US2595391A - Clasp - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1952 L. P. KNOWLTON CLASP Filed March 24, 1950 V INVENTOR. ZEZA/VD A? h Nomro/v BY Mag ,47'7'0 E NEV Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLASP Leland P. Knowlton, Worcester, Mass.

Application March 24, 1950, Serial No. 151,575

1 Claim. 1 This invention relates to new and improved clasps or the like devices.

The principal object of the present invention resides in the provision of a new and improved toothed clasp which is particularly adapted for securely and positively holding relatively lightweight or sleazy materials, e. g., such as are found in catamenial bandages, although the present clasp has many other uses.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a clasp as above stated comprising a pair of members each of which has an enlarged end and a small end, said members being pivoted together at the small ends thereof, the larger end of one member havin a slot for receiving a tape or the like and the two members at their wider ends being provided with interfitting snap latching means comprising a resilient tab or the like and a hole into which the tab may snap, the teeth on said members being arranged at narrowed waist portions thereof and lying along corresponding edges and being so formed that when the two members are latched together, said teeth interfit but do not touch, and form therebetween a sinuous passage having sharp angles, to the end that said passage will receive and the teeth securely hold loosely woven fabrics as well as other types of fabrics, said teeth securely holding the same and preventing withdrawal thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the novel clasp showing the same closed;

Fig. 2 is a similar figure showing the clasp open;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the clasp partly open; and

Fig. 4 is an edge View looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 2.

Much difficulty has been experienced in holding fabrics of loosely woven materials in certain relations where it is necessary to hold such fabrics positively, without bunching, and in such a manner that they are secure and will not give way. Such a relation is to be found in the securement of catamenial bandages and the present invention provides a clasp that will hold them positively without any bunching or give and in a particularly effective manner.

The presentfclasp comprises a pair of members ID and I2, :each of which has an enlarged end and a small end, the small ends being ooextensive and rounded, as is clearly seen at I 4, to provide for an interpivoting rivet or the like I6. The opposite end of member 10 is enlarged in a substantially flat head l8 which has a cross slot 2 t in which a tape or the like may be secured and this slot is provided with a recess 22 in one side edge thereof for a purpose to be described.

Between the enlarged head [8 and the pivot end of member ID, the same is greatly reduced forming a waist portion 24, the same being toothed with large, sharp triangular teeth 26. These teeth are arranged on a line which is substantially midway between the center of the rivet l6 and the center of slot 20 so that tension applied between these points will be exerted along a line at right angles to the line of the teeth 25.

The other member I2 is provided with an enlarged head 28 of substantially triangular form. On this head at an extreme corner thereof, there is a down-turned tab 30 and at the other corner of the head there is another down-turned tab 32 which is adapted to act as a thumb piece, tab tllsnapping into recess 22 as shown in Fig. 1 to close the clasp.

Member [2 also has a reduced waist portion indicated at 34 which is provided with teeth 36 substantially complementary to teeth 26 and facing the latter as clearly shown.

When the clasp is to be closed by moving the members from the Fig. 2 position to the Fig. 1 position, it is merely necessary to insert the material to be clasped between the members and then swing them together, because the tab 30 will strike the edge of the head l8 approximately at the point 38 and upon so doing, it very easily distorts member l2 at the head 28 so that tab 30 rides up over the material of the head l8 and then finds and snaps into the recess 22 which is evenly spaced with the tab from the axis of the members in the rivet IS.

The head 28 of member [2 always overlies the side surface of head l8 opposite from the side of member I B to which member I2 is pivoted, see particularly Fig. 3 wherein it is apparent that member it is pivoted behind member I2 but the head 28 overlies head it when the members are moved toward each other for closing.

Since the large triangular sharp teeth 26 and 36 do not touch when the clasp is closed, they form between them a sinuous passage having sharp angles; and once a piece of cloth is caught .on the teeth, it will be seen that the cloth is positively held by the sharp corners of the teeth.

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Any tendency exerted by pulling downwardly on the cloth held, and upwardly on the tab 40, as for instance in the direction of the arrow 42, will not tend to open the clasp because the clasp must be opened with a motion at right angles to the direction of the arrow. In addition, this resistance to accidental opening is greatly enhanced by reason of the fact that member I2 is pivoted at one side of member ID and latched thereto at the opposite side, thus requiring a definite pressure on tab 32 transversely of the device to release tab 30 from notch 22.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claim, but what I'claim is A clasp comprising a pair of fiat plate-like members connected at one end by a pivot and having reduced toothed waist portions provided with teeth on their inner edges and enlarged heads on the other ends of said members, one of said members being connected by said pivot to a side surface of the other member and being adapted to yield beyond said pivot such that its head engages the opposite side surface of the head of said other member under tension when the clasp is closed so as to resist unintended opening of the clasp, the head on one of said members having a recess, and the head on the other member having a tab projecting laterally from the surface engaging said opposite head and receivable in said recess when the clasp is closed, said toothed waist portions on said memrecess.

LELAND P. KNOWLTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 297,080 Kalish Apr. 15, 1884 791,654 Searle- June 6, 1905 1,065,240 Gundlach June 17,, 1913 1,710,627 Keethes Apr. 23, 1929 2,345,481 Kaiser Mar. 28, 1944

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