US1767596A - Jewelry bracelet - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1930. LOTT 1,767,596

' JEWELRY BRACELET Filed Jan. 30, 1928 Patented June 24, 1930 UNITE STATES.

PTEN' HERMANN H. LOTT, F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI JEWELRY BRACELET Ap'plieation filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,569.

'veniently and easily operated either in en gagement with, or disengagement from, the watch. A second desiratum is that the inner side or face of the bracelet, where it bears upon or rubs against thewrist, shall be smooth and plain, so as to cause no discomfort to the wearer. A third feature is that the bracelet shall be readily adjustable in length tolit or accommodate different wearers or users. My invention has accordingly among its objects the provision ofa jewelry or watchbracelet which shall be neat and attractive in appearance and economical and durable in construction, which shall embody the desirable features stated, and which shall be efficient and satisfactory in use. I

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention'resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims. v In the accompanying drawing, v I Figure 1 is a plan view of a link-bracelet embodyingmy invention, illustrated in operative connection with-a wrist-watch; Y

Figure 2 is a front elevational View of the same; I Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental longitudinal broken sectional view of the bracelet, taken approximately along the line 3-3,

Figured;

1 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shell Figure 4 is a similar view, taken approx? of one of the end or watch-engaging members of the bracelet; v j' Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view of an element of one of the watch-engaging or end-links of the bracelet;

Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of one of thebracelet link-members, the shell thereof being removed; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged plan View of the blank from which one of theelements form-M ing the link is made.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment ofmy invention, the bracelet includes end or latching links A, a selective number of intermediate links B, and a so-called. middle or central link C located'somewhere within the series of links B, the sevei'al'links being adapted for detachable connection one with the other inthe formation of a flexible strap or band intended to be worn in encircling relatlon about the wrist and to support a watch or other ornament D, as shown.

Each intermediate link B includes an open-end shell or casing-b preferably approximately rectangular in shape and slightly curved or arched longitudinally. Disposed within the shell, 6, is an element (Z formed of a suitable strip of springmetalfolded centrally upon itself to include a pair of superposed slightly spaced yielding or spring-legs, 1 2, the former being provided with an elongated opening 3 extending preferablyfrom the end-bar l to slightlybeyond the line of fold, and the latter being provided preferably integrally with a spring-prong 5 of preferably rectangular contour and having its free end presented toward the line of fold and downwardly or inwardly toward the opening 3 in the other leg 1. V

c designates a co-operating element'lil'rewise'formed of suitable strip spring metal.

The element 0 is of equal width with element (Z and adj acentone end'is oppositely slotted inwardly, asat 6, and thereby provided with pintles 7, whichare received and held within the folded end of element (Z for-hingedly or pivot-ally interconnecting the elements (Z and theprong 5 of the second or other link then springing into. link-engaging relation with e, as best seen in Figure 8. Formed in the element 0, is a preferably rectangular opening 8, the outer wall of which, to facilitate link-disengagement, as more fully later appears, is recessed, as at 9, thereby also providing corners or shoulders 10, 10, for prong-engagement, as also more fully appears, the opening Qbeing of a size suitable to receive the prong 5 of an adjacent link B for detachably fastening or securing the links endwise together- It may be here added that shell 5 is of size to snugly accommodate the element cl and upon its inner wall is formed preferably integrally with an inwardly presented prong 11 adapted to project into openingB and engage end-bar {l to secure the element (Z andits pivotally connected element '5 operatively in' position,

i 1 as seen in Fig. 3 the hinge-connection between the elements (land 6 being then disposed outwardly ofand at an'end of the shell I), so as to, permit relatively free hingemovement between the several respective links of the bracelet.

The elements at and 6 thus form a con nector for the link, and accordingly, when it is desired to interconnect adjacent links 13, the projecting element 6 of one link is endwise s'lidably inserted into the shell 5 and between the legs1,2, of the other link,

the shoulders 10 of the inserted element e.

