Clasp locking device

Abstract

To further secure the clasp of a watch or piece of jewellery.SOLUTION: A locking device (10) for locking a clasp (20) is provided, the locking device including: a push-piece (100) which can move translatably 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 no longer prevent the opening of the clasp (20); and a blocking member (120) for blocking the push-piece (100). The blocking member (120) is configured to occupy a locking state in which the blocking member secures the push-piece (100) in the rest position, and an unlocking state in which the blocking member releases the push-piece (100) translatably.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bracelets for jewellery or watch-type (eg wristwatches, pocket watches) and in particular to a locking device for locking a push piece for a clasp. [Background technology]

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

[0003] As an example, a clasp may comprise a push piece attached to one blade and linked to a hook intended to engage another blade when the clasp is closed. Pressing the clasp causes the hook to move away from the other blade, allowing the clasp to open. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Therefore, this type of clasp can be opened quickly and easily by simply pressing the push piece. However, these advantages have also been exploited to steal watches while they are being worn by a user. The majority of thefts of luxury watches are committed by removing the watch while the user is wearing it, and the user is typically unaware that their watch has been removed.

[0005] For this reason, there is a need to improve the security of clasps on wristwatches and jewellery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention solves the above problems by providing a locking device for locking the clasp, the locking device comprising a pusher piece translatably movable within a support structure between a rest position intended to prevent the clasp from opening and an active position not intended to prevent the clasp from opening, the locking device further comprising a pusher piece blocking member adapted to be in a locked state for fixing the pusher piece in the rest position and in an unlocked state for translatably releasing the pusher piece.

[0007] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, which must be considered alone or according to any combination technically possible:

[0008] In a particular embodiment, the push piece is connected to the support structure via a locking rod, and the blocking member comprises a cam that is movable relative to the push piece to form an abutment for the locking rod, and out of the path of the locking rod when the blocking member is in a locked state and when the blocking member is in an unlocked state.

[0009] In a particular embodiment, the cam is rotatable and has a cam profile against which the locking rod abuts when the pusher element is pushed out of its rest position and the blocking member is in a locked state, and the cam has a radial notch that the locking rod engages when the pusher element is in the active position and the blocking member is in an unlocked state.

[0010] In a particular embodiment, the cam profile has a radial depression whose shape corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod, such that when the pusher piece is pushed out of its rest position and the blocking member prevents the cam from rotating, the locking state.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the blocking member includes a control element connected to the cam to rotate the cam when the cam is manipulated by a user.

[0012] In a particular embodiment, the control element consists of a roller whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of rotation of the cam.

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

[0014] In certain embodiments, the control element has three or more stable positions, only one of which is an unlocked blocking member.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the cam profile has as many depressions as there are stable positions, excluding the position in which the block member is in an unlocked state, and said depressions are evenly distributed.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the control element has guide marks whose position indicates the locked or unlocked state of the control member.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the push piece further comprises at least one guide rod biased by a spring to move towards its rest position and slidably engaged with the support structure, the latter including at least one guide rod slidably engaged with the push-piece.

[0018] In a particular embodiment, the guide rod slidably engaged with the support structure has an axial abutment configured to be disposed against the support structure when the pusher piece is in the rest position.

[0019] Another object of the invention relates to a folding clasp for a watch or piece of jewellery comprising at least two blades connected to each other so as to be able to move rotatably, and to a locking device as described above, the support structure being formed by one of the blades of the clasp.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 shows a front view of a locking device for a clasp according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking device shown in FIG. 1, which consists of a pushing piece in a rest position and a blocking member in an unlocked state; [Diagram 3] 3 shows a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 with the pusher element in the active position. [Figure 4] 3 shows the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 with the blocking member in a locked state. [Diagram 5] 3 shows a cross-section of the locking device of FIG. 2 on a parallel section plane. [Figure 6] 2 shows an exploded view of the locking device shown in FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment. [Figure 7] 2 shows a perspective view of a closed folding clasp with the locking device of FIG. 1; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] For clarity, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0023] The invention relates to a locking device 10 for locking a clasp 20, for example of a watch or of a piece of jewellery, in particular a folding clasp 20, for example with two or three blades. The locking device is shown in figures 1 to 6 and will first be described. A clasp 20 with the locking device 10 is shown in figure 7 and will then be described as an exemplary application of the invention.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows that the locking device 10 comprises a push piece 100 which is rigidly connected to a support structure 110. The support structure 110 consists, for example, of one of the blades of the clasp 20. In a manner known to the person skilled in the art, the push piece 100 is translationally movable relative to the support structure 110 between a rest position, which is intended to prevent the clasp 20 from opening, and an active position, which is intended not to prevent the clasp 20 from opening. Figs. 2 and 3 show cross-sectional views of the push piece 100 in the rest position and in the active position, respectively.

