US1739722A - Expansible band or bracelet - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1929. -c. H. KESTENMAN 1,739,722

EXPANSIBLE BAND OR BRACELET Filed Jan. 1o, 1927 Patented Dec. 17, 1929 ii f UTE

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE-ISLAND; AssneNoR aio'KEsrENi/inn BRos. MFG. or PROVIDENCE RHODE I'sLAN-D EXPANSIBLE :BAND OR' BRAGEIET Application ined January 1o, 1927. seriaino. 160,235.

This invention relates to improvements in expansible metal bands, chains or linkages for use as articles of jewelry, such as bracelets, necklaces, girdles and the like.

, A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved articleof manufacture of the type specified comprising articulated links or chain-elements which are adapted `to flex, one in relationto anothenand to slide 1gv longitudinally relatively to each other to allow expansion in the length of the bracelet or other article.

Another object of the invention is to provide an expansible band, chain or linkage in which the individual links may be easily disconnected and detached to shorten the bracelet or other article and to permit the insertion of additional links to lengthen it.

Another object of the invention is to provide an article of the type specified in which the links may be constructed from sheet-metal blanks struck up in dies and assembled in interconnected relation without the use of pivots, rivets or soldered joints.

Another object of the invention is yto provide an article of the type specified which is more economical to manufacture, of stronger construction and proof against breakage or i damage in use.

Further objects of the improvement are setforth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the general appearance of the band or linkage as adapted for use as a watch-bracelet and showing it with its links in contracted andfflexed relation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan View showing several of the connected links and illustrating a portion thereof in sectionto disclose the resilient expansion-means enclosed therein;

' of onev of the links taken on line 4 4 of Fig.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of several of the links with two of them shown in secthe two parts ofthe main link;

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewy showingthe two parts of the main link before they lare assembled in connected relation; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing `the two parts of the slidev link before assembling.

My improvedy band, chain or linkage consists in general of a series of main elements or outer link-members 2of the boxlt'ypeassembl'ed with inner connecting-links or slides 3 `which are telescoped within the main links and held in contracted relation by resilient means, such as the springs .4,to adapt them to be: extended to provide lfor the eX"- pansion `of the band or chain as a whole. The main links 2,shown in inverted positionV in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, comprise relativelyflatA top-plates 6 with sides 7 bent Adownwardly therefromand folded inwardlyv to provide` the right-angled bottom-strips or flanges-8'.

Assembled with each outer or main link 2 is a rectangular frame 10,shown. in detail in Fig. 5.y The frame 10is constructed'fromVV a relatively narrow stripof. sheet-metal bent into U-shape with an end-bar or cross-strip 11V formed to slightly less width than its sidestrips 12. The two side-strips 12 are connected at their opposite ends a relatively` narrow cross-bar 13 which may have its ends reduced in cross-section and inserted through holes 14 inthe side-strips. v

As one feature .of the present improvement the inner frame 10 vis ypermanently joined to Y the outer enclosing link 2A by a novel and ingenious arrangement of'structure asneXt described. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 5, they side-stripsv 12 are indented orformed. with notches on their upper edges, which may con-` veniently be of V-shape. The frame 10 is placed within the outer link 3 with its sidestrips 12 abutting theV sides 7 thereofV andY underlying the bottom flanges 8 when lthe link is-in inverted position asv shown in Figs. V and 4. The bottom-strips or iianges 8` are then indented by striking them with a suitabletool, either by'hand or'in a press, to project the metal into the notches15, see Fig. 4, thus providing ari-interlocking connection between the'parts. Thisy indentation -of the flanges 8 may be made with a punch,

the depressions on the bottom of the flanges 8 being slight and inconspicuous so that they do not detract from the linished appearance of the link. The frame 10 is thus fastened to the sides of the outer link 2 with its end cross-bar 11 projecting across the open end of the main link at a slight distance outwardly therefrom to form a bail adapted to receive the hook on the next telescoping link of the series.

The inner slide link 3 is constructed in two parts of substantially the same form as disclosed in my copending application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 125,233, filed July 27, 1926. As shown most clearly in Figs. 3 and 6, the main portion of the inner link 3 consists of a fiat top-plate 18 formed at one end with a curved beak or hook 21, and at its opposite end with a crossstrip or iange 22, bent` at right-angles to its top-portion. The other cooperating part of the slide link comprises a plate-like tongue 23 bent over at its endl to form a lateral flange 24. The ends of the flange 24 are reduced in width to provide ears 26 which are adapted to slide in under the bottom flanges 8 on the main link 2. The two parts of the slide link 3 are assembled with the lateral flange 24 on the tongue 23 abutting the side of the strip or fiange 22 on the topplate 18, the opposite free end of the tongue 23 being held under the edge of the hook or beak 21 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. A flattened helical spring 4 is assembled within the slide link 3 with one end bearing against the lateral flange 24 to hold it against the cross-strip 22 while also maintaining the free end of the tongue 23 pressed against the under edge of the hook 21. As shown in Figs. 2 and -3, the opposite end of the spring 4 bears against the cross-bar 13v of the frame 10, which is assembled in the main link`2, and thus acts to hold the slide link 3 telescoped within the outer link 2 in the manner illustrated by the showing of the center link in Figs. 2 and 3.

