Clasp structure for band, watch band, and wrist watch

Abstract

[Problem] To enable fine adjustment of the length of a band at a clasp portion by using a structure different from that of the prior art. [Solution] A clasp structure 10 comprises: a clasp body 20; a slide member 30 that slides inside the clasp body 20 in the longitudinal direction of the band; and an operating member 40 in which an operating part 41 is exposed on the rear surface side of the clasp body 20. The clasp body 20 comprises a clasp body-side engagement part 22 on an inner surface 21 thereof. The clasp body-side engagement part 22 is provided, in a continuous manner in the longitudinal direction of the band, with six engagement sites 23 with which an operating member-side engagement part 42 of the slide member 30 engages. The operating member-side engagement part 42 engages with an engagement site 23a of the clasp body-side engagement part 22 in a state in which the operating member 40 is biased by a biasing member 60.

Description

Clasp structure for band, watch band and watch

[0001] The present invention relates to a clasp for a band that opens and closes when fastening or detaching a band such as a watch band.

[0002] When adjusting the length of a metal band, the adjustment is done by removing and reattaching the band links that make up the band. However, this process can be tedious and requires special tools, so bands with fine length adjustment functions built into the clasp have been developed.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a clasp structure comprising a push button holding member that accommodates a pair of push buttons so that the push buttons can be seen and hidden from a push button opening formed in the short direction of the ornament, and a fall-off prevention means that prevents the push buttons from falling out of the push button holding member, and an ornament length fine-adjustment means that comprises a button side engagement means that can slide in the short direction of the ornament in conjunction with the operation of the push buttons, and a slide plate that can engage with the button side engagement means, and the clasp structure and ornament length fine-adjustment means are attached to the clasp body of the ornament.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-325606

[0005] The patent document 1 is certainly very convenient because it allows the user to easily fine-tune the length of the band using the clasp without removing the band links. However, because the push button used to operate the clasp also serves as the operation button for fine adjustment, there is a risk that the fine adjustment may be accidentally activated when opening or closing the clasp. Furthermore, because the push button protrudes from the clasp, there is a risk that the push button may be accidentally caught and cause a malfunction.

[0006] Therefore, the inventor of the present invention has completed the present invention, which uses a structure different from conventional structures to enable fine adjustment of the length of the band at the clasp.

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention is a clasp for a band that is located between two bands and opens and closes when fastening or detaching the band. The clasp includes a slide member that connects to one end of the band and slides in the longitudinal direction of the band within the clasp body, an operating member that is attached to the slide member and locks the slide member within the clasp body, and a biasing member that biases the operating member in the thickness direction of the clasp body. The operating member has an operating part that is exposed on the back side of the clasp body and can be operated to press the operating member biased by the biasing member in the opposite biasing direction, and an operating part that is linked to the operating part and engages with the clasp body.

[0010] The clasp structure for a band according to the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the clasp body has an inner surface facing the slide member, and the clasp body has an inner surface facing the slide member that has two or more engagement portions arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction of the band for engaging with the operating member engagement portion. The operating member engagement portion of the operating member, when biased by a biasing member, engages with any of the engagement portions of the clasp body engagement portion to secure the slide member within the clasp body, and the operating member engagement portion has a fine adjustment function that allows adjustment of the position of the slide member by pressing the operating member to release the engagement.

[0011] The second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the operating member engagement portion has an inclined engagement surface that slopes in the biasing direction of the biasing member, and the clasp body engagement portion has an inclined engagement portion that corresponds to the inclined engagement surface.

