Secure folding clasp for a watchstrap

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding clasp for a watchstrap, the folding clasp comprising a first arm (2), a second arm (3) hinged to the first arm (2) and capable of folding over the first arm (2), a covering element (5) hinged to the second arm (3), a locking element (10) rigidly attached to one of the first arm, the second arm or the covering element, a blocker arranged to co-operate with the locking element (10) so as to lock the second arm (3) in the position in which it is folded over the first arm (2), the blocker being manually movable to disengage the blocker and the locking element from one another, and a manual rotary encoding member (23) capable of occupying at least three distinct angular positions, these at least three distinct angular positions comprising at least one specific angular position in which the manual rotary encoding member (23) enables the movement of the blocker and a plurality of other angular positions in which the manual rotary encoding member (23) prevents the movement of the blocker.

Description

[0001] Secure folding clasp for bracelet

[0002] The present invention relates to a clasp for a bracelet, in particular for a watch bracelet. More specifically, the present invention relates to a secure folding clasp.

[0003] A folding clasp or clasp is a type of clasp comprising a system of articulated arms or blades that unfold to open the bracelet and can fold back on itself when closing, on the inside of the bracelet. Such a closure system ensures that the two strands of the bracelet never come untied.

[0004] There are different types of deployment clasps. A simple deployment clasp has only two hinged arms that fold in a "V" shape under the bracelet, on one side only. A double deployment clasp, also called a butterfly deployment clasp, has two hinged arms at either end of a main arm, each of these two hinged arms folding against the main arm under a respective bracelet strand.

[0005] Safety systems have been developed to prevent accidental opening of the clasp. For example, one or two push buttons may be located on the side of the clasp housing, or a flap may be provided on the clasp. In both systems, the user presses the buttons or unfolds the flap to allow the clasp to deploy. Document CH 657763 describes such an example of a folding clasp.

[0006] However, conventional folding clasps can be unlocked quite easily by a malicious person, while some watches are real valuables, since it involves pressing the buttons on the clasp to unlock it. A pickpocket or a well-trained thief can thus steal a worn watch.

[0007] To address this problem, the present applicant has proposed in his patent EP 3531860 B1 to integrate a lock into the folding clasp that can be opened with a removable key. This system offers a very high degree of security but it requires the use of a key to open the bracelet and therefore requires the user to ensure that the key is not forgotten, lost, broken, etc. Other solutions proposed in this patent consist of equipping the clasp with an electronic locking device with a code, ergonomic recognition (index sensor, etc.) or RFID chip. These solutions require the use of electronic components as well as a power source, and also present fairly high risks of failure and aging.

[0008] The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0009] To this end, the present invention relates to a folding clasp for a bracelet, comprising:

[0010] - a first arm,

[0011] - a second arm articulated to the first arm and able to fold down onto the first arm,

[0012] - a styling element articulated to the second arm,

[0013] - a locking element secured to one of the first arm, second arm and capping element,

[0014] - a blocker arranged to cooperate with the locking element so as to lock the second arm in the folded position on the first arm, the blocker being movable by manual action to disengage the blocker and the locking element from each other and thus allow the second arm to be raised relative to the first arm, characterized in that it comprises a manual rotary coding member capable of occupying at least three distinct angular positions, these at least three distinct angular positions comprising at least one determined angular position in which the manual rotary coding member authorizes said movement of the blocker and several other angular positions in which the manual rotary coding member prevents said movement of the blocker.The clasp according to the invention offers a very high degree of security because at least two different manual actions (rotation of the manual rotary coding member to the or one of the determined angular positions and movement of the blocker) are necessary to unlock it. In addition, it is very practical to use since no key or tool is required.

[0015] Typically, the at least three distinct angular positions comprise a single determined angular position in which the manual rotary coding member authorizes said movement of the blocker.

[0016] Advantageously, the at least three distinct angular positions are stable positions, a stable position (otherwise called an indexed position) being a position to which the manual rotary coding member returns (for example under the action of a jumper or other elastic return member) as soon as it is released by the user after having been moved away from said position. Alternatively, however, the at least three distinct angular positions could not be stable, for example the manual rotary coding member could be held angularly by simple friction on its axis, without hard points between the different angular positions.

[0017] Preferably, the at least three distinct angular positions consist of at least four, preferably at least five, preferably at least six, preferably at least seven, preferably at least eight, preferably at least nine, preferably at least ten distinct angular positions.

[0018] According to an advantageous characteristic, promoting the ergonomics of the clasp, the blocker is movable by a manual pushing action to disengage the blocker and the locking element from each other.

[0019] Typically, the blocker is movable by said manual action against the action of an elastic return member to disengage the blocker and the locking element from each other.

[0020] According to another advantageous characteristic, which simplifies the use of the clasp, the locking element and the blocker are lockable relative to each other by snap-fastening when the second arm is folded onto the first arm at least when the manual rotary coding member is in the or any one of the determined angular positions and preferably whatever the angular position of the manual rotary coding member.

[0021] In exemplary embodiments, the manual rotary coding member comprises a manual coding wheel and a coaxial coding cam which is integral in rotation with the manual coding wheel, the coding cam comprising a circular surface around its axis of rotation and a recess in said circular surface, the clasp further comprising a stop member arranged to cooperate with said circular surface to prevent said movement of the blocker when the manual rotary coding member is in any one of said several other angular positions, said recess being able to receive the stop member during said movement of the blocker when the manual rotary coding member is in the or any one of the determined angular positions.

[0022] According to yet another advantageous characteristic, the at least one determined angular position among the at least three distinct angular positions is adjustable by a user.

