Abstract:
The links ( 1 ) are formed by a set of parts ( 3, 4, 6, 9, 15 ) including at least two caps ( 3, 4 ) including, on the one hand, means for assembling ( 13, 14, 15 ) their feet ( 3   b   , 4   b ) to hold, between their heads ( 3   a   , 4   a ) a decorative casing element ( 9 ), and on the other hand, locking means ( 6, 16 ) at the junction of their feet ( 3   b   , 4   b ) for immobilising each link ( 1 ) on the connecting member. The preferred embodiment includes a rigid tube ( 15 ) assembling the feet ( 3   b   , 4   b ) and holding a deformable insert locking the connecting member.

Description:
This application claims priority from European Patent Application 05012513.7 filed Jun. 10, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention concerns a necklace or a bracelet with regularly spaced links on a flexible connecting member. 
   It is an object of the present invention to propose a fanciful article having a pleasing appearance that can easily be altered to adapt to fashion trends and that has a low cost price and whose size can easily be adjusted. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various devices, particularly in the watch making field, allow a set of decorative elements to be assembled on a flexible connecting member, for example to form a watch bracelet or a necklace. Links are then arranged in accordance with different variants to form a more or less rigid hinged assembly. 
   In the technical field, various devices concern links that are hinged to each other to form a bracelet or necklace but these devices, based on the principle of hinging links to each other, do not allow said links to be spaced along the assembly element because of the necessary juxtaposition of the elements. 
   A bracelet composed of links connected to each other using pins is known, there also exist links in the form of a frame, like that disclosed in FR Patent No. 1 603 836 and several examples of this design for necklaces or bracelets in which the links are arranged in relation to each other via more or less sophisticated hinges and linking parts. 
   Since the complexity of this type of hinge has been the cause of numerous problems during use, the use of one or several flexible connecting members, which generally pass through the links, has been envisaged, in order to overcome this difficulty. Such systems are disclosed for example in CH Patent Nos. 490 827 and 482 420. 
   In the field of jewellery, the use of a connecting member passing through decorative elements or jewels, which are then simply threaded on one after the other, is well known. When there is an insufficient number of elements, i.e. they cannot be juxtaposed, this arrangement results in unevenly distributed empty spaces and to an inelegant assembly when the necklace or bracelet is worn by the user. 
   It is indispensable for the decorative elements to be held on the flexible connecting member if a chain configuration with preserved empty spaces is desired, i.e. in the situation in which the links or decorative elements are not juxtaposed to form a continuous assembly. This arrangement can be desired when the decorative elements are voluminous or when, for example, the decorative part of the links changes from one element to the next. 
   A first problem to be overcome thus consists in the possibility of arranging links along a necklace or bracelet in a discontinuous manner with the possibility of keeping said links in predefined positions. 
   The arrangement of elements on a flexible connecting member is known wherein the elements are hinged to each other in a complex manner, for example by snap fit, such as disclosed in FR Patent No. 2 036 330. 
   Bracelets have also been proposed wherein one or several flexible connecting members pass through links and are held by the pinching or deformation of the element itself, as illustrated in CH Patent No. 515 005. 
   EP Patent No. 167 891 relating to a wristwatch including a plurality of elements hinged to each other, and wherein the links comprise two longitudinal channels for the passage of flexible connecting members, has a similar assembly and holding design to that cited previously. 
   A method of securing decorative elements to a flexible connecting member by means of locking screws passing through said elements has also been disclosed. This device allows the links perfect freedom of movement in relation to each other but employs a large number of small parts that are difficult to assembly on an industrial scale. 
   Study of the prior art shows that several devices overcome this known problem of spacing links or decorative elements along a flexible connecting member, however, the systems usually have the major drawback of making it difficult, or impossible, to replace the assembled elements and of complicating both adjustment of the length of the assembly and positioning the individual elements longitudinally. 
   From an aesthetic point of view, control of the linking and localisation of the elements is frequently desired, for example for jewellery necklaces. One could for example envisage placing a juxtaposed set of pearls, then an empty space, a black pearl, an empty space, another jewel, and again a set of pearls, to form original series of links. 
   A second problem consists thus in making an assembly whose individual elements are easy to arranged, and particularly maintaining the possibility of empty spaces along the necklace or bracelet, between the links, while ensuring that said links are immobilised in their allocated position. 
   In known bracelet and necklace manufacturing techniques the various attempts to overcome the preceding problems have led to complex solutions that are often difficult to implement. A third, economical, problem is raised as regards the mass production of such bracelets or necklaces. The ability to produce technically simple links for the lowest possible cost price is a deciding factor. 
   Currently in the field of jewellery or watch making, the decorative parts covering the parts or assemblies produced are difficult to alter. A fourth problem is linked to the ease with which the decorative parts carried by the links can be replaced in order to adapt them to fashion and the user&#39;s convenience, whether this is carried out by users or during manufacture. 
