WO2005099506A1

WO2005099506A1 - Adjustable fold-out clasp, in particular for a watch strap

Info

Publication number: WO2005099506A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/001365
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philippe Subilia
Original assignee: H. Stern Comércio e Indústria S.A.
Priority date: 2004-04-13
Filing date: 2004-04-13
Publication date: 2005-10-27

Abstract

The invention relates to a fold-out clasp (30), for a strap, comprising at least two blades (31, 32), a first fastening element (33) for fixing one blade end to a first strap part (21) and a second fastening element (34) for fixing another blade end to a second strap part (22) of identical length, the second fastening element (34) including adjustment means for adjusting the position of the second fastening element (34) along the second strap part (22), characterized in that the first fastening element (33) also includes adjustment means for adjusting the position of the first fastening element (33) along the first strap part (21).

Description

ADJUSTABLE FOLD-OUT CLASP, IN PARTICULAR FOR A WATCH

STRAP

Fold-out clasps generally comprise a blade, or two blades connected together at one of their ends by means of a hinge. These clasps also comprise a first fastening element for permanently fixing one blade end to the shorter strap part and a second adjustable fastening element for fixing the other blade end to the longer strap part. The adjustable fastening elements may be adjusted in terms of position along the strap parts onto which they are to be fixed in order to adapt the size of the strap to the wrist of the person wearing it.

Fold-out clasps make ±t possible to enlarge the strap in order to take it off without undoing the adjustable fastening element. In the event of accidental opening of the clasp, the strap hangs loose around the wrist, with no risk of being lost.

Depending on the size of the wrist of the person wearing the strap, the adjustable fastening element may be positioned at different locations along the strap. Thus, in certain cases, since the strap parts differ in terms of length, the fold-out clasp is not positioned symmetrically relative to both strap parts. The result of this is an imbalance of the strap on the wrist of the person wearing it.

The problem solved by the invention is to propose a fold-out clasp for a strap capable of being positioned on the wrist in a balanced manner.

To this end, the invention proposes a fold-out clasp, for a strap, comprising two blades, a first fastening element for fixing a blade end to a first strap part and a second fastening element for fixing another blade end to a second strap part, the second fastening element including a tang for adjusting the position of the second fastening element along the second strap part, characterized in that the first fastening element also includes a tang for adjusting the position of the first fastening element along the first strap part.

The clasp of the invention allows adjustment on each strap part. In particular, the clasp may be arranged symmetrically relative to the two strap parts. The result of this is that the strap may be arranged on the wrist in an ideal manner.

In particular, if this watch has a strap with two identical strap parts without a standard small buckle, the first and second fastening elements may be arranged such that the watch has a perfectly balanced position on the wrist of the person wearing it.

In one implementation of the invention, the clasp is of the type comprising two blades connected together at one of their ends by means of a hinge, the other of their ends being connected to one of the fastening elements.

The invention also relates to a strap, in particular a watch strap including a first and second strap part of equal length, characterized in that it also comprises a fold-out clasp as defined previously for connecting together the first and second strap parts.

The invention also relates to a watch comprising a strap including a first and a second strap part of equal length, characterized in that it also comprises a fold-out clasp as defined previously for connecting together the first and second strap parts.

Other characteristics and advantages will also be revealed from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting and should be read with reference to the appended figures, in which:

figures 1 to 3 show a wrist watch that comprises a two-blade fold-out clasp according to one embodiment of the invention;

figures 4 and 5 are representations of the clasp in the folded-out position, in bottom view and in profile view, respectively;

figure 6 is a detailed view of the second fastening element.

In the remainder of the description, the terms "lower" and "upper" respectively qualify elements that are to be positioned closer to or further away from the wrist of the person wearing the strap.

In figures 1 to 3, the wrist watch shown comprises a case 10 having a dial 11 and a strap 20. The strap 20 includes a flexible first strap part 21 and second strap part 22, of identical length, extending from the case 10, on either side of the latter. The first and second strap parts 21, 22 are to be connected together by a clasp 30 with a view to attaching the watch to a person's wrist.

