WO2016016832A2

WO2016016832A2 - Wrist watch

Info

Publication number: WO2016016832A2
Application number: PCT/IB2015/055757
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tarcisio TASSO
Original assignee: Zero SA
Current assignee: Zero SA
Priority date: 2014-07-30
Filing date: 2015-07-30
Publication date: 2016-02-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-01-30
Also published as: WO2016016832A3

Abstract

The wrist watch (1) comprises: a bracelet element (2) having a first extremity (3) and a second extremity (4); a case (5) having an internal housing able to contain the mechanism and the dial of the watch; with the case comprising first and second removable attachment means (6a, 6b), respectively, of the first extremity (3) and the second extremity (4), wherein at least one of the first and the second removable attachment means (6a, 6b) has a housing seat (7) able to house in a removable manner the first extremity (3) or the second extremity (4).

Description

WRIST WATCH

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a watch, particularly a wrist watch.

Background Art

Generally, a watch is formed by a bearing case within which are contained a working mechanism and a dial with hands to indicate the hours and minutes. Schematically, the case can be divided into three parts: an upper transparent part called "crystal", a central body called "case middle" and a lower part called "back".

In wrist watches the case is connected to a strap that acts as a bracelet.

There are several known types of connection between the strap and the case.

The most widely type has the cuff extremities hinged to the case.

Generally the case has extensions or protrusions with holes that define a seat wherein the cuff extremity is accommodated.

Usually, the latter has a through opening.

The hinging may take place through the aid of a pin insertable into the through opening and intended to fit in the holes of the protrusions.

In this way the cuff extremity is constrained to the case and is free to rotate around the pin itself.

Furthermore, there are straps with the extremities having integrated pins and insertable into the holes of the case protrusions.

Similar fixing systems are also known which provide for the housing of the strap extremities in special shaped seats on the case, with the aid of pins that interlock the strap, without any possibility of rotation.

Straps are also known made of single body pieces, generally in soft plastic material which, in correspondence to the median portion, have a deformable seat in which the case is accommodated directly.

In this type of watches, the case, with the mechanism, the dial, etc., is incorporated by the strap itself that appears to be interchangeable.

The known systems mentioned above have some drawbacks.

For watches hinged or fixed by means of pins, the drawback is related to the difficult replacement of the strap. In this case, the pin has to be removed to free the extremity of the strap from the seat and this is possible through complicated and precise manual operations, using special tools, usually available to retailers or skilled technicians.

In view of all this, the interchangeability of these straps is not preferred and is therefore hampered the customization of the watch by the user.

As regards the straps made of single body pieces, these have a drawback related to the seat intended to house the watch case. This, in fact, tends to deform over time and is no longer able to retain the case.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a watch whose strap can be replaced with simplicity and ease of execution, thus ensuring a time-lasting fixing of the strap to the case.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watch which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable solution.

The objects mentioned above are achieved by the present wrist watch having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better evident from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a wrist watch, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view from below of the watch according to the invention in the open position;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view from above of the watch according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a view of a detail of the watch according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such illustrations, reference number 1 globally indicates a wrist watch.

The watch 1 comprises at least a bracelet element 2, having a first extremity 3 and a second extremity 4, and at least a case 5, having an internal housing able to contain the mechanism and the dial of watch 1.

The case 5 comprises first and second removable attachment means 6a, 6b of the first extremity 3 and the second extremity 4, respectively.

With reference to the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the case 5 comprises first removable attachment means 6a and second removable attachment means 6b having respectively a first housing seat 7a able to accommodate in a removable manner the first extremity 3 and a second housing seat 7b able to accommodate in a removable manner the second extremity 4.

These seats are intended to receive the first and the second extremity 3 and 4 respectively, so as to maintain the bracelet element 2 in a curved position.

The bracelet element 2 is movable between an open position, wherein at least one of the first extremity 3 and the second extremity 4 is free, and a closed position, wherein the first extremity 3 and the second extremity 4 are fitted to measure in the first or second housing seat 7a and 7b, respectively.

