HK1062131B - Bracelet with articulated links - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an articulated bracelet with links arranged to interpenetrate longitudinally and connected by transverse jointing axes (see EP-A-1048 240).

These bracelets are known to be worn on watch bracelets, in which at least some cross-sections of adjacent links are removable to allow the length of the bracelet to be changed according to the wrist size of the wearer of the bracelet.

In addition to the fact that the screws are visible, such a bracelet is not completely removable and requires delicate intervention to separate the links held by pins in case a link needs to be changed.

The proposal for a removable articulated bracelet, which is assembled by joints loosely attached to pivoting ankles, is already made in EP-0089 421, WO 93/08713 and WO 94/12069, and these joints are locked by screws on the side of the bracelet facing the wearer's arm, so that the screws are not visible when the bracelet is worn. This is undoubtedly an improvement in aesthetics, but it cannot meet the most demanding criteria of high-end items.

CH-558 153 relates to an articulated bracelet comprising solid links of a cross-joint rod which protrudes at one end of the link and does not extend over its entire width. This rod is inserted into a housing opening on the lower side of the adjacent link and held in place by a spring-locking element. In this case, the screws are replaced by a spring. In the case of a gold bracelet, such a spring could hardly be in the same metal as the bracelet. Moreover, even if it is not a screw, this fastening organ must have an opening to allow it to be fastened and therefore retains a functional and decorative character, giving it a non-democratic appearance to the rest of the bracelet.

Another solution was proposed in CH-688 430, which consists of forming links with three parts of different widths, one of which is longitudinally offset from the other. A narrow central part is followed by a middle-width part extending on either side of the middle axis of the bracelet and finally by a part whose width corresponds to that of the bracelet. Each central part and each middle-width part is pierced transversely into the bracelet. Each wide part of the link has a width clearance corresponding to the middle width, and each middle part has a width clearance corresponding to the narrowest central part.This allows two adjacent links to be nested in each other and held together by a bar slipped into the coaxial cross-sectional openings of the middle and central parts of the adjacent link. This bar passes freely through these openings, but is held axially as soon as the next link is placed. The bar then hits the edges of the correspondingly wide clearance of the next link and is therefore blocked axially. The main disadvantage of this solution is that the amplitude of the link joint must be limited so that the bar is always in the gap against the edges of the next clearance of the link.In addition, with this solution, the links are necessarily offset longitudinally from each other.

The bracelet was proposed in EP 0 310 536 as a bracelet with two rows of side links, each connected by a half-axis which ends in a head adjacent to a throat. Two intermediate links are arranged between these side links and a central link. The intermediate links have two parallel passages with transverse axes, one of which is intended to receive a half-axis by letting the head and the adjacent throat pass over.

To mount the bracelet, the two half-axes are engaged in the respective passages of two intermediate links, then the two half-axis heads are introduced into the longitudinal gap from its open end. Each pair of intermediate side links is slid longitudinally until the other passages of the intermediate links coincide with the passage of the central link. A pivot rod is then introduced through the two passages, so that all the links making up the bracelet are articulated around two axes.

Although such a bracelet does not have a screw and no component of the assembly is visible in the position of use, i.e. when the bracelet surrounds the wrist, the obviously longitudinal end which leads into a side face of the bracelet becomes visible as soon as a sufficient angle is formed between that side face and the link adjacent to that side face.

The purpose of the present invention is a bracelet with articulated links in which no fastening element is visible on any side, even a side-face of fasteners which is inside the bracelet. The purpose of this invention is also to have as few or no screw fasteners as possible, to avoid any risk of unscrewing an insufficiently tight screw.

For this purpose, the invention is concerned with a bracelet with linkage as claimed 1.

Although there is no screw between the modular assemblies of the bracelet, the bracelet is fully removable without any tools, which makes it easy to put it in the right length when selling a watch in the case of a watch strap.

The locking of the transverse joints of this bracelet is achieved by tilting the two parts of a modular assembly around the median transverse axis, in order to make the two links aligned transversely coincide with the joint transverse rod. Thus, the positioning of each modular element allows, by immobilizing the two parts of the modular assembly around the median transverse axis while rotating, to axially lock the joint transverse rod between the side faces facing inwards of the two respective links of the side rows or even a side face of a link of a side row and the link of the side when the opposite side of this joint is solid.

