Jointed pocket-book type closing device for watch bands, bracelets, jewels and the like

Abstract: The closing device consists of a frame (12) and opposed arms (14) with hook (18) designed to be inserted in the central bolt (20). In the latter, which is bounded below by the base (24) and above by the cross-piece (30) there is arranged in a sliding manner the plate (28) with openings (32), (36) and (34). The latter receives the spring (42) while in the openings (32) and (36) are engaged the hooks (18) of the arms (14). The end (28') of the plate (28) is drawn manually outward and brings about simultaneous unhooking of the arms (14) to which are constrained the band branches. Additional forms of embodiment call for the use of a bolt (60) with pushbutton (68) for simultaneous unhooking of the arms (54) and a bolt (90) with pushbutton (98) which moves opposed shaped plates (94), (94') which constrain the arms (84).

Description: The present invention relates to a jointed closing device for watch bands, bracelets, jewels and the like. With wrist-watches can be associated bands provided in different materials and variously structured. As regards metal bands, which on valuable watches are proposed as elements of additional increase in value, there are distinguished two basic types which concern in particular the connection system for the opposed branches of the band. Accordingly there are bands which require complete separation of the branches when opening. Other types require that the branches always remain connected together while opening however partially to permit removal of the watch from the wrist. This second form of embodiment eliminates the danger of accidental falling and the resulting damage of the watch when positioning the watch on the wrist or removing it therefrom. Known bands of this type are in general made up of opposing curved laminations hinged to the branches of the band so as to provide a closing device of the so-called 'pocket-book' type. Said laminations are conventionally provided with hooks designed to engage upon closing of the band in specially created seats in a nucleus which constitutes the actual closing device. These devices in general have the shortcoming that they require the user during opening of the band to operate separately on the ends of the two branches disengage them from the seats provided. This is usually not an easy and rapid operation as would be desirable. The object of the present invention is to eliminate the shortcoming mentioned above. FR-A-627 448 discloses a closing device for watch bands, bracelets, jewels and the like having the features of the preamble of claim 1. The closing device of the present invention is characterized in that the plates are provided with portions which project from the housing for engaging with the hooks and with a concave seat located on the opposite side of each plate with respect to said projecting portions, the end of the elastic means being housed on said concave seat and each of the flanks of said housing being provided with a slit through which one of said projecting portions emerges, and in that a pushbutton emerges partially from said housing and is manually movable from the outside; said pushbutton comprising two oblique surfaces which engage corresponding surfaces on the plates, whereby the action of pressing-in the pushbutton moves the plates and thereby causes the projecting portions to move inwards and to release the hooks. The jointed closing device for watch-bands, bracelets, jewels and the like of the present invention is designed to connect in an effective manner both branches of the band to the closing device and especially allow opening of said device for removal of the watch from the wrist by rapid and simultaneous unhooking of said branches. The advantages of the present invention are that the fastening members are simultaneously activated and align accurately the opposed branches of the band, constraining them to a central bolt easy to manufacture and assemble. The invention is described in greater detail below with the aid of the annexed drawings which show some examples of embodiments. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the closing device of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the closing device of Fig. 1, and, FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a longitudinal cross-section view of the bolt associated with the closing device of the present invention. The figures show a jointed pocket-book type closing device for watch-bands, bracelets, jewels and the like and indicated as a whole by reference number 80 of FIG. 1 and comprising an arched frame 82, opposed arms 84 connected to the heads of said frame, jointed at 86, 86' and provided at the end with a hook 88 substantially in the shape of a carpenter's square as well as a central bolt 90 shown in detail in FIG. 3 in partially sectioned plan view. FIGS. 1 and 2, which show the device with the various members in side and plan view, propose by way of example a single arm 84, also understood to be present on the opposite head, constrained at 86 to the frame 82. Said arm is further shown in FIG. 1 in broken lines in almost fully overturned position to make clear the closing system of the device described herein. The arms 84 are provided at the end 92 with an adequate seat for insertion of a conventional connecting pin to each of the metal branches (not shown) of the band. The central bolt 90, preferably in the shape of a substantially parallelepiped housing 112 of limited height and open on one side is constrained by welding or equivalent means to the upper portion of the frame 82. Said bolt is then positioned on the side opposite that which comes in contact with the wrist and is provided internally with a pair of opposed shaped plates 94, 94', a spring 96 arranged between said plates as well as a pushbutton 98. The latter emerges partially from the open front side of the housing 112 and constitutes the activation member of the bolt 90. On each of the flanks of the housing 112 is made a slit through which projects one of the portions 100 and 102 of the plates 94, 94'. The structure indicated by way of example of the latter can be seen in FIG. 3. In a position opposite that of said portions 100 and 102 is provided on both the plates 94 and 94' a concave seat 104 in which are housed the open ends of the spring 96 preferably shaped like the letter V. The housing 112 is provided with a cover (not shown) constrained to the container with screws or equivalent systems. On the inside of said cover is provided a generic striker for the pushbutton 98 which therefore cannot slip out of the housing 112. The pushbutton 98 is consequently capable of retaining exactly in position the spring 96 and the plates 94, 94'. The latter are already considerably stabilized inside said housing since the portions 100 and 102 of the plates 94 and 94' are pushed outward through the slits by the spring 96. This arrangement of the various members making up the bolt 90 is particularly advantageous since it allows rapid assembly of said bolt. The plates 94 and 94' are provided, in the surface 106, which comes in contact with the pushbutton 98, with an inclined part aligned with the structure created on the inside of the pushbutton. There is described now the operation of the closing device. Starting from the position in which said device is open, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device is brought rapidly to the closing position by mere rotation of the arms 84, which fold back inwardly. FIG. 1 shows in broken lines the position which the arm 84 assumes by rotating progressively in the direction indicated by the arrow A. When the arms are in contact with the bolt 90 the hook 88 of each of them meets the corresponding projecting portions 100 and 102 of the shaped plates 94 and 94'. A slight pressure overcomes the resistance of said portions which return momentarily inside the housing 112 while compressing the spring 96. Immediately afterward, as said spring is released, said portions emerge and go to overlie the hooks 88, inserting themselves in the seats 88' thereof. To aid accurate alignment between the arms 84 and the frame 82 it is provided that the latter be equipped above or below the corresponding projecting portions 100 and 102 with striker seats or bases 108 for the end portions 110 of the arms 84. The device is opened by means of the pushbutton 98 projecting from the housing 112 and causes simultaneously the portions 100 and 102 to return inward temporarily. Said operation is facilitated by the complementary form of the inside of the pushbutton 98 and the surface 106 created on the plates 94 and 94'. Said pushbutton slides on surface 106 and causes momentary return inward of the projecting portions 100 and 102. Consequently the hooks 88 are free to return upward, causing opening of the device. As may be seen by the foregoing the multiple advantages of the invention are clear. By a single operation of compression or partial exposure of the pushbutton emerging from the bolt it is possible to simultaneously free the hooks of the arms connected to the branches of the band and achieve consequently rapid opening of the device. Closing of the latter is particularly effective. The central bolt displays characteristics of constructive simplicity and rapidity of assembly. The invention as described above and claimed below is proposed merely by way of example and it is understood that it can be subjected to numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the claims. In particular the closing device, although proposed primarily for metal watch bands, can also be associated with other articles such as for example bracelets, jewels in general and the like.

