CH718226A2 - Quick attachment system for a watch strap. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for attaching a watch strap to a watch case (1) comprising a connecting piece (10) of a strap for a watch, said watch case (1) comprising at least one peg (3 ) and a longitudinal slot bounded by two main support surfaces parallel to the main plane. Said connecting piece (10) comprises at least one side face, itself comprising for its attachment to said box (1) at least one guide groove (4) arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with said pin (3), and said connecting piece (10) comprises at least one blocking element. Said blocking element comprises a sliding pin (51) arranged to cooperate with said slot in a blocking position, towards which said sliding pin (51) is moved by elastic return means belonging to said blocking element, this comprising means of release arranged to be actuated directly by a user to move said sliding lug (51) away from said slot of said box (1). According to the invention, said guide groove (4) is a curved guide groove so that the sliding pin (51) is firmly held against one of the two main surfaces of the longitudinal slot in a locking position.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a quick-release system for a watch strap on a watch case, in particular a metal watch strap with links, or leather or even rubber for example.

Prior art

[0002] There are known devices for attaching a watch strap to a watch case, for example document EP2229836 discloses a quick-release system using a spring bar in combination with a rotary lever, in which the connecting element is pushed onto the spring bar from above. However, the use of a spring bar considerably limits the implementation of a locking system. Also known from documents EP1128237A1 and EP3266333A1 are quick-change systems which have machining on the underside of the horns, in which an interchangeable connecting piece is placed. The locking mechanism is implemented in the first solution by means of a pivoting lever, in the second variant with a pusher which moves a sliding element when pressed. Since a loose fit is required for assembly, a gap may exist between the bracelet and the case, especially when the bracelet is under tension, as is normally the case when wearing a watch. It should also be noted that the connecting element is mounted from the underside of the watch and thus in the usual load direction which applies when a watch is worn. The blocking element must therefore absorb a large part of the forces which apply.

Summary of the invention

[0003] An object of the invention consists in overcoming these drawbacks by proposing a quick coupling system with an unequaled adjustment of a connecting piece in which the locking element is subjected to a low constraint and which has a high security level. An invisible fixing in the assembled state and the need for a low height are also made possible.

[0004]Therefore, the invention relates to a device for attaching a watch strap to a watch case comprising an end link for attaching a watch strap to a watch case comprising a connection piece for a strap for a watch, said watch case comprising at least one peg, wherein said watch case comprises a longitudinal slot delimited by two main support surfaces parallel to a main plane PP and said connecting piece comprises at least one side face, which itself itself comprises for its attachment to said box at least one guide groove arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with said pin, and said connecting piece comprises at least one blocking element, in which said blocking element comprises a sliding lug arranged to cooperate with said slot in a blocking position, towards which said sliding lug is moved by elastic return means ap extending from said locking element, the latter comprising unlocking means arranged to be actuated directly by a user in order to move said sliding lug away from said slot of said box, characterized in that said guide groove is a guide groove curved so that the sliding lug is firmly held against one of the two main surfaces of the longitudinal slot in a locking position.

[0005] According to other features of the invention: the curved guide groove includes a first straight portion opening on the front face of the end link; the two main support surfaces of said box comprise an upper support surface and a lower support surface, the upper surface being longer than the lower surface; the end link comprises a cover for a front guide of said sliding lug, and comprises a guide chamber of said sliding lug intended to receive the elastic return means; the cover is fixed to said terminal link by at least one spring pin; the sliding pin is guided in at least a first guide belonging to said guide chamber; the unlocking means comprise a push button, which is arranged to move in a complementary opening belonging to said cover; the push button passes through said opening of the cover; the sliding lug comprises a head cooperating with said slot, said head comprising an inclination arranged to cooperate with one of the two main support surfaces; the cover is guided in a third guide belonging to said end piece.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given without limitation and in which: FIG. 1a is a perspective view from above of a watch fitted with a quick release system according to the invention; FIG. 1b is a perspective view from below of a watch equipped with a quick release system according to the invention; FIG. 1c is a perspective view of a watch without a quick release system according to the invention; FIG. 2a is a perspective view of a quick release system according to the invention; Figure 2b is an exploded view of a quick release system according to the invention; FIGS. 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of a quick release system according to the invention; FIGS. 4a and 4b are cross-sectional views of a watch equipped with a quick release system according to the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0007] The invention proposes to give the user the possibility of changing easily and in complete safety the strap fitted to his watch by modifying the watch case of a respective collection as little as possible in order to preserve the appearance of the front and edge of the watch, and also offers a watch with an interchangeable strap for the lowest possible difference in production cost.

[0008] It must be possible to change the bracelet without any tools and without delicate handling while allowing a quick change between a leather bracelet and a metal bracelet with links, for example, or also making it possible to match the bracelet to items of clothing and/or jewelry worn by the user or the appearance of the user, in accordance with the circumstances of use of the watch. The interchangeable strap also allows straps of different lengths to be instantly interchanged, allowing retailers and merchants to provide their customers with perfectly fitting watches immediately.

