• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The invention relates to a connecting device (1), intended to establish a removable mechanical connection between two watchmaking components comprising a tube (2) at least partially hollow housing a locking member (4, 6) at each of its ends and at least one elastic member (8) arranged to act on at least one of the locking members and tend to push it towards the outside of the tube (2), the tube (2) being intended for cooperate with one of the dressing components and the locking members (4, 6) being intended to cooperate with the other dressing component. The locking members (4, 6) have, for one, a substantially cylindrical general shape and, for the other, a substantially spherical general shape, the elastic member (8) being arranged to act at least on the spherical locking member (6). According to one embodiment, the connecting device has a general shape similar to that of a bar for fixing a bracelet to a watch case.
    公开号:CH713974A2
    申请号:CH00914/17
    申请日:2017-07-13
    公开日:2019-01-15
    发明作者:Garino Gilles
    申请人:Elfix Production Sa；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Description
    Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device, intended to establish a removable mechanical connection between two watchmaking components. More specifically, the connecting device according to the invention comprises an at least partially hollow tube housing a locking member at each of its ends and at least one elastic member arranged to act on at least one of the locking members and tending to push it towards the outside of the tube, the tube being intended to cooperate with one of the dressing components and the locking members being intended to cooperate with the other dressing component.
    The present invention also relates to a watch-making element comprising first and second cladding components made integral with such a connecting device, as well as a timepiece comprising such a cladding element.
    State of the art [0003] Various connecting devices of this type are known from the state of the art, in particular for connecting watch bracelets to watch cases or clasps in such a way that these components can be dismounted. each other without having to use a suitable tool.
    The patent application EP 0 089 166 A1 shows an example of a strip of attachment of a bracelet strand to a watch case that can be dismounted without tools. In particular, this fixing bar comprises a hollow tube housing a locking member at each of its ends, and a spring interposed between the two locking members with a preload such that it acts on the locking members to push them back. towards the outside of the tube. The tube is housed in one end of a bracelet strand intended to be secured to the watch case while the locking members are intended to cooperate with holes in the watch case, typically in horns.
    This document provides that one of the locking members carries a finger extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the tube and operable by a user, to push the relevant locking member towards the inside the tube and allow extraction of the bar out of the watch case without using a tool.
    Other solutions have been proposed to allow in particular a user to change or return himself the bracelet of his watch, without tools and without having specific skills. US Pat. No. 7,249,398 B2 thus discloses another example of construction of a connecting device, of the type mentioned above, making it possible to make a bracelet and a watch case integral. This connecting device comprises a tube provided with two locking members and arranged in the watch case. The device comprises an additional connecting member, assembled at one end of a bracelet strand and comprising two holes adapted to cooperate with the locking members mounted on the box. The connecting member further carries two pushers arranged to act on the locking members and pushing towards the inside of the tube to allow the extraction of the corresponding bracelet strand of the watch case.
    However, these constructions are relatively bulky and, if they can be used to connect wristbands to watch cases, they do not lend themselves to implantation in relation to other watchmaking components for which congestion is of greater importance.
    Disclosure of the invention [0008] A main object of the present invention is to propose an alternative construction to the known constructions for producing a connecting device of the type mentioned above, that is to say allowing the implementation of a removable mechanical connection between different watchmaking components, the components thus assembled being capable of being separated from one another without tools.
    Another object of the present invention is to provide a construction for such a connecting device as it has a size similar to that of a conventional connecting device requiring the use of a tool to be extracted. .
    For this purpose, the present invention relates more particularly to a connecting device corresponding to the characteristics mentioned above, characterized in that the locking members have, one, a substantially cylindrical general shape and the other, a generally spherical general shape, the elastic member being arranged to act at least on the spherical locking member.
    With these characteristics, we obtain a connection device of asymmetrical construction and therefore having an asymmetrical behavior. While the cylindrical generally cylindrical locking member makes it possible to guarantee a good holding of the corresponding mechanical connection, the generally spherical, retractable locking member guarantees a relatively simple handling during the installation of the locking device. linkage or during its extraction.
