Patented Dec. 10 1922.
SAMUEL FOSTER 3 RR. OF LEOMINSTER MASSACHUSETTS.
BRACELET.
Application filed April 25
To all whom it may concern:
Be it known that I SJAM%rUEL F©STEr Jr.
a citizen of the United States. residing at Leominster in the county of Worcester and
5 State of Massachusetts have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brace-lets of which the following is a specification.
This invention relates to a bracelet stru.c-
10 tore of the type which comprises a hand of resilient flexible material having its end portions detachably secured together in such a manner as to be capable of being readily secured in place upon the arm of the wearer
15 and readily detached therefrom by moving the connected end portions into offset position relative to each other.
One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which is of simple
20 construction wherein the end portions may be readily connected together to normally retain the bracelet in place upon the arm of the wearer through the novel form of connecting means provided for the purpose
25 in conjunction with the natural resiliency and flexibility inherent in the material from which the bracelet is constructed.
Another object of the invention is to pro vide a novel securing means for connecting
30 the free ends of a bracelet when the brace-let is formed of material which possesses a considerable degree of resiliency to permit the end portions thereof to readily interlock while at the same time having suffi
35 cient inherent rigidity to resist the usual forces tending to disconnect the end portions unless such forces are applied in a particular direction.
Other objects and advantages of the in-
40 vention relate to certain improved details of construction and arrangement of the parts as will be fully set forth in the de-tailed description to follow.
Referring to the drawings :
45 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the brace-let structure.
Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the means for connecting the end portions of the band showing the position of the ends
50 prior to their connection.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the position of the parts as one end portion is inserted between the other end portion and the plate.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Figs. 65 `s and 3 showing the position of the parts when the ends are in interlocking 'position and
Fig 5 is a top plan view of the structure showing the position of the parts as the 60 ends are forced into offset relation to each other to disconnect the ends.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated herewith 10 designates a band formed of resilient flexible material and' shaped to conform substantially to the arm 'of the wearer the band being formed of material which combines a sufficient degree of rigidity to normally exert considerable resistance to forces tending to bend or distort the same with sufficient resiliency to return to its original shape after being bent and possessing adequate flexibility to permit it to be secured in piece upon the arm of the wearer or removed therefrom. I have found it desirable in practice to form 'the band 10 of celluloid' although other material possessing the desired dualities may be used 'ncl I may fom the band 'of aFivdesired cross-sectional shape which is best adapted to enhance the appearance thereof or best suited for the
particular purpose for which it is to be emploved: in. the present instance the band is roiughly semi-elliptical in cross-section and
is provided with flattened end portions 11 85 and 12 which are detachably connected together by means which will now be de-scribed. The end portion 11 is provided upon its outer face with a bevelled edge 13 and has a transverse groove t4 extend-mg thereacross the wall 15 of which Is formed at right angles to the tangent at that point or slightly undercut to form a catch 16 for engaging the opposite end of the band The opposite end portion 12 of the band has itsinner edge beveled as indicated at 17. and is provided with a transverse groove 18 formed upon the inner surface thereof the wall 19 of said groove being perpendicular to a tangent to the curve at 100 that point or slightly undercut relative to the base of the groove to form a. tongue 20 adapted to fit within the groove 14 and engage the catch 16 to hold the end portions of the band against 105 separation. An ornamental plate 21 which is preferably formed of the same material as the band 10 and may be of any desired
65 70 75 80
90 95
shape to correspond with the shape of the band 10 or form therewith a bracelet strut ture presenting a pleasing or artistic appearance. is secured to the outer surface of
5 the end portion 11 in any suitable or desired manner as by being cemented thereto or attached thereto by concealed fastening means. The inner surface of the plate 21 is provided with a recess 22 positioned op-
10 posite the groove 14 the forward edge of the lower face of the plate extending beyond the recess to form a lip 23 adapted to engage the outer face of the end portion 12 as the same is pressed between the plate
15 21 and the beveled edge 13 by a straight longitudinal movement and thus force the tongue 20 into the groove 14 whereby the end portions are held against separation:
In separating the end portions of the hand
20 from connection with each other as in re-moving the bracelet from the arm of the Tearer it is necessary only to flex the end portions thereof in opposite direr+ions and transversely of the normal plane of the
25 bracelet as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings when the tongue 20 will pass from the groove 14 and beyond the catch 16 where-upon the bracelet may be removed in the usual manner. While the space between the
30 plate 21 and the catch 16 is preferably sufficiently restricted to cause the outer surface of the end 12 to contact with the lip 23 and force the tongue 20 into the groove 14 when the end portion 12 is inserted by a straight
35 lengthwise movement between the outer surface of the end 11 and the inner surface of the plate 21 it is sufficient to permit trans-verse movement of the end portions in disconnecting them from each other.
