US2998697A - Detachable sheet metal link and linkage formed therefrom - Google Patents

Description

p 1961 K. c AUGENSTEIN 2,998,697

DETACHABLE SHEET METAL LINK AND LINKAGE FORMED THEREFROM Filed July 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

KARL C. AUGENSTEIN ATI'ORN EYS DETACHABLE SHEET METAL LINK AND LINKAGE FORMED THEREFROM Filed July 11, 1958 p 1961 K. c. AUGENSTEIN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

am ATTORNEYS simple but rugged in construction and is t States The present invention relates to an improved band of pivotally attached links for use as a wrist watch strap, bracelet or the like. More particularly the invention rela es to such a band at least a part of which comprises a plurality of pivotally attached non-expansible links.

An object of the present invention is to provide such a band in which adjacent links are pivotally connected by a simple, inexpensive and unique mechanism by means of which such links are readily detachable from an attachable to each other without the use of special tools and without the necessity of returning the bracelet to the factory. Consequently, one or more links can be readily removed or inserted by the jeweler to shorten or lengthen the bracelet or to repair the removed link or links.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism in Whch the danger of the links becoming detached. by accident is reduced to a minimum. However, its operation is sim ple and obvious to even an unskilled person to whom it has been disclosed.

Another object is to provide such a mechanism that is simple and inexpensive to make.

Another object is to provide such a band in which the mechanism for detachably attaching the comprises a separable, pivotal attachment between adjacent links.

Another object is to provide a link having a mechanism for pivotally and detacha'oly attaching the link to an adjacent link or other member. Preferably, the mechanism comprises a part which is mounted in the link and which is movable to a first attach position in which it completes a separable, pivotal connection between the link and its adjacent link or member and to a second detach position in which the separable, pivotal connection is separated and the link can be detached from its adjacent link or other member. in a preferred form of the invention the part comprises a longitudinally slidable hinge pin.

Another object is to provide such a link which includes elf contained resilient means for resiliently urging and normally maintaining such movable part to .and in its attach position.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the movable part is adapted to be forced from attach position to detach position against the force of said resilient means urging it to its attach position.

Another object is to provide such a link which is hollow, in which the resilient means urging the movable part to its attach position is located within the hollow. link, and in which the movable part is slidable the hollow link between its attach position, in which it protrudes a substantial distance out of a side edge of the hollow link to complete the separable, pivotal connection, and its detach position in which it is retracted further into the hollow link to separate the separable pivotal connection.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the resilient means comprises a spring element which is sinuous, preferably sinusoidal, in shape, and which extends generally in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the sinuous shaped resilient spring element has two sets of folds. The folds of each set are substantially coplanar.

atent The plane of each set of folds is substantially parallel to the plane of the other set and is substantially transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band. The folds of each set are connected by parts of the spring element which extend generally transverse to the planes of the folds.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the movable part comprises a hinge pin which is integral with and forms an end portion of such spring element and extends in a direction generally transverse to the longitud'mal center line of the band.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the hinge pin is aligned with one of the sets of folds and in which a portion of the spring element intermediate its ends is exposed for applying a force thereto to force the pin from its attach position to its detach position against the force exerted on it by the sinuous portion of the element.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the exposed portion of the spring element extends in the general direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, the pin extending at about a right angle from such exposed portion in a direction transverse to said longitudinal center line.

Another object is to provide such a link having a notch in a wall thereof, such notch overlying and exposing said exposed portion of the spring element.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the hinge pin protrudes into a recess in an edge of the link and is received in a hinge portion of the next adjacent link or member, such hinge portion being received in the recess.

Another object is to provide such a link vhich has a hinge portion extending from the edge thereof opposite from that having the recess and in the direction of the longitudinal center line or" the band, the last mentioned hinge portion being received in a recess in the other adjacent link or member.

