EP3569090B1 - System for attaching a bracelet to a watch case - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a system for attaching a bracelet to a watch case which can be removed without requiring the use of any tool.

State of the art

A large number of systems for attaching bracelets to watch cases are known from the state of the art, which do not require the use of a tool for their assembly and disassembly. This type of system is particularly suitable for bracelets which are interchangeable by the user, with the aim, for example, of changing the style of bracelet, for aesthetic or functional reasons.

As such, the document US2014250637 describes an attachment system comprising a relatively conventional style lug bar, which is intended to secure a strap strand to a watch case. This bar comprises a sleeve carrying a first non-retractable pivot as well as a second retractable pivot, the two pivots being arranged to cooperate with corresponding notches provided in the internal faces of the lugs of a watch case. A spring extends along the inside of the sleeve and serves to hold the two pivots in the deployed positions. The sleeve also has a slot extending parallel to the axis of the bar, in which takes place a lug, integral with the retractable pivot. This lug is designed to be moved manually against the return force supplied by the spring in order to remove the retractable pivot and thus be able to remove the strap from the case.

However, handling such a pin is relatively difficult, and there is always a risk of inadvertent retraction if the pin gets caught in something, for example a bracelet-jewelry worn at the same time as the watch.

The documents JP4754249 and JP2006271812A describe a system for fixing a bracelet which comprises a lug bar integrated into the end link of the bracelet. This bar comprises a cylindrical sleeve provided with a flap designed to be handled by the user. By pivoting the sleeve through the flap, a cam system acts on the lugs, which are hidden inside the link, in order to retract them and thus free the strap from the watch case.

This system is certainly interesting, but the flap is relatively small in order to avoid untimely actuation and not to hamper the wearer's wrist, which makes it difficult to handle.

The document EP2047766 describes a similar system, in which the sleeve is fixed with respect to the end link and the cam system has an actuating part which is housed inside the sleeve and acts on the two retractable parts carrying the pivots of the barrette. By pivoting the actuating part via an external pin, the user can retract the pivots of the bar and release the bracelet from the watch case.

Again, this pin is very small, and therefore difficult to handle.

The documents WO13140080 and EP3213654 describe systems for retracting the bar pivots which are entirely housed in the end link of a metal bracelet or in a connecting element of a bracelet made of fabric, leather or the like, and are extremely complex and bulky.

The object of the present invention is to overcome, at least partially, the aforementioned drawbacks.

Disclosure of the invention

• un premier élément de bracelet, tel qu'un maillon d'extrémité de ce dernier ou, dans le cas d'un brin de bracelet souple, un maillon d'extrémité servant en tant que première pièce de liaison agencé pour prendre place entre une paire de cornes que comporte ladite boite de montre ;
• une barrette logée dans ledit premier élément et s'étendant le long d'un axe longitudinal du premier élément (cet axe étant perpendiculaire à l'axe le long duquel s'étend le bracelet), ladite barrette comportant au moins un pivot rétractable destiné à coopérer avec l'une desdites cornes de ladite boite de montre ; le pivot en question peut comporter un plot ou un logement, ou tout autre forme permettant une interaction avec une forme complémentaire prévue dans la face interne de la corne correspondante ;
• un deuxième élément de bracelet, tel que le maillon voisin du maillon d'extrémité d'un bracelet métallique ou un deuxième maillon servant de deuxième pièce de liaison d'un brin de bracelet souple, ce deuxième élément étant monté autour de ladite barrette de façon pivotante par rapport audit premier élément ; la barrette peut, selon le cas, être solidaire en rotation dudit premier élément, dudit deuxième élément ou d'aucun des éléments.

