EP3348164B1 - Connection accessory for a timepiece band - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking and so-called "connected" objects. It relates more particularly to an accessory for connecting wristbands equipped with electronic devices integrated with said wristbands (including sensors and associated electronic circuits intended for a real-time reading of biological or environmental parameters, for example).

State of the art

We have seen for several years now a very important boom of the so-called "connected" objects, that is to say with more or less direct connection and communication functions via the Internet. These objects are developed in almost all technical fields, whether in industry or consumer goods, and their development and multiplication is growing as evolving in particular wireless communication technologies (Wifi , Bluetooth among others) and communication networks and mobile data transfer (3G, 4G, 5G etc ...) to simplify access to the Internet and allow speeds of connection and communication, as well as data transfer always improved.

Focused initially on mobile communication devices such as mobile phones or tablets, connected technologies are gradually extended to other objects that are commonly worn and used regularly and lengthily by people, including watches and bracelets, to integrate in these objects additional functionalities such as real-time monitoring of physiological and / or biological parameters (heart rate, systolic pressure and blood saturation, energy consumption, sleep phases, etc.) or activity (distance traveled, frequency of walking ... etc.). Users can then follow in real time and / or compare the measured and communicated parameters directly electronically via the mobile internet network to a monitoring and analysis device, the plus following a computer program accessible online or installed locally on a computer connected to the Internet.

These "connected" watches and wristbands incorporate electronic elements, including sensors, circuits and microprocessors adapted to implement the desired functionalities. In the case of watches, a particular difficulty lies in the power supply of the various active electronic elements included in the strands of the wristband of the watch. It is indeed necessary to ensure for the proper functioning of said elements that they are in a closed circuit, and therefore that the different mechanical connections of the bracelet strands to the watch box on the one hand and / or at the level of the clasp. on the other hand allow the closing of the electrical circuit to which the active elements are integrated, that the power supply is made via the supply of the watch itself or integrated into the strands of bracelets.

A large number of technical solutions have already been proposed in the state of the art in this sense, and one can mention among others the document WO2016 / 202576 A1 which discloses an accessory for connecting a bracelet to a timepiece box, comprising an assembly cradle (16) on a watch case (12), said cradle (16) delimiting a housing, and at least two connecting inserts of a strand (48,50) of bracelet, and at least one electrical connector extending from a first said insert to the second said insert through the cradle so as to ensure the conduction of an electric current from said first to said second insert and vice versa.

However, none of the solutions thus proposed in the prior art makes it possible to adapt a bracelet with integrated electronic functionalities to a "classic" watch case, in particular with a mechanical movement or quartz movement.

The present invention aims to remedy this defect by proposing a solution to adapt to any type of watch case a connected bracelet.

Disclosure of the invention

• un berceau d'assemblage sur une boite de montre, ledit berceau délimitant un logement et une carrure interne au logement, ladite carrure étant adaptée pour caler sans jeu une dite boite de montre,
• au moins deux inserts de connexion à un brin de bracelet, lesdits inserts étant solidaires de manière étanche du berceau en deux extrémités opposées de ce dernier de part et d'autre du logement,
• au moins un connecteur électrique et/ou optique s'étendant depuis un premier dit insert vers le deuxième dit insert au travers du berceau de manière à assurer la conduction d'un courant électrique et/ou d'un faisceau optique depuis ledit premier vers ledit deuxième insert et vice-versa, et
• des moyens de fixation étanche de chaque dit insert à un brin de bracelet.

The invention relates to an accessory for connecting a bracelet to a timepiece box, comprising:

• an assembly cradle on a watch case, said cradle delimiting a housing and a middle part of the housing, said middle part being adapted to wedge without play a said watch case,
• at least two connecting inserts to a bracelet strand, said inserts being tightly secured to the cradle at two opposite ends thereof on either side of the housing,
• at least one electrical connector and / or optical extending from a first said insert to the second said insert through the cradle so as to ensure the conduction of an electric current and / or an optical beam from said first to said second insert and vice versa, and
• means for sealing each said insert to a bracelet strand.

