EP3824755B1

EP3824755B1 - Adjustable bracelet for wristwatch

Info

Publication number: EP3824755B1
Application number: EP19210448.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Claudio Corbucci
Original assignee: Brogioli Sa
Current assignee: Brogioli Sa
Priority date: 2019-11-20
Filing date: 2019-11-20
Publication date: 2022-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-11-20
Also published as: EP3824755A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the watchmaking field and pertains to bracelets and clasps for wristwatch applications.
In particular, the present invention relates to an adjustable watchband for wristwatch comprising a locking device able to realize an accurate and adjustable closure. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a wristwatch comprising an adjustable watchband of the aforementioned type.

Background Art

Watchband for wristwatch are usually made up of two elongated elements, defined in particular by straps or articulated elements, separated to each other and connected to the case in opposite positions of the same to wrap the user's wrist. The coupling of the two elongated elements of a watchband is realized by a locking device that can be made in different ways according to the type of watchband used.
The watchbands in non-metallic material, or the straps, include elongated elements provided with a plurality of holes on at least one of these and made of materials such as, for example, leather, fabric or plastic material. In this regard, the locking device includes a buckle provided with a movable tip that allows insertion, and related locking, into one of said holes of the elongated elements of the watchband to adjust the length with respect to the size of a user's wrist.
The watchbands in metallic material have an articulated bracelet instead of the straps, wherein each elongated element comprises a plurality of metallic elements which are hinged in succession along the sides perpendicular to the main development of the articulated bracelet.
The locking devices of known type, may comprise a pair of thin plates and a covering buckle which are adjoining coupled to each other and hinged along a side perpendicular to the development direction of the bracelet so as to be superimposable, both for straps or articulated bracelets.
A closure device of the above type is described, for example, in the Swiss Patent n. CH700356 , in the name of the same Applicant, comprising a rigid foil and a flexible foil, the latter hinged at one end of the rigid foil. The flexible foil is shaped with a pair of arms suitable for being elastically deformed by pressing on a pair of buttons, placed respectively on each of the aforesaid arms, at the opposite end with respect to the hinge and able to allow the insertion of the flexible foil on the rigid foil. The flexible sheet is equipped with at least one toothed element at a cavity present on the rigid sheet, in which the pair of arms that defines the flexible sheet is able to flex with respect to the axis of the hinge allowing the movement of the toothed element that lets the mechanical coupling with the cavity of the flexible foil, for a coupling of a reversible type.
The use of bracelets provided with traditional closures of the aforementioned type, while ensuring excellent closure and effectiveness over time, does not allow to adapt their development to the wrist size of the user. This problem is particularly relevant in the articulated bracelets, where the adjustment of the size of the bracelet itself is carried out by removing or adding one or more metal elements to the elongated elements, wherein the use of a buckle closure device equipped with a barb is not possible.
In this regard, the Applicant has developed a closure device for articulated bracelets of the above type, which allows to define the size of the bracelet with a simple operation, without removing or inserting the metal elements. The Swiss Patent n. CH696697 describes an articulated bracelet, in metal material, in which the closure device includes a foil provided with a flat rack and a cover buckle provided with an appropriate toothing. The aforementioned toothing can be arranged in the operative position, in which it meshes with the flat rack to allow locking of the bracelet, or in the non-operative position, in which the foil and the buckle can be released and spaced apart. The arrangement in the non-operative position is operated by means of a button located on the external surface of the buckle and which acts on elastic means interposed between the buckle itself and the toothed element, releasing the latter from the rack. To allow the adjustment of the bracelet, the rack and the toothed element can be spaced relatively, in a non-operative position, allowing the rack to slide longitudinally with respect to the direction of development of the bracelet, to place the rack within the cover buckle according to the desired size for the bracelet.
The closure device for articulated bracelets described above allows, therefore, to make a more precise adjustment of the size of the bracelet according to the size of the user's wrist, to optimize the wearability that would otherwise be compromised by the adjustments due to the dimensions of each of the metal elements of the articulated bracelets.
This adjustment, however, is restricted to the use of articulated bracelets in metallic material and, moreover, limited to the fine adjustment after the correct identification of the number of metal elements to be removed. In the same way, the use of buckle locking devices is only possible for bracelets of the strap type, in which the adjustment possibilities are limited to the number of corresponding holes made on the elongated elements, with the limitation of maintaining a great distance, which corresponds to the adjustment step, between two consecutive holes to ensure the mechanical capacity of the bracelet.
It would be therefore desirable to have an adjustable bracelet for a wristwatch capable of minimizing the above-mentioned drawbacks. In particular, it would be desirable to have an adjustable bracelet that can be used in straps made of non-metallic material and capable of allowing a complete adjustment of the size of the bracelet, without interfering with the mechanical capacity of the bracelet itself.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable watchband for wristwatch capable of minimizing the aforementioned problems.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable watchband comprising a locking device able to considerably improve the size adjustment of the closure of the watchband.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a wristwatch comprising an adjustable watchband provided with a locking device able to minimize the aforementioned problems.
The aforesaid objects are achieved by an adjustable watchband for wristwatch, according to the appended claims.
The adjustable watchband for wristwatch comprises:

