Improvements in Bracelets.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Bracelets.
I, JOSEF OTTMAR ZIEHER, of 7, Kapuziner Gasse, Gmuend, Schwaeb, in the
Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Manufacturing Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to extensible or spring bracelets, and it has for its
object to dispense with the spiral springs now employed for imparting elasticity
to them.
To this end, my bracelet is formed of a series of loops or elements and
V-shaped or wedge-like pieces alternating with one another, both the loops or
elements and the wedge pieces being of a resilient nature.
The connection between the loops or elements and the wedge pieces is effected
by causing the ends of each loop or element to nip or press tightly in grooves
in the wedge pieces, the loops or elements being made of tempered metal so
that their ends hold the loops after the manner of spring fingers or claws.
The relative arrangement of the loops or elements and the wedge-pieces is
as follows:
Each wedge piece lies mainly within the loop, between whose ends it is held,
the base of the wedge piece being at or near the centre of the loop. The
opposite part of the loop is threaded through an eye in the apex of the next
wedge-piece which, in turn, is held between the ends of the next loop, and
so on.
When the bracelet is stretched, the ends of the loops are drawn towards the
base of the wedges and are thereby forced apart, whilst, at the same time, the
sides of the wedges are pressed towards each other. On releasing the bracelet,
the resiliency of the parts causes them to resume their normal positions, the
ends of the loops sliding towards the apex of the wedges, and so contracting the
bracelet.
Undue stretching of the bracelet is prevented partly by the grooves in which
the ends of the loops fit, and which limit their movement, and also by wires
projecting from the apexes of each wedge and passing through eye-blocks
arranged inside the next wedge, said wires having heels or bent-up ends to
engage these eye-blocks and so act as stops.
The wedge-pieces may be mounted on ornamental plates arranged on their
outer or face sides, and may be set with precious siones or gems, so giving an
elegant and finished appearance to the bracelet.
1
001
1
1000
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Bracelets.
I, JOSEF OTTMAR ZIEHER, of 7,.Kapuziner Gasse, Gmuend, Schwaeb, in the
Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Manufacturing Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say:-
This invention relates to extensible or spring bracelets, and it has for its
object mainly to dispense with the spiral springs now employed for imparting
clasticity to them, and which springs are, as a rule, more or less unsatisfactory
and liable to get out of order.
To this end, my bracelet is formed of a series of loops, links, or clips and
V-shaped or wedge-like pieces alternating with one another.
The connection between the loops or links and the wedge-pieces is effected
by causing the ends of each loop or link to nip or clinch tightly the wedge-
pieces and to slide thereon, suitable means being provided to prevent the link
becoming detached.
And in order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same by aid of the accom-
panying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 illustrates, diagrammatically, the aforesaid mode of connection.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively side and edge views of some of the loops or
links of a bracelet made according to this invention, said loops or links being
in their normal or unstretched condition.
Figs. 4 and are corresponding views showing the said loops or links in
their extended position.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew a slightly different arrangement in which the ends of
the loops or links are adapted to work in undercut grooves in the wedge-pieces.
Fig. 8 is a section of this arrangement on the line r,, Fig. 6.
Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively front and rear views of an arrangement in
which the wedge-piece is formed of two converging arms or bars which pass
through eyes on the ends of the loop or link.
Fig. 11 is an edge view of the same.
Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are respectively front, rear, and edge views of a modifi-
cation of the last arrangement, wherein the ends of the loop or link slide in
grooves in the arms.
Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, a indicates the loops or links and b
the wedges, each loop or link being attached to the point of one of the wedges,
and its ends nipping or pressing tightly against the sides of the next one.
The inclination of these sides must be such that the said ends will slide freely
on them towards the points of the wedges under the pressure due to the resilient
or contractile nature of the loops, which latter constitute in reality, a kind of
C-spring and are, for this purpose, formed of suitably tempered metal.
When the bracelet is stretched, the ends of the loops or links are drawn
towards the base of the wedges, and are thereby forced apart. On releasing
the bracelet, the resiliency causes the ends of the loops or links to slide towards
the apex of the wedges, so contracting the bracelet.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 2 to 5, the wedge bis mounted on or
provided with an ornamental plate or front c. and grooves d are formed in its
Sides for the ends of the loops or links a to work in. The arrangement thus

page_text: allows an amount of extensibility which is only limited by the amount which
it is possible for the said ends to travel in the grooves d.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 6 to 8, it will be seen that the ends of
the loops or links are formed with heads, whilst the grooves d are undercut,
so that the heads engage securely in them, thus guarding against accidental
separation of the loops and wedges, owing say to a sudden undue strain or
jerk.
In the arrangement shewn in 9 to 11, a similar result is attained, by forming
the wedge with a pair of arms secured to a pin or stud f, whilst the loop
or link has eyes at its ends which work on these arms, and are prevented
from being drawn off the same by heels on the said arms.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 12 to 14 the arms have slots i in
which the ends of the loops or links slide, this being substantially the converse
of the preceding arrangement, and the ends having necks or shoulders to press
on the edges of the slots.
It will be seen that the loops a can be made of a very ornamental shape,
whilst the front plates of the wedges can also be highly ornamented and set
with precious stones or gems. Thus my improved bracelet, whilst equalling
the well-known lazy-tongs or lattice work bracelet in extensibility, is far
superior to it as regards general appearance and reliability in use.
In some cases the wedge, or that portion thereof immediately embraced
between the ends of the loop or link, may be made of glass, so allowing of
highly polished surfaces for the ends of the loops or links to slide on, thereby
greatly reducing friction and increasing the smoothness of the action.
Moreover, if desired, the arms of the wedge may be made spring-like to
augment the degree of resiliency of the arrangement.
Although I have described and shewn my invention as applied to an exten-
sible bracelet, it is obvious that it can be applied to other chain like articles
where extensibility is desired.
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
1 claim is:
1. For the purpose of imparting elasticity to a bracelet or other chain-like
article) consisting of a series of loops or links, the combination of a resilient
loop or link and a wedge against whose inclined surfaces the ends of said loop
or link are adapted to press and slide, substantially as described.
2. A bracelet consisting of alternate resilient loops or links and wedges,
arranged substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2 to 5 of the annexed
drawings.
3. The modified construction of bracelet in which the ends of the loops or
links are adapted to engage in undercut grooves in the wedges, substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 6 to 8 of the annexed drawings.
4. The modified construction in which the wedge is formed with converging
arms with which the ends of the loops or links are connected, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, and to Figs. 12, 13, and 14
of the annexed drawings.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and JA, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.