EP1136011B1 - Articulated bracelet having limited flexibility - Google Patents

Abstract

Bracelet is made of hollow decorative elements (10) with a bottom (15) and a cover (13) linked by a central and two side ridges (16,18). The links (20,20a,20b) are made of two extending arms which can fit in between two adjacent ridges and have the axis bores (25,29,35,39) at the end of each extension. Around the axis bores are abutments (27,37) which cooperate between two links and stop them from rotating of more than a certain angle one relatively to the other.

Description

The present invention relates to a non-stretchable articulated bracelet, in particular for a watch, comprising a plurality of sensitive annular decorative elements in compression or shock, said decorative elements being threaded on a soul central formed by an inner chain of links connected to each other by pivot axes and designed to cooperate with each other and with the elements decorative to prevent accidental compression or shock from breaking elements.

The invention more particularly relates to such a bracelet in which the decorative elements are made of a material having a very high resistance to abrasion, but lower impact resistance, such as composites-based ceramic.

Non-extensible bracelets having a central core, in a base material essentially mechanical function, totally or partially masked by a decorative cladding made of loose links in a more noble material, have already been disclosed in several prior art documents, some of which are also intended to to prevent excessive bending that could damage the cabinet.

Document FR 2 502 916 discloses a watch strap composed of a Inner chain on which decorative elements come loose open on the wrist side. The inner chain is formed of massive links each having a tenon part and a mortise part to allow them to nest into each other by holding them together by means of pin. The face of the tenon opposite the mortise has a certain inclination in order to limit the movement of an internal chain link with respect to the next link to adapt to the natural curvature of the wrist. Because of the game that has to necessarily exist between each decorative element, at the time of folding of the bracelet a decorative element may not perfectly cover the link corresponding to the internal chain and be damaged when folding the bracelet.

In order to overcome the above drawback, document EP 0 549 979 proposes a device in which the decorative elements are enveloping, releasing a central passage with lateral stops and are precisely positioned at above each link by locking bars. The faces opposite decorative elements have complementary rounded shapes but it is not provided, at the level of the inner chain, of means capable of limiting its deflection, which does not eliminate the risk of breakage by excessive folding.

The non-stretchable bracelet described in EP 0 736 480 comprises a articulation device between two successive links relatively complex comprising two pins connected by connecting members also determining allowed angle of folding, each wrapping decorative element being maintained at level of this articulation device by an insert passing through said element while being kept notched by the pins.

Document CH 684 988 describes a bracelet composed of decorative elements in enveloping ceramic mounted on an articulated metal chain using hinges arranged in such a way that the chain and the hinge elements are totally concealed by the decorative elements. The aesthetics of such a bracelet is improved but the deflection of the hinges is not controlled, there is a risk to break ceramic elements if you print on the bracelet too much bending.

The present invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of this art providing an articulated non-extensible bracelet, in which the links an inner chain cooperate with each other and with the decorative elements threaded on these to avoid or limit the risk of compression of said decorative elements during the folding of the bracelet or during an accidental shock, for example by escaping on the floor a watch equipped with such a bracelet.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a bracelet formed of elements wrap-around decorations mounted on a non-extendable articulated inner chain composed of links whose particular shape allows, in cooperation with structures of the through-passages of the decorative elements to limit at an angle α the angular deflection of a link with respect to the next link in a plane vertical passing through the line of longitudinal symmetry X-X 'of the bracelet.

Each decorative element includes, over part of the depth of the through passage, on the one hand a central rib, on the other hand two lateral edges connecting the headdress, that is to say the visible part, to feet thickened on the bottom, said feet forming two grooves symmetrical with respect to the line X-X '.

Each link comprises a central slot complementary to the rib of a decorative element and whose bottom forms a bridge crossed by a hole of axis. The bridge connects two symmetrical coupling elements, whose main body has a width substantially less than the distance between the central rib and a ridge lateral. Each coupling element has at one end a lateral arm, provided with an axle hole, extending beyond the main body a distance corresponding to the thickness of an edge and forming with the bridge a recess complementary to an extension of the opposite end, also traversed by a shaft hole. The edges of the pin holes or the edges of the recesses and extensions are provided with locking means limiting the bending angle of a link relative to at the next link.

