EP0236682A2 - Linkage bracelet - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Link bracelet, especially for wrist watches, with individual links (1, 1', 1"') connected in articulated manner to one another, each individual link (1, 1', 1"') comprising at one of its end faces a guide well (3) which is open towards a neighbouring individual link (1, 1', 1"') and between whose two side walls (5) which extend in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet a projecting guide nose (4) of the neighbouring individual link (1, 1', 1"') is guided to be pivotable about stub journals (8, 8'), said guide nose projecting into the guide well (3) and abutting on the two side walls thereof, the said stub journals projecting approximately transversely relatively to the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet from those side walls of guide nose (4) or guide well (3) respectively which extend in the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet, and entering corresponding recesses (10) at the side walls (5) of the guide well (4) or guide nose (3) respectively, the stub journals (8, 8') being movable in opposition to a spring force in the direction of their longitudinal axis in journal bores (9, 9', 9") formed on the guide well (3) or guide nose (4) respectively such as to open into the side surfaces, and play (7) preventing mutual contact of the end faces (2, 2') in whatever position the individual links (1, 1', 1"') are pivoted into is provided between those end faces (2, 2') of neighbouring individual links (1, 1', 1"') which face towards one another in the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet, characterized in that the individual links (1, 1', 1"') have at their upper side remote from the wearer's arm in each case a cover plate (18) covering the guide well (3) to such an extent that the cover plate (18) of a first individual link (1, 1', 1"') can abut on a guide surface, extending approximately in the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet, on the upper side of the neighbouring second individual link (1, 1', 1"'), and the cover plate (18) of the second individual link (1, 1', 1"') can abut on a guide surface, extending approximately in the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet, on the upper side of the guide nose (4) of the neighbouring first individual link (1, 1', 1"'), and the individual links (1, 1', 1"') comprise, in the region of the stub journals (8, 8') of the pivoting axis which project into the recesses (10), uncoupling apertures which extend to the underside of the individual links (1, 1', 1"') remote from the cover plate (18), the mouth of the guide well (3) being directed in the longitudinal direction (6) of the bracelet and being formed with ramp-like inclined surfaces (16) extending the guide well, or the transition from the side walls of the guide nose into the end face of the guide nose being provided with ramp-like inclinations.

Description

The invention relates to a link band, in particular for wristwatches, with articulated individual links, each individual link having on its one side facing an adjacent individual link a guide shaft open to the adjacent single link, between which two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the band have a protruding, in the guide shaft projecting and resting on its two side walls of the adjacent individual link is pivotally guided a pivot axis extending approximately transversely to the longitudinal direction of the belt.

With link arm bracelets of this type, it is known that the individual links can be pivoted until they touch with their mutually facing end faces.

The bending load and leverage result in high friction on the adjacent parts of the individual links. Depending on the material of the individual links, this leads to greater or lesser wear. This wear is particularly great, for example, in the case of a link bracelet made of titanium, since the friction from titanium to titanium has a particularly high coefficient of friction.

Furthermore, the known link bracelets have the disadvantage that hair of the wearer of the link bracelet can be clamped between the adjacent individual links, which is uncomfortable and painful for the wearer.

The object of the invention is to provide a link bracelet according to the preamble, in which wear of the individual links is kept low.

This object is achieved in that between the end faces of adjacent individual members facing each other in the longitudinal direction of the tape, there is play in each pivoting position of the individual members preventing mutual contact of the end faces. Since the mutually facing end faces of the individual links can not touch and wear, a very long service life of these parts is achieved. At the same time, however, there is good guidance of the guiding approaches in the guiding layers, which largely prevents the link bracelet from twisting. The wear on the guide shoulder and on the side walls of the guide shaft remains low, since the friction between these parts is largely without force.

Particularly good guidance and avoidance of twisting is achieved in that the side walls of the guide shaft and the guide extension extend in the longitudinal direction of the belt on both sides of the pivot axis.

Particularly low frictional loads result when the side walls of the guide shaft extend parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the belt. This also applies if the swivel axis has a round cross-section.

The pivot axis can be arranged in a bore extending through the individual links over the entire range.

In another embodiment, the pivot axis can consist of stub axles which protrude approximately transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tape on the lateral guide surfaces of the guide attachment or the guide shaft and extend into corresponding recesses on the lateral guide surfaces of the guide slot or the guide attachment.

