Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Strap tighteners – Strap-attached folding lever
Patent
1993-02-18
1994-07-26
Sakran, Victor N.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Strap tighteners
Strap-attached folding lever
24 69J, 24265WS, A44C 500
Patent
active
053317238
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a folding clasp for a bracelet of the type comprising a centre shank formed by two parallel side members connected at their ends. On these ends are articulated folding arms which fold down and lock in the shank.
For many years, attempts have been made to create bracelet clasps which, for aesthetic reasons, can be concealed when the bracelet is in the closed position. To achieve this aim, consisting of hiding the clasp when the bracelet is closed, clasps with a shank and folding arms have been proposed, on which the arms fold down into the shank to avoid any projection, which is considered unsightly.
The problem is to lock these folding arms correctly in the closed position, without anything being seen from the outside, and various technical solutions have been adopted.
A first solution consists of locking the folding arms laterally in the shank, a solution which is described for example in the disclosures in U.S. Pat. No. 1,839,788, FR 537 072 and EP 0 115 740. The major drawback of this solution is that, in order to have a closure which is both secure and openable with sufficient ease, the lateral profiles of the folding arms and side members forming the shank have to be manufactured with a great deal of care, making the operation expensive.
A second solution consists of locking the folding arms at the end, and in this respect the disclosure in FR 2 619 292 will be cited, in which each folding arm is locked, by means of its latch-shaped head, in a corresponding rod connecting the side members.
The clasp described in the disclosure in CH 633 698 will also be cited, in which the arms are locked on a single central member.
The invention repeats the simplicity of the technical solutions described in the disclosures FR 2 619 292 and CH 633 698, whilst eliminating from them the drawbacks which make them rather impractical.
According to the invention, in fact, a folding clasp for a bracelet is disclosed, comprising a central shank formed by two parallel side members connected at their ends. On these are articulated folding arms folding down and locking in the shank on a member connecting the two side members transversely. Each arm has a head which both receives a bracelet end and ensures locking inside the shank. These heads each have on their front face a concavity which, when locking takes place, bears in compression on the transverse member and thus locks the folding arms. The locking heads each have, on their bottom face, a transverse recess located behind the concavity.
In a first embodiment, there is only one transverse locking member. It alone receives and locks the two heads closed.
In a second embodiment, each head has its own transverse locking member, these for example being located side by side.
Preferably the locking member or members are rods and, preferably also, the arms, each with its respective head, are made in a single piece.
Particularly advantageously, the transverse recess provided on the bottom face of each of the folding arms is a groove, U-shaped or with a square or rectangular shape, and its width is modifiable.
It will be observed first of all that, compared with the solution adopted in the disclosure FR 2 619 292, locking takes place in compression on the folding arms rather than in extension. The mechanism is more robust and simpler and is more tolerant to deviations from manufacturing specifications.
Compared with the solution in the disclosure CH 633 698, the presence of a central recess on each of the folding arms gives a latch shape to the locking heads thus giving the necessary flexibility allowing easy locking and unlocking, which appears to be completely impractical with solid components.
The fact also that the locking heads can, if desired, be produced in a single piece (monobloc) with their arms results in great strength of the whole, which is not the case with the clasp in the disclosure CH 633 698, in which, according to the figures, the head is in two parts connected together. The assembly described in this disclosure therefore has great
REFERENCES:
patent: 1771249 (1930-07-01), Domler
patent: 1839788 (1932-01-01), Hogberg
patent: 1997723 (1935-04-01), Franklin, Jr.
patent: 2480923 (1949-09-01), Hatchette
patent: 2532840 (1950-12-01), Gaun
Maier S.A.
Sakran Victor N.
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