To detachably disconnect the links B in order to reinove or substitute a link, I prefei'able employ a ;tool E providedat its ior ,Ward end with a depending flange 12 provided at preferably the center thereof with a projecting tooth or pin 13. This pin 13 of tool E isadapted to be inserted through an aperture '14 of the back-plate or wall of the link shell to depress lLlle'COll'QSPOHCllilg spring or prong 5 out of engagement with "the'shoulders 10 to release the particular strap-element 6. Tool E remaining in its described operative engagementwith the link, the said strap-element 6 cannot be at once entirely disconnected or detached from the link, due to the engagement of toolE at its P111113 with said strap-elenient; the connecting strap-element '6, however, may

Vnow, due to 1 said recess-continuation 9 0i" spring 8 of the strap-element, be moved outwardly IQlttlllVBlYjl30 tl18 l1Dk a limited d1stance depending ji pon the depthof the recess 9. a The connecting strap-element e being so IHOVQCl' outwardly, the shoulders 1O-V- 10'thereof will ride uponthe said spring or prong 5 and thereby, on tool E being now' removed from engagement with the link and also with saidstrap-element,'liold. the spring '5 in depressedor unlockingpo'sition, whereupon, as will be evident, the connecting,-

I strap-elei'nent nay be entirely detachably idisconnected or disengagedv from thelii k;

It will thus be seen that, while a link B and a CODQC CIDgflHBIHlJGI e are readily and easily detachably connected, the links B are,

when in operative connectioii one with the other, lirinly and securely locked together and that they cannot be detachably disconnee-ted orseparated. except by positive op eration on the part of the wearer or user. Any desired number of links B may thus be readily detacnably connected by means of tieir connectors to form .a complete or finished bracelet of the required size, as illustrated in 'Fig. l, the bracelet so formed be due to the hinges of their connectors,

Within the series of links B, a so-called mid dle link C, whichincludesiierely a shell I) for housing a connector-element e of a link (Z projecting from a contiguouslink B and a co-operati 'e connector-element e of a link 63 pro ecting from the other contiguous link B, the element 6' having a'spring-prong 5 for engagement with the shoulders 10 of the element 6. The shell 5 hassiinilarly a wallopening or aperture 14 for accommodating the pin or tooth 13 of the link-disengaging tool E in detaching the spring-prong 5 f101l1 its so engaged connector-element e to permit separation of the contiguous links B from the middle link C.

Each or the enddinks A coinpriscs a somewhat elongated shell (0 having for the greater part, oi its length the approximate rectangular flaring contour best seenin Figure 6, 1

shell (4 including opposed relativelynarrow WallsjlG, 17, respectively, the latter tenniwails 15 and opposed frontand back,

nating at its forward end 18in approxiiiiately the plane of the forward'endsof the side walls 15 aiidthe 'fcrinerhaving a preferably integral continuation bent or.round-- ed rearwardlyupon itself in the formation of a hooklOwhose beakor bill 20 is dis posed ad acent the end 18 of rear-wall 17 in the provision of a relatively narrow slot,

21, for accommodating the end-bar 22}, ot a watch or other ornanient D in the engagement therewith ofa linkA.

Forming part of link A, is a latch 7'' constructed preferably of abla'nk of suitable spring sheet metal having the contour best seen in Figure 5 and comprising a relatively wide nid-section 23, a short narrow end-f portion V524; and an elongated end-portion Adjacent the short end-portion 2 l and V oppositely upon'its opposite sides, the n idsection is slotted inwardly, as at 26, 26,

;and intermediate thev open-end slots 26 is provided with a closed: end slotQTJ The" b .llli so formed is then folded or bent into approximate cylindrical or tubular shape in element d pivotal the formation of the latch of a size to fit snugly within the confines of hook 19 and underlie in closing relation the slot 21, as best seenin Figure 3, with the free endof the portion 25 bent backwardly and project ing through an opening 28 in shell a to provide a finger catch 29, for purposes shortly appearing, the shorter end-portion-24 bearing upon the shell front wall 16 at a point adjacent said opening 28, so that, when the catch 29 is gripped and actuated (to the right in Figure 3), the latch f will rock about the end 24 as a pivot and thereby open disengagement with the watch or other ornament D.

