AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR BRACELETS
Year: 1884

page_text: I FREDERICK NORMAN CUMMINGS of 365 High. Street, Cheltenham, in the
County of Gloucester Jewellers Assistant do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR BRACELETS" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved fastening device for use with bracelets and
is of that class or kind in which, when the two main portions of the bracelet are
separated or opened for facilitating placing the same upon, or removing it from,
the arm of the wearer, a protecting piece extends across the space which would
otherwise form an open gap.
The present Invention is designed to simplify the construction of such fasteners
and to provide a device which, while it acts as a snap or holder for securing the
two parts of the bracelet together when in their closed position, and can be
conveniently operated for releasing them, also forms in itself a guard or protector
which spans or bridges over what would otherwise be an open space when the two
parts of the bracelet are separated and opened out. Thus the loss of the article by
the accidental disconnection of the parts is prevented without the aid of chains or
other devices more or less objectionable.
My Invention is designed for use with bracelets which are composed of two
halves or parts binged or pivotted together at one end and capable of opening or
closing at the other end, and it is carried into practice.in the following manner,
that is to say I provide an elongated V-shaped spring or snap made preferably
of wire, which spring or snap passes through a slot or aperture in each of the end
edges of the bracelet which abut closely together when the latter is closed. Each
leg of the spring or snap at the open end-is bent outward at a right angle to
the length and is screw threaded at its end, upon which a small tubular piece
having an internal or female screw-thread is secured, these tubes forming push-
pieces whereby the bracelet may be unfastened. These push-pieces extend outside,
and slightly beyond, the edge of the bracelet and near one end thereof, and by this
means the open end of the spring or snap is secured so that the latter has no
longitudinal movement at this end. The smaller and closed end of the spring or
snap passes through an opening in the other half of the bracelet, and being curved
to the configuration of the latter, lies beneath the surface thereof when the said
bracelet is closed. A pin passes through this end of the bracelet in such a manner
that whatever may be the relative position of the two halves-whether open or
closed-the said pin is at all times between the two legs of the spring or snap so

page_text: that the latter cannot become disconnected from the bracelet. The opening in
this end of the bracelet is shorter than the one in the other end so that as the end
having the smaller opening moves along the spring or snap or the latter is pushed
through the opening, the legs of the said spring or snap are thereby caused
gradually to approach each other, and when both ends of the bracelet come together
the legs have been so far compressed that two shoulders provided on the spring
(one on each leg) engage within the smaller opening, whereupon the spring or snap
slightly expands and the two parts of the bracelet are held firmly together, the
release being effected, when desired, by pressing the push pieces herein before
mentioned. I provide one end of the bracelet with two pins and the other end
with two corresponding holes, the former engaging within the latter when the
bracelet is in its closed position.
I also provide a pin extending across the bracelet on the half or part along which
the spring or snap lies when closed, this pin serving as a guard to prevent the said
spring or snap from catching against the arm of the wearer and so becoming bent.
Although I have described the push pieces as consisting of tubes screwed upon
the outwardly bent parts of the spring or snap, I may, if desirable, dispense with
these tubes and utilize the bent parts of the spring or snap without any addition
thereto. The tubes are however preferable as they facilitate insertion or removal
of the parts.
LL
"
1001
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant:

page_text: I, FREDERICK NORMAN CUMMINGS, of 365 High Street, Cheltenham, in the
County of Gloucester, Jeweller's Assistant, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "AN IMPROVED FASTENER FOR BRACELETS" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My Invention relates to bracelets of that class or kind wherein two main
portions are hinged or pivotted together, and is designed to provide an improved
fastener or device which, while it acts as a snap or holder for securing the two
parts or ends of the bracelet together when in their closed position, also forms in
itself a guard or protector that extends across, or bridges over, the space or gap
between the two parts of the bracelet when opened, and which is more simple and
efficient than fasteners of this class as heretofore made.
By my Invention the liability of the bracelet to become accidentally unfastened
and fall from the arm of the wearer is obviated, without the aid of chains or other
more or less objectionable devices as heretofore employed.
My said Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, in which
Figure 1 is an isometrical perspective view of a bracelet provided with my
improved fastener, and
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of parts of the same.
a, a' are the two main portions of the bracelet, which are hinged or pivotted
together at b.
c is an elongated spring or snap which is made preferably of wire bent so that
its two ends are in proximity to each other, and which passes through the slots or
apertures d, d in the ends of the bracelet as shewn in Figure 2. The extremity
of each leg or limb of the spring or snap c is bent outward as shewn, and is screw-
threaded to receive a small tubular piece e having a corresponding internal screw-
thread; these tubes form push-pieces whereby the bracelet may be unfastened,
and each of which extends outward to, and slightly beyond, one edge of the
bracelet near one end of the part a. The said tubes also serve to retain the open
end of the spring or snap c in the part a of the bracelet, so that it has no longi-
tudinal movement therein. The closed end of the spring or snap c passes through
the aperture or slot d' in the part a' of the bracelet and is curved to the configu-
ration of the latter, so that it lies close to the interior surface thereof when the
said bracelet is closed. A pin f is fixed in this end of the bracelet between the
two limbs of the spring or snap c so that, whether the bracelet is open or closed,
the said spring or snap cannot be disconnected or withdrawn from the part a'
thereof. The slot dis shorter than the slot d; therefore, as the part a moves
along the said spring or snap, or the latter is pushed through the slot d', the limbs
of the said spring or snap are thereby caused to gradually approach each other,
and when both ends of the bracelet come together the spring or snap slightly
expands and the shoulders c¹, provided thereon for this purpose, engage with the
end of the part a¹; the two parts of the bracelet are thus held firmly together, and
can be released when desired by pressing inward the push-pieces e. I provide one
end of the bracelet with two pins or studs g and the other end with two corre-
sponding apertures h so that the former will enter the latter when the bracelet is
closed. I also provide a pin or rod k extending across the part a' of the bracelet,
to serve as a guard and prevent the said spring or snap from coming against the
arm of the wearer.

page_text: Although I have described the push-pieces as consisting of tubes screwed upon
the extremities of the spring or snap, I may, if desirable, dispense with these tubes
and utilize the extremities of the said spring or snap as push-pieces without any
addition thereto; as shewn at e* in Figure 1. The tubes are, however, preferable
as they facilitate the insertion and removal of the said spring or snap.
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:
The improved fastener for bracelets, constructed substantially as above described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing, for the purpose specified.
Dated this 9th day of Sentember 1884
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.