[0023] To enable the adjustment of at least one determined angular position among the at least three distinct angular positions, the coding cam can be made integral in rotation with the manual coding wheel by an elastic indexing member which allows rotation of the manual coding wheel relative to the coding cam when the coding cam accommodates the stop member in the recess.

[0024] In certain embodiments, particularly advantageous in terms of size, the manual rotary coding member is rotatable about an axis which is orthogonal to the axis of the articulation between the first arm and the second arm.

[0025] In a particular embodiment, the manual rotary coding member is movable in translation by said manual action, and thus acts as a pusher, to carry out said movement of the blocker when the manual rotary coding member is in the or any one of the determined angular positions.

[0026] The clasp according to the invention may comprise a second said blocker independent of said blocker and a second said manual rotary coding member independent of said manual rotary coding member and associated with the second blocker. Advantageously, these manual rotary coding members are rotatable about respective axes which are orthogonal to the axis of the articulation between the first arm and the second arm and movable towards each other in translation in a direction parallel to the axis of the articulation between the first arm and the second arm to carry out said movements of the blockers.

[0027] In other embodiments, the clasp comprises a pusher, separate from the manual rotary coding member, allowing the user to exert said manual action. In these embodiments, the stop member is typically integral with the pusher.

[0028] The clasp according to the invention may comprise one or more additional arms, one or more additional capping elements, one or more additional locking elements, one or more additional blockers and / or one or more additional manual rotary coding members. The or each locking element is for example a pin or other projecting element.

[0029] The present invention also relates to a wristwatch comprising a folding clasp as defined above.

[0030] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which:

[0031] - figures 1 and 2 are perspective views, respectively from above and below, of a folding clasp according to a first embodiment of the invention; - figure 3 is a partial exploded perspective view from below of the folding clasp according to the first embodiment;

[0032] - figure 4 is a perspective and sectional view showing the introduction of a locking pin into a locking mechanism of the deploying clasp according to the first embodiment;

[0033] - Figures 5 to 7 are plan views from below of the locking mechanism, showing this mechanism in three different states, namely a first state (Figure 5) where coding wheels are in respective angular positions which allow unlocking of the clasp but where the user has not yet pressed the coding wheels to unlock the clasp, a second state (Figure 6) where the user has pressed the coding wheels to unlock the clasp which can then be deployed, and a third state (Figure 7) where the coding wheels are in respective angular positions which prevent unlocking of the clasp;

[0034] - Figure 8 is a plan view from below of a variant of the locking mechanism illustrated in Figures 5 to 7;

[0035] - figure 9 is a perspective view of a variant of the folding clasp according to the first embodiment;

[0036] - figures 10 and 11 are front and rear perspective views of a folding clasp according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0037] - figure 12 is an exploded perspective view from below of a capping element of the deployant clasp according to the second embodiment and of a locking mechanism which it contains;

[0038] - figures 13 to 15 are plan views from below of the locking mechanism of the deploying clasp according to the second embodiment, showing this mechanism in three different states, namely a first state (figure 13) where a coding wheel is in an angular position which allows unlocking of the clasp but where the user has not yet pressed a pusher to unlock the clasp, a second state (figure 14) where the user has pressed the pusher to unlock the clasp which can then be deployed, and a third state (figure 15) where the coding wheel is in an angular position which prevents unlocking of the clasp;

[0039] - figures 16 to 18 are perspective views of variants of the folding clasp according to the second embodiment;

[0040] - figures 19 and 20 are front and rear perspective views of a folding clasp according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0041] - figure 21 is a partial exploded perspective view from below of a covering element of the deployant clasp according to the third embodiment and of a locking mechanism which it contains;

[0042] - figure 22 is an exploded perspective view from above of the locking mechanism of the deploying clasp according to the third embodiment;

[0043] - Figures 23 to 25 are partially cutaway bottom perspective views of the locking mechanism of the deployant clasp according to the third embodiment, showing this mechanism in three different states, namely a first state (Figure 23) where coding wheels are in respective angular positions which allow unlocking of the clasp but where the user has not yet pressed a pusher to unlock the clasp, a second state (Figure 24) where the user has pressed the pusher to unlock the clasp which can then be deployed, and a third state (Figure 25) where the coding wheels are in respective angular positions which prevent unlocking of the clasp;

[0044] - figure 26 shows in perspective an example of use of the folding clasp according to the second embodiment with a flexible bracelet, one of the two strands of the bracelet being illustrated partially torn off;

[0045] - figure 27 shows in perspective an example of use of the folding clasp according to the first embodiment with a flexible bracelet, one of the two strands of the bracelet being illustrated partially torn off;

[0046] - figure 28 shows in perspective another example of use of the folding clasp according to the first embodiment with a flexible bracelet, one of the two strands of the bracelet being shown partially torn off.

[0047] A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7. It is a butterfly-type folding clasp for a watch bracelet, designated by the reference 1 and comprising a first arm 2, a second arm 3 articulated by one of its ends to one end of the first arm 2, a third arm 4 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the first arm 2, a first capping element 5 articulated to the other end of the second arm 3 and a second capping element 6 articulated to the other end of the third arm 4. The capping elements 5, 6 may be links or end pieces of the bracelet, as shown, two halves of a cover (in particular a decorated cover) attached to the strands of the bracelet or the strands of the bracelet themselves.

