DEVICE FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING A BRACELET

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a removable attachment device for a watch strap to a component, particularly a watch case, to which the strap is to be attached. This device comprises two complementary attachment members fixed, respectively, to the connecting ends of the strap and the component. The invention also relates to a wristwatch comprising such a device. The invention further relates to a watch case having an attachment member designed to cooperate with another complementary attachment member. Finally, the invention relates to a strap section having an attachment member designed to cooperate with another complementary attachment member.

[0002] The most common way to attach a watch strap between the lugs of a watch case is with a spring bar. This spring bar has a retaining pin at each end, one of these pins being attached to a piston that slides within the other tubular section of the bar. A helical spring inside the tubular section is used to extend the pin out of its housing. The open end of the tubular wall is slightly deformed inwards after the piston is inserted to prevent it from protruding from the tubular section.

[0003] Attaching and removing a bracelet using this fastening method requires tools to insert and hold the piston within the tubular section. This operation demands a certain level of skill. Furthermore, once the spring bar has been inserted between the lugs, the hole in the lugs must be located to allow the spring to be inserted into the pin. Therefore, this is not a task for everyone. Other fastening methods exist, as detailed in document EP1219199A2.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to remedy, at least in part, the disadvantages of this method of attachment and to make the operation of replacing a bracelet accessible to everyone.

[0005] For this purpose, the present invention essentially relates to a removable connection device for a bracelet to a part or organ to which this bracelet is to be attached, in particular a watch case, as defined by claim 1.

[0006] In this device, the fastening elements are oriented along a Z direction, for example, transversely to the longitudinal X direction of the bracelet. One of the fastening elements is movable laterally, for example along a Y direction, between two limit positions: a first position in which it is engaged with the other fastening element, and a second position in which it is disengaged from this other fastening element. Elastic return means tend to maintain the laterally movable fastening element between the two limit positions in its first position.

[0007] Preferably, the watch case includes a seat for a removable stop element and means for fixing this stop element to this seat, this removable stop element defining the first limit position of the movable latching member between two limit positions.

[0008] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the hooking members include snap-on elements to enable the displacement of the movable hooking member between two limit positions, against the pressure of said elastic return means, from its first to its second limit position, when the two hooking members are engaged in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction of the hooking members.

[0009] It is also advantageous that the removable stop element has an opening to allow access to the movable hooking member and to move it against the elastic return means to bring it into the second of its limit positions.

[0010] This device is simple and allows the bracelet to be put on and taken off without any special tools or skills, and by each user.

[0011] The attached drawings illustrate, schematically and by way of example, one embodiment of the device which is the subject of the invention. There figure 1 is an elevation view of a wristwatch; the figures 1A et 1B are enlarged partial cross-sections of the left and right cut parts, respectively, of the figure 1 ; there figure 1C is a left-hand view of the watch figure 1 ; there figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 with two other partial cuts; the figure 2A is an enlarged cross-section of the left-hand cut portion of the figure 2 ; there figure 2B is an enlarged cross-section of the cut right part of the figure 2 ; there figure 3 is an enlarged partial elevation view of the figure 1 rotated 90° counterclockwise; the figures 3A et 3B are cuts of the watch according to the figure 3 following BB and CC, respectively; the figure 4 is a perspective view in which one of the removable connecting devices of the bracelet to the watch case is exploded; the figures 5A et 5B are two enlarged perspective views of a fastening element of the removable connecting device according to the invention; figures 6A et 6B are two enlarged perspective views of the other attachment member of the removable linking device according to the invention.

[0012] Although the illustrated embodiment which will be described below relates to the attachment of a bracelet to a watch, it is evident that a similar device can be used to attach a bracelet to a part other than a watch case, such as a clasp, or even to a piece of jewelry.

[0013] THE figures 1 et 2 illustrate a watch case 1, on each side of which one end of a bracelet strand 2a, 2b is intended to be removably connected. figures 1 et 2 show one end of bracelet strand 2a connected to the left side of watch case 1 and one end of bracelet strand 2b separated from the right side of watch case 1.

[0014] The connecting device that is the subject of the invention is illustrated by the figure 4 and the two complementary attachment elements 3 and 4 are illustrated separately by the figures 5A, 5B , respectively 6A, 6B. The fastening member 4 is designed to be inserted into one end of the bracelet strands 2a, 2b, as illustrated by the figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B et 4 The latching member 3 comprises a latching element 3a divided into two by a pusher element including a head 3b and a rod 3c. The lower face of this rod 3c has a cylindrical housing 3d ( figure 5B ) to receive a return spring 5 ( figure 4 A sleeve 6 is intended to be fixed in an opening formed in the bottom of a rectangular recess 7 in the lugs of the watch case 1. This rectangular recess is intended to receive the attachment element 3a and to position it, for example in the direction Z, transversely to the longitudinal direction X of the bracelet 2a, 2b. The return spring 5, compressed between the bottom of the sleeve 6 and the bottom of the recess 3d in the pusher stem 3c, serves to push the attachment element 3 outwards from the case middle 1.

