Device for locking a clasp

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device (10) for a clasp (20), comprising a pusher (100) movable in translation within a support structure (110) between a rest position in which it is intended to prevent the opening of the clasp (20) and an active position in which it is intended to release the opening of the clasp (20), the locking device (10) being characterized in that it comprises a blocking member (120) of the pusher (100) configured to occupy a locked state in which it immobilizes the pusher (100) in the rest position and an unlocked state in which it releases the pusher (100) in translation.

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to the field of jewelry or watch bracelets and relates in particular to a locking device for a clasp pusher. Technological background

[0002] There are many types of bracelet clasps. In particular, in the field of watchmaking, clasps comprising a folding clasp, single or double, i.e. with two or three blades, are commonly used and are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0003] For example, the clasp may include a pusher attached to one blade and may be linked to a hook intended to engage with another blade when the clasp is closed. Pressing the clasp allows the hook to be moved so as to disengage it from the other blade to allow the clasp to open.

[0004] This type of clasp is therefore easy and quick to open, by applying pressure to the pushers. These advantages are, however, exploited during watch thefts when they are worn by a user. Indeed, the majority of luxury watch thefts are carried out by substituting the watch while it is being worn by a user, the latter generally not being aware, at the time, that his watch has been stolen.

[0005] There is therefore a need to secure the clasp of a watch or piece of jewelry. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing, for this purpose, a device for locking a clasp, comprising a pusher movable in translation in a support structure between a rest position in which it is intended to prevent the clasp from opening and an active position in which it is intended to release the clasp from opening. The locking device further comprises a pusher blocking member configured to occupy a locking state in which it immobilizes the pusher in the rest position and an unlocking state in which it releases the pusher in translation.

[0007] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination.

[0008] In particular embodiments, the pusher is connected to the support structure by means of a locking rod, the locking member comprising a cam movable relative to the pusher so as to constitute a stop for the locking rod when the locking member occupies the locking state and so as to disengage from the travel of the locking rod when the locking member occupies the unlocking state.

[0009] In particular embodiments, the cam is rotatable and has a cam profile against which the locking rod is in abutment when the pusher is urged from its rest position and the locking member is in the locking state, said cam being provided with a radial notch in which the locking rod is engaged when the pusher is in the active position and the locking member is in the unlocking state.

[0010] In particular embodiments, the cam profile has a radial hollow whose shape corresponds to that of the end of the locking rod, so as to prevent rotation of the cam when the pusher is urged from its rest position and the locking member occupies the locked state.

[0011] In particular embodiments, the locking member comprises a control element connected to the cam so as to drive the latter in rotation when it is activated by a user.

[0012] In particular embodiments, the control element consists of a wheel whose axis of rotation coincides with that of the cam.

[0013] In particular embodiments, the control element is held in a stable angular position by a jumper.

[0014] In particular embodiments, the control element has more than three stable positions, in only one of which the locking member occupies the unlocked state.

[0015] In particular embodiments, the cam profile comprises as many hollows as there are stable positions except that in which the locking member occupies the unlocked state, said hollows being distributed uniformly.

[0016] In particular embodiments, the control element comprises a marker whose position is representative of the locking or unlocking state of the control member.

[0017] In particular embodiments, the pusher is forced into movement towards its rest position by a spring and comprises at least one guide rod slidably engaged in the support structure, the latter also comprising at least one guide rod slidably engaged in the pusher.

[0018] In particular embodiments, the guide rod slidably engaged in the support structure has an axial stop configured to rest against the support structure when the pusher is in the rest position.

[0019] According to another object, the present invention relates to a folding clasp for a watch or a piece of jewelry, comprising at least two blades connected to each other in a rotatable manner, and a locking device as previously described, the support structure of which is formed by one of the blades of the clasp. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 represents a front view of a locking device of a clasp according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the figure 2 represents a sectional view of the device of the figure 1 , the locking device comprising a pusher in a rest position and a blocking member in an unlocked state, the figure 3 represents the sectional view of the figure 2 , in which the pusher is arranged in an active position, the figure 4 represents the sectional view of the figure 2 , in which the locking member is in a locked state, the Figure 5 represents a sectional view of the device of the figure 2 in a parallel section plane, the figure 6represents an isolated view of the locking device of the figure 1 according to another embodiment, the figure 7 represents a perspective view of a closed folding clasp including the locking device of the figure 1 .

