US1369823A - Clasp - Google Patents

Description

J. H. LYNCH.

CLASP.

APPLlcATmu mio mi. 26. |920.

1,369,823. mm1 Mar.'1,1921.

JOSEPH H. LYNCH, OF ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.

CLASP.

innesca'.

Application flied April ze,

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1,3' osnrn H. LYNCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asbury Fark, county of Monmouth, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clasps, and particularly to clasps employed in laundries for the purpose of identifying the various are ticles ofthe laundrys customers. Clasps used for this purpose bear numbers or other identifying marks, are attached to the articles before putting them through the laundrying operations, accompany the articles through the laundrying operations, and are then used as a means of identifying the articles of the different customer-s.

Pins constructed more or less along the idea of the ordinary safety pin have been employed, and while they are fairly satisfactory when used in connection with coarse and rough articles, they nevertheless have the disadvantage that they often become disengaged from the articles in passing through the laundrying machinery, and for this reason when they are used the articles themselves are generally provided with an additional f identifying means by being marked with ink. This latter is inefficient because it requires two operations. Furthermore, the pins are very unsatisfactory for use in connection with the liner articles, such as handkerchiefs, table linen, shirt waists, etc., for the pins must necessarily pierce the articles; and such articles, because of their nature, cannot well be marked with ink. i

1t will thus be seen that what is required to overcome the difficulties is a device which can be readily secured to and detached from the articles without piercing or otherwise mutilating them; which is unlikely to become accidentally detached from the articles; which is compact and will not be crushed by the mangles andfother laundry ing machinery; and lwhich presents a smooth outer surface so that it will not readily catch on anything. The object of the invention is to provide such a device. i

In the accompanying drawings, in which 1 have illustrated the preferred forms of my invention, and in which like reference numerals designate like parts,

Figure'l is a plan view of my clasp 1n open position,

Specification of Letters Eatent.

ratented Mar. i, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 376,470.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of it in closed or clasping position,

F 1g. 3 is a side elevation of clasp in ope position lookinginv as from the bottom of Fig. p 1, Y

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, p

Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the clasp actuating member and the spring clasping member respectively,

Fig. 7 is a sectional View of a modification of the construction of my device, taken on a line similar to that on which Fig. 4 is taken, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the spring employed in Fig. 7. f j Y Referring to F igs.- 1` to 6 inclusive of the drawings, 10 indicates a fairly strong and rigid U-shaped body member, provided with the loop 11 by means of which the clasps may be strung along a line or rod for convenience in handling and assorting. This loop may be formed` as a part of body 10, or itl may be attached thereto in any suitable manner. The body 10 is provided on a suitable portion thereof with a number or'other mark (125) for the purpose of identification.

Located between the wings of the body l0 is a spring clasping member 12, shown in plan in Fig. 6; and which, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is rigidly secured at oneend to the body 1() by means of rivets or pins 13. This spring member is so bent that its free end 12a normally touches or approximately touches the interior surface of the body member 10 on the wall opposite theV wall to which its other end is secured. The material of the article to which it is desiredto attachr the clasp is inserted through the opening 14 between one side of body 10 and the spring clasping member 12; and in order that the member12 will securely clasp and hold'the,`l

material when in closed position, it is provided with the blunt projections 15. These projections are arranged substantially in line with perforations 16 in body 10. They are blunt in order that they will not injure the material. y

The spring or clasp actuating member 17, shown in plan view in Fig. y5, .consists of a piece of metal having a bent-over portion 18,v and provided with an extended portion 19 for convenience in opening the clasp.

Member 17 is secured within thevbody 10 by means of pin 20 about which it is turnable.

When member 17 is turned aboutits axis 20 from open position illustrated in Fig. 3, to

closed position illustrated in Fig. 4, its upper surface engages the lower surface of spring 12, follows along such surface, and acts as a cam to force the free end of the spring toward the interior Wall of the body 10 to which the other end of the spring is secured by pins 13. Thus when material is inserted in opening 14 itvvill-'be tightly pressed and held by the spring against an inner surface oit' U-sbaped body 10. While I have shown the member 17 provided with the bent-over portion 18, it is obvious that instead of being made in this manner the member 1'? may be made or" a piece of metal of suiiicient thickness to perform its function of moving the free vend of spring 12 Without the necessity of being bent over.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the only change from that shown in Figs. l to 6 inclusive is in the manner of securing the spring member 12 and the spring actuating member 1.7 tothe body 10. In this form a single shouldered pin or rivet 21 is employed i'or' this purpose. The p in has the shoulder 22 which presses against the spring member 1.2 and holds the latter iirmly against the bdy 10. The spring o'r clasp actuating member 17 is pivotally mountedron the thicker portion oi the pin. the spring 12 Ahas Vits inner edge 12b so arranged as to abut against the body 10, in order to further prevent the spring from turning about tlie pin 21 as an axis.

It Will be noted that have devised a clasp which has a smooth outer surface and is quite compact, which will engage and securely hold the material to Which it is attached Without perforating or otherwise mutilating the material, which has all the Working parts confined Within the main body member and Which When in closed or clasping position is practically a solid piece.

I claim 1. Y In a clasp, a rigid U-shaped'body member, a spring clasping member located Within and secured to said body member, and a clasp actuating member pivotally secured to said body member and movable about an axis Vperpendicular to the plane or" the Wings of said body member into a position substan- In such an arrangement tially completely between the Wings to actuate the clasping member and hold it in clasping position.

2. In a clasp, a rigid U-shaped body membei', a spring clasping member located With- 1 in and having an end secured to said body member, and a cla p actuating member pivotally secured Ato said body member and movable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the Wings of said body men'iber into a position substantially completely between the Wings to engage the tree end of the spring member and torce it into clasping position.

i. In a clasp, a rigid lil-shaped body member, a spring clasping member located Within said body member, a pin secured between the Wings of said body member having a shoulder engaging and securing said clasping member to said body member, and a clasp actuating member pivoted to said pin and movable about it into a position substantially completely Within said body member to actuate the clasping member and hold itin clasping position.

5. In a clasp, arigid ti-shaped body member, Va spring clasping membe located ivithin and having one end secured to one ci the Wings of the body member andthe other,` end normally resting substantially againstl the other Wing of said body member, and a clasp actuating member pivotally secured within said body member and movable about an axis perpendicular to `the plane of the Wings oi-A said body member 'to engageand force the tree end oi? said clasping Amember toward the Wing 'to .which the other end is attached.

JOSEPH H. DYNCH.

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