US2131454A - Bracelet cord clasp - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 27, 1938. E. PRESTINARI I 2,131,454

BRACELET CORD CLASP Filed July 7, 1936 I V 0 E q 7/10 //IIIIIA'I INVENTOR Eugen Prestinari 66%, am HQMZ ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES BRACELET CORD CLASP Eugen Prestinari, Summit, N. J., assignor to Gemex Company, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 7, 1936, Serial No. 89,319

10 Claims. (01. 24-265) This invention relates to a fastening device and more particularly to a clasp for the bracelet cord of a wrist watch or the like.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a clasp for the bracelet cord of a wrist watch or the like which is simple and sturdy in construction and pleasing in appearance. Another object is to provide a clasp of the above nature, the manufacture of which is readily accomplished with inexpensive materials. Another object is to provide a clasp of the above nature which may be easily operated by the user, and which securely clasps the end of a pliable cord. Another object is to provide a clasp of the above nature from which the end of the cord may be easily released. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts as will be exemplified v in the structure to be hereinafter described and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown two of the various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a bracelet cord, one end of which is secured in my clasp;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my clasp;

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the operating lever of the clasp;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the gripping member of the clasp;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the housing member of the clasp;

Figure '7 is an elevation of the gripping end of the link showing the operating lever and gripping member in folded or gripping position; and,

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 3 of a modification of my clasp.

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

In order that certain features of my invention may be more readily understood, it mightbe well first to point out that numerous difliculties are encountered not only in the manufacture, but also in the operation of clasps for pliable bracelet cords or the like. Many of these clasps are inherently incapable of securely gripping or fastening the end or ends of a bracelet cord, while others, though able to securely grip the cord, can not maintain the grip with any degree of permanency. Such clasps often readily become uniastened while in use, accordingly releasing the bracelet cord much to the inconvenience of the wearer and often to the damage of the watch to which the cord is secured. Still other clasps of 5 this nature are characterized by considerable complication and multiplication of parts, necessitating extensive labor in their assembly because of the minute nature of the various parts. Still other clasps of this nature are quite fragile and 10 often break under conditions of normal use. Some clasps, in order to overcome the disadvantages of fragility, are so cumbersome as to present an unattractive appearance when assembled with the bracelet cord and wrist watch. It is accordingly another object of this invention to rectify the above conditions in a thoroughly practical and eflicient manner.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1, a bracelet cord III has secured to one end Illa. thereof in any suitable manner, a wrist watch I l. The other end of cord I0 is secured on fastening device generally indicated at l2, fastening device l2 preferably being attached to an expansible buckle or the like 9.

As better shown in Figure 2, clasp l2 comprises a housing generally indicated at I3 in which are 13a having a cut out portion IS!) in one end thereof which forms a bar portion I or the like by which clasp l2 (Figure 1) may be secured to' buckle 9. Extending upwardly from bottom portion i3a' (Figure 6) of the housing are side portions Nd and l3e having formed therein respectively holes l6 and I1. Side portions l3d and He are also respectively provided with holes I8 and i 9 which receive a pin 20 pivotally supporting 40 gripping member l5 (see Figure 3). Pin 20 (Figure 6) also supports a coil spring 2|, which is provided with ends 2la. and 2| b for a purpose pointed out hereinafter.

As is better shown in Figure 3, a stop or abutment 22 is formed on bottom l3a of housing It preferably directly to the right of opening lib in housing bottom i311, this stop being provided for a purpose disclosed hereinafter.

- Referring now to Figure 4, operating lever I4 is preferably U-shaped in form, thus comprising l'egs I40. and Nb and a connecting portion or cross bar I40. Preferably legs a and Nb are tapered .in form, having formed in the small ends thereof arcuate portions lid and Me for a purpose pointed out hereinafter. Extending away from and preferably integral with cross bar Ilc, I provide a finger piece l2 by which the operating lever is actuated. As is better shown in Figure 3, cross bar Ilc is preferably hook shaped. On the large ends of tapered legs Ila (Figure 4) and Ilb of the operating lever, I provide pivot pins 23 and 2l which are preferably formed integrally with the legs. As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, pivot pin 23 extends through hole H in housing side or wall lie. Pivot pin 2l (Figure 4) similarly lies within hole I6 (Figure 6) in housing wall lid. Thus operating lever (Figure 2) is readily assembled in and is freely pivotable with respect to housing l3.

