Intermediate retention structure for a band, a watch band, and a wristwatch

Abstract

It is to enable fine adjustment of the length of the band in the middle part with a structure different from the conventional one. 【Solution means】 The middle part structure 10 includes a middle part main body 20, a slide member 30 that slides in the middle part main body 20 in the longitudinal direction of the band, and an operating member 40 with an operating part 41 exposed on the back surface side of the middle part main body 20. The middle part main body 20 is provided with a middle part main body side engaging part 22 on its inner surface 21. The middle part main body side engaging part 22 is provided with six engaging parts 23 that engage with the operating member side engaging part 42 of the slide member 30 continuously in the longitudinal direction of the band. The operating member 40 is in a state of being urged by the urging member 60, and the operating member side engaging part 42 is engaged with the engaging part 23a of the middle part main body side engaging part 22.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an intermediate retainer for a band that opens and closes when attaching and detaching a band such as a watch band.

Background Art

[0002] When adjusting the length of a band, in the case of a metal band, the adjustment is made by removing or attaching the band pieces that make up the band. However, this work may require a dedicated tool and is complicated, so a band intermediate retainer having a fine adjustment function for the length has been developed.

[0003] For example, in Patent Document 1, the intermediate retainer structure includes a pair of push buttons, a push button holding member that accommodates the push buttons so that they can protrude and retract from a push button opening formed in the short direction of the mounting member, and a retaining means for preventing the push buttons from falling out of the push button holding member. The mounting member length fine adjustment means includes a button-side engaging means that is slidable in the short direction of the mounting member in conjunction with the operation of the push buttons, and a slide plate that can engage with the button-side engaging means. A structure in which the intermediate retainer structure and the mounting member length fine adjustment means are attached to the intermediate retainer body of the mounting member is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Certainly, Patent Document 1 is very convenient because the length of the band can be easily finely adjusted at the intermediate retaining portion with the band pieces left as they are. However, since the operation button for fine adjustment is also used as the push button for operating during the opening and closing of the middle retainer, there is a risk that fine adjustment may accidentally activate during the opening and closing of the middle retainer. In addition, since the push button protrudes from the middle retainer, it cannot be denied that there is a possibility of accidentally catching the push button and causing malfunction.

[0006] Therefore, the inventor of the present application completed the present invention with a structure different from the conventional one to enable fine adjustment of the length of the band in the middle retainer part.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The first invention of the present application is a middle retainer for a band that is located between bands and opens and closes when the band is attached and detached. It includes a slide member that is connected to one end of the band and slides in the middle retainer body in the longitudinal direction of the band, an operation member that is attached to the slide member and locks the slide member in the middle retainer body, and a biasing member that biases the operation member in the thickness direction of the middle retainer body. The operation member has an operation part that can be pressed to the counter-biasing side by the biasing member with the operation part exposed on the back side of the middle retainer body, and an engaging part on the operation member side that interlocks with the operation part and engages with the middle retainer body. The middle retainer body has a middle retainer body side engaging part provided with two or more engaging parts that continuously engage with the engaging part on the operation member side on the inner surface of the middle retainer body facing the slide member in the longitudinal direction of the band. The engaging part on the operation member side of the operation member biased by the biasing member engages with any one of the engaging parts of the middle retainer body side engaging part to fix the slide member in the middle retainer body, and by releasing the engagement by pressing the operation part, it has a fine adjustment function that enables adjustment of the position of the slide member. It is a middle retainer structure for a band characterized by this. The second invention is the middle retainer structure for a band according to the first invention above, characterized in that the engaging part on the operation member side has an inclined surface for engagement that is inclined in the biasing direction of the biasing member, and the middle retainer body side engaging part is provided with an inclined engaging part corresponding to the inclined surface for engagement. The third invention is the middle retainer structure for a band according to the first or second invention above, characterized in that the operation member has the operation part and the engaging part on the operation member side integrally formed. The fourth invention relates to the middle retaining structure for a band according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the operating member is formed by combining a separate operating part and an engaging part on the operating member side. The fifth invention relates to the middle retaining structure for a band according to any one of the first or fourth inventions, characterized in that a locking projection is provided on a bending member that is connected to the other end of the band and closes the middle retaining part by bending it to the back side of the middle retaining body, and this locking projection is locked to a receiver provided on the middle retaining body. The sixth invention relates to the middle retaining structure for a band according to any one of the first or fourth inventions, characterized in that a locking claw is provided on a bending member that is connected to the other end of the band and closes the middle retaining part by bending it to the back side of the middle retaining body, and this locking claw is locked to a connecting pin inside the middle retaining body. The seventh invention is a watch band characterized by comprising the middle retaining structure for a band according to any one of the first to sixth inventions. The eighth invention is a wristwatch characterized by comprising the watch band according to the seventh invention.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved. (1) In the present invention, since the operating part is provided on the back side of the middle retaining body, it is not exposed when the band is worn, so there is no risk of malfunction due to contact with the outside, and the appearance is also neater. In addition, by providing an engaging part on the middle retaining body side that engages with the engaging part on the operating member side on the inner surface of the middle retaining body facing the sliding member, the middle retaining body can be effectively utilized and the number of parts can be reduced. (2) Since the sliding member is fixed by the engagement between the engaging inclined surface of the engaging part on the operating member side and the inclined engaging part of the engaging part on the middle retaining body side, for the sliding (fine adjustment) of the sliding member in one direction (one-way), fine adjustment can be performed without the need to release the engaged state by pressing the operating part. (3) Since the operating member is integrally formed with the operating part and the engaging part on the operating member side, the number of parts can be reduced. (4) The operating member is configured such that the operation part and the engaging part on the member side are separate entities, and by combining these, the pressing operation can be freely changed. (5) By adopting a holding structure in which the locking claw is locked to the connecting pin inside the holding body, even if the holding has a fine adjustment function, it can be housed in a compact size without increasing in size. (6) By adopting a holding structure in which the locking projection is locked to the receiver provided on the holding body, the fine adjustment function of the present invention can be provided for a conventional push-type holding structure as well.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

