US1893256A - Ornamental chain - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1933. H. WACHENHEIMER 1,893,256

ORNAMENTAL CHAIN Filed June 11, 1931 *nnuuuun Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES.

HARRY WACHENIIEIMER, or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND Y ORNAMENTAL CHAIN Application filed .l'une 11,

The invention relates primarily to ornamental chains, especiallyjsuitable for use in the jewelry art in the construction of bracelets, rings, necklaces and the like.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of chain in which the use of solder is obviated and which is capable of great longitudinal flexibility.

Another object of the invention is to produce a chain which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is composed of a series of links which are so constructed as to enable them to be easily and quickly attached to or removed from the chain. 7 r 7 To these ends the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and more particularly set'forth in the claims. In describing the invention in detail reference will be made to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of my'improved' chain. I

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a bottom elevation.

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal central section showing the longitudinal flexibility of the links. a

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a block link.

Fig. 5a is a topplan view of a block link.

Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the connecting link. I

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a chain of modified construction.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of block link in the'chain shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the connecting link in the chain shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a central transverse section of the link shown in Fig. 10. Referring to the drawing, my improved chain comprises a plurality of block links 10,each of which consists of a substantially rectangular solid body portion, and a series of connecting links 11, each of which consists of a channel shaped member open at the top and having side portions 13' and 14 and bottom connecting'portions 15 and 16, the latter being spacedinwardly from the ends of the "13 and'ltajre bent up along the dotted lines."-

j '17 of said connecting link 11. Thus,'there is reason of the fact that thebottom portions 1931. Serial u'atiasei. ,7 link as shown more clearly'inFig. 7. Said sides 13 and 11 are thus connected at the bottom and spaced at the top. The sides 13 and 14: of the link 11 have pairs of aligned aperr tures 17, 17 and 18, 18. Each ofthe block links 10 is provided withpivot pins 19,19 and 20, 20 as shown more clearly in Fig. 5'. As shown more clearly in Figs. land 4,each adjacent end of adjacent block links 10overlaps the connecting link 11 to such an extent that the distance between the adjacent, ends of adjacent block links is less than one-half of the length of theconnecting link. Said block link 10 is preferably stamped out of sheet metal with pairs ofpivot'pins 19, '19 and 20, 20 extending from opposite sides of said block, and each block may be provided with a central conicalcavity 21 to receive a gem or other ornamentation for imparting to the completed chain the desired ornamental appearance. j

The connecting link 11 preferably stamped out of sheet metal intheflat formv illustrated in Fig; 6, after which the sides;

13 and 1 1, to form the channel illustrated in Fig. 7. V w 1 In assembling the links, two adj acent'block links 10 are connectedby a connectinglink 11, the pivot pins 19, 19 of one block link be- 30 I ma e 'ing mounted in the aligned'apertures 18,18

an'dthe pivotpins 20,- 20 of another block link 'being mounted in the aligned apertures 17,

provided a pivotal connection between ads j acent links above the bottom of thechannelshaped links. After the links are assembled the exposed side portions 13-and'l 1 and the exposed ends of the pivot pins 19, 19 and 20, 20 may be treated in any suitable way to present a smooth, finishedappearance, 4 7

With the above construction it will be seen that while the block links will'be held close together when the chain lies flat, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, yet said links are'capable of considerable movement with relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 4, thereby giving to the chain an extreme amountof flexibility,.which is very desirable in this class ofchains. .By

' While as shown in Fig. 5 the block links Both the block links 10 and the connect-ing links 11 may be made by striking out the same in solid pieces or forming the same in shell construction, the latter being preferable when the chain is made of precious metal.

