EP1183958B1 - Watchband fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

The bracelet fastener consists of a male (2) and a female (4) component, engaged by inserting the male component into the female one until catches (36) on the tips of flexible prongs (38) on the male component engage with matching notches (34) in the female one. The fastener is disengaged by applying further pressure to the male component in the same direction, causing the catches to separate from the notches and allow the male component to be withdrawn. The components of the fastener can be incorporated in a box-shaped housing.

Description

The present invention relates to a clasp of the type for connecting a first and second strand of a wristband of a watch.

Watch strap clasps must meet a number of criteria. In particular, they must be easy to use, safe to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Many clasps of the kind in question are known, some of which respond well to the aforementioned conditions, but nevertheless have certain disadvantages. Some are for example expensive to manufacture, while others, simpler to make, are difficult to handle. In this respect, many known clasps are particularly difficult to handle because, to assemble or separate the two parts of the clasp, they must be rotated relative to each other.

On the other hand, a large number of known clasps have a shape that imposes special operations for manufacturing, including multiple machining passes, or expensive injection molds in several parts that burden the manufacturing costs.

Such is the case, in particular, clasps type unfolding blades which, in their simplest embodiment, comprise a base plate on which is likely to fold a pivoting blade. These blades are attached together by one of their ends by means of a hinge, and usually include a notch device allowing them to hook onto one another in the closed position. These clasps with folding blades, besides the fact that they have complex shapes that make them difficult and therefore expensive to manufacture, are also often of inconvenient use. In addition, these systems have the disadvantage of wearing quickly and no longer ensure a good notching of the clasp after a relatively small number of opening and closing movements. This is mainly due to a high notching force and hence rapid wear of the system. In addition, it often happens that the user accidentally hangs one of the blades of the clasp and causes it to open unexpectedly, at the risk of losing the watch.

Also known clasps open bracelets that connect between them first and second strands of a bracelet. These clasps conventionally comprise a loop and a barb attached using a rod at the free end of one of the strands. The free end of the other strand is passed under the loop and then immobilized by the barb penetrating into one of the holes in said strand. This end can then be slipped under a loop that holds it.

Loop fasteners have the main advantage of being simple and therefore inexpensive to manufacture. By cons, it often happens that the wearer of the watch lets it escape when he wants to fix it on his wrist, so that falling down the watch can deteriorate. These clasps are also unattractive and consequently meet less and less the expectations of customers who are looking for watches with more sophisticated functions and shapes, without being ready to sacrifice simplicity of use.

Finally, bracelets that close by means of a buckle clasp tend to wear out quickly. This is particularly true for the strand in which are made the holes for receiving the barb. Indeed, as a given user always inserts the barb in the same hole of his bracelet, this hole tends to widen and tear. Similarly, where the strand is passed under the loop is formed a fold which, too, makes the bracelet fragile and likely to tear.

Document DE-A-2539277 and EP-A-0197331 disclose clasps according to the preamble of appended claim 1.

The present invention therefore aims to achieve a watchband clasp avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks, a very simple manufacturing and a great ease and safety of use.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a wristwatch clasp according to claim 1 attached.

With these features, the present invention provides an easy-to-use clasp. It suffices, in fact, to close the clasp, to introduce the male joining piece in the female connecting piece to the engagement position in which the locking means provided on the male part engage with the means fastening provided on the female part. To open the clasp, the insertion movement of the male part into the female part is continued. The locking means are then released hooking means, and the male joining piece only has to be removed from the female connecting piece.

The clasp according to the invention also offers a high degree of operational safety. Indeed, when the male piece is pushed into the room female to the engagement position, it is impossible to pull said male piece outwardly of said female part. Therefore, even if the user inadvertently hangs one of the parts of the clasp, it will not open. The clasp will open only if the user acts voluntarily on said clasp by further pushing the male part into the female part.

According to a complementary characteristic of the invention, the locking means have an elasticity transverse to the direction of engagement of the male joining piece in the female joining piece, and elasticity in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the clasp.

