US3769726A

US3769726A - Expansible mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3769726A
Application number: US00130927A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Spence
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-04-05
Filing date: 1971-04-05
Publication date: 1973-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-06
Also published as: CH548748A; DE2215824A1; GB1382654A; IT951152B; DE2215824B2; DE2215824C3

Abstract

An expansible mechanism suitable for use as an expanding fastening device for a wrist watch strap or band and for recording personal identification information is described. The information-bearing panels of the mechanism are serially interconnected through end hinges so that they can be folded over into a concertina-like configuration for retraction into a housing. A displaceable detent tongue within the housing normally engages a lug on a longer one of the panels to retain all the panels in their retracted positions within the housing. A release stud on the housing is effective to displace the detent tongue to allow the panels to be automatically extended through an open end of the housing under the action of a compression spring within the housing, shoulders being provided at the open end of the housing to prevent the bodily movement of the longer panel completely out of the housing. Holder-adaptors are optionally provided for alternatively fastening the mechanism to a key ring or for clipping it in a person''s pocket.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,769,726

Spence Nov. 6, 1973 [54] EXPANSIBLE MECHANISM [57] ABSTRACT [76] Inventor: Peter Marvin spence{ 2360 Bonner An expansible mechanism suitable for use as an ex- Clarkson, Omanoi Canada panding fastening device for a wrist watch strap or [22] Filed; AP 5 7 band and for recording personal identification information is described. The information-bearing panels of the PP N05 130,927 mechanism are serially interconnected through end hinges so that they can be folded over into a concer- [52] US Cl 40/21 C tina'like configuration for retraction into a housing A [5 1] Int. Cl. G09f 3/14 displaceable detem tongue Within the housing normally 58 Field 61 Search 40/2 A, 21 c, 10; engages a lug on a longer one of the panels to retain all 63/1 18 the panels in their retracted positions within the housing. A release stud on the housing is effective to dis- [56] References Cited place the detent tongue to allow the panels to be auto- UNITED STATES PATENTS matically extended through an open end of the housing under the action of a compression spring within the 301,920 7/1884 Pierce 40/18 UX housing, shoulders being provided at the p end of 332 M909 Walsh 7' 63/18 Ux the housing to prevent the bodily movement of the 04 11/1912 Stoddard... 40/18 1,063,209 6 1913 Ording 63/18 longer Panel mPletelY of Hmde" Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras Attorney-David M. Rogers et al.

adaptors are optionally provided for alternatively fastening the mechanism to a key ring or for clipping it in a person's pocket.

18 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures PAIENIEDuuv 6 I973 3.769.726

sum 10F 3 INVENTOR. Peter Marvin Spence BY (77V W PAIENTEDnnv 6 ms 37697125 SHEET 2 CF 3 INVENTOR. 98 73 28 97 99 Peter Marvin Spence FIG. 10 BY 74/. M4121,

PATENTEDHUV ems 3,769,726 v sum 3m 3 w INVENTOR. F G, 77 Peter Marvin Spence BY .rm arr EXPANSIBLE MECHANISM nisms and more particularly to expansible mechanisms.

especially suitable for use as expansiblefastening devices for wristwatch straps and bands as well as for the recording of personal identification data.

Various expansible mechanisms have heretofore been suggested for use as wrist watch fasteners but such previously proposed mechanisms have presented various disadvantages. For instance, some of the known mechansims have been relatively bulky and'they were not, therefore, particularly aesthetically attractive for use on watch straps or bands. Other known expansible watch-strap fasteners have proved to be somewhat un-- reliable in their operation in that they have not always provided a sufficiently positive locking of the mechanism components.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an expansible mechanism which is relatively compact and simple in its construction and which is reliable in use providing a positive locking action of'its individual components in their non-expanded positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an expansible mechanism which is especially suited for use as an expansible fastening device in aIwatch strap or band.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an expansible mechanism which also has utility for recording personal identification information or the like.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In its broad scope, the present invention provides an expansible mechanism including a hollow housing having an open forward end and defined by top and bottom walls retained in mutually spaced apart disposition by spaced apart side walls, a first panel having side edges and forward and rearward ends and slidingly disposed within said housing for movement'betw'een a rearward retracted position essentially'within said housing and an extended forward position in which it projects forwardly from said housing through said open end thereof, co-operating first detent means on said panel and said housing for preventing movement of said rearward end of said panel out of said housing, spring means within said housing and engaging said panel normally to urge said panel into said extended position thereof, co-operating second detent means on said panel and said housing releasably to retain said panel in said retracted position thereof within said housing against the action of said spring means, and a manually operable detent release member extending from within said housing and operatively associated with .said second detent means to permit movement of said panel from said retracted position thereof into said extended position thereof under the action of said spring means on operationof said detent release member.

