US1719849A - Clasp for wrist-watch straps - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1929.

A. PERSON CLASP FOR WRIST -WATCH STRAPS Filed May 5, 1927 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,719,849 PATENT" OFFICE.

AXEL PERSON, F ATTLEBOR, MASSACHUSETTS, `ASSIGrIHlR T0 HARVEY vOLAP 8600., OF ATTIiEIBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A PARTNERSHIP.

`CLiASP FOR WRIST-WATCH STRATS.

Application led May 3, 1927. Serial No. 188,444.

This invention relates to clasps for wrist watch straps and the like. One of the objects thereof is to provide a device of the above nature which is thoroughly practical and efficient. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which is neat andattractive in appearance and free from objectionable projecting parts or edges. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature which is simple in construction and capable of being manufactured conveniently and at low cost. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangementsof parts as will bey exemplified in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of t-he application of which will be indicated in the following claims. j

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible cmbodi ments of this invention,

Figure l is a side elevation showing the clasp 'in connection with a wrist watch and stra Figure 2 is a top plan view of one of the separable'parts of the clasp;

Ffgure 3 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is atop plan view of another part;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing the clasp operative, and

Figure 6 is a section taken substantially as indicated by the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring now to Figure 1 o-f the drawing, there is shown a wrist watch 10 having a pair of brackets 11 and 12 for connection with a bracelet or strap or other suitable means for encircling the wrist and holding the wrist Watch in position. The wrist encircling means shown herein consists of a strap or ribbon 13 which is secured at one end 14 to the bracket 11 of the wrist watch and thence passes about the wrist, looping through the bracket 12.

Positioned upon the strap or ribbon 13 between its end 14 and the portion which passes through the bracket 12, is one member of the clasp. This clasp member comprises a rectangular shaped frame member 15 consisting of side walls 15a and 15b and end walls 15c and 15". The rectangular member 15 is made from one integral piece of metal and is preferably stamped from` a sheet metal blank in the shape shown, by the use of dies. Extend- .ing between the side walls 15L and 15b and secured at its ends to these side walls is a member 16 which consists of a hat narrow strip ofy spring metal. As is shown in Figure 3, and more clearly in Figure 6, this member 16 is preferably secured at its ends to the end walls 15a and 15b of the frame member by beingl bent around the outer edges of these walls and up against the bottom surfaces thereof, the walls 15 and 15" being `thus clamped by the end portions of the spring member 16. Preferably the parts 15it and 15b are recessed inwardly frointheir outer edges, as may be seen in Figure 2, so that the surfaces of these parts and the surface of the member 16 rest substantially flush at the sides of the device.

The spring metal member 16 adjacent its middle portion is provided with an upwardly extending part 16a which` is integral with the member` 16 and is formed by bending the member transversely of its length thereby forming an upwardly projecting loop having a rounded and closed upper end. As clearly seen in Figurel 3 and in Figure 6, the loop 16EL is of increasing width from its bottom portion upwardly. y

lThe strap or ribbon 13 passes over the end Walls 15c and 15d of the frame 15 and loops beneath the member 16. The clasp member is thus mounted upon the ribbon and may be slid along the ribbon to any desired position in order to vary the effective length of the ribbon.

Secured to the end 17 of the strap or ribbon is a member 18 in the form of a flat plate which has therein a slot 19 serving as a means for connecting thereto the ribbon end. In this member 18 is formed a rectangular opening 20 into which the loop or projection 16 is adapted to snap. In Figures 5 and 6 the clasp is shown operative and it will be seen that the opening 26 is of such width that when the loop 16 is snapped thereinto the plate member 18 is yieldingly held in position thereby.l The member 18 is of sufficient size lengthwise of the strap or ribbon to overlap the end walls 15c and 15x of the under frame and tends to hold the ribbon clamped against these walls to effect a binding action which resists any tendency for the under llO frame to slip along the ribbon when the clasp is operative. The clasp is conveniently detached by raising one side of the plate member 18 thereby slightly distorting the spring member 16 to effect removal of the part 16 from the opening 20.

This construction thus fully utilizes the resilience of the relatively long spring memberv 16 in making and breaking the connection. Moreover, it will be noted that the pull upon the clasp is taken by the projection 16a in a direction parallel to the width of the spring member so that maximum strength is achieved. The closed loop 16a projecting through the opening 20 presents no objectionable edges which might catch in the clothing of the wearer.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes mightbe made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting SGIISG.

I claim as my invention: l. In a clasp for wrist watch stra-ps, 1n

combination, a frame having end walls and c `stripvextending therebetween in spaced relation to said end walls, the wrist watch strap being adapted to pass over said end walls and beneath said spring member, said spring member being bent transversely ot its length forming an upstanding loop adjacent its middle portion, the two sides of said loop being movable freely relative to each other at the base in a direction substantially at right angles to said side walls and a plate member adapted to be secured to an end of the strap and having an opening into which said loop snaps.

2. In a clasp for wrist watch straps, in combination, a substantially rectangular frame member, a separate strip of spring metal secured at its ends to the sides ot said frame member and extending therebetween in spaced relation to the ends of said frame member, the wrist watch strap being adapted to pass over the ends of said framel and beneath said spring member, said spring member being shaped at substantially its middle portion to form an upstanding inverted U- shaped loop having downwardly converging sides slightly spaced apart where they join the base ofthe spring member and open ends, and a plate member adapted to be secured to an end of the strap and having an opening into which said loop snaps, whereby said loop offers unyielding resistance to disengagement from said plate along the line of full of the bracelet and yielding resistance in a crosswise direction.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this twenty-lirst day ot' April, 1927.

AXEL PERSON.

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