IMPROVEMENTS IN FINGER-RINGS. AND GLOVE-FASTENERS." BRACIAL WTC SCARE-RINGS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William West, of. Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturing Jeweller, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
FINGER-RINGS. AND GLOVE-FASTENERS."
BRACIAL WTC SCARE-RINGS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William West at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th February 1881.
WILLIAM WEST, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturing
Jeweller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACELETS, SCARF RINGS, FINGER RINGS, AND
GLOVE FASTENERS."
My Invention has reference principally to such bracelets, scarf rings, finger rings,
and glove fasteners, as consist of two semi-elliptical or other shaped parts connected
together by thin strips or bands of metal, connected with one part sliding into and
out of the other part, and thereby effecting the closing and opening of the bracelet
or other article.
My Invention also applies to bracelets, scarf rings, finger rings, and glove
fasteners, the two parts of which are connected by a joint, the unjointed ends being
connected by a thin strip or band of metal fixed to one part sliding into the other
part.
My said Invention has for its object the convenient fastening and unfastening of
the two parts of the bracelet, scarf ring, finger ring, and glove fastener, and consists
of the arrangements or combinations of parts for that purpose hereinafter described.
For convenience of description I will describe my improvements in connection with
a bracelet.
When the two parts of the bracelet are connected only by the strips or bands of
metal described, 1 arrange the parts as follows:-The free end of each of the said
strips or bands of metal terminates in two hook like catches, which as the open
bracelet is closed simultaneously approach the middle of that half of the bracelet in
which they slide. At the middle of the said part are two pushers, the outer ends
of which project from opposite sides of the bracelet. These pushers are forced
outwards by a spring situated between them. The inner end of each pusher has

page_text: two hook like terminations situated respectively on its opposite edges. These hook
like terminations are of a size and form fitting them to engage with hook like
catches terminating the strips or bands. When the bracelet is closed the hook like
catches on the ends of the strips or bands simultaneously approach on opposite
sides of the pushers, and press back the hook like terminations of the strips or
bands until the latter are brought into such positions that they snap behind the
said catches and fix the bracelet in its closed position. By pressing the pushers
the parts of the fastening may be disengaged, and the bracelet may then be
opened.
When the parts of the bracelet are hinged together only one connecting strip or
band is employed, and the pushers have hook like terminations only on one side.
When it is wished not to lock the closed bracelet, but only to fix it in its closed
position so far that it can only open by the application of a gentle pressure, I adopt
the following arrangement:-I make a rounded projection on each strip or band
near its end, and I make depressions at such points in the band that the said
projections take into the said depressions when the two parts of the bracelet are in
their open or closed position, thereby limiting the extent to which the two parts of
the bracelet can separate, and offering a slight resistance to the opening or closing
of the bracelet.
The application of my improvements to scarf rings, finger rings, and glove
fasteners differs in no essential respect from its application to a bracelet, as herein
before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William West in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th August
1881.
WILLIAM WEST, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturing
Jeweller. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BRACELETS, SCARF RINGS, FINGER RINGS, AND
GLOVE FASTENERS."
My Invention has reference principally to such bracelets, scarf rings, finger rings,
and glove fasteners as consist of two semi elliptical or other parts connected
together by thin strips or bands of metal connected, with one part sliding into and
out of the other part, thereby effecting the closing and opening of the bracelet or
other article.
My Invention also applies to bracelets, scarf rings, finger rings, and glove
fasteners, the two parts of which are connected by a joint, the unjointed ends
being connected by a thin strip or band of metal fixed to one part sliding into the
other part.
My said Invention has for its object the convenient fastening and unfastening
of the two parts of the bracelet, scarf ring, finger ring, and glove fastener, and
consists of the arrangements or combinations of parts for that purpose herein after
described.
For convenience of description I will describe my improvements in connection
with a bracelet.
Where the two parts of the bracelet are connected only by the strips or bands
of metal described I arrange the parts as follows:-The free end of each of the
said strips or bands of metal terminates in two hook like catches, which as
the open bracelet is closed simultaneously approach the middle of that half of the
bracelet in which they slide. At the middle of the said part are two pushers, the
outer ends of which project from opposite sides of the bracelet.
These pushers are forced outwards by a spring situated between them. The
inner end of each pusher has two hook like terminations situated respectively on
its opposite edges. These hook like terminations are of a size and form fitting
them to engage with the hook like catches terminating the strips or bands. When
the bracelet is closed the hook like catches on the ends of the strips or bands
simultaneously approach on opposite sides of the pushers and press back the hook
like terminations of the pushers until the latter are brought into such positions
that they snap behind the said catches and fix the bracelet in its closed position.