[0012] The third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the operating member has an integrally molded operating member and operating member engagement portion. The fourth invention is a clasp structure for a band according to the first or second invention, characterized in that the operating member is formed by combining an operating portion and an operating-member-side engaging portion, which are separate members. The fifth invention is a clasp structure for a band according to either the first or fourth invention, characterized in that a folding member that connects to the other end of the band and closes the clasp by bending it toward the back side of the clasp body is provided with a locking protrusion, and this locking protrusion is locked with a receiving device provided on the clasp body. The sixth invention is a clasp structure for a band according to either the first or fourth invention, characterized in that a folding member that connects to the other end of the band and closes the clasp by bending it toward the back side of the clasp body is provided with a locking claw, and this locking claw is locked with a connecting pin inside the clasp body.The seventh invention is a watch band equipped with the band clasp structure according to any one of the first to sixth inventions. The eighth invention is a wristwatch equipped with the watch band according to the seventh invention.

[0008] The present invention has the following advantages. (1) By providing the operating part on the back side of the clasp body, the operating part is not exposed when the band is fastened. This eliminates the risk of malfunction due to external contact and provides a clean appearance. Furthermore, by providing the clasp body engaging part, which engages with the operating part engaging part, on the inner surface of the clasp body facing the slide member, the clasp body can be effectively utilized and the number of parts can be reduced. (2) The slide member is secured by the engagement between the inclined engaging surface of the operating part and the inclined engaging portion of the clasp body engaging part. Therefore, fine adjustment of the slide member in one direction (one-way) can be achieved without the need to release the engagement by pressing the operating part. (3) The operating part and the operating part engaging part are integrally molded into the operating part, thereby reducing the number of parts. (4) The operating part and the operating part engaging part are separate entities, and the operating part and the operating part engaging part are combined to allow for flexible adjustment of the pressing force. (5) By using a clasp structure in which the locking pawl is locked onto the connecting pin inside the clasp body, the clasp can be compact and not bulky, even if it is equipped with a fine adjustment function. (6) By using a clasp structure in which the locking protrusion is locked onto a receiving device provided on the clasp body, the fine adjustment function of the present invention can be provided even in conventional push-type clasps.

[0009] Explanatory diagram (1) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (2) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (3) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (4) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (5) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (6) for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (7) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (1) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (2) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (3) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (4) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (5) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (6) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (7) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (8) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. Explanatory diagram (9) for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall view of a clasp structure 10 for a hand according to the first embodiment. FIG. 1( a) illustrates a perspective view of the clasp structure 10 for a hand (hereinafter, referred to as the clasp structure 10) from above, and FIG. 1( b) illustrates a perspective view of the clasp structure 10 from below. As shown, the clasp structure 10 includes a clasp body 20, a slide member 30 that slides within the clasp body 20 in the band longitudinal direction, and an operating member 40 whose operating portion 41 is exposed on the back side of the clasp body 20.

[0011] The clasp body 20 has a clasp body engaging portion 22 on its inner surface 21 and slide grooves 24, 24 on both inner walls. The clasp body engaging portion 22 has six engaging portions 23 that engage with the operating member engaging portion 42 of the slide member 30 shown in Figure 2, and these engaging portions 23 are provided consecutively in the band longitudinal direction (the number of engaging portions 33 is optional).

[0012] 2 illustrates the slide member 30. As shown in the figure, the operating member 40 is attached to the slide member 30 via a connecting member 43. A coil spring is provided as a biasing member 60 on the connecting pin 43 (spring bar), so that when the operating member 40 is biased, the operating member-side engaging portion 42 of the operating member 40 protrudes from the slide member 30. Furthermore, both ends of the spring bar 31 and the connecting pin 43 fit into the slide groove 24 of the clasp body 20, restricting the sliding of the slide member 30.

[0013] From the above, it can be said that the connecting pin 43 fulfills the following roles: (1) Fixes the operating member 40 and acts as a rotation axis (2) Acts as a support axis for the biasing member (coil spring) 60 (3) Fixes the slide member 30 and the clasp body 20. The slide member 30 is configured to assemble with the operating member 40 using this connecting pin 43, and can be completely disassembled without welding or the like.

