Connectors, Bands, and Watches

Abstract

To provide a connected body that facilitates attaching and detaching operation, and a band equipped with the connected body, and a watch having the connected body and the band.SOLUTION: The watch includes: a mounting piece 15 which is a mounting member that is provided in a band body 12 and that has a mounting hole 18; and a connection member 16 for which a slide part 22 sliding in a pipe part 20, a cylindrical part inserted in the mounting hole 18, is provided with a lever part 23, and for which the slide part is retractably projected from an end of the pipe part 20 and installed in a watch case 1. In the mounting piece 15, a slit hole 25 for the lever part 23 to be slidably inserted is provided from one end over the other end of the mounting hole 18. Consequently, when the pipe part 20 of the connection member 16 is inserted in the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15, the lever part 23 can be inserted in the slit hole 25 of the mounting piece 15. Also, the pipe part 20 can be inserted from any end in both ends of the mounting hole 18. As a result, the attaching and detaching operation of the connection member 16 for the mounting piece 15 is made simple to facilitate exchange of the band.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector for use with wristwatches, clothing, bags, purses, etc., a band equipped with the connector, and a timepiece equipped with the connector or bands. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the case of a wristwatch band, as described in Patent Document 1, a structure is known in which an attachment hole is provided in an attachment piece attached to the end of the band body, a connecting member called a spring bar is inserted into this attachment hole, and the attachment piece is attached to the wristwatch case by this connecting member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-146804

[0004] The connecting member of such a band is configured such that slide portions are slidably provided within both ends of the pipe, and a lever portion is provided on one of these slide portions. This lever portion moves along a slit-shaped guide hole provided in the pipe, causing one of the slide portions to slide in and out of the end of the pipe.

[0005] In order to attach a connecting member to a mounting piece attached to the end of the band body, this type of band is configured so that an insertion hole into which the lever portion is inserted is provided along the axial direction of the mounting hole at one end of the mounting piece in the axial direction of the mounting hole, and when a pipe of the connecting member is inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting piece, the lever portion is inserted into the insertion hole provided at one end of the mounting piece, and in this state the end of the pipe not provided with the lever portion is fixed to the mounting hole of the mounting piece by a pull-out prevention member such as a C-ring. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, with this type of watch band, the lever portion is inserted into an insertion hole provided at one end of the mounting piece, while the pipe of the connecting member is inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting piece, and the pipe is fixed within the mounting hole of the mounting piece by a pull-out prevention member, which creates the problem that the installation and removal operations of the connecting member are complicated and troublesome.

[0007] The problem to be solved by this invention is to provide a connector that can be easily attached and detached, a band including the connector, and a timepiece including the connector and the band. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This invention comprises a mounting member provided on one of a connecting object and a connected object and having a mounting hole, and a connecting member having a slide portion slidable within a cylindrical portion inserted into the mounting hole, the slide portion having a lever portion and projecting from an end of the cylindrical portion, the connecting member being attached to the other of the connecting object and the connected object, the mounting member being provided with a first notch portion through which the lever portion rotates around the central axis of the mounting hole, and a second notch portion arranged to be movable in the axial direction of the mounting hole when the lever portion rotates. The first cutout portion and the second cutout portion are open on a surface side where the connecting object and the connected object face each other, and are provided continuously. The present invention relates to a connector comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to this invention, the attachment and detachment operations can be easily performed. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wristwatch. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged rear view of the wristwatch shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line AA. [Figure 4] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the wristwatch case shown in FIG. 1, seen from the back side. [Diagram 5]2A and 2B show a main portion of a watch band of the wristwatch shown in FIG. 1, with FIG. 2A being an enlarged perspective view and FIG. 2B being an enlarged side view. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B are enlarged front and side views showing a state in which the lever portion of the connecting member has been rotated toward the back side of the watch band in the main portion of the watch band shown in FIG. 5; FIG. [Figure 7] 5(b) is an enlarged perspective view of the main part, showing the state in which the connecting member has been removed from the mounting piece of the watch band shown in FIG. 5(a). FIG. [Figure 8] 7A and 7B show the connecting member shown in FIG. 6, in which (a) is an enlarged perspective view thereof, and (b) is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line BB in (a). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a wristwatch will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, this wristwatch has a wristwatch case 1 which is the object to be connected. Band attachment parts 3 to which a watch band 2 is attached are provided on the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides of this wristwatch case 1. In addition, push button switches 4 are provided on the 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock, 8 o'clock, and 10 o'clock sides of this wristwatch case 1.

[0012] In this case, as shown in Fig. 3, wristwatch case 1 comprises a lower case 5, an upper case 6, and an outer case 7. Lower case 5 is made of metal or hard synthetic resin, for example a highly rigid hard synthetic resin made of polyamide resin mixed with glass fiber or carbon fiber. Upper case 6 is made of metal such as stainless steel or titanium alloy.

[0013] 3, the upper case 6 is configured to be placed on the upper part of the lower case 5 via a waterproof ring 6a. The exterior case 7 includes a substantially ring-shaped first decorative case 7a attached to the outer periphery of the upper part of the upper case 6, and a substantially ring-shaped second decorative case 7b attached to the upper part of the first decorative case 7a and covering the upper part of the upper case 6.

