Replaceable mechanism of watchband

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism for fastening a replaceable watchband (1) to a watchcase (2), characterized in that the mechanism comprises an attachment device (3) comprising a fixing assembly (30) defining insertion receptacles (314) arranged on both sides of a central recess (36), and a slidable movement element (33) arranged on both sides of the central recess (36), the invention relates to a watchband (1) comprising an insertion housing (314) adapted to receive a lateral end of a transverse pin (11) for fastening the watchband (1), a slidable movement element provided with a cap (333) capable of being longitudinally actuated to translate between a first closed position (P1), in which said transverse pin (11) is locked in the insertion housing (314), and a second open position (P2), in which said transverse pin (11) is locked in the insertion housing (314), in which said transverse pin (11) is locked in the insertion housing (314). A transverse fastening pin (11) can be inserted into or released from the insertion receptacle (314).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of watchmaking and jewellery. More precisely, the present invention relates to a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable strap. Background Art

[0002] Typically, a watch strap (especially a leather watch strap) is connected to the watch case via an elastic rod that is inserted transversely at the end of the strap and engages in a hole arranged inside a fastening corner, which is usually arranged directly on the middle portion. Therefore, when the watch strap needs to be replaced, a special tool must be used to push the end of the rod toward the inside of the strap and release the strap, which is relatively inconvenient and often requires the help of a professional.

[0003] For this reason, solutions have long been sought for facilitating the operations of assembling and disassembling the watch strap, allowing the user to change it himself when he wishes, in particular by being able to vary its size, material and, for example, color.

[0004] Patent FR 2 766 587 describes a solution that makes it possible to change a watch strap without tools, in which an actuating finger is provided to counteract the return force holding the stem in place in the fastening housing of the middle part. Besides the relatively unfavorable aesthetics that result, this solution has the drawback of inadvertently exposing a protruding part with the risk of getting stuck, leading to the release of the stem and therefore the unlocking of the strap, and causing the watch to fall, which could damage it.

[0005] Patent FR2738123 describes another solution that enables users to easily change the strap themselves, without having to use any tools, according to which a cylindrical pin is inserted transversely into a hollow cylinder laterally closed by a bezel. The disadvantages of this solution are, on the one hand, that it requires a series of complex and delicate operations, and, on the other hand, that the integration of the attachment device is relatively bulky and may protrude under the back cover of the middle part, which may prove relatively uncomfortable during use.

[0006] Furthermore, attachment systems for watch straps are known which operate by elastic deformation or clamping of jaws arranged at the ends of the strap, which clamp around a rod fixed to the watch case; however, these fastening methods are essentially only suitable for watch straps made of plastic material which are subject to creep during use and whose durability is therefore particularly limited.

[0007] Furthermore, document FR 2 732 866 describes an adjustable link integrated into the rest of the bracelet and articulatedly connected to the other links via a rod in a conventional manner.

[0008] The object of the proposed invention is to provide an exemplary solution to these known disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

[0009] In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a new solution for an interchangeable mechanism of a watch strap, the actuation of which is simpler and more efficient for the insertion of a new watch strap and the removal of a watch strap currently being worn.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a solution that can be easily integrated into a watch case without any negative impact on wearing comfort.

[0011] According to the invention, these objects are achieved thanks to the features of several independent claims, in particular thanks to a mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap to a watch case, characterized in that the mechanism comprises an attachment device rigidly connected to the watch case, the attachment device comprising a fixing component and a slidable movable element, the fixing component defining an insertion receptacle arranged on both sides of a central recess, the insertion receptacle being suitable for receiving the lateral ends of a completely fixed transverse pin for fastening the watch strap, the slidable movable element being provided with a cap which can be longitudinally actuated and translated between a first closed position and a second open position, in the first closed position, the pin being locked in the insertion receptacle, and in the second open position, the pin being insertable into or released from the insertion receptacle.

[0012] Therefore, a fastening mechanism with a simplified structure is proposed, the compactness of which is also improved. In addition, since the components for attaching the watch strap are completely hidden in the closed position of the attachment device, the aesthetic appearance of the fastening mechanism is not affected.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention is characterized in that the slidably movable element is actuable by means of a ribbed tongue.

[0014] The advantage of this arrangement is that, on the one hand, the construction of the attachment device is simplified by simply combining the actuating member with the locking (or unlocking) member. Preferably, the tongue is arranged transversely (i.e. parallel to the pin) to maximize the available contact surface. In addition, this arrangement facilitates the actuation of the slidable movable element, which allows the insertion and removal of the transverse pin for fastening the strap, and improves the reliability of the slidable movable element, assuming that only the tongue can act on it.

[0015] According to another preferred embodiment, the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention is characterized in that the actuating finger interacting with the elastic return element is also arranged on the slidably movable element.

[0016] In this way, the construction of the attachment device is further simplified.

[0017] According to yet another preferred embodiment, the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap, the tongue, the cap and the actuating finger are integrally arranged on the slidably movable element.

