US765665A - Clasp or fastener. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JULY 26,- 1904.

H. J. GAISMAN. CLASP 0R FASTENBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

Patented July 26, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

HENRY J. GAISMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLASP OR FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 765,665, dated July 26, 1904.

Application filed March 10, 1904.

To @LZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. GArsMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in New York city, borough of Manhattan, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps or Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the class of clasps or fasteners which have a frame provided with two substantially `parallel members or leaves united at one end and open at the other end to receive an article between them, with a spring interposed between said members and a lever carried by one member to operate said spring; and the object of my invention is to improve the construction of such fasteners, to the end that the spring may be firmly held within the frame, the lever be securely pivotally supported, and the side edges of the fasteners have nished edges, combining lightness with strength.

In carrying out my invention I provide a blank of suitable length and wider than the finished clasp and fold its longitudinally-extending edges, the spring being placed upon the blank so that certain of its edges will be held by the folded edges of the blank and then fold the blank and the spring into substantially U form, whereby the spring will be securely held within the loop of the fastener, the lever being applied, preferably, before the blank is folded toits final position.

The invention also comprises the novel details of improvement, that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart hereof, wherein- Figure l is a face View of a clasp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on the line 2 2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the lever closed. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 4 4 in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the blank having the spring applied and the edges folded all ready to be bent to final position. Figs. 8

and 9 are detail views of the spring and blank, l respectively. Fig. l0 is a detail section on Serial No. 197,575. (No model.)

the line l0 l() in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 is a perspective View of the operating lever or handle.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The completed clasp or fastener is represented generally at l and comprises a frame having main members 1a 1b, united at one end, as at le, and open at the opposite end to receive the article to be clasped. As shown, the parts la lh 1c are in a single piece of material bent to shape.

Within the opening or loop of the clasp is a spring 2, shown of substantially U form and open at one end substantially corresponding to the interior of the frame, the parts of the spring lying substantially in contact with the inner walls thereof.

In forming the clasp I take a strip or blank of suitable metal of about the desired length and wider than the finished article is to be and fold the longitudinally-extending edges thereof inwardly toward each other, as indicated at 3, and then bend the blank into substantially U form, as indicated in Figs. -2 and 3. The folded parts 3 are caused to bear upon one end portion of-spring 2, and so that said spring may be free to bend at the opposite end When secured within the frame .1 said spring is provided with extensions 2, preferably on opposite sides, and preferably before the parts 3 are pressed firmly against the main parts of the blank the spring 2 is laid in position upon the blank, and the parts 3 are then pressed upon the extendedl portions 2 of the spring, (see Fig. 7,) and then the blank with its spring so attached are bent to the desired final position or substantially in U form. The

` spring at one part is thereby Securely attached to member 1 and the other part is free to vibrate, as indicated in Fig. 4, as it is narrower than the space between the inner edges of parts 3. Prongs 4 5 on the spring may be made by striking up portions of the metal of the spring to more readily assist in gripping an article. At the open end of frame l the member 1b is shown bent inwardly, as at 1d, by striking up the metal of the blank, which acts as an abutment against which the end of the spring bears to prevent the spring from being pulled through the open end of the frame, as shown IOO in Figs. 2, 3, and l0. The parts 3 and ld thereby securely hold the spring from lateral and longitudinal movement, the back wall 1C of the frame preventing the spring from dislodgment rearwardly.

At 6 is indicated a lever or handle shown provided with a member 6a to be operated and a member 6b, that is adapted to extend through a slot 7 in frame l, so as to bear upon spring 2 to operate the latter. The member 6 is provided with pivots or gudgeons 6',-

which are journaled between struck-up bearing portions 8 on member l and the corresponding folded -under portions 3 of said member, as indicated in Fig. 6. By this means the lever is pivotally supported upon member ln of the frame and .is prevented from being pushed outwardly through slot 7 by spring 4 by the bent portions 8 and from being pushed inwardly toward said spring by the folded under portions 3 of the frame. Thus the lever is free to swing back and forth, so that when in the position shown in Fig. 2 the spring 4 will open to receive an article between its members and will hold the lever in the position shown, and when the lever is pressed down to the position shownin Fig. 3 its member 6b will push-the` free portion of spring 4 toward lthe article inserted between the members of the frame.

The invention is not limited to the particular details of construction shown, as the same may be-varied Without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having now described my invention, what I'cla-im isH l. A clasp of the character described comprising a strip having itsside edges folded inwardly and bent into substantially U form, providing a frame having an open end, a spring having side extensions upon which folded portions of the frame bear, a portion of said spring being free to vibrate between the folded portions of the frame, and means for operating said spring, substantially as described.

2. A clasp of the character described comprising a strip, having its side edges folded inwardly and bent into substantially U form providing a frame having an open end, a spring having portions clamped by said folded portions of the strip and located between the members ofsaid frame, said strip having a portion bent inwardly at one end lying in front of one end of the spring and means to operate said spring, substantially as described.

3. A clasp of the character described comprising a substantially U-shaped frame having its side edges folded inwardly and one inwardly-bent transverse edge, and having one end open to receive an article between its substantiallyT parallel members, a spring having extended portions clamped by the corresponding folded portions of the frame and its end abutting the bent end portion of the frame, said spring being bent within said frame and having one end free to vibrate, and a lever carried by said frame adapted to operate said spring, substantially as described.

4. A clasp comprising a substantially U- shaped frame having one end open and a spring' secured within said frame, and a lever ha-ving its pivotal support located between one member of the frame and folded over portions of the frame, said lever having a portion adapted to bear upon said spring to operate the same, vsubstantially as described.

HENRY J. GAISMAN.

Witnesses:

T. F. BoURNE, M. HOLLINGSHEAD.

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