AN IMPROVED WATCH CASE FUNCTIONING AS A CLASP, THE CLASP-WATCH CASE, BEING LOCKED BY A PRESS BUTTON

Abstract: The articulated device, consists of three parts (2, 5, 6), for permitting to wear or take off a wrist-watch (1) connected to a strap (7), of a sole length. The first part (2) of this device is so shaped as to receive and partially protect the watch (1). Said part (2) is formed by two parts (3, 4). The part (3) shaped as an annular frame is hinged, at one of its ends, to the intermediate part (5), which at its other end is pivotally connected, to the part (6), so that the parts (5, 6) can rotate in opposite directions to each other. The part (6), at one of its ends is hinged to the end portion (7b) of the strap (7), while the other end (7a) of this latter is hinged to the opposite end of the part (3). The hinge axes (x-x, y-y, w-w, z-z) of the parts (2, 5, 6) are parallel to each other. The articulated device comprises a spring locking means (15 to 22) including a manually controllable releasing means.

Description: - i ~ AN IMPROVED WATCH CASE FUNCTIONNING AS A CLASP, THE CLASP-WATCH CASE, BEING LOCKED BY A PRESS BUTTON " This invention relates to an articulated device, designed to be inserted in the strap or bracelet , carrying a wrist watch in order to permit to increase the length of said strap, as the user has to take cz \ ff the watch so as to allow that the strap together with the watch can be slipped off along the hand, and taken off. Said articulated device is maintained in its closed condition by an automatic locking means provided with a manually controllable realising means. Devices of this type are already known, applied to metal link strap or bracelets for ladies' or men's wrist- watches, which are formed by links articulated to each other. Said known devices consist of three parts obtained by thin metal sheet, said parts being hinged to each other about parallel axes set at right angles to the strap center plane and which permit, owing to their zig¬ zag connection, to cause said parts to he superimposed upon each other by means of relative rotary movements in opposite directions , until they attain a use position, in which the parts are in a superimposed or accord} on relationship so that the device has a minimum length, to an elongated position of maximum length, when the parts become substantially coplanar . Said known devices are usually mounted in the central part of a strap or bracelet and therefore this latter must be necessarily cut in two lengths. One of each of said strap lengths is pivotally connected to one of the sides of the body of the watch, and the other to first and to the third element of the articulated device respectively . The present invention concerns an improved articulated device having substantially an operating structure similar to that of the known devices but which has been modified so as to present the following avantages_ a) The articulated device, in its operative condition , substantially cannot be seen by any observer, since it is hidden behind the watch body, while the strap or bracelet is formed by a sole continuous band or strip of links. b_) The first part of the articulated device consists of two elements so shaped and designed as, to form a support and protection means for the watch, since the first element component consists of an annular peripheral frame to receive and to protect laterally the watch body, while the second element protects the bottom wall of the watch- case, where the inner mechanisms of the watch are placed, c) The articulated device includes also a safety locking means for said three elements in their closure positions , and which can be released only in the case that the wearer presses an outer control push button. That prevents the very frequent inconvenience, that, after a sufficiently long time of use, the simple locking elastic hook means which is present in the known types of such devices, becomes inefficient so that the articulated device opens, so that the watch together with the strap can slip off the wearer ' s hand. The safety locking means of the invention makes very difficult that the watch can be snatched from the wearer ' s arm by a thief, since the device of the invention is very strong on account of the aformentioned characteristics and purposes and since the watch together with the strap remains steadily and closely wound around the wearer ' s wrist. These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of two embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: _ Figure 1 is a partial front view of a wrist-watch for a man, in the closure condition of the articulated device thereof ; Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal side view showing the articulated device, of Figure 1, connected to the watch, when the intermediate and the last elements of the articulated device have reached an intermediate position of the closure or opening cycle of said device; Figures 3 and 4, when considered together, show the longitudinal sectional view, in enlarged scale, of the assembly shown in Figure 1, said sectional view being taken on the center plane B-3; Figure 5 shows, in the same enlarged scale as used in Figures 3 and 4, the cross section A-A perpendicular to the plane B-B of Figure 1; and Figures 6 and 7 are a partial front view and a partial longitudinal sectional view respectivel , similar to those of Figures 1 and 2, but concerning the application of the invention to a lady's wrist-watch. Now referring to the drawings, at first only the main components of the device which is the object of the present invention are considered . Referring to Figures 1 to 5 , the body of a man 's wrist- watch is generically indicated 1; said watch 1 has been not modified by the present invention in any of the operative parts thereof. Said body 1 is supported and protected laterally and in its lower part by the first element of the device, generally indicated 2 and which is formed, in combination , by a first upper member 3 shaped as a peripheral frame and by a disc-like lower member 4. At one of the sides of the member 3, i.e. the side 3a (at the left side of Figure 1), said member 3 is pivotally connected about the transverse axis w-w to the end portion 7a of a strap or bracelet 7, preferably, made of metal, while, at the opposite side 3b of the member 3, this latter is hinged, about the parallel axis x-x, to the end 5b of the second member or component 5 of the articulated device, while the other end 5a of said member 5 (at the left side of Figure 1) is hinged, about the axis y-y, parallel to the axes x-x and w-w, to the end 6a of the third member or component 6 of the articulated device, while at the opposite end 6b of its member 6 is hinged, about the axis z-z parallel to the preceding ones, to the other end portion 7b of the strap or bracelet 7, so that this latter according to the present invention is formed of a sole continuous link band. The part 2, as has been afore-mentioned , is formed in combination by two members 3 and 4. The member 3 is shaped as a peripheral frame provided with a central opening 25 comprising annular shoulders 25a, 25b so shaped and positioned so that said member 9 is able to strongly hold the watch 1 between the shoulders 25a, 25b. The watch 1 is protected , at the lower part thereof by the element 4, designed to be fixed by a pressure effect by means of the peripheral flange 8, to the member 3. The member 4 is designed to protect the bottom wall of the watch-case where the inner delicate mechanisms of the watch are mounted. At the side, where the articulation axis w-w is provided , the member 3 extends outwards with the part 3a which is similar to a bar and is shaped with steps and which extends transversally with regard to the center-plane B-B. Said part 3a ends with a limb 3a' bent at 90* downwards : on said link 3a hinge members 9a are welded, mounted about a pivot pin 27, while other hinge members 9b designed to co-operate with the first hinge members 9a and the pivot pin 9, are made integral with the end portion 7a of the link strap or bracelet 7. On the inner surface of the limb 3a' notches 10 are arranged having a f nction which will be hereinafter described. The part 3a has its inner surface 3a" so shaped as to form together with the outer lower portion 3' of the frame-like member 3 a recess adapted to receive the lateral bar-like parts 5a and 6a of the elements 5 and 6 of the articulated device, which are hinged to each other by means of hinge members 12a, made integral with the body 5 and coaxial hinge members 12b respectivel , made integral with the element 6 and all pivotally mounted about the axis y-y of a transverse pivot pin 26. From the hinge members 12a or 12b . extend outwards radial small_ pins or prongs 11 (Figures 2 and 4), so positioned and dimensioned as to be able to be inserted by a pressure force, in the notches 10. The part 5a of the member 5 has an upper surface so shaped as to abut against the central part of the inner surface 3a", while the lower surface of the part 5a facing the part 6a is so shaped to be able to receive said part 6a (Figure 4) . In correspondence of the conventional push-button 14 of a wrist-watch 1, which serves to control the position of the watch hands, the member 5 and 6 are provided with lateral recesses 