US20230108956A1

US20230108956A1 - Clasp for a bracelet, in particular of a watch

Info

Publication number: US20230108956A1
Application number: US17/904,610
Authority: US
Inventors: Angelo QUATTROPANI
Original assignee: Erbas Sa
Current assignee: Erbas Sa
Priority date: 2020-02-19
Filing date: 2021-02-19
Publication date: 2023-04-06
Also published as: EP4106574A1; WO2021165895A1; CN115297748A; CH717148B1; JP2023514430A; CH717148A1

Abstract

The invention relates a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closed position, said clasp comprising a first blade (1) arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade (2) arranged to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp, the first and second blades (1, 2) being articulated with respect to one another at a first end (3), the free end of the first blade (1) having an articulation (4) for articulating a first strand (5) of a wristlet or a third blade (6), the free end (7) of the second blade (2) being arranged to receive a second strand (8) of a wristlet. Each blade (1, 2, 6) is composed separate and interchangeable independent links (10) arranged so as to create a pivoting angle between two successive links (10) of between 20° and 50°.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of wristlets, in particular for watches. More particularly, it relates to a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet that allows different radii of curvature.
Folding buckle clasps are well known for their esthetic appearance. However, some folding buckles can make a watch uncomfortable if their curvature is not adapted to the user's wrist circumference. Their length can also be problematic: the rigidity of the blades of the buckle can be an inconvenience since they can extend up to the sides of the user's wrist. The thickness of the buckle can also cause inconvenience or discomfort. The clasp of a folding buckle is bulkier than that of a pin buckle, and this is especially true if the watch is large.
By contrast to the folding buckle, the pin buckle is much thinner and does not generate any discomfort caused by rubbing. This point is important, particularly for individuals with small wrists.
EP1437952 describes a wristlet clasp comprising a first blade, a second blade articulated with the first blade, and a cover. The cover comprises a housing and a hood closing the cover. The housing has solid walls. The blades are interleaved one with the other so as to be in the same plane in the closed position. It is mentioned that the blades may for example be flexible but the mechanism implemented to keep the clasp closed requires not just blades of a certain thickness but also of a certain rigidity.
CH709911 describes a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowing different radii of curvature when the clasp is in the closed position. The clasp comprises a first and a second blade articulated with respect to one another at a first end. The free end of the first blade has an articulation for articulating a first strand of a wristlet. The clasp moreover comprises a buckle that is articulated at the free end of the second blade and is arranged so as to receive a second strand of a wristlet. The first and second blades comprise a first, flexible part and a second, rigid part. The rigid and flexible parts are produced on the basis of different materials or the same material, but with inherent properties of differing rigidity and flexibility. This implementation requires great control of the materials, in particular in terms of associating the material with different properties.
EP3420839 describes a folding blade clasp for a wristlet that comprises a rigid base blade with a second blade made of two or three elements. This implementation makes it possible to optimize the surface area for the passage of a wearer's hand in the open position but does not address the problem of maximum adaptability to small wrists.
The aim of the present invention is to propose an extensible clasp for a wristlet that has the advantage of offering a possibility of very great flexibility when the clasp is in the closed position and that is intended to adapt immediately and comfortably to a wearer's wrist, in particular for individuals with small wrists.
By contrast to the implementations of the prior art, the present invention thus allows flexibility of the assembly of blades of a clasp and offers perfect adaptation to large or small wrists, thus eliminating the traditional dimensions of men's, women's or medium models.
In accordance with the present invention, a folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closed position comprises a first blade arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade arranged to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp. The first and second blades are articulated with respect to one another at a first end, the free end of the first blade having an articulation for articulating a first strand of a wristlet or a third blade. The free end of the second blade is arranged to receive a second strand of a wristlet. Each first blade has two elongate, parallel and spaced-apart arms for forming an elongate recess, each arm being articulated at each end and also having at least one intermediate articulation dividing the arm into multiple sections forming articulated links, the articulation axes all being parallel and transverse to said arms, each arm being arranged so as to form a pivot angle between two successive links of between 20° and 50°, for example.
Each blade is preferably composed of interchangeable and separate, independent articulated links arranged so as to form a pivot angle between two successive links of between 20° et 50°.
In one embodiment, the first blade is provided with an elongate recess, the second blade and optionally the third blade being arranged to nest inside the recess along the longitudinal edges of the first blade.
In a variant of this embodiment, each first blade has two elongate, parallel and spaced-apart arms for forming said elongate recess, each arm being articulated at each end and also having at least one intermediate articulation dividing the arm into multiple articulated sections. Of course, the articulation axes are all parallel and transverse to the arms.
In another embodiment, each articulated link is connected to an adjacent articulated link via pins or via screws.
In one embodiment, the clasp is arranged so as to receive a fixing cap for a wristlet.
The clasp preferably has a closing/opening system disposed on the first and second blades or on the first, second and third blades to lock said blades or to unlock them so that they can be unfolded.
According to this preferential embodiment, the clasp has three blades, the first blade acting as central support, the second and the third blade being articulated at the respective ends of the first blade and being able to fold down over the latter, the closing and opening means for closing and opening the clasp being arranged on the central part of the first blade so as to lock the second and third blade against the first blade and to unlock the second and third blade from the first blade so that they can be unfolded.
In a variant of this preferential embodiment, the clasp has two blades, the first blade being arranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and the second blade being arranged to receive a pin buckle.

