Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/0053—Flexible straps
  • A44C5/0069—Flexible straps extensible
  • A44C5/0076—Flexible straps extensible essentially made from metal
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/02—Link constructions
  • A44C5/022—Link constructions with links threaded on at least one filamentary core
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C5/00—Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps
  • A44C5/02—Link constructions
  • A44C5/04—Link constructions extensible
  • A44C5/08—Link constructions extensible having separate links
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44C—PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS
  • A44C11/00—Watch chains; Ornamental chains
  • A44C11/007—Tennis type

Definitions

• the invention relates to a decorative article such as a bracelet, a ring or a necklace, which is extensible, that is to say which is capable of elastically deforming in a reversible manner to attach to or detach from a limb of a user.
• Fancy articles have already been proposed, formed from an elastic textile thread pressing links together to form a bracelet.
• the diameter of such a bracelet can be elastically enlarged to pass the bracelet around the hand up to the wrist against which the diameter of the bracelet shrinks to attach to the wrist.
• Such a fancy article is, however, very fragile and deteriorates quickly over time.
• An example of a jewelry article is disclosed in the document US 2023/371,660 .
• the invention aims in particular to propose an extensible decorative article such as a bracelet, a ring or a necklace, the attachment of which is reliable, the elastic deformation of which is controlled, the aesthetics of which are advantageous such as in particular without visible mechanism and which is easily repairable or modifiable.
• the invention relates to a decorative article intended to be attached to a limb of a user comprising links which fit into each other to form a closed loop, characterized in that the decorative article comprises a fixing device comprising an internal flange arranged between each pair of adjacent links to couple each pair of links relative to each other with a predetermined clearance, and at least one elastic element mounted under stress inside the links to elastically hold the links fitted into each other and to hold each internal flange in the position of coupling each pair of adjacent links relative to each other.
• the decorative article is of very good quality and compatible with a luxury product. It is, for example, possibly made of metal and very resistant to contact with the skin. It can, advantageously according to the invention, pass into an enlarged position in which the links are elastically spaced apart from each other to pass it around a joint to a limb, such as a wrist, an ankle or a neck, at which the decorative article returns to its nested position, called basic, to attach itself to the user's limb, and vice versa in a completely reversible manner.
• the links form a closed loop of a predetermined shape whose aesthetics are advantageous such as, for example, without visible mechanism, and reproducible after each passage in an enlarged position.
• the closed loop can, for example, be of a shape between substantially annular and substantially toric without being limited thereto.
• the fixing device allows a maximum predetermined movement between each pair of links between the nested position, called the basic position, and an enlarged position, which makes it possible to program in advance the movement of the links between them and thus make the decorative article mechanically robust. It is therefore understood that the decorative article comprises a large number of enlarged positions between a minimum enlarged position in which only a pair of links is moved and a maximum enlarged position in which all the pairs of links are moved according to their respective maximum predetermined movement.
• the fixing device thanks to its elastic element, not only allows the nested position to be elastically returned to (insofar as an object in the hollow of the closed loop is not larger than the nested position), but also makes the movements of the links more reliable by elastically maintaining the position of each internal flange in the coupling position of its pair of adjacent links.
• the invention alternatively comprises one or more of the following optional features, taken alone or in combination.
• Each internal flange may comprise a cylindrical body against which the pair of adjacent links slides according to the predetermined clearance and each end of which comprises a collar for attaching the adjacent links of the pair relative to each other.
• Each internal flange is therefore a very simple part substantially in the form of a mounted rivet, that is to say a rivet after riveting, which allows high reliability of guidance and limitation of coupling movements between its two associated adjacent links.
• Each link may comprise two blind recesses coaxial with an alignment axis separated by a common wall, each blind recess comprising a counterbore forming a rim intended to retain a collar of an internal flange when the latter is arranged on the alignment axis in order to limit the coupling travel of each pair of adjacent links.
• the depth of the two blind recesses along the alignment axis is preferably greater than the length of the internal flange in order to couple each pair of links relative to each other with said predetermined play.