The invention also consists in using an interface connection between the watch case and in particular, but not restrictively, the middle part, on the one hand, and the ends of the bracelet, on the other hand. The invention is more specifically described here for the preferred case of watch strap end links, which can be mass-produced at reasonable cost and need only be joined to a strap body, but it is also possible to choose a one-piece bracelet configuration with no separate end piece, and featuring the interchangeability and locking features necessary for good function, but naturally at a higher price. The person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the arrangement described below for an end link to an entire bracelet without any difficulty.

The invention therefore preferably relates to a watch strap end link 10 for a strap 9 for removable adjustment to a case 1 of a watch 100.

To receive such a link 10, this box 1 comprises two pegs 3 or tenons or the like belonging to the box 1, the two pegs 3 being inserted into corresponding bores, by gluing, driving in or welding, the bores being drilled perpendicularly to the 6H-12H axis of the box from the internal faces of the horn 11. These pins 3 are arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with a guide groove 30 machined in the side face 56 of the end link 10.

[0012] Each pin 3 is preferably supported by a reinforced zone in the box 1, in particular a horn. The connection between each peg 3 and each horn must have dimensions large enough to absorb stresses, in particular traction, torsion and accelerations undergone by the bracelet and the case 1. The simple insertion of the terminal link 10 on these pegs 3, which are preferably symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry, ensures the interchangeability of the bracelets 9 with respect to the box 1. Similarly, the removal of the link must be designed so that no resistance is encountered.

[0013] To guarantee the safety function and the insertion of a locking mechanism of the terminal link 10 when the pins 3 are in a stop position in the guide grooves 30, the mechanism comprises a locking and unlocking system .

For this, the end link 10 has a particular machined structure, as can be seen in the particular non-restrictive variant illustrated in the figures.

This particular machined structure preferably comprises at least one longitudinal slot 2, which is delimited by two main support surfaces 21, 22 parallel to a main plane PP, the two main support surfaces 21, 22 comprising a support surface upper 21 and a lower support surface 22, the upper surface being longer than the lower surface. Of course, the surfaces 21 and 22 can have the same length without preventing the slot 2 from holding the sliding lug.

Such a slot 2 having two parallel faces is very easy to manufacture by turning or by milling. It is preferably located between the horns 11 of the case 1, as can be seen in the figures, and is invisible when the link 10 or the bracelet 9 is in place. Consequently, for the implementation of the invention, it suffices that the box 1 comprises the slot 2 and the pins 3. No other component is necessary at the level of the box 1 which can thus preserve all the purity of its appearance and its usual use.

Advantageously, the vertical face between the horns is inclined so that the connecting piece 10 follows the natural shape of the wrist. The slot 2 is formed by milling parallel to the PP surface in order to be as easy to manufacture as possible.

To guarantee the locking function, the link 10 comprises at least one locking element 50. This locking element 50 comprises a sliding lug 51, which is arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner and with a minimum clearance with the slot 2 in a blocking position, towards which the sliding lug 51 is moved by elastic return means 52 belonging to the end link 10. In addition, the end link 10 comprises release means arranged to be actuated directly by a finger. a user in order to move said sliding lug 51 away from said slot 2 of said box 1. Consequently, no tool is necessary to perform the unlocking or blocking or to perform the insertion or removal of the link 10 in or from box 1.

According to the invention, the guide grooves are curved guide grooves so that the sliding pin 51 is firmly held against one of the two main surfaces 21, 22 of the longitudinal slot 2 in a locking position .

In this regard, while the invention is described in its preferred form where the terminal link 10 comprises a male part (the sliding pin 51) cooperating with a female part (slot 2) of the box 1, the configuration reverse is possible without departing from the invention.

[0021] More particularly, as illustrated, the sliding pin 51 comprises a head 54 cooperating with said slot 2, the head 54 comprising an inclination arranged to cooperate in abutment with one of the main support surfaces 21, 22 of the slot 2 of box 1, wherein head 54 preferably operates with minimal play.

According to the invention, the terminal link 10 comprises a guide chamber 6 for receiving said sliding pin 51 and intended to receive elastic return means 50, and a cover 55 forming a front guide of said sliding pin 5, the cover being slid into the end link 10 from the side facing the box 1 thanks to its side edges which are guided in a third guide 62 belonging to the end link 10.

In the figures, the sliding pin 51 is guided with a main guide 530 and two secondary grooves 52 belonging to the terminal link 10 and cooperating with two guide surfaces 52 of the sliding pin 51. The sliding pin 51 is installed from the side facing the box by being pushed into the guide chamber at the front.

The cover 55 protects the sliding pin 51, and since it is barely visible from the outside, it can be made of a less valuable material which is more resistant to wear such as steel or similar, as the material forming the terminal link 10, which is a piece of external appearance having a design in harmony with that of the box 1 and often of the same material and with the same finish, in which this terminal link 10 can be made of a gold alloy or the like, for example.