The features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the description of multiple nonlimiting embodiments given solely by way of example, with reference to the schematic figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a clasp with three blades according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of a clasp with three blades;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a clasp with two blades; and

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a clasp with two blades.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 , an extensible clasp for a wristlet that offers significant flexibility when the clasp is in the closed position, and is intended to be worn by individuals with small wrists, makes it possible to adapt immediately and comfortably to the wearer's wrist. The folding buckle clasp allows the clasp to have different radii of curvature when the clasp is in the closed position. The clasp comprises a first and a second blade 1, 2 articulated with respect to one another at a first end 3. The free end of the first blade 1 has an articulation 4 for articulating a first strand 5 of a third blade 6 at the free end 7 of the second blade 2, which is arranged to receive a second strand 8 of a wristlet. Each blade 1, 2, 6 also has interchangeable and separate, independent articulated links 10 arranged so as to form a pivot angle between two successive links 10 of between 20° et 50°.
In this example, the clasp has three blades 1, 2, 6, the first blade 1 acting as central support, the second and the third blade 2, 6 being articulated at the respective ends of the first blade 1 and being able to fold down over the latter. Closing and opening means 12 for closing and opening the clasp are arranged on the central part of the first blade 1 so as to lock the second and the third blade 2, 6 against the first blade 1 and to unlock the second and the third blade 2, 6 from the first blade 1 so that they can be unfolded.
The first blade 1 is provided with an elongate recess 11, the second blade 2 and optionally the third blade 6 being arranged to nest inside the recess 11 along the longitudinal edges 1A, 1B of the first blade 1.
Each articulated link 10 is connected to an adjacent articulated link via pins or screws, arranged so as to receive a fixing cap for a wristlet. (Not illustrated)
The clasp has a closing/opening system 9 disposed on the first and second blades 1, 2 or on the first, second and third blades to lock or unlock said blades 1, 2, 6 so that they can be unfolded.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the clasp has two blades 1, 2, the first blade 1 being arranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and the second blade 2 being arranged to receive a pin buckle.
The width of each link 10 of the first blade is less than the width of the second or of the third blade.
Such a clasp may be incorporated in a wristlet, a piece of jewelry or a watch.
It is entirely conceivable to associate adjustment mechanisms or any other closing/opening mechanism known from the prior art with these types of articulated link clasps.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A folding buckle clasp for a wristlet allowing different radii of curvature of the clasp when it is in the closed position, said clasp comprising:

a first blade (1) arranged to rest entirely on the wrist of a wearer of the clasp and a second blade (2) arranged to rest entirely on a wrist of a wearer of the clasp, the first and second blades (1, 2) being articulated with respect to one another at a first end (3), the free end of the first blade (1) having an articulation (4) for articulating a first strand (5) of a wristlet or a third blade (6),

the free end (7) of the second blade (2) being arranged to receive a second strand (8) of a wristlet,

characterized in that each first blade (1) has two elongate, parallel and spaced-apart arms for forming an elongate recess, each arm being articulated at each end and also having at least one intermediate articulation dividing the arm into multiple sections forming articulated links, the articulation axes all being parallel and transverse to said arms, each arm being arranged so as to form a pivot angle between two successive links (10) of between 20° and 50°, for example.

2. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, the first blade (1) being provided with an elongate recess (11), a second blade (2) and optionally a third blade (6) being articulated and arranged to nest inside the recess (11) along the longitudinal edges (1A, 1B) of the first blade (1).

3. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, each articulated link (10) being connected to an adjacent articulated link via pins or via screws.

4. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, arranged to receive a fixing cap for a wristlet.

5. The clasp claimed claim 1, having a closing/opening system (9) disposed on the first and second blades (1, 2) or on the first, second and third blades to lock said blades (1, 2, 6) or to unlock them so that they can be unfolded.

6. The clasp as claimed in claim 5, having three blades (1, 2, 6), the first blade (1) acting as central support, the second and the third blade (2, 6) being articulated at the respective ends of the first blade (1) and being able to fold down over the latter, the closing and opening means (12) for dosing and opening the clasp being arranged on the central part of the first blade (1) so as to lock the second and third blade (2, 6) against the first blade (1) and to unlock the second and third blade (2, 6) from the first blade (1) so that they can be unfolded.

7. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, having two blades (1, 2), the first blade (1) being arranged to receive a strand of a wristlet and the second blade (2) being arranged to receive a pin buckle.

8. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, the width of each link (10) of the first blade being lower than the width of the second or of the third blade.

9. A wristlet having the clasp as claimed in claim 1.

10. A piece of jewelry having the wristlet as claimed in claim 8.

11. A watch having the wristlet as claimed in claim 8.