CH720551A2 - Device for assembling one end of a bracelet to another end of the bracelet or to a case, in particular a watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (2) for assembling one end (4) of a bracelet comprising a body (8) secured to the end (4) and having an opening (10) communicating with a housing (12) to allow the insertion therein of a bar secured to the other end of the bracelet or to a case, a flexible elastic blade arranged inside the body (8) and defining a lock, movable between a locking position and an opening position, secured to a pusher (20) having an actuating surface (22) accessible from the outside of the body (8), to allow a user to move the pusher (20) from a rest position to an actuated position, respectively associated with the locking and opening positions of the lock, the flexible elastic blade being made in one piece with the body (8) and with the pusher (20).

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for assembling one end of a bracelet to another end of the bracelet or to a case, in particular a watch case, as well as a bracelet provided with such a device and a wristwatch equipped with such a bracelet.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to such an assembly device comprising a body intended to be secured to the end of the bracelet and having an elongated opening, oriented in a general transverse direction with reference to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, and arranged in communication with a housing provided in the body, to allow the insertion of a bar secured to the other end of the bracelet or the case, a flexible elastic blade arranged inside the body and having a first end secured to the latter and a second, free end, defining a lock movable between a locking position, in which it is located between the housing and the opening to prevent the extraction of the bar from the housing, and an opening position, in which it is distant from the opening with reference to the locking position, to allow the extraction of the bar from the housing, the elastic blade being secured to a pusher having an actuating surface accessible from the outside of the body, to allow a user to exert pressure thereon and to pass the pusher from a rest position to an actuated position, respectively associated with the locking and opening positions of the lock.

State of the art

[0003] Generally speaking, bracelet clasps may have complex constructions and/or ergonomics such that they are difficult to handle when it comes to putting on or taking off the corresponding bracelet. Some clasps that are easier to handle may have large dimensions compared to those of the bracelet in question, and require specific arrangements aimed at integrating them into the general aesthetics of the bracelet.

[0004] More specifically, in the field of wristwatches, changing a strap is a delicate operation which requires removing a used strap to replace it with a new strap.

[0005] However, a person owning a timepiece of the wristwatch type may be required to change the strap frequently, for various reasons, including aesthetic reasons. In this case, the removed strap is not necessarily intended for scrap and must remain in good condition so that it can subsequently be reattached to the wristwatch case.

[0006] An aim of the present invention as described above is to propose a device for assembling one end of a bracelet to another end of the bracelet or to a case, in particular a watch case, having an easy handling mode which allows the user himself to open or detach the corresponding bracelet, without it being necessary to call upon a specialist or specific tools, and without risk of damaging the opened or removed bracelet, nor the assembled bracelet, nor the watch case.

[0007] Such assembly devices have already been proposed in the prior art.

[0008] In particular, patent EP3470935B1 describes an assembly device meeting the characteristics set out above. More precisely, this device comprises a body defining an opening communicating with a housing to allow the insertion of an assembly bar into the latter. A flexible elastic blade is attached to the body and is arranged therein so as to position its free end between the housing and the opening, to lock the bar in the housing. This document provides an embodiment in which the flexible elastic blade is shaped to create a protruding portion, housed through a hole made in the body of the device, so as to protrude outside the latter and thus define a pusher that can be actuated by a user.

[0009] Such a structure, however, makes the production of the body more complex, in order to provide the hole for the pusher, and to allow the assembly of the flexible elastic blade. Furthermore, the hole for the pusher to pass through must be small enough not to compromise the structural rigidity of the body. Thus, the pusher necessarily has small dimensions making it quite difficult to handle, and its relatively pointed shape is likely to create discomfort when wearing the bracelet, by applying pressure to the wearer's wrist.

[0010] It therefore follows that improvements should still be possible to make to the known assembly devices.

Disclosure of the invention

[0011] An additional aim of the present invention is, based on the above observation, to improve the ergonomics of known assembly devices, while simplifying the manufacturing process.

[0012] For this purpose, the invention provides in particular a device for assembling one end of a bracelet to another end or to a case, in particular a watch case, of the type mentioned above, characterized in that the flexible elastic blade is made in one piece with the body of the device and with the pusher.

