JPS61255608A - Bracelet and method for assembling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a base having two grooves, each having a length equal to the width of the bracelet and communicating with the outside through a lateral opening formed along its long side; and a series of approximately rectangular links connected in sequence, formed from decorative pieces attached to the base, and a deformable membrane-like portion interposed between the links to enable the links to operate. a connecting member formed by two generally cylindrical sections connected to each other, the cylindrical section being fitted into a groove in two adjacent links and passing from one link to the other through a side opening; The present invention relates to a bracelet, particularly for a watch, which is configured to integrate the two adjacent links by a membrane-like portion that spans the two, and a method for assembling the same.

Many bracelets of this kind already exist, one example being the Swiss patented grain barrel 03,8 by the same applicant as the present application.
It is described in detail in No. 45/84-3.

In this known design, the link connecting member is made of metal. In this case, to avoid undesirable play between the links,
High precision is required in the machining of the grooves and cylindrical parts.

Further, since screws and claws are used to hold the connecting member within the link, manufacturing becomes complicated and costs increase. Furthermore, since the bracelet is subjected to various stresses and deformations, the connecting parts wear out, and even if the bracelet is constructed with all the necessary care, play between the links will appear at an early stage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by realizing a bracelet with a simple structure that employs a play-free connection method.

With this aim in mind, the bracelet of the invention is characterized in that the connecting members are made of synthetic material.

Since the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical part of the connecting member is set smaller than the cross-sectional area of the groove, the bracelet of the present invention introduces the cylindrical part of the connecting member into the groove of the base of two adjacent links, respectively, and applies pressure to the base end. It can be assembled in a quick and economical manner, consisting of the steps of permanently deforming the groove by adding a trough and fitting the cylindrical part of the connecting member, and integrating the decorative piece with the base by means of a fixing member.

Other features and advantages of the invention relate to preferred embodiments of the watch bracelet. It will become clear from the following description along with the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference numbers in the figures indicate similar elements.

The bracelet of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 consists of a plurality of links 1 arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. In this example, the links, which have a rectangular shape, are all the same and the width of the links is the longitudinal dimension of the bracelet. In order to give the bracelet a sophisticated look, it is preferable that the length of the link, which corresponds to the width of the bracelet, be gradually shortened from the point where it is attached to the watch side toward the buckle, for example.

Each link has a thin plate-like base 2, the outside of the bracelet,
That is, it is formed with a decorative piece 3 fixed to the opening 4 of the base from the visible side. The base of the bracelet is preferably made of steel or brass to give it strength, while the decorative pieces, which have a purely decorative role, are made of precious metals.
Wood, leather, etc. can be used. The decorative piece 3 is, for example, an adhesive layer,
It is integrated with the base 2 by screws, rivets or fitting.

Cylindrical grooves 5 on both ends of the link corresponding to the long sides of the base 2,
form 5'. The cross section of the groove may be circular or rectangular. The grooves 5, 5' open outwardly through narrow lateral openings 6 formed in the longitudinal ends of the base 2 parallel to the grooves. When the links 1 are arranged one after the other to form a bracelet, the lateral opening 6 of each link faces the opening 6' of the next link.

In order to connect the links, a connecting member 9, an example of which is shown in a perspective view in FIG. 3, is used. This member has grooves 5,
It consists of two substantially cylindrical parts 10.10' of the same shape as the gap 6.5' of the base 2.
They are connected via a membrane-like portion 11 that is thinner than the height of 6'. The cross-sectional area of the cylindrical part is such that the cylindrical part 10 can be easily introduced into the groove 5 and the cylindrical part 10' into the groove 5', and the membrane part 11 can pass through the lateral opening 6.6'. It is set slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the groove. Since the diameter of the cylindrical part is greater than the height of the gap, the bracelet resists tensile stresses due to the action of the membrane part 11 connecting one link to the next.