The clasp 30 is a clasp of fold-out type comprising two blades. The two blades include a lower blade 31 and an upper blade 32, connected together at one of their ends by means of a common hinge formed by a pin 40. The clasp 30 also comprises a first fastening element 33 for fixing the free end of the lower blade 31 to the first strap part 21. The clasp 30 also comprises a second fastening element 34 for fixing the end of the upper blade 32 to the second strap part 22. Each of the first and second fastening elements 33 and 34 is connected, respectively, to the end of the lower blade 31 and of the upper blade 32 by means of a hinge formed by a pin 35, 36.

As may be seen in figure 1, the first fastening element 33 is capable of being adjusted in terms of position along the first strap part 21 (in the direction indicated by the arrows) . To this end, the first fastening element 33 comprises a stirrup piece provided with a tang, and the first strap part comprises a plurality of holes. The stirrup piece is to receive the first strap part and is adapted such that the first strap part is able to slide in the stirrup piece. Thus, the first fastening element may be adjusted in terms of position along this first strap part. The tang is adapted to penetrate a hole in the first strap part in order to immobilize the strap part in the stirrup piece.

The first fastening element 33 is shown in greater detail in figure 4.

As may be seen in figure 2, the second fastening element 34 is capable of being adjusted in terms of position along the second strap part (in the direction indicated by the arrows) . To this end, the second fastening element 34 comprises a stirrup piece provided with a tang and with a cover, and the second strap part comprises a plurality of holes. The stirrup piece is to receive the second strap part 22 and is adapted such that the second strap part is able to slide in the stirrup piece. The cover of the stirrup piece extends along the second strap part and allows this second strap part to be guided in the stirrup piece and to mask the stirrup piece when the clasp 30 is in the closed position. The tang is adapted to penetrate a hole in the second strap part in order to immobilize said strap part in the stirrup piece. As shown in figure 3, once the first and second fastening elements have been adjusted in terms of position along the first and second strap parts, the upper blade 32 may be folded over the lower blade 31 in order to close the strap. The clasp 30 comprises locking means for locking the blades 31 and 32 together in the folded position. When the blades 31 and 32 are locked, the second strap part 22 is held over the first strap part 21. The first strap part 22 thus constitutes the lower strap part and the second strap part 22 constitutes the upper strap part.

The locking means comprise a groove 37 formed in the lower blade 31 and extending in a general direction transverse to the lower blade. The groove 37 is arranged on the lower blade 31 to forcibly receive the pin 36 forming the hinge between the upper blade 32 and the second fastening element 32. The locking means also comprise a groove 38 formed in the upper blade 32 and extending in a general direction transverse to the upper blade. The groove 38 is arranged on the upper blade 32 to forcibly receive a rod 39, shown in figure 4, belonging to the lower blade 31.

Furthermore, the first strap part 21 supports a loop 23 for holding the second strap part 22 over the first strap part 21.

Figures 4 and 5 show, more precisely, the clasp 30 in the folded-out position, in bottom view and in profile view, respectively.

These figures 4 and 5 show the first fastening element 33 and the lower 31 and upper 32 blades. The second fastening element is not shown.

As may be seen in figure 4, the first fastening element 33 comprises a stirrup piece in the shape of a U, formed from a flat bar 331 and from two lateral branches 332 and 333 extending from the ends of the bar 331. The two branches 332 and 333 support the ends of the pin 35 forming the articulation between the first element and the lower blade 31. The space formed between the flat bar 331, the branches 332 and 333, and the pin 35 is sufficient to receive the first watch- strap part. The first strap part 21 is able to slide in this space as far as a desired adjustment position. The flat bar 331 is to come into contact with the lower surface of the first strap part 21, while the pin 35 is to come into contact with the upper surface of the first strap part 21. The bar 331 supports a fixed tang 334 arranged at its center and extending perpendicularly from its surface. The tang 334 has a rod and a head. Said tang is inserted and held in a hole in the first strap part 21 via said head. In order to insert the tang 334 into a hole in the first strap part 21, it suffices to fold the first fastening element down toward the strap, causing it to pivot around the pin 35.