For retaining the latch f 'operatively within the hook 19 of shell I), is a holding member 9 having the form best' seen in Figure 7, which member, as there shown comprises an end-bar 30, a central leg 31, and side legs 32, all said legs trending in the same direction' from end-bar 30, the legs 32 being provided at their free ends with hooks 33 adapted to loosely interlock with the slots 26 of the latch-member f, and the central leg 31 being adapted to fit at its free end in the slot 27 of the latch-member.

Slotted at one end to movably embrace the several legs of member g, as best seen in Figure 4, is a looped or closed connectory connected to which at its other end is a co-operating connectorelement 6, and coiled on the central leg" 31 and abutting at one end against the slotted end of the strap-loop d and at its other end against the end bar 30, isa spring 34L for yieldingly permitting slidable movement between the latch-retaining member g and the link-connector-element (V for facilitating fit of the bracelet upon the wrist. It will, of course, be understood that the connector element d, latch-member f, and the latch-retaining member 9 are first operatively connected together, then inserted as a unit endwise within the shell 04, and retained as a unit within the shell by means of the hook 19 then formed out of and-by the forwardly extending continuation "of the front shellwall 16. I

Thus I provide a strap-bracelet which efliciently answers all requirements and fulfills the objects hereinbefore stated.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of'my new bracelet may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r Y

'1. In a jewelry-link, a shell comprising connected side and opposed front and back Walls, the front wall having a slot and a I ment. 1 the slot 21 to freely permit engagement and an ornament-bar accommodating opening, in combination with a latch-member of tubular formation embraced by the shell and its,

said hook-continuation to normally underlie and provide a closure for said opening, said latch-member having a pivot-bearing upon the inner face of; theshell-front-wall for rocking movement and also having an actuating extension projecting outwardly the shell through said 2. Ina jewelry-link, shell comprising connected side and opposed front and back, 'walls, the front wall havinga slot' and a hookcontinuation, the latter terminating adjacent the end of the back wall to provide an ornament-bar accommodatingopening,

in'combination with a latch-member of tubular formation embraced by the shell and its said hook-continuation to normally underlie and provide a closure for said opening, said latch-member having a pivot-bearing upon the inner face of the shell front-wall form hook continuation, the latter terminating adjacent the end of the back wall to providean ornament-bar vaccommodating opening, in

' combination with a latch-member of tubular formation embraced by the shell and its said hook-continuation to normally underlie and provide a closure for said opening, said latch-member having a pivot-bearing upon the inner face of the shell front-wall for rocking movement and also having an actuating extension projecting outwardly the shell through said slot for finger-engage:

ment, and means for retaining the latchslot for finger-engage member rockably within the shell, said 7 means including a holding-member having connection Wllll'l the latch-member, and a link-connector element embracing the holding-member, said means being housed within the shell and the holding-member being movable longitudinally the shell relatively to the connector element.

a. In a jewelry-link, a shell comprisingconnected side and opposed front and back walls, the front' wall having a slot and a hook continuation, the latter terminating adjacent the end of the back wall'to provide an ornament-baraccommodating opening, in combination with a latch-member of tubular formation embraced by the shell and its said hook-continuation to normally underlie and provide a closure for said opening, said latch-member having a pivot-bean 'ing' upon the inner :face of the shell front- Wall' for "rocking movement, and also having an actuating extensionproj'ecting outwardly the shell through said slot for finger-engagement, and means for retaining the latchin'einber rockably Within 'the' shell, said means including a holding-member having 7 an end-bar and a plurality-f spaced legs projecting from the end bar, some of said {:10 legs engaging the latch-member, a looped connector element loosely embracing the I holding-member and having a portion in 0pposed relation to said end-bar, and a spring tcoil'ed on a leg of the holding-member and abutting against said end-bar and the connector element for yieldingly spacing the one from the other, the holding-member being 'yieldingly movable longitudinally the shell relatively to the connector element.

2 g In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

'HERMANN H. LOTT.

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