[0014] As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the wristwatch case 1 has an upper case 6 placed on top of the lower case 5 via a waterproof ring 6a, a first decorative case 7a of the outer case 7 placed on the upper outer periphery of this upper case 6, and a second decorative case 7b of the outer case 7 placed on top of this first decorative case 7a, with the lower case 5, upper case 6, and outer case 7 attached to each other by a plurality of screws 6b.

[0015] 1 to 3, a crystal 8 is attached via a packing 8a to the upper opening of wristwatch case 1, i.e., the upper opening of upper case 6. A parting member 9 is provided inside wristwatch case 1 located below this crystal 8, i.e., inside upper case 6. A back cover 10 is attached to the lower part of wristwatch case 1, i.e., the lower part of lower case 5, with a waterproof ring 10a and multiple screws 10b.

[0016] Inside this wristwatch case 1, that is, inside the lower case 5, there is a clock module 11, as shown in Fig. 3. Although not shown, this clock module 11 is equipped with various parts necessary for clock functions, such as a clock movement that moves the hands, a display panel that electro-optically displays information such as the time, and a circuit section that electrically drives these.

[0017] 1 to 3, the watch band 2 is configured so that a band main body 12, which is the object to be connected, is attached to a band attachment section 3 of a watch case 1, which is the object to be connected, by a connector 13. In this case, the band attachment section 3 of the watch case 1 has a pair of attachment protrusions 3a provided on the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock sides of the outer periphery of each of the lower case 5 and the upper case 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the pair of attachment protrusions 3a are each provided with a pin connection hole 3b that is aligned on the same axis.

[0018] 1 and 2, band main body 12 is formed by sequentially connecting multiple metal band links 12a, but may be made of synthetic resin. Connector 13, as shown in Figures 3, 5, and 6, includes attachment piece 15, which is an attachment member attached to the end of band main body 12 by pin member 14, and connecting member 16, which is attached to attachment piece 15 and attaches attachment piece 15 to band attachment portion 3 of watch case 1.

[0019] As shown in Figures 3, 5 to 7, the mounting piece 15 has one end 15a that is positioned between a pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1 and faces the outer peripheral surface of the watch case 1, and the other end 15b that is positioned within a recess 12b provided in the band piece 12a at the end of the band main body 12 and is attached to the band piece 12a at the end of the band main body 12.

[0020] That is, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 7, the thickness (height) of one end 15a of this mounting piece 15 is approximately the same as the thickness of watch case 1, i.e., the vertical length (height) of the outer circumferential surface of watch case 1, and the thickness of the other end 15b is approximately the same as the thickness of band main body 12, with the other end 15b being thinner than one end 15a. As a result, mounting piece 15 is inclined so that it gradually becomes lower from the top of one end 15a toward the top of the other end 15b, and the entire mounting piece is formed into a columnar piece that is approximately a right-angled triangle.

[0021] 3 and 5 to 7, a pin mounting hole 17 into which the pin member 14 is inserted is provided penetrating the other end 15b of the mounting piece 15 in a short-side direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the band body 12. The pin member 14 is formed so that its axial length is the same as the length of the band body 12 in the short-side direction of the band piece 12a at the end of the band body 12.

[0022] As a result, when the other end 15b of the mounting piece 15 is positioned between the recesses 12b in the band piece 12a at the end of the band body 12, as shown in Figures 3, 5 to 7, it is configured to correspond on the same axis to each of the pin insertion holes 12c provided on both sides of the recess 12b of the band piece 12a in the short direction of the band body 12.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 7, the other end 15b of the mounting piece 15 is arranged in the recess 12b of the band link 12a at the end of the band body 12, and the pin member 14 is inserted from one of the pin insertion holes 12c on both sides of the recess 12b of the band link 12a in the short direction of the band body 12 into the pin mounting hole 17 of the other end 15b of the mounting piece 15 and then into the other pin insertion hole 12c on both sides of the recess 12b of the band link 12a, thereby being attached to the band link 12a at the end of the band body 12.

[0024] 3 and 5 to 7, an attachment hole 18 into which the pipe section 20 of the connecting member 16 is inserted is provided at one end section 15a of the attachment piece 15, penetrating in the short direction of the band main body 12. When one end section 15a of the attachment piece 15 is disposed between a pair of attachment protrusions 3a in the band attachment section 3 of the wristwatch case 1, this attachment hole 18 is formed so as to correspond coaxially to each of the pin connection holes 3b provided in the pair of attachment protrusions 3a.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3, 6 and 8, the connecting member 16 is a spring bar for attaching the mounting piece 15 to the band attachment portion 3 of the watch case 1, and comprises a pipe portion 20 which is a cylindrical portion, a spring member 21 arranged within this pipe portion 20, a pair of slide portions 22 arranged slidably on both sides within the pipe portion 20, and a pair of lever portions 23 for sliding each of the pair of slide portions 22 in the axial direction of the pipe portion 20.