[0014] 3 shows the operating member 40 from a different angle. As shown, the operating member 40 is generally L-shaped (a right-angled isosceles triangle) and includes a connecting pin 43 with a biasing member 60 at its center. It is an integrated operating member with an operating portion 41 at one end and an operating member-side engaging portion 42 at the other end. The operating member 40 is attached to the sliding member 30, and the sliding member 30 slides in the band longitudinal direction within the clasp body 20 with the operating portion 41 exposed on the back side of the clasp body 20.

[0015] 4 to 6 are longitudinal cross-sectional views illustrating the fine adjustment function of the clasp structure 10 for a hand according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the operating member 40 is biased by the biasing member 60, and the operating member engaging portion 42 engages with the engaging portion 23a of the clasp body engaging portion 22. In other words, the slide member 30 is fixed within the clasp body 20.

[0016] 5, by pressing the operating portion 41 of the operating member 40, the operating member 40 rotates about the connecting pin 43, disengaging the operating member engaging portion 42 from the engaging portion 23a of the clasp body engaging portion 22. In other words, the slide member 30 is no longer fixed within the clasp body 20 (is now free).

[0017] Then, by sliding the slide member 30 to the desired position and releasing (stopping) the pressure (push) on the operating portion 41 of the operating member 40 as shown in Figure 6, the operating member-side engaging portion 42 engages with the engaging portion 23f of the clasp body-side engaging portion 22. In other words, the slide member 30 is again fixed within the clasp body 20. This allows the clasp structure 10 to fine-tune the spacing between the engaging members 23, 23 of the body-side engaging portion 22 in increments (lengths).

[0018] Figure 7 illustrates the use of the clasp structure 10 for a hand according to the first embodiment. The operating portion 41 of the operating member 40 is exposed on the back side of the clasp body 20. The bending member 13, which connects to the other end of the band, is bent toward the back side of the clasp body 20 when the band is fastened. This prevents the operating portion 41 from accidentally coming into contact with the clasp, allowing for safe use. Furthermore, the presence of a fine adjustment function cannot be recognized from the clasp's appearance alone, reducing constraints on the clasp design.

[0019] The locking structure for the folding member 13 includes a locking projection 17 on the folding member 13, and a locking box 18 on the clasp body 20 as a receiver for locking the locking projection 17. The push button 19 on the clasp body 20 is an operation button for releasing the locking projection 17 from the locking box 18. The locking structure for the folding member 13 may also be one shown in FIG. 7 , in which a locking claw is provided on the folding member 13 and the locking claw is engaged with a connecting pin (connecting pin for connecting the folding member 13 to the clasp body 20) inside the clasp body. This allows the size of the clasp body 20 to be reduced (because the locking box 18 is not required).

[0020] 8 to 15 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for components common to the first embodiment. The clasp structure 10 according to the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a separate operating member 50 is used instead of the integrated operating member 30 of the first embodiment. To achieve this separate operating member 50, the slide member 35 to which the operating member 50 is attached has also been modified.

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

[0022] Figure 9 illustrates the slide member 35. The slide member 35 has a mounting portion 36 cut out in a generally U-shape for mounting the operating member 50. The mounting wall 37 formed by the mounting portion 36 prevents rattling of the operating portion 51 shown in Figure 10. The slide member 35 also has a coil spring as a biasing member 65 for biasing the operating member-side engaging portion 55 of the operating member 50 toward the clasp body-side engaging portion 22.

[0023] 10 illustrates the components that make up the operating member 50. As described above, the operating member 50 is a separate type, and is comprised of an operating portion 51 and an operating-member-side engaging portion 55. First, the operating portion 51 is roughly U-shaped and includes an exposed surface portion 54 that is exposed on the back side of the clasp body 20 and a contact piece 52 that extends from the opposing portion, with the inner tip 53 of the contact piece 52 being inclined.

[0024] Next, the operating member-side engaging portion 55 is generally Y-shaped and includes a pair of engaging protrusions 56, 56 and an abutment surface 58 one step below the engaging protrusions 56, 56. The tips of the engaging protrusions 56, 56 and the tip of the abutment surface 58 are both inclined. Also, below the engaging protrusions 56, 56 are spaces 57, 57 for urging members in which urging members 65, 65 provided on the slide member 35 can be placed.