At least one of the first and second attachment means 6a and 6b comprises at least two protruding elements 8 which protrude from the case substantially curved and able to define the respective housing seat 7a and 7b.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the protruding elements 8 are curved and opposing extensions of the case 5 so as to form a cavity inside which it is possible to accommodate the respective extremities 3 and 4.

The protruding elements 8 are shaped in such a way as to make the respective housing seats 7a and 7b accessible from special lateral openings.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the first extremity 3 is insertable laterally and to measure within the respective housing seat 7a.

More particularly, the insertion of the first extremity 3 takes place by keeping the case 5 fixed, by inserting the first extremity 3 in a lateral opening of the first attachment means 6a and by sliding the extremity itself as far as the first housing seat 7a is occupied to measure.

Similarly, the insertion of the second extremity 4 takes place by keeping the case 5 fixed, by inserting the second extremity 4 in a lateral opening of the second attachment means 6b and by sliding the extremity itself as far as the second housing seat 7b is occupied to measure. In both cases, the particular form that the protruding elements 8 give to the housing seats 7a and 7b allows to retain the bracelet element 2 to the case 5. To disengage the first extremity 3 and the second extremity 4 from the respective housing seats 7a and 7b simple manual operations are sufficient able to force the output of the extremities 3 and 4 from the housing seats 7a and 7b. The bracelet element 2 comprises at least a first through opening 9a arranged in the proximity of the first extremity 3.

Advantageously, the first through opening 9a is formed at half width of the bracelet element 2.

In the present embodiment the first through opening 9a has a substantially rectangular shape, but embodiments providing alternative forms cannot be ruled out.

The bracelet element 2 also comprises at least a second through opening 9b arranged in the proximity of the second extremity 4.

Advantageously, the second through opening 9b is also formed at half width of the bracelet element 2.

In the present embodiment, the second through opening 9b is identical to the first through opening 9a, that is, it also has a substantially rectangular shape, but embodiments providing alternative forms cannot be ruled out.

Embodiments cannot be ruled out that provide a first and a second through opening 9a and 9b different to one another or arranged in alternate positions.

Embodiments cannot be ruled out that provide several openings along the same direction orthogonal to the maximum length of the bracelet.

At least one of the curved protruding elements 8 comprises an extension 10 at least partly engageable within the respective through openings 9a and 9b and able to retain the bracelet element 2 in the first or second seat 7a and 7b.

In the present embodiment, both the protruding elements 8 comprise a substantially curved extension 10.

This extends beyond the extremities of the protruding elements 8 and inserts in the respective through openings 9a and 9b so as to fasten the bracelet element 2. In this way the bracelet element 2 is further constrained to the case 5 and any lateral shifting movement of said bracelet element with respect to the case 5 is prevented.

At least one of the first extremity 3 and the second extremity 4 comprises an insertion element 11 able to be fitted to measure and in a removable manner in the first or second housing seat 7a and 7b.

The insertion element 11 has a substantially elongated shape.

More particularly, the insertion element 11 is substantially a semi-cylindrical protuberance, with its major axis substantially orthogonal to the maximum direction of the bracelet element 2.

Embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the insertion element 11 has different shapes and dimensions.

The semi-cylindrical protuberance of the insertion element 11, with the bracelet element 2 in the closed position, is facing towards the inside of the bracelet element 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the element bracelet is shaped so as to comprise a plurality of insertion elements 11 arranged in sequence to one another.

Advantageously, the insertion elements 11 are placed at the same distance from one another.

In particular, these are placed at such a distance to comprise at least one opening 9c between an insertion element 11 and the other.

The plurality of insertion elements 11 allows to shorten the length of the bracelet element 2 without any prejudice to its mode of use.

Moreover, during use, the bracelet element 2 so shaped allows air to flow among the cracks comprised between an insertion element 11 and the other, allowing a correct transpiration of the skin and preventing excessive sweating.

In the central part of the length of the bracelet element 2 are placed plate elements 12 able to give ergonomics to the bracelet element itself.

