EP3593667B1 - Link for bracelet - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of jewelry and watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a link for a watch or jewelry bracelet. This bracelet is formed of a plurality of links articulated to each other, at least some of which are those of the invention.

State of the art

The document EP1428451 discloses a watch strap, in which no fastener such as a pin, screw or the like is visible on an outer surface of the strap. This bracelet is made up of modular assemblies which extend in a transverse direction, and which are formed of several adjacent links fixed to each other by a connecting pin. This axis is arranged in such a way that some of the links are made integral in rotation with one another, and others are free to pivot about the axis. By removing or adding modules, the length of the bracelet can be adapted to the wrist of the wearer.

However, this construction makes certain links integral with others, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom of the bracelet, making the latter less flexible than desirable, in particular in torsion. For the rest, the manufacturer cannot leave spaces in the arrangement of links, which limits the possibilities at the aesthetic level.

The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a bracelet link in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of the invention

• un corps muni d'une cavité ménagée dans, et donc débouchant sur, au moins une face latérale dudit corps ;
• au moins un système d'articulation comprenant une goupille agencée pour relier ledit corps à un autre maillon, immédiatement adjacent ou pas, de façon articulée.

More precisely, the invention relates to a bracelet link, comprising:

• a body provided with a cavity formed in, and therefore opening onto, at least one lateral face of said body;
• at least one articulation system comprising a pin arranged to connect said body to another link, immediately adjacent or not, in an articulated manner.

According to the invention, said cavity defines an insertion zone allowing the insertion of said pin into said cavity as well as a shoulder defining at least one retention zone. Said pin comprises a bead at a first of its ends, shaped to be able to enter said insertion zone and to be blocked by said shoulder in a direction parallel to the axis of said pin. The second end of the pin is arranged to be fixed to another link (which can also be according to the invention or conventional), for example by means of driving, gluing, welding or the like. Furthermore, said body insertion zone is closed by means of a closure element such as a plug, a threaded element or the like, fixed in said zone.

By these means, when building a bracelet comprising such links, no fixing means is visible on an external face of said bracelet, and it is possible to create bracelets in which each link can pivot relative to each other link. . This bracelet can constitute a piece of jewelry or can be attached to a watch case of a timepiece.

Other advantageous characteristics are defined by dependent claims.

• insérer ladite première extrémité de ladite goupille dans ladite zone d'insertion ;
• faire déplacer ladite goupille latéralement (c'est-à-dire substantiellement perpendiculairement à l'axe de la goupille) de telle sorte que ledit bourrelet est bloqué selon l'axe de la goupille par ledit épaulement ; et
• insérer ledit élément de fermeture dans ladite zone d'insertion.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling a bracelet link as defined above, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said first end of said pin into said insertion area;
• moving said pin laterally (that is to say substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin) so that said bead is blocked along the axis of the pin by said shoulder; and
• inserting said closure element into said insertion area.

The link thus assembled can be pivotally attached to other links, regardless of whether the links are according to the invention or conventional.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figure 1 est une vue isométrique d'un maillon selon l'invention ainsi que deux autres maillons adjacents ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en coupe du maillon de la figure 1 fixé aux deux autres maillons adjacents ;
• Figure 3 est une vue isométrique du corps dudit maillon ainsi que d'une des goupilles y associée ;
• Figures 4 à 7 illustrent les étapes de montage dudit maillon ;
• Figures 8 et 9 illustrent schématiquement deux autres variantes de maillons selon l'invention ; et
• Figures 10 et 11 illustrent deux sections d'un bracelet comprenant des maillons selon l'invention.

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

• Figure 1 is an isometric view of a link according to the invention as well as two other adjacent links;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view of the link of the figure 1 attached to the other two adjacent links;
• Figure 3 is an isometric view of the body of said link as well as of one of the pins associated therewith;
• Figures 4 to 7 illustrate the steps in assembling said link;
• Figures 8 and 9 schematically illustrate two other variants of links according to the invention; and
• Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two sections of a bracelet comprising links according to the invention.

Embodiment of the invention

The figures 1 and 2 illustrate a bracelet link 1 according to the invention and links with which it is intended to be assembled, these other links possibly being either links according to the invention or links of the prior art. This link comprises a body 3, which is provided with a cavity 5 opening onto a first lateral face 3a of the body 3 as well as at least one articulation system. The latter is formed of a pin 7, a first end of which has a head comprising a bead 7a extending radially from the shank of the pin, this bead taking place with play in said cavity 5. By "side face" is meant a surface which, when the bracelet is assembled, lies in an XZ plane (see the indications on figure 1 ) and which is perpendicular both to the direction X of extension of the bracelet as well as to the direction Y along its width. Even if said face side 3a is shown here in a planar fashion, it may also be curved or the like. In addition, the builder can give any shape to the body, according to his needs.

