GB2302641A - Watch band locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A watch band locking device, comprising a first connector (2), a second connector (3) and a releasable locking plate (4), the first connector pivotally connected with one end of a watch band, the second connector pivotally connected with the other end of the watch band, the first connector having a lateral pin (231) fixed in an opening (23) of a rear recessed portion thereof for a lateral groove (300) of a front tenon (30) of the second connector to engage releasably for lockingly connecting the two ends of the watch band, the releasable locking plate pivotally connected with a right opening (22) of the first connector and being overlaid on the rear recessed portion after the groove is engaged with the lateral pin so as to keep the tenon of the second connector from loosening off the first connector.

Description

TITLE: Watch Band Locking Device DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a watch band locking device.

A known conventional watch band locking device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a lower connector 10 pivotally connected with one end of a watch band, and an upper connector 11 pivotally connected with the other end of the watch band. The lower connector 10 has a front lateral locking edge 100, and the upper connector 11 has a locking projection 110 on an inner surface thereof so that the locking projection 110 may lock against the lateral locking edge 100 to connect two ends of the watch band on a wrist of a user. However, the locking projection 110 may disfigure to project outward owing to a long period of continuous use, and lose an original locking force.Therefore, if the wrist wearing this watch band may receive a little larger external force, the watch band may be unlocked by loosening of the locking projection 110 off from the locking edge 100, resulting in dropping down of the watch band with a watch.

This invention has been devised to offer a kind of locking device for a watch band, which can lock the two ends of a watch band in a steady condition, without possibility of unlocking in case of an exterior force accidentally added to the watch band.

The present invention provides a watch band locking device having a releasable locking plate pivotally connected with one lengthwise side of a first connector, with the releasable locking plate having a locking horizontal position and un upright unlocking position for the connected first and second connector after the first and the second connector are connected with each other.

A main feature of the present invention is provision of a lateral pin fixed in a centre opening of a rear recessed portion of a first connector releasably engaging with a lateral groove in a front tenon of a second connector, and a releasable locking plate pivotally connected with a lengthwise side of the first connector to be overlaid the rear recessed portion of the first connector and the front tenon of the second connector after the groove of the tenon of the second connector is engaged with lateral pin of the recessed portion of the first connector so that the two ends of the watch band is connected lockingly in a stable and secure condition.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an explcded perspective view of a known conventional band.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the known conventional band.

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a watch band in the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the watch band in the present invention, showing a first connector disconnected from a second connector.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the watch band in the present invention, showing the first connector connected with the second connector, with a movable cover plate not yet fastened.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the watch band in the present invention, showing the first connector connected with the second connector, with a releasable locking plate fastened.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of line B - B' in Fig.

5.

A watch band locking device in the present invention, as shown in Fig. 3, comprises a first connector 2, a second connector 3, and a releasable locking plate 4 combined together between two ends of a watch band A.

The first connector 2 is shaped like a flat rectangular flat block, having an opening 20 in a front side, a pin hole 200 laterally passing through two side portions defining the opening 20, a rear recessed portion 21 having a right lengthwise opening 22, a pin hole 220 passing through two sides defining the right opening 22 for a pin 221 to fit therein and in a hole 400 in a curved ridge 400 of the releasable locking plate 4 so as to combine pivotally the releasable locking plate 4 with the first connector. Then the locking plate 4 has an unlocking upright position and a locking horizontal position.The rear recessed portion 21 further has an opening 23 in a rear side, a lateral hole 230 passing through two sides defining the opening 23 for a lateral pin 231 to fit therein across the opening 23, a left recessed fitting surface 24, an enlarged shallow hole in a left end of the lateral hole 230.

The second connector 3 has a front tenon 30 extending to the front to engage with the opening 23 of the first connector 2, a lateral groove 300 provided in a lower surface of the front te non 30 and shaped , as a short pin with an upper round head, a rear opening 31 to engage with a tenon Al of the other end of the watch band A, a lateral hole passing through two sides defining the opening 31 for a lateral pin A10 to fit therein to combine pivotally the second connector 3 with the other end of the watch band A.

The releasable locking plate 4 is shaped like a rectangular thin flat plate, having a thickness equal to the height between the upper surface of the first connector 2 and the upper surface of the recessed portion 21 of the same, a curved ridge 40 laterally fixed near the lower end on an inner surface thereof and having a pin hole 400 for a pin 221 to pass through to combine pivotally the releasable locking plate 4 within the side opening 22 of the first connector 2, a rectangular ridge 41 laterally fixed near the top end on an inner surface thereof, and a projecting point 410 on an lower surface of the rectangular ridge 41.

