CN1798510B - Clasp for a watchstrap or bracelet - Google Patents

Abstract

A fold-out clasp having a longitudinal axis AA and comprising two rigid arms (10, 12) hinged together at one end about an axis BB that is perpendicular to axis AA, and a catch locking system for holding the two arms in the closed position. The locking system comprises a locking member positionable in first and second positions in which the clasp arms can be opened or are prevented from being opened, respectively, when the male (18) and female (20) portions are in the first position thereof.

Description

Fasteners for watch straps or bracelets

technical field

The present invention relates to clasps for detachably connecting the two ends of a wristband, such as a wristband or bracelet. It relates more particularly to a folding fastening comprising two rigid arms hinged to each other at one end and a capture locking system. The arm can occupy an open position enabling the person wearing the wrist strap to remove or slide the wrist strap on the wrist, and a closed position in which the two arms are detachably fastened to each other by means of a locking system.

Background technique

For example, a clasp has a tuning fork structure as disclosed in Swiss Patent No. 665,536, whereby one arm is fitted with a rigid part and the other arm has a tuning fork shaped structure with elastic arms engaged on either side of the rigid part to form a catch and hold the two arms fitted to each other.

This solution is well known to those skilled in the art and the simplicity of implementation is very attractive. However, in order to open the clasp, one must apply force to move one end of each arm secured to the bracelet away from the other. This force may also occur unintentionally, and the user is likely to lose the bracelet, especially since the material wears out and loses its elastic properties after a long time.

From European Patent No. 1279349 a clasp equipped with a locking system having a male part engaging in a female part is known. These parts are locked by means of parts pivotally mounted on the arms of the clasp which prevent the male part from disengaging from the female part. Once the locking part is released, the male part is no longer fully retained within the female part, but is separated by friction.

Contents of the invention

The present invention proposes a clasp for a wristband or bracelet that prevents unintentional opening. It comprises, in a known manner, two rigid arms defining a longitudinal axis AA and hinged to each other at one end along an axis BB perpendicular to AA, and a capture locking system holding the two arms closed. The locking system includes:

- a male part and a female part arranged respectively on the first and second of said arms, which are movable relative to each other and can occupy a first position in which the male part engages in the female part to keep the arms closed, and wherein they a second position free relative to each other to allow the arms to open, and

- A resilient member cooperating by capture with one and/or the other of the male and female parts to allow them to pass from their first position to their second position.

According to the invention, the male part of the locking system also comprises a pin mounted to move on its arm and able to assume a first position and a second position, in which the pin is located above the female part and arranged so that when its The resilient member is actuated when entering or leaving the female part, and in the second position the peg locks the arms relative to each other.

Advantageously, said peg is a rectangle of length L, width I, thickness e and longitudinal axis CC and is mounted for rotational movement on said first arm, said peg being located at the interface with the other arm , and the female part comprises a hole through which the longitudinal axis DD passes through said second arm, its length L' is greater than the length L, its width I' is slightly less than the width I and less than the peg length L, and it is arranged as the fastener's The two arms face the peg when resting against each other.

Thus, the pin and the hole together constitute a part whose parts are connected to each other by a capture interlock formed by the engagement of the sides of the pin and the hole parallel to the axes CC and DD, respectively.

Thus, when the lock is in its first position, the axis CC of the bolt is parallel to the axis DD of the hole to allow the engagement of the bolt therein. When the lock is in its second position, the axis CC of the bolt is offset relative to the axis DD of the hole so that the bolt prevents opening when the two arms are locked.

In order to allow the rotation of the bolt when the two arms are locked, the thickness of the second arm is defined at the hole by a depression arranged on its top face, the depth of which is substantially equal to the thickness e of the bolt, the thickness of the arm at this position slightly less than the base height h.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the pin constitutes a male part of the capture locking system. It is fixedly fastened to a bar protruding from the edge of the arm to allow the wearer to pivot the pin.

The base on which the pegs are arranged is arranged on a seat defined by the upstream, side and downstream edges, and the rod is shaped such that:

- in the first position, which abuts against the first edge of the seat, the axis CC of the pin is parallel to the axis AA of the fastening member, and

- In the second position, which abuts the other edge of the seat, the axis CC of the pin is at an angle of approximately 45° to the axis AA of the fastening element.

Usefully, the first and second positions of the rod are marked by means of catches formed by protruding members arranged on the base in contact with the rod so that the side of the rod opposite the side abutting against the base abuts against on it.

