GB2293620A - Wrist watch folding clasp - Google Patents

Abstract

A folding clasp (10) for a wristwatch having a pair of straps or the like, which folding clasp (10) comprises a pair of hinged first and second clasp members (11 and 12) and a releasable fastener (16) provided at the free end of the second clasp member (12) for fastening the free end portion of the other said strap. The fastener (16) is formed by a sleeve (17) through which the free end portion of said other strap is to pass in one direction, and an engaging pin (18) which is adapted to be pivoted into an engaging position engaging with the free end portion of said other strap upon limited return movement of said free end portion in the opposite direction. <IMAGE>

Description

WRIST WATCH FOLDING CLASP The present invention relates to a folding clasp for a wrist watch having a pair of straps or the like.

According to the invention, there is provided a folding clasp for a wrist watch having a pair of straps or the like, which folding clasp comprises a pair of flat elongate first and second clasp members which are hinged together at one end, the other end of said first clasp member being in use connected to the free end of one said strap, a releasable fastener provided at the other end of the second clasp member for fastening the free end portion of the other said strap, and releasable holding means for holding the clasp members together in a clasp closed condition in which straps are brought together, wherein the fastener comprises a loop member through which the free end portion of said other strap is to pass in one direction, said fastener incorporating a movable engaging member which is adapted to be moved into an engaging position engaging with the free end portion of said other strap upon limited return movement of said free end portion in the opposite direction.

In a preferred embodiment, the engaging member is adapted to be moved into the engaging position by the free end portion of said other strap upon limited return movement of the latter.

Preferably, the engaging member is arranged in the engaging position to extend into a hole formed in the free end portion of said other strap.

More preferably, the engaging member is arranged in the engaging position to extend through said hole and across opposite sides of the loop member.

Advantageously, the fastener further includes snap-fit means for maintaining the engaging member in the engaging position through a snap-fit action.

Preferably, the snap-fit means comprises a snap formation provided internally on the loop member, and the engaging member is adapted to engage with the snap formation after extending through said hole, thereby positively maintaining the engaging position of the engaging member.

In a preferred embodiment, the snap formation is in the form of a recess.

In a specific construction, the engaging member is pivotably connected to the loop member.

It is preferred that the loop member is generally flat and has flat and parallel opposite sides.

Preferably, the fastener is pivotably connected to said other end of the second clasp member.

The invention also provides an assembly which comprises the above folding clasp and a pair of straps or the like for a wrist watch.

The invention further provides a wrist watch incorporating such an assembly.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a folding clasp in accordance with the invention, said clasp being in an open condition; Figure 2 is a plan view of two members of the folding clasp of Figure 1, said members being separated; Figure 3 is a partial sectional side view of the folding clasp of Figure 1, said clasp being in a closed condition; Figure 4 is a plan view of the folding clasp in the same condition as in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the folding clasp in the same condition as in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a folding clasp 10 embodying the invention, which folding clasp 10 is formed by a pair of first and second metal clasp members 11 and 12. The clasp members 11 and 12 are flat, elongate and slightly curved. Adjacent ends 11A and 12A of the clasp members 11 and 12 are rolled back, through which ends 11A and 12A a hinge pin 13 is secured so as to hinge the clasp members 11 and 12 together in a centrally aligned manner.

Free end 11B of the first clasp member 11 has an opposed pair of upturned integral side lugs 14 which are apertured.

An integral central tongue 15 is cut out and folded up from near the free end 11B of the first clasp member 11, which is slightly curved inwards.

The folding clasp 10 further includes a fastener 16 provided at free end 12B of the second clasp member 12.

The fastener 16 is formed by a metal sleeve 17 which has a flat loop cross-section, and further includes a metal locking pin 18. The clasp member free end 12B has a pair of rolled back integral lugs 19. The sleeve 17 has upper and lower walls 17A and 17B, which lower wall 17B has at is front end a pair of opposed depending integral lugs 20 which are apertured. Lower end 18B of the locking pin 18 is transversely apertured. The sleeve 17 and the locking pin 18 are simultaneously pivotally connected or hinged to the free end 12B of the second clasp member 12 by a hinge pin 21 passing through the sleeve lugs 20, the clasp member lugs 19 and the locking pin lower end 18B, with the locking pin 18 sandwiched between the clasp member lugs 19 and the clasp member lugs 19 in turn sandwiched between the sleeve lugs 20.The second clasp member 12, the sleeve 17 and the locking pin 18 are centrally aligned with one and other.

