EP0160114B1 - Process for making a strap, especially a watch strap, and strap produced by this process - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method of producing a bracelet, in particular for a watch, comprising a ribbon of flexible and elastically deformable material and links carried by this ribbon (as known from document CH-A-354 285).

The invention also relates to the bracelet obtained by the implementation of this method.

The object of the present invention is to provide a means of producing a bracelet which does not require mechanical deformations of its constituent elements during assembly, as is the case when parts of the links of the bracelets must be folded, for example, during assembly; this makes it possible to use, without subsequent mechanical operations, links obtained by simple stamping, stamping, or better still sintering. The absence of mechanical deformations during assembly expands the field of materials which can be used for the production of the links, extra-hard metals being able to easily be taken into account. In addition, the invention makes it possible to obtain extra-thin, extremely flexible bracelets, presenting great possibilities as to the shape of the links and their appearance.

These aims are achieved by the means defined in the claims.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une partie d'une première forme d'exécution d'un bracelet articulé pour montre.
• La figure 2 est une vue en perspective de cette partie de bracelet, vue de dessous.
• La figure 3 est une coupe suivant la ligne III-III de la fig. 1, à échelle agrandie, un élément terminal du bracelet, permettant la fixation de celui-ci à une boîte de montre, ayant été représenté en traits mixtes.
• La figure 4 est une coupe suivant la ligne IV-IV de la fig. 1, à l'.échelle de la fig. 2.
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'une partie d'un outillage servant à la réalisation du bracelet des figs. 1 à 4.
• La figure 6 est une coupe, analogue à celle de la fig. 4, d'une variante.
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'une partie d'une deuxième forme d'exécution d'un bracelet articulé pour montre.
• La figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'un maillon du bracelet de la fig. 7, vu de dessous, à échelle agrandie.
• La figure 9 est une vue en perspective d'une partie d'une troisième forme d'exécution d'un bracelet articulé pour montre.
• La figure 10 est une vue en perspective d'un maillon du bracelet de la fig. 9, vu de dessous, à échelle agrandie.
• La figure 11 est une coupe suivant la ligne XI-XI de la fig. 9, à échelle agrandie, un élément terminal du bracelet, permettant la fixation de celui-ci à une boîte de montre, ayant été représenté en traits mixtes.
• Les figures 12 et 13 sont des coupes analogues à celle de la fig. 11 de deux variantes de bracelet.
• La figure 14 est une vue en perspective d'une partie d'une quatrième forme d'exécution d'un bracelet articulé pour montre.
• La figure 15 est une vue en perspective d'un maillon du bracelet, vu de dessus, et d'une pièce de liaison des maillons.
• La figure 16 est une coupe suivant la ligne XVI-XVI de la fig. 14, à échelle agrandie, un élément terminal du bracelet, permettant la fixation de celui-ci à une boîte de montre, ayant été représentés en traits mixtes, et
• La figure 17 est une coupe suivant la ligne XVII-XVII de la fig. 14, à l'échelle de la fig. 16.

The drawing represents, by way of example, several embodiments of the subject of the invention.

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a first embodiment of an articulated bracelet for a watch.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of this bracelet part, seen from below.
• Figure 3 is a section along line III-III of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, a terminal element of the bracelet, allowing the latter to be fixed to a watch case, having been shown in broken lines.
• Figure 4 is a section along line IV-IV of FIG. 1, on the scale of FIG. 2.
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of part of a tool used for the realization of the bracelet of Figs. 1 to 4.
• Figure 6 is a section similar to that of FIG. 4, of a variant.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of a second embodiment of an articulated bracelet for a watch.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a link of the bracelet of FIG. 7, seen from below, on an enlarged scale.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of part of a third embodiment of an articulated bracelet for a watch.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a link of the bracelet of FIG. 9, seen from below, on an enlarged scale.
• Figure 11 is a section along line XI-XI of FIG. 9, on an enlarged scale, a terminal element of the bracelet, allowing the latter to be fixed to a watch case, having been shown in broken lines.
• Figures 12 and 13 are sections similar to that of FIG. 11 of two bracelet variants.
• FIG. 14 is a perspective view of part of a fourth embodiment of an articulated bracelet for a watch.
• Figure 15 is a perspective view of a link of the bracelet, seen from above, and a connecting part of the links.
• Figure 16 is a section along line XVI-XVI of FIG. 14, on an enlarged scale, a terminal element of the bracelet, allowing the latter to be fixed to a watch case, having been shown in dashed lines, and
• Figure 17 is a section along line XVII-XVII of FIG. 14, on the scale of FIG. 16.

The bracelet shown in figs. 1 to 4 comprises metal links 1 obtained by stamping, stamping or sintering, in the form of elongated rectangles arranged side by side transversely to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet. Each link 1 has, along one of its long sides, a projection of circular section 1a and, along its opposite edge, a recess 2, of corresponding shape. The projection of each link is engaged in the recess of the adjacent link, the engagement being effected by a relative movement of sliding of the links.

The links 1 have, on their internal face, each a notch 3, all of these notches forming, when the links are juxtaposed, a groove extending longitudinally in the middle of the bracelet. This groove is occupied by a flexible strip 4 formed of an elastomer, for example the elastomeric fluorine, known on the market under the name of "VITON (registered trademark), vulcanized on the links. With this ribbon 4, the links can not move transversely with respect to each other while being able to move out of their plane, which gives its flexibility to the bracelet.

The bracelet described and shown is obtained by using a mold comprising a matrix 5 (fig. 5), of elongated shape, in which the links 1 are placed in the inverted position, already engaged one in the other, in the position in which they will be found once the bracelet is finished. Their central part, in this case their notch 3, is coated with an adhesive binder as commonly used in vulcanization.

