US1509955A - Adjustable strap or band - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 30, 1924. 'y 1,509,955

C. H. KESTENMAN ADJUSTABLE STRAP OR BAND Filed May 31 1924 Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN, F PROVIDENCE, RHODE Sl'iAlD7 ASSEGNOR TO KES'IEN- MAN BROTHERS MFG. CO., 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF ABRAHAM KESTENMAN AND CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

ADJUSTABLE STB-AP OR BAND.

Application filed May 31,

To all 'io/wm t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KESTEN- MAN, a. citizen of th-e United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence, State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Straps or Bands, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in flexible metal straps, bands or linkages for use in the manufacture of bracelets, chains, belts and other jewelry or articles of a like nature.

A principal object of the invention is to provide an improved article of manufacture of the type specified having closely associated articulated links or Vchain-elements which are adapted toflex, one in relation to the other, in order that the strap 'or band may be bent into different shapes; and particularly to provide means for coupling and uncoupling the link-members whereby units .may be added to or detached from the band, chain or bracelet to alter its length.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the type specified in which the links or chain-elements are more neatly and closely connected to adapt them to be flexed without dislocation of the parts and without revealing unsightly joints or seams.

Another object of the improvement is to provide clasping-means for the several links or units of the strap or chain which may be readily snapped together when a link is added and which may be conveniently unclasped when a link is to be subtracted from the chain.

Another object of the improvement is to provide a clasping-means which is proof against accidental release or disconnection and which will be strong and durable in use.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the type specied which may be manufactured from sheet-metal parts, struck up in dies and assembled with a minimum of hand operations.

Another object of the improvement is to provide an article of the type specified which may have its parts assembled without soldering.

Further objects of the improvement are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the in- 1924. Serial No. 716,904.

vention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved metal strap, band or chain showing it bent or flexed in substantially circular' form;

F ig. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view of several of the links of the strap, band or chain with certain of the outer links shown partly in section along their sides to illustrate the arrangement of the inner connecting-links enclosed thereby;

Fig. 3 is a side view of several of the links of the strap, band or chain with a portion of the same shown in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. t is an enlarged perspective View of one of the outer tubular box-links of the device;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the sheetmetal blank from which the outer box-link is formed;

F ig. G is a perspective view of the inner connecting-link showing the arrangement of the clasping-means through which it is joined to two adjacent outer links; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe sheet-metal blank from which the inner connecting link is constructed.

The present improved device is of the same general character and type as the strap, band or chain illustrated and described iu my prior application for Letters Patent Serial No. 700,509, filed March 20, 1924, but is distinguished therefrom in that in the present construction the links are not slidable one within the other to adapt the article to expand, but, on the other hand, are disconnectable in order to add or subtract the units to alter the length of the bracelet or other articlein which the links are incorporated. The present structure may be embodied as an entirety in a bracelet, chain, necklace, or other lik-e article, or a number of unitsof the strap or band may be connected to a chain or bracelet having links of a different type; as, for instance, the eXpansib-le bracelet shown in my application for patent above referred to. That is to say, the main section of the bracelet, chain, necklace, or other article may be composed of expansible links of a suitable type, while certa-in of the links of the article may be of the present improved construction whereby the bracelet, chain or necklace can be lengthened or shortened as desired by adding or subtracting the units.