When the male joining piece is inserted into the female joining piece, the attachment means provided on the female piece push the locking means of the male piece transversely to the direction of engagement of the male piece in the female piece so to elastically deform these locking means and put them under tension. The resilient locking means then engage abruptly with the attachment means, ensuring a firmly formed coupling which prevents accidental separation. Subsequently, when the clasp is opened and the male piece is pushed further into the female part, the locking means are deformed elastically downwards in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the clasp, and are then returned to their position. initial shape by the forces of transverse elasticity to escape the attachment means. The male junction piece can then easily be removed from the female junction piece.

The clasp according to the invention does not require any adjustment or adjustment. It further comprises no moving parts to release the two coupled junction pieces, which significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Finally, the male and female junction pieces can be nested quickly and with the utmost ease, and can be held firmly together so as to prevent any accidental separation.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective et à l'état dissocié des pièces de jonction mâle et femelle qui composent le fermoir selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan et à l'état dissocié des pièces de jonction mâle et femelle de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 dans les pièces de jonction mâle et femelle;
• les figures 4 à 7 sont des vues en perspective montrant les opérations d'accouplement des pièces de jonction mâle et femelle, et
• les figures 8 à 10 sont des vues en perspective montrant les opérations de désaccouplement des pièces de jonction mâle et femelle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the clasp according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and not limitation, in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view and in the dissociated state of the male and female junction pieces which make up the clasp according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan view and in the dissociated state of the male and female junction pieces of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Figure 2 in the male and female junction pieces;
• FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective views showing the coupling operations of the male and female junction pieces, and
• Figures 8 to 10 are perspective views showing the uncoupling operations of the male and female junction pieces.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a clasp according to the present invention, generally designated by the general numerical reference 1, consists essentially of a male connecting piece 2 intended to be inserted into a female connecting piece 4 The male part 2 and the female part 4 are both made of any type of plastic material, metal, ceramic or other capable of being deformed elastically.

The male joining piece 2 has generally a rectangular shape and comprises a connecting cross bar 6 on the side of one of the strands 8 of a wristband of a watch (not shown). Locking means are provided on the male part 2. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, these locking means comprise two tabs 10 which extend perpendicularly from opposite ends of the connecting bar 6 in a common direction, parallel to the direction of engagement of the male joining piece 2 in the female joining piece 4. As will be described in more detail later, these locking means, arranged symmetrically on either side of the axis of introduction of the male joining piece 2 in the female joining piece 4, are intended to engage with fastening means provided on the female part 4 when the male part 2 is pushed into the engagement position in said female part 4.

It goes without saying that, according to a simplified embodiment of the clasp 1 according to the present invention, the locking means could comprise only one tongue 10. However, for reasons of symmetry of the male joining piece 2 it is preferred to provide two locking tabs 10 instead of one. This allows, in fact, a faster and easier casing of the two male parts 2 and female 4 and ensures that said male parts 2 and female 4 will be securely assembled to prevent accidental separation.

The male joining piece 2 further comprises means for guiding said male joining piece 2 in the female connecting piece 4. These guiding means are in the form of an additional tongue 12 provided between the two locking tabs. 10, equidistant from them, and which extends parallel to these, that is to say in the direction of insertion of the male joining piece 2 in the female joining piece 4. As one will understand when reading what will follow, the guidance is not necessary for good operating the clasp 1 according to the invention, but facilitate the introduction of the male part 2 in the female part 4.

Finally, the male joining piece 2 comprises at its free end means for attaching one of the strands 8 of the wristband of the watch. These attachment means comprise a bar 14 passing through holes 16 provided at both ends of the connecting bar 6. The strand 8 of the bracelet is fitted on the bar 14 and the bar is then inserted into the holes 16. The bar 14 can comprise, for example, two pivots 18 and 20, one 18 is fixed, while the other 20 is movable, subjected to the action of a spring housed inside said bar 14 and pushing it towards outside.

The female connecting piece 4 also has, as a whole, a generally rectangular general shape. Like the male joining piece 2, it comprises a transverse connecting bar 22. Outer and inner arms 24 extend perpendicularly to the connecting bar 22 in a common direction, parallel to the direction of engagement of the workpiece. male junction 2 in the female junction piece 4.

