CH715002A1 - System for attaching a bracelet to a watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

System (1) for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, comprising: a first bracelet element (3) arranged to take place between a pair of horns that includes said watch case; a bar (5) housed in said first member (3) and extending along a transverse axis thereof, said bar (5) having at least one retractable pivot (7) for cooperating with one of said horns of said watch case; a second bracelet element (9) mounted around said bar (5) and pivoted relative to said first element. According to the invention, said first element (3) and said second element (9) are arranged to define: a first relative angular position between said first element (3) and said second element (9) in which said retractable pivot (7) is held in an extended position in which said pivot (7) is adapted to cooperate with said horn; and a second relative angular position between said first member (3) and said second member (9) wherein said retractable pivot (7) is retracted or retractable.

Description

Description Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a system for attaching a bracelet to a watch case which can be removed without requiring the use of any tool.

STATE OF THE ART [0002] A large number of systems for attaching straps to watch cases are known from the state of the art, which do not require the use of a tool for mounting and dismounting them. This type of system is particularly suitable for bracelets which are interchangeable by the user, for example in order to change the style of bracelet, for aesthetic or functional reasons.

As such, document US 2014 250 637 describes a fastening system comprising a bar with lugs of relatively conventional style, which is intended to fix a strand of bracelet to a watch case. This bar includes a sleeve carrying a first non-retractable pivot as well as a second retractable pivot, the two pivots being arranged to cooperate with corresponding notches provided in the internal faces of the horns of a watch case. A spring extends along the inside of the sleeve and is used to hold the two pivots in deployed positions. The sleeve also has a slot extending parallel to the axis of the bar, in which a lug takes place, integral with the retractable pivot. This lug is arranged to be moved manually against the restoring force provided by the spring in order to remove the retractable pivot and thus be able to remove the bracelet from the case.

However, the handling of such a lug is relatively difficult, and there is always a risk of inadvertent retraction if the lug clings to something, such as a bracelet-jewel worn at the same time as the watch.

Document J 475 249 describes a system for attaching a bracelet which comprises a lug bar integrated in the end link of the bracelet. This bar includes a cylindrical sleeve provided with a flap arranged to be manipulated by the user. By pivoting the sleeve through the flap, a cam system acts on the pins, which are hidden inside the link, in order to retract them and thus release the strap from the watch case.

This system is certainly interesting, but the flap is relatively small in order to avoid inadvertent actuation and not to interfere with the wearer's wrist, which makes it difficult to handle.

Document EP 2 047 766 describes a similar system, in which the sleeve is fixed relative to the end link and the cam system comprises an actuating part which is housed inside the sleeve and acts on the two retractable parts carrying the pivots of the bar. By pivoting the actuator via an external pin, the user can retract the pivots of the bar and release the strap from the watch case.

Again, this pin is very small, and is therefore difficult to handle.

Documents WO 13,140,080 and EP 3,213,654 describe retraction systems for bar pivots which are entirely housed in the end link of a metal bracelet or in a connecting element of a fabric bracelet , leather or the like, and are extremely complex and bulky.

The present invention aims to overcome, at least partially, the aforementioned drawbacks.

Disclosure of the invention [0011] More specifically, the invention relates to a system for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, as defined by claim 1. This system comprises:

- A first bracelet element, such as an end link of the latter or a connecting piece of a flexible bracelet strand, arranged to take place between a pair of horns that includes said watch case;

- A bar housed in said first element and extending along a longitudinal axis of the first element (this axis being perpendicular to the axis along which the bracelet extends), said bar comprising at least one retractable pivot intended to cooperate with one of said horns of said watch case; the pivot in question may include a stud or a housing, or any other shape allowing interaction with a complementary shape provided in the internal face of the corresponding horn;

- A second bracelet element, such as the link next to the end link of a metal bracelet or a second connecting piece of a flexible bracelet strand, this second element being mounted around said bar so as to pivot relative to said first element; the bar may, as appropriate, be integral in rotation with said first element, said second element or with none of the elements.

According to the invention, said first and second elements of the bracelet are arranged to define:

- A first relative angular position between said first element and said second element in which said retractable pivot is held in a deployed position, in which it is able to cooperate with said horn, the hold being obtained for example by means of a spring recall and / or positive blocking in this position; and

CH 715 002 A1

- A second relative angular position between said first element and said second element in which said retractable pivot is able to be retracted (for example manually) or has been retracted (for example automatically).

In doing so, by pivoting the second element relative to the first element, the retractable pivot (s) of the bar are capable of being deployed and retracted automatically or manually depending on the angular position of the two elements, which is simple for the user and avoids untimely retraction, since the relative position of the elements is fixed when the bracelet is worn.

