CH714821B1 - Adapter for fixing a strap strand for a timepiece and fixing system comprising such an adapter. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adapter (1) for fixing a strap strand (B) on a wristwatch case (M), characterized in that it comprises an inter-lug insert (2) consisting of a block of material shaped to extend without flapping between the horns (C) of a said wristwatch case (M), said insert (2) comprising an orifice adapted to receive a fixing bar of said insert (2) between the horns (C), and a pawl (3) mounted movable in rotation about an axis in a dedicated housing of said inter-horn insert (2), said pawl (3) comprising a bolt s' extending from a main body of the pawl (3) into an internal keeper of said housing; said pawl (3) comprising locking members configured to cooperate with locking members of complementary shape of said bracelet strand (B) and being arranged in cooperation with a return member such as the main body of the pawl (3) ) and its said locking members are, in a rest position, projecting relative to a surface of the inter-horn insert (2). The invention also relates to a fastening system comprising such an adapter (1) and a compliant strap strand (B). It remains in particular the simple, reliable and durable fixing of a bracelet connected to any type of watch case.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to an adapter of universal type for fixing a synthetic material strap strand between the lugs of any wristwatch case. The invention also relates to a system for fixing a timepiece bracelet strand comprising such an adapter and a so-called synthetic material bracelet strand,

State of the art

[0002] In the field of watchmaking, a very large number of strap fastening systems are known, which are more or less complex and quick to implement to ensure the assembly of a strap to the lugs of the watch case.

[0003] The majority fixing system, however, remains the fixing by means of a bar inserted in a cylindrical hole formed at one end of each bracelet strand and the ends of which protrude out of the loop to allow their insertion into an orifice generally cylindrical of corresponding diameter formed in the horns of the box. The total length of the bar is of course chosen to be greater than the distance separating the horns from the box in which its ends are inserted.

[0004] In order to give the binding a removable nature, the ends of the bars are usually mounted to be resiliently movable along the longitudinal axis of the bar so as to allow their insertion and their removal from the orifices formed in the horns using suitable pliers or punch.

This fixing system is flawless in its primary function of connecting the strands of bracelets to the watch case. However, it turns out to be impractical in use. In fact, the ends of the bars have diameters of a few tenths of a millimeter on average and their access and handling are very difficult for users. Also, users who want to change their bracelets themselves often irreversibly alter, for lack of mastery and / or adequate tools, either the strands of the bracelets, or the bars, or the watch case or even all at the times. Such alterations are at best unsightly (scratches, deformations) at worst disabling the good functionality of the bracelet. Also on products of good quality made of noble materials such as leather, gold or titanium, users often prefer not to change the strap themselves and return their watch to a store or factory to have the strap changed. with the associated cost and inconvenience.

[0006] Various alternative fixing systems have also been proposed to alleviate these inconveniences, but most often the latter are more structurally complex, and therefore more difficult to handle for the user.

[0007] In recent years, moreover, so-called “connected” bracelets have been developed, that is to say integrating, in addition to the conventional function of bracelets for holding a wearer's wrist, additional real-time monitoring functionalities. physiological and / or biological parameters (heart rate, systolic pressure and blood saturation, energy consumption, sleep phases, etc.) or activity (distance covered, walking frequency, etc.). Users can then monitor in real time and / or compare the parameters measured and communicated directly electronically via the mobile internet network to a monitoring and analysis device, most following a computer program accessible online or installed locally on a computer connected to the Internet network.

[0008] These “connected” bracelets integrate electronic elements, in particular sensors, circuits and microprocessors adapted to implement the desired functionalities. They are therefore most often marketed as a unitary object independent of a watch, or else associated with an electronic watch, which most often then shares some of the functionalities, in particular power supply and wireless connectivity with the bracelet. . However, the solutions known from the prior art do not make it possible to adapt a bracelet provided with integrated electronic functions to a “classic” watch case, in particular with a mechanical or quartz movement.

