FR2585931A1 - LINING ELEMENT FOR BRACELET - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A BRACELET LINK ELEMENT. IT RELATES TO A LINK ELEMENT HAVING A BODY2 THAT DELIMITS A CAVITY3 INTENDED TO RETAIN AN END OF A PIECE9 OF AN ORNAMENTAL MATERIAL, FOR EXAMPLE GLASS, WOOD, ETC. EACH LINK ELEMENT HAS END LOBES4, 5 HAVING HOLES ALLOWING THE PASSAGE OF AN AXIS8 SO THAT THE ASSEMBLY ALLOWS THE FORMATION OF BRACELETS. APPLICATION TO THE MANUFACTURE OF BRACELETS FOR WATCHES.

Description

The present invention relates to an element of

  link for an ornamental bracelet.

  The bracelets are made of cut or shaped elements of precious or delightful materials such as precious stones, glass, shells and hardwood, connected in the form of a chain. These materials are generally very difficult to process during their shaping, cutting and finishing. Some are too fragile to be worked to the desired shape or held safely in the connected position in the bracelet. Accordingly, in some bracelets, these materials are cut into pieces of simple shapes or reduced dimensions and connected to each other by a flexible connection. For example, published Japanese Utility Model Application No. 145667/1974 discloses proper piercing of suitably shaped elements of an ornamental material, and threading them over a wire to form a necklace or bracelet. In another method of connection, the elements of suitable form are connected in form

  of a chain by connecting plates fixed individually

next to the pieces.

  However, these known types of bonds pose problems. In the case of a threaded connection, the use of transparent pieces reduces the aesthetic appearance of the formed element because the son are clearly visible through the pieces. In the connection in which the pieces are formed into a chain by means of hinged plates which are individually fixed on their sides, the overall shape tends to give an unattractive impression since it looks more like a

  chain than a bracelet or necklace.

  The invention relates to the resolution of these problems.

  my. More specifically, it relates to an improved link element for use in braceletsl in

  which the form-fitting piece of a material

  mental can be adjusted to a fixed position without the need for special adjustment work to mount the piece

which must be fixed.

  The invention also relates to such a link element in which the piece of the ornamental material can be arranged in such a form that the ravishing characteristics of the material are accentuated. It also relates to such a link element that allows the formation of a sequence with different drawings or various combinations of link elements.

of similar or different form.

  More specifically, the invention relates to a link element intended to form links in which pieces of an ornamental material are connected in the form of a chain, being attached to the opposite ends, the link element comprising a main body. a connecting portion formed in the main body and for holding the end of a piece of ornamental material to maintain its position, two inner and outer end lobes formed at opposite ends of the main body, each lobe having a hole, the inner and outer lobes being offset so that in a link formed with a number of link members placed side by side, each link member has its outer lobe

  which covers an inner lobe of an adjacent element of mail-

  lon, a connecting pin being intended to be placed in the aligned holes of the inner and outer lobes of the

  adjacent link elements overlapping each other.

  Other features and advantages of the

  will be better understood by reading the description

  who. will follow examples of embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective of a bracelet

  formed with the link elements according to a mode of realization

  preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective of the link element according to another embodiment of the invention; Figs. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are a partial plan view, partly broken away, and a side elevation of a bracelet mounted with the link members of the embodiment of Fig. 2; Figures 4 (a) to 4 (e) show different variants of link elements according to the invention; FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective of a link element according to the invention, formed so that it

  ensures the connection of an ornamental piece of

  particular ration; Figure 6 is a section of a link element

  according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

  a special connecting device in position of an ornamental piece; and

  FIGS. 7 (a) through 7 (d) show chaining

  made with various configurations and combinations of link elements of the same shape or

  different form, according to the invention.

  FIGS. 1, 3 (a) and 3 (b) show a transparent type of ornamental wristband comprising several link elements 1 made according to the invention, with a piece of a transparent ornamental material, by

  example of glass, mounted in the elements 1. In the sequence

  nally represented, the different elements 1 of the link are placed side by side forming two parallel rows,

  so that the pieces 9 are held at both ends.

  Moved by a pair of elements 1, in the opposite rows.

  Each link element 1 has a main body 2 of

  greater than that of the section of the piece 9 which is connected by the element and two inner and outer lobes 4 and 5 formed at the opposite ends of the body. A connecting portion 3 is formed in the body 2 so that it firmly holds the respective piece 9 at its end on the link member 1. The connecting part 3 may be formed by an opening through the wall as shown in FIG.

  the inner face of the main body 2 as shown on

  FIG. 2. The inner and outer lobes 4, 5 are placed with an offset design so that, after assembly, the outer lobe 5 of each link member 1 covers the inner lobe 4 of the adjacent element 1 as indicated 1 furthermore, a vertical hole 7 is formed in the inner and outer lobes 4 and 5, and it is drilled in the center so that it allows the passage of an axis 6 connecting the adjacent elements 1 of link 1 which are thus placed side by side, the inner and outer lobes 4 and 5 being arranged in overlapping, one above the other, between the link elements. In

  sequencing, the connecting pins 6 are not only

  intended to provide flexibility between the link members but also to provide the necessary spacing between the adjacent pieces so that the bracelet can be folded to the correct curvature when worn on the wrist of a user. In a variant of this embodiment, the connecting elements 1 are connected to each other by means 8 of circular section and formed of an ornamental material, having a suitable shape so that it can penetrate into

  the hole 7 and replacing the connection pins 6.

