WO2004081677A2 - Device whereby a wristwatch in particular is rendered reversible and interchangeable relative to a holder - Google Patents

Abstract

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device whereby various wristwatch movements can be fitted to a single strap, meaning that the watch can be replaced or reversed quickly without opening the strap or case. This aim is achieved by means of a device whereby an object such as a watch case is rendered reversible and interchangeable in a supporting element that is open on one side so that the reversible and interchangeable object can be inserted or withdrawn through said side opening, characterised in that said side opening is sealed by a portion of the reversible and interchangeable object that fits snugly onto the open side of the supporting element, thereby locking same. The device comprises retaining means for retaining the reversible and interchangeable object within the supporting element. It should be noted that in one embodiment of the device, there is no strap (100) and a clip (300) is inserted into portions (202, 203) of the supporting element (200) so that the assembly can be used as an adornment.

Description

 DEVICE FOR THE RETURN AND INTERCHANGEABILITY OF PARTICULARLY A WATCH IN RELATION TO

A SUPPORT

The present invention relates to the field of jewelry and watches, more particularly to devices allowing the turning and interchangeability of an object, in particular a watch with respect to a support.

With the modular watch market growing, more and more watch manufacturers are offering products based on the use of modules.

The functional modules making up a modular watch include a bracelet, a watch case and a support element. To these functional modules are obviously added all the components which form part of the range of decorative elements which may be located in particular on said functional modules. Watch users who are looking for modular devices can transform their watches as they wish.

A watch strap is an ornament generally surrounding the wrist and which adapts to the watch case by means of fastening elements such as bars or small screws which are fixed in studs of said box, the latter carrying a middle in which the movement is placed.

In order to introduce and fix a watch case on its support, it is known to use a device as illustrated in the publication JP2001091672 where the watch case is introduced laterally in a case support forming a support closed by a the sink. Once the latter is blocked, the watch case is completely surrounded by the support and thus fixed.

Such a device is fragile around the pivot point of the lever and difficult to produce. Indeed, the rotation of the closing lever around a rod of small diameter can cause the untimely exit of said rod or, in the worst case case, the rupture of the latter thus causing the opening of the lever and consequently the untimely exit from the watch case.

The major drawback of this device lies in the fragility of the component parts which require high precision and therefore a high manufacturing cost.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device which is easy to handle, reliable, reinforced and which allows the lateral introduction and removal in particular of a watch case carrying a watch movement relative to a support.

This object is achieved by a device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element open on a lateral side allowing the introduction and the removal of the reversible and interchangeable object by said lateral opening characterized in that this lateral opening is closed by a part of the reversible and interchangeable object which fits harmoniously on the open lateral side of the support element, thus fulfilling the function of lock of the support element, the device comprising closing means for retaining the returnable and interchangeable object in the support element.

A device according to the invention allowing the reversal and the interchangeability in particular of a watch case with respect to an open support element advantageously consists of a bracelet, a support element for example an open middle, a watch case and at least one closing button.

The watch case is inserted laterally into its support and secured to the latter by at least one closing pushbutton which blocks the entire device when the case reaches the end of its travel in its housing. The assembly of the middle part to the bracelet takes place, for example, in a traditional way by means in particular of screws which fix said bracelet to the support element. It should be noted that in one case, the user may have a clip watch, or a bedside watch, instead of a wrist watch.

Furthermore, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises a watch case, or an assembly of two boxes, which can be turned over and replaced.

The invention will be better understood from the description, by way of example, which follows with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective of the components of the invention not assembled.

Figure 2 shows a perspective of the components of the invention assembled and attached to a bracelet.

FIG. 3 represents a perspective of a support element comprising an assembled closing push button and a second exploded closing push button.

FIG. 4 represents an enlargement of the exploded closing push-button of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 represents a top view of a support element comprising two assembled closure pushers.

6 shows a section along the axis A-A 'of Figure 5, after mounting in a support member, a closing plunger.

- Figure 7 shows a perspective of a watch case in which a watch movement has been inserted.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective guide plate.

FIG. 9 represents a closing push-button in perspective.

Figure 10 shows a perspective bottom view of an assembly of a bracelet and a support element. Figure 11 shows a perspective of a clip watch, variant of the invention.

