CN115297748A

CN115297748A - Clasp for a bracelet, in particular a watch bracelet

Info

Publication number: CN115297748A
Application number: CN202180022029.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安杰洛·夸特罗帕尼
Original assignee: Elbas
Current assignee: Elbas
Priority date: 2020-02-19
Filing date: 2021-02-19
Publication date: 2022-11-04
Also published as: CH717148B1; EP4106574A1; WO2021165895A1; US20230108956A1; JP2023514430A; CH717148A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a folding clasp for a wristband, allowing different radii of curvature when it is in the closed position, said clasp comprising: -a first and a second strap (1, 2) hinged to each other at a first end (3), the free end of the first strap (1) having a hinge (4) for hinging a first strand (5) or a third strap (6) of the wristband, -the free end (7) of the second strap (2) being arranged to receive a second strand (8) of the wristband, -each strap (1, 2, 6) being constituted by separate and interchangeable individual segments (10) arranged to create a tilt angle of 20 ° to 50 ° between two consecutive segments (10).

Description

Clasp for a bracelet, in particular a watch bracelet

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of wristbands, in particular to the field of wrist watches. More particularly, the present invention relates to a folding buckle for a wristband that allows for different radii of curvature.

Background

Fold-over snap fasteners are well known for their aesthetic appearance. However, some folding buckles can be uncomfortable if the curvature is not appropriate for the user's wrist. Its length can also be problematic: the rigidity of the snap blades can be inconvenient because they can extend to the side of the user's wrist. The thickness of the buckle can also cause inconvenience or discomfort. The clasp of the folding clasp is larger than that of the pin clasp, especially when the watch is large.

The pin buckle is much thinner than the fold buckle and does not cause any discomfort due to friction. This is important, especially for people with small wrists.

EP 1437952 describes a wristband clasp comprising a first blade, a second blade hinged to the first blade, and a cover. The cover includes a housing and a cover closing the cover. The housing has a solid wall. The vanes are staggered with respect to each other so as to be in the same plane in the closed position. It is mentioned that the blade may for example be flexible, but the mechanism for keeping the clasp closed requires not only a certain thickness of the blade, but also a certain rigidity.

CH 709911 describes a folding buckle for a wristband that allows for different radii of curvature when the buckle is in a closed position. The clasp includes a first leaf and a second leaf hinged to one another at a first end. The free end of the first blade has a hinge for hinging the first strand of the bracelet. The clasp also comprises a clasp hinged at the free end of the second blade and arranged to receive the second strand of the wristband. The first and second blades include first and second flexible portions. The rigid and flexible portions are manufactured based on different materials or the same material but with inherent properties of different rigidity and flexibility. This embodiment requires good control of the materials, especially when combining materials of different properties.

EP 3420839 describes a folding blade clasp for a wristband comprising a rigid base blade, while the second blade is made of two or three elements. Such an embodiment may optimize the surface area for passage of the wearer's hand in the open position, but does not address the issue of maximum adaptability to small wrists.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is to propose an expandable clasp for a wristband, which has the advantage of offering great flexibility when the clasp is in the closed position and is intended to adapt immediately and comfortably to the wearer's wrist, in particular for persons with small wrists.

Thus, the present invention allows for flexible assembly of the blades of the clasp and provides perfect adaptation to either large or small wrists, thereby eliminating the size of a traditional male, female or medium model, as compared to prior art embodiments.

According to the invention, a folding clasp for a wristband, allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closed position, comprises: a first blade configured to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade configured to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp. The first and second blades are hinged to each other at a first end, the free end of the first blade having a hinge for hinging the first or third strand of the wristband. The free end of the second blade is arranged to receive the second strand of wristbands. Each first blade has two elongated, parallel and spaced apart arms for forming an elongated slot, each arm being hinged at each end, and also has at least one intermediate hinge dividing the arm into segments to form hinged segments, the hinge axes being parallel and perpendicular to the arms, each arm being arranged to form a pivot angle of, for example, 20 ° to 50 ° between two successive segments.

Preferably, each blade consists of interchangeable and separate, independent segments, which are arranged to form a 20 ° to 50 ° yaw angle between two successive segments.

In one embodiment, the first blade is provided with an elongate groove and the second and optional third blades are arranged to nest within the groove along a longitudinal edge of the first blade.

In a variation of this embodiment, each first blade has two elongate, parallel and spaced apart arms forming an elongate recess, each arm being hinged at each end, and also has at least one intermediate hinge dividing the arm into a plurality of hinge segments, the hinge axes of course each being parallel and perpendicular to the arm.

In another embodiment, each chain segment is connected to an adjacent chain segment by a pin or screw.

In one embodiment, the clasp is configured to receive a securing cap for a wristband.

Preferably, the clasp has a closing/opening system provided on the first and second blades or on the first, second and third blades to lock or unlock the blades to enable deployment thereof.