To this end, the Applicant has proposed in the copending patent application EP17151732.9, not published to date, an accessory for connecting a bracelet connected to a standard mechanical watch case. This accessory comprises in particular a cradle for wedging the watch case and connecting inserts for the strands of bracelets, allowing a waterproof electrical connection between the two strands via the cradle. Such a configuration is however not ideal in cases where the watch case has lugs, because the cradle of the accessory does not allow easy integration of the lugs vis-à-vis the strands of bracelets or singularly limits the mobility, to the detriment of the comfort and safety of use of a user.

The present invention aims to remedy this defect by providing a system for adapting to any type of watch case a connected bracelet in a simple and reliable manner, regardless of the shape of the case and its horns.

[0011] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a said fixing system making it possible to change a strap manually and without any particular tool, if necessary to allow a user to alternate the use of a conventional watch strap. with a connected bracelet, without effort or alteration of the watch case or of the functions of the bracelet.

Disclosure of the invention

[0012] Thus according to a first aspect, the invention relates to an adapter for fixing a strap strand on a wristwatch case, comprising: an inter-lug insert consisting of a block of material shaped to extend without flapping between the lugs of a said wristwatch case, said insert comprising an orifice adapted to receive a bar for fixing said insert between the lugs horns, and a pawl mounted movably in rotation in a dedicated housing of said insert, said pawl comprising a bolt extending into an internal keeper of said housing and being arranged in cooperation with a return member such that the bolt of the pawl is, in a rest position , pressed against an upper wall of the striker at a distance from the bottom of the housing; said pawl further comprising locking members configured to cooperate with locking members of complementary shape of said bracelet strand.

A second aspect of the invention also relates to the provision of a system for fixing a strap strand between the horns of a wristwatch case, comprising: An adapter according to the invention as defined above, and A bracelet strand comprising, at a so-called fixing end, a fork with a central notch, said fork having a width at most equal to the distance between the lugs of the case and the notch having a shape and complementary dimensions of the pawl body, the arms of said fork comprising on a lower face locking members of complementary shape of the locking members of the ratchet of the adapter such that said end snaps onto the adapter between said horns.

Brief description of the drawings

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents a perspective and exploded view of a bracelet fixing adapter according to the invention in a preferred embodiment; FIG. 2 represents a view in section along a median plane P1 of the adapter of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the method of assembling a bracelet strand to a conventional wristwatch case using a fastening system comprising an adapter according to the invention.

Embodiment of the invention

[0015] The present invention advantageously provides an adapter 1 and a system for fixing the strands B of a bracelet, in particular of a so-called "connected" bracelet, on a wristwatch case M, in particular a "classic" watch equipped with a mechanical or quartz movement, not provided with such “connected” functions. A preferred embodiment of this adapter 1 and this fixing system are shown in Figures 1 to 3.

The fixing adapter 1 according to the invention comprises firstly an insert of inter-horns 2, preferably consisting of a block of elastomeric material, for example rubber-based, molded and shaped to s' extend without fuss between the lugs C of a wristwatch case M, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the general shape of the inter-lug insert 2 and its dimensions are chosen or dictated so as not to to deteriorate the general aesthetics of the M wristwatch and therefore to integrate as well as possible in continuity with the middle lines and C lugs of the case of the M wristwatch on which we want to attach a bracelet. The adapter 1 of the invention can in particular for this purpose be produced in order to integrate better with the aesthetics and dimensions of certain watches by the manufacturers of the latter or by subcontractors as a complementary accessory to the watch. itself, just like a spare bracelet.

In general, the length of the insert 2 will be chosen equal to the distance between the lugs of the watch case M, and its width, considered perpendicular to the length of the insert 2, is then substantially equal or greater to the length of said horns C. Said insert 2 is intended to be mounted to the wristwatch case M between the horns C by means of a fixing bar 5 of the common bracelet strand. The insert 2 also comprises for this purpose an orifice 22 formed by a longitudinal bore 22, of diameter suitable for the insertion of a said bar 5.

The insert 2 also comprises a housing 21 in which a pawl 3 is mounted movable in rotation about an axis formed by a second bar 6 inserted into orifices provided for this purpose in the housing 21 or on the body of the insert 2 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. As an alternative to the second bar 6, pins or pins forming an axis may be formed of material on the body 32 of the pawl 3.