• the maximum predetermined coupling travel between the pair of links is adjusted by the respective depths of the blind recesses in which the internal flange is received in the coupling position. It is understood that the depths of the blind recesses of each link may be identical or not, whether internal flanges may or may not be identical, or that a collar of an internal flange may or may not be fitted with clearance (tight fit or with uncertain clearance) between its rim and blind recess bottom.
• a first flange of the bridle could be adjusted with a positive (small) clearance for easy engagement between the rim and the bottom of a first blind recess of a first link
• a second flange of the bridle could be adjusted with a positive (large) clearance determining the maximum coupling clearance between the pair of links and allowing very easy engagement between the rim and the bottom of a second blind recess of a second link (facing the first blind recess of the first link).
• the maximum coupling clearance between each pair of links does not necessarily have to be identical for the entire decorative article, i.e. some could have greater maximum coupling clearances than others.
• industrial logic could encourage the use of identical flanges and identical links for the same decorative item in order to manufacture each link and each flange at a lower cost and limit the necessary storage.
• Each link may comprise a through hole parallel to the alignment axis and communicating with the two coaxial blind recesses, and intended to receive said at least one elastic element under stress to elastically hold each flange in the coupling position in the recesses of the pair of links. It is understood that this through hole makes it possible both to mount an internal flange between two associated links but also to pass therein, after receiving the internal flange in the two blind recesses, to pass the elastic element therein in order to provide its elasticity to the decorative article but also to elastically hold the internal flange in position in the coupling position in the blind recesses.
• Each link may have a second through hole parallel to the alignment axis for receiving a second resilient member under stress to resiliently hold the nested links in balance with the other resilient member.
• the second through hole need not communicate with the blind recesses.
• the blind recesses could be disposed between the two through holes of a link to equally distribute the combined resilient force of the first and second resilient members above and below the blind recesses.
• the alignment axis may be curved so that the links form a curved portion of the closed loop.
• the curvature of the links is adapted to give a closed loop of a predetermined shape.
• some links may have a straight alignment axis and others may have a curved alignment axis without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the decorative article may have at least ten links such as, for example, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 links.
• the links and/or the flanges may be formed from precious metal in order to form a high-end decorative article such as a piece of jewelry, i.e. comprising one (or more) precious stone(s) mounted on/in one (or more) link(s).
• a precious metal may be gold, silver, platinum or one of their alloys.
• Each elastic element can be formed from a gold-nickel alloy to provide a very constant elastic coefficient also based on precious metal.
• a gold-nickel alloy to provide a very constant elastic coefficient also based on precious metal.
• other materials offering equivalent elastic characteristics such as a cobalt-based alloy like Nivaflex, can be used.
• the decorative article according to the invention preferably forms a necklace, a ring or a bracelet.
• the steps of the assembly method as presented above are repeated to form the decorative article.
• it is therefore very easy to choose the total length of the decorative article for example, to adjust its size to a user's limb.
• the method is very simple to implement and in particular that no tools, welding or glue are necessary.
• the decorative article is easily repairable (exchange of a damaged link) or modifiable (addition, removal or exchange of one or more links) by the simplicity of the assembly method according to the invention.
• orientations are the orientations of the figures.
• the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “above”, “below”, “forward” and “backward” are generally understood in relation to the direction in which the figures are represented.
• axes (A1, A2, etc.) are arbitrarily declared as a first axis, a second axis, etc. This is a simple nomenclature to differentiate and name non-identical geometric elements. This nomenclature does not imply a priority of one axis over another and such names can easily be interchanged without departing from the scope of the present description. This nomenclature also does not imply an order, i.e. a third axis could be used without a first axis and/or a second axis being necessary for the implementation of the invention.
• based on is meant a material or alloy constituting at least 50% by total mass or weight of a given element such as in particular 51%, 55%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 95% or 100% by total mass.
• based on a first element means a material or alloy consisting mainly by total mass or weight of said first element which may in this case be less than 50% of the total mass.
• attaching each pair of links relative to each other with a predetermined clearance is meant attaching each pair of links relative to each other allowing a predetermined maximum relative variation in displacement between each pair of links.
