QUICK LOCK FOR ATTACHING ONE END OF A BAND TO AN OBJECT

Abstract

A quick lock device for wristwatch bands comprising: (i) a frame having a pair of overlaps defining a sliding cavity of which cavity is suitable for a sliding movement, one end of the frame being an extension to form an elongated hooking member having a groove along the axis thereof and a latch being formed on the surface of the guiding cavity; and (ii) a sliding member adapted to slide within the cavity being provided with a tongue section at one end of the member and a slide handle to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding member within the frame, and a latching recess along the axis of the slide, thereby the tongue of the sliding member locks a pin member of a wristwatch being positioned within the groove of the hooking member by sliding the slide handle towards the body of the wristwatch.

Claims

1.-21. (canceled)

22. A quick lock device for a wristwatch band, comprising: a frame structure that defines a cavity that is suitable for a sliding movement and includes an end, wherein the frame structure comprises: a hooking member that forms an extension at the end and is having a groove that is perpendicular to the sliding movement, and a latch that is formed within the frame structure; and a sliding member that slides in accordance to the sliding movement through the cavity, wherein the sliding member comprises: a latching recess that corresponds to the latch, a tongue section at one end of the sliding member, and a handle to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding member in accordance to the sliding movement.

23. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein the tongue section locks a pin member of the wristwatch band when the handle of the sliding member is moved towards the hooking member.

24. The quick lock device as defined in claim 23, wherein the hooking member that forms the extension at the end is an elongated frame structure.

25. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein a truncated edge is provided to the latch to prevent a backward movement for the sliding member and allows disengagement by a backward push of the sliding member.

26. The quick lock device as defined in claim 23, wherein the truncated edge of the latch facilitates the backward movement upon a backward push of the slide handle.

27. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein the latching recess is locked onto the latch in the frame when the slide handle is moved towards the hooking member.

28. The quick lock device as defined claim 22, wherein a length of the frame structure ranges between 5 millimetres (mm) and 25 mm.

29. The quick lock device as defined claim 22, wherein a thickness of the slide member ranges between 0.3 mm and 2 mm.

30. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein a height of the slide handle ranges between 1.0 mm and 8 mm.

31. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein a length of the frame structure ranges between 10 mm and 30 mm, the frame structure thickness that ranges between 0.3 mm and 3 mm, and slide member that travels between 1 mm and 3 mm.

32. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein a thickness of the frame structure ranges between 0.3 mm and 3 mm.

33. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, wherein the width of the frame guide is ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm.

34. The quick lock device as defined in claim 22, a frame structure includes a frame guide structure that defines the cavity.

35. A quick lock device for a wristwatch band, comprising: a frame structure defines a cavity that is suitable for a sliding movement and includes an end; a hooking member that forms an extension at the end of the frame structure and is having a groove that is perpendicular to the sliding movement; a sliding member that slides in accordance to the sliding movement through the cavity, wherein the sliding member comprises: a tongue section at one end of the sliding member, and a handle to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding member in accordance to the sliding movement; and a snap-fit structure comprises a protruded element that retains the sliding movement of the sliding member at a cut-out within the frame structure, wherein the tongue section slides towards the hooking member when the handle is pushed towards the hooking member.

36. The quick lock device as defined in claim 35, further comprising a latch positioned within the frame structure and the latch having a truncated edge to facilitate backward movement of the sliding member.

37. The quick lock device as defined in claim 36, wherein the truncated edge facilitates the backward movement if a backward push is applied to the slide handle of the sliding member.

38. The quick lock device as defined in claim 35, wherein the protruding element is snap-fitted onto the cut-out within the frame structure when the slide handle is pushed toward the hooking member.

39. The quick lock device as defined in claim 37, wherein the protruded element in the frame structure returns to original configuration once snap-fitted.

40. The quick lock device as defined in claim 35, wherein the groove on the hooking member holds a pin member of the wristwatch and is perpendicular to the sliding movement of the sliding member.

41. The quick lock device as defined in claim 35, wherein the frame structure and the sliding member are formed from a material that is selected from a group of materials consisting of plastics, metals, composite materials or any combination thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a quick lock device for wristwatch bands in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a frame of the quick lock device, in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of a frame of the quick lock device of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a sliding member of the quick lock device in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 3A shows a perspective view of a sliding member of the quick lock device, wherein the tongue is of a thickened convex profile to sit on the groove of the hooking member, in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 3B shows a perspective view of a sliding member of the quick lock device, wherein the tongue is of a suitably shaped downward form to sit on the groove of the hooking member, in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the top view of a watch strap in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing bottom view of a watch strap in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, in accordance with the present invention, a quick lock device 500 for wristwatch bands is disclosed, which comprises: (i) a frame 60 having a pair of frame guide 80 defining a guiding cavity 82 of which the cavity 82 is suitable for sliding movement, one end of the frame 60 being an extension to form an elongated hooking member 90 having a groove 65 perpendicular to the sliding axis, and a latch 62 or the like being formed on the surface of the cavity 82; and (ii) a sliding member 600 adapted to slide within the guiding cavity 82 being provided with a tongue section 70 at one end of the sliding member 600 and a slide handle 50 on the top of the sliding member 600 to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding member 600 within the frame 60, and a latching recess 92 formed on the surface of the sliding member 600 corresponding to the latch 62 on the guiding cavity 82, thereby the tongue section 70 of the sliding member 600 locks a pin member 10 of a wristwatch strap 100 being positioned within the groove 65 of the hooking member 90 by sliding the slide handle 50 towards the body of the wristwatch.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the quick lock device 500 is embedded within the wristwatch band or the like and at one end thereof and close towards the direction of the watch body. The quick lock device 500 is completely hidden and is not visible and thus the quick lock device 500 shall not alter the entire shape and look of the wristwatch band.

