Clasp lock device

Abstract

To further secure the clasp of a watch or piece of jewellery.SOLUTION: A locking device (10) for locking a clasp (20) is provided, the locking device including: a push-piece (100) which can move translatably in a support structure (110) between a rest position in which it is intended to prevent the clasp (20) from opening and an active position in which it is intended to no longer prevent the opening of the clasp (20); and a blocking member (120) for blocking the push-piece (100). The blocking member (120) is configured to occupy a locking state in which the blocking member secures the push-piece (100) in the rest position, and an unlocking state in which the blocking member releases the push-piece (100) translatably.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of bracelets for jewelry or portable watches (e.g., wristwatches, pocketwatches), and more particularly, related to a locking device for locking the pressing part for a clasp.

Background Art

[0002] There are many types of clasps for bracelets. In particular, in the field of portable watches, single or double folding clasps, i.e., clasps with two or three blades, are commonly used and well known to those skilled in the art.

[0003] As an example, a clasp can include a pressing part attached to one blade and can be linked to a hook intended to engage with another blade when the clasp is closed. When the clasp is pushed, the hook disengages from the other blade, allowing the clasp to be opened.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Thus, this type of clasp can be quickly and easily opened simply by pressing the pressing part. However, these advantages have also been exploited to steal portable watches while the user is wearing them. Most thefts of high-end portable watches are carried out by removing the portable watch while the user is wearing it, and the user typically does not realize that their portable watch has been removed at the time.

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the security of clasps for portable watches and jewelry.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention solves the above problem by providing a locking device for locking a clasp. The locking device comprises a push component that can move translationally within a support structure between a resting position intended to prevent the clasp from opening and an active position not intended to prevent the clasp from opening. The locking device further includes a push component block member configured to have a locked state that fixes the push component in the resting position and an unlocked state that releases the push component translationally.

[0007] In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include one or more of the following features, which should be considered individually or in any technically possible combination.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the push component is connected to a support structure via a locking rod, and the block member includes a cam that can move relative to the push component to form a contact body for the locking rod. The block member exits the path of the locking rod when it is locked and when it is unlocked.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the cam is rotatable and has a cam profile to which a locking rod abuts when the push component is pushed out from its resting position and the block member is locked, and the cam has a radial notch to which the locking rod engages when the push component is in the active position and when the block member is unlocked.

[0010] In certain embodiments, the cam profile has a radial recess whose shape corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod, so that when the push component is pushed out from its resting position and the block member prevents the cam from rotating, it is in the locked state.

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

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

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

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

[0015] In certain embodiments, the cam profile has the same number of recesses as there are stable positions, except for the position where the block member is unlocked, and these recesses are evenly distributed.

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

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

[0018] In certain embodiments, the guide rod, which slidably engages with the support structure, has an axial contact body configured to abut against the support structure when the push component is in a resting position.

[0019] Another object of the present invention relates to a folding clasp for a portable watch or jewelry and the locking device described above, comprising at least two blades connected to each other so as to be rotatably movable. The support structure is formed by one of the blades of the clasp.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description given by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, and are not limited thereto.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] The front view of the lock device for the clasp according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. [Figure 2] The cross-sectional view of the lock device shown in FIG. 1 is shown, and this lock device is composed of a push component in the rest position and an unlocked block member. [Figure 3] The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 where the push component is in the active position is shown. [Figure 4] The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 where the block member is in the locked state is shown. [Figure 5] The cross-sectional view of the lock device of FIG. 2 in a parallel cutting plane is shown. [Figure 6] The exploded view of the lock device shown in FIG. 1 according to another exemplary embodiment is shown. [Figure 7] The perspective view of the closed folding clasp provided with the lock device of FIG. 1 is shown.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] For the sake of simplicity, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0023] The present invention relates to a lock device 10 for locking a clasp 20, and this clasp 20 is, for example, of a portable watch or jewelry, and in particular, a folding clasp 20, and includes, for example, two or three blades. The lock device is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and will be described first. The clasp 20 provided with the lock device 10 is shown in FIG. 7 and will be described next as an exemplary application of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 1 shows that the locking device 10 comprises a push component 100 that is firmly connected to a support structure 110. The support structure 110 consists, for example, of one of the blades of the clasp 20. In a manner known to those skilled in the art, the push component 100 can move translationally relative to the support structure 110 between a resting position, which is intended to prevent the clasp 20 from opening, and an active position, which is not intended to prevent the clasp 20 from opening. Figures 2 and 3 show cross-sectional views of the push component 100 in the resting and active positions, respectively.

