End attachment for watch band and self-contained component for use in making the same

Abstract

An end attachment for watch bands which permits use of a watch band with wrist watches having different spacings between their attachment lugs. The end attachment includes a self-contained component which includes a generally tubular member, coiled compression spring means and a pair of generally tubular inserts which are slideable within the generally tubular member. One of the inserts has its inner end positioned against one outer end of said spring means, the other insert has its inner end positioned against another outer end of said spring means and stop means on the generally tubular member act upon the inserts to limit their outward sliding movements under the action of the spring means. The attachment also includes an ornamental top shell having a generally tubular portion attached about the generally tubular portion of the self-contained component and a member extending laterally therefrom with means for attaching the top shell to the end of a watch band. The top shell may be deeply impressed with the design of the links of the watch band to which the end attachment is to be attached without interfering with the sliding movements of the inserts within the generally tubular member of the self-contained component.

I claim: 
     
       1. An end attachment for watch bands adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch comprising a generally tubular member formed from a strip of metal,   coiled compression spring means within said tubular member,   a pair of generally tubular inserts adapted to slide within said generally tubular member, each insert being formed from a strip of metal and each insert having a generally rectangular slot formed between the edges of said strip which has an open end and an inner end formed by the edges of a pair of tabs which extend inwardly towards each other from the adjacent ends of said strip,   a pair of tabs, one adjacent to one end of the strip from which said generally tubular member is formed and the other adjacent to the other end thereof, the ends of said tabs extending respectively into said rectangular slots and engaging the edges of said tabs of said inserts, thereby to stop outward movements of said inserts by said coiled spring means, and   an ornamental top shell, said top shell comprising a generally tubular portion surrounding at least the upper and end portions and part of the lower portion of said generally tubular member,   means for securing said generally tubular portion of said top shell to said generally tubular member, and   a member extending laterally from the generally tubular portion of the top shell including means for attaching it to the end of a watch band.   
     
     
       2. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein said generally tubular member, coiled compression spring means and pair of generally tubular inserts consist of a self-contained component and the generally tubular portion of the ornamental top shell is applied to the exterior of said generally tubular member. 
     
     
       3. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein said ornamental top shell is impressed with the design of the links of the watch band to which the end attachment is to be attached, whereby the ornamental design impressed in said top shell does not interfere with the sliding movements of said inserts within said generally tubular member. 
     
     
       4. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein said generally tubular member comprises stop means substantially midway between its ends for engaging said coiled compression spring means. 
     
     
       5. An end attachment according to claim 4 wherein said coiled compression spring means comprises a pair of coiled compression springs, one extending outwardly from one side of said stop means and the other extending outwardly from the other side thereof. 
     
     
       6. An end attachment according to claim 4 wherein the ends of said strip of metal from which said generally tubular member is formed comprise oppositely positioned cutout portions substantially intermediate its ends and said stop means comprises a tab extending from the side of one of said cutout portions thereby dividing said one cutout portion into a pair of cutout portions and said means for securing said generally tubular portion of said top shell to said generally tubular member comprises a pair of spaced tabs which extend into said pair of cutout portions. 
     
     
       7. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein the tab adjacent to one end of the generally tubular member extends in one direction near one end of the strip of metal and the tab adjacent to the other end of the generally tubular member extends in the opposite direction near the other end of the strip of metal. 
     
     
       8. A self-contained component for making an end attachment for watch bands adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch comprising a generally tubular member formed from a strip of metal,   a pair of tabs, one adjacent to one end of said strip and the other adjacent to the other end thereof, the ends of said tabs being bendable towards the interior of said tubular member,   coiled compression spring means within said tubular member, .[.and.].   a pair of .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.generally tubular inserts adapted to slide within said generally tubular member, each insert being formed from a strip of metal and each insert having a generally rectangular slot formed between the edges of said strip which has an open end and an inner end formed by the edges of a pair of tabs which extend inwardly towards each other from the adjacent ends of said strip, .Iadd.and   the outer surface of said self-contained component being devoid of any lateral projection, .Iaddend.   whereby said component can be assembled by an automatic machine which inserts said coiled compression spring means into said tubular member and then simultaneously inserts said .Iadd.hollow .Iaddend.inserts at opposite ends of said tubular member with the open ends of their rectangular slots pointing outwardly and moves them inwardly compressing said spring means until the inner ends of said rectangular slots pass beyond said tabs of the generally tubular member and then bends the ends of said tabs into said longitudinal slots, whereby the inner edges of said tabs of the generally tubular member engage the edges of said tabs which form the inner ends of the rectangular slots of the inserts, thereby to stop outward movements of said inserts by said coiled springs.   
     
     
       9. A component according to claim 8 wherein the tab adjacent to one end of the generally tubular member extends in one direction near one end of the strip of metal and the tab adjacent to the other end of the generally tubular member extends in the opposite direction near the other end of the strip of metal. 
     
     
       10. A component according to claim 8 which also comprises stop means extending inwardly from said generally tubular member substantially midway between its ends for engaging said coiled compression spring means. 
     
     
       11. A component according to claim 10 wherein said coiled compression spring means comprises a pair of coiled compression springs, one extending outwardly from one side of said stop means and the other extending outwardly from the other side thereof. 
     
     
       12. A component according to claim 10 wherein said stop means comprises a tab extending from one end of said strip of metal substantially midway between its ends. 
     
     
       13. A component according to claim 10 wherein the ends of said strip of metal from which said generally tubular member is formed comprise oppositely positioned cutout portions substantially midway between their ends and said stop means comprises a tab extending from one side of one of said cutout portions substantially intermediate its ends thereby dividing said one cutout portion into a pair of cutout portions.