IMPROVEMENTS IN FINGER-RINGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FINGER-RINGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES."-A communi-
cation from abroad by Robert John La Grange, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
United States of America. Gentleman.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st January 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE of the Firm of Haseltine Lake and Co, Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN FINGER RINGS AND SIMILAR
ARTICLES." [A communication from abroad by Robert John La Grange, of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman.]
This Invention consists in a ring to be worn upon fingers or with scarfs or for
similar uses which ring is adapted to be expanded and contracted, or adjusted to
various sizes, without affecting the correct curvature of the ring.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the bow of the ring is formed in
sections or segments hinged or pivoted to the head of the ring, and a section or
segment forming the expansible and contractible part of the ring.
The first named segments are hollow or grooved in the direction of their length
to receive the ends of the other segment and they form curved continuations of
each other.
To the inner faces of the hinged or pivoted segments are secured curved spring
plates which are fastened by screws, teats, or other devices. The teats, when
employed, are on the lower ends of the spring-plates and enter openings formed
on the inner face of the segment, said plates coinciding with the curvature of
the bow.
The plates are so constructed that they may spring towards or from the hinged
segments. In the former case, the teats, when employed, remain in position without
necessarily requiring fastenings and when the teats are to be disengaged from the
openings a key or implement may be screwed or otherwise attached successively

page_text: to each plate, so that the plate may be pulled out, or I may employ buttons
connected to said plates the heads whereof are convenient of access on the outside
of the hinged segments so that the plates may be pushed in. In the other case, where
the plates spring from the hinged segments, the screws are passed through the
segments into threaded openings in said plates, so that the latter may be drawn
towards the hinged segments and the parts thereby secured. When the screws
aro loosened, the plates spring inwardly and thus cause disengagement of the
parts, but it is evident that other modes of releasing and securing the parts may be
adopted.
The expansible segment may have teats applied to its ends, and openings may be
formed in the hinged segment, the ends of the expansible segment expanding
laterally and serving as the spring plates to keep the teats in said openings. In
this case the teats are released from the openings by compressing the ends of the
segment and engaged by permitting said ends to expand.
In order to limit the enlarging or expanding movement of the expansible
segment it is provided on its ends with cross bars which stop against pins or
screws in the ends of the other segment, or said segment may be grooved to receive
pins projecting from the hinged segments, the ends of the groove stopping against
said pins.
When the plates are pushed or pulled in or out, or otherwise operated in order to
disengage the contiguous parts, the expansible segment may be moved into or out
of the hinged segments, in order to adjust the bow to the size of the finger, scarf,
or other article on which the ring is to be worn. Then the spring plates are let go
or returned to their normal position, and the screws when employed, applied and
tightened, whereby the ring is of the proper size ready to be worn, and presents
the appearance in the main of an ordinary ring; with the motion of the expansible
segment, the other segments turn on their hinged or pivotal connections with the
Lead and thus conform in curvature to the enlarged or reduced diameter of-the
ring, the correct circular form of the ring being thereby preserved.
The end of the adjustable or movable segment may be fitted to nuts swivelled to
the other segments so that the former may be moved in and out, and other forms of
accomplishing such result may be readily adopted.

page_text: by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Umce on
31st July 1882.
une
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London. " IMPROVEMENTS IN FINGER-RINGS AND
SIMILAR ARTICLES." A communication from abroad by Robert John La Grange,
of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Gentleman.
This Invention relates to rings to be worn upon fingers or with scarfs, or for
similar uses, which rings are adapted to be expanded and contracted, or adjusted to
various sizes, without affecting the correct curvature thereof.
In the accompanying Drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ring..
Figure 2 is a section on the line xx Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section of a modification.
Figure 4 is a section on the line y, y, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of another modification.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the Drawing.
A represents the head of the ring and B the bow thereof.
According to this Invention the bow of tho ring is formed of the sections or
segments a, a, hinged or pivotted to the head of the ring, and the section or
segment b, the latter forming the expansible and contractible part of the ring.
The segments a, a, are hollow or grooved in the direction of their length to
receive the ends of the segment b and forin curved continuations of each other.
To the inner faces of the segments a, a, are secured curved spring plates C, C
which are fastened by screws D, D studs c, c, or other devices. The studs c, c, when
employed are on the lower ends of the spring-plates and enter openings d, d,
formed on the inner face of the segment b, the said plates coincide with the
curvature of the bow B.
The plates C, C are so constructed, that they may spring towards or from the
segments a, a. In the former case the studs c, c, when employed remain in position
without necessarily requiring fastenings, and when they are to be disengaged from
the openings d, d, a key or implement shewn in Figure 3 may be screwed or other-
wise attached successively to each plate so that they may be pulled out, or buttons
may be employed, connected to the said plates C, C the heads whereof are convenient
of access on the outside of the segments a, a above shewn in Figure 3, so that
the plates may be pushed in. In the other case where the plates spring from the
hinged segments a, a, the screws D, D are passed through the segments a, b, into
threaded openings in the said plates, so that the latter may be drawn towards the
segments a, a, and the parts thereby secured. When the screws are loosened, the
plates spring inwards and thus cause disengagement of the parts but it is evident
that other modes of releasing and securing the parts may be adopted.
In Figure 5 I shew the expansible segment b having studs c, c, applied to its ends,
and the openings d, d, formed in the segments a, a. The ends of the segment b
expand laterally and serve in place of spring plates C, C to keep the studs c, c in the
said openings. In this case the studs are released from the openings d d by
compressing the ends of the segment b and engaged by permitting the said ends to
expand.
In order to limit the enlarging or expanding movement of the segment b, it is
provided at its ends, with cross bars which stop against pins or screws in the ends
of the segments a, a, as in Figure 2, or the said segment may be grooved to receive
pins projecting from the segmenta a, a, the ends of the grooves stopping against
the said nine.

page_text: When the plates C, C are pushed or pulled in or out or otherwise operated in
order to disengage the contiguous parts, the segment b may be moved into or out
of the segments a, a, in order to adjust the bow to the size of the finger, scarf or
other article on which the ring is to be worn. Then the spring plates are released or
returned to their normal position, and the screws D, D (when employed) applied
and tightened, whereby the ring is of the proper size and ready to be worn, pre-
senting the appearance in the main of an ordinary ring; with the motion of the
segment the segments a, a turn on their hinged or pivotal connections with the
head A and thus conform in curvature, to the enlarged or reduced diameter of
the ring, the correct circular form of the ring being thereby maintained.
The end of the adjustable or movable segment may be fitted to nuts attached to
the other segments so that the former may be moved in and out, other forms of
accomplishing such result may also be readily adopted.
If desired, the expansible and contractible section may be passed through the
head of the ring. In this case the ring has a socket to receive the head, which is
made removable therefrom, and the said head has secured to or formed with it a
downwardly projecting pin or stud, which is adapted to enter one of the openings
formed in the aforesaid section and thereby hold the said section and also the bow.
The adjustability of the bow is similar to that stated in previous cases, and tho
fastening is concealed by the head of the ring and inaccessible to those who are
uninformed as to its construction, the general appearance of the ring not being
affected.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim
First. A ring having its bow formed with an expansible and contractible section,
and other sections-hinged to the head of the ring.
Second. A ring having a head with segments hinged or pivotted thereto, and an
expansible and contractible segment fitted to the said hinged segments, substantially
as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Third. A ring having hinged sections or segments, an expansible and contractible
section or segment, and fastening plates therefor, substantially as, and for the
purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The expansible and contractible segment b, with openings d, the spring
plates with studs c, and the hinged segments a, combined and operating substantially
as, and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.