Year: 1887

page_text: 1 WILLIAM HENRY LORD of St. Pauls Square Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object improvements in watch chains which are adjustable
in regard to their length without interference with the ends or doubling tieing &c.,
which is a great advantage as the adjustment can be effected without removal from
the dress and almost instantaneously.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practice have appended hereunto a double sheet of drawings upon which I have
illustrated five different chains which will make the principle so clearly understood
that there will be no difficulty in further applying it to the various designs required
and also to any number or thicknesses of chains.
Figure 1 is an example in general view of one of my sliding adjustable chains
consisting of two lengths which is capable of showing double at the centre.
Figure 2 is a part sectional view of the same chain as shown by the previous figure
but with the retarding or brake cases B and B shown in section.
Figure 3 is an example in general view of a chain made from three pieces which is
capable of shewing three thicknesses of chain at the centre.
Figure 4 is one example of how four lengths of chain may be distributed around a
circle by attaching the ends to globular retarding or brake pieces B and 13' as will be
more fully explained hereafter.
Figures 5 and 6 are end elevations of the inner end of the retarding brake
cases B and B.
Figure 7 is another example of how four lengths of chains may be distributed or
mounted that is to present a flat or level front.
Figure 8 is an example of a chain consisting of six lengths that is capable of
showing six thicknesses of chain at the centre.
In all the examples shown the chains are represented by the letter A and the brake
or retarding cases are represented by the letier B. The retarding or brake cases are

page_text: constructed hollow so as to receive a piece or pieces of cork or other soft or springy
material and in some cases a metallic spring may be mounted therein for the purpose
that is to squeeze or press the chain or chains sufficiently to prevent them sliding too
easily. The sides of the brake cases B on the top or bottoni may be so constructed
as to act themselves as retarding springs. In the case of Figure 1. the chain A passes
loosely through the case B and is fastened to B₁ at 2 and the chain A¹ passes loosely
through the case B' and is fastened to the case B at 3. In the first figure the chain is
shown drawn out to its full length but at the second figure it is shown much shorter
the case B and B being further apart. The cork or other soft springy stuffing c in the
casings B and B shown at Figure 2 prevents the chains from moving except when a
gentle pressure is placed upon them and this pressure may be suited to the require-
ments of any case as it depends upon the tightness of the packing c. In Figure 3
the principle is the same only there are three chains viz. A the single chain at the
right hand end which runs loosely through the casing B and is attached at 63 to the
casing B. Then the chains A and A² pass loosely through the casing B₁and are
attached to the casing Bat and when the sliding action will be the same as at
Figures 1 and 2. In the case of the three next Figures 4, 5 and 6 the casings are
globular as shown shaded at Figure 4. The chains a and a pass through the holes 2
and in B loosely and are fastened at 6 and 6 of B' while the chains a² and a³
pass loosely through the holes 6 and in the casing B₁ and are fastened at 68
and 6 in B.
The Figures 5 and 6 are views of the inner ends of the casing B and B and the
outer parts may be also pierced in like manner i.e. with four holes in each or one
large centre hole at the outer ends may serve quite as well or even better as only two
chains run through the outer ends of either casing. It will be quite evident that any
number of chains may be arranged around globular casings without any difficulty.
Figure 7 represents four chains mounted with fat faced casings of a diamond shape
i.e. a and a pass through casing B loosely and are fastened to B₁ at 62 and 3 and
the chains a and a³ pass loosely through B' and are fastened to B at 4 and 6 and
thus the sliding action is set up. Figure 8 is a modification of Figure 3 only the
right hand end consists of a double chain a and a' instead of the single one A as
shown at Figure 3 and the left hand end consists of two double chains a² and a³
together in one hole and at and a³ together in another hole instead of A and A¹ as
shown by Figure 3. The action however is exactly the same in both cases. It will
now be clearly understood how great are the variations possible by this plan and the
designs may be changed to almost any extent without departing from the principle of
the invention. It will be evident that the casings B and B may be greatly simplified
as simple loops or rings are sufficient for cheap chains.
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
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The improvements in watch chains of the mode of varying the lengths by the con-
struction of the chain in two three or more lengths or thicknesses the one end
passing loosely through a junction or casing and fastened to the other junction or
casing so that two or more ends cross each other in such a manner as to set up a
sliding action substantially as herein set forth and illustrated upon the drawings.
thin 50th doxe of November 1887
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Agent for Applicant.