INTERCHANGEABLE BUCKLE DEVICE

Abstract

An interchangeable buckle device including a buckle provided with a bar around which a tongue is articulated, the device including an insert provided with a channel arranged to receive the bar, and a latch arranged to cooperate with the insert so as to close the channel, the latch being arranged to move from a locked position in which the bar is held in the channel to an open position in which the bar is free, the latch being held in its locked position by a resilient return.

Claims

1. An interchangeable buckle device comprising a buckle provided with a bar around which a tongue is articulated, the device comprising an insert provided with a channel arranged to receive the bar, and a latch arranged to cooperate with the insert so as to close the channel, the latch being arranged to slide from a locked position wherein the bar is held in the channel to an open position wherein the bar is free, the latch being held in its locked position by resilient return means.

2. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, characterised in that wherein the insert comprises a recess intended to receive the latch, the recess also acting as a stop when the latch is in the open position.

3. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a passage for the tongue.

4. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a beak arranged to close the channel and hold the bar in the channel, the beak having a passage for the tongue.

5. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 2, wherein the recess comprises, on internal side walls of the insert, guide grooves arranged to cooperate with pivot clicks integral with the latch.

6. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the insert has blind holes arranged to receive the resilient return means, the blind holes facing the latch.

7. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the latch comprises gripping means.

8. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the insert comprises stop means for limiting the travel of the latch.

9. The interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1, wherein the resilient return means include helical springs.

10. A watch comprising an interchangeable buckle device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0024] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which is given by way of example and is by no means limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention in the closed position;

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention in the open position;

[0028] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a cross-section of an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention in the closed position and in the open position respectively;

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention with the buckle released from the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an interchangeable buckle device according to the invention.

[0031] The interchangeable buckle device 1 is intended to attach and detach the end of a first bracelet strand to a watch buckle 3 fitted with a tongue 4 for attachment to a second bracelet strand.

[0032] Although only the example of a tongue buckle is described, such a device is also adaptable to stud buckles. A stud buckle is a buckle which resembles a tongue buckle but has no tongue, in which case a stud is used to secure the strand with which the tongue typically interacts.

[0033] The bracelet is fastened to the buckle by means of an interchangeable fastening device comprising a buckle 2 and a bar 3 around which a tongue 4 is articulated, the device comprising an insert 5 provided with a channel 50 arranged to receive the bar 3 by guiding it in the direction of its own axis (X). The axis of the bar is understood to refer to its own axis (X) of revolution or, if the body is not a perfect axisymmetric body, the axis along which the bar extends.

[0034] The device further comprises a latch 6 arranged to cooperate with the insert 5 so as to close off the channel 50. The latch 6 is arranged to move from a locked position in which the bar 3 is held in the channel 50 to an open position in which the bar 3 is free.

[0035] The latch 6 is held in its locked position by resilient return means 500, 510, a force opposing the return action of the springs enabling the latch to be moved to the open position, and thus constituting removable assembly means capable of making the buckle interchangeable.

[0036] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the channel 50 has a passage 55 for passing the tongue 4, an arrangement which allows the tongue 4 to pivot with the bar 3 when the device is in the locked position.

[0037] Thus, when the buckle system is assembled on a bracelet strand, the bar 3 is inserted into the channel 50 of the insert 5 and does not need to be modified.

[0038] The insert 5 comprises a recess 51 arranged to receive the latch 6, the latch moving from the locked position to the open position in the recess 51. The recess 51 is parallelepipedic in shape and has two inner side walls 52, 53, a rear wall 57 and a back. The recess 51 also opens into the channel 50 so that the latch 6 can hold the bar 3 in the channel 50 when the device is in the locked position.

[0039] The rear wall 57 comprises two blind holes 56 facing the latch 6 and arranged to receive the resilient return means, the resilient return means taking the form of helical springs 501, 502 and resting partially in the blind holes 56.

[0040] The internal side walls 52, 53 of the insert 5 have longitudinal guide grooves 54 arranged to cooperate with pivot clicks 62, 63 integral with the latch 6 and housed in the side walls of the latch 6. The length of the grooves makes it possible both to define the length of travel of the latch 6 and to hold it in the recess 51.

[0041] The recess 51 also acts as a stop when the latch 6 is in the open position. More specifically, the recess 51 has a shoulder 58 which forms a platform against which the latch 51 rests in part, the platform thus forming both a guide surface and a stop for the latch 6 when it is actuated.

[0042] The latch 6 has a first end comprising a beak 60 arranged to close the channel 50 and hold the bar 3 in the channel 50, and a second end resting against the platform of the shoulder 58. Advantageously, the beak 60 has a concave surface in order for its surface to complement the surface of the bar and limit contact points when the bar is pivoted. The beak 60 further includes a passage 61 for the tongue 4 so that it can pivot when the device is in the locked position.

[0043] It should be noted that the latch 6 comprises gripping elements 64 to increase grip and make it easier for the user to handle.

[0044] When the device is in the locked position, i.e. a position in which the bar rests in the channel 50 and is held there by the latch 6, the channel is closed off by the beak 60 of the latch as shown in FIG. 4a, in order to hold the bar 3 in position and prevent it from moving into a free position.

[0045] When moving to the open position, the latch 6 is displaced and translates in the direction of the length of the device, the latch 6 being guided by the displacement of the pivot clicks 62, 63 in the grooves 54 as shown in FIG. 4b. The latch 6 moves in the recess 51 and exerts a force on the springs 501, 502 which are then elastically deformed to leave the channel 50 open and allow the bar 3 to move from the locked position to a free position at a later time.

[0046] Once the channel 50 is open, or free, the bar 3 can be unhooked from the device as shown in FIG. 5, and the user can change bracelets.

[0047] In the embodiment described above, the device is described for a so-called flexible bracelet made of leather, synthetic fabric or an elastomer material.

[0048] Thanks to these various aspects of the invention, a safe, interchangeable buckle device is obtained, which device allows bracelets to be changed easily and quickly without the need for tools.

[0049] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated and that various alternative embodiments and modifications which will become apparent to those skilled in the art may also be conceived.