EP2361523B1 - Clasp for bracelet - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a clasp for a bracelet.

There are different types of bracelet clasps. The document US 7289310 shows an example of a bracelet with an adjustable clasp. The deploying clasps are particularly used for watchbands. To adjust the length of a bracelet provided with such a clasp, it is generally necessary to disassemble the bracelet or to add or remove links. These operations require dexterity and adequate tools. Once the length of the bracelet adjusted to the wrist of the user, it will not vary, especially if the bracelet is metallic. However, this is not the case of the wrist of the user whose size may vary with changes in temperature, for example. Often, these variations of the wrist are very thin, too thin to justify the addition or removal of a bracelet link, operations that would then make the bracelet really too wide or really too tight.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device for adjusting the length of a bracelet and a bracelet clasp comprising such a device for easy and accurate adjustment of the length of the bracelet, without the need to resort to tools or disassemble the bracelet, and affecting the appearance of the bracelet as little as possible.

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the length of a bracelet according to claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a clasp for a bracelet comprising a device for adjusting the length of the bracelet according to the invention.

Other features of the present invention are described in the dependent claims

• La figure 1 est une vue éclatée d'un fermoir pour bracelet comprenant un dispositif de réglage selon l'invention.
• La figure 2a est une vue de dessous du couvercle du dispositif illustré à la figure 1.
• La figure 2b est une vue en coupe du couvercle illustré à la figure 2a.
• La figure 3 est une vue de dessus de l'élément mobile composant le dispositif de réglage selon l'invention.
• La figure 4 est une vue du fermoir illustré à la figure 1 en position fermée.

The accompanying drawings illustrate schematically and by way of example an embodiment of the device for adjusting the length and the clasp for a bracelet according to the invention.

• The figure 1 is an exploded view of a bracelet clasp comprising an adjusting device according to the invention.
• The figure 2a is a bottom view of the lid of the device shown in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 2b is a sectional view of the lid shown at figure 2a .
• The figure 3 is a top view of the movable element constituting the adjusting device according to the invention.
• The figure 4 is a view of the clasp shown in the figure 1 in closed position.

The clasp for bracelet 1 unfolder illustrated at the figure 1 and comprising the device for adjusting the length of the bracelet according to the invention comprises a lid 2 formed of a substantially rectangular plate 3 and two lateral walls 4 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bracelet and extending on two opposite sides of said tray 3.

A first branch 5 is fixed to the cover 2 by means of a first telescopic bar 6 whose retractable ends 6a fit into first blind holes 7 provided for this purpose on the inner face of the side walls 4 of the cover 2, at a first end 2a thereof.

A second branch 8 is movably connected at one of its ends to the first branch 5 by a first attachment rod 9. The last link 10a of a bracelet strand is itself fixed at the other end of this second branch 8 by means of a second fixing rod 11.

The first and second branches 5, 8 are shaped so that when folded one on the other, they are essentially in the same plane and the thickness of the branches thus folded is essentially that of the first branch 5 In addition, once folded, said first and second branches 5, 8 fit perfectly under the cover 2.

The second branch 8 comprises a locking pin 12 at its end fixed to the last link 10a of the bracelet. Said locking pin 12 is intended to engage and to be retained in a locking box 13 placed under the cover 2 and fixed by means of second and third telescopic bars 14a, 14b inserted into second and third blind holes 15a , 15b provided for this purpose on the inner face of the side walls 4 of the cover 2. Once the first and second branches 5, 8 folded on themselves under the cover 2, the locking pin 12 thus cooperates with the box latch 13 to hold the clasp 1 in its closed position, illustrated in FIG. figure 4 .

Retaining means 16 are housed in the locking box 13 and hold the locking pin 12 in said box and thus the clasp in its closed position.

Two push buttons 17 are placed in through openings 18 of the side walls 4 of the cover 2 and are accessible by a user regardless of the position of the clasp. On pressing these push buttons 17 against the action of an elastic force, exerted for example by springs 19, the retaining means 16 release the locking pin 12, which thus allows the user to open the door. clasp and unfold the first and second branches 5, 8.