[0018] The advantage of this embodiment is that, in the extreme case, the machining of the slidably movable element, which serves as locking and unlocking member in combination with the actuating member, is simplified. In this way, a plurality of components considered to have different functions can be produced simultaneously.

[0019] According to an even more preferred embodiment, the slidably movable element further has an outer peripheral collar, the fixing assembly being formed by a first component and a second component provided with an inner shoulder, the inner shoulder being arranged to cover the outer peripheral collar of the slidably movable element when the first component and the second component are engaged with each other to form the fixing assembly.

[0020] In this way, not only the machining of the components but also the assembly of such an attachment device is greatly simplified.

[0021] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention, the cover cap has an inclined or convex end portion.

[0022] This configuration facilitates the insertion of a watch strap's pin, for example, by operating with just one hand, without having to actuate the cover parallel to the other. The downwardly sloping surface allows the pin to rest against the cover, which can then be pushed back by pulling it downwards towards its receptacle. In this way, a watch strap can be simply fastened with exceptional ease.

[0023] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the present invention, the elastic return element is arranged transversely in the insertion channel of the first part of the fixing assembly, and the elastic return element is arranged to apply a return force in the longitudinal direction when the cap is shifted from the first closed position toward the second open position under the push of the actuating finger.

[0024] This configuration of the return element makes it possible to achieve compactness in the thickness direction and in the longitudinal direction relative to a standard spring.

[0025] According to an even more preferred embodiment of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention, the elastic return element is made of Nitinol.

[0026] This completely unusual choice of material for the return element (Nitinol is known for its shape memory properties rather than its elastic properties and is used in the watchmaking field for properties of this type) makes it possible to obtain reliability and durability as regards the return force applied.

[0027] According to an even more preferred embodiment of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention, a clearance area is provided behind the insertion channel to enable deformation of the elastic return element.

[0028] This configuration makes it possible to integrate the elastic return element particularly easily in the base of the first component, for example of the fixing element, without requiring additional guiding elements when the elastic return element is deformed; the gap area thus simply consists of a slight protrusion arranged in the central part of the insertion channel for the elastic return element.

[0029] According to an even more preferred embodiment for implementing the invention, of this variant of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention, the depth of the clearance zone determines the maximum travel distance of the cap.

[0030] In this way, the travel of the cover and the return force which is jointly applied as a function of the deformation of the return element can be configured in a particularly simple manner, which does not necessarily act directly on the cover.

[0031] According to another preferred embodiment of the mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to the invention, the slidably movable element has a "U" shape defining a recess arranged to accommodate a central protrusion of one end portion of the strap strand.

[0032] In this way, the benefit of compactness is provided by ensuring an assembly without gaps between the central protrusions of the ends of the strap when the strap is inserted into the central recess of the attachment device, while the aesthetics are also improved due to the correspondence of shapes, which makes it possible to create a hinge in the center of the attachment device in a particularly coordinated manner.

[0033] The invention also relates to a watch case comprising a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the attachment means are provided with a cutout matching the external shape of the watch case and a projection covered by the upper peripheral edge of the back cover of the watch case.

[0034] According to this preferred embodiment for integrating the attachment device into the middle part, a first advantage is of an aesthetic nature, since the attachment device appears completely integrated into the middle part. A second advantage is that it enables a benefit in terms of thickness, since the proximal portion of the attachment device where it is fastened to the middle part is covered by the edge of the back cover, which therefore does not create any additional thickness below the back cover.

[0035] According to another preferred embodiment for implementing the present invention, the watch case including a mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap is characterized in that a tongue is provided to actuate the sliding element of the attachment device, the tongue being arranged on the back cover side of the watch case, the tongue including a first portion inclined or protruding toward the outside of the watch case and a second portion inclined or protruding toward the inside of the watch case.

[0036] This configuration offers several advantages, the first of which is aesthetic. This is due to the tab being concealed beneath the case, thus concealing the mechanism for locking and unlocking the strap from the case when the watch is worn. The fact that the tab is positioned beneath the case makes it easier to avoid any accidental actuation of the tab by hooking it onto a protruding external element, keeping it pressed against the inside, in the direction of the user's wrist. Finally, the specific shape of the tab, with its two distinct functional parts, thanks to the presence of an at least partially inclined stop surface, optimizes the user's grip quality when resisting the return force, while also allowing it to follow the curvature of the wrist and minimize the risk of pinching by following the curvature of the wrist at its end. This improves actuation ergonomics and transmission efficiency.

[0037] According to a further preferred embodiment, a watch case comprising a mechanism according to the invention for fastening an interchangeable watch strap is characterized in that the attachment means of the strap form attachment corners for the ends of the strap.

[0038] Thanks to this configuration, the attachment device gives the illusion of being fully integrated into the case, just like the corners usually formed by a single piece on the middle part, and the proposed solution is therefore similar to the classic solution of fastening the strap by means of elastic rods inserted into lateral through-holes in the corners, while the pin according to the invention is fixed here and therefore prevents any method of fastening by telescopic extension in the transverse direction.

