Arrangement of wristband on watchcase

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly of a wristband on a watchcase. The timepiece comprises at least one wristband portion extending in a longitudinal direction and removably secured to the intermediate piece so as to have a first secured configuration in which the wristband portion is secured to the intermediate piece and a second assembled configuration in which the wristband portion is separated from the intermediate piece, in which: the intermediate piece comprises at least one lug comprising a transverse opening, the timepiece comprises at least one fixing element comprising a transverse opening, the end of the wristband portion comprises at least two connecting portions each comprising a transverse through opening, in a first fixed configuration, the pivot shaft is received in the transverse opening of the lug, and in a second fixed configuration, the pivot shaft is received in the transverse opening of the lug. And a first securing configuration in which only the respective at least two connecting portions or lugs of the wristband portion and the securing element can be rotationally moved about at least one pivot axis, in order to retain the intermediate piece, the wristband portion and the securing element therebetween, and a second securing configuration in which only the respective at least two connecting portions or lugs of the wristband portion and the securing element can be rotationally moved about at least one pivot axis.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a timepiece comprising an advantageous assembly of a wrist strap on a watch case, in particular on a watch middle. Background Art

[0002] Various devices are used to secure a wristband to a watch middle piece in a removable and articulated manner. For example, in one common prior art solution, the watch middle piece has two pairs of lugs, each pair of lugs defining a cavity for receiving a link assembly at the end of the wristband. A pivot axis extending between the two lugs engages with the link assembly of the wristband, retaining it in position between the two lugs while simultaneously achieving relative articulation between the wristband and the watch case through pivoting about the pivot axis.

[0003] This fastening of the wristband to the watch case, in particular to the middle piece, must ideally achieve the following objectives:

[0004] - It must be reliable, more specifically to prevent untimely detachment of the wristband;

[0005] - it must be robust, in particular protected against wear and tear that could cause its functionality to deteriorate over time;

[0006] - It must allow for user-friendly removal and fixing of the wristband, e.g. enabling the wristband to be changed easily and quickly;

[0007] - It must have an attractive aesthetic appearance, in particular compatible with the aesthetic requirements of top-tier timepieces.

[0008] The existing solutions have achieved at least some of the above objectives, but still need to be improved. Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to improve these existing solutions.

[0009] The general object of the present invention is therefore an improved solution for fastening a wristband to a watch middle piece and more generally to a watch case.

[0010] More precisely, a first object of the invention is a reliable and robust solution for fastening a wristband to a watch case.

[0011] A second object of the invention is a user-friendly solution for fastening a wristband to a watch case.

[0012] A third object of the invention is preferably an aesthetic solution for fastening a wristband to a watch case. Summary of the Invention

[0013] To this end, the present invention consists in a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising at least one wristband portion extending in the longitudinal direction and removably fastened to a middle piece, thus presenting a first fastening configuration in which the at least one wristband portion is fastened to the middle piece and a second assembled configuration in which the at least one wristband portion is detached from the middle piece, wherein:

[0014] - said intermediate piece comprises at least one lug comprising a transverse opening,

[0015] - said timepiece comprises at least one fixing element distinct from said middle piece and said at least one wristband portion, said at least one fixing element comprising a transverse opening,

[0016] - the end of the at least one wristband portion comprises at least two connecting portions, in particular at least two connecting links, projecting in the longitudinal direction at the end of the at least one wristband portion and laterally separated from one another by a gap, the at least two connecting portions each comprising a transverse through-opening,

[0017] - in a first fixed configuration, at least one pivot axis is housed in the transverse opening of the at least one lug, in the transverse opening of the at least one fixing element and in the transverse openings of the at least two connecting portions of the wristband portion, respectively, so as to keep the intermediate piece, the at least one wristband portion and the at least one fixing element fixed therebetween,

[0018] -In the first fixed configuration, the fixing device fixes the at least one pivot axis, preventing it from rotating relative to the at least one lug and relative to the at least one fixing element or relative to the connecting portion, so that only the corresponding at least two connecting portions of the at least one wristband portion or the at least one lug and the at least one fixing element can move rotationally around the at least one pivot axis.

[0019] The present invention is more precisely defined by the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The objects, features and advantages of the present invention are described in detail in the following description of particular embodiments given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 A bottom perspective view showing an assembly in which a wristband is fixed to a watch case according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 An exploded perspective view showing the components of a wristband on a watch case according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 A partially cutaway perspective view showing the assembly of a wristband on a watch case according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 The assembly of a wristband on a watch case according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in cross section.

