IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE CLASPS OR FASTENINGS OF BRACELETS, NECK CHAINS, AND OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 55, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CLASPS OR FASTENINGS OF BRACELETS, NECK CHAINS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY."-A communication from abroad by
Messrs. Eugène Fauche and Charles Auguste Ravaut, both of 29,
Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, Manufacturing Jewellers.
Sealed the 15th August 1862, and dated the 26th February 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Clark at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 26th
February 1862.
I, WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer and Patent Agent, dohereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLASPS OR FASTENINGS OF BRACELETS, NECK CHAINS,
AND OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to an improved clasp or fastening for jewellery, such
as bracelets, necklaces, and other similar articles. Hitherto these fastenings
have consisted of catches in connection with springs, which in order to be
released are depressed by means of headed pins or otherwise. The improved
fastenings of this Invention possess many advantages as compared with those
above mentioned, both as regards simplicity and strength. I form the catch
of an elastic strip, which itself forms the spring, and fix it rigidly or joint it to
one part of the ornament; in this strip I also make a cavity which receives a
projecting point formed inside of the socket plate or part into which the spring
plate enters. Instead of this projection and cavity I inay make small openings
or indentations in the elastic strip in connection with pins or projections inside
[Price]

page_text: the socket or other part of the fastening; by this means I am enabled to
dispensewithcatches or other methods of fasteningoperated from the outside.
The two parts of the clasp or fastening are separated by simply bending the
elastic strip forming the spring. It will be readily understood that by slightly
bending this strip, the projection on the second or socket plate of the fastening
will immediately engage in the opening in the elastic strip. While for the
purpose of opening the clasp, both parts of the fastening must be pressed in
order to bend the elastic strip, and cause it to assume such a position as to
enable the projection on the other part to free itself.
To afford greater security to the clasp I make the end of the elastic strip of
such form that it cannot be introduced into the socket plate or strip except in
a slanting direction, and that when once in, the elastic strip forming the clasp
can only be detached by two operations;. 1st, by separating the projection
from the catch in which it is secured, and 2ndly, by withdrawing the elastic
strip from the socket plate constituting the other part of the fastening, which
can only be effected by causing it to assume a slanting position in consequence
of the enlargement on the end of the strip.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
August 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters,
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in. the twenty-fifth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Clark, my Her special licenc: that I, the said William
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as {I,
the said William Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLASPS OR FASTENINGS OF BRACELETS, NECK CHAINS, AND
OTHER ARTICLES OF JEWELLERY," a ceme. from abroad by Messrs. Eugène Fauche

page_text: and Charles Auguste Ravaut, both of 29, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris,
Manufacturing Jewellers; upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Clark, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Clark, do hereby declare
the nature of the said 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention relates to an improved clasp or fastening for jewellery, such
as bracelets, necklaces, and other similar articles. Hitherto these fastenings
have consisted of catches in connection with springs, which in order to be
released are depressed by means of headed pins or otherwise; these springs or
pins always present a flat or raised surface on the exterior. The improved
fastenings of this Invention do not project on the exterior, and possess
many advantages as compared with those above mentioned, both as regards
simplicity and strength. I form this improved catch of an elastic strip, which
itself forms the spring, and is bent so as to form two arms.
I fix it rigidly or
joint it to one part of the ornament. In this strip I also make a cavity which
receives a projecting point formed inside of the socket plate or part into which
the spring enters. Instead of this projection and cavity, I may make small
openings or indentation's either in the elastic strip in connection with pins or
projections, or inside the socket or other part of the fastening. By this means
I am enabled to dispense with catches or other methods of fastening, operating
from and extending beyond the outside. The two parts of the clasp or
fastening are separated by simply bending the elasticstrip forming the spring.
It will be readily understood, that by slightly bending this elastic strip,
which is formed of two branches or arms, and by introducing the projection on
the second or socket plate of the fastening, it will immediately engage in the
opening in the elastic strip. While for the purpose of opening the clasp, both
parts of the fastening must be pressed in order to bend the elastic strip and
cause it to assume such a position as to enable the projection on the other part
to free itself. To afford greater strength and security to the clasp, I make the
end of the elastic strip of a peculiar form, or I may also provide it with a
second or safety catch, in case the other should become unfastened.