[0026] 3, 6 and 8, the connecting member 16 is configured such that the pair of slide portions 22 are pushed outward from both ends of the pipe portion 20 by the spring force of the spring member 21. In this case, the pipe portion 20 is formed so that its outer diameter is the same as the inner diameter of the mounting hole 18 of the mounting block 15, and its axial length is the same as the axial length of the mounting hole 18 or slightly shorter.

[0027] 8(b), the spring member 21 is a coil spring, and its outer diameter is formed to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe section 20. The length of the spring member 21 in the expansion / contraction direction in a free state, i.e., the axial length, is formed to be longer than the length between the pair of slide sections 22 in a state in which the spring member 21 has moved in a direction to be pushed out from both ends of the pipe section 20, i.e., the length between the inner ends of the pair of slide sections 22. As a result, the spring member 21 is configured such that both ends elastically contact the inner ends of the pair of slide sections 22, and urge the pair of slide sections 22 in a direction to push them out from the inside of the pipe section 20 to the outside.

[0028] As shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), each of the pair of slide parts 22 includes a large-diameter slide main body 22a and a small-diameter protruding part 22b. The slide main body 22a is slidably disposed inside the pipe part 20. The slide main body 22a is formed so that its outer diameter is the same as or slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the pipe part 20, and its axial length is approximately 1 / 3 of the axial length of the pipe part 20.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 8(b), this slide body 22a is arranged on both sides within the pipe section 20, and when it is urged in the extruding direction by the spring member 21, the edge of the outer end abuts against the anti-pullout portion 20a provided by crimping on each edge at both ends of the pipe section 20, so as to prevent it from slipping out to the outside of the pipe section 20.

[0030] 8(a) and 8(b), each of the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide parts 22 is provided integrally with the pair of slide bodies 22a on the same axis as the slide body 22a at the outer end of the pair of slide bodies 22a. The protrusions 22b are configured to protrude from both end portions of the pipe part 20 so as to be able to protrude outside the pipe part 20 without abutting against the retaining members 20a at both ends of the pipe part 20.

[0031] That is, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), the outer diameter of this protrusion 22b is smaller than the outer diameter of the slide main body 22a, smaller than the inner diameter of the retaining members 20a at both ends of the pipe section 20, and is formed to be approximately the same size as the inner diameter of each pin connection hole 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting section 3 of the watch case 1 shown in Figure 4. Also, the axial length of this protrusion 22b is approximately 1 / 3 of the length of the slide main body 22a, and is formed to be approximately the same length as the axial length of the pin connection holes 3b in the pair of mounting protrusions 3a.

[0032] 8(a) and 8(b), when the slide body 22a is pushed toward the outside of the pipe section 20 by the spring force of the spring member 21, the protrusions 22b are pushed outward from the pipe section 20 and inserted into the pin connection holes 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting section 3 of the watch case 1 shown in Fig. 4. Furthermore, when the protrusions 22b move toward the inside of the pipe section 20 against the spring force of the spring member 21, they are configured to come out of the pin connection holes 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a and be pushed into the inside of the pipe section 20.

[0033] 8(a) and 8(b), a lever portion 23 is attached to each of the slide bodies 22a of the pair of slide parts 22. The pair of lever portions 23 are for sliding each of the slide bodies 22a of the pair of slide parts 22 inside the pipe portion 20 in the axial direction thereof.

[0034] That is, each of the pair of lever portions 23 has an approximately cylindrical head portion 23a and a round bar-shaped shaft portion 23b, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), and is configured so that the shaft portion 23b can be attached to the shaft mounting hole 22c of the slide body 22a by welding, screwing, etc. through each opening 24 provided on both sides of the pipe portion 20.

[0035] In this case, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), each opening 24 provided on both sides of the pipe section 20 is formed as a long hole extending from the edge of both ends of the pipe section 20 along the axial direction of the pipe section 20. That is, each opening 24 is formed so that the length in the axial direction of the pipe section 20 is slightly shorter than the axial length of the slide body 22a of the slide section 22. Also, each opening 24 is formed so that the length in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the pipe section 20 is the same as or slightly longer than the outer diameter (diameter) of the shaft section 23b of the lever section 23.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b), when each protrusion 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 is pushed out of the pipe portion 20 by the spring force of the spring member 21 and the edge portions of each outer end of the pair of slide bodies 22a abut against the anti-pullout portions 20a provided at both ends of the pipe portion 20, each of these openings 24 is formed so that each shaft portion 23b of the pair of lever portions 23 is positioned close to each of the outer ends located on both ends of the pipe portion 20.

[0037] In addition, each of these openings 24 is formed so that when each of the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 shown in Figures 8(a) and 8(b) is pressed into the inside of the pipe portion 20 against the spring force of the spring member 21, each of the shaft portions 23b of the pair of lever portions 23 is positioned close to or in contact with each of the inner end portions located on the middle side of the pipe portion 20 in the axial direction.

[0038] Meanwhile, at one end 15a of the mounting piece 15 of the connecting body 13, as shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 7, a slit hole 25 into which a pair of lever portions 23 of the connecting member 16 are slidably inserted when the pipe portion 20 is inserted into the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15 is provided along the entire length of the mounting hole 18, i.e., from one end to the other end of the mounting hole 18.