    According to different variants of implementation of the connecting device according to the invention, it can be provided that the elastic member is arranged to act also on the generally cylindrical locking member or an additional elastic member is intended to act on it and tend to push it towards the outside of the tube. It can also be provided as an alternative that the generally cylindrical locking member is formed integrally with the tube, in which case it would be fixed with reference to the latter.
    Advantageously, it can be provided that the cylindrical locking member comprises a chamfer at its free end, to facilitate its insertion or extraction.
    The present invention also relates to a watch-making element comprising a first dressing component comprising a bore adapted to receive the tube of a connecting device according to the characteristics which have just been exhibited, and a second component of FIG. cladding comprising two holes adapted to cooperate with the locking members of the connecting device and establish a mechanical connection between the cladding components.
    According to a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that the tube is substantially rectilinear and, in this case, that the connecting device and the covering components are arranged in such a way that the covering components are capable of pivoting with respect to each other along an axis substantially coaxial with the tube, between a first predetermined angular orientation, of assembly, and a second angular orientation, of service, and that guide grooves towards the holes are formed in the second dressing component such that they are oriented towards the first dressing component in the first predefined angular orientation.
    With these features, it improves both the ease of implementation of the connecting device between the cladding components concerned and the holding of the mechanical connection and implemented.
    In general, it can be expected that the dressing components are taken from the group comprising: components of watch straps, components of wristwatch clasps and components of watch boxes.
    In particular, it can be provided that the first and second cladding components are components of a bracelet clasp.
    With these features, the connecting device according to the invention opens new perspectives in terms of possible applications, particularly in the field of watchbands. More specifically, when this connecting device is implemented in a bracelet clasp, at least partial disassembly of the latter becomes possible without tools for a user who would not necessarily be endowed with special skills. Thus, it becomes possible, for example, to modify the structure of the clasp used to possibly change from a clasp of the folding clasp type to a clasp of the pin type, in particular to dress his watch with a leather bracelet instead of a clasp. metal bracelet.
    The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a trim element according to the characteristics above.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0021] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of examples. non-limiting and, in which: FIG. 1 shows a simplified front view of a connecting device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; fig. 2 represents a simplified perspective view of a watchmaking component intended to operate with the connecting device of FIG. 1; fig. 3 represents a simplified top view of a watchmaking element comprising the connecting device of FIG. 1 and the dressing component of FIG. 2 when they cooperate with each other; figs. 4a, 4b and 4c show a partial and simplified bottom view of the watchmaking element of FIG. 3, in three successive assembly steps, illustrating the kinematics of the cooperation between the connecting device and the dressing component; figs. 5a and 5b show simplified perspective views, at two different angles, of the watchmaking element of FIG. 3, when an additional skin component is being assembled; fig. 6 shows a simplified perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5a at a later stage of the assembly, and FIG. 7 shows a simplified perspective view similar to that of FIG. 5a when the additional dressing component is assembled.
    Embodiment (s) of the Invention [0022] FIG. 1 shows a simplified front view and partial transparency of a connecting device 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
    According to the preferred embodiment, non-limiting, the connecting device 1 has a general shape similar to that of a bar for attaching a bracelet to a watch case.
    The connecting device 1 comprises a partially hollow tube 2 housing a locking member at each of its ends, more specifically here a stud 4, of generally cylindrical shape, at a first end, and a ball 6, of general shape. spherical, at the other end.
    The tube 2 is intended to cooperate with a first watchmaking component, while the locking members 4 and 6 are intended to cooperate with suitable holes of a second watch component.
    For this purpose, the tube 2 further houses an elastic member 8, schematized here in the general form of a helical spring, by way of non-limiting illustration, arranged to act on the spherical locking member 6 and tending to push it towards the outside of the tube 2. The end of the tube 2 is deformed here to prevent the locking member 6 can completely out of the tube 2.
    Note that the cylindrical locking member 4 advantageously has a chamfer 10 at its free end to facilitate its insertion or extraction.
    According to the present embodiment, the cylindrical locking member 4 is formed integrally with the tube 2 and is therefore fixed with reference to the latter.
