GB2304534A - An adjustable watch strap - Google Patents

Abstract

The strap is provided with a number of removable link members 13 which are separated by removing parts 21, 22 and a spacer 25. A laterally slidable peg 15 normally holds the spacer 25 in position, but when a spacer is removed, pivot connecting parts 21 and 22 can slide inwards towards each other and out of engagement with link members 14. This allows those link members to separate. In this way, some or all of the link members can be removed to adjust the overall length of the strap.

Description

WRIST STRAPS The invention relates to wrist straps.

The invention relates more particularly to a linked wrist strap. especially for a watch, formed bv a plurality of pivotably connected generally similar link members which normally fit around a wrist of a user. Commonly straps, especially watch straps are made and sold with such straps fitted, are of a fixed length. It is therefore often a problem that the effective length of the strap must be adjusted, unless the strap is flexible lengthwise. for each user. Traditionally this is carried out at a pointof-sale by the seller and requires skill and special tools to remove an appropriate number of unrequired links. Such a situation is not satisfactory or convenient if the watch or strap is bought as a gift for someone not present at the point-of-sale for example. or for the purchaser himself if he wishes to alter the strap fitting at a later date for any reason.

It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least reduce this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a wrist strap formed of a plurality of permanently and pivotable connected link members capable of being wrapped around and opened about a user's wrist. the link members comprising alternatively connected major and minor link members, the major link members being arranged to form a generally continuous outer surface when connected together side by side, and the minor link member being arranged to connect the major link members adjacent rear surfaces thereof.

including a number of special major and minor link members, in which each of the special major link members has a laterally slidably removable locking peg and the special minor link members are each arranged in separate parts that can be lifted out of engagement with the special major link members on either side when respective pegs are slid out of the strap to allow some or all the special link members to be unlocked and removed from the wrist strap.

The pegs each preferably have an intermediate aperture to receive an end of a blunt instrument to facilitate manual sliding using the instrument of the pep into and out of its locking position in the strap.

Each peg may have an upstanding pimple that engages a slot provided in a respective special major link to restrain the peg laterally in its locking pOSitiOl0.

Each minor link member may be formed of two pivot members arranged to connect to special major link members at either side and a spacer that holds the two pivot members apart so that they remain securely in connection with the special major link members.

The spacer preferably has wings that fit under respective of the pegs at either side of the spacer to prevent the spacer lifting out of the strap when the pegs are in their locked positions.

A watch strap according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an underside plan view of part of the strap: Figure 2 is an isometric view of a part of a special minor link member of the strap: Figure 3 is an isometric view of a spacer part of a special minor link member of the strap: Figure 4 is an isometric view of a part equivalent to the part shown in Figure 2; Figures 5. 6 and 7 are underside plan views of special major link members of the strap; Figure 8 is an underside plan view of the special minor link member: Figure 9 is an underside plan view of a major link member of the strap; Figure 10 is an underside plan view of a minor link member of the strap; and Figure 11 shows some major and minor link members connected side by side with some special major and minor link members.

Referring to the drawings. the watch strap is normally formed of a plurality of major and minor links members (Figures 9 and 10) pivotable connected together alternatively side by side and a number of special links members (Figure 1) which can be connected at one or both ends of the plurality of link members. The "normal" or "non-special" link members are permanently fixed or crimped to one another so that forks 10 see Figure 11. of the minor link members. fit under respective canopies 11 formed on 1 inks members 12 of the adjacejjt major 1 ink members. As such. the strap can flex to a certain or sufficient extent to allow the strap to fit around and be unwrapped from a user's wrist.

In embodiments of the invention. the effective or overall length of the strap formed by the link members all joined together can be adjusted by removing some or all of the special link members that are shown in Figure 1 for one or other end of the strap. In order to provide this facility and in a manner that requires no special tools or skills that is so as to enable the user to make length adjustment at his will and convenience, the special major and minor links are used.