More precisely, the invention relates to a system for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, as defined by claim 1. This system comprises:

• a first bracelet element, such as an end link thereof or, in the case of a flexible bracelet strand, an end link serving as a first connecting piece arranged to take place between a pair of horns included in said watch case;
• a bar housed in said first element and extending along a longitudinal axis of the first element (this axis being perpendicular to the axis along which the bracelet extends), said bar comprising at least one retractable pivot intended to cooperate with one of said horns of said watch case; the pivot in question may include a stud or a housing, or any other shape allowing interaction with a complementary shape provided in the internal face of the corresponding horn;
• a second bracelet element, such as the link adjacent to the end link of a metal bracelet or a second link serving as a second connecting piece of a flexible bracelet strand, this second element being mounted around said bar so pivoting relative to said first element; the bar may, depending on the case, be integral in rotation with said first element, said second element or none of the elements.

• une première position angulaire relative entre ledit premier élément et ledit deuxième élément dans laquelle ledit pivot rétractable est maintenu dans une position déployée, dans laquelle il est apte à coopérer avec ladite corne, le maintien étant obtenu par exemple par le biais d'un ressort de rappel et/ou d'un blocage positif dans cette position ; et
• une deuxième position angulaire relative entre ledit premier élément et ledit deuxième élément dans laquelle ledit pivot rétractable est apte à être rétracté (par exemple manuellement) ou a été rétracté (par exemple automatiquement).

According to the invention, said first and second elements of the bracelet are adjacent links arranged to define:

• a first relative angular position between said first element and said second element in which said retractable pivot is maintained in a deployed position, in which it is able to cooperate with said horn, the retention being obtained for example by means of a spring of recall and / or positive blocking in this position; and
• a second relative angular position between said first element and said second element in which said retractable pivot is able to be retracted (for example manually) or has been retracted (for example automatically).

In doing so, by pivoting the second element relative to the first element, the retractable pivot (s) of the bar are likely to be deployed. and retracted automatically or manually as a function of the angular position of the two elements, which is simple for the user and prevents untimely retraction, since the relative position of the elements is fixed when the bracelet is worn.

Advantageously, a first among the first element and the second element (that is to say either the first element or the second element) comprises a first notch arranged to accommodate a lug integral with the pivot of the bar, at least when the elements are in the first relative angular position.

Advantageously, a second among the first element and the second element (that is to say the other element compared to that of the previous paragraph, in other words respectively the second element or the first element, if applicable) comprises a second notch arranged to be able to receive the lug at least when the elements are in the second relative angular position. This does not mean that the second notch necessarily receives the lug in the second relative angular position, but that the lug is not blocked in the second notch by the shape of the second element, and that the lug can thus pass in the second notch.

Advantageously, said second among the first element and of the second element is arranged to block the lug in the first notch when the elements are in the first angular position.

Advantageously, the second notch is formed so as to define a retaining surface, preferably in the form of a hook, arranged to retain said lug in a retracted position. An untimely return of the lug from its withdrawn position can thus be avoided by locking the lug in this position.

In a variant, said lug comprises a gripping member adapted to be actuated directly by a user, which represents a simple solution allowing manual retraction. In this case, the bar may include a sleeve integral in rotation with said first of said first element and said second element, if present, which assists in passing the lug behind the retaining surface, if present.

In another variant, the bar may include a sleeve integral in rotation with the second element, said lug extending through a slot made in the sleeve, the slot extending parallel to the axis of the bar. The first notch comprises a cam surface arranged to cooperate with said lug in order to retract the latter when the elements pass from the first angular position to the second relative angular position.

Advantageously, the first element comprises a notch located adjacent to the cam surface and arranged to retain said lug when the first and second elements are in the second relative angular position. In doing so, the system can be maintained in the state where the two elements of the bracelet in question are in their second relative angular position by means of the cooperation between the lugs and the notches.