[0039] Other preferred embodiments will be described in further detail in the following description.

[0040] It will be understood from the remainder of this detailed description that the advantageous features derived from the preferred embodiments may be taken individually or in combination, unless such features are shown as mutually exclusive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Other advantageous features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, provided by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0042] - Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the end of an interchangeable watch strap used within the framework of the present invention;

[0043] - Figure 2A and Figure 2B Two perspective views of an attachment device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown, showing the attachment device in a closed position and in an open position, respectively;

[0044] - Figure 3A and Figure 3B Shown are the views from above and below. Figure 2A and Figure 2B Two exploded perspective views of an attachment device of a preferred embodiment of the present invention to highlight the different components that make up the attachment device and the manner in which these different components engage with each other;

[0045] - Figure 4 shows a bottom view of a watch having a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] - Figure 5 Shown along Figure 4 A sagittal section taken along axis AA (corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the middle part of the watch) shows a tongue particularly advantageous for implementing the invention, and a preferred method of assembling the back cover relative to the attachment means. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Figure 1 An example of an interchangeable watch strap 1 used within the framework of the present invention is shown, or more precisely the fastening end of such an interchangeable watch strap 1 for a steel watch strap.

[0048] The last link 12 of the bracelet has an "H" shape with the applicant's image and is connected in an articulated manner to a central projection 10 which forms a projection between its two lateral edges. In order to also connect this central projection 10 in an articulated manner to the watch case 2 (not shown in this figure, but in particular in Figure 4 and Figure 5 A transverse pin 11 is inserted at the front end of the central protrusion 10 to connect to a fastening element of the watch case. The lateral ends of the transverse pin 11 are indicated as 11A and 11B, respectively, corresponding to a first lateral fastening end and a second lateral fastening end.

[0049] According to the present invention, and unlike standard fastening solutions for interchangeable watch straps 1, the proposed fastening mechanism is essentially integrated into an attachment device 3 rigidly connected to the watch case 2 (as shown in the following figures), rather than being located at the end of the strand of the interchangeable watch strap 1, as is typically the case. The fastening end of the interchangeable watch strap 1 is thus completely simplified, as it does not include a movable locking element actuated by the user, such as a lever or any sliding stop. This improved structure helps minimize the thickness of the strap, thereby improving wearing comfort; moreover, due to the reduced amount of material required, it also reduces the manufacturing costs of the wear-resistant parts. This remark applies particularly to the production of an interchangeable leather watch strap 1 according to a variant (not shown), in which the production of the bulky telescopic rod used for fastening requires a relatively thick leather surrounding the rod, which is necessarily more voluminous than a simple fixed transverse pin, as this production involves an arrangement of cylindrical parts assembled into another cylindrical body.

[0050] In the following Figure 2A and Figure 2B In the following, the attachment device 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, showing the attachment device 3 in a first closed position P1 in which the transverse pin 11 is held in the receiving portion and in a second open position P2 in which the transverse pin 11 can be removed from the receiving portion. As mentioned above, the transverse fastening pin 11 is completely fixed here, and the movable element is arranged alone on the attachment device 3. It will be described basically together Figure 2A and Figure 2B ,because Figure 2A and Figure 2B The same fastening elements are shown in principle, with the transverse pin 11 being shown in a simplified manner in the locked and unlocked positions, respectively corresponding to the first position P1 and the second position P2; for reasons of legibility, the Figure 2B Will not be shown Figure 2A All elements shown are identical and vice versa.

[0051] exist Figure 2A, it can be seen that the attachment device 3 has a central recess 36 for accommodating the central protrusion 10 of the interchangeable watch strap 1 when the interchangeable watch strap 1 and the attachment device 3 are engaged with each other. Laterally arranged on the sides of this central recess 36 are lateral insertion receptacles 314 for the transverse pin 11 (more precisely, a first lateral insertion receptacle 314A for accommodating the first end 11A of the transverse pin 11 and a second lateral insertion receptacle 314B for accommodating the second end 11B of the transverse fastening pin 11). To simplify manufacturing, these lateral insertion receptacles 314 have a rectangular cross-section, but they may also have other shapes suitable for leaving only rotational freedom relative to the transverse pin 11 when the transverse pin 11 is retained in the insertion receptacle 314 by the cap 333.

[0052] In the first position P1 shown, the lateral insertion receptacle 314 is closed at the top by a cap 333 (i.e., a first cap 333A for the first lateral insertion receptacle 314A and a second cap 333B for the second lateral insertion receptacle 314B), which acts as a vertical stop. Figure 2A The attachment device 3 is shown in the second position P2 (ie its open position). Figure 2B By comparison, it can be seen that the cap 333 slides longitudinally forward and backward by being actuated by the slightly upwardly curved tongue 332, so that the user can more easily grasp the cap 333 and actuate the cap 333 when he wants to change the strap; when the attachment device 3 is in position P2, the attachment device 3 is actuated by the following exploded Figure 3A and Figure 3B The elastic return element described in applies a return force F. Preferably, the strength of the return force is in the range of 3 Newtons to 5 Newtons to avoid any unintentional operating errors. The strength of the return force can be varied as needed over a maximum travel C between 0.5mm and 1.5mm, and then a maximum force is applied at the end of the travel.