The special major link members comprise the parts shown in Figures 5 to 8. Firstly, they include a link member 13, which is outwardly exactly the same as the link member 12, which has a shaped platform or insert 14 shown in Figure 6. The special link members 13 however also each include a laterally slidably removable peg 15. The peg 15 slides under a canopy 16 integrally formed in the major link member 13 and is constrained in a "locking" position by a punched-out pimple 17 formed in the peg 15. The pimple 17 engages at end of a slot. formed by an enlarged part 18 of a split in the canopy 16, when the peg is in its locking position. The peg 15 also has an intermediate aperture 19 which can receive in use an end of a blunt instrument to facilitate the manual sliding of the peg 15 for its removal and insertion into the strap.The special major link member is completed by a dummy end piece 20 which fits permanently under one end canopy of the member 13.

The special minor link members each consists of three parts. Two like or opposing parts are shown at 21 and 22 and are pivot members that provide forks 23, which are the same and serve the same purpose as the forks 10. The other part of each special minor link member is a spacer 24 which fits between and holds apart the parts 21 and 22.

The spacer ensures that the forks 23 remain under the respective canopies of the major link members so that the pivotable connections are maintained. The spacers 24 each have a wing 25 at each side, which in use fit under respective pegs 15 which hold the wings against the platforms 14 so that the spacers 24 cannot lift out.

It will be appreciated by looking at the drawings that to remove one or more special link members, selected adjacent pairs of pegs 15 must be slid out of the strap so that a chosen spacers can be lifted out and the parts 21 and 22 moved towards one another. As a result, the forks 23 can slide away from under the canopies and the respective adjacent special major link members can then be separated from one another. Each pair of adjacent special major link members can be separated in similar manner.

Once the required number of special links has been chosen for the desired length oi the strap, the remaining special link members are reassembled in a reverse procedure. That is, a pair of the special major links are placed side-byside, the forks 23 of opposing members 21 and 22 are entered under respective canopies of the adjacent special major link members and a spacer 24 is inserted. .t peg 15 is then slid into the strap to press the wings 25 into the slots provided in the platforms 14 and this locks the special major link members together.

It will be appreciated that locking together, unlocking.

and separating the special link members requires no special tools, skill, or physical manipulation, for example crimping or bending of any parts. Adjustments can therefore be carried out by a user from time to time at his home or as required. Some of the parts, as shown in the drawing, are marked or lightly stamped with arrows which aid to identify the parts and indicate the direction of movement of those parts during length adjustments of the strap. The arrows are of course, being on the underside of the strap, hidden from view when the strap is in use. This and the general design provide embodiments which are easily adjusted, without the possibility of damaging any parts. If when or after being adjusted, the strap remains aesthetically attractive because the special link members are indistinguishable when viewed from the normally exposed outer surface of the strap.

Embodiments of the invention have particular application for watches but the described straps could be used for other articles, such as bracelets. identity and medical tags and so on. Embodiments may also be provided that are useful and suitable as ankle straps. for example.

Claims (6)

ClAIMS

1. A wrist strap formed of a plurality of permanently and pivotable connected link members capable of being wrapped around and opened about a user's wrist, the link members comprising alternatively connected major and minor link members, the major link members being arranged to form a generally continuous outer surface when connected together side by side, and the minor link member being arranged to connect the major link members adjacent rear surfaces thereof, including a number of special major and minor link members, in which each of the special major link members has a laterally slidably removable locking peg and the special minor link members are each arranged in separate parts that can be lifted out of engagernent with the special major link members on either side when respective pegs are slid out of the strap to allow some or all the special link members to be unlocked and removed from the wrist strap.

2. A wrist strap according to claim 1, in which the pegs each have an intermediate aperture to receive an end of a blunt instrument to facilitate manual sliding using the instrument of the peg into and out of its locking position in the strap.

3. A wrist strap according to claim 2 in which each peg has an upstanding pimple that engages a slot provided in a respective special major link to restrain the peg laterally in its locking position.

4. A wrist strap according to any one of claim 1 to 3, in which each minor link member is formed of two pivot members arranged to connect to special major link members at either side and a spacer that holds the two pivot members apart so as to remain securely in connection with the special major link members.

5. A wrist strap according to claim 4, in which the spacer has wings that fit under respective of the pegs at either side of the spacer to prevent the spacer lifting out of the strap when the pegs are in their locked positions.

6. A wrist strap substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.