Finally, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a watch case housing a horological movement and comprising at least one pair of lugs, a bracelet as well as an attachment system as defined above, the system serving in binding said bracelet to said horns.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figure 1 est une vue isométrique commune aux deux modes de réalisation d'un système selon l'invention, vu du côté cadran de la montre (non illustré) à laquelle le système est destiné à être fixé ;
• Figure 2 est une vue isométrique du système selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, vu du côté fond de la montre, dans une première position angulaire relative des premier et deuxième éléments que comporte le système ;
• Figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, dans laquelle lesdits éléments se trouvent dans une deuxième position angulaire relative ;
• Figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, dans laquelle lesdits éléments se trouvent dans la deuxième position angulaire relative et les ergots ont été retractés ;
• Figure 5 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, dans laquelle lesdits éléments se trouvent dans une troisième position angulaire relative ;
• Figure 6 est une vue isométrique coupée d'une partie du système du mode de réalisation de la figure 2, le deuxième élément de bracelet ayant été supprimé ;
• Figure 7 est une vue côté fond d'un deuxième mode de réalisation du système selon l'invention, lesdits deux éléments étant dans leur première position angulaire relative ;
• Figure 8 est une vue similaire à la figure 7, dans laquelle lesdits éléments se trouvent dans leur deuxième position angulaire relative ;
• Figure 9 est une vue isométrique coupée du mode de réalisation de la figure 7, l'un des éléments du système ayant été supprimé ;
• Figure 10 est une vue isométrique d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un système similaire au premier mode de réalisation ; et
• Figure 11 est une vue isométrique coupée du mode de réalisation de la figure 10.

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an isometric view common to the two embodiments of a system according to the invention, seen from the dial side of the watch (not illustrated) to which the system is intended to be attached;
• Figure 2 is an isometric view of the system according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from the back side of the watch, in a first relative angular position of the first and second elements that the system comprises;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to figure 2 , wherein said elements are in a second relative angular position;
• Figure 4 is a view similar to figure 2 , wherein said elements are in the second relative angular position and the lugs have been retracted;
• Figure 5 is a view similar to figure 2 , wherein said elements are in a third relative angular position;
• Figure 6 is a cutaway isometric view of part of the system of the embodiment of the figure 2 , the second bracelet element having been deleted;
• Figure 7 is a bottom side view of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention, said two elements being in their first relative angular position;
• Figure 8 is a view similar to figure 7 , wherein said elements are in their second relative angular position;
• Figure 9 is a cutaway isometric view of the embodiment of the figure 7 , one of the elements of the system having been deleted;
• Figure 10 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a system similar to the first embodiment; and
• Figure 11 is a cutaway isometric view of the embodiment of the figure 10 .

Embodiment of the invention

The figures 1 to 6 illustrate a first embodiment of a system 1 for fixing a bracelet (not illustrated) to a watch case (not illustrated), according to the invention. The watch case can accommodate any movement, mechanical or electronic, in a known manner.

The system 1 comprises a first element 3 of said bracelet arranged to fit between a pair of conventional horns included in the watch case. Said first element 3 of the embodiment shown is the end link of a metal bracelet. It wears a bar 5 which extends along a longitudinal axis AA, and which is perpendicular to the axis BB along which the bracelet extends. Alternatively, the first element 3 can be a first connecting piece, of the insert type, consisting of an end link serving to bind a flexible strap strand made of leather, fabric, rubber, or the like, indirectly to the box. watch.

The bar 5 comprises a tubular sleeve 11 which is integral in rotation with the first element 3, and which serves as an axis of rotation for a second element 9 of the bracelet. In the present case, the second element 9 is the link adjacent to the end link of the bracelet, whether it is a metal bracelet or a flexible bracelet. In the latter case, the second element 9 is also a second link, serving as a second connecting piece to which the flexible bracelet strand is attached. It is pivotally mounted on the first element 3 between two tenons 3a which this first element 3 comprises. For this purpose, the two tenons 3a and the second element 9 have ad-hoc openings to receive the sleeve 11. This sleeve 11 is made. integral in rotation with the first element 3 by means of welding, gluing, brazing, driving or simply by blocking between complementary shapes. This last possibility is illustrated on figure 6 . According to this example, the sleeve 11 comprises, in each section which passes through a tenon 3a, a longitudinal rail 11a extending parallel to the axis AA. This rail cooperates with a corresponding groove 3b provided in the internal wall of the opening made in each tenon 3a. Alternatively, instead of the rail 11a, one could provide one or more lugs, studs or similar (s).

