HK1203040B - Deployant bracelet clasp - Google Patents

Description

Unfolding clasp for bracelet

Technical Field

The invention relates to an unfolding or folding clasp comprising a first arm and a second arm hinged around a support, said first arm being hinged on a first stirrup member and said second arm being hinged on a second stirrup member.

The invention also relates to a bracelet or wristband comprising at least one unfolding or folding clasp of the above type and a first fixed strip and a second adjustable strip surrounding the at least one clasp, the thickness of the first fixed strip and the second adjustable strip being less than or equal to a given thickness.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one bracelet or wristband of the above type.

The present invention relates to the field of bracelets or wristbands for watches or pieces of jewellery or similar.

Background

Safety spread or fold clasps for watchbands or bracelets are usually designed for hinged wristbands or for wristbands with a fixed length of strap.

This involves combining the use of a unfolding or folding clasp with three members formed by a support and two arms forming an enclosure, with a wristband having a flexible strap, in particular made of leather or the like, keeping the entire possible adjustment range of the wristband without cutting either strap, this clasp being favoured by the user because it can be opened wide and comfortable to use.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention proposes to make a bracelet with an easy-to-use clasp whose length is easy to adjust without the need to change the bracelet strand.

The invention therefore concerns a unfolding or folding clasp comprising a first arm and a second arm hinged around a support, said first arm being hinged on a first stirrup and said second arm being hinged on a second stirrup, characterized in that said first stirrup forms part of a first one-piece cap, the bottom surface of which, together with one end of said first arm, defines a passage space for the passage of a strap of wrist band of thickness less than or equal to a given thickness in any angular position of said one end of said first arm; the second stirrup forms the bottom of the second removable cap and comprises at least one fixing means arranged to cooperate with a complementary fixing means of the removable top of the second removable cap by clamping around the hole of the wristband strand, to adjust the useful length of the wristband strand.

The invention also relates to a wristband comprising at least one unfolding or folding clasp of the type described above and a first fixing strip and a second adjustable strip surrounding said at least one clasp, the thickness of said first fixing strip and said second adjustable strip being less than or equal to a given thickness, characterized in that said first fixing strip is fixed to said first stirrup by a first hinge pin of said first arm in the direction of extension (in the direction of expansion) of said first fixing strip and by a second pin traversing said first fixing strip, said first fixing strip defining, with said bottom surface, said passage space provided for the passage of said second adjustable strip, said second adjustable strip defining, via the at least one fixing means clamped around the hole of said second adjustable strip, a reciprocal cooperation with said complementary fixing means of said removable top of said second removable cap And is secured to the second removable cap.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or piece of jewellery including at least one bracelet or wristband of the above type.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a partial schematic side view of a clasp for a wristband having a flexible strap according to the present invention in a closed and locked position.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 1 in the same position.

Fig. 3 shows a view similar to fig. 1 of the same clasp in the open position.

Fig. 4 shows a view similar to fig. 2 of the same clasp in the open position.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section of the same clasp along the middle plane in the position of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a timepiece, more particularly a wristwatch, comprising a wristband with a flexible strap fitted with the same clasp.

Fig. 7 and 8 show schematic perspective views of a clasp of a variant of the same clasp, comprising an additional safety device, in fig. 7 the clasp is not in operation, in fig. 8 the clasp is in operation after being folded down 180 degrees.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to the field of bracelets or wristbands for watches or pieces of jewellery or similar.

As shown in the figures, the present invention relates to an unfolding or folding clasp 1, the clasp 1 comprising a first arm 2 and a second arm 3 hinged about a support 4. The first arm 2 is hinged to a first stirrup member 5 and the second arm 3 is hinged to a second stirrup member 6.

According to the invention, said first stirrup 5 forms part of a first one-piece cap 7, the bottom surface 71 of which cap 7, together with the end 23 of the first arm 2, defines a space 72 for the passage of a wristband strand (wristband strand) having a thickness less than or equal to a given thickness EP, anywhere at said end 23.

Said second stirrup 6 forms the bottom of the second removable cap 8 and comprises at least one fixing means 61, which fixing means 61 is arranged to cooperate, by gripping around a hole of the wristband strand, with a complementary fixing means 81 of a removable top 82 of said second cap 8, to adjust the useful length of the wristband strand gripped by the fixing means.

More specifically, the unfolding or folding clasp 1 according to the invention is used for a flexible wristband having a given thickness EP. The second arm 2 extends between a first end 22 and a second end 23; the second arm 3 extends between a first end 32 and a second end 33.

The support 4 extends between a first hinge 41 and a second hinge 42.

The first arm 2 is hinged at its first end 22 to the first hinge 41 and at its second end 23 to the first stirrup member 5.

The second elastic arm 3 is hinged at its first end 32 to the second hinge 42 and at its second end 33 to the second stirrup member 6.