Another object is to provide such a link in which the spring element has a hinge pin at its other end extending in a direction generally transverse to the center line of the band, in which the sinuous shaped part of the element comprises an intermediate part thereof and the two hinge pins comprise end portions thereof and in which the two hinge pins of the spring element protrude beyond opposite side edges of the link into recesses in an edge of the link facing the next adjacent link or member, such pins being received in hinge portions of the next adjacent link or member, such hinge portions being received in the recesses, whereby the link is pivotally and detachably attached to the adjacent link or member.

Another object is to provide such a link which has a pair of hinge portions extending from the edge thereof opposite from the edge having the recesses and in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the such last mentioned hinge portions being adapted to receive hinge pins of the other adjacent link or member and being received in a pair of recesses in the other adjacent link or member, whereby the link is pivotally and detachably attached to the other adjacent link or member.

Ano er object is to provide such a link having means for cooperating with the adjacent links or members for limiting pivotal movement with respect thereto. I

Another object is to provide such a link having a top shell which overlaps one of the adjacent links or members to limit pivotal movement therebetween in one direction and a displaced portion on the bottom Wall thereof which overlaps the bottom of the other adjacent link or member to limit pivotal movement therebetween in an opposite direction.

Another object is to provide a band comprising a plurality of such links pivotally and detachably attached vpansible part of the band in partially expanded position.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a non-expansible end section of the band of FIG. 1 with the ornamental top shells of some of the non-expansib-le links removed. FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom view like FIG. 2 partially in section.

e e 1 assess FIG. 4 is a view like FlG. 3 showing the non-expansible v end section fully detached at one place and partially detached at another.

FIG 5 is a side view of the band of FIG. 3 partially in section.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 3 and rotated 180 about the longitudinal center line of the band. 7

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 7-'7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line d% of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of one of the links of the non-expansible section.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the hollow link of HS. 9 taken from a diiferent direction.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the hollow link of FIG. 10 with the sheet material from which the link is made being only partially bent towards the position it occupies in the link.

Referring now to the drawings:

Band 2 (FIG. 1) comprises a pair ofnon-expansible end sections 4 comprising a plurality ofnon-expansible links 6, pivotally attached to each other in a novel mannor to be described hereinafter, and an expansible middle section lil comprising a plurality of upper and lower expansible links 3 and 3.2 respectively arranged in a lazy tong arrangement. The lazy tong expansible linkage per so does not constitute part of the present invention and consequently, it will not be described in detail. The expansible section 10 is attached by a half link 13 and a quarter link 15 to the bottom ofterminal connector 14, which is in turn attached to one end of anon-expansible end section 4 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Eachnon-expansible link 6 comprises ahollow link 16 having an ornamental shell 18 attached to the top thereof and aspring element 20 by means of which the link is detachably and pivotally attached to its adjacent link in a manner to be described hereinafter. Each 'hollow link 16 is made of a single piece or blank of sheet metal such as steel, which is bent into a hollow middle tubular portion 22 (see FIGS. 9, 10 and 11) having a relatively fiatupper wall 24, a relativelyfiat bottom wall 26, a pair ofend walls 28 and 30 formed by bends in the metal, as shown, andopen sides 31. The edges of the sheet come together at 32 to form a seam. Theend wall 28 and the adjacent portion ofupper wall 24 have anotch 34 cut therein intermediate their ends, as shown. The portion ofbottom wal 26 oppositenotch 34 in the top wall has a downwardly displacedportion 36 extending to theend wall 28 and having alip 38, which extends beyond theend wall 38 in the direction of the middletubular portion 22 in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, as shown, to form a pair ofrecesses 42 in the opposite ends of one edge 43 (formed by wall 28) of thelink 16 and protruding portions 41, which protrude from the opposite ends of the edge 45 (formed by wall 36) oflink 16 opposite from edge 43 in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, as shown, and which form a pair ofhinges 46.Hollow link 16 may be described as being generally U shaped withrecesses 42 in the outer corners of the U formed by thebase 22 of the U and the legs &1 and each leg 41 having ahinge 46.