[0025] Figure 5 A top view showing the assembly of a wristband on a watch case according to a third embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In order to simplify the description of the present invention, identical or corresponding elements of different variants are provided with identical reference numerals.

[0027] By convention, the term "longitudinal direction" refers to the direction in which the wristband extends from the watch case, considering that the watch and its wristband are placed on a plane conventionally called the "horizontal plane." The transverse direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction in this horizontal plane. The vertical direction is perpendicular to the horizontal plane defined by the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0028] Figures 1 to 3 A first embodiment of the invention is depicted in which a particular arrangement makes it possible to assemble wristband 30 on middle piece 20 of a timepiece by means of fixing element 1 .

[0029] According to this first embodiment, the wristband 30 extends longitudinally and comprises hinged link assemblies, each composed of different links. In this embodiment, the link assemblies include five links arranged transversely, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. More specifically, each link assembly includes two edge links 34, two intermediate links 33, and one center link 32. These five links are hinged to each other via pivot axes. Furthermore, the two intermediate links 33 are offset by half a link relative to the two edge links 34 and the center link 32 in the longitudinal direction of the wristband. This offset allows this link assembly to be assembled with another similar link assembly, whose two intermediate links are adapted to be hinged to the two edge links 34 and the center link 32, aligned with the two intermediate links 33. When assembled, the wristband 30 has a continuous appearance, with indistinct distinctions between the individual link assemblies. The wristband ultimately comprises five link rows, each row consisting of links aligned in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, the rows are juxtaposed in the transverse direction, with two directly adjacent rows offset from each other by half a link in the longitudinal direction. Figure 1 and Figure 2The end link assembly of wristband 30, visible in the figure, is intended to be fastened to middle piece 20 of a timepiece. The intermediate link 33 of this end link assembly projects relative to the entire wristband 30 and forms its two connecting links. More generally, wristband 30 can have a geometry at its ends that differs from the two connecting links, as long as it includes at least two connecting portions 31 at these ends. Thus, in this first embodiment, wristband 30 includes two connecting portions 31 formed by these two connecting links.

[0030] On the other hand, in this first embodiment, middle piece 20 of the watch case includes two conventional lugs 21 suitable for receiving an assembled wristband 30. The distance between these two lugs 21 (called the inter-lug distance) is preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, or less than or equal to 15 mm, or even less than or equal to 10 mm, for example, approximately 10 mm or approximately 9 mm. Finally, a fixing element 1, separate from middle piece 20 and wristband 30, is positioned in an intervening manner between these two elements and participates in the assembly of wristband 30 on middle piece 20.

[0031] In this first embodiment, the fixing element 1 (particularly Figure 2 ) comprises a base intended to be accommodated between two lugs 21 of the intermediate piece. The fixing element 1 is constructed for positioning with little or no freedom relative to the intermediate piece. To this end, the volume of its base is limited to fitting between the two lugs 21 of the intermediate piece 20. To this end, the base comprises a lateral side 1d configured to come into contact with the inner side 21b of the lugs 21 so that the fixing element 1 has no freedom of movement in the lateral direction extending from one lug 21 to the other. On the other hand, the base of the fixing element 1 comprises a surface intended to be pressed against the surface of the intermediate piece between the two lugs, thereby adopting the curvature of this surface of the intermediate piece. Furthermore, this surface of the base comprises a protruding connecting portion 1c in the form of a rib, which is intended to engage with a complementary hollow portion 22 (in Figure 3 The fixing element 1 is not limited to the features described above. Alternatively, the hollow portion may be provided on the base of the fixing element 1, and the complementary protrusion may be provided on the surface of the fixing element 20. This engagement between the connecting portion 1c protruding from the fixing element 1 and the hollow portion of the fixing element prevents or limits vertical movement of the fixing element 1 and prevents rotation. The fixing element is not limited to the features described above. It may alternatively include only one or a subset of these features.

[0032] The fixing element 1 also includes a protrusion 1e extending from the base in the longitudinal direction away from the intermediate piece 4. In the fixed configuration of the assembly, this protrusion 1e is substantially parallel to the lug 21. This protrusion 1e is located in the central portion of the fixing element, which is symmetrically arranged on either side of this protrusion 1e. Furthermore, this protrusion 1e advantageously has a shape similar to that of a link of the wristband 30, so as to create a visual effect of continuity with the wristband 30.