a first flexible elongated element and a second flexible elongated element;
a locking device of the first and second flexible elongated elements, wherein the locking device is able to be disposed from an operative condition, wherein the first and second flexible elongated elements are arranged close to each other for the closure of the adjustable watchband, to a non-operative condition, wherein the first and second flexible elongated elements are arranged spaced to each other for the opening of the adjustable watchband, and vice versa; and
an adjustment device comprising a rack mechanism provided with a rack and a toothed element, able to be mutually engaged for adjusting the size of the adjustable watchband when the locking device is arranged in the operative condition;

the adjustable watchband is characterized in that it comprises a coupling pin for coupling to the first flexible elongated element, able to be integrally engaged with the first flexible elongated element by means of a through opening provided on the first flexible elongated element,
wherein an end of the coupling pin is arranged at the locking device, and
wherein the opposite end of the coupling pin is constrained to the adjustable device to allow the movement of the coupling pin and of the rack mechanism at same time.

The present invention therefore allows the use of adjustment watchband comprising straps, maintaining an excellent adjustment of the size of the watchband itself and without weakening the flexible elongated elements.
Preferably, the end of the coupling pin, which is arranged at the locking device, is operatively connected to the locking device such that the coupling pin is allowed to move along the locking device.
Even more preferably, the locking device is provided with an engagement slot, and
wherein the end of the coupling pin, which is operatively connected to the locking device, is able to be moved within the engagement slot along the locking device.
Even more preferably, the engagement slot is defined along the main direction of development of the adjustable watchband, and
wherein the end of the coupling pin, which is operatively connected to the locking device, is able to be moved within the engagement slot along the main direction of development.
In this way, the movement of the pin drags the movement of the first elongated element to adjust the desired size.
Preferably, the locking device comprises a pair of thin plates hinged along a side which is perpendicular to the main direction of development of the watchband so as to be superimposable when the locking device is moved in the operative condition.
Even more preferably, the engagement slot is defined along one of the pair of thin plates.
In this way, the movement of the pin is conditioned to the shape of the engagement slot as defined on the pair of thin plates.
Preferably, the coupling pin is constrained to the rack mechanism, by spacing the pair of thin plates from the rack mechanism to interpose the first flexible elongated element.
Even more preferably, the coupling pin is constrained to a constraining surface of the rack.
Even more preferably, the toothed element is operatively connected to the rack, superimposed to a surface opposite to the constraining surface.
In this way, the first flexible elongated element is interposed between the locking device and the adjustment device, being subject to both devices for its arrangement.
Preferably, the locking device comprises an end element constrained to the second flexible elongated element, and
wherein the adjustment device comprises a closure buckle able to engage the end element for locking the adjustable watchband.
Even more preferably, the closure buckle is superimposed to the toothed element.
The closing buckle therefore allows the locking of the adjustable watchband, as well as the entire covering of the rack mechanism.
Preferably, the adjustment device comprises pretensioned elastic means able to operatively connect the rack and the toothed element, engaging the toothed element to the rack.
Even more preferably, the adjustment device comprises unlocking means operatively connected to the pretensioned elastic means and operable by a user to release the toothed element from the rack.
The pretensioned elastic means therefore allow to maintain the constrain position of the toothed element on the rack, allowing the subsequent release for handling the rack, i.e. the pin bound to it.
The above-mentioned objects are further achieved by a wristwatch, according to the appended claims.
The wristwatch comprises a case and a watchband, wherein the watchband is coupled on opposite sides to the case and is able to allow the coupling of the wristwatch to a user,
the wristwatch is characterized in that the watchband is an adjustable watchband according to one or more of the appended claims.

Description of the figures

These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosure of the preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable watchband, wherein the cover buckle is represented in a schematic way, according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top perspective view of the adjustable watchband of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of the adjustable watchband of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a detailed front perspective view of the adjustable watchband of Figure 1, wherein the position adjustment means are arranged in a starting stroke position;
Figure 5 is a detailed front perspective view of the adjustable watchband of Figure 1, wherein the position adjustment means are arranged in a stopping stroke position.