Eachside portion 46 comprises an integral extension of a part of theside 31 of the bottom wall '26adjacent end wall 36, which extension is displaced frombottom wall 26 upwardly at 44, extends beyond end wall 39 in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band to form protruding portion 41 and is folded upwardly at 56 back on itself at 43 to form a hinge.Portion 48 extends along the upper surface of portion as and is lo cated slightly below the plane of theupper wall 24 of the hollow link, as shown in FIG. 10. The shoulder 49 (FIG. 9) formed by the juncture of the side ofbottom wall 26 and the upwardly displacedportion 44 of eachside portion 46 together with the inner edge 51 (FEGS. l0 and ll) of 45 of such side portion overlie a substantial portion of theopen side 31 of middletubular portion 22adjacent end wall 30.

Eachrecess 42 has awall 50, extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band and formed by the edges of 44 and 48, and awall 52 extending in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band and formed by the portion of the open side or" middlehollow portion 22adjacent end wall 28.

It is noted thatend wall 30 ofmiddle portion 22 and the inner edges 60 of protruding portions d1 form a tongue-receiving recess 58, and that the part of middletubular portion 22 betweenrecesses 42 forms ahollow tongue 6 theopen sides 31 or"portion 22adjacent wall 28 comprising openings 69 in the sides of the hollow tongue 64. The hollow tongue 64 of eachhollow link 16 is received in the tongue-receiving recess 58 of one of its next adjacent links with the hinges 4-6 of such nextadjacent link 16 being received in therecesses 42 of the link. The tongue-receiving recess 5% of such link receives the hollow tongue 64 of the other adjacent link with thehinges 46 of such link being received in therecesses 42. of the other adjacent link.

One of the side edges of thebottom wall 26 of the middletubular portion 22 formingrecess wall 52 has anotch 73 therein which is elongated in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band, as shown. A portion of theedges 49, 51 of theside portion 40 lie over the opening of thenotch 73, such edges being beveled slightly at 74, as shown, to provide access to the notch opening.

Aresilient spring element 26 is located within the hollowmiddle portion 22 oflink 16.Spring element 26 has a middle, sinuous or sinusoidal shapedspring portion 65, each end of which extends integrally into apin 71 and 72. The sinuous shaped,middle portion 65 comprises an elongated strip of resilient fiat material such as spring steel having a plurality of folds 67 therein divided into twosets 66 and 63, the folds of each set being substantially coplanar and the plane of the folds of each set being substantially parallel to the plane of the folds of the other set and extending in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal center lien of the band. Thespring element 26 extends generally in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band. Opposite folds 66 and 68 are connected by thecross pieces 75 which extend in a direction generally transverse to the planes of the folds and generally paralextends in an opposite direction from the other. Both end pins extend in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band, as shown.Spring element 20 is snugly received in the hollowmiddle portion 22 of thehollow link 16 with one set offolds 66 lying along and adjacent to the slottedend wall 28 of the middle portion and the other set of folds 63 lying along and adjacent to the end wall 36}. Notch exposes some of thefolds 66. Engagement of thecross pieces 75 of thespring element 20 from which pins 71 and 72 extend with the shoulders 49 andedges 51 of side portions 4i) prevent the spring element from sliding out of the sides of hollowmiddle portion 22. Pin ends 71 and 72 are generally perpendicular to thecross pieces 75 from which they integrally extend, are aligned and coplanar with the set offolds 66 and protrude out of the openings 69 at the sides of the hollow tongue 64 and hence out of therecess walls 52 of therecesses 42 into the recesses, as shown, each pin being spaced in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band from theother recess wall 50, as shown.

