EP0373806A2

EP0373806A2 - A strap assembly for a timepiece

Info

Publication number: EP0373806A2
Application number: EP89312610A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Philip Yung Tak Lam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-12-12
Filing date: 1989-12-04
Publication date: 1990-06-20
Also published as: GB2225703A; GB8828981D0; EP0373806A3

Abstract

A strap assembly is provided for a timepiece such as a wristwatch (2) having one, and preferably two, strap portions (1 and 9) each attachable at one end to the timepiece or watch (2). The or each strap portion (1, 9) has a pair of superimposed spaced apart outer face parts (5,6, 10,11) connected together around their edges to define there between a sealed chamber (7) containing a fluid with decorative and/or therapeutic effects. At least one of the outer face parts (5, 6, 10 ,11) has an area (5a, 10a) which is made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber (7) to be visible therethrough from the exterior of the assembly. Adjustable buckle (13) and clip (14) means are provided for interconnecting the free ends of two strap portions (1 and 9) and for varying the length of at least one of the strap portions (1).

Description

This invention relates to a strap assembly for a timepiece, particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for use with a wristwatch, fob watch or pocket watch.
According to the present invention there is provided a strap assembly for a timepiece, including at least one strap portion attachable at one end to a timepiece for carriage, suspension or wearing purposes, which at least one strap portion has a pair of superimposed, spaced apart outer face parts connected together around their edges to define between the outer face parts a sealed chamber containing a fluid with decorative and/or therapeutic effects, at least one of said outer face parts having an area which is made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber to be visible therethrough from the exterior of the assembly.
Advantageously the fluid is a liquid.
Conveniently the fluid includes a plurality of movable objects and/or particles to provide or enhance the decorative effect.
Preferably each of said outer face parts has an area made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber to be visible from either side of the at least one strap portion.
Advantageously the strap assembly includes two of said strap portions, with each of said strap portions having an elongate strip-like form for attachment at one end to a timepiece in the form of a wristwatch so as together to provide a wrist strap.
Conveniently the strap assembly includes an openable and closable adjustable fastener for said strap portions.
Preferably the fastener includes a buckle provided on one said strap portion at or adjacent to the other end thereof and a co-operating clip provided on the other said strap portion at or adjacent the other end thereof, the buckle and clip being releasably engagable together to open and close the wrist strap.
Advantageously the buckle is provided with an interrupted undercut slot thereacross which in use extends transversely of the strap portion to which it is attached and which has a resilient tongue extending into the slot interruption, and the clip is provided with a projecting undercut nose complementary in cross section to the cross section of the buckle slot and which is removably slidably engagable in the buckle slot to interconnect the two strap portions, with the clip nose having a recess intermediate its ends into which recess the resilient tongue on the buckle depends, when the buckle and clip are slidably engaged together, releasably to lock the buckle and clip together against relative sliding movement therebetween, so that the buckle and clip can be freed for relative sliding disengagement by lifting the buckle tongue out of the clip nose recess against the resilient return force of the tongue.
Conveniently the clip is slidably mounted on the associated strap portion for releasable location at different points along the length of said strap portion to adjust the length of the wrist strap.
Preferably the clip has an aperture therethrough whereby it fits slidably over the associated strap portion and a pivotable spring finger which can be releasably engaged with one of a series of locating teeth provided along the length of the associated strap portion to provide the releasable location of the clip along the length of the associated strap portion.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried in effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is plan view from above of a strap assembly of the invention shown in operative association with a wristwatch,
Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 taken in the direction A in Figure 1, and,
Figure 3 is a partial cross section of a clip taken along the line B - B in Figure 1 and of a buckle taken along the line C - C in Figure 1 shown in an inter-engaged position.