[0013] Thanks to these features, the method for manufacturing the assembly device according to the present invention is simplified with reference to those of known assembly devices. Not only does this method make it possible to reduce the number of components required, but it also makes it possible to reduce the number of assembly and possible adjustment steps. Thus, it is advantageous to provide for manufacturing the assembly device according to the invention by implementing an additive manufacturing or 3D printing method. Thanks to such an approach, the flexible elastic blade can be manufactured directly inside the body of the device during the operation aimed at manufacturing it. In addition, such an approach provides greater flexibility in the geometry of the flexible elastic blade and therefore of the device, since it is not necessary to have access of sufficient dimensions in the body of the device to ensure the insertion and assembly of the flexible elastic blade, as is the case with the prior device described above. Finally, it should be noted that the manufacturing method of the assembly device according to the invention guarantees good positioning of the lock as soon as the additive manufacturing operation is complete, without a subsequent adjustment step, whereas one or more adjustment steps appear to be essential in the manufacturing method of the prior device described above to guarantee good operation of this device, i.e. effective locking of a bar in the body while allowing its extraction (the lock must be neither too close nor too far from the housing of the bar in the body to allow the implementation of these two functions).

[0014] Preferably, it can be provided that the opening is at least partially delimited, in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, by a first wall and a second wall of the body, arranged facing one another, and by the fact that the first wall has a clearance defining a location for the pusher when it is in its rest position.

[0015] Furthermore, it can be provided in this case that the flexible elastic blade comprises an end surface, at least partially curved, connecting the second end to the pusher, the end surface being partially located substantially in the extension of the first wall when the lock is in its locking position, so as to delimit a portion of the opening.

[0016] It is then advantageously possible to further provide that the body comprises side guide walls, extending in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet from the first wall to at least partially define the clearance and ensure transverse guidance of the pusher.

[0017] Thanks to these additional features, it is possible to produce a pusher having an actuation surface of dimensions greater than those of the actuation surface of the prior assembly device, as described above. In addition, the arrangement according to the present invention allows a user to insert the end of the finger with which he exerts pressure on the pusher inside the body, the overall opening of the body being larger because it is here constituted by the assembly comprising the access opening for the bar and the location of the pusher when it is in its rest position. Thus, the stroke of the pusher can be offset towards the inside of the body with reference to the stroke of the pusher of the device described in patent EP3470935B1, which makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the portion of the pusher located outside the body of the device, and therefore to eliminate the risk of discomfort reported above.

[0018] Generally, it can be provided that the actuating surface of the pusher is located substantially outside the body when the pusher is in its rest position, but the thickness of the portion of the pusher located outside the body can be reduced, or even zero, without however impairing its ease of handling.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it can also be provided that the pusher comprises an inclined rear surface, opposite the end surface, arranged in abutment against the body in the rest position of the pusher, in particular to define the latter.

[0020] The present invention also relates to a bracelet link, intended to be integrated at one end of a bracelet strand as a terminal link, and comprising an assembly device according to the characteristics which have just been stated.

[0021] In general, the present invention also relates to a bracelet comprising a first end intended to be connected to a bar secured to a second end of the bracelet or to a case, in particular a watch case, the first end comprising an assembly device according to the characteristics which have just been stated.

[0022] In this case, the assembly device can be integrated into a terminal link, preferably being made in one piece with it.

[0023] Generally speaking, when the bracelet comprises a first flexible strand carrying the first end, the flexible strand preferably comprising a main portion made of leather, textile, elastomer, silicone or plastic, the assembly device can advantageously be in the form of an insert made integral with the flexible strand at its first end.

[0024] The invention also relates to a wristwatch provided with a bracelet meeting the above characteristics.

Brief description of the drawings

[0025] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given as non-limiting examples and in which: – Figure 1 represents a simplified general perspective view of a bracelet strand comprising an assembly device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; – Figure 2 represents a simplified front view of the end of the bracelet strand of Figure 1 integrating the assembly device according to the present invention, ready to cooperate with a wristwatch case; – Figure 3 represents a simplified side view of the end of the bracelet strand illustrated in Figure 2, and – Figure 4 represents a simplified longitudinal sectional view of the end of the bracelet strand illustrated in Figure 2.

