US401880A

US401880A - Clasp

Info

Publication number: US401880A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1889-04-23
Anticipated expiration: 1906-04-23

Description

(No Model.)

'BPRANTZBN CLASP.

Patented Apr.4 23, 1889.

N. PTERS, PhowLithugmpher, wzxhngicn. DA C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL FRANTZN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,880, dated April 23, 1889. Application 'filed December 24, 1888. Serial No. 294,494. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL FRANTZEN, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles or Clasps, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, 'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My present invention has relation more particularly to the improvement of that class of buckles or clasps designed for use upon Suspenders, belts, sleeve-supporters, and like articles of wearing-apparel, although it will be readily understood that it is applicable also to avariety of other uses in which buckles or clasps are commonly employed. l

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, cheap, and durable clasp or buckle the members of which can be readily clasped or disconnected, which will occupy but very little space, and in which the parts or members, when connected together, will be securely retained against accidental displacement.

To this end my invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the claim at the end of this specification.

Figure l is a view in elevation of a clasp or buckle embodying my invention, the buckle being shown as applied in connection with the straps of a pair of Suspenders. Fig. 2 is a view in central vertical section on line w of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, but showing the male and female members disconnected. Fig-4 is a view in transverse section on line y y of Fig. 1.

A designates one member of my improved clasp or buckle, which is preferably formed of sheet metal and is provided with suitable means-as, for example, a loop, B-whereby it may be united to the article in connection with which it is to be used. This memberA is provided with side flanges, a, preferably formed integral therewith, these flanges being bent up from the body of metal at right angles thereto. At the lower or outer end of the member A is the shoulder or offset c',

that will by preference be formed in one piece with the main body of the metal by turning over a portion of the end of the plate from which the body is formed, as seen more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. Through the iianges a of the member A passes the pivot-rod C, whereon is mounted the retaining-plate D, this plate being provided with lugs d., through which the pivotrod C passes. If desired, the piVot-rodC may be dispensed with and the lugs d may be passed through suitable holes in the flanges a to serve as pivots whereon the plate D can rock. Between the flanges a, and suitably fixed to the back of the member A, is the spring E, the free end of which bears upon the upper or inner end of the retaining-plate D, causing the opposite end of this plate to be forced inward, as shown.

It will be readily understood that, if desi red, the spring E may be xed to the retaining-plate D instead of to the member A, and so also a coiled or other form'of spring might be used instead of the spring-plate shown. The member F, which cooperates with the member A, is provided with suitable meansas, for example, a loop, f-whereby it may be united to the article in connection with which it is to be employed. In this member F is formed a seat or opening, f', of a size adapted to receive the shoulder or offset a upon the inner side of the member A, and by preference also this member F is provided with stop-shoulders f, adapted to abut against the flanges o of the member A, and thus more securely guard against any lateral .movement of .the members when connected together. The upper or free end of the member F is preferably beveled, as shown, in order to permit it to be more readily inserted between the shoulder or offset a and the lower or outer end of the retaining-plate D, and by preference such end of the plate D is upturned, as shown.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that if the parts be assumed to be in the disconnected position shown in Fig. 3 they can be readily united together by merely inserting the member F between the offset a and the retaining-plate D of the member IOO A until the shoulders f2 of the member F abut against the ends of the flanges ay and the seat or opening f is opposite the offset a', when the lower end of t-he retaining-plate D, being pressed downwardly by the spring E, Will force the member F over the shoulder or oset a' and will retain this member F in sueh position against danger of accidental displacement. Then it is desired to disconnect the members A and F, it is only necessary to depress the upper or inner end ofthe retaining-plate D against the force of the spring E, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3, thereby lifting the opposite end of the retaining-plate out of contact With the member F and permitting such member to readily slip from olf the shoulder or oiset a. By thus employing a pivoted retaining-plate forced inwardly by a spring, as shown, l am enabled, Without makinga very thick buckle, to use a shoulder or offset, a', of such size as to hold the member F without danger of displacement. So, also, the employment of this pivoted retaining-plate enables me to use a strong spring, E, While providing means for a ready compression of this spring to permit the separation of the parts.

lt will be readily understood that the preeise details of construction above set out may be varied somewhat Without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus, for eX- alnple, a shoulder or offset may be used upon the member F instead of the opening` j", and in such Acase an opening similar to the opening f may be used instead of the shoulder or offset a; or, if desired, the member F may be provided with a shoulder or offset adapted to ride above and engage with the shoulder or oiset a, in which ease the opening fmay be 'dispensed with. So, also, instead of employing a spring separate from the retainingplate D, such spring may be formed in piece with or as a part of said plate, the object being to render this plate a spring-actuating plate, so that its free end shall retain the opposite member against accidental displacement.

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

A buckle or clasp one member whereof comprises a plate, A, having at its sides the flanges a., and having at its lower or outer end a shoulder, a', in combination with a retainingplate, D, pivoted to and extending between the flanges a to form the back of the buckle or clasp, and having its free end extending over the shoulder a', a spring, E, at the upper end of the said retaining-plate, and a member, F, lconsisting of a plate of a size to Iit between the flanges a, and having an eye or seat at a distance from its free end to en-