Coupling assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a strap

• US 9,092,012 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timex Group USA Incorporated (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Group USA Incorporated (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Dornhege, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US13/651,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20140101893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 224/164, 224/167, 224/168, 368/282, 403/166, 968/360, 24/32, 242/65.B, 242/65.WS
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/00 Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2005/108 with elastically deformable parts
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 2007/1027 by axially moving free pins
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/12 Securing pins in sockets, movably or not
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/1011 biased by free springs E05D7/1016 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/1493 by means of a feather spring (Barette á ressort)
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1368 Arm or leg carried holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4718 Watch pintle connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4782 Watch strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49716 Converting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A sleeve for use in an assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap. The sleeve has a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug of a wristworn device, an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of a conventional spring bar, and a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar. The second end of the spring bar is coupled to the second lug, the spring bar is coupled to the strap, the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and the first end of the sleeve is coupled to the first lug. A removable retractor for use with a spring bar, which allows for the use of a plurality of spring bars and therefore, lends itself to widespread use and retrofitting of an assembly that couples a strap to a wristworn device, is also provided.

Claims

1. An assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap, wherein the wristworn device comprises a first lug and a second lug spaced from the first lug, wherein the first lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof and the second lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof, and wherein the assembly is coupleable to the first end of the strap, wherein the assembly comprises:

a spring bar comprising;

a first end and a second end, wherein

the first end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and

the second end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and

a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased towards and away from the second end of the spring bar;

a sleeve, the sleeve comprising;

a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and

an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of the spring bar; and

a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar;

wherein;

when (i) the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, (ii) the spring bar is coupled to the strap, and (iii) the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, the wristworn device is coupled to the strap without the use of the sleeve; and

when (i) the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, (ii) the spring bar is coupled to the strap, (iii) the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and (iv) the first end of the sleeve is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, the wristworn device is coupled to the strap; and

wherein, the first end of the spring bar and the first end of the sleeve are not simultaneously positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug.

2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve slides over the first end of the spring bar.

3. An assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap, wherein the wristworn device comprises a first lug and a second lug spaced from the first lug, wherein the first lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof and the second lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof, and wherein the assembly is coupleable to the first end of the strap, wherein the assembly comprises:

a spring bar comprising;

a first end and a second end, wherein

the first end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and

the second end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and

a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased towards and away from the second end of the spring bar;

a sleeve, the sleeve comprising;

a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and

an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of the spring bar; and

a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar;

wherein when (i) the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, (ii) the spring bar is coupled to the strap, (iii) the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and (iv) the first end of the sleeve is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, the wristworn device is coupled to the strap; and

wherein the first end of the spring bar and the first end of the sleeve are not simultaneously positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug.

4. A method of retrofitting a coupling arrangement of a wristworn device and strap with a sleeve comprising a first end and an inner cavity, wherein the wristworn device comprises a first lug and a second lug spaced from the first lug, wherein the first lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof and the second lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof, and wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a spring bar comprising (i) a first end positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, (ii) a second end positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and (iii) a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased towards and away from the second end of the spring bar, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

placing the first end of the spring bar into the inner cavity of the sleeve;

positioning the second end of the spring bar in the recess in the inner face of the second lug; and

positioning the first end of the sleeve in the recess in the inner face of the first lug;

wherein the sleeve further comprises a retractor for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar;

wherein;

when (i) the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, (ii) the spring bar is coupled to the strap, (iii) the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and (iv) the first end of the sleeve is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, the wristworn device is coupled to the strap; and

wherein, the first end of the spring bar and the first end of the sleeve are not simultaneously positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, including a first step of removing the spring bar from between the recess in the inner face of the first lug and the recess in the inner face of the second lug.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, including the step of coupling the strap to the sleeve and spring bar prior to either the step of positioning the second end of the spring bar in the recess in the inner face of the second lug or the step of positioning the first end of the sleeve in the recess in the inner face of the first lug.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, comprising performing the following steps in the following order, namely,

positioning the second end of the spring bar in the recess in the inner face of the second lug;

coupling the strap to the sleeve and spring bar; and

positioning the first end of the sleeve in the recess in the inner face of the first lug.