For simple assembly and disassembly, the stub axles can preferably be moved counter to a spring force in the direction of their longitudinal axis into axle bores which open into the guide surfaces on the guide shaft or on the guide shoulder. The axis bore can be a through hole that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the band through the guide extension, between the out of the mouths a compression spring is arranged in the axle bore.

In another embodiment, the axle bore can be a bore, on the bottom of which a compression spring is supported, through which the axle stub can be pressurized at its area projecting into the axle bore. In this embodiment, the stub axles can be arranged either in the guide shoulder or in the side walls of the guide shaft.

So that the compression spring cannot be lost during assembly and disassembly, it can be fastened in the axle bore, this being done in a particularly simple manner in that the compression spring in its region facing away from the axle stub has a larger outside diameter than the inside diameter of the axle bore and thus with Non-positive connection is held in the axle bore.

To avoid losing the stub axle, the compression spring can be attached to the stub axle. For this purpose, the winding of the compression spring resting against the stub axle can enclose a coaxially protruding retaining pin of the stub axle. It is particularly safe here if the retaining pin has a radially circumferential annular groove into which the turn of the compression spring resting on the stub axle can be snapped.

An easy assembly without the use of special tools is possible with stub axles arranged on the guide shoulder in that the mouth of the guide shaft directed in the longitudinal direction of the band with the guide shaft-extending ramp-like inclines is formed. The stub axles are pushed into the shaft bore against the spring force by the bevels when the guide attachment is inserted into the guide shaft.

The same effect is achieved in the case of stub axles arranged on the side walls of the guide shaft if the transition from the side walls of the guide attachment to the end face of the guide attachment is provided with ramp-like bevels.

Another possibility that leads to the same effect is that the stub axle is guided in the axle bore in a manner secured against rotation and has a ramp-like slope facing the adjacent individual member at its end protruding from the axle bore.

Particularly good guidance of the individual links and thus avoiding twisting of the link bracelet is achieved in that the single link has on its upper side facing away from the arm of a wearer a cover plate protruding in the longitudinal direction of the tape, which covers a guide surface extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the tape on the upper side of the adjacent one Single link in the system. Due to the large guide surface that is possible, wear is kept very low. The same advantages are also achieved if the individual member has on its upper side facing away from the arm of a carrier a cover plate which at least partially covers the guide shaft and which is located on a guide surface extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the band on the upper side of the guide extension of the adjacent one Single link in the system. In this case, guidance with little play is achieved if the guide surface is an arcuate surface which extends from the top of the individual link to the end of the individual link, the arcuate surface preferably having a radius whose radius axis corresponds approximately to the pivot axis.

For practically wear-free limitation of the pivotability of the individual links, the curved surface can merge into a stop surface approximately tangential to its radius, which extends to the end of the individual link.

The pivoting limit of the cover plate comes to rest on this stop surface. This limitation of the pivotability of the individual links makes it possible to make the play between the end faces of the individual links so small that the mutual contact of the end faces of the individual links is just avoided.

In another design option, in order to limit the pivotability of the individual links on the end face of a single link directed in the longitudinal direction of the band, one or more guide pins protrude in the longitudinal direction of the band, which protrude with play into corresponding recesses on the corresponding end face of the adjacent single link, the recesses preferably being approximately conical, are formed with a cross section widening towards the end face. The extent to which the guide pin can be pivoted in the recess also determines the extent to which the individual members can be pivoted.

A simple producibility is possible in that the single member and the cover plate are in one piece, wherein preferably the single link and the cover plate are an embossed part.

In order to be able to displace the swivel axis or the stub axles into their axle bores for disassembly, the individual links in the area of the swivel axis or the stub axle projecting into the recesses can have decoupling openings extending outwards from the recesses transversely to the longitudinal axis of the swivel axis.

For this purpose, a decoupling pin can be inserted into the coupling openings to move the swivel axis or the stub axles.

A simply constructed and easy-to-use decoupling tool for a link bracelet of the type described above consists in that a decoupling pin has a width which corresponds approximately to the length with which the pivot axis or the axle stub protrudes into the corresponding recess, and at its one free end is provided with a ramp-like slope. When the decoupling pin is inserted into the decoupling opening, the swivel axis or the stub shaft is displaced in its axis bore by the ramp-like bevel, so that only the individual links have to be removed from one another.