10 are provided with a cavity for a gem or other ornamentation, it will be understood that this gem cavity may be omitted-and the block links left plain or otherwise ornamented as may be desired. Similarly, connecting links 11 may be plain or ornamented in any suitable way. While I have shown two bottom connecting'portions 15 and 16 in the link 11, it will be obvious that there may be only one bottom portion or there may be more than two. It will also be understood that the l nks mav be of any suitable shape or design, the specific shapes of the links 10 and 11, as shown in Figsr5 and 7 being illustrative of one embodiment of the invention. 7

A modified form of construction constituting anotherembodiment of the invent on is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11. As here shown,

the construction is substantially the same as illu trated in Figs. 1 to 7. except that the block links 10 are diamond shaped and. the connect ng links 11' areprovided with upper lateral extensions 22, 22, the links as thus shaped cooperation to form the ornamental ou line il ustrated in Fig. 8. The lateral extens ons 22. 22 mav be provided with conical cavit es 23 to receive gems or other ornamen atons. Otherwise the construction of the links 10 and 11 are substantiall the same as the l nks 10 and 11 as above described and the corresponding par s of said links 10 and '11 are designated by the same nuimerals dist nguished by the prime character.

"While I have shown two embodiments of the. nvention it will be understood that the invention may have other embodiments as willreadilvoccur to those skilledin the art in view of the present disclosure. it being limited to the exact construction shown, except as required by the appended claims and the prior art.

Having thusdescribed my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a plurality of block links and a connecting link between two block links, said connecting link comprising two side portions and a connecting bottom portion spaced from the ends of said'side portions, said side portions having two spaced pairs of aligned apertures,each of said block links having two spaced pairs of laterally extending pivot pins on opposite sides thereof, one pair of said pins of one block link mounted in one pair of apertures in said connecting link,

"and one pair of said pins on another block link mounted in the other pair of. apertures in said connecting link, each adjacent end of adjacentblock links overlapping the con necting link to such an extent that the distance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block .links is less than one-half of the length of the connectinglink. j

2. A flexible ornamentalchain comprising a series of links, adjacent linkscomprising a block link and an open top channelshaped link, and pivotal connections between adjacent links above the bottom of the channel-shaped link, said pivotal connections comprising two spaced pairs of aligned apertures in said channel-shaped link and aligned pivot pins on opposite sides of the block links at both ends thereof mounted in said apertures, the bottom of the channel-shaped link being spaced from the ends thereof to permit relative angular movement of adjacent links in one direction, the location of said pivotal connection above the bottom of the channel-shaped link permittingrelative angular movement of adjacent links in the opposite direction whereby said chain is flexible in two directions, each adjacent end of 'adjacent block links overlapping thechannel-shaped link to such an extent that the distance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block links is less'than one-half of the length of the connecting link.

3. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a plurality of block links and a connecting link between two block links, said connecting link comprising two side portions and a connecting bottom portion spaced from the ends of said side portions, said side portions having two spaced pairs of aligned apertures at both ends 'thereof, said block links having pairs of laterally extending pivot pins at both ends thereof, one pair of said pins at one end of one block link mounted in one pair of apertures in said connecting link, and one pair of said pins on another block link mounted in the other pair of aperturesin said connecting link, each adjacent end of adjacent block links overlapping the connecting link to such an extent that the distance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block links is less than one-half of thejlength ofthe connecting link, said block links having reduced end portions positioned between the sides of said connecting link.

1. A flexible ornamental chain comprising a series of links, adjacent links comprising a block link and an open top channelshaped link, and pivotal connections between adjacent links above the bottom of the chan-.

nel-shaped link, said pivotal connections comprising aligned apertures at both ends of said channel-shaped links and aligned pivot pins on opposite sides of the block links at both ends thereof, mounted in said apertures, the bottom of the channel-shaped link I being spaced from the ends thereof to permit relative angular movement of adjacent links in one direction, the location of said pivotal v connection above the bottom of the channelshaped link permitting relative angular movement of adjacent links in the opposite direction whereby said chain is flexible in two directions, each adjacent end of adjacent block links overlapping the channel-shaped link to such an extent that the distance between the adjacent ends of adjacent block links is less than one-half of the length of the connecting link, said block links having reduced end portions positioned within said channel-shaped link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

HARRY WACHENHEIMER.

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