This cavity 5 is shaped to define a shoulder 5a arranged to block said bead 7a in the cavity 5, as well as an insertion zone 5b dimensioned to allow the passage of said bead 7a and its insertion into the cavity 5. In the mode. of embodiment illustrated, the insertion zone 5b is located in the middle of said first lateral face 3a of the body 3. However, the insertion zone 5c may be located at an ad hoc location, in particular when the link 1 only comprises a single articulation system on one of its side faces. The shoulder 5a extends on either side of the insertion zone 5c, and is opposite the internal face 5d of the cavity 5. In the case of a link 1 which does not include, on the one of its faces, that a single articulation system instead of two, the shoulder 5a can extend on only one side of the insertion zone 5c.

After insertion of the bead 7a, the latter can be moved along the cavity 5 in the X direction (i.e. longitudinally with respect to the body 3 and laterally with respect to the pin 7), so that the bead 7a takes place behind the shoulder 5a, which serves as a stop (see figures 3 and 4 which illustrate these assembly steps). Since the shoulder defines an opening of dimension smaller than the diameter of the bead 7a (or more generally less than the dimension of the bead if it is not circular), the latter is thus blocked by the shoulder 5a in the axial direction of pin 7, and therefore cannot come out of cavity 5 in that direction. The part of the cavity 5, delimited by the shoulder, can thus be considered as being a retention zone 5f, which serves to retain the head of the pin 7 in the cavity 5.

When the pin (s) 7 have been placed in their respective retention zone 5f ( figure 5 ), the insertion zone 5c is closed by a closure element such as a plug 9, which is inserted into the insertion zone 5c. Link 1 is thus complete (see figure 6 ).

The closing element 9 also serves as a stop for locking the pin 7 in translation in the groove. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure element 9 cooperates with the side of said pin 7, but it is also possible that an extension of the element 9 can protrude into the space adjacent to the bead 7a, to serve as an extension of the element 9. further stop for this part of the pin 7. In addition, the closure element 9 is preferably dimensioned so that the pin 7 is positioned without disturbing play for the wearer, while allowing a rotation of the pin 7 around its own axis. The stopper 9 is held in the insertion zone 5c, for example by means of a ring 9a of flexible material such as rubber, silicone, an elastomer or the like, retained by a circumferential groove of which is provided with the stopper 9. Alternatively, the stopper 9 can be driven out in the insertion zone 5c, or the stopper can also be threaded so that a closure element can cooperate by screwing with a complementary thread provided in the internal wall of the insertion area.

By these means, the pins 7 are prevented from moving in translation towards the insertion zone 5c, and therefore cannot leave their retention zone 5f or the cavity 5.

In order to fix the link 1 to other adjacent links and thus to build a bracelet, the second end 7b of each pin opposite to that having the bead 7a can be fixed to another link 1, 11, for example by being driven out, glued, welded or the like in an opening 11a made in the latter. To this end, said second end 7b may include longitudinal grooves or the like in order to assist in this fixing. In the illustrated embodiment, this other link is of a second type, different from the link 1 according to the invention, the latter being called “a link of a first type” hereinafter, in order to identify it clearly.

Each pin 7 may have a sufficient length to be fixed to an adjacent link 11, or to pass with play through a through opening 11b of the adjacent link 11 and then to be secured with another non-adjacent link. These two possibilities can be combined, one of the pins 7 of a particular link 1 is of the type illustrated on the figures 1 to 6 , the other being longer. We will come back to this point below.

The figure 7 illustrates an assembly comprising a link 1 of a first type (according to the invention), as well as two adjacent links 11 of the aforementioned second type. This figure clearly shows that the construction of the link 1 leaves no visible fixing means on an outer surface of the bracelet, the stopper 9 being barely visible between the adjacent links 11. Its surface can also be polished to make it almost invisible on the side face of link 1.

The construction of link 1 illustrated on figures 1-7 suitable for use as an end link on the lateral sides of the bracelet.

The figure 8 very schematically illustrates an embodiment of a link 1 according to the invention, which is suitable for use as an intermediate link, which is located inside the bracelet, and can thus be fixed to adjacent links located on either side other of link 1 in question.

On one of the faces (right side according to the orientation shown) of this link 1 is a single articulation system comprising a single pin 7, the insertion zone 5c and the plug 9 being off-center with respect to the body 3 of the link. The opposite face of the link has one or two blind holes 13, each arranged to receive a pin 7 or a conventional pin in order to link this face of the link 1 to an adjacent link.

The figure 9 very schematically illustrates another embodiment of a link 1 according to the invention. In this variant, the opening 5 is through, connecting one of the lateral faces 3a of the body 3 with the other 3a ', two articulation systems and two closing elements 9 being provided in each lateral face of the body 3. However, it is also possible to provide an internal wall inside the cavity 5, in order to divide the latter into two in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the pins and thus to increase the rigidity of the body 3. It is of course possible to remove one of the articulation systems on one or the other of said faces, and / or to replace one or more of the pins 7 with a blind hole 13 as illustrated in the figure 8 , or to replace two coaxial pins 7 with a through opening like the opening 11b of the link of the second type 11.

