US1800503A - Strap for wrist watches - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931. 5, BRUNER 1,800,503

STRAP FOR WRIST WATCHES Filed Feb. 11, 1929 1 LJ i ll 2 3o INVENTOR S. BRUNER ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 1 931 PATENT OFFICE smo w BRUNER, or FAR BOCKAWAY, NEW Yom:

STRAP non wmsr WATCHES Application filed February 11, 1929. Serial No. 338,977.

This invention relates to flexible bands as, for example, straps for wrist watches, bracelets, ornamental neck bands or other articles ofjewelry and relates more particularly to an I improvement in a strap of the character shownand described in copending application, Serial No; 315,366, filed October 27, 1928, and assigned to the present inventor.

Although the present invention may have a variety of useful applications it is shown anddescribed herein as employed to hold a wrist watch in position.

Wrist watches have attained considerable popularity and many types of bands or straps have been devised, beginning with the leather strap and developing into numerous straps constructed of metal. Themetal strap has gained favor, being free from the disadvantage of stretching and becoming damp from absorbed perspiration.

In the making of a Wrist watch strap it is necessaryto have flexibility so that the strap will take the shape of the wrist to the comfort of the wearer. It is also important to J provide a strap of a smooth symmetrical appearance so as to make a pleasing addition to the watch which it secures in place.

In the above mentioned copending cation a strap is shown composed o a plurality of tubular members secured in flexible relation by internal locking members. These members as shown and described include inter-locking means whereby they are held in a given relation to attach adj acent" tubular members.

' It'has been found that although this construction is satisfactory and has been used in ractice, that the construction is'improved I y providing the internal locking members with an additional or auxiliary locking means. v

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a plan view of a strap made in accordance with the present invention attached to a wrist watch; Y

Fig. 2 shows a portion of a strap with a partly broken away section to show the locking elements;

Fig. 3 shows a tubular section with the lockingmembers about to be inserted; j v Fig. 4 is an edge View ofastrap having a connector or fastener and Fig. 5 is a modified form of the locking elements. I i

An embodiment of the invention may comprise a strap composed of aplurality of tubular sections 11 which in the present construction are of sheet metal and of rectangular transverse cross section. The sections 11 are disposed in close adjacent relation to constitute a strap or band and are held in such relation by pairs of locking members 12 and 13. These locking members 12 and 13 which may be termed a latch and latch-piece respectively, serve to hold the sections 11in flexible relation. The latch 12 is provided with a hook portion 14 and the latch-piece 13 isprovided with a hook portion 15. y

These hooks are arranged to extend over the edges of and to embraceadjacent walls 16 and 17 of adjacent tubular sections and the locking members are so proportioned and arranged that when moved into place; within a tubular section a lip 18 on the latch 12 will engage with a lip 19 on thelatch-piece 13.

For the purpose of holding. the locking members in locked relation their'combined width is so proportioned that surface of the latch-piece 13 will engage wall 16 ofa tubular section while the latch l2is held against 7 the wall 17. By reasonrof the construction 15, thus it will be evident that if the tubular sections are made just sufficientlywide-to admit the locking members the opening at the ends'thereof will be entirely filled and-a smooth symmetrical appearance will result. Although the locking relation of the lips 18 and 19 serves to retain the locking mem bers 12 and 13 togetherh-it hasybeen found 13 has a depression 13 and a bead 13. When the members are in position to look a plurality of tubular sections together the projection 12" is disposed in the depression 12 and the pro I jection 13 is disposed in the depression 13. The projections and depressions are so proportioned that one fits the other and when the members are inserted into place; the projec tions snap into the depressions by a flexure of the walls of the tubular sections and are thus held in place by reason of the resilient nature of the tubular walls. It will be evident that the locking members by reason of their lips are held in place whereas the hook portions of the said members have a tendency totip outwardly.

- When the projections and depressions are provided as above set forth the hook portions are locked from relative movement and an additional or auxiliary lock is provided by the reason of these members.

. When a plurality of tubular sections 11 have been secured by a plurality of pairs of locking members, a slight relative movement of each of the sections may be had with the result that the strap so constructed is of a flexible nature and when used as a band for a wrist watch will take the contour of the wrist and serve as well as a leather strap without the disadvantages above mentioned.

As shown in the drawing, a strap com posed of a plurality of tubular sections may be readily attached to a watch 21 since end sections 11 and 11" may have tubular extensions 22 and22 to provide apertures to receive pins 23 and 23 as commonly provided forsecuring a metallic strap to a watch. The

. free ends 25 and 26 may also be provided with sections having similar tubular extensions 27 and 28. The extensions 27 may be attached to a latchplate 29 adapted to engage with a notched member 30. The latch plate is' pro vided with flanges 31 ad 32 having serrations on their inner surface to grip the notched member 30. This lock or connector is more clearly shown in the above mentioned copending application.

As shown in Fig. 5 the locking members may be modified and'as illustrated the same may include parts 33 and 34 having hook portions 35 and 36 respectively to secure sections 11. The member 34 may be'provided with a head 37 adapted to be engaged by spring jaws 38 and39 on the member 33. The actions and function'of the latch members 33 and 34 are the same as the members indicated by the numerals 12 and 13 and provide a latch for securing the sections 11 in flexible relation. Whenthe members 33 and 34 are inserted into opposite ends of a section 11 they are moved toward each other until the jaws 38 and 39 snap over the head 37, thus securing them against removal since it will be evident that the jaws are held from movement away from the head by the walls of the enclosing section 11. p

When the locking members or parts 35 and 36 are modified as above set forth they may be provided withprojections 35 and 35 respectively and with depressions 36 and 36" respectively so as to give the desired opposi tion to relative movement of the said parts.

From the above it will be evident that the present invention provides a simple and effective construction for a chain or strap wherein the various parts may be quickly and easily assembled and at relatively low cost.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein it is to be understood that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1

1. A device of the class described comprising a plurality of tubular sections, pairs of locking members disposed in said sections, means for inter-locking said members, said members having arms for embracing Walls-of adjacent tubular sections and a bead on one member and a depression on" the opposite member for securing said members against relative movement. l 7 1 2. A device of the class described compris ing a plurality of tubular sections, pairs of locking members extending into and embracing the opposite ends of each of said sections, means for inter-locking said members, offset projections; on said members, pairs of said offset projections being disposed in the ends of said tubular sections, means on said offset projections and means on adjacent members co-operating to, maintain said 3 members against relative movement. a l 3; A device of the class described comprising a plurality of tubular sections,,pairs of locking members extending into opposite ends of each of said sections, means for inter-locking said members, said members having offset projections, pairs of said offset pro ections being disposed in the ends of said tubular sections, a depression on one member and'a bead on the other member, said depressions and beads of adjacentprojections being arranged to engage and hold the projections against relative movement. v I I 'In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

SIMON 'BRUlIER.

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