Inserts for watch straps

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert for a strap segment of a watch strap, allowing manual locking and unlocking of the connection between the strap segment and a strip of a watch case, the insert comprising a body comprising a parallelepiped portion extended by a hook-shaped portion forming a first cavity for the strip and configured to be fixed to the strap segment, the latch being hinged to the body so as to pivot about a hinge axis and comprising a closing wall capable of closing the first cavity, the latch comprising a locking device formed by a pin integral with the latch and cooperating with a hole in the body, the first returning device being arranged to confine the pin in the hole in the locked position, the latch being shorter in length than the cavity so as to release the pin when the latch is manually pushed in the direction of the hinge axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a fastening device for fastening a watch strap segment to a watch case, which fastening device allows the watch strap segment to be mounted on and removed from the watch case without the use of tools. Background Art

[0002] US Pat. No. 2,850,783 describes a watch strap comprising extendable metal strap segments, each of which is equipped at one of its ends with a system comprising a chamber extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strap segment and having a transverse opening. This chamber is intended to receive a strap-fastening strip extending between the inner surfaces of the lugs of a watch case. The chamber is equipped with a flap that can be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, it closes the transverse opening, ensuring that the strip is retained within the chamber and thus securing the strap segment to the case. In the unlocked position, the flap disengages from the transverse opening, allowing the wearer to release the strip from the chamber and detach the strap segment from the case. The flaps are locked using a 90° bent pull-tab, integral with the bezel and secured by friction against the rigid edge of the chamber. Given their small width and the thin thickness of the edge against which they rest, the friction involved is relatively low. Furthermore, after a few locking-unlocking cycles, these pull tabs may undergo plastic deformation, thus no longer ensuring a secure fit in the notches, and in the worst case, may break, potentially causing the watch to be dropped or lost. It should also be noted that the system consists of three rather complex folded sheet metal parts, which makes it difficult and expensive to manufacture. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to provide a fastening device for fastening wristlet strands to a watch case, which allows assembling and disassembling said wristlet strands to and from the watch case without the use of tools.

[0004] The invention also aims to provide a watch in which the strap segments are provided with means allowing manual locking and unlocking of the connection between the strip of the watch case and the strap segments of the watch, said system being simple and easy to manufacture while ensuring secure locking.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide an insert that can be integrated into a watch strap segment, said insert allowing the watch strap segment to be assembled to and disassembled from the strip of the watch case without the use of tools.

[0006] This object is achieved by the insert, the strap segment and the watch according to the invention.

[0007] The present invention relates to an insert for a strap segment of a watch strap, which allows manual locking and unlocking of the connection between the strap segment and a strip of the watch case, the insert comprising a body made of rigid material and comprising a latch, the body comprising a parallelepiped portion extended by a hook-shaped portion terminating at an edge, the hook-shaped portion forming a first chamber for the strip, the first chamber comprising a transverse opening, the parallelepiped portion being configured to be fixed to one end of the strap segment, the latch being housed in a cavity in the body and hinged to the body so that the latch pivots about a hinge axis parallel to the first chamber, the latch comprising a closing wall capable of closing the first chamber. According to the invention, the latch comprises a locking device formed by a pin integral with the latch, the pin cooperating with a hole in the body, and a first resetting device arranged to confine the pin in the hole in the locked position, and the length of the latch is smaller than the length of the cavity, so that when the latch is manually pushed in the direction of the hinge axis, the pin is released in the unlocked position, in which the latch is free to pivot about its hinge axis and allows opening of the lateral opening of the first cavity.

[0008] According to other advantageous variants of the invention:

[0009] - said insert comprises second return means arranged to retain said latch in said unlocked position;

[0010] - the latch comprises a portion of reduced thickness so as to form a rim, and the cavity comprises two side walls, one of which has a smaller height so as to be partially covered by the latch;

[0011] - the side wall of smaller height has a slope to limit the angular travel of the latch relative to the body of the insert;

[0012] - the latch has a structured upper surface that facilitates locking and unlocking of the latch by the wearer;

[0013] - the body is a one-piece element;

[0014] - the insert is made of metal, composite material, ceramic or plastic material;

[0015] - the latch comprises a rear portion pierced with a longitudinal through hole for receiving the hinge axis;

[0016] - said latch comprises a second chamber of circular section, coaxial with said longitudinal through hole and arranged to receive said first return means;

[0017] - the diameter of the second chamber is greater than the diameter of the longitudinal through hole;

[0018] - the second return means is in the form of a torsion spring;

[0019] The torsion spring is arranged in a machined portion of the latch and surrounds the hinge axis.