Referring` now to the drawings, l have preferred to illustrate the invention as embodied in a strap, band or chain having all of the links of the saine type in accordance with the present improvement. As herein shown the strap, band or chain is composed of outer tubular box-links 2 and inner connecting-links 3, the latter having means for clasping them to the ends of the main boxlinks. Each outer link 2 comprises a hollow or tubular box of folded sheet-metal having Y open ends with prongs or lugs et projecting part way thereacross to provide-the connecting-means for fastening the inner links thereto. The box-links 2 are substantially the same as those illustrated in my prior application for patent above referred to and are constructed from sheet-metal blanks 5 of the form shown in Fig. 5. The central or main portion of the blank 5 is of rectangular shape with slightly tapered extensions (S at its ends which fold upwardly to form the sides ofV the box. The extensions G are continued in the strips 7 which are cut away at their ends to form opposite narrow fingers or lugs 8. To forni the box-link 2 the blank 5 is folded across its width at points indicated by the dash lines in Fig. 5 so that the two sides of the box will stand in perpendicular relation to the main portion of the blank; the sides of the box being of wedge-shape, as shown in Fig. il, to adapt the ends of the links to fit closely together when the band is bent into circular form as shown in Fig. 1. The central portion of the blank 5 forms the top of the box and its bottoni is formed from the ends 7 of the strip which are folded inwardly at righty angles to the sides to meet at the center in a closely butted seam 9. In folding the ends 7 of the strip .inwardly the lugs or lingers 8 are bent downwardly with the lugs on the opposite ends of the strip abutting to provide the abutments or prongs 1, see Fig. il, previously referred to as the fasteningmeans for the inner links.

The inner enclosed links or connectingelements 3 of the strap, band or chain are also of hollow box-like form and have spring-tongues or flaps 12 which are slotted to engage with the lugs l, at the ends of the outer box-members 2. The connectinglinks 3 are constructed from somewhat lighter stock than that entering into the outer boxmembers and are folded into shape from sheet-metal blanks 10 of the outline illustrated in Fig. 7. The main portion 11 of the blank is of rectangular outline, and extending from one of its sides is the flap or tongue 12, of oblong shape with a narrowed neck 13 which joins it to the main portion of the blank. The Hap or tongue l2 is punched or perforated to form two rectangular openings or slots 14 and 15 separated by a narrow strip 19 of the metal. On the opposite side of the main portion 11 of the blank l() is a narrow lip 16 which is employed for a purpose as later explained.

ln forming` the connecting-link 2 vfrom the blank 10 the ends of the strip 11 are bent or folded at right-angles to provide the sides 17 of the box. The tongue 12 is then bent across its narrowed neck-portion 13 and folded over in opposite parallel relation with the main strip 11, whereby it forms a spring liap or hasp lying between the folded sides 17 of the box. The outer end of the llap or tongue 12 is rolled or curled over to adapt it to slide across the ends of the lugs et on the main link 2 in clasping the parts together in the manner as hereinafter more fully explained. The lip 16 is bent at right-angles to the main strip 11 to provide an abutment or stop against which the tongue 12 strikes when it is sprung toward the main portion of the link, as illustrated in Fig. -l.

It is to be understood that in the present drawings the links or liox-melubers 2 and il are shown in inverted position, that isbottom l side up, in order to more clearly illustrate their construction. lVhen the band, strap or chain is in use. however, the position ol' the links will be reversed so that the smooth unbroken sides of the main links 9. form the exposed or upper face of the, band while the opposite bottoni sides having the seamsl are ordinarily concealed from view.

ln assembling the parts of the strap. band or chain the outer links 2 are placed in alinement and the inner comiecting-links il inserted between their sides before the main links are completely formed. ll'hen the bottom portions of the main link are folded over and their edges brought together in the butt-joint; S) the lingers or lugs at the ends oll the strip are bent in\\*ardly. as illustrated in Fig. l, to insert them through the .rectangular openings ll and 15 in the spring tongue. or flap l2 of the inner link 2. ll preferred, the outer links 2 may each be ilulividually assembled with one of the inner connectinglinks by folding the bottom portions ol' the main `link thereover and inserting the l ingers 8 through the slot 15. lVhen each of the main links 2 has been joined at one end lo an inner link 3 in this n'ianner the projecting portion of the connecting-link 2l is slid into the opening in the next adjacent main link by springing the flap or tongue 1Q inwardly against its stop 1G. As before explained. the outer, free end of the tongue 12 is bent or curled over at' 18 to adapt it to slide across the end of the prong elon the main link 2 to act as a latch whereby the prong or lug 1 will snap into the slot l-l in the tongue as illustrated in Fig. 2l.

