EP1841339B1 - Unfolding clasp for wrist band - Google Patents

Abstract

Clasp with unfolding buckle for wristlet, having: an inside blade (3), two outside blades (1) forming an articulated shank with the inside blade, two push-pieces (7) capable of being actuated transversely against the action of an elastic element (9) for unlocking the clasp, at least one stopping (11) connected removably to said push-piece (7) for limiting the amplitude of displacement of said push-piece along at least one axis.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a clasp for a bracelet, in particular a clasp with a folding clasp for a watch strap.

State of the art

WO03 / 022090 , in the name of the Applicant, discloses a folding clasp comprising two pushbuttons which can be actuatedenplacements in opposite direction against the action of two bars-springs The guide pushers is provided by the outer wallsd'un lid, and by stems engaged in blind holes in both pushbuttons. In order to exclude a displacement of the pushbuttons in a non-transverse direction, which could cause seizure of the device, it is necessary to machine the transverse walls of the cover with severe tolerances. In addition, the thickness of these walls must be important to ensure accurate guidance. This solution, although proven, is therefore expensive. On the other hand, the assembly of the clasp is delicate and requires the screwing of a cover on the lid.

EP1247469 discloses another clasp with folding clasp comprising two pushbuttons. Two spring rods are required to separate the two push buttons from each other and to ensure a perfectly parallel movement. The size of the push buttons is therefore necessarily important, and the cost increased by the presence of the two rods spring. On the other hand, the push buttons of this construction are retained by the two central blades only when the clasp is locked. However, the buttons may disengage from the clasp when it is open.

EP914781 discloses another clasp construction having two pushbuttons operable in opposite directions. The buttons are pushed against the side walls of a lid by a compressed spring. The clasp may disassemble if the user presses both buttons simultaneously with sufficient force.

CH665101 discloses a bracelet clasp comprising pushbuttons that abut one against the other to limit their movement. The pushbuttons thus occupy a large volume in the center of the clasp, and the stopping of the pushers is straightforward if both pushers are correctly guided during their movement.

GB2273736 describes a bracelet clasp comprising two push buttons whose movement amplitude is limited by stops These stops are not removable, and are not related to the push button. The assembly is complicated, and the clasp requires a large number of separate parts to insert the pushers over the stops.

CH668353 discloses another example of a two-push clasp Pushers can be inserted easily, despite the stops, as they are only loosely guided in the clasp; their maintenance is however unsatisfactory, especially when the clasp is open.

Goals of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved clasp clasp, particularly a clasp that can solve at least some of the problems mentioned.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a clasp clasp more economic, more reliable and / or easier to assemble than known clasps

• une première lame,
• au moinsune deuxième lame articulée avec ladite première lame,
• au moinsun bouton-poussoir actionnable contre l'action d'un élément élastique pour déverrouiller ledit fermoir,
• au moins une butée pour limiter l'amplitude de déplacement dudit bouton-poussoir selon au moinsun axe,
• ladite butée étant liée de façon amovible audit bouton-poussoir.

These aims are achieved by means of a clasp having the claimed elements, in particular by means of a clasp with a folding clasp for a bracelet, comprising:

• a first blade,
• at least a second blade articulated with said first blade,
• at least a push button operable against the action of an elastic member to unlock said clasp,
• at least one stop for limiting the displacement amplitude of said pushbutton according to at least one axis,
• said stop being removably connected to said push button.

This solution has the particular advantage of facilitating the mounting of the clasp. Indeed, before assembly of the stopper, the pushbutton can preferably be freely displaced along said axis, which allows to easily insert it into the clasp. The assembly is completed by binding the abutment (s) on the pushbutton (s), which makes it possible to limit their movement and in particular to prevent them from disassembling or disassociating themselves from the clasp.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the disassembly of the pushbuttons is impossible when the stops are linked to the pushbuttons, and becomes easy when this removable connection is broken.

• en position verrouillée, de limiter l'amplitude du déplacement dudit fermoir à la fois selon un axe transversal et selon un axe vertical,
• et en position déverrouillée, de limiter l'amplitude du déplacement dudit fermoir selon un axe transversal uniquement.