[0039] 3 and 5 to 7, slit hole 25 is formed so that its length in the width direction perpendicular to the axial direction of mounting hole 18 is smaller than the inner diameter of mounting hole 18 and is approximately the same as or slightly wider than the outer diameter of each shaft portion 23b of a pair of lever portions 23 of connecting member 16. As a result, when pipe portion 20 is placed in mounting hole 18, it is configured not to slip out of mounting hole 18 through slit hole 25 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction, i.e., toward the outer circumferential surface of watch case 1.

[0040] 3 and 5 to 7, this slit hole 25 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 18 and the opposing surface of one end 15a of the mounting piece 15 that faces the outer peripheral surface of the watch case 1 located between a pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1, and is open to the opposing surface of one end 15a of the mounting piece 15. As a result, the slit hole 25 is configured to be blocked by the outer peripheral surface of the watch case 1 when the mounting piece 15 is positioned between the pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1.

[0041] 5 to 7, one end 15a of the mounting block 15 is provided with a pair of notches 26 arranged so that the pair of lever portions 23 of the connecting member 16 can rotate about the central axis of the mounting hole 18 and move in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18. That is, the pair of notches 26 include a first notch 26a where the pair of lever portions 23 rotate about the central axis of the mounting hole 18, and a second notch 26b arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 when the pair of lever portions 23 rotate.

[0042] In this case, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, the first cutout portion 26a is provided between the opposing surface of one end portion 15a of the mounting piece 15 that faces the outer circumferential surface of the watch case 1 at a location corresponding to the slit hole 25 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 18. The second cutout portion 26b is provided between the underside of the mounting piece 15 and the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 18, and is open to the underside of the mounting piece 15, i.e., the underside that is the back side of the watch case 1. As a result, the pair of lever portions 23 are exposed and positioned on the underside of the mounting piece 15, i.e., the underside of the watch case 1, when they rotate about the central axis of the mounting hole 18 within the pair of first cutout portions 26a and are positioned within the pair of second cutout portions 26b.

[0043] 5 to 7, the pair of cutout portions 26 are formed such that the axial length of the mounting hole 18 is longer than the axial length of each of the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 and shorter than the axial length of each of the openings 24 provided on both sides of the pipe portion 20. As a result, when the pair of lever portions 23 are disposed in the pair of cutout portions 26, they move in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 only within the region of the pair of cutout portions 26. For this reason, the pipe portion 20 is configured not to slip out of the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15.

[0044] In this case, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, each second notch portion 26b of the pair of notches 26 is formed so that when the pair of slide portions 22 are pushed out of the pipe portion 20 by the spring force of the spring member 21, the pair of lever portions 23 move toward and approach the pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3, as shown in Figure 2.

[0045] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 to 7, each second notch portion 26b of the pair of notches 26 is formed so that when each protrusion 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 is pushed into the inside of the pipe portion 20 against the spring force of the spring member 21, the pair of lever portions 23 move away from the pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3 and move toward and close to each inner end of each second notch portion 26b located on the middle side of the pipe portion 20 in the axial direction.

[0046] 3 to 7, one end 15a of the mounting piece 15 is provided with an engagement portion 28 that engages with a locking portion 27 provided on the wristwatch case 1. This engagement portion 28 includes a notched recess 28a provided on the upper part of the opposing surface at one end 15a of the mounting piece 15 and opening to the opposing surface of the mounting piece 15 and the upper surface of the mounting piece 15, and a substantially mountain-shaped engagement protrusion 28b provided at the bottom of this notched recess 28a.

[0047] As shown in Figures 3 to 7, the locking portion 27 of the watch case 1 comprises a locking protrusion 27a provided on the outer periphery of the watch case 1 located between a pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3 and positioned within a notched recess 28a of the engagement portion 28 of the mounting block 15, and an approximately valley-shaped locking recess 27b provided on the underside of the locking protrusion 27a and into which the engagement protrusion 28b of the engagement portion 28 of the mounting block 15 engages.

[0048] As a result, when the mounting piece 15 is placed between a pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3, as shown in Figure 3, the locking protrusion 27a of the locking portion 27 provided on the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1 is placed in the cutout recess 28a of the engagement portion 28 provided on the mounting piece 15, and the approximately mountain-shaped engagement protrusion 28b of the engagement portion 28 engages with the approximately valley-shaped locking recess 27b of the locking portion 27, preventing the mounting piece 15 from rattling relative to the watch case 1.

[0049] The mounting block 15 is made of sintered metal obtained by sintering metal powder such as stainless steel or titanium alloy. That is, the mounting block 15 is formed by mixing metal powder such as stainless steel or titanium alloy with fluid resin by metal injection molding (MIM), filling the inside of a molding die, and evaporating the resin in a sintering process to sinter the metal powder. As a result, the mounting block 15 is formed with high strength.

[0050] Next, a method for attaching watch band 2 to watch case 1 of such a wristwatch will be described. In this case, the wristwatch case 1 is assembled in advance. At this time, first, the parting member 9 is attached inside the upper case 6, and then the watch crystal 8 is attached together with the packing 8a to the upper opening of the upper case 6. In this state, the upper case 6 is placed on top of the lower case 5 together with the waterproof ring 6a.