[0048] The first arm 2 comprises a central housing 7, closed by a plate 8, in which a locking mechanism 9 is mounted. The locking mechanism 9 is arranged to cooperate with two locking pins 10, 11, the first of which, 10, is secured either to the first capping element 5 or to the second arm 3 (the first of these two alternatives is illustrated in the drawings) and the second of which, 11, is secured either to the second capping element 6 or to the third arm 4 (the second of these two alternatives is illustrated in the drawings). In the illustrated example, the first locking pin 10 can penetrate into the central housing 7 successively through a hole 12 formed in the second arm 3 and a hole 13 formed in the first arm 2 when the second arm 3 is folded over the first arm 2.The second locking pin 11 can enter the central housing 7 through a hole 14 provided in the first arm 2 when the third arm 4 is folded over the first arm 2. When the pins 10, 11 are in the central housing 7, the locking mechanism 9 retains them to prevent the deployment of the clasp 1, and releases them to allow the deployment of the clasp 1 and the removal of the watch from the user's wrist after a determined code or combination, hereinafter called the "unlock code", has been entered by the user.

[0049] The unlocking code is entered by the user by means of two coding wheels 15, 16 of the locking mechanism 9 which are aligned in a transverse direction of the first arm 2, parallel to the axes of the joints between the first and second arms 2, 3, between the first and third arms 2, 4, between the second arm 3 and the first capping element 5 and between the third arm 4 and the second capping element 6. Each coding wheel 15, 16 protrudes from a respective longitudinal side of the first arm 2 through an opening 17, 18 in the wall of the central housing 7 in order to be accessible to a finger of the user.

[0050] The coding wheels 15, 16 are rotatable about respective axes which are orthogonal to the axes of the aforementioned articulations. The coding wheels 15, 16 have on their edge a succession of flat or concave faces 19, 20 which the user can distinguish thanks to numbers which these faces carry (only one number "1" has been shown in the drawings, in figure 2). In addition, each coding wheel 15, 16 is subjected to the action of a jumper 21, 22 which allows it to occupy a number of stable angular positions equal to the number of faces 19, 20, one 19a, 20a of these faces being visible and centered relative to the opening 17, 18 in each of said stable angular positions. Thus, by selecting the correct angular position of each coding wheel 15, 16 the user enters a code (displayed by the visible faces 19a, 20a of the two coding wheels 15, 16 centered relative to the openings 17, 18) which allows the clasp to be unlocked.In the example illustrated, each coding wheel 15, 16 has ten flat or concave faces 19, 20 bearing the numbers 0 to 9 respectively, so that the clasp can be unlocked by a two-digit code from one hundred (10. 2 ) possible combinations. The number of faces 19, 20 and stable angular positions of each coding wheel 15, 16 may be other than ten, but is typically at least three, preferably at least four, preferably at least five, preferably at least six, preferably at least seven, preferably at least eight, preferably at least nine.

[0051] Each coding wheel 15, 16 belongs to a manual rotary coding member 23, 24 further comprising a coding cam 25, 26 and an indexing member 27, 28 coaxial with the coding wheel 15, 16, arranged in a housing 29, 30 of the coding wheel 25, 26 and made integral with each other in rotation for example by pins 31, 32. In the side wall of the housing 29, 30, around the axis of the coding wheel 15, 16, is formed a series of notches 33, 34 whose number is equal to the number of faces 19, 20 and to the number of stable angular positions of the coding wheel 15, 16. The indexing member 27, 28 is elastic, has the shape of an 8 and comprises two protuberances radials 35, 36 diametrically opposed engaged in two respective notches 33, 34, these radial protuberances 35, 36, pressed into the bottom of the notches 33, 34 by the elasticity of the indexing member 27, 28, making the indexing member 27, 28 and the coding wheel 15, 16 integral in rotation.

[0052] The coding cam 25, 26 is a disc having a recess 37, 38 in the form of a notch or indentation oriented radially. When the coding wheel 15, 16 is in an angular position which corresponds to the unlocking code (see FIG. 5), this recess 37, 38 is opposite a stop member 39, 40, typically a pin, which is fixed relative to the first arm 2 and whose diameter is slightly smaller than the width of the recess 37, 38. When, on the other hand, the coding wheel 15, 16 is in an angular position other than that which corresponds to the unlocking code (see FIG. 7), it is the circular part 41, 42 of the profile of the coding cam 15, 16, and not the recess 37, 38, which is opposite the stop member 39, 40.

[0053] Each coding wheel 15, 16 is guided in rotation around a rod 43, 44 which also passes through the coding cam 25, 26 and the indexing member 27, 28 and which is fixed on a respective blocker 45, 46 guided in translation in the central housing 7 in the transverse direction of the first arm 2, this blocker 45, 46 also carrying the jumper 21, 22 of the coding wheel 15, 16. Each coding wheel 15, 16 is thus integral with the blocker 45, 46 in translation in said transverse direction and movable in rotation around its axis relative to the blocker 45, 46. The blocker 45, 46 is U-shaped oriented in said transverse direction, its base carries the coding wheel 15, 16 and each of its two branches has on one of its longitudinal sides a blocking geometry 47, 48 and a release geometry 49, 50.The two blockers 45, 46 are opposite each other, overlap and are connected by two return springs 51 which tend to move them away from each other. The two blockers 45, 46 and their return springs 51 may form or be part of a single single piece.

