Abstract:
A non-expansible linkage bracelet has a basic skeletal structure made up of interlocked sets of top and bottom links covered by decorative shells which also are interlocked with the top and bottom links.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to bracelets and other like jewelry articles, and is concerned in particular with non-expansible linkage bracelets of the type used with wrist watches and the like. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     In the known non-expansible linkage bracelets of the type disclosed for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,245,461 (Bert), a set of laterally adjacent top links is interlocked with a set of laterally adjacent bottom links. In addition to serving as basic structural components of the bracelet, the top links also serve the added function of providing the bracelet with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thus, the top links usually are decoratively shaped and/or embossed, as well as being plated with a precious metal such as for example gold or silver. 
     The functional duality of the top links presents the manufacturer with several problems. For example, because the top links are part of the basic bracelet structure, they must have sufficient thickness and strength to withstand normal usage. However, such thicknesses make it impractical to provide the top links with rolled gold plate material. Instead, the top links usually are electroplated, which considerably complicates the manufacturing process in addition to increasing unit costs. Also, because of the ever changing decorative designs of the top links, it is often difficult if not impossible to manufacture them in economically large quantities. This adds still further to the unit costs of the bracelets. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A basic objective of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems by eliminating the functional duality of the top links. In the preferred embodiments of the invention to be described hereinafter in more detail, this is accomplished by providing a bracelet having a basic skeletal structure made up of interlocked sets of top and bottom links, with the design of the links in both sets being governed essentially by non-aesthetic structural requirements, e.g., strength, durability, etc. This basic skeletal structure is then covered with decorative shells which also are interlocked with the top and bottom links, and whose sole function is to provide the bracelet with an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Thus, functional duality is largely eliminated, i.e., the basic skeletal structure provides needed strength and durability, whereas the decorative shells provide the needed aesthetics. With this arrangement, the top and bottom links can be manufactured economically in large lots for assembly into standard skeletal structures which can then be used with a wide variety of decorative shell designs. The shells can be manufactured from thinner stock with rolled precious metal platings, thus eliminating the need to resort to more complicated and costly electroplating techniques. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be described hereinafter in more detail in connection with the following drawings, wherein: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of a bracelet in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial bottom plan view of the bracelet shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom or &#34;first&#34; link; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a top or &#34;second&#34; link; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical decorative shell; 
     FIG. 6 is a top perspective view showing the top portion of the basic skeletal structure prior to the application thereto of decorative shells; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the skeletal structure shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8--8 of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bottom portion of the skeletal structure showing the application of decorative shells of the type shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 9A is a sectional view taken along line 9A--9A of FIG. 9; 
     FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing the application of substantially wider decorative shells to the skeletal structure; 
     FIG. 10A is a sectional view taken along line 10A--10A of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the skeletal structure showing the application thereto of shells adapted to accommodate decorative inserts; 
     FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the bracelet assembly shown in FIG. 11; 
     FIG. 12A is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along line 12A--12A of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of still another type of decorative shell; and 
     FIG. 14 is a partial top plan view of a bracelet embodying decorative shells of the type shown in FIG. 13. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 are partial top and bottom plan views respectively of a bracelet embodying bottom links 10 of the type shown in FIG. 3, top links 12 of the type shown in FIG. 4, and decorative shells 14 of the type shown in FIG. 5. 
     The bottom links 10 have channel-shaped cross sections with first side members 10a joined by first intermediate members 10b. The first side members each have at least one and preferably several first locking lugs 10c protruding therefrom, and the first intermediate members 10b are provided with first openings 10d. 
     The top links 12 also have channel-shaped cross sections with second side members 12a joined by second intermediate members 12b, the latter having second openings 12c therein. 
     The shells 14 have channel-shaped cross sections with third side members 14a joined by third intermediate members 14b. One of the third side members has second locking lugs 14c protruding therefrom. 