[0051] Then, the first decorative case 7a of the exterior case 7 is placed on the upper outer periphery of the upper case 6, and the second decorative case 7b of the exterior case 7 is placed on top of the first decorative case 7a. In this state, the lower case 5, the upper case 6, the first decorative case 7a of the exterior case 7, and the second decorative case 7b of the exterior case 7 are attached to each other with multiple screws 6b. In this way, the wristwatch case 1 is assembled.

[0052] In this state, the watch module 11 is assembled inside the watch case 1, and the push button switch 4 is attached to the outer periphery of the bottom case 5 of the watch case 1. After this, the back cover 10 is attached to the bottom of the bottom case 5 of the watch case 1 together with the waterproof ring 10a. This completes the assembly of the watch. Next, the band body 12 of the watch band 2 is assembled. At this time, the metal band links 12a are connected in sequence.

[0053] In this state, the watch band 2 is attached to the wristwatch case 1 by the connector 13. In this case, first, a connecting member 16 is attached to the mounting block 15 of the connector 13. At this time, the mounting block 15 is molded in advance. That is, metal powder such as stainless steel or titanium alloy is mixed with fluid resin by metal injection molding (MIM) and filled into a molding die, and in this state, the resin is evaporated by a sintering process to sinter the metal powder. As a result, the mounting block 15 is molded with high strength.

[0054] The mounting block 15 thus formed has a mounting hole 18, a slit hole 25, a pair of notches 26, and an engagement portion 28 formed at one end 15a, and a pin mounting hole 17 formed at the other end 15b. When assembling the connecting member 16, first, the lever portions 23 are attached to the slide main body portions 22a of the pair of slide portions 22. At this time, the shaft portions 23b of the lever portions 23 are attached to the shaft mounting holes 22c of the slide main body 22a by welding, screwing, or the like.

[0055] Then, the spring member 21 is inserted into the pipe portion 20 of the connecting member 16, and the slide body 22a of the slide portion 22 is inserted into the pipe portion 20 from both sides thereof. At this time, the lever portions 23 provided on the slide portion 22 are placed in the openings 24 provided at both ends of the pipe portion 20. In this state, both ends of the pipe portion 20 are crimped to form the retaining portions 20a at both ends of the pipe portion 20. As a result, the slide portion 22 is attached without slipping out of the pipe portion 20, and the connecting member 16 is assembled.

[0056] In this state, the connecting member 16 is attached to the mounting block 15. At this time, the pipe portion 20 of the connecting member 16 is inserted into the mounting hole 18 of the mounting block 15, and each shaft portion 23b of the pair of lever portions 23 is inserted into the slit hole 25. In this case, the pipe portion 20 may be inserted from either one of the two ends of the mounting hole 18.

[0057] That is, when the pipe portion 20 is inserted into the mounting hole 18 from one end of the mounting hole 18, the shaft portion 23b of the insertion side lever portion 23 of the pair of lever portions 23 is inserted into the slit hole 25. Then, when the pipe portion 20 approaches the other end side of the mounting hole 18, the other lever portion 23 approaches one end of the mounting hole 18. In this state, when the pipe portion 20 is pushed further into the mounting hole 18, the shaft portion 23b of the other lever portion 23 is inserted into the slit hole 25 together with the one lever portion 23.

[0058] At this time, the pair of lever portions 23 are disposed corresponding to the pair of cutout portions 26 of the mounting block 15. In this state, the pair of lever portions 23 are rotationally moved about the central axis of the mounting hole 18. At this time, the pair of lever portions 23 are rotationally moved about the central axis of the mounting hole 18 within each of the first cutout portions 26a of the pair of cutout portions 26, and are disposed within each of the second cutout portions 26b of the pair of cutout portions 26 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18.

[0059] In this state, the pair of lever portions 23 move in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 only within the region of each of the second notches 26b of the pair of notches 26, so that the pipe portion 20 does not slip out of the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15. Also, in this state, the pair of lever portions 23 are arranged exposed on the underside of the mounting piece 15, so that the pipe portion 20 does not slip out of the mounting hole 18 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction through the slit hole 25. In this way, the connecting member 16 is attached to the mounting piece 15.

[0060] Then, the mounting piece 15 of this connecting body 13 is attached to the band body 12. At this time, the other end 15b of the mounting piece 15 is placed in the recess 12b provided in the band piece 12a at the end of the band body 12, and the pin mounting holes 17 of the mounting piece 15 are aligned coaxially with the pin insertion holes 12c provided on both sides of the recess 12b of the band piece 12a.

[0061] In this state, the pin member 14 is inserted from one of the pin insertion holes 12c on both sides of the recess 12b of the band link 12a into the pin attachment hole 17 of the attachment piece 15, and then inserted into the other pin insertion hole 12c on both sides of the recess 12b of the band link 12a. As a result, the attachment piece 15 is attached to the band link 12a at the end of the band main body 12, and the watch band 2 is assembled.

