Clasp for watch wristlet or belt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9615634-B2
Application number	US-201214363960-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2012
Priority date	Dec 9, 2011
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Clasp for a watch bracelet comprising a cover connected on a first side to a first bracelet strand and on a second side to a second bracelet strand, a connecting means being inserted between the second bracelet strand and the cover of the clasp, the connecting means comprising an end link sliding along a longitudinal direction of the clasp between a first position in which the end link is at least partially engaged in the cover of the clasp, and a second position in which the end link is disengaged from the cover of the link, the end link comprising a push-button which, when pressed, causes a toothed element to change from a first position, in which the toothed element is in mesh with a rack toothing integral with the cover of the clasp, to a second position, in which the toothed element is released from the engagement thereof with the rack toothing; the clasp being characterized in that the end link includes a housing in which there is arranged at least one spring, the spring being covered by the push-button.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clasp for a watch wristlet, bracelet, or belt comprising:
a cover connected on a first side to a first strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt and on a second side to a second strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt,
wherein a connecting mechanism is inserted between the second strand and the cover of the clasp,
wherein the connecting mechanism comprises
an end link; and
a next link connected to said end link,

wherein said end link slides along a longitudinal direction of the clasp between a first position in which the next link is at least partially engaged in the cover of the clasp, and a second position in which the next link is disengaged from the cover of the clasp,
wherein the end link comprises
a push-button which, when pressed, causes a toothed element to change from a first position, in which the toothed element is in mesh with a rack toothing integral with the cover of the clasp, to a second position, in which the toothed element is released from an engagement thereof with the rack toothing;

wherein the end link includes a housing in which there is arranged at least one spring,
wherein the spring is covered by the push-button which acts in a perpendicular direction to a plane of the clasp, and
wherein the toothed element is carried by the push-button.

2. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the push-button is provided with an arresting mechanism preventing a removal of the end link from the cover of the clasp.

3. The clasp according to claim 2 , wherein the arresting mechanism is removable.

4. A clasp for a watch wristlet, bracelet, or belt comprising:
a cover connected on a first side to a first strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt and on a second side to a second strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt,
wherein a connecting mechanism is inserted between the second strand and the cover of the clasp,
wherein the connecting mechanism comprises
an end link; and
a next link connected to said end link,

wherein said end link slides along a longitudinal direction of the clasp between a first position in which the next link is at least partially engaged in the cover of the clasp, and a second position in which the next link is disengaged from the cover of the clasp,
wherein the end link comprises
a push-button which, when pressed, causes a toothed element to change from a first position, in which the toothed element is in mesh with a rack toothing integral with the cover of the clasp, to a second position, in which the toothed element is released from an engagement thereof with the rack toothing;

wherein the end link includes a housing in which there is arranged at least one spring,
wherein the spring is covered by the push-button which acts in a perpendicular direction to a plane of the clasp,
wherein the toothed element is carried by the push-button,
wherein the push-button is provided with an arresting mechanism preventing a removal of the end link from the cover of the clasp,
wherein the arresting mechanism is removable, and
wherein the arresting mechanism is formed by a screw which projects into a groove arranged in a bottom of the cover and which defines two end stop members.

5. The clasp according to claim 4 , wherein the arresting mechanism is concealed from a user's view.

6. The clasp according to claim 5 , wherein the arresting mechanism is concealed by a cap that is driven or bonded thereon.

7. A clasp for a watch wristlet, bracelet, or belt comprising:
a cover connected on a first side to a first strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt and on a second side to a second strand of the wristlet, bracelet, or belt,
wherein a connecting mechanism is inserted between the second strand and the cover of the clasp,
wherein the connecting mechanism comprises
an end link; and
a next link connected to said end link,

wherein said end link slides along a longitudinal direction of the clasp between a first position in which the next link is at least partially engaged in the cover of the clasp, and a second position in which the next link is disengaged from the cover of the clasp,
wherein the end link comprises
a push-button which, when pressed, causes a toothed element to change from a first position, in which the toothed element is in mesh with a rack toothing integral with the cover of the clasp, to a second position, in which the toothed element is released from an engagement thereof with the rack toothing;

wherein the end link includes a housing in which there is arranged at least one spring,
wherein the spring is covered by the push-button which acts in a perpendicular direction to a plane of the clasp,
wherein the toothed element is carried by the push-button,
wherein the push-button is provided with an arresting mechanism preventing a removal of the end link from the cover of the clasp,
wherein the arresting mechanism is concealed from a user's view, and
wherein the arresting mechanism is concealed by a screw screwed into a through hole formed on the push-button.

8. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the cover has a generally U-shaped section and is provided with two wings facing each other, wherein the wings each carry the rack toothing on an inward facing surface thereof.

9. The clasp according to claim 8 , wherein the end link includes lateral guide surfaces for slidably guiding the end link inside the cover between the bottom of the cover and the wings.

10. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the rack toothing extends to a longitudinal end of the cover of the clasp.

11. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the toothed element is integral with the push-button.

12. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the first position and the second position of the end link define two opposite end positions of the end link.

13. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is located between the end link and the push button.

14. The clasp according to claim 1 , wherein the next link is disengaged in its entirety from the cover of the clasp in the second position.

Assignees

• Omega Sa

Inventors

• Kaltenrieder Cédric
• Catanese Rocco

Classifications

• A44C5/24

  with folding devices · CPC title

• A44B17/0017 Primary

  Their fastening · CPC title

• A41F9/025

  Adjustable belts or girdles · CPC title

• A44C5/246 Primary

  having size adjusting means · CPC title

• Y10T24/2155

  Jewelry-watch straps · CPC title