Although the invention is not restricted to the provision of any particular number of panels in an expansible mechanism in accordance therewith, mechanisms particularly useful as expansible watch strap fastening devices are provided when an odd number of such panels is provided in such a mechanism.

One'important advantage presented by the mechanisms of this invention results from the fact that personal identification information, such as the wearers name, address, allergies, blood type, etc., can be recorded on the panels of the mechanism so as to be readily available in the event that the wearer is involved in a personal emergency. For example, if a mechanism in accordance with this invention is utilized as a watch strap fastening device, it is possible for a swimmerto be assured of positive personal identification without requiring' that person to wear a separate identification bracelet.

In addition to being utilizable as watch strap fastening devices per se, the mechanisms of this invention are also readily securable by the use of very simple adaptor-holders to existing watch straps'for the purpose of providing an identification device for the wearer.

By the use of an alternative type of adaptor-holder, the mechanisms of this invention can also easily be secured to a key ring or clipped onto a persons pocket. Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as .the description herein proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described merely by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of one embodiment of an expansible mechanism in accordance with this invention showing that mechanism in exploded disposition together with an adaptorholder by the'use ofIwhich the mechanism can be used as an expansiblefastening device in-a wrist watch band, the two ends of the latter being shown fragmentarily; v FIG. 2 is an'exploded perspective view of the expansible mechanism'of FIG.- I; v FIG. 3'is a perspective view. of an upper part of the housing of'the expansible mechanismof FIGS. .1 and 2 when viewed as indicated by the arrows 3-3 of FIG.

2;. v FIG. 4 is an even more enlarged perspective view of e T a compression spring included in the expansible mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. Sis an enlarged plan view of the expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the upper part of the housing thereof removed to reveal its internal construction;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section through the expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 when taken as indicated by the arrows 6-6 of FIG. 5, also showing the top part of the housing in its assembled position but with certain other componentsflomitted forthe sake of clarity;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 when taken as indicated by the arrows 7-7 of FIG. 6;-

FIG. 8 is an ,even more enlarged perspective view of three panels included in an alternative embodiment of an expansible mechanism in accordance with this invention, such panels being shown in their folded configuration; 3

FIG 9 is a perspective view showing the securement I of the expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a holder by means of which the mechanism can then be mounted on a flexible watch strap which is shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view taken as indicated by the arrows l-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a holder for the expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 intended for clipping onto the edge of a pocket or for attachment to a key ring FIG. 12 is a front elevation of the mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 disposed in the holder shown in FIG. 11 and showing that holder attached to a key ring;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the mechanism'and holder shown in FIG. 11 illustrating the manner in which the holder functions to retain the mechanism clipped onto the edge of a pocket;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an alternative construction for two panels used in an expansible mechanism in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view through the panels shown in FIG. 14 when taken as indicated by the arrows l515 of that figure;

FIG. 16 is a plan view from below of one of the panels shown in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary and sectional exploded view of the panels shown in FIG. 14. 7

DESCRIPTION OF THE- PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The expansible mechanism generally indicated at 10 in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings includes a housing generally indicated at 12 and formed from an upper part generally indicated at 13 and a lower part generally indicated at 14.

The upper part 13 of the housing l2'includes a flat web 15 constituting the upper wall of the housing 10 and integrally formed downwardly extending

side flanges

16 and 17. The right hand or forward end of the upper part 13 as viewed in FIGS; 1 and 2 is open while the opposite or rearward end is closed by an end flange 18 as shown in FIG. 3.

A notch 20 is formed in the side flange 16 at its rearward end while a short slot 21 extends into the flange 17 from its rearward end as will be readily understood by reference to FIG. 3. A generally central open notch 22 is also formed in the end flange 18. The purposes of the

notches

20 and 22 and of the slot 21 will be more readily understood as the description herein proceeds. It isalso to be noted that the

forward end corners

23 and 24 of the

flanges

16 and 17 respectively are bent slightly inwardly.