The pawl 3 also comprises a bolt 31 extending at one end of the body 32 opposite its axis of rotation in an internal keeper 24 of the housing 21 provided in the insert 2 and locking members 33 configured to cooperate with locking members 140 of complementary shape provided on a bracelet strand B which will be fixed by means of the adapter 1. In the embodiment shown, the locking members 33 are members of the type male, in particular formed of lugs projecting laterally on the body 32 of the pawl 3, in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the pawl 3 on the insert 2.

The keeper 24 is formed of a blind reservation hollowed out in the mass of the insert 2 and, as is apparent in particular from FIG. 2, a return member, in particular a compression spring 4, is housed in an orifice provided for this purpose in the bottom of the housing 21 in opposition to the bolt 31 of the pawl 3 so as to provide a reaction force against the pawl such that the bolt 31 is, in a rest position of the pawl, pressed against an upper wall of the keeper 24 and that the body 32 of the pawl and its said locking members 33 protrude from an upper surface of the inter-horn insert 2, as emerges from FIG. 3 in particular.

Thus, it is understood that the pawl 3 is movable in rotation about its axis materialized by the bar 6 in the housing 21 when a pressure P greater than the return constant of the compression spring 4 is applied to the body 31, thus providing a depression of the pawl 3 in the housing 21. Of course, any other kind of return member could be provided to replace the compression spring 4, provided that the latter provides a similar reaction force.

Advantageously, the locking members 33 of the pawl 3 also have, in a plane parallel to a median plane P1 of the adapter, a rectangular triangular cross section, the hypotenuse of which is oriented towards the bolt 31 of the pawl 3. According to In this configuration, each locking lug 33 thus has an inclined sliding plane making it possible to facilitate the insertion of the pawl 3 during the establishment of a strap end B while ensuring good locking once a locking position of the strand affected as will be described below. In addition, cavities 23 are provided in the housing 21 in order to allow the release of the locking pins 33 during such depression of the pawl 3, while leaving the return to the rest position of the pawl free once the pressure P deleted.

[0023] The adapter 1 is designed to be used as part of a specific fixing system in association with bracelet strands B configured in a complementary manner to said adapter 1 in order to allow the strands to be fitted and removed. of bracelet B without tools between the lugs C of a classic M wristwatch case as shown schematically in Figure 3.

To this end, the fixing system of the invention provides that each bracelet strand B comprises, at one end called fixing, a fork 100 formed of two arms 110 separated by a central notch 120, said fork having a width at most equal to the distance between the lugs of the box and the notch 120 having a shape and dimensions complementary to the pawl 3. In addition, the arms 110 each comprise on a lower face of the locking members 140 of complementary form of the locking members 33 of the pawl 3 of the adapter 1, in this case the grooves or grooves 140 of depth at least equal to the height of the locking lugs 33.

Thus, a strand B is configured to snap onto the adapter 1 by simply pushing the fork 100 on the adapter in the direction of the wristwatch case M. During this push, the arms 110 of the fork 100 come to bear on the inclined plane of the lugs 33, which forces the insertion of the pawl 33 in the housing 21 until the grooves 140 are aligned with the locking lugs 33 driven into the cavities 23. When this alignment said locking pins 33 then suddenly rise under the effect of the compression spring 4 in the grooves 140, thus locking the strand B on the adapter 1 and therefore on the watch case M. The withdrawal of the strand B thus snapped is also simple since it suffices to press with a finger on the body 32 of the pawl 3 to push the latter into the housing 21 and simultaneously to withdraw the strand B from the adapter 1, as one would remove a plug electrical outlet from a wall outlet the. The fixing system of the invention using the adapter 1 therefore allows the fastening and the quick change and without any tools of a bracelet strand B on a classic watch case without the case requiring any modification. . This notably allows a user, for example, to obtain a standard commercial mechanical watch and, as desired, to replace the strap of this watch with a connected strap equipped with the fixing system of the invention, in order to be able to associate with this a bracelet equipped with electronic components and connected functions such as the measurement of physical parameters of the wearer, podometry, calorimetry, etc.