With reference to Figure 5, gripper Ii preferably comprises a top portion lia from one end of which extend bifurcations lib and lie having secured thereto or formed integrally therewith eyelets 25 and 26 which preferably are coaxial and spaced. Extending from the other end of the gripper top I-ia is a suitably toothed gripping portion lid having formed on opposite sides thereof shoulders l3 and ll, provided for a purpose lever legs Ila and Ilb so that when lever Il and gripper Ii (see Figure 7) are intheir folded or securing position the gripper lies between the lever legs Ila and Ilb. Also, gripping portion lid of the gripper is so dimensioned that when in its folded or gripping position its toothed edge is slightly spaced from bottom lie of housing I3 (Figure 7) Thus, as is more clearly shown in Figures. 2 and 3, eyelets 2i and 26 are pivotally disposed on opposite end portions of pin 20 so that spring 2| lies between the eyelets. Thus gripper I5 is arranged in relation to spring 2I in such a manner that end 2Ia of the spring bears against gripper top Iia while spring end 2Il bears against housing bottom lid to constantly urge gripper Ii upwardly into an open or nongripping position as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Gripper 15, however, is limited in its opening movement by stop 22, which is preferably so proportioned as-to permit the gripper to open sufficiently to enable the easy insertion of the end of bracelet cord III into housing I3 (see Figure 3). In this connection, it should be noted that the entry end (i. e. the right hand end of housing l3 as viewed in Figure 2) is substantially unobstructed due to the manner in which the pivotal mounting of operating lever Il is effected. It should also be noted that stop 22 is so proportioned as to prevent gripper Ii from swinging out of the path of movement of operating lever Il. Otherwise the gripper, under the influence of'spring 2|, would swing into a relatively inaccessible position.

It may now be seen that operating lever Il and gripper Ii are relatively pivotable and in order' that these two parts may properly coact to secure the end of bracelet cord l within housing I3, it is desirable that the holes l8 and I9 inhousing walls I 3d and lie be spaced from holes I6 and I I in the housing walls a distance substantially equal to the distance between the pivotal axis of operating lever ll and a line drawn through the centers of arcuate portions I ld and Ile in lever legs Ila and Ilb so that when the lever and gripper are folded down' into housing I3, arcuate portions Ild and Ile fit over eyelets 2i and 23 on the gripper. Furthermore, I prefer to form operating lever I l andgripper I in such a manner that when they are in their folded position, as shown in Figure '7, the tops of both are substanially flush with the top edges of housing walls lid and I3e..

In operation, with reference to Figure 3, the end of bracelet cord III is inserted into the unobstructed gripping end of clasp I2. Thereafter, gripper Ii is forced downwardly with a clockwise movement as viewed in Figure 3, until its gripping portion lid engages cord I0. Gripper Ii is held in this position while operating lever ll is swung downwardly with a counterclockwise rotation until lever legs Ila and llb (Figure 2) engage shoulders l3 and ll respectively on the gripping end of gripper Ii. It may readily be seen that further counterclockwise movement of lever Il (Figure 3) forces the teeth on the end of the gripper into biting engagement with cord III, this movement of lever Il being continued until its hook shaped cross bar section llc snaps over the curved portion lie of the gripper which joins gripper top Iia and bifurcations lib and I 50. It may now be seen that during this latter movement of lever I l, the lower edges of lever legs Ila and Ilb act like cams against gripper shoulders l3 and ll to force the gripper into biting engagement with cord I0 wherein it is securely held by the resilient engagement between lever cross bar Ilc and the curved end portion lie of. gripper Ii. While the engagement between lever ll and" gripper Ii readily resists any casual forces tending to effect their disengagement, these parts may be readily separated or opened by upward pressure of the finger nail under finger piece l2. Immediately upon disengagement of hook shaped cross bar Ilc of the lever from curved portion lie of the gripper, spring 2I snaps the two pivoting parts into disengagement to permit easy removal of bracelet cord III, stop 22 preventing gripper Ii from swinging out of the path of movement of operating lever Il.