The lower part '14 of the housing 12 includes a flat web 25 intergrally formed with

upstanding side flanges

26 and 27. Both ends of the lower part 14 are essentially open but a generally central upstanding lug 28 is formed at the rearward end of the web 25 while the for-- ward end of the web 25 curves slightly upwardly as indicated at 29 and as particularly shown in FIG. 7.

A short slot 31 is formed in the rearward end of the flange 27 for alignment with the aforementioned slot 21 in the flange 17 of the upper part 13 when the upper and

lower parts

13 and 14 respectively are assembled with their side flanges in contiguous surface abutment as particularly shown in FIG. 6. A somewhat longer slot 32 is formed in the opposite flange 26 in alignment with the slot 31 while the flange 27 is cut away as indicated at 33 forwardly of the aforementioned slot'3l for a purpose yet to be explained.

The

flanges

26 and 27 are integrally formed at their forward ends with respective tongues generally indi- 39 spaced apart upwardly from the edge' 37 effectively to provide a guide slot 38. 1

The mechanism 10 also includes an internal dividing wall generally indicated at 40 comprising a web 41 with

upstanding side flanges

42 and 43 and short downwardly extending

end lugs

44 and 45 generally equidistant from respective side edges of the web 41 at the rearward end thereof. The web 41 is slightly narrower than the web 25 of the lower part 14 of the housing 12 so that'the

side flanges

42 and 43 of the dividing wall 40 are disposed in contiguous inner surface abutment with the side flanges 26' and 27 respectively of the lower part 14 when it is disposed in that part.

Referring further to the internal dividing wall 40, it will be seen from FIG. 2 that the web 41 thereof is formed with a generally centrally disposed and longitudinally extending slot 47 while an open ended slot 48 and a shorter open ended slot 49 are formed in the rearward ends of the

side flanges

42 and 43 respectively. Forwardly of the slot 49, the flange 43 is cut away and deformed inwardly to provide a-somewhat narrower tongue 50 which can be resiliently flexed outwardly in a manner yet to be described. The dividing wall 40 is formed ofa metal having an adequate degree of springiness normally to bias the tongue 50 inwardly to the position actually shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 but to permit its resilient deformation outwardly from that position. I

The manner in' which the dividing wall 40 is supported in the lower part 14 of the housing 12 with the web41 thereof spaced upwardly from the web 25 of the lower part 14 of that housing will now be described with particular reference to FIG. 7. For this purpose,

the forward ends of the

flanges

42 and 43 of the divid-.

ing wall 40 are inserted between respective ones of the

side flanges

26 and 27 and the tongues 35 with the rearward end of the 'web 41 raised above the lower part 14 until the forward edge of the web 41 is supported on the upturned forward edge 29 of the web 25. The dividing wall 40 is then pivoted downwardly until the

lugs

44 and 45 on the rearward edge of the web 41 engage the top surface of the web 25, at which time the upstanding lug 28 engages the rearward edge of the web 41 of the dividing wall 40 thereby preventing relative rearward movement of that wall. Frictional engagement between the

flanges

42 and 43 of the dividing wall 40 and respective ones of

theflanges

26 and 27 of the lower part 14 serves to retain those components in their assembled dispositions. Referring further to FIG. 7, it will be seen that the web 41 of the dividing wall 40 and the web 25 of the lower part 14 together define a'compartment 52 in which a compression spring 53 is disposed in a manner yet to be described. For the sake of clarity, the spring 53 is not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

From FIGS. 2 and 4 it will be seen that the spring 53 comprises a generally planar section 54 in the form-of a W with an additional leg.55 provided at its forward end. Generally centrally, the leg 55 extends upwardly and rearwardly as at 56 to a forwardly facing hook portion 57 from which the spring then extends forwardly legend 59. The generally planar W-shaped section 54' of the spring 53 is movably housed in the compartment 52 with the leg 59 thereof abutting the

aforementioned lugs

28, 44 and 45. The upward extension 56 of the spring 53 passes freely through the aforementioned slot 47 in the web 41 of the dividing wall 40.

It is also to be noted that, with the lower part 14 of the housing 12 and the dividing wall 40 in their hereinbefore described assembled dispositions, the

slots

31, 32, 48 and 49 are all transversely aligned.