According to a first embodiment, the blocking means are formed to each end of the axle hole of the bridge by two annular abutments having spans which cooperate with annular abutments provided at the ends facing each other holes of both extensions, said stops having spanways forming an angle less than 180 °, one being vertical on the cap side, the other being inclined at an angle α side background.

According to another embodiment, the blocking means are formed to the end of each extension by a tab curved at an angle α side bottom, said leg cooperating with a complementary shape clearance, provided side bottom in the thickness of each coupling element and joining an edge of the recess.

It will also be observed that the presence of feet between the bottom and the edges and the rib allows to have some play to absorb a slight bend greater than the value α, without exerting stress on the decorative element.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée de l'assemblage de maillons avec deux éléments décoratifs,
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un maillon de la chaíne intérieure,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus d'un autre mode de réalisation d'un maillon de la chaíne intérieure,
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4,
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe d'un élément décoratif, dans lequel un maillon est enfilé, au niveau de la ligne VI-VI de la figure 1,
• la figure 7A est une représentation en coupe, selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 6, de quatre éléments de bracelet disposés à plat,
• la figure 7B représente les quatre éléments de bracelet de la figure 7A en position courbée,
• la figure 8A est une représentation en coupe, selon la ligne VIII-VIII de la figure 6, de quatre éléments de bracelet disposés à plat,
• la figure 8B représente les quatre éléments de bracelet de la figure 8A en position courbée,
• la figure 9A représente, selon une coupe identique à celle de la figure 8A, quatre éléments de bracelet ayant d'autres éléments décoratifs, et
• la figure 9B représente les quatre éléments de bracelet de la figure 9A en position courbée.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments given by way of nonlimiting illustration, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of links with two decorative elements,
• FIG. 2 is a view from above of a link of the inner chain,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a view from above of another embodiment of a link of the inner chain,
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line VV of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a decorative element, in which a link is threaded, at the level of the line VI-VI of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 7A is a representation in section, along the line VII-VII of FIG. 6, of four elements of bracelet arranged flat,
• FIG. 7B shows the four bracelet elements of FIG. 7A in the curved position,
• FIG. 8A is a sectional representation, along line VIII - VIII of FIG. 6, of four flattened bracelet elements,
• FIG. 8B shows the four bracelet elements of FIG. 8A in the curved position,
• FIG. 9A represents, in a section identical to that of FIG. 8A, four bracelet elements having other decorative elements, and
• Figure 9B shows the four bracelet elements of Figure 9A in the curved position.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a part of a bracelet formed of two decorative elements 10 and 10a and three links 20, 20a and 20b aligned according to a line of symmetry X-X ', intended to be assembled by pivot axes 4, 5. The first element 1 of bracelet is represented with the link 20a set up in the X-X 'direction, in the through passage 12 of the decorative element 10a. For to mount the second element 3 of the bracelet, the link 20 is engaged in the link 20a, we assemble them by means of the axis 4, then we put on, still in the direction X-X ', the next decorative element 10. In the same way, we repeat the process preceding by engaging link 20b in link 20 and assembling them at average of the pivot axis 5.