[0033] The wristband 30 is assembled to the middle piece 20 via the pivot axis 2 and the fixing element 1 described above. The pivot axis 2 actually cooperates with these three different parts 1, 20, 30. To this end, the pivot axis includes an end that is accommodated in a corresponding transverse opening 21a (preferably a blind opening) in the side 21b of the two lugs 21. The pivot axis 2 then passes through the transverse through-opening 31a in each connecting part 31 of the wristband 30 (i.e., the intermediate link at the end of the wristband in this embodiment). The pivot axis 2 then passes through the transverse opening 1a in the protruding central part 1e of the fixing element. Note that due to this arrangement, the pivot axis 2, which extends laterally from one lug 21 to the other lug, is able to ultimately fix the fixing element 1 to the middle piece 20, while keeping the wristband 30 in an articulated manner on the assembly formed by the fixing element 1 and the middle piece 20.

[0034] In this first embodiment, the pivot shaft 2 is a conventional barette comprising a body 2b and at least one end portion forming a pin 2a at one end, preferably forming two pins 2a, one at each respective end. Each pin 2a slides in the body 2b. Figure 3 An elastic element 2c (such as a coil spring) visible in the drawing is housed inside the body 2b so as to exert a force on the one or more axle pins 2a tending to keep them in a position protruding beyond the body 2b. The total length of the pivot shaft 2 is therefore slightly greater than the distance between the lugs, with the result that the axle pins 2a can be housed in the holes 21a in their protruding position.

[0035] The length of the body 2b extends beyond the side 1b of the protruding portion 1e of the fixing element 1 to fit within the transverse opening 31a of the connecting portion 31. Thus, at least during the assembly phase of the assembly, the pivot shaft 2 can slide freely within the transverse opening 1a of the protruding portion of the fixing element 1. Each pin 2a of the pivot shaft 2 is designed so that it can be alternately positioned to protrude from or retract from the outer side 31b of the connecting portion 31, respectively allowing for a first configuration for securing the wristband 30 to the middle piece 20 and a second configuration for locking or unlocking the wristband 30 from the middle piece 20. Thus, each connecting portion 31 allows the pivot shaft 2 to pass through it and is thus assembled between the side 1b of the fixing element and the inner side 21b of the lug 21. In the first configuration in which the wristband 30 is secured to the middle piece 20, each pin 2a is seated within the blind transverse opening 21a in the inner side 21b of each lug 21. This configuration is stable due to the resilient retaining effect of the elastic element 2c. Note that in the first fixed configuration, all the aforementioned openings 21a, 1a, 31a are coaxially aligned in the same direction along axis A1. The pivot axis 2 is then arranged transversely to axis A1, extending from one lug 21 to the other. The pivot axis 2 can be made of a metal alloy (such as steel or a superalloy), a composite material, or a precious metal (such as gold or platinum), or a material capable of limiting friction and wear (such as a sintered ceramic, advantageously based on zirconium oxide).

[0036] Furthermore, in order to reduce wear of the friction surfaces during articulation, the pivot axis 2 is fixed against rotation relative to the fixing element 1 and relative to the intermediate piece 20. For this purpose, a device 3 for fixing the pivot axis 2 is used, without which the pivot axis would be free to rotate about its longitudinal axis, thereby rubbing on the facing surfaces of the intermediate piece 20 and the fixing element 1. In this first embodiment, the fixing device 3 essentially comprises a screw which is screwed into a thread 3a in the central part of the base of the fixing element 1 in the longitudinal direction. This screw is arranged so as to protrude vertically into the through-hole (transverse opening) 1a of the fixing element 1 until it comes into contact with the pivot axis 2 in the first fixed configuration. In Figure 3This configuration is specifically depicted in FIG. Thus, in the fixed configuration, the body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 is clamped by the screw, thereby securing it against rotation and translation within the through-opening 1a. Consequently, the body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 no longer has any degrees of freedom relative to the fixing element 1 or, indirectly, the lugs 21 of the intermediate piece 20. The threads 3a are preferably machined to conceal the screw forming the fixing means 3 when the wristband 30 is assembled to the intermediate piece 20. The screw of the fixing means 3 is preferably a flat-head screw so that it can be completely buried in the threads 3a. Therefore, in this first embodiment, when the wristband 30 is assembled to the intermediate piece 20, the screw of the fixing means 3 is concealed or concealed between the two lugs 21. This advantageously prevents the screw from being unscrewed accidentally and / or inadvertently. Furthermore, concealing or concealing the screw of the fixing means 3 prevents detracting from the overall aesthetic appearance of the assembly. In a complementary manner, the movement of the screw of the fixing means 3 in the tightening direction can optionally be limited by an axial abutment machined into the threads 3a and / or by the screw 3. By controlling the axial position of the screw, such an axial abutment can define an optimal clamping of the pivot shaft, in particular preventing too strong a clamping of the pivot shaft 2 .