   Said decorative parts and the hinged link assembly on a flexible connecting member must also answer the necessary criteria of solidity and durability during extended use of the necklace or bracelet. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is thus an object of the present invention, which therefore consists of a necklace or a bracelet including links and a flexible connecting member, to overcome these main difficulties. 
   Each link is therefore formed by a set of pieces comprising at least two caps traversed by a channel for receiving the connecting member and a decorative part element held between the heads of the caps, said caps comprising, on the one hand means for assembling their feet preferably without exerting mechanical stresses on the decorative part, and on the other hand locking means at the junction of their feet for immobilising each link at a chosen location on the connecting member. 
   The caps can be assembled by means of a complementary male and female parts provided in their feet. They can also be assembled by means of an intermediate rigid tube surrounding their feet, said tube itself being surrounded by the decorative part or being able to form said decorative part. 
   The locking means can be formed by a particular arrangement of the feet or by inserting an insert exerting a compressive force on the connecting member or, conversely, allowing an elastomeric part of the connecting member to expand. 
   A bracelet or a necklace according to the invention has multiple advantages in relation to the known prior art:
         The links can be positioned at will along the flexible connecting member forming a support, and particularly with spaces left free, without any risk of sliding. Various decorative parts carried by the links can thus be arranged with regular spacing without insertion of an intermediate piece.       

   The links being not hinged with respect to each other, the bracelet on the collar has a high flexibility.
         Because of the great ease with which the links are locked and unlocked, the number and position of the links can easily be adjusted.   The manufacture of various constituent elements of the links and the assembly of the bracelet or necklace can be achieved at a modest cost price, which essentially takes into account, for the overall cost paid by the client, the cost of the casing.   The great ease of assembly and alteration of the set of links allows the casing to be altered in accordance with fashion or users&#39; taste, and one could even envisage said users making bracelets or necklaces to their liking after acquiring the constituent elements of various links and decorative parts.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of various embodiment examples, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an overall view of a necklace according to the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section of a link according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2A  shows other locking means of the link shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section of a link according to a variant of the first embodiment; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show various embodiments of flexible connecting members that can be used in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-section of a link according to a second variant of the first embodiment, and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section of a link according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a necklace comprising links  1  arranged on a flexible connecting member  2 , closed by a clasp  5 . In this example, the links are contiguous at an angle, but it could be envisaged, within the scope of the invention, to place the links further apart from each other. 
     FIGS. 2 to 5  describe in more detail various variants of a first embodiment concerning in particular a first means of assembling links  1  on a flexible connecting member  2 . 
   In the following description, a “flexible connecting member” means any connecting member able to bear a certain curvature to form, without breaking, a necklace or a bracelet comprising a clasp  5 . 
   As can be seen in the first variant shown in  FIG. 2 , link  1  is formed of only three pieces, namely two caps  3 ,  4 , comprising heads  3   a ,  4   a , whose section is greater than feet  3   b ,  4   b , traversed by a channel  7  for the passage of connecting member  2  with friction or with play. The shoulders formed between heads  3   a ,  4   a  and feet  3   b ,  4   b  of the two caps  3 ,  4 , which are T shaped, hold a decorative part  9  when caps  3 ,  4  are secured by feet  3   b ,  4   b . In this first embodiment, feet  3   b ,  4   b  are designed with complementary male  13  and female  14  parts. 
   Complementary male and female parts  13 ,  14  are assembled in a known manner in the zones where they overlap, for example by bonding, driving in, snap fit, screwing or by a bayonet device. Driving in is the preferred embodiment, since the manufacture of caps  3 ,  4  is simpler and more economical, while still allowing disassembly to replace one decorative part  9  with another. 
   In this first variant, the locking means consist simply of a space  16  formed in the bottom of female part  14  and having a slightly larger section than the section of channel  7  for the passage of a flexible connecting member  2  shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . 
     FIG. 4A  shows a first embodiment of connecting member  2  which includes a core  2   a  that cannot be deformed, for example made of steel, on which elastomeric balls  11   a  have been over moulded. These elastomeric balls  11   a  can be compressed in channel  7  and expand again in space  16  to lock a link  1 . 
     FIG. 4B  shows a second embodiment of connecting member  2  which then comprises a deformable core  2   b  in which “discs”  11   b  are formed by crushing, said discs extending beyond the section of connecting member  2 . The discs can, as previously, be compressed in channel  7  and expand again in space  16 . 