The locking pin 12, the locking box 13, the retaining means 16, the push buttons 17 and the springs 19 constitute a locking device of the clasp in its closed position. This device has been described as example only and could be replaced by any other suitable device for locking the clasp 1 in its closed position.

For example, a conventional clasp 1 has been described by way of example.

Clasp 1 comprises a device for adjusting the length of the bracelet according to the invention.

The device according to the invention comprises a mobile element 20 in the form of a stirrup essentially rectangular and open at one of its ends. A first connecting element 21 is pivotally mounted at the open end 20a of the mobile element 20 by a suitable connecting device, such as for example a fourth telescopic bar 22. The first connecting element 21 is formed of two arms 21a. , 21 b interconnected by a cross member 21 c. The first connecting element 21 is sufficiently narrow to fit into the movable element 20.

A second connecting element 23 is movably connected to the first connecting element 21 by a third fixing rod 24a. The second connecting element 23 is sufficiently narrow to fit between the arms 21a, 21b of the first connecting element 21 and comprises a first and a second notch 23a, 23b intended to cooperate respectively with the cross member 21c of the first element of FIG. connection and the fourth telescopic bar 22 connecting said first member to the movable member 20. Thus, the second connecting member 23 can be folded over the first connecting member 21. Preferably, latching balls 25 are provided on the side walls of the second connecting member 23 to ensure a secure locking of the first and second connecting members 21, 23 in their folded position. The folding system comprising the first and second connecting elements 21, 23 forms a "diver" type extension.

The last link 10b of a second bracelet strand is fixed by a fourth fastening rod 24b to the second connecting element 23.

Thus, due to their shape and their attachment, the first and second connecting element 21, 23 once folded one on the other fits perfectly into the movable element 20.

Preferably, the side walls 4 of the cover 2 comprise a first and a second cutouts 4a, 4b so that the cover 2 is wide enough to cover part of the links 10a, 10b of the bracelet.

First pins 26 are driven to the closed end of the movable member 20 and are intended to slide in a closed rack 27 that comprise the side walls 4 of the cover 2. The movable member 20 further comprises second pins 28 which they slide in a rail 29 of the side walls 4 of the cover 2. The rail 29 is open at one of its ends.

At least one but preferably two spring stops 30 are fixed on the movable member 20 and can each slide in a guide rail 31 provided for this purpose on the inner face of the plate 3 of the cover 2. Said spring stops 30 comprise a sleeve driven into the movable member 20 and wherein there is a spring terminated by a stop, which may be a ball, for example. It is this stop that slides in the guide rail 31.

The rack 27, the rail 29 and each of the guide rails 31 are not through and are therefore invisible when the lid 2 is seen from above as illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .

The position of the movable member 20 is determined by the different notches 27a of the rack 27 which comprises at least two. The first pins 26 are held in the notches 27a of the rack 27 under the action of the spring stops 30. To move the movable member 20 relative to the lid 2, the user must put pressure on the movable member 20 against the action of said spring stops 30 to release the first pins 26 of their current notch 27a and, while maintaining the pressure on the movable member 20, move said element forward or rearward of the rack 27. The displacement of the movable element 20 is further guided by the second pins 28 sliding in the rail 29 and sliding spring stops themselves in their respective guide rail 31.

The rack 27 being closed, the movable member 20 can not slide outside the cover 2 and there is no risk of losing the bracelet strand attached to said movable member 20.

In addition, the rack 27 and the position of the first pins 26 on the movable member 20 are such that at all times, and in all its positions, the movable member 20 is completely concealed under the lid 2.

By thus moving the movable element 20 in the lid 2, the user varies the length of the bracelet, one strand of which is connected to the movable element 20 via the first and second connecting elements 21, 23. Preferably, the mobile element 20 has on its face accessible to the user a specially treated area for better handling of said element by the user. For example, and as illustrated in figure 3 , the movable member 20 may comprise thin streaks 32 anti-slip.

In the open position of the clasp, the first and second branches 5, 8 are deployed as well as the first and second connecting elements 21, 23. The user can in this position easily pass the bracelet on his wrist. In this open position, the user can also fold the first and second connecting elements one over the other and lock them in this position, in which they are completely concealed under the cover 2.

