Abstract
Connecting device allowing a releasable connection between a bracelet strap and a folding clasp including at least two articulated arms and two fastening portions capable of reversibly cooperating with each other. The connecting device includes a first connecting piece capable of being secured to the free end of the bracelet strap and a second connecting piece capable of being mounted on the fastening portion. The first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are configured to reversibly cooperate with each other between a first, open position allowing separation of the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece and a second, closed position in which the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece are locked together.
Claims
1. A connecting device (40) allowing a releasable connection between a bracelet strap (20) and a folding clasp (30) comprising at least two articulated arms (32) and two fastening portions (31) capable of reversibly cooperating with each other, the connecting device (40) comprising a first connecting piece (41) capable of being secured to the free end of the bracelet strap (20) and a second connecting piece (42) capable of being mounted on the fastening portion (31), characterized in that said first connecting piece (41) and said second connecting piece (42) are configured to reversibly cooperate with each other between a first, open position allowing separation of the first connecting piece (41) and the second connecting piece (42) and a second, closed position in which said first connecting piece (41) and said second connecting piece (42) are locked together.
2-19. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures, in which:
[0035] FIG. 1 illustrates, in perspective, one half of a wristwatch equipped with the connecting device as claimed in the present invention, seen from the rear face, in the closed position of the connecting device,
[0036] FIG. 2 shows one half of the wristwatch of FIG. 1, seen from above, in the direction II in FIG. 1,
[0037] FIG. 3 shows one half of the wristwatch of FIG. 1, seen from the side, in the direction III in FIG. 2,
[0038] FIG. 4 corresponds to the left-hand portion of FIG. 3, shown in an enlarged form,
[0039] FIG. 5 shows the portion of the half of the wristwatch in FIG. 4 in perspective, from the side and from above, in the direction V in FIG. 4,
[0040] FIG. 6 shows the view in longitudinal section of the portion of the half of the wristwatch in FIGS. 4 and 5 in the direction VI-VI in FIG. 5,
[0041] FIG. 7 to 10 show the same view as FIG. 6 in the case of the intermediate positions and the open position of the connecting device according to the invention, and
[0042] FIG. 11 illustrates, in perspective, one half of an equipped wristwatch in FIG. 1, seen from the front face, in the open position of the connecting device and resulting from separation of the first connecting piece and the second connecting piece.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION
[0043] Customarily, in bracelets for wristwatches, one of the two straps of the bracelet comprises a passage or hole at its free end to be coupled to the clasp by a fastening system. A rod (particularly a spring bar) traverses this hole (passage) and is thus mounted in one end of the clasp. Mounting and detachment of each strap of the bracelet requires a tool, such as a screwdriver or a needle.
[0044] The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 11 shows a connecting device 40 as claimed in the invention allowing the mounting and dismounting of a bracelet strap 20 connected (on the left) to a fastening portion 31 of a folding clasp 30.
[0045] As may be seen in FIG. 1, the bracelet strap 20 is connected (on the left) to the fastening portion 31 of the folding clasp 30, the other, free end (on the right) of the bracelet strap 20 being designed to be connected to a watch case. The reversible mechanical link between the bracelet strap 20 and the fastening portion 31 is thus provided by the connecting device 40 that is the subject of the present invention. This FIG. 1 also shows an articulated arm 32 of the folding clasp 30, also attached to the fastening portion 31 of the folding clasp 30, the articulated arm 32 being designed to cooperate with the other strap of the bracelet (not shown).
[0046] The elements described above are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, which further show the first connecting piece 41 and the second connecting piece 42 of the connecting device 40.
[0047] When its components are mounted together, the first connecting piece 41 of the connecting device 40 is in the form of two mutually parallel rods 41a, 41b connected at each end via a connecting plate 41c. The rod 41b (on the right in FIGS. 6 and 7) can be removed, is generally constituted by a spring bar, and forms a fastening portion 41b that cooperates with the free end (on the left in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the bracelet strap 20 for permanent mounting with the bracelet strap 20 (detachment using a tool still being possible in order to detach the rod 41b from the connecting piece 41, by disengagement of the ends of the rod 41b outside an associated housing present in each connecting plate 41c, thereby releasing the strap of the bracelet).
