EP2702891B1 - Clasp for watch strap or garment belt - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a clasp for a watch strap or for a clothing belt.

The European patent application on behalf of the applicant registered under the number EP11159074.1 discloses a watchband clasp comprising two folding arms articulated to each other. A first end of the first folding arm is attached to a first strand of the bracelet, while a second end of the first folding arm is pivotally hinged to a first end of a second folding arm. The second end of the second folding arm is traversed by a shaft around which is pivotally articulated a lid provided with first and second flaps and to which is attached a second bracelet strand. The clasp finally comprises a lever closure system for locking and unlocking the first and second arms. According to the invention described in the European patent application mentioned above, the lever is pivotally mounted on the cover by means of a first articulation, this lever controlling a latch itself pivotally mounted on the cover by the intermediate of a second articulation distinct from the first articulation. The lock which is controlled by the lever is arranged to cooperate with a hook which equips the first folding arm and to lock the lever when the latter is pushed into the closed position, elastic means being provided to hold the unlift lever and the latch engaged with the hook when the lever is not manually operated.

The construction of the watch strap clasp succinctly described above is made quite complex and cumbersome in particular by the double articulation pivoting along two separate axes of the lever and the latch on the cover. That is why it was wanted a less bulky watchband clasp and comprising fewer parts for reliable operation.

The patent document DE 10 2011 101905 A1 discloses a bracelet clasp according to the preamble of claim 1 attached to this patent application.

The present invention aims to meet these expectations by providing a clasp for a watch strap or for a clothing belt including a limited number of parts while ensuring a perfect closure of the clasp.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a clasp for a watch strap or for a clothing belt comprising at least two folding arms articulated to each other, a first folding arm having a first end attached to a strand of the bracelet and a second pivotally articulated end on a first end of a second leafing arm, a second end of the second leafing arm having a shaft therethrough and a lid having first and second flaps thereon and to which another strand of the wristband is attached, the clasp also comprising a push-button closure system, wherein at least one push-button controls a latch pivotally mounted on the cover, the latch comprising a first hook adapted to cooperate with a second hook which is equipped with the first folding arm and keep this second hook locked when the push button is not operated manually, the first one ratchet being held in engagement with the second hook by elastic means, characterized in that the elastic means are in the form of a U-shaped cut-out plate and having two outer arms which press on the bolt to hold the first hook engaged with the second hook in the closed position of the clasp.

With these features, the present invention provides a clasp whose operation is both simple and reliable. Indeed, it suffices to simply press a push button to control the opening of the clasp while, in the prior art, it is necessary to lift a lever with a fingernail. The operation of the clasp according to the invention is therefore much more intuitive. On the other hand, lifting a lever with a fingernail can be problematic if the notching force of the lever is important. Likewise, the absence of a double articulation system according to two distinct axes lever and lock on the lid provides a much more compact clasp. Finally, as the number of elements involved in the manufacture of the lock is limited, the operation of this lock is much more reliable.

According to a complementary feature of the invention, when the push buttons are actuated, they force the lock to pivot against the elastic force of the elastic means, so that the first hook is released from engagement with the second hook .

According to another characteristic of the invention, when the pushbuttons are actuated, they act on corresponding inclined planes of the lock. For this purpose, the push buttons are provided with inclined planes along which slide the inclined planes provided on the lock.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the latch is pivotally mounted on the cover by means of a hinge which extends parallel to the direction of actuation of the pushbuttons.

Thus, the push buttons act on the lock in a direction parallel to the pivot axis of the lock, which contributes to the compactness of the clasp according to the invention.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective à l'état déplié du fermoir selon l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue en éclaté du fermoir illustré à la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe transversale à travers les boutons-poussoirs du fermoir selon l'invention en position fermée;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du fermoir selon l'invention en position fermée;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe transversale à travers les boutons-poussoirs du fermoir selon l'invention en position ouverte;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe longitudinale du fermoir selon l'invention en position ouverte, et
• la figure 7 est une vue du fermoir utilisé pour une ceinture vestimentaire.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the clasp according to the invention, this example being given for purely illustrative and non-limiting purposes only in connection with the attached drawing. on which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view in the unfolded state of the clasp according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is an exploded view of the clasp shown in the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the push buttons of the clasp according to the invention in the closed position;
• the figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp according to the invention in the closed position;
• the figure 5 is a cross-sectional view through the push buttons of the clasp according to the invention in the open position;
• the figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasp according to the invention in the open position, and
• the figure 7 is a view of the clasp used for a sartorial belt.

