Watch case including a strap clasp

• US 7,591,581 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LVMH Swiss Manufactures SA (Christian Dior SE)
• Original Assignee: TAG Heuer SA (Christian Dior SE)
• Inventors: Turuani, Pascal, Lovegrove, Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Truc T
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US11/504,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20060272134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 368/281, 368/282, 224/152, 224/164, 224/174, 224/176, 224/179, 24/71.J
• US Class Current: 368/281
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0025 Reversible or double face jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/24 with folding devices
• 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: Y10T 24/2155 Jewelry-watch straps

Abstract

Watch case comprising an unfolding clasp for a flexible strap, with the unfolding clasp comprising: a middle connected to a first end of the strap, a base connected to the second end of the strap, an extension, connected in articulated fashion to the middle and to the base. The articulations between the middle and the extension and between the base and the extension are arranged in such a manner as to allow the middle, the extension and the base to superimpose in folded position, and to be juxtaposed in an unfolded position. The watch case further comprising a regulating cam for holding by compression and/or friction the strap against the base, the cam being capable of being swung to increase or reduce in a reversible manner the length of the strap in folded position.

Claims

1. Watch case comprising an unfolding clasp for a flexible strap, said unfolding clasp including:

a middle connected to a first extremity of the strap,

a base connected to a second extremity of the strap,

an extension connected in articulated fashion to the middle and to the base, wherein

the articulations between the middle and the extension and between the base and the extension are arranged in such a manner as to allow the middle, the extension and the base to superimpose in folded position, and to be juxtaposed in unfolded position, and

one or several regulating element(s) for increasing or reducing in a reversible manner a length of strap by said regulating element(s) directly pressing on the strap;

wherein

the end of the strap'"'"'s end whose length is adjustable is held in said case by application of a force perpendicular to the plane of said end.

2. The watch case of claim 1, an adjustable length of said strap being engaged between the base and the extension in folded position.

3. The watch case of claim 1, wherein one of said first extremity and said second extremity has an adjustable length and is connected to said case without a pin.

4. The watch case of claim 3, wherein said one of said first extremity and said second extremity is held in said case by applying a perpendicular force to a plane of said extremity.

5. The watch case of claim 1, said strap being constituted of a single piece.

6. The watch case of claim 1, the extension being formed of an open metallic stirrup whose base is articulated with the base.

7. The watch case of claim 1, said regulating elements being arranged on said base.

8. The watch case of claim 1, the extension being hidden between the base and the middle in folded position.

9. The watch case of claim 1, a unit constituted of the middle and of the base having a monolithic aspect.

10. The watch case of claim 1, said second extremity of the strap being engaged in said watch case in folded position.

11. The watch case of claim 10, the second extremity of the strap being engaged in the base in folded position.

12. The watch case of claim 1, said strap being held by compression of an arbitrary portion of its surface against a predefined portion of said case.

13. The watch case of claim 1, said length regulating elements comprising a mobile element connected to said case resting against the strap in folded position.

14. The watch case of claim 13, the mobile element of said regulating elements being a two-position eccentric cam.

15. The watch case of claim 14, at least one banking working with the cam in order to limit the angle of rotation of said cam around its axis, at a value smaller than about 90°

.

16. The watch case of claim 1, said length regulating elements being blocked when said clasp is folded.

17. The watch case of claim 1, comprising a mechanical locking device for locking the clasp in folded position.

18. The watch case of claim 17, said mechanical locking device comprising at least one push-button and at least one elastically deformable element.

19. The watch case of claim 18, said at least one pushbutton being operable against the action of a spring and allowing hooking elements connected to the middle and to the base to be engaged or disengaged.

20. The watch case of claim 18, comprising two push-buttons on each side of said case.

21. The watch case of claim 20, said push-buttons being connected to the middle.

22. The watch case of claim 18, the base comprising at least one notch for at least one said push-button when the clasp is closed.

23. The watch case of claim 1, wherein an upper side of the base has a recess for lodging said extension in folded position.

24. The watch case of claim 1, wherein an upper side of the base has a recess for lodging said second extremity of the strap in folded position, a range of adjustment of said strap being more or less equal to the length of said recess.

25. The watch case of claim 1, comprising in order the following superimposition of parts in folded position:

1) said base,

2) said second extremity of the strap,

3) said extension, and

4) said middle.

26. The watch case of claim 1, the middle comprising a winding button at about 9 o'"'"'clock, the base comprising a notch opposite said winding button when the clasp is folded.

27. The watch case of claim 1, a traction of both said extremities of the strap being exerted along two straights contained more or less in a main plane of said base.

