Coupling assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a strap

• US 9,743,724 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Issued: 08/29/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US14/743,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20150282573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 368282, 403166
• 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 member with a first end and a second end and a second member with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first member is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and the second end of the second member is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug,

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

an outer tube, within which the second end of the first member, the first end of the second member, and the biasing member are all disposed; and

a sleeve, the sleeve comprising;

an inner cavity dimensioned at a first end to initially receive the first end of the first member and a first end of the outer tube, and a second end out of which the first end of the first member is extendable with the spring bar positioned in the sleeve and the second end of the second member extending outwardly of the first end of the sleeve; and

wherein at least a portion of the outer tube is disposed within the sleeve; and

a retractor for urging the first end of the first member towards the second end of the second member;

whereby;

when the second end of the second member is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and the first end of the first member is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug;

the retracting of the retractor causes the first member to disengage from the recess in the inner face of the first lug; and

the assembly is disengaged from between the first and second lugs.

2. A method of coupling a wristworn device and a strap with a springbar assembly, 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 springbar assembly comprises a spring bar comprising a first member with a first end and a second end and a second member with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the first member is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and the second end of the second member is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, a biasing member for permitting the first end of the first member to be biased towards and away from the second end of the second member, and an outer tube, within which the second end of the first member, the first end of the second member, and the biasing member are all disposed;

and a sleeve, the sleeve comprising an inner cavity dimensioned at a first end to initially receive the first end of the first member and a first end of the outer tube, and a second end out of which the first end of the first member is extendable with the spring bar positioned in the sleeve and the second end of the second member extending outwardly of the first end of the sleeve; and

wherein at least a portion of the outer tube is disposed within the sleeve; and

a retractor for urging the first end of the first member towards the second end of the second member;

wherein the method comprises the steps of;

removing the spring bar from between the first and second lugs;

placing the first end of the first member and a first end of the outer tube into an inner cavity of the sleeve and extending the first end of the first member out of a second end of the sleeve;

coupling the strap to the springbar assembly;

placing the second end of the second member in the recess in the inner face of the second lug,

urging the first end of the first member towards the second end of the second member by applying pressure against the retractor on the sleeve;

aligning the first end of the first member with the recess in the inner face of the first lug; and

releasing the pressure against the retractor;

wherein the spring bar is reinserted between the first and second lugs.