The stops allow for example:

• in the locked position, to limit the amplitude of the displacement of said clasp both along a transverse axis and along a vertical axis,
• and in the unlocked position, limiting the amplitude of movement of said clasp along a transverse axis only.

In this text, the transverse axis refers to the bracelet. The pushbuttons are actuated by a translational movement along this transverse axis, and the stops make it possible to limit the displacement in at least one direction, preferably in both directions, which makes it possible in particular to avoid the risk that the buttons pushers do not stand out completely from the clasp. The vertical axis is perpendicular to the plane of the strands of the bracelet; the clasp is open by lifting its cover in a direction comprising at least one vertical component. The blocking of the vertical displacements of the stop thus makes it possible to lock the clasp.

Brief description of the drawings

• La figure 1 est une vue de côté du fermoir de l'invention en position verrouillée.
• La figure 2 est une vue de côté du fermoir de l'invention en position ouverte.
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessusdu fermoir de l'invention en position verrouillée.
• La figure 4 est une coupe longitudinale partielle du fermoir de l'invention en position verrouillée, montrant les boutons-poussoirs munis de leur butée, montés à l'intérieur de leur élément de guidage, ainsi que la deuxième lame.
• La figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'un bouton-poussoir du fermoir selon l'invention.
• Les figures 6A respectivement 6B comportent une vue de dessus, respectivement une coupe latérale, de l'élément de guidage du fermoir de l'invention.
• Les figures 7a respectivement 7b sont des vues de côté respectivement de dessus des deuxièmes lames déployantes du fermoir de l'invention.
• Les figures 8a respectivement 8b sont des vues de côté respectivement de dessus des premières lames déployantes du fermoir de l'invention.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description given by way of example and illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• The figure 1 is a side view of the clasp of the invention in locked position.
• The figure 2 is a side view of the clasp of the invention in the open position.
• The figure 3 is a top view of the clasp of the invention in locked position.
• The figure 4 is a partial longitudinal section of the clasp of the invention in the locked position, showing the pushbuttons provided with their stop, mounted inside their guide element, and the second blade.
• The figure 5 is a top view of a pushbutton of the clasp according to the invention.
• The Figures 6A respectively 6B comprise a top view, respectively a side section, of the clasp guide member of the invention.
• The figures 7a respectively 7b are side views respectively from above of the second folding blades of the clasp of the invention.
• The figures 8a respectively 8b are respectively side views from above of the first folding blades of the clasp of the invention.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention

The clasp illustrated in the figures is intended to be used with soft bracelets, for example bracelets made of leather or rubber, or with bracelets formed of rows of metal links. It comprises a first inner blade 3 which folds between two second outer blades 1. In the folded position, the blades 1 and 3 occupy only one thickness. The two blades 1 and 3 are hinged together by means of a pin passing through a hole 14 at one end of the two blades.

The first inner blade 3 is hingedly connected to a clasp cover 5, by means of a pin or spring bar passing through a hole 31 and housed in blind holes in the side walls of the lid. A first strand of the bracelet (not shown) is connected to the other end of the lid 5; in the illustrated example, several holes or blind holes 50 are provided in the side walls of the cover 5 in order to allow a fine adjustment of the length of the bracelet, by modifying its attachment point on the cover 5.

The two outer blades 1 are articulated at their other end with a second strand of the bracelet (not shown) connected to the blades 1 by a pin passing through a hole 12.

The metal cover 5 has at least three orthogonal faces defining a volume that conceals and protects the locking mechanism. Each of the two lateral faces is provided with an opening 113 crossed by one of the two push-buttons 7.

The clasp illustrated in the figures comprises two lamps 1 and 3, so that its length can be approximately doubled during deployment. The clasp of the invention, however, also applies to other types of folding clasp, including Z loops, butterfly loops, and the like.

The clasp of the invention comprises two push buttons 7 projecting outside the lateral faces of the cover 5. The clasp can be unlocked by pressing the two pushbuttons simultaneously in a transverse direction. An elastic element 9 engaged in blind holes 72 ( figure 5 On the internal faces of the two pushbuttons 7 makes it possible to push these two members back and to keep the clasp locked when no external force is applied. In the example shown, the elastic element 9 is constituted by a single spring bar, consisting of two nested telescopic tubes and a helical spring compressed inside the tubes. It is also possible, in the context of the invention, to use a solid pin and a spring at the end of this pin, or at both ends of the pin. Moreover, in the case of larger size clasp, a more precise guidance can be obtained by using two pins or two parallel spring bars to push back the two push buttons.

