Patent Publication Number: US-8978942-B2

Title: Quick release watch band

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The current disclosure relates to jewelry bands. More specifically, the current disclosure relates to jewelry bands, such as watch bands, for example, which have a quick release feature which causes the band to release if excessive force is applied to the watch band. 
     Jewelry bands in general and watch bands specifically are prone to catching or snagging on furniture or equipment when the band is worn by an active individual. If the band catches on an object, a wearer is susceptible to injury by the band. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present application discloses one or more of the features recited in the appended claims and/or the following features which, alone or in any combination, may comprise patentable subject matter: 
     According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wristband assembly comprises a first portion having a first length, a second portion having a second length, and a release mechanism. The first and second portions cooperate to define a longitudinal axis along the first and second length. The longitudinal axis corresponds to a direction in which a tension load is applied when the wristband is secured to a user. The release mechanism couples the first portion to the second portion. The release mechanism includes a rod engaged with the first portion and at least one post secured to the second portion. The post is frictionally engaged with the rod to establish a pre-defined pre-load that corresponds to the magnitude of tension load at which the first portion is released from the second portion. 
     In some embodiments, the post of the release mechanism is secured to the first portion through a threaded connection between the post and the first portion. The post may be adjustable relative to the first portion to vary the magnitude of the frictional engagement between the posts and the rod, to thereby vary the pre-load. In some embodiments, the release assembly comprises two posts. When the release mechanism comprises two posts, the posts of the release mechanism may both be secured to the first portion through a threaded connection between each post and the first portion. Each post may be adjustable relative to the first portion to vary the magnitude of the frictional engagement between the posts and the rod, to thereby vary the pre-load. 
     In some embodiments, the wristband may comprise a buckle having a tang that deflects under load. The buckle may also further comprise an axle about which the tang rotates, a crossbar that engages the tang when the buckle is in use, the tang deflecting sufficiently to slip past the crossbar when the tension load exceeds a pre-defined value. The tang may comprise nylon. 
     In other embodiments, the buckle may further comprise a first crossbar about which the tang rotates, a second crossbar that engages the tang when the buckle is in use, the first crossbar and the tang deflecting sufficiently to cause the tang slip past the second crossbar when the tension load exceeds a pre-defined value. 
     In some embodiments, the buckle may be positionable at a plurality of positions along the length of the first portion of the wristband assembly. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure a wristband assembly comprises a first strap having a first length, a second strap adjacent the first strap, the second strap having a second length, and a release mechanism. The first and second straps cooperate to define a longitudinal axis along the first and second lengths, the longitudinal axis corresponding to a direction in which a tension load is applied when the wristband is secured to a user. The release mechanism couples at least one of the first and second straps to a first portion of the wristband assembly. The release mechanism includes a rod engaged with the at least one of the first and second straps and at least one post secured to the first portion. The post is frictionally engaged with the rod to establish a pre-defined pre-load that corresponds to the magnitude of tension load at which the first portion is released from the at least one of the first and second straps. 
     The post of the release mechanism may be secured to the first portion through a threaded connection between the post and the first portion. The post may be adjustable relative to the first portion to vary the magnitude of the frictional engagement between the posts and the rod, to thereby vary the pre-load. 
     The first and second straps may be coupled by a buckle including an axle, about which the tang rotates, a crossbar that engages the tang when the buckle is in use, the tang deflecting sufficiently to slip past the crossbar when the tension load exceeds a pre-defined value. 
     Additional features, which alone or in combination with any other feature(s), including those listed above and those listed in the claims, may comprise patentable subject matter and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a wrist-watch assembly including a watch body, a band, and a clasp; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view with portions removed of an embodiment of a clasp assembly for use with a wrist band; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view with portions removed of another embodiment of a clasp assembly for use with a wrist band; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial plan view of a wrist watch with a quick release retainer assembly securing a wrist band to a watch body; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the wrist watch of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of a portion of a strap of a wrist band; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a wrist-watch assembly including the strap of  FIG. 6 , the wrist-watch supported on a wrist; and 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of a clasp for a wrist band. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     According to the present disclosure a wristwatch assembly  10  includes a watch body  12 , a wristband assembly  14 , and a buckle  16  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The wristband assembly  14  includes a first strap  18  and a second strap  20 , each of the straps  18 ,  20  secured to the watch body  12 . The wristwatch assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  is includes a number of independent structures each of which may be present in a single wristwatch assembly, or may be applied individually to other embodiments of wristwatch assemblies. 
