Expansion bracelet

• US 3,965,670 A
• Filed: 10/18/1974
• Issued: 06/29/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RODI & Wienenberger AG
• Original Assignee: RODI & Wienenberger AG
• Inventors: Ihringer, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lanham, C.W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crosby, Gene P.
• Application Number:
  US05/516,006
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 59/79 R, 59/79 B, 59/80, 59/82, 59/91, 224/4 E, 224/4 H, 224/4 B, 224/4 D, 63/5 R, 63/11 R, 24/265 B, 24/265 WS, 24/241 WB, 24/73 J
• US Class Current: 59/79.1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1493 by means of a feather spring (Barette á ressort)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4718 Watch pintle connected

Abstract

An expansion bracelet, particularly for wrist-watches, has a row of connected links. Each of these links has a plate member, a pair of solid outer members connected to said plate member at opposite lateral sides thereof, as seen with respect to the elongation of the row, and a solid inner member which is located between the outer members and partly projects beyond them in longitudinal direction of the row. The inner member has an underside which faces towards the plate member and is provided with a pair of transversely extending channels. A pair of substantially C-shaped brackets are provided, each having a bight portion pivotably received in one of the channels, and a pair of leg portions. The leg portions of one of the brackets are pivotably connected to the plate member so that this one bracket can be tilted longitudinally of the row out from between the outer members of the link. A pair of biassing springs are provided, each surrounding one of the bight portions. The biassing spring associated with the one bracket permanently opposes the tilting of the latter. The other bracket is connected in the same manner with a plate member of adjacent link, and its associated biassing spring also opposes its tilting.

Claims

1. An expansion bracelet, particularly for wristwatches, comprising a row of connected links which includes at its end portions a plurality of terminal links and which tapers in its width in direction inwardly of said end portions, each of said links comprising a plate member having a pair of first edge portions extending transversely of said row, and a pair of second edge portions extending longitudinally of said row, a pair of solid outer members each connected to one of said second edge portions and being spaced from one another transversely of said row, a solid inner member located between said outer members and in part projecting beyond them in direction longitudinally of said row, said inner member having an underside facing towards said plate member and provided with a pair of transversely extending channels, a pair of substantially C-shaped brackets, each having a bight portion pivotably received in one of said channels and a pair of leg portions, the leg portions of one of said brackets being pivotably connected to one of said first edge portions of said plate member so that one bracket can be tilted longitudinally of said row out from between said outer members, and a pair of biasing springs received in the respective channels in engagement with the respective brackets and permanently resisting such tilting thereof, the outer members of at least some of said terminal links being formed upwardly of the associated plate members with transversely aligned bores;

a pair of telescopable spring bars, one for each end portion of said row, each spring bar being insertable into and removable from the aligned bores of said outer members of respective ones of said terminal links for releasably attaching connecting members to the respective terminal links; and

a pair of hook-shaped connecting members each having a substantially tubular portion embracing the respective spring bar and being provided with a cutout permitting insertion of a tool to compress said spring bar so that the latter may be removed from said aligned bores after insertion thereinto.

2. An expansion bracelet as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer members of each link have mutually juxtaposed surfaces, and wherein said aligned bores are formed in said surfaces.

3. An expansion bracelet as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said first edge portions is formed to tubular configuration and defines an open-ended passage, and the other of said first edge portions is formed to hook-shaped configuration and defines a passage which is open at its ends and also intermediate the latter, said leg portions of said one bracket being partly received in one of said passages.

4. An expansion bracelet as defined in claim 3, wherein said leg portions each include one part which is spaced from and substantially parallels said bight portion and is received in said one passage, and another part which connects said one part and said bight portion and is located between said inner member and a respective one of said outer members.