EP3593667A1 - Link for bracelet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a bracelet link (1), comprising: - a body (3) provided with a cavity (5) formed in at least one lateral face (3a) of said body (3); - at least one system of 'articulation comprising a pin (7) arranged to connect said body (3) to another link (1, 11) in an articulated manner. According to the invention, - said cavity (5) defines an insertion zone (5c) allowing the insertion of said pin (7) in said cavity as well as a shoulder (5a) defining a retention zone (5f); - said pin (7) comprises a bead (7a) at a first of its ends, said bead (7a) being shaped so as to be able to fit into said insertion zone (5c) and to be blocked by said shoulder (5a) in a direction parallel to the axis of said pin (7), a second end (7b) of said pin (7) being arranged to be fixed to another link (1, 11); and a closure member (9) is fixed in said insertion area (5c).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of jewelry and watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a link for a watch or jewelry bracelet. This bracelet is formed of a plurality of links hinged to each other, at least some of which are those of the invention.

State of the art

The document EP1428451 describes a watch strap, in which no fastening element such as a pin, a screw or the like is visible on an external surface of the strap. This bracelet is made up of modular sets which extend in a transverse direction, and which are formed by several adjacent links fixed to each other by a connecting pin. This axis is arranged in such a way that some of the links are made integral in rotation with each other, and others are free to pivot around the axis. By removing or adding modules, the length of the bracelet can be adapted to the wearer's wrist.

However, this construction makes certain links integral with others, which reduces the number of degrees of freedom of the bracelet, making the latter less flexible than desirable, in particular in torsion. For the rest, the manufacturer cannot leave spaces in the arrangement of links, which limits the possibilities at the aesthetic level.

The object of the invention is therefore to propose a bracelet link in which the above-mentioned defects are at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of invention

• un corps muni d'une cavité ménagée dans, et donc débouchant sur, au moins une face latérale dudit corps ;
• au moins un système d'articulation comprenant une goupille agencée pour relier ledit corps à un autre maillon, immédiatement adjacent ou pas, de façon articulée.

More specifically, the invention relates to a bracelet link, comprising:

• a body provided with a cavity formed in, and therefore opening onto, at least one lateral face of said body;
• at least one articulation system comprising a pin arranged to connect said body to another link, immediately adjacent or not, in an articulated manner.

According to the invention, said cavity defines an insertion zone allowing the insertion of said pin in said cavity as well as a shoulder defining at least one retention zone. Said pin comprises a bead at a first of its ends, shaped to be able to enter said insertion zone and to be blocked by said shoulder in a direction parallel to the axis of said pin. The second end of the pin is arranged to be fixed to another link (which can also be according to the invention or conventional), for example by means of a drive-out, bonding, welding or the like. Furthermore, said body insertion zone is closed by means of a closing element such as a plug, a threaded element or the like, fixed in said zone.

By these means, when a bracelet comprising such links is constructed, no attachment means is visible on an external face of said bracelet, and it is possible to create bracelets in which each link can pivot relative to each other link. . This bracelet can constitute a piece of jewelry or can be attached to a watch case of a timepiece.

Other advantageous features are defined by dependent claims.

• insérer ladite première extrémité de ladite goupille dans ladite zone d'insertion ;
• faire déplacer ladite goupille latéralement (c'est-à-dire substantiellement perpendiculairement à l'axe de la goupille) de telle sorte que ledit bourrelet est bloqué selon l'axe de la goupille par ledit épaulement ; et
• insérer ledit élément de fermeture dans ladite zone d'insertion.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling a bracelet link as defined above, comprising the steps of:

• inserting said first end of said pin into said insertion zone;
• moving said pin laterally (that is to say substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pin) so that said bead is blocked along the axis of the pin by said shoulder; and
• inserting said closure element into said insertion zone.

The link thus assembled can be pivotally attached to other links, regardless of whether the links are according to the invention or conventional.