Referring furtherto the upper part 13 of the housing 12, the manner in which that particular part is secured to the lower part 14 containing the dividng wall 40 will now be explained. For the purpose of such assembly, the forward end of the lower part 14 is angularly inserted into the forward end of the upper part 13 between the

side flanges

16 and 17 respectively thereof until the inturned forward corners 23 and'24 of the

flanges

16 and 17 engage the forward ends of the

flanges

26 and 27 respectively of the lower part 14. The upper and

lower parts

13 and 14 respectively are then pivotally moved together until the end flange 18 of the upper part 13 engages the rearward end of the housing, frictional engagement of the

side flanges

16 and 17 of the upper part 13 with the

side flanges

26 and 27 respectively of the lower part 14 serving to retain the two parts in their assembled disposition. It is to be noted that, in such an assembled disposition, the notch 20 in the side flange 16 of the upper part 13 reveals the slot 32 in the side flange 26 of the lower part 14 while the slot 21 in the side flange 17 becomes aligned with the slot 31 in the flange 27. The notch 22 in the end flange 18 receives the lug 28 of the lower part 14.

Prior to such assembling of the upper and

lower parts

13 and 14 respectively, a generally planar and manually operable detent release member or arm generally indicated at 60 is disposed in the aforementioned aligned

slots

32, 48, 49 and 31 so as to be retained therein by the end flange 18 of the upper part l3 of the housing 12. The arm 60 is formed at oneend with a relatively narrow end section 61 which is'freely received in the aligned slots 49' and 31 and, at its opposite end, with a somewhat wider end'section 62 which is received in the aligned

slots

32 and 48 and which-is'bent downwardly to form a release stud 63. Within the housing 12, the arm 60 is formed with two forwardly'extending lugs 64 and 65.,The lug 64 isadapted to abut-the inner surface of the flange 42 of the internal dividing wall 40 so as to retain the arm 60 within the housing while the lug 65 engages the aforementioned tongue 50 so that, on the application of finger pressure to the stud 63, the tongue 50 is displaced outwardly from its normal position. When such manual pressure is released, the tongue 50 resiliently returns to the position shown in FIG. 5. It is to be noted that the arm 60 is omitted from FIGS. 6 and 7 for the sake of clarity.

The expansible mechanism is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings as also including three planar members or panels generally indicated at generally centrally along its rearward edge, with an open ended forwardly extending slot 71. The forward end of the slot 71 receives the hook 57 of the spring 53 so that the spring 53 'is operative to urge the panel 66 forwardly through the forward open end of the housing 12. In the extended position of the panel 66 as shown in FIG. 1, the

lugs

69 and 70 are received in respective ones of the guide slots 38, forward movement of the panel 66 completelyout of the housing 12 then being prevented by abutment of the

lugs

69 and 70 with respective ones of the shoulders 36.

When the panel 66 is moved rearwardly into the housing 12, the lug 70 engages the aforementioned tongue 50 formed in the side flange .43 of the dividing wall and that tongue is then operative to retain the panel 66 .in such a retracted position until the tongue is depressed by manual pressure on the release stud 63 at which time the spring 53 urges the panel 66 automatically into its extended position shown in FIG. 1.

At its forward end, the panel 66 is integrallyformed with a central hinge sleeve 72 for interdisposition between spaced apart hinge

sleeves

73 and 74 formed on the rearward edge of the second panel 67 so that the two

panels

66 and 67 can be hingedly interconnected by a hinge pin 75'. Similarly, the forward'edge of the central panel 67 is pivotally interconnected to the. rearward edge of the third panel 68 by a hinge pin 76. In this way, the

panels

66, 67 and 68 can be folded in concertina fashion from their extended positions shown in FIG. 1 into the folded positions shown in FIG.-8 in which positions they can be manually pushed rearwardly through the open forward end of the housng 12 as indicated by the arrow A in FIG. 5. It should perhaps be explained atthis juncture that the panel 66 is longer than either of the

panels

67 and 68 since part of the panel 66 isretained at all times within the housing 12.

