FOLDING CLASP

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding clasp for a bracelet, comprising a buckle that can be opened up and is provided with a main unfolding strip surrounded by two pivoting fastening shafts (with hinges), characterized in that said main unfolding strip has a frame, the inner profile of which defines an opening for removably housing a removable insert.

Claims

1. A fastener for a bracelet, the fastener comprising a folding clasp, the folding clasp comprising: a main folding blade; and two pivoting attachment pins surrounding said main folding blade; wherein said main folding blade comprises a frame whose internal profile delimits an opening shaped to accommodate and removably retain an insert.

2. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the opening comprises at least two locking elements arranged to cooperate with corresponding elements on the outer profile of the insert.

3. The fastener according to claim 2, the locking elements being constituted by lateral notches adapted to accommodate corresponding stops provided on the outer profile of the insert.

4. The fastener according to claim 3, the locking elements comprising ball pawls, spring balls or magnets.

5. The fastener according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the frame has a substantially oblong shape.

6. An assembly for a strap comprising: a fastener comprising a folding clasp provided with a main folding blade surrounded by two pivoting attachment pins, said main folding blade comprising a frame whose internal profile defines an opening of a shape adapted to removably receive and retain an insert; and an insert having a lateral outer profile cooperating with said opening of the frame in order to retain the insert.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the frame comprises, on its inner profile, at least two locking elements cooperating with corresponding elements on the outer profile of the insert.

8. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the main folding blade is of a flared U-shape, the insert being insertable through the opening of said U shape under the lower face of the fastener.

9. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the insert comprises at least two attachment stops arranged on the lateral profile of the insert.

10. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the insert (20) is a sensor, or an accelerometer, or a vibrator.

11. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the insert is adapted to exchange data with an external device.

12. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the long and short folding blades are provided with at least one closure contact adapted to cooperate with a closure detector of the insert to detect in the insert a closed position of the fastener.

13. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the frame is provided with a control button adapted to cooperate with a portion of the insert to control a function of the insert by acting on the button.

14. A removeable insert for the bracelet assembly according to claim 6, comprising a sensor or an accelerometer, or a vibrator, and at least two locking elements on the lateral profile of the insert to removably fix the insert in a clasp.

15. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the strap is a watch strap.

16. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the insert is a biometric sensor.

17. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a biometric sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] All the details relative to the conception of embodiments are given in the following description, supplemented by the single drawing, presented solely for the purpose of providing non-limiting examples, and in which: FIG. 1 presents a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a folding clasp according to the invention, before introduction of an insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a clasp according to an embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, the clasp comprises a substantially elongated and arched main blade 2, forming a substantially flared inverted U. On a first side of the main blade 2, a long folding blade 3 is connected to the main blade 2 by a hinge 11. Similarly, on the other side of the main blade 2, a short folding blade 4 is connected to the main blade 2, also by a hinge 11. The respective lengths of the folding blades 3 and 4 may vary according to the embodiments and the dimensions of the clasp. The blades of the clasp are arranged to move between a closed position and an open position. In the first of these positions, at least one of the blades other than the main folding blade is superimposed at least partially against the main folding blade. This mode allows the closing of the bracelet substantially adjusted on the wrist of the user. In the open position, the blades are pivoted and deployed to enlarge the circumference of the bracelet.

[0031] In the case where the clasp is used with a wristwatch with a flexible bracelet such as a leather strap, on one side of the clasp, the shank 15 allows attachment to the wristband of the watch. On the other side, the fastening finger 14 can be inserted into one of the holes of the bracelet.

[0032] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, a clasp push-button 13 provided on the long folding blade 3 at the interface with the cover 12 makes it possible to unlock the folding clasp to switch from the closed mode to the deployed mode.

[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the long 3 and short folding blades 4 are provided with closure contacts 6 adapted to cooperate with a loop closure detector 25 provided on the insert. In the illustrated example, the closure detector 25 is disposed on the outer profile of the insert. When the long 3 and short 4 folding blades are in the closed position, the contacts 6 of these blades cooperate with the detector 25, indicating the closed position of the folding clasp. The insert 20 receives the corresponding pulse, and thus has data for implementing (or not) certain functions, according to the embodiments and the context of use.