Detailed description of the invention

With reference to Figures 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the adjustable watchband 1 for wristwatch according to the present invention is illustrated.
Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the adjustable watchband 1, in which part of the elements are removed or partially schematized, as described in greater detail below.
The adjustable watchband 1 for wristwatch comprises a locking device 11 of a first flexible elongated element and of a second flexible elongated element, and an adjustment device 21 of the size of the adjustable watchband 1 itself. In particular, the locking device 11 and the adjustment device 21 are able to be mutually engaged for adjusting the size of the adjustable watchband 1 when the locking device 11 is arranged in the operative condition, as described in greater detail below.
The term "watchband size " means, in the present invention, the size defined by the adjustable watchband 1 when worn by a user, therefore in the operative position.
In Figures 1-5 attached hereto, the aforementioned first and second elongated elements are not illustrated, therefore referring to elongated elements of the known type, that are flexible elements preferable made of non-metallic material. Suitable materials for making the aforementioned first and second elongated elements can be, for example, leather, synthetic leather, fabric or plastic material.
The locking device 11 is able to be moved from an operative condition to a non-operative condition, and vice versa. In the operative condition, the first elongated element and the second elongated element are arranged close to each other for the closure of the adjustable watchband 1, allowing to identify a closure size of the adjustable watchband 1. In the non-operative condition, the first elongated element and the second elongated element are arranged spaced to each other for the opening of the adjustable bracelet, thus defining a larger size, i.e. the separation between the two aforementioned elongated elements.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated therein, the locking device 11 comprises a pair of thin plates 111, 211, illustrated superimposed in the attached Figures 1-5 and, in particular, in Figures 1 and 3. The aforementioned thin plates 111, 211, preferably in metallic material, are shaped following a radius of curvature that can easily adapt to the wrist of the user who will use the adjustable watchband 1. As illustrated, the thin plates 111, 211 are hinged along a side 111' perpendicular to the direction of development of the watchband so as to be superimposable when the locking device 11 is moved in the operative position.
The term "development direction" or "main development direction" means, in the present invention, the direction relative to the largest size of the element considered.
The locking device 11 is also provided with an engagement slot 311, which is preferably defined along the aforementioned main development direction of the adjustable watchband 1. In the embodiment described therein, the engagement slot 311 has an oval shape, as illustrated in greater detail in Figure 4. Furthermore, the aforementioned engagement slot 311 is made along one of the pair of thin plates, in particular along the thin plate 111.
The aforesaid arrangement allows to constrain the movement of a coupling pin 31 (Figure 4) to the conformation of the engagement slot 311 as defined on the thin plate 111, by at least partially unloading the mechanical load generated by the same coupling pin 31.
According to further embodiments, not illustrated or described in greater detail therein, the locking device has no engagement slot, or the engagement slot is shaped in a different way and so that to allow unloading the mechanical load without any guiding function.
Said coupling pin 31 is an element of the adjustable watchband 1 provided with two opposite ends. One of the above ends is arranged at the locking device 11. In particular, in the preferred embodiment provided with the engagement slot 311, this end is operatively connected to the locking device 11, i.e. adapted to move along the locking device 11 or along the engagement slot 311 defined on the thin plate 111. Such movement, as already defined for the engagement slot 311, will be carried out along the direction of development of the adjustable watchband 1, or along the direction of development of the same thin plate 111.
The adjustable watchband 1 therefore comprises an adjustment device 21 defined by a rack mechanism, preferably in metal material, provided with a rack 121 and a toothed element 221, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. The rack 121 is made by a flat element provided with a plurality of grooved seats arranged in succession along the main development direction. In the same way, the toothed element 221 is also made by means of a flat element provided with one or more teeth (not shown), suitable for engaging the seats of the rack 121.
In the preferred embodiment, the toothed element 221 is superimposed on the rack 121, which constitutes the mobile element of the mechanism, wherein the mobility is relative to the translation of the same along the main development direction of the adjustable watchband 1. The toothed element 221 is therefore fixed with respect to the aforementioned movement but also capable of moving along a direction perpendicular to the aforementioned main development direction.
In this regard, the adjustment device 21 comprises pretensioned elastic means 321 able to operatively connect the rack 121 and the toothed element 221, by engaging the toothed element 221 to the rack 121 itself. This engagement is accomplished by defining a fixed position of the toothed element 221 with respect to the main development direction and straining the same against the rack 121 in the direction perpendicular to the main development direction.
In the embodiment illustrated therein, in particular with reference to Figures 4 and 5, the pretensioned elastic means 321 comprise a pair of springs which act by maintaining the load on the toothed element 221. These springs are arranged at the ends of the toothed element 221, to balance the load applied to it, outside the area occupied by the rack 121, so as to allow its free movement in release cases.
According to further embodiments, not illustrated or described in greater detail herewith, it is possible to change the arrangement of the aforementioned elements, or even to use only a single spring to operate the toothed element.
The release of the toothed element 221 from the rack 121 can be achieved by means of suitable unlocking means 521, defined by a pair of buttons in the preferred embodiment, operatively connected to the pretensioned elastic means 321 and manually operable by a user. Therefore, while the pretensioned elastic means 321 allow to maintain the constrained position of the toothed element 221 on the rack 121, the unlocking means 521 allowing the subsequent release for the movement of the rack 121. In particular, the actuation of the unlocking means 521, i.e. the relative buttons, allows to act on the preload of the springs and temporarily releasing the mechanical load exerted by them.
It is possible to use even a single button as unlocking means, but this solution is not preferred to maintain greater ergonomics for the user.
The adjustable watchband 1, according to the present invention, therefore comprises a coupling pin 31, which is able to be integrally engaged with the first flexible elongated element by a through opening (not shown), made on the same first flexible element. In this way, the pin 31 binds the flexible elongated element to the movement, i.e. as a consequence of the movement of the coupling pin 31, the movement of the flexible elongated element is also carried out.
In this regard, one end of the coupling pin 31 is arranged at the locking device 11, in the preferred embodiment it is in particular operatively connected to the locking device 11 to allow the movement of the coupling pin 31 along the locking device 11. The operative connection of the locking pin 31 to the locking device 11 is made, in the present embodiment, by placing the locking pin 31 within the engagement slot 311 above described, by constraining the end of the locking pin 31 with respect to the axial movement.
The opposite end of the coupling pin 31 is constrained to the adjustment device 21 to allow the movement of the coupling pin 31 at the same time as the rack mechanism, as previously described. This arrangement of the end constrained to the adjustment device 21 is also achieved in the event that the opposite end is only arranged at the locking device 11 but not operatively connected to it.
distancing the pair of thin plates 111, 211 from the rack mechanism itself to interpose the first flexible elongated element between them. This spacing is achieved by constraining the aforementioned opposite end of the coupling pin 31 to one of the surfaces of the rack 121, thereby defining a spacing between the locking device 11 and the adjustment device 21 equal to the length of the coupling pin 31 itself. The coupling of the pin 31 is carried out on a surface of the rack 121 defined binding surface. The latter relates to the surface opposite to the surface provided with the seats for coupling with the toothed element 221, avoiding any problem of interference during handling.
Therefore, the toothed element 221 is operatively connected to the rack 121, superimposed on the opposite surface of the constraint surface. This allows to arrange the first flexible elongated element interposed between the locking device 11 and the adjustment device 21, as defined by the coupling pin 31, being subject to both the locking device 11 and the adjustment device 21 for its movement.
Therefore, the movement of the coupling pin 31 drags the movement of the first elongated element to adjust the desired size of the adjustable watchband 1.
Figures 4 and 5 show two end positions of the rack 121 and, consequently, of the coupling pin 31 with respect to the engagement slot 311. As can be seen, the toothed element 211 is fixed with respect to the main development direction and allows to constrain the position of the moving rack 121 where desired, according to the step made by the rack mechanism and the user's needs. The coupling pin 31, dragged during movement, translates along the engagement slot 311 also by defining a start stroke position and an end stroke position, respectively at the ends of the engagement slot 311.
The adjustable watchband 1 for wristwatch according to the present invention comprises an end element 41 able to be constrained to the second flexible elongated element (not shown). This end element 41 is an integral part of the locking device 11, although it is separate from the other components, since it allows the coupling of the two flexible elongated elements.
Likewise, the adjustment device 21 comprises a closure buckle 421 able to engage with the aforesaid end element 41 for locking the adjustable watchband 1. In the closed position, the pair of thin plates 111, 211 which are superimposed to each other are locked by means of mechanical locking, partly also by the closure buckle 421. The releasing of the same can be accomplished by means of suitable buttons 621 which allow the interference or element to be removed from the seat which causes the locking, also allowing the user to extend the aforementioned thin plates 111, 211 after rotation around the coupling hinge 111'.
In the embodiment described therein, the closure buckle 421 is superimposed on the toothed element 221, and, in this regard, it is illustrated in transparency so that the arrangement is shown. The aforementioned closure buckle 421 has an extension along the main development direction of the adjustable watchband 1 which is at least equal to the size of the allowed movement for the rack 121, as well as a width equal to at least the same size in the perpendicular direction.
In this way, the closure buckle 421 allows both the locking of the adjustable watchband 1 and the covering of the rack mechanism along its entire range of action.
The present invention further relates to a wristwatch (not shown) comprising a case and an adjustable watchband, as described above. The adjustable watchband is coupled to the said case on opposite sides and designed to allow the coupling of the wristwatch to a user.
The adjustable watchband for wristwatch according to the present invention is therefore able to minimize the aforementioned problems, considerably improving the adjustment of the size of the same even with the use of straps in non-metallic material.
The present invention allows, in fact, to use an adjustable watchband of the strap type, maintaining an excellent adjustment of the size of the bracelet itself and without weakening the flexible elongated elements that make up said adjustable watchband.

Claims

An adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch comprising:
- a first flexible elongated element and a second flexible elongated element;

- a locking device (11) of said first and second flexible elongated elements, wherein said locking device (11) is able to be disposed from an operative condition, wherein said first and second flexible elongated elements are arranged close to each other for the closure of said adjustable watchband (1), to a non-operative condition, wherein said first and second flexible elongated elements are arranged spaced to each other for the opening of said adjustable watchband (1), and vice versa; and

- an adjustment device (21) comprising a rack mechanism provided with a rack (121) and a toothed element (221), able to be mutually engaged for adjusting the size of said adjustable watchband (1) when said locking device (11) is arranged in said operative condition;

said adjustable watchband (1) is characterized in that it comprises a coupling pin (31) for coupling to said first flexible elongated element, able to be integrally engaged with said first flexible elongated element by means of a through opening provided on said first flexible elongated element,

wherein an end of said coupling pin (31) is arranged at said locking device (11), and

wherein the opposite end of said coupling pin (31) is constrained to said adjustable device (21) to allow the movement of said coupling pin (31) and of said rack mechanism at same time.
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein said end of said coupling pin (31), which is arranged at said locking device (11), is operatively connected to said locking device (11) such that said coupling pin (31) is allowed to move along said locking device (11).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 2, wherein said locking device (11) is provided with an engagement slot (311), and wherein said end of said coupling pin (31), which is operatively connected to said locking device (11), is able to be moved within said engagement slot (311) along said locking device (11).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 3, wherein said engagement slot (311) is defined along the main direction of development of said adjustable watchband (1), and
wherein said end of said coupling pin (31), which is operatively connected to said locking device (11), is able to be moved within said engagement slot (311) along said main direction of development.
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to one or more claims from 1 to 4, wherein said locking device (11) comprises a pair of thin plates (111, 211) hinged along a side which is perpendicular to the main direction of development of the watchband so as to be superimposable when said locking device (11) is moved in said operative condition.
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 5, wherein said engagement slot (311) is defined along one of said pair of thin plates (111, 211).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said coupling pin (31) is constrained to said rack mechanism, by spacing said pair of thin plates (111, 211) from said rack mechanism to interpose said first flexible elongated element.
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 7, wherein said coupling pin (31) is constrained to a constraining surface of said rack (121).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 8, wherein said toothed element (221) is operatively connected to said rack (121), superimposed to a surface opposite to said constraining surface.
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to one or more claims from 1 to 9, wherein said locking device (11) comprises an end element (41) constrained to said second flexible elongated element, and
wherein said adjustment device (21) comprises a closure buckle (421) able to engage said end element (41) for locking said adjustable watchband (1).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claims 9 and 10, wherein said closure buckle (421) is superimposed to said toothed element (221).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to one or more claims from 1 to 11, wherein said adjustment device (21) comprises pretensioned elastic means (321) able to operatively connect said rack (121) and said toothed element (221), engaging said toothed element (221) to said rack (121).
The adjustable watchband (1) for wristwatch according to claim 12, wherein said adjustment device (21) comprises unlocking means (521) operatively connected to said pretensioned elastic means (321) and operable by a user to release said toothed element (221) from said rack (121).
Wristwatch comprising a case and a watchband, wherein said watchband is coupled on opposite sides to said case and is able to allow the coupling of said wristwatch to a user,
said wristwatch is characterized in that said watchband is an adjustable watchband (1) according to one or more claims from 1 to 13.