WO2014114775A1

WO2014114775A1 - Wriststrap clasp for timepiece

Info

Publication number: WO2014114775A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/051460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sylvain Wenger
Original assignee: Multicuirs Sa
Priority date: 2013-01-24
Filing date: 2014-01-24
Publication date: 2014-07-31
Also published as: CH707483A2; CH707483B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a clasp (1) having a locking device (4, 8, 14), a control member (12) intended to deactivate the locking device (4, 8, 14) in order to open the clasp (1), and a device for adjusting the useful length of the clasp (1), the control member (12) also being intended to act on the device for adjusting the useful length, the clasp (1) being characterized in that the control member (12) has a central rest position and is able to move between at least first and second active positions that are located on either side of the rest position and are associated, respectively, with deactivation of the locking device (4, 8, 14) and actuation of the device for adjusting the useful length.

Description

BRACELET CLASP FOR CLASSIFICATION PIECE Technical field

The present invention relates to a clasp for a bracelet of the type comprising first and second free ends, the clasp being capable of having a closed configuration and at least one open configuration and comprising

a locking device arranged to ensure, in an active state, the stability of the closed configuration of the clasp,

a controller for disabling the locking device, in response to an action of a user, to allow passage to the open configuration of the clasp,

a device for adjusting its useful length comprising an adjustment member intended to be secured to a first free end of the bracelet,

a latch intended to be secured to the second free end of the bracelet at least in the closed configuration, the adjustment member and the latch being capable of occupying several relative positions, in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, the latch being arranged to cooperate with the adjusting member, in an active state, and ensuring the stability of each of the relative positions,

the control member being further arranged to disable the lock, in response to an action of a user, and allow relative movement between the lock and the adjusting member to adjust the effective length of the clasp.

The present invention also relates to a watch strap provided with such a clasp and a wristwatch comprising such a bracelet. State of the art

[0003] A clasp of this type has already been described in the prior art.

By way of example, US Pat. No. 5,787,554 describes a clasp comprising a concealing frame, superimposed, a locking device and a device for adjusting the effective length of the clasp, and therefore the strap intended to be provided with this clasp ( see in particular the embodiment illustrated on the Figure 2 of this patent). Many devices for adjusting the effective length of the clasp are already known, in particular to allow different settings in summer and winter, because of the seasonal variation of the wrist of the wearer of the bracelet concerned.

The locking device comprises a rod having a head to be locked by two blades each having a substantially semicircular recess and held in a closed state by an elastic return member.

The device for adjusting the effective length of the clasp comprises two teeth arranged to cooperate with two jaws each of which is carried by one of the blades of the locking device.

A pusher is associated with each of the blades to move them in response to pressure from a user, and release the head to open the clasp. At the same time, the action on the pushers makes it possible to move the jaws and place them out of reach of the corresponding teeth, to allow relative movement between the jaws and the teeth, in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet.

The clasp described in this patent is relatively compact, particularly with reference to known clasps having separate control members for locking and for adjusting the length, but still has a fairly large thickness. In addition, the fact that the locking device of the clasp and the adjustment device are both operable from the same controller can be problematic in use. Indeed, the user may disrupt the effective length of his clasp every time he removes his bracelet, when opening the clasp. Also, it must regularly adjust the length of the clasp, which is binding.

Disclosure of the invention

A main object of the present invention is to provide a bracelet clasp, adjustable length, having a simple and discrete construction and easy handling.

For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a clasp of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the body of control has a rest position, central, and is movable between at least first and second active positions, located on either side of the rest position and associated, respectively, with a deactivation of the locking device and a deactivation lock.

[001 1] With these features, differentiated actions are provided on the controller to unlock the clasp and to change the length u t i l e. Also, the user is not likely to accidentally change the length of his clasp when he only wants to open it, unlike the clasp of the prior art described above.

Preferably, the clasp comprises a frame carrying at least a portion of the locking device, the lock and the control member. The latter is then advantageously arranged on the frame so as to be pivotable towards one or the other of its active positions.

Moreover, it can be provided that the clasp comprises

a first elastic return member arranged to act on the locking device and place the latter in its active configuration, in the absence of action by the user,

a second elastic return member arranged to act on the lock and place it in its active configuration, in the absence of a user action,

the first and second elastic return members also being arranged to act simultaneously, at least indirectly, on the control member and maintain it in the rest position, in the absence of action by the user.

