WRISTLET AT LEAST PARTIALLY MADE OF ELEMENTS ARTICULATED TO EACH OTHER
United States Patent 3846977
A wristlet is disclosed having hollow links constructed of an upper member secured to a lower member by setting, wherein the upper member is bent upon the lower member. Adjacent links are secured together by a spring having the general shape of a "W". The middle portion of the W-shaped spring protrudes through an opening in the link to permit access for manipulating the spring for assembly and disassembly of the links.
US Patent References:
Flexible bracelet
Fielding - December 1924 - 1519578
Bracelet
King - February 1927 - 1617289
Expansible bracelet
Smith - May 1927 - 1629976
Bracelet chain
Roy - April 1930 - 1753971
Detachable sheet metal link and linkage formed therefrom
Augenstein - September 1961 - 2998697
Flexible bracelet
Fielding - December 1924 - 1519578
Bracelet
King - February 1927 - 1617289
Expansible bracelet
Smith - May 1927 - 1629976
Bracelet chain
Roy - April 1930 - 1753971
Detachable sheet metal link and linkage formed therefrom
Augenstein - September 1961 - 2998697
Application Number:
05/389876
Publication Date:
11/12/1974
Filing Date:
08/20/1973
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Etampes, Et Mecanique Serafini L. (Geneva, CH)
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
59/91, 29/453, 63/4
International Classes:
A44C5/10; A44C5/00; F16G15/00
Field of Search:
59/80,82,91,78,79R 63/4 224/4B,4H,4D
Primary Examiner:
Lanham C. W.
Assistant Examiner:
Crosby, Gene P.
Claims:
What I claim is
1. Wristlet at least partially constituted with elements articulated on each other, characterized by the fact that these elements are hollow and are articulated by means of a spring having the general shape of a W developing itself inner the elements, the ends of this spring being bent so as to pass through lateral walls of the element for engaging holes provided in the adjacent element, while the medium portion of the spring constitutes a buckle extending, through an opening of the element, into the adjacent element.
2. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements overlap themselves.
3. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements are made of two members of U-shaped transversal section, each made of one piece, engaged into each other and secured to each other by setting.
4. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements are of trapezoidal shape.
1. Wristlet at least partially constituted with elements articulated on each other, characterized by the fact that these elements are hollow and are articulated by means of a spring having the general shape of a W developing itself inner the elements, the ends of this spring being bent so as to pass through lateral walls of the element for engaging holes provided in the adjacent element, while the medium portion of the spring constitutes a buckle extending, through an opening of the element, into the adjacent element.
2. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements overlap themselves.
3. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements are made of two members of U-shaped transversal section, each made of one piece, engaged into each other and secured to each other by setting.
4. Wristlet as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the elements are of trapezoidal shape.
Description:
Several executions of wristlets made of elements articulated to each other, called links, are known in which these elements are articulated by means of studs. These executions do not permit to modify easily the length of the wristlet by adding or removing a link in view of adapting it to the wrist of the user.
For permitting such an adjustment, one has suggested to use screws instead of studs, but this arrangement is expensive and needs massive links.
One has also suggested to use spring lugs similar to the ones used for securing the wristlet to the watch-case. Such a solution is also expensive and there is a risk that the lug slips in the link and remains blocked.
The present invention gives a simple construction, which is efficient and cheap and which permits to realize a wristlet having a massive appearance made of any material, cheap or expensive.
The wristlet according to the invention, at least partially constituted with elements articulated to each other, is characterized by the fact that the elements are hollow and are articulated by means of a spring having the general shape of a W developing itself inner the element, the ends of the spring being bent so as to pass through the lateral walls of the element for engaging holes made in the adjacent element, while the medium portion of the spring constitutes a buckle extending, through an opening of the element, into the adjacent element.
The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the object of the invention.
FIG. 1 represents, in plan view, three elements of a wristlet connected to each other and a fourth element, in sectional view, separated from the rest of the wristlet.