[0025] Advantageously, the locking device 10 includes a block member 120 for blocking the push component 100, which is configured to have a locked state in which the push component 100 is fixed in a resting position, and an unlocked state in which the push component 100 is released so that it can move. Figures 2 and 3 show the block member 120 in the unlocked state, and Figure 4 shows the block member 120 in the locked state.

[0026] The push component 100 is connected to the support structure 110 using a locking rod 111 which is attached to the support structure 110 without any degree of freedom. The block member 120 preferably includes a cam 112 which is housed within the push component 100 and preferably rotatably movable relative to the push component 100. Thus, when the block member 120 is in the locked state, the cam 112 forms a contact body that abuts against the locking rod 111, and when the block member 120 is in the unlocked state, it moves out of the path of the locking rod 111.

[0027] In particular, the cam 112 has a cam profile 113 to which the locking rod 111 abuts when the push component 100 is extended from the resting position and when the block member 120 is locked. A radial notch 114 is formed in the cam 112, and as shown in Figure 3, the locking rod 111 engages within the radial notch 114 when the push component 100 is in the active position and the block member 120 is unlocked. Therefore, the depth of the radial notch 114 determines the amount of movement of the push component 100 between the resting position and the active position.

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

[0029] Advantageously, the block member 120 may include a spring 122, which is configured to hold the control element 121, thereby holding the cam 112 in a stable angular position. The jumper 122 can be mounted on the push component 100 and may be positioned to face the control element 121 as shown in Figure 5, or to face the cam 112 as will be described in detail below.

[0030] The control element 121 has a guide mark 123, and the position of the guide mark 123 relative to the push part 100 indicates whether the block member 120 is locked or unlocked. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, when the guide mark 123 of the control element 120, which in this case is composed of a color mark, is in the center position, the block member 120 is in the unlocked state. Thanks to this guide mark 123, the user can easily and quickly find the position of the control element 121 that allows the block member 120 to be positioned in the unlocked state.

[0031] Advantageously, the control element 121 can be in multiple discrete stable positions, for example, more than three, particularly nine in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings. The block member 120 is unlocked in only one of these positions of the control element 121. Thus, a user of the portable watch can easily and quickly unlock the control member, but this operation becomes very complicated for someone trying to open the clasp 20 in order to steal the portable watch worn on the user's wrist.

[0032] The cam profile 113 may, advantageously, have at least one radial recess 115, as shown in Figure 6, the shape of which corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod 111, preventing rotation of the cam 112 when the push component 100 is released from the resting position and when the block member 120 is locked.

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

[0034] Instead of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 5, in which the jumper 122 is configured to strike the control element 121, advantageously, the jumper 122 can be configured to strike the cam 112, and more particularly, a recess in the cam 112.

[0035] The push component 100 comprises at least one guide rod 101, preferably two, which slidably engage with the support structure 110 and are located on both sides of the locking rod 111. The support structure 110 further comprises at least one guide rod 116, preferably two, which slidably engage with the push component 100 and are located on both sides of the locking rod 111. In a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, each guide rod 116 of the support structure 110 that engages with the push component 100 is configured to support a spring 117 housed in the push component 100. The spring 117 is configured to bias the push component 100 toward the resting position.

[0036] The guide rod 101 of the push component 100, which slidably engages with the support structure 110, has an axial contact body 102 at one end opposite the push component 100, which is configured to rest against the support structure 110 when the push component 100 is in a resting position. In particular, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the contact body 102 is formed by a sole to which the end of the guide rod 101 of the push component 100 is attached without any degree of freedom. As can be seen in the drawings, the locking rod 111 can engage with a through hole formed in the sole and slide against the sole when the push component 100 moves toward its active position.