    Alternatively, it is possible to provide that the cylindrical locking member 4 is retractable as the spherical locking member 6, being pushed towards the outside of the tube 2 or by the elastic member 8 is by an additional elastic member, without departing from the scope of the present invention. The skilled person will not encounter any particular difficulty to implement the solution best suited to his own needs while remaining within the scope of the invention.
    FIG. 2 represents a simplified perspective view of a watchmaking component 12 intended to cooperate, on the one hand, with the connecting device 1 of FIG. 1 and, on the other hand, with a bracelet strand (not shown).
    The dressing component 12 comprises a longitudinal base 14 provided with a horn 16, pierced at each of its ends, and a hook 18 in its central region. The horns 16 are intended to cooperate with the pins of a conventional strap fixing bar, the hook 18 being intended to cooperate with the tube of this bar to improve the holding.
    Furthermore, the covering component 12 comprises a housing 20 for receiving the connecting device 1. For this purpose, the housing 20 is delimited by two additional horns 22 each of which is provided with a guide groove 24 leading to a hole 26.
    As will be seen below, in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4a to 4c, a first hole 26 is intended to cooperate with a first locking member 4 or 6 of the connecting device 1, while the other hole 26 is intended to cooperate with the other locking member 4 or 6 .
    FIG. 3 shows a simplified top view of a bracelet clasp 30 comprising the connecting device 1 and the covering component 12 as just described.
    The clasp 30 is of the type with folding clasp, illustratively non-limiting, double blades here. More specifically, the clasp 30 comprises a base 32 on which two blades 34 are pivotally mounted. Each of the blades 34 is intended to be secured to one end of a bracelet (not shown). The clasp 30 also comprises a locking device, which will not be described in detail, here comprising two pushers 36 for opening the clasp 30 when actuated, in a known manner.
    Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c show a partial and simplified bottom view of the clasp 30 when the cladding component 12 is assembled to one of its blades 34 via the connecting device 1, in three successive assembly steps illustrating the kinematics of the cooperation between the connecting device 1 and the covering component 12.
    FIG. 4a illustrates the beginning of the assembly operation of the covering component 12 to the clasp 30, while the connecting device 1 has previously been secured to a blade 34 of the clasp 30. In particular, the blade 34 concerned is provided with a bore for receiving the tube 2 of the connecting device 1, preferably with friction such that the tube 2 is slightly retained in the bore.
    The connecting device 1 is then approached to the housing 20 with a certain angle (adjustable by construction depending on the desired resistance for the connection thus defined, and depending on the dimensions of the various components involved) to insert the body of cylindrical locking 4 in one of the holes 26 of the covering component 12.
    Once the cylindrical locking member 4 engaged in its hole 26, the blade 34 can be rotated to engage the spherical locking member 6 in the guide groove 24 of the other hole 26, as shown in FIG. fig. 4b.
    Finally, the spherical locking member 6 is engaged in the corresponding hole 26 to finalize the connection between the blade 34 and the covering component 12, as shown in FIG. 4c.
    Returning to FIG. 3, which illustrates the clasp 30 while the cladding component 12 has been made integral and a fastening bar 38 of a bracelet strand (not shown) is assembled to the dressing component 12, it appears that a pull that would be exerted on this wristband strand (to the left in Fig. 3) would result in a force applied by the cladding component 12 on the connecting device 1 which would be oriented in substantially the same manner. Thus, such a force would be oriented in a direction opposite to that of a force which tends to extract the connecting device 1 out of the covering component 12 (such a force should be directed towards the guide grooves), and there would then be no risk of inadvertent extraction of the dressing component 12 with reference to clasp 30.
    Figs. 5a, 5b, 6 and 7 represent different simplified perspective views illustrating the assembly of a buckle-pin assembly 40 on the other blade 34 of the clasp 30. This buckle-pin assembly 40 is thus intended to cooperate with the other strand of the bracelet, the first strand of which is intended to bear the fastening bar 38.
