Watch Bracelet End Connection Structure

Abstract

A watch bracelet end connection including a hollow body having a pair of intersecting through passageways, one extending generally transversely of an associated bracelet and the other generally longitudinally of the bracelet. And a connector pin receiver insertable into the longitudinally extending passageway for adjustable location therein to selectively locate the pin in said transversely extending passageway, the receiver having a deformable element for locking the receiver in position relative to the hollow body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known to those versed in the art, watch bracelets are conventionally connected to a watch case by a pin extending transversely through receiving means associated with the watch bracelet and having its opposite ends engaging into spaced holes formed in arms associated with the watch case. Such conventional connection structure usually leaves an undesirable space between the end connection portion of the bracelet and the watch case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a unique watch bracelet end connection wherein the connection pin is adjustably located with respect to the watch bracelet, thus to close the space between the bracelet and the watch case.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a watch bracelet end connection structure of the type described wherein the adjustment operation is extremely simple, capable of performance without special instruction, and which can be quickly and easily accomplished to closely fit a watch bracelet to a watch case so as to eliminate the space therebetween, thereby giving the appearance of a unitary bracelet and case structure.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustable watch bracelet end connection structure having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraphs, which is neat and attractive in appearance, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial, exploded plan view showing a watch bracelet end connection structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view showing the connection structure of FIG. 1 in assembled relation;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded top perspective view showing the end connection structure of the present invention in association with a watch case;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the receiver of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a watch bracelet is shown therein and generally designated 10, which may be of any suitable configuration, being shown for purposes of illustration only and without limiting intent, as having an end portion 11 formed with an arcuately concave end edge 12. The bracelet 10 may be of any suitable construction, either of flexible, non-extensile or expandable metal structure, wherein it is highly advantageous that the position of the watch case connection pin be selectively adjustable with respect to the watch case and bracelet end connection thus to accomplish the objects of this invention.

Fixedly secured to the bracelet end portion 11 is a hollow body 15, which may be fabricated from sheet metal, as by stamping, or otherwise suitably manufactured from any desired material. The hollow body 15 is welded, soldered or otherwise fixed to the undersurface of the bracelet end portion 11, and is formed with an interior passageway 16 extending transversely across the bracelet 10 and having its opposite ends opening toward opposite sides of the bracelet. Additionally, the hollow body 15 is formed with an open-ended through passageway 17 extending generally longitudinally of the bracelet 10, being spaced laterally medially between opposite side edges thereof, and intersecting with the passageway 16.

Viewed otherwise, the hollow body 15 may be considered as a plate or sheet having its corners 20 and 21 all generally coplanar and suitably fixed in facing engagement with the bracelet end portion 11. A raised body portion 22 extends laterally or transversely across the bracelet 10 providing a downwardly facing hollow which combines with the underlying bracelet portion to define the transverse passageway 16. The body portion 22 is raised above the corner portions 20 and 21 substantially so that the passageway 16 has an ample dimension normal to the bracelet 10.

Additionally, the body 15 may have a raised or elevated portion 23 extending generally longitudinally of the bracelet 10 and opening or facing downwardly toward the bracelet so as to combine therewith to define the longitudinally extending passageway 17. That is, the longitudinal passageway 17 opens away from the bracelet end edge 12 between the body corners 21, and intersects with the transverse passageway 16 toward the bracelet end edge, opening toward the latter through a cutout, opening or hole 25. That is, the hole 25 may be proximate to the end edge 12 and of a dimension normal to the bracelet 10 substantially equal to the interior dimension of the passageway 16 normal to the bracelet. However, as best seen in FIG. 3, the dimension of the longitudinal passageway 17 normal to the bracelet 10 is substantially less than that of the passageway 16 and its intersection with the passageway 17.

If desired, the body 15 may be further provided with a pair of laterally outstanding obliquely outwardly inclined retainer elements or wings 28, and an obliquely outwardly and forwardly extending lip or tongue 29 projecting from the raised body portion 22 over the hole or end opening 25 of the longitudinal passageway 17. That is, the passageway 17 may be considered as having its inner end portion (that portion coincident with the transverse passageway 16) of a greater dimension normal to the bracelet 10 than the remainder or outer end portion of the passageway 17, for a purpose appearing presently in greater detail.

The wings 28 and lip 29, when the bracelet is attached to an associated watch case, extend in overlying position to the underside of the watch case, thus to restrict relative movement between the end connection and the watch case and to prevent undesirable distortion of the end connection.

A watch case is generally designated 30, and may, in the conventional manner, include a pair of laterally spaced arms 31, provided with aligned pin receiving holes 32, for receiving a bracelet connection pin.

