U.S. patent number 3,769,726 [Application Number 05/130,927] was granted by the patent office on 1973-11-06 for expansible mechanism.
Invention is credited to Peter Marvin Spence.
United States Patent |
3,769,726 |
Spence |
November 6, 1973 |
EXPANSIBLE MECHANISM
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.
Inventors: |
Spence; Peter Marvin (Clarkson,
Ontario, CA) |
Family
ID: |
22447024 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/130,927 |
Filed: |
April 5, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
40/665 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
5/0015 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A44C
5/00 (20060101); G09f 003/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;40/2A,21C,10
;63/1,18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Michell; Robert W.
Assistant Examiner: Contreras; Wenceslao J.
Claims
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to expansible mechanisms and more
particularly to expansible mechanisms especially suitable for use
as expansible fastening devices for wrist watch 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 unreliable 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 a watch 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 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 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 operation of 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 wearer's 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 swimmer to 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 person's pocket. Other features and advantages of
the invention will become apparent 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 adaptor-holder
by the use of which the mechanism can be used as an expansible
fastening device in a wrist watch band, the two ends of the latter
being shown fragmentarily;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the expansible mechanism
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an upper part of the housing of the
expansible mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 when viewed as indicated by
the arrows 3--3 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an even more enlarged perspective view of a compression
spring included in the expansible mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and
2;
FIG. 5 is 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 components omitted for the 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;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the securement 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
10--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 15--15 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.
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 12 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
is also 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 forward 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 31 for a purpose yet to be explained.
The flanges 26 and 27 are integrally formed at their forward ends
with respective tongues generally indicated at 35 and which are
folded rearwardly but slightly inwardly spaced apart from the inner
surfaces of the respective ones of the flanges 26 and 27 as well as
from the top surface of the web 25. Each tongue 35 has a notched
undersurface (FIG. 7) to provide an abutment shoulder 36 between a
lower edge 37 spaced apart upwardly from the top surface of the web
25 and an edge 39 spaced apart upwardly from the edge 37
effectively to provide a guide slot 38.
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 of a 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.
The manner in which the dividing wall 40 is supported in the lower
part 14 of the housing 12 with the web 41 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 dividing 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 the flanges
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 as
indicated at 58. The rearward end leg of the W-shaped section 54 of
the spring 53 is identified by the 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 further to 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 13 of the housing
12. The arm 60 is formed at one end 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 is adapted 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 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings as also including three planar members or
panels generally indicated at 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 70 and, 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 completely out 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 40 and that tongue 50 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 integrally formed 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 at this juncture
that the panel 66 is longer than either of the panels 67 and 68
since part of the panel 66 is retained at all times within the
housing 12.
The expansible mechanism 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as being
suitable for use as 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 sleeves 77 and 78 for connection by a hinge pin 79 to a
central hinge sleeve 80 formed on 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 in FIG. 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 owner's 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 12 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. 1 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 wearer's
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
forwardly through the open forward end of the housing 12 into their
extended positions in which they can then be unfolded into their
linear extended positions as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings, there is shown
therein generally at 95 a holder-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 101 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.
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.
Another form of holder-adaptor for use with the expansible
mechanism 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 114
which is spaced apart slightly rearwardly from the rear surface of
the base web 106 so that the adaptor can be clipped over the edge
of a person's pocket as actually shown in FIG. 13.
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 and 120, 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 70 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 125 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 120
is upset to provide rearwardly 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 125 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 130 and 131 to
prevent pivoting of the panel 120 downwardly beyond the open
position shown in FIG. 14 thereby ensuring that the top surfaces of
the panels 119 and 120 are arrested in a generally coplanar mutual
disposition.
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 10 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 person's 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 one or 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.
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