It is particularly advantageous and easy to handle if two roughly parallel decoupling pins are connected to one another at their ends facing away from the slopes, the uncoupling pins being arranged at a distance from one another which corresponds to the width of the guide projection and the ramp-like slopes counter to the decoupling movement of the pivot axis or the stub axle is inclined.

• Figur 1 eine Ansicht zweier Einzelglieder eines Gliederarmbands im Halbschnitt,
• Figur 2 eine Ansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels zweier Einzelglieder eines Gliederarmbands im Halbschnitt,
• Figur 3 eine Ansicht eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels zweier Einzelglieder eines Gliederarmbands im Halbschnitt,
• Figur 4 eine Ansicht eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels zweier Einzelglieder eines Gliederarmbands im Halbschnitt,
• Figur 5 eine Seitenansicht der Einzelglieder nach Figur 2,
• Figur 6 eine Ansicht eines Einzelgliedes eines Gliederarmbands,
• Figur 7 eine Seitenansicht des Einzelglieds nach Figur 6,
• Figur 8 eine Ansicht eines Achsstumpfes,
• Figur 9 eine Ansicht einer Druckfeder,
• Figur 10 eine Ansicht eines Entkupplungswerkzeugs

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawing and are described in more detail below. Show it

• FIG. 1 shows a view of two individual links of a link bracelet in half section,
• FIG. 2 shows a view of a second exemplary embodiment of two individual links of a link bracelet in half section,
• FIG. 3 shows a view of a third exemplary embodiment of two individual links of a link bracelet in half section,
• FIG. 4 shows a view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of two individual links of a link bracelet in half section,
• FIG. 5 shows a side view of the individual links according to FIG. 2,
• FIG. 6 shows a view of a single link of a link bracelet,
• FIG. 7 shows a side view of the individual link according to FIG. 6,
• FIG. 8 shows a view of an axle stub,
• FIG. 9 is a view of a compression spring,
• Figure 10 is a view of a decoupling tool

The plate-shaped individual members 1, 1 ', 1' ', 1' '' shown in the figures have on their adjacent individual members 1, 1 ', 1' ', 1' '' facing end faces 2 and 2 'a central, to Adjacent individual link 1, 1 ', 1' ', 1' '' open guide shaft 3 into which a correspondingly formed guide shoulder 4 of the adjacent single link 1, 1 ', 1' ', 1' '' protrudes.

The side walls 5 of the guide shaft 3 and guide extension 4 extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction 6. While there is a larger game 7 between the end faces 2 and 2 ', the game between the side walls 5 of the guide shaft 3 and guide extension 4 is just so large that d the guide shoulder 4 can be pivoted easily in the guide shaft 3 about a pivot axis.

This pivot axis extends in the area of the guide shaft 3 and guide shoulder 4 approximately transversely to the longitudinal direction of the band 6. The stub axles 8 arranged in the axis bores 9, 9 ', 9' 'of the guide shaft 4 and forming the pivot axis protrude from the axis bores 9, 9', 9 ' 'Out and in corresponding transverse to the longitudinal direction 6 extending recesses 10 on the side walls 5 of the guide shaft 3 into.

These recesses 10 are open toward the underside of the link bracelet facing an arm (not shown) of a wearer and are partially covered toward the opposite top.

In Figures 1 to 3, the axis bores 9 and 9 ' Basic bores on the bottom of which a compression spring 11 is supported, which pressurizes the stub axle 8 at its area projecting into the axle bore 9 or 9 '.

In Figure 4, the axle bore 9 '' is a continuous recess in which a single compression spring 11 'is arranged, which abuts with its ends on the end faces of the ends of the stub axles 8' in the axle bore 9 ''.

As can be clearly seen in Figures 6 and 7, the axle bore 9 '' to the top of the single member 1 '' 'is open, so that this single member 1' '' can be manufactured as an embossed part.

The stub axle 8 shown in FIG. 8 'has at its end projecting into the axle bore 9 or 9' a coaxial retaining pin 12 with a radially circumferential annular groove 13.