According to an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the adjusting member comprises at least one first rack while the lock comprises a first jaw arranged to cooperate with the first rack.

In addition, it is also possible that the adjusting member comprises a second rack, arranged symmetrically with respect to the first rack, with reference to a central axis of the bracelet, the latch comprising a second jaw arranged to cooperate with the second rack and the clasp comprising a second control member, similar to the first control member and arranged to be able to act alternately on the locking device and the lock to disable them in response to actions of a user.

In this case, it can be provided that the second elastic member is arranged between the first and second jaws to exert on them forces tending to move away from one another. In addition, the clasp advantageously comprises first and second pushers associated, respectively, with the first control member and the second control member and, arranged to act respectively on the first jaw and the second jaw, to place them outside. carried, respectively, of the first rack and the second rack, in response to an action of a user.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and in which :

[0018] - Figure 1 shows a simplified front view of a clasp according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in a first configuration;

[0019] - Figure 2 shows a simplified front view of the clasp of Figure 1, shown in a second configuration;

[0020] FIG. 3 represents a simplified front view of the clasp of FIG. 1, illustrated in a third configuration, and

[0021] - Figure 4 shows a simplified front view of the clasp of Figure 1, shown in a fourth configuration.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention

Figures 1 to 4 show simplified front views of a clasp 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrated in different respective configurations. The clasp 1 is intended to be secured to prennier and second strands of a bracelet, of which only a first strand 2 is visible in the figures for the sake of simplification.

The clasp 1 comprises a conventional locking device which can be of any known type suitable for the implementation of the present invention. This locking device will not be described and illustrated in detail in that its nature does not have a direct impact on the implementation of the invention.

Note that the clasp may be of the type with folding clasp or full opening type without departing from the scope of the invention. By total opening, it should be understood here that the locking device may comprise two elements each of which is integral with one of the strands of the bracelet, these elements being integral with each other in a closed state of the clasp and separated by one of the other in an open state of the clasp. In a different manner, in a folding-clasp type clasp, two locking elements of the clasp having a permanent connection are spaced apart from each other and brought closer together to respectively open and close the clasp. .

[0026] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a locking member 4 of a locking device of the full opening type. The locking member 4 is secured to the second bracelet strand (not visible).

By way of nonlimiting illustration, blind holes 6 are shown in the locking member 4, in each of which is housed a spring rod 8, capable of moving between an active extracted position and a retracted position.

The clasp comprises a frame 10 including two pivoting control members 12, arranged symmetrically with respect to each other with reference to a median axis of the bracelet.

Each of the control members 12 is arranged to be able to act on a pusher 14, mounted free in translation in a hole 16 adapted to the frame 10 and, intended to cooperate with the u of the rods 8 to enter fully into the corresponding blind hole, in response to pressure from a user. In its extracted position, each rod 8 presents a protruding portion, with reference to the locking member 4, which is housed in the hole 16 of the frame for locking the clasp.

When the control members 12 are actuated as illustrated in Figure 1, in a first active position, the rods 8 are extracted from the holes 16, thereby releasing the locking member 4 to allow the opening of the clasp 1.

Furthermore, the clasp 1 comprises a device for adjusting its useful length. Figures 2 to 4 illustrate more particularly the operation of this adjustment device.

The frame 10 carries a latch 18 having first and second jaws 20 arranged free in translation in a tube 22 secured to the frame 10, with the interposition of at least one return spring 24. The latter exerts on the jaws 20 of the forces tending to distance them from each other, that is to say to push them towards the outside.

The length adjustment device further comprises an adjusting member 25 integral with the first strand 2 of the bracelet and comprising first and second racks 26 each having a toothing arranged opposite one of the jaws 20 .

Figure 2 illustrates the jaws 20 arranged in an extracted position, associated with an active state of the latch 18, wherein each of them cooperates with one of the racks 26 to maintain it in the illustrated position.

The clasp 1 com further comprises first and second additional pushers 28 disposed opposite the latch 18 and for actuating the jaws 20 to enter the tube 22 in response to a pressure of a user on the control members 12, rotating the latter in a second active position.

Such a situation is illustrated in FIG. 3.

The jaws 20 then release the racks 26 to allow relative movement between the latch 18 and the adjusting member 25 and thus an adjustment of the effective length of the clasp.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the useful length of the bracelet has been lengthened with reference to the initial situation of FIG. 3. The control members 12 can then be released by the user so that the jaws 20 resume their locking function of the racks 26, associated with the active state of the latch 18.