Preferably, the cross-rod joints are free, so that wear resulting from the oscillation of the two modular elements around it is minimized.

Other features and advantages of the bracelet described in this invention will be described in the following description, which is made using the attached drawings, which illustrate, schematically and by way of example, a form of execution and various variants of the bracelet with links, the subject of the present invention. Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the modular elements of which the bracelet is formed;Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a bracelet with a modular element as shown in Figure 1 in the first phase of its assembly process;Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 illustrating a second assembly phase;Figure 4 is a similar view to the previous figure,Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a fastener between one end of the bracelet and a watch case;Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a first means of attaching one end of the bracelet to a fastener;Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a variant of Figure 6;Figure 8 shows a variant of a modular bracelet assembly according to the invention designed to allow the bracelet to be lengthened or shortened from both ends;Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a variant of the fastener between one end of the bracelet and a watch case from Figure 5;Figure 10 is a perspective view of the position of the fastener element in Figure 6;Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bracelet assembly from a different perspective;Figure 11 is a perspective view of the bracelet from a different perspective.

The bracelet according to the invention consists of a succession of similar modular assemblies 1 articulated with each other, one of which is illustrated before assembly by Figure 1. This modular assembly has five adjacent links 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 in the transverse direction of the bracelet, each of them being part of one of the five longitudinal rows of links forming the bracelet. These links 2-6 alternately occupy two longitudinal positions and are connected to each other by a first transverse median 7 which passes freely through the transverse guide openings 3a, 4a, 5a of the links and whose two endpoints are aligned in the 2a 6a holes, the two interfaces are aligned in the two longitudinal lines of the links 2, 2a and 6a. The two modular links are therefore in a transverse position, while the two parts of the links 2, 5 and 6 are aligned in the second position, while the two interfaces of the links 2, 2 and 4 are in a transverse position, and the two modular links are thus in a central position.

These two links 3, 5 and the central link 4 each have a second transverse opening of guidance 3b, 4b, 5b respectively that crosses their respective offset parts relative to the median transverse axis 7 and all three are located at the same distance from that axis. One of the links 3, 5 is solidary to the adjacent lateral link 2 or 6, while the other of these links 3, 5 is solidary to the central link 4. As the two lateral links 2, 6 are chased on the linking axis 7 and one of them is solidary to the adjacent link 3 or 5, three links are solidary to the transversal axis 7 and form a part of the modular assembly 1. The other two links 3 or 4 and 5 are modular and form a rotation around the median assembly 1, but are free of the second part of the modular assembly 7.

Note that the two pairs of adjacent links, which are in solidarity with each other, may be made from two welded or otherwise fitted parts, and that these two pairs of links may also be directly made from one piece each, giving only the appearance of being made from two pieces assembled. However, given that the resulting bracelet appears to be made from five longitudinal rows of links alternately displaced longitudinally, for the sake of simplicity, they are considered as two links, although in reality they are directly made from one piece.

As the central link 4 and one of the links 3, 5 in this example the link 3, which are solidary with each other are free to rotate around the median transverse axis 7, once the modular assembly 1 is assembled, as shown in Figure 2, these links 3, 4 can be rotated about 90° around the median transverse axis 7, as shown in Figure 2, to clear the transverse opening 4b of the space between the side links 2, 6 and allow axial access to it, which is not possible when it is in the space between the side links 2, 6.

Once this cross-sectional opening 4b is placed as shown in Figure 2, the link 4 may be brought between the 3' and 5' links of the modular element 1 which is at the front end of the bracelet to which the modular element 1 is to be added.

To block transversely this cross-rod of joint 8, the two links 3, 5 which are solidary with each other must be tilted around the median transverse axis 7, until the transverse guide openings 3b, 5b of links 3, 5 are transversely aligned. In this position the two parts 3, 5 of the modular assembly are aligned, i.e. their lower flat faces are on the same plane. The inner side faces of the side links 2, 6 come to be against the adjacent side faces of links 3', respectively 5', thus closing the ends of the transverse openings 3b, 5' and vertically locking the transverse rod 8.

