EP4159080B1 - Adjustable bracelet clasp - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to an adjustable clasp for a watch.

The present invention also relates to a wristwatch provided with such a clasp.

State of the art

The problem relating to the need to provide a device for adjusting the length of a bracelet is well known.

It is known to use a clasp which remains attached to the ends of the two bracelet strands. Such a clasp occupies two positions: a closed position, intended for wearing the watch, in which the bracelet and the clasp extend around the circumference of the wrist, presenting a total length allowing the watch to be held, and an open position or deployed which makes it possible to increase the length of the clasp and therefore of the bracelet to allow the passage of the hand and the removal of the watch.

In a solution with a clasp, a first objective is the search for optimal comfort when wearing the bracelet. For this, it is advantageous for the clasp to best fit the contour of a wrist, a large wrist as well as a small wrist, when the clasp is in the closed configuration. A difficulty in producing a clasp therefore consists of providing a clasp which adequately and comfortably fits the wrist of a wearer of a wristwatch whatever the dimensions of the wearer's wrist.

For example, the patent application EP 09131060 A1 describes a clasp of the folding clasp type comprising a cover having a series of pairs of holes intended to accommodate the ends of a fixing bar of a bracelet. Two adjacent pairs of holes are spaced at a distance defining an adjustment step for the useful length of the bracelet, to address the problems mentioned above.

The document FR3094873A1 discloses a deployant clasp according to the preamble of claim 1.

However, such a device for adjusting the length of the bracelet is not very aesthetic given that the adjustment holes are visible on the sides of the cover. In addition, the operation of adjusting such a clasp requires a certain dexterity because it requires inserting a pointed tool into the holes to compress the bracelet fixing bar, which risks leading to damage to the cover. in case of clumsiness of the person making the adjustment.

To avoid such a situation, alternative devices have already been disclosed, such as in the patent EP 0350785 B1 which describes a clasp similar to the previous one but alternatively comprising a device for adjusting the useful length of the bracelet which can be manipulated without tools. Indeed, the clasp described in this patent is of the folding clasp type comprising two blades articulated together by means of a rod passing through both of them, each of the blades carrying at its free end a member for fixing to a bracelet. A first blade carries a hook intended to engage in a hole provided in the second blade to cooperate with a trigger making it possible to lock the hook and therefore the clasp in a closed state. The second blade comprises two parts capable of sliding relative to each other in a certain predefined range, defining a step of adjustment of the useful length of the bracelet. A first of its two parts carries the hinge connecting it to the first blade while the second part carries the locking trigger. The hole in which the hook engages to lock the clasp has a length, following the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, corresponding to the sliding range between the two parts of the second blade. The trigger has a central part defining two locations for the hook, following the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, corresponding to two different useful lengths of the bracelet. A control member comprising in particular a pusher makes it possible to activate the trigger to release the hook and open the clasp.

However, such solutions have the disadvantages of making the construction more complex, increasing its bulk and making it difficult to handle the clasp.

Disclosure of the invention

A main aim of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the clasps known from the prior art, by proposing a bracelet clasp making it possible to provide good wearing comfort whatever the size of the wrist. The invention also aims to provide a bracelet with a simple structure and easy handling.

For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a bracelet clasp, of the folding clasp type, comprising first and second blades articulated relative to each other, by a first of their respective ends, between a closed position , said to carry, and at least one open position, said first blade carrying a member for fixing a first strand of bracelet at its second end and locking means for maintaining said first and second blades in their closed position at its second end, and said second blade carrying a member for fixing a second strand of bracelet at its second end.

According to the invention, said first and second blades are articulated together by means of a pair of movable blades via a first of their respective ends, said articulated blades being connected to the first and second blades via a first articulation and a second articulation, said articulation being delimited angularly by stops respectively formed on the first end of the first and second blades and on the second end of the mobiles so as to define two predefined carrying positions.

