CH714646A2 - Device for fixing a bracelet. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for attaching a bracelet strand to a watch case comprising a connecting element disposed at the end of the strap strand, the connecting element comprising two aligned pins, one of which is movable. in axial displacement in a channel from which a portion of the movable pin is protruding to allow attachment to the housing by engagement of the portion in one of the aligned holes in the housing; and a resiliently biased movable member adapted to allow movement of at least one pin. According to the invention, a pin is movable in translation and resiliently biased by means of a spring so as to move from a first position in which the pin is extended to a second position in which the pin is retracted.

Description

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking or jewelry. It relates more precisely to a device for attaching a bracelet to an object, in particular a watch case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, the straps, in leather or in metal, are fixed to the horns of a watch case, by means of a bar formed from a tube, in which are mounted. two pistons movable in translation, and an elastic member disposed between said pistons and tending to drive them out of the tube. Said bar is mounted in a housing provided for this purpose at one end of the bracelet, and the pistons are engaged in blind or through bores made opposite in the horns of the box.

To separate a bracelet thus attached to a box, it is necessary to have a tool designed to push the pistons back into the tube, meeting the stress exerted by the elastic member, and thus extracting them from the bores. The wearer of the watch is not always provided with such a tool, and in addition, its use can be inconvenient. This is why bracelets fitted with such a fastening device are generally permanently attached to the case.

There are also fixing devices to separate the bracelet from the box without using a tool. Document CH 694 393, for example, is known for fixing the end of a bracelet to the case of a watch according to the invention is of the type comprising on the one hand transversely to said end two aligned pins, one of which at least is movable in axial displacement in a channel from which it can be extracted in part so as to allow an attachment to the horns of said housing by engagement of said part in one of the aligned holes that each of said horns have; and on the other hand a movable element resiliently recalled, capable of allowing the displacement of said stud (s), and it is essentially characterized in that the said stud (s) are movable in free movement and are linked to said movable member by means of means allowing, by the translation of said movable element in a direction different from that of displacement of said stud (s), to drive this or these latter in axial translation.

However, such a solution has the disadvantage of risking seizing up when the pusher is operated due to the competing axes along which the two pin sections must slide respectively.

Summary of the invention The present invention overcomes these drawbacks by proposing a device for attaching a strand of bracelet to a watch case provided with horns comprising a male connecting element disposed at the end of the strand bracelet, said male connecting element comprising two aligned pins, at least one of which is movable in axial displacement in a channel from which a part of the movable pin is protruding to allow an attachment to the horns of said case by engagement of said part in one of the aligned holes that each of said horns have; and a movable element resiliently recalled, capable of allowing the displacement of at least one pin.

According to the invention, at least one of the pins is movable in translation and is spring-loaded by means of a spring so as to pass from a first position A in which the pin is deployed and the handling element is in the rest position, towards a second position B in which the pin is retracted under the action of the spring when the handling element is actuated.

[0008] In accordance with other advantageous variants of the invention:

- Said handling element comprises a body arranged to slide in the male connecting element, and a head secured to the body which is arranged to cooperate with the movable pin;

- The movable pin comprises a spherical end arranged to rest against the head of the handling element;

- The head has at least one inclined face arranged to cooperate with the spherical end of the movable pin;

- the handling element comprises a pusher;

- the two pins are movable and resiliently returned by means of a spring.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description which follows of an exemplary embodiment of a device for attaching a bracelet according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and without limitation only, in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fixing device according to the invention;

fig. 2 shows a top view of a fixing device according to the invention;

fig. 3 and 4 illustrate a view in longitudinal section of a fixing device according to the invention.

CH 714 646 A2

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An exemplary embodiment of a device for attaching a strand of a bracelet to a watch case will now be described in the following, referring jointly to FIGS. 1,2, 3 and 4.

As previously mentioned, the general principle of the invention is based on the implementation of a device for fixing a strand of a strap to a watch case allowing the strap to be easily changed, shown in perspective in FIG. . 1.

In this example, the device 1 is composed of a connecting element 1 intended to be assembled at the end of the bracelet strand, the connecting element 1 comprising two pins 3 and 4 aligned along the same axis, and at least one of which is movable in axial displacement in a guide channel 40 from which a part 41 of the movable pin 4 is protruding to allow an attachment to the horns of the housing by engagement of the part 41 in one of the aligned holes that each of the horns have.

One could also use this device with a watch having no horns, the holes could be machined in the watch case directly for example.

The device also includes a movable manipulation element 2 resiliently recalled, and capable of allowing the displacement of the movable pin 4 when it is actuated by a user.

Advantageously, the connecting element 1 is formed in one piece, the handling element 2 being arranged to slide in the connecting element 1. Such an arrangement makes it possible to obtain a relatively compact and discreet device. once the bracelet strand is assembled on the watch case.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, at least one of the pins is movable in translation and is spring-loaded by means of a spring 5 so as to pass from a first position A in which the pin 4 is deployed and the handling element 2 is in the position of rest, towards a second position B in which the pin 4 is retracted and the handling element 2 is actuated.