[0062] When attaching this watch band 2 to the band attachment portion 3 of the wristwatch case 1, the pair of lever portions 23 of the connecting member 16 attached to the attachment block 15 are moved toward each other against the spring force of the spring member 21, and each of the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 is pulled into the pipe portion 20.

[0063] In this state, the mounting piece 15 is placed between the pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3, and the engagement portion 28 of the mounting piece 15 is engaged with the locking portion 27 provided on the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1, while each protrusion 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 is aligned with each pin connection hole 3b provided on the pair of mounting protrusions 3a.

[0064] In this case, when engagement portion 28 of mounting piece 15 is engaged with locking portion 27 provided on band attachment portion 3 of watch case 1, locking protrusion 27a of locking portion 27 provided on band attachment portion 3 of watch case 1 is disposed in notched recess 28a of engagement portion 28 provided on mounting piece 15, and substantially mountain-shaped engagement protrusion 28b of engagement portion 28 engages with substantially valley-shaped locking recess 27b of locking portion 27. This prevents mounting piece 15 from rattling relative to watch case 1.

[0065] Furthermore, when the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 are aligned with the pin connecting holes 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a, the pair of slide portions 22 slide in a direction pushed out from inside the pipe portion 20 by the spring force of the spring member 21, and the protrusions 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 are inserted into the pin connecting holes 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a. As a result, the mounting piece 15 is attached to the band mounting portion 3 by the connecting member 16, and the watch band 2 is attached to the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1.

[0066] In this state, the slit hole 25 of the mounting block 15 is blocked by the outer periphery of the watch case 1 located between the pair of mounting protrusions 3a. Therefore, even if the slit hole 25 is provided in the mounting block 15 over the entire length of the mounting hole 18 from one end to the other end, it cannot be seen from the outside of the watch case 1, improving the appearance and design.

[0067] In this state, the pair of lever portions 23 are disposed within the second notches 26b of the pair of notches 26 of the mounting block 15 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18, and are disposed exposed on the lower side of the mounting block 15, i.e., the lower side of the watch case 1. This allows the pair of lever portions 23 to move in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 within the region of the second notches 26b of the pair of notches 26 with the watch band 2 attached to the band attachment part 3.

[0068] Next, how to remove the watch band 2 from the band attachment portion 3 of the wristwatch case 1 will be described. In this case, the pair of lever portions 23 arranged in the second cutout portions 26b of the pair of cutout portions 26 of the mounting block 15 are moved in directions approaching each other against the spring force of the spring member 21.

[0069] Then, each slide body 22a of the pair of slide portions 22 slides toward the inside of the pipe portion 20, and each protrusion 22b of the pair of slide portions 22 comes out of each pin connection hole 3b of the pair of mounting protrusions 3a in the band mounting portion of the watch case 1 and is pulled into the pipe portion 20. As a result, the mounting piece 15 can be easily removed from between the pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3, and the watch band 2 can be easily removed from the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1.

[0070] When removing the connecting member 16 from the mounting block 15, the pair of lever portions 23 arranged in the second notches 26b of the pair of notches 26 of the mounting block 15 are rotated and placed in the slit hole 25 of the pipe portion 20. At this time, the pair of lever portions 23 are rotated within the first notches 26a of the pair of notches 26 around the central axis of the mounting hole 18.

[0071] As a result, each shaft portion 23b of the pair of lever portions 23 is positioned in the slit hole 25 of the pipe portion 20. In this state, the pipe portion 20 is pulled out from within the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15. At this time, each shaft portion 23b of the pair of lever portions 23 moves within the slit hole 25 of the mounting piece 15, so that the pipe portion 20 is easily pulled out from within the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15.

[0072] In this way, the wristwatch connecting body 13 comprises an attachment piece 15 which is an attachment member attached to the band body 12, which is the object to be connected, and which has an attachment hole 18, and a connecting member 16 which has a slide portion 22 that slides within a pipe portion 20, which is a cylindrical portion inserted into the attachment hole 18, and which has a lever portion 23 and protrudes retractably from the end of the pipe portion 20 and is attached to the wristwatch case 1, which is the object to be connected, and the attachment piece 15 has a slit hole 25 through which the lever portion 23 is slidably inserted, which is provided from one end to the other end of the attachment hole 18, thereby facilitating the attachment and detachment of the connecting member 16 to the attachment piece 15.

[0073] In other words, in the connecting body 13 of this wristwatch, a slit hole 25 through which the lever portion 23 can be slidably inserted is provided in the mounting block 15 from one end to the other end of the mounting hole 18, so that when the pipe portion 20 of the connecting member 16 is inserted into the mounting hole 18 of the mounting block 15, the lever portion 23 can be inserted and moved into the slit hole 25 of the mounting block 15.This allows the connecting member 16 to be easily attached to the mounting block 15 and also can be easily removed from the mounting block 15, making it easy to change the band.

[0074] In addition, in this connecting body 13, a slit hole 25 is provided in the mounting piece 15 extending from one end to the other end of the mounting hole 18, so that when inserting the pipe portion 20 of the connecting member 16 into the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15, the pipe portion 20 can be inserted from either end at either end of the mounting hole 18, which also makes it easy to attach and detach the connecting member 16 to the mounting piece 15.