[0053] Still Figure 2B As can be seen in FIG, a curved shape is arranged at the bottom of the central portion of the attachment device 3, preferably in the form of a cylindrical guide surface 317 corresponding to the shape of the central protrusion of the interchangeable strap 1. This cylindrical guide surface 317 is arranged on a first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30, which also comprises a second part 32, the first part 31 being joined to the second part 32 by means of a series of screws (commonly referred to as the second series of screws 352, the first series of screws 351 being used to fasten the attachment device 3 to the watch case 2, as described below). Figure 2A and Figure 2BIn the figures, the first fastening screw 352A and the second fastening screw 352B can be clearly seen. On the left side of these figures, the first fastening screw 352A is inserted into the first lateral edge 311A of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30 of the attachment device 3 (hereinafter referred to as Figure 3A and Figure 3B ) at the first lateral tongue 325A of the second part 32 of the fixing assembly 30, and on the right side of these figures, a second fastening screw 352B is inserted at the second lateral edge 311B of the same first part 31 and at the second lateral tongue 325B of the second part 32 of the fixing assembly 30, and the second fastening screw 352B is located on the side opposite to the central recess 36.

[0054] The front portion of the cap 333 is arranged in the form of an inclined or convex end portion 3330 (i.e., a first inclined or convex end portion 3330A for the first portion of the cap 333A and a second inclined or convex end portion 3330B for the second portion of the cap 330B). Each of these inclined end portions abuts against a surface of the first component 31 of the fixing assembly 30 of the attachment device 3, more precisely, the first inclined or convex end portion 3330A of the first portion of the cap 333A abuts against the first front surface 312A of the first component 31, and the second inclined or convex end portion 3330B of the second portion of the cap 333B abuts against the first front surface 312A of the first component 31. Thus, the ends of the transverse pin 11 can be fixed, i.e., more precisely, the first end 11A of the transverse pin 11 can be fixed on the first inclined or protruding end surface 3330A of the cap 333, and the second end 11B of the transverse pin 11 can be fixed on the second inclined or protruding end surface 3330B of the cap 333, by pulling the pin 11 downward to insert the lateral ends of the pin 11 into their corresponding insertion receptacles 314. Due to these inclined surfaces, the reaction force generated by the cap contains an orthogonal component, and the longitudinal direction does not resist the return force F. In other words, this inclination makes it possible to apply a deflection tending to open the cap 333 while trying to insert the pin 11, which makes the operation for inserting and locking the end of a new replaceable belt 1 particularly convenient: in fact, this can be achieved with just one hand by acting solely on the replaceable belt 1, without the need for active actuation of anything at the attachment device 3, and when the ends of the transverse pin 11 are inserted into the corresponding lateral insertion receptacles (i.e., the first end 11A is inserted into the first lateral insertion receptacle 314A and the second end 11B is inserted into the second lateral insertion receptacle 314B), the cap 333 passively follows the movement of the transverse pin 11 and slides, and when these ends of the transverse pin 11 pass respectively under the first part 333A and the second part 333B of the cap 333, the cap 333 automatically hides the lateral insertion receptacles from above under the action of the return force F generated during its longitudinal displacement.

[0055] Although the attachment device 3 is shown here in modular form without showing the watch case 2, Figure 2A In the figure, a first central cutout 316 formed on the rear side of the first part 3 can be clearly seen, the curvature of which corresponds substantially to the curvature of the case 2 to which the attachment device is intended to be fastened. There is a second cutout 323 formed on the rear side of the second part 32, superimposed on this first cutout 316 and having, according to the preferred embodiment shown, the same shape as the first cutout 316. This second cutout 323 is delimited by a first lateral protrusion 324A on the left and a second lateral protrusion 324B on the right, which advantageously makes it possible to form a support surface for the peripheral edge of the back cover, as will be described below with the aid of an example showing another preferred embodiment of the invention. Figure 4 and Figure 5 Explained.

[0056] also, Figure 2B The preferred "U" shape of the slidably movable element 33 is highlighted, which is formed in one piece with a tongue 332, which constitutes the actuating member of the slidably movable element 33. The slidably movable element 33 is also formed in one piece with a cap 333, which constitutes the locking member of the attachment device 3, each of the parts of the cap 333 (i.e. the first part 333A and the second part 333B) forming a protrusion that releases an internal space similar to the central recess 36 relative to the first part 31 of the fixing assembly of the attachment device 3. However, for the sake of clarity, the recess 37 that realizes this internal space formed between the internal vertical wall 335 and the side walls of the slidably movable element 33 (i.e. the left side wall 336A and the right side wall 336B) is not shown in this figure, but is shown in the following figure. Figure 3A , since the recess 37 relates only to the slidably movable element 33 and not to the entire attachment device 3 .