By pressing the pushers the parts of the fastening may be disengaged and the
bracelet inay then be opened.
When the parts of the bracelet are hinged together only one connecting strip
or band is employed, and the pushers have hook like terminations only on one
side.
When it is wished not to lock the closed bracelet, but only to fix it in its closed
position so far that it can only open by the application of a gentle pressure, I
adopt the following arrangement:-I make a rounded projection on each strip or
band near its end, and I make depressions at such points in the band that the said
projections take into the said depressions when the two parts of the bracelet are in
their open or closed position, thereby limiting the extent to which the two parts
of the bracelet can separate, and offering a slight resistance to the opening or
closing of the bracelet. Or the edge of the slot in one half of the article may
engage with the depressions in the band on the other half of the article.
The application of my improvements to scarf rings, finger rings, and glove
fasteners, differs in no essential respect from its application to a bracelet as herein
before described.

page_text: I will now proceed to describe wirh reference to the accompanying Drawing the
manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation closed, and Figure 2 in side elevation,
and Figure 3 in front elevation open a bracelet, the semi-elliptical halves of which
are fastened and unfastened according to one of my arrangements; Figure 4
represents a plan of one half of the bracelet exhibiting the fastening mechanism;
Figure 5 represents in front elevation and longitudinal section a portion of one of
the folded or doubled strips or bands of the fastening drawn to a larger scale;
Figure 6 represents one of the pushers or bolts separately; and Figures 7 and 7^
represent the covering plate of the fastening drawn to a larger scale.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
and 7A.
a, b, are the semi-elliptical halves of the bracelet, and c, c, are the doubled elastic
strips or bands fastened at d, d, to the half bracelet a, and sliding in the other half
bracelet b. The doubled strip or band c at each side of the bracelet is composed of
a folded strip of thin sheet metal, the fold forming an eye or tubular part c², through
which the pin which connects it to the half a of the bracelet is passed, as will be
understood by an examination of Figure 5. By the use of a doubled or folded strip,
as represented, the connecting band is made highly elastic. The free end of each
band or strip c terminates in two hook like catches f, f, made on one bar, the
hooks of the catches being turned towards each other (see Figure 5).
When the bracelet is closed the hook like catches f, f, slide in the half b and
simultaneously approach the middle of the half b. The elastic bands c, c, work
under flanges of the half b, and are guided in their motion by pins or studs i, i,
near the ends of the half bracelet b, on which studs the slits in the divided bands
work (see Figure 3). At the middle of the part or half b of the bracelet is a
fastening consisting of two pushers or bolts h, h, pressed outwards by a spring /
between them.
In their normal positions the heads or outer ends of the pushers or bolts h, h,
project slightly from the side of the half b (see Figures 3 and 4). One of these
pushers is represented drawn to a larger scale in Figure 6. Each pusher is furnished
on its opposite sides with look like terminations 2, 2, for the hook like catches f, ƒ,
of the elastic bands c, c, to engage with. The pushers h, h, are curved and work
between the part b of the bracelet and the covering plate 7, shown separately drawn
to a larger scale in Figures 7 and 74. By means of ears 12, 12, on the said covering
plate the pushers or bolts are guided in their motion. These ears are made by
folding down the pieces 13, 13, on the covering plate, as seen in Figure 7.
When the bracelet is closed the hook like catches f, f, on the ends of the strips or
bands c, c, simultaneously approach on opposite sides of the pushers h, h, and press
back the hook like terminations 1, 2, of the said pushers, and compress the spring / ;
and when the hook like catches f, f, have passed the said termination ³, h², the
latter snap behind the said catches and fix the bracelet in its closed position, as
represented in Figure 1. By pressing the pushers h, h, inwards, the hook like
terminations 2, 12, are withdrawn from the catches f, f, and the bracelet may be
opened, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
The arrangement of parts represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 may be applied to
a jointed bracelet. In this case one only of the elastic bands is used.
Figure 8 represents in side elevation closed, and Figure 9 in side elevation;
Figure 10 in front elevation, and Figure 11 in horizontal section open a jointed
bracelet, in which a separate fastening is dispensed with. Figure 12 represents a
plan of underside and side elevation of the elastic band drawn to a larger scale, the
side elevation exhibiting the two layers of the band separated. a, b, are the two
parts of the bracelet jointed together at a², and c is the elastic band or strip fastened
at near the meeting face of the half bracelet b, and working in the half bracelet a.
The ends c, c³, of the outer parts c, c, of the under layer of the elastic band c (see
Figure 12) are free, and on the said free ends c³, c³, hook like catches m, m, with
pushers are made. The said catches m, m, on the free ends c³, c³, of the
?