A strap assembly of the invention for a timepiece is shown in the accompanying drawings in association with a timepiece in the form of a wristwatch. However it is to be understood that a strap assembly of the invention may be utilised with any other form of timepiece such as a fob or pocket watch for carriage, suspension or wearing purposes.
The strap assembly includes at least one strap portion 1 attachable at one end to a timepiece such as the wristwatch 2 in any convenient manner such as by means of conventional spring loaded pins 3 passing through one end 1a of the strap portion 1 and engaged in bores in lugs 4 of the wristwatch 2. The strap portion 1 is thereby attachable to the wristwatch 2 for carriage, suspension or wearing purposes. The strap portion 1 has a pair of superimposed, spaced apart outer face parts 5 and 6 connected together around their edges in any convenient manner such as by means of adhesive and/or stitching to define between the outer face parts 5 and 6 a sealed chamber 7 containing a fluid with decorative and/or therapeutic effects. Conveniently this fluid is a liquid and preferably the fluid includes a plurality of movable objects and/or particles 8 to provide or enhance the decorative effect.
At least one of the outer face parts 5, 6, in this case the top outer face part 5 has an area 5a which is made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber 7 to be visible therethrough from the exterior of the assembly. Alternatively each of the outer face parts 5 and 6 can have such an area 5a made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber 7 to be visible from either side of the strap portion 5.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the strap assembly includes a second strap portion 9 made in the same way as the strap portion 1 and having a pair of outer face parts 10 and 11 defining therebetween a sealed chamber 7 containing the fluid and/or movable objects and/or particles 8. The second strap 9 likewise has one or more areas 10a and an end 9a attachable to the wristwatch 2 by means of a spring loaded pin as hereinbefore described in respect of the first strap portion 1.
The two strap portions 1 and 9 each have an elongate strip-like form so that when they are attached by the pins 3 to the wristwatch 2 they provide a wrist strap therefor.
The strap assembly also includes an openable and closable adjustable fastener generally indicated at 12 in Figure 3 for the strap portions 1 and 9. This fastener 12 includes a buckle 13 provided in any convenient manner on one of the strap portions such as the strap portion 9 at or adjacent the other end thereof and a co-operating clip 14 provided on the other strap portion 1 at or adjacent the other end thereof. The buckle 13 and clip 14 are releasably engagable together releasably to interconnect the strap portions 1 and 9 to open and close the wrist strap formed by these strap portions.
The buckle 13 is provided with an interrupted undercut slot 15 there across which in use extends transversely of the strip portion 9 to which it is attached and which has a resilient tongue 16 extending into a slot interruption 15a. The clip 14 is provided with a projecting undercut nose 17 complementary in cross section to the cross section of the buckle slot 15 and which is removably slidably engagable in the buckle slot 15, as shown in Figure 3, to interconnect the two strap portions 1 and 9. The clip nose 17 has a recess 17a intermediate its ends into which recess 17a the resilient tongue 16 on the buckle 13 depends, when the buckle 13 and clip 14 are slidably engaged together as shown in Figure 3, releasably to lock the buckle and clip together against relative sliding movement therebetween, so that the buckle and clip can be freed for relative sliding disengagement by lifting the buckle tongue 16 out of the clip nose recess 17a against the resilient return force of the tongue 16. With the tongue 16 lifted out of engagement with the recess 17a the buckle 13 and clip 14 can be slidably separated by sliding the nose 17 along the undercut slot 15 and out of engagement therewith. The buckle 13 and clip 14 can be made of any convenient material such as metal or plastics.
The clip 14 is slidably mounted on the associated strap portion 1 for releasable location at different points along the length of the strap portion 1 to adjust the length of the wrist strap. To this end the clip 14 has an aperture 18 therethrough whereby it fits slidably over the strap portion 1 and a pivotable spring finger 19 which can be releasably engaged with one of a series of locating teeth 20 provided along the length of the strap portion 1 to provide the releasable location of the clip 14 along the length of the strap portion 1. As illustrated in Figure 3 the spring finger 19, which can be made of any convenient material, such as metal, is basically of U-shaped form with legs of unequal length. The finger 19 is pivotly mounted on a pin 21 which extends through the clip 14 in a direction transverse to the direction of the strap portion 1. A recess 22 is formed in the clip 14 intermediate its sides and the pin 21 extends across this recess with the finger 19 being located in the recess so that the longer leg 19a of the finger projects out of the recess 22 through the end of the clip 14 to lie alongside the under portion of the strap portion 1. The shorter length leg 19b projects through an opening 23 formed in the clip between the recess 22 and the aperture 18 so that the free end of the shorter leg 19b engages in spring fashion with one of the teeth 20 by virtue of the elastic nature of the spring finger 19. This locates the clip 14 fixedly on the strap portion 1. To move the clip 14 to a different position along the strap portion 1 it is merely necessary to disengage the spring finger shorter leg 19a from engagement with a tooth 20 by movement of the longer leg 19 manually from the exterior of the clip 14. This frees the clip for movement along the strap portion 1 until at the desired new position whereupon the spring finger shorter leg 19b is allowed to spring back into engagement with the nearest tooth 20 on release of the longer leg 19a of the spring finger 19. Preferably the spring finger 19 is resiliently biased towards engagement of the shorter leg 19b with the under surface of the strap portion 1.
The fluid or liquid in the chamber 7 and/or the movable objects and/or particles 8 can have a chemical or pharmaceutical composition with beneficial effects on the adjacent skin of a wearer. Additionally and/or alternatively one or more of the inner surfaces of the or each chamber 7 can be provided with a design or designs thereon which form the basis of a game board or the like. In this event the movement of the fluid or liquid itself and/or the movement of the movable objects and/or particles 8 can serve as playing pieces or the like for the board provided by the design on said inner surface or surfaces of the or each chamber 7.

