GB2264628A

GB2264628A - Connector for wrist watch and strap

Info

Publication number: GB2264628A
Application number: GB9204832A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wah-Sang Hui
Original assignee: FLEXICO COMP Ltd
Current assignee: FLEXICO COMP Ltd
Priority date: 1992-03-06
Filing date: 1992-03-06
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-06
Also published as: GB9204832D0; GB2264628B; HK121596A

Abstract

A strap is secured to a watch by a spring loaded catch (4) on the watch. The catch has a compression spring (4c) which allows retraction of a piston (4b) to release strap. <IMAGE>

Description

WRIST WATCH AND WRIST WATCH STRAP The present invention relates to wrist watches and to wrist watch straps. The term "strap" in this context includes all devices for holding a wrist watch in position on the wrist including not only straps made of leather or plastic bu also metal bracelets, hereinafter for convenience all referred to as "straps11.

Traditionally watch straps are secured to wrist watches in a manner such that it is difficult to remove the strap fom the watch, for the purpose of changing the strap or repairing the watch A hand tool or instrument is generally required to remove the strap from the watch and to secure the same or a different strap to the watch.

The invention provides a wrist watch and a wrist watch strap combination including a securing mechanism for securing the wrist watch strap to the wrist watch, the securing mecnanism being manually operable so that the wrist watch and wrist watch strap can be secured to one another or released from one another without the use of any instrulnaslt .

In a preferred construction in accordance with the invention the securing mechanism for attaching one end of the strap to the wrist watch comprises a link or eye on the strap which may be interlinked with a link or eye on the wrist watch1 one of the links including a spring loaded catch to allow interlinkage.

The invention allows the user to easily remove or change a wrist watch strap as and when required, for reasons of fashion, to facilitate repairing the wrist watch, or because a strap has become worn out.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example, a wrist watch provided with a pair of links each having a spring loaded catch in use in combination with two different wrist watch straps each provided with closed links at the ends thereof.

In the drawings; Figure 1 shows a wrist watch and leather strap combinat ion, Figure 2 shows the removal of the leather strap from the wrist watch: Figure 3 shows the attachment of a metal bracelet to the wrist watch; Figure 4 shows the wrist watch and metal bracelet combination; and Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a spring loaded catch.

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a wrist watch 1, a leather strap 2, and a metal bracelet 3. The wrist watch 1 includes links d for cooperating with links 5 on the leather strap 2 or metal bracelet 3.

Figure 5 shows a link 4 in more detail, The link 4 includes a fixed cylinder 4a, a piston 4b moveable along cylinder 4a, a compression coil spring 4e located within the cylinder 4a and a handle 4d for use in tetr et.ng the piston 4b into the cylinder 4a against the action of the spring 4c so as to thereby open the link.

Referring back to figures l, 2, 3 and 4, Figure 1 shows the wrist watch 1 and leather strap 2 connected together. In Figure 2 the handles 4d have been manually retracted and the leather strap 2 has been disconnected from the wrist watch 1. In Figure 3 the handles 4d are still retracted and metal bracelet 3 is about to be secured to the wrist watch 1. In Figure 4 the metal bracelet 3 is shown attached to the wrist watch it from a consideration of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 it will be seen that the preferred construction is simple to operate, and is also aesthetically pleasing, and does not greatly add to the size or weight of the watch, so that the watch is comfortable for the wearer,

Claims

C L ~A I~~ M S l. A wrist watch and wrist watch strap combination including a securing mechanism for securing the wrist watch strap to the wrist watch, the securing mechanism being manually operable so that the wrist watch and wrist watch strap can be secured to one another or released from one another without the use of any instrument.
2. A wrist watch and wrist watch strap combination according to Claim 1 in which the securing echanism for attaching one end of the strap to the wrist watch comprises a link or eye on the strap which may be interlinked with a link or eye on the wrist watch, one of the links including a spring loaded catch to allow interlinkage.
3. A wrist watch and wrist watch strap combination substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings,
4. Any novel combination or sub-combination disclosed and/or illustrated herein.