FLEXIBLE ARM BAND COMPOSED OF SEVERAL INTERCONNECTED ELEMENTS

Abstract: The flexible unit, for example an arm band, is composed of several contiguous elements connected and joined to one another by: a rigid central support blockbearing four parallel protruding pins (2', 12') and a passing hole (2'', 12''), either threaded or not, essentially perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of said pins (2', 12'); two connection plaques (3) each bearing two holes (3', 3'') having a diameter equal to that of above-mentioned pins (2', 12') and capable of connecting two contiguous central blocks (2, 12) by the insertion into two above-mentioned holes (3', 3'') of two pins (2', 12') of which one (2') belongs to central block (2) and the other (12') belongs to contiguous central block (12); in which unit each of elements (1, 11) bears a threaded blind hole (1', 11') into which an attachment screw is screwed that is capable of going through above-mentioned passing hole (2'', 12'') of central block (2, 12), thus fastening each element (1, 11) its respective central support block (2, 12).

Description: Flexible arm band composed of several interconnected elements The invention relates to the field of jewelry and watchmaking, and in particular the production of straps, arm bands and similar objects that are flexible since they are composed of several contiguous elements that are interconnected with means suited to permitting their relative rotation. Normally, in prior art, such means include pegs, threaded pins or equivalent parts. The use of such pieces involves significant disadvantages, among which it is enough to think of the necessary use of soldering and riveting that have a negative impact on the aesthetic result and the bulk, for example, of a piece of jewelry such as an arm band. A further disadvantage comes from the fact that, if an arm band has to be shortened, for example, and if recourse has to be made to the techniques mentioned above, it is almost never possible to have such a shortening done at the final retailer's, and this entails significant losses of time and complications which can make the purchase of the arm band itself psychologically less desirable. These same operations that are necessary for shortening, then, very often damage or compromise the most delicate aesthetic details, such as decorations and glazing. In the case of the use of threaded pins, finally, since the relative rotation of the contiguous elements necessarily causes friction on the pins themselves, not infrequently it occurs that one of these pins becomes unscrewed, thereby entailing the risk of the loss of the arm band. In patent CH 659 571 an improved solution was provided which consisted in obtaining the individual elements or links by joining two specular bodies, in each of which half of the seat is obtained by two connection pins around which the elements themselves pivot. Two pins of two consecutive elements are then attached and joined to one another by two small plates which are applied to their ends, on the outside of the respective elements. From what has been explained it is obvious that there is the risk of the instability of the attachment of the small plates and their anti-aesthetic effect, and moreover in general the complexity of the necessary machining to obtain two specular parts suitable for containing two pins with circular cross-section with precision and with a minimum of play. This disadvantage is present in all the types of designs described in the above mentioned patent, in which it is also noticeable how some parts of the various connection parts are always visible, with the corresponding anti-aesthetic results. The inventor of the present invention set for himself the goal of providing a flexible unit composed of various elements articulated to one another in such a way that their assembly requires only one operation, for example screwing in with a screwdriver, and that the various connection parts do not entail any alteration of the aesthetic form of the object composed of said parts. For this purpose, he conceived the object of the invention, that is constituted by a flexible unit particularly suited for objects such as straps, arm bands, ear-rings, pendants and the like, composed of various elements (1,11) and of means of connection (2, 3, 12) capable of connecting two contiguous elements (1, 11) allowing for their respective rotation, characterized in that said means of connection between two elements (1, 11) are made up of: (Figure 1) - rigid central support block (2, 12) bearing four parallel protruding pins (2', 12') and passing hole (2", 12"), either threaded or not, essentially perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of said pins (2 1 , 12'); - two connection plaques (3) each bearing two holes (3 1 , 3") having a diameter equal to that of above mentioned pins (2 1 , 12') and capable of connecting two contiguous central blocks (2, 12) by the insertion into two above mentioned holes (3*, 3") of two pins (2', 12') of which one (2') belongs to central block (2) and the other (12") belongs to contiguous central block (12) ; in which unit each of elements (1, 11) bears a threaded blind hole (l 1 , 11") in which an attachment screw is screwed in that it is capable of going through above mentioned passing hole (2", 12") of central block (2, 12), thus fastening each element (1, 11) its respective central support block (2, 12). The description which will follow will have as its object two preferred embodiments of the invention, which are not to be understood as binding or limiting with respect to other possible embodiments carried out within the scope of what is expressed in the attached claims. For this purpose reference will be made to the attached drawings that represent: - in figure 1 an exploded view of the various components that make up the whole that is the object of the invention according to a first preferred embodiment; - in igure 2 the same view of a second preferred embodimen ; - in figure 3 the design view of the lower part of an element fastened to a support block in an example of the above mentioned first embodiment; - in figure 4 the perspective view of an example of an arm band that can be obtained by the use of the unit according to the invention still in the case of the first embodiment example in figure 1. - in figure 5 the enlarged perspective view of an element in which the connection plates are not visible since they are covered by the very grooves that contain them. - in figure 6 a view of its cross-section. In the above mentioned first preferred embodiment, the unit is composed of rigid central support blocks 2, 12 (one for each element), each of which bears four protruding parallel pins 2', 12' (figures 1, 5 and 6) . These pins can be encased or drawn out from the middle by machining. Two contiguous blocks 2, 12 are mechanically connected to one another by a pair of small connection plates 3, on each of which two holes 3', 3" are obtained with a diameter equal to that of the above mentioned pins 2 ' , 12* , and into which pin 2 ' of central block 2 and pin 12' of contiguous block 12 respectively engage, being free to rotate. In this way the kinematic chain is realized so that the unit will be flexible. Each of blocks 2, 12 exhibits a passing hole, either threaded or not, 2", 12". This hole is designed to be traversed by attachment screw 4, which is then screwed into threaded blind hole 1', 11' made of each of elements 1, 11 on the inside part, in other words the part that does not remain visible upon final assembly. Elements 1, 11 can exhibit, as in the example pictured, grooves 1", 11" having a shape and dimensions suited to containing the ends of above mentioned connection plates 3, so that, once the assembly of the various parts has been completed, plates 3 themselves cannot become unthreaded from their respective pins and they are absolutely not visible from the outside since they are covered by the walls of the very grooves 1", 11" in which they are contained (figures 5 and 6) . In the arm band obtained according to the invention realized in this manner, therefore, only elements 1, 11 remain visible, thus totally hiding from view blocks 2, 12 described above as well as their respective connection plates 3. In the arm band depicted in figure 4, these latter are visible. Thanks to this design there is also no need to resort to other means to prevent the above mentioned unthreading of plates 3 with a net improvement in the practicality and the aesthetic quality of the unit. Another preferred embodiment is illustrated in the exploded view in figure 2. Conceptually nothing is changed, and the difference consists in the fact that it elements 1, 11 that each exhibit passing hole 1", 11", which is traversed by screw 4 which then is screwed into a threaded blind hole 2", 12" made, this time on support block 2, 12, to achieve the blocking of each of elements 1, 11 to its respective block 2, 12. It has been shown that in both of the embodiments, since fastening screws 4 are not subject to rotations or friction, any accidental slackening is very improbable and moreover it can be easily be detected by sight. If however, in the worst case, such a slackening were to be detected, or even the complete unthreading of one of screws 4, in the unit according to the present invention there would be a risk of the loss of an element, but certainly not of a whole arm band. Obviously, there can be more than one of screws 4 per element, when particular requirements of fastening or assembly require. Such a case is represented in the drawings. As it is clear from the present description, all the goals that were defined are thus met through the use of the present invention.

