Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/02—Link constructions
  • A44C5/10—Link constructions not extensible
  • A44C5/107—Link constructions not extensible with links made of more than two elements including connecting elements

Definitions

• the present invention relates to metal watch straps, and more particularly those made up of a plurality of rigid links hinged on each other.
• Metal bracelets of the aforementioned type are usually formed from two series of essential elements, namely links and connecting elements which ensure that these links are held together.
• the links, as well as their connecting elements, usually have a complex cross section and are generally obtained from profiled elements formed in particular by spinning.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks by proposing a watch strap of rigid type in which the links which constitute it do not come into contact with each other, when the bracelet is in the position of use, that is to say when it is on the wrist of a user , which avoids the previously mentioned problems.
• the present invention further aims to provide a rigid type watch strap which can be checked the overall shape of the two half-bracelets that constitute it when it is in the non-use position.
• the present invention thus relates to a rigid bracelet, in particular for a watch, of the type consisting of a plurality of adjacent links connected to each other by connecting elements characterized in that: - two adjacent links are joined by at least one element of link, cylindrical in shape and cross section in the form of an arc of a circle which extends transversely over at least part of the width of the links, - each link is hollowed out, from its lateral faces, with a groove of shape complementary to that of the connecting element, the concavity of which is oriented towards the inside of the bracelet, so that a connecting element can take place in the corresponding grooves of two adjacent links, and move by sliding in those -this in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet.
• the links and / or the connecting elements comprise at least internal abutment means capable of controlling and limiting this movement.
• each part of the connecting element taking place in said groove comprises a transverse light capable of receiving a stop element integral with the link, the length of the light and the width of said stop being such that they make it possible to adjust the possible angle of rotation of the connecting element with respect to each of the links.
• Such a stop is advantageously arranged in such a way that it is perpendicular to the groove, which allows a frank contact to be obtained between this stop and the element that it is intended to immobilize.
• the center of curvature of the groove produced in each of the links is arranged on an axis perpendicular to the base surface of the link and is distant, in the position of maximum retraction of the bracelet, from the transverse sides of this link by a value equal to half of the spacing that one wishes to have between the adjacent links in the maximum retraction position of the bracelet.
• each of the links consists of at least two integral parts, namely a lower part and an upper part, the surfaces facing these two parts being machined in such a way that, when they are assembled, they form the above-mentioned groove together.
• the link consists of two integral elements, namely a base element and an upper element.
• the stop element consists of a cylindrical pin which takes place in a recess provided on the base element of the link.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the bracelet of two links and of a connecting element according to the prior art, before the bracelet is placed on the wrist of a user (not in use).
• Figure la is a schematic sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the bracelet of two links and the connecting element shown in Figure 1, once the bracelet placed in position on the wrist of a user (position use) .
• Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the bracelet of an alternative embodiment of two links and a connecting element according to the prior art.
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the bracelet of three links of a watch bracelet according to the invention and of the connecting elements which ensure their maintenance, the two links on the left being in the non-use position and the two links on the right being in the position of use.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the two links on the right and their connecting element according to the invention shown in FIG. 3.
• Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting element according to the invention.
• Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a link according to the invention.
• Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a bracelet link according to the invention.
• Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of two links of a bracelet 1 according to the invention.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bracelet according to the invention.
• FIG. 9a is a cross-sectional view of the links shown in FIG. 9.
• Figure 10 is a partial sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the bracelet, another alternative embodiment of the invention.
• each of the transverse sides 6 ′ of the links 1c is hollowed out, over its entire width, with a cavity 4 ′, a substantially circular cavity which opens onto the outside, and the connecting element 7 ′ which s extends over the entire width of the links l 'consists of a transverse element which takes up, with a clearance necessary for movement, the shape of each of these cavities 4' and which takes place in them.