[0025] Advantageously, the locking device 10 comprises a blocking member 120 for blocking the pusher piece 100, which is arranged to be in a locked state in which the pusher piece 100 is fixed in a rest position and in an unlocked state in which the pusher piece 100 is released to allow movement of the pusher piece 100. Figures 2 and 3 show the blocking member 120 in the unlocked state, while Figure 4 shows the blocking member 120 in the locked state.

[0026] The pushing piece 100 is connected to the support structure 110 by means of a locking rod 111 which is attached to said support structure 110 without any degree of freedom. The blocking member 120 is preferably accommodated in the pushing piece 100 and comprises a cam 112 which is preferably rotatably movable relative to the pushing piece 100. The cam 112 thus forms an abutment against the locking rod 111 when the blocking member 120 is in the locked state and is out of the path of the locking rod 111 when the blocking member 120 is in the unlocked state.

[0027] In particular, the cam 112 has a cam profile 113 against which the locking rod 111 abuts when the pusher piece 100 is moved out of the rest position and when the blocking member 120 is in the locked state. The cam 112 has a radial notch 114 formed therein within which the locking rod 111 engages when the pusher piece 100 is in the active position and the blocking member 120 is in the unlocked state, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, the depth of the radial notch 114 determines the amount of movement of the pusher piece 100 between the rest position and the active position.

[0028] The blocking member 120 comprises a control element 121 connected to the cam 112, which is intended to be operated by a user to move the cam. In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control element 121 consists of a toothed roller, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the cam 112.

[0029] Advantageously, the blocking member 120 can be provided with a spring 122 arranged to hold the control element 121 and thereby the cam 112 in a stable angular position. The jumper 122 can be attached to the pushing piece 100 and can be positioned against the control element 121 as shown in Figure 5 or against the cam 112 as will be explained in more detail below.

[0030] The control element 121 has a guide mark 123, the position of which with respect to the push piece 100 indicates the locked or unlocked state of the blocking member 120. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the blocking member 120 is in the unlocked state when the guide mark 123 of the control element 120, which in this case consists of a color mark, is in the central position, as shown in Fig. 5. Thanks to this guide mark 123, the user can easily and quickly find the position of the control element 121 that allows the blocking member 120 to be placed in the unlocked state.

[0031] Advantageously, the control element 121 can be in a number of discrete stable positions, for example more than three, in particular nine in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. The blocking member 120 is in the unlocked state only in one of these positions of the control element 121. Thus, while a user of the watch can easily and quickly put the control member in the unlocked state, this operation becomes very complicated for anyone wanting to open the clasp 20 in order to steal the watch worn on the user's wrist.

[0032] The cam profile 113, as shown in FIG. 6, can advantageously have at least one radial recess 115, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod 111, preventing rotation of the cam 112 when the pushing piece 100 is moved out of the rest position and when the blocking member 120 is in the locked state.

[0033] This feature makes it difficult to unlock the blocking member 120 when this operation is performed in a hurry, for example in the event of an attempt to steal a watch worn by a user.

[0034] Instead of the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 5 in which the jumper 122 is configured to be positioned against the control element 121, the jumper 122 can advantageously be configured to be positioned against the cam 112, in particular against a recess in the cam 112.

[0035] The pressing piece 100 comprises at least one guide rod 101, preferably two in number, which is slidably engaged in the support structure 110 and arranged on both sides of the locking rod 111. The support structure 110 further comprises at least one guide rod 116, preferably two in number, which is slidably engaged in the pressing piece 100 and arranged on both sides of the locking rod 111. In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, each guide rod 116 of the support structure 110 engaged in the pressing piece 100 is configured to support a spring 117 housed in said pressing piece 100. The spring 117 is configured to bias the pressing piece 100 towards the rest position.

[0036] The guide rod 101 of the pressing piece 100, which is slidably engaged in the support structure 110, has an axial abutment 102 at one end opposite the pressing piece 100, which abutment 102 is configured to rest against the support structure 110 when the pressing piece 100 is in the rest position. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the abutment 102 is formed by a sole, to which the end of the guide rod 101 of the pressing piece 100 is rigidly attached. As can be seen from the drawing, the locking rod 111 can engage in a through hole formed in the sole and slide relative to the sole when the pressing piece 100 moves towards its active position.

