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
  • A44C5/0053—Flexible straps
  • A44C5/0069—Flexible straps extensible
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a sliding buckle clasp for fitting a closed type of strap used both in watchmaking and jewelry but also, more generally, as any type of collar to be placed around a body, removably.
• the bracelets are either open type, when their two strands can be completely separated or closed type, when the strands remain attached and are connected to one another by a loop to increase their diameter so to be able to pass the hand.
• the loop then comprises a flexible blade fixedly mounted in one of the two strands by its first end, and sliding in the other strand by its second end.
• GB1 261 027 proposes a sliding loop bracelet whose flexible blade also slides in a strand of the bracelet by one of its ends.
• this device is free from the aforementioned disadvantage of the fact that this end is provided with two fingers forming a Y, these fingers preventing the blade completely out of the strand in which it is housed.
• the blade sliding only in a strand it is difficult to envisage that the sliding conditions inside the strand can be done in good conditions over a significant length, especially as the bending experienced by the blade causes significant friction between her and the bracelet.
• the bracelet is necessarily hollow and rigid to allow the sliding of the blade, it is uncomfortable for the wearer. In fact, such a device can not adapt to soft bracelets, leather, rubber or even metal articulated links.
• the present invention therefore aims to provide an improved version of a sliding loop clasp, free of the aforementioned drawbacks and adapting to any type of bracelet. Disclosure of the invention
• the invention relates to a bracelet clasp with longitudinal axis Y-Y, comprising:
• the clasp comprises, in addition, a member for limiting the stroke of the blade in the closed position, with reference to the closure elements, disposed on said blade, at its central portion with reference to the longitudinal axis, in the race of the closing elements.
• the clasp is characterized in that the blade is slidably mounted in each of the two elements, the elements being arranged to receive it.
• the blade is made in two parts shaped so as to telescopically engage one into the other, each being secured to one of the closure elements but capable of sliding in the other.
• the blade is provided with a first slide.
• the closing elements each comprise a shoe cooperating with this first slide to allow relative movement of the elements and the blade.
• the blade is provided with a first slide
• the clasp comprises a first and a second slide moving in this first slide on either side of the member to limit the stroke of the blade in the closed position.
• the first and second slides each form a second slide.
• the closing elements each comprise a pad cooperating respectively with the second slide of the first and second slides, to allow relative movement of the elements and the blade.
• the invention also relates to a flexible bracelet or articulated links with a clasp as defined above.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet equipped with the clasp according to the invention, in the open position;
• - Figure 2 is a top view in section along AA of the clasp in the closed position;
• - Figure 3a is an enlarged plan view of its control mechanism, while Figure 3b shows it from above;
• - Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate various embodiments of the clasp;
• FIG. 1 A bracelet having a sliding buckle clasp according to the invention, in the open position, is shown in FIG. 1, showing only that it comprises two strands 10 and 12. is understood that, for a watch application, it is actually two separate strands, the respective ends 14 and 16 are adapted to connect to a watch case by any means known to those skilled in the art.
• the bracelet may comprise either a single strand or two strands united by a central articulation.
• the bracelet shown is in links, but it can be monobloc, including synthetic material.
• the invention relates essentially to the clasp that allows to couple the opposite ends of the strap at the ends 14 and 16.
• Figures 1 and 2 show that the two strands 10 and 12 are fixed by their respective ends to two elements 18 and 20 which constitute the actual clasp of the bracelet and have the same outer shape, generally parallelepiped.
• the material used is at the choice of the manufacturer among all the materials known in the field, such as titanium, steel, platinum, ceramic or a synthetic material.
• Each of the elements 18 and 20 comprises a front portion intended to join the front portion of the other, and a rear portion to which is attached the end of a strand of the bracelet.
• the element 18 constitutes the active half of the clasp. Its front portion 18a has a thin rectangular channel 22 in which can move freely a blade 24, flexible or rigid, preferably made of steel, carbon, Kevlar, plastic, gold or platinum and described later in detail.
• the rear portion 18b constitutes a housing in which a end of the bracelet can be fixed by screw, by bar or by any other means available to the skilled person.
• the element 20 constitutes the passive half of the clasp. Its front portion 20a has a thin channel 26, identical to the channel 22, in which the blade 24 can also move freely.
