EP4176756A1 - Insert for a watch strap - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert (1) for a strand (10) of a watch bracelet, making it possible to manually lock and unlock the connection between the strand and a bar of a watch case, the insert comprising a body ( 2) and a lock (12), the body comprising a parallelepipedal portion extended by a hook-shaped portion (4) forming a housing for the bar, and the parallelepipedal portion being configured to be secured to the strand, the lock being hinged to the body to make it pivot about a hinge pin (8) and comprising a closing wall (16) capable of closing said housing. The lock comprises locking means formed by a pin (11) secured to the lock cooperating with a hole in the body as well as first return means (10) arranged to constrain the pin in the hole in a locking position, and in which the latch has a length less than the length of the cavity (30) so that when the latch is manually pushed in the direction of the hinge axis so as to release the pin.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for attaching bracelet strands to a watch case making it possible to mount and dismount said bracelet strands on the case without tools.

Technology background

The document US2850783 describes a watch bracelet comprising extensible metal strands which are each provided, at one of their ends, with a system comprising a housing extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand and provided with a transverse opening. The housing is intended to receive a bracelet fixing strip extending between the inner faces of horns of a watch case. The housing is equipped with a flap that can be moved between a locked position in which it closes off the transverse opening of the housing and thus ensures that the bar is held in the housing and thereby even secures the bracelet strand to the box and a position unlocked in which the flap is disengaged from the transverse opening and which allows the wearer of the watch to release the bar from the housing and thus separate the bracelet strand from the case. The flap is locked using tabs bent at 90° which are integral with the flap and which ensure the locking by friction on a rigid edge of the housing. The friction forces involved are relatively low given their small width and the small thickness of the edge against which they bear. In addition, after a few locking and unlocking cycles, these tabs are likely to deform plastically and therefore no longer ensure reliable notching or even in the worst case are likely to break and possibly lead to a fall or a loss of the watch. Note that this system has three parts. in folded sheet metal which are quite complex, which makes the system difficult and expensive to produce.

Summary of the invention

The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching bracelet strands to a watch case making it possible to mount and dismount said bracelet strands on the case without tools.

The present invention also aims to provide a wristwatch in which the wristband strands are provided with a device allowing manual locking and unlocking of the connection between the bars of the watch case and the wristband strands of the watch , said system being simple and easy to produce, while ensuring secure locking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insert that can be integrated into a bracelet strand, said insert making it possible to mount and dismount the bracelet strand on a strip of a watch case without tools.

This object is achieved by an insert, a bracelet strand and a watch according to the appended claims.

The invention relates to an insert for a strand of a watch bracelet, making it possible to manually lock and unlock the connection between the strand and a bar of a watch case, said insert comprises a body made of rigid material and a lock, the body of rigid material comprising a parallelepipedal portion extended by a hook-shaped portion terminating in an edge, said hook-shaped portion forming a housing for the strip, the housing comprising a transverse opening, the parallelepipedal portion being configured to be secured to one end of the strand, the latch being housed in a cavity of the body and hinged to the body in order to make it pivot around a hinge axis parallel to the housing, the said latch comprising a closing wall able to close the said housing. According to the invention, the lock comprises locking means formed by a pin integral with the lock cooperating with a hole in the body as well as first return means arranged to constrain the pin in the hole in a locking position, and in which the lock has a length less than the length of the cavity so that only when the lock is pushed manually in the direction of the hinge pin so as to release the pin in an unlocked position in which the lock is free to pivot around its hinge pin and allows the transverse opening to be cleared housing.

• l'insert comprend des seconds moyens de rappel agencés pour maintenir le verrou en position déverrouillée ;
• le verrou comprend une portion avec une épaisseur amoindrie de manière à former un rebord, et la cavité comprend deux parois latérales dont l'une présente une hauteur moindre de manière à être recouverte partiellement par le verrou ;
• la paroi latérale de hauteur moindre présente une pente pour limiter la course angulaire du verrou par rapport au corps de l'insert ;
• le verrou présente une surface supérieure structurée facilitant le verrouillage et déverrouillage du verrou par un porteur ;
• le corps en matériau rigide est un élément monobloc ;
• l'insert est réalisé en métal, en matériau composite, en céramique ou en matière plastique ;
• le verrou comprend une partie arrière percée d'un trou traversant longitudinal pour recevoir l'axe ;
• le verrou comprend un logement de section circulaire, coaxial au trou, agencé pour recevoir les premiers moyens de rappel ;
• le logement présente un diamètre supérieur au diamètre du trou ;
• les seconds moyens de rappel se présentent sous la forme d'un ressort à torsion ;
• le ressort à torsion est disposé dans un usinage du verrou autour de l'axe.