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Figure 16

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 7 are explanatory drawings for explaining the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 is an overall view showing the hand intermediate storage structure 10 according to the first embodiment. In Figure 1(a), a perspective view from above the hand intermediate storage structure 10 (hereinafter, the intermediate storage structure 10) is shown, and in Figure 1(b), a perspective view from below the intermediate storage structure 10 is shown respectively. As shown in the figure, the intermediate storage structure 10 includes an intermediate storage main body 20, a slide member 30 that slides in the longitudinal direction of the band inside the intermediate storage main body 20, and an operating member 40 having an operating portion 41 exposed on the back surface side of the intermediate storage main body 20.

[0011] Further, the intermediate storage main body 20 is provided with an intermediate storage main body side engaging portion 22 on its inner surface 21 and slide grooves 24, 24 on both of its inner walls. The intermediate storage main body side engaging portion 22 is provided with six engaging portions 23 that engage with the operating member side engaging portion 42 of the slide member 30 shown in Figure 2 continuously in the longitudinal direction of the band (note that the number of this engaging portion 33 is arbitrary).

[0012] Figure 2 shows the slide member 30. As shown in the figure, an operating member 40 is attached to the slide member 30 via a connecting member 43. And by providing a coil spring as a biasing member 60 on this connecting pin 43 (spring rod), with the operating member 40 biased, the operating member side engaging portion 42 of the operating member 40 protrudes from the slide member 30. Also, both ends of the spring rod 31 and the connecting pin 43 are fitted into the slide grooves 24 of the intermediate storage main body 20 to restrict the sliding of the slide member 30.

[0013] From the above, it can be said that the connecting pin 43 plays the following roles. (1) Fixes the operating member 40 and serves as a rotation axis (2) Serves as a support shaft for the biasing member (coil spring) 60 (3) Fixes the slide member 30 and the intermediate storage body 20 Note that the slide member 30 has a structure in which the operating member 40 is combined using this connecting pin 43, and it can all be disassembled without welding or the like.

[0014] Figure 3 shows the operating member 40 illustrated from different angles. As shown in the figure, the operating member 40 is substantially L-shaped (right-angled isosceles triangle), includes a connecting pin 43 provided with a biasing member 60 at its center, and has an operating portion 41 at one end and an engaging portion 42 on the operating member side at the other end, and is an integrated operating member. When this operating member 40 is attached to the slide member 30, the operating portion 41 protrudes to the back surface side of the intermediate storage body 20, and the slide member 30 slides in the intermediate storage body 20 in the longitudinal direction of the band.

