Abstract:
A buckle ( 10 ) for a band or the like is disclosed as including a first link ( 12 ), a second link ( 20 ) and a third link ( 28 ), in which an end of the first link ( 12 ) is engaged with an end of the second link ( 20 ) for relative swiveling movement, and the first link ( 12 ) includes a lock plate ( 32 ) releasably engageable with a recess ( 29 ) of the third link ( 28 ) for locking the first link ( 12 ), the second link ( 20 ) and the third link ( 28 ) against relative movement. A watch band secured with such a buckle ( 10 ) is also disclosed.

Description:
This invention relates to a buckle for a band or the like, and in particular such a buckle suitable for use in a watch band or bracelet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various buckle mechanisms have been devised for use on watches. Some such mechanisms are complicated, and thus difficult and costly to manufacture. In some other such mechanisms, the buckles may be easily inadvertently operated, and the buckle is thus prone to be accidentally opened. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a buckle for a band or the like in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the public. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buckle including a first body member and a second body member, wherein a first end of said first body member is engaged with a first end of said second body member for relative swiveling movement, and wherein said first body member includes a movable lock member releasably engageable with a recess of said second body member for locking said first body member and said second body member against relative movement. 
     According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a band secured with a buckle, said buckle including a first body member and a second body member, wherein a first end of said first body member is engaged with a first end of said second body member for relative swiveling movement, and wherein said first body member includes a movable lock member adapted to be releasably engaged with a recess of said second body member for locking said first body member and said second body member against relative movement. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of a buckle according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the buckle shown in FIG. 1 in a locked configuration; 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the buckle shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line A—A in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged top view of the buckle shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line B—B in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the encircled part in FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 10 is a left partial sectioned perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 11 is a right partial sectioned perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 12 is a top view of the buckle shown in FIG. 1 in an unlocked configuration; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is an enlarged side view of the buckle shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 15 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line D—D in FIG. 14; 
     FIG. 16 is an enlarged top view of the buckle shown in FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view of the buckle taken along the line E—E in FIG. 16; 
     FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the encircled part in FIG. 17; 
     FIG. 19 is a left partial sectioned perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG. 12; and 
     FIG. 20 is a right partial sectioned perspective view of the buckle shown in FIG.  12 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A buckle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and generally designated as  10 . The buckle  10  includes a first link  12  with two holes  14  at one longitudinal end for engagement with links of a watch band or watch strap (not shown). The first link  12  includes, at another longitudinal end, a pair of legs  16  which are curved along their respective length, each with a transverse through-hole  18  at its respective end, for engagement with a second link  20 . The second link  20  also has a transverse through-hole  22  of the same size as the through-holes  18 . A pin  24  is received within the through-holes  18 ,  22  for engaging the first link  12  and the second link  20  for relative swiveling movement about the pin  24 . The second link  20  is received within a cavity  26  of a third link  28 , enabling the second link  20  and the third link  28  to slide relative to each other. A stopping portion (not shown) is provided within the cavity  26  of the third link  28  for preventing disengagement between the second link  20  and the third link  28 . At a longitudinal end of the third link  28  is a transverse recess  29 , the function of which will be discussed below. Adjacent to the recess  29  is a transverse through-hole  31  for receiving a pin (not shown) for engaging the third link  28  with links of a watch band or watch strap (not shown). 
     The second link  20  and the third link  28  are of the same curvature as the first link  12 . The third link  28  is of a width slightly smaller than the distance between the inner surfaces of the two legs  16  of the first link  12 , so that the third link  28  may be received within the space between the two legs  16  of the first link  12 . 
     Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, the first link  12  is provided with a surface  30  for supporting a lock plate  32 , and allowing the lock plate  32  to slide relative to the first link  12  outwardly (i.e. in the direction indicated by the arrow H in FIG. 2) or inwardly (i.e. opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow H). Two springs  34  are provided behind two extensions  36  of the lock plate  32  for biasing the lock plate  32  outwardly. The outward sliding movement of the lock plate  32  is limited by two stoppers  38  of the first link  12 . 
