EP3069629B1 - Bracelet clasp - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a bracelet clasp, and in particular to watch bracelets.

Background of the invention

It is known from the document US 1,832,734 a clasp comprising a yoke and two pushers whose excursion axis is not coincident with the hinge axis of the yoke. However, pressure on a single pusher accompanied by simultaneous pressure on one side of the yoke opposite the pusher can open the clasp, which is absolutely prohibited in the eyes of the applicant of the present invention.

We also know of the document EP 0 913 106 a folding clasp comprising a rigid base provided with two longitudinal members, a clevis arranged to be attached to a strand of the bracelet, and at least one folding arm having a rear end attached to one end of the base by a first joint and having a front end attached to the yoke by a second joint. The folding arm comprises two juxtaposed branches provided with pushers, and whose front ends are spaced apart by an elastic element. Such a clasp has the same disadvantage mentioned above, the clevis having a too large clearance and thus allowing the opening of the clasp through a pressure on a single pusher accompanied by a simultaneous pressure on one side of the yoke opposite to this pusher.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above by providing a clasp to meet the safety constraints and prevent the clasp opens easily.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clasp to hold the yoke in place when the clasp is in the closed position, and prevent the stall strand attached to the yoke.

The invention also aims to provide a clasp design simple and economical to manufacture.

• une première lame rigide dont une première extrémité est articulée sur une première extrémité d'une deuxième lame pliante configurée pour recevoir un premier brin du bracelet à sa deuxième extrémité, et dont la deuxième extrémité de la première lame est articulée sur une première extrémité d'une troisième lame dépliante d'où s'étendent des première et seconde branches auxquelles est articulée, autour d'un arbre, une chape munie de premier et second rabats s'étendant perpendiculairement par rapport à la chape, et des moyens de maintien d'un second brin du bracelet tels qu'un pion, la troisième lame recouvrant partiellement la deuxième extrémité de la deuxième lame lorsque le fermoir est en position fermée,
• des premier et second poussoirs faisant corps avec les première et seconde branches,
• un mécanisme de verrouillage configuré pour maintenir verrouillée la troisième lame sur la première lame quand aucune pression n'est exercée simultanément sur les poussoirs,
• un dispositif de sécurité empêchant la rotation de la chape autour de l'arbre dans le sens antihoraire conduisant à un décrochage du second brin des moyens de maintien quand on tente d'ouvrir la chape lorsque le fermoir est en position fermée, la chape étant bloquée par les poussoirs lorsque le fermoir est en position fermée.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a bracelet clasp comprising:

• a first rigid blade whose first end is articulated on a first end of a second folding blade configured to receive a first strand of the bracelet at its second end, and whose second end of the first blade is articulated on a first end of a third folding blade from which extend first and second branches which is articulated around a shaft, a yoke provided with first and second flaps extending perpendicular to the yoke, and means for maintaining a second strand of the bracelet such as a pin, the third blade partially covering the second end of the second blade when the clasp is in the closed position,
• first and second pushers integral with the first and second branches,
• a locking mechanism configured to keep locked the third blade on the first blade when no pressure is exerted simultaneously on the pushers,
• a safety device preventing the rotation of the yoke around the shaft in the counterclockwise direction leading to a stall of the second strand of the holding means when attempting to open the yoke when the clasp is in the closed position, the yoke being blocked by the pushers when the clasp is in the closed position.

• une entretoise venant se loger entre les rabats de la chape, les extrémités de l'entretoise venant en butée contre les rabats de la chape,
• des butées configurées pour coopérer avec l'entretoise pour empêcher la rotation de la chape autour de l'arbre lorsque le fermoir est en position fermée.

According to the invention, the security device comprises:

• a spacer being housed between the flaps of the yoke, the ends of the spacer abutting against the flaps of the yoke,
• stops configured to cooperate with the spacer to prevent rotation of the yoke around the shaft when the clasp is in the closed position.

Thanks to these features, such a bracelet clasp provides increased security against theft attempts, the safety device preventing the lateral displacement of the yoke leading to unlocking the clasp when simultaneous pressures are exerted on both a pusher and on a flap of the yoke opposite said pusher.

