US1433521A - Bracelet - Google Patents

Description

I. ALBANESE.

BRACELET- APPLICATION FILED MM. 24. 1922.

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Application filed. Marches, 1922f Serial No54t65530.

Be it known that 1, JOHN ALBANnsEya subject of the King of Italy, residing at .lProvidence, in the countyot Providence and Stateoit Rhode llsland, have invented certa-in new and 1 useful Improvements in Bracelets of which the following is a specification. 1 a l This invention relates to a bracelet struc .ture of the type; which comprises aseries of units suitably connected together to form a flexible bracelet. a

a One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the several units are held in substantial. contact with each other at all times to form a continuous structure in Which'the similarlyconstructecl units are all oflike appearance and are connected together without the interposition of separate link members.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved structure of the character described wherein the connecting means for securing the unitstogetherare substantially concealedfrom view, while at the same time the parts are so arranged that a bracelet of great flexibility is provided.

A further obect ofthe invention is to provide an improved form of connecting members for securing the several units together.

1 'Otherobjects and advantages of the invention relate to certainimproved details of construction and arrangement of the parts will be more fully set forth in the detaileddescription to follow.

in devices oi this character as heretofore commonly made it has been. customary either i to interpose separate link members of con siderable size between the bracelet units in such a manner that the completed structure presents the appearance ofbeing formedof alternate links of radically difierent appearance, or to connect the bracelet units bymea-nsof connecting members so formed as to leave a considerable spacebetween the units; In fact with theconstructions gener ally employed one or the other of these meth ods have been necessary 1n order to obtain a suitable degree of flexibility in the brace- 1a. In my improved construction both of these objectionable features are overcome and; a

ltially right angles relativethereto.

structure provided wherein the units are held so closely together as to be in substantial contact with each other all. times while permitting great flexibility of the parts.

Referring to the drawings: a Fig. 1 is a side view of the improved bracelet. i i

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a plurality of units linked together. Fig-n3 is asectional view taken along the line 3-+3of Fig.2.

FigLl is a view of the structure similar to liig. fi exceptthat links are arranged in a curve to better illustrate the ositionot the parts when the bracelet is exed, and, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the connecting members. V In the form of my invention illustrated herewith 1- indicates generally one of the units of which the bracelet structure is formed which is provided with flat base 2 and a continuous wall 3 formed integral with the base 2' and extending at substan- Each unit is preferably pressed out from thin. metal to form thebase and wall portions thereof, and in the present instance the un its are substantially circular in horizontal cross section Openings l and 5 are formed in opposite sides of each unit, eachof these openings being formed on the line of intersection of said base and wall and sloping outwardly from the interior ot the unit as indicated at (3 to form in effect a knife-edge 7 in the base portion cf the nnitso that the adjacent units will have limited movement relative to each other about the lrn'ilieedge 7 of each unit.

a The connecting members 8 for. connecting the several. units together are of similar construction and each compriseia headf10 curved to substantially fit against the interior surface of the wall of one o'f'the units, a shank 11 extending from the convexside of the head 10and having a kerf 12 cut therein to form separable prongs 13 at the end oi said connecting member remote from the headmlo. a

Inassembling the parts to form a complete structure the units are connected togather by placing one of the connecting members 8 within one of theunits and passing the shank 11 of the connecting member through the opening 4 in said unit and into the opening 5 formed in the next ad acent unit, whereupon the prongs 13 are separated in any suitable or desired manner and pressed out into contact with the interior wall of the unit into which they were inserted. The second unit is connected to its next adjacent unit inlike manner and the process of operation continued until a suilicient number or" the units have been connected together to form a bracelet of the desired length. The end unit 15 at one end of the bracelet is provided with resilient catch 16 adapted to be inserted in a socket 17 formed in a specially constructed unit 18 secured to the opposite end of the bracelet whereby the free ends of the bracelet may be releasably secured together. The unit 18 is composed of a pair of units 1 permanently and rigidly seured together by means of a base plate 19 formed to provide a Socket 1'? for the reception of the catch 16. Gems 20 are secured within the openings 21 in each of the units 1, as well as in the openings in the units 1 which comprise the specially constructed unit 18, by cementing them therein, by crimping the upper edge of the wall 3 thereover or in any other suitable or desired manner. A seat 22 is preferably inserted in each unit 1 to serve as a support for each of the gems 20 as shown in. Fig. 3 of the drawings, the seat being formed in any desired manner. which may. be most suitably adapted. for supporting the gem in proper position. In the present instance the seat is of inverted cup-shaped form adapted to fit loosely within the opening 21 in the unit .1 and presenting a flat upper surface 23 for supporting the gem. It will of course be'understood that it the gems employed are of irregular shape, suitable openings may be 'f o'rmedifn the upper surfaces of the seats for the reception of such portions oi the gems as may be necessary for supporting the same in proper position relative to the upper-edge of the wall 2.

It will be seen from the above description taken in connection with the drawings appended hereto that I have provided a bracket of simple construction in which the several units are connected together by simple connecting members readily inserted in the units to positively hold the same in such position relative to each other as to present the appearance of an uninterrupted series of links of identical construc tion. The various units are moreover so held relative to each other as to be in substantial contact at all times and conceal the connecting members from view, while at the same time the parts are so formed as to afford a considerable degree of flexibility and permit a suff ciently free movement of the units to adapt the same for iitting the wrist of the wearer.

What I claim is 1. A flexible bracelet, comprising a plurality of units each provided with a flat base portion and a continuous wall integral with said base portion and extending at right angles therefrom, said wall being provided with diametrically opposite openings located adjacent the said base portion and connecting members each provided with a head, a shank and separable prongs, passed through the openings in adjacent units for connecting said units and holding the same substantially in contartwith each other at all. times while permitting flexing of the san'ie.

2. In a flexible bracelet, a plurality of units each comprising a pressed metal shell provided with a Hat base and a continuous wall integral with said base and extending at right angles therefrom, said wall being provided with oppositely positioned openings formed in the meeting ed es oi said base andwall, said openin s slbping outwardly from the interior to the outer edge of said base to vform knife edges and connecting means passed through the openings in adjacent units and each provided with on larged end portions shaped to conform with the interior surface of said wall whereby the adjacent units are held in substantial contact with each other at all times, while -permitting flexing oi the same relative to each other both vertically and horizontally.

3. In a flexible bracelet, a plurality of units, each comprising a shell. provided with a flat base and a continuous wall integral, with said base and extending at right angles therefrom, said wall being provided with oppositelypositioned openings formed therein on the meeting line of said wall and base; connecting members, each provided with a. head, a shank portion and separable prongs, insertablc in the openings in adjacent unit. whereby upon separation of said separable arongs the adjacent units are held in hlllhstantial. contact with each other while pcrniitting flexing oi" the same relative lo each other and the said connecting members, and an ornamental gem seated in. each oi said units above the free ends of said connecting means.

45. In a flexible bracelet, similarly constructed gem supporting units each formed with a flat lniseportion and a continuous wall integral with said base and extending at right angles therefrom for engaging and supporting said gem, said wall being provided with oppositely positioned openings adjacent to the base; and connecting members -lor securing adjacent units against separation while jiermiliting limited movement of the same relative to a plurality oi l s m each other, each of said connecting members comprising a head shaped to conform With the interior surface 01 the Wall of one of said units, a shank and separable prongs,

said connecting members being each passed through adjacent openlngs in ad]o1n1ng units and having the separable prongs separated to contact with the interior wall of one of said unite whereby the units are held in substantial contact with eachother at all 1e times. i

]in testimony whereof I have afixed my signature. 7

JOHN ALBANE SE.

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