One or more pieces of VITON are placed on the groove produced by the set of notches 3, which are crushed, while heating the set, using a punch 6 forming the second part of the mold, in one conventional operation, known per se, of vulcanization. The punch 6 is provided with a series of dowels 7 forming, in the ribbon 4, holes 8 (FIG. 2), these dowels aiming to prevent that, during vulcanization, the elastomer does not flow in the interstices remaining between the links, which would block the articulation of these.

The variant of fig. 6 differs from the first embodiment in that between the links 1 and the VITON ribbon 4 is interposed a flexible core 9, metallic or made of plastic, for example, pierced with holes 10 arranged in line with each link and which allow the material of the ribbon to creep up to the links 1 to which it adheres.

In the embodiment of figs. 7 and 8, the links, designated by 11, are not articulated directly to each other, as in the first embodiment, but connected to each other by the VITON ribbon, designated by 12, to which they are assembled by vulcanization.

In order to absorb the tensile forces to which the bracelet is subjected, the notch, designated by 13, formed in each link 11, corresponding to the notch 3 of the links 1 of the first embodiment, is extended laterally, by two recesses 13a which fill up, during the vulcanization of the material constituting the ribbon 12.

In the embodiment of figs. 9 to 11, the links, designated by 14, are connected to each other only by the elastomer ribbon, designated here by 15, and are not adjacent to each other, but slightly distant from each other, separated by transverse ribs 15a formed by the ribbon 15.

Each link 14, of generally rectangular shape, has, on its internal face, a recess 16, also rectangular, and is pierced with two holes 17 (fig. 10). As shown in fig. 11, the material of the ribbon 15 is also pierced with holes, designated by 18, located opposite the holes 17, the purpose of these different openings being essentially decorative. The holes 18 in the ribbon 15 and the fact that there is no vulcanizable material in the holes 17 will be obtained by corresponding projections that will present the two elements of the mold, die and punch.

The variant of fig. 12 differs from the embodiment of figs. 9 to 11 essentially by the fact that a flexible core 19, metallic or made of plastic, for example, is interposed between the links 14 of the bracelet and the ribbon, designated here by 20, in VITON, and by the fact that the spaces between the links 14, designated by 21, are empty here while, in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 11, they are filled by the transverse ribs 15a of the ribbon 15. Holes 22 are provided in the core 19, these holes having the same purpose as the holes 10 in the variant of FIG. 6.

In the variant of FIG. 13, the core is not constituted by a ribbon as in the variant of FIG. 12, but by separate elements, designated by 23, forming connecting pieces. Thus, the links 14 are connected by the parts 23, constituted by metal plates having transverse edges 23a engaging in the recesses 16 of the links 14. The VITON ribbon is here designated by 24.

In the embodiment of figs. 14 to 17, the links, designated by 25, are also connected by connecting pieces, as in the variant of FIG. 13, designated here by 26. However, in this embodiment, the connecting pieces are not located on the internal face of the bracelet, as in the variant of FIG. 13, but on the external face. Each link 25 has, on its internal face, a notch 27 intended to form, with the notches of the adjacent links, a longitudinal groove receiving the VITON ribbon, visible in FIG. 17 only where it is designated by 28. Each link 25 further has, opening on its external face, four recesses 29 in which engage corresponding projections 26a of the connecting pieces 26, the profile of the projections 26a and recesses 29 being such that the bracelet can bend in the direction of the arrows 30 in FIG. 16 but not in reverse. In the middle of the bracelet, the ribbon 28 is in contact both with the links 25 and with the connecting pieces 26, as shown in FIG. 17, to which it adheres by vulcanization.

Thanks to this arrangement, the bracelet is made from elements - links and, where appropriate, connecting pieces - which do not undergo any mechanical operation during assembly, in particular no folding. It follows that these elements can be easily produced by stamping, stamping or sintering, which allows, in particular, the use of extra hard material. The bracelets obtained are perfectly flexible, can be very thin, will be very diverse in their appearance, whether due to the various shapes that can be given to the links, especially when they are not directly articulated to each other, or because of the contrast effects that can be achieved by a choice of various materials, for the links and / or for the connecting pieces when they are visible, or also because the vulcanized elastomer can be also visible, appearing between the links or in their openings.

Experience shows that the behavior of the skin, in contact with VITON, is excellent, no allergies being revealed, even in subjects with very sensitive skin.

Claims (10)

1. Method for the manufacture of a strap, especially a watch strap, comprising a tape made of a flexible and resiliently deformable material and links carried by this tape, characterized by the fact that one secures the said links to the said tape by vulcanization.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that one uses, for the realization of the tape, an elastomer.

3. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that one uses, for the realization of the tape, elastomer fluor.

4. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that one uses an elongated mould, constituting a die, places the links in the said die, one after each other, transversally, in the relative position they must occupy once the strap is ended, places at least a piece of vulcanizable material in the said die, then heats the whole while pressing the said piece of material by means of a stamp, so that the material take the shape of a tape.

5. Method as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that, before placing the piece of vulcanizable material into the die, one covers the links at least partially with an adhesive binding.

6. Method as claimed in claim 4, characterized by the fact that one uses a stamp provided with protrusions intended to prevent the material in course of vulcanization to flow into the spaces between the links, where its presence would be undesirable.

7. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that one interposes a metallic flexible web between the links and the said tape.

8. Method as claimed in claim 7, characterized by the fact that one uses a metallic web provided with holes so that the material of the tape, during the vulcanization thereof, flows through the said holes and adheres to the links.

9. Strap comprising a tape made of a flexible and resiliently deformable material and links carried by the said tape, characterized by the fact that the said tape is vulcanized on the said links.

10. Strap as claimed in claim 9, characterized by the fact that the said links are connected to each other exclusively by the said tape.

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