[0057] Figure 2B Also shown is the open position of the attachment device (i.e., the second position P2), provided below the Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the center of the figure, a central through hole can be seen, which forms part of a series of through holes 315, which are designed to cooperate with the first series of screws 351, and the entire series of through holes 315 will also be Figure 3A and Figure 3B As shown in Figure 3A and Figure 3B Shown from above and below respectively according to the aforementioned Figure 2A and 2B Two exploded perspective views of the attachment device 3 of a preferred embodiment.

[0058] Will be described together Figure 3A and Figure 3B The purpose is to highlight the different parts that make up the attachment device 3 and the way in which the three main elements that make up the attachment device (i.e. the first part 31 and the second part 32 that form the fixing assembly 30, and the slidably movable element 33) are joined to one another. Figure 2A and Figure 2B All elements are described within the framework of , with emphasis on the new content that must be explained with the help of these specific views.

[0059] exist Figure 3A and Figure 3B The manner in which the first part 31 is fastened to the second part 32 to form the fixing assembly 30 of the attachment device 3 can be easily deduced, namely by means of a second series of screws 352 inserted into lateral fastening holes 321 of the second part 32 and then into a series of blind holes 318. Furthermore, in order to fasten the attachment device 3 to an external element, such as the middle part of a watch (i.e., case 2), the first series of screws 351 (three screws in this case) must be inserted into the series of through holes 315. More specifically, it can be seen that the first screw 352A in the second series of screws 352 is inserted into the first lateral fastening hole 321A of the second part 32 of the fixing assembly 30, and then inserted into the first threaded blind hole 318A of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30, and the second screw 352B in the second series of screws 352 is inserted into the second lateral fastening hole 321B, and then inserted into the second blind hole 318B. The second blind hole 318B can be made to be hidden behind the left edge (first lateral edge 311) of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30.

[0060] Similar to fastening the first component 31 to the watch case, the first screw 351A in the first series of screws 351 can be assembled in the first through hole 315A in the series of through holes, the second screw 351B is assembled in the second through hole 315B, and finally, the third screw 351C is assembled in the third through hole 315C, with the first two screws arranged on both sides and the third screw arranged in the center.

[0061] Figure 3A and Figure 3B It is also shown how the slidably movable element 33 can be simply inserted between two parts destined to be joined to each other. Figure 3A The top and Figure 3B As can be seen from the bottom, according to the preferred embodiment shown, the slidable movable element 33 has a plurality of functional elements made of one piece, that is, the slidable movable element 33 is made of one piece with respect to the moving tool. Figure 3AAt the top of the movable element 33, it can be seen that the ribbed tongue 332 extending over the entire width of the slidable movable element 33 directly extends two lateral tongues that delimit the recess 37, which form the cap 333 via two lateral parts of the cap, namely the first part 333A of the cap and the second part 333B of the cap. In other words, the locking member formed by the cap 333 is completely rigidly connected to the actuating member formed by the tongue 332. These two functional members are also completely rigidly connected to the actuating finger 334 arranged at the lower surface of the movable element 33 and are formed as a single piece with this actuating finger 334. It is precisely this element that is intended to require the deformation of the elastic return element 34, which is produced in the form of a wire here instead of in the form of a conventional helical spring. The elastic return element 34 is mounted in an insertion channel 3102 formed by a transverse groove having a substantially corresponding length and, if possible, a corresponding cross-section, in order to avoid any jamming during the insertion of the elastic return element 34 and thus to make corrections, in particular for re-centering, easier to carry out. However, the fact that the transverse groove has a substantially square cross-section, while the cross-section of the elastic return element 34 is substantially cylindrical, facilitates the machining of the base 310 of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30.

[0062] According to the preferred embodiment shown, the elastic return element 34 is preferably formed by an element made of Nitinol, in order to obtain a return force having a cylindrical cross-section, a diameter between 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm, and a length of approximately 12 mm, preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm, the intensity of which is substantially uniform throughout the entire travel range (i.e., between 3 Newtons and 5 Newtons), the maximum travel range C being determined by the dimensions of the ends of the transverse pins 11 used to secure the interchangeable strap 1 and being minimized to the minimum possible, i.e., if possible, less than 1 mm. The use of this material may seem surprising in the watchmaking industry, where Nitinol is used more for its shape memory properties than for its elasticity. According to other variants, other materials for the elastic return element may be used, such as Phynox or Nivaflex as metal alloys or Delrin as a plastic material, each of which, however, has different characteristics in terms of the force generated and durability after a large number of cycles of use.

[0063] As in Figure 3A It can be seen from the bottom that above the central through hole (third through hole 315C), a hollow portion 3103 is arranged in the base 310 of the first component 31 to be able to receive the actuating finger 334 in the depth direction. The actuating finger 334 is in a rest state, i.e. in the closed position ( Figure 2AThe first position P1 shown higher in the figure) is formed while abutting against the hollow portion 3103 at the front and against the elastic return element 34 at the rear. Preferably, the elastic return element 34 can be slightly prestressed to better ensure that the cap 333 remains in the closed state without generating an operating gap that may cause a slight gap during use.

