Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/18—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like
  • A44C5/22—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like for closed straps
  • A44C5/24—Fasteners for straps, chains or the like for closed straps with folding devices
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
  • Y10T24/21—Strap tighteners
  • Y10T24/2143—Strap-attached folding lever
  • Y10T24/2155—Jewelry-watch straps
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
  • Y10T24/47—Strap-end-attaching devices
  • Y10T24/4782—Watch strap

Definitions

• the invention relates to a clasp of the folding clasp type for a bracelet, in particular for a watch strap, and more particularly such a clasp comprising at least one branch, at least one arm articulated by a first of its ends on a first end of said branch, said branch having a lateral face disposed opposite a lateral face of said arm in the closed position of the clasp, and blocking means for blocking the clasp in said closed position.
• a clasp meeting the generic definition above is described in document EP-A-0 509 938.
• the clasp comprises two arms which are articulated on strands of the bracelet by one of their ends and on the ends of two parallel branches of a central element in the form of stretcher, by their other end.
• the central element has two notches of shape and dimensions corresponding to those of the arms so that the arms are fully included in the notches in the closed position of the bracelet.
• the locking of the clasp in the closed position is ensured by a notch system.
• the end of the arm which is attached to the strand has a beak, one of the parts of which has a groove which cooperates with a cylindrical member or bridge connecting the branches after it has been engaged elastically on the latter.
• This notching system has the disadvantage of being subjected to rapid wear which results in the closure is no longer effectively ensured after a certain number of openings and closings.
• This rapid wear also leads to considerable variations in the opening and closing forces, which is unsatisfactory for the user, these forces being moreover dependent on the nature of the materials used for the realization of the clasp.
• this clasp is relatively difficult to produce with precision because it requires numerous mechanical operations, in particular of resumption machining after stamping the branches and arms, and of adjusting the spout with the bridge before mounting the clasp, in order to obtain an acceptable opening force and closing force.
• the main object of the invention is therefore to remedy the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art by providing a clasp of the folding clasp type for a bracelet comprising a reliable system for blocking the clasp in its closed position and which, while imparting an aesthetic appearance improved to the clasp as a whole, can be achieved in a simple and economical way.
• the subject of the invention is a clasp of the folding clasp type for a bracelet comprising at least one branch and at least one arm articulated by a first of its ends on a first end of said branch, said branch having a lateral face arranged opposite a lateral face of said arm in the closed position of the clasp, and blocking means for blocking the clasp in said closed position, characterized in that the blocking means comprise at least one elastically deformable element which extends, in the closed position of the clasp, in a housing formed on the one hand by a longitudinal recess formed in said lateral face of said branch and on the other hand by a longitudinal recess formed in said lateral face of said arm.
• a clasp which is simple and economical in structure and which has a constant closing force and opening force at the same time. over time, the latter can easily be controlled by adjusting the dimensions and / or the stiffness of the elastically deformable element whatever the nature of the material or materials used to make the other pieces of the clasp.
• FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, a first embodiment of a clasp of the folding clasp type according to the invention and designated by the general reference numeral 1.
• the clasp 1 essentially comprises a base 2 and an arm 4. These elements are articulated one on the other by one of their ends and connected by their other end to first and second strands 6, 8 of a bracelet.
• the strands 6 and 8 partially shown in broken lines in the figure are attached to an object to wear, in particular a watch (not shown).
• the base 2 has the shape of a thin elongated blade, slightly curved lengthwise in order to adapt to the curvature of the wrist.
• the base 2 comprises two parallel branches 10 and 12 connected together at each of their ends by connecting means 14 and 16 and delimiting between them a substantially rectangular longitudinal free space 18.
• the connecting means 14 are formed by a tube, the end portions of which are fixed, for example, by welding to the upper surfaces 20 and 22 of one end of the arms 10 and 12.
• the tube 14 is intended to receive a pin (not shown) around which the bracelet strand 8 is wound and thus forms means for fixing the bracelet strand 8.
• the connecting means 16 located at the end of the branches 10 and 12 on which the arm 4 is articulated comprise a hinge.
• Figure 2 shows a way of making the hinge 16.
• a tube 24 provided with notches 26 is driven into an opening provided for this purpose in the other ends of the arms 10 and 12 and the arm 4 pivots around the tube 24.
• Pins 28 each provided with a groove 30 are introduced into the tube 24 and are held there in place by means of the notches 26 which penetrate into the grooves 30.
• An assembly is thus easily assembled and dismantled.