[0037] Finally, in this first embodiment, only connecting portion 31 retains freedom of rotational movement relative to pivot axis 2 , enabling wristband 30 to be articulated about this pivot axis 2 and therefore relative to intermediate piece 20 and fixing element 1 .

[0038] Furthermore, in this first embodiment, an insert 4 is optionally arranged at each interface between the pivot shaft 2 and the connecting portion 31 in order to reduce wear at the level of each of these interfaces. Friction thus occurs at the level of the contact between the pivot shaft and the insert or inserts 4. The insert 4 advantageously and preferably takes the form of a tube or bearing, which is fixed in or simply positioned in a transverse opening 31a of the connecting portion 31. In embodiments in which the insert 4 is not fixed to the connecting portion 31, the transverse opening 31a may include a bearing surface 31d, the function of which is to limit the axial movement of the insert 4 and control its position in the connecting portion 31. Alternatively, the insert 4 may or may not be fixed to the body 2b of the pivot shaft 2. The body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 advantageously extends to cooperate with such an insert 4 at the level of the transverse opening 31a of the connecting portion 31.

[0039] Note that thanks to this arrangement, in the second assembled configuration, the pivot axis 2 makes it possible to form a locked assembly comprising the fixing element 1 and the connecting portion 31 of the wristband 30 and the optional insert 4. Immobilizing the pivot axis 2 against translation in fact makes it possible to prevent these elements from separating.

[0040] Finally, through the cooperation between the main body 2b of the pivot axis 2 and the insert 4, the connecting portion 31 is articulated relative to the middle piece 20 and the fixing element 1. Therefore, the wear of this articulation is determined by the insert 4. To minimize this wear, these inserts are advantageously made of a suitable material. For example, the insert 4 can be made of a sintered technical ceramic based on zirconium oxide. Alternatively, the insert can be made of a composite material, such as a mixture of ceramic and metal or a polymer (such as a thermoplastic polymer). The insert can be formed entirely or partially from such a material. For example, such a material can form a simple coating. The insert 4 advantageously has a hardness greater than or equal to 800 HV. Note that the use of such an insert advantageously enables the middle piece (including its lugs) and the fixing element 1, and even the connecting portion 31, to be made of metal (particularly precious metals such as gold or platinum), to achieve the desired aesthetic appearance. The connecting portion 31 can, in particular, be made of the same material as the bracelet's links. Similarly, the pivot axis 2 can be made of steel or precious metal. Such an insert 4 thus makes it possible to reduce the wear of components made of materials such as steel, composite materials or precious metals such as gold or platinum, such as middle piece 20, wristband 30 and pivot 2. Other materials are naturally conceivable, such as composite materials.

[0041] Note that connecting portion 31 preferably includes a notch 31c on its rear face, imperceptible to the wearer of the wristband, which opens onto a lateral opening 31a of connecting portion 31, making pin 2a accessible to the user or watchmaker. Thus, using a conventional watchmaking tool such as tweezers, a pin or a fork, pin 2a can be manually positioned against the retraction of elastic element 2c from outer side 31b of connecting portion 31, in order to enable wristband 30 to be detached from middle part 20. Alternatively, such a notch could be formed in lug 21 of middle part 20 or in fixing element 1, likewise enabling the actuation of the end portion of the pivot axis forming the pin.

[0042] More generally, the solution according to the invention advantageously allows the wristband 30 to be mounted and dismounted in a conventional manner. The pin 2a may in particular include a notch or groove sized to receive a watchmaking tool and facilitate the retraction of the pin 2a. When the wristband 30 is removed from the middle piece 20, the pivot axis 2 can preferably be removed from the fixing element 1 by loosening the screw of the fixing device 3. However, this solution is advantageous because it allows the wristband 30 and the fixing element 1 to remain assembled in the second assembled configuration via the pivot axis 2. This solution therefore facilitates the handling and assembly of this combination. Thus, the connecting portion 31 and the fixing element 1, connected together by the pivot axis 2, in effect form a fixing device that is locked onto the end of the wristband portion 30 and can be easily positioned between the two lugs 21 of the middle piece 20. This advantage also exists in other embodiments.

