Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/14—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/14—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
  • A44C5/147—Watchcase itself used as fastener
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/14—Suspending devices, supports or stands for time-pieces insofar as they form part of the case
  • G04B37/1486—Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a member for attaching a strand of a bracelet to a watch case. More particularly, the attachment member comprises an insert or frame arranged to be inserted and connected in a removable manner between the lugs of the watch case.
• CH707056 discloses an interchangeable bracelet for a wristwatch, comprising an attachment member at one end of each strand to be removably connected to a watch case.
• the attachment member comprises a cylindrical housing intended to cooperate with a fixing bar to ensure the fixing of the bracelet to the case. This housing has an opening, along its longitudinal direction, forming a passage to allow insertion of the bar.
• the attachment member further comprises a lock mounted movably between a first position in which the passage is free and a second position in which the lock obstructs the passage in order to lock the bracelet to the watch case.
• attachment members have the disadvantage of having to make modifications to the watch case so that it is adapted to cooperate with the attachment member, in particular for the integration of a pusher allowing the unlocking of the attachment member of the watch case.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a fastening member making it possible to connect a strand of a bracelet to a watch case in a removable manner without having to modify the watch case for this purpose.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a space-saving attachment member that does not require the use of a bar to create the link between a strand of the strap and the horns of the watch case.
• an attachment member for a bracelet strand adapted to be removably connected to a watch case.
• the attachment member comprises: a housing in which are retained a first and a second stud arranged to be able to slide in a direction transverse to the length of the strand and to cooperate with respectively a first and a second pivot integral with the horns of the box watch ; an elastic member arranged to separate the first and second pads; and a lock arranged to, on the one hand, lock the attachment member when the lock is in a locking position and, on the other hand, allow the separation of the attachment member from the watch case when the latch is actuated to be brought into an unlocking position and a force making it possible to separate the attachment member from the watch case is applied against the elastic member.
• the lock and the first and second studs are configured so that actuation of the lock from the locking position to the unlocking position does not transmit any movement to the first and second studs.
• the lock comprises a body comprising a first portion accessible by the user and a second portion in order to block the movement of the first and second studs when the lock is in the locking position.
• the lock is arranged to be returned to the locking position by an elastic member.
• the lock comprises a recess, preferably cylindrical, inside which is arranged the elastic member, preferably a compression spring, in order to force the lock into the locking position.
• the attachment member further comprises a cover mounted on the housing. One end of the elastic member bears against the cover.
• the second portion of the body comprises a stop which prevents any approximation of the studs towards each other when the lock is in the locking position.
• the second portion comprises a notch which extends in a plane intercepting the direction of movement of the lock.
• a part of each stud is configured to slide in the notch when the lock is in the unlocked position.
• the attachment member comprises two lateral flanks and a reception part arranged on each lateral flank to accommodate the first and second pivots.
• the reception parts are shaped to limit the separation to a relative movement exerted in a predefined direction.
• each reception part is arranged to introduce therein one of the first and second pivots from an inlet to an outlet opening into the housing.
• each stud has a first lateral side arranged opposite a corresponding lateral edge of the housing.
• This first lateral side comprises a hole arranged to receive one end of the corresponding pivot when the attachment member is connected to the watch case.
• the first lateral side of each stud further comprises a guide surface leading to the hole.
• the guide surface is profiled in order to induce a transverse displacement of each stud when the end of the corresponding pivot moves along the guide surface.
• Another aspect of the invention relates to a watch strap strand comprising the attachment member.
• Another aspect of the invention relates to a wristwatch comprising at least one bracelet strand comprising the attachment member.
