embodying means for adjusting its length which is simple for the retail dealer to use, which requires a minimum of his time and which can be used with an expansible bracelet to provide either a plurality of longer lengths or a plurality of shorter lengths. This invention also provides such an expansible bracelet which is very inexpensive to manufacture and assemble due to (i) the simplicity of construction of the means for length adjustment, (ii) the fact that a regular length instead of a long length bracelet may be used with it and (iii) the fact that top shells may be omitted from at least some of the top links which underlie the plate member of the length adjustment means when all of said top links are in contracted positions. The invention also provides an adjusting means which has an attractive appearance when combined with the bracelet.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those shown and described herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An expansible bracelet including in combination, two rows of overlapping staggered links, each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the bracelet when viewed from the top,

means interconnecting the'links of each row with the links of the other row to provide displacementof the links relative to each other lengthwise of the bracelet when the bracelet is stretched longitudinally from a contracted to an expanded position, said interconnecting means including a connecting member having a leg located within at least one of said links and extending in a'direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage and means spaced from said leg for rotatably connecting the connecting member to an adjacent link in the other row of links,

resilient means associated with said one link for resisting said displacement of said links, and

means for adjusting the length of the bracelet which comprises an ornamental plate member having an inner surface positioned adjacent to a plurality of links in the top row of links, said plate member having a pair of end flanges, one flange at each end of the plate member, each of said end flanges extending from the plate member between the sides of a pair of links in said top row of links,

a pair of side flanges, one flange at each side of the plate member, each of said side flanges extending from the plate member adjacent to the end of at least one of the links in the top row of links,

first means for detachably securing one end of said plate member to one of the links of said top row of links which is positioned adjacent to its said inner surface, and

second means for detachably securing the opposite end of said plate member to another of the links of said top row of links which is positioned adjacent to its said inner surface,

whereby by expanding or contracting the links of the bracelet which are positioned beneath said plate member with one of said securing means detached and then reattaching said one securing means to a different link in said top row of links, the length of the bracelet may be adjusted.

2. An expansible bracelet according to claim 1 wherein said first means for detachably securing said one end of said plate member to said one link'comprises a first pair of bendable tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of said side flanges adjacent to one end thereof and adjacent to the inner wall of said one link.

3. An expansible bracelet according to claim 2 wherein the said second means for'detachably securing said opposite end of said plate member to said other link comprises a second pair of bendable tabs spaced longitudinally of the bracelet from said first pair of tabs, said second pair of tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of said side flanges adjacent to the inner wall of said other link.

4. An expansible bracelet according to claim 1 wherein there are at least six links of said top row of links positioned adjacent to the inner surface of the plate member when the links of the bracelet which are adjacent to said inner surface of said plate member are in contracted position, thereby providing adjustment of the bracelet to at least three extended lengths.

5. An expansible bracelet according to claim 4 wherein at least three of said links of said top row of links are devoid of ornamental shells.

6. An expansible bracelet according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said plate member is provided with the appearance of a buckle.

7. An expansible bracelet according to claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said plate member is provided with an appearance which matches the ornamental appearance of the top links of the bracelet.

Claims

1. An expansible bracelet including in combination, two rows of overlapping staggered links, each link extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the bracelet when viewed from the top, means interconnecting the links of each row with the links of the other row to provide displacement of the links relative to each other lengthwise of the bracelet when the bracelet is stretched longitudinally from a contracted to an expanded position, said interconnecting means including a connecting member having a leg located within at least one of said links and extending in a direction generally transverse to the length of the linkage and means spaced from said leg for rotatably connecting the connecting member to an adjacent link in the other row of links, resilient means associated with said one link for resisting said displacement of said links, and means for adjusting the length of the bracelet which comprises an ornamental plate member having an inner surface positioned adjacent to a plurality of links in the top row of links, said plate member having a pair of end flanges, one flange at each end of the plate member, each of said end flanges extending from the plate member between the sides of a pair of links in said top row of links, a pair of side flanges, one flange at each side of the plate member, each of said side flanges extending from the plate member adjacent to the end of at least one of the links in the top row of links, first means for detachably securing one end of said plate member to one of the links of said top row of links which is positioned adjacent to its said inner surface, and second means for detachably securing the opposite end of said plate member to another of the links of said top row of links which is positioned adjacent to its said inner surface, whereby by expanding or contracting the links of the bracelet which are positioned beneath said plate member with one of said securing means detached and then reattaching said one securing means to a different link in said top row of links, the length of the bracelet may be adjusted.

2. An expansible bracelet according to claim 1 wherein said first means for detachably securing said one end of said plate member to said one link comprises a first pair of bendable tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of said side flanges adjacent to one end thereof and adjacent to the inner wall of said one link.

3. An expansible bracelet according to claim 2 wherein the said second means for detachably securing said opposite end of said plate member to said other link comprises a second pair of bendable tabs spaced longitudinally of the bracelet from said first pair of tabs, said second pair of tabs extending inwardly from opposite sides of said side flanges adjacent to the inner wall of said other link.