• the invention relates to a decorative article 1 intended to form all or part of an assembly such as, for example, a timepiece, an item of jewelry or an item of jewelry.
• an assembly such as, for example, a timepiece, an item of jewelry or an item of jewelry.
• the decorative item can also be applied in other areas.
• the decorative article 1 preferably forms a necklace, a ring or a bracelet.
• the decorative article 1 is therefore preferably intended to be attached to a limb of a user and comprises links 2 intended to fit into each other to form a closed loop.
• the links 2 are in the nested position, called the base position, forming a closed loop with a refined aesthetic because no mechanism, such as the fixing device 5, is visible.
• the decorative article 1 may, for example, be substantially annular to substantially toric in shape without being limited thereto.
• the links 2 are mostly (the end links 2 may be different) or all identical in order to lower the manufacturing cost and limit the number of parts to be stored separately.
• the links 2 are preferably formed from a precious metal in order to form a high-end decorative article 1.
• a precious metal may, for example, be gold, silver, platinum or one of their alloys.
• the decorative article 1 may comprise at least ten links such as, for example, 10, 15, 20 (as in figure 1 ), 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 links.
• the decorative article 1 could have fewer than ten links 2 without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the links 2 are of substantially elliptical section extending along an axis A1 of curved alignment in order to obtain the appearance of a perfect closed loop in the nested position of the figure 1 .
• links 2 could have a rectilinear alignment axis A1 or more generally a different geometry without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the links 2 mainly comprise a shoulder 2A - counterbore 2B assembly, blind recesses 3, 4 and at least one through hole 2C, 2D (two through holes 2C, 2D in the example of the figures 2 to 7 ).
• the shoulder 2A - counterbore 2B assembly of each link 2 is intended to form complementary interlocking surfaces with another link 2 on either side of a link 2 along the alignment axis A1.
• the edge formed by the counterbore 2B of a first link 2 is intended to cooperate with the shoulder 2A of a second link 2 as, for example, illustrated in figure 3 in order to guide the relative movement between the first and second links 2.
• the shoulder 2A - counterbore 2B assembly of each link 2 is not essential to the invention but is preferred because it allows the fixing device 5 to be kept hidden even with the predetermined coupling clearance provided between the links 2 as will be explained below.
• the counterbore 2B is extended along the alignment axis A1 by a first blind recess 3.
• the first blind recess 3 comprises a recess 3A forming a rim 3B.
• the first blind recess 3 is intended to receive a first part of an internal flange 6 of the fixing device 5 when the latter is arranged on the alignment axis A1 in the coupling position.
• the bottom of the first blind recess 3 is formed by a wall 2E common with the bottom of the second blind recess 4 along the alignment axis A1.
• the second blind recess 4 comprises a recess 4A forming a rim 4B.
• the second blind recess 4 is intended to receive a second part of an internal flange 6 of the fixing device 5 when the latter is arranged on the alignment axis A1 in the coupling position.
• each link 2 comprises at least one through hole 2C, 2D intended to receive an elastic element 7 as will be better explained below.
• the counterbore 2B is extended along the axis A2, preferably parallel to the alignment axis A1, by a first through hole 2C, and, along the axis A3, preferably parallel to the alignment axis A1, by a second through hole 2D.
• the first through hole 2C communicates with the blind recesses 3, 4 while the second through hole 2D does not need to communicate with the blind recesses 3, 4 as will be better explained below.
• blind recesses 3, 4 of a link 2 are arranged between the two through holes 2C, 2D.
• the counterbore 2B communicates with the through holes 2C, 2D and the blind recess 3.
• the decorative article 1 comprises a fixing device 5 intended to allow the decorative article 1 to pass elastically in a reliable manner between a nested position illustrated in figure 1 and a variety of enlarged positions such as, for example, to attach to a user's limb, and vice versa in a completely reversible manner.
• the fixing device 5 mainly comprises an internal flange 6 and at least one elastic element 7 (two in the examples of figures 2 to 7 ).
