US2449885A - Strap with inseparable ends - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 21, 1948 j, DQMLER 2,44%885 STRAP WITH INSEPA RABLE ENDS I Filed-July 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 21, 1948. c. A, DOMLER 2,449,885

STRAP WITH INSEPARABLE ENDS 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Filed July 10, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 21, 1948 OFFICE WITH. INSEP-ARABLE ENDS Charles Domler, Johnston. R. I.

Application July {10, 1946, I-S'eria'l No. 682,658

6 Claims.

. 1 iMy invention relates to improvements in straps, particularly to the type in the. entire strap is continuously"assembled in the position desired for use so-'that it 'may be tightened in an adjusted position and releasednand still remain :in said assembled condition.

"Ilhisxapplication coverssan alternative form of vthe broad inventlon'shown in my application, for patent on Str-apSer. No. 667,311,"!iled May 4, 1946. Its objects and "function are exactly like those of the embodiment shown in said ap p'li'catlon with the exception tha-t the transverse slit forming the superi-mposable upper and lower layers does not extend all the way across the adjustable endflbut is formed by-two spaced vertical slits separating sald adjustable end into a center portion and side portions terminating in a joined tip whereby said center portion maybe depressed between said side portions so that said center portion anay form a lower layer and said side portions an -'u-pper layer with the transverse slit-or space between them in-towhich the cross bar of the buckle may slide and be limited in its longitudinal movement just as in said parent application.

An object ofmy invention is tokeep the strap ends continuously assembled, so that when "not in use, there wlllnot be any protruding parts or ends adaptedto be caught-by other objects which would tend to injure both the strap ends and the other objects, and being in this continuously assembled condition if desired, around an object to be enclosed, safer from liability against loss than if the ends were separated and removed.

A further object of my invention ls'to provide such a strap, having a heater appearance than other straps of this description.

A further object of another embodiment of my invention is to provide a strap which looks like an ordinary strap or belt when attached, but in which it is impossible tocompletely separate the ends thereof from their assembled positlon.

While my invention may be employed on a strap adapted to encircle any human limb or body torso or even to join two article portions, such as the top of an overshoe o'r garment, together, my invention is particularly adapted for use with straps for Wrist watch bracelets. In-

this art, while many people have attempted to use expansible strap portions made of metal or otherwise. so far as I am aware no one has hitherto provided an-expansible, attractive, flexible fabric strap. It is decidedly advantageous that the strap be not completely loosened and have its ends separated until the'watch is entirely free from the Wrist, and as there is normally only one hand to attach or release the wristwatch strap to or from the other hand, there is alwaysthe 2 liability of the watch dropping as-the wrist watch strap is attached or released andior this reason.

many types of extensible rmetal connectors have bQBI'IEDI'OVidGd.

A further object of my invention, therefore, is

to provide a wrist watch strap which will look like an ordinary flexible fabric strap, but which has the advantages of the metallic, extensible members ."toprevent the wrist watch from fallin awaycfrom the wrist white i-t being atta'ched ortdetached. While I am aware that TOtiheIS have attempted'to connect strap ends together for thispurposeby separateiconnecting means, this connecting means has been iii-the way of the proper" connection f the strap ends in use and a 'fur ther object "oi' myinvention, therefore, is'to provide a strap in which the portions which retain the strap together are portions of a normal buckle and't'h'e "strap itself.

Further features of my invention relate .to the specific structure of the strap ends and standard type'of buckle employed therewith.

These and other such objects cit my invention as may hereinafter =appearwill 'be best unde'r-- stood from a d'escr i-ption of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings,

Fig. I is a rear perspective view 'of one embodi merit of strap, having 'a wrist watch interposed therein, constructed accordance with my invention, in released attaching position.

Fig. 2 is a rear perspectiveview thereof in attached position.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the attaching portion of the embodiment of the strap endsho-wn in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is adi'sassembled perspective view of the parts of the buckle 1 preferably employ with this embodiment.