Furthermore, the second element 9 comprises attachment means 9a to the rest of the bracelet (not illustrated), these means being illustrated here as a transverse opening 9a adapted to receive a pin used for fixing the following element, whether this either a next link or a flexible strand as mentioned above.

The sleeve 11 supports a pair of retractable pivots 7 of the bar 5, each pivot 7 comprising a stud extending outwardly along the axis AA. These pads are intended to cooperate with respective housings provided in the internal faces of the horns of the watch case (not shown). The pivots 7 are movable along the axis AA against a force exerted by a return spring (not shown) housed inside the bar 5 and which serves to maintain the pivots 7 in their positions. deployed, as illustrated by figures 1 to 3 .

Alternatively, the retractable pivots 7 can include housings which cooperate with fixed projections which extend along the axis A-A from the internal faces of the horns in the case where the bar is of the type called “negative bar”.

Each stud 3 is integral with a respective lug 13, which extends laterally through a respective longitudinal slot 15 made in the wall of the sleeve 11. Each lug 13 is accessible to the user, typically on the bottom side (relative to to the timepiece with which the system 1 is associated) of the system 1. As such, the head of each lug has dimensions allowing its manipulation by a user's finger so that it serves as a control member. gripping.

In the figure 2 , the pivots 7 are in their deployed positions, their studs thus being able to cooperate with corresponding housings located on the horns of the watch case. In this state, the first element 3 and the second element 9 occupy a first relative angular position between them, in which the lugs 13 are blocked in the first notches 17 made in the interior walls of the lugs 3a by the shape of the second element 9. This shape is adapted to close said first notches 17 so that the lugs 13 cannot come out when said elements are in their first relative angular position. The pivots 7 are thus retained in their deployed positions not only under the effect of the return spring, but also by mechanical locking.

Now looking at the figure 3 , the second element 9 has been pivoted downwards according to the orientation of this figure, which corresponds to an upward pivoting (considered on the dial side) relative to the timepiece. In this second relative angular position, second notches 19 provided on the second element 9 are each located opposite a respective first notch 17, so that the lugs 13 (and thus the pivots 7) can be manually retracted towards each other along the 'AA axis. Thus, the lugs 13 can be taken out of the first notches 17 and enter the second notches 19, as illustrated by figure 4 .

In this state, the pivots 7 have been retracted, and the system can in principle be removed from the watch case. However, by releasing the lugs 13 in this state, they will fall back into their first corresponding notches 17, under the effect of the return spring.

In order to minimize this risk and to facilitate the handling of the system 1, the second element 9 can be pivoted even further relative to the first element 3 (see figure 5 ), in order to bring each lug 13 into a part of the respective second notch 19 which is shaped to define a retention surface 21. In doing so, the two elements 3, 9 are in a third relative angular position. Since the sleeve 11 is integral in rotation with the first element 3, the lugs 13 are obliged to take place behind the respective retention surfaces 21 following the pivoting of the second element towards this angular position. The pins 13 (and thus the pivots 7) are consequently maintained in their retracted position. It should also be noted that the illustrated retention surfaces 21 define hooks which also serve to block the second element 9 in its third relative angular position with respect to the first element 3. In doing so, an untimely return of the lugs 13 can be avoided.

In order to return the studs 7 to their deployed positions, it is necessary to slightly remove the pins 13 by manually pushing them towards each other along the axis AA, and to rotate the second element 9 with respect to the first element 3 so that they adopt their second relative angular position again (like the one illustrated in figure 4 ). The lugs 13 can then be released so that they fall back into the respective first lugs 17 ( figure 3 ). Then, the two elements 9, 3 can be rotated to adopt new their respective first angular position (cf. figure 2 ) and to block the lugs 13 in the first notches 17.

One can of course consider variations to system 1 of figures 1 to 6 . For example, the locking surfaces 21 can extend in planes perpendicular to the axis AA instead of having the form of hooks, and it is not mandatory that the sleeve 11 be integral in rotation with the first element. In the latter case, the lugs 13 can be moved manually behind their respective locking surfaces 21 without requiring a pivoting of the second element towards said third relative angular position. However, this variant makes handling less easy for the user.