A device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability in particular of a watch with respect to a support consists of a watch case (400 - Fig. 1), of a support (200 - Fig. 1) in the shape of " U "into which the box (400) is inserted laterally, at least one closing push button (500 - Fig. 1) for blocking the device and a bracelet (100 - Fig. 2).

FIG. 2 illustrates an assembly of the elements composing the device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability in particular of a watch with respect to a support, in which a watch movement (404) is inserted, this for the case of a watch- bracelet.

The support element (200), illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, comprises two rectilinear parts (202, 203) connected to each other by a curved part (204) thus giving a shape of "U" or "G "to said support (200). The rectilinear parts (202, 203) have grooves (210) over their entire external length, allowing the introduction of the ends (111 - Fig. 10) of the bracelet (100), and of the cavities (201) on the upper face where house the pushers

The interior of the support element (200) comprises a semi-circular milling (208) called rail and in which cavities (812) are machined perpendicular to the cavities (201) in order to allow the introduction of guide plates (820 ) which will be fixed to the pushers (500) by screws (830) after said pushers (500) are introduced into the cavities (201) by compressing springs (840).

One side (1000 - Fig. 5) of the support (200) remains open to allow the introduction of the watch case (400).

The watch case (400), illustrated in FIG. 7, has two rectilinear sides (410, 420) linked together by two curved sides (401, 430). A boss (402) semi-circular, intended to be introduced into the rail (208) in order to guide the watch case (400), is milled on the sides (410, 420, 430).

On its sides (410, 420) the boss (402) carries perpendicular millings

(403) which allow the introduction of the guide plates (820) which has the purpose of blocking the watch case (400) in the support element (200).

It should be noted that the side (401) does not carry a boss (402) and fits harmoniously on the open side (1000) of the support element (200).

FIG. 8 illustrates a guide plate (820) which has a rear face (950) with a particularly rectangular surface on which a guide pin (903) intended to be introduced into the closing plunger (500) predominates, two lateral faces (960, 970) and a front face (950).

It should be noted that a central orifice (902) intended to receive the fixing screw (830) passes right through the guide plate (820).

The front face (950) of the guide plate (820) is machined so that the lateral face (960) has a rectilinear part (900) shorter than a rectilinear part (911) of the lateral face (970 ) located opposite it. This machining is obtained by increasing the radius of curvature (904) of the side face (960) gradually up to the radius of curvature (912) of the side face (970). The result of this machining is the obtaining of an asymmetrical edge (907) relative to an upper face (908) of the guide plate (820), said edge (907) serving to guide the boss (402) of the watch case (400) by its lateral face (970) and to block the watch case (400) by its lateral face (960) when the guide plate (820) is introduced into the groove (403) of said boss ( 402).

The closing pushers (500), as illustrated in FIG. 9, have an upper face (505) on which a user must press to release the device, a lower face (506) in which the springs (840) which hold the pushers (500) in the locking position of the device, front face (503) which has a milling (507) in which is housed the guide plate (820), a rear face (504) which has a clearance (520) in which is housed a screw stroke limitation (860 - Fig. 6) and two lateral faces (501, 502) joining the rear and front faces of the pushers (500).

Note that the milling (507) has in its center a bore (521) intended to receive the stud (903) of the guide plate (820), said bore (521) having a central orifice (508) in which is houses the end of the fixing screw (830).

The bracelet (100) is notably conventional. Its ends (111) are introduced into the straight parts (202, 203) of the support element (200) and are held by in particular the screws (205) and fixing plates (110), as illustrated in the figure 10.

The compression springs (840) are inserted into extensions (890 - Fig. 6) of the cavities (201) located on the rectilinear parts (202, 203) of the support element (200) and provided for this purpose.

The closing pushers (500) are arranged on the springs (840), the latter being introduced into the said pushers (500) by the lower faces (506) of the latter.

By pressing on the upper faces (505) of the pushers (500), the springs (840) are compressed until cavities (880 - Fig. 6) located in the recesses (520) of the pushers (500) are positioned opposite the stroke limiting screws (860) which, by introducing the screws (860) into said cavities (880), prevent the pushers (500) from coming out of the cavities (201), to maintain the springs ( 840) compressed and limit the travel of the pushers (500) from one wall to the other of the cavity (880). The upper wall of the cavity (880) abuts against the screw (860) when the pusher (500) is pushed into its internal working position while the lower wall of the cavity (880) abuts against the screw (860) when the pusher (500) is released in its external rest position.