Brief description of the drawings

• Figure 1 est une vue isométrique d'un maillon selon l'invention ainsi que deux autres maillons adjacents ;
• Figure 2 est une vue en coupe du maillon de la figure 1 fixé aux deux autres maillons adjacents ;
• Figure 3 est une vue isométrique du corps dudit maillon ainsi que d'une des goupilles y associée ;
• Figures 4 à 7 illustrent les étapes de montage dudit maillon ;
• Figures 8 et 9 illustrent schématiquement deux autres variantes de maillons selon l'invention ; et
• Figures 10 et 11 illustrent deux sections d'un bracelet comprenant des maillons selon l'invention.

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is an isometric view of a link according to the invention as well as two other adjacent links;
• Figure 2 is a section view of the link in the figure 1 attached to the other two adjacent links;
• Figure 3 is an isometric view of the body of said link as well as of one of the pins associated therewith;
• Figures 4 to 7 illustrate the steps for mounting said link;
• Figures 8 and 9 schematically illustrate two other variants of links according to the invention; and
• Figures 10 and 11 illustrate two sections of a bracelet comprising links according to the invention.

Mode of carrying out the invention

The Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a bracelet link 1 according to the invention and links with which it is intended to be assembled, these other links can be either links according to the invention or links of the prior art. This link comprises a body 3, which is provided with a cavity 5 opening onto a first lateral face 3a of the body 3 as well as at least one articulation system. The latter is formed by a pin 7, a first end of which has a head comprising a bead 7a extending radially from the rod of the pin, this bead taking place with play in said cavity 5. By "lateral face" is meant a surface which, when the bracelet is assembled, lies in an XZ plane (see the indications on the figure 1 ) and which is perpendicular both to the X direction of extension of the bracelet and to the Y direction along its width. Even if said face lateral 3a is illustrated here in a planar manner, it can also be curved or the like. In addition, the manufacturer can give any shape to the body, according to his needs.

This cavity 5 is shaped to define a shoulder 5a arranged to block said bead 7a in the cavity 5, as well as an insertion zone 5b dimensioned to allow the passage of said bead 7a and its insertion into the cavity 5. In the mode of illustrated embodiment, the insertion zone 5b is located in the middle of said first lateral face 3a of the body 3. However, the insertion zone 5c can be located at an ad hoc location, in particular when the link 1 only has a single articulation system on one of its lateral faces. The shoulder 5a extends on either side of the insertion zone 5c, and is opposite the internal face 5d of the cavity 5. In the case of a link 1 which does not have, on the one of its faces, that a single articulation system instead of two, the shoulder 5a can extend on one side of the insertion zone 5c.

After insertion of the bead 7a, the latter can be moved along the cavity 5 in the direction X (that is to say longitudinally with respect to the body 3 and laterally with respect to the pin 7), so that the bead 7a takes place behind the shoulder 5a, which serves as a stop (see the figures 3 and 4 which illustrate these assembly steps). Since the shoulder defines an opening of dimension smaller than the diameter of the bead 7a (or more generally less than the dimension of the bead if it is not circular), the latter is thus blocked by the shoulder 5a in the axial direction of the pin 7, and therefore cannot exit from the cavity 5 in this direction. The part of the cavity 5, delimited by the shoulder, can thus be considered as being a retention zone 5f, which serves to retain the head of the pin 7 in the cavity 5.

When the pin or pins 7 have been placed in their respective retention zones 5f ( figure 5 ), the insertion zone 5c is closed by a closing element such as a plug 9, which is inserted in the insertion zone 5c. Link 1 is thus complete (see the figure 6 ).