[0054] As can be seen in particular in Figures 1 and 4, each locking pin 10, 11 has a groove 52, 53 near its distal end. In the locked state of the clasp (Figure 7), this groove 52, 53 accommodates a locking geometry 47, 48 of each of the two blockers 45, 46, so that axial movement of the locking pin 10, 11 aimed at deploying the clasp is prevented. In the unlocked state of the clasp (Figure 6), the locking geometry 47, 48 is outside the groove 52, 53, the latter being located opposite a release geometry 49, 50 of each of the two blockers 45, 46 which allows axial movement of the locking pin 10, 11 outside the central housing 7 and therefore deployment of the clasp.

[0055] With reference to Figure 7, when the clasp is in its folded and locked state and the angular position of each of the two manual rotary coding members 23, 24 is not that defining the unlocking code, pressing by the user on the coding wheels 15, 16 in a direction tending to bring them closer to each other immediately brings the coding cams 25, 26 into abutment against the stop members 39, 40, leaving the locking geometries 47, 48 in the groove 52, 53 of the locking pins 10, 11 and therefore leaving the clasp in its locked state.

[0056] When the user wishes to open the clasp, he manually turns the coding wheels 15, 16 (and with them the coding cams 25, 26) to put each of them in the angular position which corresponds to the unlocking code, that is to say in the angular position where the recess 37, 38 is aligned with the stop member 39, 40 (figure 5). By pressing simultaneously on the two coding wheels 15, 16 the user brings them closer to each other and, in doing so, moves the blockers 45, 46 in translation towards each other against the action of the return springs 51. The coding cams 15, 16 are in fact no longer hindered by the stop members 39, 40, which are received in the recesses 37, 38 (figure 6).At the end of the travel of the assemblies 23, 45 and 24, 46, the locking geometries 47, 48 are outside the groove 52, 53 of the locking pins 10, 11 - the clasp 1 is thus unlocked -, so that the user can, by maintaining pressure on the coding wheels 15, 16 and pulling the capping elements 5, 6, remove the locking pins 10, 11 from the central housing 7 and deploy the clasp in order to remove the watch from his wrist. As soon as the user releases the pressure on the coding wheels 15, 16, the assemblies 23, 45 and 24, 46 return to their initial position under the action of the return springs 51.The deployment of the clasp can be facilitated by a pre-tension of the second and third arms 3, 4 caused by a difference in curvature with the first arm 2, this pre-tension automatically initiating the deployment of the clasp, and in particular moving the locking pins 10, 11 away from the blockers 45, 46, as soon as the locking pins 10, 11 are released by the user pressing on the coding wheels 15, 16. As an alternative or in addition to this pre-tension of the arms 3, 4, a spring ejection device can be provided to automatically initiate the deployment of the clasp.

[0057] To fold and lock the clasp from its deployed state, the user checks that the numbers displayed by the coding wheels 15, 16 are those of the unlocking code and, if not, he puts the coding wheels 15, 16 in their angular position which corresponds to the unlocking code. Then he presses the coding wheels 15, 16 to bring them closer to each other and remove the locking geometries 47, 48 from the path of the locking pins 10, 11. Then, he folds the second and third arms 3, 4 against the first arm 2, causing the locking pins 10, 11 to enter the locking mechanism 9, and releases the coding wheels 10, 11, which has the effect of causing the locking geometries 47, 48 to enter the respective grooves 52, 53 of the locking pins 10, 11. Finally, he completely locks the clasp by turning the coding wheels 15, 16 to a position where the unlocking code is no longer displayed.

[0058] According to an advantageous variant of the clasp 1, illustrated in FIG. 4, the locking geometries 47, 48 each have a slope 54 which allows, when the coding wheels 15, 16 are in their angular position corresponding to the unlocking code, the introduction and locking of the locking pins 10, 11 between the two blockers 45, 46 by snap-fastening, more precisely by moving the two blockers 45, 46 against the action of their return springs 51 under the effect of the force applied by the locking pins 10, 11 on the locking geometries 47, 48 then, as soon as the grooves 52, 53 are at the same level as the locking geometries 47, 48, return of the blockers 45, 46 to their rest position under the action of the return springs 51 by causing the locking geometries 47, 48 to penetrate into the grooves 52, 53. Thanks to this feature, the clasp can be closed without having to press the coding wheels 15, 16.As described above, the coding cams 25, 26 are made integral in rotation with the respective coding wheels 15, 16 by the elastic force exerted by the indexing members 27, 28. Such an elastic connection between the coding cams 25, 26 and the coding wheels 15, 16 allows manual disengagement, in other words a modification of the relative angular position of the coding cams 25, 26 and the coding wheels 15, 16, thus making it possible for the user to reprogram the unlocking code as he wishes.To do this, the user enters the unlocking code by turning the coding wheels 15, 16, presses the coding wheels 15, 16 so as to cause the locking members 39, 40 to enter the recesses 37, 38 and, while the locking members 39, 40 are in the recesses 37, 38 and thus angularly lock the coding cams 25, 26, turns the coding wheels 15, 16 until the desired digits for the new unlocking code are displayed.

[0059] It will be appreciated that the coding wheels 15, 16 in the clasp 1 not only serve to enter an unlocking code but also act as pushers for mechanically opening the clasp, making the system particularly simple. In addition, the flat arrangement of the coding wheels 15, 16 in the first arm 2 minimizes the space requirement.

[0060] Figure 8 shows a variant of this first embodiment in which the stop members 39, 40, in combination with the return springs 51, also fulfill the function of angularly maintaining the coding wheels 15, 16, replacing the jumpers 21, 22. For this purpose, the stop members 39, 40 have a shape, for example oblong, adapted to cooperate with the notches 33, 34 of the coding wheels 15, 16.