The opposite faces of the arms 24 and 26 define two passages 28 and 30 in which the locking tongues 10 will come to slide during the insertion of the male part 2 into the female part 4. Optionally, the faces facing the two inner arms 26 also define a central passage 32 into which the guide tongue 12 will penetrate.

As already mentioned above, the female connecting piece 4 comprises hooking means in which the locking means provided on the male part 2 will come to engage.

More specifically, and as is apparent in particular from Figure 2, these attachment means consist of two notches 34 formed in the outer arms 24 and wherein the free ends of the locking tabs 10 are housed.

For this purpose, each of the locking tabs 10 has at its free end a block 36 which protrudes above its surface 38 and which is in the plane of the notch 34. During the introduction of the piece of male junction 2 in the female joining piece 4, these blocks 36 will thus come to fit into the notches 34 to allow the locking of the two male parts 2 and 4 female between them. The blocks 36 each have a flat outer face 40 which is opposite the corresponding notch 34 and which bears against the bottom 42 of said notch 34 in the engagement position of the male joining piece 2 in the female joining piece 4. Finally, the blocks 36 also each have a downwardly inclined face 44 leading to the free end of the locking tongues 10 and which will bear on the inner surface 46 facing the notch 34 when the male joining piece 2 will be pushed further into the female joining piece 4 to open the clasp 1.

It will be noted that, like the male joining piece 2, the female joining piece 4 comprises means for attaching the second strand of the bracelet. These attachment means consist of one or more cylindrical passage holes 48 provided on the free side of the female connecting piece 4 and intended to receive a bar (not shown) for fixing the strand of the bracelet.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 4 to 7 on the one hand, and 8 to 10 on the other hand respectively the coupling operations and uncoupling male 2 and female junction pieces 4 which make up the clasp 1 according to the invention.

In FIG. 4, the male and female junction pieces 4 are in the dissociated state. The arrow represented in this FIG. 4 shows the direction of engagement of the male part 2 in the female part 4.

In FIG. 5, the male junction piece 2 comes into contact with the female junction piece 4. It can be seen that the guide tongue 12 carried by the male piece 2 begins to penetrate into the central passage 32 provided on the female piece 4 It will be recalled once more that the guide tongue 12 is not essential for the proper functioning of the clasp 1 according to the invention, but facilitates the insertion of the male part 2 into the female part 4 by allowing a good axial positioning of these two parts 2 and 4 relative to each other.

In FIG. 6, the locking tongues 10 begin to slide in the passages 28 and 30 of the female part 4 and are pushed inwards by two lugs 50 that have the fastening means provided on said female part 4. This is made possible by the fact that, according to an important characteristic of the invention, the locking tongues 10 have an elasticity transverse to the insertion direction of the male part 2 in the female part 4.

In FIG. 7, the insertion movement of the male part in the direction of the female part 4 is stopped. As the passages 28 and 30 open into the notches 34 of the attachment means provided on the female part 4, the blocks 36 protruding above the surface 38 of the locking tabs 10 are housed abruptly in said notches 34. At this stage of operations, it is no longer possible to separate the male part 2 of the female part 4 by pulling on said male part 2 because the aforementioned lugs 50 oppose the removal of the blocks 36. Note also that, as can be seen in Figure 2, the spacing D1 between the two locking tongues 10 is greater than the distance D2 which separates the funds 42 Notches 34. Consequently, the locking tongues 10 are at this moment under elastic tension and the blocks 36 carried by these tongues 10 come to bear firmly by their flat outer faces 40 against the bottoms 42 of the notches 34.

We are now interested in the uncoupling operations of male 2 and female 4 connectors.

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 7, except that it further pushes the male joining piece 2 in the female connecting piece 4, which is indicated by an arrow in the figure. According to another important characteristic of the invention, the locking tongues 10 also have an elasticity perpendicular to the plane of the clasp 1 according to the invention. Thus, when the male part 2 is pushed into the female part 4, the downwardly inclined surfaces 44 of the blocks 36 come to bear and gradually slide on the internal surfaces 46 facing the notches 34. The locking tongues 10 are then released. notches 34 bowing downwards, and are then returned to their original shape by the forces of transverse elasticity. It is then sufficient to exert a traction movement according to the arrow shown in the figure on the male part 2 to extract it from the female part 4. As the spacing D1 between the locking tabs 10 is greater than the distance that separates the bottoms 42 of the notches 34, the blocks 36 carried by the said locking tabs 10 slide along the lower outer surface of the arms 24 and therefore do not risk becoming lodged again in the notches 34.