     As can best be seen in FIGS. 6-8, sets of the bottom and top links 10, 12 are adapted to be interlocked to form a basic skeletal structure generally indicated at 16. In this structure, the channel-shaped cross sections of the top links 12 are inverted relative to the channel-shaped cross sections of the bottom links 10. As shown in FIG. 8, successive bottom links have their confronting first side members 10a located adjacent to and confined between the second side members 12a of individual top links 12. The first locking lugs 10c protrude through the second openings 12c and are then bendably deformed to overlap adjacent first and second side members 10a, 12a. As schematically indicated by the arrows 18 in FIG. 6, each bottom link has the locking lugs 10c on one of its side members 10a bent in a direction opposite to that of the locking lugs on its other side member. This interlocks the top and bottom links into the skeletal structure 16, with successive bottom links 10 being laterally adjacent to each other, and with successive top links 12 having spaces 20 therebetween. As is best shown in FIG. 7, the spaces 20 overlie the first intermediate members 10b of the bottom links 10, thereby partially exposing the first openings 10d. The design of the bottom and top links 10, 12 is governed essentially by structural considerations such as strength and durability, and with little if any regard to aesthetic considerations. The resulting skeletal structure 16, which is thus sturdy and wear resistant, is basic to a wide variety of decorative shells. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 9A, the skeletal structure 16 can be covered with the relatively plain narrow shells 14 shown in FIG. 5. The shells 14 overlie individual top links 12, with their third side members 14a located in the spaces 20, and with their second locking lugs 14c protruding through the first openings 10d and being bendably deformed to overlap adjacent first and second side members 10a, 12a. 
     Preferably, the second locking lugs 14c are all bendably deformed in the same direction, and the width &#34;W&#34; (see FIG. 9) of the spaces 20 is only slightly larger than the combined thickness of two third side members 14a. As is best shown in FIG. 1, this provides the bracelet with a substantially continuous and unbroken decorative top surface. 
     As previously indicated, the basic skeletal structure 16 can be used with a variety of different types and styles of decorative shells. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 10A, channel-shaped top shells 22 of increased width can be employed to overlie pairs of top links 12. The top shells 22 are again provided with side members 22a joined by intermediate members 22b. In this case, each side member has a single locking lug 22c protruding therefrom. With this type of top shell, as shown in FIG. 10A, every other space 20&#39; between the top links 12 will remain empty. Also, the locking lugs 22c of individual shells will be bent in the opposite directions diagrammatically indicated by the arrows 24. 
     FIGS. 11, 12 and 12A show another type of decorative covering for the basic skeletal structure 16. Here, the top shells 26 have channel-shaped cross sections at their opposite ends defined by side members 26a joined by intermediate members 26b. The side members 26a extend only partly inwardly from the shell ends, and thus the channel-shaped ends are interconnected by planar portions 26b&#39; of the intermediate members. The planar portions 26b&#39; are provided with recesses 26c which are located laterally within the width dimensions W 1  of the channel-shaped cross sections. Thus, adjacent shells 26 define openings 28 arranged to accommodate inserts 30. The top shell side members 26a are again provided with bendable locking lugs 26d. The inserts also have channel-shaped cross sections with side members 30a joined by intermediate members 30b, the latter having bosses 30c protruding therefrom. The inserts 30 are located midway between the side edges of the skeletal structure, with each insert straddling two top links 12, and with the insert side members 30a received in the spaces 20 between the top links. The bosses 30c protrude into the openings 28 defined by adjacent top shell recesses 26c. The top shells 26 also straddle pairs of top links 12, with their locking lugs 26d being received in the bottom link openings 10d and being bendably deformed to overlap adjacent side members 10a, 12a of the bottom and top links. In order to further heighten the decorative effect of this arrangement, the inserts 30 can be plated with or fabricated of materials which contrast with the plating of the shells 26. 
     FIG. 13 shows another type of top shell 32 which can be used with the basic skeletal structure 16. Shell 32 has channel-shaped cross sections at its opposite ends defined by side members 32a joined by an intermediate member 32b. The intermediate member 32b has a planar intermediate portion 32b&#39; with a flange 32c on one side which protrudes laterally beyond the width dimension W 2  of the channel-shaped end sections, and a recess 32d on the opposite side which is located laterally within the same width dimension. One of the side members 32a is provided with locking lugs 32e. The shells 32 are connected to the basic skeletal structure 16 in essentially the same manner as described previously in connection with shells 14. As shown in FIG. 14, the shells 32 provide a decorative pattern wherein the shell flanges 32c are received in the recesses 32d of adjacent shells. 
     In all cases, after the top shells have been mounted on the basic skeletal structure, the side edges of the assembly can be finished as by grinding and polishing to provide the bracelet with a selected shape, which is usually gently tapered as shown for example in FIGS. 1, 2, 12 and 14. 
     In light of the foregoing, it now will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention offers the designer a wide selection of shapes and materials for the top shells, all of which can be employed with the same basic skeletal structure. Thus, the components of the skeletal structure can be mass produced and assembled in large lots, with significant attendant economies. Since the top shells function essentially as decorative rather than structural components, they can be manufactured more economically of thinner gauge materials, thus providing still further savings in costs.