Quick release system for watch strap

Abstract

To provide a device for fastening a watch strap to a watch case.SOLUTION: An end link includes locking means (8), the locking means (8) being arranged to cooperate with an end link (10) and a bar (9) to lock the bar to the end link (10) when the end link is attached to the watch case.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick release system for a watch strap on a watch case, in particular for a metal watch strap or for example a strap made of leather or rubber. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices for fastening a watch strap to a watch case are known, for example, from DE 10 200 43 33. DE 10 200 43 33. DE 10 200 43 33. discloses a quick release system using a spring bar in combination with a rotatable lever, into which a connecting element is pressed from above. However, the use of a spring bar significantly limits the implementation of the locking system. Quick change systems from DE 10 200 43 33. are also known, in which the underside of the lug is milled, into which an exchangeable connecting piece is pressed. The locking mechanism is implemented in the first solution by a pivotable lever, and in the second variant by a pusher which moves the slide when pressed. However, such devices have some drawbacks in terms of handling and functional safety. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 2229836 [Patent Document 2] European Patent Application Publication No. 1128237 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 3266333 Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a device for connecting a strap to an end link quickly and easily while providing a high level of security.

[0005] Thus, the present invention relates to a device for fastening a watch strap to a watch case, comprising an end link of a wristband for a watch intended for fastening a watch strap to a watch case, said watch case comprising at least one pin, said watch case comprising a longitudinal slot defined by two main support surfaces parallel to a main plane, said end link comprising at least one lateral surface, said end link comprising itself at least one guide groove arranged to cooperate complementary with said pin for its fastening to said case (1), said end link comprising at least one lock, said lock comprising a sliding catch arranged to cooperate with said slot in a locked position, said sliding catch being moved towards the locked position by elastic return means belonging to said lock, said end link comprising unlocking means arranged to be directly operated by a user to move said sliding catch away from said slot of said case, said guide groove being a curved guide groove such that in the locked position said sliding catch is maintained in firm abutment against one of the two main surfaces of said longitudinal slot. According to the present invention, the end link comprises a locking means. Locking means cooperates with the end link and the bar to lock the bar to the end link when the end link is attached to the watch case.

[0006] According to another feature of the present invention, the end link includes a through bore through which the bar extends, the locking means being partially mounted in the through bore; the locking means includes a locking pin arranged to cooperate with a groove formed in the bar; the end link includes a hole leading into the through bore, the hole being arranged to receive a locking pin; the locking pin is movable along its axis, the movement of the locking pin being limited by a step in the bore cooperating with a shoulder on the locking pin, the shoulder forming an end stop for the locking pin; the end link includes a cover plate secured to the end link to retain the locking pin, the cover plate including a first opening for the slide catch and a second opening for the locking pin; the locking means includes a resilient return means seated on the locking pin, one end of the resilient return means resting in the second opening of the cover plate and the other end abutting a shoulder of the locking pin; the bore has a first section having a dimension similar to that of the shoulder and a second section having a dimension similar to that of the locking pin; The sliding catch includes a head cooperating with the slot, the head including a ramp arranged to cooperate with one of the two main support surfaces. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, given in a non-limiting manner, in which:

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view from the top of a wristwatch equipped with a device according to the present invention. [Figure 2a] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the bottom of a wristwatch equipped with a device according to the present invention. [Figure 2b] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention. [Figure 2c] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device according to the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a locking pin of the device according to the invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bar according to the present invention; [Figure 5a-5c] 5a to 5c respectively show a top view and a cross-sectional view of a watch equipped with a device according to the invention in a locked position. [Figure 6a-6c] 6a to 6c respectively show a top view and a cross-sectional view of a watch equipped with a device according to the invention in the unlocked position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The invention proposes to give users the possibility to easily and reliably change the strap attached to their watch without having to change the end links or the quick release system between the watch and the strap.

[0010] The wristband should be changeable without careful handling with cylindrical tools such as pins or pencils, allowing for quick exchange between leather and linked metal wristbands, or allowing for matching of the wristband to the article of clothing and / or jewelry worn by the user or to the user's skin color depending on the context in which the watch is used. This interchangeable wristband also allows for instantaneous exchange of wristbands of different lengths, allowing retailers and dealers to quickly provide their customers with the perfect watch.

