Non-expansible linkage bracelet and method of manufacture thereof

Abstract

A non-expansible linkage bracelet and method of manufacture thereof, wherein the bracelet includes: a set of laterally adjacent top links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]. .Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.being separated by an intermediate decorative section, and each top link .Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.exclusively from one side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least one recess on the said one side located laterally within said width dimensions, and at least one projection on the side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said width dimension .Iaddend.and a set of laterally adjacent bottom links having channel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of the top links, the channel-shaped sections of the bottom links having parallel side members joined by bottom members with apertures therein. The side members of adjacent links of one set are arranged in a confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of the top links being received in the apertures in the bottom members of the bottom links. The locking lugs of each top link are bent to overlap the bottom link side members located between the side members of the top links, thereby establishing an interlocked relationship between the links of both sets.Iadd., with said projections being received in said recesses. .Iaddend.

I claim: 
     
       1. A non-expansible linkage bracelet comprising: a set of laterally adjacent top links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]. .Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.being separated by an intermediate decorative section, and each top link .Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from one side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least one recess on the said one side located laterally within said width dimension, and at least one projection on the side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said width dimension.Iaddend., a set of laterally adjacent bottom links having channel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of said top links, the channel-shaped sections of said bottom links having parallel side members joined by bottom members with apertures therein; the side members of adjacent links of one set being arranged in a confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of said top links being received in the apertures in the bottom members of said bottom links, the locking lugs of said top links being bent to overlap the bottom link side members located between the side members of said top links, thereby establishing an interlocked relationship between the links of both sets.Iadd., with said projections being received in said recesses.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. This linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein all of said locking lugs are bent in one direction parallel to the length of said bracelet. 
     
     
       3. The linkage bracelet of claim 2 wherein the side members of said bottom links are provided with notches opening into the apertures in said bottom members, the notches and apertures of adjacent bottom members being aligned to provide grooves extending longitudinally along the bottom surfaces of said bracelet, with said locking lugs being bent into said grooves to establish the aforesaid interlocked relationship between the links of both sets. 
     
     
       4. The linkage bracelet of claims 1 or 3 having a bottom surface defined by the exterior surfaces of said bottom members and wherein the bent locking lugs are recessed beneath the plane of said bottom surface. 
     
     
       5. The linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein said top and bottom links are fabricated of different materials. 
     
     
       6. The linkage bracelet of claims 1 or 5 having a top decorative surface provided exclusively by said top links. 
     
     
       7. The linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein said locking lugs and said apertures are spaced inwardly from the side edges of said bracelet. 
     
     
       8. The linkage bracelet of claims 1, 2 or 7 wherein said locking lugs are provided at the ends thereof with tool receiving means to facilitate reverse bending thereof when disassembling said linkage bracelet. 
     
     
       9. The linkage bracelet of claims 1, 2 or 7 wherein the side members of said bottom links are held between the top members and the bent locking lugs of said top links.  .[.10. The linkage bracelet of claim 1 wherein said top links have planar decorative sections located intermediate channel-shaped sections at the opposite ends thereof..]. .[.11. The linkage bracelet of claim 10 wherein said decorative sections have projections extending laterally beyond the width dimension of the channel-shaped sections of said top links, and recesses located laterally within said width dimension, with the projections of one top link being 
     
     
        received in the recesses of the next laterally adjacent top link..]. 12. The linkage bracelet of claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.wherein the projections of said top links overlap the side members of said bottom 
     
     
        links. 13. A non-expansible linkage bracelet comprising: a set of laterally adjacent first links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.first side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by first intermediate members, .[.one first side member.]. .Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each first link .Iadd.being separated by an intermediate decorative section, and each first link .Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from one side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least one recess on the said one side located laterally within said width dimension, and at least one projection on the side opposite to said one side extending laterally beyond said width dimension.Iaddend.; a set of laterally adjacent second links having channel-shaped sections inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of said first links, the channel-shaped sections of said second links having second side members joined by second intermediate members with apertures therein; the side members of adjacent links of one set being arranged in a confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, with the locking lugs of said first links being received in the apertures in said second intermediate members, said locking lugs being bent to overlap the second side members located between the first side members of said first links, and the second side members of said second links being confined between the first intermediate members and the bent locking lugs of said first link members.Iadd., with 
     
     
        said projection being received within said recesses.Iaddend.. 14. A method of manufacturing a non-expansible linkage bracelet comprising: fabricating top and bottom sets of links, said top links having channel-shaped sections with .Iadd.width dimensions defined by .Iaddend.parallel side members .Iadd.which are .Iaddend.joined by top members, .[.one side member.]. .Iadd.the channel-shaped sections .Iaddend.of each top link .Iadd.being separated by an intermediate decorative section, and each top link .Iaddend.having at least one bendable locking lug protruding .[.therefrom.]. .Iadd.from one side thereof, each of said decorative sections having at least one recess on the said one side located laterally within said width dimensions, and at least one projection on the side opposite to the said one side extending laterally beyond said width dimension.Iaddend., and said bottom links having channel-shaped sections with parallel side members joined by bottom members with apertures therein;   assembling said top and bottom sets of links, with the links of each set being laterally adjacent to each other and extending transversally relative to the bracelet length, with the channel-shaped sections of the links of one set being inverted relative to the channel-shaped sections of the links of the other set, with the side members of adjacent links of one set being arranged in confronting relationship between the side members of individual links of the other set, and with the locking lugs of said top links being received in the apertures in the bottom members of said bottom links; and,   bending the locking lugs of each top link to overlap the bottom link side members located between the side members of said top links, thereby establishing an interlocked relationship between the links of both sets.Iadd., with said projections being received in said recess.Iaddend..   
     
     
         5. The method of claim 14 wherein said locking lugs are all bent in one 
     
     
        direction parallel to the length of said bracelet. 16. The method of claims 14 or 15 including the step of grinding the side edges of said bracelet to impart a desired configuration thereto.