US2553782A - Clasp - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 22, 1951 CLASP Mildred C. orchard and YLeonard E. Lang,

Y San Francisco, Calif.

Application September 6, 1949, Serial No. 114,246

3 Claims. (Cl. 24-162) This invention relates generally to clasps or retaining devices suitable for application to various articles of apparel.

It is a general object of the invention to provide an improved clasp of the above character which Will be relatively simple to apply and release, and which when applied will aiiord a retention capable of withstanding considerable pull.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is relatively simple in construction and which can be readily manufactured in various materials.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view in section, illustrating a clasp incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 but showing the pins of the clasp in a retracted position.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

The clasp illustrated in the drawing consists of a base plate I0, upon which the box-like shell I I is mounted. The portion Illa of the base plate I IJ extends beyond one end of the shell andserves to mount a retaining strap or plate I2. The edge portions I2a of the plate I2 are attached to the adjacent edge portions of the base II), as by soldering, welding or the like. Plate I2 serves together with the base portion Illa to form a guideway I3 for accommodating the slide plate I4. A finger engaging member I6 is attached to one end of the plate I4, another member I1 is attached to the other end of plate I4, and is disposed within the shell II. Both members I5 and I'l are in effect wall-like portions extending at right angles to the main portion of plate I4. To facilitate manufacture members I6 and I'I can be formed integral with plate I4 as illustrated. Member I1 serves to mount one or more retaining pins I8, which extend generally parallel to the base plate III. One end wall I9 of the shell I I is provided with openings 2I to accommodate the pins I8. Another wall 22 is carried by the base of the clasp, and occupies a position contiguous to the points of the pins I8, when the latter are fully projected. For ease 2 of manufacture it is convenient to make both members I9 and 22 integral with the retaining plate I2.

Within the shell II there is a compression spring 23 having its one end seated upon the end wall 24 of the shell, and its other end engaging the movable wall I 1. That end of the spring which engages the wall 24 can be extended to retain the same generally centralized within the shell.

The edge portions of the base plate Ill, which extend beyond the sides of the shell II, can be provided with perforations 25 or otherwise formed to facilitate attachment to various types of materials.

Operation of our clasp can be described as follows: The compression spring 23 normally urges the pins I8 to the projected position illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. In this position the ends or points of the pins I8 are contiguous to the wall 22. When it is desired to attach the clasp the operator applies pressure to the member I6 to move the slide plate I4 together with pins I8 against the force of the compression spring 23. Figure 2 illustrates the retraction of the pins I8 in this operation. Material is now placed between'the points of the pins I8 and the wall 22, and the member IB is released. Thispermits the spring 23 to force the pins I8 through the material, to form a secure attachment. If the material is of such a character that the spring 23 applies insufficient force to cause the pins to penetrate, then additional manual force can be applied to the member I6. To release the device it is only necessary to apply pressure to the wall I 6 to retract the pins I8. While the pins are being retracted the wall I9 forms a positive means to strip the material from the pins.

To apply the device to an article of apparel, the base plate I0 can be attached to one part of the article, as by stitching through the perforations 25, thus placing the device in a convenient position to enable another part of the apparel to be attached or detached as desired. As a specic example the base can be attached to one part of a fur neckpiece, whereby another part of the fur can be attached to prevent accidental dislodgement of the neckpiece from the wearer.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base plate, a shell carried by the base plate', a wall forming one end of said shell and carried by the base plate, said wall being provided with perforations, a slide plate slidably carried by said base plate, a wall-like member mounted upon said slide plate and disposed within said shell, spring means within said shell urging said wall-like member toward the wall which is provided with perforations, retaining pins mounted upon said wall-like member and projecting through said openings, and another wall-like member carried by the base plate and disposed contiguous to the projected points of said pins.

2. In a device of the character described, a base plate, a shell mounted upon the base plate, the base plate having a portion projecting beyond one end of the shell, a member mounted upon the projecting portion of said base plate `and forming a guideway therewith, a slide plate slidably disposed n said guideway, a wall-like memberl mounted upon one end of said slide plate and disposed within said shell, pins mounted upon said last named member and extending from said shell in a direction substantially parallel to the sliding movement of said slide plate, spring means Within the shell and serving to urge said pins toward projected position, a wall carried by said .base plate and forming an end of the shell, said last named wall having openings to accommodate said pins, and another wall carried by said base plate and positioned contiguous to the points of said pins, when said pins are in projected position.

3. A device as in claim 2 in which another 'wall-like member is mounted on the other end oi the slide plate and is normally spaced from the wall which is contiguous to the points of the projected pins.

MILDRED C. ORCHARD. LEONARD E. LANG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 392,367 Saxton Nov. 6, 1888 883,634 Fox Mar. 31, 1908 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,818 Great Britain of 1903 109,12() Switzerland of 1925

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