[0020] The invention also relates to a strap section of a watch strap provided with an insert according to the invention and to a watch comprising such a strap section.

[0021] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment presented by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] - Figure 1a and Figure 1b The insert according to the invention is shown in its locked and unlocked positions;

[0024] - Figure 2 It is shown in detail Figure 1a and Figure 1b an exploded view of the components of the insert;

[0025] - Figure 3a There is illustrated a bottom view of a latch of an insert according to the present invention;

[0026] - Figure 3b A cross-sectional view of the figure along the axis AA is shown;

[0027] - Figure 4 The insert according to the invention is shown mounted on a wristband segment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1a and Figure 1b The insert shown in FIG comprises a body 2 made of rigid material, including a parallelepiped portion 3 extended by a hook-shaped end portion 4 defining a first cavity 5 intended to receive a strip of a watch case (not shown). The first cavity 5 extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the watch strap segment and is provided with a transverse opening.

[0029] The body 2 of rigid material is preferably a homogeneous component formed from a single material. The body 2 may be made of a metallic material or alloy, a composite material, a ceramic material or a plastic material.

[0030] Parallelepiped portion 3 includes a shoulder 6 that allows for good retention or gripping of insert 1 on the strap segment. This shoulder 6 is typically overmolded or glued. For example, the insert can be overmolded with the synthetic material forming the strap segment. Alternatively, the insert can be inserted and glued between two layers of material forming the strap segment.

[0031] Figure 1a The insert 1 shown in FIG can be inserted into a leather watch strap section 100. However, the insert can easily be adapted to watch strap sections of other types and materials (ceramic, rubber, metal, etc.).

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, it can be seen that a rectangular cavity 30 with two side walls 31, 32 is machined into the parallelepiped portion 3 of the body 2 of rigid material to accommodate the latch 12. The latch 12 is hinged so as to rotate about a hinge axis 8 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the watch strap, and each side wall has an aperture 33, 34 to receive the axis of rotation. The latch 12 is arranged to rest in the cavity 30 in a position referred to as the locked position and can be moved within this cavity to position it in an open or unlocked position.

[0033] The latch 12 is a component preferably made of metal, such as steel, aluminum, gold, or other metallic materials. The latch 12 is pivotally mounted about a hinge axis 8 that is parallel to the first chamber 5 and is inserted or pressed into holes 33, 34 in the side walls of the cavity 30. The length of the latch 12 is slightly less than the length of the cavity 30 so that it can move translationally within the cavity 30.

[0034] The latch 12 comprises a rear portion 13 pierced with a longitudinal through hole 14 for receiving the hinge axis 8 and having a length less than the distance between the side walls 31, 32. The rear portion 13 of the latch also has a second chamber 130 for receiving a reset device, for example a compression spring 10 cooperating with one of the side walls 31 of the cavity 30. The second chamber 130 is coaxial with the longitudinal through hole 14 and has a diameter greater than that of the longitudinal through hole 14, so that the spring 10 remains constrained between the wall 31 and the bottom of the second chamber 130. Figure 3b As shown, the second chamber 130 extends over half the length of the latch 12. Obviously, the length of the second chamber 130 may vary depending on the spring used.

[0035] The latch 12 further comprises a closing wall 16 having a flat face extending in the longitudinal direction of the first chamber 5 and resting on the edge 5a of the first chamber 5 so as to produce a closed chamber of substantially circular cross-section when the latch 12 is in the closed position. The latch 12 also comprises a locking device and a reset device arranged to keep the latch in the closed or open position. In the example shown, the locking device is formed by a pin 11 which is integral with the latch 12 and cooperates with a hole 37 formed in one of the side walls 32 of the cavity 30. The reset device is in the form of a torsion spring 9 arranged on the hinge axis 8, the rear part 13 of the latch 12 having a machined portion which exposes the hinge axis and is arranged to receive the torsion spring 9. As shown Figure 3a As can be seen in FIG, the latch 12 also has a notch 18 arranged to receive the leg of the torsion spring 9.

[0036] Advantageously, the latch 12 has a portion of reduced thickness at the wall opposite the locking device 11 so as to form a rim 19 which rests on a side wall 31 opposite a side wall 32 cooperating with the locking device 11 and which for this purpose has a smaller height so that the rim 19 can rest thereon.

[0037] The side wall 31 also has a portion with a bevel 35, which allows the latch 12, when unlocked, to pivot about its hinge axis 8 without being blocked by the body 2. This bevel 35 also allows it to act as a stop, by defining and limiting the angular travel of the latch 12 relative to the body 2 of the insert 1.