Method(s) of carrying out the invention

[0026] Figure 1 shows a general simplified perspective view of a bracelet strand 1 comprising an assembly device 2 at a first of its ends 4, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] The illustrated strand 1 is one of the two strands of a wristwatch strap, by way of non-limiting illustrative example, as is apparent from the view of FIG. 2 representing a front view of the end of the strap strand 1 when the strand 1 is ready to be assembled to a wristwatch case 6.

[0028] The other strand (not shown) of the bracelet may advantageously comprise another assembly device 2 at a first end, and carry a clasp at its second end intended to cooperate with the strand 1 to close the bracelet. The bracelet strand 1 may in particular be provided with holes not shown to cooperate with a pin, in a conventional manner. The first end of each strand of the bracelet is intended to be made integral with the wristwatch case 6, by engaging a bar integral with the case 6 in the assembly device carried by the bracelet strand.

[0029] Generally, the bracelet incorporating the assembly device 2 according to the present invention may be of any type, including a piece of jewelry, with an adapted shape of the assembly device 2 if necessary. In particular, the bracelet may be intended to close on itself, and comprise an assembly device according to the present invention at a first end and a bar intended to cooperate with the assembly device at its second end. Alternatively, such a bracelet may also comprise two assembly devices 2, one at each end, intended to cooperate with an interposed object which may be of any nature adapted to the implementation of the present invention, for example any case, a piece of jewelry, a medallion, etc.

[0030] Furthermore, the bracelet strand 1 shown in the figures is of the flexible type, by way of non-limiting illustration, and a person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in manufacturing it by implementing known methods depending on its composition. Typically, the strand 1 may comprise a core with high mechanical strength or not, and comprise an external envelope made of leather, textile, elastomer, silicone or plastic depending on the needs, without impact on the implementation of the invention. The assembly device 2 is then in the form of an insert which can be made integral with the envelope by any suitable means, for example by being sandwiched between two portions glued or welded and/or sewn subsequently in the case of a leather or textile production, or by being overmolded in the case of a plastic, silicone or elastomer production, such as rubber.

[0031] Alternatively, the bracelet may also be of the link type, generally rigid, assembled to each other by pivot connections, added or made in one piece with the links by additive manufacturing. In this case, the assembly device 2 may be integrated into at least one terminal link, preferably two, either as an added insert, or by being made in one piece with it, in particular in the case of the implementation of additive manufacturing. The assembly device 2 may also be made in one piece with a terminal link intended to be connected to one end of a flexible bracelet strand, to serve as an intermediary to connect the bracelet to a watch case for example.

[0032] As is apparent from Figures 1 and 2, the assembly device 2, or insert here, comprises a body 8 having an elongated opening 10, oriented in a general transverse direction with reference to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. The opening 10 is arranged in communication with a housing 12 formed in the body 8, near the free end of the latter, in a known manner. Thus, the opening 10 defines a passage for inserting or extracting a standard bar 14 secured to the case 6 of the corresponding wristwatch, for assembling the strand 1 to the case 6 or separating it therefrom.

[0033] The assembly device 2 comprises a lock 18, movable between a locking position, in which it prevents the extraction of the bar 14 from the housing 12, and an opening position, in which it allows the extraction of the bar 14 from the housing 12, as will emerge more clearly from FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0034] The assembly device 2 also comprises a pusher 20 arranged to allow a user to move the lock 18 from its locking position to its opening position, by applying pressure to an actuating surface 22 of the pusher 20, in order to be able to extract the bar 14 from the housing 12. Thus, the pusher 20 is itself movable between a rest position (illustrated in the figures) and an actuated position, respectively associated with the locking and opening positions of the lock 18.

[0035] It also appears from the views of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the opening 10 is at least partially delimited, in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, by a first wall 24 and a second wall 26 of the body 8, arranged facing one another, the first wall 24 having a clearance 28 defining a location for the pusher 20 when it is in its rest position.