An additional component part of the instant bracelet end connection structure includes a receiver generally designated 35, and best seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. The receiver 35 may be suitably fabricated of any desired material, and is shown for purposes of illustration as an elongate, generally rectangular strip, say of sheet metal, having one end portion bent into a generally U-shaped or open loop configuration, as at 36. Specifically, the open loop, U-shaped portion 36 may include a pair of side or leg regions 37 and 38 interconnected by an arcuate bight region 39, which bight region faces an opening 40 between the distal ends of the legs 37 and 38. Extending from one leg 38, as from the distal end region thereof in the direction away from the opposite leg 37, may be an extension, strip portion or shank 41, being generally straight and normal to the legs 37 and 38.

In assembly, the receiver 35 is arranged with its extension or shank portion 41 having its free end aligned with the longitudinal through passageway 17, and inserted through opening or hole 25 into the longitudinal passageway 17. This inserted condition is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, wherein the extension or shank 41, having a relatively small thickness or dimension normal to the bracelet 10, is conformably received in the inner end region of longitudinal passageway 17, and the loop 36, having a relatively large dimension in the direction normal to the bracelet is received in the outer end region of the longitudinal passageway 17, that portion coincident with the transverse passageway 16. This condition is best seen in FIG. 3, it there being apparent that the receiver 35 has been inserted its full or maximum distance into the longitudinal passageway 17, further insertion being limited by engagement of the relatively thick loop 36 with the smaller inner end portion of the longitudinal passageway. In this fully inserted condition, a watch case connection pin 42 may be inserted transversely of the bracelet 10 through the open-ended passageway 16, and simultaneously passing through the loop 36, for engagement of opposite pin ends into respective watch case arms 31.

It will now be appreciated that the receiver 35 may be shifted an appreciable amount in the direction longitudinally of the bracelet 10, as indicated by the arrow 43. This permits of precise and accurate positioning of the watch bracelet 10 relative to the watch case 30. At the precise position of adjustment desired, the extending free portion of shank or extension 41 beyond the inner end of longitudinal passageway 17 may, as best shown in FIG. 3, be bent or otherwise deformed, as in the direction of arrow 44, to effectively retain the receiver in the desired position.

By this simple procedure, effective positioning is quickly and easily achieved. Further, adjustment may be varied or changed, if required, by straightening of the receiver shank 41 for removal of the receiver, and repetition of the above described procedure.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a watch bracelet end connection which is adapted for quick and easy positioning of the bracelet relative to the watch case, which adjustment is durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, being permanent, if desired, but permitting of change if required, and which otherwise fully meets its intended objects.

It will be appreciated, however, that the end portion 11 of the watch bracelet 10, rather than being formed with an arcuately concave end edge, as illustrated at 12 in FIG. 4, may be formed with an edge of any configuration preferably conforming to the corresponding adjacent portion of an associated watch case. For example, if the watch case is to be of a rectangular configuration, then the end portion 11 would be formed with a straight end edge.

It will be further appreciated that the purpose for forming the end edge into a configuration corresponding to the adjacent portion of an associated watch case is so that the space between the end edge of the bracelet and the corresponding adjacent edge of the watch case may be minimized by the locating and positioning of the receiver 35, in the manner as aforedescribed.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A watch bracelet end connection structure comprising a hollow body fixedly secured to a bracelet end to be connected to a watch case, said body having a first through passageway extending transversely of an associated bracelet and a second through passageway extending longitudinally of the bracelet, said second through passageway intersecting said first through passageway and having its outer portion of one dimension larger than that of its inner portion, a receiver having a pin receiving opening and being insertable inwardly through said larger outer second passageway portion into said first passageway for receiving a watch case connecting pin passing through and beyond opposite ends of said first passageway, said receiver having one dimension less than that of said outer second passageway portion and greater than that of said inner second passageway portion to prevent receiver insertion into said inner second passageway portion, and an extension on said receiver insertable with the latter through and out of said inner second passageway portion for locking deformation in its inserted position, whereby said receiver is adjustably retained at a selected position of insertion.

2. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 1, said first passageway being of a cross section permitting said receiver substantial movement with said connection pin received, for selectively positioning said pin longitudinally of the bracelet.

3. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 1, said first and second passageways opening toward the bracelet for closure thereby.

4. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 3, said body being integrally fabricated of sheet metal.

5. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 1, said one dimension extending generally normal to said bracelet.

6. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 1, said receiver comprising a loop, and said extension being integral with said loop.

7. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 6, said integral receiver and loop being fabricated of sheet metal.

8. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 7, said integral receiver and loop comprising a strip having one end formed into a generally U-shaped configuration to define said loop, and the remainder being generally straight to define said extension, the free end of said extension being deformable exteriorly of said body to lock said strip relative to said body.

9. A watch bracelet end connection structure according to claim 1, said hollow body further including at least one retainer element extending in overlying position to the underside of an associated watch case, to restrict relative movement between said end connection and said watch case.