Bracelet and the like.

Application filed. April 25, 1910. Serial No. 557,595.

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that I, George Widenmeyer, ' residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bracelets and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful expansible chain fabric especially adapted for bracelets or the like.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide such a fabric in which the elastic member of the structure is well protected against contact injury on all sides, without the addition or multiplication of parts..

A further object is to provide a fabric of the kind referred to composed of links which are in themselves so constructed and arranged that the elastic member may pass through them in the line of the extension of the fabric.

Still another object is to so form links for the purpose last mentioned that they may be assembled into a fabric reversible so far as appearance goes, and affording the same protection to the elastic member on both sides.

Another end contemplated is the construction and arrangement of the links in a fabric of the kind described so that the parts directly inclosing the elastic member approximate as closely as possible superposed parallelism to the longitudinal line of the latter, thereby to a very considerable extent concealing the spring.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less broad than those stated above, will be in part obvious and in part specifically referred to in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles constituting the invention, and the scope of protection contemplated therefor will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown merely preferred forms of embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a plan of a section of fabric, as in its condition when the elastic member is contracted; Fig. 2 is an edge view of a single unit such as those shown assembled in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of a section of fabric such as shown in Fig. 1, as in its extended 55 condition; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of a modified form of fabric; and Figs. 7, 8, and 9, are views similar to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, of another modified form of fabric. 60

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, and considering particularly Fig. 1, the numeral 1 indicates one of a concatenated series of links, of suitable metal, through which passes an elastic member 2, prefer- 65 ably a metallic spiral spring. For the attainment of the objects previously set forth each of the links may have the figure-8 form shown, which can be secured by taking an ordinary link and twisting it through an 70 arc of approximately 180 degrees, whereby front and rear portions 3 and 4, respectively, will be provided, crossing each other, as shown, a distance apart sufficient to permit the spring 2 to pass between. A series of 75 similar 8-shaped links 1 is related as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the spring 2 passes through each one of them in the manner described. The spring 2 is of such relative length that when it is allowed to assume its 80 contracted position it causes adjacent links 1 to slide within one another into the relation shown in Fig. 1; while the links may be forcibly separated as far as possible against the tension of spring 2, as shown in Fig. 3. 85

It will be observed that in the assembled structure the portions 3 and 4 of each link 1 are so disposed that they approximate a relation of superposed parallelism to the longitudinal line of the inclosed spring 2. 90 Consequently they tend to conceal the spring, particularly if their outer surfaces are flattened. In order to increase the width of the fabric I may secure to the upper and lower loops of each link 1 a link 95 5, 6, as by soldering. These links 5, 6, while rigid with their respective links 1, are slidable within each other to the extent of the relative movement possible between their supporting links 1. Except as otherwise 100 specified, all of the links thus far mentioned may be shaped or bent in any ordinary or preferred way that will enable them to be assembled into a substantially even fabric.

It will be evident, of course, that instead 105 of both portions 3, 4, of each link 1 being equally bowed, as appears from Fig. 2, one may be straight and the other bowed. Thus,

973,601 where the fabric is used in a bracelet, the presence of the spring need cause no protuberance on the inner side of the article.

Γη Figs. 4, 5, and 6,1 show a variation of c the device shown in the first three figures. In this form there are no links 5, 6, but two series of concatenated links 1 are secured together as by soldering, the upper loop of one to the lower loop of the other, and a 10 separate spring passing through each series. In other respects this showing is similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3.

In Figs. 7 to 9 I show still another form which my invention may take. There are 15 two connected series of links, with two springs, as in Figs. 4 to 6, but the form of the links is different. Each link comprises the ordinary loop portion 10 and a crossloop 11 extending on one or both sides of the 20 loop 10, integral with or attached to loop 10. Cross loop 11 is disposed at such an angle to loop 10 that spring 2 may pass between the two; but the angle of the cross-loop to the spring is as small as possible, so that the two parts approximate a relation of super- 25 posed parallelism, thereby concealing the spring.

It is thought that the operation and use of the invention will be clear from the foregoing description of parts, and further ex- 30 planation thereof is accordingly omitted.