[0015] Figures 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views (longitudinal direction) illustrating the fine adjustment function of the hand intermediate storage structure 10 according to the first embodiment. First, as shown in Figure 4, with the operating member 40 biased by the biasing member 60, the engaging portion 42 on the operating member side is engaged with the engaging site 23a of the engaging portion 22 on the intermediate storage body side. That is, the slide member 30 is fixed within the intermediate storage body 20.

[0016] Next, as shown in Figure 5, by pressing the operating portion 41 of the operating member 40 (PUSH), the operating member 40 rotates about the connecting pin 43, and the engagement between the engaging portion 42 on the operating member side and the engaging site 23a of the engaging portion 22 on the intermediate storage body side is released. That is, the slide member 30 is in a state where it is not fixed within the intermediate storage body 20 (a free state).

[0017] Then, slide the slide member 30 to a desired position and, as shown in FIG. 6, release (stop) the pressing (PUSH) of the operation member 40 against the operation portion 41, so that the engaging portion 42 on the operation member side engages with the engaging portion 23f of the engaging portion on the inner retaining body side 22. That is, the slide member 30 is fixed again within the inner retaining body 20. Thereby, in the inner retaining structure 10 for the band, fine adjustment is enabled in units (lengths) of the intervals between the engaging members 23, 23 of the engaging portion on the body side 22.

[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a usage state of the inner retaining structure 10 for the hand of the first embodiment. The operation portion 41 of the operation member 40 projects to the back surface side of the inner retaining body 20. And the bending member 13 connected to the other end of the band is bent to the back surface side of the inner retaining body 20 when the band is attached. Therefore, the operation portion 41 will not malfunction due to accidental contact and can be used with confidence. Also, just from the appearance of the inner retaining portion, the presence of the fine adjustment function cannot be recognized, and restrictions in designing the inner retaining portion can be reduced.

[0019] As a locking structure for the bending member 13, the bending member 13 is provided with a locking projection 17, and in order to lock the locking projection 17, the inner retaining body 20 is provided with a locking box 18 as a receiving member. Further, the push button 19 of the inner retaining body 20 is an operation button for releasing the locking of the locking projection 17 in the locking box 18. Note that, as a locking structure for the bending member 13, other than FIG. 7, the bending member 13 may be provided with a locking claw, and this locking claw may be locked to a connecting pin (a connecting pin for connecting the bending member 13 to the inner retaining body 20) within the inner retaining body. Thereby, the size of the inner retaining body 20 can be suppressed (since the locking box 18 is not required).

[0020] FIGS. 8 to 15 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are used for those common to the first embodiment. The difference between the holding structure 10 according to the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that a separate type of operating member 50 is used instead of the integrated type of operating member 30 in the first embodiment. To use this separate type of operating member 50, the slide member 35 for attaching the operating member 50 is also changed.

[0021] FIG. 8 is an overall view showing the hand holding structure 10 according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, a perspective view from below the holding structure 10 is illustrated. As shown in the figure, the holding structure 10 includes a holding main body 20, a slide member 35 that slides in the longitudinal direction of the band within the holding main body 20, and an operating member 50 having an operating portion 51 exposed on the back surface side of the holding main body 20.

[0022] FIG. 9 shows the slide member 35. The slide member 35 has a mounting portion 36 that is notched in a substantially U-shape for attaching the operating member 50. Here, the mounting wall 37 formed by this mounting portion 36 prevents the play of the operating portion 51 shown in FIG. 10. Further, it has a coil spring as a biasing member 65 for biasing the engaging portion 55 on the operating member side of the operating member 50 toward the engaging portion 22 on the holding main body side.

[0023] FIG. 10 shows the components constituting the operating member 50. The operating member 50 is of the separate type as described above, and is formed by combining the operating portion 51 and the engaging portion 55 on the operating member side. First, the operating portion 51 has a substantially U-shape, and includes an exposed surface portion 54 that is exposed on the back surface side of the holding main body 20 and a contact piece 52 that extends from a relative portion opposite thereto. The inner tip 53 of the contact piece 52 is inclined.

[0024] Next, the engaging portion 55 on the operating member side has a substantially Y-shape, and includes a pair of engaging protrusions 56, 56 and a contact surface 58 that is stepped down between the engaging protrusions 56, 56. The tips of the engaging protrusions 56, 56 and the tip of the contact surface 58 are all inclined. Below the engagement protrusions 56, 56, there are biasing member spaces 57, 57 for accommodating biasing members 65, 65 provided on the slide member 35.