[0048] In particular, the fastening portion 41b is a rod of circular cross section housed in the transverse passage 21 formed in the free end (on the left in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the bracelet strap 20. This configuration allows a pivoting movement between the fastening portion 41b and bracelet strap 20. Generally, in the present text, the adjective longitudinal denotes a direction in which the bracelet strap, placed flat, extends, and the adjective transverse corresponds to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, corresponding to the width of the bracelet strap.
[0049] The rod 41a (on the left in FIGS. 6 and 7) forms a first locking portion 41a of the connecting device 40 and is preferably mounted permanently via its ends on the two connecting plates 41c. This first locking portion 41a reversibly cooperates with the second connecting piece 42 of the connecting device 40, as will be described below.
[0050] As may be seen in FIGS. 6 to 10, the first locking portion 41a is a cylindrical rod that has a cross section (or guiding curve) of globally elongate or oblong form. More precisely, as may be seen in FIGS. 6 to 10, this first locking portion 41a has, in cross section, a form delimited by two convex circular arcs and by two mutually parallel rectilinear sections each delimiting a flat along this rod. Each rectilinear section connects an end of one of the circular arcs to an end of the other of the circular arcs. Furthermore, it is noted that the two rectilinear sections are parallel to each other, one of the rectilinear sections being positioned between the other of the rectilinear sections and the fastening portion 41b. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, the distance e1 separating the two rectilinear sections (and which corresponds to the smallest thickness of the first locking portion 41a) is shorter than the distance E1 separating the two circular arc-shape sections (and which corresponds to the greatest thickness of the first locking portion 41a).
[0051] It is therefore understood that the fastening portion 41b and the first locking portion 41a of the first connecting piece 41 are mutually parallel rods connected to each other via their ends by means of fastening plates 41c.
[0052] The second connecting piece 42 of the connecting device 40 is in the form of a connecting tongue extending in a transverse direction of the folding clasp 30 and of the bracelet strap 20. The second connecting piece 42 of the connecting device 40 has an external face 421, which is continuously solid and practically flat, designed to be positioned in an opposite direction relative to the bracelet wearer's wrist and an internal face 422 designed to face the bracelet wearer's wrist.
[0053] The second connecting piece 42 has a connection portion 42a (on the left in FIGS. 6 and 7) and a second locking portion 42b (on the right in FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0054] In particular, the connection portion 42a forms a tubular portion, with a cross section in the form of a loop, which delimits a transverse passage 42a1 receiving, with the possibility of pivoting, a rod 31a of circular cross section of the fastening portion 31 of the folding clasp 30 (on the left in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the bracelet strap 20. This configuration allows a pivoting movement between the fastening portion 31 of the folding clasp 30 and the second connecting piece 42 about the rod 31a.
[0055] The second locking portion 42b of the second connecting piece 42 is also a tubular portion extending in a transverse direction of the folding clasp 30 and of the bracelet strap 20, and it is not only open at its two ends but also along the transverse direction, in the direction of the connection portion 42a via an opening 42c. In this way, said opening 42c will allow, in a first, open position shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the exit of the first locking portion 41a outside of the second connecting piece 42. In particular, this tubular portion forms a transverse housing 42b1 of circular cross section, with a diameter equal to or slightly greater than the distance E1 separating the two circular arc-shape sections of the first locking portion 41a. In order to ensure effective locking in the closed position of the connecting device 40, said opening 42c has a width that is less than the distance E1 separating the two circular arc-shape sections of the first locking portion 41a, and greater than the distance e1 separating the two rectilinear sections of the first locking portion 41a.
[0056] A description will now be given, in connection with FIGS. 6 to 10, of the maneuver for releasing the first connecting piece 41 and the second connecting piece 42.