In accordance with other advantageous variants of the invention:

• the insert comprises second return means arranged to hold the lock in the unlocked position;
• the lock comprises a portion with a reduced thickness so as to form a rim, and the cavity comprises two side walls, one of which has a lower height so as to be partially covered by the lock;
• the lower side wall has a slope to limit the angular travel of the lock relative to the body of the insert;
• the lock has a structured upper surface facilitating the locking and unlocking of the lock by a wearer;
• the rigid material body is a one-piece element;
• the insert is made of metal, composite material, ceramic or plastic material;
• the lock comprises a rear part pierced with a longitudinal through-hole to receive the axis;
• the lock comprises a housing of circular section, coaxial with the hole, arranged to receive the first return means;
• the housing has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole;
• the second return means are in the form of a torsion spring;
• the torsion spring is arranged in a machining of the lock around the axis.

The invention also relates to a watch strap strand and a watch comprising a strap provided with an insert according to the invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following description of preferred embodiments, presented by way of non-limiting example with reference to the appended drawings.

Brief description of figures

• les figures 1a et 1b représentent un insert conforme à l'invention dans sa position déverrouillée et verrouillée ;
• la figure 2 est une vue éclatée représentant en détail les composants de l'insert des figures 1a et 1b ;
• la figure 3a illustre une vue de dessous du verrou un insert conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 3b représente une vue en coupe de la figure selon l'axe A-A ;
• la figure 4 illustre un insert conforme à l'invention équipé sur un brin de 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:

• THE figures 1a and 1b show an insert according to the invention in its unlocked and locked position;
• there figure 2 is an exploded view showing in detail the components of the insert of the figures 1a and 1b ;
• there picture 3a illustrates a bottom view of the lock an insert according to the invention;
• there figure 3b shows a sectional view of the figure along the axis AA;
• there figure 4 illustrates an insert according to the invention fitted on a bracelet strand.

Detailed description of the invention

The insert shown in figures 1a and 1b is formed by a body 2 of rigid material which comprises a parallelepiped portion 3 extended by a hook-shaped end portion 4 which defines a housing 5 intended to receive a bar of a watch case (not shown). The housing 5 extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand and is provided with a transverse opening 5a.

The body 2 made of rigid material is preferably a uniform piece formed from a single material. The body 2 can be made of a metallic material or an alloy, a composite material, a ceramic material or even a plastic material.

The parallelepipedic portion 3 comprises shoulders 6 which make it possible to offer good support or good grip of the insert 1 to the bracelet strand which is generally molded or glued. By way of example, the insert can be overmoulded with a synthetic material from which the bracelet strand is formed. Alternatively, the insert can be inserted and glued between two layers of a material from which the strand is formed.

Insert 1 shown in figure 1 is suitable for insertion into a 100 leather strand. The insert can nevertheless easily be adapted to other types and materials (ceramic, rubber, metal, etc.) of strands.

As illustrated at picture 2 , it is observed that on the parallelepipedal portion 3 of the rigid body 2, a cavity 30 of rectangular shape with two side walls 31, 32 has been machined so as to receive a lock 12. The lock 12 is articulated in rotation about an axis 8 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, each of the side walls having a hole 33,34 to receive the axis of rotation. The lock 12 is arranged to come to rest in the cavity 30 in a so-called locked position, and can be moved within this cavity to position it in the open or unlocked position.

The lock 12 is a part made, preferably, of metal, for example, steel, aluminum, gold, or other metallic material. It is pivotally mounted around an axis 8 parallel to the housing 5 and which is inserted or expelled into the holes 33, 34 of the side walls of the cavity 30. The lock 12 has a length slightly less than that of the cavity 30 so as to to be able to move it in translation within the cavity 30.

The lock 12 comprises a rear part 13 pierced with a longitudinal hole 14 to receive the axis 8 and whose length is less than the space between the side walls 31, 32. The rear part 13 of the lock also has a housing 130 to receive return means such as a compression spring 10 cooperating with one of the side walls 31 of the cavity 30. The housing 130 is coaxial with the longitudinal hole 14 and has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole 14 so that the spring 10 remains constrained between the wall 31 and the bottom of the housing 130. As illustrated in figure 3b , the housing 130 extends over half the length of the lock 12. Obviously the length of this housing 130 may vary depending on the spring used.

The latch 12 further comprises a closing wall 16 having a flat face extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing 5 and resting against the rim 5a of the housing, so as to produce a closed housing of substantially circular section when the lock 12 is in the closed position. The lock 12 also comprises locking means and return means arranged to hold the lock in the closed or open position. In the example illustrated, the locking means are formed by a pin 11 integral with the lock 12 and cooperating with an orifice 37 formed in one of the side walls 32 of the space 30. The return means are in the form of a torsion spring 9 arranged on the axis 8, the rear part 13 of the lock 12 having a machining revealing the axis and being arranged to receive the spring 9. As can be seen on the picture 3a , the lock 12 also has a notch 18 provided to receive a leg of the torsion spring 9.

Advantageously, the lock 12 has, at the level of the wall opposite the locking means 11, a portion with a reduced thickness so as to form a rim 19 resting on the side wall 31 opposite the side wall 32 cooperating with the locking means 11 and which has for this purpose a lower height so that the rim 19 can rest on it.