[0015] To limit the stroke of the latching member 3, the head 3b of the pusher has two lateral bearing surfaces 3e. These bearing surfaces are designed to bear against two opposite edges of a rectangular opening 8a of a stop member 8 ( figure 4 ) under the pressure of the return spring 5. This stop member 8 is shaped to fit onto a seat 10 located in the space between the lugs of the case 1 and is fixed by two screws 9 onto this seat of the watch case 1.

[0016] A fastening member 4 is inserted at one end of each bracelet strand 2a, 2b. This fastening member 4 has a fastening element 4a arranged transversely to the bracelet 2, for example along the Z direction and divided into two parts by a passage 4b ​​to receive the rod 3c of the pusher of the fastening member 3 when the fastening element is attached to the fastening element 3. To allow this assembly of the two fastening members 3 and 4, the fastening member has a transverse housing 4c ( figure 6B ). To facilitate assembly and make it automatic following a simple push exerted in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet 2 towards the case 1, the engagement faces 3f, 4f, of the attachment member 3, respectively of the attachment member 4 are beveled, thus forming a snap-fit ​​assembly, allowing assembly in one direction and preventing separation in the opposite direction.

[0017] Indeed, separation can only be achieved by applying pressure to the head 3b of the pusher to move, in particular move laterally in the Y direction, the assembly member 3 against the pressure of the return spring 6, as illustrated by the figure 2BPreferably, the head 3b of the pusher is recessed into the thickness of the stop member's board 8 so that the pusher cannot be actuated inadvertently. In this case, a simple ballpoint pen tip, for example, can be used to actuate the head 3b of the pusher to release the assembly element 3a from the housing 4c and the assembly element 4a from the assembly member 4.

[0018] Thanks to the design of this connecting device, the user does not need to remove the stop 8. This stop, along with the attachment 3 and its return spring, is installed at the factory. The only action required of the user is to press the pusher 3b when removing the strap. To replace the strap, a simple push along the longitudinal axis of the strap towards the watch case 1 is sufficient, as the attachments are assembled by snap-fit. In addition to its simplicity of design and use, the connecting device of the invention offers security guarantees comparable to a conventional bar fastening.

[0019] In the embodiment described above, the X, Y, and Z axes are pairwise perpendicular. In other embodiments, these axes are not necessarily perpendicular. They may also be substantially perpendicular. In particular, the X and Y axes are not necessarily perpendicular.

[0020] In one embodiment, the watch case includes the first attachment member 3 intended to cooperate with the second attachment member 4 provided on a strap strand, the first attachment member being laterally movable between two limit positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the second attachment member 4, a second position in which it is dissociated from this second attachment member 4, the elastic return means 5 tending to maintain the first laterally movable attachment member 3 between two limit positions in said first position.

[0021] In this embodiment, the bracelet strap includes a second attachment member intended to cooperate with the first attachment member provided on the watch case.

[0022] In another embodiment, a bracelet strap includes the first attachment member intended to cooperate with the second attachment member provided on the watch case, the first attachment member being laterally movable between two limit positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the second attachment member, a second position in which it is dissociated from this second attachment member, the elastic return means tending to maintain the first laterally movable attachment member between two limit positions in said first position.

[0023] In this embodiment, the watch case includes a second attachment member intended to cooperate with the first attachment member provided on the strap strand.

[0024] In one embodiment, the wristwatch includes a device with a first connecting element attached to a strand of the bracelet and a second connecting element attached to the watch case.

[0025] Thus, according to one embodiment, the invention relates to a removable connection device for a bracelet 2a, 2b to a part to which this bracelet is to be attached, in particular a watch case 1, this device comprising two complementary attachment members 3, 4 intended to be attached, respectively, to the connecting ends of said bracelet 2a, 2b and to said part, characterized in that said attachment members are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of said bracelet 2a, 2b; one 3 of said attachment members is laterally movable between two limit positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the other 4 of said attachment members, a second position in which it is dissociated from this other attachment member 4 and in that elastic return means 5 tend to maintain said laterally movable attachment member 3 between two limit positions in said first position.