35, 36, so positioned and shaped as to permit the members 5, 6 to be inserted around said push¬ button 14, without inter f erring with the operation of this latter. The other end portion 3b of the member 3 (Figure 3) is also constructed so as to form a transverse bar-like part, the inner surface 3b' of which together with the outer facing side surface 3' of the member 3 defines a recess forming an upper chamber 31, and also adapted to receive the bar-like end portion 5b, placed at the right hand of the annular element 5, supporting a tubular hinge member 13, pivotally mounted about the pin 30, carried , at the end portions, thereof by the part 3b.. Said chamber 31 is designed to house the components of the safety locking device, provided with manually controllable realising means (Figures 3 and 5 ) . Now referring to Figure 5, one can see that the chamber 31 extends in the direction of the axis x-x, has a substantially rectangular cross section and is open at its lower part, at least in the central part thereof so as to permit a hook-like-tooth 15 to enter therein , said tooth 15 extending upwards from the bottom of a transverse groove 28, open outwards and arranged in the upper bar-like end portion 6b. of the member 6. Along the chamber 31 a sliding member can longitudinally slide, which comprises two transverse walls 19a, 19b and longitudinal upper wall 19. Against the transverse wall 19a abuts the end of a longitudinal rod 21, the enlarged head 21a of which is located in the inside of a bushing 23 in which an expansion spring 24 is mounted which at one of its ends presses against the head 21a of the rod 21 and at the opposite one abuts against the control push-button 22 slidably mounted along the bushing 23. At the opposite end the sliding member 19 rests against the end of a rod 37 b . y means of the wall 19b . , while the enlarged head 37a of said rod 37 slides in the inside of the stationary cap 16 and presses against a spring 17, said cap 16 being connected to the body 3b . in any removable manner. The tooth 15 having a hook head 15a, which is fixed to the b . ottom of the groove 28, extends upwards therefrom, passing through an orifice 5f arranged in the end portion 5b . of the member so that it can enter the longitudinal slot 20 arranged in the wall 10 till it comes in contact with the top wall 3b . ' of the chamber 31, as the sliding member 19, 19a, 19b . is in its rest position. Facing the side of the tooth 15a, where the hook slot 15c of the tooth 15 opens, a shaped projecting plate 32 is fixed to the lower surface of the longitudinal wall 19. Said plate extends beyond the transverse edge of the longitudinal slot 20, so as to face said slot 15c, of the hook member 15, 15a, so as to be able to enter said slot 15c, as the head 15a of the hook tooth 15, 15a comes in contact with the walls of the upper wall of chamber 31, i.e. with the lower surface 3b . Therefore the thickness of the longitudinal wall 19 of the sliding member must be substantially equal to the height of the hook-like portion 15a, placed above the slot 15c. The part 15a facing the plate 32 is shaped at 15b . so as to promote the engagement, while the thickness of the plate 32 must bβ not greater than the height of the slot 15c. As the members 5 and 6 of the articulated device of the invention move so as to come in contact with the element 2 supporting the watch 1 and, in particular , with the part 3 thereof, the hook tooth 15, 15a passes through the orifice 5f so as to reach the chamber 31, in the inside of which it comes in contact by means of the head 15a having shaped edge 15b. the facing shaped edge 32a of the plate 32; also the shaped edge 32a is so shaped as to promote its engagement with the shaped edge 15b of head 15a. Said plate 32 is made integral with the walls of the sliding member so that said sliding member is forced to move away, against the effect of the spring 17, until the head 15a is allowed to pass beyond the projecting edge 32a of the plate 32; afterwards the sliding member 19, 19a, 19b . can return to its rest position , in which the parts 2, 5, 6 of the articulated device of the invention are held in their -safety locking condition and can no more be seen from the outside . As the wearer wants to take off his wrist-watch , it will b sufficient that he pushes the push-button 22, which, by means of the spring 24 and the rod 21, 21a causes the sliding member 19, 19a, 19b to be moved towards the cap 16 in contrast with the effect of the spring 17. The stroke of the sliding member 19, -19a, 19b . is limited by the presence of limiting stop means consisting of slot and pin assemblies 33, 34. In said stop