[0043] Figure 4 The following illustrates an assembly according to a second embodiment, which differs from the first embodiment only in the fixing device 3; the other components remain essentially the same. In this second embodiment, rotation of the main body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 is prevented by a keying arrangement. To this end, the thread 3a is arranged in a direction substantially radially perpendicular to the axis A1, such that its peripheral wall is substantially tangential to the peripheral wall of the transverse opening 1a. The main body 2b of the pivot shaft includes a groove 2d extending in a direction radially perpendicular to the axis A1 and intended to align with the thread 3a. Thus, the screw of the fixing device 3 is received in the groove 2d of the pivot shaft 2. More specifically, the screw includes an end portion 3b, preferably cylindrical, designed to be received against the groove 2b. This arrangement enables the screw to prevent rotational and translational movement of the main body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 relative to the fixed element 1 with minimal play. As a result, the main body 2b of the pivot shaft 2 no longer has any degrees of freedom relative to the fixed element 1. In this embodiment, the bottom of the thread 3 a advantageously has an abutment function, with the result that the screw of the fixing device 3 comes to axially bear against the bottom of the thread 3 a at the end of tightening, so as to control its axial position and clamp it in the thread 3 a without exerting excessive stress on the pivot axis 2 .

[0044] The present invention has been described with respect to an intermediate piece 20 comprising two lugs 21. However, the present invention is not limited to this geometry of the intermediate piece 20. For example, Figure 5A third embodiment is presented, in which the middle piece comprises a single lug 21 having two blind transverse openings 21a or two transverse through-openings (particularly suitable for forming a single transverse through-opening) arranged at the level of its two opposing faces and oriented along the transverse axis A1. To assemble this middle piece, the fixing element 1 comprises two protrusions 1e, symmetrically arranged around the lug 21 at a distance therefrom that is substantially equal to the width of the wristband link. These protrusions 1e comprise blind transverse openings 1a, also oriented along the axis A1, at the level of their inner surfaces. In this embodiment, the geometry of the lug 21 and protrusions 1e is thus reversed relative to the previous embodiments. Note that the two protrusions 1e can be arranged on a single fixing element 1 or on different fixing elements 1. The wristband portion 30 can be identical to the wristband portions of the previous two embodiments. The two connecting portions 31 of the wristband portion 30 are accommodated around the lug 21, between the lug 21 and the corresponding protrusions 1e. In this third embodiment, two pivot shafts 2 are arranged along axis A1 to secure each corresponding connecting portion 31 in lug 21 and on protrusion 1e. Each pivot shaft 2 comprises at least one pin 2a positioned in a transverse opening 21a of lug 21 and a body 2b disposed in protrusion 1e and extending at least partially through transverse opening 31a of connecting portion 31. Furthermore, each pivot shaft 2 is secured against rotation by a securing device 3 arranged at the level of protrusion 1e.

[0045] This third embodiment thus comprises two fixing devices 3, each cooperating with a corresponding pivot axis 2. Each fixing device 3 can embody one of the solutions of the two previous embodiments. Furthermore, at least one insert 4 is arranged in each connecting portion 31, which functions as described in conjunction with the first embodiment. Note that in this embodiment, the lug 21 of the intermediate element 20 is located in the space between the two connecting portions 31 of at least one wristband portion 30 and is no longer a protrusion 1e of the fixing element 1, as in the previous embodiments.

[0046] In a variant embodiment, the lateral position of the protruding portion 1 e and the lateral position of the connecting portion 31 can be interchanged.

[0047] The invention is naturally not limited to the precise geometries of the various elements shown.

[0048] As mentioned above, in one embodiment, the connection portion is located at the end of the wristband. Two connection portions have been described by way of example. The wristband may alternatively include more than two connection portions, in particular three connection portions, and more generally, at least two connection portions.

[0049] On the other hand, when the wristband comprises an assembly of links (in particular metal links), the connecting portion advantageously takes the form of a connecting link arranged at the end of the wristband, advantageously protruding from the wristband, the connecting link having the same or a similar shape as the other links of the wristband to impart a continuous aesthetic appearance. The invention has been described with reference to a wristband comprising five rows of links. It can naturally be applied to wristbands comprising a different number of rows of links (for example, three rows of links). The connecting portions are advantageously links of the wristband. However, they can alternatively be different from the links of the wristband and have a different geometry than these links. If the wristband comprises rigid links connected to one another in an articulated manner, the wristband can therefore comprise at least three or five longitudinally extending rows of links, which are juxtaposed and offset to one another, such that two directly juxtaposed links belonging to two different directly juxtaposed rows of links are offset relative to one another in the longitudinal direction. The connecting portion is advantageously formed by at least two end links, which form the connecting link and are part of two respective rows of intermediate links, which are separated by at least one row of links, so that the space separating the two end links from each other corresponds to the width of at least one link.