In this annular groove 13, the turn 14 'of the compression spring 11' shown in FIG. 9 'can be snapped onto the stub shaft 8'. This winding 14 has a slightly smaller inner diameter than the outer diameter of the holding pin 12. The outer diameter of the winding 15 at the other end of the compression spring 11 'has a slightly larger diameter than the inner diameter of the axle bore 9 or 9'. As a result, the compression spring 11 'inserted into the axle bore 9 or 9' is non-positively held with its winding 15 in the axle bore 9 or 9 '.

In the single member 1 '''shown in Figure 6 is the formed in the longitudinal direction 6 of the mouth of the guide shaft 3 with the guide shaft 3 widening ramp-like slopes 16. Through these bevels 16, the stub axles 8 are moved into their axle bores 9 and 9 '' when the guide projection 4 is inserted into the guide shaft 3 until they snap into the recesses 10 when the correct insertion depth is reached.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the stub axles 8 and the axle bores 9 are inclined in the longitudinal direction of the tape in such a way that the outwardly directed end faces of the stub axle 8 form ramp-like bevels 17 pointing towards the guide shaft 3, through which the guide lug 4 is inserted into the guide shaft 3 as a result Axle stumps 8 are moved into their axle bores 9.

The exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 have on their upper side on the side of the guide shoulder 4 a cover plate 18 which projects in the longitudinal direction 6 of the belt alongside the guide shoulder 4. On the other hand, the cover plate 18 partially covers the guide shaft 3. This cover plate 18 comes by pivoting the individual members 1, 1 'and 1' '' on stop surfaces 19 and 20 to the system. The stop surfaces 19 and 20 are tangential continuations of arcuate surfaces, not shown, which start from the top of the individual member 1, 1 'or 1' '' and whose radius axis corresponds to the pivot axis.

In the single member 1 '''in Figures 6 and 7, the axle bore 9''is partially covered by the cover plate 18.

In Figure 3, the individual links 1 '' have no cover plates. To limit the pivotability of the individual links 1 '' they have a at their in the longitudinal direction 6 end face 2 '' protruding in the longitudinal direction 6 guide pin 21 which protrudes into a recess 22 on the corresponding opposite end face 2 of the adjacent individual member 2 '. The recess 22 is approximately conical and has a cross section which widens towards the end face. This cone determines the amount by which the individual links 1 '' are pivotable.

In Figure 10, a decoupling tool 23 is shown, which consists of a plate 24 whose thickness is equal to or less than the diameter of the stub axles 8 and 8 '.

The plate 24 has two parallel decoupling pins 25 which are arranged at a clear distance from one another which corresponds to the width of the guide projection 4. The width of the decoupling pin 25 corresponds to the dimension which the stub axles 8 and 8 'protrude from their axle bores 9, 9' or 9 ''. At their free ends, the decoupling pins 25 have ramp-like bevels 26 which are inclined against the decoupling movement of the stub axles 8 and 8 '.

By inserting the decoupling pin 25 into the underside of the individual members 1, 1 ', 1''or1''' open recesses 10 you stub axles 8 and 8 'through the bevels 26 in their axle holes 9, 9' and 9th '' Moved in, so that the two individual links 1, 1 ', 1''or1''' can be subtracted from each other.

Claims (29)