The first stirrup 5 comprises a first hinge pin 51 of the first arm 2 and a second pin 52 for fixing to a fixed wristband strand having a thickness less than or equal to a given thickness EP. The hidden bottom surface 71 of the first cap 7 defines, together with the second end 23 of the first arm 2, in any angular position of the second end 23, said passage space 72 for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness less than or equal to a given thickness EP, so as to form a guide loop for this type of wristband strand.

Preferably, the first arm 2 comprises a first elastically retractable (elastically retractable) locking means 21, the second arm 3 comprises a second elastically retractable locking means 31, and the support 4 comprises a first 421 and a second 431 complementary locking means arranged to cooperate in the locking position with the first 21 and second 31 locking means, respectively.

The first arm 2 and the second arm 3 can be formed by a "tuning fork" -shaped U-shaped arm having a resilient arm carrying a first 21 and a second 22 locking means, said first 21 and second 22 locking means being formed in particular by tongues or grooves. However, the first 421 and second 431 complementary locking means are formed by grooves or tongues, respectively.

The bending of the resilient arms allows the first arm 2 and the second arm 3 to move from the open position seen in fig. 3 and 4 to the folded position in the support by briefly retracting the first locking position 21 and the second locking position 22. Once the first and second arms 2, 3 are aligned with the support 4 in the closed position shown in figures 1, 2 and 5, the elastic arms return to their position and cause the first and second locking means 21, 22 to cooperate with the first and second complementary locking means 421, 431, respectively, for locking, without any action by the user.

Advantageously, the first one-piece cap 7 comprises a first dome-shaped member (cabochon) 73 on the bottom face 71 and on the opposite side of the first stirrup member 5. The second cap 8 comprises in a similar manner a second dome 83.

In the closed and locked position of the clasp 1, the first edge surface 74 of the first cam member 73 abuts against a second opposite edge surface 84 contained within the second cam member 83.

The user can thus very easily visually check whether the clasp is properly locked, any gap between the convex parts 73 and 83 indicating that locking is not achieved.

In the variant shown in fig. 7 and 8, the first cam 73 comprises a safety locking device 75, which safety locking device 75 is arranged to cooperate, in the closed and locked position of the clasp, with a complementary safety locking device 85 comprised in the second cam 83.

In a non-limiting embodiment, by way of example, the first and second cam members 73 and 83 together form a figure 8 that is unique to applicant's product in the closed and locked position of the clasp. The first cam member 73 is here flanked by a hinge 76, the moving arm of which hinge 76 carries a female part 77 of 8-shape, which part 77 is designed to clamp the two cam members 73 and 83 together. Here, the part 75 of the above-mentioned shape carries at one end a lip 75, which lip 75 is arranged to cooperate, in the position of fig. 8, after folding the hinge down 180 degrees, with a spring 85 or similar element fitted onto the second cam 83 and forming a complementary safety locking means.

In order to adjust the length of the adjustable strip 12 inserted in the space 72 between the first stirrup member 5 and the bottom surface 71 of the first cap 7, as shown in fig. 5, the second stirrup member 6 comprises, in addition to the fixing means 61, which fixing means 61 are formed here by screws cooperating with the sleeve 81 (here, the sleeve 81 is integral with the base 87 of the second cap 8), at least one pin 62 cooperating with a hole 86 in the removable top 82 of the second cap 8, or, conversely, a hole 63 cooperating with a pin 83 of the removable top 82. The sleeve 81 and pin 62 or 83 (as the case may be) cooperate with a hole 123 in the wristband strand 12.

The invention relates to a bracelet 10 comprising at least one unfolding or folding clasp 1 of the type described above and a first fixing strap 11 and a second adjustable strap 12 surrounding said at least one clasp 1, the thickness of said straps being less than or equal to said given thickness EP.

The first strip 11 is fixed to the first stirrup member 5 by means of a first hinge pin 51 of the first arm 2 in the direction of extension of the first strip 11 and by means of a second pin 52 crossing the first strip 11. The first strip 11 then defines, together with the bottom surface 71, a space 72 arranged for the passage of the second strip 12. The second strip 12 is fixed on the second cap 8 via the mutual cooperation of at least one fixing means 61 clamped around the hole 123 of the second strip 12 and the complementary fixing means 81 of the removable top 82 of the second cap 8.

In certain embodiments, the first fixed strap 11 and/or the second adjustable strap 12 are flexible straps.

The invention also relates to a timepiece or piece of jewellery 100, the timepiece or piece of jewellery 100 comprising at least one wrist or bracelet 10 of the type described above, as shown in figure 8. The invention makes it possible to form a clasp 1 reminiscent of the shape of a case 101, in particular a watch case.

In a particular embodiment not shown, the first and/or second dome 73, 83 are used in a visible manner and carry a timepiece movement or a jewel or the like. In fact, the invention has a particular aesthetic nature, besides the mechanical properties of maneuverability and safety, the clasp 1 becoming a decorative element of the bracelet 10.