Advantageously, the first element comprises a first notch arranged to house a lug secured to the pivot of the bar, at least when the elements are in the first relative angular position.

Advantageously, the second element has a second notch arranged to be able to receive the lug at least when the elements are in the second relative angular position. This does not mean that the second notch necessarily receives the lug in the second relative angular position, but that the lug is not blocked in the second notch by the shape of the second element, and that the lug can thus pass in the second notch.

Advantageously, the second element is arranged to block the lug in the first notch when the elements are in the first angular position.

Advantageously, the second notch is formed so as to define a holding surface, preferably in the form of a hook, arranged to retain said lug in a retracted position. An inadvertent return of the lug from its withdrawn position can thus be avoided by locking the lug in this position.

In a variant, said lug comprises a gripping member adapted to be actuated directly by a user, which represents a simple solution allowing manual retraction. In this case, said sleeve can be integral in rotation with said first element, which helps to pass the lug behind the holding surface, if it is present.

In another variant, the bar may include a sleeve integral in rotation with the second element, said lug extending through a slot made in the sleeve, the slot extending parallel to the axis of the bar . The first notch has a cam surface arranged to cooperate with said lug in order to retract the latter when the elements pass from the first angular position to the second relative angular position.

Advantageously, the first element comprises a notch located adjacent to the cam surface and arranged to retain said lug when the first and second elements are in the second relative angular position. In doing so, the system can be maintained in the state where the two elements of the bracelet in question are in their second relative angular position by means of the cooperation between the pins and the notches.

Finally, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a watch case housing a timepiece movement and comprising at least one pair of horns, a bracelet and a fastening system as defined above, the system serving to link said bracelet to said horns.

Brief description of the drawings [0022] Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view common to the two embodiments of a system according to the invention, seen from the dial side of the watch (not shown) to which the system is intended to be fixed;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the system according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from the back side of the watch, in a first relative angular position of the first and second elements that the system comprises;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, wherein said elements are in a second relative angular position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, in which said elements are in the second relative angular position and the pins have been retracted;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, wherein said elements are in a third relative angular position;

Fig. 6 is an isometric view cut out of a part of the system of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the second bracelet element having been deleted;

Fig. 7 is a bottom side view of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention, said two elements being in their first relative angular position;

CH 715 002 A1 fig. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, wherein said elements are in their second relative angular position; and fig. 9 is a cut isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 7, one of the elements of the system having been deleted.

Embodiment of the invention [0023] Figures 1 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of a system 1 for attaching a strap (not shown) to a watch case (not shown), according to the invention . The watch case can accommodate any movement, mechanical or electronic, in a known manner.

The system 1 comprises a first element 3 of the said strap, arranged to nest between a pair of conventional horns that the watch case includes. Said first element 3 of the embodiment shown is the end link of a metal bracelet. It carries a bar 5 which extends along a longitudinal axis A-A, and which is perpendicular to the axis B-B along which the bracelet extends. Alternatively, the first element 3 can be a first connecting piece, of the insert type, used to link a strand of flexible bracelet of leather, fabric, rubber, or the like to the watch case.

The bar 5 comprises a tubular sleeve 11 which is integral in rotation with the first element 3, and which serves as an axis of rotation for a second element 9 of the bracelet. In the present case, the second element 9 is the link next to the end link of the bracelet. It is pivotally mounted on the first element 3 between two tenons 3a that this first element comprises 3. For this purpose, the two tenons 3a and the second element 9 have ad-hoc openings to receive the sleeve 11. This sleeve 11 is rendered integral in rotation with the first element 3 by means of welding, bonding, brazing, chasing or by simple blocking between complementary shapes. This latter possibility is illustrated in FIG. 6. According to this example, the sleeve 11 comprises, in each section which crosses a stud 3a, a longitudinal rail 11a extending parallel to the axis A-A. This rail cooperates with a corresponding groove 3b provided in the internal wall of the opening made in each stud 3a. Alternatively, instead of the rail 11 a, one or more lugs, studs or the like could be provided.

Furthermore, the second element 9 comprises attachment means 9a to the rest of the bracelet (not shown), these means being illustrated here as a transverse opening 9a adapted to receive a pin used for fixing the following element , whether it is a next link or a flexible strand as mentioned above.

The sleeve 11 supports a pair of retractable pivots 7 of the bar 5, each pivot 7 having a stud extending outwards along the axis A-A. These studs are intended to cooperate with respective housings provided in the internal faces of the horns of the watch case (not shown). The pivots 7 can be moved along the axis AA against a force exerted by a return spring (not shown) housed inside the bar 5 and which serves to maintain the pivots 7 in their deployed positions, as shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Alternatively, the retractable pivots 7 may include housings which cooperate with fixed projections which extend along the axis AA from the inner faces of the horns in the case where the bar is of the so-called "negative bar" type. .