Pins 71 and 72 of eachlink 16 are pivotally received in the apertures 77 of thehinges 46 of theside portions 40 of the nextadjacent link 16, such hinges being received in therecesses 42 of said each link, as shown. Thesepins 71 and 72 therefor comprise hinge pins for these hinges. The hinge pins 71 and 72 of the otheradjacent link 16 are received in the apertures 77 ofhinges 46 of said each link, such hinges being received in therecesses 42 of said other adjacent link, as shown. Consequently, eachlink 16 is pivotally attached or connected to one adjacent link by means of its hinge pins 71 and 72 and thehinges 46 of such next adjacent link and is pivotally attached or connected to its otheradjacent link 16 by means of itshinges 46 and the hinge pins 71 and 72 of the other adjacent link. The pivotal axis of each hinge connection extends in a direction from one side of the band to the other and generally transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band. The edges 73:: of theside portions 40 form the sides of the band.

Thecross piece 75 ofspring element 20 from which thepin 71 extends is exposed by thenotch 73 and is located close to the open end of the notch, as shown. Thenotch 73 and beveledportions 74 ofside portion 4% ermit the pointed end of a pointed object 79 such as a common pin or the like to be placed against the outer wall of the exposedcross piece 75 and to be moved inwardly toward the longitudinal center line of the band to compress the intermediate sinuous shapedspring portion 65 of thespring element 20, as shown inF. S 3 and 4, and to forcehinge pin 71 to move inwardly and longitudinally against the force exerted thereon by theintermediate spring portion 65 from attach position, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which it is normally maintained by the shape of thespring element 26 and in which thepin 71 protrudes from thewall 52recess 42 into the recess and is received inhinge 46 of the next adjacent link, whereby a separable, pivotal connection is provided between the two links, to a detach position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in which thepin 71 is retracted into the middletubular portion 22 and is removed from thehinge 46 of the next adjacent link, whereby the separable pivotal connection is separated and the two links can be detached from each other by movingt e hinge 46 out of therecess 42, as shown in FIG. whereafter thepin 72 can be moved out or" its hinge 4d of the adjacent link. The engagement of the shoulder 49 and edge 51 ofside portion 46 withcross piece 75 from which theopposite pin 72 extends prevents thespring element 20 from being forced sideways out of the hollowintermediate portion 22 while thepin 71 is being forced inwardly, as aforesaid.

The link can be detached from its other adjacent link in the same way and the two adjacent links can be pivotally attached to each other to thereby shorten the length of the band by first inserting thepin 72 of the other adjacent link into its correspondinghinge 46 of the first adjacent link, as shown in FIG. 4, thereafter forcingpin 71 of the other adjacent link to its detach position by member 79 and while holding it in detach position moving theother hinge 46 of the first adjacent link into the corresponding recess of the other adjacent link and finally releasingpin 71, whereby thespring portion 65forces pin 71 into the aperture of the last mentionedhinge 46 to complete a pivotal connection therebetween.

Lip 38 of each link underlies thebottom Wall 26 of its right handadjacent link 16, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, to thereby function as a stop to limit the amount of pivotal movement which can take place between the two links in a downward direction, the pivotal movement therebetween in the other direction being limited by a stop mechanism to be described hereinafter.

Ornamental shell 18 is attached to the top of eachhollow link 16 by means of a pair oftabs 76 extending downwardly from the side walls 78 of the shell and under thelink 16, as shown, eachtab 76 being received in the recess in the bottom oflink 16 formed by the upwardly displacedside portion 44, as shown. The side walls 78 of the ornamental shell overlie the sides 73a of thehollow link 16, as shown, with the corner portions 89 thereof overlying a part of the apertures 77 of the hinges 46 (see FIG. 5). A recess 62 is provided in an edge of eachside wall 73 opposite from the edge having the corner portion 88 and conforms in shape generally to the outline of an adjacent part ofhinge 46 of the next adjacent link.