Alternatively, the first element 3 can be formed to fit between tenons that the second element 9 comprises, the other parts of the system 1 being adapted to these different shapes of the two elements 3, 9.

The figures 7 to 9 illustrate a second embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention.

In this embodiment, the tubular sleeve 11 of the bar is integral in rotation with the second element 9 instead of the first 3. For this purpose, the sleeve is moved by pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first 3. The lugs 13 are then rotated around the axis AA accordingly. The sleeve 11 can be made integral in rotation with the second element 9 by means of welding, gluing, brazing, driving in or by simply blocking between complementary shapes. The figure 9 illustrates this latter possibility, the sleeve 11 again comprising a rail 11a extending parallel to the axis AA, which cooperates with a corresponding groove 9b provided in the internal wall of the opening made in the second element.

The first notches 17 provided in the tenons 3a of the first element are each shaped to define an operating clearance by means of an extension 24 of each first notch 17. This extension extends in a direction parallel to the axis BB, and the corresponding lug 13 can fit in to allow some pivoting of the elements 3, 9 relative to each other when the part is worn, which compensates for variations in the size of the wrist of different wearers and thus ensure their comfort .

In principle, in this embodiment, the lugs 13 are not blocked against manual retraction when the elements are in said respective first angular position, this retraction being carried out using a tool ad hoc or by the user's fingers if the lugs 13 have an appropriate shape. However, this manipulation is difficult and is not the goal sought by this embodiment.

In the condition shown on figure 7 , the lugs 13 are retained at the bottom of the first lugs by means of the aforementioned return spring (not illustrated), which maintains them in this position in order to ensure the deployment of the pivots 7 of the bar 5.

The system 1 of this embodiment is adapted to effect the retraction of the lugs 13 automatically by pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first element 3. For this purpose, a wall of each of the first notches 17 defines a cam surface. 25 which is arranged to retract a respective lug 13 when the second member 9 is pivoted from said first relative angular position illustrated in FIG. figure 7 to the second relative angular position shown on figure 8 . During the transition between the first relative angular position and the second, the lugs 13 are each constrained against the corresponding cam surface 25, and are caused to move parallel to the axis AA in the direction of each other. The shape of the second notches 19 is of course adapted to allow the passage of the pins 13 when they rise along the corresponding cam surface 25.

When the elements 3, 9 are in their second relative angular position, the lugs 13 have been completely retracted and cooperate with corresponding notches 27, the latter being located adjacent to the cam surfaces 25 and acting as notches serving to hold the lugs. 13 in the retracted position. By these means, system 1 is maintained in the state of figure 8 until the user begins to pivot the second element towards said second relative angular position, which causes the lugs to emerge from the corresponding notches. An untimely return of the pins 13 can thus be avoided. However, these notches 27 are not mandatory if a high risk of such a return is considered acceptable.

In order to return the pins 7 of the bar to their deployed position, it is simply necessary to rotate the second element 9 again with respect to the first element 3 and thus put them back in said first relative angular position.

It should also be noted that, as is the case for the embodiment of figures 1 to 6 , the first element 3 can alternately fit between tenons that the second element 9 comprises, the other parts of the system 1 of the embodiment of the figures 7 and 8 being adapted accordingly to this variation in the shapes of the two elements 3, 9. For the rest, it is possible that a pivot 7 of the bar is fixed, only the other being retractable in this embodiment as well.

The figures 10 and 11 illustrate an additional embodiment, illustrating the application of the principle of that of figures 2 to 6 to a five row bracelet construction. Only the differences between these two variants will be described below.

In this construction, the two tenons 3a of the first element 3 fit into respective interstices formed between the three sub-elements 9c which are integral with each other, in order to compose the link constituting the second element 9. Since the tenons 3a are no longer on the lateral sides of the system 1, these positions now being occupied by the external sub-elements 9c of the second element, the arrangement of the notches 17, 19 is reversed with respect to that of the figures 2 to 6 .