Each stud 3 is secured to a respective lug 13, which extends laterally through a respective longitudinal slot 15 formed in the wall of the sleeve 11. Each lug 13 is accessible to the user, typically on the bottom side (relative to the timepiece with which the system 1 is associated) of the system 1. As such, the head of each lug has dimensions allowing its manipulation by a finger of the user so that it serves as a grip.

In fig. 2, the pivots 7 are in their deployed positions, their studs thus being able to cooperate with corresponding housings located on the horns of the watch case. In this state, the first element 3 and the second element 9 occupy a first angular position relative to each other, in which the lugs 13 are locked in first notches 17 formed in the inner walls of the tenons 3a by the shape of the second element

9. This shape is adapted to close said first notches 17 so that the pins 13 cannot come out when said elements are in their first relative angular position. The pivots 7 are thus retained in their deployed positions not only under the effect of the return spring, but also by mechanical locking.

Now examining FIG. 3, the second element 9 has been pivoted downwards in the orientation of this figure, which corresponds to an upward pivoting (considered on the dial side) relative to the timepiece. In this second relative angular position, second notches 19 provided on the second element 9 are each opposite a respective first notch 17, so that the pins 13 (and thus the pivots 7) can be retracted manually. one towards the other along the AA axis. Thus, the pins 13 can be pulled out of the first notches 17 and enter the second notches 19, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In this state, the pivots 7 have been retracted, and the system can in principle be removed from the watch case. However, by releasing the pins 13 in this state, they will fall back into their first corresponding notches 17, under the effect of the return spring.

CH 715 002 A1 In order to minimize this risk and to facilitate the handling of the system 1, the second element 9 can be pivoted even further relative to the first element 3 (see fig. 5), in order to bring each lug 13 in a part of the respective second notch 19 which is shaped to define a retention surface 21. In doing so, the two elements 3, 9 are in a third relative angular position. Since the sleeve 11 is integral in rotation with the first element 3, the pins 13 are forced to take place behind the respective retention surfaces 21 following the pivoting of the second element towards this angular position. The pins 13 (and thus the pivots 7) are therefore held in their retracted position. It should also be noted that the retention surfaces 21 illustrated define hooks which also serve to block the second element 9 in its third angular position relative to the first element 3. In doing so, an untimely return of the lugs 13 can be avoided.

In order to return the pads 7 to their deployed positions, it is necessary to slightly remove the pins 13 by manually pushing them towards each other along the axis AA, and pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first element 3 so that they again adopt their second relative angular position (like that illustrated in FIG. 4). The lugs 13 can then be released so that they fall back into the respective first lugs 17 (fig. 3). Then, the two elements 9, 3 can be pivoted to adopt again their respective first angular position (cf. FIG. 2) and to block the lugs 13 in the first notches 17.

We can of course consider variations to the system 1 of Figures 1 to 6. For example, the locking surfaces 21 may extend in planes perpendicular to the axis AA instead of having the form of hooks, and it is not compulsory for the sleeve 11 to be integral in rotation with the first element. In the latter case, the pins 13 can be moved manually behind their respective locking surfaces 21 without requiring pivoting of the second element towards said third relative angular position. However, this variant makes handling less easy for the user.

Alternatively, the first element 3 can be formed to nest between studs that comprise the second element 9, the other parts of the system 1 being adapted to these different forms of the two elements 3, 9.

Figures 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the tubular sleeve 11 of the bar is integral in rotation with the second element 9 instead of the first 3. For this purpose, the sleeve is moved by pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first 3. The pins 13 are then rotated about the axis AA accordingly. The sleeve 11 can be made integral in rotation with the second element 9 by means of welding, bonding, brazing, chasing or by simple blocking between complementary shapes. Fig. 9 illustrates the latter possibility, the sleeve 11 again comprising a rail 11a extending parallel to the axis A-A, which cooperates with a corresponding groove 9b provided in the internal wall of the opening made in the second element.

The first notches 17 provided in the pins 3a of the first element are each shaped to define an operating clearance by means of an extension 24 of each first notch 17. This extension extends in a direction parallel to the axis BB, and the corresponding lug 13 can enter therein to allow a certain pivoting of the elements 3, 9 relative to each other when the part is worn, which makes it possible to compensate for variations in size of the wrist of different carriers and thus ensure their comfort.

In principle, in this embodiment, the lugs 13 are not blocked against manual retraction when the elements are in said respective first angular position, this retraction being carried out using a tool ad hoc or by the user's fingers if the pins 13 have an appropriate shape. However, this manipulation is difficult and is not the aim sought by this embodiment.