[0064] As in Figure 3A A detailed view of the bottom of the inner side of the first component 31 shows that the base 310 of this first component 30 has a horizontal support surface 3101, on which the lower surface 330 of the slidably movable element 33 can precisely rest, while the upper surface 3310 of the peripheral collar 331, which is always arranged integrally with the slidably movable element 33, can be arranged below the shoulder 322 of the second component 32 of the fixed assembly 30. In this way, the movement of the slidably movable element 33 can be very simply limited according to a single translational degree of freedom in the longitudinal direction, which is parallel to the direction of application of the return force F generated by the elastic return element 34.

[0065] Still in Figure 3A At the bottom of the figure, it can be seen that the maximum travel C of the slidably movable element 33 is shown at the gap area 3104, which is designed as a protrusion at the center of the insertion channel 3012 provided for the elastic return element 34; the maximum travel C substantially corresponds to the depth P of the gap area 3104, as described below according to Figure 5 shown.

[0066] Figure 3A and Figure 3B It is also highlighted how, thanks to the stop surfaces that limit the depth of the lateral insertion receptacle 314 in the longitudinal direction, the end of the transverse fastening pin 11 can be limited in the manner described above to lack of translational freedom. In fact, on the inside of the first front surface 312A, on the right side of these figures, a first front inner stop surface 3120A and a first rear stop surface 313A that limit the bottom of the first lateral insertion receptacle 314A are arranged; similarly, on the inside of the second front surface 312B, on the left side of these figures, a second front inner stop surface 3120B and a corresponding second rear stop surface 313B that limit the bottom of the second lateral insertion receptacle 314B are arranged. In this way, once the end of the transverse fastening pin 11 is positioned in its receptacle, it can no longer move in the longitudinal direction; the cap 333 prevents any movement in parallel height, which is why in Figure 2A The first lateral insertion receptacle 314A, which is closed by the first portion 333A of the cap 333 , appears as a “square hole” and therefore only leaves one degree of rotational freedom for the transverse fastening pin.

[0067] In addition, when reading Figure 3B It can be noted that the lower surface 330 of the slidably movable element 33 and the lower peripheral surface 320 of the second part of the fixed assembly are intended to rest on the horizontal support surface 3101 of the base of the first part 31 of the fixed assembly 30; for example, a possible order of assembling the movable sliding element 33 relative to the fixed assembly 30 may be as follows:

[0068] - Joining the first part 31 to the watch case 2 (not shown, but for example below) by means of a first series of screws 351 Figure 4 and Figure 5 (visible in );

[0069] - Arrange the elastic return element 34 in its insertion channel 3102, then

[0070] - positioning the actuating finger 334 of the slidably movable element 33 in the hollow 3013,

[0071] - Covering the peripheral collar 331 of the slidable movable element 33 with the inner shoulder 322 of the second part 32 of the fixing assembly 30, and finally

[0072] The second part 32 is screwed onto the first part 31 by means of a second series of screws 352 inserted into the lateral fastening holes 321 of the second part and into the blind holes 318 of the first part, so as to form the fixing assembly 30 .

[0073] According to the preferred embodiment shown in these figures, it can be observed that the tongue 332 with ribs has a specific shape. In particular, in addition to the ribs extending over the entire width of the tongue 332, the tongue 332 with ribs comprises, at its proximal side fastened to the slidable movable element 33, a first portion 332A with an inclination or a corresponding protrusion, the first portion 332A being intended to improve the user's grip quality, and the tongue 332 with ribs comprises, at its distal part, a second portion 332B with another inclination or another protrusion, the second portion 332B being intended to improve wearing comfort. Based on the following Figure 5 This optimization of the configuration of tongue 332 is described in more detail.

[0074] Figure 4 and Figure 5Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, which differs slightly from the preferred embodiment described with the aid of the previous figures in that the shape of the second cutout 323 formed on the second part 32 does not correspond to the shape of the first central cutout 316 of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30 of the attachment device 3. Therefore, the second cutout 323 extends forward in an arc shape over the entire width of the attachment device 3, rather than extending only in the center of the attachment device 3. This has the effect that the protrusion 324 of the previous embodiment, which is divided into two parts (the left lateral protrusion 324A and the right lateral protrusion 324B), extends over the entire width of the second part 324; therefore, Figure 5 The manner in which this protrusion 324 is covered by the lower peripheral edge 201 of the back cover of the watch case 2 is highlighted, the assembly being Figure 4 is completely hidden in the top view.