[0021] Note that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity. Detailed description of the invention

[0022] The invention relates to a locking device 10 for a clasp 20, for example of a watch or a piece of jewelry, in particular a clasp 20 with a folding buckle, for example with two or three blades. The locking device is shown in the figures 1 to 6 and is described firstly, a clasp 20 comprising the locking device 10 is shown in the figure 7 and is described in a second step as an example of application of the invention.

[0023] There figure 1illustrates that the locking device 10 comprises a pusher 100 secured to a support structure 110. The support structure 110 is for example constituted by one of the blades of the clasp 20. The pusher 100 is, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, movable in translation relative to the support structure 110 between a rest position in which it is intended to prevent the opening of the clasp 20 and an active position in which it is intended to release the opening of the clasp 20. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a sectional view of the pusher 100 respectively in the rest position and in the active position.

[0024] Advantageously, the locking device 10 comprises a blocking member 120 of the pusher 100 configured to occupy a locking state in which it immobilizes the pusher 100 in the rest position and an unlocking state in which it releases the mobility of the pusher 100 in translation. Figures 2 and 3illustrate the locking member 120 in the unlocked state and the figure 4 illustrates the locking member 120 in the locking state.

[0025] The pusher 100 is connected to the support structure 110 by means of a locking rod 111 fixed without a degree of freedom to said support structure 110. The locking member 120 is preferably housed in the pusher 100 and comprises a cam 112 movable relative to the pusher 100, preferably in rotation. Thus, the cam 112 constitutes a stop for the locking rod 111 when the locking member 120 occupies the locking state and is released from the travel of the locking rod 111 when the locking member 120 occupies the unlocking state.

[0026] In particular, the cam 112 has a cam profile 113 against which the locking rod 111 is in abutment when the pusher 100 is urged from its rest position and the blocking member 120 occupies the locking state. The cam 112 is provided with a radial notch 114 in which the locking rod 111 is engaged when the pusher 100 is in the active position and the blocking member 120 occupies the unlocking state, as shown in figure 3 The depth of the radial notch 114 therefore determines the travel of the pusher 100 between its rest and active positions.

[0027] The locking member 120 comprises a control element 121 connected to the cam 112 and intended to be acted upon by a user so as to cause the latter to move. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the control element 121 is constituted by a wheel provided with teeth and whose axis of rotation coincides with that of the cam 112.

[0028] Advantageously, the locking member 120 may comprise a jumper 122 configured to maintain the control element 121, and consequently the cam 112, in a stable angular position. The jumper 122 may be fixed in the pusher 100 and may rest against the control element 121, as shown in the Figure 5 , or against cam 112 as described in detail below.

[0029] The control element 121 comprises a mark 123 whose position relative to the pusher 100 is representative of the locking or unlocking state of the blocking member 120. In particular, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the blocking member 120 is in the unlocking state when the mark 123 of the control element 120, here constituted by a colored mark, is in a central position, as visible on the Figure 5 This reference 123 allows the user to simply and quickly find the position of the control element 121 allowing the locking member 120 to be placed in the unlocked state.

[0030] The control element 121 can advantageously occupy several discrete stable positions, for example more than three, and in particular nine in the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. In only one of these positions of the control element 121, the blocking member 120 occupies the unlocked state. Thus, a user of the watch can simply and quickly arrange the control member in the unlocked state, but this operation is made very complex for a person wishing to open the clasp 20 to steal the watch while it is on the wrist of a user.

[0031] The cam profile 113 may advantageously have at least one radial hollow 115, as visible in the figure 6, the shape of which corresponds to that of the end of the locking rod 111, so as to prevent rotation of the cam 112 when the pusher 100 is urged from its rest position and the blocking member 120 occupies the locking state.

[0032] This feature makes it possible to further increase the difficulty of unlocking the locking member 120 when this operation is carried out in haste, for example during an attempt to steal a watch worn by a user.

[0033] Advantageously, the jumper 122 can be arranged so as to rest against the cam 112, in particular against a hollow in the latter, alternatively to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the Figure 5 , in which the jumper 122 is arranged to bear against the control element 121.