The bracelet element 2 also comprises a plurality of third through openings 9c arranged along the bracelet element 2 between the first and second through opening 9a and 9b.

The third openings 9c allow to adjust the length of the bracelet element 2 depending on the user's wrist. In particular, the user can shorten the length of the bracelet element 2 by cutting immediately downstream of one of the openings 9a, 9b or 9c, depending on the desired length. By so doing is redefined one of the first and second extremity 3 and 4 and the third opening 9c which remains close to the redefined extremity replaces the first or second opening 9a or 9b which was eliminated when cutting.

The case 5 is made of a substantially rigid material.

Advantageously, the substantially rigid material is a substantially rigid polymeric material, more particularly hard plastic material.

The bracelet element 2, on the other hand, is made of an elastically deformable material.

Advantageously, the elastically deformable material is composed of a polymeric material and, more particularly, of soft plastic material, e.g. rubber.

In the present embodiment, the bracelet element is entirely made of soft plastic, so as to be easy to cut in case one wish to adjust the length of the bracelet and comfortable to wear.

Embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the bracelet element 2 is partially made of soft plastic and partially of other materials, or entirely made of other materials.

The operation of the present invention is as follows.

In the closed configuration the insertion elements 11 of the extremities 3 and 4 are fitted to measure within the respective housing seats 7a and 7b, the curved conformation of the protruding elements 8 retains the bracelet element 2 to the case 5. The extensions 10 inserted into the openings 9a and 9b prevent further movements of the bracelet element 2 with respect to the case 5.

To move from the closed configuration to the open configuration one of the extremities 3 and 4 may be taken out from the respective housing seats 7a and 7b with simple manual operations.

It has in practice been found how the described invention achieves the intended objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the present watch allows to replace its strap with simplicity and ease of execution, by inserting or taking out one of the two extremities into/from the seats on the case. Furthermore, the seats are defined by special protruding elements shaped so as to ensure a long-lasting fixing of the strap to the case.

Claims

1) Wrist watch (1) comprising:

at least a bracelet element (2) having a first extremity (3) and a second extremity (4);

at least a case (5) having an internal housing able to contain the mechanism and the dial of said watch;

characterized in that said case comprises first and second removable attachment means (6a, 6b), respectively, of said first extremity (3) and said second extremity (4), wherein at least one of said first and second removable attachment means (6a, 6b) has at least a housing seat (7) able to house in a removable manner said first extremity (3) or said second extremity (4).

2) Watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said bracelet element (2) is movable between an open position, wherein at least one of said first extremity (3) and said second extremity (4) is free, and a closed position, wherein said first extremity (3) and said second extremity (4) are fitted to measure respectively in said housing seat (7).

3) Watch (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said first and second removable attachment means (6a, 6b) comprises at least two substantially curved and opposing protruding elements (8) from said case to define said housing seat (7).

4) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bracelet element (2) comprises at least a first through opening (9a) arranged in the proximity of said first extremity (3).

5) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bracelet element (2) comprises at least a second through opening (9b) arranged in the proximity of said second extremity (4).

6) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said curved protruding elements (8) comprises an extension (10) which can be at least in part engaged in said first or second through opening (9a, 9b) and able to retain said bracelet element (2) in said housing seat (7).

7) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bracelet element (2) comprises a plurality of third through openings (9c) arranged along said bracelet element (2) between said first and second opening (9a, 9b).

8) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said first extremity (3) and said second extremity (4) comprises an insertion element (11) able to be fitted to measure and in a removable manner in said housing seat (7).

9) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insertion element (11) has a substantially elongated shape.

10) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insertion element (11) is substantially a semi-cylindrical protuberance, with its major axis substantially orthogonal to the maximum direction of said bracelet element (2).

11) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said case (5) comprises a substantially rigid material.

12) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substantially rigid material comprises at least a substantially rigid polymeric material.

13) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said bracelet element (2) comprises at least a portion in an elastically deformable material.

14) Watch (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastically deformable material comprises at least an elastically deformable polymeric material.