40 From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple and efficient form of bracelet adapted to be readily se-cured in place upon the arm of the wearer or removed therefrom while the rigidity of
45 the material suffices to normally hold the end portions against separation and preserve the parts in proper relative position against such strains as they will be subjected to in ordinary use. The provision of the plate
50 21 overlying the end portion 12 not only serves to enhance the ornamental appearance of the structure but also prevents the tongue 20 from becoming accidentally disconnected from the catch 16. The rigidity
55 inherent in the material employed also serves to prevent accidental separation of the end portions 11 and 12 either by the band 10 becoming sprung sufficiently to release the tongue 20 from the catch 16 or by transverse
00 movement of the end portions relative to each other.
What I claim is:
I. In a bracelet structure a flexible split
band formed of material possessing a high
05 degree of rigidity and provided at its end
portions with oppositely extending tongues adapted to interlock by a straight movement of the end portions relative to each other in which position the rigidity inherent
in the material will normally prevent sepa- 70 ration of the interlocking parts said oppositely extending tongues being movable from interengaging position by relative movement transversely of the normal plane of the bracelet.
2. In a bracelet structure a flexible split band formed of material possessing a high degree of rigidity and provided at its end portions with oppositely extending' tongues a plate secured to the outer surface of one 80 of said end portions and extending over the tongue formed thereon to provide a space for the reception of the other end portion said plate contacting with the last named end portion to force the said tongues into inter- 85 engaging relation when the said last named end portion is inserted within the space between the first named end portion and the plate by a straight longitudinal movement.
3. In a bracelet structure a flexible split 90 band provided at its end portions with oppositely extending tongues a plate secured to the outer surface of one of said end portions and extending over the tongue formed thereon to provide a space for the reception 95 of the other end portion said plate being provided with a recess upon its under surface overlying the tongue formed upon the first named end portion and a lip carried by said plate for contact with said second named end portion for forcing the tongues into interengaging relation when the second named end portion is inserted between the first named end portion and said plate by a straight longitudinal movement.
4. A bracelet of the character described comprising a split celluloid band provided at its end portions with oppositely extending tongues for interengaging with each other when the end portions are positioned in overlapping relation the rigidity inherent in the material normally preventing springing of the band to cause accidental release of said interengaging tongues said oppositely extending tongues being movable 115 from interengaging position by relative movement transversely of the normal plane of the bracelet.
5. A bracelet of the character described comprising a split-band of resilient material 120 provided with. interconnecting end portions oppositely positioned tongues formed upon the said end portions and adapted to inter-lock together when the end portions are conne.:.ted said interengaging tongues being 125 normally separable from each other only by relative movement in a direction transversely of the normal plane of the bracelet.
6. A bracelet of the character described comprising a split-band of resilient material 130
75
a
10
105
110

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provided with interconnecting end portions similarly formed oppositely positioned tongues carried by said end portions and engageable with each other by a straight longitudinal movement of the ends said tongues being formed to resist separation by a straight longitudinal movement of the
end portions but separable by relative movement of the end portions in a direction transversely of the normal plane of the bracelet. 10
In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

SAMUEL FOSTER dx.