SYSTEM FOR CONNECTING A BRACELET TO A WATCH CASE

• US 20140096345A1
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: TSCHUMI, Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 9,010,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/265.B
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/147 Watchcase itself used as fastener
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1486 Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/16 Fastening the case to the bracelet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4718 Watch pintle connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4782 Watch strap

Abstract

System for connecting a bracelet to a watch case by means of a link, the watch case comprising a caseband and a back cover, the link comprising a first hollow element and a second element partly nesting in the first hollow element, the first hollow element carrying a first means of fastening to the watch case and the second element carrying a second means of fastening to an adjacent bracelet link, characterized in that the watch case includes a mechanical device arranged to pivot the second element about a transverse axis to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, the second element transmitting the pivoting motion thereof to the first element which pivots in turn and which is pressed against the caseband of the watch case.

Claims

1. A system for connecting a bracelet to a watch case by means of a link, the watch case comprising a caseband and a back cover, wherein the link comprises a first hollow element and a second element partly nesting in the first hollow element, wherein the first hollow element carries a first means of fastening to the watch case and the second element carries a second means of fastening to an adjacent bracelet link, wherein the watch case includes a mechanical device arranged to pivot the second element about a transverse axis to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet, the second element transmitting the pivoting motion thereof to the first element which pivots in turn and which is pressed against the caseband of the watch case.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical device includes an adjusting screw arranged to be screwed farther or less far into a threaded hole which passes right through the back cover of the watch case, wherein the adjusting screw comprises a head via which the screw presses on the second element so as to pivot the second element.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the second element includes first and second plates arranged in the extension of each other and connected to each other by a common edge, wherein the first plate comprises, along the free edge thereof opposite the common edge, a hollow in which there is engaged the threaded shank of the adjusting screw, and the second plate comprises, along the free edge thereof opposite the common edge, a means of fastening the second plate to the adjacent bracelet link.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the means of fastening the second plate to the adjacent bracelet link includes hinge pins used in conjunction with a bar.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first and second plates are connected to each other by a hollow cylindrical portion which forms the common edge and which allows a fastening pin to pass therethrough.

6. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first and second plates are connected to each other by a hollow cylindrical portion which forms the common edge and which allows a fastening pin to pass therethrough.

7. The system according to claim 3, wherein the first hollow element forms an envelope delimited by a front face, a rear face and two lateral faces, wherein a housing, inside which the second element slides, is arranged in the first hollow element, wherein the housing passes right through the first hollow element and ends, at the front, in the front face side and at the rear, in the rear face side of the first hollow element, and wherein the housing is sized so that the first and second plates project from the first hollow element.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first hollow element forms an envelope delimited by a front face, a rear face and two lateral faces, wherein a housing, inside which the second element slides, is arranged in the first hollow element, wherein the housing passes right through the first hollow element and ends, at the front, in the front face side and at the rear, in the rear face side of the first hollow element, and wherein the housing is sized so that the first and second plates project from the first hollow element.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first hollow element forms an envelope delimited by a front face, a rear face and two lateral faces, wherein a housing, inside which the second element slides, is arranged in the first hollow element, wherein the housing passes right through the first hollow element and ends, at the front, in the front face side and at the rear, in the rear face side of the first hollow element, and wherein the housing is sized so that the first and second plates project from the first hollow element.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the first means of fastening the first hollow element to the watch case includes a bore made transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet in the lateral faces of the first hollow element and which ends in the housing, wherein the bore is arranged to receive the fastening pin.

11. The system according to claim 8, wherein the first means of fastening the first hollow element to the watch case includes a bore made transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet in the lateral faces of the first hollow element and which ends in the housing, wherein the bore is arranged to receive the fastening pin.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first means of fastening the first hollow element to the watch case includes a bore made transversely to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet in the lateral faces of the first hollow element and which ends in the housing, wherein the bore is arranged to receive the fastening pin.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the caseband is extended in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet by horns in which a hole is made and between which the link slides so that the holes made in the horns, the bore machined in the first hollow element and the hollow cylindrical portion are aligned, the fastening pin being passed in succession through the hole in one of the horns, then through the bore and the hollow cylindrical portion until the fastening pin emerges in the hole of the other horn.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the caseband is extended in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet by horns in which a hole is made and between which the link slides so that the holes made in the horns, the bore machined in the first hollow element and the hollow cylindrical portion are aligned, the fastening pin being passed in succession through the hole in one of the horns, then through the bore and the hollow cylindrical portion until the fastening pin emerges in the hole of the other horn.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the caseband is extended in the longitudinal direction of the bracelet by horns in which a hole is made and between which the link slides so that the holes made in the horns, the bore machined in the first hollow element and the hollow cylindrical portion are aligned, the fastening pin being passed in succession through the hole in one of the horns, then through the bore and the hollow cylindrical portion until the fastening pin emerges in the hole of the other horn.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the fastening pin has, at one end thereof, an increased diameter and, at the other end thereof, a threaded hole for a screw to be screwed into.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the fastening pin has, at one end thereof, an increased diameter and, at the other end thereof, a threaded hole for a screw to be screwed into.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the fastening pin has, at one end thereof, an increased diameter and, at the other end thereof, a threaded hole for a screw to be screwed into.