[0026] The said part, in particular a watch case 1, may include a seat 10 for a removable stop element 8 and means for fixing this stop element 8 to this seat 10, this removable stop element 8 defining said first limit position of said attachment member 3 movable between two limit positions.

[0027] The said hooking members 3, 4 may include snap-in elements 3f, 4f to enable the displacement of said hooking member 3 between two limit positions, against the pressure of said elastic return means 5, from its first to its second limit position when the two hooking members 3, 4 are engaged in a direction perpendicular to the transverse direction of said hooking members.

[0028] The said removable stop element 8 may have an opening 8a to allow access to said movable hooking member 3 and to move it against said elastic return means 5 to bring it into the second of said limit positions.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a watch case, or a strap strand, comprising a first attachment member 3 intended to cooperate with a second attachment member 4 provided on a strap strand, or on a watch case, the first attachment member being laterally movable between two limit positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the second attachment member 4, a second position in which it is dissociated from this second attachment member 4, the elastic return means 5 tending to maintain the first laterally movable attachment member 3 between two limit positions in said first position.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a watch case, or a strap strand, comprising a second attachment member intended to cooperate with a first attachment member provided on a strap strand, or a watch case, the first attachment member being laterally movable between two limit positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the second attachment member 4, a second position in which it is dissociated from this second attachment member 4, the elastic return means 5 tending to maintain the first laterally movable attachment member 3 between two limit positions in said first position.

[0031] The invention also relates to a wristwatch comprising a device as described above, one of the connecting members being attached to a strand of the bracelet and the other of the connecting members being attached to a case of the watch.

Claims

1. Removable connecting device for a wrist band (2a, 2b) to a component to which the wrist band is to be attached, in particular a watch case (1), this device comprising two complementary coupling members (3, 4) intended to be secured to the connection ends of said wrist band (2a, 2b) and to said component, respectively, characterized in that the device comprises a removable stop element (8) having a rectangular opening (8a) to limit the stroke of the coupling member (3), and in that said coupling members are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of said wrist band (2a, 2b); device in which: - a first one (3) of said coupling members is movable along a first lateral direction (Y), transversely to the longitudinal direction (X) of the wrist band, and between two end positions, a first position in which it is engaged with the second (4) of said coupling members, and a second position in which it is dissociated from this second coupling member (4), return spring means (5) of the device tending to keep said first coupling member (3) in said first position ; - the first coupling member (3) having a coupling element (3a) oriented in a second transversal direction (Z), different from the first lateral direction and from the longitudinal direction (X) of the wrist band, and being bisected by a rod (3c) associated with a pusher comprising a head (3b), which comprises two lateral support faces (3e) intended to bear against two opposite sides of the rectangular opening (8a) of the stop member (8) under the pressure of return spring means (5) in said first position, the coupling element (3a) being adapted to cooperate with a transverse housing (4c) of the second coupling element (4) ; and - the second coupling member (4) having said transverse housing (4c) and a coupling element (4a) extending also in said second transversal direction (Z), the coupling element (4a) being bisected by a passage (4b) for receiving said rod (3c) of the first coupling member (3) during coupling of the two coupling members.

2. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said component, in particular a watch case (1), has a seat (10) for the removable stop element (8) and means (9) for fixing this stop element (8) on this seat (10).

3. Device according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that said coupling means (3, 4) have snap-fastening elements (3f, 4f) to enable movement of said coupling member (3) movable between two end positions, against the pressure of said return spring means (5), from its first to its second end position during the coming into engagement of the two coupling members (3, 4) in the longitudinal direction (X).

4. Device according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that the return spring means (5) comprise a spring arranged in a cylindrical housing (3d) of the rod (3c) of the first coupling member (3).

5. Wristwatch comprising a device according to one of preceding claims, one of the connecting members being secured to a wrist band section and the other of the connecting members being secured to a watch case of the wristwatch.

6. Wristwatch according to the preceding claim, comprising the watch case (1) and wrist band section (2a), the watch case, respectively the wrist band section, comprising said first coupling member (3), intended to cooperate with said second coupling member (4) arranged on the wrist band section, respectively on the watch case.

7. Wristwatch according to the preceding claim, wherein the watch case (1) has a seat (10) for the removable stop element (8) and means (9) for fixing this stop element (8) on this seat (10), this removable stop element (8) defining said first end position of said coupling member (3) movable between two end positions.

8. Wristwatch according to the preceding claim, wherein said removable stop element (8) has an opening (8a) to allow access to said movable coupling element (3) and moving it against said elastic return means (5) to bring it into the second of said end positions.