Improvements in Bracelets, Bangles, and analogous Articles of Jewellery.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bracelets, Bangles, and analogous Articles
of Jewellery.
I, ARTHUR JOHNSON SMITH, of Frederick Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturing Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows: -
This invention relates to bracelets, bangles and other analogous articles of
jewellery such as are usually worn by ladies around the wrist or arm, and has
for its object, to provide a new form of bracelet or bangle which is self-closing
and in which the usual hinge and snap fastening for connecting together the two
halves are dispensed with and the said halves are coupled and kept normally in
their closed positions by elastic connections whose over-distension together with
detachment of the one part from the other, is prevented by flexible metal bands
or other guides carried by the one part and moving over pins or like stops pro-
vided preferably within the interior of the other part.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a hollow two-part bracelet, each
of the sections of the article are made of the usual shape and may be ornamented
in any desired way whilst their open ends admit of coming close together. The said
sections are connected together and made self closing around a wrist by means of
two lengths of elastic webbing or other suitable material with one end of each
length secured to the inside of one section and the other end secured interiorly to
the adjacent or opposed part of the other sections in such a manner that the halves
of the article admit of being drawn apart to facilitate the passing of the same
onto a wrist, after which they are automatically closed by the resiliency of the
connection bands. In order to limit the distance to which the halves of the
bracelet may be separated and prevent consequent over-distension of the flexible
connections, provide the opposite ends of the one part with flexible slotted
metal bands or with lengths of flexible wire bent into the form of long loops,
and which take into the interior of the other half and around one or more fixed
pins or like stops, so that by the ends of the slots or loops coming against the
said stops on the bracelet being drawn open, the necessary limitation of the
movement is acquired. The limiting bands or loops may be any desired length
and may if required extend throughout the whole interior of the hollow part of
the article within which they slide.
The bracelets, instead of being hollow may be made from metal of a troughed
or other suitable section, but preferably having beaded edgings to retain the
limiting slides in position.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1899.

page_text: Improvements in Bracelets, Bangles; and analogous Articles
of Jewellery.
I, ARTHUR JOHNSON SMITH, of Frederick Street, in the City of Birmingham,
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 as-
certained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to bracelets, bangles and other analogous articles of
jewellery such as are usually worn by ladies around the wrist or arm, and has
for its object, to provide a new form of bracelet or bangle which is self-closing
and in which the usual hinge and snap fastening or connecting together the two
halves are dispensed with, the said halves being coupled and kept normally
in their closed positions by elastic connections, whose over-distension, together
with the detachment of the one part from the other, is prevented by flexible
metal bands or other guides carried by the one part and moving over pins or
like stops provided preferably within the interior of the other part.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front edge view of a
self-closing snapless and hingless bracelet constructed and provided in accordance
with my invention and Figure 2 is a side view thereof, the bracelet being shown
in its normal or closed positions.
I
Figure 3 represents a complete cross section of the said bracelet-upon the
dotted--line-a-also-in-its closed position, whilst Figure 4 shows the same in
section upon the dotted line a¹, Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 represent two different elevations of the bracelet opened or
with the two halves drawn apart to admit of it being readily introduced onto
-or removed from a wearers_wrist.
Figure 7 is a complete section of the bracelet in this position, showing also
the action of the check device by which the separation or detachment of the two
component parts is prevented.
Figure 8 represents a side view and a plan of the one component half of the
bracelet separately, and Figure 9 shows similar views of the other half.
Figure 10 represents a front view and an edge view of the check strip, and
Figure 11 represents like views of the continuous elastic band which is located
inside the bracelet and forms a means for keeping the two parts together and
returning them to their normal positions after opening.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
In carrying out this form of my invention as applied to a hollow two part
bracelet, each of the sections a and b of the article are made of the usual shape
and may be ornamented in any desired way whilst their open ends admit of
coming close together. The said sections are connected together and made self
closing around a wrist by means of a continuous length of elastic webbing or
other suitable material 60, which passes through the one section, whilst the ends
are passed into the other section and are sewn together at b₁, thus connecting
together the two halves in such a manner that they admit of being drawn apart
to facilitate the passing of the same onto a wrist, after which they are automati-
cally closed by the resiliency of the connection band. In order to limit the
distance to which the halves of the bracelet may be separated and prevent con-
sequent over-distension of the flexible connections, I provide a flexible slotted
metal check c, which passes through the one half, whilst its slotted ends c¹, extend
into the other half with their slots 2, taking over fixed pins or like stops d,
so that by the ends of the slots or loops coming against the said stops on the

page_text: bracelet being drawn open, the necessary limitation of the movement is acquired.
The limiting bands which may be also made in the form of a continuous wire
loop, may be of any desired length and may if required extend throughout the
whole interior of the hollow part of the article within which they slide.
The bracelets instead of being hollow may be made from metal of a troughed
or other suitable section, but preferably having beaded edgings to retain the
limiting slides or check bands in position.
Instead of employing a length of elastic as the coupling for the two halves
of the bracelet, the same may be connected together, and the closing of the same,
after separation, be effected, by means of a suitably arranged flattened coil spring
or springs, and the check against over distension may be placed within the
coils and may consist of a non-elastic cord, wire or the like, and I further wish
it to be understood that the check device, when made of sheet metal or from stout
wire, in addition to preventing the over-distension of the elastic connections,
also constitutes a guide for ensuring the proper coming-together of the opposed
open ends of the two halves, of which the ends of the one may-if désired-be
arranged to socket slightly into the ends of the other, which latter may be
slightly mouthed or enlarged to facilitate the socketting, and break joint
between the meeting ends.
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:
First: A self-closing and hingeless bracelet, bangle or like article in which
the separable halves or parts are coupled and kept normally in their closed
positions by an elastic connection or elastic connections, whose over-distension
is prevented by a slotted metal band, wire loop or equivalent check device,
carried by the one part and moving over pins or the like provided preferably
within the interior of the other part, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: In self-closing bracelets, bangles or the like, the employment of a
band or equivalent over-distension check for the elastic coupling and a guide
and connection for the separable parts, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly: In self-closing bracelets, bangles or the like, the employment in
connection with two separable halves or rigid sectional parts, of an elastic coup-
ling band or spring coupling, in conjunction with a check against the over-
distension of the said coupling, substantially as described and set forth.
Thaind this 7th day of 0.
1000
ARTHUR JOHNSON SMITH,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.