[0037] 7, the abutment 102 can form a first hook member 103, such as by means of a shoulder, which is intended to cooperate with a second hook member 210, such as the hook end of a support of another support structure forming the transverse blade 21. In particular, when the clasp 20 is closed, the first and second hooking members 103 and 210 bear against each other. When the push piece 100 is moved to the active position, the abutment 102 moves until the first and second hook members 103 and 210 no longer bear against each other, which allows the clasp 20 to be released and opened.

[0038] In the example shown in Figure 7, the clasp 20 comprises two lateral blades 21 rotatably connected to a support structure 110 forming a median blade. These two lateral blades 21 are each intended to be attached by their free ends to the ends of a bracelet strand, in a manner known to the person skilled in the art. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10. Lock Device 20 Clasp 100 Press Parts 101 Guide rod 102 Axial contact body 110 Support structure 111 Locking rod 112 Cam 113 Cam Profile 114 Radial Notch 116 Guide rod 117 Spring 120 Block Members 121 Control Elements 122 Jumper 123 Guide Mark

Claims

1. A locking device (10) for locking a clasp (20), comprising: This locking device comprises a push piece (100) translatably movable at a support structure (110) between a rest position intended to prevent said clasp (20) from opening and an active position intended not to prevent said clasp (20) from opening, The locking device (10) comprises a blocking member (120) for blocking the pushing piece (100), The block member (120) is configured to be in a locked state in which the pushing part (100) is fixed in a rest position, and in an unlocked state in which the pushing part (100) is released so as to be capable of translational motion; The pressing piece (100) is connected to the support structure (110) via a locking rod (111), The block member (120) is provided with a cam (112) that constitutes an abutment body that abuts against the locking rod (111) when the block member (120) is in a locked state, and that is movable relative to the pushing part (100) so as to move out of the path of the locking rod (111) when the block member (120) is in an unlocked state. A locking device (10).

2. The cam (112) is rotatable; the cam (112) has a cam profile (113) against which the locking rod (111) abuts when the pushing piece (100) leaves its rest position and when the blocking member (120) is in a locked state; The cam (112) has a radial notch (114) into which the locking rod (111) enters and engages when the push piece (100) is in the active position and when the blocking member (120) is in the unlocked state.

2. The locking device (10) according to claim 1 .

3. The cam profile (113) has a radial depression; The shape of the recess corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod (111) to prevent the cam (112) from rotating when the pushing piece (100) is pushed out of the rest position and when the blocking member (120) is in the locked state.

2. The locking device (10) according to claim 1 .

4. The blocking member (120) comprises a control element (121) connected to the cam (112) to rotate the cam (112) when the cam (112) is operated by a user.

3. A locking device (10) according to claim 2.

5. The control element (121) consists of a roller, The axis of rotation of the roller coincides with the axis of rotation of the cam (112).

5. A locking device (10) according to claim 4.

6. The control element (121) is held in a stable angular position by a jumper (122) 5. A locking device (10) according to claim 4.

7. The control element (121) has more than three stable positions, and in only one of the stable positions the blocking member (120) is in an unlocked state.

5. A locking device (10) according to claim 4.

8. the control element (121) has a number of stable positions greater than three, and in only one of the stable positions the blocking member (120) is in an unlocked state; said cam profile (113) has as many recesses as there are stable positions, except for the position where said blocking member (120) is in an unlocked state; The recesses are evenly distributed 8. A locking device (10) according to claim 7.

9. The control element (121) has guide marks (123) which indicate positions corresponding to the locked or unlocked state of the control member.

5. A locking device (10) according to claim 4.

10. said push piece (100) is biased by a spring (117) to move towards a rest position and comprises at least one guide rod (101) slidably engaged with said support structure (110); The support structure (110) further comprises at least one guide rod (116) slidably engaged in the push piece (100).

2. The locking device (10) according to claim 1 .

11. The guide rod (101) slidably engaged with the support structure (110) has an axial abutment (102) configured to be disposed against the support structure (110) when the pressing part (100) is in a rest position.

2. The locking device (10) according to claim 1 .

12. A folding clasp (20) for a watch or piece of jewelry, comprising: At least two blades connected to each other so as to be rotatably movable, and a locking device (10) according to claim 1, The support structure (110) of the locking device (10) is formed by one of the blades of the clasp (20). A folding clasp (20).

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