CLASP FOR BRACELETS AND THE LIKE

• US 3,665,565 A
• Filed: 08/31/1970
• Issued: 05/30/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stanley Kruger
• Original Assignee: Stanley Kruger
• Inventors: Kruger, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US05/068,418
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 24/265T,23AP,241WB,241S
• US Class Current: 24/265.0WS
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/2042 Fasteners provided with a turnable clamping lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4782 Watch strap

Abstract

A clasp for securing together two objects, such as the two ends of a bracelet, comprises a housing and a connecting element adapted to be slid into the housing. The housing carries a catch which engages with the connecting element to retain the latter in the housing. The act of releasing the catch cams the connecting element outwardly from its connected position, the connecting element nevertheless being frictionally retained within the housing, from which it can be separated by a subsequent and separate action.

Claims

1. A clasp for releasably securing together two objects comprising a housing adapted to be secured to one of said objects and open at an end, a connecting element adapted to be secured to the other of said objects, said connecting element being movable into said housing via said open end thereof to a first position, a catch mounted on said housing and movable between locking and releasing positions, said catch and said element having cooperating parts which engage when said catch is in said locking position and said element is in said first position, thereby to retain said element in said first position in said housing, and which disengage when said catch is in said releasing position, thereby to release said element for movement out from said housing, and a member operatively connected to said catch, movable therewith in a direction having a component away from said one end of said housing, and engageable with said connecting element as it thus moves, thereby to cam said connecting element outwardly of said first position to a second position when said catch moves from locking to releasing position.

2. The clasp of claim 1, in which said catch is mounted on said housing to pivot about an axis near said open end of said housing, said catch extending from said axis in a direction away from said open housing end, and said member is located on the side of said axis toward said open housing end.

3. The clasp of claim 1, in which said parts on said catch and element engage only when said element is in said first position, said parts not engaging when said element is in said second position.

4. In the clasp of claim 3, cooperating detent means on said housing and said connecting element engageable when said element is in said second position.

5. In the clasp of claim 1, cooperating detent means on said housing and said connecting element.

6. In the clasp of claim 1, cooperating detent means on said housing and said Connecting element engageable when said element is in said second position.

7. The clasp of claim 1, in which said housing has a surface extending in a general direction from one housing end toward the other, said connecting element engaging and sliding over said surface as it is moved into said housing, and means on said housing engaging said connecting element and effective to urge it against said surface, thereby to inhibit escape of said connecting element from said housing.

8. In the clasp of claim 7, a shaft in said housing on which said catch is pivotably mounted, said shaft being located opposite said housing surface, said connecting element being located in said housing between said shaft and said surface, said shaft having a part operatively engaging said connecting element and urging it toward said surface, thereby to comprise said urging means.

9. In the clasp of claim 7, spring means operatively connected to said catch and effective to urge said catch to one of its said positions, said spring being located opposite said housing surface, said connecting element being located in said housing between said spring means and said surface, said spring means engaging said connecting element and urging it toward said surface, thereby to comprise said urging means.

10. The clasp of claim 1, in which said cooperating parts on said catch and said connecting element comprise surfaces which meet along a line inclined relative to the direction of insertion of said connecting element into said housing.

11. The clasp of claim 1, in which said cooperating parts on said catch and said connecting element comprise surfaces which meet along a line inclined relative to the direction of insertion of said connecting element into said housing in such a direction as to tend to cam said connecting element so that other portions of said cooperating parts move into engagement with one another.

12. A clasp for releasably securing together two objects comprising a housing adapted to be secured to one of said objects and open at an end, a connecting element adapted to be secured to the other of said objects, said housing having a surface extending in a general direction from one housing end toward the other, said connecting element being movable into said housing via said open end thereof and engaging and sliding over said surface as it is moved into said housing to a first position, a catch mounted on said housing opposite said surface and movable toward and away from said surface between locking and releasing positions respectively, said catch and said element having cooperating parts which engage when said catch is in said locking position and said element is in said first position, thereby to retain said element in said first position in said housing, and which disengage when said catch is in said releasing position, thereby to release said element for removal from said housing, and means in said housing other than said catch located between said housing and said catch and on the opposite side of said element from said surface engaging said element and effective to urge it against said surface, thereby to inhibit escape of said element from said housing.

13. In the clasp of claim 12, a shaft in said housing on which said catch is pivotably mounted, said shaft being located opposite said housing surface, said connecting element being located in said housing between said shaft and said surface, said shaft having a part operatively engaging said connecting element and urging it toward said surface, thereby to comprise said urging means.

14. The clasp of claim 13, in which said shaft carries spring means operatively connected to said catch and effective to urge said catch to one of its said positions.

15. In the clasp of claim 12, spring means operatively connected to said catch and effective to urge said catch to one of its said positions, said spring being located opposite said housing surface, said connecting element being located in said housing between said sprinG means and said surface, said spring means engaging said connecting element and urging it toward said surface, thereby to comprise said urging means.