     The straps  18 ,  20  of the wristband assembly  14  are each coupled to the watch body  12  via respective release mechanisms  22 ,  24 . The release mechanisms  22 ,  24  provide an assembly which allows the wristband assembly  14  to be quickly decoupled from the watch body  12  if sufficient force is applied to the wristwatch assembly  10  along an axis  26 . 
     The buckle  16  of wristwatch assembly  10  also includes a quick release feature is accomplished through the use of a spring-loaded tang  28  that allows the buckle  16  to disengage from the strap  18  is sufficient force is applied to the wristwatch assembly  10  along the axis  26 . The quick release feature of the buckle  16  is redundant to the release mechanisms  22 ,  24  with each serving a similar purpose, namely, permitting decoupling of portions of the wristwatch assembly  10  if an excessive load is applied to the wristband assembly  14 . These features are especially useful in situations where the wristwatch assembly  10  is used in an environment where portions of the wristwatch assembly  10  may become entangled on machinery or caught on structures while a user is being active. For example, in industrial settings a user may wear a wristwatch assembly  10  while working around moving machinery. The quick release features disclosed herein reduce the likelihood that a wristwatch assembly  10  which is snagged on a piece of equipment or structural will remain attached to the wearer. This reduces the opportunity for injury to the wearer. 
     Still another feature which will be discussed in more detail below is a buckle positioner  30  which permits a user to modify the wristwatch assembly  10  to optimize the fit of the wristband assembly  14 . By properly adjusting the wristband assembly  14  to fit the user, the force required along the axis  26  to cause the tang  28  to release or to cause the release mechanisms  22 ,  24  to release is more consistent from user to user, thereby providing consistent performance of the wristwatch assembly  10 . 
     In a first embodiment, the buckle  16  includes an axle  32 , two side arms  34 ,  36  coupled to the axle  32  coupled to the axle  32 , and a crossbar  38  coupled to the side arms  34 ,  36  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A tang  28  of buckle  16  is supported on the axle  32  and movable relative to the axle  32  about an axis  40 . Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the tang  28  rotates about the axis  40  as indicated by the arrow  42 . The tang  28  is positioned in one of several holes  44  formed in the strap  20 . The strap  20  underlies the crossbar  38  with an end  46  of the tang  28  engaged with the crossbar  38  over a distance  48 . Tension  52  on the wristband assembly  14  causes a force  54  to be developed such that the tang  28  urged against the crossbar  38 . The crossbar  38  reacts to the force  54  that the tension  52  is resisted by the action of the end  46  of the tang  28  acting on the crossbar  38 . When the tension  52  becomes large enough, the resulting force  54  pushes the tang  28  such that the tang  28  deflects and releases the strap  18 . 
     In the illustrative embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the tang  28  includes a spring portion  50  which deflects under load will deflect thereby allowing the end  46  of the tang  28  to slip past the crossbar  38  and thereby allow the buckle  16  to release from the strap  18 . The deflection of the spring portion  50  of the tang  28  is indicated by the phantom line on  FIG. 2 . Various factors affect the tension  52  required to cause the spring portion  50  to deflect sufficiently to allow the end  46  to move over the length  48  and slip below the crossbar  38  as indicated by the dotted arrow  56  in  FIG. 2 . For example, the spring rate of the spring portion  50  may be controlled to control the tension  52  required. In addition, the position on the spring portion  50  where the strap  18  engages the spring portion  50  also changes the force required for disengagement. In the illustrative embodiment, a tension force  52  that is equal to 3 pounds acting parallel to the axis  26  is sufficient to cause the tang  28  to deflect sufficiently to slip past the crossbar  38 . 
     The tang  28  includes an arm  60 , which extends from the spring portion  50  and engages the crossbar  38 . The spring portion  50  includes a first bend  62  interconnecting the arm  60  and a strut  66 . A second bend  64  is connected to the strut  66  and an arm  68 . A loop  70  is connected to the arm  68  and secures the tang  28  to the axle  32 . Deflection of the tang  28  in the direction of arrow  72  occurs when the bend  62  and bend  64  deflect to open. However, bend  64  acts as a fulcrum for bend  62  when the arm  60  deflects in the direction  72  such that bend  62  tends to move in the direction of arrow  74 , thereby causing the end  46  to slide relative to the crossbar  38 . 