At the same time, once the transverse rod of joint 8 is engaged in the transverse openings 3'b, 5'b of the 3' and 5' links, it makes the two parts, the one formed of the solid links 3, 4 on the one hand and the one formed of the links 2, 5, 6 solid axis 7 on the other hand, solid, so that the modular element 1 then forms an element whose all links are solid, only the transverse rod of joint 8 ensuring the articulation of the two adjacent modular sets around 1, 1'.

Therefore, since the modular assemblies 1, 1',..., each rotate around the single shaft 8, the inner side faces of the side links 2, 6 which act as axial butts at both ends of this shaft 8 remain fixed in relation to it, preventing it from exiting the cross-sectional openings 3'b, 4b, 5'b reserved in the 3', 4, 5' links of two modular assemblies 1, the adjacent links connected by this shaft 8. The assembly is therefore dismantled.

The bracelet can be dismantled, but always starting from the end at which the assembly of the modular assemblies 1, 1',..., has been completed. The last cross-rod of joint 8 set up to allow the two parts of the modular assembly 1, formed by links 2, 5, 6, respectively, in solidarity with the median transverse axis 7 and links 3, 4, to rotate one in relation to the other in order to allow the exit of the next transverse rod of joint 8, to separate the two adjacent modular assemblies 1, 1 . The parts formed by three main sets, respectively, in solidarity with the median transverse axis 7', of each modular assembly 1 are released from each other and thus allow the successive disassembly of both modular assemblies 1, 1 ... .

To connect the first modular assembly 1, for example, to a watch case (not shown), and since it is no longer possible to access the transverse opening 4b of the central link 4 once the two parts above forming the modular assembly 1, 1 have been immobilized by the transverse rod of the joint 8, we will give here, as an example, a possible solution to avoid having to disassemble the bracelet.

To this end, at the beginning of the bracelet's assembly, the first modular assembly 1 may be connected to a connecting organ 9 which has a passage 10 for receiving a fixing bar (not shown) to the horns of a watch case (not shown) between which the connecting organ 9 is fitted, the width of this connecting organ 9 corresponding to the gap between the horns of the case and its side 9a adjacent to the outer face of the case which is contoured by the latter, so that when the bar arranged in passage 10 is attached to the horns of the case, the connecting organ 9 becomes solidary with the latter.

This connecting organ 9 has two bulges 13 and 15 whose shape, gap and dimensions correspond to the links 3, 5 of a modular assembly 1, but these bulges 13, 15 are solidary with the connecting organ. Under these conditions, the central link 4 of a modular assembly 1 can be introduced between the two bulges 13, 15 and fixed to these bulges by a cross-rod of joint 8 identical to that connecting all the modular assemblies 1, 1', between them, passing through the transverse opening 4b of the central link 4 and the coaxial openings 13b, 15b through the bulges 13, respectively 15. Once this connection is made, the following modular assemblies 1', 1, ..., can be connected by adding the ones described above to each other in relation to Figures 2-4.

To allow the bracelet to be dismantled, the last transverse rod of section 8, intended in the case of a wristwatch to connect the bracelet to a clasp, will be conveniently made up, according to a first variant, as shown in Figure 6, by a spring bar 18 of a known type, passing through the openings 3b and 5b of links 3, respectively.The other end 18b of this bar 18, which can also be formed by a sliding piston, is inserted into a housing 16 of a 6* jointed link-shaped fixing organ of a blade 14 of a 17 deployable loop fastener. The bottom of this housing 16 ends in a (not visible) hollow into which the end 18b of bar 18 engages.The shortened length of bar 18 then allows the other end 18a to be engaged in a housing 12 of a fastening organ in the form of a 2* jointed link of the blade 14 of the zipper 17.

Each housing 16, 12 opens laterally on the lower side (the side facing the wearer's arm) of the 2*6* links of the 14th blade of clasp 17 to allow access to the ring studs 18c, 18d in order to retract axially the piston (s) 18a, 18b of the bar to detach the clasp 17.

As an alternative, as illustrated in Figure 7, the side openings of housing 16, 12 on the back of the bracelet can be avoided by replacing bar 18 with a connecting and joining rod 11 with a threaded end 11a, while the opposite end has a diameter slot 11b to allow the end 11a to be screwed into a threaded thread in link 6* of the 14th blade of the clasp 17. This rod 11 also passes through a transverse opening through the other 2* jointed link 14 of the 17th blade of the clasp, as well as in openings 3b, 5b and 3b of links 5 and 5 respectively of the end of the bracelet.