The clasp of the invention further comprises a guiding element 13, illustrated in particular on the Figures 6A and 6B , to maintain the two push buttons and guide them during their movements The guide member 13 is constituted by a hollow tube whose shape and dimensions of the inner window correspond to the shapes and external dimensions of the push buttons. It is held against the two inner faces of the side walls of the cover 5, with which it can be welded, clipped, or held by other appropriate means. In a variant not shown, the guide member 13 could be an integral part of the cover with which it could even be machined. The illustrated guide element, however, has the advantage of being able to be manufactured economically, with precise tolerances, by folding and drilling a flat sheet.

The clasp further comprises two stops 11 to limit the movement of the pushbuttons The stops 11 are releasably connected to the corresponding pushbuttons 7 In the illustrated example, each stop 11 comprises a head 110 and a rod 111. The rod of each stop 11 is screwed into a hole 71 in each of the two push buttons The head of the abutment 11 can be split so as to allow screwing by means of a screwdriver. In a preferred embodiment, a portion of the rod of the abutment 11 protruding from the pushbutton 7 is provided with a flat or polygonal periphery for screwing or unscrewing by means of a key; this variant has the advantage of concealing the screw slot, and to limit the risk that a user unscrews the abutments accidentally. A point of glue, or other means to make unscrewing more difficult, can also be implemented.

The abutments 11 could also be linked to the corresponding pushbuttons by other means, for example by gluing, clipping, etc.

The stops 11 move transversely in a plane parallel to the bracelet with the push buttons 7 when they are actuated or released. For this purpose, two rectangular windows 130 are provided in the guide element 13 parallel to the axis thereof; the stops go through these windows which guide their movement. The amplitude of the transverse displacement of each of the two abutments is limited by the contact with the two edges of the corresponding window.

In one variant, only the amplitude of the displacement imposed by the bar is limited by the windows 130, whereas the direct contact of the two push-buttons together, or the contact with the bar 9 or with other elements of the clasp, makes it possible to limit the displacement amplitude in the opposite direction, when the user presses the pushbuttons.

In another variant, a single oblong window oriented parallel to the axis of the guide element is formed in the side wall of said guide element, the transverse displacement of each stopper, when the pushbuttons are pushed back by the elastic element. , is bounded by the edge of each end of the single window.

In the locked position, the rod of the abutments 11 passes through openings 10 and 30, respectively, in the blades 1 and 3, respectively. 110 destiges 11, whose diameter is greater than that of the rod, is retained under the blades 1 and 3 by a contact portion 100 formed in this example by a flat in the opening 10 in a semicircle through the second outer blades 1. The stopper heads 11 cooperate with said outer blades, thus blocking the blades 1 and 3 to prevent the vertical movement of the lid 5 and the opening of the clasp in the locked position.

In the unlocked position, when the user presses the pushbuttons 7, the stops move toward the central axis of the blades 1, 3, until the head 11 dislodging relief of the contact portion 100 and arrive opposite apertures 30 in a semicircle whose larger diameter allows the heads to pass. In this position, the clasp can be opened by lifting the cover 5 and the first inner blade 3 by a rotational movement about the axis 34. In one variant, a spring can be provided to ensure an automatic opening of the clasp when lesboutons- pushes are sufficiently pressed

In the illustrated clasp, the abutmentstraverse openings 10, 30 through two blades 1 and 3. This solution provides optimal access to the openings 10, 30 when the bracelet is open, and facilitates the cleaning of this sensitive area. In the context of the invention, it is also possible for each stop to move in oblong windows through only one of the blades 1 or 3, for example through the outer blade 1.

The head stops preferably comes flush with the underside of the blades 1 and 3 in the folded position. In order to avoid any risk of injury to the wearer, the stop heads as well as the windows 10, 30 in which they move preferably have slightly aggressive shapes, devoid of sharp angles. In a variant not shown, the stops 11 are locked on a locking portion provided on the upper face of the blades 1 and / or 3, which may then be free of through openings.