[0011] The invention is described here precisely for the preferred case of an end link for a watch band, which can be produced in series at a reasonable cost and simply joined to the wristband body, although it is also possible to choose a one-piece wristband configuration without separate end pieces, which includes the functions of interchangeability and locking, but of course at a higher cost price. A person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the arrangement described below for the end link to the entire wristband, at least without problems.

[0012] That is, the present invention is preferably directed to a watch band end link 10 for a wristband 200.

[0013] To receive such a link 10, the case 1 includes two pins 3 or studs or the like belonging to the case 1, which are inserted, either by gluing, crimping or soldering, into corresponding bores drilled perpendicular to the 6H-12H axis of the case from the inside face of the horn 11. The pins 3 are arranged to cooperate complementary to curved guide grooves 40 machined into the side face 56 of the end link 10.

[0014] Each pin 3 is preferably carried by a reinforcement zone of the case 1, in particular a horn. The connection between each pin 3 and each horn must be of a sufficiently large dimension to absorb the stresses, in particular tension, torsion and acceleration, to which the wristband and the case 1 are subjected. The interchangeability of the wristband 9 with respect to the case 1 is ensured simply by inserting the end links 10 onto these pins 3, which are preferably symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry. Likewise, the removal must be designed so that it is unimpeded.

[0015] To ensure the safety function when the pin 3 is in the abutting position in the guide groove 40 and the insertion of the locking mechanism of the end link 10, the mechanism includes a system for locking and unlocking.

[0016] For this purpose, the end link 10 has a particular machined structure, as can be seen from the particular non-limiting variants shown in the figures.

[0017] This particular machined structure preferably includes at least a longitudinal slot 2. This slot 2 is defined by two main bearing surfaces 21, 22 parallel to the main plane PP, these two main bearing surfaces 21, 22 including an upper bearing surface 21 and a lower bearing surface 22, the upper bearing surface 21 being longer than the lower bearing surface 22. Of course, the surfaces 21 and 22 may have the same length, without preventing the slot 2 from maintaining a sliding catch.

[0018] Such a slot 2 with two parallel sides can be made very simply by lathe or milling operations and is preferably located between the two horns 11 of the case 1, as can be seen in FIG.

[0019] Advantageously, the vertical planes between the lugs are angled so that the connecting piece 10 follows the natural shape of the wrist. The slots 2 are milled parallel to the PP surface to make manufacturing as easy as possible.

[0020] To ensure the locking function, the link 10 comprises at least one lock 50, which comprises a sliding catch 51, which is arranged to cooperate complementary and with minimal play with the slot 2 in the locked position, and which is moved towards the locked position by an elastic return means 62 belonging to the end link 10. Furthermore, the end link 10 comprises an unlocking means, which is arranged to be directly operated by a user's finger in order to move said sliding catch 51 away from said slot 2 of said case 1. Therefore, no tools are required for unlocking or locking or for inserting or removing the link 10 into or from the case 1.

[0021] As can be seen in Figure 1, the guide groove is a curved guide groove, such that in the locked position the sliding catch 51 is held firmly against one of the two main surfaces 21, 22 of the longitudinal slot 2. Due to the curved or angled shape of the guide groove, the end link always abuts against the watch case, thus avoiding gaps between the parts.

[0022] As shown, the sliding catch 51 includes a head 54 which cooperates with said slot 2. The head 54 includes a bevelled surface arranged to abut and cooperate with one of the main support surfaces 21, 22 of the slot 2 of the case 1, where the head 54 preferably moves with minimal play.

[0023] The end link 10 includes a guide chamber 6 for receiving said sliding catch 51 and for receiving a resilient return means 62 (not visible in the figures).

[0024] In the drawing, the sliding catch 51 is guided by two grooves 60 belonging to the end link. These two grooves 60 cooperate with two guiding surfaces 52 of the sliding catch 51. The sliding catch 51 is mounted from the side facing the case by being pressed into the guiding chamber 6 at the front.