28. The watch case of claim 1, said strap being made of extensible material.

29. Watch case comprising-an unfolding clasp for a flexible strap, said unfolding clasp including:

a middle connected to a first end of the strap,

a base connected to the second end of the strap,

an extension connected in articulated fashion to the middle and to the base, wherein the articulations between the middle and the extension and between the base and the extension are arranged in such a manner as to allow the middle, the extension and the base to superimpose in folded position, and to be juxtaposed in unfolded position, and

one or several regulating element(s) for increasing or reducing in a reversible manner a length of strap in a manner independent from said extension;

wherein

the strap is held by compression of an arbitrary portion of its surface against a predefined portion of said case.

30. The watch case of claim 29, an adjustable length of said strap being engaged between the base and the extension in folded position.

31. The watch case of claim 29, wherein one of said first extremity and said second extremity has an adjustable length and is connected to said case without a pin.

32. The watch case of claim 31, wherein said one of said first extremity and said second extremity is held in said case by applying a perpendicular force to a plane of said extremity.

33. The watch case of claim 29, said strap being constituted of a single piece.

34. The watch case of claim 29, the extension being formed of an open metallic stirrup whose base is articulated with the base.

35. The watch case of claim 29, said regulating elements being arranged on said base.

36. The watch case of claim 29, the extension being hidden between the base and the middle in folded position.

37. The watch case of claim 29, a unit constituted of the middle and of the base having a monolithic aspect.

38. The watch case of claim 29, said second extremity of the strap being engaged in said watch case in folded position.

39. The watch case of claim 38, the second extremity of the strap being engaged in the base in folded position.

40. The watch case of claim 29, said strap being held by compression of an arbitrary portion of its surface against a predefined portion of said case.

41. The watch case of claim 29, said length regulating elements comprising a mobile element connected to said case resting against the strap in folded position.

42. The watch case of claim 41, the mobile element of said regulating elements being a two-position eccentric cam.

43. The watch case of claim 42, at least one banking working with the cam in order to limit the angle of rotation of said cam around its axis, at a value smaller than about 90°

.

44. The watch case of claim 29, said length regulating elements being blocked when said clasp is folded.

45. The watch case of claim 29, comprising a mechanical locking device for locking the clasp in folded position.

46. The watch case of claim 45, said mechanical locking device comprising at least one push-button and at least one elastically deformable element.

47. The watch case of claim 46, said at least one pushbutton being operable against the action of a spring and allowing hooking elements connected to the middle and to the base to be engaged or disengaged.

48. The watch case of claim 46, comprising two push-buttons on each side of said case.

49. The watch case of claim 48, said push-buttons being connected to the middle.

50. The watch case of claim 46, the base comprising at least one notch for at least one said push-button when the clasp is closed.

51. The watch case of claim 29, wherein an upper side of the base has a recess for lodging said extension in folded position.

52. The watch case of claim 29, wherein an upper side of the base has a recess for lodging said second extremity of the strap in folded position, a range of adjustment of said strap being more or less equal to the length of said recess.

53. The watch case of claim 29, comprising in order the following superimposition of parts in folded position:

1) said base,

2) said second extremity of the strap,

3) said extension, and

4) said middle.

54. The watch case of claim 29, the middle comprising a winding button at about 9 o'"'"'clock, the base comprising a notch opposite said winding button when the clasp is folded.

55. The watch case of claim 29, a traction of both extremities of the strap being exerted along two straights contained more or less in a main plane of said base.

56. The watch case of claim 29, said strap being made of extensible material.

57. Watch case comprising an unfolding clasp for a flexible strap, said unfolding clasp including:

a middle connected to a first end of the strap,

a base connected to the second end of the strap,

an extension connected in articulated fashion to the middle and to the base, wherein

the articulations between the middle and the extension and between the base and the extension are arranged in such a manner as to allow the middle, the extension and the base to superimpose in folded position, and to be juxtaposed in unfolded position, and

one or several regulating element(s) in direct contact with the strap for increasing or reducing in a reversible manner a length of measured strap;

wherein

said length regulating elements are blocked when said clasp is folded.

58. Watch case comprising an unfolding clasp for a flexible strap, said unfolding clasp including:

a middle connected to a first end of the strap,

a base connected to the second end of the strap,

an extension connected in articulated fashion to the middle and to the base, wherein

the articulations between the middle and the extension and between the base and the extension are arranged in such a manner as to allow the middle, the extension and the base to superimpose in folded position, and to be juxtaposed in unfolded position,

one or several regulating element(s) for increasing or reducing in a reversible manner a length of said strap by said one or several regulating elements directly pressing on the strap, wherein an end of the strap is held in said case by application of a force perpendicular to a plane of said end;

a mechanical locking device comprising at least one push-button placed on a lateral side of the middle, the push-button being capable of being actuated against the action of a spring to disengage at least one hooking element connected to the middle and to the base to be engaged and disengaged,

said at least one hooking element being placed in laterally de-centered fashion.