The clasp of the invention is assembled by inserting from outside the two push buttons 7 through corresponding openings in the side walls of the lid 5; the bar 9 is previously positioned in the guide member 13 so as to be housed in the blind holes 72 of the push buttons 7 which it guides the insertion. The pushbuttons 7 are then sufficiently depressed in turn, by going against the force exerted by the spring bar 9, until the holes 71 come opposite the openings 130 in the guide element. 13. The abutments 11 can then be screwed into the blind holes, through the windows 130, and using a wrench or other tool not shown.

List of parts

1

Second outer blade (stretcher)

10

Opening in the outer blade

100

Portion of contact in the outer blade

11

Mobile stop

110

Stopper head

111

Thrust rod

113

Opening in a side wall of the lid, for the passage of a push button

12

Pinhole pin external blade - bracelet

13

Push button guide element

130

Windows in the push button guidance element

14

Hole passage for the hinge pin internal blades-outer blades

3

First internal blade

30

Thrust passage in internal blade

34

Hole passage for the hinge pin internal blades-outer blades

31

Hole of passage pin fixing lid

5

Lid

50

Bracket fixing holes

51

Side walls of the lid

7

Pushbutton

71

Male stop fixing hole in push button

72

Barrette guide hole in push button

9

Spring bar

Claims (14)

1. Clasp with unfolding buckle for wristlet, having:

   a first blade (3),

   at least a second blade (1) articulated with said first blade,

   at least one push-piece (7) that can be actuated against the action of an elastic element (9) for unlocking said clasp,

   at least one stopping (11) for limiting the amplitude of displacement of said push-piece along at least one axis,

   characterized in that said stopping (11) is connected removably with said push-piece (7).
2. The clasp of claim 1, wherein said stopping (11) allows the amplitude of displacement imposed by said elastic element (9) to said push-piece (7) along a transverse axis to be limited.
3. The clasp of claim 1, wherein said stopping (11) allows, in locked position, said clasp to be held locked by limiting the possible amplitude of displacement of said push-piece (7) along a vertical axis.
4. The clasp of claim 1, wherein said stopping (11) allows:

   in locked position, to limit the amplitude of displacement of said push-piece (7) both along a transverse axis and along a vertical axis,

   and in unlocked position, to limit the amplitude of displacement of said push-piece (7) along a transverse axis only.
5. The clasp of one of claims 3 to 4, said stopping (11) being held by a portion of said second blade (1) in locked position, and traversing said first blade (3) during unlocking.
6. The clasp of one of claims 1 to 5, having:

   two said push-pieces (7),

   one said stopping (11) connected to each said push-piece (7),

   one guiding element (13) of said two push-pieces for guiding said two push-pieces when they are actuated,

   said elastic element (9) being compressed between said push-pieces so as to push them back along a transverse direction,

   at least one window (130) in said guiding element (13), said stoppings (11) moving in said at least one window.
7. The clasp of claim 6, wherein the amplitude of said transverse displacement of the stopping (11) is limited by the contact of said stopping against a rim of said window (130).
8. The clasp of one of the claims 6 or 7, said window allowing said stoppings (11) to be guided when said push-pieces are actuated.
9. The clasp of one of the claims 1 to 8, said stopping (11) being connected with said push-piece (7) through a screw connection.
10. The clasp of one of the claims 1 to 9, further having a cover (5),
    one extremity of said first blade (3) being articulated with said cover (5),
    one extremity of said second blade (1) being articulated with a second end of the wristlet,
    said cover (5) being connected with a first end of the wristlet.
11. The clasp of claim 10, said cover (5) having two lateral walls (51) provided with openings (50) traversed by said push-piece or push-pieces (7).
12. The clasp of one of the claims 1 to 11, said elastic element being constituted by an extensible spring bar (9) compressed between said push-pieces (7).
13. The clasp of one of the claims 1 to 12, having two said second blades (1), said first blade (3) lodging in folded position between said two second blades.
14. Assembly method of a wristlet clasp having a first blade (3), and at least one second blade (1) articulated with said first blade, said method including the following steps:

    inserting at least one push-piece (7) in a guiding element (13) and mounting an elastic element (9) for pushing said push-piece back,

    subsequently, mounting at least one stopping (11) connected removably with said push-piece (7) for limiting the amplitude of displacement of said push-piece.

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