The user can then fold the first and second branches 5, 8 under the cover 2 and lock them in this position by inserting the locking pin 12 in the locking box 13, the latter being then retained in this position by the retaining means present in said locking box 13. The clasp is thus in its closed position.

In this closed position, all the elements making up the adjustment device according to the invention, in particular the mobile element 20, the first and the second connecting elements 21, 23, the rack 27, the rail 29 and the guide rails 31 are invisible since they are completely hidden under the cover 2.

When the clasp is in its open position, the user can adjust the length of the strap attached to the clasp through the adjusting device according to the invention. To do this, the user presses the movable member against the inside of the cover 2 and against the action of the spring stops 30 so as to disengage the first pins 26 of the notch 27a of the rack 27 that they occupied. While maintaining the pressure exerted on the movable member 20, the user can then slide it forward or backward in the rack until positioning the first pins 26 in front of a new notch 27a of the rack 27. The user can then release the pressure exerted on the movable member 20. Under the action of the spring stops 30, the first pins 26 are pushed into the notches 27a of the rack, thus blocking any movement of the element. mobile relative to the lid.

Thus, the device according to the invention allows a fine and easy adjustment of the length of the bracelet.

The clasp 1 comprising the device according to the invention has been described by way of example only. The present device could equip other types of clasp for or not to watch straps.

In the embodiment described above, the rack 27 and the rail 29 and the guide rail 31 and the various blind holes for receiving telescopic bars are machined directly in the lid 2 of the clasp. Alternatively, these different elements could be reported on a frame which would itself be arranged in the cover 2. The other elements constituting the adjustment device according to the invention and the operation of this variant are in all respects similar to those described herein. -above.

Alternatively also the cover 2, the rack 27 and the rail 29 and the guide rail 31 and the various blind holes for receiving telescopic bars could be made in one piece by metal injection.

Closed rack means a hollow machined in an inner side wall of the lid or a frame housed in the lid. It is said closed because in plan view this hollow is closed on itself so that a rod extending in this recess can be moved from one notch 27a to another while passing in the lower part of the recess but that this rod can not escape from this hollow other than by a withdrawal in a direction perpendicular to the inner side of the lid or frame.

It is obvious that the various fixing and connecting devices described above as the first, second, third and fourth telescopic bars as well as the first, second, third and fourth fixing rods could be replaced by any other suitable device.

This provides a device for adjusting the length of the bracelet that allows easy and accurate adjustment of the length of the bracelet, in a safe manner since there is no risk of inadvertent disassembly of the device, the rack being closed. In addition, the present device adapts to any type of bracelet and / or clasp known bracelet and is invisible once the bracelet worn, not detracting from the aesthetics of said bracelet.

Claims (5)

1. Regulating device for the length of a bracelet comprising :

   • a cover (2) to which a first end (10a) of a bracelet is fixed and comprising at least two lateral walls (4) extending along the axis of the bracelet, and

   • a mobile element (20) to which a second end (10b) of a bracelet is fixed,

   • the said cover (2) comprising on the internal faces of the said lateral walls (4) a closed toothed rack (27) comprising at least two notches (27a) in which first pins (26) of the mobile element (20) are sliding, , the position of the mobile element (20) with respect to the cover (2) being determined by the notches (27a) of the toothed rack (27) and

   • at least one elastic member (30) tending to displace the mobile element (20) towards the notches (27a) of the toothed rack (27) locking the said first pins (26) into the said notches (27a),

   characterized by the fact that the said elastic member is formed by at least one spring abutment fixed to the mobile element and can slide in a guiding rail provided therefore on the internal face of the bottom of the cover.
2. Device according to claim 1 characterized by the fact that the cover (2) comprises on the internal faces of said lateral walls (4) a groove (29) in which the second pins (28) of the mobile element (20) are sliding.
3. Device according to one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact that the rack (27) and/or the rail (29) and/or the guiding rail (31) are directly manufactured with the cover.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the rack (27) and/or the rail (29) and/or the guiding rail (31) are machined on a frame fixed to the cover (2).
5. Clasp for a bracelet comprising a regulating device of the length of the bracelet according to one of the preceding claims.

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