US3052966A - Method of making a cuff link - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1962 F. P. CRONAN METHOD OF MAKING A CUFF LINK Filed Feb. 24, 1960 FIG.5

INVENTOR. FRANCIS F? CRONAN BY ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,052,966 METHOD OF MAKING A CUFF LINK Francis P. Cronan, Attlehoro, Mass, assignor to Dolan & Bullock Co., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Feb. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 10,657 4 Claims. (Cl. 29160.6)

This invention relates to a cuff link of the type in which one of the heads is fixed and the other head is movable so that the movable head of the cuff link may be manipulated for insertion through the button hole of the cuff and then moved to a position to prevent accidental removal of the from the cuff.

There have been various forms of cufi links of this general type above referred to and that form which is here particularly referred to is a cuff link having a post formed by two spaced parts between which there is pivotally mounted at one end a head which may be moved into alignment with the post for insertion through the button hole of the cuif, and after the cuff link is positioned in the cuff, the head may be moved to a position at right angles to the post for preventing the link from being passed out through the button hole of the cuff.

Cuff links of this more specific form although they have the post in spaced form usually have the two parts of the post connected together. The present invention in the finished form of the cuff link has the two parts of the post unconnected by any integral formation and the invention here is directed to the method by which the link is formed so as to reduce the operations which are necessary and provide by so doing a less expensive construction of link. Generally speaking, the post exists as a single part in the initial stages of the assembly into the link but is severed after its free ends have been attached so that the two parts of the post although separate in the finished form are up to the point of severing connected together. By this method the post is handled as one part by the assembler at all times.

An object of this invention is to simplify the method of assembly of a cuff link in which there will be fixed and movable heads.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a post between these heads formed of spaced parts but which in its initial form is a single piece for the easier handling of the post in such assembly.

Another object of the invention is to utilize a U-shape piece which may be severed to form two separate parts of a post after it has been attached to the fixed head member of a cuff link.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cuff link of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation showing the fixed head with the post in U form secured thereto;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the next step which has been performed of severing the bridge portion of the post from the legs;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3 but showing the next further step of positioning a movable head in position on the post; and

3,052,966 Patented Sept. 11, 1962 "ice FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on line 55 of FIGURE 4 illustrating the internal parts of the movable head.

In proceeding with this invention, I have secured a U- shape post to the rear surface of the fixed head member and then cut off the bridging portion between the legs of the U-shape member to leave two spaced portions of the post. I then mount a pin adjacent the ends of the two post parts which are remote from the fixed head and position on this pin a movable head.

With reference to the drawings 10 designates the fixed head of the cutf link which on its obverse surface 11 is usually highly polished or ornamented in some way. The rear surface 12 of this head 10 has a post attached thereto which post is designated generally 13. The post in its ini ial form is generally U-shape as seen in FIGURE 2 with its legs 14 and 15 extending from the bridging portion 16 thereof. The legs flare outwardly as at 17 as shown in FIGURE 2 and at their ends are turned abruptly outwardly as at 18 which form feet portions. These feet portions 18 are secured to the rear surface 12 of a head by solder, welding, or any suitable means so as to be firmly fixed thereto. Thus, the U-shaped post 13 may be handled as a single unit for attachment to the head 10.

After attachment of the post square openings 19 are formed adjacent the bridge 16 and the bridge portion 16 is then cut off or severed from the legs 14 and 15 so that the link then takes the form as shown in FIGURE 3.

After the link is thus formed as shown in FIGURE 3 a square pivot pin 20 is positioned in the openings 19 and securely riveted over at its outer ends 21 to hold it in place. The pin is positioned so that one pair of flat sides are parallel to the head 10 and the other pair are at right angles thereto. This pin also mounts a movable head 22 which may be positioned on the pin prior to the pins insertion into its openings 19. This head 22 is a hollow tube closed at its opposite ends 23 and housing within this tube leaf springs 24 which may bear against the flat surface of the square pin 20. As the surfaces of the flat pin are positioned so that one pair of surfaces will be in alignment with the legs 14 and 15, while the other pair of surfaces are at right angles thereto or parallel to the rear surface of the fixed head 10, the movable head 22 may be positioned in line with the post 13 comprising the parts 14 and 15 as shown in FIGURES 4- and 5 or it may be positioned at right angles to the post as shown in FIGURE 1 and in either of these positions it will be retained by action of the spring on the pivot pin.

By this arrangement the post although ostensibly of two parts is always handled as a single piece by reason of its U-shape formation and its being severed after the free ends are attached to the head.

I claim:

1. The steps in the method of forming a cuff link which comprise positioning the free ends of the legs which extend from the bridge portion of a U shape member to the back of a fixed head member while being handled as a single unit, attaching said free end to the head, severing the bridge portion from the legs of the U member to leave the legs spaced at their ends remote from the head, and mount ing a second head adjacent the remote ends of said legs to pivot between the legs.

2. The method of forming a cufi link which comprises positioning the free ends of the legs which extend from the bridge portion of a U shape member to the back of 3 a fixed head member while being handled as a single unit, attaching said free ends to the head, severing the bridge portion from the legs of the U member to leave the legs spaced at their ends remote from the head, mounting a pin adjacent the remote ends of said legs and a movable head on said pin.

3. The method of forming a cuff link which comprises turning outwardly the free ends of the legs which extend from the bridge portion of a U shape member, positioning the outturned end portions to the back of a fixed head member While being handled as a single unit, attaching said free ends to the head, severing the bridge portion from the legs 'of the U member to leave the legs spaced at their ends remote from the head and movably mounting a second head adjacent the remote ends of said legs.

'4. The method of forming a cuff link which comprises turning outwardly the free ends of the legs which extend from the bridge portion of a U shape member, positioning the outturned end portions to the back of a fixed head 4 member while being handled as a single unit, attaching said free ends to the head, severing the bridge portion from the legs of the U member to leave the legs spaced at their ends remote from the head and mounting a pin adjacent the remote ends of said legs and a movable head on said pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 280,214 Miller June 26, 1883 1,357,739 Steenstrup Nov. 2, 1920 1,864,929 Peterson June 28, 9 2 2,014,865 Schmidt Sept. 17, 1935 2,140,672 Gray et al Dec. 20, 1938 2,331,806 Shakespeare Oct. 12, 1943 2,463,465 Marien Mar. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 466,277 Canada July 4, 1950

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