U.S. patent application number 14/116373 was filed with the patent office on 2014-03-27 for bracelet for a timepiece.
This patent application is currently assigned to BUCCELLATI WATCHES SA. The applicant listed for this patent is Paolo Carrion. Invention is credited to Paolo Carrion.
Application Number | 20140086028 14/116373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46210309 |
Filed Date | 2014-03-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140086028 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carrion; Paolo |
March 27, 2014 |
BRACELET FOR A TIMEPIECE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a strand (10, 10') of a
bracelet for a timepiece, the strand (10, 10') comprising a
plurality of links (14) articulated relative to one another and a
flexible strip (23) which is disposed so as to be connected to each
of said links (14). The links (14) comprise a central part (15) and
two lateral supports (16, 16') arranged on either side of the
central part (15). According to the invention, the flexible strip
(23) is configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of the
central part (15) of each link (14) so that the said strip (23)
forms the totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper
or lower part of the strand (10, 10').
Inventors: |
Carrion; Paolo; (Suisse,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Carrion; Paolo |
Suisse |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
BUCCELLATI WATCHES SA
Chiasso
CH
|
Family ID: |
46210309 |
Appl. No.: |
14/116373 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
May 16, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2012/000952 |
371 Date: |
November 8, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
368/282 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C 5/025 20130101;
A44C 5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
368/282 |
International
Class: |
A44C 5/02 20060101
A44C005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 16, 2011 |
CH |
00822/11 |
Claims
1. Strand (10, 10') of a bracelet for a timepiece, the strand (10,
10') comprising, on the one hand, a plurality of links (14)
articulated relative to one another and, on the other hand, a
flexible strip (23) disposed so as to be connected to each of said
links (14), said links (14) comprising a central part (15) and two
lateral supports (16, 16') arranged on each side of the central
part (15), characterised in that the flexible strip (23) is
configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of the central
part (15) of each link (14) so that said strip (23) forms the
totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper or lower
part of the strand (10, 10').
2. Strand (10, 10') according to claim 1, characterised in that the
two lateral supports (16, 16') of each link (14) each comprise a
groove (20) arranged to receive the lateral edges of the flexible
strip (23).
3. Strand (10, 10') according to claim 1, characterised in that the
central part (15) of each link (14) comprises a rod (17) extending
between the two lateral supports (16, 16'), as well as a structure
in which the rod (17) of an adjacent link (14) is arranged, the
flexible strip (23) specifically extending above said structure of
each link (14) in order to secure them to one another.
4. Strand (10, 10') according to claim 3, characterised in that
said structure comprises projections (19, 21a, 21b, 21c) arranged
so as to come into contact with the flexible strip (23) in order to
prevent the latter from deforming locally under the action of
inappropriate pressure.
5. Strand (10, 10') according to claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises, at one of its ends, a fastener (12, 12') adapted for
being connected to a clasp, the fastener (12, 12') comprising a
seat (20) in which one of the ends of the flexible strip (23) is
arranged.
6. Bracelet of a timepiece comprising a clasp preferably having a
deployment buckle, the clasp being connected to the fasteners (12,
12') of a first and second strand according to claim 5.
7. Timepiece comprising the bracelet according to claim 6.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of watch- and
clockmaking, and more particularly to a wristwatch bracelet
comprising a plurality of links cooperating with a flexible
strip.
[0002] Bracelets are already known to the person skilled in the art
which comprise links cooperating with a flexible strip. By way of
example, patent publication CH574720 discloses a watch bracelet
consisting of two series of links, each series forcing a strand.
The links are articulated with one another and are transversely
profiled in the form of a small arch in such a way as to present at
least one longitudinal hollow, open towards the bottom as well as
at the two ends of each link. The alignment of these hollows forms,
beneath each of the two strands, a groove which extends
longitudinally beneath all the links of this strand. For each of
the strands, a leaf spring is arranged within the links, between
the apex of the said hollows and retaining means arranged between
the lateral parts of the arch profile of the links to retain the
strip. This strip has a curvature which it has a tendency to
communicate to all the links forming the strand on which it is
positioned, to induce it to close together. The first link in each
strand, or one end of each strip is connected to the watch-case in
such a way that the two strands are capable of elastically gripping
a wrist bearing the watch, without a clasp device.
[0003] The aim of the leaf spring according to the invention
disclosed in CH574720 is therefore to elastically grip a wrist
bearing the watch, without a clasp device.
[0004] The aim of the present invention is to propose a bracelet
for a timepiece comprising two strands each provided with a
flexible strip the arrangement of which both enables the links to
be secured to one another and allows the aesthetic appearance of
the strands of the bracelet to be improved.