page_text: In the annexed Drawings are represented, 1st, one of these improved clasps
or fastenings drawn on an enlarged scale, and which may serve as a first
arrangement; 2ndly, several other modifications of the preceding arrangement
shown of the natural size.
Fig. 1 shows one of these improved clasps applied to a bracelet seen
partly in plan and partly in section; Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 shows a second arrangement of clasp also applied to a bracelet,
seen in sectional plan; Fig. 4, an elevation of same; while Figs. 5, 6, & 7
show details of the improved clasps drawn to a large scale in order that the
Invention may be more readily comprehended. The same letters of reference
indicate like parts seen in different positions.
a, bracelet, properly so called, composed of one or several parts; the Invention
may be equally applied to any other article of jewellery; b, elastic strip, having
two limbs bent so as to form a spring, one arm of this strip b is fixed at one
end e of the bracelet; c, first catch fixed on one arm of b; d, second catch
fixed on the other limb of the same;f, socket on the other end of the bracelet;
g. 9, projections fixed at the upper and lower parts of socket f; h, notch made
in one branch of strip 6 for receiving a thumb or finger nail.
The parts being arranged as described, I will proceed to explain the method
of separating or closing the two parts of the bracelet furnished with the
improved clasp of this Invention. I will suppose the two ends of this bracelet
to be separated as in Fig. 5. If I introduce the spring 6 into the socket f,
the two branches of said spring are pressed together, on coming in contact
with said projections g until the first catch e has passed beyond the projection
corresponding to it. At this moment the two limbs of spring 6 opening out
automatically by reason of its elasticity, the catch c will come in contact with
the inner face of the upper projection g, and thereby retain hold of the spring
and so secure the two parts of the bracelet in the closed position. By intro-
ducing the spring b still further in socket/, the second catch d may be secured
in position by means of the lower projection g. In this manner the two parts
of the bracelet may be united by a double clasp as seen in Fig. 6. In order
to separate the two parts two distinct operations are necessary, thus the first
has the effect of disengaging the catch d from projection g, which is effected
by raising the end e of the clasp, so as to bring the two parts of the spring b
together and allow the catch d to pass over projection g, as seen in Fig. 7,
which represents the two ends of the bracelet retained in position simply by
means of the additional safety fastening. In order to completely separate the
two parts of the bracelet, it is sufficient to bear with the finger on the notch h,
which presses the two parts of the spring b together, and so allows the catch d

page_text: to pass overthe
upper catch g, in this manner the two the two ends fand c of the
bracelet will be completely free. In Figs. 1 and 2 the catch c is replaced by
two notches corresponding thereto. In Figs. 3 and 4 the catches c and dare
replaced by notches cand e answering the same purpose; these arrangements
may also be varied, as seen in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13, which are all
constructed on the same principle, being clasps without thunb-pieces or pin
'heads.
Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23 show details of a second
form of clasp. Fig. 14 shows a section on a large scale of this improved
arrangement of clasp.
:
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 show a jointed bracelet fitted according to this Invention
in plan elevation, and as opened out flat.
i
Fig. 18 shows a similar clasp, which may be adapted to bracelets not made
in parts.
Fig. 19 shows a modification of the elastic strip or spring.
Figs. 20 and 21 show one of these improved clasps furnished with a safety
catch.
T.
J
Fig. 22 represents this improved clasp as applied to a chain, while Fig. 23
shows a clasp suitable for application to any article of jewellery intended to be
fixed to any other part. The same letters of reference indicate like parts in
the several Figures seen in different positions.
The construction of this improved clasp will be readily understood by
reference to Fig. 14, which represents a section, on an enlarged scale, of this
second arrangement of clasp. a, first plate of the clasp, to which is fixed an
clastic plateb furnished with a groove c and rim d; e, second plate of the clasp
containing a socket f; at the entrance of said socket there is a projection g
which engages in groove c of plate b. It will be understood that the plate b
being slightly bent and elastic, on introducing it into socketf the projection g
immediately enters into the groove c, which requires another operation to
disengage it therefrom. In case the clasp should become unfastened by
accident for greater security the rim d is made as represented in Figs. 20 and
21, so that it can only be introduced into socket fiu a slanting direction,
and when once in it can only be withdrawn in the same manner, so that
it forms a safety catch.
This arrangement of clasp may further be modified by dispensing with the
groove in the spring plate, as also with the projection corresponding thereto,
which parts are replaced by means of notches made in each side of the spring
plate, taking in projections on the other part of the fastening, or small openings
may be made in the spring plate itself for receiving pins fixed in the other part

page_text: of the clasp. These modifications are represented in the Drawings in Figs. 24,
25, 26, and 27.
Fig. 24 shows a plan of the two parts of a clasp, which are united by means
of openings made in the spring plate; Fig. 25 shows a section of same.
Fig. 27 represents a plan of the two parts of another form of jointed clasp
united by means of two openings, as shown, and Fig. 26 section of same. The
same letters of reference indicate like parts in the several Figures. a, first
plate of the clasp, to which is fixed a spring platebfurnished with openings h, h,
or spaces i, i, and turned up at the end d; e, a second plate of the clasp forming
asocket f; immediately inside this socket are pins j,j, taking into openings h,h,
or it may be projections k, k, engaging in spaces i, i. The two parts a, e, of
the clasp are united in an exactly similar manner as the preceding clasps.
For greater security 1 may have two rows of openings h, h, or spaces i, i, as
represented at Figs. 1 and 2. I may also adapt two different arrangements of
pins or projections to the same clasp engaging in a corresponding double
system of openings or spaces therein.
Having described the nature of this Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that I do not confine myself to the precise form of parts
constituting the improved fastenings herein described, as such may be varied
infinitely without departing from the principle thereof; but what I claim as
the Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is, the arrangement and construction of the improved clasps or
fastenings, herein-before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane.
W. CLARK. (L.S.)