[0025] The end link 10 also has a back guide chamber which ensures the reception of a resilient return means, shown in a non-limiting manner, by a helical spring.

[0026] For its operation, the lock 50 preferably includes a push button 53 arranged to be operated by a user's finger so as to control the unlocking of the locking means by the application of pressure to the push button 53, thereby causing the sliding catch 51 to retract.

[0027] In an advantageous configuration, the guide chamber 6 includes an opening 61 arranged to receive the push button 53, said push button sliding through said opening 61.

[0028] According to the invention, the end link includes a locking means 8 which cooperates with the end link 10 and the bar 9 to lock the bar to the end link 10 when the end link is attached to the watch case 1.

[0029] The end link 10 includes a through bore 42 arranged to receive the strap bar 9. The through bore 42 extends along an axis X across the width of the end link 10. The end link 10 further includes a hole 100 perpendicular to the bore 42. The hole 100 leads into the through bore 42 and extends along an axis Y. The hole 100 is arranged to receive a locking pin 8 to lock the strap bar 9 to the connecting piece 10 when the connecting piece 10 is mounted to the watch case 1.

[0030] As can be seen in Figures 5b and 5c, the locking means 8 is located partially in the through bore 42 and includes a locking pin 8 arranged to cooperate with a groove 90 formed in the bar 9 to lock the bar to the end link 10.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1 and 2c, the end link 10 includes a cover plate 7 having a through bore 2a for the locking pin 8. The cover plate 7 is secured to the end link 10. The cover plate 7 may be secured in the usual manner, for example by use of a screw 71. Depending on the design, other variations are possible, such as a sleeve secured in the bore 100. The cover plate 7 also includes a first opening 70 for the sliding catch 51 and a second opening 72 for the locking pin 3.

[0032] The locking pin 8 is movable along its axis in the direction of the Y axis. The movement of the locking pin 8 is limited in the direction Y by a step 102 of the bore 100 cooperating with a shoulder 82 of the locking pin 8. The shoulder 82 forms an end stop for the locking pin 8.

[0033] The hole 100 has a first section 101 having dimensions similar to those of the shoulder 82 of the locking pin 8 and a second section 103 having dimensions similar to those of the locking pin 8, with a step 102 forming a separation between the first section 101 and the second section 103.

[0034] According to the invention, the locking pin 8 comprises a resilient return means 83 which holds the locking pin in its rest position. The resilient return means comprises a coil spring 83 which seats on the locking pin 8. One end of the coil spring 83 rests on the second opening of the cover plate 7 and the other end abuts on a shoulder 82 of the locking pin 3. As a result, the locking pin 8 protrudes slightly from the plate 7 when the end link 10 is not mounted on the watch case and when the strap bar 9 slides out of the through hole 42. That is, the strap 200 can only be removed when the end link is not mounted on the watch case.

[0035] Advantageously, the locking pin 8 includes a first hemispherical surface 80 at one end and a second hemispherical surface 81 at the other end such that, when assembled, the second hemispherical end 81 readily engages with the groove 90 in the strap bar 9, preventing the strap bar 9 from moving along the through hole 42. The first hemispherical end 80 is arranged to abut against the watch case 1 when the end link 10 is mounted to the watch case 1.

[0036] As shown in Figures 5a to 5c, when the end link 10 is attached to the case 1, the first hemispherical end 80 of the locking pin 8 contacts the surface of the case 1. This ensures that the locking pin 8 cannot move in the Y direction and that the first hemispherical end 81 always tightly engages with the groove 90 of the strap bar 9. As a result, the strap bar 9 cannot move in its own axial direction even when a large force is applied. This ensures a tight connection between the end link 1 and the strap 200.

[0037] If the wearer wants to change the strap 200, he must first unlock the end link 10 from the watch case 1 by means of the sliding catch 51. That is, once the end link 10 is removed from the watch case, the first end 80 of the locking pin 8 is no longer blocked from the case, as shown in Figures 6b and 6c.