• l'amplitude du débattement angulaire des articulations est compris entre 5° et 35° ;
• les lames mobiles ont la même longueur ;
• les premières extrémités des lames et les secondes extrémités des lames présentent une entaille, lesdites extrémités étant agencées pour coopérer par emboitement au niveau des entailles ;
• les extrémités libres des entailles des lames présentent une forme semi-circulaire, et le fond de l'entaille présente une surface plane ;
• les extrémités libres des entailles des lames mobiles présentent une forme rectiligne avec un chanfrein, et le fond de l'entaille présente une surface semi-circulaire ;
• les entailles des lames sont internes et les entailles des lames mobiles sont externes ;
• les lames sont réalisées en métal, alliage métallique, en matériau composite ou en céramique.

In accordance with other advantageous variants of the invention:

• the amplitude of the angular movement of the joints is between 5° and 35°;
• the movable blades have the same length;
• the first ends of the blades and the second ends of the blades have a notch, said ends being arranged to cooperate by interlocking at the level of the notches;
• the free ends of the notches on the blades have a semi-circular shape, and the bottom of the notch has a flat surface;
• the free ends of the notches of the movable blades have a rectilinear shape with a chamfer, and the bottom of the notch has a semi-circular surface;
• the blade notches are internal and the movable blade notches are external;
• the blades are made of metal, metal alloy, composite material or ceramic.

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

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente une vue générale en perspective d'un fermoir de bracelet conforme à l'invention, illustré en position ouverte ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue en perspective partiellement éclatée du fermoir de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue en perspective détaillée des moyens de réglage de la courbure du bracelet.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which:

• there figure 1 represents a general perspective view of a bracelet clasp according to the invention, illustrated in the open position;
• there figure 2 represents a partially exploded perspective view of the clasp of the figure 1 ;
• there Figure 3 represents a detailed perspective view of the means for adjusting the curvature of the bracelet.

Mode(s) of carrying out the invention

The clasp illustrated without limitation in the figures corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. More precisely, the clasp is of the folding clasp type and is intended to close a timepiece bracelet.

As shown in the figures, the clasp 100 comprises a first blade 1 articulated on a second blade 2. Each of the blades 1, 2 has an elongated shape following the longitudinal direction of the bracelet and slightly curved to better match the shape of the wrist of a carrier.

The first blade 1 comprises two uprights 10 arranged in contact with each other at one of their ends, each having a cutout 11 such that they are not in contact with each other over the largest part of their length.

Each of the amounts 10 carries an extension 12, near the other end, extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, to form a pusher defining a control member making it possible to unlock the clasp, as it emerges of the figure 1 .

The first blade 1 also comprises a cover 13 having an upper wall 14 carrying side walls 15, and a lower wall 16. The side walls 15 are provided with two orifices 17 making it possible to accommodate one end of a bar for fixing a first strand of bracelet, in a conventional manner. The side walls 15 also include two recesses allowing the extensions 12 to protrude, and thus allowing the clasp 1 to be unlocked.

The second blade 2 comprises two arms 20 connected by a transverse upright 21 in their central region. The arms 20 are extended by bent portions 22 defining a loop 3 for a second strand of bracelet. The loop 3 has a first stud 7 and a second stud 31, both intended to be engaged in a different hole in the bracelet to define a first and a second anchoring point of the bracelet strand to the clasp and thus keep it well aligned relative to the clasp.

Furthermore, the free end of the second blade 2 can carry a device for adjusting the useful length of the bracelet intended to be associated with the clasp 100.

As can be observed in the figure 1 , the first and second blades 1, 2 are articulated together by means of a pair of movable blades 3, 4 by a first of their respective ends, the movable blades 3, 4 being connected to the first and second blades 1,2 via a first joint A1 and a second joint A2.

The joints A1, A2 are delimited angularly by stops respectively formed on the first end of the first and second blades 1,2 and on the second end of the mobiles 3, 4 so as to define two predefined carrying positions, namely a position of carry for small wrists and a carry position for large wrists.