position of the sliding member (towards the right hand in Figure 5) the projecting portion or tooth 32a obtained from the plate 32 comes out of the slot 15a of the hook head of the tooth 15, so that the locking tooth 15, 15a can be moved away from the surface 3b.' together with the end portion 6b. of the element 6, rotating in the clockwise direction , while the element 5 can rotate about the pin 30 in counterclockwise direction. In Figures 6 and 7 a variant of the articulated device is shown to bβ applied to a lady's wrist-watch 1A. For this intended purpose the articulated device remains substantially identical. It is, however, to bβ noted that on account of the fact that the ladies' watches are smaller than the men's ones, in order to permit that a safety locking means having a good reliability and having the aforementioned characteristics can b . e included, it is necessary a compensation for the less length of ϋ-he elements 2, 5, 6 for a lady's watch than that of those for a man's watch. Thus it is necessary to give a greater width to the part 3 concerned. Therefore side bar-like parts 3aA and 3b.B (this latter not shown in Figures 6 and 7) will have a greater width, measured along the line B-B so as to have, in particular , in the part 3b . B a sufficient space to receive a stronger and shorter safety locking means. Therefore the chamber 31 will be shorter and larger, and the groove 28b_, from which extends the hook tooth 15, 15a of the safety snap locking means, will be shorter, but larger than the preceding one.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An articulated device, for increasing the length of a strap or bracelet made of metallic links (7) for a wrist- watch (1), formed by three metallic elements , substantially rigid ' and connected to each other by hinges having parallel axes (x-x; y-y/ z-z) which can be folded in a zig-zag relationship one on the other so that said device can have the minimum length or in which said three elements can b.e brought in a substantially mutual coplanar relationship of a maximum lenght, characterized by the fact that this articulated device consists of three elements (2, 5, 6,) the first element (2) of which consists of two parts (3, 4) which in combination define a space or seat to receive and protect the peripheral side part and the lower part of a wrist-watch (1, la), said parts (3, 4) being hinged to each other to be interconnected b . y elastic pressure , while the part (3) is shaped as an annular frame, one of the sides of which (3a) is provided with means adapted to connect said side (3a) to one of the ends (7a) of the strap or bracelet (7) and is so shaped as to receive and house the end portions (5b, 6b), hinged to each other, of the elements (5 and 6), when in their folded position , while at the opposite end portion (3b . ) of the part (3) said portion (3b . ) is provided with hinge means (13a, 13b . , 30) enabling the element (3) and the end portion (5b . ) of the element (5), to pivotally rotate about a transverse axis (x-x), wherein the opposite end (5a) of said element (5) is hinged to the end (6a) of the element (5) about a transverse axis (y-y)/ and wherein the opposite end (6b . ) of the element (6) is hinged to the other end (7b) of the strap (7), between said end portions (3b., 5b . , 6b . ) being operatively mounted a safety locking means, which can be released only by means of a manually controllable outer push-button (22) and which comprises : a hook member (15, 15a, 15c) extending from the end portion (6b) of the element (6) and passing through the end portions (5b.), in the folded position of the articulated device; an orifice (5f) for the passage of the hook memb.er (15, 15a, 15c) and arranged through the end portion (5b.) ; and a chamb.er (31) arranged in the end portion (3b . ) , designed to contain the components of the safety locking means, which can be released b . y said outer control push-button (22), and wherein in the end portion (3a) of the element (3) is arranged a lower recess is obtained , adapted to receive the end portions (5a, 6a) in the superposed position of the elements (2, 5, 6), said portions (5a, 6a) being locked into said recess 2>_y elastic pressure means (10, 11), which can be released by traction force. