Abstract:
A wrist watch includes a watch case main and a removable strap. Each end of the strap is solidly connected to respective free ends of two linking elements that are solidly connected to the main. Each linking element is mounted so that it can move in relation to the main and the free end of each linking element can be oriented in different directions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a watch bracelet designed to be worn on a wearer&#39;s wrist. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    As its name indicates, a watch bracelet is a watch mounted on a bracelet that can be made, for example, in leather, in metal, or in plastic. Such a watch bracelet is essentially made of a watch case containing a watch movement as well as a detachable bracelet for which the ends are fixed in a removable manner to the central portion of the watch case, hereinafter referred to as a middle. The case is generally equipped with two pairs of lugs forming connection elements that are respectively connected at two opposing sides to the watch case middle, and which extends in the same direction but in opposite senses. The free end of each lug generally includes a bore designed to receive the end of a telescoping pin generally referred to as a push pin, that is itself connected to the bracelet ends. 
         [0003]    This type of watch bracelet is inconvenient and not always very comfortable to the wearer since it presents a part having dimensions that are relatively important, these being rigid structures that do not permit the watch bracelet to easily adapt to the size of a wearer&#39;s wrist. This rigid part corresponds to the watch case main section (main) combined with the two pairs of connection lugs. Clearly, these are essentially two pairs of lugs, disposed in cantilevered fashion from the watch case main section, that generally have an excessive length at the rigid part of the watch bracelet. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Thus, the technical problem resolved by the primary object of the present invention is to offer a watch bracelet including a main case section and a removable bracelet, each bracelet end being connected at its free ends, respectively, to two connection elements connected to the main, the watch bracelet avoiding problems of the state of the current art and being able to adapt better to the body contour of the wearer, while offering improved use comfort. 
         [0005]    The solution to the technical problem consists in accordance with the present invention in providing each connection element as an element moveably mounted in relation to the watch case main, the free ends of each element being suitable to be oriented in different directions. 
         [0006]    The invention thus defines an advantage in reducing the dimensions of the rigid part of the watch bracelet. In effect, the overhanging connection elements are not connected in a rigid manner to the watch case main section. Due to their relative mobility, each connection element is naturally oriented and follows a reasonable tangential direction to the curve of the wearer&#39;s wrist. The set formed by the main and the connection elements therefore provide a structure that is sufficiently flexible to accommodate in a superior manner the wearer&#39;s wrist, and improves comfort substantially. 
         [0007]    Additional characteristics will emerge during the course of the following description which can be considered on its own or in reasonable technical combinations. 
         [0008]    The description is not limited to the title but will be better understood by referring to the following drawings: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a watch bracelet in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a disassembled view showing in detail the main section of the watch case and the connecting elements of the watch bracelet as shown assembled in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  represents a side elevational view showing the watch bracelet of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the watch bracelet shown in  FIG. 1 , illustrating certain mobility characteristics of the connection elements when the bracelet is not connected to the main. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the watch bracelet shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    For reasons of clarity, the same numbered elements are designated by identical reference numbers in all of the views. Further, only the essential elements, necessary for an understanding of the invention have been shown without respect for actual scale and in a schematic manner. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a watch bracelet  1  that essentially comprises a case  2  for a dial and a removable bracelet  3 . In a classical manner, the case  2  includes a main section  4 , hereinafter referred to as the main  4 , the latter housing a watch movement that is not illustrated in the figures for purposes of clarity. The ends  5 ,  6  of the bracelet  3  are removably connected to the main  4  by an intermediary structure, notably two pairs of connection elements  10 ,  30 ;  20 ,  40  that are respectively disposed in opposition on the boundary  7  of the main  4 . It is also noticed that a crown  8  is present. 
         [0016]    Conforming to the object of the present invention, each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is movably mounted in comparison to the main  4 . The free end  11 ,  21 ,  31   41  of each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is also capable of being oriented in different directions. In the illustrated example, each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is joined so as to extend in all possible directions that generate a cone having its peak situated in the main  4 . 
         [0017]    The watch of  FIG. 2  shows that each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  includes a spherical part  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  forming a ball and socket so that each radial part  13 ,  23 ,  33 ,  43  creates a first assembly means  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44 . The spherical part  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  is fitted so as to enable movement in a concave recess  15 ,  25 ,  35 ,  45  forming a seat. The first means of assembly  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  is itself configured in a manner to cooperate by connection with a second means of assembly  50 ,  60  connected to the free end  5 ,  6  corresponding to bracelet  3 . 
         [0018]    Following one example of the invention, the concave receptacle  15 ,  25 ,  35 ,  45  includes, on the one hand a hemispheric cavity  16 ,  26 ,  36 ,  46  formed in the main  4 , and on the other hand, by a removable clevis  17 ,  27 ,  37 ,  47  the internal face of which presents a complementary form of the spherical part  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  since the spherical part  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  is located in the hemispherical cavity  16 ,  26 ,  36 ,  46 . The clevis  17 ,  27 ,  37 ,  47  includes an opening  18 ,  28 ,  38 ,  48  permitting the passage of the radial part  13 ,  23 ,  33 ,  43  and consequently the corresponding mobility of the connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . 
         [0019]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, each clevis  17 ,  27 ,  37 ,  47  is connected on the main  4  by connecting screws that are not represented on the different figures, again this being to enhance clarity. 
         [0020]    In a particularly advantageous manner, each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  benefits from different mobilities. Therefore, and as one can see from  FIG. 3 , each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  can tilt vertically up to about 90°. In this particular example, each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is more precisely able to tilt vertically in comparison with the plane of the watch bracelet to about 30° toward the top as in the case of the connection element  40 , and up to about 60° toward the bottom as for the connection element  30 . 
         [0021]    Regarding  FIG. 4 , each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is also capable of horizontal tilt to about 35°. In this particular example, each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is horizontally tiltable to about 5° toward the interior and 30° toward the exterior, in comparison to a plane P that is orthogonal to the plane of the watch bracelet  1 , on the one hand, and orthogonal to the sagittal plane S passing through the crown, on the other hand. This characteristic is particularly advantageous to compensate for the eventual assembly effect that can exist between the first means of an assembly  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  and the second associated assembly means  50 ,  60 . 
         [0022]    As also shown in  FIG. 4 , each connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  is also able to turn axially about itself, that is to say around the direction in which the connection element  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  extends. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5  also evidence the nature of the structure of each first means of assembly  12 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  and of each second means of assembly  50 ,  60 . In this example, each first means of assembly  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  is comprised of a pass through bore forming a connecting bearing  19 ,  29 ,  39 ,  49  by cooperating with the connection pin  51 ,  61 , forming a second means of assembly  50 ,  60 . Each connection pin  51 ,  61  is located in two corresponding bearings  19 ,  39 ;  29 ,  49  by the intermediary of two set screws  52   a,    52   b;    62   a,    62   b,  forming stops with the respective ends of each connection pin  51 ,  61 . All the known assembly means and equivalents to those relating to the first means of assembly  14 ,  24 ,  34 ,  44  and to the second connection means  50 ,  60 , can evidently be adopted for the assembly function to be fulfilled. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows more specifically the lower part of each clevis  17 ,  27 ,  37 ,  47 . It equally permits the observation of the presence of a bottom  9  that provides access to the interior of the watch case  2 , at the underside of the watch bracelet  1 . This bottom is connected to the lower edge of the main by a set of screws.