    In the clasps of the prior art, the buckle-pin assembly is typically connected to a pivoting blade by means of a rod requiring the use of a tool adapted to be extracted, as well as the component dressing 12.
    According to the preferred embodiment illustrated by way of non-limiting example, the bolt-bolt assembly 40 is here secured to the blade 34 of the clasp 30 by means of an additional connecting device 1 engaged in a bore of the blade 34.
    With these features, the wearer of the corresponding wristwatch has great flexibility to change himself his bracelet, or even the type of bracelet that his watch is provided, for example by replacing a leather bracelet by a metal bracelet, by simple change of the dressing component 12 and the buckle-pin assembly 40, without even needing any tool.
    It appears from FIG. 5a that the buckle-pin assembly 40 comprises a loop 42 and a pin 48 both pivotally mounted on a rod 46. In addition, the assembly 40 comprises a base 48 of generally hollow cylindrical shape and arranged around the rod 46.
    The base 48 carries two lugs 50, pierced with holes 52, each of which is intended to cooperate with a locking member 4, 6 of the additional connecting device 1 to ensure assembly of the assembly 40 on the blade 34 clasp 30.
    Each lug 50 is provided with a guide groove 54 on its face facing the other lug 50, to facilitate the insertion and extraction of the additional connecting device 1, similarly to what has been described in relation to the dressing component 12.
    Figs. 5a and 5b illustrate the clasp 30 and the buckle-pin assembly 40 in simplified perspective views, at two different angles, when the cylindrical locking member 4 of the additional connecting device 1 is being inserted into the hole of the ear 50 with which it is associated.
    The dimensions here being the same for the two connecting devices 1, there is an approach angle similar to that which was illustrated during the approach of the connecting device to the dressing component 12.
    Once the cylindrical locking member 4 is properly engaged in its hole 52, the blade 34 and the assembly 40 may have a relative rotational movement to approach the spherical locking member 6 of the other ear 50, as shown in FIG. 6.
    The corresponding guide groove 54 facilitates the retraction of the locking member 6 until it is aligned with the hole 52 of the ear 50, as shown in FIG. 7, where it can then extract again tube 2 to ensure the locking of the additional connecting device 1 in the base 48.
    As before, it is noted that a traction that would be exerted on the integral strand of the buckle-buckle assembly 40 (to the left in FIG 7) would result in a force applied by the base 48. on the additional connecting device 1 which would be oriented substantially in the same way. Thus, such a force would be oriented in a direction opposite to that of a force tending to extract the additional connecting device 1 from the base 48 (such a force should be directed towards the guide grooves 54, and there would then be no risk of inadvertent extraction of the whole loop-pin 40 with reference to the clasp 30.
    In general, when the connecting device is substantially rectilinear, the two components that it connects can optionally rotate relative to each other. It can then be advantageously provided that they pivot in particular between a predefined assembly orientation and at least one service orientation and that the guide grooves are arranged in such a way that they are oriented facing the locking members 4 and 6. of the connecting device 1 in the assembly orientation during the relative approach movement between the two components to be assembled. Even more advantageously, it can be expected that the predefined assembly orientation is such that it is unlikely that the two components present it in standard use. It would thus be necessary to pivot the two components voluntarily to place them in the right relative angular orientation before they can separate, by extraction of the locking members 4, 6 of the connecting device out of the corresponding holes.
    In general, the watchmaking components that can be made integral with each other by the present invention can be taken from the group comprising: the components of watch bracelets, the components of wristlet clasps of watches and components of watch boxes.
    It follows from the foregoing that the connecting device as described above allows to give a great flexibility to various watchmaking elements according to the invention. In particular, this connecting device makes it possible to easily separate, quickly and without tools or specific training, different elements of watchmaking clothing, in particular components of a bracelet clasp or interacting with such a clasp (such as mechanisms for setting comfortable summer / winter or for diving watches), for example to replace or change a bracelet, whether leather, rubber or metal, with the ability to change the material of the bracelet, as noted above.
    Note that the size of the connecting device according to the invention is comparable to that of the connecting devices of the prior art that can be replaced, which allows to implant almost anywhere where the removable character of the corresponding link is of interest.