[0061] Another variant of the first embodiment is illustrated in Figure 9. In this variant, the locking mechanism acts only on one, 10, of the two pins 10, 11, the other pin 11 being simply held in the central housing of the arm 2 by a bidirectional latching device, a plate 55 secured to the first capping element 5 locking the second capping element 6 in its folded position when the first capping element 5 is itself locked by the cooperation of the locking pin 10 and the locking mechanism.

[0062] In yet another variant of the first embodiment (not shown), the clasp comprises only one manual rotary coding member 23 or 24 and one blocker 45 or 46.

[0063] A folding clasp for a watch strap according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 10 to 15. It is a simple folding clasp, designated by the reference 60, comprising a first arm 61, one end of which is articulated to a strap strand (partially represented by its first link 62), a second arm 63 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the first arm 61, and a capping element 64 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the second arm 63 and by its other end to the other strap strand. The capping element 64 is a flat case. From two opposite sides of the case, orthogonal to the axes of the articulations between the first arm 61, the second arm 63 and the capping element 64, respectively protrude a coding wheel 65 and a pusher 66.

[0064] The coding wheel 65 is part of a manual rotary coding member 67 identical to those of the first embodiment but mounted in the capping element 64 without translational mobility. More precisely, the coding wheel 65 with the coding cam 68 and the indexing member 69 arranged in its housing 70 is crossed by a rotational guide rod 71 fixed inside the capping element 64 and orthogonal to the axes of said articulations. A jumper 72 fixed inside the capping element 64 maintains the coding wheel 65 in one of its stable angular positions. The unlocking code of the clasp 60 is read via the edge of the coding wheel 65, the flat or concave faces 73 of which carry numbers for this purpose, and / or via the upper face of the coding wheel 65, through a window 74 in the housing, FIG. 10 showing the two variants.The pusher 66 comprises at its end opposite that which protrudes from the capping element 64 a lug forming a stop member 75 capable of cooperating with the coding cam 68. When this stop member 75 is opposite the circular portion 76 of the profile of the coding cam 68 (figure 15; angular position of the manual rotary coding member 67 other than that defining the unlocking code), it abuts against this circular portion 76 as soon as the user tries to press the pusher 66. When, on the other hand, this stop member 75 is opposite the recess 77 of the coding cam 68 (figure 13; angular position of the manual rotary coding member 67 corresponding to the unlocking code), it enters this recess 77 as soon as the user presses the pusher 66, allowing a movement of the pusher 66 towards the inside of the capping element 64. styling 64.A blocker 78 guided in translation in the capping element 64 in the same direction as the pusher 66, i.e. the transverse direction of the clasp 60, parallel to said articulation axes, is pushed by the pusher 66 against the action of return springs 79 when the pusher 66 is moved by the user. A release of the pusher 66 by the user causes the blocker 78 and the pusher 66 to return to their rest position by the return springs 79. The return springs 79 may be in one piece with the blocker 78. The pusher 66 may have its own elastic return member.

[0065] A locking pin 80 secured to the first arm 61 successively passes through a hole 81 formed in the second arm 63, a hole 82 formed in the bottom 83 of the capping element 64 and an opening 84 which the blocker 78 comprises. In configurations where the stop member 75 is outside the recess 77, either because it is blocked by the coding cam 68 (figure 15), or because the pusher 66 has not yet been actuated (figure 13), a groove 85 of the locking pin 80 cooperates with a blocking geometry 86 of the wall of the opening 84 to prevent axial movement of the locking pin 80, in particular an axial movement aimed at angularly separating the second arm 63 from the first arm 61 and thus deploying the clasp. A movement of the pusher 66 by the user (figure 14) causes the locking geometry 86 to come out of the groove 85, thus releasing the locking pin 80.Then, by holding the pusher 66 pressed and pulling the capping element 64, the user can open the clasp and deploy it.

[0066] Advantageously, the locking geometry 86 of the wall of the opening 84 of the blocker 78 has a slope 87 which allows the introduction of the locking pin 80 into the opening 84 by snap-fastening, more precisely by displacement of the blocker 78 against the action of its return springs 79 under the effect of the force applied by the locking pin 80 on the slope 87 then, as soon as the groove 85 is at the same level as the locking geometry 86, return of the blocker 78 to its rest position under the action of the return springs 79 by causing the locking geometry 86 to penetrate into the groove 85. Thanks to this characteristic, the clasp 60 can be closed without having to enter the unlocking code or to press the pusher 66, the blocker 78 performing a back and forth movement independent of the pusher 66 and the coding wheel 65. In a variant, however, the blocker 78 could be monobloc with the pusher 66.In this case, the slope 87 of the locking geometry 86 would be useful to allow the clasp to be closed after entering the unlocking code but without requiring pressure on the push button 66.

[0067] To enable the capping element 64 to resist tearing during an attempt to maliciously force the clasp, the bottom 83 may be slidably mounted on the rest of the capping element 64, with an L-shaped profile, a dovetail-type profile or the like, and may be held in position by a screw 88, snap-fastening members or the like.

[0068] Programming a new unlocking code is carried out by entering the unlocking code still active via the coding wheel 65, pressing the pusher 66 to cause the stop member 75 to enter the recess 77 and angularly block the coding cam 68, and turning the coding wheel 68 while the coding cam 68 is blocked until the new unlocking code is displayed.

[0069] In a variant of this second embodiment illustrated in Figure 16, two or more coding wheels 65 are superimposed and each associated with a coding cam and an indexing member to form independent manual rotary coding members which cooperate with the same pusher 66. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the number of possible number combinations.

[0070] Another variant of the second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 17. The capping element 64 is here constituted by the watch case itself comprising the locking mechanism.