  During assembly, the pieces 9 are fixed indi-

  in the connection portions of the link members 1, with an adhesive or in any other known manner, they are placed side by side so that the link elements form two parallel rows and the connecting pins 6 are introduced into the holes

  aligned 7 lobes 4, 5, between the adjacent elements.

  The sequence thus formed allows the selection at will of one face or the other so that it constitutes the outside of the bracelet, and the ornamental watch strap thus

  formed can be of the reversible type.

  In this particular embodiment, the link elements are connected by forming a chain of ornamental pieces 9 formed of transparent glass, in a transparent type watchband. However,

  as the link element according to the invention is to realize

  very simple and therefore can be conveniently used for fixing pieces 9, various precious or delightful materials whose shaping and finishing can

  be difficult to use, in the appropriate form

  in the form of ornamental pieces 9 which are connected

  d by the elements 1 of link in the form of a bracelet, these materials can be in particular hardwood such as rosewood, ebony and boxwood and shells

  such as shells with golden edges, oysters

  and materials such as ivory, coral, hides, pieces of turtle shell, cloisonné, enamel, ceramic, lacquer, precious stones, semi-precious stones and deposited metal under vacuum

  in vapor phase or forming a drawing.

  FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (e) show various variants of link members 1 in which the main body 2 is divided into a plurality of segments each having a separate connection portion 3a to which is attached

  a piece 9 of an ornamental material of suitable shape.

  The resulting bracelet comprises, in each link element, several ornamental pieces 9 giving a very beautiful visual appearance by reflection of the light on the cut faces. FIG. 5 shows a form link element 1 that is suitable for holding shaped pieces 9

  circular, having a fastening device for enclosing

  piece 9 into position in the main body of

  the element, in another embodiment of the invention.

  The fixing device comprises a screw or an axis 14 penetrating into a cavity 10 formed in one face of the round piece 9, via an aligned hole

  of screw formed in the element 1 of the link.

  FIG. 6 shows a link element according to another embodiment of the invention, the main body comprising divided arms 21 which can be advantageously placed at the rear of the mounted chain.

  formed by similar elements of the link, with the extremes

  When the piece 9 is introduced into the element 1 of the link, the two ends 22 of the arms 21 are folded into a cavity 10 formed on the surface of the piece 9 so that it is firmly retained

in the link.

  FIG. 7 represents sequences formed with different drawings and with combinations of link elements of identical or different shapes, realized

according to the invention.

  Figure 7 (a) shows the link elements 1 of substantially similar shape, placed side by side at

  side by side in two parallel rows, the pieces adorn

  9 being placed between the rows so that each link element has its front end folded which. covers the straight rear end of the element

adjacent 1.

  FIG. 7 (b) shows a diagram comprising first pairs 1 of second pairs 1 'of parallel link elements, the first pairs 1

  alternating with the second pairs 1 'along the sequence

  ment. In each first pair, the link elements 1 are more separated from each other than in the pairs of elements 1 ', the pieces 9, 9' of ornamental material having a varying length thus being retained between the pairs of elements. link 1, 1 '. Each element 1 has its rectilinear front end which covers the end

  rectilinear back of the adjacent element 1 'and each element

  1 at its folded front end which covers the

  folded back unit of the adjacent element 1.

  FIG. 7 (c) shows a drawing similar to that of FIG. 7 (b), but in which each link element 1 'has its folded forward end which comes under

  the folded rear end of the adjacent element 1.

  Figure 7 (d) shows an embodiment that

  suitable for women's ornamental bracelets as it

  has a reduced width, especially when the

  bracelet must be attached to the body of the watch by

  wide ports. The sequence comprises a first pair attached to the body of the watch by a support, a second pair 1b and a chain of third pairs 1c of link elements, forming a row. The elements lb of the second pair are less separated from each other than the elements la of the first pair but more separated

  from each other than the elements lc of the third pair.

  Thus, the sequence has a width that decreases progressively

  from the link elements directly

attached to the body of the watch.

  Of course, various modifications can be made by the person skilled in the art to the link elements which have just been described solely as examples.

  non-limiting without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

  1. Connecting element for ornamental bracelet, in which pieces of ornamental material of shape   are connected by being held at their ends.   mites opposite, said element being characterized in that it comprises a main body (2), a connecting portion (3) formed in the main body and intended to retain the end of a piece of the ornamental material, two lobes   (4,5), one internal and the other external, trained in   10 opposite sides of the main body, a hole (7) drilled in each lobe, the inner and outer lobes being offset so that, in a sequence of a number of link elements placed side by side, each element of link (1) has an outer lobe covering the inner lobe of the adjacent link member, and a connecting pin (8) for insertion into the aligned holes of the lobes of adjacent link members.   overlapping in the sequence.   2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion (3) is a cavity formed in the main body.   Element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the connecting part (3) is an opening breakthrough in the main body.   4. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that it carries, in the main body (2), several divided parts (3 ') of connection each intended   to hold in position the end of a piece of ornamental material.   Element according to claim 1, characterized in that a protrusion (14) is formed in the connecting part so that when the piece of ornamental material is mounted in the connection part, the projection (14) enters into a cavity (10) suitably   formed on the surface of the piece of ornamental material.   6. link element according to claim 1, characterized in that a hole (12) is formed in the main body (2) and an axis (14) inserted into the hole penetrates into the cavity of the piece of ornamental material and fix it in position.