Improvements in or relating to Fastenings for Bracelets and other like Articles of Jewellery.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Fastenings for Bracelets and other
like Articles of Jewellery.
I, MAURICE MENDES DA COSTA, Jewellery Agent, of 7, Hatton Garden, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to fastenings for bracelets, and other like articles of
jewellery, and has for its object to enable the articles to be fastened upon the
wrist or otherwise in an efficient manner while making the fastening such as
will not be apparent from the outside.
According to this invention which will be described as applied to a bracelet,
the latter is provided with three bars which are hinged together in Z-form so
that they may be folded together and lie parallel, forming practically one bar,
one or more suitable catches retaining the bars in the closed position.
In applying the invention for example to a bracelet composed of a length of
chain and a rigid portion carrying stones or other ornaments, the rigid portion
is formed three fold, the parts being hinged together end to end, so that they
may be opened out into an approximately straight form in order to allow of the
bracelet being passed over the hand and afterwards folded together (assuming
in the process of folding a Z-form) so that they lie approximately parallel, short-
ening the circumference of the bracelet.
In order to retain the parts in the closed position, the central bar carries two
lateral spring-controlled catches with which engage pins or projections on the
outer bars. The catches may conveniently be mounted on a rotatable piece
which when turned will free both the side bars which then open out owing to
the action of suitably arranged springs.
The fastening gives scope for a variety of different arrangements in accordance
with the design of the bracelet and the setting of the stones. The bars are pre-
ferably slightly curved in the case of a bracelet to cause them to lie closely
round the wrist.
Though I have described it as applied to a bracelet, it is obvious that the inven-
tion may be adapted to other articles of jewellery, which require to be capable of
increasing and decreasing in length for the purpose of placing or securing them
in position on the wearer.
Dated this 17th day of October 1898.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Fastenings for Bracelets and other
like Articles of Jewellery.
I, MAURICE MENDES DA COSTA, Jewellery Agent, of 7, Hatton Garden, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to fastenings for bracelets, and other like articles of
jewellery, and has for its object to enable the articles to be fastened upon the
wrist or otherwise in an efficient manner while making the fastening such as
will not be apparent from the outside.
According to this invention which will be described as applied to a bracelet,
the latter is provided with three bars which are hinged together in Z-form so
that they may be folded together and lie parallel, forming practically one bar,
one or more suitable catches retaining the bars in the closed position.
In applying the invention for example to a bracelet composed of a length of
chain and a rigid portion carrying stones or other ornaments, the rigid portion
is formed three fold, the parts being hinged together end to end, so that they
may be opened out into an approximately straight form in order to allow of the
bracelet being passed over the hand and afterwards folded together (assuming
in the process of folding a Z-form) so that they lie approximately parallel, short-
ening the circumference of the bracelet.
In order to retain the parts in the closed position, the central bar carries two
lateral spring-controlled catches with which engage pins or projections on the
outer bars. The catches may conveniently be mounted on a rotatable piece
which when turned will free both the side bars which then open out owing to
the action of suitably arranged springs.
The fastening gives scope for a variety of different arrangements in accordance
with the design of the bracelet and the setting of the stones. The bars are pre-
ferably slightly curved in the case of a bracelet to cause them to. lie closely
round the wrist.
Though I have described it as applied to a bracelet, it is obvious that the inven-
tion may be adapted to other articles of jewellery, which require to be capable of
increasing and decreasing in length for the purpose of placing or securing them
in position on the wearer.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a bracelet with an improved fastening,
the latter being shown open.
Figure 2 is an elevation showing the back of the fastening in the half closed
position.
Figure 3 is an elevation showing the back of the fastening when completely
closed.
Figure 4 is a part sectional elevation of the catch device on an enlarged scale.
Figure 5 is an underside part sectional view of the catch device.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The bracelet comprises a chain A the ends of which are connected to the free
ends of two bars or members B. and C which are hinged as at D1 and D2 to a third
bar or member D. The members, B, C and D are so arranged that they can
be folded together as shown in Figure 2, so that they lie side by side being
there retained by the catch device hereinafter described or they can be opened
out as shown in Figure 1 so as to be approximately in line with one another.

page_text: About the centre of the bar D is mounted a button E preferably of some orna-
mental design this button is carried on the end of a pin E which lies within
a casing D³ formed on or in the bar D. The pin E' carries preferably a plate E
which lies within the casing D³ and coiled around the pin with one end attached
thereto and at the other end attached to the inside of the casing D³ is a spring E³
similar to the main spring of a watch. A stop on the underside of the button
and a corresponding stop D on the casing D³ limits the movement imparted to
the button by the spring E3, the button, however, can be rotated against the
action of the spring by the fingers. On the underside of the button E are
arranged two catches E, the catches being arranged on the side of the button
which will be nearest to the bars B and C when folded beside the bar D.
bars B and C carry each a projecting stud or pin B'C' these pins being so dis-
posed that when the bars B and C, are folded on either side of the bar D), the
pins B and C will engage with the catches E on the underside of the button E.
The bars B and C can be released so as to be opened out for removing the brace-
let from the wrist by turning the button E which will release the catches from
the pins B and C. To facilitate this disengagement, springs D5 are provided
on either side of the bar D, in such a position that when the three bars are folded
together, these springs will be in compression but as soon as the catch is released
they will operate to separate the bars.
The
The three bars B, C and D can be ornamented and shaped in accordance with
the design it is required to give to the bracelet.
I may employ in place of the chain A two or more strips or bars of metal
suitably hinged or pivotted together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a fastening for bracelets and other like articles of jewellery the com-
bination with three members such as B, C and D hinged together of a catch
device for retaining the members when folded together substantially as described.
2. In a fastening for bracelets and other like articles of jewellery the combina-
tion with three members such as B, C and D hinged together of a spring controlled
rotary catch for retaining the members when folded together substantially as
described.
3. In a fastening for bracelets and other like articles of jewellery the combina-
tion with three members such as B, C and D hinged together and a catch device
for retaining them when folded together of springs such as 15 for causing the
members to open out as soon as the catch is released substantially as described.
4. In a fastening for bracelets and other like articles of jewellery a bar such
as D having a rotatable spring catch in the centre and side bars such as B
and C pivotted one at each end substantially as and for the purpose described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The complete fastening for bracelets and other like articles of jewellery
substantially as described or illustrated in the. accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of July 1800
MAURICE MENDES DA COSTA.
Boult & Wade.
Agents for the Applicant.