The closing element 9 also serves as a stop to block the pin 7 in translation in the groove. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure element 9 cooperates with the side of said pin 7, but it is also possible that an extension of the element 9 may overflow in the space adjacent to the bead 7a, to serve in further abutment for this part of the pin 7. In addition, the closure element 9 is preferably dimensioned so that the pin 7 is positioned without disturbing play for the wearer, while allowing rotation of the pin 7 around its own axis. The plug 9 is held in the insertion zone 5c, for example by means of a ring 9a of flexible material such as rubber, silicone, an elastomer or the like, retained by a circumferential groove which is provided with the plug 9. Alternatively, the plug 9 can be expelled into the insertion zone 5c, or the plug can also be threaded so that a closing element can cooperate by screwing with a complementary thread formed in the internal wall of the insertion area.

By these means, the pins 7 are prevented from moving in translation towards the insertion zone 5c, and therefore cannot leave their retention zone 5f or the cavity 5.

In order to fix the link 1 to other adjacent links and thus to build a bracelet, the second end 7b of each pin opposite to that having the bead 7a can be fixed to another link 1, 11, for example by being driven out, glued, welded or the like in an opening 11a made in the latter. To this end, said second end 7b may include longitudinal grooves or the like in order to aid in this fixing. In the illustrated embodiment, this other link is of a second type, different from the link 1 according to the invention, the latter being called “a link of a first type” thereafter, in order to clearly identify it.

Each pin 7 may have a length sufficient to be fixed to an adjacent link 11, or to pass with clearance through a through opening 11b of the adjacent link 11 and to be then secured with another non-adjacent link. These two possibilities can be combined, one of the pins 7 of a particular link 1 is of the type illustrated on the figures 1 to 6 , the other being longer. We will come back to this point below.

The figure 7 illustrates an assembly comprising a link 1 of a first type (according to the invention), as well as two adjacent links 11 of the second type mentioned above. This figure clearly shows that the construction of the link 1 leaves no visible attachment means on an external surface of the bracelet, the plug 9 being barely visible between the adjacent links 11. Its surface can also be polished to make it almost invisible on the side face of link 1.

The construction of link 1 illustrated on the figures 1-7 suitable for use as a terminal link on the lateral sides of the bracelet.

The figure 8 very schematically illustrates an embodiment of a link 1 according to the invention, which is suitable for use as an intermediate link, which is inside the bracelet, and can thus be fixed to adjacent links located on either side other of link 1 in question.

On one of the faces (right side according to the illustrated orientation) of this link 1 is a single articulation system comprising a single pin 7, the insertion zone 5c and the plug 9 being offset from the body 3 of the link. The opposite face of the link has one or two blind holes 13, each arranged to receive a pin 7 or a conventional pin in order to link this face of the link 1 to an adjacent link.

The figure 9 very schematically illustrates another embodiment of a link 1 according to the invention. In this variant, the opening 5 is through, connecting one of the lateral faces 3a of the body 3 with the other 3a ', two articulation systems and two closing elements 9 being provided in each lateral face of the body 3. However, it is also possible to provide an internal wall inside the cavity 5, in order to divide the latter into two in a direction perpendicular to the axes of the pins and thus increase the rigidity of the body 3. It is understood possible to remove one of the articulation systems on one or the other of said faces, and / or replace one or more of the pins 7 with a blind hole 13 as illustrated in the figure 8 , or to replace two coaxial pins 7 with a through opening like the opening 11b of the link of the second type 11.

The Figures 10 and 11 illustrate sections of a bracelet comprising several links 1 according to the invention, in particular all of the side links, in accordance with the construction illustrated by the figures 1 to 7 . Several of the pins 7 have been shown diagrammatically by "T" shapes, in order to illustrate various non-limiting possibilities for fixing some of the links 1 to others. In order not to overload the figures, all the pins 7 have not been indicated by a reference sign.

In principle, each link of the bracelet 15 can be a link 1 according to one of the variants described above, chosen ad hoc for each individual link. In doing so, the manufacturer can benefit from great freedom in the distribution and positioning of the links according to patterns that he can choose at will, each link can pivot freely relative to each other and the possibility of leaving gaps. 16 in the arrangement being free. The manufacturer can thus use this advantage of the link 1 according to the invention to create various original arrangements without having to make any link integral in rotation with another.