• the rear portion 20b constitutes a housing in which the other end of the bracelet can be fixed in the same manner as mentioned. above.
• the blade 24 then enters, by its ends, in the two strands 10 and 12 of the bracelet which must be arranged to receive it and let it slide freely.
• the active element 18 receives, in its front portion 18a, two pushers 28 aligned face to face along a transverse axis XX perpendicular to the longitudinal axis YY of the bracelet and housed in openings in the side faces of the body 18.
• An O-ring 30 serves to prevent the accumulation of dirt in the element 18.
• the pushers 28 serve to actuate each a claw 32 formed of a semi-tubular body 34 capable of moving along the axis XX in a cylindrical housing 36 of axis parallel to YY .
• the pusher 28 acts on the middle of the external face of the body 34.
• the passive element 20 of the clasp has, in its front face, two housings 42 shaped and dimensioned to receive the hooks 40 of the active element 18.
• the element 18 has, on its front face, two guide pins 44 taking place in housings formed in the front face of the element 20.
• the actuation simultaneous two pushers 28 then allows to compress the leaf springs 38 against the wall of the housing 36 and thus move the claws 32 inwardly, so as to let their hooks 40 enter the housing 42.
• the release of the pushers 28 is return the springs 38 to their rest position by moving the claws 32 outwardly, so that the hooks 40 are attached to the element 20 in the housing 42.
• the bracelet is thus closed and locked.
• the blade 24, which is now shown over its entire length, is flat and ends at both ends by a curved portion 46 which abuts against the inlet of the channel 22 or 26 respectively of the element. 18 or 20, and can not enter, limiting the stroke of the two halves of the clasp (that is to say the opening of the bracelet) and preventing them from disengaging the blade. It has, in the middle, a rivet 48 (also visible in Figures 1 and 2) which, like the curved end portions 46, can not enter the channels 22 and 26, thus ensuring the same race at each half of the clasp.
• the curved portions 46 and the rivet 48 are only examples of ways to limit the stroke of the two halves of the clasp relative to the blade 24. Any other system having the same effect is, of course, usable in the context of the invention.
• the blade 24 shown in the previously described figures is flat, but it could also, as shown in Figure 5, be profiled, in length and width, in any way that would make it more or less rigid and / or more or less lightened, in particular by means of cutouts 50 and lateral ribs 52.
• the blade 24 is formed in two parts 24a and 24b shaped so as to telescopically fit one into the other.
• the half-blade 24a is made integral with the element 18 but can slide in the element 20 to occupy, at the end of the race, when the bracelet is completely closed, the position shown in dotted lines.
• the half-blade 24b is made integral with the element 20 but can slide in the element 18 to occupy, at the end of the race, the position shown in dashed lines.
• FIG. 7 to 10 shows the principle of a blade formed of telescopic elements.
• This sliding buckle clasp has not only the advantages of the embodiments described above but also makes it very advantageous to adapt to any type of flexible bracelets, leather, rubber or even metal with articulated links. Indeed, as will be better understood below, it is not necessary that the bracelet is arranged particularly to receive the flexible blade.
• the blade clasp according to this particular embodiment has the shape of a central plate 60 whose longitudinal edges, that is to say parallel to the axis YY, form a first slide 62.
• the device is provided with members to limit the stroke of the blade, to define either the closed position or the open position of the clasp.
• a first rivet 64 to limit the stroke of the blade in the closed position is disposed in the central portion of the plate 62, preferably in its middle with reference to the length thereof.
• a second rivet 65 to limit the stroke of the blade in the open position is disposed at a first end of the plate. This rivet is visible in Figures 8 to 10.
• a first slider 66 is formed of a profiled element similar to the blade 24 as described above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 5. This slider 66 has the shape of a frame whose longitudinal edges 66a are adapted and dimensioned to slide without play in the first slide 62.
• the height of the first rivet 64 is adjusted so that it cooperates with the outer wall of the transverse edge 66b of the frame, located on the side of the rivet 64.
• This wall is provided with a housing 68 of semi-circular shape , capable of receiving about half of the rivet 64.
• the rivet 65 is located inside the frame 66. In practice, the rivet is crimped after the frame has been positioned correctly. Its height is also adjusted so that it cooperates with the inner wall of the transverse edge 66b of the frame 66.