• the arm 4, for its part, is formed by an elongated blade which has the same thickness and has the same longitudinal curvature as those of the base 2. Of generally rectangular shape, its dimensions allow it to take place in the free space 18 of the base 2.
• the arm 4 is crossed by a hole through which the notched tube 24 passes allowing the arm 4 to pivot around the tube 24.
• the other end of the arm 4 is provided with fixing means 32 for the second bracelet strand 16, also formed by a tube capable of receiving a pin (not shown) around which the bracelet strand 6 is wound.
• the tube 32 is fixed for example by welding to an end part of the upper surface 34 of the arm 4.
• the tube 14 and the tube 32 are in particular suitable for fixing bracelet strands of the metal link type, but it goes without saying that these fixing means can be easily modified by a person of loom for receiving bracelet strands made for example of leather or the like.
• the arm 4 has a length slightly greater than the length of the branches 10, 12 and comprises in its upper surface 34 a transverse groove 36 arranged to, in the closed position of the clasp, come into correspondence with the tube 14 and receive it.
• the arm 4 is included in the thickness of the arms 10 and 12 with the exception of the tube 32 which emerges from the thickness of the clasp at the same level. as the tube 14.
• the arm 4 must pivot in the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 1 to bring the clasp into its open position. It is of course possible to provide, according to a variant, an arm 4 shorter than the arms 10 and 12 so that it is not stopped by the tube 14 and that it can pivot in an opposite direction to bring the clasp in its open position. In this case, the attachment of bracelet strands to the base and the arm will be modified accordingly.
• the clasp 1 further comprises blocking means for blocking the clasp, that is to say the arm 4 relative to the arms 10 and 12, in its closed position.
• the branches 10 and 12 each comprise a lateral face 36, in which a longitudinal recess 40, 42 is formed.
• the arm 4 comprises two opposite lateral faces 44, 46, each also being provided with a longitudinal recess 48, 50
• Each recess 40 and 42 of the branches 10 and 12 is arranged to, in the closed position of the clasp, be opposite one of the recesses 48, 50 of the arm and thus form two parallel longitudinal housings 52, 54 (cf. fig. 3) in each of which an elastically deformable element extends 56, 58.
• Each elastically deformable element 56, 58 extends partially in each of the recesses forming its housing 52, 54 so that these elements 56, 58 block the arm 4 on the branches 10, 12.
• the elements elastically deformable 56 and 58 each comprise a helical spring and the housings 52 and 54 have a substantially circular section.
• the clasp further comprises means for holding each elastically deformable element 56, 58 in one of the recesses forming its housing, in this case in the recesses 48 and 50 formed in the arm 4, so that it is retained in said recess when the clasp is in the open position.
• the recesses 48, 50 open respectively in the lateral faces 36 and 38 of the arm 4 by openings delimited by two edges 60, 62 and 64, 66 separated by a distance less than the diameter of the springs 56 and 58.
• the longitudinal axis L of each of the springs 56, 58 is therefore contained in the recess 48, 50 which receives it.
• the recesses 48 and 50 extend, in section, over an arc of a circle greater than 180 ° and preferably over an arc of approximately 240 °.
• the recesses 40, 42 formed in the lateral faces of the branches 10, 12 they extend in section on an arc less than 90 ° and preferably equal to about 60 °.
• the recesses 40, 42, 48 and 50 may have different sections and for example, the section of the recesses 48, 50 which retain the elastically deformable element 56, 58 may be dovetail or T , and the section of the complementary recesses 40, 42 may be in u or any other shape having a concavity making it possible to form a housing capable of receiving the elastically deformable elements 56, 58.
• the diameter of the springs 56, 58 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the housings 52, 54 so that there is a certain clearance between the springs 56, 58 and the housings 52, 54 and a fortiori, between the springs 56, 58 and the hollows 48, 50 in which they are kept.
• the springs 56, 58 can thus be deformed without difficulty during the opening and closing of the clasp 1 as will be described below.
• the lateral faces 36 and 38 of the branches 10 and 12 respectively comprise snap-fitting ramps 68, 70 formed in the lower parts of these faces. These ramps 68 and 70 extend respectively from the lower edges of the faces 36, 38 to the lower edges of the recesses 40, 42.
• the clasp 1 further comprises stop means 72, 74 of the springs 56, 58 in the longitudinal direction in the recesses 48, 50. These stop means 72, 74 are formed by at least two contiguous turns at the end of the springs 56, 58 and whose diameter, when these springs are not mounted in the recesses 48, 50, is substantially greater than that of the housings 52, 54.
• the springs 56, 58 can be easily introduced into the corresponding recess 48, 50 by their end having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the housing, the last turns 72, 74 forming the stop means in the recesses 48, 50 being then forced into these recesses 48, 50 to ensure a stop in the longitudinal direction of the springs 56, 58 in the latter.
• the turns 72, 74 forming the stop means can respectively cooperate with annular grooves (not shown) formed in the recesses 48, 50.
• the operating principle of the clasp which has just been described is as follows: during the closing, the arm, when it is pushed in the direction of the arrow F1, causes the friction of the latching ramps 68, 70 of the branches 10, 12 on the parts of the springs 56, 58 which project out of the recesses 48, 50, which has the effect of elastically deforming the turns of the springs 56, 58 so that they momentarily fade, until that these protruding parts of the springs 56, 58 gradually penetrate into the complementary recesses 40, 42 formed in the branches 10, 12 and thus ensure a blocking of the arm 4 between the two branches 10, 12.
