Patents by Inventor Stephen F. Bert

Stephen F. Bert has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5724708
    Abstract: A connector for joining an end of a watchband to a watch case, the end of the watchband having a terminal link and the watch case having first lugs separated by first sockets with first apertures extending through the first lugs. The connector includes metal bottom and top components. The bottom component has a rear end configured to underlie the terminal link of the watchband, and a front end with mutually spaced projections, at least two of which define hollow guides. The top component has a rear end configured to overlie the rear end of the bottom component, and a front end with mutually spaced flanges aligned with and bent around the projections on the bottom component to form second lugs separated by second sockets. The top component is joined to the bottom component with the terminal link of the watchband captured therebetween. The first and second lugs are adapted to be received respectively in the second and first sockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 5660308
    Abstract: A connector is disclosed for joining two sections of an expansible watchband. The watchband sections have adjacent ends defined by endmost top and bottom links interconnected by pairs of mutually spaced staples. The connector comprises a unitary element having first and second sets of locking ears projecting laterally in opposite directions from opposite sides thereof. The connector has an initial laterally contracted configuration which accommodates its insertion between the endmost top and bottom links of the adjacent ends of the watchband sections, with the first and second sets of locking ears having passed between and beyond the respective pairs of staples interconnecting the endmost top and bottom links. The thus inserted connector is permanently deformable into a laterally expanded configuration which causes its locking ears to mechanically interengage with the staples to thereby effect a connection between the watchband sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 5657515
    Abstract: An end connector for an expansible watch band has a plastic insert sandwiched between metallic bottom and top plates. The plastic insert has forwardly projecting mutually spaced lugs enclosed by preformed mutually spaced bottom and top flanges on the bottom and top plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 5176301
    Abstract: An elongate wrist band segment has a top row of links overlying a bottom row of links. U-shaped staples connect the links of the top row to the links of the bottom, and springs housed in the links coact with the staples to resiliently accommodate longitudinal expansion and contraction of the band segment. An elongate non-expansible element is received between the top and bottom rows of links and serves to resist longitudinal expansion of the band segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 5090094
    Abstract: A connector for connecting an end of a watchband to a watchcase, the watchcase having a pair of a spaced lugs defining a gap bridged by a spring bar extending therebetween. The connector has a base member fixed at a rear end to the end of the watch band and forward end pivotally connected to the spring bar. A shell overlies the base number. A forward end of the shell extends beyond the forward end of the base member to fill the gap between the lugs on the watchcase. Lugs depend from a flange at the rear end of the shell to straddle the base member. The lugs have first tabs which connect the shell to the base member for pivotal movement about the axis of the spring bar, and second tabs which coact with the watchcase to resist pivotal movement of the shell about the same axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4987655
    Abstract: An end connector for connecting an end of an expansible watch band to a conventional spring bar or the like carried on a watch case. The end connector includes a planar base member having one end inserted into the end of the band in mechanical engagement with staples interconnecting the top and bottom links, and having its opposite end protruding beyond the end of the band and coupled to the spring bar. A cover overlies the protruding portion of the base member and the spring bar and is secured to the base member at a position interposed between the endmost top link and the watch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4949433
    Abstract: An end connector for connecting the ends of an expansible watch band to a watch case. The end connector is inserted between the endmost top and bottom links or the band and is engageable with the staples providing an interconnection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4837901
    Abstract: An end connector for connecting the ends of an expansible watch band to conventional spring bars or the like carried on a watch case. The end connector is inserted between the endmost top and bottom links of the band and is engageable with the staples providing an interconnection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4748727
    Abstract: A snap fastener including a conventional first headed part and a second receptor part. The receptor is of sheet-like construction and includes a planar spring panel captured within a housing. The spring panel includes a central cut-out into which fingers extend from opposite sides to form an undersized opening which upon contact with the stud distorts the spring panel to provide the desired closing action therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1988
    Inventors: Stephen F. Bert, Raymond R. Bert
  • Patent number: 4503665
    Abstract: A non-expansible linkage bracelet has a basic skeletal structure made up of interlocked sets of top and bottom links covered by decorative shells which also are interlocked with the top and bottom links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4375713
    Abstract: For use in combination with an expansible linkage bracelet of the type having rows of overlapping resiliently interconnected upper and lower links, a clasp adapted for adjustable and detachable connection to an end portion of the bracelet. The clasp has a casing with a base wall and upturned side walls defining a channel for receiving the bracelet end portion. A lid having a top wall with downturned side walls is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the casing between open and closed positions respectively exposing and enclosing the receiving channel. Engagement members at one end of the clasp are arranged to protrude between selected laterally adjacent pairs of upper and lower bracelet links, thereby retaining the bracelet end portion within the receiving channel when the lid is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1983
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen F. Bert, Richard E. Ripley, Kurt A. Rieth
  • Patent number: 4332061
    Abstract: An adjustable clasp for interconnecting two sections of a bracelet, including in combination a coupling assembly secured to the end of one bracelet section, and a clamp assembly detachably fixable at selected locations along the length of the other bracelet section. The clamp assembly has a bottom wall with opposed side walls extending substantially normal thereto. A resilient pressure plate is supported by the side walls at a location cooperating with the bottom wall to define a space therebetween for receiving the said other bracelet section. A rigid clamping member also is supported by the side walls. The clamping member is adjustable between an open position allowing limited movement of the pressure plate relative to the bottom wall in order to accommodate slidable movement of the said other bracelet section through said space, and a closed position resiliently deflecting the pressure plate to positively grip the said other bracelet section between the pressure plate and the bottom wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Rieth, Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4245461
    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 parallel side members joined by top members, one side member of each top link having at least one bendable locking lug protruding therefrom; 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1981
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: 4198732
    Abstract: A clasp construction for use in adjustably interconnecting the free ends of a bracelet on the wrist of a wearer, including a clamp assembly that receives one of the free ends of the bracelet therein in slidable, adjustable relation and a coupling assembly that is secured to the other free end of the bracelet, the coupling assembly including a coupling member that engages the clamp assembly for removably mounting the bracelet on the wrist of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Rieth, Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: RE28793
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: D438812
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hirsch Speidel, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert
  • Patent number: RE31681
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen F. Bert