[0057] During a first pivoting movement (arrow A in FIG. 7), the second connecting piece 42 of the connecting device 40 is turned manually about the rod 31a of the fastening portion 31 of the folding clasp 30 in a first direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 7). Prior to this maneuver, it should be pointed out (see FIG. 3) that the hook formed by the second locking portion 42b is closed by the articulated arm 32 of the folding clasp 30, this articulated arm 32 facing the internal face 422 of the second connecting piece 42. After this maneuver, the opening 42c is spaced apart from the articulated arm 32 of the folding clasp 30, the hook formed by the second locking portion 42b then being open at the level of the internal face 422 of the second connecting piece 42.
[0058] In this intermediate position, which can be seen in FIG. 7, the first locking portion 41a is still arranged in the transverse housing 42b1, without the possibility of existing via the opening 42c because one of the two rectilinear sections of the first locking portion 41a is facing the opening 42c.
[0059] During a second pivoting movement (arrow B in FIG. 8), the first connecting piece 41 of the connecting device 40 is turned manually about the first locking portion 41a in a second direction (clockwise in FIG. 8), opposite to the first direction used for the first pivoting movement. After this maneuver, the hook formed by the second locking portion 42b is still open and the first locking portion 41a is still arranged in the transverse housing 42b1 with, this time, one of the two circular arcs of the first locking portion 41a facing the opening 42c.
[0060] Then, by means of a first translational movement (arrow C in FIG. 9, downward), the first locking portion 41a is made to exit outside the transverse housing 42b1. The first locking portion 41a then abuts against the connection portion 42a.
[0061] During a second translational movement (arrow D in FIG. 10, from left to right), the first locking portion 41a is caused to exit outside the second connecting piece 42, via the opening 42c of the transverse housing 42b1, which extends via a transverse cavity 42b2 opening out on the internal face 422 with a dimension greater than E1, which makes it possible to separate the first connecting piece 41 from the second connecting piece 42 and hence to separate the folding clasp 30 of the bracelet strap 20.
[0062] The operations described above are implemented in reverse order in order to mount the bracelet strap 20 on the fastening portion 31.
[0063] Thus, the first connecting piece 41 and the second connecting piece 42 are movable relative to each other. This relative movement is achieved by means of a simple manipulation without a tool, preferably using the hand, particularly by performing a relative pivoting between the first connecting piece 41 held in one hand and the second connecting piece 42 held in the other hand.
[0064] The folding clasp 30 illustrated partially in FIGS. 1 to 11 comprises two arms articulated on each other by one of their ends. Naturally, the invention also applies to a folding clasp that comprises three parts (three arms) articulated relative to each other.
[0065] On the other side of the folding clasp 30, there is a further fastening portion (not shown) of the folding clasp 30, which is connected to the other bracelet strap (not shown) by means of a conventional fastening system as described above or, alternately, by a connecting device as claimed in the invention as described above.
[0066] At their end that is to be connected to the watch case, the bracelet straps comprise a fastening system, particularly a toolless quick-fastening system.
REFERENCE NUMBERS USED IN THE FIGURES
[0067] 20 Bracelet strap [0068] 21 Transverse passage [0069] 30 Folding clasp or bracelet loop [0070] 31 Fastening portion [0071] 31a Rod of circular cross section [0072] 32 Articulated arm [0073] 40 Connecting device [0074] 41 First connecting piece [0075] 41a First locking portion (rod of oblong cross section) [0076] 41b Fastening portion (rod of circular cross section) [0077] 41c Connecting plate [0078] 42 Second connecting piece [0079] 42a Connection portion (loop) [0080] 42a1 Transverse passage [0081] 42b Second locking portion (hook) [0082] 42b1 Transverse housing (of circular cross section) [0083] 42b2 Transverse cavity [0084] 42c Opening [0085] 421 External face [0086] 422 Internal face [0087] A Arrow (first pivoting movement) [0088] B Arrow (second pivoting movement) [0089] C Arrow (first translational movement) [0090] D Arrow (second translational movement) [0091] e1 Smaller thickness of the first locking portion 41a [0092] E1 Greater thickness of the first locking portion 41a