To this end, the connecting element 1 comprises a guide channel 40 in which the movable pin 4 moves. The movable pin 4 is formed by a first cylindrical portion 42 having a diameter close to the guide channel 40, and a second portion 41 having a diameter less than the diameter of the guide channel 40. The guide channel has a diameter portion reduced at its end to correctly guide the second portion 41 intended to cooperate with a hole in the horn. The first and second portions 41 and 42 each projecting at one end of the channel 40.

The movable pin 4 tends to be brought back into the retracted position by a spring 5 disposed along the second portion 41, the spring 5 being taken between the first portion 42 and the reduced diameter portion of the channel 40.

Thus, the pin 4 is retractable and can pass from a first position A in which the second portion 41 is deployed, to a second position B in which the second portion 41 is retracted.

As illustrated, the handling element 2 comprises a body 20 arranged to slide in the connecting element 1, and a head 22 secured to the body 20, the head being arranged to cooperate with the movable pin 4. The body 20 also includes a base 21, wider than the body 2, so as to limit the travel of the handling element 2 within the connecting element 1.

As can be seen in the figures, the base 21 of the body 20 includes a housing for receiving a return spring 23 which maintains the handling element 2 in its rest position.

Advantageously, the head 22 of the handling element 2 has at least one inclined face 220 arranged to cooperate with the end of the first portion 42 of the movable pin 4 and thus allow the displacement of the movable pin 4 when the handling element 2 is actuated downwards against spring 22.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable pin 4 comprises a spherical end 43, at the first portion 42, arranged to rest against the inclined plane 220 of the head 22 of the handling element 2. This spherical end 43 makes it possible to reduce the friction between the inclined plane 220 and the pin 4 and thus facilitate the movement of the latter. The spherical end 43 can be made from a material different from that of the pin, from a material having a low coefficient of friction such as Teflon for example.

To facilitate the actuation of the handling element 2, it comprises a pusher 24 mounted on the body 20, the pusher 24 sliding against the upper face of the connecting element 1.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the connecting element 1 comprises two movable pins 4 which are each resiliently biased by means of a spring 5, each pin cooperating with an inclined plane 220 of the head 20 handling element 2.

To attach a bracelet strand to a housing, pressure is exerted downwards on the handling element 2 by means of the pusher 24, which has the effect of sliding the spherical end 43 along the plane inclined 220 of the head 20 of the handling element 2 when it descends. The movable pin 4 then retracts under the action of the spring 5, and the fixed pin 3 can be inserted first into a hole in a horn.

CH 714 646 A2 Next, the manipulation element 2 is placed in the same plane as the watch case so as to make the axis of the fixed pin 3 correspond to the axis of the hole in the horn and is released. the pusher 24 for causing the movable pin 4 to penetrate into the other hole of the second horn.

Just perform the reverse manipulation to separate the bracelet strand from the watch case.

Advantageously, the pusher is located under the bracelet strand when the connecting element 1 is mounted on a bracelet strand so that the device is not visible or manipulable when the watch is worn. The skilled person can obviously mount the connecting element 1 on the bracelet so that the pusher 24 is visible and easy to handle when the watch is worn.

In the embodiment described above, the connecting element 1 can be mounted on a bracelet made of leather, synthetic fabric, plastic, metal, ceramic or even composite. Similarly, the connecting element 1 is preferably made of a metallic material but could also be made of plastic, ceramic or even composite.

For example, in the case of a metal bracelet with links, the connecting element 1 forms the end of the bracelet and is connected to the other links.

Thanks to these various aspects of the invention, there is a device for attaching a secure strap allowing the strap to be changed easily and quickly.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated and is susceptible to various variants and modifications which will appear to those skilled in the art.

claims

Claims (7)

1. Device for attaching a bracelet strand to a watch case comprising a connecting element (1) disposed at the end of the bracelet strand, the connecting element (1) comprising two pins (3, 4) aligned, at least one (4) of which is movable in axial displacement in a guide channel (40) from which a part (41) of the movable pin (4) projects to allow it to be fixed to the housing by engagement of the projecting part (41) in one of the holes that the housing includes, and a manipulation element (2) resiliently recalled, capable of allowing the displacement of the movable pin (4), characterized in that said at least one pin movable (4) is resiliently returned by means of a spring (5) so as to pass from a first position A in which the movable pin (4) is deployed and the handling element (2) is in the rest position , towards a second position B in which the movable pin (4 ) is retracted under the action of the spring (5) when the handling element (2) is actuated. 2. Fastening device according to claim 1, wherein said handling element (2) comprises a body (20) arranged to slide in the connecting element (1), and a head (22) integral with the body which is arranged to cooperate with the movable pin (4). 3. Fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the movable pin (4) comprises a spherical end (43) arranged to rest against the head (22) of the handling element (2). 4. Fastening device according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the head (22) has at least one inclined face (220) arranged to cooperate with the spherical end (43) of the movable pin (4). 5. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the handling element (2) comprises a pusher (24). 6. Fastening device according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the two pins (3,4) are movable and resiliently returned by means of a spring (5). 7. Bracelet intended to equip a timepiece comprising a fixing device according to one of claims 1 to 6.