In assembling this watch band locking device, referring to Figs. 3 and 4, firstly, the curved ridge 40 of the releasable locking plate 4 is positioned within the opening 22 of the first connector 2, with a pin 221 inserted through the pin holes 220 and 400 to combine pivotally the releasable locking plate 4 with the first connector 2. Then the two tenons Al of two ends of the watch band A are respectively engaged with the openings 20, 31 of the first connector 2 and of the second connector 3 and the pins A10 are respectively fitted in the pin hole 200 of the first connector 2 and the pin hole 310 of the second connector 3. Now, the assemblage of this watch band locking device is finished.

In wearing this watch band, referring to Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the lateral groove 300 of the tenon 30 of the second connector 3 is made to engage the lateral pin 231 in the opening 23 of the first connector 2. Then the releasable locking plate 4 is swung down from an upright unlocking position to overlie the recessed portion 21 of the first connector 2, with the curved ridge 41 contacting and engaging with the fitting surface 24 of the left side of the recessed portion 21 , and with the protruding point 410 engaging the enlarged hole 240, to finish locking this watch band A on a wrist of a user.

As engagment of the groove 300 of the second connector 3 with the lateral pin 231 in the opening 23 of the recessed portion 21 of the first conenctor 2 makes up a substantial force for holding the first and the second connector 2 and 3 together after locking the watch band, and in addition, the releasable locking plate 4 ovelies on the recessed portion 21 of the first connector and the tenon 30 of the second connector 3, preventing the tenon 30 of the seccond connector 3 from disenging from the opening 23 23 of the first connector 2 so that the watch band may be worn securely and stably, without possibility of falling down from the wrist of the user, even if the watch band is knocked or struck accidentally.

Claims (7)

1. A watch band locking device comprising: a first connector being connected with one end of a watch band, having a rectangular flat block shape, a front opening, a pin hole laterally passing through two sides defining the opening for a pin to fit therein to combine said first connector pivotally with a tenon of said end of the watch band; a second connector being connected with the other end of the watch band, having a tenon provided with a lateral groove of a cross-section of a short pin shape with a round head, an opening in the center of a rear side, a pin hole laterally passing through two sides defining the opening for a pin to fit therein to combine pivotally said second connector with a tenon of the other end of the watch band; and characterized by the first connector having a rear recessed portion, which is provided with an opening and a pin hole laterally passing through two sides defining the opening for a pin to fit therein to be positioned in the opening, said recessed portion further having a right opening and a pin hole in two sides defining the right opening for a pin to fit therein to combine pivotally a releasable locking plate, said recessed portion further having a recessed fitting surface in a left side, said lateral pin hole of said recessed portion having an enlarged shallow hole at a left end, said tenon of said second connector having a lateral groove facing down of a cross-section of a short pin shape with a round head, and by said releasable locking plate having a lateral curved ridge with a through hole near a lower end on an inner sur face, a rectangular ridge near a top end of the inner surface and a protruding point on a lower surface of the rectangular ridge, said lateral groove of the tenon of said second connector engaging with said lateral pin of the opening of the recessed portion of said first connector in locking a watch band, said tenon of the second connector being overlaid by said movable locking plate to prevent said tenon of the second connector from moving up to disengage from the lateral pin in locking this locking device.

2. The watch band locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the height between an upper surface of said first connector and an upper surface of said recessed portion thereof is equal to the thickness of said releasable locking plate.

3. The watch band locking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lateral groove of the tenon of the second connector is shaped as a short pin with a round head.

4. A watch band locking device comprising a first connector which is connectable with one end of a watch band, and a second connector which is connectable with the other end of the watch band, the first and second connectors being releasably engageable by way of a hook and pin type connection, and characterised by a locking plate pivotally mounted to one of the first and second connectors and movable from a position overlying the hook and pin connection in the engaged position preventing release of said connection.

5. A watch band locking device as claimed in claim 4 in which the hook and pin connection is disposed generally laterally and the locking plate is hinged perpendicular thereto to lie laterally across the hook and pin connection in the engaged locked position.

6. A watch band locking device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the locking plate is received in a recess of the first and second connectors in the engaged position so that the upper surfaces lie flush.

7. A watch band locking device constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figures 3 to 7.