[0050] In a variant embodiment, the wristband can be made of a flexible material, such as leather or a polymer (elastomer, thermoplastic polymer, thermoplastic elastomer). In this case, the connection portion can be arranged at the end of the flexible wristband and can be made of a material such as steel, a composite material or a precious metal (such as gold or platinum), or a material capable of limiting friction and wear such as sintered ceramic (advantageously based on zirconium oxide). Alternatively, the connection portion 31 can be part of the wristband portion 30 made of a flexible material, these connection portions 31 also being made of a flexible material. At least one insert 4 should advantageously be arranged inside it.

[0051] Furthermore, the invention has been described using a conventional middle piece with one or two lugs. Such lugs could naturally have any other geometrical configuration, not necessarily standardized. Likewise, the middle piece could have any other geometrical configuration forming part of the watch case.

[0052] The intermediate piece is advantageously arranged in line with the wristband and has a total width substantially equal to the width of the wristband measured in the transverse direction. In the case of the intermediate piece described in conjunction with the first two embodiments having two lugs, the distance measured from the outer or inner end (preferably the outer end) of the first lug to the outer or inner end (preferably the outer end) of the second lug corresponds substantially to the width of the wristband. Alternatively, in the case of the intermediate piece described in the third embodiment having only one lug, the distance measured from the outer or inner end (preferably the inner end) of the first protruding portion to the outer or inner end (preferably the inner end) of the second protruding portion, these protruding portions being part of one or both fixing elements, corresponds substantially to the width of the wristband.

[0053] As mentioned above, the arrangement may include one, two, or even more pivot axes. Thus, it includes at least one pivot axis. Each pivot axis may have any geometry other than that shown. For example, the pivot axis may be non-cylindrical in whole or in part, for example with a square, trilobal, or half-moon cross-section, in particular to provide for rotational fixation of the pivot axis in its corresponding cavity. The pivot axis may also include at least one bearing surface to form an axial abutment that allows precise positioning in its cavity. Advantageously, its one or more pins are integrated into at least one lug of the intermediate piece.

[0054] As mentioned above, the fixing device serves to prevent the pivot axis from rotating relative to certain components in order to limit wear. In practice, it is advantageously sufficient to prevent the wristband from rotating relative to the case, either by rotating the wristband around the pivot axis or by rotating the case relative to the pivot axis. In the embodiment described, the fixing device acts on the pivot axis at the level of the fixing element. It could therefore alternatively act at the level of the lug or at the level of the wristband's connecting portion: in the latter case, the pivot axis 2 would thus be fixed in the connecting portion 31 and would be free to rotate at the level of the fixing element and at least one lug. In order to create a strong and controlled friction surface, one or more inserts may optionally be arranged at the level of the pivot axis, while the pivot axis is free to rotate.

[0055] On the other hand, the fixing means can be implemented by solutions other than those described. For example, it can include a non-circular pivot axis segment that cooperates with a corresponding segment of the transverse opening 31a of the at least two connecting parts 31 or a corresponding segment of the transverse opening of at least one protruding portion of the fixing element and / or a corresponding segment of the transverse opening of at least one lug, so as to prevent the pivot axis from rotating relative to the fixing element and / or relative to the at least one lug. Alternatively or in addition, the fixing means can include a mounting element, in particular a key or a screw as described above, which projects into the transverse opening so as to come into contact with the pivot axis, thereby preventing its rotation and any translational movement thereof by friction and / or by forming an obstruction.

[0056] The fixing element makes it possible to complete the intermediate piece and / or the wristband to form different and complementary elements that facilitate the fixing of the wristband to the watch case. Thus, the fixing element can have any shape capable of receiving the pivot axis. It can be associated with the watch case in a variety of ways. For example, this association can be a simple nesting, without the help of a shape fixation (which can limit or eliminate the degrees of freedom), and then one or more hinge pins ensure its retention. The fixing element can alternatively be fixed to the watch case by fixing means such as screws or clips or by nailing, gluing or welding.