It may now be seen that my clasp I0, although simply constructed, is readily operable to grip efliciently the end of a bracelet cord.

Another embodiment of my clasp, shown in Figure '8, comprises generally an assembly of parts similar in many respects both in construction and arrangement to the several parts comprising gripper I2 as shown in Figure 2. Accordingly, the clasp which is generally indicated at 30 in Figure 8 comprises a housing generally indicated at 3l, which is substantially similar to housing I3 (Figure 6). Housing 3| thus pivotally mounts a gripper generally indicated at 32 and an operating lever generally indicated at 33; gripper 32 being urged upwardly by the opposite ends of a spring ll) substantially similar to spring 2I (Figure 6). Extending upwardly from bottom portion 3Ia of the housing is a stop or abutment 3l, which is positioned in relation to gripp r 32 in substantially the same manner as that of stop 22 and gripper Ii (Figure 3). Stop 3l (Figure 8), however, is preferably longer than stop 22 so as to limit the raising or opening action of gripper 32 to a greater extent than that of gripper Ii, for a purpose described hereinafter.

Gripper 32 is provided with shoulders 32a, substantially similar to shoulders 43 and ll of gripper Ii (Figure 5) and these Shoulders coact I with legs 33a (Figure 8) of lever 33 as in the case of gripper I2. Legs 33a of lever 33, however,

gripping engagement between the gripper and cord III, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

Operating lever 33 is provided with a hookshaped cross bar section 33b which, when lever 33 and gripper 32 are folded together, engages rounded gripper portion 32b to maintain the two parts in gripping position.

In operation, the end of bracelet cord I3 is inserted in housing 3| and operating lever 33 is swung in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8. As stop 34 has limited the upward or opening movement of gripper 32, gripper shoulders 32a are so positioned as to be engaged by lever legs 330. at a point thereon where continued counterclockwise movement of lever 33 effects downward or clockwise movement of gripper 32 without the necessity of first forcing gripper 32 downward as in the case of gripper l2 in Figure 2. It may now be seen that continued counterclockwise or closing movement of lever 33 forces gripper 32 against the bias of spring 40 into biting engagement with cord l where it is held against casual displacement by frictional engagement between cross bar hook 33b of the lever with rounded portion 32b of the gripper. The gripper and lever are readily separated from their folded or gripping position by pulling up wardly against a finger piece 330 projecting from lever 33.

It may now be seen that while clasp 33 and clasp l2 are similar in many respects, clasp 30 is operated through manual actuation of the operating lever only, that is, in order to effect biting engagement between gripper 32 and cord l0 it is unnecessary to swing gripper 32 downwardly preliminary to engaging its shoulders 32a by the legs of lever 33. It may further be seen that gripper 30 may be rapidly and efllciently operated either to grip or release the bracelet cord, as the arcuate legs 33a of lever 33 are. in effect, cams against which gripper shoulders 32a act as followers during the operation of the lever to effect a secure clasp of the end of the bracelet cord. As in the case of clasp l2 (Figure 7) lever 33 and gripper 32 of clasp 30 (Figure 8) preferably fold together so as to lie substantially between the walls of housing 3| and accordingly present a substantially smooth surface.

Accordingly, I have provided a clasp for securing the end of a bracelet cord which fulfills the several objects and purposes pointed out hereinabove in a thoroughly practical and efficient manner.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiments 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 sense.

I claim:

1. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing adapted to receive the end of a pliable cord, a member pivotally associated with said housing and movable into gripping relation with said cord, a cam part pivotally mounted in said housing and swingable from a disengaged position into engagement with said member to force said member into its gripping position, said member being no longer than the distance between the pivotal axes of the member and said cam part and means for frictionally engaging said member to maintain said member in its gripping position.

2. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing adapted to receive the end of a pliable cord, a gripping member pivotallymounted in said housing and pivotable into gripping engagement with said cord, and a substantially U-shaped operating member having its ends pivotally mounted in the cord receiving end of said housing whereby said'cord receiving end of the housing is substantially'unobstructed to permit the insertion of the cord end therein, said operating member including portions which engage portions of said gripping member to force said gripping member into gripping relation with said cord.

r 3. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing adapted to'receive the end of a. pliable cord, a gripping member pivotally mounted in said housing and pivotable into gripping engagement with said cord, a substantially U-shaped operating member having its ends pivotally mounted in the cord receiving end of said housing whereby said cord receiving end of the housing is substantially unobstructed to permit the insertion of the cord end therein, said operating member including portions whichengage portions of said gripping member to force said gripping member into gripping relation with said cord, and meansbiasing one of said members toward a non-gripping position.

4. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing adapted to receive the end of a pliable cord, a gripping member pivotally mounted in said housing and pivotable into gripping engagement with said cord, a substantially U-shaped operating member pivotally mounted on said housing, said gripping member being provided with shoulders lying in the path of movement of said operating member during pivotal movement thereof whereby said operating member engages said shoulder and forces said gripping member into gripping relation with said cord, and means for maintaining said members in gripping relationship with said cord.

5. In a device'of the nature described, in combination, a channel shaped housing, a gripper pivotally connected to the sides of said housing and adapted to lie therebetween when in gripping position, central portions of said gripper being narrower than the distance between the sides of said housing to provide a space between said gripper portion and one of the sides of the hous ing when the gripper is in gripping position, and a lever pivotally connected to a side of said housing and operable to force said gripper into gripping position, said lever being formed to fit into said space when said gripper is in gripping position.

6. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a channel shaped housing, a gripper pivotally connected to the sides of said housing and adapted to lie therebetween when in gripping position, portions of said gripper being narrower than the distance between the sides of said housing to provide spaces between said gripper portion and the sides of the housing when the gripper is in gripping position, and a U-shaped member having its legs pivotallyconnected to the sides of said housing and operable to close down on and hold said gripper in gripping position, the legs of said U-shaped member being formed to fit into said spaces when said gripper and said member are in gripping position.

7. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a channel shaped housing, a gripper pivotally connected to the sides of said housing and adapted to lie therebetween when in gripnected to the sides of said housingand operable to close down on and hold said gripper in gripping position, the legs of said U-shaped member being formed to fit into said spaces when said gripper and said member arein gripping position, and spring means constantly biasing said gripper toward non-gripping position.

8. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing formed toreceive the end of a pliable cord, a gripping member pivotally mounted in said housing including a portion movable therewith into a position within the walls of said housing to grip said cord, thewalls and bottom of said housing being substantially coextensive, and an operating member pivotally secured to said housing and movable from a disengaged position into engagement with said gripping member to close down on and hold said gripping member portion in gripping engagement with said cord, said operating member having spaced portions which lie on opposite sides of and embrace said gripping member when both of said members are in gripping relationship.

9. In a clasp for gripping a pliable bracelet cord or the like, in combination, a channelshaped housing, a gripper member pivotally connected to said housing and adapted to grip said cord, and a lever pivotally connected to said housing at a point substantially spaced from said gripper member closely adjacent one end of said housing, said lever being pivotable towards said gripper to engage and move said gripper into gripping position, the pivotal axis of said lever being spaced above the pivotal axis oi the per.

10. In a device of the nature described, in combination, a housing adapted to receive the end of a pliable bracelet cord, said housing having side walls connected by a web portion, a gripping member pivotally mounted in said housing between said side walls and pivotable from a position outside of said housing into said housing toward said web portion to grip said cord, and an operating. member pivotally connected to said housing between said side walls near the end of said housing, the pivotal axis of said operating member being substantially spaced from said web portion whereby the cord receiving end of the housing is substantially unobstructed to permit the insertion of the cord end therein, said operating member having portions which engage portions of said gripping member to force the gripping member into gripping relation with said cord.

EUGEN PRESTINARI.

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