GB2214778A

GB2214778A - Watch bracelet

Info

Publication number: GB2214778A
Application number: GB8803583A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frank Henry Lambert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-02-17
Filing date: 1988-02-17
Publication date: 1989-09-13
Also published as: GB8803583D0

Abstract

A bracelet, particularly for a watch, comprises a number of links (6, 7, 8) serially connected longitudinally of the length of the bracelet, each link being formed of two half links (1, 2) which are mirror images one of the other about the longitudinal centre line of the bracelet, each link, when assembled, having a recess at one end and an extension at the other, the extension being accommodated within the recess of the next adjacent link, to hold the two halves together and to fasten one link to the next, and secured by a pin (3) which passes through holes (5) in the link extension and has its ends secured in blind holes (4) in the sides of the recess to extend transverse the longitudinal centre line of the bracelet. The extension of the end link is secured in a recess (10) formed in a bar member (9) by a releasable pin (11) extending through holes in the sides of the recess and hole (5) in the extension of the end link. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates to bracelet formed of a plurality of similar links, and particularly to a watch bracelet.

In order that watch bracelets may be sold to people having wrists of different sizes the length of the bracelet needs to be adjustable. This may be done by making the links spring loaded, or by making an adjustable clasp fastening or by removing links from, or adding links to, the bracelet so as te adjust the lengths of the bracelet to accomodate wrists of different circumference.

Spring loaded links tend to suffer from fatigue over an extended life, while adjustable clasp fasteners tend to derogate from the appearance of the bracelet; so removable links have found considerable favour, However, many removable link systems used in the past have tended to suffer from the disadvantage of being complicated to produce, having unsightly holes for screws or pins, and being difficult to remove.

In accordance with my invention a watch bracelet is formed of a number of similar shaped links each of which is formed of two identical halves which are mirror images one of the other about a centre line extending longitudinally of the bracelet, wherein the said link has a recess on the longitudinal centre line at the head of the link and an extension on the longitudinal centre line of the bracelet at the tail of the link, the extension fitting within the recess of the next adjacent link and being retained therein by a pin, the ends of which are held captive in blind holes in the respective half links, said pin extending transversely of the longitudinal centre line of the bracelet across the recess and passing through holes in the extension of the adjacent link.

Preferably the last pair of half links are secured together by a bar member with a recess to accomodate the extension of the last link and a pin extending across the recess and held in place by a screw thread on the pin engaging a screw threaded hole in the bar member.

The advantage of the bracelet of my invention is that simply by removing the one screw pin any number of links may be added or removed and the remainder secured by rapl,.-ing the screw pin in the locking bar member. In addition each link is easily produced and has no obvious holes to spoil its appearance.

The accompanying drawing show two embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings: Fig.1 is a view of one embodiment of a bracelet according to the invention.

Fig. 2 Shows the components of one link of the bracelet.

Fig. 3 Shows the components after a first stage of assembly.

Fig. 4 Shows the components after a second stage of assembly.

Fig. 5 Shows the assembly at the clasp end of the bracelet.

Fig. 6 Shows the assembly at the watch end of the bracelet.

Fig. 7 Shows an alternative embodiment of a bracelet according to the invention.

Fig. 2 Shows the components of one link comprising the mmrror 1 mirror image hal! link portions 1 & 2 and the pin 3.

It should be noted that each half link 1,2 is an integral member although with the surfaces configured to make it appear as inter-engaging C and L shaped members, this being purely for a desired appearance in the final bracelet.

Fig. 3 Shows the first stage of assembly where the upset end of pin 3 is secured in the blind hole 4 on one half link.

Fig. 4 Shows the two half links 1,2, assembled to trap the extension of the next adjacent link 5 in the recess formed between the assembled half links, and held therein by the pin 3 passing through holes 5 in the extension.

Fig. 4 also shows how the final link 8 is held in its assembled position by a bar 9 with a recess 10 which traps the extension of link 8, the bar being secured to the extension of the final link by a threaded pin 11 passing through holes 5 in the extensions and engaging the screw threaded hole 12, as shown in Fig. 5. Itshould be noted that the bar member 9 may be part of a clasp fastener for the bracelet.

The bracelet may be attached to the watch case by modifying the blind holes (4) to make them though holes, one of which is screw threaded to retain a threaded pin (13) to engage a suitable extension on the watch case. One or more of the links at the case end may be suitably shaped, as shown in Fig. 6, to blend the bracelet smoothly to the watch case.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the main components of which are shown in Fig.7, the links are formed so that when assembled they have central apertures which, if desired, may be filled with rectangular section bars 23 whose edges are provided with grooves 24 which receive the concave edges of the link around the aperture so that the bars are securely retained in the apertures. The bars can be made of a contrasting material to that of the remainder of the link, or of the same material with a contrasting surface treatment.

While two specific embodiments of the invention have been described such description is for illustrative purposes only and it should be understood that variations may be made to the invention the scope of which is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A bracelet which is formed of a number of similar links each of which is formed of two indentical halves which are mirror images one of the other about a centre line extending longitudinally of the bracelet, wherein the said link has a recess on the longitudinal centre line at the head of he Ijrlt' and on extension or, Xne longitudinal centre line of the bracelet at the tail of the link, the extension fitting within the recess of the next adjacent link and being retained therein by a pin, the ends of which are held in blind holes in the respective half links, said pin extending transversely of the longitudinal centre line of the bracelet across the recess and passing through holes in the extension of the adjacent link.

2. A bracelet as claimed in claim 1 in which the last link of a series of links is secured by a member having a recess to receive the extension of the said last link with a pin extending across the recess passing through holes formed in the extension of said last link and screw threadedly engaged in a hole in the said member on one side of the recess.

3. A bracelet as claimed in Claim 2 in which the bracelet is a watch bracelet and the first link has a recess to accomodate an extension formed on a watch case with a pin passing through the link on either side of the recess, through the extension on the watch case and screw threadedly engaged in a hole in the link on one side of the recess.

4. A bracelet according to any preceding claim in which the link has a central aperture.

5. A bracelet according to claim 4 in which the link has a removable member substantially filling the aperture, and retained therein by interengaging formations on the edge of the aperture and the edge of the removable member.

6. A bracelet according to claim 5 in which the edges of the removable member have concave grooves and the edges of the aperture are convex so the removable member is a sliding fit in the link in a direction in the plane of the link.

7. A bracelet as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 in which the removable member is of rectangular bar section and is of a different; material, or has a different surface finish, to that of the link.

8. A bracelet substantially as described with reference to Figs.1 to 6 or Fig. 7.