The several cooperating parts of the outer and inner links are assembled in the manner as next explained: The frame 1() is inserted between the sides 7 of the main link 2 with the bottom-strips 8 overlying the edges of the side-strips 12 having notches 15. The frame 1() is positioned relative to the main link 2 so that the ends of the side-strips 12 carrying the cross-bar 13 are set inwardly beyond one end of the sides 7 as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite end of the frame 10 projects beyond the ends of the sides 7 of the link'2 so that thevcroSs-strip 11 is spaced slightly away therefrom to form a bail for connection with the hook on the. next adjacent slide link of the chain or linkage. After the two parts of the main link 2 have been assembled in this manner they are permanently fastened together in the manner as previously explained.

The inner slide link 3 is assembled with the outer or main link 2 by hooking its cross-strip 22 in under the cross-bar 13 and then sliding the plate 18 back into the position illustrated by the showing of the center link in Figs. 2 and 4. Preferably, the top-plate 18 constituting the main element of the slide link 3 has its hooked end 21 only partly formed previous to the assembling of the parts of the link. That is to say, the hook 21 is bent upwardly from the plate 18 but not curled over to the form shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this is to permit the placing of the tongue 23 in cooperative relation with the hook 21. rlhe tongue 23 is assembled in place by canting it sidewise with respect to the main link 2 where by to insert the ears 26 on its flange 24 in under the flanges 8 onthe main link. After the ears 26 have been inserted in place the flange 24 is slid back against the cross-strip 22 on the top-plate 18 and the spring 4 is inserted under the tongue 23. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one end of the spring 4 will thus be caused to bear against the inner face of the flange 24 with its other end pressed against the cross-bar 13 of the frame 10 held within the sides of the main link 2. The beak of the hook 21 is then bent down or curled over to overlap the end of the tongue 23 to hold all of the several parts in assembled relation. Through this arrangement of the parts the flange 24 of the tongue 23 will be held in abutting relation with the cross-strip 22 on the vtop-plate 18 and maintained in place by the ears 26 engaged in under the bottom flanges 8; it being understood that the ends of the cross-strip 22 also engage under the bottom-flanges 8 to hold the complete inner link 3 in place within the outer link 2 while adapting it to slide longitudinally with respect thereto.

After each pair of outer and inner links have been assembled in the manner as above explained they are connectedV together in a chain or linkage by engaging the hooks 21 on the inner slide links 3 with the cross-bars or bails 11 at the ends of the outer llinks 2. The coupling of the llinks is accomplished by drawing the slide link 3 outwardly as shown at the right in Figs. 2 and 3 against the tension of the spring 4. When the inner slide link 3 is drawn out in this manner the compressionof the spring 4 will permit the tongue 23`to be rocked or canted away from the hook 21 so that the cross-bar or bail 11 can be hooked thereinto. A series of links may thus be assembled to form any desired length of chain or to provide a bracelet, necklace girdle or other article of jewelry. When the links are assembled to form a watch bracelet two sections of link are used with a narrower con# necting-link 2O joining the sections together as shown in Fig. 1. The opposite ends of the two sections are usually connected to clasps izo v construction of the Vouter or main link 2 of the band or linkage. Itwill be observed that through the present improvement the outer or main link is of exceedingly simple structure and is adapted for economical manufacture through the elimination of the usual pivots, rivets or soldered joints. Moreover, the two parts of the main link may be assembled by a simple operation, the parts being joined together by indenting the metal of one part to form projections engaging suitable notches in the other part and providing a firm and stable construction not liable to damage or breakage in use.

l/Vhile I have described and illustrated the device as embodied in a preferred form of construction it is obvious that changes may be made in the shape and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. In an expansible band, chain or linkage, the combination of outer links having relatively fiat top portions, sides bent downwardly therefrom and fol-ded inwardly to form bottoni-flanges, a substantially rectangular rigid frame inserted between the sides of the outer link and formed with notches in the edges of its side members, said frame rigidly secured within the outer link by indenting the metal of the bottom-flanges to engage the notches in the sides of the frame, and a sliding link fitted to slide between the sides of the main link and adapted for connection with the frame inthe next adjacent main link of a series.

2. An improved construction of link for expansible bands, chains or linkages comprising an outer member having a relatively flat top portion with sides bent downwardly therefrom' and folded inwardly to form bottom-flanges, an inner rigid frame having side-strips adapted to abut the sides of the outer member and formed with notches in their edges and cross-bars at the ends of its side-strips, said frame being rigidly held in position in the outer link with one of its cross-bars extending across the end thereof in spaced relation thereto by indenting the metal from the bottom-flanges to form projections engaging the notches in the sides of the frame, and a connecting link slidable within the outer link and adapted for connection with the next adjacent link of a series.

3. An improved construction of link for bands, chains or linkages comprising an outer member having a top-plate with sides bent downwardly therefrom and folded 'inwardly at the bottom to form longitudinal ianges, an inner U-shaped rigid frame having its sides arranged in abutting relation with respect to the sides of the outer member and provided with recesses in their edges engaged by projections on the outer member formed by indenting the metal of the bottom-flanges whereby to rigidly and permanently secure the two parts in fixed relation and a connecting link slidable in the outer member an-d adapted for connection with the next adjacent link of a series.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.`

Images