HK1014384B - Watch with exchangeable elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to watches with interchangeable elements.

Since the bracelet of a watch is a worn-out part, there are arrangements for replacing the bracelet when it is worn.

In general, two retractable rods are fitted at the ends of the bracelet opposite the closing loop, the ends of these rods being housed in holes provided for this purpose in the corners of the bodywork.

Because of the difficulty of handling these rods, the replacement of a watch strap is usually carried out by specialized craftsmen (watchmakers-jewelers).

Recently, watches have been sold with a set of bracelets that can be easily interchanged by the wearer.

In one such model, two hollow tubes are fitted on each side of the case and bracelet ends are fitted to the watch which conform to the profile of the tubes.

The present invention is intended to provide a watch with a movement and display dial that are easily interchangeable by the wearer without the use of any tools.

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The watch described in this document is liable to be dismantled by accident even when worn by the wearer.

To overcome this disadvantage, the invention consists of a watch with a case containing a movement and a display dial, a bracelet and a hood fitted with both bracelet passing openings and means of fastening the case, characterised by the fact that the hood is an assembly hood fitted with reception housing for the ends of the bracelet's rods, located on either side of the passing openings, the housing blocking, when fitted, the said rods in the reception housing while hanging the bracelet on the assembly housing by the insertion of the ends so that the end of the housing can be disassembled in the reception housing, so that the wearer does not see the end of the assembly housing when the housing is untied.

The invention is preferably embodied in the following features: The assembly hood has two side walls on either side of its lower face defining openings for the passage of the bracelet.These side walls include, on the one hand, the means of attachment to the case, which are preferably grooves, and, on the other hand, at each end the bracelet reception housing, which is preferably notches.The case has on two opposite sides spring balls designed to be attached to the means of attachment to the assembly hood provided for this purpose; depending on the bracelet of the watch, the bracelet may be made of metal or of plastic; depending on the condition of the assembly hood, the invention may be of any form intended to present a rear design corresponding to the outer contour of the case.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be shown by the following description of a non-limiting example of an embodiment with reference to the attached drawings on which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a watch in the plane of the invention;Figure 2 is a schematic view in perspective from below the watch assembly hood of Figure 1;Figure 3 is a partial schematic view in perspective from below the watch case of Figure 1;Figure 4 is a schematic view in perspective from below the watch case of Figure 1;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 are a broken overview illustrating the mounting of the watch according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows that watch 1 consists of a hood for fitting 2, a bracelet 3 and a case 4. This case 4 includes the movement of the hands 5, the dial 6, the hands 7, the needle guard and the means of adjusting the hands 8.

Figure 2 shows that the hood has two side walls 9 on its lower side, arranged on either side of the hood 2. These side walls 9 are each fitted on their inner side with two grooves 10 and at each end with notches 11.

The bracelet 3, as shown in Figure 3, has a rigid rod 12 at each end fixed in the terminal fold of the bracelet, the outer ends of the rod being lodged in the notches 11 of the hood of the assembly 2.

Alternatively, the 12 rods at the end of the bracelet can be replaced with nipples protruding from either end of the bracelet and arranged to cooperate with the 11 notches.

Finally, as shown in Figure 4, the box 4 has on two opposite sides spring balls 13 designed to be embedded in grooves 10 of the hood 2.

According to the invention, the mounting of the watch 1 is carried out in the following order: 1°/ Installation of the bracelet 3 by means of rigid rods 12 which are inserted into notches 11 of the assembly hood.2°/ Introduction of the box 4 into the assembly hood 2 by means of spring balls 13 which are encased in the grooves 10 by simple pressure on the back of the box 4. When the box 4 is solid to the assembly hood 2, it obstructs the notches 11 of the assembly hood 2, thus making the bracelet 3 itself solid to the assembly hood 2.

To change one of the watch's elements, for example the case, it is sufficient to do the reverse, i.e. to remove case 4 from the watch's assembly hood 2 by simply pressing on the front face of said case 4, which then releases notches 11, thus allowing the removal of bracelet 3 and the replacement of said bracelet.

The invention results in a new type of watch which, from three modular, toolless interchangeable elements, namely the assembly hood 2, the bracelet 3 and the case 4, allows the user to easily obtain a multitude of combinations according to the different assembly hoods, cases and bracelets at his disposal. Furthermore, the watch according to the invention is not limited to the examples of designs described above, because the assembly hood of the watch can have any desired shape provided that it has a reception mark corresponding to the outer contour of the case.

Finally, the case may be equipped with a means of adjusting the hands or include an automatic means of adjustment or the case may be equipped with a digital time display.

In this example, the two sides of the hood of the assembly have been provided with grooves cooperating with spring balls arranged on two corresponding sides of the housing. Other means of clicking can be provided without leaving the hood of the invention; for example, the spring balls on one side of the housing can be replaced by fixed protrusions which come to lodge in the corresponding grooves of the housing.

Claims (6)

1. A watch comprising a case (4) containing a movement and a display dial, a strap (3) and a cover provided both with passage openings (11') for the strap (3) and engaging means (10) for the case (4), characterised in that said cover is an assembly cover (2) provided with receiving housings (11) for the ends of the pins (12) of the strap (3), located on either side of the passage openings (11'), the case (4), when it is put in place, locking said pins (12) in the receiving housings (11) while hooking the strap (3) to the assembly cover (2) by locating the projecting ends of the pins (12) in said receiving housings (11), such that the assembly cover (2) cannot become disengaged from the case (4) at an untimely moment when the watch is being worn.
2. A watch according to Claim 1, characterised in that the assembly cover (2) comprises on either side of its lower face two lateral walls (9) defining openings (11') which enable the strap (3) to pass through.
3. A watch according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the lateral walls (9) of the assembly cover (2) comprise firstly the engaging means (10), which are preferably grooves, and secondly, at each of its ends, the housings (11) for the strap, which are preferably notches.
4. A watch according to Claim 1, characterised in that the case (4) comprises on two of its opposing sides spring bearings (13) intended to engage in the engaging means (10) of the assembly cover (2).
5. A watch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the strap (3) may be of the metal or leather type.
6. A watch according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the assembly cover (2) may be of any desired shape, provided that it has a receiving recess corresponding to the outer contour of the case.