The expansible mechanism 10 is illustratedin FIG. 1 as being suitable for useas an expansion fastening device for a wrist watch band and, for such a purpose, the

third panel 68 is shown in that figure as usefully being integrally formed with a pair of spaced apart hinge 66, 67 and 68 but the use of a different number of such panels is equally within the scope of this invention. The,

first panel 66 is slidingly mounted in the housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1 between the upper part 13 and the dividing wall 40 and is formed at its rearward end with transversely outwardly extending lugs 69 and and,

sleeves 77 and-78 for connection by a hinge pin-79. to a central hinge sleeve 80 formed o'n one'end 81 of a watch band while a central hinge sleeve (not shown) can be provided on the flange 18 of the upper part 13 of the housing 12 for pivotal connection by, a hinge pin 82 to the opposite end 83 of the watch band. Alternatively and as shown inFIG. 1, the strap end .83 can be pivotally connected by the pin 82 to a central hinge sleeve 84 formed on an adaptor-holder generally indicated 'at 85 and formed with spring

metal side flanges

86 and 87 between which the housing 12 of the mechanism 10 can be removably retained.

If the mechanism 10 is also to be used as an identification device, information such as the owner's address, telephone number, blood type, allergies, etc., can be recorded, for example, by engraving on the faces of the

panels

66, 67 and 68 as indicated at 88 and 89. Yet another possibility within the scope of this invention is to secure a record-bearing sheet 90, such as a monthly calendar, removably to one of the

panels

66, 67 and 68 using a pressure sensitive adhesive coating on the back surface of such a sheet. Another possibility is for the owners name to be engraved on the top surface of the web 15 of the top part 13 as indicated at 91.

It is to be noted that the end panel generally indicated at 92 in FIG. 8 differs from the previously described end panel 68 in that the former is not provided with a hinge sleeve on its forward end, as is required only when the mechanism is to be used as an expansible fastening device. Instead, the panel 92'has an integrally formed depending end flange 93 which closes the open forward end of the housing 12 when the panels are retracted into that housing. The structure illustrated in FIG. 8 also differs from that shown in the preceding figures in that the pivotal connection between the

panels

67 and 92 is designed so as to urge the panel 92 in its released state to adopt the upwardly sloping position shown in FIG. 8. With such a pivot structure, the

panels

66, 67 and 92 tend automatically to unfold into their extended linear configuration as they move forwardly out of the housing l2'under the action of the spring 53.

Having completed the description herein of the structure of the mechanism 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8"of the accompanying drawings, the manner of operation of that mechanism will briefly be summarized. Assuming that the

panels

66,67 and 68'thereof are in their extended positions as shown in FIG. l'of the drawings with the outer panel 68 pivotally connected to the watch band end 81 and with the housing 12 held by the adaptor 85 which is in turn pivotally connected to the watch band end 83, the information recorded on the

panels

66, 67 and 68 is readily visible and the watch band is expanded to allow its removal from the wearers wrist.

When the wearer desires to fasten the watch band about his wrist, he simply folds the

panels

66, 67 and 68 in a concertina-like manner into a position corresponding to that shown in FIG. 8. He then pushes rearwardly on the folded panels against the action of the spring 53 until the lug 70 of the panel 66 is engaged by the tongue 50, such engagement then serving positively to prevent accidental extension of the

panels

66, 67 and 68 from within the housing 12. When the wearer wishes to release the mechanism 10, he simply presses on the release stud 63 to cause the lug 65 to depress the tongue 50 so allowing the

panels

66, 67 and 68 to move Another form of holder-adaptor for use with the expansiblemechanism 10 is illustrated generally at 105 in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings. The adaptor 105 is generally similar to the holder 95 in that it comprises a base web 106 and spring

metal side flanges

107 and 108 for retaining the housing-12 of the mechanism 10 therebetween as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 but as omitted from FIG. 11. For attachment to a key ring 110, the base web 106 of the adaptor 105 is provided with a transversely extending tongue 111 including an opening 112 through which the key ring 110 may be attached as shown in FIG. 12.