• les butées sont formées dans les rabats ;
• les butées sont chacune formées par un évidement comprenant chacun une ouverture pour le passage de l'entretoise ;
• les extrémités de l'entretoise viennent en butée dans les évidements des rabats de la chape de façon à empêcher le déplacement latéral de la chape conduisant à un déverrouillage du fermoir quand des pressions simultanées sont exercées à la fois sur un poussoir et sur un rabat de la chape opposé audit poussoir ;
• l'entretoise est portée par la deuxième lame ;
• l'entretoise est fixée à la seconde extrémité de la deuxième lame ;
• l'entretoise sert de point d'ancrage pour le premier brin du bracelet ;
• le fermoir comprend des moyens de verrouillage pour maintenir la deuxième lame verrouillée contre la première lame lorsque le fermoir est en position fermée ;
• le mécanisme de verrouillage comprend d'une part une première paire de crochets solidaires de la première lame, et d'autre part, une seconde paire de crochets solidaires de la troisième lame ;
• la seconde paire de crochets est solidaires des branches ;
• les branches sont flexibles latéralement sur tout ou partie de leur longueur.

According to other advantageous variants of the invention:

• the stops are formed in the flaps;
• the stops are each formed by a recess each comprising an opening for the passage of the spacer;
• the ends of the spacer abut in the recesses of the flaps of the yoke so as to prevent the lateral displacement of the yoke leading to unlocking the clasp when simultaneous pressures are exerted on both a pusher and a flap of the opposite yoke to said pusher;
• the spacer is carried by the second blade;
• the spacer is attached to the second end of the second blade;
• the spacer serves as an anchor for the first strand of the bracelet;
• the clasp comprises locking means for keeping the second blade locked against the first blade when the clasp is in the closed position;
• the locking mechanism comprises firstly a first pair of hooks integral with the first blade, and secondly, a second pair of hooks integral with the third blade;
• the second pair of hooks is integral with the branches;
• the branches are laterally flexible over all or part of their length.

The invention also relates to a wristwatch comprising a bracelet provided with a clasp according to the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un fermoir conforme à un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un fermoir conforme à un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 3 est une vue de dessous d'un fermoir conforme à un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté d'un fermoir conforme à un premier mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 5 est une vue éclatée d'un fermoir d'un fermoir conforme à un premier mode de réalisation ;
• les figures 6a à 6c illustrent respectivement un fermoir conforme à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention, une vue de dessus et de dessous de la chape du fermoir selon le deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 7 illustre une vue en coupe d'un fermoir conforme à un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended figures, among which: :

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a clasp according to a first embodiment;
• the figure 2 is a top view of a clasp according to a first embodiment;
• the figure 3 is a bottom view of a clasp according to a first embodiment;
• the figure 4 is a side view of a clasp according to a first embodiment;
• the figure 5 is an exploded view of a clasp of a clasp according to a first embodiment;
• the Figures 6a to 6c respectively illustrate a clasp according to a second embodiment of the invention, a view from above and from below the yoke of the clasp according to the second embodiment;
• the figure 7 illustrates a sectional view of a clasp according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

A bracelet clasp according to a first embodiment will now be described in the following referring jointly to figures 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 5 . This first embodiment is known and is described as state of the art useful for understanding the invention.

The figures 1 and 5 are perspective views of the bracelet clasp which comprises a first rigid blade 1 having two longitudinal members 1a and 1b interconnected by a bridge. A first end 10 of this blade is hinged to a first end 20 of a second leaflet 2 by means of a folding blade 12. This second blade 2 is configured to receive a first strand of the bracelet at its second end 21 by means of a tree 23.

The other end 11 of the first blade 1 is articulated to a first end 30 of a third folding blade 3, the third blade 3 partially covering the second end 21 of the second blade 2 when the clasp is in the closed position.

From the first end 30 of the third blade 3 emerge from the first and second legs 32 and 33 movable in translations. According to a variant of the invention, not shown in the figures, the first blade 1 can be provided solid and have a receptacle comprising locking means configured to receive the branches 32 and 33.

The clasp also comprises a yoke 4, articulated to the branches 32 and 33, provided with first and second flaps 40 and 41 extending perpendicular to the yoke 4. The flaps 40 and 41 have holes 42 and 43 configured to receive the ends of a shaft 44 to achieve the articulation between the branches 32 and 33 and the yoke 4.

The yoke 4 may have means for holding a second strand of the bracelet, such as a pin 45 as illustrated in the figures, so as to define a starting point for the second strand of the bracelet. The figures 3 and 5 show first and second pushers 320 and 330 which are integral with the first and second branches 32 and 33. According to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. Figures 1 to 5 , the pushers 320 and 330 are not placed in alignment with the shaft 44 passing through the branches 32 and 33, but before this alignment. According to another embodiment, the pushers 320 and 330 may be in alignment with the shaft 44.

