US3769726A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Expansible mechanism
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-04-05
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1991-04-05
Abstract
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
- 👤 P Spence
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 11:10
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44C; A44C5/00; A44C5/0007; A44C5/0015
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
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.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
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.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
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.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
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.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
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.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
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.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
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.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
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.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
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.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
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.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
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.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
201 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
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.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
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.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
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.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |