EP4062237A1

EP4062237A1 - Bracelet fastening device

Info

Publication number: EP4062237A1
Application number: EP20789200.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Antonio Meleddu
Original assignee: Cartier International AG
Current assignee: Cartier International AG
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2020-10-16
Publication date: 2022-09-28
Also published as: WO2021099041A1; CN114761884A; US20220283548A1; EP3825784A1; JP2023503209A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for fastening a bracelet to a watch casing (60), comprising: - a terminal body (10A; 10B) of the bracelet, - at least one mobile fastening element (20) comprising a pivot portion (21) and mounted within the terminal body (10A; 10B) so as to be movable between an engagement position in which the pivot portion (21) is arranged to engage with the casing (60), for example in a bore in a lug of the casing (60), and a retracted position, in which the pivoting portion (21) is arranged so as to disengage from the casing (60) so as to be able to release the terminal body (10A; 10B) from the casing (60), - a lever (30; 30B; 30C), movably mounted in rotation on the terminal body (10A; 10B), - at least one movable cam (22) engaged with the lever (30; 30B; 30C) in order to cause the movable fastening element (20) to pass from the engagement position toward the retracted position during a rotation of the lever (30; 30B; 30C), characterized: - in that the device comprises at least one static cam (40) fixedly mounted on the terminal body (10A; 10B) opposite the movable cam (22) in order to impose an axial movement on the movable cam (22) during its rotation, - and in that the movable cam (22) is formed directly on the movable fastening element (20), and arranged between the lever (30; 30B; 30C) and the static cam (40).

Description

BRACELET ATTACHMENT DEVICE

The present invention relates generally to a bracelet attachment device for attaching a bracelet to a timepiece such as a watch.

[0002] Wristband attachment devices are known in the prior art, such as those presented in documents CH713218A1, EP2047766A2, or even JP4754249B2. In these devices, mobile elements can take place in housings located in the horns of the watch case. However, these systems have the particular drawback of requiring complex parts to manufacture which must in addition be resized according to the gap between the horn of the box.

An object of the present invention is to respond to the drawbacks of the documents of the prior art mentioned above and in particular, first of all, to provide a device for attaching a bracelet to, for example, a watch case, which makes it possible to provide to a certain extent a standardization of the elements of the fastening device and / or of the bracelet, without making the manufacture more complex.

For this, a first aspect of the invention relates to a device for attaching a bracelet to a watch case, comprising:

- a terminal body of the bracelet,

- at least one movable attachment element comprising a pivot part, and mounted in the terminal body to be movable between an engagement position, in which the pivot part is arranged to engage with the housing, for example in a bore a horn of the housing, and a retracted position, in which the pivot part is arranged to disengage from the housing, so as to be able to release the terminal body from the housing,

- a lever, mounted mobile in rotation on the terminal body,

- at least one movable cam engaged with the lever to pass the fastening element movable from the engagement position to the retracted position during a rotation of the lever, characterized:

- in that the device comprises at least one static cam mounted fixedly on the terminal body facing the movable cam, to impose an axial movement on the movable cam during its rotation,

- And in that the movable cam is directly formed on the movable fastening element, and arranged between the lever and the static cam.

The attachment device according to the above implementation is a quick or reversible attachment device. In fact, it suffices to actuate the lever to engage or disengage the pivot part of the watch case, so as to attach or detach the terminal body, without the aid of an additional tool. In addition, the movable cam is formed directly on the attachment element, which avoids having to provide it on the lever, which simplifies the manufacture of the lever and thus offers a possibility of standardization. In fact, provision can be made to modify only the width of the lever in the event of adaptation of the attachment device to another case model which would have a different width.

Advantageously, the mobile attachment element is mounted in the terminal body in a sliding pivot connection. Advantageously, the mobile attachment element is engaged with the lever in a sliding connection, with the mobile attachment element preferably comprising a tenon engaged in a groove of the lever, and more preferably the element of movable fastener comprising two tenons each engaged in a groove of the lever. In particular, the tenons are arranged at 180 ° to each other on a cylinder of the fastening element.

Advantageously, the static cam is driven into the terminal body.

Advantageously, the static cam comprises angular indexing means, such as a radial protuberance, arranged to engage with the terminal body, so as to define a predefined angular orientation between the static cam and the terminal body.

Advantageously, the lever is movable between:

- an initial rest position in which the mobile fastening element is in the engagement position, and

- an actuation position in which the movable attachment element is in the retracted position,

Advantageously, the terminal body comprises:

- a housing designed to accommodate the lever in the initial rest position, and

- A stop arranged to define the position of maximum actuation of the lever.

Advantageously, the attachment device comprises return means such as a spring, arranged to exert a pushing force on the mobile attachment element towards the engagement position.

Advantageously, one of the movable cam - static cam assembly has a cam track with a rest portion such as a notch, the other of the movable cam - static cam assembly has a cam track with a top or a protrusion, and the movable attachment member is in the engagement position when the top or the protrusion is engaged with or positioned at the rest portion.

Advantageously, the rest portion is adjacent to a cam slope, so that the return means hold in a stable position the movable fastening element in the engagement position, and the lever in the initial position rest.

Advantageously, the pivot part of the movable attachment element passes through the static cam.

Advantageously, the pivot part is mounted in a pivot connection in the static cam. Advantageously, the attachment device comprises:

- two mobile fastening elements,

- two static cams, in which: the two mobile attachment elements are arranged on either side of the lever,

• the two static cams are each mounted fixed on a side of the terminal body,

• the pivot parts of each mobile fastening element each pass through a static cam so as to: project from the static cam and / or from the terminal body in order to be able to engage with the housing, for example in a bore of a horn of the housing, when each mobile attachment element is in the engagement position, o be retracted in the static cam and / or in the terminal body to release the terminal body from the housing, when each mobile attachment element is in retracted position.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a watch strap comprising at least one fastening device according to the first aspect. A third aspect of the invention relates to a wristwatch, comprising at least one fastening device according to the first aspect.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention given by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a first embodiment of a fastening device according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an attachment element and of a static cam of the attachment device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of a lever engaged with the attachment element with the static cam of the attachment device of FIG. 1 FIG. 4 represents a section of the attachment device of FIG. 1, with the attachment members in an engaged position for attaching a bracelet terminal body with a watch case; FIG. 5 shows a section of the fastening device of FIG. 1, with the fastening elements in a retracted position to release a bracelet terminal body from a watch case; FIG. 6 represents a second embodiment of an attachment device comprising a lever produced according to an alternative of the lever of the attachment device of FIG. 1; FIG. 7 represents an attachment device according to a third embodiment; - Figure 8 shows the attachment device of Figure 7 integrated in a flexible bracelet.

[0021] FIG. 1 represents a bracelet attachment device according to a first embodiment of the invention. The fastening device according to this embodiment comprises in particular two fastening elements 20 mounted in a terminal body 10A of the bracelet and in a lever 30 articulated in rotation on the terminal body 10A. In this first embodiment, the terminal body 10A is typically an end link of a link bracelet, that is to say comprising a plurality of links articulated to each other. In addition, two static cams 40 are provided on each side of the terminal body 10A, and a spring 50 is mounted between the two fastening elements 20, in a bore 32 of the lever 30, just like part of the elements d clip 20 as shown in Figure 4.

In general, the attachment device is provided to move the two attachment elements 20 between a retracted position (Figure 5) in which the terminal body 10A is free with respect to the case 60 of the watch (shown in phantom lines on the right only) and an engagement position (figure 4) in which the terminal body 10A, via the fastening elements, is attached to watch case 60 (again shown in phantom lines on the right only).

Indeed, the fastening elements 20 can be retracted into the terminal body (Figure 5), or have a pivot portion 21 projecting or protruding from the terminal body 10A (Figure 4).

In detail, and as shown in Figure 2, each fastening element 20 comprises a pivot part 21, a movable cam 22 comprising two movable cam tracks, a guide part 26, a tenon 23 and an end free 25. The two movable cam tracks or movable cam 22 are separated by notches 24 opposed at 180 °.

Next to each fastening element 20, it is planned to mount fixed static cams 40 in the terminal body 10A, and which each comprise a base 41, two static cam tracks 42, and a protuberance 43, which may be otherwise referred to as the ear. Each static cam 40 is mounted fixed or driven in a bore 11 of the terminal body 10A, and the protuberances 43 allow the static cams 40 to be angularly positioned relative to the terminal body 10A.

Figure 2 shows a particular angular position between the attachment element 20 and the static cam 40: the vertices 44 of the static cam tracks 42 are aligned with the notches 24 of the attachment element 20. In this position, and under the effect of the spring 50, it is understood that the movable cam tracks or movable cam 22 and static cam tracks 42 will fit into each other, and the pivot part 21 passes through the cam static 40, to come out and protrude, as shown in figure 4.

Starting from Figure 2, if one pivots the fastening element 20 by 90 °, then the vertices 44 will be opposite the vertices of the movable cam tracks or movable cam 22, so that the element hitch 20 will move away from the static cam 40, with the effect that the pivot part 21 enters the static cam 40, and does not protrude therefrom, as shown in Figure 5.

This kinematics is made possible by an action exerted by the user on the lever 30. The latter therefore comprises a bore 32, provided with a groove 33, visible in Figure 1 and especially in Figure 3. The tenon 23 of the fastening element 20 is engaged in groove 33, so that the connection between these two parts is a sliding connection, as shown by the double arrow in FIG. 3.

As a result, and as the lever 30 is rotatably mounted on the terminal body 10A, a rotation of the lever 30 will also cause the attachment elements 20 in rotation, which are each facing a static cam 40 Due to the force exerted by the spring 50, the movable cam tracks or movable cam 22 and static cam tracks 42 will cooperate to cause, due to the relative rotational movement, an axial movement in the lever 30 of each member. fastener 20.

As shown in Figure 1, the terminal body 10A has a housing 12 in which the lever 30 can be housed when it is in an initial rest position, which corresponds to Figure 4, where the elements of fastener 20 are in the engagement position. In this position, the spring 50 therefore presses on the attachment elements 20, with the tops 44 of the static cam tracks 42 aligned with the notches 24 of the attachment element 20.

This position is a stable position of rest, because to get out, it is necessary to force the spring 50. In other words, due to the engagement of the tops 44 of the static cam tracks 42 aligned with the notches 24 of the fastening element 20, the spring 50 maintains the lever 30 in the initial rest position.

To actuate the mechanism, a user can act on a free end 31 of the lever 30, to rotate it out of the housing 12 and bring the lever 30 into mechanical abutment on the terminal body, after a rotation of 90 ° for example. Thus, the tops 44 of the static cam tracks 42 are brought to be opposite the tops of the movable cam tracks or movable cam 22, which causes the attachment elements 20 to "retract" into the lever 30 in order to retract them. The user can detach and release the terminal body from the watch case 60 because the pivot parts 21 are no longer protruding from the terminal body 10A.

As clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5, it can be seen that the lever 30 is rotatably mounted on the terminal body 10A, via the fastening elements 20 and the static cams 40. Indeed, each element of clip 20 has a guide portion 26 mounted in the bore 32 of the lever 30, and the pivot portion 21 of each attachment member 20 being mounted in a bore of each static cam 40, the latter being driven into the terminal body 10A .

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment (a manufacturing variant of the first embodiment) with a lever 30B which still comprises a bore 32, but two grooves 33, so that the fastening elements 20B can have two tenons 23 opposite at 180 °. All the rest of the attachment device being identical to the attachment device of Figure 1, this will not be described again. Figure 7 shows a third embodiment of a fastening device, with a terminal body 10B which has a cylindrical outer shape, to be able to form an insert to be integrated into the end of a flexible bracelet, in leather or polymer for example.

The terminal body 10B has an internal bore which accommodates the static cams 40 and the fastening elements 20 (of which Figures 7 and 8 show the pivot portion 21 protruding from the static cam 40) identical to the first embodiment : the static cams 40 are driven from each side into the terminal body 10B, so as to trap the fastening elements 20 and the spring (not visible). As in the first embodiment, the terminal body 10B has a central housing in which the lever 30C is positioned, the latter being mounted in rotation with respect to the terminal body 10B by means of the fastening elements 20 and static cams (the assembly is identical to that of Figures 4 and 5 described above).

The terminal body 10B forms, in this third embodiment, an insert to be integrated at the end of a flexible bracelet 100. As shown in FIG. 8, the terminal body 10B is mounted at the end of the flexible bracelet 100 , by techniques known to those skilled in the art, of the bonding or sewing type. A central passage slot for the lever 30C is also provided at the end of the flexible strap 100 in order to allow a user to actuate the lever 30C to rotate it and detach / attach the flexible strap 100 to a watch case.

It appears that the static cams 40 are parts attached and driven into the terminal body, that the fastening elements 20 embed the movable cam tracks or movable cam 22, so that all these elements are independent parts which can be easily used for bracelets of different sizes, or special external shapes, which allows these elements to be used for several models. Thus, the most complex parts to be machined are identical regardless of the dimensions of the inter-horn of the box, the static cams 40 and the fastening elements 20 are identical. The specific width specific components are the end body 10B, the internal spring and the lever 30C, which are less complicated parts to machine. We therefore do not change the ranges or the manufacturing settings of the most complex parts.

Furthermore, the assembly does not require the lever 30, 30B, 30C to be fixed beforehand on the terminal body 10A or 10B, since the pivot connection between these two parts is provided by the attachment device itself: the manufacturing is faster. In particular, on each side of the terminal body, a static cam 40 is driven (or force-fitted) into the body terminal 10A or 10B and comprises a through hole, which receives and guides the pivot part 21 of a fastening element 20. Each fastening element 20 also comprises a guide part 26 housed in the bore 32 of the lever 30, 30B or 30C, so that each guide element 20 provides the mechanical connection between the terminal body 10A or 10B and the lever 30, 30B or 30C.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In particular, reference is made to a tight or forced mounting of each static cam on the terminal body, but it is possible to envisage mounting by screwing or by elastic interlocking (clipping) for example.

Claims

1. Device for attaching a bracelet to a watch case (60), comprising:

- a terminal body (10A; 10B) of the bracelet,

- at least one movable attachment element (20) comprising a pivot part (21) and mounted in the terminal body (10A; 10B) to be movable between an engagement position, in which the pivot part (21) is arranged to engage with the housing (60), for example in a bore of a horn of the housing (60), and a retracted position, in which the pivot part (21) is arranged to disengage from the housing (60), so as to be able to release the terminal body (10A; 10B) from the housing (60),

- a lever (30; 30B; 30C), mounted mobile in rotation on the terminal body (10A; 10B),

- at least one movable cam (22) engaged with the lever (30; 30B; 30C) to move the movable fastening element (20) from the engagement position to the retracted position during a rotation of the lever (30; 30B; 30C), characterized:

- in that the device comprises at least one static cam (40) fixedly mounted on the terminal body (10A; 10B) facing the movable cam (22), to impose an axial movement on the movable cam (22) during its rotation,

- And in that the movable cam (22) is directly formed on the movable fastening element (20), and arranged between the lever (30; 30B; 30C) and the static cam (40).

2. Attachment device according to claim 1, wherein the movable attachment element (20) is mounted in the terminal body (10A; 10B) in a sliding pivot connection.

3. Attachment device according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the movable attachment element (20) is engaged with the lever (30; 30B; 30C) in a sliding connection, preferably with the movable attachment element (20) comprising a tenon (23) engaged in a groove (33) of the lever (30; 30B; 30C), and more preferably the element d 'movable fastener (20) comprising two tenons (23) each engaged in a groove (33) of the lever (30; 30B; 30C).

4. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the static cam (40) is driven into the terminal body (10A; 10B).

5. Attachment device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the static cam (40) comprises angular indexing means, such as a radial protuberance (43), arranged to engage with the body. terminal (10A; 10B), so as to define a predefined angular orientation between the static cam (40) and the terminal body (10A; 10B).

6. Attachment device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: - the lever (30; 30B; 30C) is movable between:

- an initial rest position in which the mobile fastening element

(20) is in the engaged position, and

- an actuation position in which the movable attachment element

(20) is in the retracted position, - the terminal body (10A; 10B) comprises:

- a housing (12) arranged to accommodate the lever (30; 30B; 30C) in the initial rest position, and

- A stop arranged to define the position of maximum actuation of the lever (30; 30B; 30C). 7. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 6, comprising return means such as a spring (50), arranged to exert a thrust force on the movable fastening element (20) towards the engagement position.

8. Fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein - one of the movable cam (22) - static cam (40) assembly has a cam track with a rest portion such as a notch (24),

- the other of the movable cam (22) - static cam (40) assembly has a cam track with a top (44) or a protuberance, and in which the movable fastening element (20) is in position engagement when the top (44) or the protuberance is engaged with or positioned at the rest portion.

9. A fastening device according to claim 8, in its dependence on claim 7 and claim 6, wherein the rest portion is adjacent to a cam slope, so that the return means hold in a stable position the movable fastening element (20) in the engagement position, and the lever (30; 30B; 30C) in the initial rest position.

10. Attachment device according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pivot portion (21) of the movable attachment element (20) passes through the static cam (40).

11. An attachment device according to claim 10, wherein the pivot portion (21) is pivotally mounted in the static cam (40).

12. Attachment device according to one of claims 1 to 11, comprising:

- two mobile fastening elements (20),

- two static cams (40), in which:

• the two mobile fastening elements (20) are arranged on either side of the lever (30; 30B; 30C),

• the two static cams (40) are each fixedly mounted on a side of the terminal body (10A; 10B),

• the pivot parts (21) of each movable attachment element (20) each pass through a static cam (40) so as to: o protrude from the static cam (40) and / or the terminal body (10A; 10B) to be able to engage with the housing (60), for example in a bore of a horn of the housing (60), when each movable attachment element (20) is in the engagement position, o be retracted into the static cam (40) and / or into the terminal body (10A; 10B) to release the terminal body (10A; 10B) from the housing (60), when each movable attachment element (20) is in the retracted position.

13. Watch strap comprising at least one fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 12.

14. Wristwatch, comprising at least one fastening device according to one of claims 1 to 12.