Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/14—Suspending devices, supports or stands for time-pieces insofar as they form part of the case
  • G04B37/1486—Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet
• • 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.
  • Y10T24/21—Strap tighteners
  • Y10T24/2166—Jewelry
• • 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
  • Y10T24/4718—Watch pintle connected
• • 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 present invention relates to a fixing device for a wristwatch, intended to rapidly secure each end of said bracelet to the case of said watch.
• the invention finds a particularly advantageous application in the field of the watch industry.
• a large number of quick fastening systems are known from the state of the art, capable of ensuring the assembly of a strap on a watch case in a time sufficiently limited to give the strap of said watch a character d 'interchangeability.
• the technical problem to be solved by the object of the present invention is to provide a quick fixing device intended to secure the end of a strap to a watch case, said fixing device comprising a connecting element secured to the bracelet and a connecting element secured to the case, the connecting elements being able to cooperate by fitting one into the other, fixing device which would make it possible to avoid the problems of the state of the art by being at both quick to install and reliable, while offering perfect adaptability, a reasonable cost price and improved aesthetics.
• the solution to the technical problem posed consists, according to the present invention, in that one of the connecting elements is mounted movable in displacement on the member of which it is integral, between at least one so-called open position and at least one so-called closed position wherein said connecting elements are adapted to be mounted respectively free in interlocking with respect to each other and integral in interlocking with one another.
• the two connecting elements are independent of each other, that is to say that they can be freely engaged or disengaged in at least one interlocking direction.
• the connecting elements are found permanently associated since each direction of interlocking is then advantageously condemned.
• the mobility of the connecting element capable of moving can be exercised according to any movement insofar as one benefits from at least one open position and at least one closed position as defined above.
• the element of mobile link can be animated either in translation, in rotation or in a more or less complex compound movement.
• the movable connecting element can be mounted on any of the parts to be assembled.
• organ designates either the case or the bracelet, depending on whether the mobile connecting element is considered to be integral with said case or said bracelet.
• the movable connecting element constitutes the female part of the socket corresponding to the assembly of the two connecting elements by at least partial interpenetration.
• it comprises at least one housing capable of receiving a projection of substantially complementary shape, formed on the other connecting element and forming a male part.
• the mobility of the connecting element can be envisaged according to any type of movement, it is quite different with regard to the direction of movement. Also, according to another feature of the invention, the mobility of the connecting element is exerted in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the member extends. with which said movable connecting element is integral.
• the mobile connecting element Due to its substantially transverse mobility relative to the direction in which most of the mechanical stresses are exerted between the case and the bracelet, the mobile connecting element is in fact able to effectively oppose all the forces likely to bring it into an open position synonymous with disengagement.
• the movement of the movable connecting element takes place in a direction where the mechanical stresses are the lowest, or even almost non-existent under normal conditions of use.
• the connecting elements are able to cooperate by interlocking in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the movable connecting element is mounted movable in movement.
• the direction of engagement and disengagement of the connecting elements is oriented substantially parallel to the direction in which most of the mechanical stresses are exerted between the case and the bracelet.
• the connecting elements being advantageously able to cooperate by interlocking in a direction of engagement corresponding to a relative distance from the case and the bracelet, the fixing device is able to naturally resist the tensile forces exerted between said case and said bracelet.
• the direction of engagement and disengagement of the connecting elements extends in the closed position in a manner substantially orthogonal to the surface portion of the member which is in contact with the movable connecting element, any disengagement of said elements connection then appears impossible.
• the surface portion of one support member in fact forms a real stop capable of blocking access to the various housings provided on the movable connecting element, and intended to receive the male parts of the other connecting element.
• the disengagement of the connecting elements is completely controlled by the position of the movable connecting element relative to the support member of which it is integral.
• the invention as defined has the advantage of being extremely simple in design, since it does not require any specific blocking member to lock the interlocking of the connecting elements, and thus achieve rapid fixing of the bracelet on the watch.
• the locking function is here advantageously fulfilled by the surface portion of the housing against which the movable connecting element is caused to move and / or to be positioned once in the closed position. This conceptual simplicity obviously translates into increased reliability, obvious speed of implementation and a measured cost price.
• the connecting elements are able to cooperate by interlocking in a direction substantially parallel to the direction in which the mobile connecting element is mounted movable in movement.
• the direction of engagement and disengagement of the connecting elements is advantageously oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction in which most of the mechanical stresses between the case and the bracelet are exerted.
• the fastening device is able to naturally resist effectively the traction forces, and possibly pressure, exerted between the case and the bracelet.
• this function can no longer be fulfilled by the surface portion of the member against which the movable connecting element is mounted movable in displacement, as in the first embodiment.
• the surface portion in question, as well as the direction of engagement and disengagement, are in fact here substantially parallel, thus preventing said surface portion from playing a stop role.
• this second embodiment of the invention advantageously provides that the member supporting the movable connecting element comprises at at least one part forming an abutment, capable of cooperating by contact with said movable connecting element when the latter is in the closed position.
• the stopper portion extends substantially orthogonal to the direction of engagement and disengagement of the connecting elements.
• the quick-fixing device which is the subject of the present invention can be provided with locking means capable of holding the movable connecting element in the closed position.
• This specificity constitutes an additional security which has the sole aim of making the binding even more reliable.
• Figure 1 is a top view of a wristwatch provided with quick fastening devices according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 2 represents a side view, in longitudinal section, of the wristwatch illustrated in FIG. 1.
• FIGS. 3 to 5 are top views illustrating the operating principle of the quick fixing devices equipping the represented wristwatch in Figures 1 and 2.
• Figure 6 is a top view of a wristwatch according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• Figures 7 to 10 are diagrams illustrating alternative embodiments of the invention.