In the state illustrated in FIG. 7, the pins 13 are retained at the bottom of the first pins by means of the aforementioned return spring (not illustrated), which keeps them in this position in order to ensure the deployment of the pivots 7 of the bar 5.

The system 1 of this embodiment is adapted to effect the retraction of the lugs 13 automatically by pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first element 3. For this purpose, a wall of each of the first notches 17 defines a cam surface 25 which is arranged to retract a respective lug 13 when the second element 9 is pivoted from said first relative angular position illustrated in FIG. 7 towards the second relative angular position illustrated in FIG. 8, during the transition between the first relative angular position and the second, the pins 13 are each constrained against the corresponding cam surface 25, and are driven to move parallel to the axis AA, one in the direction of the other. The shape of the second notches 19 is of course adapted to allow the passage of the pins 13 when they rise along the corresponding cam surface 25.

When the elements 3, 9 are in their second relative angular position, the pins 13 have been fully retracted and cooperate with corresponding notches 27, the latter being located adjacent to the cam surfaces 25 and acting as notches serving to maintain the pins 13 in the retracted position. By these means, the system 1 is maintained in the state of FIG. 8 until the user begins to pivot the second element towards said second relative angular position, which causes the pins to come out of the corresponding notches. An untimely return of the lugs 13 can thus be avoided. However, these notches 27 are not compulsory if a high risk of such a return is deemed acceptable.

CH 715 002 A1 In order to return the pivots 7 of the bar to their deployed position, the second element 9 must simply be pivoted relative to the first element 3 and thus put them back in said first relative angular position.

We also note that, as is the case for the embodiment of Figures 1 to 6, the first element 3 may alternately nest between studs that includes the second element 9, the other parts of the system 1 of the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8 being adapted accordingly to this variation in the shapes of the two elements 3, 9. For the rest, it is possible that a pivot 7 of the bar is fixed, only the other being retractable in this embodiment too.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with specific embodiments, additional variants are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, one could envisage a system 1 without return spring housed in the bar 5, the pivots 7 being displaced along the axis AA in both directions in a desmodromic manner as a function of the relative angular position of the two elements 3, 9 by an appropriate cam system.

Claims (10)

claims 1. System (1) for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, comprising: - a first bracelet element (3) arranged to take place between a pair of horns that comprises said watch case; - a bar (5) housed in said first element (3) and extending along a transverse axis (AA) of the latter, said bar (5) comprising at least one retractable pivot (7) intended to cooperate with one of said horns of said watch case; - a second bracelet element (9) mounted around said bar (5) and pivoting relative to said first element; characterized in that said first member (3) and said second member (9) are arranged to define; - A first relative angular position between said first element (3) and said second element (9) in which said retractable pivot (7) is retained in a deployed position in which said pivot (7) is able to cooperate with said horn; and - A second relative angular position between said first element (3) and said second element (9) in which said retractable pivot (7) is retracted or is capable of being retracted. 2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein said first element (3) comprises a first notch (17) arranged to house a lug (13) integral with said pivot (7) of said bar (5) at least when said elements (3, 9) are located in said first relative angular position. 3. System (1) according to claim 2, wherein said second element (9) has a second notch (19) arranged to be able to receive said lug (13) when said elements (3, 9) are in said second angular position relative. 4. System (1) according to claim 3, wherein said second element (9) is arranged to lock said lug (13) in said first notch (17) when said elements (3, 9) are in said first angular position relative. 5. System (1) according to claim 4, wherein said second notch (19) is formed so as to define a holding surface (21), preferably in the form of a hook, arranged to retain said lug (13) in a retracted position. 6. System (1) according to one of claims 4 and 5, wherein said lug (13) comprises a gripping member adapted to be actuated directly by a user. 7. System according to one of claims 4-6, wherein said sleeve (11) is rotationally integral with said first element (3). 8. System (1) according to claim 3, in which said strip (5) comprises a sleeve (11) integral in rotation with said second element (9), said lug (13) extending through a slot (15 ) formed in said sleeve (15), said slot (15) extending parallel to the axis (AA) of said bar, said first notch (17) defining a cam surface (25) arranged to cooperate with said lug ( 13) in order to retract the latter when said elements (3, 9) transition from said first angular position relative to said second relative angular position. 9. System (1) according to claim 8, in which said first element (3) comprises a notch (27) located adjacent to said cam surface (25) and arranged to retain said lug (13) when said first and second elements (3, 9) are in said second relative angular position. 10. Timepiece including: - a watch case housing a watch movement and comprising at least one pair of horns; - a bracelet; and CH 715 002 A1 -a fastening system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said system (1) used to link said bracelet to said horns. CH 715 002 A1