Claims: δ Claims 1. Flexible unit particularly suitable for obj cts like straps, arm bands, ear-rings, pendants and the like, composed of several elements (1, 11) and of means of connection (2, 3, 12) suited to containing two contiguous elements (1, 11) making possible their corresponding rotation, characterized in that said means of connection of the two elements (1, 11) between one another are constituted by: (Fig. 1) - a rigid central support blockbearing four parallel protruding pins (2 1 , 12 • ) and a passing hole (2", 12") , either threaded or not, essentially perpendicular to the plane containing the axes of said pins (2 1 , 12'); - two connection plaques (3) each bearing two holes (3 • , 3") having a diameter equal to that of above mentioned pins (2 1 , 12') and capable of connecting two contiguous central blocks (2, 12) by the insertion into two above mentioned holes (3 1 , 3") of two pins (2 1 , 12') of which one (2 1 ) belongs to central block (2) and the other (12') belongs to contiguous central block (12) ; in which unit each of elements (1, 11) bears a threaded blind hole (1*, 11*) into which an attachment screw (4) is screwed that is capable of going through above mentioned passing hole (2", 12") of central block (2, 12), thus fastening each element (1, 11) to its respective central support block (2, 12). 2. Unit according to claim 1, in which (Fig. 2) said rigid central block exhibits a threaded blind hole (2", 12"), while each of elements (1,11) bears a passing hole (1', 11') that is either threaded or not, that is traversed by said fastening screw (4) which, when it is screwed into said threaded blind hole (2", 12"), thereby fastens each of elements (1, 11) to the corresponding central support block (2, 12). 3. Unit according to any of the preceding claims, in which in each of elements (1, 11) grooves (1", 11") are made in the shape and dimensions suitable for containing the ends of said connection plates (3) in such a way that, once the assembly of the various components is completed, the plates (3) themselves cannot be unthreaded from the respective pins (2 1 , 12') . 4. Unit according to claim 3, in which said grooves (1", 11") have a shape and dimensions suitable for covering the ends of the connection plates (3) contained in them, so as to make them invisible to an observer located outside the unit itself (figures 5 and 6) .

Inventors: BUTTI LUCIANO, BUTTI, LUCIANO
Applicants: VALCAMBI SA, VALCAMBI S.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A44C5
IPC codes: A44C5