[0034] Also as shown in FIG. 1, the main folding blade 2 comprises a frame 8 whose inner profile 9 defines an opening 10 in which an insert 20 can be housed, preferably removably. Locking elements 7, for example fixing notches 7, are provided in the internal profile 9 of the frame. These notches 7 allow to properly position the insert 20 and to lock it in place by means of corresponding elements, for example fixing stops 21 provided on the outer profile 24 of the insert 20. The stops 21 cooperate with the notches 7 to hold the insert 20 fixed to the frame. To ensure that the insert is held in place, the notches 7 and/or the stops 21 may be provided with fastening means such as ball pawls, spring balls, magnets, or the like. The insert can be fixed by forcing the stops into the notches, and detached from the frame by pushing it from above. When the clasp is worn and resting against the wrist, the insert cannot be removed.

[0035] The position of the bearing abutments 21 and notches 7 is provided to allow adjustment of the distance between the inner face of the insert and the skin of the user in the fastener's closed mode, for optimal operation of the sensor. Depending on the dimensions and shapes of the insert 20 and the frame 8, the assembly for the strap may be configured such that the bottom plane of the mounted insert is substantially aligned with the base of the frame, or that the bottom plane of the insert extends under the frame.

[0036] In the example illustrated, the internal profile 9 of the frame 8 and the external profile 24 of the insert 20 are of substantially oblong corresponding shapes with respective dimensions allowing easy insertion and removal of the insert 20 into the opening 10.

[0037] A control button 5, provided on the frame 8, is arranged to collaborate with a portion 22 of the insert 20, for example with an interface pad 22. This control button 5 is actuated to implement one or more functions of the insert by acting on the pad, for example in order to start a biometric reading or a measurement with a sensor, or a data transmission. It is possible to provide a control button on each side of the frame, to trigger two separate functions of the insert. A return spring (not shown in the drawing) makes it possible to push each pusher towards the outside.

[0038] The insert 20 is preferably an electronic module, a sensor, or a vibrating element. A user interface 23 is preferably provided on the user side. According to an advantageous embodiment, the insert 20 is a biometric sensor. In this case, the user interface 23 is a biometric interface, provided under the insert, so as to be in the immediate vicinity of the user's skin when the bracelet is in place and the clasp in the closed position. This biometric interface allows the biometric sensor to implement its specific functions, such as functions for recognition tissue or of areas of the skin.

[0039] The insert preferably comprises a connector (not shown), such as for example a USB connector or the like, to facilitate linking with an external element such as a computer or a tablet, for example to perform an update or a customization of the parameters and/or to perform an electrical recharge. Thanks to the clasp of the invention, an insert can be quickly and easily removed from its inserted position in the clasp to allow to perform such a connection with an external device. Once the update is completed, the insert is put back in place in the clasp.

[0040] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have just been described and that various different embodiments may be envisaged by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, by modifying the dimensions of the frame 8 and/or its internal profile 9, it is possible to design a bracelet assembly whose dimensions and shapes may differ from the exemplary embodiment illustrated.

REFERENCE NUMBER USED IN THE DRAWINGS

[0041] 1 Folding clasp [0042] 2 Main Folding Blade [0043] 3 Long Folding Blade [0044] 4 Short Folding Blade [0045] 5 Control Button [0046] 6 Closure Contacts of the Folding Clasp [0047] 7 Locking elements, e.g. Fixing Notches [0048] 8 Frame [0049] 9 Internal Profile of the Frame [0050] 10 Opening [0051] 11 Hinges [0052] 12 Cover [0053] 13 Clasp Pushbutton [0054] 14 Attachment Finger [0055] 15 Wriststrap [0056] 20 Removable Insert [0057] 21 Fixing Stops [0058] 22 Interface Pad [0059] 23 User Interface [0060] 24 Lateral profile of the Insert [0061] 25 Closure Detector