US1372299A - Clasp for straps, bands, or ribbons - Google Patents

Description

R. KING. CLASP FOR STRAPS, BANDS, 0R RIBBONS. APPLICATION EILED JUNE 14, 1919.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Burns KING, or PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO BUGBEE AND NILES COMPANY, or NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or MASSA- CHUSETTS.

CLASP FOR STRAPS, BANDS, OR RIBBOLTS.

Patented Ma. 22, 1921.

Application filed June 14, 1919. Serial No. 304,149.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, RUFUS I{ING, a citizien of the United States, residing at Plain: ville, in the county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Qlasps for Straps, Bands, or Ribbons, of whlch the following; is a specification.

My invention is an improved clasp for fastening the straps, bands or ribbons of wrist-matches or for similar uses The ob' j net of my improvement is to provide a simpiified device for tl'iis purpose which may he more easily and conveniently clasped and unclas 'ied, and which will fasten the band in place with greater security. Further objccts of the improvement are to provide a clasp which is neat and ornamental 1n appearance; stanch and durable in use; and easier and more economical to manufacture. The manner and means for carrying out these improvements are fully described in the following specification illustrated by the accompanying drawings, 111 which llke reference characters designate like parts. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a view showing the two cooperating parts of my improved clasp applied to the wrist-band or ribbon 5 Fig. 2 is an enlarged planview of the main clasp-member;

Fig. 3 is a side View of the same; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken in a vertical plane through both clasp-members, and showing; the latter in engaged relation;

Fig.5 is an enlarged plan view of the slo ted bottom-plate of the upper claspmemher; and i F ig. 6 is an end View of the lower, cooperating clasp-member.

Referring first to Fig. 1, my improved clasp or fastener comprises upper and lower cooperating parts; the main member G being, adapted for fastening to the looped end of the band or ribbon R, and the under slide S being formed to embrace the ribboirR and provided with spring-tongues for insertion through a slot in the upper member. is shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3 and 4: the main clasp-member C is con structed in two pieces consisting of a flat plate P formed with a loop or bail p at one end around which the end of the ribbon R is looped; and a top-shell or back D having its rim crimped or rolled over the edges of the plate P to fasten it in superimposed position thereon. Fig. 5 shows the plate P in detail as cut away or slitted at one end to provide the cross-bar or hail p, and slotted laterally at u to provide the opening for receiving the tongues 15-4 of the other claspmember S. The sides of the slot u are some what convex or bowed outwardly toward each other for a purpose as later explained, and it will be noted from Fig. 5 that the opposite, lateral edges of the plate 1? are formed with. V-shaped notches r -v into which the edges of the rim of the shell D are turned to provide a more finished joint. As shown in Figs. 9., 3 and l, the shell D is of rectangular outline with its top formed flat, but it may have a convex or crowned shape if preferred. Referring particularly to Figs. and 4, the marginal rim (.5 takes a bevel shapearound the top panel of the shell D, to enhance its artistic appearance, and the lower marginal edge of the rim is rolled over the edge of the under plate P on three sides as shown at (Z in Fig. 4;. At points adjacent the bail P the ends of the rim (Z are turned into the notches oo so as toprevent rough edges, see Fig. 1. ()n the fourth side of the plate P the rim d is cut away at its ends and fitted to a slot 19' cut into the edge of the plate opposite the bail p.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 4: and 6 the slide-member S is constructed from sheetmetal in the form of a flat plate of rectangular outline, and is punched out to form side-strips s-s connected by opposite, lateral end-bars ss' and a central crossbar c. The metal strips cut away from hot-ween the cross-bars as' and c are bent upwardly in two parallel, spaced tongues t t which serve as the spring-detents for fastening the two parts of the clasp together. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 6 the tongues are slightly crimped along their sides or howed inwardly toward each other to provide opposite detent-shoulders or ledges LZ which snap across the edges of the slot in in the plate P to hold the parts together. The upper edges of the tongues t-t are rounded or beveled off to render them easier of insertion through the slot at in the plate P.

The manner of applying, my improved strap to use is as follows: Referring to Fig.

