Bar provided with two retractable pivots for securing a wristlet on a watch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935934-B2
Application number	US-201916372796-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2019
Priority date	Apr 23, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A bar for securing a watch wristlet including a hollow inner tube arranged in the hollow body, and is configured to co-operate with the first pivot and the second pivot. The second pivot and the spring are inserted in the hollow inner tube. The hollow body and the hollow inner tube being configured such that a displacement of the lug along the longitudinal groove towards the second pivot gives rise to a displacement of the second pivot, in the hollow inner tube, towards the lug, the user can easily retract the two pivots by manual action on the lug, with the simple movement of a finger, and without a tool. In fact, since the lug is integral with the first pivot, this action by the user tends to bring the first and second pivots towards one another inside the hollow body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bar for securing a wristlet on a watch, comprising a hollow body provided with a longitudinal groove; a first pivot arranged in the hollow body; a shaft arranged in the hollow body and provided with a second pivot, each of the first and second pivots being able to slide in a respective end of the hollow body and being designed to be introduced into a corresponding receptacle of a respective horn of a watch case; a spring disposed in the hollow body, supported between the first and second pivots; and a lug which extends through the longitudinal groove and can slide along the longitudinal groove, said lug being integral with the first pivot and constituting a manoeuvring unit in order to displace the first pivot against the action of the spring,
wherein:
the bar additionally comprises a hollow inner tube arranged in the hollow body, the second pivot and the spring being inserted in the hollow inner tube;
the hollow inner tube is configured to co-operate with the first pivot and with the second pivot; and
the hollow body and the hollow inner tube are configured such that a displacement of the lug along the longitudinal groove towards the second pivot gives rise to a displacement of the second pivot, in the hollow inner tube, towards the lug, such as to bring the first and second pivots towards one another inside the hollow body, the lug constituting a manoeuvring unit in order to displace the first and second pivots against the action of the spring,
the hollow inner tube comprises a first helical groove on the second pivot side:
the hollow body comprises an additional groove on the second pivot side; and
the shaft additionally comprises a tenon which is integral with the second pivot, the tenon extending through the first helical groove and through the additional groove in the hollow body, and being able to slide along said first helical groove and said additional groove;
the hollow body and the hollow inner tube being configured such that a displacement of the lug along the longitudinal groove towards the tenon gives rise to a displacement of the tenon along the additional groove towards the lug, such as to bring the first and second pivots towards one another inside the hollow body.

2. The bar according to claim 1 , wherein the additional groove in the hollow body is a second helical groove, the second helical groove having a length which is shorter than that of the first helical groove, the helicoid defined by the second helical groove having an angle of inclination, relative to a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal direction wherein the hollow inner tube extends, which is smaller than an angle of inclination formed by the helicoid defined by the first helical groove relative to this same plane.

3. The bar according to claim 2 , wherein the first pivot, the lug and the hollow inner tube are formed in a single piece of material, the first pivot forming an end of the hollow inner tube, situated opposite the second pivot relative to the spring.

4. The bar according to claim 2 , wherein the helicoid defined by the first helical groove is wound on the hollow inner tube in the same direction as the helicoid defined by the second helical groove on the hollow body.

5. The bar according to claim 3 , wherein the helicoid defined by the first helical groove is wound on the hollow inner tube in the same direction as the helicoid defined by the second helical groove on the hollow body.

6. The bar according to claim 1 , wherein the additional groove in the hollow body is a second longitudinal groove; and wherein the hollow inner tube comprises a second helical groove on the side opposite the second pivot, the lug also extending through the second helical groove and being able to slide along the second helical groove, the second helical groove having a length which is longer than that of the first helical groove, the helicoid defined by the second helical groove being wound on the hollow inner tube in a direction opposite that of the helicoid defined by the first helical groove.

7. The bar according to claim 6 , further comprising an additional shaft arranged in the hollow body, said additional shaft comprising the first pivot and the lug, the first pivot extending in the hollow inner tube, opposite the second pivot relative to the spring.

8. The bar according to claim 6 , wherein the second longitudinal groove has a length which is shorter than that of the first longitudinal groove.

9. The bar according to claim 7 , wherein the second longitudinal groove has a length which is shorter than that of the first longitudinal groove.

10. The bar according to claim 6 , wherein the hollow inner tube can turn around its longitudinal direction inside the hollow body.

11. The bar according to claim 1 , wherein the spring is a coil spring.

12. A wristwatch comprising watch part, a wristlet and a bar securing the wristlet to the watch part, wherein the bar comprises:
a hollow body provided with a longitudinal groove: a first pivot arranged in the hollow body; a shaft arranged in the hollow body and provided with a second pivot, each of the first and second pivots being able to slide in a respective end of the hollow body and being designed to be introduced into a corresponding receptacle of a respective horn of a watch case; a spring disposed in the hollow body, supported between the first and second pivots; and a lug which extends through the longitudinal groove and can slide along the longitudinal groove. said lug being integral with the first pivot and constituting a manoeuvring unit in order to displace the first pivot against the action of the spring,
wherein:
the bar additionally comprises a hollow inner tube arranged in the hollow body, the second pivot and the spring being inserted in the hollow inner tube:
the hollow inner tube is configured to co-operate with the first pivot and with the second pivot; and
the hollow body and the hollow inner tube are configured such that a displacement of the lug along the longitudinal groove towards the second pivot gives rise to a displacement of the second pivot, in the hollow inner tube, towards the lug, such as to bring the first and second pivots towards one another inside the hollow body, the lug constituting a manoeuvring unit in order to displace the first and second pivots against the action of the spring,
the hollow inner tube comprises a first helical groove on the second pivot side;
the hollow body comprises an additional groove on the second pivot side; and
the shaft additionally comprises a tenon which is integral with the second pivot, the tenon extending through the first helical groove and through the additional groove in the hollow body, and being able to slide along said first helical groove and said additional groove;
the hollow body and the hollow inner tube being configured such that a displacement of the lug along the longitudinal groove towards the tenon gives rise to a displacement of the tenon along the additional groove towards the lug, such as to bring the first and second pivots towards one another inside the hollow body.

13. The wristwatch according to claim 12 , wherein the additional groove in the hollow body is a second longitudinal groove; and wherein the hollow inner tube comprises a second helical groove on the side opposite the second pivot, the lug also extending through the second helical groove and being able to slide along the second helical groove, the second helical groove having a length which is longer than that of the first helical groove, the helicoid defined by the second helical groove being wound on the hollow inner tube in a direction opposite that of th

Assignees

• Swatch Group Res & Dev Ltd

Inventors

• Maire Francois
• Von Allmen Jean-Marc
• Vonlanthen Jonathan

Classifications

• G04B37/1493 Primary

  by means of a feather spring (Barette á ressort) · CPC title

• G04B37/1486

  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 title

• A44C5/14

  characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like · CPC title