[0025] 11 illustrates the structure of the operating member 50. The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the state in which the operating section 51 and operating member side engaging section 55 illustrated in FIG. 10 are combined and attached to the slide member 35, and as shown in FIG. 11(a), the operating member side engaging section 55 is biased by a biasing member 65 so that the engaging protrusion 56 protrudes from the slide member 35.

[0026] 11(b), the inclined inner tip 53 of the abutment piece 52 abuts on the abutment surface 58 at an angle, which naturally pushes down the operating member side engaging portion 55 in the anti-biased direction. As a result, the engaging protrusion 56 protruding from the slide member 35 retracts into the slide member 35.

[0027] 12 to 14 are cross-sectional views (longitudinal direction) illustrating the fine adjustment function of the clasp structure 10 for a hand according to the second embodiment. The fine adjustment function of the clasp structure 10 for a hand using the structure of the operating member 50 shown in Fig. 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted, but the following points will be mentioned that are characteristic of the second embodiment.

[0028] First, the operating member 50 of the second embodiment differs from the operating member 40 of the first embodiment in that the operating member 50 of the second embodiment pushes the operating portion 51 horizontally to retract the engaging protrusion 56 into the slide member 35. In the operating member 40 of the first embodiment, the operating portion 41 is pushed vertically. However, in the operating member 50 of the second embodiment, the horizontal pushing is the same as the sliding direction for fine adjustment, allowing disengagement of the operating member-side engaging portion 55 and the clasp body-side engaging portion 23 and adjustment of the slide position to be performed simultaneously.

[0029] In the second embodiment, the engagement between the engaging protrusion 56 and the engaging portion 23 is achieved by abutting on a surface that is inclined in the biasing direction of the biasing member. For example, in FIG. 14 , when sliding the slide member 30 to the left, it is not necessary to press the operating portion 51, but the slide member 30 can be slid by simply pushing it to the left. This is the effect of inclining the engagement between the two in the biasing direction. This can also be achieved in the first embodiment by engaging the operating member-side engaging portion 42 and the engaging portion 23 as in the second embodiment (by abutting on an inclined surface).

[0030] Figure 15 illustrates the second embodiment of the clasp structure 10 for a hand in use. The operating portion 51 of the operating member 50 is exposed on the back side of the clasp body 20. The bending member 13, which connects to the other end of the band, is bent toward the back side of the clasp body 20 when the band is fastened. This prevents the operating portion 51 from accidentally coming into contact with the clasp, allowing for safe use. Furthermore, the presence of a fine adjustment function cannot be recognized from the clasp's appearance alone, reducing the constraints on the clasp design. Other explanations are omitted as they are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0031] Figure 16 illustrates a variation of the second embodiment of the present invention. First, in Figure 16(a), the operating portion 51 and the operating member-side engaging portion 55 are in surface-to-surface contact (part A). Because the contacting surfaces are inclined relative to the thickness direction of the clasp body 20, pressing the operating portion 51 horizontally pushes the operating member-side engaging portion 55 downward toward the counter-bias side, disengaging the operating member-side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) from the engaging portion 23. This allows for fine adjustment in the X direction. In other words, pressing the operating portion 51 simultaneously performs both disengagement and fine adjustment.

[0032] 16(b) and 16(c), the operating part 51 and the operating member-side engaging part 55 are in contact with each other through a surface and a line (parts B and C). At this time, the contacting surface is inclined relative to the thickness direction of the clasp body 20. Therefore, when the operating part 51 is pressed horizontally, the operating member-side engaging part 55 is pressed downward toward the opposite side of the biasing force, thereby disengaging the operating member-side engaging part 55 (engaging protrusion 56) from the engaging part 23. This allows for fine adjustment in the X direction. In other words, both disengagement and fine adjustment can be achieved simultaneously by pressing the operating part 51.

