EP1301097A1

EP1301097A1 - Watch with elastic band comprising a single strand

Info

Publication number: EP1301097A1
Application number: EP01937918A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hervé Guillaume; Didier Robert
Original assignee: Raymond Weil SA
Current assignee: Raymond Weil SA
Priority date: 2000-06-23
Filing date: 2001-06-18
Publication date: 2003-04-16
Also published as: US20040032798A1; JP2003535633A; WO2001097645A1; EP1166676A1; AU2001263704A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a timepiece comprising a watch (10) and a band (16) fixed to its case by solely one of its ends. The band, which constitutes a spring and is shaped to be wound around the wrist, comprises several spring wires (20) and a plurality of links (22, 24) threaded on the wires. To fix the ends of the wires on the case, are provided: integral with the watch case, two horns (14) each pierced with a pair of blind holes (26) and a passage which is perpendicular to the holes and intersects them in their lower part; integral with each end of the wires, a tube (30) inserted in each of the blind holes; and a key (32) inserted in said passage and passing through notches (34) provided at that site in each of the tubes.

Description

WATCH WITH ONE ELASTIC STRAP

The present invention relates to a wristwatch whose bracelet has the distinction of forming a spring and having only one strand.

More specifically, the strap of such a watch is an elastic band, one end of which is fixed to the case, the other end of which is free and which has a curved shape so as to wrap around the wrist.

An embodiment of this kind is described in document DE 4 029 223. The bracelet is then a simple steel blade forming a spring. This construction certainly provides an original aesthetic result but it is difficult to use when you want a link bracelet, which considerably limits its interest.

The present invention aims to provide a watch whose elastic bracelet in one strand is formed of links and has an aesthetic which is in no way reduced due to its elastic properties.

More specifically, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a watch formed by a box and a movement housed therein and a bracelet fixed to the box by only one of its ends, said bracelet forming a spring. and being shaped so as to wrap around a wrist. This timepiece is characterized:

- in that the bracelet comprises several spring wires and a plurality of links threaded on said wires, and

- in that it comprises means for fixing the ends of the spring wires to the box.

Advantageously, the spring wires are made of steel and four in number. In this case, the fixing means include:

- integral with the box, two horns each pierced, on the one hand, with a pair of blind holes substantially parallel to the axis 12 H - 6 H of the watch and, on the other hand, in their portion located on the bottom side , a channel which is perpendicular to the blind holes and crosses them in their lower part;

- integral with each end of the spring wires, a tube introduced into each of said blind holes, and - a key introduced into said channel and passing through notches formed at this location in each of said tubes.

In addition, according to an advantageous embodiment, the bracelet comprises, at its free end, a termination link and, to fix this link to the ends of the spring wires, a plate pierced with grooves in which the ends of the wires take place and against the edge of which they are finally folded, and a housing formed in the termination link to receive this plate.

Other characteristics of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows the wristwatch according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is an exploded representation of the part;

- Figure 3 is a partial view of the part, without its links; and

- Figure 4 shows the details of the termination link.

Firstly, reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a watch 10, the case 12 of which includes, only at 6 o'clock, two horns 14 on which is fixed the end of an elastic bracelet with links in a single strand 16, the other end of it being provided with a termination link 18.

More precisely, as FIGS. 2 and 3 show better, the bracelet 16 is formed by four spring steel wires 20 which are bent so as to wrap around a wrist and on which are threaded a plurality of links comprising , in a known manner, alternately, cross links 22 and square links 24.

To allow the bracelet 16 to be fixed to the case 12, each horn 14 is pierced with a pair of cylindrical blind holes 26 parallel to the axis 12 H - 6 H of the watch and arranged in a plane which achieves a fall relative to the box 12. In addition, the two horns 14 are pierced, in their portion located on the bottom side, with a cylindrical channel 28 which is perpendicular to the holes 26 and crosses them in their lower part. The first link 22 is also pierced, at this point, with a channel aligned with the channel 28.

The ends of the four spring wires 20, previously provided with a tube 30, take place in the holes 26. The fixing of these tubes on the wires is done either by screwing or by welding.

To anchor the ends of the wires 20 in the holes 26, a cylindrical key 32 is introduced into the channel 28 and passes into notches 34 formed at this location in each of the tubes 30.

At their other end, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the four wires 20 are positioned in grooves 36 formed in a plate 38 against the edge of which they are finally folded back at around 90 °, thus ensuring tightening and cohesion of the links on the wires 20. The plate 38 takes place inside the housing formed in the termination link 18 which serves as its decorative cover. The fixing of the cover to the plate 38 is ensured by a screw 42.

Thus is produced a watch whose bracelet in a single strand forming a spring is furnished with links which in no way reveal the spring itself. Such a wristwatch has the originality of a single-strand spring bracelet, with an aesthetic which is in no way reduced due to its elastic properties.

Claims

1. Timepiece comprising a watch (10) formed of a box (12) and of a movement housed therein and a bracelet (16) fixed to the box by only one of its ends, said bracelet forming spring and being shaped so as to wrap around a wrist, characterized:

- in that the bracelet comprises several spring wires (20) and a plurality of links (22, 24) threaded on said wires, and

2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring wires (20) are made of steel.

3. Timepiece according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the spring wires (20) are four in number.

4. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that said fixing means comprise:

- integral with the box, two horns (14) each pierced, on the one hand, with a pair of blind holes (26) substantially parallel to the axis 12 H - 6 H of the watch and, on the other hand, in their portion located on the bottom side, a channel (28) which is perpendicular to the blind holes and crosses them in their lower part;

- integral with each end of the spring wires, a tube (30) introduced into each of said blind holes, and

- A key (32) introduced into said channel and passing through notches (34) formed at this location in each of said tubes.

5. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterized in that said tubes (26) are made integral with the ends of the wires by screwing.

6. Timepiece according to claim 4, characterized in that said tubes (26) are made integral with the ends of the wires by welding.

7. Timepiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the bracelet comprises, at its free end, a termination link (18) and means for fixing this link at the ends of the spring wires.

8. Timepiece according to claim 7, characterized in that said fixing means comprise a plate (38) pierced with grooves (36) in which the ends of the wires take place and against the edge of which they are finally folded back, and a housing provided in said termination link for receiving said plate.