• le berceau est constitué d'une matière synthétique surmoulée aux dits inserts ;
• le berceau est constitué d'une matière élastomère, notamment à base de caoutchouc ;
• lesdits inserts sont constitués d'une matière synthétique ou métallique présentant une dureté supérieure à celle de la matière constitutive du berceau ;
• le connecteur électrique et/ou optique est logé dans la carrure du berceau et s'étend en ses extrémités au travers d'un orifice prévu à cet effet dans lesdits inserts ;
• lesdits inserts comportent chacun un talon de liaison au berceau conformé pour s'insérer dans une réservation prévue à cet effet au niveau desdites extrémités du berceau, ledit talon comportant une excroissance adaptée pour prendre appui en butée contre une lèvre ménagée dans ladite réservation ;
• lesdits inserts comportent chacun une fiche de connexion solidaire du talon et formant saillie aux extrémités du berceau dans une direction longitudinale, ladite fiche comportant une gorge périphérique dans un plan perpendiculaire à ladite direction longitudinale et au moins un orifice de passage dudit connecteur ;
• il comporte un joint torique logé dans ladite gorge de la fiche de chaque insert ;
• ledit connecteur est amovible du berceau et des inserts ;
• lesdits moyens de fixation assurent au moins partiellement la liaison desdits inserts au dit berceau,
• les moyens de fixation comportent des vis s'étendant au travers d'orifices débouchant formés dans les extrémités du berceau et d'orifices taraudés s'étendant au travers du talon et de la fiche de chaque insert ;
• il comporte un joint plat enfilé sur les extrémités des vis et apposé contre l'extrémité de la fiche de chaque insert

According to preferred embodiments of the invention:

• the cradle is made of a synthetic material overmolded with said inserts;
• the cradle is made of an elastomeric material, in particular based on rubber;
• said inserts are made of a synthetic or metallic material having a hardness greater than that of the constituent material of the cradle;
• the electrical and / or optical connector is housed in the middle of the cradle and extends at its ends through an orifice provided for this purpose in said inserts;
• said inserts each comprise a cradle connecting heel shaped to fit into a reservation provided for this purpose at said ends of the cradle, said heel comprising an outgrowth adapted to abut against a lip formed in said reservation;
• said inserts each comprise a connection plug secured to the heel and projecting at the ends of the cradle in a longitudinal direction, said plug having a peripheral groove in a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal direction and at least one through hole of said connector;
• it comprises an O-ring housed in said groove of the plug of each insert;
• said connector is removable from the cradle and inserts;
• said fixing means at least partially ensure the connection of said inserts to said cradle,
• the fastening means comprise screws extending through through openings formed in the ends of the cradle and threaded orifices extending through the heel and the plug of each insert;
• it comprises a flat gasket threaded on the ends of the screws and affixed against the end of the plug of each insert

Brief description of the drawings

• La figure 1 représente une vue de dessus d'un accessoire de connexion de bracelet selon l'invention dans un mode préféré de réalisation ;
• La figure 2 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale suivant un premier plan vertical P1 de l'accessoire de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 3 représente une vue en coupe longitudinale suivant un deuxième plan vertical P2 parallèle au plan P1 de la figure 2 de l'accessoire de la figure 1.

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• The figure 1 represents a top view of a bracelet connection accessory according to the invention in a preferred embodiment;
• The figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional view along a first vertical plane P1 of the accessory of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view along a second vertical plane P2 parallel to the plane P1 of the figure 2 of the accessory of the figure 1 .

Embodiment of the invention

We have shown on Figures 1 to 3 an accessory 1 connection according to the invention in a preferred embodiment.

The connection accessory 1 comprises in the main place a cradle 2 of elastomeric material, in particular based on rubber, obtained for example by injection molding and hot molding. Said cradle 2 preferably has the general shape of a wristwatch box and has a middle 212 inside a central housing 21, delimited by a substantially circular opening 211.

This cradle 2 has the function of allowing an assembly of the accessory 1 of the invention on a conventional watch case, whether electronic or mechanical, in order to associate with it a bracelet with electronic components and Connected functionalities such as the measurement of physical parameters of the wearer, pedometer, calorimetry etc ...

Preferably, the housing 21 is closed in a normal use of the accessory 1 by a false-bottom (not shown) of flexible synthetic material, intended to ensure a foam contact between the watch case inserted in the housing 21 and the cradle 2.

The cradle 2 has two ends 2a, 2b opposite one another in a longitudinal direction of the cradle 2 at which are formed reservations 23 inside which are housed two inserts 3 strand connection B1, B2 d a watch strap, said strands being provided with electronic measurement functionalities via sensors and other electronics integrated in the mass of said strands B1, B2.