• each internal flange 6 is arranged between each pair of adjacent links 2 to couple each pair of links 2 to each other with a predetermined clearance. More precisely, in particular in the example visible in the Figure 5 , each internal flange 6 may comprise a cylindrical body 6A against which the pair of adjacent links 2 slides according to the predetermined clearance and each end of which comprises a collar 6B, 6C making it possible to attach the adjacent links 2 of the pair relative to each other.
• the cylindrical body 6A is of discoidal section and the collars 6B, 6C of discoidal section of larger diameter than that of the cylindrical body 6A.
• Each internal flange 6 is therefore a very simple part substantially in the form of a mounted rivet, that is to say a rivet after riveting, which allows high reliability of guidance and limitation of movements between its two associated adjacent links 2.
• the internal flanges 6 are mostly or all identical in order to lower the manufacturing cost and limit the number of parts to be stored separately.
• the internal flanges 6 are preferably formed from a precious metal in order to form a high-end decorative article 1.
• a precious metal can, for example, be gold, silver, platinum or one of their alloys.
• a less noble material resistant in particular to sweating and mechanical stresses could be used such as stainless steel or a ceramic such as, for example, zirconia or alumina.
• Said at least one elastic element 7 of the fixing device 5 is mounted under stress inside the links 2 to elastically maintain the links 2 nested in each other, that is to say the elastic relaxation of said at least one elastic element 7 tends to bring the links 2 together so as to press them against each other and maintain the nested position, called the base position, of the decorative article 1.
• said at least one elastic element 7 of the fixing device 5 makes it possible to maintain each internal flange 6 in the coupling position of each pair of links 2 adjacent to each other as notably visible in the figure 3 .
• each elastic element 7 can be formed from a gold-nickel alloy in order to provide a very constant elastic coefficient also based on precious metal. Of course, other materials offering equivalent elastic characteristics can be used such as a cobalt-based alloy like Nivaflex.
• said at least one elastic element 7 is a helical spring, sometimes called a coil spring.
• said at least one elastic element 7 could be of a different shape such as a leaf spring or “Belleville” washers.
• the second elastic element (not shown) is received in the second through hole 2D to elastically hold the links 2 nested in a balanced manner with the other elastic element 7 received in the first through hole 2C.
• a first step is intended to take a first link 2.
• a second step is intended to mount a first end, i.e. the first collar 6B, of an internal flange 6 in the first link 2, i.e. in the first through hole 2C along the axis A2.
• a third step is intended to take a second link 2.
• a fourth step is intended to mount the second end, i.e. the second collar 6C, of the internal flange 6 in the second link 2, i.e. in the first through hole 2C along the axis A2.
• a fifth step is intended to lock the flange 6 in the coupling position between the first and second links 2 by passing said at least one elastic element 7 into the through holes 2C of the first and second links 2 as illustrated in figure 3 .
• a 2F ledge (visible at the figure 6 ) makes it possible to limit the sinking of the first collar 6B of the internal flange 6 into the first through hole 2C of the first link 2 so that the first collar 6B is aligned facing the second recess 4 and in particular its counterbore 4A. This position is maintained and the second link 2 is approached so as to make the second collar 6C of the internal flange 6 enter the first through hole 2C of the second link 2 until the first and second links 2 are fully fitted together as illustrated in figure 6 .
• the internal flange 6 is then translated from the A2 axis to the alignment axis A1 as shown in figure 7 , called the coupling position, that is to say that the first collar 6B is housed in the second blind recess 4 of the first link 2 and the second collar 6C is housed in the first blind recess 3 of the second link 2.
• the decorative article 1 is easily repairable (exchange of a damaged link) or modifiable (addition, removal or exchange of one or more links) by the simplicity of the assembly method according to the invention.
• the decorative article 1 thus obtained is of very good quality and compatible with a luxury product. It is, for example, possibly made of metal (or ceramic) and very resistant to contact with the skin. It can, advantageously according to the invention, pass into an enlarged position in which the links 2 are elastically spaced apart from each other to pass it around a joint to a limb, such as a wrist, an ankle, a finger, a toe or a neck, at which the decorative article 1 returns to its nested position, known as the basic position, (insofar as an object in the hollow of the closed loop is not larger than that of the nested position) to attach itself to the user's limb, and vice versa in a completely reversible manner.