• the wristwatch 1 is provided with two quick fixing devices 2 which are perfectly identical and symmetrical. Each of them is intended to attach one of the ends 3 of the bracelet 4 to the case 5 of the watch 1.
• each fixing device 2 comprises two connecting elements 6, 7 able to cooperate by fitting one into the 'other. The first of them is secured to the bracelet 4 and constitutes the male part of the socket, while the second is secured to the case 5 and plays the role of the female part.
• the connecting element 7 which is mounted movable in displacement between a closed position and a multitude of open positions in which the two connecting elements 6, 7 are able to be mounted respectively free and integral in interlocking.
• the mobility which is provided with the connecting element 7 is exerted here in rotation, along an axis parallel to the plane of the housing 5.
• the mobile connecting element 7 is able to move in a plane substantially orthogonal to the direction in which most of the mechanical stresses are exerted between the case 5 and the bracelet 4.
• the connecting element 7 here has the form of a bar 8 mounted transversely movable in rotation on one of the side faces 9 of the housing 5, by means of a pivot 10 integral with said housing 5.
• Each of the ends of the bar 8 is provided with a housing 11a, 11b capable of cooperating by interlocking with one of the two protuberances 12a, 12b of substantially complementary shapes, carried by the other connecting element 6.
• the connecting element 6 is itself in the form of a U-shaped piece 13, capable of being removably mounted at the end 3 of the bracelet 4 thanks to the fact that it is able to be inserted through said end 3.
• This particularity offers the possibility to interchange only the bracelet 4, that is to say that a single connecting element 6 is necessary regardless of the number of bracelets available.
• the two protuberances 12a, 12b are also formed at the ends of the U-shaped part 13.
• the interlocking of the connecting elements 6, 7 takes place in a direction perpendicular to the plane in which the movable connecting element 6 is brought to move, and in a direction of engagement corresponding to a relative distance of the bracelet 4 and the housing 5.
• the locking element 16 is constituted by a recess 18 forming a mortise, hollowed out directly in the housing 5 at the level of the lateral face 9.
• the locking element 15 is in turn constituted by a plate 19 forming a pin, removably mounted on the bar 8 by means of two locking screws 20a, 20b.
• the recesses 18 and 21 advantageously have a cumulative volume corresponding exactly to the overall dimensions of the plate 19. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to guarantee that the plate 19 fits perfectly into the closed position in the recess 18, and on the other hand, an intimate contact between the bar 8 and the housing 5.
• the engagement or disengagement of the locking elements 15, 16 is effected by translation along the axis around which the movable connecting element 7 is pivotally mounted.
• the bar 8 is mounted movable in translation relative to the pivot 10.
• the latter is provided with a head 22 capable of sliding axially inside a cylindrical blind bore 23, arranged transversely in the bar 8 and having a diameter complementary to that of said head 22.
• the head 22 is also trapped in the blind bore 23 thanks to the fact that the opening of the latter is partially closed by the plate 19, which in fact has at this precise location a through bore 24 of smaller diameter since corresponding to the diameter of the body 25 of the pivot 10.
• each connecting element 6 is then removed from each part 27, 28 of the bracelet 4, in order to reinsert them at the respective ends of 'a new bracelet.
• Reassembly is then carried out simply by proceeding in reverse, that is to say by reengaging the connecting elements 6, 7, by pivoting the movable connecting elements 7, then by letting the locking elements automatically lock. 15, 16 under the action of the elastic return means 17.
• the traction exerted at each fastening device 2 causes the axial sliding of the bar 8 along the pivot 10.
• the spring 26 is then compressed under the action of approximation of the plate 19 with respect to the head 22.
• the bar 8 is then able to rotate freely around the pivot 10. This movement is perfectly guided by the fact that, on the one hand, the head 22 cooperates by contact with the blind bore 23, and that, on the other hand, a part of the body 25 of the pivot 10 also cooperates by contact with the through bore 24.
• the connecting elements are then disengaged from one another by performing a approximation of the case 5 and the bracelet 4 as shown in Figure 5.
• FIGS. 9 and 10 differ from the previous two by the fact that the interlocking of the connecting elements 42, 43; 62, 63 is carried out this time in a direction parallel to the mobility plane of the mobile connecting element 42, 43.
• the housing 53 is provided with a flange 73 extending perpendicular to the direction of engagement of the connecting elements 43, 63, in opposition with respect to the direction of disengagement.
• the rim 73 also has a length comparable to that of the movable connecting element 43 so that, in the closed position, access to the housings 83 formed thereon is completely closed by said rim 73.
• the housing 52 is provided with two fins 72a, 72b forming stops, in order to be able to lock the two housings 82a, 82b formed on opposite faces of said movable connecting element 42.
• the two fins 72a, 72b extending perpendicular to the direction of engagement of the connecting elements 42, 62 are formed respectively on each of the upper and lower faces of the housing 52.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Buckles (AREA)
• Telephone Function (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Jigs For Machine Tools (AREA)
• Clamps And Clips (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)
• Forging (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9521965

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Families Citing this family (14)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1998
  • 1998-01-15 FR FR9800578A patent/FR2773622B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-12-23 AT AT98963631T patent/ATE224554T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-12-23 DE DE69808142T patent/DE69808142T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-12-23 PT PT98963631T patent/PT1047981E/pt unknown
  • 1998-12-23 US US09/600,613 patent/US6408490B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1998-12-23 EP EP98963631A patent/EP1047981B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-12-23 WO PCT/FR1998/002873 patent/WO1999036838A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-12-23 ES ES98963631T patent/ES2182391T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-12-23 CN CNB988138816A patent/CN1165253C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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