Springless clasp for watchband or bracelet

A closure for connecting a first and a second free end of a band as might be used as a strap on a wrist watch wherein in use said closure is maintained in tension by hoop stresses imposed on the band by the banded object, said closure comprising:

• c. a first clasp element adapted for attachment to said first free end, said first free end applying a first tension to said first clasp element, and having a first hook member and a second, oppositely-directed and shorter hook member, the opening of said shorter hook member being directed in the direction of said first tension;
• and
• d. a separable second clasp element adapted for attachment to said second free end, said second free end applying a second tension to said second clasp element in a direction opposite that of said first tension, and having a first hook-engaging member for slidably and releasably engaging said first hook member and, longitudinally spaced away from said first hook-engaging member, a second hook-engaging member for slidably and releasably engaging said second hook member, such hook-engaging members disposed in such positions that the engagement of both hook members with their respective hook-engaging members is possible only by first engaging said first hook member with the corresponding first hook-engaging member;
• sliding said first hook-engaging member deep into the throat of said first hook member, then engaging said second hook member with said second hook-receiving member while partially disengaging said first hook-engaging member from said first hook member,
• wherein said opposing tensions acting through said first and second clasp elements maintain complete engagement of said second hook while the partial engagement of said first hook maintains said first and second elements in close alignment, and wherein said first hook member comprises a flat spacer affixed to an inner surface of a flat wall of said first clasp element and a longer flat plate affixed to said spacer to form a transversely-elongated hook-shaped member the opening of which is directed in the direction of said second tension.

A closure for connecting a first and a second free end of a band as might be used as a strap on a wrist watch wherein in use said closure is maintained in tension by hoop stresses imposed on the band by the banded object, said closure comprising:

• e. a first clasp element adapted for attachment to said first free end, said first free end applying a first tension to said first clasp element, and having a first hook member and a second, oppositely-directed and shorter hook member, the opening of said shorter hook member being directed in the direction of said first tension;
• and
• f. a separable second clasp element adapted for attachment to said second free end, said second free end applying a second tension to said second clasp element in a direction opposite that of said first tension, and having a first hook-engaging member for slidably and releasably engaging said first hook member and, longitudinally spaced away from said first hook-engaging member, a second hook-engaging member for slidably and releasably engaging said second hook member, such hook-engaging members disposed in such positions that the engagement of both hook members with their respective hook-engaging members is possible only by first engaging said first hook member with the corresponding first hook-engaging member;
• sliding said first hook-engaging member deep into the throat of said first hook member, then engaging said second hook member with said second hook-receiving member while partially disengaging said first hook-engaging member from said first hook member,
• wherein said opposing tensions acting through said first and second clasp elements maintain complete engagement of said second hook while the partial engagement of said first hook maintains said first and second elements in close alignment, and wherein said second hook member comprises a flat spacer affixed to an inner surface of a flat wall of said first clasp element and a longer flat plate affixed to said spacer to form a transversely-elongated hook-shaped member the opening of which is directed in the direction of said first tension.