[0075] In this case, in this connecting body 13, slide portions 22 are respectively arranged at both ends within the pipe portion 20, and lever portions 23 are respectively provided on these slide portions 22. By moving these lever portions 23 along the axial direction of the mounting hole 18, each slide portion 22 arranged at both ends within the pipe portion 20 can be slid within the pipe portion 20. This improves the sliding operability of the slide portions 22, making it easy to replace the band.

[0076] In this case, in this connecting body 13, even though each lever portion 23 is provided on each slide portion 22 arranged at both ends within the pipe portion 20, a slit hole 25 is provided in the mounting piece 15 extending from one end to the other end of the mounting hole 18, so that when inserting the pipe portion 20 of the connecting member 16 into the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15, the pipe portion 20 can be inserted from either end at both ends of the mounting hole 18, and each lever portion 23 can be inserted from either end at both ends of the slit hole 25.

[0077] Furthermore, in this connecting body 13, since the slit hole 25 of the mounting piece 15 is blocked by the watch case 1, even if the slit hole 25 is provided in the mounting piece 15 extending from one end to the other end of the mounting hole 18, when the connecting body 13 is attached to the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1, the slit hole 25 can be hidden so that it is not visible from the outside by the watch case 1, thereby improving the appearance and design.

[0078] Furthermore, in this connecting body 13, a notch 26 is provided in the mounting block 15 so that the lever portion 23 of the connecting member 16 can rotate around the central axis of the mounting hole 18 and slide in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18. This allows the lever portion 23 to slide only within the area of ​​the notch 26, thereby preventing the pipe portion 20 from slipping out of the mounting hole 18 of the mounting block 15.

[0079] In other words, the notch portion 26 of this connecting body 13 has a first notch portion 26a through which the lever portion 23 rotates around the central axis of the mounting hole 18, and a second notch portion 26b arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 when the lever portion 23 rotates.Therefore, the lever portion 23 can be rotated within the first notch portion 26a around the central axis of the mounting hole 18, and the rotated lever portion 23 can be arranged so as to be movable along the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 only within the area of ​​the second notch portion 26b, thereby preventing the pipe portion 20 from slipping out of the mounting hole 18 of the mounting piece 15.

[0080] Furthermore, in this connecting body 13, the lever portion 23 is positioned in the cutout portion 26 of the mounting piece 15 and is exposed on the lower side, which is the back side of the watch case 1, so that even if the slit hole 25 of the mounting piece 15 is blocked by the watch case 1, the lever portion 23 can be moved in the axial direction of the mounting hole 18 within the cutout portion 26. As a result, the mounting piece 15 can be easily removed from the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1, making it easy to replace the band.

[0081] Furthermore, in this connecting body 13, the mounting piece 15 is provided with an engagement portion 28 that engages with a locking portion 27 provided on the watch case 1, so that when the mounting piece 15 is positioned between a pair of mounting protrusions 3a of the band mounting portion 3, the engagement portion 28 of the mounting piece 15 can be engaged with the locking portion 27 provided on the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1, thereby reliably preventing the mounting piece 15 from rattling relative to the watch case 1.

[0082] In other words, in this connecting body 13, when the engagement portion 28 of the mounting block 15 is engaged with the locking portion 27 provided on the band attachment portion 3 of the watch case 1, the locking protrusion 27a of the locking portion 27 provided on the band attachment portion 3 of the watch case 1 is positioned in the cutout recess 28a of the engagement portion 28 provided on the mounting block 15, and the approximately mountain-shaped engagement protrusion 28b of the engagement portion 28 can be engaged with the approximately valley-shaped locking recess 27b of the locking portion 27, thereby reliably preventing the mounting block 15 from rattling relative to the watch case 1.

[0083] Furthermore, in this connector 13, the mounting block 15 is made of sintered metal obtained by sintering metal powder such as stainless steel or titanium alloy, so that the mounting block 15 can be formed with high strength. That is, the mounting block 15 is formed by mixing metal powder such as stainless steel or titanium alloy with fluid resin by metal injection molding (MIM), filling the inside of a molding die, and in this state evaporating the resin by sintering to sinter the metal powder, so that even if the shape of the mounting block 15 is complex, it can be easily manufactured.

[0084] In the above-described embodiment, the lever portion 23 of the connecting member 16 is provided on each of a pair of slide portions 22 provided at both ends within the pipe portion 20. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may have a structure in which the lever portion 23 is provided on only one of the pair of slide portions 22, for example.

[0085] Also, in the above embodiment, the mounting piece 15 is provided with the slit hole 25 and the cutout portion 26, but the present invention does not necessarily require the cutout portion 26 to be provided, and a structure with only the slit hole 25 may be used. In this case, the slit hole 25 does not necessarily need to be hidden by the outer peripheral surface of the watch case 1, and the slit hole 25 may be opened and exposed on the lower side of the mounting piece 15 corresponding to the back side of the watch case 1.

[0086] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, an engagement portion 28 is provided on the mounting block 15, and a locking portion 27 is provided on the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a structure in which a locking portion 27 is provided on the mounting block 15, and an engagement portion 28 is provided on the band mounting portion 3 of the watch case 1 may also be used.