In FIG. 10, the male and female junction pieces 4 are again in the dissociated state.

It will be noted that the male 2 and female 4 junction pieces may each be inserted into a casing 52 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, and that modifications and variants may be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (14)

1. Clasp for a watch wristband including two male (2) and female (4) joining parts extending in a same clasp plane and being able to be coupled by inserting the male part (2) into the female part (4), resilient locking means, provided on the male part (2), locking with catching means provided on the female part (4), when the male part (2) is pushed into an the engagement position in the female part (4), so that it is then impossible to pull the male joining part (2) outwards, the male (2) and female (4) joining parts being able to be uncoupled from each other by pushing the male part (2) further into the female part (4), so that the locking means are released from the catching means and that the male joining part (2) can be pulled out of the female joining part (4), the locking means being resilient transversely to the direction of engagement of the male joining part (2) in the female joining part (4), and further being resilient in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the clasp (1), characterised in that the catching means force back the locking means in order to cause resilient deformation of said locking means transversely to the direction of engagement of the male joining part (2) in the female joining part (4) when said male joining part (2) is fitted into said female joining part (4), and in that the locking means are deformed resiliently downwards along a direction perpendicular to the plane of the clasp (1), then returned to their initial shape by the forces of resilience when the male part (2) is pushed further into the female part (4).
2. Clasp according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking means include at least one tongue (10) extending parallel to the direction of engagement of the male joining part (2) in the female joining part (4), and in that the catching means include a notch (34) in which the free end of the tongue (10) will be housed.
3. Clasp according to claim 2, characterised in that the gap (D1) between the two locking tongues (10) is greater than the distance (D2) which separates the bottom (42) of the notches (34).
4. Clasp according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the female joining part (4) includes a passage (28, 30) which opens out into the notch (34) and into which the locking tongue (10) slides when the male part (2) is introduced into the female part (4).
5. Clasp according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the locking tongue (10) includes, at its free end, a block (36) which projects above its surface and which is located in the plane of the notch (34) in which the block (36) is housed.
6. Clasp according to claim 5, characterised in that the block (36) has a plane outer face (40) which is opposite to the notch (34) and which abuts against the bottom (42) of said notch (34) in the engagement position of the male joining part (2) in the female joining part (4).
7. Clasp according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the block (36) also has a downward inclined face (44) which ends at the free end of the locking tongue (10) and which finds support on the inner surface (46) of the notch (34) when the male part (2) is pushed further into the female part (4) to open the clasp (1), so that the free end of the locking tongue (10) is released from the notch (34) by inclining downwards and outwards as a result of its transverse resilience.
8. Clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that that the male joining part (2) further includes means for guiding said male part (2) in the female joining part (4).
9. Clasp according to claim 8, characterised in that the guide means include a tongue (12) extending parallel to the direction of insertion of the male joining part (2) into the female joining part (4), and in that the female joining part (4) includes a passage (32) into which the guide tongue (12) slides when the male part (2) is introduced into the female part (4).
10. Clasp according to claim 9, characterised in that the locking tongues (10) are two in number, disposed symmetrically on either side of the direction of engagement of the male joining part (2) in the female joining part (4), and in that the guide tongue (12) is provided between the two locking tongues (10).
11. Clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the two male (2) and female (4) joining parts each include means for attaching a first and a second wristband strand (8).
12. Clasp according to claim 11, characterised in that the attaching means are formed by a bar (14) passing through holes (16, 48) provided in the free end of the male (2) and female (4) joining parts.
13. Clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the two male (2) and female (4) joining parts are each inserted into a case (52).
14. Clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the male (2) and female (4) joining parts are made of a plastic, metallic, ceramic or other material able to be resiliently deformed.

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