US1132099A - Bracelet or endless chain. - Google Patents

Description

R. KING. BRACELET 0B BNDLESS GHAIN. APPLIOATION rILBD 11110.28, 1914.

1,1 32,099. Patented Mar. 1,6, 1915.

n wil/A S.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

RUFUS KING, OF PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BUGBEE & NILES C0., OF PROVIDENCE, `RHODE ISLAND, A. CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND,

BRACELET OR ENDLESS CHAIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

Application led December 28, 1914. Serial No. 879,295.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I,;RUrUs KING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainville, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bracelets or Endless Chains, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bracelets or endless chains, and the primary object thereof is to provide an article of the general type indicated which can be easily and quickly adjusted in length by the retail jeweler, that is to say, the chain or bracelet can he increased or decreased in length at will so as to provide a perfect fit for the purchaser.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chain or the like in which the links are so constructed as to present the usual appearance presented by link bracelets, or the like, or in other words to construct the links so that the detachability of same is concealed or not visible.

Further, the invention aims to provide links which are of improved construction, possessing the advantages of economy in construction, ease in assemblage, and the elimination of multiplicity of parts.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of the invention, in fragment. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view in longi tudinal section of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 4- is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of one of the links in the preferred form of the invention, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

The links are constructed to have sides 1 connected at one end by cross bars 2 and connected at their opposite ends by hollow posts 3 which are carried by one side and which receive pins 4 carried by the opposite side. The inner side faces of the sides 1 are provided with longitudinal ribs 5 which latter are received in notches 6, the

notches being formed in the closed ends 7.

of the connecting links or -slidable coupling links 8. The sliding links 8 movably en-. gage between the sides 1 1 and at their opposite or outer ends are provided with hooks 9 which have their free ends pointed at 12 to engage in notches or seats 11 provided therefor in the resilient or' depressible side 10 of the sliding or coupling links 8.

As depicted in Fig. l of the drawings the hooks 9 are easily and quickly attachable to and detachable from the cross bars 2 of adjacent links, and when the bracelet links are in normal contracted position, the hollow posts 3 are disposed opposite to the depressible sides or catches 10 of the coupling links whereby accidental movement of the sides 10, such as is necessary to enable disconnection ot' the hooks from the cross bars 2 is prevented.

The coupling links are spring tensioned by springs 13 which bear against the closed ends of the coupling links and the posts 3 of the outer links. l

For the purpose of shortening a bracelet constructed as hereinbefore described, it is merely necessary to effect relative opposite sliding movement of the outer links and the inner or coupling links, so as to move the posts 3 away from the depressible sides or catches 10 of the coupling links, whereupon the depressible sides may be moved away from engagement with the ends 12 of the hooks, and the hooks 9 disengaged from the cross bars 2. It will furthermore be seen that the closed ends '7 of the coupling links 8 bear against the adjacent hooks 9 and force same against the cross bars 2, whereby it will be seen that the hook is held against accidental disengagement from the adjacent cross bar 2 which it engages.

In the preferred form of the invention, links having flat sides are employed, while in Figs. 3 and L1, is illustrated a structure in which the outer links are trough-shaped and the coupling links are fiat faced. In this form of the invention a flat coil spring Li is employed which holds the coupling link 15 against other than sliding movement without the necessity of using the ribs and notches shown and described in connection with the preferred form of the invention.

It will thus be apparent from the foregoing that accidental disengagement of the links is practicallyprevented, and still, the jeweler is enabled to easily and quickly remo/ve, or add, one or more links, from the bracelet, enabling bracelets or chains of varying lengths to be formed as desired,'

without the use of any tools or the like.

The springs serve the double purpose of causing the depressible catches to be alined with the posts 3 and alsoto cause the closed ends 7 to be pressed against the hooks 9,-. thus holding the parts in contracted position Without undue movement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent g- 1. Ina bracelet 0r the like, a series of outer links having sides and connecting end elements for the sides, coupling links for the outer links having sides, a closed end, and a hook,-one of the sides being depressible to form a catch for interengagement with the free end of the hook, the closed end having notches at its sides and the sides of the outer link having longitudinal ribs which project into the notches, and springs within the coupling links to hold the closed ends thereof against adjacent hooks, and to also normally cause the. adjacent connecting elements of the outer links to lie opposite the catches so as to prevent opening movement of the latter.

2. In a bracelet, or the like, a series of outer links having sides and end connecting elements for the sides, coupling for the outer links having closed ends and hooks at their opposite ends and also having catches Copies of this patent may be obtained for which coperate with the hooks, and springs in the coupling links to cause thgclosed ends thereof to press against adjacent hooks, andto cause the adjacent connecting elements to lie opposite the catches to prevent opening movement of the latter.

3. In a bracelet or the like, outer links having end connecting elements for the sides thereof, coupling links having hooks and catches, and springs in the coupling links to cause one of the connecting ele-v ments to lie opposite the catches to prevent opening movement of the latter.

4. In a bracelet or the like, outer links, spring pressed inner links within the outer links, and means on the inner links coperating with the adjacent outer links for removably connecting the outer links. 5. In a bracelet or the like, outer links, inner sliding links therein, and a hook on each inner link engageable with the adja-L cent end of an outer link.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. 1

RUFUS KING.

Vitnesses: f

s, @ADA E. HAGERTY,

"J. A. MILLER.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patents,

" Washington, D. C.

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