FIG. 2 is a face elevational view of a link, at an enlarged scale, and
FIG. 3 is a profil view of a link, at the scale of FIG. 2.
The wristlet represented comprises hollow elements or links each of which is constituted by an upper member 1, the transversal section of which (FIG. 2) has the shape of a U, provided with two lateral portions 1a and 1b, and by a lower member 2, having also a U-shaped transversal section, provided with two lateral portions 2a and 2b, these two U-shaped members being introduced one into the other and maintained in this position by setting of the portions 1a and 1b on the portions 2a and 2b. The lower member 2 is moreover provided with a transversal frontal wall 3. The members 1 and 2 are obtained merely by cutting and bending of a strap of metal. The thickness of this strap has no influence on the outer appearance of the link so that it is possible to give a massive appearance to the wristlet while using a low quantity of material, that is especially useful if the wristlets are made of noble metal.
So as to reproduce the appearance of a lobster tail the links overlap themselves as indicated at 3' and show an overlapping edge 4 slightly bent downwardly.
The connecting member which ensures moreover the articulation of the links one to each other is constituted by a spring 5 having the general shape of a W the ends 5a and 5b of the arms of which, designated by 5e and 5f, are bent laterally so as to constitute two axes of articulation traversing the lateral walls of the links through an opening of the portions 2a and 2b for engaging a hole 6, respectively 7, provided in the portions 1a and 1b of the adjacent link. As shown in FIG. 1, it is more precisely the ends 5a' and 5b' of the spring 5' which engage into the holes 6 and 7 of the sectionally represented link.
The arms of the W are rounded so as to constitute an S, the spring thus bearing against the portions 2a and 2b in such a way that it is perfectly maintained in position while being able to be bent when a pressure is exerted on its ends 5a and 5b, on the one hand by means of its rounded portion at its ends, and on the other hand by means of the rectilinear part of its arms 5e and 5f.
The arms 5e and 5f protrude out from an opening 8 provided in the front wall 3 so as to constitute a V-shaped buckle which engages the adjacent link. This buckle permits to put easily the spring 5 in place into the link, by a mere pull on the buckle when it protrudes, before the ends 5a and 5b be engaged into the openings of the lateral portions, and permits also to remove the spring or to put it again in place in the case where one of its ends 5a and 5b would remain blocked against the lateral portions 2a, respectively 2b.
For connecting two elements to each other, it is sufficient to hook one of the lateral portions 1a or 1b of the other element to one of the ends 5a or 5b by its hole 6, respectively 7, to repel with a pointed tool the other end, then to bring the other lateral portion on this end which engages automatically into the other hole. The separation of two elements one from each other is also obtained while repelling one of the ends 5a and 5b by means of a pointed tool.
The ends 5a and 5b are represented slightly protruding for the clearness of the drawing but, practically, this protrusion will be eliminated by polishing so that the axis of articulation be the less visible as possible.
One sees that all the characteristics of the wristlet urge to the same purpose to realize a wristlet easy to be manufactured and which is robust, permitting easily, without any special tool, to add or to remove a link for adjusting the length of the band.
The securing of the wristlet to a fastener or to a watch-casing can be realized the same way or by conventional means.
It is possible to execute links made of any material or to modify the shape of the links. Moreover it is not necessary that the links overlap as in the example disclosed.
One can give to the links a trapezoidal shape so as to reproduce more accurately the shape of a tail of lobster of decreasing brightness.
For permitting such an adjustment, one has suggested to use screws instead of studs, but this arrangement is expensive and needs massive links.
One has also suggested to use spring lugs similar to the ones used for securing the wristlet to the watch-case. Such a solution is also expensive and there is a risk that the lug slips in the link and remains blocked.
The present invention gives a simple construction, which is efficient and cheap and which permits to realize a wristlet having a massive appearance made of any material, cheap or expensive.