For such a purpose, the fixing system of the invention can also, in an advantageous embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, comprise a cradle 130 for wedging a said watch case M, said cradle 130 being configured so that said case wedges without play on said cradle by its bottom and / or its middle part and being also secured to one or two strands B of bracelet provided with fork 100 to be attached to the watch case M via a first and a second adapter 1 according to the invention fixed to the horns C of the box.

The strands B and the cradle 130 may be formed from material by molding an elastomer, in particular based on rubber. Said cradle 130 may optionally be in the form of a disc or include a middle part delimiting a central housing and a substantially circular opening in which the bottom of the wristwatch case M. not shown) in flexible synthetic material, intended to ensure foam contact between the watch case inserted in the housing 21 and the cradle 2.

The fixing system of the invention and its adapter 1 allow users versatility in the use of their classic watch by allowing them to associate with it as desired a connected bracelet and its functions.

According to the needs it is understood that the strands of bracelet B and the cradle 130 can be more or less rigid to adapt by elasticity to the different formats of watch cases, just as they can be made of colors and multiple shapes without affecting the functionality of the fixing system of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. Adapter (1) for fixing a strap strand (B) on a wristwatch case (M), characterized in that it comprises: - an inter-lug insert (2) consisting of a block of material shaped to extend without fraying between the lugs (C) of a said wristwatch case (M), said insert comprising an orifice ( 22) adapted to receive a bar (5) for fixing said insert between the horns, and - a pawl (3) mounted movable in rotation about an axis in a housing (21) dedicated to said inter-horn insert (2), said pawl (3) comprising a bolt (31) extending from a body main (32) of the pawl in an internal keeper (24) of said housing (21); - said pawl (3) comprising locking members (33) configured to cooperate with locking members of complementary shape of a said bracelet strand (B) and being arranged in cooperation with a return member (4) such as the main body (32) of the pawl and its said locking members (33) are, in a rest position, projecting relative to a surface of the inter-horn insert (2). 2. Adapter (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the return member is a compression spring (4) driven into an orifice provided in the bottom of the housing of the insert (2). 3. Adapter (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking members (33) of the pawl are male type members. 4. Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the locking members of the pawl are lugs (33) projecting laterally on the main body (32) of the pawl substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of it. 5. Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking members (33) of the pawl have, in a plane parallel to a median plane P1 of the adapter, a triangular rectangle cross section. the hypotenuse of which is oriented towards the bolt (31) of the pawl (3). 6. Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pawl (3) comprises mounting studs for rotation in orifices (25) provided for this purpose in the insert (2) according to said axis. 7. Adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pawl has a loop adapted to receive a bar (6) for mounting in rotation in holes (25) provided for this purpose in the insert (2). 8. Adapter (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inter-horn insert (2) consists of molded synthetic material, in particular of elastomer. 9. System for fixing a bracelet strand (B) between the horns of a wristwatch case, comprising: - an adapter (1) according to one of claims 1 8, and - a bracelet strand (B) comprising, at one end called the fixing end, a fork (100) with a central notch (120), said fork having a width at most equal to the distance between the lugs of the box and the notch (120) having a shape and dimensions complementary to the pawl, the arms of said fork comprising on a lower face locking members (140) of complementary shape to the locking members (33) of the pawl (3) of the adapter (1) such that said strand (B) snaps onto the adapter (1) between said horns (C) and is anchored on the adapter (1) by cooperation of the locking members (33, 140) of the pawl ( 3) and arms (110) of said fork (100). 10. System for fixing a bracelet strand according to claim 9, characterized in that the bracelet strand (B) is integral with a cradle (130) for wedging a said watch case (M), said cradle (130) being configured to wedge without play a said watch case (M) by its bottom and / or its middle. 11. System for fixing a bracelet strand according to claim 9, characterized in that the bracelet strand (B) consists of a synthetic material, in particular of an elastomeric material, in particular still based on rubber. 12. System for fixing a bracelet strand according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the bracelet strand (B) and the wedging cradle (130) are integrally molded from a synthetic material, in particular from a material. elastomer, in particular still based on rubber.