Description of drawings

Can understand the present invention better after reading following description in conjunction with accompanying drawing, in accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of two arms,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a male component of the locking system, and

Figure 3 shows the locking system in a close-up top view, respectively in the unlocked position at a and in the locked position at b.

Detailed ways

Figure 1 shows a clasp for a wristband or bracelet according to the invention. With a longitudinal axis AA, the clasp comprises two rigid arms, an upper arm 10 and a lower arm 12 connected to each other by hinge means 14 at one end thereof and on an axis BB perpendicular to AA. Each of its other ends has means 16 for connection to a wristband or bracelet.

The clasp has a catch and lock system comprising a male part 18 arranged on the lower arm 12 and upper arm 10 next to the connecting means 16, a female part 20, and an elastic part 21 connecting the female part.

The male part 18 comprises, on the top surface of the lower arm 12, a base 22 defined by an upstream edge 24 on the side of the connecting means 16, a side edge 26 and a downstream edge 28 on the side of the hinge 14, and is arranged between the base 22. A rectangular peg 30 having length L, width I, thickness e and longitudinal axis CC parallel to AA. As shown in particular in FIG. 2 , the peg 30 is mounted on a base 32 which is smaller than the peg and has a height h.

The elastic member 21 is composed of two branches 21 a and 21 b defined by a central groove 34 arranged along the axis AA and passing through the thickness of the upper wall 10 .

The female part 20 consists of a rectangular hole 36 whose axis DD is parallel to AA, whose length L' is greater than the key length L and whose width I' is slightly smaller than the width I and less than the key length L. The hole 36 is arranged above the peg 30 when the two arms rest against each other. Also, since the width I' is slightly smaller than I, the engagement of the peg 30 in the hole 30 forms a catch.

The thickness of the arm 10 is limited at the hole 36 by a recess 38 arranged on its top face. The depth of the recess 38 is substantially equal to the thickness e of the peg 30 , while the thickness of the arm in this position is slightly less than the height h of the base 32 .

Thus, only one of the upper arm 10 and the lower arm 12 needs to be pressed against the other when it is desired to close the clasp. Edge 40 of peg 30 parallel to AA comes into contact with edge 42 of hole 36 . Pressure must then be applied to the arms to bring them closer to each other. Edge 40 presses against edge 42 so that peg 30 moves one of elastic branches 21a and 21b away from the other. The path of the peg 30 through the hole 36 thus creates a catch.

In the locked position, the bolt 30 is accommodated in the recess 38 and its edge 40 abuts against the edge 42 of the hole 36 , but this time on the top side of the upper arm 10 . The resistance to the branches 21a and 21b being moved apart is sufficient to maintain the clasp in the locked position under most circumstances.

In order to open the clasp, a force must be applied to move the ends of each arm 10 and 12 secured to the wristband away from each other. It will be readily understood that this force must be sufficient to overcome the resistance of branches 21a and 21b to being moved apart and allow peg 30 to pass through hole 36 again.

A number of wrist straps that operate on this tuning fork fastener principle already exist on the market. However, the clasp is quite prone to unintentional opening, for example simply because the wristband is caught on clothing.

In order to prevent this problem, the peg 30 is pivotally mounted on the base 22 along the axis EE visible in FIG. 2 , perpendicular to the plane defined by the base 22 and passing through its centre. A bent rod 44 is secured to the peg 30 and is wedged between the base 22 and the base 32 . It protrudes from the edge of the arm 12 and ends in a knob 45 that allows the wearer to pivot the peg 30 .

The travel of the rod 44 and thus the rotation of the bolt 30 is limited by one side of the rod 44 which abuts against the edge of the base 22 . More specifically, rod 44 is shaped such that:

- in a first position, which abuts the downstream edge 28 of the seat 22 and the axis CC of the pin 30 is parallel to the axis DD of the hole 36 ( FIG. 3 a ), and

- In the second position, it abuts against the upstream edge 24 of the seat 22 and the axis CC of the pin 30 is at an angle of approximately 45° to the axis DD of the hole 36 ( FIG. 3 b ).

The first and second positions of the rod 44 are marked by a protruding member 46 which is arranged on the base 22 in contact with the rod 44 so that the side of the rod opposite the side against the base abuts against it to form a capture.

The rod 44 is sufficiently resilient to go from the first position to the second position by simply sliding over the protruding member.

On the upper arm 10, the recess 38 is circular and of sufficient size to allow the peg 30 to fit in upon pivoting when the clasp is in the locked position (Fig. 3b).