[0034] The pusher 100 comprises at least one guide rod 101, preferably two, slidably engaged in the support structure 110 and arranged on either side of the locking rod 111. The support structure 110 also comprises at least one guide rod 116, preferably two, slidably engaged in the pusher 100 and arranged on either side of the locking rod 111. In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the guide rods 116 of the support structure 110, engaged in the pusher 100, are each arranged to bear against a spring 117 housed in said pusher 100. The springs 117 are arranged so as to force the pusher 100 to move towards its rest position.

[0035] The guide rod 101 of the pusher 100 slidably engaged in the support structure 110 has an axial stop 102 at one of its ends opposite the pusher 100, said stop 102 being configured to rest against the support structure 110 when the pusher 100 is in the rest position. In particular, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stop 102 is formed by a base plate to which the ends of the guide rods 101 of the pusher 100 are fixed without any degree of freedom. As can be seen in the figures, the locking rod 111 can be engaged in a through hole of the base plate so as to slide relative to it when the pusher 100 is moved to its active position.

[0036] For example, as shown in the figure 7, the stop 102 can form a first hooking member 103, for example by a shoulder, provided to cooperate with a second hooking member 210, such as a hooking edge of another support structure forming a lateral blade 21. More precisely, the first and second hooking members 103 and 210 bear against each other when the clasp 20 is closed. The movement of the pusher 100 into the active position causes a movement of the stop 102 until the first and second hooking members 103 and 210 are no longer bearing against each other, which releases the opening of the clasp 20.

[0037] In the example shown in the figure 7, the clasp 20 comprises two lateral blades 21 connected in a rotatable manner to the support structure 110 which forms a middle blade. These two lateral blades 21 are intended to be respectively fixed to the end of a strand of a bracelet, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, by their free end.

Claims

1. Locking device (10) for a clasp (20), comprising a pusher (100) movable in translation in a support structure (110) between a rest position in which it is intended to prevent the clasp (20) from opening and an active position in which it is intended to release the clasp (20) from opening, the locking device (10) being characterized in that it comprises a locking member (120) for the pusher (100) configured to occupy a locking state in which it immobilizes the pusher (100) in the rest position and an unlocking state in which it releases the pusher (100) in translation.

2. Locking device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the pusher (100) is connected to the support structure (110) by means of a locking rod (111), the locking member (120) comprising a cam (112) movable relative to the pusher (100) so as to constitute a stop for the locking rod (111) when the locking member (120) occupies the locking state and so as to disengage from the travel of the locking rod (111) when the locking member (120) occupies the unlocking state.

3. Locking device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the cam (112) is rotatable and has a cam profile (113) against which the locking rod (111) is in abutment when the pusher (100) is urged from its rest position and the locking member (120) occupies the locking state, said cam (112) being provided with a radial notch (114) in which the locking rod (111) is engaged when the pusher (100) is in the active position and the locking member (120) occupies the unlocking state.

4. Locking device (10) according to claim 2, in which the cam profile (113) has a radial hollow whose shape corresponds to that of the end of the locking rod (111), so as to prevent rotation of the cam (112) when the pusher (100) is urged from its rest position and the blocking member (120) occupies the locking state.

5. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the locking member (120) comprises a control element (121) connected to the cam (112) so as to drive the latter in rotation when it is activated by a user.

6. Locking device (10) according to claim 5, in which the control element (121) is constituted by a wheel whose axis of rotation coincides with that of the cam (112).

7. Locking device (10) according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control element (121) is held in a stable angular position by a jumper (122).

8. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the control element (121) has more than three stable positions, in only one of which the blocking member (120) occupies the unlocked state.

9. Locking device (10) according to claims 4 and 8, in which the cam profile (113) comprises as many recesses as there are stable positions except that in which the blocking member (120) occupies the unlocked state, said recesses being distributed uniformly.

10. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 5 to 9, in which the control element (121) comprises a mark (123) whose position is representative of the locking or unlocking state of the control member.

11. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the pusher (100) is forced into movement towards its rest position by a spring (117) and comprises at least one guide rod (101) slidably engaged in the support structure (110), the latter also comprising at least one guide rod (116) slidably engaged in the pusher (100).

12. Locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the guide rod (101) slidably engaged in the support structure (110) has an axial stop (102) configured to rest against the support structure (110) when the pusher (100) is in the rest position.

13. Clasp (20) with a folding buckle for a watch or a piece of jewelry, comprising at least two blades connected to each other in a rotatable manner, and a locking device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, the support structure (110) of which is formed by one of the blades of the clasp (20).

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