1. link bracelet, in particular for wristwatches, with articulated individual links, each individual link on its one side facing an adjacent individual link having a guide shaft open to the adjacent single link, between its two side walls extending in the longitudinal direction of the band a protruding one in the guide shaft projecting and on its two side walls of the adjacent guide member is pivotally guided about a pivot axis extending approximately transversely to the longitudinal direction of the belt, characterized in that between the end faces (2, 2 ') facing each other in the belt longitudinal direction (6) adjacent individual members ( 1 or 1 'or 1''or1''') in each pivoting position of the individual links (1 or 1 'or 1''or1''') a mutual contact of the end faces (2, 2 ') Preventive game is present. 2. link bracelet according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls of the guide shaft (3) and the guide projection (4) extend in the longitudinal direction of the band (6) on both sides of the pivot axis. 3. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (5) of the guide shaft (3) extend parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the band (6). 4. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis has a round cross-section. 5. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pivot axis is arranged in an axis hole extending through the entire range through the individual links. 6. link bracelet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pivot axis consists of stub axles (8, 8 ') which on the in the band longitudinal direction (6) extending side walls (5) of the guide projection (4) or the guide shaft (3) protrude approximately transversely to the longitudinal direction of the band (6) and protrude into corresponding recesses (10) on the side walls (5) of the guide shaft (3) or the guide shoulder (5). 7. link bracelet according to claim 6, characterized in that the stub axles (8) counter to a spring force in the direction of their longitudinal axis in axle bores (9 or 9 ' or 9 '') are movable, which are formed in the side surfaces (5) opening on the guide shaft (3) or on the guide shoulder (4). 8. link bracelet according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 7, characterized in that the axle bore (9 '') is a through bore which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the band (6) through the guide projection (4), between which the mouths of the axle bores (9 '') outstanding stub axles (8) a compression spring (11) is arranged. 9. link bracelet according to one of claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 7, characterized in that the axle bore (9 or 9 ') is a basic bore, on the bottom of which a compression spring (11) is supported, through which the stub axle (8) at its in the axis bore (9 or 9 ') projecting area can be pressurized. 10. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression spring is fixed in the axle bore. 11. link bracelet according to claim 10, characterized in that the compression spring (8 ') on its, facing away from the stub axle has a larger outer diameter than the inner diameter of the axle bore. 12. Link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compression spring can be attached to the stub axle. 13. Link bracelet according to claim 12, characterized in that the winding (14) of the compression spring (11 ') lying against the stub axially surrounds a coaxially projecting retaining pin (12) of the stub axle (8'). 14. link bracelet according to claim 13, characterized in that the holding pin (12) has a radially circumferential annular groove (13) into which the stub axle (11 ') adjacent (14) of the compression spring (11') can be latched. 15. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the in the longitudinal direction (6) directed mouth of the guide shaft (3) with the guide shaft widening ramp-like bevels (16) is formed. 16. Link bracelet according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the transition of the side walls of the guide approach into the end face of the guide approach is provided with ramp-like bevels. 17. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stub axle is guided against rotation in the axle bore and has a ramp-like slope facing the adjacent single link at its end projecting from the axle bore. 18. Link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the single link (1, 1 ', 1''') on its upper side facing away from the arm of a wearer has a cover plate (18) protruding in the longitudinal direction of the band (6), which on a guide surface extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the band (6) on the upper side of the adjacent individual link (1, 1 ′, 1 ′ ′ ′) can be created. 19. Link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the single link (1, 1 ', 1''') on its upper side facing away from the arm of a wearer has a cover plate (18) at least partially covering the guide shaft (3) on an approximately in the longitudinal direction (6) extending guide surface on the top of the guide projection (4) of the adjacent individual member (1, 1 ', 1''') can be applied. 20. Link bracelet according to claim 18 and 19, characterized in that the guide surface is an arcuate surface, starting from the top of the single link (1, 1 ', 1''') towards the end of the single link (1, 1 ', 1''') Extends out. 21. Link bracelet according to claim 20, characterized in that the arcuate surface has a radius whose radius axis corresponds approximately to the pivot axis. 22. link bracelet according to claim 20, characterized in that the arc surface merges into an approximately tangential to its radius stop surface (19 or 20) which extends to the end of the individual link (1, 1 ', 1'''). 23. link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more guide pins (21) protrude in the longitudinal direction of the band (6) on the end face (2 or 2 ′) of an individual link (1 ′ ′) directed in the longitudinal direction (6) of the strip, which with play in corresponding recesses (22) protrude from the corresponding end face (2 'or 2) of the adjacent individual link (1''). 24. Link bracelet according to claim 23, characterized in that the recesses (22) are approximately conical in shape with the end face (2 or 2 ') widening cross-section. 25. link bracelet according to claim 18 and 19, characterized in that the individual link and cover plate are in one piece. 26. Link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the single link and cover plate are an embossed part. 27. Link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual links in the region of the stub axles protruding into the recesses have outgoing openings extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pivot axis and extending outwards. 28. Uncoupling tool for a link bracelet according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a decoupling pin (25) has a width which corresponds approximately to the length with which the stub axle (8) protrudes into the corresponding recess (10) and on it a free end with a ramp-like Slant (26) is provided. 29. A decoupling tool according to claim 28, characterized in that two approximately parallel decoupling pins (25) are connected to one another at their ends facing away from the bevels (26), the uncoupling pins (25) being arranged at a distance from one another which is the width of the guide projection ( 4) corresponds and the ramp-like bevel (26) is inclined against the decoupling movement of the stub axle (8).

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