• the clearance provided between the cavities 4 'and the connecting element 7' allows, as shown in Figure la, a relative rotation of the two adjacent links relative to each other, so as to allow the establishment of the bracelet on the wrist of the user.
• a force F is exerted on each of the links, directed in particular towards the inside of the bracelet, that is to say on the side of the bracelet which is on the side of the user's wrist
• the lever arm existing between the points of application of this force F and the contact surface S of the two adjacent links creates a torque which, if the force F becomes too great, has the effect of cause either the bursting of the links or the rupture of the connecting element 7 '.
• FIG. 2 An alternative embodiment of a bracelet according to the prior art, in which the two adjacent links have transverse faces vis-à-vis complementary shapes, namely a female part or cavity 4 'on one of the links and a male part 4'', of complementary shape, on the other adjacent link l'.
• any force F exerted on each of these links creates it, as before, a torque causing, if the force F is sufficient, the rupture of the links.
• each link 1 of the bracelet consists of three elements, namely a base element 2, an upper element 3 and stops 5.
• Connection elements 7 ensure the maintenance between them of the links 1.
• the base element 2 and the upper element 3 are machined so as to provide therebetween, when assembled, a groove 9 whose cross section is in the form of an arc of a circle, and which extends over the entire length a of each link 1.
• the base element 2 comprises, in two zones close to its ends, a hole 8 and the upper element 3 comprises, opposite, a hole corresponding thread 8 ', so that two screws 10 can maintain the two elements 2 and 3 forming the link 1.
• Each connecting element 7 consists of an angular portion of cylindrical tube, which thus gives it a form of tile, the thickness of which is such that it can take place, by sliding, in the groove 9 provided between the element base 2 and the upper element 3.
• the lower wall of the groove 9 is pierced with four cylindrical blind holes 14 whose axis xx 'is inclined at an angle of about 45 ° relative to the base surface 11 of the base element 2, in each of which takes place a cylindrical stud 5 forming an abutment office.
• the connecting elements 7 comprise slots 13 elongated in their transverse direction, so as to receive the pins 5 and allow controlled rotation of the connecting element 7 relative to the link 1.
• the opening angle ⁇ of the light 13 and the diameter d of the pins 5 will be determined to adjust, during construction, the possible angle ⁇ of relative rotation of the link 1 relative to the connecting element 7, as shown in Figure 5.
• each end of the lumen 13 thus forms a stop which limits the rotation of the connecting element in the groove 9.
• the outer end 13a light 13 forms an external stop which limits the extension of the bracelet
• the end 13b thereof forms an internal stop which limits the retraction of the bracelet.
• the bracelet is in maximum extension when the pins 5 are in contact with the external stops 13a of the respective lights 13, and is in maximum retraction when the pins 5 are in contact with the internal stops 13b of the lights 13.
• each connecting element 7 slides in each of the grooves 9 of the links 1, the movement produced by the different elements present is a sliding movement, and not a rotational movement around an axis, as is the case in the devices of the prior art.
• the links 1 may also consist of a single-piece element, which can be obtained in particular by a spinning process.
• the stops 5 ′ may consist of pins 16, extending a threaded part 18 which is screwed into the link 1 from its base.
• the abutment means can also be produced other than by pins.
• the four lower corners of the upper element 3 form a stop 20 which takes place in a lumen 13 ′ of the connecting element 7.
• the upper element 3 of the link 1 can be produced in several parts 3a secured to the base element, in particular by screwing means, as described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, these parts 3a can be made of metals of a different nature and / or color.
• Such an embodiment thus lends itself particularly well to many aesthetic variants.
• the present invention thus makes it possible to dissociate the elements of an aesthetic nature from the elements functional, which gives the designer great freedom in his designs.
• the present invention because of the simplicity of the shapes of the elements which it implements, lends itself particularly well to the manufacture of a bracelet by techniques of the stamping type.
• the links will thus be formed into two elements, namely, a basic element and an upper element, and will be joined by a connecting element.
• the stops can be formed on the base element, in particular during stamping, by creating a punch in the material and folding of the punched part.

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• Buckles (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9497189

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (8)

• 1996
  • 1996-10-30 FR FR9613271A patent/FR2754983B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-10-30 DE DE69706696T patent/DE69706696T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1997-10-30 EP EP97912287A patent/EP0935431B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-10-30 WO PCT/FR1997/001947 patent/WO1998018360A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-10-30 JP JP10520137A patent/JP2001502586A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (8)

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