In order to make an electrical connection between the strands B1, B2, the connection accessory 1 of the invention further comprises two electrical connectors 4 inserted into grooves 22 formed, for example during the molding of the cradle, in the middle part 212 , and which open in the bookings 23. These electrical connectors 4 extend at their ends by orifices 321 provided for this purpose in the inserts 3 to allow the electrical connection to the strands B1, B2 during assembly thereof on the inserts. Said connectors 4 may consist of conductive metal wires based on copper, silver, gold and or a mixture of conductive metal materials for example, or optical fibers or printed circuits where appropriate, integrated into the cradle 2.

The inserts 3 and electrical connectors 4 can advantageously be assembled to each other before their integration into the cradle 2. In particular, the inserts 3 and connectors 4 can advantageously be overmolded in the cradle 2 during the molding thereof in press at injection. Thus, it ensures a stable positioning of the inserts 3 and connectors 4 in the elastomer mass of the body of the cradle 2, and a perfect sealing of the connectors 4 in the cradle 2 and at their ends 4a, 4b.

However, in particular embodiments of the accessory 1 of the invention, it can be provided that the electrical connectors 4 are removable from the cradle 2 and the inserts 3, this obviously to allow replacement of these in case of defect or, as for glasses frames, to allow a user to choose to adapt the cradle 2, in its form, its material color according to the watch and / or the bracelet that he wishes the use. In such a case, the connectors 4 are preferably not overmoulded but inserted into the grooves 22 and insert 3 manually after molding the cradle 2 alone, according to techniques known to those skilled in the field of thermoplastic injection in particular.

The inserts 3 consist of a material of hardness greater than that of the cradle 2. In particular, the constituent material of the inserts 3 may be synthetic or metallic. In the case of a synthetic material, it may in particular be chosen from materials such as polystyrenes, polyamides, phenoplasts, for example. In the case of a metallic material, particular preference will be given to aluminum alloys, steels with a low carbon content, for example, which has a good compromise between their manufacturing cost and their thermal and mechanical performance for the desired application.

At their geometry, said inserts 3 each comprise a heel 31 connecting the cradle 2 which is secured to a connection plug 32 extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane in which extends the heel 31. The heel 31 is thus shaped so that it forms an anchor plate of each insert in the reservation 23 inside which it is overmolded. To ensure effective anchoring, the heel 31 forms or comprises a protrusion 311 which bears in abutment against a lip 231 formed in said reservation 23 during overmoulding of the cradle 2 on the inserts. This provides a very strong anchoring in traction of said inserts 3 on the cradle 2 at each end 2a, 2b thereof, which ensures the functionality of the accessory 1 of the invention as a connection medium of strands of bracelets B1, B2.

The connection plug 32 of the inserts 3 has for its function to form a connection interface and rigid connection between the cradle 2 and strands B1, B2 bracelet provided with electronic components that must be connected to a strand B1 to the other B2 through the accessory 1 of the invention.

The plug 32 thus makes it possible to guide the connection of the strands B1, B2 of bracelets so that the electrical connection of said strands B1, B2 to the ends of the electrical connectors 4 protruding through the orifices 321 pierced in each insert 3 from a posterior surface of the heel 31 to the free end of the plug 32, as in particular visible on the Fig. 2 .

The plug 32 of each insert 3 thus advantageously constitutes a male connection element suitable for insertion into, for example, a female connection element provided at the connection ends of the strands B1, B2, which thus provides a capacitance of connecting and connecting the strands B1, B2 on the accessory 1 by fitting the plug 32 of the inserts 3 into the strands, simultaneously providing the electrical connection of the connectors 4 with complementary connectors provided in the strands B1, B2.

The accessory 1 of the invention intended to provide a connection capability of electronic bracelets or "connected" on any type of wristwatch the skilled person understands well here that the shape and the particular dimensions of the plug inserts 3 and connectors 4 may be adapted according to the strands of bracelet B1, B2 specific market and their particular configuration of connection.

In order to secure the connection of the strands B1, B2 at each end 2a, 2b of the cradle 2 via the inserts 3 and their projecting plug 32, fixing screws 7 are preferably used. These screws 7 are inserted in threaded or non-drilled holes in the inserts 3 through the heels 31 and pins 32 in order to bite by their thread into corresponding threaded holes formed in the strands B1, B2, as visible on the Fig. 3 for example. It is thus ensured that the strands B1, B2 can not be unintentionally detached from the inserts 3.