[0071] According to yet another variant of the second embodiment, illustrated in Figure 18, the folding clasp is of the butterfly type and thus comprises a third arm 89 articulated to the first arm 6T and a second capping element 90 articulated to the third arm 89. The first capping element 64' contains the locking mechanism with its coding wheel 65' and its pusher 66'. The second capping element 90 does not contain a locking mechanism within the meaning of the invention but a simple bidirectional snap-fastening device capable of cooperating with a second locking pin 91. A plate 92 secured to the first capping element 64' locks the second capping element 90 in its folded position when the first capping element 64' is itself locked by the cooperation of the locking pin 80' and the locking mechanism.

[0072] Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the stop member 75 could be used as an angular positioning member for the coding wheel 65 instead of the jumper 72.

[0073] With reference to figures 19 to 25, a folding clasp according to a third embodiment of the invention is a simple folding clasp, designated by the reference 100 and comprising a first arm 101, one end of which is articulated to a bracelet strand (partially represented by its first link 102), a second arm 103 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the first arm 101, and a capping element 104 articulated by one of its ends to the other end of the second arm 103 and by its other end to the other bracelet strand. The capping element 104 is a flat case. On one side of the case, orthogonal to the axes of the articulations between the first arm 101, the second arm 103 and the capping element 104, a pusher 105 protrudes.One or more coding wheels 106 (four coding wheels in the illustrated example), rotatable about the same axis parallel to the axes of said articulations, protrude from the upper surface of the capping element 104 through respective openings 107 formed in the upper wall 108 of the capping element 104.

[0074] The coding wheels 106 and the pusher 105 are part of a locking mechanism 109 arranged in the capping element 104 and arranged to cooperate with a locking pin 110 secured to the first arm 101. Two holes 111, 112 made respectively in the second arm 103 and in the bottom of the capping element 104 allow the locking pin 110 to penetrate into the capping element 104 when the second arm 103 and the capping element 104 are folded against the first arm 101. The locking pin 110 comprises a groove 113 near its distal end.

[0075] The physical axis or shaft on which the coding wheels 106 are mounted is designated in the figures by the reference 114. This shaft 114 is carried by a support 115 held between a bridge 116 and the upper wall 108 of the capping element 104, the bridge 116 being fixed to said upper wall 108 by a screw 117 and by geometries 118 engaged in respective grooves 119 of holding feet 120 secured to said upper wall 108, so as to resist the tearing mentioned above. On the support 115, and between the latter and the bridge 116, a blocker 122 is mounted in rotation about an axis 121 on which a return spring 123 acts. The blocker 122 comprises a C-shaped portion 124 whose free end is held in contact with a control surface 125 of the pusher 105 by the action of the return spring 123, making the (angular) position of the blocker 122 dependent on the (linear) position of the pusher 105.

[0076] The pusher 105 is guided in translation in the capping element 104 parallel to the axes of the aforementioned articulations between two extreme positions, namely a pushed-in position and a rest position (outermost position relative to the capping element 104), and is coupled to the shaft 114 (see figure 22) to be able to move in said translation in solidarity with it. A return spring 126 (shown partially) between the support 115 and the pusher 105 has the function of returning the pusher 105 to its rest position. When the pusher 105 is in its rest position (figures 23 and 25), the blocker 122 is in a rest position where its C-shaped portion 124 partially covers an opening 127 of the support 115 intended to receive the distal end of the locking pin 110.In this rest position of the blocker 122 and in the folded state of the clasp 100, a locking geometry 128 of the portion 124 of the blocker 122 is engaged in the groove 113 of the locking pin 110 to lock the clasp. When the pusher 105 is in its depressed position (figure 24), the blocker 122 is in a retracted position, set back from the groove 113 of the locking pin 110, leaving the locking pin 110 free to pass.

[0077] The coding wheels 106 are rotatable around the shaft 114. The shaft 114 cannot rotate relative to the support 115 and the capping element 104. Bearing surfaces 130 on each side of the coding wheels 106 keep the latter axially fixed relative to the support 115 and the capping element 104.

[0078] Each coding wheel 106 belongs to a manual rotary coding member 131 further comprising (see figure 22) a coding cam 132 and an indexing member 133. The coding cam 132 is arranged in a first housing 134 of the coding wheel 106 coaxially with the latter. The indexing member 133 here comprises a snap-on ball protruding from a second housing 135 of the coding wheel 106 and a return spring (not shown) arranged in this second housing 135 and acting on the ball. The second housing 135 opens on one side (the one where the ball is located) into the first housing 134 and is closed on the other side by a plug (not shown).The coding cam 132 is here a ring comprising on one of its two faces orthogonal to its axis notches 136 arranged to cooperate with the ratchet ball, each notch 136, when it receives the ball, defining a stable angular position of the coding cam 132 relative to the coding wheel 106. The cooperation between the ratchet ball and the coding cam 132 makes the coding wheel 106 and the coding cam 132 integral in rotation but allows manual disengagement of the coding wheel 106 and the coding cam 132 for reprogramming of the unlocking code, as will be explained later.

[0079] A wire spring 137 housed in a longitudinal groove 138 of the shaft 114 comprises convex portions 139. Internal grooves 140 of each coding wheel 106 are arranged to cooperate with one of these convex portions 139 in order to angularly position the coding wheel 106 relative to the shaft 114. Thus, each coding wheel 106 can occupy several stable angular positions relative to the shaft 114 and display in each stable angular position a number carried by its edge and visible from the side of the upper surface of the capping element 104. The number of stable angular positions of the coding cam 132 relative to the coding wheel 106 is equal to the number of stable angular positions of the coding wheel 106 (more generally of the manual rotary coding member 131) relative to the shaft 114.