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of providing a clasp for a watch strap or for a clothing belt comprising a latch pivotally mounted on a lid and provided with a first hook which engages with a second hook provided for free end of a folding arm. To release the second hook from its socket with the first hook, at least one and, preferably, two pushbuttons that act on the lock in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the clasp, by forcing this lock are provided. to pivot against the restoring force of resilient means. Thanks to these features, the clasp according to the invention is a simple and intuitive operation since it suffices for the user to press the button (s) -poussoir (s) to control the opening of the clasp . Moreover, compared to the prior art, it saves a lever that is always difficult to maneuver, especially because of the difficulties encountered to reproducibly calibrate the notching force, so that the clasp according to the invention comprises a more limited number of parts and that its operation is more reliable. Finally, the push buttons act on the lock in a direction that extends in the plane of the clasp, which provides a more compact clasp.

The figures 1 and 2 are respectively perspective and exploded views of the clasp for watch strap or for clothing belt according to the invention and the various parts of the component. Designated in his together with the general numerical reference 1, the clasp comprises a first folding arm 2 of which a first end 4 is attached to a strand 6 of the bracelet represented here by a first link via an axis 8. The second end 10 of the first folding arm 2 is articulated by means of an axis 12 on a first end 14 of a second folding arm 16. The second folding arm 16 is formed of two longitudinal members 18a and 18b between which is inserted the first folding arm 2 in the closed position of the clasp 1. The second folding arm 16 is traversed at its second end 20 by a shaft 22 around which is articulated a cover 24 provided with a first and a second flap 26a and 26b. Another strand of the bracelet, not shown on the figures 1 and 2 , is attached to the lid 24 and emerges from it on the right of the figures. Conventionally, the axis 8 is provided with a notch 28 and is held in place between the holes 30a and 30b pierced in the first link of the strand 6 by a barrel 32 provided with a constriction 34. figures 1 and 2 also show that the clasp 1 according to the present invention comprises a push-button closure system for locking and unlocking the first and second folding arms 2 and 16.

The closure system according to the invention which will now be described comprises at least one and, preferably, two identical push buttons 36a and 36b. These two push buttons 36a and 36b, arranged facing one another, are housed in two through holes 38a and 38b formed in the flaps 26a and 26b of the cover 24. The two pushbuttons 36a and 36b act according to actuation directions A and B respectively which are indicated by arrows on the figure 2 . It can be seen that the actuating directions A and B extend in the plane of the clasp 1 substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of symmetry XX of the clasp 1. It is also noted on examining the figure 2 in particular that the push buttons 36a and 36b each have an inclined plane 40a and 40b whose role will be detailed below.

According to the invention, the push buttons 36a and 36b control a latch 42 pivotally mounted on the cover 24 by means of a hinge C which extends parallel to the direction of actuation of the push buttons 36a and 36b and which consists of two small pins 44a and 44b. These two pins 44a and 44b enter holes 46a and 46b formed in the flaps 26a and 26b of the cover 24. The latch 42 comprises a first hook 48 designed to cooperate with a second hook 50 provided on the side of the first end 4 of the first folding arm 2 and for locking the clasp 1 when the clasp 1 is in the closed position. Finally, figure 2 shows that the clasp 1 is equipped with resilient means 52 arranged to hold the first hook 48 in engagement with the second hook 50 when the push buttons 36a and 36b are not operated manually.

More specifically, the resilient means 52 are in the form of a plate 54 fixed to the cover 24 by means of two screws 56a and 56b as can be seen in FIG. figure 2 . This plate 54 is cut in a U-shape and has two outer arms 58a and 58b slightly prestressed to eliminate the games. These two outer arms 58a and 58b press on the latch 42 to hold the first hook 48 in engagement with the second hook 50 in the closed position of the clasp 1.