[0038] The side wall 32 has a cutout 36 with an inclined surface to guide the locking device 11 to the hole 37 when the latch moves from the unlocked position to the locked position. Thus, when the wearer presses the latch 12 towards the bottom of the cavity 30, the pin 11 contacts the inclined surface and causes the latch 12 to translate in the direction of the axis 8 and implicitly compresses the spring 10 until the pin 11 is inserted into the hole 37. Once the pin 11 is housed in the hole 37, the latch returns to its rest position in the cavity 30 under the action of the spring 10.

[0039] The latch 12 also serves as an operating element and has on its upper surface, that is to say the side visible to the wearer when the latch is in the closed position, a shallow machining or a negative or positive relief texture to facilitate operation of the latch 12 .

[0040] In the closed or locked position ( Figure 1a ), the pin 11 integral with the latch 12 is inserted into the hole 37 to hold the latch in place in the cavity 30, the torsion spring 9 being forced between the bottom of the cavity and the latch. The pin 11 remains in the inserted position due to the spring 10 tending to push the latch 12 towards the side wall 32.

[0041] To switch the latch 12 to its open or unlocked position ( Figure 1b), the wearer exerts pressure on the latch 12 and causes it to translate in a direction perpendicular to the length of the strap segments until the latch 12 comes into contact with the side wall 31 of the cavity 30. This translation has the effect of releasing the pin 11 from the hole 37, thus allowing the torsion spring 9 to pivot the latch 12 towards its unlocked or open position, thereby releasing the first chamber 5 for assembling or disassembling the strap segments.

Claims

1. An insert (1) for a strap section (100) of a watch strap, the insert (1) allowing manual locking and unlocking of the connection between the strap section (100) and a strip of a watch case, the insert (1) comprising a body (2) made of rigid material and comprising a latch (12), the body (2) comprising a parallelepiped portion (3) extended by a hook-shaped portion (4) terminating in an edge (5a), the hook-shaped portion (4) ) forming a first chamber (5) for receiving the strip, the first chamber comprising a transverse opening, the parallelepiped portion (3) being configured to be fixed to one end of the strap segment (100), the latch being housed in a cavity (30) of the body (2) and being hinged to the body (2) so as to pivot about a hinge axis (8) parallel to the first chamber (5), the latch (12) comprising a closing wall (16) capable of closing the first chamber (5), It is characterized by: The latch comprises a locking device formed by a pin (11) integral with the latch (12), the pin (11) cooperating with a hole (37) in the body (2), and a first resetting device (10) arranged to confine the pin (11) in the hole (37) in the locked position, and the length of the latch (12) is less than the length of the cavity (30), so that when the latch (12) is manually pushed in the direction of the hinge axis (8), the pin (11) is released and the latch (12) is placed in an unlocked position, in which the latch (12) is free to pivot about its hinge axis and allows opening of the lateral opening of the first chamber.

2. Insert (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The insert (1) comprises second return means (9) arranged to hold the latch in the unlocked position.

3. Insert (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The latch (12) comprises a portion of reduced thickness so as to form a rim (19), and the cavity (30) comprises two side walls (31, 32), one of which has a smaller height so as to be partially covered by the latch (12).

4. Insert (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The side wall (31) of smaller height has a slope (35) to limit the angular travel of the latch (12) relative to the body (2) of the insert (1).

5. Insert (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The latch (12) has a structured upper surface that facilitates locking and unlocking the latch (12) by a wearer.

6. Insert (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The body (2) is a one-piece component.

7. Insert (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The insert is made of metal, composite material, ceramic or plastic material.

8. Insert (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The latch (12) comprises a rear portion (13) which is perforated with a longitudinal through hole (14) for receiving the hinge shaft (8).

9. Insert (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The latch (12) comprises a second chamber (130) of circular cross-section, coaxial with the longitudinal through hole (14) and arranged to receive the first resetting means (10).

10. Insert (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that The diameter of the second chamber (130) is greater than the diameter of the longitudinal through hole (14).

11. Insert (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that The second restoring device (9) is in the form of a torsion spring.

12. Insert (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that The torsion spring is provided in a processed portion (15) of the latch (12) and surrounds the hinge axis (8).

13. A strap segment (100) for a watch strap, comprising at one end an insert (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. A watch comprising a watch case and two watch band sections (100) on both sides of the watch case, wherein the watch case is provided with two strips, wherein: The two strips of the watch case are attached to the watchband section (100) by means of two inserts (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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