In the bracelet design described in relation to Figures 1 to 4, the bracelet grows from one end towards the other.

The variant shown in Figure 8 shows how the bracelet can be enlarged or shortened from both ends according to the invention by simply placing two modular assemblies 1 in symmetry mirroring each other on either side of a transverse axis of the bracelet, with their two transversely aligned links 3, 5', and 3', respectively 5', facing the ends of the bracelet, as shown in Figure 8.Err1:Expecting property name enclosed in double quotes: line 1 column 623 (char 622)So the bracelet can grow in both directions.

Figures 9 and 10 show a variant of a 19 linkage element fitted to fit between the horns (not shown) of a watch case, to connect one end of the bracelet, particularly according to the variant in Figure 8, to that watch case. Unlike the 9 linkage element in Figure 5, this 19 linkage element is designed in two parts 19a, 19b which can rotate relative to each other around a 20 joint transverse rod.

Part 19a has three elements 23, 24 and 25 assembled by a dislodged cross-rod 26 Part 19b has four elements 21, 22, 27, 28 assembled by two rods 20, 29. Since the element 24 of part 19a is mounted pivoting around the central part of the cross-rod of joint 20, the two parts 19a, 19b can rotate relative to each other, allowing the element 24 to be tilted to bring the cross-rod 24b of its part 24a out of the internal space bounded by the inner side walls of the side links 21, 22 22 to bring this passage through the two cross-linked links 3, 5 of a modular set 1, for example Figure 8, to introduce the cross-rod of these three cross-rods 3, 3 and 5 of Figure 8, in order to introduce the cross-rod of these three cross-rods 3, 5 and 8 of 24a.

The locking of both parts 19a, 19b around the cross-rod of joint 20 is achieved when a bar (not shown) is introduced through cross-passages 27c, 28c, 25c, 24c, 26c and 23c aligned on the axis of that bar, the two ends of which usually come to rest in appropriate openings in the inner side faces of these horns.

It goes without saying that if, in the model shown in Figures 1 to 4, a bracelet with modular assemblies is shown assembled from a left end to a right end, it is possible to reverse the direction of this assembly.

The design and variants described above all relate to a five-link bracelet, but as we have seen, from a functional point of view, these five links actually form two parts with all the elements in solidarity with each other, so that we actually have a modular assembly of two parts, as in previous designs with five links side by side.

Err1:Expecting property name enclosed in double quotes: line 1 column 343 (char 342)

The two inner sections 35, 36 are connected independently of each other to the median transverse axis 38 by two tubular elements 39, 40 the length of which corresponds to the transverse dimension of each inner section 35, 36. These tubular elements 39, 40 have preferably grooved outer surfaces and are cast into openings 35a and 36a (not visible) of sections 35, respectively 36. These tubular elements 39, 40 are held axially on the median transverse axis by riveting at both ends of this axis.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 235 (char 234)Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 46 (char 45)As a result, the two inner portions 35, 36 of each modular assembly are also locked on these transverse rods 41 between the two inner side faces of the outer portions 34, 37 of the adjacent modular assembly.

Claims (10)