Fig. "5 is a rear perspective View of anotherem bodiment'oi strap, having a wrist watchinterposed therein, constructed in accordance with my invention in released attaching position.

Fig. 6. is arear perspectiveview of the embodimentshown in Fig. 5 in attached position.

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view throug-hthe attaching portion of the embodiment of strap end shown in .Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a disassembled perspective viewof the parts of the buckle I preferably employ in this embodiment.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference generally indicate like parts throughout, all embodiments of my invention shown comprise the continuously assembled, adjustable and releasable strap 20 and 2D constructed in accordance with my invention, of a lengtlrtoetbv circle a limb or body torso, or join two article portions together. Said strap is preferably constructed of freely flexible material such as leather or fabric. While it may be used to encircle the body torso, an arm or a leg or to join two article portions such as the portions of a garment, harness or otherwise together, I have shown it in the drawings as particularly adapted for use as a wrist watch bracelet strap, having the wrist watch 22 interposed in a standard manner centrally of the top portion thereof when in a position on the wrist, providing an adjustable strap end 24 or 24 attached to one end of the wrist watch and a fixed strap end 26 or 26 attached to the opposite end of the wrist watch 22, although insofar as this invention is concerned, while particularly adapted for use with wrist watches to prevent them from dropping off while being attached or detached, it may be used in any type of a flexible strap for any purpose or on disconnected strap ends separately attached to different portions of an article or articles. As previously explained, in the embodiments shown in this application of my broad invention, the adjustable strap end is not technically transversely split for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into transversely separable upper and lower portions or layers terminating in a joined tip, but the adjustable strap end 24 or 24' is vertically slit near the end thereof for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof by the spaced vertical slits 21 or 21' forming the center portion 32 or 32 and the side portions 30 or 30' terminating in a joined tip 34 or 34' whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer 32 or 32' and said side portions an upper layer or 30' with a transverse slit or space 28 or 28' between them in use. Said center portion 32 or 32' has a series 36 or 36' of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes 38 or 38 therein.

I also provide a standard type of buckle 40 or 40' on the end of the fixed strap end 26 or 26'. In all embodiments, said buckle has the side bars 42 or 42' and the preferably detachable rear bar 44 or 44' adapted to have the opposite or fixed strap end 26 or 26 attached thereto in any suitable manner such as shown by having the tip of the strap wound around it and sewn thereto, and a forward cross bar 46 or 4B permanently retained in use in said transverse slit by said tip 34 or 34, said rear bar being preferably removable for adjustment and release longitudinally rearwardly thereof. Said rear bar 44 or 44' has a forwardly extending tongue 48 or 48, as usual mounted thereon, if desired, the strap being cut away as at 50 or 50' for this purpose to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole 38 or 33 in said adjustable strap end 24 or 24' and downwardly in adjusted position against said forward bar 46 or 46'.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, the forward cross bar 46 comprises the front bar of the buckle 40. In the embodiments shown in Figs. -8, the forward bar comprises the preferably detachable center cross bar 46. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8, an extra cross bar 52' is interposed in front of the center cross bar 46' so that the device may function as the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4, but with the usual front cross bar 52' overlying the connected strap 20' as shown in Figs. 5-7.

If desired, the fixed strap end 26 or 26' may be provided with one or more keeper loops 58 or 58' to retain the tip 34 or 34' of the adjustable end24 or 24' of the strap therein when in attached or detached position, rearwardly of said buckle rear cross bar 44 or 44'.

Thus, the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 has two cross bars only, namely, the rear cross bar 44 and the forward cross bar 46, which in use is always contained within the transverse slit or space 28 formed between said separable portions. This same feature is present in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8, but as in these embodiments the buckle is provided with the supplemental front cross bar 52', it is apparent as shown in Figs. 5-7 that this superimposed front cross bar 52 will lie on top of the strap to provide an effect similar to the usual effect.