The wristlet according to the invention, at least partially constituted with elements articulated to each other, is characterized by the fact that the elements are hollow and are articulated by means of a spring having the general shape of a W developing itself inner the element, the ends of the spring being bent so as to pass through the lateral walls of the element for engaging holes made in the adjacent element, while the medium portion of the spring constitutes a buckle extending, through an opening of the element, into the adjacent element.
The drawing shows, by way of example, one embodiment of the object of the invention.
FIG. 1 represents, in plan view, three elements of a wristlet connected to each other and a fourth element, in sectional view, separated from the rest of the wristlet.
FIG. 2 is a face elevational view of a link, at an enlarged scale, and
FIG. 3 is a profil view of a link, at the scale of FIG. 2.
The wristlet represented comprises hollow elements or links each of which is constituted by an upper member 1, the transversal section of which (FIG. 2) has the shape of a U, provided with two lateral portions 1a and 1b, and by a lower member 2, having also a U-shaped transversal section, provided with two lateral portions 2a and 2b, these two U-shaped members being introduced one into the other and maintained in this position by setting of the portions 1a and 1b on the portions 2a and 2b. The lower member 2 is moreover provided with a transversal frontal wall 3. The members 1 and 2 are obtained merely by cutting and bending of a strap of metal. The thickness of this strap has no influence on the outer appearance of the link so that it is possible to give a massive appearance to the wristlet while using a low quantity of material, that is especially useful if the wristlets are made of noble metal.
So as to reproduce the appearance of a lobster tail the links overlap themselves as indicated at 3' and show an overlapping edge 4 slightly bent downwardly.
The connecting member which ensures moreover the articulation of the links one to each other is constituted by a spring 5 having the general shape of a W the ends 5a and 5b of the arms of which, designated by 5e and 5f, are bent laterally so as to constitute two axes of articulation traversing the lateral walls of the links through an opening of the portions 2a and 2b for engaging a hole 6, respectively 7, provided in the portions 1a and 1b of the adjacent link. As shown in FIG. 1, it is more precisely the ends 5a' and 5b' of the spring 5' which engage into the holes 6 and 7 of the sectionally represented link.
The arms of the W are rounded so as to constitute an S, the spring thus bearing against the portions 2a and 2b in such a way that it is perfectly maintained in position while being able to be bent when a pressure is exerted on its ends 5a and 5b, on the one hand by means of its rounded portion at its ends, and on the other hand by means of the rectilinear part of its arms 5e and 5f.
The arms 5e and 5f protrude out from an opening 8 provided in the front wall 3 so as to constitute a V-shaped buckle which engages the adjacent link. This buckle permits to put easily the spring 5 in place into the link, by a mere pull on the buckle when it protrudes, before the ends 5a and 5b be engaged into the openings of the lateral portions, and permits also to remove the spring or to put it again in place in the case where one of its ends 5a and 5b would remain blocked against the lateral portions 2a, respectively 2b.
For connecting two elements to each other, it is sufficient to hook one of the lateral portions 1a or 1b of the other element to one of the ends 5a or 5b by its hole 6, respectively 7, to repel with a pointed tool the other end, then to bring the other lateral portion on this end which engages automatically into the other hole. The separation of two elements one from each other is also obtained while repelling one of the ends 5a and 5b by means of a pointed tool.
The ends 5a and 5b are represented slightly protruding for the clearness of the drawing but, practically, this protrusion will be eliminated by polishing so that the axis of articulation be the less visible as possible.
One sees that all the characteristics of the wristlet urge to the same purpose to realize a wristlet easy to be manufactured and which is robust, permitting easily, without any special tool, to add or to remove a link for adjusting the length of the band.
The securing of the wristlet to a fastener or to a watch-casing can be realized the same way or by conventional means.
It is possible to execute links made of any material or to modify the shape of the links. Moreover it is not necessary that the links overlap as in the example disclosed.
One can give to the links a trapezoidal shape so as to reproduce more accurately the shape of a tail of lobster of decreasing brightness.