FR2573808A1 - HINGE IN PARTICULAR FOR BRACELET - Google Patents

Abstract

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION IS AN EASILY REMOVABLE AXIAL LOCKING HINGE. THIS HINGE INCLUDES A FEMALE BODY 10 EQUIPPED WITH A TUBE 12, A MALE BODY 14 EQUIPPED WITH A TENON 16, ENGAGED AND ARTICULATED IN THE FEMALE BODY 10, AND AN AXIAL LOCK 20. THE LATTER INCLUDES HITCHING MEANS INCLUDING , ON THE ONE HAND, A RETAINING ELEMENT 22, ON THE OTHER HAND, HITCHING ELEMENTS 24 AND LOCKING MEANS 26. THE RETAINING ELEMENT 22 ADVANTAGEOUSLY BEHAVES A STRIP 28 JOINT WITH THE TENON 16 AND THE ELEMENTS OF ' HANGING 24 OF THE CLAWS 30 SOLIDARITY OF ELASTIC STAPLES 34 WHICH CONNECT THEM TO THE FEMALE BODY 10. THESE STAPLES 34 ACT IN PLACE OF LOCKING MEANS 26. THESE LOCKING MEANS 26, ELASTICALLY DEFORMABLE, LOCK THE ELEMENTS 22, 24 IN-DEFORMATION 'A LIMIT VALUE OF AXIAL TENSION EXERCISED ON THE ORGANS 10, 12.

Description

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HINGE IN PARTICULAR FOR BRACELET

  The present invention relates to hinges especially for bracelet or wristwatch. It relates to a hinge of the type comprising a female member provided with a tube, a male member provided with a pin and articulated in the female member, about an axis taking the place of axis of articulation of the hinge , and an axial latch. Such a hinge is known for example from patent CH 598 782 which describes a link bracelet articulated by means of hinges of this type. In this patent, each hinge comprises two male members, two female members and a latch formed by a spring which bears against an arm connecting one of these members to the body of the link. Disassembly of such bracelets requires the use of objects allowing the displacement of the spring in lieu of lock, which can cause problems, especially when

  the sale, in the case where the seller is not a watchmaker.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge for

  lock, which disassembly does not require any particular tool.

  This object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the latch comprises fastening means made of two respectively integral parts.

  male and female members and deformable locking means

  elastically, to lock the two parts below one

  limit value of axial tension exerted on the organs.

  Thanks to these characteristics, the setting of length or the change

  the bracelet can be done by a simple shear movement-

  on two adjacent links or on the bracelet and the box.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description

  which will follow, with reference to the drawings in which:

  - Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent respectively in person

  exploded view and in axial and radial sections, a hinge according to a first embodiment of the invention;

  FIGS. 4 to 7 represent, by respective sections,

  axially and radially, two other embodiments of the invention

tion; and

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  FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a watch provided with a link bracelet connected to one another by means of hinges.

according to the invention.

  As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the hinge according to the invention comprises a female member 10 provided with a tube 12, a male member 14 provided with a body 15 and a pin 16 articulated in

  the female member 10 about an axis 18 in lieu of articulating axis

  the latch, and an axial latch 20. This latch comprises latching means comprising on the one hand a retaining element 22, on the other hand four latching elements 24, and locking means 26 elastically deformable, to lock the elements below a limit value of axial traction exerted on

  the members 10 and 14. The first element 22 is formed by a bell

  relet 28 which protrudes radially outwardly from an axial portion 29 of the male member 14, the latter being secured to the pin 16. More specifically, this bead is formed by a portion

  ball-shaped whose center is located on the axis 18 and solid-

  The second elements 24 each comprise a gripper 30 that is elastically mobile and cooperates with the bead 28 to form the fastening means. These claws 30 extend radially inwards and are each connected to the female member, and more specifically to a plug 32 closing one of the ends of the tube 12, by an elastic strip 34 extending axially and forming the locking means 26. In other words, the locking means 26 are integral with the second elements 24 and connect them to the female member 10. The elements 22 and 24 of the attachment means and the locking means 26 are arranged so that the claws 30 enclose the bead 28, the elastic strips 34 exerting a force that tends to oppose the spacing of the claws 30 in the radial direction. If we draw a tangent t to the bead 28, and passing through the place of contact of

  30, this tangent forms an angle α with the axis 18, advantageously

  advantageously between 30 and 70 (FIG 2). Thanks to this configuration

  tion, the application of axial traction on the female members 10

  and male 14 induces a force tending to spread the claws 30.

  When this force is greater than the forces due to the arming of the elastic lamellae which tend to oppose their spacing, the

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  claws 30 deviate, allowing the bead 28 to pass, which allows the disassembly of the hinge. Thus, to dismount this hinge, it is sufficient to exert sufficient axial force to move the claws 30 away and thus release the bead 28. The claws 30, the bead 28 and the elastic strips 34 are sized

  so that this force is between 80 g and 1 kg, typically

200 g.