If desired, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the side walls 42 or 42' of the buckle may be arcuately bent forwardly to form a guide trough or they may comprise the usual flat or slightly curved formation as shown in the other embodiments in said parent application.

I have shown in the drawings, a rear cross bar 44 or 44', which is preferably detachable to aid in the assembling of the device. The center cross bar 46' in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8 may also be made detachable. The structure of the detachable cross bars 44 or 44 or 46' is well known in the art and comprises the hollow tubes 68, the hubs 60, having pintles 62 projecting outwardly through holes 64 centrally of the closed outer ends 66 of said hollow tubes 68, said hubs being freely slidable axially of said tubes 68 and being normally separated from each other by the expansion springs 10 contained within the tubes. It is apparent that these pins may be removed at will from their aligned holes in the side bars, particularly. the forward cross pin 46' in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-8 for detachment of the adjustable end 24' of the strap from the buckle 40, or if desired one end of the lower layer may be detachably secured to the upper layer by any suitable means for this purpose.

When attaching the strap, it may first be stretched to its full extent as shown in Fig. 1, by bringing the forward cross bar 46 so that it abuts the tip 340i the adjustable strap end 24 and lies in the extreme outer end of the transverse slit '28, being in a maximum extensible position. When the Wrist watch strap is thus inserted on the wrist, the tip 34 may be lifted upwards and pulled backwards until the tongue 48 fits in a selected adjusting hole 33 with the tip of the tongue 38 resting against the forward cross bar 46, comprising the front cross bar 46 as shown in the emhodiment shown in Figs. 1-4 and the center cross bar46' in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5-7, when the tip34 of the strap end 24 may be inserted underneath the keeper loops 58 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

It is apparent that I have provided a novel type of continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap adapted for the various uses and with the various advantages set forth above.

It is understood that my invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap comp-rising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center portion and side portions terminating in a joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may for-m a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a forward cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a detachable rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end, and downwardly in adjusted position adjacent said forward bar, and a strap tip keeper loop on said fixed strap end rearwardly of said buckle rear bar.

2. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap, comprising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together, having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center portion and side portions terminating in a joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a forward cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip, movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end and downwardly in adjusted position adjacent said forward bar.

3. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap, comprising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together, having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center portion and side portions terminating in a joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a front cross bar adapted to overlie said upper layer, a detachable center cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip, movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a detachable rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end and downwardly in adjusted position against said center cross bar, and a. strap tip keeper loop on said fixed strap end rearwardly of said buckle rear bar.

4. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap, comprising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together, having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center port on and side portions terminating in a joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjustil'lg holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a front cross bar adapted to overlie said upper layer, a center cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip, movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end anddownwardly in adjusted position against said center cross bar.

5. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap, comprising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together, having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center portion and side portions terminating in a, joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a forward cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip, movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a detachable rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end, and downwardly in adjusted position against said forward bar, and a strap tip keeper loop on said fixed strap end rearwardly of said buckle rear bar, said buckle side bars having portions projecting outwardly therefrom to form trough walls to keep the belt ends in alignment.

6. A continuously assembled adjustable and releasable strap, comprising a flexible strap of a length to encircle a limb or body torso or join two article portions together, having an adjustable end vertically split by spaced vertical slits for a substantial distance longitudinally thereof into a center portion and side portions terminating in a joined tip, said center portion having a series of longitudinally spaced adjusting holes therein, whereby said center portion may be depressed between said side portions so that said center portion may form a lower layer and said side portions an upper layer with a transverse slit or space between them, and a buckle having side bars, a forward cross bar permanently retained in said transverse slit by said tip, movable for adjustment and release longitudinally thereof, and a rear bar having the opposite strap end fixedly secured thereto and having a forwardly extending tongue mounted thereon to pivot upwardly to be inserted through a selected hole in said adjustable strap end and downwardly in adjusted position against said forward bar, said buckle side bars having portions projecting outwardly therefrom to form trough walls to keep the belt ends in alignment.

CHARLES A, DOMLER.

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