• An additional aspect of the invention relates to a method for separating the attachment member, comprising:
• FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the attachment member according to a preferred embodiment
• FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view from above of the frame of the attachment member
• FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view from below of the frame of the attachment member
• FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a stud of the locking / unlocking mechanism
• FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the block of Figure 4 according to another orientation
• FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the lock body of the locking / unlocking mechanism
• - Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the body of the lock of Figure 7 according to another orientation
• FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of the attachment member connected to a watch case, of which only the lugs are shown, when the lock is in the locking position;
• - Figure 12 illustrates a sectional view of Figure 11 according to A-A;
• Figure 13 illustrates a sectional view of Figure 12 along B-B;
• Figure 14 illustrates a view similar to Figure 11 when the lock is in the unlocked position
• FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic view of the lock and the studs of the attachment member according to an alternative embodiment, when the lock is in a locked position
• Figure 18 illustrates a view similar to Figure 17 when the latch of the attachment member is in an unlocked position.
• the attachment member 10 of a bracelet strand to a watch case comprises a frame 12 comprising a housing 14 of substantially rectangular shape intended to accommodate elements of a locking/unlocking mechanism. This is intended to attach and detach the frame 12 from two pivots 72a, 72b, for example two screws, mounted on the lugs 70 of the watch case (only the lugs are illustrated).
• the attachment member 10 further comprises a cover 50 mounted on the frame 12 so as to cover the housing 14 comprising elements of the locking/unlocking mechanism. A lower part of the cover 50 can for example be pushed out, clipped or screwed into the housing 14.
• the housing 14 of the frame 12 comprises two opposite side edges 16 each comprising an opening 18. These openings lead respectively to a first and a second reception part 24 arranged on the side flanks 22 of the frame 12 to accommodate the two pivots 77a, 77b.
• the first and second reception parts can for example be in the form of rails. These rails 24 are preferably shaped so that a portion of the two pivots 72a, 72b can be introduced into the rails by positioning the attachment member 10 above the horns 70 of the watch case, then lowering the attachment member 10 relative to the horns until the bottom of the rails rests on the pivots.
• the attachment member 10 can thus freely pivot around a pivot axis which is coaxial with the axis of the pivots when this attachment member 10 is locked to the watch case.
• the bottom 20 of the housing 14 has a hole 21 passing right through the frame 12 of the attachment member.
• the locking/unlocking mechanism of the attachment member to the watch case comprises a lock 60 which is mounted in the through-hole 21 so as to be operable in an oblique direction, preferably substantially orthogonal, to the axis of pivoting of the attachment member 10, for example in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis.
• the attachment member 10 comprises an attachment part 26 provided with a transverse slot 28 to receive one end of a strand of the bracelet.
• the locking / unlocking mechanism further comprises a first and a second stud 30a, 30b arranged in the housing 14 to be able to slide in a direction transverse to the length of the bracelet strand and to cooperate with respectively the first and second pivot 72a, 72b through the openings 18 located on the two side edges 16 of the housing 14.
• Each stud 30a, 30b comprises a first lateral side 32a arranged opposite the corresponding side edge 16 of the housing 14.
• the first lateral side 32a of each stud comprises a hole 38 arranged to receive one end of the corresponding pivot 72a, 72b, when the attachment member 10 is connected to the watch case.
• the first lateral side 32a of each stud further comprises a guide surface 39 leading to the hole 38. The profile of the guide surface 39 makes it possible to initiate and print a displacement transverse to the respective stud when the end of the corresponding pivot moves along this surface.
• Each stud 30a, 30b has a second lateral side 32b.
• the second lateral sides of the studs are arranged facing each other and each comprise a blind hole 34.
• Each blind hole 34 receives a portion of an elastic member, preferably a compression spring 30, arranged between the two studs.
• the lock 60 is arranged to, on the one hand, lock the attachment member 10 when the lock 60 is in a locking position and, on the other hand, allow the separation of the attachment member 10 of the watch case when the lock 60 is actuated to be brought into an unlocking position.
• the particularity of the locking/unlocking mechanism lies partly in the fact that the lock 60 and the first and second pads 30a, 30b are configured so that the actuation of the lock 60 to bring it into the unlocking position does not transmits no movement to the first and second pads 30a, 30b.
• the lock 60 makes it possible to lock and unlock the transverse movements of the first and second retractable studs without acting on the latter.
