US2573415A - Expansible bracelet - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 30, 1951 H. F. EBERT EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Filed Nov. 50, 1946 FIG. 1

INVENTOR. HENRY F. EBERT BY 1 FIG.3

A TTORNEY Patented Oct. 30, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Henry F. Ebert, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 30, 1946, Serial No. 713,205 4 Claims. (01. 59-79) My invention relates to bracelets and more particularly to expansible bracelets.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a flat bracelet of this type which may be expanded from a length such that it snugly embraces the wrist to a length permitting removal of the bracelet over the hand of the wearer without requiring the release of any catch or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a bracelet all of the visible parts of which may be made from flat stock, hence permitting the use of gold filled base metal, the parts being arranged so that no raw edge is visible.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a bracelet in which the laterally extending members are connected to the end shells in such a manner that it is not necessary to pierce the outer surface of the shells or to employ heat,

such as would be necessary in forming a soldered or welded joint, in the assembly.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the specification and of which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged top View, partially in cross section, of a section of a bracelet in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top View on a somewhat smaller scale, partially in cross section, showing several sections of the bracelet; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1 and on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings, reference character In indicates an end shell which may be stamped from flat stock so as to form a shallow hollow body open at one side and having end walls l2. Received within the hollow end shell are the longitudinally extending legs M of a pair of generally transverse members I6. Each of the end walls I2 is formed with an inturned lip l8 which engages within notches formed as shown in the members l6. After the legs I4 have been inserted in the end shell, the ends of these legs may be up-set, as indicated at 22, so as to spread the material of the legs within the shell so as to secure them in place. In addition, the side walls of the shell may be peaned over slightly, as shown at 24 in Fig. 3, so as to further anchor the parts in place.

Extending around the pair of members it adjacent to the end cap I0 is a band of metal 26 which may be formed from a strip of fiat stock into the shape of substantially a thin rectangle, the abutting ends being shown at 28.

2 A link 38a likewise formed from flat stock is located around one of the transverse members It before these members are assembled into the end cap, and a Z-shaped spring 32 is placed between one end of the link and the member 16 around which the link extends. As shown particularly in Fig. 1, this spring includes a straight portion 34 which lies along the inner side of the member 16 and is connected at one end by an inwardly extending loop 36 to a diagonal straight portion 38. The other end of the diagonal portion is connected by means of an outwardly extending loop 40 to another straight portion 42 which lies against the end of the link 3011. It will be noted that the outward extent of the loop 40 is no greater than the combined thickness of the link 30a and the next link 30b which surrounds the other transverse member I6.

As shown in Fig. 2, another band 26 is located on the other side of the links 30a and 30b and this end of each of the transverse members I6 is secured in another end cap l0. However, for the sake of better illustrating the construction, the band and the end cap have been omitted from the righthand side of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 2, the link 30a passes around a transverse member H3 in the next unit of the bracelet, while the link 30b is similarly connected to another unit. This is continued throughout the length of the bracelet, except that there is preferably provided near the middle of the bracelet a so-called dummy link 300, shown in Fig 2. It will be noted that this link is approximatelytwice the length of the other links and it engages springs 32 in both of the units which it connects, whereas the other links engage a spring in only one of the units, as is clear from Fig. 1. The object of this dummy link is to provide for additional expansion over that which could be obtained in a bracelet not having a dummy link. In other words, without a dummy link, there could be no movement between the link at one end of the bracelet and the unit at this end. This dummy link is preferably provided with a groove 44 at its central portion for the purpose of simulating the space between adjacent links when the bracelet is closed.

In Fig. 2 the lefthand portion of the bracelet is shown in expanded position, while the righthand portion is shown in retracted or closed position. It will be noted that the spring 32 is so constructed that, when fully compressed, the straight portion 42 is of such length that it does not contact the inwardly extending loop 36. Consequently, all the straight portions can nest against each other, and thus occupy a minimum of space, which in turn permits a maximum expansion of the bracelet. This would not be possible if the straight portion 42 were of sufficient length to contact the loop 36, or if the loop 48 extended outwardly instead of inwardly so as to hold the straight portion 34 away from the transverse member l6. This has the additional advantage that an excessive force applied to the bracelet can not injure the spring by causing any of the loops to be flattened out and hence per manently deformed.

It will be noted that the raw edges of the end shells in and the bands 26 abut each other so as not to be visible when in assembledrelation. Likewise, the raw edges of the links abut against the raw edges of the bands throughouttheirentire lengths when the bracelet is in closed or .retracted position and therefore are not normally visible. This is of importance as it makes-tit possible to use gold filled base metal for the end caps, bands and links. Such metalcomprises a sheet of base metal on whiclr is rolled gold. Consequentlmwhen' such a sheet .is-rcut the edges areraw, inasmuch as the base metal becomes visible in the edge. However,- as above explained all such raw edges are completely concealed when the gbr-acelet isin normal retracted position.

It willalso-be noted that the transverse members 16 are secured within the end caps without the necessity of piercing the outersurface of the caps or the necessity-of soldering orbrazing them together. j

7 While I have shown -and-described one more or less specific embodiment of my invention; it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes-ofillustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereto, but is to be determined from the appendedclaims;

What is claimed:

1. In a bracelet, a pair of hollow -'end shell members, a pair of transverse members having substantially perpendicularly disposed leg membersat-opposite ends thereof, said leg members beingdisposed within" said end shell memberswith the free ends of the .legmembers in con' fronting relation; and means for securing said leg membersrin' said shell members comprisingmateriakdisplaced'from one-"or" said "members;

ZpIn abracelet, a pair of hollow endshell members having bottom, side andend-wallsy-a pair of transverse barshaving substantiallyperpendicularly disposed" leg member's at-opposite' ends thereof said leg members'being disposed ends thereof, said leg members being disposed within said end shell members with the free ends of the leg members in confronting relation and said bars having notches adjacent to said end walls, lips projecting inwardly from said end walls for engaging said notches, and means for securely fixing said leg members in said end shells comprising material displaced from said leg members against the innerside walls of said endshell members, and-material of said side walls upset over said leg members. l p i 4. In a bracelet, a pair of hollow end shell members, a pairof transverse members having substantially perpendicularly disposed leg members at opposite ends thereof, said leg members being :disposed within said end shell members with the free ends of the leg members in confronting relation, means for securing said leg members ;in said shell members comprising material displaced fror n one of said members, a closed link embracing -each of said transverse, members, and resilient means between one of said transverse members and the linl; embrac ing'it, said resilient means comprising a spring having :a plurality of straight portions joinedby loops so arranged that when said-spring is fully compressed said straight portions lie in parallel contact with each other. a

I-EENRY EBERT.

sameness CITED 7 The following references are of record in thefile of thispatent:

UNITED STPITES' PATENTS iib r. flam t 379,562 B'r'i lierh ofi Mar. 1'3, 18818. $18,910 Seng Feb. -1, I899 seams Wi1de Feb. .5, 1907, 1,830,188 Bellavance Nov. 3, .1931 2,392,105 Blumstein Jan 1, 1946

Images