Lateral fixation of the connecting member 9 within the base 2 is achieved by a cylindrical portion io
, io' by fitting snugly into the groove 5.5'. This can be achieved by applying pressure perpendicular to the main surface of the base to the end of each base to permanently deform the groove and reduce its cross-sectional area.

Note that this deformation may be extremely localized by, for example, a sharp tool or a screw.

The above operation consists of fitting the connecting member into the base, applying pressure to the end of the base to deform the groove, and finally fixing the decorative piece to the base, making it possible to assemble the bracelet in an extremely simple and economical manner. do.

According to the invention, the connecting element 9 consists of a synthetic material.

Since the cylindrical part 10.10' is fitted into the link, the elasticity of the membrane part 11 allows the bracelet to conform to the shape of the wrist. In order to allow the bracelet to deform, a gap 12 is left between two adjacent links on the inside of the bracelet, that is, on the side that contacts the wrist.

In order to increase the tensile resistance of the connecting member 9, it is preferable to form this member from a synthetic material reinforced with glass fiber or metal wire.

In the bracelet of the present invention, since the contact pieces are fixed to each other, there is no play, no wear due to friction, and sufficient flexibility to accommodate the shape of the wrist.

The connecting members of the bracelet are fully visible when viewing the bracelet from the side. Therefore, a bracelet can be considered a decorative element that can be personalized,
It goes without saying that you can choose the color of the synthetic material used for this.

In some cases it is desirable for the bracelet to have a uniform cross-section. If it is desired to hide the connecting member 9, a decorative piece 3 having side plates may be used. Such a decorative piece is shown in a perspective view in FIG. As shown, this decorative piece is attached to the central body 1.
5, and two side plates 16 having the same shape as the cross section of the link.
．． 16'.

When the central body 15 of the decorative piece is inserted into the opening 4 of the base 2, the side plates 16,16' completely cover the sides of the link.

[Brief Description of the Drawings] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the bracelet according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the bracelet shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 shows the links of the bracelet. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a connecting member to be connected, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a decorative piece having side plates and decorating a link. 1... Link 2... Base 3... Decorative piece 5
...Groove 6...Side opening 9...Connection member 10
...Cylindrical part 11...Membrane part 12...Gap 15...Central body 16...Side plate I67 H6,2

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A base 2 having two grooves 5, 5' each having a length equal to the width of the bracelet and communicating with the outside through lateral openings 6, 6' formed along its long sides; , and a decorative piece 3 mounted on the base,
A series of substantially rectangular links 1 connected in sequence, and two substantially cylindrical portions 10 interposed between the links to enable operation of the links and each connected via a deformable membrane portion 11; 10', the cylindrical part is fitted into the groove of two adjacent links, and the membrane part extends from one link to the other through the side opening. A bracelet, particularly for a watch, configured to integrate two adjacent links, characterized in that the connecting member 9 is made of a synthetic material. (2) A bracelet according to claim (1), in which the connecting member 9 is made of a reinforced synthetic material. (3) The decorative piece 3 consists of a central body 15 and side plates 16, 16' integral with the body, and the side plates completely cover the side surfaces of the link and thus have the same shape as the side surfaces. The bracelet according to paragraph (1) or paragraph (2). (4) a base 2 having two grooves 5, 5' each having a length equal to the width of the bracelet and communicating with the outside through lateral openings 6, 6' formed along its long sides; and a series of approximately rectangular links 1 connected in sequence, each having a cross-sectional area smaller than the cross-sectional area of the groove, through a membranous portion 11, formed of decorative pieces 3 mounted on the base. A method of assembling a bracelet comprising a connecting member 9 formed by two substantially cylindrical portions 10, 10' which are connected, the cylindrical portions 10, 10' of the connecting member 9;
are introduced into the grooves 5, 5' of the bases of two adjacent links, respectively, applying pressure to the base ends to permanently deform each groove and fitting the cylindrical part of the connecting member, decorated by a fixing member. A method for assembling a bracelet, comprising the step of integrating piece 3 with base 2.