[0025] FIG. 11 shows the structure of the operation member 50. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the operation portion 51 and the operation member side engagement portion 55 illustrated in FIG. 10 are combined and attached to the slide member 35. As shown in FIG. 11(a), the operation member side engagement portion 55 is biased by the biasing member 65 so that the engagement protrusion 56 protrudes from the slide member 35.

[0026] When the exposed surface portion 54 is pressed in the horizontal direction to slide the operation portion 51, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the inclined inner tip 53 of the contact piece 52 contacts the contact surface 58 in an inclined state, so that the operation member side engagement portion 55 is naturally pushed downward to the anti-biasing side. As a result, the engagement protrusion 56 that has protruded from the slide member 35 will be submerged into the slide member 35.

[0027] FIGS. 12 to 14 are cross-sectional views (longitudinal direction) showing the fine adjustment function of the hand middle stop structure 10 according to the second embodiment. The fine adjustment function of the hand middle stop structure 10 using the structure of the operation member 50 illustrated in FIG. 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so the description thereof is omitted, but the points characteristic of the second embodiment will be mentioned.

[0028] First, the operation member 50 of the second embodiment is different from the operation member 40 of the first embodiment in that the operation member 50 of the second embodiment presses the operation portion 51 in the horizontal direction (PUSH) in order to submerge the engagement protrusion 56 into the slide member 35. In the operation member 40 of the first embodiment, the operation portion 41 was pressed in the vertical direction (PUSH). However, in the operation member 50 of the second embodiment, since it is pressed in the horizontal direction (PUSH), it is the same as the slide direction for fine adjustment, and the disengagement of the engagement between the operation member side engagement portion 55 and the middle stop main body side engagement portion 23 and the slide position adjustment can be performed simultaneously.

[0029] Also, in the second embodiment, since the engagement between the engagement protrusion 56 and the engagement portion 23 is the contact of a surface inclined in the biasing direction of the biasing member, in FIG. 14, when sliding the slide member 30 to the left, it is not necessary to perform the pressing operation of the operation portion 51 deliberately, and it can be slid by pushing the slide member 30 to the left. This is the effect of inclining the engagement between the two in the biasing direction. Regarding this, also in the first embodiment, if the engagement between the engagement portion 42 on the operation member side and the engagement portion 23 is made the same as in the second embodiment (contact on the inclined surface), it can be realized.

[0030] FIG. 15 shows the usage state of the hand intermediate storage structure 10 of the second embodiment. The operation portion 51 of the operation member 50 is exposed on the back surface side of the intermediate storage main body 20. And the bending member 13 connected to the other end of the band is bent to the back surface side of the intermediate storage main body 20 when the band is attached. Therefore, the operation portion 51 will not malfunction due to accidental contact and can be used with confidence. Also, just from the appearance of the intermediate storage, the fine adjustment function cannot be recognized, and the restrictions in designing the intermediate storage can be reduced. Since other explanations are the same as those in the first embodiment, they are omitted.

[0031] FIG. 16 shows a variation of the second embodiment of the present invention. First, in FIG. 16(a), the operation portion 51 and the engagement portion 55 on the operation member side are in surface-to-surface contact (portion indicated by reference sign A). At this time, since the contacting surface is inclined with respect to the thickness direction inside the intermediate storage main body 20, when the operation portion 51 is pressed in the horizontal direction, the engagement portion 55 on the operation member side is pushed downward in the anti-biasing side, and the engagement between the engagement portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) on the operation member side and the engagement portion 23 is released. As a result, fine adjustment in the X direction becomes possible. That is, by the pressing operation of the operation portion 51, both the engagement release and the fine adjustment can be performed at once.

[0032] Next, FIGS. 16(b) and 16(c) show that the operation unit 51 and the operation member side engaging portion 55 are in surface and line contact (at the portions indicated by reference signs B and C). At this time, since the contacting surface is inclined with respect to the thickness direction within the middle body 20, when the operation unit 51 is pressed in the horizontal direction, the operation member side engaging portion 55 is pushed downward toward the anti-biasing side, and the engagement between the operation member side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engagement site 23 is released. As a result, fine adjustment in the X direction becomes possible. That is, by the pressing operation of the operation unit 51, both the engagement release and the fine adjustment can be performed at once.