The terminal link 10, or rather the locking means, also has a rear guide chamber 61 which ensures the reception of the elastic return means 50 illustrated in a non-restrictive manner by coil springs.

More particularly, the cover 55 is fixed to the terminal link 56 by at least one spring pin 58, which spring is in a counterbore on the hidden side of the cover, which eliminates the last degree of freedom. It is possible to disassemble the cover by simply pressing the heads of the two pins for cleaning.

For this operation, according to the invention, the blocking element 50 preferably comprises a push button 53, which is arranged to be actuated by a finger of a user in order to command a release of the blocking means by retraction of the sliding lug 51 by applying pressure to this push button 53.

In an advantageous configuration, the cover 55 comprises an opening 530 which is arranged to receive the push button 53, said push button passing through and sliding in said opening 530 of the cover 53.

As illustrated in Figures 4a and 4b, the end link 10 includes an inclination 54, which is parallel to the upper support surface 22 of the box 1. Due to the spring force F1 of the springs 50, the tilt 54 of the slide pin head is pressed against surface 22 and so snaps into place. Due to the inclination, the force F2 acts on the sliding lug 51 and thus on the end link 10 itself by pressing it in the direction of the bottom side of the box 1. The connecting piece is pressed against the box 1 with the force F3, so that an adjustment without gap is possible.

[0030] The dismantling of the system is carried out by extracting the push button 53 and the head of the sliding lug 51 slides out of the slot 2 in the box, which makes it possible to guide the pins 3 along the curved guide grooves 4 and to detach the terminal link 10 from the box 1. The assembly is carried out by guiding the pegs 3 again along the curved guide grooves until the head of the sliding lug fits into the slot 2 and until the initial state is found and the end link 10 is fixed to the box 1.

[0031] The invention also relates to a watch 100 comprising a watch case 1, which to receive said at least one link 10 comprises at least one second transverse slot, in which said case 1 comprises a longitudinal slot 2 delimited by two surfaces of main supports 21, 22 parallel to a main plane PP, characterized in that said watch 100 comprises at least one end bracelet link 10 arranged to cooperate for insertion and locking on said case (1).

[0032] More particularly, the watch 100 comprises at least one removable bracelet 9, which at each of its two ends has such a removable end link 10, in which the links 10 are arranged on both sides of the watch case or of the bezel. of jewel 1.

[0033] More particularly, the watch 100 comprises a plurality of such interchangeable removable bracelets 9.

Claims (12)

1. Device for fixing a watch strap on a watch case comprising an end link (10) of a strap for a watch intended to fix the watch strap on the watch case (1), said watch case (1 ) comprising at least one peg (3), wherein said watch case (1) comprises a longitudinal slot (2) delimited by two main support surfaces (21, 22) parallel to a main plane (PP) and said piece of connection (10) comprises at least one side face (56), which itself comprises for its attachment to said box (1) at least one guide groove (30) arranged to cooperate in a complementary manner with said pin (3), and said terminal link (10) comprises at least one locking element (5), in which said locking element (5) comprises a sliding pin (51) arranged to cooperate with said slot (2) in a locking position, towards which said sliding pin (51) is moved by elastic return means e (52) belonging to said locking element (50), and comprising unlocking means arranged to be actuated directly by a user in order to move said sliding lug (51) away from said slot (2) of said box ( 1), characterized in that said guide groove is a curved guide groove so that the sliding pin (51) is firmly held against one of the two main surfaces (21, 22) of the longitudinal slot (2) in a blocking position. 2. Device for attaching a watch strap to a watch case (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved guide groove comprises a first straight portion opening on the front face of the terminal link. 3. Device for attaching a watch strap to a watch case (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the two main support surfaces (21, 22) of said case (1) comprise a surface upper support surface (21) and a lower support surface (22), the upper surface being longer than the lower surface. 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the end link comprises a cover (55) for a front guide of said sliding pin (51), and in that it comprises a guide chamber of said sliding lug and intended to receive elastic return means (52). 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said cover (53) is fixed to said terminal link (56) by at least one spring pin (58, 59). 6. Device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that said sliding pin (51) is guided in at least a first guide (530) belonging to said guide chamber (6). 7. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said unlocking means comprise a push button (54), which is arranged to move in an opening (57) complementary belonging to said cover ( 55). 8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said push button (53) passes through said opening (57) of the cover (55). 9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sliding pin (51) comprises a head cooperating with said slot (2), said head comprising an inclination (54) arranged to cooperate with the one of the two main support surfaces (21, 22). 10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said cover (55) is guided in a third guide (62) belonging to said end piece (10). 11. Bracelet (9) comprising at least one end link (10) of a device according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. Watch (100) comprising a watch case (1), which to receive said at least one link (10) comprises at least one secondary transverse slot, in which said case (1) comprises a longitudinal slot (2) delimited by two main support surfaces (21, 22) parallel to a main plane (PP), characterized in that said watch (100) comprises at least one terminal link (10) of the bracelet of the device according to any one of Claims 1 to 10 arranged to cooperate for insertion and locking on said box (1).