The decorative element 10, which has the general shape of a flattened ring, is partially broken away to make it more clearly visible particular structure of the through passage 12 from its front face 6 to its face 8. It is delimited at its upper part, that is to say the visible part, by a 13 at its lower part to the contact of the wrist of a user by a bottom 15, these two parts being joined by rounded edges 14. Substantially from the half of its depth and up to its rear face 8, the through passage 12 has on the one hand a central rib 16 joining the inner wall of the cap 13 and a foot 17 in extra thickness on the inner wall of the bottom 15, on the other hand on each edge a ridge 18 similarly joining the cap 13 and a foot 19 in allowance on the bottom 15. The foot 17 of the rib 16 delimits with the feet 19 edges 18 two grooves 11 symmetrical with respect to the axis X-X '. This structure symmetrically appears even more clearly in the sectional view shown in FIG. Figure 6. Figure 6 also shows that Rib 16, Edges 18 and Feet 17, 19 strongly contribute to reinforcing the decorative element 10 at the level of the zones of the coupling elements 21, 31, while having the possibility of keeping a sufficient clearance on the one hand between the inner surface of the bottom 15 and the surface facing the main body 21, 31 of a link, on the other hand between each edge 18 and the edges of the main body, while having an excellent alignment of the bracelet elements according to the X-X 'axis through the cooperation of the rib 16 and the slot 2.

In the example shown, the decorative element 10 has been shaped the simplest geometric, but it is obvious that we can give it an appearance different aesthetic, for example by making the cap domed. Similarly, the front 6 and rear 8 can have enveloping forms complementary, as shown for example in the sections of FIGS. 7A and 7B. This decorative element can be made in one piece with any type of materials, but one of the objects of the invention is to be able to use materials having a good aesthetic appearance, good resistance to abrasion and scratches, but counterpart a lower resistance to compression and shocks. A material of this type is for example a ceramic that easily allows to obtain the form desired by molding and sintering.

Referring now also to FIGS. 2 and 3, a description will now be given of link 20 of the inner chain. As can be seen, each link presents a symmetrical structure on either side of a central slot 2 having for width the thickness of the central rib 16 of a decorative element 10. The bottom of this slot 2 forms a bridge 7 which connects two coupling elements 21, 31 and which is crossed by an axle hole 9. Each coupling element 21, 31 is composed of a body 22, 32 having a width substantially less than the spacing between the central rib 16 and a side edge 18 of a decorative element 10. Each coupling element 21, 31 has at one end a lateral arm 28, 38 extending transversely beyond the main body 22, 32 over a length substantially equal to the thickness of an edge 18 of a decorative element 10, so whereas the vertical surface 28a, 28a facing the other end of the main body 22, 32 comes to bear on an edge 18 when a decorative element 10 is threaded on the link 20. The arms 28, 38 are traversed by pin holes 29, 39 aligned with the axle hole 9 of the bridge 7 and delimit with said bridge 7 a recess 23, 33 substantially rectangular and of complementary shape to an extension 24, 34 of the opposite end of the main body 22, 32. The two extensions 24 and 34 are provided with pin holes 25 and 35 in alignment.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 7A to 8B, the means of blocking to limit at an angle α the folding of a link relative to the next link are formed on the one hand at each end of the axis hole 9 of the bridge 7 and at the ends opposite the holes 25, 35 of the extensions 24, 34 of the other end of the main body 21, 31. These locking means consist, at the level of bridge 7 in an annular abutment 37 (respectively 27) having vertical spans 37a, 37b to 180 °, and at the extensions 24, 34 into an annular abutment 36 (respectively 26) having a vertical span 36a cap-like side 13 and a reach inclined 36b of an angle α bottom side 15, the angular difference between these two bearings 36a, 36b being less than 180 °. The value of the angle α obviously depends on the width wristband elements and the wrist twist to which it should be put, but one can indicate by way of example that an average value of 18 ° is entirely appropriate. So, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 8A, when the bracelet is placed flat, the span 36a of a link 20 is in contact with the span 37b of the next link 20 ', while the bearings 36b and 37b form an angle α. Conversely when the bracelet is folded, the bearing surfaces 36b and 37b are in contact and the bearing surfaces 36a and 37a form a angle α. Equivalently, this locking device can be provided at the ends other shaft holes.

