U.S. patent number 3,846,977 [Application Number 05/389,876] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-12 for wristlet at least partially made of elements articulated to each other.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Etampes et Mecanique L. Serafini. Invention is credited to Emile Currat.
United States Patent |
3,846,977 |
Currat |
November 12, 1974 |
WRISTLET AT LEAST PARTIALLY MADE OF ELEMENTS ARTICULATED TO EACH
OTHER
Abstract
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.
Inventors: |
Currat; Emile (Vesenaz,
CH) |
Assignee: |
Etampes et Mecanique L.
Serafini (Geneva, CH)
|
Family
ID: |
4386187 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/389,876 |
Filed: |
August 20, 1973 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Aug 30, 1972 [CH] |
|
|
12764/72 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
59/80; 29/453;
63/4; 59/91 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
5/105 (20130101); Y10T 29/49876 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A44C
5/00 (20060101); A44C 5/10 (20060101); F16g
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;59/80,82,91,78,79R
;63/4 ;224/4B,4H,4D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
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.
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.
* * * * *