1. An articulated strap with links which are arranged so as to penetrate one into the other in the longitudinal direction and are connected by means of transverse hinge pins, characterized in that it has a succession of modular assemblies, (1, 1', 1"..., 31, 31', 31"...), each comprising two articulated parts (2, 5, 6; 3, 4; 32, 33) assembled to one another about a transverse center pin (7, 38) and equipped with means (3b, 4b, 5b; 35b, 36b, 34a) for receiving, on either side of this center pin (7, 38), two transverse connecting articulation rods (8, 41) which are integral, on the one hand, with one (3, 4; 32) of said articulated parts and issue laterally into a set-back portion of said modular assembly and are integral, on the other hand, with said two articulated parts (2, 5, 6; 3, 4; 32, 33) and issue laterally from two projecting portions (3, 5; 35, 36) of said modular assembly, in such a way that, when said two articulated parts (2, 5, 6; 3, 4; 32, 33) are aligned in order to receive one of said rods (8; 41), the other of these rods is locked angularly about said transverse center pin (7; 38) and is located between two lateral faces of said set-back portion of said modular assembly.
2. The strap as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least five longitudinal rows of adjacent links (2-6) which occupy alternately two longitudinal positions and are connected by means of said transverse center pin (7) so as to form said modular assembly (1) comprising three (2, 4, 6) and two (3, 5) links aligned transversely in said respective longitudinal positions, said two transversely aligned links (3, 5) having passing through them said transverse rod (8) for articulation on said adjacent modular assembly (1'), one of said two parts of said modular assemblies (1, 1' , ...) comprising the links (2, 6) of the lateral rows, and one of said two transversely aligned links (3, 5) being integral in terms of rotation with said transverse center pin (7), the other of said parts comprising the link (4) of the central row and the other of said two transversely aligned links (3, 5), so that putting in place said transverse articulation rod (8) makes the five adjacent links (2-6) of each modular assembly (1, 1', ...) integral in terms of rotation with said transverse center pin (7).
3. The strap as claimed in claim 2, wherein said transverse center pin (7) and said transverse articulation rods (8) are mounted in respective transverse guide orifices (3a, 4a, 5a, 3b, 4b, 5b) formed in said links (3, 4, 5).
4. The strap as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said transverse articulation rods (8) is mounted freely slidably through said transverse orifices (3b, 4'b, 5b) of three links (3, 4', 5) of the respective inner longitudinal rows of two of said adjacent modular assemblies (1, 1', ...), said transverse articulation rods (8) being retained at their two ends by the inner lateral faces of the links (2, 6) of the two lateral rows of one of said adjacent modular assemblies (1, 1', ...), once the five adjacent links (2-6) of this modular assembly are made integral with one another about said transverse center pin (7) by means of said transverse articulation rod (8).
5. The strap as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the first of said adjacent modular assemblies (1, 1', ...) is connected to a watch case at a connecting member (9) comprising two projections (13, 15), the respective widths of which correspond to those of said two transversely aligned links (3, 5) of said modular assemblies (1, 1', ...) and through which pass coaxial transverse orifices (13b, 15b), in order to receive between said projections a central link (4) of a modular assembly (1, 1', ...) retained by one of said transverse articulation rods (8) passing through the transverse orifices (13b, 15b) of said projections (13, 15) and the transverse orifice (4b) of said central link (4).
6. The strap as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein the last of said articulation rods (8) is formed by a spring bar (18), the two ends of which are mounted removably in two receptacles (16, 12) of two fastening members (2*, 6*) integral with a clasp element (14).
7. The strap as claimed in one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the last of said transverse articulation rods (8) is formed by a rod (11) threaded at one end (11a) intended to be screwed into a corresponding thread formed in a fastening member (6*), the other end of this rod (11) being arranged in a transverse orifice of a second fastening member (2*), these two fastening members (2*, 6*) being integral with a clasp element (14).
8. The strap as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein two of said modular assemblies (1, 1') are arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to one another about a transverse axis of the strap, with their two transversely aligned links (3, 5, 3', 5') turned toward the ends of the strap, two independent links (3*, 5*) both being connected to each of the central links (4, 4') of said modular assemblies (1, 1') by means of two of said transverse articulation rods (8).
9. The strap as claimed in one of claims 2 to 4 and 8, wherein one of said modular elements, which is located at one of the ends of a strap portion, said end being intended to be connected to the horns of a watch case, terminates in said two transversely aligned links, and wherein an element for connection to said case comprises two parts (19a, 19b) articulated on one another about a transverse articulation rod (20), these two parts (19a, 19b) each comprising transverse passages (23c, 24c, 25c; 28c, 27c) for the passage of a bar for fastening to said horns when said passages are aligned with a common axis, said fastening bar serving, furthermore, for locking said two parts (19a, 19b) about said transverse articulation rod (20).
10. The strap as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the two parts (32, 33) of said modular assemblies comprise two links (34, 35, 36, 37), an outer link (34, 37) and an inner link (35, 36), and the two inner links of the two parts (32, 33) of a modular assembly penetrate between the two outer links (34, 37) of the two parts of the adjacent modular assembly and are connected independently on one another to said transverse center pin (38), said transverse articulation rods (41) each being integral with one of the respective outer links (34, 37) of said modular assemblies.