[0005] According to the invention, this aim is achieved with a
strand of a bracelet for a timepiece. The strand comprises both a
plurality of links articulated relative to one another and a
flexible strip which is disposed so as to be connected to each of
said links. The latter comprise a central part and two lateral
supports arranged on either side of the central part. The flexible
strip is configured to cover at least the upper or lower side of
the central part of each link so that the said strip forms the
totality or virtually the totality of the visible upper or lower
part of the strand.
[0006] The features of the invention will become clearer from
reading the description of a preferred embodiment, which is
non-limiting and is provided solely by way of example, with
reference to the diagrams, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a first strand and a
partially exploded view of a second strand of a bracelet of a watch
according to the invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of a segment of one
of the strands of the bracelet without the flexible strip;
[0009] FIG. 3 represents a view similar to FIG. 2 with the flexible
strip;
[0010] FIG. 4 represents a partial sectional view of a strand of
the bracelet in the direction of its length;
[0011] FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of one of the links
partially forming the strand;
[0012] FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of a watch comprising
the bracelet provided with two links according to the invention,
and
[0013] FIG. 7 represents a perspective view of the watch on the
clasp side of the bracelet.
[0014] According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, and
with particular reference to FIG. 7, the bracelet comprises a first
and a second link 10, 10', one of the ends of which has a fastener
11, 11' adapted for being connected to a clasp of the deployment
buckle type (not illustrated) whereas the other end is connected on
either side of a watch-case 13, as illustrated in FIG. 6.
[0015] Each strand 10, 10' comprises a plurality of links 14 which
are articulated to one another, as can be seen in particular in
FIG. 7 and which forms virtually the totality of the length of the
strand. With reference to FIG. 5, each link 14 comprises a central
part 15 arranged between two lateral supports 16, 16' which can
assume a variety of aesthetic appearances.
[0016] The central part 15 of each link 14 comprises both a rod 17
each end of which is integral with the respective lateral support
16, 16' of the link 14 and a structure configured to receive the
rod 17 of an adjacent link in order to ensure articulation between
the links, but nevertheless without ensuring a reliable connection
between the latter. This structure comprises rectilinear part 18
which extends between the two lateral supports 16, 16' and which
terminates at each end with a projection 19 comprising a
substantially rectangular planar surface. The inner sides of the
two lateral supports 16, 16' each comprise a rectilinear groove 20
arranged at the level of the planar surface of the respective
projection 19 of the structure. The latter further comprises a
small bar 21 which is arranged in parallel with its rectilinear
part 18 and which comprises three shoulders 21a, 21b and 21c
arranged at its centre and at its ends. The small bar 21 is
connected, by its ends, to the projections 19 by an inwardly curved
portion 22 intended to receive the ends of the rod 17 of the
adjacent link 14. With particular reference to FIG. 4, each link 14
comprises a base plate 14' juxtaposed with the base plates 14' of
the adjacent links 14.
[0017] With reference to FIG. 2, a virtually continuous groove
along the entire length of the strand 10, 10' is obtained when the
links 14 are connected to one another and rest on a planar surface.
The rectangular flexible strip 23 is then fixed on top of the
central part 15 of the links 14, as can be seen in FIG. 3. More
particularly, the lateral edges of one end of this strip 23 are
adjusted with respect to the grooves 20 of the link forming the end
of the strand, and the said strip 23 is then slid along the length
of the virtually continuous groove formed by the interconnected
links 14 when they are resting on a planar surface. One end of the
strip 23 is introduced into a seat 24 of corresponding shape
situated within the fastening 11, 11', whereas the other end of the
strip 23 is appropriately attached to the watch-case 13. The
projections 19 and the shoulders 21a, 21b and 21c ensure seating
adapted to this strip 23 in order to prevent the latter from
deforming locally under the action of inappropriate pressure. In
one variant, the flexible strip 23 covers not only the central part
15 of the links 14 but also their lateral supports 16, 16'.
[0018] The properties of the strip 23 of each strand 10, 10' must
be determined in such a way that it is able to bend sufficiently to
match a portion of the circumference of the wrist of the wearer of
the watch, but nevertheless without its elastic properties
deteriorating over time. The strip 23 has a thickness of about two
tenths of a millimetre and may be made of any metal or of polymer
but preferably precious metal such as gold, platinum or silver.
[0019] This flexible strip 23 thus allows securing of the links 14
relative to one another in a reliable manner and improves the
aesthetic appearance of the strand by covering the means of
articulation the links.
[0020] In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip 23
is disposed the length of the upper side of each strand 10, 10' in
such a way as to be visible when the watch comprising the bracelet
is on the wrist of the wearer whereas the base plates 14' of the
links 14 are in contact with the skin of the wearer. In another
embodiment (not illustrated), the strip 23 is disposed the length
of the inner side of each strand 10, 10' in such a way as to be in
contact with the skin of the wearer when the base plates 14' of the
links 14 are visible.
* * * * *