• a limb such as a wrist, an ankle, a finger, a toe or a neck
• the links 2 form a closed loop of a predetermined shape whose aesthetics are advantageous such as, for example, without visible mechanism, and reproducible after each passage in an enlarged position.
• the closed loop can, for example, be of a shape between substantially annular and substantially toric without being limited thereto.
• the fixing device 5 allows a maximum predetermined coupling movement between each pair of links 2 between the nested position, called the basic position, and an enlarged position, which makes it possible to program, that is to say to guide and limit, in advance the movement of the links 2 between them and thus make the decorative article 1 mechanically robust. It is therefore understood that the decorative article 1 comprises a large number of enlarged positions between a minimum enlarged coupling position in which only one pair of links 2 is moved and a maximum enlarged coupling position in which all the pairs of links 2 are moved according to their respective maximum predetermined coupling movement.
• the depth of the two blind recesses 3, 4 along the alignment axis is preferably greater than the length of the internal flange 6 in order to couple each pair of links 2 relative to each other with said predetermined clearance.
• the maximum predetermined coupling clearance between each pair of links 2 is adjusted by the respective depths (dimension along the alignment axis A1) of the blind recesses 3, 4 in which the internal flange 6 is received in the so-called coupling position.
• each link 2 may be identical or not, that internal flanges 6 may be identical or not, or that a collar 6B, 6C of an internal flange 6 may be mounted with a clearance or not (tightly adjusted or with uncertain clearance) between its rim 3B, 4B and the bottom of the blind recess 3, 4.
• a first collar 6B of the internal flange 6 could be adjusted with a positive (small) clearance for easy interlocking between the rim 4B and the bottom of a second blind recess 4 of a first link 2
• a second collar 6C of the internal flange 6 could be adjusted with a positive (large) clearance between the rim 3B and the bottom of a first blind recess 3 of a second link determining the maximum coupling clearance between the pair of links 2 and allowing very easy interlocking between the rim 3B and the bottom of a first blind recess 3 of a second link 2 (facing the second blind recess 4 of the first link 2).
• the maximum coupling clearance between each pair of links 2 does not have necessarily to be identical for the whole of the decorative article 1, that is to say some could have greater maximum coupling travels than others.
• the fixing device 5 thanks to said at least one elastic element 7, not only makes it possible to elastically return to the nested position (insofar as an object in the hollow of the closed loop is not of dimensions greater than that of the nested position), but also to make the movements of the links 2 more reliable by elastically maintaining the position of each internal flange 6 in the coupling position of each pair of links 2 adjacent to each other.
• each flange 6 could be of different geometry.
• the body 6A and/or the collars 6B, 6C could be prismatic (straight or oblique), pyramidal (straight or oblique, truncated or not) or conical (straight or oblique, truncated or not) and not cylindrical, or of elliptical or polygonal section without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the decorative article 1 may of course include reversible or non-reversible closing elements to attach the two ends of the decorative article 1.
• the two end links 2 may be fixed against each other (welding, soldering, gluing, fitting, etc.) or be attached reversibly by the elastic elements 7 (carabiner - loop assembly, screw - tapping assembly, etc.) or by the blind recesses 3, 4 (additional flange with bistable retaining elements, etc.).
• the end links 2 may be different from the other links 2 of the decorative article 1 and form said reversible or non-reversible closing elements, i.e. a clasp known per se.
• each internal flange 6 could be mounted in the first through hole 2C after having fitted two links 2 to slide it opposite the blind recesses 3, 4 to then translate it from the axis A2 towards the alignment axis A1 in the blind recesses 3, 4 to finally adjust the elastic element 7 in the first through hole 2C of the two links 2 in order to elastically hold the links 2 fitted into each other and hold the internal flange 6 in the coupling position of its pair of adjacent links 2.

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Citations (3)

• 2025
  • 2025-01-29 EP EP25154829.3A patent/EP4609746A1/de active Pending

Patent Citations (3)

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