Bracelet for watch or for item of jewellery, formed by assembly of links

Abstract

To provide a bracelet enabling increase in the stress resistance of an assembly of links between one another.SOLUTION: Provided is a bracelet including a plurality of articulated units (10) formed by two centre links (13) rigidly connected to each other by first and second side links (11, 12) between which the centre links (13) are sandwiched, the first side link (11) including two pins (111), each engaged in a hole (131) extending through one of the centre links (13), each pin (111) being attached to a socket (121) provided on the second side link (12), each socket (121) including two separate attachment zones, via each of which the pin (111) is driven into the socket (121).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a watch or jewellery bracelet formed by an assembly of articulated units. [Background technology]

[0002] Bracelets comprising a link assembly in which at least some of the links are made of a hard material such as diamond or ceramic are well known in the prior art, and are described, for example, in US Pat.

[0003] A triple-row bracelet has a number of side links sandwiched between them by a center link. Each side link typically has a blind hole, while the center link has a through hole. A pin engages the through hole in the center link and has an external thread at one end that cooperates with an internal thread in the blind hole of one side link. At its other end, the pin is pressed into a socket threaded into the blind hole of the other side link, and is optionally welded. This assembly method allows the three link rows to be rigidly joined to each other without plastic deformation of the side links while ensuring that the links are permanently attached to each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] European Patent No. 2803286 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 2057914 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, it has been found that when a certain level of tensile stress is applied to the side links, the pins can be released from the sockets, and therefore there is a need to increase the stress tolerance of the assembly of the links together. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention overcomes the above drawbacks and, to this end, relates to a bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated units formed by two center links rigidly joined to one another by first and second side links sandwiching the center link. The first side link has two pins, each of which engages in a hole through one of the center links, and each pin is attached to a socket provided in the second side link. Each socket has two separate attachment zones through which the pin is pressed into the socket.

[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 technically possible combination:

[0008] In certain embodiments, the socket extends into the center link by a distal portion and into the second link by a proximal portion.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the proximal and distal portions each have one of the attachment zones.

[0010] In certain embodiments, one of the mounting zones is formed by a radial boss of the socket configured to apply a clamping force to the pin, the boss having a convex cross-sectional shape.

[0011] In certain embodiments, one of the attachment zones is formed by a flange configured to apply a clamping force to the pin, the flange being formed by a constant reduction in the cross section of the socket.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the pin has a proximal portion and a distal portion that each cooperate with a different mounting zone of the socket, the distal portion having a smaller cross section than the cross section of the proximal portion, and the pin having a larger inner diameter at the boss than at the flange. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given by way of example and not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows an exploded perspective view of an articulation unit for manufacturing a bracelet according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the articulation unit according to FIG. 1; [Figure 3] 2 shows a longitudinal section through the socket of the unit according to FIG. 1;

[0014] It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for clarity. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention relates to a bracelet for a watch or jewelry, comprising a plurality of articulated units 10 formed by two center links 13 rigidly connected to each other by two opposite side links 11 and 12, as shown in FIG.

[0016] The bracelet according to the invention is particularly suitable in that the side links 11, 12 and the center link 13 have a body 130 made of a ceramic material, although the invention is not limited to the use of such materials.

[0017] In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first side link 11 comprises a body 110 to which two pins 111 are attached without any degrees of freedom. In particular, the body 110 of the first side link 11 comprises two recesses 112, each receiving a cooperating pin 111 via a helical connection. Each pin 111 is also preferably bonded within its cooperating recess 112.

[0018] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the pins 111 extend parallel to one another.

[0019] In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the second side link 12 comprises a body 120 to which two sockets 121 are attached without any degrees of freedom. In particular, the body 120 of the second side link 12 comprises two recesses 122, each of which receives a cooperating socket 121 via a helical connection. Each socket 121 is also preferably joined within the cooperating recess 122.

[0020] The sockets 121 extend parallel to one another, as do the pins 111 .

[0021] 1 and 2, the pin 111 and the socket 121 are intended to cooperate with each other to assemble the first and second side links 11 and 12 and the center link 13 together to form the articulation unit 10. This cooperation will be described in more detail below.

[0022] Preferably, the pin 111 is made of titanium, as is the socket 121. The use of titanium to construct the pin 111 and the socket 121 has the particular advantage of providing a more rigid attachment of the link than would be the case if steel were used, thus enabling the articulation unit 10 to better withstand mechanical stresses.

[0023] 1 and 2, through which one of the pins 111 is engaged. In particular, the pins 111 of the first side link 11 are intended to engage with the holes 131 of the two different center links 13, respectively, to form the articulation unit 10. Needless to say, the pins 111 and the holes 131 are dimensioned to allow the center link 13 to rotate relative to the first and second side links 11 and 12.

[0024] In the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, each pin 111 is made in one piece and has three continuous portions. More specifically, as shown in detail in Figure 2, each pin 111 has a first portion 113 via which it is attached to the first side link 11, a second portion 114 extending from the first portion 113 and engaging with a hole 131 in the center link 13 with mechanical clearance allowing a rotational degree of freedom, and a third portion 115 extending from the second portion 114 and connecting to a socket 121 without any degree of freedom.