• the lock comprises a body 62 comprising a first portion 62a accessible by a user and a second portion 62b arranged inside the housing 14 in order to block the movement of the first and second pads 30a, 30b when the lock 60 is in the locking position as shown in Figure 13.
• the second portion 62a of the body of the lock 60 comprises a notch 64 extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the lock 60.
• Each stud 30a, 30b includes a corner 36 arranged to abut respectively against a first and a second shoulder 66 of the body 62 when the lock 60 is in the locking position. The two shoulders 66 are arranged on either side of the notch 64 above the latter.
• the corner 36 of each stud is aligned with the notch 64 when the lock 60 is in the unlocked position.
• the thickness e of the corner 36 of each stud 30a, 30b is less than the height h of the notch 64 of the lock body so that the corners can slide inside the notch.
• the body 62 of the latch 60 also comprises a housing 68, which in this example is cylindrical, inside which is partially disposed an elastic member which is preferably in the form of a compression spring 69.
• a housing 68 which in this example is cylindrical, inside which is partially disposed an elastic member which is preferably in the form of a compression spring 69.
• One end of the spring 69 bears against the bottom of the housing 68 while a portion of the spring is housed in a cutout 56 made on a longitudinal edge 54 of the cover 50 as illustrated by FIGS. 9 and 10.
• This cutout has a cavity cylindrical 58 arranged to receive the other end of the spring 69.
• This spring forces the latch 60 into the locking position in which the attachment member 10 is secured to the watch case.
• attachment member 10 must be moved above the watch case in a direction dictated by the inclination of the rails 24 in order to separate the attachment member from the watch case.
• the movement of the attachment member 10 relative to the watch case makes it possible to dislodge from the respective holes 38 the ends of the pivots 72a, 72b under the stress exerted by the latter on the respective studs 30a, 30b, this which causes the displacement of the corner 36 of each stud 30a, 30b in the notch 64 (FIG. 16).
• the transverse movement of the two studs in an opposite direction compresses the compression spring 40 as shown in Figure 15.
• the pivots 72a, 72b are located opposite the rails, which allows the separation of the attached.
• the two pivots 72a, 72b secured to the lugs 70 of the watch case are arranged in the rails 24 of the attachment member, then pressure is exerted on the actuating surface 63 of the lock 60 while moving the attachment member relative to the watch case in order to move the pivots 72a, 72b in the respective rails until the ends of the pivots exert a constraint on the guide surfaces 39 in order to induce a transverse displacement of the two studs 30a, 30b in an opposite direction, thus compressing the compression spring 40.
• the lock is adapted to be actuated in rotation between two angular positions corresponding respectively to a locking position and to a unlock position.
• the lock comprises an eccentric lock body 162 comprising a first width, along a first direction, which is greater than the second width along a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
• the angular position of the lock 162 corresponds to the locking position.
• the latch body 162 is oriented so that the first width of the latch body 162 is arranged in the direction of movement of the first and second studs 130a, 130b so that the latter abut against the latch body 162.
• the lock is rotated 90° so that the second width of the lock body 162 is arranged in the direction of movement of the first and second studs 130a, 130b as illustrated in Figure 18.
• the attachment member may further comprise a torsion spring (not shown) in order to force the lock into the locking position.
• the lock body 162 can of course take different shapes in order to lock and unlock the sliding of the two studs 130a, 130b according to the angular position of the body.
• the shape of the studs and of the locking body can vary insofar as the actuation of the lock from the locking position to the unlocking position does not transmit any movement to the locking mechanism, and in particular no movement to the first and at the second plot.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Buckles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=80625174

Family Applications (2)

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• 2022
  • 2022-03-03 EP EP22159921.0A patent/EP4238446A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2023
  • 2023-03-02 US US18/843,385 patent/US20250185765A1/en active Pending
  • 2023-03-02 CN CN202380025018.4A patent/CN118843405A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-03-02 WO PCT/IB2023/051935 patent/WO2023166452A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2023-03-02 JP JP2024547646A patent/JP7733840B2/ja active Active
  • 2023-03-02 EP EP23710097.9A patent/EP4486166B1/de active Active

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