Thus, when it is desired to lock the clasp, it must first be checked that the lever 44 is in its first position so that the axis CC of the bolt 30 coincides with the axis DD of the hole 36 . The peg 30 can then engage therein and occupy the recess 38 as previously described.

The locked position is then blocked by actuating the lever 44 , which straddles the protruding part 46 and reaches its second position, causing the bolt 30 to pivot in the recess 38 . Its axis CC no longer coincides with the hole axis DD and its two opposite edges lie above the recess 38, preventing any relative movement of the clasp arms 21a and 21b.

A fastening with a catch which, once locked, can be blocked in this position has thus been proposed. Any unintentional opening of the fastening is thus prevented. Also, the above description is given by way of example only and the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments. The invention can be easily applied to any fastener capture system, for example with a spring loaded ball.

To provide greater operational flexibility, the lever 44 may also be constructed in two parts, a rigid part incorporated into the peg 30 and a flexible part secured to the first part by a knob 45 and connected to the base 32 below the arm 12 . Thus, the rod 44 is frictionally fitted to the arm 12, preventing any risk of rattling.

Claims (6)

1. be used to have longitudinal axis collapsible fasteners of wrist strap of (AA), it comprises at one end along perpendicular to two hinged each other rigid arm (10 of the axis (BB) of longitudinal axis (AA), 12) and the locking system of catching that is used to keep these two rigid arm closures, this is caught locking system and comprises:

Be arranged in male part (18) on first rigid arm (12) in described two rigid arm and the female part (20) on second rigid arm (10), they can move relative to each other and can occupy wherein said male part (18) be bonded on described female part (20) lining with the primary importance that keeps described two rigid arm closures and wherein said male part and female part free relative to each other with allow the second place that described two rigid arm open and

Elastic component (21), its with male part (18) and female part (20) in one and/or another match to allow described concave, convex parts to reach the second place by catching from its primary importance;

It is characterized in that the male part of locking system comprises and being mounted to so that the bolt that moves (30) on its arm; Described female part comprises that its longitudinal axis (DD) passes a hole (36) of described second rigid arm (10); Described bolt (30) is fixedly mounted in the bar (44) outstanding from the edge of first rigid arm (12) and goes up to allow wearer's pivot to rotate described bolt (30); Described bolt (30) can occupy a primary importance and a second place, wherein state bolt is stacked on the female part and is arranged as activate described elastic component when it enters or leaves female part in described primary importance place, at this bolt of described second place place with described two rigid arm locking relative to each other, the longitudinal axis (CC) of described bolt (30) is parallel to described hole (36) at the described primary importance place of described bolt longitudinal axis (DD) engages therein to allow described bolt (30), longitudinal axis (DD) skew with respect to described hole (36) is opened when being in locking so that described bolt prevents described two rigid arm (10,12) longitudinal axis (CC) of described bolt (30) at the described second place place of described bolt.

2. according to the fasteners of claim 1, it is characterized in that, described bolt is a rectangle, and has length (L), width (I), thickness (e) and longitudinal axis (CC), and be installed as motion rotatably on described first rigid arm (12), described bolt (30) be positioned at second rigid arm (10) at the interface, the length in the described hole (36) of described female part (20) (L ') greater than the length of fastening (L), the width in described hole (I ') is slightly smaller than the width (I) of fastening and less than the length of fastening (L), and described hole be arranged to two rigid arm (10,12) when fasteners when abutting against each other in the face of described bolt (30).

3. according to the fasteners of claim 1, it is characterized in that the thickness of second rigid arm (10) is located to be limited by the depression (38) that is arranged on its end face in hole (36), the degree of depth of described depression (38) is substantially equal to the thickness (e) of described bolt (30).

4. according to the fasteners of claim 1, it is characterized in that described bolt (30) constitutes described male part (18) of catching locking system.

5. according to the fasteners of claim 1, it is characterized in that described bolt (30) is arranged on the base (22) that is limited by upstream edge (24), lateral edge (26) and downstream edge (28), and bar (44) is so shaped that:

In the primary importance of described bar, it is near first edge of base (22), the longitudinal axis (CC) of described bolt (30) be parallel to fasteners longitudinal axis (AA) and

In the second place of described bar, it is near another edge of base (22), and the longitudinal axis (CC) of described bolt (30) becomes about 45 with the longitudinal axis (AA) of fasteners.

6. according to the fasteners of claim 5, it is characterized in that, first and second positions of bar (44) are by means of by the formed institute's mark of catching of projecting part (46), this projecting part be disposed in base (22) go up, contact with bar (44) so that bar with near relative side, the side of base near thereon.

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