Watchstrap made of hinged links

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9289036-B2
Application number	US-201013322683-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 26, 2010
Priority date	Jun 8, 2009
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a watchstrap ( 1 ) including a plurality of mutually hinged elements ( 7 ) which each comprise at least one link ( 2, 3, 4, 4 ′) and at least one recess consisting of at least one hole ( 15, 15 ′) for receiving therein a linking member ( 10, 11, 12 ). Next to the open ends ( 16 ) of at least some of said holes ( 15, 15 ′), a clearance ( 20 ) of the linking member ( 10, 11, 12 ) is provided, preventing any contact at said point between the latter and said links ( 2, 3, 4, 4 ′).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bracelet comprising:
a plurality of articulated elements,
a plurality of links, wherein each of said articulated elements includes at least one of said links,
at least one linking member connecting a respective one of said articulated elements with a respective other one of said articulated elements,
wherein at least one of said links includes at least one housing including at least one hole,
wherein a respective one of said at least one hole receives therein a respective one of said at least one linking member, wherein the respective linking member is housed in the respective hole, the hole comprising a central portion having a cylindrical portion and the linking member comprising a central portion having a cylindrical portion so as to form a simple cylindrical articulation between the respective articulated elements,
wherein said at least one of said links has at least a portion made of a material of low impact resistance which is a ceramic, a sintered hard metal, glass or a mineral, said portion including the at least one housing including the at least one hole,
wherein a respective clearance is provided at a respective location adjacent a respective open end of said at least one hole to prevent contact at said respective location between said respective linking member and said at least one of said links,
so that a bearing point between the link and the linking member in a vicinity of the open end of the hole is offset toward the interior of the link with respect to the open end of the hole,
wherein said respective linking member is an articulation pin or an assembly rod having, at said respective location adjacent said respective open end, to obtain said respective clearance, a cross-section having a local reduction compared to a cross-section of said respective linking member at said respective bearing point between said respective linking member and the link.

2. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said local reduction has a profile which is that of a straight groove, a chamfered groove, a groove with rounded edges or progressive curvature or a groove formed of a combination of these profiles.

3. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said respective open end has a flaring to obtain said respective clearance.

4. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a toroidal or cylindrical damper member is disposed between the respective linking member and said at least one of said links at a location of said respective clearance, said damper member being made of a material of higher impact resistance than the material of said portion of said at least one of said links.

5. The bracelet as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said respective open end has a flaring to obtain said respective clearance.

6. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said respective open end has a flaring.

7. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least another one of said links has at least a portion made of the material of low impact resistance.

8. The bracelet as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said material of low impact resistance is sapphire or ruby.

9. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said respective linking member is retained by a snug fit in the articulated elements that said respective linking member connects.

10. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of said articulated elements includes an alternation of at least one link having at least a portion made of a first material with a first impact resistance and links each made of a second material having greater impact resistance than that of the first material.

11. Watchstrap comprising the bracelet as claimed in claim 1 .

12. Watch comprising the watchstrap as claimed in claim 11 .

13. Jewelry item comprising the bracelet as claimed in claim 1 .

14. The bracelet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said material of low impact resistance is sapphire or ruby.

15. A bracelet comprising:
a plurality of articulated elements,
a plurality of links, wherein each of said articulated elements includes at least one of said links,
at least one linking member connecting a respective one of said articulated elements with a respective other one of said articulated elements,
wherein at least one of said links includes at least one housing including at least one hole,
wherein said at least one hole receives therein a respective one of said at least one linking member,
wherein said at least one of said links has at least a portion made of a material of low impact resistance which is a ceramic, a sintered hard metal, glass or a mineral, said portion including the at least one housing including the at least one hole,
wherein a respective clearance is provided at a respective location adjacent a respective open end of said at least one hole to prevent contact at said respective location between said respective linking member and said at least one of said links,
wherein a toroidal or cylindrical damper member is disposed between the respective linking member and said at least one of said links at a location of said respective clearance, said damper member being made of a material of higher impact resistance than the material of said portion of said at least one of said links.

16. The bracelet as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said respective linking member is an articulation pin or an assembly rod having a cross-section having a local reduction at said respective location adjacent said respective open end to obtain said respective clearance.

17. The bracelet as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said respective open end has a flaring to obtain said respective clearance.

18. A bracelet comprising:
a plurality of articulated elements,
a plurality of links, wherein each of said articulated elements includes at least one of said links,
at least one linking member connecting a respective one of said articulated elements with a respective other one of said articulated elements,
wherein at least one of said links includes at least one housing including at least one hole,
wherein said at least one hole receives therein a respective one of said at least one linking member,
wherein said at least one of said links has at least a portion made of a material of low impact resistance which is a ceramic, a sintered hard metal, glass or a mineral, said portion including the at least one housing including the at least one hole,
wherein a respective clearance is provided at a respective location adjacent a respective open end of said at least one hole to prevent contact at said respective location between said respective linking member and said at least one of said links,
wherein said material of low impact resistance is sapphire or ruby.

19. The bracelet as claimed in claim 18 , wherein at least another one of said links has at least a portion made of the material of low impact resistance.

20. The bracelet as claimed in claim 19 , wherein said material of low impact resistance is sapphire or ruby.

21. The bracelet as claimed in claim 18 , wherein said respective open end has a flaring to obtain said respective clearance.

22. The bracelet as claimed in claim 18 , wherein a toroidal or cylindrical damper member is disposed between the respective linking member and said at least one of said links at a location of said respective clearance, said damper member being made of a material of higher impact resistance than the material of said portion of said at least one of said links.

Assignees

• Catheline Adrien
• Celant Benjamin
• Tyrode Jérôme
• Rolex Sa

Inventors

• Catheline Adrien
• Celant Benjamin
• Tyrode Jérôme

Classifications

• A44C5/107 Primary

  with links made of more than two elements including connecting elements · CPC title