[0080] The shaft 114 comprises stop members 141 in the form of protrusions aligned in its longitudinal direction and which, in the rest position of the pusher 105 (figures 22, 23 and 25), are located in recesses 142 of the bearing surfaces 130, preventing the shaft 114 from being able to rotate relative to the support 115. Each coding cam 132 has in its internal cylindrical surface a recess 143 which opens onto the two surfaces of the coding cam 132 orthogonal to its axis, this recess 143 being arranged to receive a corresponding protrusion 141 of the shaft 114. When the respective angular positions of the manual rotary coding members 131 are those which define the unlocking code (figure 23), the recesses 143 of the coding cams 132 are all aligned with the protrusions 141, which makes it possible to actuate the pusher 105, the protrusions 141 being able to enter the recesses 143 (figure 24).Pressing the pusher 105 rotates the blocker 122 from its rest position to its retracted position. The clasp 100 can then be deployed. When, on the other hand, at least one of the manual rotary coding members 131 is in an angular position other than that which it must have for the manual rotary coding members 131 to define the unlocking code (figure 25), the corresponding protuberance 141 of the shaft 114 is not opposite the recess 143 of this manual rotary coding member, so that it abuts against the circular surface, 144, of the coding cam 132 opposite the surface comprising the notches 136 as soon as the user attempts to press the pusher 105. The clasp 100 is locked and can only be opened after the user has entered the unlocking code.

[0081] Preferably, as shown, the locking geometry 128 of the blocker 122 has a slope allowing the introduction of the locking pin 110 into the opening 127 and its locking by the locking geometry 128 by snap-fastening whatever the angular position of the manual rotary coding members 131, like the second embodiment.

[0082] Reprogramming of the unlocking code is carried out by entering the unlocking code still active through the coding wheels 106, by actuating the pusher 105 so that the protrusions 141 of the shaft 114 enter the recesses 143 of the coding cams 132 and lock the coding cams 132 angularly relative to the shaft 114, and by manually turning the coding wheels 106 while the coding cams 132 are locked until the desired new code is displayed.

[0083] The folding clasp according to the invention can be used with different types of bracelet, in particular bracelets with articulated rigid links, flexible bracelets such as bracelets made of polymer, animal or vegetable leather or any synthetic material, or bracelets with flexible links such as so-called “Milanese” bracelets which can in certain cases be mounted as flexible bracelets. Figure 26 shows the folding clasp according to the second embodiment of the invention associated with a flexible bracelet. A first strand 150 of the flexible bracelet is articulated or rigidly fixed to the capping element 64. A second strand 151 of the flexible bracelet is received by the first arm 61 of the clasp.Preferably, this second strand 151 is a bracelet strand intended for a pin buckle, that is to say a strand comprising at least two holes intended to cooperate with a pin or pin to allow at least two service positions corresponding to at least two different lengths of the bracelet formed by the two strands. Here, the pin or pin is preferably the locking pin 80.

[0084] Thus, the clasp here allows adjustment of the length of the bracelet in a simple manner and without additional components. The first arm 61 preferably comprises a geometry intended to guide the strand 151, so that it cannot be released outside an insertion direction. In the example illustrated, the strand 151 can be inserted in an inclined manner relative to its service position in the first arm 61, for example to slide underneath, then be folded over a portion 152 of the first arm 61 on which the locking pin 80 is provided, so as to make the latter cooperate with one of the holes in the strand 151. Thus, when the clasp is locked, the capping element 64 is integral with the first arm 151, so that it is impossible to move or release the strand 151.The portion 152 of the first arm 61 preferably comprises two portions extending beyond the width of the strand 151, allowing the capping element 64 to rest thereon with certainty, independently of height variations induced by the compressible element that is the flexible bracelet. Thus, the penetration of the locking pin 80 into the capping element 64 can be precise.

[0085] Although the example of Figure 26 is illustrated for a clasp according to the second embodiment and more particularly according to the variant of Figures 10 to 15, it is possible to decline it with clasps according to other embodiments or variants, in particular those of Figures 16, 17, 19 and 20 and even butterfly type clasps such as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 9 and 18. In the case of a butterfly clasp, the second and third arms intended to fold over the first arm may be of the same length or of different lengths and the strand of the flexible bracelet comprising the holes may pass over or through a capping element of the clasp.

[0086] Figure 27 shows an example of a butterfly clasp according to the first embodiment of the invention associated with a flexible bracelet. A first strand of the bracelet forms the second capping element 6 of the clasp and the second locking pin 11 is carried by the third arm 4. A second strand 153 of the bracelet passes between the first capping element 5 and the second arm 3 and comprises holes capable of cooperating with the first locking pin 10, carried here by the first capping element 5, to allow adjustment of the length of the bracelet. When the clasp is locked, the second strand 153 cannot be moved.

[0087] Figure 28 shows another example of a butterfly clasp according to the first embodiment associated with a flexible bracelet. A first strand of the bracelet forms the second capping element 6 of the clasp and the second locking pin 11 is carried by the third arm 4. The first locking pin 10, not visible in this figure 28, is here carried by the second arm 3 and the first capping element 5 is a pin buckle with which the second strand, 154, of the bracelet cooperates to allow adjustment of the length of the bracelet. Advantageously, the pin comprises a formation such as a beak 155 arranged to cooperate with the first arm 2 or with the third arm 4 (in the example illustrated with a bracelet bar support 156 of the third arm 4) in order to prevent rotation of the pin when the clasp is locked.