Below, a bracelet construction 15 is proposed combining links 1 according to the invention as well as standard links 11, in order to optimize the bracelet in terms of mounting and ergonomics. To this end, some of the links may be simpler than those of the invention, such as the link 11 of the second type illustrated on the figures 6 and 7 .

As such, we can mention the link 1 ', which is exactly like that of figures 1 to 7 , and which is fixed by its pins to links 11 of the second type in the manner mentioned above.

The link 1 ", which is adjacent to the link 1 'in the longitudinal direction is also according to that of figures 1 to 7 , except that its pins are longer in order to cross two other intermediate links before being fixed to 11 "links, the ends of the pins 7 being made integral with the latter as described above. Again, each of the links concerned can pivot relative to the others.

The 11 "link is of the type illustrated by the figure 9 , each of the second ends of the pins 7 being fixed to the adjacent link.

The link 1 ^iv comprises a single articulation system, as well as a blind hole coaxial with the pin of said single articulation system. At the other end of the link 1 ^iv is a through opening through which passes, with play, a pin 7 belonging to the adjacent link.

For the sake of simplification, it is possible to make certain links integral in rotation with others. So, we can link certain groups of links in a conventional way, as indicated by the oval 11 "'. Inside this oval 11'", some links are fixed to others by a pin which is integral with its two ends with two links 11 ^v , and which crosses with play an intermediate link 11 ^vi . The intermediate link 11 ^vi can therefore pivot relative to the two adjacent links 11 ^v , the latter being mutually integral in rotation.

In order to attach the strap 15 to a watch case 17, the latter may include a plurality of horns, intended to take place in the interstices 17a located between the links. The horns are provided with openings in a conventional manner, a bar or rod 19 passing through the openings of the horns on each side of the box. Furthermore, the watch case may also have openings in another of its faces, these openings receiving pins 7 'carried by, or passing through. links 11 ^iv adjacent to said box 17.

Finally, it is noted that it is possible to mount jewelry such as precious stones 21 in housings 23 formed in some (or all of) the links 1, 11.

Although the invention has been described above in connection with specific embodiments, additional variants are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

Bracelet link (1), comprising: - a body (3) provided with a cavity (5) formed in at least one lateral face (3a) of said body (3); - at least one articulation system comprising a pin (7) arranged to connect said body (3) to another link (1, 11) in an articulated manner; characterized in that : - Said cavity (5) defines an insertion zone (5c) allowing the insertion of said pin (7) in said cavity as well as a shoulder (5a) defining a retention zone (5f); - Said pin (7) comprises a bead (7a) at a first of its ends, said bead (7a) being shaped to be able to enter said insertion zone (5c) and to be blocked by said shoulder (5a) according to a direction parallel to the axis of said pin (7), a second end (7b) of said pin (7) being arranged to be fixed to another link (1, 11); and in that a closure element (9) is fixed in said insertion zone (5c). Link (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising two articulation systems arranged on either side of said insertion zone (5c), the respective pins (7) extending from the same lateral face (3a) of said body (3). Link (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two articulation systems arranged on either side of said body (3), the respective pins (7) extending from opposite lateral faces (3a, 3a ') of said body (3). Link (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said body (3) comprises a single cavity (5) extending from one side face (3a) of said body (3) to the other (3a '). Link (9) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said closing element (9) is a plug or a threaded element arranged to be screwed into a complementary thread provided in the insertion zone (5c). Bracelet (15) comprising at least one link (1) according to one of the preceding claims. Timepiece comprising a watch case (17) housing a watch movement, as well as a bracelet (15) according to the preceding claim fixed to said watch case (17). Method of assembling a link (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of: - inserting said first end of said pin (7) into said insertion zone; - moving said pin (7) laterally relative to its own axis, so that said bead (7a) is blocked axially by said shoulder (5a); and - insert said closure element (9) into said insertion zone (5c).

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