US128983A - Improvement in bracelet-fastenings - Google Patents

Description

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Improvement in Bra'celet-Fastenings. No, 128,983, PatentedlulylfiflBJZQ 'ivrrnn STATES PATENT OFFIdEv GEORGE E. SOULE, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

IMPRGVEMENT IN BRACELET-FASTENINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,983, dated July 16, 1872.

SPECIFICATION. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. SOULE, of

Jersey City, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Clasps for Bracelets and other articles of Jewelry; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full description of the same.

The object of my improvement is to lock the claspspring by a positive motion of the latch; and the nature of my invention consists in combining with the clasp-spring a latch-lever having a cam on its short end for the purpose of acting upon a stationary stud secured into the inner rim of the bracelet, and just in front of the end of the spring, to elevate or lift its edge up against the end of the bracelet, and thus, by a positive motion of the latch, lock the clasp; but to describe my invention more particularly I'will refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, the same letters of reference, wherever they occur, referring to like parts.

Figure 1 is an edge side view of the bracelet. Fig. 2 is a cut section of the same through the line :17 a, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 4 is a detached view of the bracelet, showing the latch thrown back to unlock the clasp.

Letters A and B represent the hoop of metal forming the bracelet made in two halves, and joined together by a hinge, O, in the usual manner. These hoops are made hollow, but may be made of solid metal, or other material, and have the clasp secured to their looking ends. To the upper end of the part of the hoop B is solidly attached a tongue of metal, D, to which a spring, E, is secured. In ordinary practice this spring is formed out of a section of the tongue D, but may be made by folding down the tongue of metal or by soldering or riveting it thereon. The object of this spring is to lock the two parts A and B together by inserting it into the end of A. When the spring is inserted into the end of A it is in a depressed position, and the latch-lever F is thrown back, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the cam G on its short end is turned up, and thus allows the spring to flatten down upon or toward the level of the tongue to which it is attached. In this position it is readily inserted into the slit in the end of stud, K, secured upon the upper side of the inner rim of the bracelet, just in front of the edge of the spring, and lifts it up behind the metal strip L, forming the end of the part A of the bracelet, to lock the two parts to gether. The object of this is to lock the clasp by a positive motion, and thus avoid all tendency of loss of elasticity in the spring to react automatically to fill the recess in the end of the bracelet. When the latch-lever is shut down it is guarded from any acci dental opening by the cheek-pieces I, leaving only its end sufficiently exposed for the application of the thumb or finger nail to liftit. It will be obvious that by this operation of locking the clasp it cannot get unlocked except the latch-lever is thrown back to release the cam from off the stud. When this is done the spring contracts or reacts upon the tongue to which it is attached, and then the partsA and B may be separated. In this position' the parts will not lock together; consequently the wearer, on discovering that it will not lock when applied to the wrist, will be compelled to shut the latchlever down before the bracelet can be worn, and thus, by the positive and indispensable prerequisite of manual exertion and thought, obtain a security against loss, which is not possible where the clasp is self-locking, and the entire sense of protection is in the assumed elasticity of the spring to react to fill the recess in the end of the bracelet.

Having now described my invention, I will proceed to set forth what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

I claim.

The combination of the latch-lever F, having a cam, G, on its short end, with the spring E, guards or cheek-pieces I, and stud K, all constructed and arranged substantially as de- Witnesses R. RowLEY, CHARLES L. BARRrrr.

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