[0029] On the wrist watch in general, a pin member 10 (as shown in FIG. 1) is located at the wristwatch strap linkage, and a typical wrist watch comprises a pin member, a multiple part mechanism that catches and/or secures or releases the band or the like from the watch body.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a frame 60 of the quick lock device 500 in accordance with the present invention. The frame 60 is generally a T-shaped structure and has a pair of frame guide 80. The frame guide 80 defines a sliding cavity 82 of which the cavity 82 is suitable for a sliding movement. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, one end of the frame 60 is an extension to form an elongated hooking member 610 having a groove 65 perpendicular to the sliding axis of the sliding member 600. Generally, the groove 65 takes the shape of the pin member 10 of the wristwatch or the like.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a snap fit means having a cut-out 92 along the axis of the sliding member 600 and a latch 62 or a protruded element or the like that retains the sliding movement of the sliding member 600 at the cut-out 92 so as to lock the sliding member 600 together with the frame 60. In another alternative, as shown in FIG. 2A, the snap fit means having a ridge-like protrusion 68 to retain the sliding movement of the sliding member 600 at the cut-out 90 so as to lock the sliding member 600 together with the frame 60. Thus, the tongue 70 of the sliding member 600 locks the pin member 10 of a wristwatch being positioned within the groove 65 of the hooking member 90 by sliding the slide handle 50 towards the body of the wristwatch.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the sliding member 600 of the quick lock device 500 in accordance with the present invention. The sliding member 600 of the preferred embodiment is adapted to slide within the cavity 82 which is being provided with a tongue section 70 at one end of the member 600. The slide, handle 50 on the top of the member 600 is used to facilitate the sliding movement of the sliding member 600 within the cavity 82 of the frame 60. There is a latching recess 92, thereby the tongue section 70 of the sliding member 600 locks the pin member 10 of a wristwatch being positioned within the groove 65 of the hooking member 90 by sliding the slide handle 50 towards the hooking member 90. FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing other alternative sliding member 600 of the quick lock device 500 in accordance with the present invention. As shown in the figures, the tongue 70 of the sliding member 60 can be made either of a thickened convex profile or a suitably downward shaped form to sit onto the groove 65 of the hooking member 90. The width of the of the tongue section 70 is wider than the guide section 80 which keeps the sliding member 60 from accidentally falling out towards the backend of the frame.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the top view of a watch strap in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing bottom view of a watch strap in accordance with the present invention. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the quick lock device 500 is embedded or hidden with the strap 100 of the wristwatch. As it can be seen, the shape and look of the original watch strap 100 is not altered.

[0034] In the present preferred embodiment, the latch 62 (FIG. 2) is positioned within the cavity 82 of the frame 500, and has a truncated edge 64 on the latch 62 to facilitate backward movement of the sliding member 600. On the sliding member 600, there is the latching recess 92 on one surface of the sliding member 600, which is corresponding to the latch 62 on the cavity 82 of the frame 500 and locked with each other when the slide handle 50 is pushed toward the wristwatch body and thereby keeping it secured in the forward, closed and secured position.

[0035] The pin member 10 on the watch body is seated onto the groove 65 on the hooking member 90 when the quick lock device 500 is triggered to a locking position. At the locking position, the tongue 70 of the sliding member 600 securely locks the pin member 10 in the groove 65 of the frame 60. The truncated edge 64 of the latch 62 facilitates the backward movement only if a sufficient force is being applied to and the slide handle 50 to backward push the slide handle 50.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 1, the lateral edge of the frame guide 88 or the frame overlap 80 has a length ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm, preferably is 10 mm, and the thickness of the slide member 600 is ranging from 0.3 mm to 2 mm. The height of the slide handle 50 is ranging from 1.0 mm to 8 mm, which is an appropriate height without increasing the thickness of the strap 100. The overall length of the frame 60 is ranging from 10 to 30 mm, and preferably is 18 mm. The thickness of the frame 60 is ranging from 0.3 mm to 3 mm.

[0037] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the width of the frame guide 80 is ranging from 5 mm to 25 mm.

[0038] In the present invention, after the sliding member 600 is at the locking position, the latch 62 will prevent the accidentally disengagement of the strap 100 from the watch body. In other words, the pin member 10 will be precisely held within the groove 65. The width of the frame overlap 80 gives a suitable tolerance for the slide handle 50 to operate smoothly within the frame guide 88 of the frame 60.

[0039] In another preferred embodiment, the shape of the frame 60 can be flat or curved or convex towards the side of slide handle 50. A suitable material for the fabrication of the quick lock can be metal, plastics or any composite materials.

[0040] The invention is by no means limited to the above-described embodiments; on the contrary, many changes can be made to the embodiments while still remaining within the scope of the invention, among others as far as shape and dimensions of the parts used for the realisation of the invention are concerned. One such possible alternation is the integration into bracelets, which consist of interlinked metal elements, whereby the element closest to either side of the watchbody become the respective frame 60 of the invention holding the sliding member 600.