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first element (2) of said articulated device, which is constituted , in combination, by a part (3) having a frame-like shape, defines in the central part thereof an opening (25) adapted to receive and hold the watch (1) so as to protect the peripheral side part thereof , while the part (4) is designed to protect the bottom wall (la) of the watch-case and which can be connected by means of a - 23 - pressure to the preceding one, said part (3) comprising two opposite side transverse end portions (3a, 3b . ) shaped as bar-like elements , having longitudinal sides particular to the hinge axes (x-x,- y- z-z) and wherein 5 the end limb . (3a') of the side end portion (3a) of member (3) is made integral with hinge members (9a) designed to co-operate with other coaxial hinge members (9b.), fixedly connected to the end portion (7a) of the strap (7), said members (9a, 9b) together with a pivot pin (27) carrying 0 out a hinge connection about the axis (w-w) bβtween the strap and the frame-like part (3) of the composite element (2) . 3. A device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein at the lower part of the nd portion (3a) of the frame-like part 5 (3) a recess is arranged so shaped as to form a seat for receiving the end portions (5a, 6a) of the elements (5, 6) and the hinge members (12a, 12b_, 10) forming the articulation means about the axis y-y) when in their folded position and in which said hinge members (12a or 20 12b) are provided with radial outwardly projecting locking prongs to be inserted by a pressure force in facing notches (10) arranged in the inner surface (3") of the limb. (3a) of the part (3a) in the closure or folded position of the articulated device. 25 4. A device according to claims 1 and 2, wherein in the lower part of the bar-like end portion (3b) of the element (3) a chamber (31) is arranged , open at its bottom and designed to receive the components of a safety locking means, provided with a manually controllable releasing means (16 to 24, 32), as well as, in the lowest part of the chamb . er (31) a space adapted to receive the end portions (5b_, 6b) of the elements (5, 6) in the closure position of the articulated device. 5. A device according to claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein in the upper surface of the bar-like side portion (6a) of the element (6) a shaped groove (28) is arranged, parallely to the hinge axe (x-x, y-y, z-z), from which a hook member or tooth (15, 15a) is mounted which extends outwards, and wherein the hook head (15a) is provided with a side slot or recess (15c), while said head (15a) is so externally shaped as to promote the engagement of the hook tooth (15, 15a) with a co-operating hook element, said groove (28) b ing positioned in such a way, that, in the closure condition of the articulated device, a space is defined in the lower part of chamber (31) adapted to receive the end portions (5bj 6b) of the elements (5, 6), while in the end portion (6b) an orifice or passage (5f) is provided having a length greater than that of the hook member (15, 15a) and so shaped as to permit that said hook member can pass through said orifice (5f), said hook membβr (15, 15a) having such a height as to allow that in the closure position of the articulated device the upper part thereof can come nearly in contact with the lower surface (3b_') of the end portion (3b) which forms the upper wall of said chambβr (31), and wherein a sliding member is slidab . ly mounted in said chamber (31), consisting of a longitudinal wall (19) and of two transverse end walls (19a, 19b), said sliding membβr b.eing able to longitudinally reciprocate in the chambβr (31) between two stop positions , and wherein the transverse wall (19b) is put under the action of a helical compression spring (17,) through an interposed longitudinal rod (37, 37a), and mounted between said rod (37, 37a) and a stationar , but removable , cap (16), said wall (19) of the sliding member bβing provided with a longitudinal slot (20) for the passage of the hook membβr (15, 15a), while a short plate (32) is fixed to the lower surface of the wall (19) and projects b . eyond the transverse edge of said slot (20) facing the slot (15c) of the hook member, said plate (20) having a thickness lesser than the height of the slot (15c) and extending b . eyond said transverse edge of the slot (20) of such an extent so as to form a projecting means (32a) so shaped as to promote the engagement into the slot (15c) and which acts as a countertooth, cooperating with the hook memb.er (15, 15a) in order to create a safety locking means, which can bβ released only in response to a displacement of the sliding member (19, 19a, 19b) against the effect of the spring (17) caused by the compression of the spring (24), due to a pressure applied b the user on the outer button (22) .

Inventors: LAMBERT PIERRE, LAMBERT, PIERRE
Applicants: CLASS SPA, CLASS S.P.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A44C5
IPC codes: A44C5, G04B37