     The surface  30  of the first link  12  has an elongate hole  40  and the lock plate  32  also has an elongate hole  42 , both for receiving a rib  44  of a button  46 , the function of which will be discussed below. A cover block  48  is secured to the first link  12  by two screws  50  for containing the lock plate  32 , the springs  34 , and the button  46  in the first link  12 . The cover block  48  has a through hole  54  sized and configured to allow relative sliding movement of a slanted body  56  of the button  46 . 
     FIGS. 3 to  11  show various views of the buckle  10  in the locked configuration, in which the first link  12  and the third link  28  are locked against relative movement. As can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 9, when the buckle  10  is in the locked configuration, a top surface  58  of the body  56  of the button  46  is slightly above the topmost surface of the first link  12 . Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that, when the buckle  10  is in the locked configuration, a front end  32   a  of the lock plate  32  extends beyond a cavity of the cover block  48 , and is received within the recess  29  of the third link  28 , such that the third link  28  and the second link  20  are prevented from moving relative to the first link  12 . It can be seen that the rib  44  of the button  46  is received within the hole  40  below the surface  30  and the hole  42  of the lock plate  32 . The button  46  can be moved relative to the cover block  48  along a path parallel to the line M—M shown in FIG. 9, which will cause the lock plate  32  to move along a path parallel to the line P—P, also shown in FIG.  9 . The angle q between the line M—M and the line P—P is an acute angle, i.e. between 0° and 90°, preferably between 30° and 60°. In the preferred embodiment shown and discussed here, the angle q is 45°. 
     When the button  46  is pushed downwardly, i.e. in the direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 9, the rib  44  will move the lock plate  32  to move in the direction indicated by the arrow T, so as to disengage the front part  32   a  from the recess  29  of the third link  28 , and unlock the third link  28  from the first link  12 . In particular, the top surface  58  of the button  46  may be forced downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow S. However, as the top surface  58  of the button  46  is, when the buckle  10  is in the locked configuration, only slightly above the surrounding surface of the first link  12 , the button  46  will not be easily inadvertently operated to cause the front end  32   a  of the lock plate  32  to disengage from the recess  29  of the third link  28 . The user has to consciously press on the button  46 , e.g. by using his or her finger tip or finger nail, to effect disengagement between the first link  12  and the third link  28 . 
     Turning to FIGS. 12 to  20 , such show various views of the buckle  10  in the unlocked configuration, in which the first link  12  and the third link  28  may be moved relative to each other. As shown in FIG. 15, and compared with FIG. 6, it can be seen that when the button  46  is pressed down, the lock plate  32  is forced to move leftward (in sense of FIGS. 6 and 15) to compress the springs  34 . As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when the button  46  is moved fully downwardly, and inwardly into the cover block  48 , the lock plate  32  is moved leftward (in the sense of FIG.  18 ), so that the front end  32   a  of the lock plate  32  is disengaged from the recess  29  of the third link  28 , and the lock plate  32  is fully received within a cavity of the cover block  48 , and. The third link  28  may thus be unlocked from the first link  12  for relative movement. It can also be seen that when the button  46  is in this position, its top surface  58  is below the top surface of the cover block  48 . 
     If the downward force applied on the button  46  is released, the lock plate  32  will, under the biasing force of the springs  34 , move rightward (in the sense of FIG. 18) to resume its position as shown in FIG. 9, and the button  46  will also move upward and rightward (again in the sense of FIG. 18) to resume its position as shown in FIG.  9 . 
     It should be understood that the above only illustrates an example whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, as is clear from the above discussion, the shape of the button  46  may vary, provided that it complements with the through-hole  54  for relative movement for operating the lock plate  32 . The top surface  58  of the button  46  may thus be in the shape of an insignia or logo of the manufacturer. 
     It should also be understood that various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described here in the context of a single embodiment, may be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.