When the pusher (500) is in its rest position, the clearance (507) of said pusher (500) is positioned on the cavity (812) of the straight portions (202, 203) of the support element (200) allowing thus the introduction of the guide plate (820) positioned by the stud (903) of the plate (820) which is inserted in the cavity (521) of the pusher (500). The assembly is then secured by the screws (830).

It should be noted that the faces (970) of the plates (820) are positioned on the side (1000) of the support element (200) so that the radius (912) of the plates (820) corresponds to the radius of the guide (208 ).

The watch case (400) is introduced through the open side (1000) of the support element (200) by placing the rectilinear sides of the guide (402) in the rail (208). The latter then directs the introduction of the box (400) using said guide (402).

The sides of the guide (402) are introduced into the guide plates (820) and bear, by moving in the rail (208), on the edges (907) of said plates (820), which has the effect of bringing back the pushers (500) in their internal working position by compressing the springs (840).

When the plates (820) and the grooves (403) are aligned, the springs (840) push the pushers (500) into their rest position which has the effect of opposing the faces (860) of the plates (820) to inner edges of the groove (403) thereby blocking the watch case (400) in the support element (200).

In the locked position of the watch case (400) the part (401), having no guide and not machined, adapts harmoniously to the open (1000) open side of the support element (200) thus filling the support lock function (200). To release the device, the pushers (500) are pressed simultaneously to allow the guides (402) to be introduced into the rounded edges (904) of the guide plates (820). The guide (402) can thus guide the box (400) in the direction of extraction.

In one embodiment, the device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element comprises two watch cases (400) secured back to back, one with respect to the 'other.

It should be noted that the device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability in particular of a watch with respect to a support comprises, in the case illustrated by FIG. 11, a clip (300) which replaces the bracelet (100) this in order to wear the watch as an adornment or use it as a bedside watch. The clip (300) is for example fixed to one of the rectilinear parts (202, 203) of the support element (200) and extends towards the opposite part, coming to bear towards the rear face of the box ( 400) when the latter is inserted in the support element (200). To use it as a bedside watch, it is possible to provide other forms of support element (200).

Claims

1. Device allowing the reversal and interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element open on a lateral side (1000) allowing the introduction and removal of the returnable and interchangeable object (400 ) by said lateral opening (1000) characterized in that this lateral opening (1000) is closed by a part (401) of the reversible and interchangeable object (400) which fits harmoniously on the open lateral side (1000) of the support element (200) thus fulfilling the lock function of the support element (200), the device comprising closing means (500) for retaining the reversible and interchangeable object (400) in the support element ( 200). 2. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to claim 1 characterized in that the closing means (500) act between the parts facing the object returnable and interchangeable (400) and the support (200) when the returnable and interchangeable object (400) is inserted in the support element (200). 3. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible and interchangeable element (400) is generally in shape circular. 4. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible and interchangeable element (400) has a guide (402) over part of its periphery. 5. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible and interchangeable element (400) comprises two boxes of shows secured to each other. 6. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reversible and interchangeable element (400) comprises at least one decorative element on one side. 7. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (200) is in the shape of a "U "or" C ". 8. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (200) has a rail ( 208) over part of its periphery. 9. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (200) is an open watch middle -bracelet. 10. Device allowing the reversal and interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (200) comprises parts (202, 203) allowing the introduction of the closing means (500). 11. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closing means (500) comprise closing pushers. 12. Device allowing the reversal and the interchangeability of an object such as a watch case in a support element according to claims 10 and 11 characterized in that the closing pusher (500) is introduced perpendicularly into a cavity ( 812) of the parts (202, 203) of the support element (200). 13. Watch characterized in that it comprises a device according to the preceding claims. 14. Watch case constituting a returnable and interchangeable element of a device according to one of claims 1 to 12. 15. Watch case according to claim 14 characterized in that it consists of an assembly of two boxes secured back to back.