[0057] Optional inserts have been envisioned to minimize frictional wear. Such inserts may be non-cylindrical in whole or in part, having, for example, a square, trilobal, or half-moon cross-section, particularly to prevent rotation within their respective cavities or relative to the pin. The inserts may also include at least one bearing surface to form an axial abutment that enables precise positioning within their cavities.

Claims

1. A timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising at least one wristband portion (30), the at least one wristband portion (30) extending in a longitudinal direction and being detachably fixed to a middle piece (20), thus having a first fixed configuration in which the at least one wristband portion (30) is fixed to the middle piece (20) and a second assembled configuration in which the at least one wristband portion (30) is separated from the middle piece (20), wherein: - said intermediate piece (20) comprises at least one lug (21) comprising a transverse opening (21a), - said timepiece comprises at least one fixing element (1) distinct from said middle piece (20) and said at least one wristband portion (30), said at least one fixing element (1) comprising a transverse opening (1a), - the end of the at least one wristband portion (30) comprises at least two connecting portions (31), in particular at least two connecting links, projecting in the longitudinal direction at the end of the at least one wristband portion (30) and laterally separated from each other by a gap, the at least two connecting portions (31) each comprising a transverse through-opening (31a), - in a first fixed configuration, at least one pivot axis (2) is housed in the transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21), in the transverse opening (1a) of the at least one fixing element (1) and in the transverse openings (31a) of the respective at least two connecting portions (31) of the wristband, so as to keep the intermediate piece (20), the at least one wristband portion (30) and the at least one fixing element (1) fixed therebetween, - In the first fixed configuration, the fixing device (3) fixes the at least one pivot axis (2) and prevents it from rotating relative to the at least one lug (21) and relative to the at least one fixing element (1) or relative to the connecting portion (31), so that only the corresponding at least two connecting portions (31) of the at least one wristband portion (30) or the at least one lug (21) and the at least one fixing element (1) can move rotationally around the at least one pivot axis (2).

2. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein: In the first fixing configuration, the lug (21) of the intermediate piece (20) or the protruding portion (1e) of the at least one fixing element (1) comprising the transverse opening (1a) is located in the gap between the two connecting portions (31) of the at least one wristband portion (30).

3. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: An insert (4), in particular a tube or a bearing, is arranged in the transverse opening (31a) of each corresponding connecting portion (31) of the at least one wristband portion (30) or in the transverse opening (1a) of the at least one fixing element (1) and / or in the transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21) to form a first fixed form interface and limit friction wear.

4. The timepiece according to claim 3, wherein: The insert (4) is made entirely of sintered technical ceramics or a composite material formed from a mixture of technical ceramics and metals or polymers, or the insert (4) comprises a sintered technical ceramic coating or a composite material formed from a mixture of technical ceramics and metals or polymers, and / or the insert (4) has a hardness greater than or equal to 800 HV.

5. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - said at least one wristband portion (30) comprises rigid links connected together in an articulated manner and comprising at least three or five link rows extending in the longitudinal direction, said link rows being juxtaposed and offset to one another such that two directly juxtaposed links belonging to two different and directly juxtaposed link rows are offset relative to one another in said longitudinal direction, said at least two connecting portions (31) being two end links belonging to respective link rows separated by at least one link row such that said two end links are separated from one another by said gap corresponding to the width of at least one link; or - said at least one wristband portion (30) is flexible and comprises said at least two connecting portions protruding at its ends.

6. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In a first fixed configuration, the fixing means (3) fix the at least one pivot axis (2) against translational movement in the transverse direction.

7. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In a second assembled configuration, the fixing device (3) fixes the at least one pivot axis (2) against translational movement in a transverse direction, thereby maintaining the at least one fixing element (1) assembled to the at least two connecting parts (31).

8. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The fixing device (3) is: - a non-circular section of the at least one pivot axis (2), which cooperates with a corresponding section of the transverse opening (31a) of the corresponding at least two connecting parts (31) or a corresponding section of the transverse opening (1a) of the at least one protruding part (1e) of the at least one fixing element (1) and / or a corresponding section of the transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21) so as to fix the at least one pivot axis (2) against rotation relative to the at least two connecting parts (31) or relative to the at least one fixing element (1) and / or relative to the at least one lug (21), or - a mounting element, in particular a grub screw, which projects into the transverse opening (31a) of the respective at least two connecting parts (31) or into the transverse opening (1a) of the at least one protruding part (1e) of the at least one fixing element (1) and / or into the transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21) so as to come into contact with the at least one pivot axis (2) in order to fix the at least one pivot axis (2) and thereby prevent its rotation and possible translational movement by friction and / or by forming an obstacle.

9. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In order to prevent its untimely release, in the first fixing configuration, the fixing device (3) is adapted to be hidden or concealed and inaccessible.

10. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The fixing means (3) is a screw screwed into the transverse opening (31a) of the respective at least two connecting parts (31) or the transverse opening (1a) of the at least one fixing element (1) and / or the transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21), and the fixing means (3) and / or the thread (3a) include an abutment portion that enables an optimal clamping of the pivot shaft (2) in the first fixing configuration.

11. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In the first fixing form, the at least one fixing element (1) is positioned in the cavity of the intermediate piece (20) to provide a connection without freedom between the at least one fixing element (1) and the intermediate piece (20), or in the first fixing form, the at least one fixing element (1) is fixed to the intermediate piece (20) by a fixing method such as screwing, nailing, gluing or clamping.

12. The timepiece according to claim 11, wherein: The fixing element (1) comprises a base, the volume of which is defined so as to be positioned in a tight fit between the two lugs (21) of the intermediate piece (20) in the event that the intermediate piece (20) has two lugs (21), and / or the fixing element (1) comprises a base, which comprises a surface intended to be pressed against a surface of the intermediate piece (20), thereby adopting the curvature of this surface of the intermediate piece (20), and / or the fixing element (1) comprises a base, which comprises a protruding connecting portion (1c) or a hollow portion intended to cooperate with a complementary hollow portion (22) or a complementary protrusion of the intermediate piece (20), the protruding connecting portion (1c) being in particular in the form of a rib.

13. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The at least one pivot axis (2) comprises at least one end portion forming an axis pin (2a), which continuously projects due to the action of an elastic element (2c), such as a coil spring, and which at least one end portion forming an axis pin (2a) is accommodated in a transverse opening (21a) of the at least one lug (21) in the first fixed configuration.

14. The timepiece according to claim 13, wherein: It comprises a recess (31c) in the connecting portion (31), in the lug (21) of the intermediate piece (20) or in the at least one fixing element (1) to enable actuation of the at least one end portion forming a pin (2a) protruding from the at least one pivot axis (2) and movement of the pin (2a) to its position protruding towards the retracted position, overcoming the force exerted by the elastic element (2c), in order to pass from the first fixing configuration to the second assembly configuration and vice versa.

15. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The intermediate piece (20) comprises two lugs (21), each lug (21) comprising a blind transverse opening (21a), the at least one fixing element (1) comprising only one protrusion (1e), the protrusion (1e) being arranged between the two lugs (21) and extending substantially parallel to the two lugs (21) in the first fixing configuration, and the at least one wristband portion (30) comprising two connecting portions (31), the two connecting portions (31) being arranged in the first fixing configuration between the corresponding lugs (21) and the protrusion (1e) of the at least one fixing element (1) so as to align the blind transverse openings (21a) of the two lugs (21), the transverse opening (1a) passing through the at least one fixing element (1) and the two transverse through-openings (31a) of each corresponding connecting portion of the two connecting portions (31), all of which receive the at least one pivot axis (2) in the first fixing configuration.

16. The timepiece according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein: The intermediate piece (20) comprises a single lug (21), the single lug (21) comprising at least one transverse through-opening (21a), one or more of the fixing elements (1) comprising two protrusions (1e), the two protrusions (1e) being arranged on respective opposite sides of the lug (21) and extending substantially parallel to the lug (21) in the first fixing form, and the at least one wristband portion (30) comprising two connecting portions (31), the two connecting portions (31) being respectively arranged between the lug (21) and the protrusion (1e) in the first fixing form so as to align the at least one transverse opening (21a) of the lug (21), the blind transverse opening (1a) of each corresponding protrusion of the two protrusions (1e) and the two transverse through-openings (31a) of each connecting portion of the corresponding two connecting portions (31), all of which receive the at least one pivot axis (2) in the first fixing form.

17. A timepiece according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In the case where the intermediate piece (20) has two lugs (21), the total width of the at least one wristband (30) measured in the transverse direction is equal to the distance from the outer end or inner end of the first lug (21) to the outer end or inner end of the second lug (21), or in the case where the intermediate piece (20) has only one lug (21), the total width of the at least one wristband (30) measured in the transverse direction is equal to the distance from the inner end or outer end of the first protruding portion (1e) of the at least one fixing element (1) to the inner end or outer end of the second protruding portion (1e).

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