A locking mechanism is arranged to keep the third blade 3 hooked on the first blade 1 when no pressure is exerted simultaneously on the pushers 320 and 330. For this purpose, the longitudinal members 1a and 1b of the first blade 1 respectively have fixed hooks 14 and 15 configured to cooperate respectively with hooks 34 and 35 disposed on the branches 32 and 33. This hooking can be observed at the figure 3 .

According to the invention, the clasp comprises a safety device preventing the lateral displacement of the yoke 4 leading to an untimely unlocking of the clasp when simultaneous pressures are exerted on both a pusher 320 or 330 and a flap 40 or 41 of the yoke 4 opposite said pusher.

As can be seen in the figures, the safety device itself is in the form of a spacer 23 disposed at the second end 21 of the second blade 2, the spacer 23 being housed between the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke 4 when the clasp is in the closed position.

We will now show how the security feature works.

To the figure 3 , the pushers 320 and 330 are not actuated and we can observe the locking of the clasp, the hooks 14 and 15 of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b respectively cooperate the hooks 34 and 35 of the branches 32 and 33.

When the clasp is folded according to figure 2 each end of the spacer 23 comes into abutment respectively against each of the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke 4 when pressure is exerted on one of the flaps 40 or 41 of the yoke 4, which prevents any deformation of the flaps 40 and 41.

When an identical pressure is exerted on both the pusher 320 and the flap 41 of the yoke 4, the release of the clasp is not caused by the safety device installed. In the closed position, the spacer 23 abuts against the inner wall of the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke 4. It will be understood that if the spacer 23 did not exist, the pressure exerted on the flap 41 of the yoke 4 would cause the displacement of the latter and also of the branch 33, thus causing the hooks 15 and 33 to be unhooked. The same situation is found again if the other push-button 321 were activated and if pressure was exerted on the other flap 40 of the yoke 4 .

In conclusion, to open the clasp, simultaneous pressures must be exerted on the two pushers, pressures exerted on the screed remaining without effect. When the pushers 320 and 330 are actuated, the hooks 34 and 35 of the branches 32 and 33 are released from the hooks 14 and 15 of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, thus causing the release of the third blade 3 and the opening of the clasp.

A bracelet clasp according to a second embodiment will now be described in the following referring jointly to Figures 6a, 6b, 6c and 7 .

The figure 6a is a perspective view of the bracelet clasp according to the second embodiment, which comprises a first rigid blade 1 having two longitudinal members 1a and 1b interconnected by a bridge. A first end 10 of this blade is articulated at a first end 20 of a second leaflet 2 folding through a shaft 12. This second blade 2 is configured to receive a first strand of the bracelet at its second end 21 to medium of a tree 23.

The other end 11 of the first blade 1 is articulated to a first end 30 of a third folding blade 3, the third blade 3 partially covering the second end 21 of the second blade 2 when the clasp is in the closed position.

From the first end 30 of the third blade 3 emerge from the first and second legs 32 and 33 movable in translations. The clasp also comprises a yoke 4, articulated to the branches 32 and 33, provided with first and second flaps 40 and 41 extending perpendicular to the yoke 4. The flaps 40 and 41 have holes 42 and 43 configured to receive the ends of a shaft 44 to achieve the articulation between the branches 32 and 33 and the yoke 4.

As can be seen on the Figures 6b and 6c , the yoke 4 comprises stops formed in the flaps 40 and 41 and are configured to cooperate with the spacer 23 of the safety device so as to prevent the rotation of the yoke 4 around the shaft 44 in the counterclockwise direction when the clasp is in closed position.

The abutment means are formed by recesses 46 and 47 comprising an opening 460 and 470 directed downwards, that is to say toward the blades of the clasp, so that the ends of the spacer 23 can be introduced into the recesses 46 and 47. As can be seen in figure 7 , the end of the spacer 23 is housed in the recess 46 and thus blocks the opening of the yoke 4. In fact, the latter can no longer rotate counterclockwise around the shaft 44, and not can also not rotate clockwise, the pushers 320 and 330 blocking the yoke 4 when the clasp is in the closed position.