     In another embodiment of a buckle  116  shown in  FIG. 3 , a tang  128  of the buckle  116  includes a spring portion  150  with a first arm  160  coupled to a bend  162  of the spring portion  150 . The bend  162  is coupled to a strut  166  which is coupled to a second bend  164 . The bend  164  is coupled to a second arm  168  which is coupled to a loop  170  that secures the tang  128  to the axle  32 . Deflection of the tang  128  in the direction of arrow  172  results when the bend  162  collapses and the bend  164  opens. Bend  164  acts as a fulcrum and the deflection of bend  164  causes bend  162  and arm  160  to move in the direction of arrow  174 , thereby increasing the distance  48 . In some embodiments, this action assists with preventing false releasing of the tang  128  as compared to tang  28 . 
     The embodiment of tang  128  is shown in  FIG. 7  with the wristwatch assembly  10  on the wrist of a user  80 . The tension  52  at the buckle  16  is developed in both strap  18  and strap  20  when the wristband assembly  14  is snagged on a piece of equipment or other obstruction. While shown as two arrows  52  on either side of buckle  16 , it should be understood that the tensile force is developed throughout the wristwatch assembly  10  and that separation of any two components of the wristwatch assembly  10  will release the wristwatch assembly  10  from the user  80 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the release mechanism  22  is shown to include a pair of posts  76 ,  76  which are threaded into two arms  82  and  84  of the watch body  12 . The posts  76 ,  76  engage a rod  78  that extends through the strap  18  with each end  86 ,  88  of the rod  78  engaging each of the posts  76 ,  76  in a friction connection to retain the strap  18  to the watch body  12 . Referring now to  FIG. 5 , end  86  of rod  78  is shown to have a rounded surface  90  that engages concave surface  92  of the post  76 . The post  76  includes a knurled head  92  and a threaded body  94  that is received in a threaded cavity  96  of the arm  82  of the watch body  12 . When both posts  76  are installed, the rod  78  is captured between the posts  76 ,  76  under a compressive force. Each end  86 ,  88  of the rod  78  engages the respective post  76 ,  76  in a similar manner so that the rounded surface  90  on each end  86 ,  88  of the rod  78  engages a respective surface  92  of each post  76 . When tension  52  is applied to the strap  18  in the direction of the axis  26 , the frictional interaction between the posts  76 ,  76  and the rod  78  retain the strap  18  coupled to the watch body  12  until sufficient force is developed to overcome the frictional resistance and cause the rod  78  to deflect to release the strap  18  from the watch body  12 . The rod  78  comprises nylon which deforms under load. It should be understood that the rod  78  may comprise other pliable materials which are deformable under load. 
     Once the strap  18  is released from the watch body  12 , the posts  76  may be retracted by unscrewing the posts  76 ,  76  from the arms  82  and  84 . The wristband assembly  14  may be re-coupled to the watch body  12  so that the wristwatch assembly  10  may be re-used. It will be appreciated that the ability to re-assemble the wristband assembly  14  allows the wristwatch assembly  10  to be re-used after multiple releases with a relatively simple assembly process. Thus, the wristwatch assembly  10  is reusable after each release. It should also be understood that the tension  52  required to cause the release mechanism  22  to release the strap  18  from the watch body  12  may be adjusted by varying the depth the posts  76 ,  76  are screwed into the arms  82 ,  84 . A change in depth results in a change in the pre-load applied to the rod  78  and thereby reduces the frictional interaction between the posts  76 ,  76  and the rod  78 . With a lower pre-load, the release mechanism  22  will release under at a lower tension  52 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a link  370  that makes up part of a wristband includes a first end  376  and a second end  378 . The first end  376  includes two arms  380  and  382 . The arms  380  and  382  are each formed to include a respective hemispherical cavity  372 ,  374 . An extension  384  of link  370  is sized to be received in a space  388  between the arms  380  and  382  of an adjacent link  370 . A through-hole  386  formed in the extension  384  is sized to receive a rod  78  therethrough with the ends of the rod  78  being received in the cavities  372  and  374 . Because the rod  78  is pliable, the rod  78  may be forced into the cavities  372  and  374  to couple adjacent links  370 ,  370 . With pre-determined clearance between the rod  78  and cavities  372 ,  374 , the tension  54  necessary to cause the links  370 ,  370  to separate can be established within an acceptable repeatability. 