The longitudinal edges ofupper wall 34 of ornamental shell 18 are corrugated and generally curvilinear, as shown. A portion of theupper wall 84 of the ornamental shell of each link overlaps thetop wall 24 of themiddle portion 22 of the left hand adjacent link to provide a stop for limiting pivotal movement of the two links with respect to each other in an upward direction. The ornamental shell of the right hand adjacent link overlaps the top of the link to provide a Stop for limiting such pivotal movement therebetween and thelip 38 of the left hand adjacent link overlaps the bottom wall of the link to provide a stop for limiting pivotal movement therebetween in a downward direction. The longitudinal edges ofupper wall 84 haveflanges 86 depending downwardly therefrom. Theflanges 86 are corrugated in the same way as the longitudinal edges of the upper wall. Thecorrugated flanges 66 of the ornamental shells of adjacent links interfit with each other, as shown.

Thepins 71 and 72 of theend link 16 which is attached toterminal member 90; form hinge pins for a pair of hinges 96 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5) ofterminal member 92 the hinges 9t being formed in a pair ofprotrusions 94, which protrude from the end portions of anedge 95 of the hollowmain body 96 of theterminal member 92.Body 96 forms a hinge for receiving the hail of a watch and has a tongue 163 extending from the mid portion ofedge 95 in the same general direction as theprotrusions 94. The tongue 1% has anend portion 110 which is bent downwardly and which cooperates with thelip 38 of theend link 16 to limit pivotal movement of theterminal connector 92 with respect to the end link downwardly.

Terminal member 92 has an ornamental shell conforming generally to the shape thereof and extending thereover. The ornamental shell 206 is attached to the terminal member by means of tabs 162 and the portion 164 (see FIG. 5) which is bent around the outside of thebody 96 of the terminal member, as shown. Apart 103 of theshell 100 overlaps the top of theend link 16 to limit pivotal movement between the terminal member and end link in an upward direction. The top of the overlappingpart 103 of theshell 100 conforms in design with with the tops of the other shells 13.

gasses? The other end link of the non-expansible section is pivotally attached to theterminal connector 14 of the expansible section it? by means of ahinge pin 114 which is received in a hinge 3112 of theconnector 14 and hinges 118 of theornamental shell 120 of said other end link. This ornamental shell 124i is ditlerent from the other ornamental shells is in that it has an extended portion 122 which extends substantially beyond thehinges 46 of such end link, and from which hinges 118 extend, as shown. A pin 12- 3 extends along the width of thebracelct and is received by thehinges 46 of the end link, as shown. The ends of thepin 124 extend through apertures in the side walls 78 of theornamental shell 120 and are peened over at 125 (FIG. 4). ment strengthens the connection between theend link 16 and the terminal connector 1'4 of the expansible section.

Although I have shown and described a desirable embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to persons This arrangeskilled in the art that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of the parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: a

l. A hollow link for use in a band of links, said link comprising a strip of sheet metal bent in the form of a hollow loop open at its sides and the axis of which extends in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, a strip of metal extending outwardly in said transverse direction from the portions of the opposite open sides of said loop adjacent one end Wall to form a pair of wings, each of said strips forming said wings extending beyond said one end wall of said loop in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band and then bending backwardly on itself to form a hinge loop at the bend thereof oifset in said last mentioned direction from said one end wall and adapted to cooperate with hinge pins of a first adjacent member to provide a pivotal connection therebetween, the edges of said wings adjacent said open sides of said loop closing the portions of said open sides from which they extend, said wings forming with the remaining open sides of said loop adjacent the other end wall a pair of recesses, a spring element located in said hollow loop and extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band from one side of the loop to the other, said spring element comprising a resilient sinusoidal shaped mid-portion having hinge pins extending from the opposite ends thereof out of said open sides of said loop and into said recesses for cooperating with hinge loops of a second adjacent member adapted to be received Within said recesses to provide a separable pivotal connection between said link and second adjacent member, said sinusoidal mid-portion of said spring element comprising a plurality of folds connected by cross pieces which extend in the general direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, said pins extending from the end cross pieces of said mid-portion, a slot in said loop extending in said transverse direction and exposing at least one of said end cross pieces whereby said sinusoidal portion of said element can be compressed to retract at least one of said pins into said loop and out of its recess and the hinge loop of the second adjacent member received within said recess to separate the pivotal connection formed by said pin and hinge loop, said end cross pieces abutting against the edges of said wings which close said portions oi said open sides to prevent the spring from moving longitudinally out of the loop.