[0037] For example, as shown in Figure 7, the contact body 102 can utilize its shoulder portion or the like to form a first hook member 103, which is intended to work in conjunction with a second hook member 210, such as the hook end of a support structure that forms a lateral blade 21. In particular, the first and second hooking members 103 and 210 support each other when the clasp 20 is closed. When the push component 100 is moved to the active position, the contact body 102 moves until the first and second hook members 103 and 210 no longer support each other, thereby releasing and opening the clasp 20.

[0038] In the example shown in Figure 7, the clasp 20 comprises two transverse blades 21 that are rotatably connected to a support structure 110 that forms the median blade. Each of these two transverse blades 21 is intended to be attached by their free ends to the ends of the bracelet strands in a manner known to those skilled in the art. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10 Locking devices 20 Clasp 100 pressing parts 101 Guide Rod 102 Axial contact body 110 Support structure 111 Rock fishing rod 112 Cam 113 Cam Profile 114 Radial notch 116 Guide Rod 117 spring 120 Block Members 121 Control Elements 122 Jumper 123 Guide Mark

Claims

1. A locking device (10) for locking a clasp (20), The locking device includes a push component (100) that can move translationally at a location on the support structure (110) between a resting position intended to prevent the clasp (20) from opening and an active position intended not to prevent the clasp (20) from opening. The locking device (10) includes a block member (120) for blocking the push component (100), The block member (120) is configured to have a locked state that fixes the push component (100) in a resting position and an unlocked state that releases the push component (100) so that it can move in translation. The pressing component (100) is connected to the support structure (110) via a locking rod (111), The block member (120) is configured as a contact body that abuts against the locking rod (111) when the block member (120) is in a locked state, and is equipped with a cam (112) that can move relative to the push part (100) so as to move out of the path of the locking rod (111) when the block member (120) is in an unlocked state. The cam (112) is rotatable, The cam (112) has a cam profile (113) to which the locking rod (111) abuts when the push part (100) is released from the resting position and when the block member (120) is in the locked state. The cam (112) has a radial notch (114) into which the locking rod (111) enters and engages when the push component (100) is in the active position and the block member (120) is in the unlocked state. A locking device (10) characterized by the following:

2. The cam profile (113) has a radial recess, The shape of the recess corresponds to the shape of the end of the locking rod (111) in order to prevent the rotation of the cam (112) when the push component (100) is pushed out from its resting position and when the block member (120) is in a locked state. The locking device (10) according to claim 1.

3. The block member (120) includes a control element (121) connected to the cam (112) to rotate the cam (112) when the cam (112) is operated by a user. The locking device (10) according to claim 1.

4. The control element (121) consists of a roller. The axis of rotation of the roller coincides with the axis of rotation of the cam (112). The locking device (10) according to claim 3.

5. The control element (121) is held in a stable angular position by a jumper (122). The locking device (10) according to claim 3.

6. The control element (121) has more than three stable positions, and the block member (120) is in an unlocked state at only one of these stable positions. The locking device (10) according to claim 3.

7. The control element (121) has more than three stable positions, and at only one of these stable positions, the block member (120) is in an unlocked state. The cam profile (113) has the same number of indentations as the stable position, except for the position where the block member (120) is in the unlocked state. The aforementioned depressions are evenly distributed. The locking device (10) according to feature 6.

8. The control element (121) has a guide mark (123) that indicates a position corresponding to the locked or unlocked state of the block member. The locking device (10) according to claim 3.

9. The pressing component (100) is biased by a spring (117) to move toward a resting position and comprises at least one guide rod (101) that slidably engages with the support structure (110), The support structure (110) further comprises at least one guide rod (116) that slidably engages with the pressing component (100). The locking device (10) according to claim 1.

10. The guide rod (101), which is slidably engaged with the support structure (110), has an axial contact body (102) configured to abut against the support structure (110) when the push component (100) is in a resting position. The locking device (10) according to claim 9.

11. A folding clasp (20) for a portable watch or piece of jewelry, The device comprises at least two blades connected to each other so as to be rotatable, and the locking device (10) according to claim 1, The support structure (110) of the locking device (10) is formed by one of the blades of the clasp (20). A folding clasp (20) characterized by the following.

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