[0075] Figure 4 The aim is to show how the attachment device 3 according to the invention, once integrated into the case 2 of a watch, makes it possible to simulate a structure in which the attachment corner 38 would be formed in a rather thick manner by the combination of the lateral edges of the first part 31 (the first lateral edge 311A and the second lateral edge 311B) and the lateral tongues 325 (the first left lateral tongue 325A and the second right lateral tongue 325B of the first part 31), both of which are closed by the front surface 312 (the first left front surface 312A and the second right front surface 312B). This configuration thus makes it possible to produce a solution with a classic appearance while achieving a fastening solution that is, on the contrary, completely original at the functional level. In Figure 4 In the embodiment shown in FIG2 , the attachment means 3 fixed to the top of the watch case 2 are not equipped with the ends of the strands of the interchangeable watch strap 1, whereas the attachment means 3 on the bottom of the watch case 2 are equipped with the ends of the strands of such watch strap 1. Thus, it is easy to see the central recess 36 between the left attachment corner 38A and the right attachment corner 38B, into which the central protrusion 10 of the interchangeable watch strap 1 is inserted, thus extending beyond the last “H”-shaped link 12 of the watch strap 1.

[0076] For reasons of legibility, the references to the attachment device 3 from the top and bottom of the drawing are not identical; the top and bottom sections are each intended to illustrate different features of the attachment device 3: the top section illustrates the elements constituting the attachment angle 38 and the cap 333, while the bottom section illustrates its engagement with the watch strap 1. However, the common references to the attachment device 3 at both the top and bottom sections are those relating to the first and second parts 31, 32, which are joined to one another by means of a first screw 352A of a second series of fastening screws 352 and a second screw 352B of this second series. In the center of the figure, it can be seen that the back cover 20 is typically screwed to the watch case by means of a third series of screws 21 (six in this case), which are not individually referenced like the other screws of the other series. In this top view of the slidably movable element 33, only the tongue 332 and the cap 333 are visible, with the first and second parts 333A, 333B of the cap 333 being referenced from the top on the attachment device 3. These two elements are made of one piece to form a "U" shape which, given their relative arrangement with respect to the middle portion (ie on either side of the housing 2), also enables them to constitute an "H" shape, emblematic of the applicant's brand.

[0077] For the end of the transverse fastening pin 11 (at Figure 4 The fact that the opening mechanism for releasing the attachment means 33 (not visible in the drawing, as these ends are hidden in their corresponding insertion housings) is located on the inner surface of case 2, i.e. on back cover side 2 of case 2, offers on the one hand an aesthetic advantage due to the complete concealment of the attachment mechanism when the watch is worn, and on the other hand an advantage of a functional nature by avoiding any untimely opening of the attachment means 3 by the slidably movable element 33 being inadvertently caught by the external element 3. According to the following Figure 5 Explain the preferred embodiment of the tongue 332 of the slidable movable element 33, Figure 5 It constitutes a sagittal section of the attachment device 3 viewed from below along the axis AA.

[0078] On the one hand, as previously mentioned, this sagittal section makes it possible to illustrate how the attachment means 3 are joined to the watch case 2 by giving the impression that the attachment means 3 consist of a natural extension of the watch case 2 to form a standard attachment corner 38. Figure 5At the top of the figure, one can see how the lower peripheral edge 201 (note: this view shows the back cover 20 of the case 2 oriented toward the top of the figure) covers the protrusion 324 of the second part 32 of the fixing assembly 30, while at the bottom of the figure, one can see how the base 310 of the first part 31 of the fixing assembly 30 is fastened to the case 2 by means of the third screw 351C of the first series of fastening screws 351. On the right side of the figure, one can see how the partially cylindrical guide surface 317 matches the cylindrical shape of the central protrusion 10 of the interchangeable watch strap, whose transverse fastening pin 11 is clearly visible in the center of the central protrusion 10. Furthermore, the protrusion of the base 310 relative to the case 2 forms a cover lip 319, which advantageously conceals the projection at the end of the central protrusion 10, where the pin is located, and thus conceals the hinge formed relative to the case 2 when the case 2 is viewed from above.

[0079] Furthermore, this sagittal section highlights the integrated arrangement of the slidable element 33, which includes, at its base, an actuating finger 334 that abuts against the elastic return element 34, and, at its top, a tongue 332, here formed by a first portion 332A that projects toward the outside of the case 2, that is, tends to rise relative to the back cover as it approaches the center of the case 2. This arrangement improves the grip of the tongue 332 when the user attempts to change the strap 1 and pulls the tongue 332 toward the center of the case 2 (here, toward the left and against the return force F generated by the elastic return element 34). The second portion 332B of the tongue 332 has an inclination or projection in the opposite direction, with the aim of optimizing the ergonomics of the case 2 to which the attachment device 3 according to this particularly advantageous embodiment is to be attached. In fact, this end portion of the tongue 332 (second portion 332B) makes it possible to return downwards again when approaching the center of the watch case 2 so as to best match the curvature of the user's wrist. Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, there is actually no inflection point between the first part 332A and the second part 332B of the tongue 332, and the tongue 332 is made into a basically convex shape. The purpose of the dividing line shown in dotted line between the first part 332A and the second part 332B is merely to indicate where the highest point of the tongue 332 is located relative to the back cover 20 of the watch case 2 when the watch is worn, or more precisely to indicate where the lowest point of the tongue 332 is located relative to the back cover 20 of the watch case 2.