According to the invention, the latch 42 comprises a central portion 60 surmounted by the first hook 48 and flanked by two end portions 62a and 62b each having an inclined plane 64a and 64b along which the inclined planes 40a and 40b of the buttons pushers 36a and 36b are intended to slide. The two end portions 62a and 62b are separated from the central portion 60 of the latch 42 by two grooves 66a and 66b in which the outer arms 58a and 58b of the plate 54 project. In the closed position of the clasp 1 (see in particular the Figures 3 and 4 ), the outer arms 58a and 58b of the plate 54 resiliently force the latch 42 to pivot about the hinge direction C in a clockwise direction, so as to maintain the first hook 48 in engagement with the second hook 50. When the user wishes to open the clasp 1, it is sufficient to simultaneously press the two pushbuttons 36a and 36b in the direction of arrows A and B. Under the effect of this thrust, the inclined planes 64a and 64b of the latch 42 slide along the inclined planes 40a and 40b of the push buttons 36a and 36b, which causes the latch 42 to pivot about the hinge direction C counterclockwise as materialized by an arrow on the figure 2 .

As a result, the first hook 48 carried by the latch 42 is released from its engagement with the second hook 50 carried by the first folding arm 2, which allows the two folding arms 2 and 16 to unfold (see Figures 5 and 6 in particular). It is then possible to open the clasp 1. When the two folding arms 2 and 16 are folded over one another and the user releases its pressure on the push buttons 36a and 36b, the outer arms 58a and 58b of the plate 54 elastically force the latch 42 to pivot clockwise about the hinge direction C , which has the effect of bringing the first hook 48 into engagement with the second hook 50. The clasp is closed again.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described, and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention such that defined by the appended claims. In particular, the clasp 1 according to the invention can also be used for a clothing belt 68 as shown in FIG. figure 7 . On the other hand, the clasp 1 according to the invention has been described with two push-buttons 36a and 36b acting on two inclined planes 64a and 64b of the latch 42. It goes without saying that in a simplified embodiment of FIG. invention, one could provide only one push button acting on a corresponding inclined plane of the lock.

Claims (8)

1. Clasp for a watch bracelet or for a garment belt comprising at least two unfolding arms (2, 16) articulated to each other, wherein a first unfolding arm (2) comprises a first end (4) attached to a bracelet strand (6) and a second end (10) pivotally articulated to a first end (14) of a second unfolding arm (16), wherein a second end (20) of the second unfolding arm (16) is traversed by an arbour (22) about which there is articulated a cover (24) provided with first and second flaps (26a, 26b) and to which another bracelet strand is attached, wherein the clasp (1) also comprises a push button fastening system wherein at least one push button (36a, 36b) controls a lock (42) pivotally mounted on the cover (24), wherein the lock (42) comprises a first hook (48) devised to cooperate with a second hook (50) fitted to the first unfolding arm (2) and to keep said second hook (50) locked when the push button (36a, 36b) is not being manually activated, wherein the first hook (48) is kept engaged with the second hook (50) by an elastic means (52), characterized in that the elastic means (52) takes the form of a plate (54) cut into a U-shape and having two external arms (58a, 58b), which press on the bolt (42) to keep the first hook (48) engaged with the second hook (50) in the closed position of the clasp (1).
2. Clasp according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the push buttons (36a, 36b) are actuated, they force the lock (42) to pivot against the elastic force of elastic means (52), so that the first hook (48) is released from engagement with the second hook (50).
3. Clasp according to claim 2, characterized in that, when actuated, the push buttons (36a, 36b) act on corresponding inclined surfaces (64a, 64b) of the lock (42).
4. Clasp according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the push buttons (36a, 36b) are actuated, the bolt (42) slides via the inclined surfaces (64a, 64b) thereof along corresponding inclined surfaces (40a, 40b) provided on the push buttons (36a, 36b).
5. Clasp according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the push buttons (36a, 36b) act on the lock (42) in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the clasp (1) and which extends in the plane of the clasp (1).
6. Clasp according to claim 5, characterized in that the lock (42) is pivotally mounted on the cover (24) by means of a hinge (C) which extends parallel to the direction of actuation of the push buttons (36a, 36b).
7. Clasp according to claim 6, characterized in that the hinge (C) is formed of two pins (44a, 44b) which penetrate holes (46a, 46b) made in the flaps (26a, 26b) of the cover (24).
8. Clasp according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second hook (50) is provided on the side of the first end (4) of the unfolding arm (2), opposite the second end (10) of said first unfolding arm (2), which is pivotally articulated on the first end (14) of the second unfolding arm (16).

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