After the links have been comieeted in lill) lllfl llll Cil

the strap, hand or chain, or embodied in a bracelet or other article, the different links are readily disconnected to shorten the length of the article by releasing the tongues 12 from the lugs 4 at the ends ot' the main links. This is most readily accomplished by inserting a sharp instrument, such as a pin, into the opening between two adjacent links on the under side of the strap or bracelet, as illustrated at the right in Fig. 3. By pressing the pin P against the crossbar 19 intervening between the two slots 14 and 15 the tongue orhasp 12 is sprung inwardly until it strikes against the abutment or stop 16, as shown at the right in Fig. 3. The tongue or hasp 12 will thus be released from the prong 4 on the next connected outer link 2 so that the links can be drawn apart. The next adjacent clasping-link 3 may then be released from the opposite end of the main link in the same manner so that one or more of the links can thus be removed to shorten the band, bracelet, or other article. The two parts of the bracelet are then connected together by sliding the tongue 12 of the. connecting-link at one end into the main link at the opposite end, the tongue or hasp 12 being thus caused to slide in under the prong 4 until the latter registers with the slot or opening 14, when the tongue will spring back into place to clasp the two ends of the strap together.

It will thus be seen that the separable units of the strap, band, bracelet, or other article are readily disconnected so that they may be removed to shorten its length and, likewise, additional units or links may be added to the strap or bracelet by disconnecting two of its links and inserting the eXtra link or links in place between them.

It will be observed that the present improven'rent provides a particularly neat and simple structure adapted for the construction of straps, bands or .linkages employed in bracelets, chains or like articles of jewelry, and having means i'or disconnecting and connecting the links at will to alter the length of the article as required. It will be noted that the parts ot the strap or band are constructed from sheet-metal stampings which may be formed in dies with their parts joined without soldering. The improved clasping-means between the main links of the article provide a particularly strong and durable connection for holding the links in closely associated relation without disclosing unsightly joints or seams between the parts. Furthermore, the improved construction makes for greater strength and durability ot' the article in use, while providing ior a convenient adjustment of the links to add or subtract units to the band or bracelet.

Vihile I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form and structure of the parts of the device without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself to the exact construction shown, I claim:

1. In an article of the type specified, a series of outer tubular link-members having open ends with prongs extending part way thereacross, and a series of inner connecting-links of box-like form enclosed within the outer links and provided with springtongues having openings for receiving the prongs at the ends oit two adjacent main links.

2. In an article of the type specified, the combination with outer tubular link-members having prongs projecting inwardly across the openings at their ends, and boX- like connecting-members having folded sides with a spring-tongue extending therebetween, said tongue provided with slotted openings adapted to engage the prongs at the ends of the main link-members to connect the latter in a flexible band or chain.

In an article ot' the type specified, the combination of tubular main link-members folded from strips of sheet-instal with the edges thereof forming a butted seam on the under side of the link with lugs bent inwardly from the ends of the folded portions and abutting to provide prongs projecting part way across the openings at the ends of the links, and inner box-like link-inembers formed from strips of metal folded to provide opposite parallel sides and having a flap extending from one end and bent upwardly and across between the sides with spaced slots pierced therethrough and adapted to be sprung into engagement with the prongs at the oposite ends oit the main links to connect the latter in a band or chain.

4. In an article ot the type specified, the combination ot a. tubular main link :formed ot sheet-metal with prongs bent .inwardly to project part way across the openings at their ends, and inner connecting-links having main fiat portions with sides bent at right angles thereto and a flap connected to the main portion by a narrow neck to adapt it to be bent upwardly and across between the sides, said flap being perforated with two opposite slots and provided with a curled-over end adapted to be slid in under the prong at the end of the outer main link to adapt one of its slots to engage therewith, with its other slot receiving the prong at the end of an adjacent main link.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ai'lix my signature.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN.

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