[0038] Thereafter, when a sufficient force is applied to the strap bar in the axial direction, exceeding the biasing force of the coil spring 83, the second end 81 of the lock pin 8 slides out of the groove 90 of the strap bar 9, thereby releasing the strap bar 9. The strap bar 9 can now be removed from the end link 10, so that the strap 200 can be replaced with another strap.

[0039] To remount the strap 200 to the end link 10, the end link 10 is positioned in the recess of the strap so that the axis of the hole in the strap 200 coincides with the axis of the through hole 42 in the end link 10. The strap pin 9 is then inserted through the hole in the strap and into the through hole 42 in the end link. The strap bar 9 may then be inserted until the second end 81 of the locking pin 8 engages the groove 90 in the strap bar 9. When the end link 10 is reattached to the case and locked, the strap bar 9 is secured against axial movement as described above, providing a secure connection.

[0040] The present invention also relates to a watch 1000 including a watch case 1 configured to receive at least one of said end links 10. In particular, the watch 1000 includes at least one removable strap 200 having such a removable end link 10 equipped at one end with a locking means to provide a secure connection of said strap to the end link 10.

Claims

1. A device for fastening a watch strap to a watch case (1), comprising: The invention relates to an end link (10) of a wristband for a watch intended for fastening the watch strap to the watch case (1), the watch case (1) comprising at least one pin (3), the watch case (1) comprising a longitudinal slot (2) defined by two main support surfaces (21, 22) parallel to a main plane (PP), the end link (10) comprising at least one side surface (56), the end link (10) itself comprising at least one guide groove (4) arranged to cooperate complementarily with the pin (3) for the purpose of fastening the end link to the case (1), the end link (10) comprising at least one lock (5), the lock the lock (5) comprises a sliding catch (51) arranged to cooperate with said slot (2) in a locked position, said sliding catch (51) being moved towards said locked position by elastic return means (62) belonging to said lock (5), said end link (10) comprises unlocking means arranged to be directly operated by a user to move said sliding catch (51) away from said slot (2) of said case (1), said guide groove being a curved guide groove such that said sliding catch (51) is firmly maintained in abutment against one of said two main surfaces (21, 22) of said longitudinal slot (2) in the locked position, A device for securing a watch strap, characterized in that the end link includes a locking means (8) arranged to cooperate with the end link (10) and a bar (9) to lock the bar to the end link (10) when the end link is attached to the watch case.

2. 2. The device for fastening a watch strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the end link (10) includes a through bore (42) through which the bar (9) passes, and the locking means (8) is partially mounted in the through bore (42).

3. 2. The device for fastening a watch strap according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (8) comprise a locking pin (8) arranged to cooperate with a groove (90) formed in the bar (9).

4. 4. The watch strap fastening device of claim 3, wherein the end link (10) includes a hole (100) leading into the through bore (42), the hole (100) being arranged to receive the locking pin (8).

5. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking pin (3) is movable along its axis, the movement of the locking pin (3) being limited by a step (102) of the bore (100) cooperating with a shoulder (82) of the locking pin (3), the shoulder (82) forming an end stop for the locking pin (3).

6. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the end link (10) includes a cover plate (7) fixed to the end link (10) to maintain the locking pin (3), the cover plate (7) including a first opening (70) for the sliding catch (51) and a second opening (72) for the locking pin (3).

7. 6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking means (8) comprises a resilient return means (83) seated on the locking pin (3), the resilient return means (83) having one end resting in the second opening of the cover plate (7) and the other end abutting against the shoulder (82) of the locking pin (8).

8. 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the hole (100) has a first section (101) having dimensions similar to those of the shoulder (82) and a second section (102) having dimensions similar to those of the locking pin (8).

9. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding catch (51) comprises a head cooperating with the slot (2), the head comprising a ramp (54) arranged to cooperate with one of the two main support surfaces (21, 22).

10. A wristband (9) comprising at least one end link (10) of the device according to claim 1.

11. A watch (1000) comprising a watch case (1) configured to receive at least one device for fastening a watch strap to the watch case (1) according to claim 1.

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