For this purpose, the first notches 17 are formed in the second element 9, in particular in the internal walls of the external sub-elements 9c, and the second notches 19 are formed in the tenons 3a of the first element 3. In view of this inverted construction , the sleeve 11 of the bar 5 is also integral in rotation with the second element 9 instead of the first element 3.

The operation is identical to that described in connection with the embodiment of the figures 1 to 6 : in the position shown on the figure 10 , the lugs 13 are blocked in their first respective notches by the outer side faces of the tenons 3a. By pivoting the second element 9 relative to the first element 3, the pins 13 are released and can be moved manually towards each other to make them enter the second notches 19. By continuing the pivoting of the second element 9 relative at the first 3, the lugs 13 are moved along the second notches 19 thanks to the fact that the sleeve 11 of the bar 5 is integral in rotation with the second element 9. In doing so, the lugs 13 are brought behind the respective retention surfaces 21 defined by the side walls of the second notches 19, in order to retain them and facilitate removal of the system from the watch case.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with specific embodiments, additional variants are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, one could consider a system 1 without a return spring housed in the bar 5, the pivots 7 being moved along the axis AA in both directions desmodromically according to the relative angular position of the two elements 3, 9 by an appropriate cam system.

Claims (10)

1. System (1) for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, comprising:

   - a first bracelet element (3) arranged so as to adopt a position between a pair of horns comprised by said watch case;

   - a bar (5) housed in said first element (3) and extending along a transverse axis (A-A) of this latter, said bar (5) having at least one retractable pivot (7) intended to cooperate with one of said horns of said watch case;

   - a second bracelet element (9) mounted around said bar (5) so as to pivot relative to said first element;

   characterized in that said first element (3) and said second element (9) are adjacent links, arranged so as to define:

   - a first relative angular position between said first element (3) and said second element (9) in which said retractable pivot (7) is held in a deployed position in which said pivot (7) is able to cooperate with said horn; and

   - a second relative angular position between said first element (3) and said second element (9) in which said retractable pivot (7) is retracted or is able to be retracted.
2. System (1) according to Claim 1, wherein a first of said first element (3) and said second element (9) has a first notch (17) arranged so as to house a lug (13) secured to said pivot (7) of said bar (5) at least when said elements (3, 9) are in said first relative angular position.
3. System (1) according to Claim 2, wherein a second of said first element (3) and said second element (9) has a second notch (19) arranged so as to be able to receive said lug (13) when said elements (3, 9) are in said second relative angular position.
4. System (1) according to Claim 3, wherein said second of said first element (3) and said second element (9) is arranged so as to block said lug (13) in said first notch (17) when said elements (3, 9) are in said first relative angular position.
5. System (1) according to Claim 4, wherein said second notch (19) is formed in such a way as to define a retention surface (21), preferably in the form of a hook, arranged so as to retain said lug (13) in a retracted position.
6. System (1) according to either of Claims 4 and 5, wherein said lug (13) has a manipulable member adapted to be directly actuated by a user.
7. System according to one of Claims 4-6, wherein said bar (5) has a sleeve (11) that is rotationally-integrated with said first of said first element (3) and said second element (9).
8. System (1) according to Claim 3, wherein said bar (5) has a sleeve (11) that is rotationally-integrated with said second element (9), said lug (13) extending through a slot (15) made in said sleeve (15), said slot (15) extending parallel to the axis (A-A) of said bar, said first notch (17) defining a cam surface (25) arranged so as to cooperate with said lug (13) in order to retract this latter when said elements (3, 9) transition from said first relative angular position to said second relative angular position.
9. System (1) according to Claim 8, wherein said first element (3) has a notch (27) situated adjacent to said cam surface (25) and arranged so as to hold said lug (13) when said first and second elements (3, 9) are in said second relative angular position.
10. Timepiece comprising:

    - a watch case housing a timepiece movement and having at least one pair of horns;

    - a bracelet; and

    - an attachment system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said system (1) serving to connect said bracelet to said horns.

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