[0036] The construction of the assembly device 2 will be described in more detail in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4 which represent views, respectively lateral and in longitudinal section, of the end of the bracelet strand 1 as illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0037] A flexible elastic blade 30 is made in one piece with the body 8, having a first end 32 integral with the latter and a second, free end, defining the lock 18.

[0038] In its rest position, the lock 18 is located between the housing 12 and the opening 10, and it is clear that a bar 14 that would be housed in the housing 12 could not be extracted therefrom without moving the lock 18. When a user exerts sufficient pressure on the actuating surface 22 of the pusher 20, the lock 18 moves into its actuated position, i.e. against the bottom of the body 8 to clear access to the housing 12. It is advantageous to provide that the bottom of the body 8 includes a recess 34 making it possible to almost completely or even completely clear access to the housing 12 by partial or total penetration of the lock 18 into the recess 34. Thanks to these characteristics, the bar 14 can be held in the housing 12 with a minimum of play, both in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet and in the direction of its thickness.

[0039] The flexible elastic blade 30 comprises a partially curved end surface 36 connecting its second end, i.e. the latch 18, to the pusher 20, this end surface 36 being partially located substantially in the extension of the first wall 24 of the body 8 when the latch 18 is in its locking position. Thanks to this particular geometry, the end surface 36 contributes to delimiting a portion of the opening 10 with the first wall 24. In addition, the curvature of the end surface 36 allows a gentle insertion of the bar 14 into the housing 12, rather than the implementation of a notch with abrupt triggering when a flat contact surface is implemented, as is the case with prior assembly devices. Indeed, to insert a strip 14 into the housing 12, it is sufficient to insert it into the opening 10 and apply pressure to the lock 18 to push it to the bottom of the body 8 and thus clear access to the housing 12.

[0040] Furthermore, it is clear from all of the figures that the side walls of the clearance 28 advantageously fulfill the function of side guide walls, extending in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet from the first wall 24, to ensure transverse guidance of the pusher 20.

[0041] It is more particularly apparent from the sectional view of FIG. 4 that the pusher 20 also comprises an inclined rear surface 38, opposite the end surface 36 and arranged in abutment against the body 8 in the rest position of the pusher 20.

[0042] It will be noted that, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the terminal surface of the free end of the latch 18 may have a slight inclination towards the bottom of the housing 12 (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). Thus, if the bar 14 undergoes a stress which would tend to move it towards the opening 10 of the housing 12, it itself applies a stress on the latch 18 tending to push its inclined rear surface 38 against the body 8, which has the effect of reinforcing the locking of the bar 14 in the housing 12.

[0043] It appears from the features which have just been described that the flexible elastic blade 30 can be produced very precisely according to the needs, in particular the dimensional, geometric and mechanical properties required, thanks to its production in a single piece with the body 8. At the same time, the flexible elastic blade 30 can have perfectly controlled movements during the actuations of the pusher 20 by a user or during the insertion of a bar, thanks to the different guide surfaces provided. This allows an advantageous use of the end surface 36 as a guide surface of the bar 14, during its insertion into the body 8, and which at the same time offers improved access for the user to the actuation surface which can have larger dimensions in reference to the actuation surfaces of the prior devices.

[0044] Furthermore, as already indicated, the shape and location of the push button 20 according to the present invention allow the user to partially insert the finger with which he operates the push button inside the body 8. Thanks to this improved ergonomics, the portion of the push button 20 which is located outside the body 8 can be reduced, in reference to prior devices, and the risk of discomfort when wearing linked to the contact of the push button on the user's wrist is thus eliminated.

[0045] Indeed, in its rest position, the pusher 20 has a portion of relatively small thickness located outside the body 8, such that the actuating surface 22 is located substantially outside the body 8. Thus, a user can more easily identify the pusher 20 simply by touch when he wishes to actuate it. Of course, it is also possible to provide for the actuating surface 22 to be located flush with the body 8, without protruding, or even for it to be located slightly recessed, without however departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached set of claims.

[0046] As regards the integration of the assembly device 2 into the bracelet strand 1, the person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in implementing any known suitable method. It will be noted, more particularly in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, that the strand 1 can advantageously extend beyond the end of the body 8, up to approximately half of its thickness, such that the body 8 is not visible from above when the corresponding wristwatch is worn on the wrist of a user.