1, the end of the band orribbon R is douother means bail 2) which clasp-member or otherwise V fastened together to attach this part of the clasp in place. The opposite end of the ribbon R is then inserted through the slide S by passingit over the end-bars s's and under the central bar 6. This provides that the slide S may be slid along the ribbon to adjust the length of the band in fastening it around the wearers wrist, but when the band is drawn tight the slide w'll be prevented from moving on the ribbon. The end of the band or ribbon R opposite from the clasp C is usually provided with a loop or for fastening it to a lug or ear on the watch while leaving the clasp-end free. This latter end is inserted through the opposite lug on the *atch and is then turned back and clasped to the slide S after the latter has been adjusted in position to draw the band tightly around the wrist.

In clasping the two members C and S together it is only necessary to register the tongues (f-e2 on the slide S with the slot u in the bottom plate P and to press the two parts together. The tongues r't will thus be caused to spring together to enter their rounded ends through the slot a, and the detent-shoulders Z-Z will snap into engagement with the edges of the slot to hold the parts together. In this way the two parts of the clasp are securely fastened together against lateral or longitudinal movement, while to unclasp the device it is only necessary to pry the member C upwardly with the finger nail. This action causes the tongues tt to be sprung together to release their shoulders ZZ from the sides of the slot u, and thus when either fastening or unfastening the clasp only a single simple movement of the hand is required. The convex form of the sides of the slot 24 in the plate P renders it easier to enter the springtongues t2f through the slot and also tends to provide a better engagement between the parts to prevent lateral displacement thereof.

It will be observed that when the two parts of the clasp are fastened toget ier the shell or back Dof the member C completely covers the slide S and conceals the fasteningmeans, Moreover, the two parts are relatively flat and in their clasped relation fit closely together so as to provide a particularly neat and unobtrusive appearance without the bulky or clumsy'effectof the usual devices of this kind. The smooth, beveled edges of the upper member 0 heighten the ornamental appearance of the clasp, and it is to be particularly noted that there are no sharp corners or projections to catch 'in the garments of the wearer. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the artistic effect of the top of the clasp is heightened by an ornamental border a, and its central panel may be further embellished with scroll-designs or initials engraved thereon. The complete device, while being ncater and more ornamental in appearance than the usual clasp, much simpler in construction, comprising a minimum number of parts which are strurk up from sheet-metal, without requirsoldering. thereby tending to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Various modifications might be made in the term and structure of the parts of my improved clasp without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, therefore, without limiting myse t to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, what I claim is:

1. In a clasp ior strapslmnrls or ribbons of wrist-watchcs, or for like purposes, the combination of a slide adapted for adjust ment on the ribbon and provided with upstanding laterall v-- -xtending parallel spacedapart strips forming spring-tongues having deten' shoulders on their sides, oi a topzuembcr provided with an extended slot thro which the tongues on the shdc may be inserted to engage their dctent-shouldcrs with the edges thereof.

L. In a clasp for fastening the cnds oi straps, bands or ribbons, the combination with a member provided with upstanding opposite parallel spring-tongues having dctent-shoulders on their sides, of a plate-like member formed with a slot adapted to be snapped over the spring-tongues to engage its sides with he shoulders thereof, and :1 hollow shell having its marginal edges bent down around the edges of the plate-member to secure it in sugerimposcd position thereon.

3. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, bands or ribbons, the combination with a slide having opposite end-bars and a aeutral crossbar over and under which the ribbon leads, said central bar formed with integral upstanding parallel spring-tongues extending along its sides and having detentshoulders on their opposite sides, of a platemember provided with a lateral slot adapted to receive the spring-tongues with its edges engaged by the detent-shoulders.

4. In a clasp for fastening the ends of straps, bands or ribbons, the combination of a plate nember formed with a relatively narrow slot having opposite convex sides, and a second cooperating member having upstanding parallel spring-tongues formed with opposite detent-shoulders, said springtongues adapted for insertion through the slot of the plate-member to engage their shoulders with its convex sides in the man ner and for the purpose substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature.

RUFUS KING.

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