[0088] The present invention has been described above by way of example only. It is understood that modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, the coding cams 25, 26, 68, 132 could each have several recesses so as to define several codes for unlocking the clasp.Other modifications could consist of combining the teachings relating to the first, second and third embodiments, for example placing the locking mechanism 9 of the first embodiment in a styling element like the second and third embodiments or, conversely, placing the locking mechanism of the second and third embodiments in the first arm like the first embodiment, or even making the clasp of the first embodiment in the form of a simple folding clasp like the second and third embodiments, or even making each blocker 45, 46 of the first embodiment movable in translation relative to the corresponding coding wheel 15, 16 to allow folding of the clasp and its locking by snap-fastening independently of the angular position of the coding wheels 15, 16 like the second and third embodiments.

[0089] Furthermore, it will be noted that the locking mechanism of the clasp according to the invention can be small enough to allow the clasp to also accommodate a device for fine adjustment of the length of the bracelet.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Folding clasp for bracelet, including: - a first arm (2; 61; 6T; 101), - a second arm (3; 63; 63'; 103) articulated to the first arm and capable of folding back onto the first arm, - a styling element (5; 64; 64'; 104) articulated to the second arm, - a locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) secured to one of the first arm, second arm and capping element, - a blocker (45; 78; 122) arranged to cooperate with the locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) so as to lock the second arm (3; 63; 63'; 103) in the folded position on the first arm (2; 61; 6T; 101), the blocker (45; 78; 122) being movable by manual action to disengage the blocker (45; 78; 122) and the locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) from each other, characterized in that it comprises a manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) capable of occupying at least three distinct angular positions, these at least three distinct angular positions comprising at least one determined angular position in which the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) allows said movement of the blocker (45; 78; 122) and several other angular positions in which the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) prevents said movement of the blocker (45; 78; 122).

2. Deploying clasp according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least three distinct angular positions comprise a single determined angular position in which the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) authorizes said movement of the blocker (45; 78; 122).

3. Deployant clasp according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least three distinct angular positions are stable positions.

4. Deployant clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the blocker (45; 78; 122) is movable by a manual pushing action to release the blocker (45; 78; 122) and the locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) from each other.

5. Deployant clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the blocker (45; 78; 122) is movable by said manual action against the action of an elastic return member (51; 79; 123) to disengage the blocker (45; 78; 122) and the locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) from each other.

6. Folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking element (10; 80; 80'; 110) and the blocker (45; 78; 122) are lockable relative to each other by snap-fastening when the second arm (3; 63; 63'; 103) is folded onto the first arm (2; 61; 6T; 101) at least when the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) is in the or any one of the determined angular positions and preferably regardless of the angular position of the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131).

7. Folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) comprises a manual coding wheel (15; 65; 65'; 106) and a coaxial coding cam (25; 68; 132) integral in rotation with the manual coding wheel, the coding cam comprising a circular surface (41; 76; 144) around its axis of rotation and a recess (37; 77; 143) in said circular surface, the clasp further comprising a stop member (39; 75; 141) arranged to cooperate with said circular surface (41; 76; 144) to prevent said movement of the blocker (45; 78; 122) when the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) is in any one of said several other angular positions, said recess (37; 77; 143) being adapted to receive the stop member (39; 75; 141) during said movement of the blocker (45; 78; 122) when the manual rotary coding member (23; 67; 131) is in the or any one of the determined angular positions.

8. Deployant clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one determined angular position among the at least three distinct angular positions is adjustable by a user.

9. Folding clasp according to claim 7, characterized in that the coding cam (25; 68; 132) is made integral in rotation with the manual coding wheel (15; 65; 65'; 106) by an elastic indexing member (27; 69; 133) which allows rotation of the manual coding wheel (15; 65; 65'; 106) relative to the coding cam (25; 68; 132) when the coding cam (25; 68; 132) receives the stop member (39; 75; 141) in the recess (37; 77; 143) to allow adjustment of at least one determined angular position among the at least three distinct angular positions.

10. Folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the manual rotary coding member (23; 67) is rotary around an axis which is orthogonal to the axis of the articulation between the first arm (2; 61; 61') and the second arm (3; 63; 63').

11. Deployant clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the manual rotary coding member (23) is movable in translation by said manual action to effect said movement of the blocker (45) when the manual rotary coding member (23) is in the or any one of the determined angular positions.

12. Folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a second said blocker (46) independent of said blocker (45) and a second said manual rotary coding member (24) independent of said manual rotary coding member (23) and associated with the second blocker (46).

13. Deployant clasp according to claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the manual rotary coding members (23, 24) are rotatable about respective axes which are orthogonal to the axis of the articulation between the first arm (2) and the second arm (3) and movable towards each other in translation in a direction parallel to the axis of the articulation between the first arm (2) and the second arm (3) to carry out said movements of the blockers (45, 46).

14. Folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a pusher (66; 66'; 105), separate from the manual rotary coding member (67; 131), allowing the user to exercise said manual action.

15. Folding clasp according to claims 7 and 14, characterized in that the stop member (75; 141) is integral with the pusher (66; 105).

16. Wristwatch comprising a folding clasp according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. Wristwatch according to claim 16, characterized in that a strand (151) of the bracelet (150, 151) comprises holes arranged to cooperate with the locking element (80) in order to allow adjustment of the length of the bracelet (150, 151).

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