The plug 32 of each insert 3 also ensures the sealing of the connection of the strands B1, B2 via the accessory 1. It comprises for this purpose an O-ring 5 housed in a peripheral groove arranged along a circumference of the plug 32. This seal 5 is thus during the insertion of the plug 32 of an insert into the socket or the corresponding connection housing of a strand B1, B2 compressed between the plug 32 and the inner wall of said plug or housing of the strand B1, B2, thus ensuring a seal against moisture (perspiration, liquid projections, etc ...) capable of filtering or flowing between the bracelet and inserts 3 in the context of wearing and normal use of the accessory 1 with a watch and a connected bracelet, as well as dust and other solid elements capable of disrupting the proper functioning of the internal components of bracelet strands B1, B2 where appropriate. The seal is furthermore provided in a complementary manner by a second flat gasket 6 which is threaded onto the rods of the screws 7 so to ensure a secondary seal at the front connection level of the inserts 3 in the strands B1, B2.

The accessory 1 connection according to the invention as previously described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 is a link that currently does not exist to link traditional watches, devoid of connected features, with the world of connected objects and other "wearables" very popular since the rise of the consumer mobile internet and objects connected in a manner general, and thus make these two worlds compatible without sacrificing the proper features and benefits of each. The connection accessory 1 thus makes it possible in particular to be able to mount a bracelet connected to a mechanical watch, for example, and this in a reversible manner, thereby allowing the users versatility of use according to the needs and desires, without having to multiply the number of devices.

According to the needs, it is understood that the cradle 2 of the accessory 1 may be more or less rigid to adapt to the different format of the watch boxes, just as it can be made of multiple colors and shapes without sacrifice to the functionality of the accessory 1 of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. An accessory (1) for connecting a bracelet on a timepiece case, comprising:

   - a cradle (2) for mounting on a watch case, with said cradle defining a recess (21) and a middle (212) inside said recess, with said middle being adapted to set up one said watch case, with no clearance,

   - at least two inserts (3) for connecting one side (B1, B2) of the bracelet, with said inserts (3) being tightly integral with the cradle (2) at two opposite ends (2a, 2b) thereof, on either side of the recess (21),

   - at least one electrical and/or optical connector (4) extending from a first said insert (3) toward the second said insert through the cradle (2), so as to provide conduction of an electric current and/or an optical beam from said first towards said second insert (3) and reversely, and

   - means (5, 6, 7) for tightly attaching each said insert (3) to one side (B1, B2) of the bracelet.
2. A connection accessory according to claim 1, characterized in that the cradle (2) is made of a synthetic material overmoulded on said inserts (3).
3. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the cradle (2) is made of a specifically rubber-based elastomeric material.
4. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said inserts (3) are made of a synthetic or metallic material having hardness above that of the material the cradle (2) is made of.
5. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrical and/or optical connector (1) is accommodated in a groove (22) formed in the middle (212) of the cradle (2) and extends, at the ends thereof, through a hole provided for this purpose in said inserts (31).
6. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said inserts (3) each comprise a lug (31) for linking the cradle so configured as to be inserted into a reservation (23) provided for this purpose at one of said ends (2a, 2b) of the cradle, with said lug (31) including one projection (311) adapted to abut against a lip (231) provided in said reservation (23).
7. A connection accessory according to claim 6, characterized in that said inserts (3) each include a connection plug (32) integral with the lug (31) and projecting at the ends of the cradle in a longitudinal direction, with said plug including at least one hole (321) for the passage of said connector.
8. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said connector (4) is removable from the cradle (2) and the inserts (3).
9. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said attachment means (5, 6, 7) provide, at least partially, the link between said inserts and said cradle.
10. A connection accessory according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the attachment means comprise an O-ring (5) accommodated in a peripheral groove at the surface of the plug (32) of each insert.
11. A connection accessory according to claim 10, characterized in that attachment means comprise screws (7) which extend through through-holes formed in the ends of the cradle (2) and holes (33) which extend through the lug and the plug (32) of each insert.
12. A connection accessory according to claim 11, characterized in that the attachment means comprise a flat seal (6) fitted onto the screw ends (1) and bearing against the free end of the plug (32) of each insert.

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