  To reassemble the female members 10 and male 14, simply insert the pin 16 into the hole of the tube 12 and press so that the bead 28 spreads the claws 30 and come again

cling behind them.

  The hinge will be all the more difficult to remove because the force of the elastic strips 34 is large and the angle 9 that

  form the axis 18 and the tangent t is large.

  The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from that of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in that the second element 24 of the hooking means and the locking means 26 are formed together by a ring 36 comprising a radial slot 38 and positioned axially in a radial groove 40 defined in the female member 10 by the plug 32 and a bearing surface 12a that the tube 12 comprises. More precisely, the element 24 is formed by the inner edge of the ring 36. male member 14 and the first member 22 are the

  same as those of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2.

  Thanks to the fact that the ring is split, it is thus made elastic

  deformable, which allows it to take the place of a means of

lock 26.

  In order to increase the elasticity of the ring, it may have a trefoil shape, pierced by a triangular hole rather than being annular. In this embodiment, the application of an axial force on the female and male members 14 causes the spacing of the ring 36 which allows the passage of the bead 28 in one direction or in one direction.

  the other, depending on whether it is a pulling force or compres-

  if we. Thus, in the two embodiments described, the retaining element 22 is integral with the male member 14, while the

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  fastening elements 24 and the locking means 26

  are integral with the female member 10. -

  On the contrary, in the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, the retaining element 22 is integral with the female member 10. It is formed of a rigid ring 41 axially locked in the radial groove defined in the female member 10 by the plug 32 and the bearing 12a of the tube 12. The fastening elements 24, four in number, are formed by claws 42 which extend radially towards

  outside. The locking means 26 comprise four lamellas

  the elastic members 44, extending axially and connecting the claws 42 to the post 16. The blanks of the claws 42 form an acute angle with the axis 18, so that when an axial force is exerted on the male and female members, it causes a deflection of the slats 44 which tend to make the claws 42 approach each other, until they can pass through the central hole

of the ring 41.

  In each of the embodiments shown, the attachment means comprise a rigid retaining element and one or more attachment elements elastically associated with the male or female member. It is obvious that by combining the male member of FIG. 6 with the female member of FIG. 4, it is possible to obtain another embodiment in which all the elements of the attachment means are elastically connected. to their respective organ. This way of doing things helps reduce the decline in

lamellae.

  As can be seen in FIG. 8, which represents a watch comprising a bracelet 46 formed of links 46a to 46c and a box 48, this type of hinge is particularly well suited for the production of link joints as well as for fixing the bracelet (by its links 46a and 46d) to the box 48 of the watch. To do this, each of the links 46a to 46c carries on one of its slices a female member 10, welded by the outer face of the tube 12, and on the opposite edge a male member 14, welded by its body 15, the male member of one of the links being articulated in the female member of the - adjacent link. Similarly, the box 48 carries a female member 10 and a male member 14.

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  This type of attachment of the bracelet to the box is also usable with a flexible bracelet, for example leather, the adjacent end of the box then being secured to a rigid piece carrying one of the

hinge organs.

  As can be seen from the description, the hinge as

  described and claimed allows to make bracelets whose length adjustment requires no particular means, or watches in which the change of the bracelet is done so

  so easy that it allows the wearer himself to perform it as

  without having to call on a specialist.

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Claims (7)

  Hinge, in particular for a bracelet, which comprises a female member (10), provided with a tube (12), a male member (14) provided with a tenon (16) and articulated in the female member (10) around an axis (18) acting as an axis of articulation of the hinge, and an axial latch (20), characterized in that said latch (20) comprises hooking means made of two complementary elements (22, 24) respectively secured to said members (10, 14) and locking means (26) deformable Plastically, for locking said elements (22, 24) within a limit value of traction   axial force exerted on said members (10, 14).   Hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that the first element (22) is rigidly fixed and the second element   (24), possibly multiple, is resiliently fixed by means of   locking means (26) to the male member (14) or female (10) respectively.   3. Hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that each second element (24) is a claw (30, 42) connected to the male or female member by an elastic strip (34, 44) extending axially.   4. Hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that the second element (24) extends radially inwards and in that the first element (22) is formed by a bead (28) which protrudes radially towards the outside of an axial portion (29) of   the male member (14) or female (10) which it is integral.   5. hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that the second element (24) is formed by the inner edge of a resilient ring (26) radially split and axially locked in an inner peripheral groove (40) of said tube (12). of the organ female (10).   6. Hinge according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the bead (28) is formed by a portion in the form of a ball joint   whose center is located on said axis (18).   Hinge according to Claim 3, characterized in that each claw (42) extends radially outwards and in that the first element (22) is formed by the inner edge of a 7 2573808   rigid ring 41, axially locked in a peripheral groove interior (40) of said tube (12).