Adjustable wristlet clasp

Abstract

A wristlet clasp (100), of the folding buckle type, including first and second blades (1, 2) hinged relative to each other, the first blade (1) further including locking means for holding the first and second blades (1, 2) in their closed position at its second end, and the second blade (2) carrying a member for fastening a first wristlet strand at its second end. The first and second blades are hinged together by movable blades (3, 4) by a first of their respective ends, the hinged blades being connected to the first and second blades via a first hinge (A1) and a second hinge (A2), the hinge (A1, A2) being angularly delimited by stops respectively formed on the first end of the first and second blades and on the second end of the movable blades so as to define two predefined wearing positions depending on the size of the wrist.

Claims

1. A wristlet clasp, of the folding buckle type, comprising: first and second blades hinged relative to each other, at a first of their respective ends, said first and second blades hinging between a closed position, called wearing position, and at least one open position, said first blade being configured to fasten to a first wristlet strand at its second end and being configured to lock said first and second blades in their closed position at its second end, and said second blade being configured to fasten to a second wristlet strand at its second end, wherein said first and second blades are hinged together by a pair of movable blades a first of their respective ends, and said moveable blades are connected to the first and second blades via a first hinge and a second hinge, and wherein said hinges are angularly delimited by stops respectively formed on the first end of the first and second blades and on a second end of the movable blades so as to define two predefined wearing positions depending on a size of a wrist.

2. The wristlet clasp according to claim 1, wherein the amplitude of an angular displacement of the hinges is comprised between 5° and 35°.

3. The wristlet clasp according to claim 2, wherein the movable blades have the same length.

4. The wristlet clasp according to claim 3, wherein the first ends of the first and second blades and the second ends of the moveable blades each have a notch, said ends being arranged to cooperate by interlocking at the notches.

5. The wristlet clasp according to claim 4, wherein free ends of the notches of the first and second blades have a semi-circular shape, and a bottom of the notch has a flat surface.

6. The wristlet clasp according to claim 4, wherein free ends of the notches of the movable blades have a rectilinear shape with a chamfer, and a bottom of the notch has a semi-circular surface.

7. The wristlet clasp according to claim 4, wherein the notches of the first and second blades are internal and the notches of the movable blades are external, or vice versa.

8. The wristlet clasp according to claim 1, wherein the blades are made of metal, metal alloy, composite material, or ceramic.

9. A wristwatch including a wristlet provided with the wristlet clasp according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly upon reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings given by way of non-limiting examples and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a general perspective view of a wristlet clasp according to the invention, illustrated in the open position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the clasp of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed perspective view of means for adjusting the curvature of the wristlet.

EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

(5) The clasp illustrated without limitation in the figures corresponds to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the clasp is of the folding buckle type and is intended to close a timepiece wristlet.

(6) As shown in the figures, the clasp 100 includes a first blade 1 hinged on a second blade 2. Each of the blades 1, 2 has an elongated shape in the longitudinal direction of the wristlet and slightly curved to better match the shape of the wrist of a wearer.

(7) The first blade 1 comprises two uprights 10 arranged in contact with each other at one of their ends, each having a cutout 11 such that they are not in contact with each other over the greater part of their length.

(8) Each of the uprights 10 carries an extension 12, close to the other end, extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the wristlet, to form a push-piece defining a control member allowing to unlock the clasp, as emerges from FIG. 1.

(9) The first blade 1 also comprises a cover 13 having an upper wall 14 bearing side walls 15, and a lower wall 16. The side walls 15 are provided with two orifices 17 allowing one end of a strip for fastening a first wristlet strand, in a conventional manner. The side walls 15 also comprise two recesses allowing the extensions 12 to project, and thus allowing the clasp 1 to be unlocked.

(10) The second blade 2 comprises two arms 20 connected by a transverse upright 21 in their central region. The arms 20 are extended by bent portions 22 defining a loop 3 for a second wristlet strand. The loop 3 has a first pin 7 and a second pin 31, both intended to be engaged in a different hole in the wristlet to define a first and a second anchor point for the wristlet strand to the clasp and thus keep it well aligned relative to the clasp.

(11) Moreover, the free end of the second blade 2 can carry a device for adjusting the useful length of the wristlet intended to be associated with the clasp 100.

(12) As can be seen in FIG. 1, the first and second blades 1, 2 are hinged together by means of a pair of movable blades 3, 4 by a first of their respective ends, the movable blades 3, 4 being connected to the first and second blades 1, 2 via a first hinge A1 and a second hinge A2.

(13) Advantageously, the hinges A1, A2 are angularly delimited by stops respectively formed on the first end of the first and second blades 1, 2 and on the second end of the mobiles 3, 4 so as to define two predefined wearing positions, namely a wearing position for small wrists and a wearing position for large wrists.

(14) Each of the hinges A1 and A2 is angularly delimited by stops 10a, 10b, 21a, 21b of the first and second blades 1, 2, cooperating with corresponding stops 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b of the movable blades 3, 4. These stops define the first and second positions of the movable blades 3, 4, and implicitly of the clasp, wherein the two blades both occupy the same position.

(15) The movable blades 3, 4 can thus occupy a first position adapted for small wrists and a second position adapted for large wrists, when the clasp is closed. Switching from one position to another occurs naturally when the watch is worn thanks to the stops.

(16) In order to be able to provide a clasp adapted to a large number of wrist morphologies, the amplitude of the angular displacement of the hinges A1, A2 is comprised, for example, between 5° and 35°. Such an amplitude of displacement allows to optimise comfort for the wearer according to the size of his wrist, too little or too much displacement would be detrimental to comfort.

(17) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first ends of the blades 1, 2 and the second ends of the blades 3, 4 each have a notch 23, 23′, 31, 41 so as to cooperate by interlocking at these notches. The notches 23, 23′ of the first and second blades 1, 2 are internal and the notches 31, 41 of the movable blades 3, 4 are external.

(18) The free ends of the notches 23, 23′ of the blades 1, 2 have a semi-circular shape, and the bottom of the notch 23, 23′ has a flat surface. The free ends of the notches 31, 41 of the movable blades 3, 4, forming the stops 30a, 30b, 40a, 40b, have a rectilinear shape with a chamfer 40c, and the bottom of the notch has a semi-circular surface.

(19) Thus, the cooperation between the bottom of the notches 23, 23′ and the free end of the notches 31, 41 form the stops, and the chamfer defines the amplitude of the angular displacement of the hinges A1, A2.

(20) It emerges from this description that the clasp according to the present invention comprises a second pair of blades 3, 4 capable of being moved to adjust the curvature of the clasp and of the wristlet. The construction and handling of this clasp are simple and allow the user to easily adjust the clasp when necessary.

(21) The foregoing description sets out to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular features which have just been described, such as for example the shapes specifically illustrated and described for the blades or else their mode of cooperation allowing to ensure the locking of the clasp.

(22) The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to their own needs and implementing a clasp, in particular for a timepiece, without departing from the scope of the present invention. It will be noted, for example, that the adaptation of the present teaching for the construction of a folding buckle with a structure different from that illustrated and described will not pose any particular difficulty for the person skilled in the art.