Briefly, the present invention provides a combination of the following devices:

-an adjustment device for adjusting the adjustable strip, which adjustment device avoids having to cut the strip in order to fit the user;

-a hinge structure with three elements, which is easy to activate and deactivate;

-a first stirrup performing the function of a loop for the end of the adjustable strip;

the mutual cooperation between the two cams which abut against each other in the locked closed position (and in the form of a cross), which forms a means of checking whether a proper closing is achieved.

Claims (9)

1. Unfolding or folding clasp (1), the clasp (1) comprising a first arm (2) and a second arm (3) hinged around a support (4), the first arm (1) being hinged on a first stirrup (5) and the second arm (3) being hinged on a second stirrup (6), characterized in that the first stirrup (5) forms part of a first one-piece cap (7), the bottom surface (71) of which first one-piece cap (7) defines, together with one end (23) of the first arm (2), a passage space (72) for the passage of a wristband strap having a thickness less than or equal to a given thickness (EP) in any angular position of said one end (23) of the first arm (2); the second stirrup (6) forms the bottom of the second removable cap (8) and comprises at least one fixing means (61), this fixing means (61) being arranged to cooperate with a complementary fixing means (81) of a removable top (82) of the second removable cap (8) by clamping around a hole of the wristband strand, to adjust the useful length of the wristband strand.

2. Clasp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended for a flexible wristband or bracelet of given thickness (EP), the first arm (2) extending between a first end (22) and a second end (23) of the first arm (2); the second arm (3) extending between a first end (32) and a second end (33) of the second arm (3); said support (4) extending between a first hinge (41) and a second hinge (42), said first arm (2) being hinged on said first hinge (41) at said first end (22) of said first arm (2) and on said first stirrup (5) at said second end (23) of said first arm (2), said second arm (3) being hinged on said second hinge (42) at said first end (32) of said second arm (3) and on said second stirrup (6) at said second end (33) of said second arm (3), said first stirrup (5) comprising a first hinge pin (51) for said first arm (2) and a second pin (52) for fixing to a fixed band of wrist having a thickness less than or equal to said given thickness (EP), said bottom surface (71) of said first one-piece cap (7) and said first end (23) of said first arm (2) being hidden -defining said passage space (72) for the passage of a wristband strand having a thickness less than or equal to said given thickness (EP) at any angular position from said second end (23) of said first arm (2), so as to form a guide loop for said wristband strand.

3. Clasp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first arm (2) comprises a first elastically retractable locking means (21), said second arm (3) comprises a second elastically retractable locking means (21), said support (4) comprises a first complementary locking means (421) and a second complementary locking means (431) arranged to cooperate, in the locking position, with said first locking means (21) and said second locking means (31), respectively.

4. Clasp (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said first one-piece cap (7) comprises a first cam (73) on the opposite side of said bottom surface (71) and of said first stirrup member (5), a first edge surface (74) of this first cam (73) resting on a second opposite edge surface (84) of a second cam (83) comprised in said second removable cap (8) when said clasp (1) is in a closed locking position in which said first arm (2) and said second arm (3) are pressed against said support (4).

5. Clasp (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said first cam-shaped member (73) comprises a safety locking device (75), this safety locking device (75) being arranged to cooperate, in said closed locking position, with a complementary safety locking device (85) comprised in said second cam-shaped member (83).

6. Clasp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said second stirrup (6), in addition to said at least one fixing means (61), comprises at least one pin (62) cooperating with a hole (86) of said removable top (82) of said second removable cap (8) or also a hole (63) cooperating with a pin (83) of said removable top (82).

7. A wrist or bracelet (10) comprising at least one unfolding or folding clasp (1) according to claim 1 and a first fixing strap (11) and a second adjustable strap (12) surrounding the at least one clasp (1), the thickness of the first fixing strap (11) and the second adjustable strap (12) being less than or equal to the given thickness (EP), characterized in that the first fixing strap (11) is fixed to the first stirrup (5) by a first hinge pin (51) of the first arm (2) in the direction of extension of the first fixing strap (11) and by a second pin (52) crossing the first fixing strap (11), the first fixing strap (11) defining with the bottom surface (71) the passage space (72) provided for the passage of the second adjustable strap (12), the second adjustable strap (12) is fixed to the second removable cap (8) via the mutual cooperation of the at least one fixing means (61) clamped around the aperture of the second adjustable strap (12) and the complementary fixing means (81) of the removable top (82) of the second removable cap (8).

8. The wrist or bracelet (20) according to claim 7, characterized in that the first fixing strap (11) and/or the second adjustable strap (12) is a flexible strap.

9. Timepiece or jewelry (100) comprising at least one wrist or bracelet (10) according to claim 7 or 8.