The lower blade 31 is formed from two longitudinal members 312 and 313 extending parallel to one another between the pin 35 and the pin 40 and from a transverse rod 39 holding the longitudinal members together at a distance from each other. The upper blade 32 is formed from a single element extending between the pin 40 and the pin 36. As may be seen in figure 4, the upper blade 32 connected to the pin 40 between the longitudinal members 312 and 313 of the lower blade 31. Furthermore, the longitudinal members 312 and 313 are held relative to one another at a distance such that, when the upper blade 32 is folded over the lower blade 31, the upper blade 32 fits between the longitudinal members of the lower blade 31. At this time, the rod 39 of the lower blade 31 is forcibly inserted into the groove 38 of the upper blade 32. Similarly, the pin 36 is forcibly inserted into the groove 37 of the lower blade. As may be seen in figure 5, the blades 31 and 32 have a curved profile enabling them to adapt to the shape of the wrist when the strap is closed.

Figure 6 shows a profile view of the second fastening element 34 for fixing to the upper blade 32 by means of the pin 36. The second fastening element 34 comprises a stirrup piece 341 provided with a tang 344 and with a cover. When the clasp is in the closed position, the cover extends over the upper surface of the second strap part.

Claims

1. A fold-out clasp (30), for a strap, comprising two blades (30, 32) , a first fastening element (33) for fixing a blade (31) end to a first strap part (21) and a second fastening element (34) for fixing another blade (32) end to a second strap part (22) , the second fastening element (34) including a stirrup piece (341) and a tang (344) for adjusting the position of the second fastening element (34) along the second strap part (22), characterized in that the first fastening element (33) also includes a stirrup piece

(331, 332, 333) and a tang (334) for adjusting the position of the first fastening element (33) along the first strap part (21) .

2. The clasp as claimed in claim 1, comprising two blades (31, 32) joined together at one of their ends by means of a hinge (40), the other of their ends being connected to one of the fastening elements (21, 22).

3. The clasp as claimed in claim 3, in which the two blades (31, 32) include a lower blade (31) and an upper blade (32), the lower blade (31) being connected to the first fastening element (33) .

4. The clasp as claimed in one of claims 2 or 3, comprising locking means (36, 37, 38, 39) for locking the blades (21, 22) together when one (32) of the blades is folded over the other blade (31) .

5. The clasp as claimed in claim 4, in which the locking means (36, 37, 38, 39) comprise a groove (37) formed in one (31) of the blades and arranged in order forcibly to receive a pin (36) connecting one fastening element (34) to the other (32) of the blades.

6. The clasp as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the first fastening element (33) comprises a stirrup piece (331, 332, 333) for receiving the first strap part (21) , and in which the first strap part (21) is able to slide, and a tang (334) for penetrating a hole in the first strap part (21) i-n order to immobilize said strap part in the stirrup piece.

7. The clasp as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the first fastening element (33) is connected to the other end of blade (31) by means of a hinge (35) .

8. The clasp as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the second fastening element (34) comprises a stirrup piece (341) for receiving the second strap part (22) , and in which the second strap part (22) is able to slide, and a tang (344) for penetrating a hole in the second strap part (22) in order to immobilize said strap part in the stirrup piece.

9. The clasp as claimed in claim 8, in which the stirrup piece (341) of the second fastening element (34) comprises a cover capable of extending along the second strap part (22) when the latter is received in the stirrup piece.

10. The clasp as claimed in one of the preceding claims, in which the second fastening element (34) is connected to one of the blade ends by means of a hinge (36) .

11. A strap (20), in particular a watch strap including a first and second strap part (21, 22) , characterized in that it also comprises a fold-out clasp (30) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10 for connecting together the first and second strap parts (21, 22) .

12. A watch comprising a strap (20) including a first and second strap part (21, 22), characterized in that it also comprises a fold-out clasp (30) according to one of claims 1 to 10 for connecting together the first and second strap parts (21, 22) .