• the arm When opening, the arm is pushed in the direction of arrow F and simultaneously requests all of the turns of the springs 56, 58 to deform them and release the arm. It follows from the structure of the blocking means that the force to be deployed for opening the clasp is greater than that which is necessary for its closure, which gives the clasp greater comfort of use for the wearer and great security. in the closed position.
• the welded tube 14 has been replaced by connecting means 14 of the type referenced at 16 in FIG. 2 and in which a tube 15 acts as a spacer to maintain a suitable distance between branches 10 and 12 of the clasp.
• branches 10 and 12 are each extended beyond the connecting means 14 by branch parts 10 'and 12'.
• Each branch part 10 'and 12' comprises a hole 11 'and 13', the latter being arranged opposite one another and being intended to receive a pin (not shown) for fixing a strand of bracelet.
• the springs 56 and 58 are respectively stopped longitudinally in the recesses 48 and 50 by a first of their ends, by the ends of a pin Gl driven into a hole made in the branch 4, the two ends of the pin extending respectively into the recesses 48 and 50.
• the springs 56 and 58 are respectively held against the ends of the pin Gl by means of an element E fixed on the branch 4.
• the element E comprises a U-shaped part whose branches b, b 'extend respectively in the recesses 48 and 50 and bear against the second end of the springs 56 and 58.
• the attachment of the element E on the branch 4 is carried out via a pin G2 driven into opposite holes, formed respectively in the branch 4 and in the two branches b, b '.
• the element E comprises a second part, called a fixing part, extending above the plane of the branch 4 and comprising a fixing eyelet intended to receive a pin (not shown) for fixing a bracelet strand.
• the opening of the clasp takes place in an upward movement and in the direction of the arrow F2 in the drawing.
• the clasp 1 comprises a base 72 formed of two parallel branches 74, 76 and two arms 78 and 80 articulated by one of their ends at the ends of the branches 74, 76.
• the other ends of the arms 78 and 80 respectively comprise means 14, 32 for fixing a strand of bracelet 6, 8 shown partially in broken lines in the figure.
• the clasp also comprises a stiffening member 82 connecting the branches 74 and 76 in their central region, which delimits with the branches 74, 76 two free spaces 84, 86 of generally rectangular shape in which the arms 78, 80 can be respectively included in the closed position of the clasp, the ends of the arms connected to the strands of the bracelet then being substantially juxtaposed.
• This clasp can therefore be considered to be formed by two clasps 1 as shown on the Figures 1 to 3 joined to each other by one of their ends and using the same locking means as those which have been described in connection with these figures.
• the clasps of the invention have the advantage of a very easy manufacture because, for the branches as for the arm or the arms, these elements can be obtained from cut, bent and assembled profiles. There is therefore no stamping operation with the material losses and the cost of the tooling that this entails.
• the clasp of the invention also has a simple line giving it great elegance.
• the invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and that many variants obvious to those skilled in the art can be carried out without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the claims attached.
• the elastically deformable element is not produced in the form of a helical spring but in the form of a cylinder made of an elastomeric material or else of a tube made of an elastically deformable material, that the elastically deformable elements do not are not held in the arm or arms but in the branches or that the clasp comprises only a branch and an arm articulated one on the other by their ends.

Landscapes

• Buckles (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)
• Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
• Walking Sticks, Umbrellas, And Fans (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9447799

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (13)

Families Citing this family (14)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 1993
  • 1993-06-03 FR FR9306755A patent/FR2705873B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1994
  • 1994-05-18 ES ES94916972T patent/ES2129126T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-05-18 KR KR1019950700301A patent/KR100333534B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-05-18 AT AT94916972T patent/ATE175322T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-05-18 SG SG9607776A patent/SG68576A1/en unknown
  • 1994-05-18 EP EP94916972A patent/EP0661938B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-05-18 JP JP50123795A patent/JP3270897B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1994-05-18 DE DE69415787T patent/DE69415787T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1994-05-18 WO PCT/EP1994/001610 patent/WO1994028754A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1994-05-18 CN CN94190346A patent/CN1068194C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1994-11-16 TW TW083110695A patent/TW266149B/zh active
• 1995
  • 1995-02-02 US US08/379,596 patent/US5579559A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1998
  • 1998-11-06 HK HK98111783A patent/HK1010661A1/xx unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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