   It is also possible to use a flexible connecting member  2  that has neither a bulge  11   a , nor crushed deformation  11   b , provided that said connecting member has a deformable external sheath. The means for locking link  1  on connecting member  2  are then those shown in  FIG. 2A . As can be seen, close to its inner end, channel  7  of female cap  4  has a narrow portion  17  which allows connecting member to be pinched. In an equivalent manner, narrow portion  17  can be provided close to the inner end of cap  3 . It is even possible to provide an harrow portion  17  close to the ends of the two caps  3 ,  4 , which helps to reinforce, or replace, the means for assembling the two caps could then simply be assembled by friction. 
   With reference now to  FIG. 3 , a variant of the first embodiment is shown comprising an additional part. It can be seen that space  16 , between the bottom of female part  14  and the end of male part  13  houses an insert  6 . Insert  6  includes along the axis of channels  7  a through passage  8  having in its substantially median part a recess  18 . Recess  18  has the same function as space  16  in the embodiment previously described and locks the links on connecting members of the type shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . Insert  6 , which will not be visible once the link has been assembled, can for example be manufactured by injection moulding a rigid plastic material. In such case, channels  7  can have a substantially equal section to that of over moulded parts  11   a  or deformed parts  11   b  of connecting member  2 , and through passage  8  can have a slightly smaller section to allow forced passage as far as recess  18 . 
     FIG. 5  shows another variant wherein insert  6 , made of a deformable material such as an elastomer, has a narrow portion  10  smaller than the section of connecting member  2 . This embodiment allows the user to choose the space that he wishes between each link  1 . 
   With reference now to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment is shown, which differs from those previously described in that the two caps  3 ,  4  are entirely identical, and in that the assembly forming a link includes an additional assembly part, namely a rigid tube  15  which surrounds feet  3   b ,  4   b  while being secured to the latter by the means previously described. The decorative part  9  is mounted with friction on said tube, i.e. without any mechanical stress on said decorative part, particularly when it is made of a fragile material such as ceramic material or glass. When decorative part  9  is made of a material capable of resisting mechanical stress, particularly assembly stress, it can form a single piece with tube  15 . The length of feet  3   b ,  4   b  is such that, with the inner wall of tube  15 , they form a space  16  inside which an insert  6  is arranged. In the example shown, this is a compressive insert, i.e. having a through passage  8  of smaller section than the section of connecting member  2 . It is clear, without departing from the scope of the invention, that the variants of the first embodiment can be adapted to this second embodiment. 
   Although this second embodiment is that which comprises the largest number of pieces, it is a preferred embodiment, in particular because, as the two caps are identical, the manufacture does not require more different parts to be made, and assembly of the various parts is facilitated. 
   According to the invention, and for both embodiments and depending on the variants presented, each link can be assembled prior to mounting on the connecting member, or conversely the links can be positioned one by one in the following manner, taking the second embodiment by way of example:
         The various constituent elements of a link  1  are made to slide over flexible connecting member  2  in the proper order, the insert being positioned at the place chosen for the link.   The cap  3  is completely engaged in rigid assembly tube  15  in order to close it.   Decorative part  9  is threaded onto the rigid tube.   Cap  4  is pressed against insert  6 .   The two preceding assemblies are fitted together such that insert  6  remains positioned in the middle of the links, and particularly on the part comprising the bulge or narrow portion portion, depending upon the variant envisaged. Fitting together the various elements causes the flexible connecting member to be pinched and the link to be immobilised, or, conversely snap fits it into the insert.       

   When the links have to be replaced or arranged differently, the two caps need simply to be moved apart to release the central part locking the link onto the flexible connecting member. 
   Several other variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, particularly one of the caps can include a deformable part on its inner face. This deformable part could for example be connected to the cap structure or formed with added complementary material. 
   Various cap shapes have been presented in the description of the invention. Numerous other variants exist with more or less complex configurations allowing multiple fits inside the rigid assembly tube. 
   Likewise, the materials used to form the caps can be very varied. However, they will preferably be chosen as a function of their aesthetic appeal and cost. Thus, for example, the use of transparent plastic could be envisaged, containing iridescent or mother-of-pearl inclusions in the form of flakes, caps coated with silver or gold paint, and a multitude of optical effects as complements to the decorative part itself. 
   It is also possible to provide flexible connecting members having different patterns from those explained previously. For example, one could envisage using small thermoshrinkable tubes that the user chooses to set in place, forming cylindrical thicker portions for positioning the links, instead of the bulges previously described. A large variety of materials can be used. 
   The dimensions of the links can vary as a function of the decorative part and the aesthetic effect desired for the necklace or the bracelet. Without departing from the scope of the invention, the diameter of the drive sheath and the length thereof can vary to a great extent. 
   The links shown in the various variants described are preferably cylindrical. It is however entirely conceivable to manufacture a necklace or bracelet with links of ovoid, spherical, polygonal or other shape, in accordance with the principle described in the invention. 
   Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of example, but it also includes all technical equivalents and combinations thereof.