    The foregoing description attempts to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and, the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular features which have just been described and illustrated, such as the exact structure of the connecting device 1 which has been described. As previously indicated, the cylindrical locking member 4 could in particular be retractable as the locking member 6 without departing from the scope of the invention.
    The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the content of the present disclosure to his own needs and implementing a connecting device, a covering element comprising such a connecting device or a timepiece comprising such a covering element, only partially meeting the described characteristics, comprising in particular a tube carrying two locking members, one of which has a substantially cylindrical general shape and the other a substantially general shape spherical, an elastic member being arranged to act at least on the spherical locking member, without departing from the scope of the invention.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1]
    claims
    1. Connecting device (1), intended to establish a removable mechanical connection between two clockwork components (12, 30), comprising a tube (2) at least partially hollow housing a locking member (4, 6) to each of its ends and at least one elastic member (8) arranged to act on at least one of said locking members and tend to push it towards the outside of said tube (2), said tube (2) being intended to cooperate with one of the covering components (30) and said locking members (4, 6) being intended to cooperate with the other covering component (12), characterized in that said locking members (4, 6) have, one, a substantially cylindrical general shape and the other, a generally spherical general shape, said elastic member (8) being arranged to act at least on said spherical locking member (6).
    [2]
    2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said elastic member (8) is arranged to also act on said cylindrical locking member.
    [3]
    3. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional resilient member arranged to act on said cylindrical locking member and tend to repel towards the outside of said tube (2).
    [4]
    4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said cylindrical locking member (4) is formed integrally with said tube (2).
    [5]
    5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cylindrical locking member (4) comprises a chamfer (10) at its free end.
    [6]
    6. Watchmaking element comprising a first dressing component (34) comprising a bore adapted to receive the tube (2) of a connecting device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, and a second cladding component (12) comprising two adapted holes (26) to be able to cooperate with the locking members (4,6) of said connecting device (1) and to establish a mechanical connection between said cladding components (12, 34) .
    [7]
    7. Cladding element according to claim 6, said tube (2) being substantially rectilinear, characterized in that said connecting device (1) and said dressing components (12, 34) are arranged in such a way that said components of cladding (12, 34) are pivotable relative to each other along an axis substantially coaxial with said tube (2), between a first predefined angular orientation, of assembly, and a second angular orientation, of service , and that guide grooves (24) to said holes (26) are provided in said second cladding component (12) so that they are oriented towards said first cladding component (34) in said first predefined angular orientation.
    [8]
    8. cladding element according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said dressing components are taken from the group comprising: the components of watch straps, the components of the wristwatch clasps and the components of boxes of watches.
    [9]
    The cladding element of claim 8 including a wristwatch clasp and wherein said first and second cladding components are first and second components of said clasp.
    [10]
    10. Timepiece comprising a covering element according to one of claims 6 to 9.
    类似技术:
    公开号 | 公开日 | 专利标题
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    FR2743641A1|1997-07-18|Wristwatch bracelet attachment apparatus
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    CH707056B1|2017-08-15|Interchangeable bracelet for timepiece.
    CH705006A2|2012-11-30|Interchangeable clasp for e.g. high end leather strap of timepiece, has buckle comprising transverse bar defining wall of housing to receive first end of strap, and including fixation unit engaged with end to firmly connect end with bar
    CH690519A5|2000-09-29|Wrist watch bracelet fitting includes rotating element enabling bracelet pin to be removed without special tools for spring compression
    CH702524B1|2014-08-15|Clasp bracelet timepiece to finely adjust the strap length.
    EP2526804A1|2012-11-28|Clasp for timepiece wristband
    CH702308B1|2018-11-15|Portable object having an interchangeable strap.
    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    CH713974B1|2021-07-15|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    CH00914/17A|CH713974B1|2017-07-13|2017-07-13|Mechanical connection device for watch components, in particular in the form of a fixing bar.|CH00914/17A| CH713974B1|2017-07-13|2017-07-13|Mechanical connection device for watch components, in particular in the form of a fixing bar.|
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