It is clear from the foregoing description that the user can act on the same control members 12, with differentiated actions, either to open the clasp 1, or to adjust the useful length, but without risking operate both functions simultaneously.

Note that in the absence of any action of a user, the control members are held in a central rest position, under the effect of simultaneous actions of the elastic return means, on the one hand, of the locking device and, on the other hand, the device for adjusting the useful length. Thus, no specific elastic return member is necessary to ensure the return to the rest position of the control members 12.

With these features, the clasp according to the present invention provides improved security with reference to known clasps, while maintaining a simple and compact construction. It should be noted in this connection that the construction of the clasp according to the invention is particularly advantageous from the point of view of size, insofar as the locking device and the device for adjusting the effective length are arranged in the extension the one of the other and not in superposition of one another. However, it is possible to implement, alternatively, a variant in which these devices are superimposed instead of being in the extension of one another.

The foregoing description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular features which have just been described, as for example the structure of the locking device or the structure of the device for adjusting the effective length of the clasp. Furthermore, the clasp 1 illustrated and described has a symmetrical structure providing greater operational safety. However, the person skilled in the art may plan to implement only one single control member meeting the characteristics of the invention, associated in particular with a single jaw cooperating with a single rack, without departing from the scope of the invention.

The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a clasp, in particular for a timepiece bracelet, partly meeting the characteristics that have just been presented. and comprising at least one movable control member between at least two active positions located on either side of a rest position, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Clasp (1) for bracelet of the type comprising first and second free ends, the clasp (1) being capable of having a closed configuration and at least one open configuration and, comprising a locking device (4, 8, 14) arranged to ensure, in an active state, the stability of said closed configuration of the clasp (1),

a control member (12) intended to deactivate said locking device (4, 8, 14), in response to an action by a user, to allow passage to said open configuration of the clasp (1),

a device for adjusting its useful length comprising

an adjustment member (25) intended to be secured to a first free end of the bracelet,

a lock (18) intended to be secured to the second free end of the bracelet at least in said closed configuration, said adjustment member (25) and said lock (18) being capable of occupying several relative positions, following the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, said lock (18) being arranged to cooperate with said adjustment member (25), in an active state, and ensure the stability of each of said relative positions,

said control member (12) being further arranged to deactivate said lock (18), in response to a user action, and allow relative movement between said lock (18) and said adjustment member (25) to adjust the useful length of the clasp (1),

characterized in that said control member (12) has a central rest position and is movable between at least first and second active positions, located on either side of said rest position and associated, respectively, with deactivation of said locking device (4, 8, 14) and deactivation of said lock (18).

Clasp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a frame (10) carrying at least one part (8, 14) of said locking device (4, 8, 14), said lock (18) and said control member (12).

Clasp (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said control member (12) is pivotally mounted on said frame (10).

Clasp (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises

a first elastic return member arranged to act on said locking device (4, 8, 14) and place the latter in its active configuration, in the absence of user action,

a second elastic return member (24) arranged to act on said lock (18) and place the latter in its active configuration, in the absence of action by a user,

said first and second elastic return members also being arranged to act simultaneously, at least indirectly, on said control member (12) and maintain it in said rest position, in the absence of user action.

Clasp (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said adjustment member (25) comprises at least a first rack (26) while said lock (18) comprises a first jaw (20) arranged to cooperate with said first rack (26).

Clasp (1) according to claim 5, characterized

in that said adjustment member comprises a second rack (26), arranged symmetrically with respect to said first rack (26), with reference to a central axis of the bracelet, said lock (18) comprising a second jaw (20) arranged to cooperate with said second rack (26), and

in that the clasp (1) comprises a second control member (12), similar to said first control member (12) and, arranged to be able to act alternatively on said locking device (4,

8, 14) and on said lock (18) to deactivate them, in response to user actions.

Clasp (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that said second elastic member (24) is arranged between said first and second jaws (20) to exert forces on them tending to move them away from each other.

Clasp (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that it comprises first and second pushers (14, 28) associated, respectively, with said first control member (12) and with said second control member (12) and , arranged to act, respectively, on said first jaw (20) and on said second jaw (20), to place them out of reach, respectively, of said first rack (26) and said second rack (26), in response to an action by a user.

9. Bracelet comprising first and second strands connected to a clasp (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Wristwatch comprising a bracelet according to claim 9.