     It should be understood that the arms  380  and  382  of link  370  may be replaced by the arms  82  and  84  of the watch body  12  so that the link  370  includes the release mechanism  22 . Thus, the link  370  may include have a predefined tension at which it releases when the embodiment of  FIG. 9  is used, or it may be adjustable to release at different magnitudes of tension  54 . 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , a buckle  316  may be substituted for the buckle  16 . The buckle  316  includes sidearms  334  and  336  coupled to a crossbar  338 . A tang  328  of the buckle  316  includes a threaded end  340  that is received in a crossbar  332  after the crossbar  332  has been engaged with the sidearms  334  and  336 . An end  346  of the tang  328  rests in a cavity  348  formed in the crossbar  338 . The tang  338  and crossbar  332  each comprise nylon that deflects under a load so that a force applied to the tang  328  will cause the tang  328  to deflect and the crossbar  332  to deflect as indicated by arrow  350  such that the end  346  of the tang  328  slips past crossbar  338  and releases the tension placed on the straps the buckle  316  is connecting. The crossbar  332  includes a tapered end  352  and a tapered head  354 . The tapered end  352  passes through an aperture  356  formed in sidearm  336  and is received into an aperture  358  formed in sidearm  334 . When the crossbar  332  is fully installed, the tapered head  354  engages aperture  356  and the tapered end  352  engages aperture  358  so that the crossbar  332  is frictionally secured to the sidearms  334  and  336 . The crossbar  332  has flexibility to allow deflection about its access as indicated by the arrow  350  when a load is applied to the tang  328 . The tang  328  is fixed to the crossbar  332  by threading the end  340  into the threaded hole  342  of the crossbar  332  after the crossbar  332  is secured to the sidearms  334  and  336 . 
     It should be noted that the height  360  of the aperture  358  is smaller than the height  364  of a body  368  of the crossbar  332  so that the tapered end  352  seats into the aperture  358 . Similarly, the height  362  of the aperture  356  is smaller than the height  366  of the tapered head  354  of the crossbar  332  so that the tapered head  354  seats into the aperture  356 . 
     It has been found that an important aspect of providing consistent release of the various components described herein is improved by assuring a proper fit of the wristband assembly  14 . To that end, the strap  20  is configured to allow the buckle  16  to be positioned in multiple locations along the length of the strap  20 . The strap  20  is configured with three cross-channels  58 ,  158 , and  258  which are each sized to receive the axle  32  of the buckle  16 . A separate hole  44  is positioned to engage each of the cross-channels  58 ,  158 ,  258  to allow clearance for the tang  28 ,  128  to move relative to the axle  32 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the axle  32  is positioned in the cross-channel  58  so that the tang  128  engages a hole  182  formed in strap  18  such that the engagement occurs at the bottom of the user&#39;s wrist. 
     A user may adjust the position of the buckle to any one of three locations on strap  18  in the illustrative embodiment of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The tang  128  may be positioned in either a hole  180 , the hole  182 , or a hole  184  on the strap  18  to couple the buckle  16  to strap  18 . It should be understood that more holes or less holes may be formed in strap  18 . Once a user has chosen a correct position for the buckle  16  on strap  20 , excessive material from the strap  20  may be cut off from the strap to eliminate the overlap of strap  18  and strap  20  shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     Although certain illustrative embodiments have been described in detail above, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of this disclosure as described and as defined in the following claims. For example, it should now be evident that a wristwatch assembly may include any of a number of the features disclosed herein to allow a user to adjust the fit of a wristband assembly and the tension at which various points of the wristband assembly  14  may release under a tension load. For example, in some embodiments, wristwatch assembly may include one or more release mechanisms  22  or  24 , a strap  20  which permits adjustment of a buckle position, and one of the buckles  16 ,  116 , or  316 . A wristwatch assembly may also comprise one or more links  370  with a predetermined tension force at which the link  370  will release from an adjacent link  370 .