GB2075331A

GB2075331A - Adjustable watch band

Info

Publication number: GB2075331A
Application number: GB8110296A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1980-04-04
Filing date: 1981-04-01
Publication date: 1981-11-18
Also published as: GB2075331B; JPS5929534Y2; HK15886A; JPS56146011U

Abstract

An adjustable watch band comprises a series of adjustable links 10, connecting rings 11 for connecting adjacent links, and connecting pins 12 for securing the connecting rings to the adjustable link. Each adjustable link has hollow portions 10a, 10b at opposite ends and a pair of lug portions provided in a central portion. Each connecting ring 11, 11a is engaged with lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, and each connecting pin 12 is engaged in the space formed between adjacent connecting rings. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable watch band The present invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable band used as a part of a watch band and more particularly to an adjustable watch band comprising adjustable links for adapting the watch band to the size of a wearer's hand.

An advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to reduce the defects of the conventional adjustable watch band, which will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to drawings. Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to improve the operationsforthe assembling and disassembling of the adjustable watch band.

According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable watch band comprising a series of adjustable links, connecting rings for connecting adjacent adjustable links, and connecting pins for securing said connecting rings to said adjustable link, each of said adjustable links having hollow portions at opposite end portions thereof and a pair of engaging lug portions provided in a central portion at the rear side thereof, each of said connecting rings being engaged with said engaging lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, and each of said connecting pins being engaged in the space between adjacent connecting rings.

An embodiment the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional adjustable watch band; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an adjustable link of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a connecting ring; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connecting pin; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembly of a unit of an adjustable watch band; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 5.

Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional adjustable band comprises a series of adjustable links 1, connecting members 2 and core members 3. The adjustable link 1 comprises hollow portions 1 a, 1 b provided in opposite end portions at the rear side thereof, one of the hollow portions 1 a being formed with recess 1 a' at a central portion thereof. The connecting member 2 has a pair of engaging projections 2a, 2a and 2b, 2b at the opposite end portions thereof respectively.

The core member 3 has a flexible portion 3a in a central portion thereof and a protrusion 3b' at one end portion 3b.

In order to connect adjustable links, one ofthe engaging projections 2b of connecting member 2 is inserted into the hollow portion 1 b of one of the adjacent adjustable links 1, at the same time the other projection 2a is inserted into the other hollow portion 1 a through the recess 1 a'. The inserted engag ing projections 2a and 2b are laterally moved up to the innermost ends of hollow portions 1 a and 1 b.

Then, the other projections 2a and 2b of the connecting member are engaged with hollow portions 1 a and 1 b of the adjacent adjustable link 1. The engagement maybe carried out by slightly tilting the adjacent link 1. The engaging projections 2a and 2b are engaged in the under side portion of the hollow portions 1 a and 1 b of the adjacent link 1. Then, the core member 3 is inserted between the space between the engaged connecting member 2 and the connecting member 2c which has already been engaged in the hollow portions 1 a and 1 b. The end portion 3b is inserted into the hollow portion 1 a with bending oftheflexible portion 3a by pressing down, and the protrusion 3b' is engaged in the recess 1 a'.

In such an adjustable band, the operation for engaging projections 2a, 2a with the hollow portions 1 a, 1 a through the recesses 1 a', 1 a' is difficult, so that the efficiency of the assembling work is decreased.

The present invention is to reduce such disadvantages.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, numeral 10 designates an adjustable linkwhich comprises hollow portions 10a, 10b provided in opposite end portions at the rear side thereof, a pair of engaging lug portions 10c, lOc provided at both sides of a central portion atthe rear side thereof, each of which having an L-shaped cross section. The hollow portion 10a has a perforation 10a' in the center thereof. A connecting ring 11 has an inner diameter big enough to engage with the engaging lug portions 1 Oc. A connecting pin 12 has a bent flexible portion 12a in a central portion and a protrusion 12b at an end portion.

In order to connect adjustable links 10, the engaging lug portion 10c of the adjustable link 10 is connected to the engaging lug portion 1 Oc of an adjacent adjustable link unit by engaging the connecting ring 11 with both engaging lug portions. A predetermined space is formed between the connecting ring 11 a which is engaged with the other lug portion.

Accordingly, the connecting pin 12 is inserted into the space there between through the hollow portion 10b as the end portion of the connecting pin 12 is pressed down against the elasticity of the flexible portion 12a. When the protrusion 12b is positioned under the perforation 1 0a', the pressure on the end portion is released. Thus, the protrusion 1 2b is engaged with the perforation 1 0a' by the elasticity of the flexible portion 1 2a. Thus, the connecting ring 11 is securely held to the engaging lug portion 1 Oc of the adjustable link.

In orderto disconnect the links, the connecting pin 12 is pressed down and pulled out of the adjustable link 10. Thereafter, the connecting ring 11 is removed from engaging lug portions 1 Oc.

In accordance with the present invention, since the connecting ring is simply engaged with both adjacent engaging lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, the operation for the connection or disconnection of adjustable links may be easily performed.