Claims: A closing device for watch bands, bracelets, jewels and the like comprising a supporting frame (82) supporting a bolt (90); opposite arms (84) hinged to said frame (82), each of said arms (84) having a hook (88) at the end thereof; the bolt (90) being connected to the frame (82) on the face away from the wrist and consisting of a housing (112) having an open side provided with a cover and a pair of plates (94, 94') arranged inside said housing (112); and an elastic means (96) positioned between said plates (94, 94'), characterized in that said plates (94, 94') are provided with portions (100. 102) which project from the housing (112) for engaging said hooks and with a concave seat (104) located on the opposite side of each plate (94, 94') with respect to said projecting portions (100, 102), the end of the elastic means (96) being housed on said concave seat (104) and each of the flanks of said housing (112) being provided with a slit through which one of said projecting portions (100, 102) emerges, and in that a pushbutton (98) emerges partially from said housing (112) and is manually movable from the outside, said pushbutton (98) comprising two oblique surfaces which engage corresponding surfaces (106) on the plates (94, 94'), whereby the action of pressing-in the pushbutton (98) moves the plates (94, 94') and thereby causes the projecting portions (100, 102) to move inwards and to release the hooks (88). The closing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover of the housing (112) is provided on its inside surface with at least one striker for the pushbutton (98) which retains the plates (94, 94') and the elastic means (96). The closing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastic means (96) is V-shaped and pushes the projecting portions (100, 102) of the plates (94, 94') elastically outward through the slits of the flanks of the housing (112). The closing device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that each hook (88) has a seat (88') and, when the arms (84) are in contact with the bolt (90), said hook meets the corresponding projecting portion (100, 102) of each plate (94, 94'); said projecting portions (100, 102) being inserted into said seat (88') by pressure. The closing device according to anyone of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (82) is provided with striker seats or bases (108) for the end portions (110) of the arms (84), above or below the corresponding projecting portions (100, 102).

Inventors: FONTANA FERNANDO, FONTANA, FERNANDO
Applicants: GTF SRL, G.T.F. S.R.L.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A44C5
IPC codes: A44C5