The base web 106 is also integrally formed with a spring tab 1 14 which is spaced apart slightly real-wardly from the rear surface of the base web. 106 so that the adaptor-can be clipped over the edge of a persons pocket as actually shown in FIG. 13.

forwardly through the open forward end of theghousing 12 into their extended positions in which they can thenbe unfolded into their linear extended positions as showninFlGJ'. r

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the'drawings, there is shown therein generally at 95 aholder-adaptor by means of which the mechanism 10 can be secured to a flexible wrist strap generally indicated at- 96, for example, a conventional nylon wrist watch strap.'The

adaptor 95 includes a base web 97 integrally formed with upstanding spring

metal side flanges

98 and 99 between which the housing 12 of the mechanism 10 can be releasably but positively held. Ears 1,01 and 102 are integrally formed with each of the

side flanges

98 and 99 and conventional

spring expanding pins

103 and 104 are retained in aligned holes formed in the

ears

101 and 102. The holder 95 can then be secured on the watch strap 96 by passing the latter downwardly between the pin 103 and the flange 99, below the base web 97 and upwardly between the pin 104 and the flange 98. i

It will now be understood that the mechanism 10 can be secured to watch straps of different widths'without modification or adjustment of the mechanism simply by the use of different sized adaptors.

Referring now to FIGS.. 14 to 17 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown therein an alternative construction for the panels provided in an expansible mechanism in accordance with this invention. The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 14 comprises two panels generally indicated at 119 andl20, the former corresponding to the panel 66 of the mechanism hereinbefore described with reference to the preceding figures of the drawings.

The panel 119 is integrally provided at its rearward or left-hand end by a metal stamping operation on a single sheet of metal with

upstanding lugs

121 and 122 which are disposed transversely outwardly of the side edges of the panel. The

lugs

121 and 122 are provided for the same purpose as were the lugs 69 and on the panel 66 on the mechanism 10. It will of course be understood, however, that guide slots wider than the slots 38 will need to be provided within the mechanism for slidingly accommodating the

lugs

121 and 122.

A generally central notch 123 is cut from the rear end of the panel 119 to receive the hook portion 57 of the compression spring 53 provided within the housing of the. mechanism. At its forward end, the panel 119 is-integrally formed with

upstanding ears

125 and 126 which are disposed outwardly of respective side edges of the panel, openings 127 being provided in the ears 1 25 and 126 for a purpose yet. to be explained. Immediately transversely inwardly of the

ears

125 and 126, the material of the panel 119 is upset to provide forwardly and downwardly extending

lugs

130 and 131 respectively. At its rearward end, the panel is upset to provide rear wardly and upwardly extending

tongues

132 and 133 which are integrally formed with outwardly projecting pivot pins 135 which in turn are freely received in respective ones of the openings 127 in the ears and 126 respectively.

With the construction shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the panel 120 can be moved between the open position shown in FIG. 14 and a closed position in which the top surface of the panel 120 is disposed in co-extensive opposition to the top surface of the panel 119. In the open position, the undersurfaces of the

tongues

132 and 133 abut the top surfaces of respective ones of the lugs One particularly important advantage of the structure shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 is that it can be manufactured relatively inexpensively by a metal stamping operation.

The versatility of the expansible mechanisms of this invention will now be appreciated. It will be noted, for example, that such a mechanism can be used as an expanding fastening device for a wrist watch band as well as for personal identification purposes. For the latter purpose, the mechanism can be secured on an existing wrist watch strap as shown in FIGS. 9 and or it can have the dual function of identification and watch strap fastening device. For indentification purposes, the mechanism of this invention can alternatively be secured to a persons key ring or clipped in his pocket.

Yet another important advantage of the mechanism of this invention is that it can be constructed so that its assembly involves neither the use of any screws, nuts, bolts or similar fastening members nor the bending or deformation of any lugs for the purpose of retaining the several components in their assembled dispositions. This results in a substantial reduction in the manufacturing cost of the mechanism.

It should perhaps further be stressed that the invention is not restricted to the specific embodiments hereinbefore particularly described and that numerous modifications and variations can be made in the described structures without departing from the scope of the invention. It is, for example, possible to construct a mechanism of this invention with oneor more panels although the use of a plurality of such panels is advantageous, an odd number of panels generally being indicated when the mechanism is to be used as a fastening device in the manner already described herein.

Numerous other applications and modifications of the structures described will be apparent to the reader.