1. An adjustable watch band comprising a series

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Adjustable watch band The present invention relates to an improvement in an adjustable band used as a part of a watch band and more particularly to an adjustable watch band comprising adjustable links for adapting the watch band to the size of a wearer's hand. An advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to reduce the defects of the conventional adjustable watch band, which will be hereinafter described in detail with reference to drawings. Another advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to improve the operationsforthe assembling and disassembling of the adjustable watch band. According to the present invention, there is provided an adjustable watch band comprising a series of adjustable links, connecting rings for connecting adjacent adjustable links, and connecting pins for securing said connecting rings to said adjustable link, each of said adjustable links having hollow portions at opposite end portions thereof and a pair of engaging lug portions provided in a central portion at the rear side thereof, each of said connecting rings being engaged with said engaging lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, and each of said connecting pins being engaged in the space between adjacent connecting rings. An embodiment the present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional adjustable watch band; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an adjustable link of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a connecting ring; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connecting pin; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an assembly of a unit of an adjustable watch band; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of Fig. 5. Referring to Fig. 1, a conventional adjustable band comprises a series of adjustable links 1, connecting members 2 and core members 3. The adjustable link 1 comprises hollow portions 1 a, 1 b provided in opposite end portions at the rear side thereof, one of the hollow portions 1 a being formed with recess 1 a' at a central portion thereof. The connecting member 2 has a pair of engaging projections 2a, 2a and 2b, 2b at the opposite end portions thereof respectively. The core member 3 has a flexible portion 3a in a central portion thereof and a protrusion 3b' at one end portion 3b. In order to connect adjustable links, one ofthe engaging projections 2b of connecting member 2 is inserted into the hollow portion 1 b of one of the adjacent adjustable links 1, at the same time the other projection 2a is inserted into the other hollow portion 1 a through the recess 1 a'. The inserted engag ing projections 2a and 2b are laterally moved up to the innermost ends of hollow portions 1 a and 1 b. Then, the other projections 2a and 2b of the connecting member are engaged with hollow portions 1 a and 1 b of the adjacent adjustable link 1. The engagement maybe carried out by slightly tilting the adjacent link 1. The engaging projections 2a and 2b are engaged in the under side portion of the hollow portions 1 a and 1 b of the adjacent link 1. Then, the core member 3 is inserted between the space between the engaged connecting member 2 and the connecting member 2c which has already been engaged in the hollow portions 1 a and 1 b. The end portion 3b is inserted into the hollow portion 1 a with bending oftheflexible portion 3a by pressing down, and the protrusion 3b' is engaged in the recess 1 a'. In such an adjustable band, the operation for engaging projections 2a, 2a with the hollow portions 1 a, 1 a through the recesses 1 a', 1 a' is difficult, so that the efficiency of the assembling work is decreased. The present invention is to reduce such disadvantages. Referring to Figs. 2 to 6, numeral 10 designates an adjustable linkwhich comprises hollow portions 10a, 10b provided in opposite end portions at the rear side thereof, a pair of engaging lug portions 10c, lOc provided at both sides of a central portion atthe rear side thereof, each of which having an L-shaped cross section. The hollow portion 10a has a perforation 10a' in the center thereof. A connecting ring 11 has an inner diameter big enough to engage with the engaging lug portions 1 Oc. A connecting pin 12 has a bent flexible portion 12a in a central portion and a protrusion 12b at an end portion. In order to connect adjustable links 10, the engaging lug portion 10c of the adjustable link 10 is connected to the engaging lug portion 1 Oc of an adjacent adjustable link unit by engaging the connecting ring 11 with both engaging lug portions. A predetermined space is formed between the connecting ring 11 a which is engaged with the other lug portion. Accordingly, the connecting pin 12 is inserted into the space there between through the hollow portion 10b as the end portion of the connecting pin 12 is pressed down against the elasticity of the flexible portion 12a. When the protrusion 12b is positioned under the perforation 1 0a', the pressure on the end portion is released. Thus, the protrusion 1 2b is engaged with the perforation 1 0a' by the elasticity of the flexible portion 1 2a. Thus, the connecting ring 11 is securely held to the engaging lug portion 1 Oc of the adjustable link. In orderto disconnect the links, the connecting pin 12 is pressed down and pulled out of the adjustable link 10. Thereafter, the connecting ring 11 is removed from engaging lug portions 1 Oc. In accordance with the present invention, since the connecting ring is simply engaged with both adjacent engaging lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, the operation for the connection or disconnection of adjustable links may be easily performed. CLAIMS

1. An adjustable watch band comprising a series of adjustable links, connecting rings for connecting adjacent adjustable links, and connecting pins for securing said connecting rings to said adjustable link, each of said adjustable links having hollow portions at opposite end portions thereof and a pair of engaging lug portions provided in a central portion at the rear side thereof, each of said connecting rings being engageable with a pair of said engaging lug portions of adjacent adjustable links, and each of said connecting pins being engageable in the space between adjacent connecting rings when the rings are engaged with the lug portions as aforesaid.

2. An adjustable watch band according to claim 1 wherein said engaging lug portion has an L-shaped cross section.

3. An adjustable watch band according to claim 1 wherein one of said hollow portions of each link has a perforation in the rear side thereof and said connecting pin has a flexible portion and a protrusion thereon, which is engageable with said perforation when the pin is engaged between adjacent connecting rings as aforesaid.

4. An adjustable watch band substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.