page_text: parts c³, c³, are capable of approaching one another by a lateral motion when
pressure is put upon them, and of returning to their normal positions when the
pressure is removed.
But to assist the return or snapping action of. the
catches m, m, a coiled spring p may be placed between them; a separate spring
however is not necessary to the action of the fastening. The hook shaped
catches m, m, are situated in front of the meeting face of the half bracelet band
the pushers n, n, project from the opposite sides of the said meeting face (see
Figure 11). At the opposite sides of the meeting face of the other half bracelet a
openings or recesses 9, 7, are made of a shape proper to engage with the shoulders
of the hook like catches m, m. On closing the bracelet the elastic strip or band c
passes into the half bracelet a, and just before the bracelet is closed the meeting
face of the said half a bears against the inclined sides of the hook like catches m, m,
and presses inwards the said catches, and on the complete closing of the bracelet
the shoulders of the said catches snap into the holes or recesses q, q, in the half
bracelet a and fasten the two parts of the bracelet together, as illustrated in
Figure 8. By pressure upon the pushers n, n, the hook like catches m, m, are
withdrawn from the holes 7, q, when the two parts of the bracelet are unfastened
and may be opened as illustrated in Figures 9, 10, and 11.
The last described fastening may be applied to bracelets of the kind represented,
in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, that is, to bracelets in which the halves are not jointed
together. In this case two connecting bands or strips and fastenings of the kind
represented in Figure 12 are used at each side of the bracelet.
Figure 13 represents in side elevation closed, and Figure 14 in side elevation,
and Figure 15 in front elevation open, a bracelet in which the two parts can be
opened by the application of a gentle pressure; Figure 16 represents in plan and
edge view drawn to a larger scale the connecting elastic strip or band of the
bracelet, and Figure 17 represents the meeting face and guide plate of the bracelet
drawn to a larger scale. In this arrangement the doubled elastic strip or band c, c,
bas near its folded end c² and on the upper layer a series of depressions, corrugations,
or undulations marked co, as best seen in Figure 16.
The elastic band c is fastened to the half b by a pin at c² passed through the fold
of the said band, and the said band slides through a slot in the meeting face of
the half bracelet a. When the bracelet is closed, the several corrugations at c³
snap in succession upon the upper edge of the slot 7 of the half bracelet a, and fix the
two parts or halves a, b, in their closed position. By applying a gentle pressure to
the two parts of the bracelet, the upper layer of the elastic band c, c, is compressed,
and the edge of the slot 7 is removed from the corrugations, when the bracelet may
be opened.
Instead of a series of corrugations or depressions as at cb, only one may be used,
but I prefer to use several corrugations as represented, as the size of the closed
bracelet may be regulated by fastening it in one or other of the corrugations.
The band or strip c, c, is guided in its motion in the part a by working upon
the guide studs 8, 8, at the meeting face of the said part a. These guide studs are
represented in Figure 17. They are made by bending them from the plate t in
which the slot is formed.
The arrangement of parts represented in Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17, may be.
applied to bracelets in which the halves are unjointed.
I do not limit myself to the shape of the corrugations or depressions represented,
nor to the use of the doubled strip or band represented, as a single strip or band
may be employed; and instead of the edge of the slot r in the meeting face of one
half of the bracelet engaging with the corrugations or depressions in the band
fixed to the other half bracelet, pins may project in the said slot for engaging with
the said corrugations.
I apply my improvements to scarf rings, finger rings, and glove fasteners,
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated with respect to
bracelets.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which the

page_text: same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention of
improvements in such bracelets, scarf rings, finger rings, and glove fasteners,
as are connected together by thin bands or strips of metal fixed to one part sliding.
into and out of the other part, the two parts of the article being either jointed
together or unjointed,―
First. The construction and combination of parts, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 74 of the accompanying
Drawing, for fastening one of the parts of the article to and unfastening it from the
other part of the article.
Secondly. The construction and combination of parts, substantially as herein
before described and illustrated in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 of the accompanying
Drawing, for fastening one of the parts of the article to and unfastening it from the
other part of the article.
Thirdly. The construction and combination of parts, substantially as herein
before described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 of the
accompanying Drawing, for securing the two parts of the article in their closed or
nearly closed position, and for opening the article by the application of a gentle
pressure.
Lastly. Making the elastic strips or bands by which the two parts of the article are
connected together by doubling or folding strips of thin sheet metal, substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William West, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord. One thousand
eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37, Temple Street,
Birmingham.
WILLIAM WEST. (L.S.)