Each of the articulations A1 and A2 is angularly delimited by stops 10a, 10b, 21a, 21b of the first and second blades 1, 2, cooperating with corresponding stops 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b of the movable blades 3, 4. These stops define the first and second positions of the movable blades 3, 4, and implicitly of the clasp, in which the two blades both occupy the same position.

The movable blades 3, 4 can thus occupy a first position adapted to small wrists and a second position adapted to large wrists, when the clasp is closed. The transition from one position to another occurs naturally when the watch is worn using the stops.

In order to be able to provide a clasp adapted to a large number of wrist morphology, the amplitude of the angular movement of the joints A1, A2 is comprised, for example, between 5° and 35°. Such a range of travel makes it possible to optimize comfort for the wearer depending on the size of their wrist; too little or too much travel would be detrimental to comfort.

As can be observed in figure 2 And 3 , the first ends of the blades 1, 2 and the second ends of the blades 3, 4 each have a notch 23, 23', 31, 41 so as to cooperate by interlocking at the level of these notches. The notches 23, 23' of the first and second blades 1, 2 are internal and the notches 31, 41 of the movable blades 3, 4 are external.

The free ends of the notches 23, 23' of the blades 1, 2 have a semi-circular shape, and the bottom of the notch 23, 23' has a flat surface. The free ends of the notches 31, 41 of the movable blades 3, 4, forming the stops 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b, have a rectilinear shape with a chamfer 40c, and the bottom of the notch has a semi-circular surface.

Thus, the cooperation between the bottom of the notches 23, 23' and the free end of the notches 31, 41 form the stops, and the chamfer defines the amplitude of the angular movement of the joints A1, A2.

It appears from this presentation that the clasp according to the present invention comprises a second pair of blades 3, 4 capable of being moved to adjust the curvature of the clasp and the bracelet. The construction and handling of this clasp are simple and allow the user to easily adjust the clasp when necessary.

The preceding description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and, the invention, which is defined by the claims, is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which come to be described, such as for example the shapes specifically illustrated and described for the blades or their mode of cooperation to ensure the locking of the clasp.

Those skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to their own needs and implementing a clasp, in particular for a timepiece, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A wristlet clasp (100), of the folding buckle type, comprising first and second blades (1, 2) hinged relative to each other, by a first of their respective ends, between a closed position, called wearing position, and at least one open position, said first blade carrying a member for fastening a first wristlet strand at its second end and locking means for holding said first and second blades (1, 2) in their closed position at its second end, and said second blade (2) carrying a member for fastening a second wristlet strand at its second end,
   said first and second blades (1, 2) are hinged together by means of a pair of movable blades (3, 4) by a first of their respective ends, said hinged blades (3, 4) being connected to the first and second blades (1, 2) via a first hinge (A1) and a second hinge (A2), said hinges (A1, A2) being angularly delimited by stops (10a, 10b, 21a, 21b; 30a , 30b, 40a, 40b), the clasp being characterised in that the stops are formed on the first end of the first and second blades (1, 2) and on the second end of the movable blades (3, 4) so as to define two predefined wearing positions depending on the size of the wrist.
2. The clasp (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the amplitude of the angular displacement of the hinges (A1, A2) is comprised between 5° and 35°.
3. The clasp (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the movable blades (3, 4) have the same length.
4. The clasp (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the first ends of the blades (1, 2) and the second ends of the blades (3, 4) have a notch (23, 23'), said ends being arranged to cooperate by interlocking at the notches.
5. The clasp (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the free ends of the notches of the blades (1, 2) have a semi-circular shape, and the bottom of the notch has a flat surface.
6. The clasp (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that the free ends of the notches of the movable blades (3, 4) have a rectilinear shape with a chamfer (40c), and the bottom of the notch has a semi-circular surface.
7. The clasp (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the notches of the blades (1, 2) are internal and the notches of the movable blades (3, 4) are external, or vice versa.
8. The clasp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the blades (1, 2, 3, 4) are made of metal, metal alloy, of composite material or of ceramic.
9. A wristwatch including a wristlet provided with a clasp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

Images