Claims

1. A strap assembly for a timepiece, including at least one strap portion (1,9) attachable at one end to a timepiece (2) for carriage, suspension or wearing purposes, which at least one strap portion (1,9) has a pair of superimposed spaced apart outer face parts (5,6,10,11) connected together around their edges to define between the outer face parts a sealed chamber (7) containing a fluid with decorative and/or therapeutic effects, at least one of said outer face parts (5,6,10,11) having an area (5a,10a) which is made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber (7) to be visible therethrough from the exterior of the assembly.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the fluid is a liquid.

3. An assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the fluid includes a plurality of movable objects and/or particles (8) to provide or enhance the decorative effect.

4. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said outer face parts (5,6,10,11) has an area (5a,10a) made of transparent material to allow the fluid in the chamber (7) to be visible from either side of the at least one strap portion (1,9).

5. An assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, including two of said strap portions (1,9), with each of said strap portions (1,9) having an elongate strip-like form for attachment at one end (1a,9a) to a timepiece (2) in the form of a wristwatch so as together to provide a wrist strap.

6. An assembly according to Claim 5, including an openable and closable adjustable fastener (12) for said strap portions.

7. An assembly according to Claim 6, wherein the fastener (12) includes a buckle (13) provided on one said strap portion (9) at or adjacent to the other end thereof and a co-operating clip (14) provided on the other said strap portion (1) at or adjacent the other end thereof, the buckle (13) and clip (14) being releasably engagable together to open and close the wrist strap.

8. An assembly according to Claim 7, wherein the buckle (13) is provided with an interrupted undercut slot (15) thereacross which in use extends transversely of the portion (9) to which it is attached, and which has a resilient tongue (16) extending into the slot interruption (15a), and wherein the clip (14) is provided with a projecting undercut nose (17) complimentary in cross section to the cross section of the buckle slot (15) and which is removably slidably engagable in the buckle slot to interconnect the two strap portions (1,9), with the clip nose (17) having a recess (17a) intermediate its ends into which recess the resilient tongue (16) on the buckle (13) depends, when the buckle (13) and clip (14) are slidably engaged together, releasably to lock the buckle (13) and clip (14) together against relative sliding motion therebetween, so that the buckle and clip can be freed for relative sliding disengagement by lifting the buckle tongue (16) out of the clip nose recess (17a) against the resilient return force of the tongue (16).

9. An assembly according to Claim 8, wherein the clip (14) is slidably mounted on the associated strap portion (1) for releasable location at different points along the length of said strap portion (1) to adjust the length of the wrist strap.

10. An assembly according to Claim 9, wherein the clip (14) has an aperture (18) therethrough whereby it fits slidably over the associated strap portion (1) and a pivotable spring finger (19) which can be releasably engaged with one of a series of locating teeth (20) provided along the length of the associated strap portion (1) to provide the releasable location of the clip (14) along the length of the associated strap portion (1).

11. A timepiece having a strap assembly according to any one of Claims 1 to 11.