• the longitudinal edges 66a of the frame are sized to form a second slide.
• the clasp comprises a first element 18 and a second element 20 constituting the clasp itself.
• the element 18 is of parallelepipedal overall shape and comprises pushers 28 for actuating locking hooks 40.
• the element 18 is provided with a pad 70, better visible in FIGS. 10, dimensioned and shaped to slide without play in the second slide.
• the pad 70 is provided beneath it with a pin 72, visible in FIG. 10, dimensioned to cooperate with the internal wall of the transverse side 66b of the frame, without hindering the sliding of the pad.
• the height of the rivet 64 is adjusted so that it also cooperates with the element 18 to limit its stroke in the closed position.
• the shoe 70 has a housing located on the side of the rivet 64, in which the latter takes place and abuts, when the clasp is in the closed position.
• the pins 65 and 72 are both intended to cooperate with the wall 66b, they are therefore located in the same plane XY. However, they are offset along the transverse axis XX so that they can not collide during relative movements of the slider 66 and the element 18.
• the clasp comprises another slide 80 similar to that described above and bearing the reference 66.
• the element 20 having housing 42 to receive the hooks 40 of the element 18, slides in this slider 80 through a shoe 82 which it is equipped, similar to the shoe 70.
• the rivet 64 also serves as a stroke limiter in the closed position and is likely to take place in a housing which is provided with the outer wall of the transverse edge 66b of the frame forming the slide 80.
• the elements arranged symmetrically are also provided with members to limit the stroke of the blade, similar to those referenced above.
• the elements 18 and 20 are supported on the rivet 64 and are in contact with one another, the hooks 40 cooperating with the housing 42.
• the outer walls of the transverse edges of the slides 66 and 80 are also resting on the rivet 64, the pin 72 of the pads 70 and 82 of the elements 18 and 20 resting on the inner walls of the transverse edges of the slides 66 and 80.
• the slides 66 and 80 are supported by the inner wall of their transverse edge 66b and 80b on the pin 65.
• the elements 18 and 20 are, themselves, supported by the pin 72 of their pad on the walls internal transverse edges respectively opposite the edges 66 and 80b.
• the clasp just described can receive a flexible bracelet, leather or rubber, for example.
• a first strand 10 of the bracelet is fixed, by a first of its ends, to the element 18 by means of screws 84 or by a bar.
• the element 20 is provided, for receiving and securing the second strand of the bracelet, a loop 86 defining a frame and pivotally mounted on the element 20 by two screws 88.
• the loop is sized to let the bracelet flat inside the frame.
• This frame is provided with a nail 89 intended to be housed in one of the holes which is normally provided with the bracelet, to allow, in a very conventional way, the adjustment of its length.
• the loop 86 is arranged so that, once the nail 89 is positioned in the appropriate hole of the bracelet, pulling on this bracelet does not rotate the loop.
• FIG. 9 represents the clasp according to this embodiment adapted to a metal bracelet with articulated links, the ends of which are directly mounted, in a conventional manner, on the elements 18 and 20.
• the set of telescopic elements of the clasp taking place under the bracelet, it is not necessary that it is particularly arranged to receive a slippery portion of the clasp.
• the skilled person can implement a clasp having, for each of the elements 18 and 20, a sliding element, that is to say that the slides 66 and 80 can to be deleted.
• the pads 70 and 82 slide directly into the slide 62 of the plate 60. This can be terminated at its ends by rims forming stops and limiting the stroke of the elements 18 and 20 in the open position.
• the clasp according to the invention is both of simple construction and has a totally invisible loop.
• the rivets 64 or 48 serve as limiters in the closed position and allow to distribute on one side and the other with respect to the elements 18 and 20, the length of the sliding elements. It is therefore possible that these rivets are not exactly in the center of the clasp, if, however, the distribution of the sliding elements is satisfactory in the closed position.

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• Buckles (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=34932335

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

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Family Cites Families (5)

• 2004
  • 2004-10-28 EP EP04405663A patent/EP1652443A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2005
  • 2005-10-28 EP EP05810953A patent/EP1816923A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-10-28 WO PCT/EP2005/055635 patent/WO2006045842A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2005-10-28 US US11/718,044 patent/US20090133438A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-10-28 JP JP2007538431A patent/JP2008517685A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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