As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the underside of the upper wall 17A of the sleeve 17 has a shallow central recess 22 which is formed immediately behind the front end of the sleeve 17. The locking pin 18 is pivotable with respect to the sleeve 17 between a locking position (Figures 3 and 4) in which the locking pin 18 is pivoted to within the sleeve 17 and has its upper end 18A releasably engaging with the recess 22 through a snap-fit action and an unlocking position (Figures 1 and 5) in which the locking pin 18 is pivoted free and out of the sleeve 17.

The clasp members 11 and 12 are pivotable relative to each other between a closed condition (Figures 3 and 4) in which they lie closely against each other and an open condition (Figures 1 and 5) in which they are hinged apart. In the closed condition, the rolled back lugs 19 of the second clasp member 12 releasably engage with the tongue 15 on the first clasp member 11, through a snap-fit action, whereby the clasp members 11 and 12 are held together.

The folding clasp 10 is designed to be used in connection with a wrist watch having a pair of straps 30 and 31 or the like. The free end of the watch strap 30 is connected to the free end 11B of the first clasp member 11 by means of a hinge pin 32 engaging at opposite ends through the apertured lugs 14. The free end portion of the other watch strap 31 is arranged in use to pass through the sleeve 17 from behind in the direction A.

The watch strap 31 has along its free end portion a series of holes 33, with a selected one of which the locking pin 18 is to releasably engage. While the locking pin 18 is in the unlocking position, the selected hole 33 of the watch strap 31 is moved close for the locking pin 18 to pass therethrough from below, as shown in Figure 5. The watch strap 31 is then pulled slightly backwards in the return direction B, thereby pivoting the locking pin 18 towards the locking position, until the upper end 18A of the locking pin 18 snap-fits with the recess 22 inside the sleeve 17. If necessary, the locking pin 18 may be pushed into the sleeve 17 by, for example, the thumb nail of a user bearing against the upper end 18A of the locking pin 18. The wrist watch is now ready for use as an ordinary folding-clasp bracelet wrist watch in the conventional manner.

In order to adjust the length of the watch straps 30 and 31, the watch strap 31 is pulled forward relative to the sleeve 17 so as to pivot the locking pin 18 out of the sleeve 17, thereby releasing the locking pin 18 from the locking position. Then the position of the watch strap 31 relative to the sleeve 17 can be adjusted for another hole 33 to be engaged by the locking pin 18, as described above.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. A folding clasp for a wrist watch having a pair of straps or the like, which folding clasp comprises a pair of flat elongate first and second clasp members which are hinged together at one end, the other end of said first clasp member being in use connected to the free end of one said strap, a releasable fastener provided at the other end of the second clasp member for fastening the free end portion of the other said strap, and releasable holding means for holding the clasp members together in a clasp closed condition in which straps are brought together, wherein the fastener comprises a loop member through which the free end portion of said other strap is to pass in one direction, said fastener incorporating a movable engaging member which is adapted to be moved into an engaging position engaging with the free end portion of said other strap upon limited return movement of said free end portion in the opposite direction.

2. A folding clasp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging member is adapted to be moved into the engaging position by the free end portion of said other strap upon limited return movement of the latter.

3. A folding clasp as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engaging member is arranged in the engaging position to extend into a hole formed in the free end portion of said other strap.

4. A folding clasp as claimed in claim 3, wherein the engaging member is arranged in the engaging position to extend through said hole and across opposite sides of the loop member.

5. A folding clasp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastener further includes snap-fit means for maintaining the engaging member in the engaging position through a snap-fit action.

6. A folding clasp as claimed in claim 5, wherein the snap-fit means comprises a snap formation provided internally on the loop member, and the engaging member is adapted to engage with the snap formation after extending through said hole, thereby positively maintaining the engaging position of the engaging member.

7. A folding clasp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the snap formation is in the form of a recess.

8. A folding clasp as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the engaging member is pivotably connected to the loop member.

9. A folding clasp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loop member is generally flat and has flat and parallel opposite sides.

10. A folding clasp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastener is pivotably connected to said other end of the second clasp member.

11. A folding clasp substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. An assembly comprising a folding clasp as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and a pair of straps or the like for a wrist watch.

13. A wrist watch incorporating an assembly as claimed in claim 12.