Advantageously, the recesses 46 and 47 allow one hand to block in rotation the yoke 4 when the clasp is closed, the spacer 23 abutting against the bottom 461, 471 of the recesses 46 and 47 when someone wishes to lift the clevis 4 while the clasp is in the closed position, and secondly each end of the spacer 23 abuts respectively against each of the walls of the recesses 46 and 47 formed in the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke, which avoids any deformation of the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke 4 when pressure is exerted on one of the flaps 40 or 41.

According to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the recesses 46 and 47 are provided in such a way that the spacer 23 passes through each of the flaps 40 and 41 of the yoke 4.

Still according to an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, the spacer 23 may comprise at each of its ends a ball pawl, each ball pawl being configured to cooperate with recesses 46 and 47 of hemispherical shape.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example but is susceptible of various variations and modifications that will occur to those skilled in the art.

NOMENCLATURE

• 1. First blade,
• 10. First end of the first blade,
• 11. Second end of the first blade,
• 12. Tree,
• 13. Tree,
• 14.15. First pair of hooks,
• 2. Second blade,
• 20. First end of the second blade,
• 21. Second end of the second blade,
• 23. Spacer,
• 3. Third blade,
• 30. First end of the third blade,
• 31. Second end of the third blade,
• 32.33. branches,
• 34.35. Second pair of hooks,
• 320.330. Plungers,
• 4. Clevis,
• 40.41. Flaps of the screed,
• 42.43. holes,
• 44. Tree,
• 45. Pawn,
• 46, 47. Evidements,
• 460, 470. Openings,
• 461, 471. Bottom of the recesses.

Claims (12)

1. Bracelet clasp including:

   - a first rigid strip (1), wherein a first end (10) is hinged on a first end (20) of a second folding strip (2) configured to receive a first bracelet strand at the second end (21) thereof, and wherein a second end (11) of the first strip (1) is hinged on a first end (30) of a third folding strip (3) from which extend first and second branches (32, 33) to which is hinged, about an arbor (44), a cover (4) provided with first and second flaps (40, 41) extending perpendicularly with respect to the cover (4), and means for holding a second bracelet strand such as a pin, the third strip (3) partially covering the second end (21) of the second strip (2) when the clasp is in a closed position,

   - first and second push-pieces (320, 330) integral with the first and second branches (32, 33),

   - a locking mechanism configured to hold the third strip (3) locked on the first strip (1) when pressure is not simultaneously exerted on the push-pieces (320, 330),
   a safety device preventing rotation of the cover (4) about the arbor (44) in the counterclockwise direction causing the release of the second strand from the holding means if an attempt is made to open the cover (4) when the clasp is in the closed position, the cover (4) being blocked by the push-pieces (320, 330) when the clasp is in the closed position,

   characterized in that the safety device includes:

   - a spacer (23) housed between the flaps (40, 41) of the cover (4), the ends of the spacer (23) abutting against the flaps (40, 41) of the cover (4),

   - stop members configured to cooperate with the spacer (23) to prevent rotation of the cover (4) about the arbor (44) when the clasp is in the closed position.
2. Bracelet clasp according to claim 1, wherein the stop members are formed in the flaps (40, 41).
3. Clasp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stop members are each formed by a recess (46, 47) each including an opening for passage of the spacer (23).
4. Clasp according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ends of the spacer (23) abut in the recesses (46, 47) of the flaps (40, 41) of the cover (4) to prevent a lateral movement of the cover (4) causing the clasp to unlock when pressure is simultaneously exerted both on a push piece (320, 330) and on a flap (40, 41) of the cover (4) opposite said push piece (320, 330).
5. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the spacer (23) is carried by the second strip (2).
6. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the spacer (23) is fixed to the second end (21) of the second strip (2).
7. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the spacer (23) is used as an anchorage point for the first bracelet strand.
8. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 7, including locking means for keeping the second strip (2) locked against the first strip (1) when the clasp is in a closed position.
9. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the locking mechanism includes, on the one hand, a first pair of catches (14, 15) integral with the first strip (1), and on the other hand, a second pair of catches (34, 35) integral with the third strip (3).
10. Bracelet clasp according to claim 9, wherein the second pair of catches (34, 35) is integral with the branches (32, 33).
11. Bracelet clasp according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the branches (32, 33) are laterally flexible over all or part of the length thereof.
12. Wristwatch including a bracelet provided with a clasp according to any of the preceding claims.

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