2. A linkage comprising a link according to claim 1 in combination with said adjacent members, said adjacent members comprising links of: substantially the same construction as said link, said hinge loops of said link fitting in the recesses ct said first adjacent link and being aligned with the open sides of the loop of said first adjacent link 8 and receiving the hinge pins of the spring element in the loop of said first adjacent link, the hinge loops of said second adjacent link being received within said recesses of said link and and being aligned with the open sides of the loop of said link and receiving the hinge pins of the spring element of said link, said hinge loops of said links fitting relatively snugly around said pins but loosely enough to provide freedom of rotational movement therebetween.

3. A link according to claim 1, said slot being in an open side of said link forming a wall of one of said recesses.

4. A hollow link for use in a band of links, said link comprising a strip of sheet metal bent in the form of a hollow loop open at its sides and the axis of which extends in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, a strip of metal extending outwardly in said transverse direction from the portions of the opposite open sides of said loop adjacent one end wall to form a pair of wings, each of said strips forming said Wings extending beyond said one end wall of said loop in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band and then bending backwardly on itself to form a hinge loop at the bend thereof offset in said last mentioned direction from said one end wall and adapted to cooperate with hinge pins of a first adjacent member to provide a pivotal connection therebetween, the edges of said wings adjacent said open sides of said loop closin the portions of said open sides from which they extend, said wings forming with the remaining open sides of said loop adjacent the other end wall a pair of recesses, a spring element located in said hollow loop and extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal center line of the band from one side of the loop to the other, said spring element comprising a resilient sinusoidal shaped midportion having hinge pins extending from the opposite ends thereof out of said open sides of said loop and into said recesses for cooperating with hinge loops of a second adjacent member adapted to be received Within said reccsses to provide a separable pivotal connection between said link and second adjacent member, said sinusoidal mid-portion of said spring element comprising a plurality of folds connected by cross pieces which extend in the general direction of the longitudinal center line of the band, said pins extending from the end cross pieces of said mid-portion, a slot in said loop extending in said transverse direction and exposing at least one of said end cross pieces whereby said sinusoidal portion of said element can be compressed to retract at least one'of said pins into said loop and out of its recess and the hinge loop of the second adjacent member received within said recess to separate the pivotal connection formed by said pin and hinge loop, said end cross pieces abutting against the edges of said wings which close said portions of said open sides to prevent the spring from moving longitudinally out of the loop, said loop having a bottom wall having a downwardly oiiset portion adjacent said other end wall, said odset portion protruding beyond said other end wall in the direction of the longitudinal center line of the band and under said second adjacent member.

5. A link according toclaim 4, also including a top shell on top of said link, said top shell protruding beyond said one end wall in the direction of the longitudinal center line oi said band and over said second adjacent member.

6. A link according to claim 1, said folds comprising two sets of folds, the folds of each set being coplanar, the plane of each set being substantially parallel to the other set and extending substantially transverse to the longitudinal center line of said band, said pins being coplanar with one of said sets of folds.

7. A link according toclaim 6, said other end wall having a slot therein exposing a plurality of folds lying adjacent thereto.

8. A link according to claim 7, said mid-portion of said spring element comprising a fiat strip of resilient material bent into said folds, said pins being circular in crosssectional shape.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 815,899 Bliss Mar. 20, 1906 1,598,250 Person Aug. 31, 1926 1,626,139 Kraysler Aug. 26, 1927 1,669,710 Jones May 15, 1928 1,751,792 Carlson Mar. 25, 1930 10

Images