US2596186A - Extension device - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1952 P. F. VOLK 2,596,186

EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Sept. 24, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

BY WM f/M Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION DEVICE Paul Fridolin Volk, Warwick, R. I., assignor to Carl Art, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 51,047

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to bracelets and wrist watch bands, and has particular reference to a novel construction for an extension device.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an extension device which utilizes a folding and sliding arrangementfor changing the encircling size of a bracelet or wrist watch band to facilitate mounting the bracelet or band on the wrist and removing the bracelet or band therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide an extension device for quickly adjusting the length of a bracelet or band to properly fit the wrist.

A further object of the invention is to provide a releasable lock for the length adjustment parts which may be manually released by lifting a pawl or by pressing on the ends of the extension device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and more specifically defined in the claims appended thereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an extension device embodying the invention, the parts being shown in closed adjusted relation;

Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the extension parts in separated extended position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail disclosing the length adjustment parts in locked relation; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, disclosing the length adjustment parts in released relation.

It has been found desirable to provide a sturdy extension device for a bracelet or wrist watch band, which is readily opened to facilitate mounting the bracelet or band on a wrist and removing the bracelet or band therefrom, the parts being arranged so that the device may be length adjusted while in closed position on the wrist. For this purpose, I provide a manually operable pawl lever onone part which has ratchet engagement with a longitudinal rack member on another part, a locking relation being obtained when the lever is manually depressed, and an opening or separable condition resulting from a manual lifting of the pawl or from a mechanical lifting of the pawl when the ends of the pressed inwardly.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, the extension device |t| includes a housing I which functions as an ornamental cover and is preferably stamped out of sheet metal. The housing H is slightly arcuate, and has a top l2 and sides |3, M which extend downward from the top to provide an upper generally rectangular chamber l5 and then curve outwardly to provide a lower chamber l6 of greater width having curved side walls; the end of the housing is provided with a bracelet connection such as an integral end hinge roll IT, for attachment to one end of the bracelet or watch band, and the housing top has an openextension device are ing or slot |8 positioned adjacent the other end in which a lock pawl lever I9 is pivotally mounted, as by means of a hinge pin 20 secured in the sides of the chamber [5.

An intermediate metal link 2| has pivot ends 22 at one end which are swingingly seated in corresponding openings in the sides of the chamber 5 in spaced relation to the hinge pin 20, thelink 2| being of a length and curvature to seat within the chamber I5; the link 2| is formed with a central longitudinal reinforcing bead 23 and has a terminal hinge eye 24 at its outer end.

A second intermediate link 25, see Fig. 4, has one end provided with spaced hinge eyes 25, 26a for receiving the hinge eye 24 of the link 2| therebetween, a pivot pin 21 hinging the links 2| and 25 together. The link 25 has a central depressed rib 28 and two side flanges 29, 29a which are slidably received in inturned side flanges 35, 30a of a metal slide link 3|, see Figs. 4 and 5, the link 25 having transverse end tabs 32 which also seat within the side flanges 30, 30a and are locked against removal therefrom by end tabs 33, 33a on the slide link 3|.

The slide link 3|, see Fig. 3, has a central toothed or corrugated rack portion 34 provided with a plurality of teeth 35 which function as catch elements, and an integral hinge end roll connection 36 for attachment to the other end of the bracelet or watch band. The side flanges 30, 30a of the slide link slidably seat within the curved side walls of the lower chamber it of the housing II, which form slide passageways, as shown in Fig. 5, and the lock pawl lever l9, see Figs. 6 and '7, has a manually engageable upper portion 31, a depending detent 38 adapted to releasably engage the catch elements of the slide link by selectively seating between two teeth 35, and an undercut groove 39, see Fig. l, for retogether as' shown in 'vention thus ceiving a finger nail to manually disengage the lever from the catch teeth.