[0047] As regards the production of the assembly device 2, it may advantageously be made of any metal having the required properties both in terms of rigidity and in terms of elasticity, in particular steel, titanium alloy, etc., and the person skilled in the art may choose from among the known additive manufacturing techniques the one that is most suitable according to his constraints and his needs, in particular the material chosen, for example the DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering), SLM (Selective Laser Melting), ALM Laser (Additive Layer Manufacturing) processes, etc.

[0048] Thanks to the characteristics which have just been presented, it is possible to produce a device for assembling a bracelet end which is simple to manufacture, particularly suitable for the production of large series, of simple structure, easy to adapt according to needs and constraints, and compact, while presenting reliable, precise and robust operation, as well as optimal ergonomics.

[0049] The foregoing description seeks to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration, and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, in particular with regard to the shape of the non-functional parts of the body of the device, or even the exact shape of the flexible elastic blade with its integrated pusher and lock.

[0050] A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a device for assembling a bracelet end that only partially meets the characteristics that have just been described, without however departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. Assembly device (2) of one end (4) of a bracelet to another end of the bracelet or to a case (6), in particular a watch case, comprising a body (8) intended to be secured to the end (4) of the bracelet and having an elongated opening (10), oriented in a general transverse direction with reference to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, and arranged in communication with a housing (12) formed in said body (8), to allow the insertion therein of a bar (14) secured to the other end of the bracelet or to the case (6), a flexible elastic blade (30) arranged inside said body (8) and having a first end (32) secured to the latter and a second, free end, defining a lock (18) movable between a locking position, in which it is located between said housing (12) and said opening (10) to prevent the extraction of the bar (14) from said housing (12), and an opening position, in which it is distant from said opening (10) with reference to the locking position, to allow the extraction of the bar (14) from said housing (12), said flexible elastic blade (30) being integral with a pusher (20) having an actuating surface (22) accessible from the outside of said body (8), to allow a user to exert pressure thereon and to move said pusher (20) from a rest position to an actuated position, respectively associated with the locking and opening positions of said lock (18), characterized in that said flexible elastic blade (30) is made in one piece with said body (8) and with said pusher (20). 2. Device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening (10) is at least partially delimited, in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, by a first wall (24) and a second wall (26) of said body (8), arranged opposite one another, and by the fact that said first wall (24) has a clearance (28) defining a location for said pusher (20) when it is in its rest position. 3. Device (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that said flexible elastic blade (30) comprises an end surface (36), at least partially curved, connecting said second end to said pusher (20), said end surface (36) being partially located substantially in the extension of said first wall (24) when said lock (18) is in its locking position, so as to delimit a portion of said opening (10). 4. Device (2) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said body (8) comprises side guide walls, extending in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet from said first wall (24) to at least partially define said clearance (28) and ensure transverse guidance of said pusher (20). 5. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said actuating surface (22) of said pusher (20) is located substantially outside said body (8) when said pusher (20) is in its rest position. 6. Device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pusher (20) comprises an inclined rear surface (38), opposite said end surface (36), arranged in abutment against said body (8) in said rest position of said pusher (20). 7. Bracelet link, intended to be integrated at one end of a bracelet strand as a terminal link, characterized in that it comprises an assembly device (2) according to one of the preceding claims. 8. Bracelet, comprising a first end (4) intended to be connected to a bar (14) secured to a second end of the bracelet or to a case (6), in particular a watch case, said first end (4) comprising an assembly device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 9. Bracelet according to claim 8, comprising a bracelet link according to claim 7, defining said first end (4) of the bracelet as a terminal link, characterized in that said assembly device (2) is made in one piece with said terminal link. 10. Bracelet according to claim 8, comprising a first flexible strand (1) carrying said first end (4), said flexible strand (1) preferably comprising a main portion made of leather, textile, elastomer, silicone or plastic, characterized in that said assembly device (2) is in the form of an insert made integral with said flexible strand (1) at said first end (4). 11. Wristwatch comprising a bracelet according to one of claims 8 to 10.