According to this preferred embodiment, the clasp has three blades, a first blade serving as a central support, a second blade and a third blade hinged at both ends of the first blade and foldable onto the first blade, closing and opening means for closing and opening the clasp being provided on the central portion of the first blade, for locking the second and third blades on the first blade and unlocking the second and third blades from the first blade, so that they can be unfolded.

In a variation of this preferred embodiment, the clasp has two blades, a first blade arranged to receive a strand of the wristband and a second blade arranged to receive a pin clasp.

Drawings

The characteristics of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the description of a number of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, which are given by way of example only, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a clasp having three blades in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a clasp having three blades;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a clasp having two blades; and

figure 4 shows a side view of a clasp having two blades.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, an expandable clasp for a wristband provides significant flexibility when it is in a closed position, can be worn by people with smaller wrists, and can immediately and comfortably fit a wearer's wrist. The folding snap button allows it to have different radii of curvature when it is in the closed position. The clasp comprises a first leaf 1 and a second leaf 2 hinged to each other at a first end 3. The free end of the first blade 1 has a hinge 4 for hinging a first strand 5 of a third blade 6 at a free end 7 of the second blade 2, which is arranged to receive a second strand 8 of a wristband. Each

blade

1, 2, 6 also has interchangeable and separate, independent articulated segments 10, which are arranged to form a 20 ° to 50 ° pivot angle between two consecutive segments 10.

In this example, the clasp has three

blades

1, 2, 6, a first blade 1 acting as a central support, and second and

third blades

2, 6 hinged at both ends of the first blade 1 and foldable onto the first blade. A closing and opening means 12 for closing and opening the clasp is provided on the central portion of the first vane 1 in order to lock the second and

third vanes

2, 6 on the first vane 1 and unlock the second and

third vanes

2, 6 from the first vane 1 so that they can be unfolded.

The first blade 1 is provided with an elongate recess 11 and the second blade 2 and optional third blade 6 are arranged to nest within the recess 11 along the

longitudinal edges

1A, 1B of the first blade 1.

Each hinge segment 10 is connected to an adjacent hinge segment by a pin or screw arranged to receive a securing cap (not shown) for a wrist strap.

The clasp has a closing/opening system 9 provided on the first blade 1 and the second blade 2 or on the first blade, the second blade and the third blade to lock or unlock the

blades

1, 2, 6 so that they can be deployed.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the clasp has two

blades

1, 2, a first blade 1 arranged to receive a strand of the wristband and a second blade 2 arranged to receive a pin clasp.

The width of each segment 10 of the first blade is less than the width of the second blade or the third blade.

Such a clasp may be incorporated into a wristband, jewelry or watch.

It is fully conceivable to combine an adjustment mechanism known in the art or any other closing/opening mechanism with these types of hinge segment clasps.

Claims

1. A folding clasp for a wristband allowing different radii of curvature when the clasp is in a closed position, the clasp comprising:

a first blade (1) arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of the wearer of the clasp and a second blade (2) arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of the wearer of the clasp, the first and second blades (1, 2) being hinged to each other at a first end (3), the free end of the first blade (1) having a hinge (4) for hinging either a first strand (5) or a third blade (6) of a wristband,

the free end (7) of the second blade (2) being arranged to receive a second strand (8) of a wristband,

characterized in that each first blade (1) has two elongated, parallel and spaced apart arms for forming an elongated slot, each arm being hinged at each end, and also has at least one intermediate hinge dividing the arm into segments to form hinged chain segments, the hinge axes being parallel and perpendicular to the arms, each arm being arranged to form a 20 ° to 50 ° pivot angle between two consecutive chain segments (10).

2. Clasp according to claim 1, wherein the first leaf (1) is provided with an elongated groove (11), the second leaf (2) and the optional third leaf (6) being hinged and arranged to nest within the groove (11) along the longitudinal edges (1A, 1B) of the first leaf (1).

3. Clasp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each chain segment (10) is connected to an adjacent chain segment by a pin or a screw.

4. A clasp as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clasp is arranged to receive a retaining cap for a wristband.

5. Clasp according to any one of the preceding claims, having a closing/opening system (9) provided on said first and second blades (1, 2) or on said first, second and third blades to lock said blades (1, 2, 6) or unlock them so as to enable their deployment.

6. Clasp according to claim 5, wherein it has three blades (1, 2, 6), a first blade (1) acting as a central support, second and third blades (2, 6) hinged at both ends of said first blade (1) and foldable onto said first blade, closing and opening means (12) for closing and opening said clasp being provided on the central portion of said first blade (1) in order to lock the second and third blades (2, 6) on the first blade (1) and to unlock the second and third blades (2, 6) from the first blade (1) so that they can be unfolded.

7. Clasp according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein it has two blades (1, 2), a first blade (1) being arranged to receive the strand of the wristband and a second blade (2) being arranged to receive the pin clasp.

8. Clasp according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the width of each segment (10) of the first blade is smaller than the width of the second or third blade.

9. A wristband having a clasp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10. A jewelry article having the wristband of claim 8.

11. A watch having the wristband of claim 8.