[0033] 16(a) to 16(c), a portion of the engagement between the operating member-side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engagement portion 23 is inclined surface contact (portion D). Therefore, when the slide member 35 is pressed in the Y direction, the operating member-side engaging portion 55 is pushed down to the anti-bias side, and the engagement between the operating member-side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engagement portion 23 is released. This allows fine adjustment in the Y direction. In other words, fine adjustment in the Y direction does not require operation of the operating unit 51.

[0034] The band clasp structure according to the present invention can be widely used for clasps for bands that require length adjustment, such as watch bands and wristbands.

[0035] 10 Band clasp structure (clasp structure) 13 Bending member 17 Locking projection 18 Locking box (receiving device) 19 Push button 20 Clasp body 21 Inner surface 22 Clasp body side engagement portion 23 Engagement portion 24 Slide groove 30 Slide member (first embodiment) 31 Spring bar 35 Slide member (second embodiment) 36 Mounting portion 37 Mounting wall 40 Operating member (first embodiment) 41 Operating portion 42 Operating member side engagement portion (first embodiment) 43 Connecting pin 50 Operating member (second embodiment) 51 Operating portion 52 Contact piece 53 Inner tip 54 Exposed surface portion 55 Operating member side engagement portion (second embodiment) 56 Engagement projection 57 Space for biasing member 58 Contact surface 60 Biasing member (first embodiment) 65 Urging member (second embodiment) A Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the operating member side engaging portion 55 B Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the operating member side engaging portion 55 C Contact portion between the operating portion 51 and the operating member side engaging portion 55 D Contact portion between the operating member side engaging portion 55 (engagement protrusion 56) and the engaging portion 23

Claims

1. A clasp for a band that is located between two bands and opens and closes when fastening or detaching the band, comprising: a slide member that connects to one end of the band and slides in the clasp body in the band longitudinal direction; an operating member that is attached to the slide member and locks the slide member within the clasp body; and a biasing member that biases the operating member in the thickness direction of the clasp body, wherein the operating member has an operating part that is exposed on the back side of the clasp body and can be operated to press the operating member biased by the biasing member in the opposite biasing direction, and an operating member side engaging part that is linked to the operating part and engages with the clasp body, and the clasp body has a clasp body side engaging part that has two or more engaging parts that engage with the operating member side engaging parts on the inner surface of the clasp body that faces the slide member, arranged consecutively in the band longitudinal direction, The operating member side engaging portion of the operating member biased by the biasing member fixes the slide member within the clasp body by engaging with any of the engaging portions of the clasp body side engaging portion, and has a fine adjustment function that allows the position of the slide member to be adjusted by releasing the engagement by pressing the operating portion, and the operating member is formed by combining the operating portion and the operating member side engaging portion, which are separate from each other, and the operating portion and the operating member side engaging portion are in surface-to-surface or surface-to-line contact, and the surfaces are inclined with respect to the thickness direction within the clasp body, so that when the operating portion is pressed horizontally, the operating member side engaging portion is pushed down to the anti-bias side to release the engagement.

2. A clasp structure for a band as described in claim 1, characterized in that the engaging portion on the operating member side has an engaging inclined surface that is inclined in the biasing direction of the biasing member, and the engaging portion on the clasp main body side has an engaging portion that is inclined corresponding to the engaging inclined surface.

3. A clasp structure for a band according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking projection is provided on a folding member that is connected to the other end of the band and that closes the clasp by bending it toward the back side of the clasp body, and this locking projection is locked into a receiving device provided on the clasp body.

4. A clasp structure for a band according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a locking claw is provided on a folding member that is connected to the other end of the band and that closes the clasp by bending it toward the back side of the clasp body, and this locking claw is locked onto a connecting pin inside the clasp body.

5. A watch band comprising the clasp structure for a band according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A watch band equipped with the clasp structure for a band according to claim 3.

7. A watch band comprising the clasp structure for a band according to claim 4.

8. A wristwatch equipped with the watch band according to claim 5.