When the bracelet extension device is in closed position, the parts nest as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, with the intermediate link 2| housed in the housing between the housing top and the slide link 3|, and the intermediate link 25 seated within the slide link 3|, which is slidably positioned' in the lower chamber of the housing. When the extension device is opened, as shown in Fig. 4, a full extension is obtained as illustrated, the slide link sliding out to its full length.

To close the extension device, the intermediate links are folded into the housing, whereupon the slide link slides over the intermediate link 25 and into the lower chamber of the housing. This inward sliding movement of the slide pressed by pushing simultaneously on the'end rolls l1 and'36 of the cover housing and the slide link, whereupon inward pressure of the slide link causes the teeth 35 to act on the detent 38 to turn the lock pawl lever into open position, as illustrated in Fig. '7.

The above described embodiment of the inutilizes a small number-of readily assembled parts, is sturdy in construction and is readily opened, closed, and adjusted in length.

Although I have disclosed a preferred con .struction, itisobvious'that changesin'the size,

shape, proportions andarrangement of the parts may be made to meet the requirements for different bracelet designs, within the spirit and the scope of the claims appended hereto.-

I claim:

L In an extension device, a housing having side walls, said housing having a braceletconnection at one end, an intermediate link hinged at one endto the other end of the housing, a second intermediate-link hinged to the other end of the first intermediate link, anda slide link slidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link having a-bracelet connection at itsouter end, the walls oisaid housing-slidably receiving the-sides of the slide link' with the-intermediate links nesting in the housing, and co-operating releasable lock elements on the housing and the slide link, comprising. a 'lock lever pivotally mounted on the housing and catch elements longitudinallypositioned on the 'slide link for selective engagement by said lock'lever.

2. In an extension device, a housing having, side walls, said housing having a bracelet connection. at one end, an intermediate link hinged atone end to the other end of the. housing, a second intermediate link hinged to the other the undercut groove 39;' or the end of the first intermediate link, and a slide link slidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link having a bracelet connection at its outer end, the walls of said housing slidably receiving the sides of the slide link with the intermediate links nesting in the housing, and co-operating releasable lock elements on the housing and the slide link, comprising a lock lever pivotally mounted on the housing and catch elements longitudinally positioned on the slide link for selective engagement by said lock lever, said lock lever having a manually movable part for disengagement from the catch elements.

3. In an extension dev1ce, a housing having side walls, saidhousing having a bracelet connection at one end, an intermediate link hinged at one end to the other end of the housing, a secondv intermediate link hinged to the other end of the first intermediate link, and a slide link slidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link having a bracelet connection at its outer end, the walls: of-saidhousing slidably receiving the sides of the slide link with the intermediate links nesting in the housing, 7 and co-operating releasable lock elementson the housing and the slide link, comprising a lock lever pivotally mounted on the housing intermediate the side walls and catch elementslongitudinally positioned on the slide link for selective engagement bysaid lock lever, said lock lever having a-manually engageable portion and a pawl element, said catch elements having recesses with sides engageable with the lock :mem-

,ber pawl element to hold the locking engagement when the slide link is pulled-outwardly from the housing and to move the lock lever to disengaging position'when-theslide link is pressed towards the housing. I

4. In anv extension device, a housing having side walls, said housing having a bracelet-connection at one end, .an intermediate link hinged at one end to the other end of the housing, a second intermediate link hinged to-=the other end of the first intermediate link, anda slide link slidably secured to the second intermediate link, said slide link having a bracelet connection at its outer end, the walls-of said housing slidably receiving the sides of the slide link with the intermediate-links nesting in the housing, and co-operating releasable lock elements on the housing and the slide link, comprisinga. lock lever pivotally mounted on thehousing and. catch elements longitudinally positioned on the" slide linkfor selective engagement by said locklever, said catch elements comprising teeth to holdthe locking engagement when the slidelink is-pulledland to move. the lock lever to disengaging position when the slide link is pressed towards the housing. 7

' PAUL .FRIDOLIN .VOLK;

' file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date- Rowen Dec. 14, .1948

Number 2,456,595

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