[0033] Also, in FIGS. 16(a) to 16(c), in all cases, a part of the engagement between the operation member side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engagement site 23 is a surface contact with an inclined surface (the portion indicated by reference sign D). Therefore, when the slide member 35 is pressed in the Y direction, the operation member side engaging portion 55 is pushed downward toward the anti-biasing side, and the engagement between the operation member side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engagement site 23 is released. As a result, fine adjustment in the Y direction becomes possible. That is, it means that the operation of the operation unit 51 is not required for fine adjustment in the Y direction.

Industrial Applicability

[0034] The middle structure for a band according to the present invention can be widely used in the middle of bands that require length adjustment, such as watch bands and wrist bands.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0035] 10 Middle structure for a band (middle structure) 13 Bending member 17 Locking protrusion 18 Locking box (receiver) 19 Push button 20 Middle body 21 Inner surface 22 Middle body side engaging portion 23 Engagement site 24 Slide groove 30 Slide member (First Embodiment) 31 Spring rod 35 Slide member (Second Embodiment) 36 Mounting portion 37 Mounting wall 40 Operating member (First Embodiment) 41 Operating portion 42 Engagement portion on the operating member side (First Embodiment)) 43 Connecting pin 50 Operating member (Second Embodiment) 51 Operating portion 52 Contact piece 53 Inner tip 54 Exposed surface portion 55 Engagement portion on the operating member side (Second Embodiment) 56 Engagement protrusion 57 Space for biasing member 58 Contact surface 60 Biasing member (First Embodiment) 65 Biasing member (Second Embodiment) A Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the engagement portion 55 on the operating member side B Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the engagement portion 55 on the operating member side C Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the engagement portion 55 on the operating member side D Contact portion between the engagement portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) on the operating member side and the engagement site 23

Claims

1. In the intermediate retainer for bands that is located between bands and opens and closes when the bands are attached and detached, a slide member that is connected to one end of the band and slides in the intermediate retainer body in the longitudinal direction of the band; an operating member that is attached to the slide member and locks the slide member in the intermediate retainer body; a biasing member that biases the operating member in the thickness direction of the intermediate retainer body, and the operating member has an operating portion that can be exposed on the back surface side of the intermediate retainer body and pressed against the counter-biasing side by the biasing member, and an engaging portion on the operating member side that interlocks with the operating portion and engages with the intermediate retainer body, the intermediate retainer body has an engaging portion on the intermediate retainer body side that engages with the engaging portion on the operating member side, provided continuously in two or more in the longitudinal direction of the band, on the inner surface of the intermediate retainer body facing the slide member, the engaging portion on the operating member side of the operating member biased by the biasing member engages with any one of the engaging portions of the intermediate retainer body side to fix the slide member in the intermediate retainer body, and by releasing the engagement by pressing the operating portion, it has a fine adjustment function that enables adjustment of the position of the slide member, the operating member is formed by combining the operating portion and the engaging portion on the operating member side as separate bodies, the operating portion and the engaging portion on the operating member side are in contact with each other by surface or surface and line, and by inclining the surface with respect to the thickness direction in the intermediate retainer body, when the operating portion is pressed horizontally, the engaging portion on the operating member side is pushed down to the counter-biasing side to release the engagement, and the intermediate retainer structure for bands is characterized by this.

2. The intermediate retainer structure for bands according to claim 1, characterized in that the engaging portion on the operating member side has an inclined surface for engagement that inclines in the biasing direction of the biasing member, and the engaging portion on the intermediate retainer body side is provided with an inclined engaging portion corresponding to the inclined surface for engagement.

3. The intermediate retainer structure for bands according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking projection is provided on a bending member that is connected to the other end of the band and closes the intermediate retainer by bending to the back surface side of the intermediate retainer body, and this locking projection is locked to a receiver provided on the intermediate retainer body.

4. The intermediate retainer structure for bands according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking claw is provided on a bending member that is connected to the other end of the band and closes the intermediate retainer by bending to the back surface side of the intermediate retainer body, and this locking claw is locked to a connecting pin in the intermediate retainer body.

5. A watch band, characterized in that it includes the intermediate retainer structure for bands according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A watch band, characterized in that it includes the intermediate retainer structure for bands according to claim 3.

7. A wristwatch band characterized by comprising the middle retention structure for a band according to claim 4.

8. A wristwatch characterized by comprising the wristwatch band according to claim 5.

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