The side wall 31 also has a portion having a slope 35 so that the lock 12 can pivot around its axis 8 without being blocked by the body 2 when it is unlocked. This slope 35 also makes it possible to act as a stop by defining and limiting the angular travel of the lock 12 relative to the body 2 of the insert 1.

The side wall 32 has for its part a cutout 36 with a slope to guide the locking means 11 towards the hole 37 when the lock moves from the unlocked position to the locked position. Thus when the wearer presses the lock 12 towards the bottom of the cavity 30, the pin 11 comes into contact with the slope and causes a translation of the lock 12 in the direction of the axis 8 and implicitly a compression of the spring 8 until pin 11 is inserted into hole 37. Once pin 11 is housed in hole 37, the lock returns to its rest position in cavity 30 under the action of spring 8.

The lock 12 also acts as a handling element and has on its upper face, that is to say the face visible to the wearer when the lock is in the closed position, shallow machining or textures in negative relief or positive to facilitate manipulation of the lock 12.

In the closed or locked position ( fig. 1b ), the pin 11 secured to the lock 12 is inserted into the hole 37 so as to hold the lock in place in the cavity 30, the torsion spring 9 being constrained between the bottom of the cavity and the lock. The pin 11 is held in the inserted position thanks to the spring 10 which tends to push the lock 12 towards the side wall 32.

To swing the lock 12 to its open or unlocked position ( fig. 1a ), the wearer exerts pressure on the latch 12 and causes it to translate, in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the length of the bracelet strand, until the latter comes into abutment against the side wall 31 of the cavity 30. This translation has the effect of releasing the pin 11 from the hole 37, and therefore of allowing the torsion spring 9 to pivot the lock 12 towards its unlocked or open position, thus freeing the passage 5 to mount or dismount the bracelet strand.

To open the tongue, the user will push the tongue 16 backwards until the edge 17 is disengaged from the notch 22, and then tilt the lock 12 towards its open position. As shown in section in Figures 4a-4c, the part of the edge 17 of the hook-shaped portion 4 which fits into the notch 22 is preferably pointed, having in this way a shape which corresponds to the internal shape of the notch 22. Other forms of notches and corresponding edges can nevertheless be envisaged.

Claims (14)

Insert (1) for a strand (10) of a watch strap, allowing the connection between the strand (10) and a bar of a watch case to be manually locked and unlocked, said insert (1) comprises a body in rigid material (2) and a latch (12), the body made of rigid material (2) comprising a parallelepipedal portion (3) extended by a hook-shaped portion (4) terminating in an edge (5a), said shaped portion hook (4) forming a housing (5) for the bar, the housing comprising a transverse opening, the parallelepipedal portion (3) being configured to be secured to one end of the strand (10), the lock being housed in a cavity ( 30) of the body and hinged to the body (2) to make it pivot around a hinge pin (8) parallel to the housing (5), said latch (12) comprising a closing wall (16) capable of closing said housing (5),
characterized in that the lock comprises locking means formed by a pin (11) integral with the lock (12) cooperating with a hole (37) of the body (2) as well as first return means (10) arranged to constrain the pin (11) in the hole (37) in a locking position, and in which the lock (12) has a length less than the length of the cavity (30) so that when the lock (12) is pushed manually in the direction of the hinge axis (8) so as to release the pin (11) and place the lock (12) in an unlocked position in which the lock (12) is free to pivot around its axis of articulation and makes it possible to clear the transverse opening of the housing. Insert (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises return means (9) arranged to hold the lock in the unlocked position. Insert (1) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the lock (12) comprises a portion with a reduced thickness so as to forming a rim (19), and the cavity (30) comprises two side walls (31, 32), one of which has a lower height so as to be partially covered by the lock (12). Insert (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the side wall (31) of lesser height has a slope (35) to limit the angular travel of the lock (12) relative to the body (2) of the insert (1 ). Insert (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lock (12) has a structured upper surface (23) facilitating the locking and unlocking of the lock (12) by a wearer. Insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body of rigid material (2) is a one-piece element. Insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insert is made of metal, of composite material, of ceramic or of plastic material. Insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock (12) comprises a rear part (13) pierced with a longitudinal through-hole (14) to receive the pin (8). Insert (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that the latch (12) comprises a housing (130) of circular section, coaxial with the hole (14), arranged to receive the first return means (10). Insert (1) according to Claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the housing (130) has a diameter greater than the diameter of the hole (14). Insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second return means (9) are in the form of a torsion spring. Insert (1) according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the torsion spring is arranged in a machining (15) of the lock (12) around the axis (8). Strand (10) of a watch strap comprising at one end an insert (1) according to any one of the preceding claims. Watch provided with a watch case and two strands (10) on either side of the case, the case being provided with two bars, and in which the bars of the box are attached to the strands (10) by two inserts (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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