[0025] Each socket 121 is configured to cooperate with a pin 111 via two separate attachment zones 123, which can be seen in detail in Figure 3, and the pin 111 is pressed into each of the attachment zones 123. To this end, the third portion 115 of each pin 111 comprises two portions, including a proximal portion 1150 and a distal portion 1151, each of which cooperates with a different attachment zone 123 of the socket 121. As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the distal portion 1151 has a smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the proximal portion 1150 to facilitate engagement of the pin 111 with the socket 121.

[0026] 3, one of the attachment zones 123 is formed by a radial boss 124 on the socket 121 configured to apply a clamping force to the proximal portion 1150 of the pin 111. The boss 124 is characterized by a convex cross-section.

[0027] The other attachment zone 123 of the socket 121 is formed by a flange 125 configured to apply a clamping force to the distal portion 1151 of the pin 111. The flange 125 is characterized by a constant reduction in the cross section of the socket 121, and the contact zone between the socket 121 and the pin 111 therefore forms a straight cylindrical surface.

[0028] In this case, it will be appreciated that the contact zone between boss 124 and pin 111 is smaller than the contact zone between flange 125 and pin 111. As a result, the clamping force exerted by flange 125 on pin 111 is more evenly distributed over the pin than the clamping force exerted by boss 124.

[0029] It should also be noted that the inner diameter of the pin 111 at the boss 124 is larger than the inner diameter at the flange 125 to facilitate pressing the pin 111 into the socket 121 .

[0030] 2 and 3 in particular, the socket 121 advantageously has a proximal portion 1211 by which the socket 121 extends into the second side link 12, and a distal portion 1212 by which the socket 121 extends into one of the holes 131 in the center link 13. The distal portion 1212 is fitted into the hole 131 with a mechanical clearance that gives the socket 121 a degree of rotational freedom relative to the center link 13. As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, the proximal portion 1211 and the distal portion 1212 each have one of the attachment zones 123. This arrangement significantly improves the resistance of the joint unit 10 to mechanical stress, in particular tensile stress.

[0031] Advantageously, the boss 124 is located on the distal portion 1212 of the socket 121 and the flange 125 is located on the proximal portion 1211. This feature makes it easier to press the pin 111 into the socket 121.

[0032] It should be noted that in the bracelet according to the invention, all of the pins 111, as well as the sockets 121, are preferably identical.

[0033] From the above, it can be seen that the articulation unit 10 is assembled by first attaching the pin 111 to the body 110 of the first side link 11 and the socket 121 to the body 120 of the second side link 12. The sockets 121 are then engaged with the holes 131 that pass through the different center links 13, and then each of the pins 111 is engaged with one of the holes 131 until it enters the socket 121 and is forced into the socket. At the end of this step, the articulation unit 10 is formed.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the examples shown, and various alternatives and modifications may be made to the present invention within the reach of those skilled in the art. In particular, the number of center link 13 and side links 11 and 12 constituting the articulation unit according to the present invention may vary. Furthermore, the socket 121 and pin 111 may be attached to the side links 11 and 12 by any suitable attachment means, such as a bayonet-type device.

[0035] Furthermore, the number, size and shape of the elements for each articulation unit 10 can vary without losing the benefits of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bracelet comprising a plurality of joint units (10) formed by two center links (13) rigidly joined to one another by first and second side links (11, 12) sandwiching the center link (13), characterized in that the first side link (11) has two pins (111) each engaging with a hole (131) passing through one of the center links (13), each pin (111) being attached to a socket (121) provided in the second side link (12), each socket (121) having two separate attachment zones (123) through which the pin (111) is pressed into the socket (121).

2. 2. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein the socket (121) extends into the center link (13) by a distal portion (1212) and into the second link (12) by a proximal portion (1211).

3. 3. The bracelet of claim 2, wherein each of the proximal and distal portions (1211, 1212) has one of the attachment zones (123).

4. 2. The bracelet of claim 1, wherein one of the attachment zones (123) is formed by a radial boss (124) of the socket (121) configured to apply a clamping force to the pin (111), the boss (124) having a convex cross-sectional shape.

5. 2. The bracelet according to claim 1, wherein one of the attachment zones (123) is formed by a flange (125) configured to apply a clamping force to the pin (111), the flange (125) being formed by a constant reduction in the cross section of the socket (121).

6. 5. The bracelet of claim 4, wherein one of the attachment zones (123) is formed by a flange (125) configured to apply a clamping force to the pin (111), the flange (125) being formed by a certain reduction in the cross section of the socket (121), the pin (111) having a proximal portion (1150) and a distal portion (1151) each cooperating with a different attachment zone (123) of the socket (121), the distal portion (1151) having a smaller cross section than the cross section of the proximal portion (1150), and the pin (111) having a larger inner diameter at the boss (124) than the flange (125).

Images