[0080] Figure 5 Another detailed aspect of the invention relates to managing the maximum travel C of the slidably movable element 33 in the longitudinal direction when the attachment device 3 is open. Figure 5As shown, there is a gap D between the rear portion of the peripheral collar 331 of the slidably movable element 33 and the bottom of the inner shoulder 322 of the second component 32, but this gap D does not necessarily correspond exactly to the maximum travel C, which is defined here as being equal to the difference between the depth P of the gap area 3104 in the longitudinal direction and the thickness E of the elastic return element 34, which corresponds here to the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the elastic return element 34. However, Figure 5 The illustrated situation corresponds to an extreme case in which the elastic return element 34 (here shown in a rest state, in its insertion channel 3102) has absolutely no prestressing when the actuating finger 334 has been introduced into the corresponding hollow portion. In fact, even in the rest state corresponding to the first locking position P1 of the attachment device, the elastic return element 34 is slightly prestressed (that is to say slightly deformed towards the rear), in which case the space available behind this rear portion in the longitudinal direction and in the direction opposite to the return force F will not have exactly the full depth P, but a reduced depth that is less than the deformation P of the elastic return element 34 in the longitudinal direction.

[0081] In other words, the system defines the following stresses:

[0082] C≤PE

[0083] However, this stress makes it very easy to define the depth P of the gap area as a function of the desired maximum travel C, which also depends on the depth of the insertion receptacle 314, since it is also desired that the cap 333 retract to a depth at least equal to the depth of the insertion receptacle 314 so that the end of the transverse fastening pin 11 can be released.

[0084] Although the present invention has been described with the aid of the preferred embodiments described above, those skilled in the art will understand that these embodiments are provided for information purposes only and are not intended to describe all possible variations for implementing the invention; it should be particularly understood that combinations between multiple technical features described within the framework of different embodiments are conceivable, as long as the multiple technical features are not mutually exclusive with respect to each other.

Claims

1. A mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap (1) to a watch case (2), characterized in that The mechanism comprises an attachment device (3) rigidly connected to the watch case (2), the attachment device comprising a fixing assembly (30) and a slidable movable element (33), the fixing assembly defining an insertion accommodating portion (314) arranged on both sides of a central recess (36), the insertion accommodating portion (314) being suitable for receiving the lateral ends of a completely fixed transverse pin (11) for fastening the watch strap (1), the slidable movable element being provided with a cap (333) capable of being longitudinally actuated and translated between a first closed position (P1) and a second open position (P2), in the first closed position the transverse pin (11) being locked in the insertion accommodating portion (314), and in the second open position the transverse pin (11) being capable of being inserted into or released from the insertion accommodating portion (314).

2. The mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The slidably movable element (33) can be actuated by means of a ribbed tongue (332).

3. The mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: An actuating finger (334) interacting with the elastic return element (34) is also arranged on said slidably movable element (33).

4. A mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The tongue (332), the cover cap (333) and the actuating finger (334) are integrally arranged on the slidably movable element (33).

5. A mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the slidably movable element (33) further comprises a peripheral collar (331), the fixing assembly (30) being formed by a first component (31) and a second component (32) provided with an inner shoulder (322), and when the first component (31) and the second component (32) are engaged with each other to form the fixing assembly (30), the inner shoulder is arranged to cover the peripheral collar (331) of the slidably movable element (33).

6. A mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The cap (333) has an inclined or convex end portion (3330).

7. The mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The mechanism has an elastic return element (34), which is arranged transversely in the insertion channel (3102) of the first part (31) of the fixing assembly (30), and is arranged to apply a return force (F) in the longitudinal direction when the cap (333) is displaced from the first closed position (P1) toward the second open position (P2) under the push of the actuating finger (334).

8. The mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The elastic return element (34) is made of Nitinol.

9. The mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that: A clearance area (316) is provided behind the insertion channel (314) to enable deformation of the elastic return element (34).

10. The mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 9, wherein: The depth (P) of the gap region (3104) is determining the maximum travel distance (C) of the cap (333).

11. A mechanism for fastening a replaceable watch strap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slidable movable element (33) has a "U" shape defining a recess (37), which is arranged to accommodate a central protrusion (10) of one end of the strand of the replaceable watch strap (1).

12. A watch case (2) comprising a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The attachment device (3) is provided with a cutout that matches the outer shape of the watch case (2) and a protrusion (324), the cutout being covered by the lower peripheral edge (201) of the back cover (20) of the watch case (2).

13. Watch case (2) comprising a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that A tongue (332) is provided to actuate the sliding element (33) of the attachment device (3), and the tongue (332) is arranged on the back cover side (20) of the watch case (2), and the tongue includes a first portion (332A) inclined or protruding toward the outer side of the watch case (2) and a second portion (332B) inclined or protruding toward the inner side of the watch case (2).

14. Watch case (2) comprising a mechanism for fastening an interchangeable watch strap (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that The attachment means (3) of the interchangeable watch strap (1) form an attachment corner (38) for the end of the interchangeable watch strap (1).

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