What is claimed is:

1. An expansible mechanism including a hollow housing having an open forward end and defined by top and bottom walls retained in mutually spaced apart disposition by spaced apart side walls; a first panel having lugsprojecting from its side andhaving side edges and forward and rearward ends and slidingly disposed within saidhousing for movement between a rearward retracted position essentially within said housing and an extended forward position in which it projects forwardly from said housing through said open end thereof; co-operating first detent means in said housing for preventing movement of said rearward end. of said panel out of said housing; spring means within said housing and engaging said panel normally to urge said panel into said entendedposition thereof; co-operating second detent means in said housing releasably to retain said panel in said retractedposition thereof within said housing against the action of said spring means; and a manually operable detent release member extending from within said housing and opera'tively associated with said second detent means to permit movement of said panel from said retracted position thereof into said extended position thereof under the action of said spring means upon operation of said detent release member, said second detent means comprising a resil iently displaceable abutment extending inwardly from a side wall of said housing for engagement with one of said lugs projecting from said first panel for releasably retaining that panel in said retracted position thereof and in which said manually operable detent release member comprises an arm slidingly and transversely mounted in said housing for engagement with said displaceable abutment whereby, on manual inward movement of said detent release arm, that arm is effective to displace said displaceable abutment for disengagement thereof from said lug in turn to permit forward movement of said first panel into said extended position thereof under the action of said spring means.

2. An expansiblevmechanism as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises a plurality of panels pivotally and serially end-interconnected to said first panel for movement between a linear extended configuration outside said housing and a Concertina-folded configuration for bodily movement of said panels in said folded configuration thereof into and out of said housing through said open forward end thereof.

3. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 2.

which includes an odd number of said panels so that a non-connected end of a terminal one of said panels is disposed in general proximity to said open forward end of said housing when said panels are retracted into said housing in said folded configuration thereof.

4. An expansible mechanism'as claimed in claim 3 in which said non-connected end of said terminal one of said panels is provided with a first coupling means for I securement to a first elongated band end and in which said housing is provided generally at its rearward end with a second coupling means for securement to a second elongated band end whereby said expansible mechanism is operative to function as an expansible fastening device for interconnecting such first and second elongated band ends.

5. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which at least one of said panels has visible information recorded thereon for inspection when said panels are extended from within said housing.

6. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which at least one of said panels has a record-carrying sheet removably bonded thereto for inspection when said panels are extended from within said housing.

7. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 2 in which said first detent means comprises lugs transversely projecting from said side edges of said first panel in proximity to said rearward end thereof and abutments in said housing in general proximity to said open forward end thereof for engagement of said abutments by respective ones of said lugs thereby to prevent movement of said rearward end of said first panel forwardly out of said housing.

8. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which said housing has a multipartite structure including upper and lower parts constituting respective ones of said top and bottom walls, each of said upper and lower parts including side edge flanges for engagement with the corresponding side edge flangesof the other of said parts to constitute said side walls of saidhousing. a

9. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which said housing also includes an internal dividing 7 wall in spaced apart disposition relative to each of said top and bottom walls of said housing so as to define a first compartment for accommodating said spring means and a second compartment for accommodating said panels, in which said spring means comprises a 3 compression spring with a first end thereof engaging an abutment at the rearward end of said housing and with a second end thereof extending through an elongated slot in said internal dividng wall for engagement with said first panel.

10. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 9 in which said internal dividing wall is integrally formed with side edge flanges for contiguous surface abutment with said side edge flanges of said lower part of said housing, in which said internal dividing wall and said bottom wall of said housing are integrally formed with transversely spaced apart lugs for abutment by said first end of said compression spring, and in which said side edge flanges of said lower part of said housing are integrally formed at said open forward end of said housing with longitudinally extending tongues folded back so as to grip respective ones of said side edge flanges of said internal dividing wall and to constitute said abutments for engagement by said lugs provided on said first panel for preventing forward movement of said rearward end of said first panel out of said housing.

11. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which said resiliently displaceable abutment comprises a section of one of said side edge flanges of said internal dividing wall. 12. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which said arm constituting said manually operable detent release member is slidingly disposed in aligned openings in said side edge flanges of both said internal dividing wall and said lower section of said housing and in which said upper section of said housing is formed with a rearward end flange closing said openings in the assembled housing.

13. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 2 which comprises two said panels, said first panel having a generally planar top surface and being formed on said side edges thereof generally at said forward end thereof with transversely spaced apart upstanding ears, the second panel of said two panels also having a generally planar top surface and being provided at a rearward end thereof with spaced apart rearwardly and upwardly sloping tongues provided with transversely outwardly porjecting pivot pins freely received in openings in respective ones of said ears thereby pivotally to interconnect said first and second panels for movement between said linear extended configuration thereof and said folded configuration thereof, and forwardly and downwardly sloping lugs being provided in said first panel at said forward end thereof for abutment by respective ones of said tongues when said panels are in said linear extended configuration thereof with said first and second panels in mutual edge abutment, whereby said panels can be pivoted into said folded configuration thereof with said planar top surfaces thereof in mutual surface opposition and whereby said abutment of said tongues with said lugs restricts relative pivoting movement of said panels angularly past said linear extended configuration thereof.

14. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 13 in which said lugs and said ears are integrally formed with said first panel and in which said tongues and said pivot pins are integrally formed with said second panel.

15. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing is releasably secured in a holder including a perforated extension for attachment to a key ring. I

16. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing is releasably secured in a holder including a folded spring clip for gripping attachment with the edge of a pocket in the manner of a pen clip.

17. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing is releasably secured in a holder including spaced apart and generally parallel slots for receiving a flexible watch strap.

18. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 17 in which said holder comprises spaced apart upstanding spring side flanges for gripping said side walls of said housing.

Claims

1. An expansible mechanism including a hollow housing having an open forward end and defined by top and bottom walls retained in mutually spaced apart disposition by spaced apart side walls; a first panel having lugs projecting from its side and having side edges and forward and rearward ends and slidingly disposed within said housing for movement between a rearward retracted position essentially within said housing and an extended forward position in which it projects forwardly from said housing through said open end thereof; co-operating first detent means in said housing for preventing movement of said rearward end of said panel out of said housing; spring means within said housing and engaging said panel normally to urge said panel into said entended position thereof; co-operating second detent means in said housing releasably to retain said panel in said retracted position thereof within said housing against the action of said spring means; and a manually operable detent release member extending from within said housing and operatively associated with said second detent means to permit movement of said panel from said retracted position thereof into said extended position thereof under the action of said spring means upon operation of said detent release member, said second detent means comprising a resiliently displaceable abutment extending inwardly from a side wall of said housing for engagement with one of said lugs projecting from said first panel for releasably retaining that panel in said retracted position thereof and in which said manually operable detent reLease member comprises an arm slidingly and transversely mounted in said housing for engagement with said displaceable abutment whereby, on manual inward movement of said detent release arm, that arm is effective to displace said displaceable abutment for disengagement thereof from said lug in turn to permit forward movement of said first panel into said extended position thereof under the action of said spring means.

2. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 1 which additionally comprises a plurality of panels pivotally and serially end-interconnected to said first panel for movement between a linear extended configuration outside said housing and a concertina-folded configuration for bodily movement of said panels in said folded configuration thereof into and out of said housing through said open forward end thereof.

3. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 2 which includes an odd number of said panels so that a non-connected end of a terminal one of said panels is disposed in general proximity to said open forward end of said housing when said panels are retracted into said housing in said folded configuration thereof.

4. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which said non-connected end of said terminal one of said panels is provided with a first coupling means for securement to a first elongated band end and in which said housing is provided generally at its rearward end with a second coupling means for securement to a second elongated band end whereby said expansible mechanism is operative to function as an expansible fastening device for interconnecting such first and second elongated band ends.

8. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 7 in which said housing has a multipartite structure including upper and lower parts constituting respective ones of said top and bottom walls, each of said upper and lower parts including side edge flanges for engagement with the corresponding side edge flanges of the other of said parts to constitute said side walls of said housing.

9. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 8 in which said housing also includes an internal dividing wall in spaced apart disposition relative to each of said top and bottom walls of said housing so as to define a first compartment for accommodating said spring means and a second compartment for accommodating said panels, in which said spring means comprises a compression spring with a first end thereof engaging an abutment at the rearward end of said housing and with a second end thereof extending through an elongated slot in said internal dividng wall for engagement with said first panel.

11. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which said resiliently displaceable abutment comprises a section of one of said side edge flanges of said internal dividing wall.

12. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 11 in which said arm constituting said manually operable detent release member is slidingly disposed in aligned openings in said side edge flanges of both said internal dividing wall and said lower section of said housing and in which said upper section of said housing is formed with a rearward end flange closing said openings in the assembled housing.

15. An expansible mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said housing is releasably secured in a holder including a perforated extension for attachment to a key ring.