As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the front faces 6 and rear 8 decorative elements 10 have complementary rounded shapes extending beyond the links they cover, so that the parts forming the cap still cover the inner chain when folding. To allow the movement of the bottom when folding the bracelet, the main body 22, 32 has a portion of 41 after the axis hole 25, 35. As can be seen in FIGS. 9A and 9B which corresponding, in the same section as Figures 8A and 8B, to a simpler realization in which the caps do not overlap each other other, it may still be necessary to retain the recessed parts.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is shown a variant of realization of a link of the inner chain which differs from that which has just been described at the level of the locking means which are no longer formed by stops at the level shaft holes. In this variant, the locking means are formed, for each coupling element 21, 22, by a tab 30 curved at an angle α to the bottom 15 and located in the extension of each extension 23, 34. This leg 30 is intended to have a displacement of amplitude α in a clearance 40, of form complementary to the leg 30 and formed in the thickness of the main body at edge of the recesses 23, 33.

The links that have just been described can be obtained by known techniques such as the machining of a metal blank or a typical folding "sandwich" of a stamp made in a thin sheet of metal.

It goes without saying that various variants and simple modifications within the scope of those skilled in the art are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (4)

1. Bracelet formed of enveloping decorative elements (10) provided with through passages (12) delimited on the one hand by a cap (13) and on the other hand by a bottom (15), said elements being mounted on a non-extensible articulated chain, extending longitudinally along a line of symmetry X-X', formed of links (20) housed one after the other in the through passages (12) and assembled by hinges in which are engaged pivoting pins (4, 5) after each decorative element (10) is set in place, each decorative element (10) comprising over a portion of the depth of the through passage (12) a central rib (16), each link (20) including a central slot (2) which is complementary to the rib (16) of a decorative element (10), and the bottom of which forms a bridge (7) through which a pin hole (9) passes, said bridge (7) connecting two symmetrical coupling elements (21, 31), each coupling element (21, 31) having at one end a lateral arm (28, 38) provided with a pin hole (29, 39), and forming with the bridge (7) a recess (23, 33) which is complementary to an extension (24, 34) of the opposite end, provided with a pin hole (25, 35), the edges of said pin holes (9, 25, 29, 35, 39) being provided with blocking means, characterized in that said blocking means are formed, at each end of the pin hole (9) of the bridge (7) by two annular stops (27, 37) having vertical shoulders at 180° and co-operating with annular stops (26, 36) provided at the opposite ends of the pin holes (25, 35) of the two extensions (24, 34), said stops forming an angle of less than 180°, one shoulder being vertical on the cap side (13) and the other shoulder being inclined at an angle α on the bottom side (15).
2. Bracelet formed of enveloping decorative elements (10) provided with through passages (12) delimited on the one hand by a cap (13) and on the other hand by a bottom (15), said elements being mounted on a non-extensible articulated chain, extending longitudinally along a line of symmetry X-X', formed of links (20) housed one after the other in the through passages (12) and assembled by hinges in which are engaged pivoting pins (4, 5) after each decorative element (10) is set in place, each decorative element (10) comprising over a portion of the depth of the through passage (12) a central rib (16), each link (20) including a central slot (2) which is complementary to the rib (16) of a decorative element (10), and the bottom of which forms a bridge (7) through which a pin hole (9) passes, said bridge (7) connecting two symmetrical coupling elements (21, 31), each coupling element (21, 31) having at one end a lateral arm (28, 38) provided with a pin hole (29, 39), and forming with the bridge (7) a recess (23, 33) which is complementary to an extension (24, 34) of the opposite end, provided with a pin hole (25, 35), the edges of the recesses (23, 33) and extensions (24, 34) being provided with blocking means, characterized in that said blocking means are formed at the end of each extension (24, 34) by a lug (30) bent at an angle a on the bottom side (15), said lug (30) co-operating with a recess (40) of complementary shape provided on the bottom side (15) in the thickness of each coupling element (21, 31) and joining an edge of the recess (23, 33).
3. Bracelet according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the feet (17, 19) of a decorative element (10) allow a certain play to be arranged between the bottom of the through passage (12) and the hinges of the pivoting pins (4, 5).
4. Bracelet according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the decorative elements are made in a single piece of a hard material such as ceramics.

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