[0087] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting piece 15 is formed from sintered metal obtained by sintering metal powder. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the mounting piece 15 may be formed from, for example, a synthetic resin.

[0088] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the mounting piece 15 is attached to the band link 12a at the end of the band main body 12 and then attached to the band attachment portion 3 of the watch case 1 by the connecting member 16. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the mounting piece 15 may be provided on the band attachment portion 3 of the watch case 1, and this mounting piece 15 may be attached to the band link 12a at the end of the band main body 12 by the connecting member 16.

[0089] In the above-described embodiment, the invention is described as being applied to a wristwatch, but the invention does not necessarily have to be applied to a wristwatch, and can also be applied to, for example, bands used on clothes, bags, purses, etc.

[0090] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and includes the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. The invention as set forth in the claims of this application is set forth below.

[0091] (Additional Note) The invention described in claim 1 is a connection body comprising: an attachment member having an attachment hole provided on one of a connecting object and a connected object; and a connecting member which is attached to the other of the connecting object and the connected object and has a lever portion and a sliding portion which can slide within a tubular portion inserted into the attachment hole and protrudes from an end of the tubular portion, wherein the attachment member has a slit hole through which the lever portion can slide, extending from one end of the mounting hole to the other end.

[0092] The invention described in claim 2 is a connector described in claim 1, characterized in that the slide portion is arranged at both ends within the tubular portion, and the lever portion is each provided on the slide portion.

[0093] The invention described in claim 3 is a connector described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the slit hole of the mounting member is blocked by the other of the connecting object and the connected object.

[0094] The invention described in claim 4 is a connection body described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the mounting member is provided with a notch portion such that the lever portion of the connecting member is capable of rotating and moving around the central axis of the mounting hole and moving in the axial direction of the mounting hole.

[0095] The invention described in claim 5 is a connector described in claim 4, characterized in that the lever portion is arranged in the cutout portion of the mounting member and exposed on the back side of the connecting object and the connected object.

[0096] The invention described in claim 6 is a connection body described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mounting member has an engaging portion that engages with a locking portion provided on the other of the connection object and the connected object.

[0097] The invention described in claim 7 is a connector described in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mounting member is formed of sintered metal obtained by sintering metal powder.

[0098] The invention described in claim 8 is a band, characterized in that the connection object includes the connector described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

[0099] The invention described in claim 9 is a timepiece characterized in that the connected object is equipped with the connecting body described in any one of claims 1 to 7. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 1 watch case 2 Watch Bands 3 Band attachment part 3a Mounting protrusion 3b Pin connection hole 8. Watch Glass 10 Back cover 11 Clock Module 12 Band body 12a Band piece 12b Recess 12c Pin insertion hole 13 Concatenation 14 Pin member 15 Mounting piece 15a One end 15b Other end 16 Connecting members 17 Pin mounting hole 18 Mounting hole 20 Pipe section 20a Pull-out prevention member 21 Spring member 22 Slide section 22a Slide body 22b Projection 22c shaft mounting hole 23 Lever section 23a head 23b Shaft 24 Opening 25 Slit Hole 26 Notch 26a 1st notch 26b 2nd notch 27 Locking part 27a Locking protrusion 27b Locking recess 28 Engagement part 28a Notch recess 28b Engagement protrusion

Claims

1. a mounting member provided on one of the connecting object and the connecting object and having a mounting hole; a connecting member having a slide portion slidable within a cylindrical portion inserted into the mounting hole, the slide portion having a lever portion and projecting from an end portion of the cylindrical portion, the connecting member being attached to the other of the connecting object and the connecting target object; Equipped with The mounting member is provided with a first notch portion through which the lever portion rotates about a central axis of the mounting hole, and a second notch portion arranged to be movable in an axial direction of the mounting hole when the lever portion rotates, The first notch portion and the second notch portion are open on a surface side where the connecting object and the connected object face each other, and are provided continuously. A connector characterized in that

2. 2. The connector according to claim 1, The first cutout portion is provided between an opposing surface of one end of the mounting member that faces an outer circumferential surface of the connected object and an inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole. A connector characterized in that

3. In the connector according to claim 1 or 2, The second cutout portion is provided between a lower surface of the mounting member and an inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole, and is open to a rear surface side of the connection target. A connector characterized in that

4. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The lever portion is rotated about the central axis of the mounting hole in the first notch portion, and when the lever portion is disposed in the second notch portion, the lever portion is disposed so as to be exposed on the back surface side of the object to be connected. A connector characterized in that

5. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The mounting member is formed with a slit hole through which the lever portion can slide, The slit hole of the mounting member is closed by the other of the connecting object and the connected object. A connector characterized in that

6. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The attachment member includes an engagement portion that engages with a locking portion provided on the other of the connecting object and the connected object. A connector characterized in that

7. In the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The mounting member is made of sintered metal obtained by sintering metal powder. A connector characterized in that

8. The connection object is provided with the connector according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A band that features

9. A timepiece comprising the connected object comprising the connecting body according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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