The Figures 10 and 11 illustrate sections of a bracelet comprising several links 1 according to the invention, in particular all of the lateral links, in accordance with the construction illustrated by the figures 1 to 7 . Several of the pins 7 have been shown schematically by “T” shapes, in order to illustrate various non-limiting possibilities for fixing some of the links 1 to others. In order not to overload the figures, all the pins 7 have not been indicated by a reference sign.

In principle, each link of the bracelet 15 can be a link 1 according to one of the variants described above, chosen ad hoc for each individual link. In doing so, the manufacturer can benefit from great freedom in the distribution and positioning of the links according to patterns that he can choose at will, each link being able to pivot freely in relation to each other and the possibility of leaving gaps. 16 in the arrangement being free. The manufacturer can thus use this advantage of the link 1 according to the invention to create various original arrangements without having to make any link rotationally integral with another.

Hereinafter, a construction of bracelet 15 is proposed which combines links 1 according to the invention as well as standard links 11, in order to optimize the bracelet in terms of assembly and ergonomics. To this end, some of the links may be simpler than those of the invention, such as link 11 of the second type illustrated on the figures 6 and 7 .

As such, we can mention the link 1 ', which is exactly like that of the figures 1 to 7 , and which is fixed by its pins to links 11 of the second type in the manner mentioned above.

The link 1 ", which is adjacent to the link 1 'in the longitudinal direction is also that of the figures 1 to 7 , except that its pins are longer in order to cross two other intermediate links before being fixed to links 11 ", the ends of the pins 7 being made integral with the latter as described above. Again, each of the links concerned can pivot with respect to the others.

The 11 '''link is of the type illustrated by figure 9 , each of the second ends of the pins 7 being fixed to the adjacent link.

The link 1 ^iv comprises a single articulation system, as well as a blind hole coaxial with the pin of said single articulation system. At the other end of link 1 ^iv there is a through opening through which passes, with play, a pin 7 belonging to the adjacent link.

For the sake of simplification, certain links can be made to rotate with others. Then, we can bind certain groups of links in a conventional way, as indicated by the oval 11 '''. Inside this 11 '' oval, some links are fixed to others by a pin which is secured at its two ends to two 11 ^v links, and which crosses with clearance an 11 ^vi intermediate link. The intermediate link 11 ^vi can therefore pivot relative to the two ^{adjacent links 11 v} , the latter being mutually integral in rotation.

In order to attach the bracelet 15 to a watch case 17, the latter may include a plurality of horns, intended to take place in the interstices 17a located between the links. The horns are provided with openings in a conventional manner, a bar or rod 19 passing through the openings of the horns on each side of the box. Furthermore, the watch case may also include openings in another of its faces, these openings receiving pins 7 'carried by, or passing through. links 11 ^iv adjacent to said box 17.

Finally, it is noted that it is possible to mount jewelry such as precious stones 21 in housings 23 formed in some (or all of the) links 1, 11.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with specific embodiments, further variations are also made. conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

1. Bracelet link (1), comprising:

   - a body (3) provided with a cavity (5) formed in at least one lateral face (3a) of said body (3);

   - at least one articulation system comprising a pin (7) that is arranged so as to connect said body (3) to another link (1, 11) in an articulated manner;
   characterized in that:

   - said cavity (5) defines an insertion zone (5c) allowing said pin (7) to be inserted into said cavity, and a shoulder (5a) defining a retention zone (5f);

   - said pin (7) comprises a rim (7a) at a first of its ends, said rim (7a) being shaped so as to be able to enter said insertion zone (5c) and so as to be immobilized by said shoulder (5a) in a direction parallel to the axis of said pin (7), a second end (7b) of said pin (7) being arranged so as to be fastened to another link (1, 11);
   and in that a closure element (9) is fastened in said insertion zone (5c).
2. Link (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising two articulation systems that are disposed on either side of said insertion zone (5c), the respective pins (7) extending from the same lateral face (3a) of said body (3).
3. Link (1) according to either of the preceding claims, comprising at least two articulation systems that are arranged on either side of said body (3), the respective pins (7) extending from opposite lateral faces (3a, 3a') of said body (3).
4. Link (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said body (3) comprises a single cavity (5) extending from one lateral face (3a) of said body (3) to the other (3a').
5. Link (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said closure element (9) is a stopper or a threaded element arranged so as to be screwed into a complementary tapped portion provided in the insertion zone (5c).
6. Bracelet (15) comprising at least one link (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
7. Timepiece comprising a watch case (17) housing a timepiece movement, and a bracelet (15) according to the preceding claim fastened to said watch case (17).
8. Method for assembling a link (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of:

   - inserting said first end of said pin (7) into said insertion zone;

   - moving said pin (7) laterally relative to its own axis, such that said rim (7a) is immobilized axially by said shoulder (5a); and

   - inserting said closure element (9) into said insertion zone (5c).

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