Search

JP-7857341-B2 - Interchangeable buckle device

JP7857341B2JP 7857341 B2JP7857341 B2JP 7857341B2JP-7857341-B2

Inventors

  • オーレリアン・ブシェ

Assignees

  • ハリー・ウィンストン・エス アー

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20240531
Priority Date
20230606

Claims (8)

  1. A replaceable buckle device (1) comprising a buckle (2) having a rod (3) connected around a pin (4), wherein the replaceable buckle device comprises an insert (5) having a passage (50) configured to receive the rod (3), and a lever (6) configured to cooperate with the insert (5) to hold the rod (3) within the passage (50), wherein the lever (6) is assembled to pivot with respect to the insert (5) and is configured to move from a locked position in which the rod (3) is held within the passage (50) to an open position in which the rod (3) is free to move away from the passage (50), and the replaceable buckle device comprises means for holding the lever (6) in the locked position. The lever (6) is provided with an operating tab (62) for moving the lever (6) from the locked position to the released position. The insert (5) has a shoulder portion (57) that forms a space for handling the operating tab (62) located at the end of the lever (6), and the pin (4) is partially resting in the recess (51) when the lever (6) is in the locking position, in a replaceable buckle device (1).
  2. The replaceable buckle device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (5) comprises the recess (51) configured to receive the lever (6) in the locking position.
  3. The interchangeable buckle device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the recess (51) comprises a first pair of blind holes (54) in the inner side walls (52, 53) of the insert, and the first pair of blind holes (54) are configured to cooperate with a pivot catch (63, 64) integral with the lever (6), and the cooperation forms a pivot axis for the lever (6).
  4. The interchangeable buckle device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the passage (50) comprises a passage (55) for the pin (4).
  5. The interchangeable buckle device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lever comprises a retaining member (60), the retaining member (60) is configured to hold the rod in the passage (50), and the retaining member has a passage (61) for the pin (4).
  6. The interchangeable buckle device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the lever (6) is held by a pair of ball catches (65, 66) integrated with the lever (6).
  7. The interchangeable buckle device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the recess (51) is provided with a first pair of dead holes (54) in the inner side walls (52, 53) of the insert, and the insert has a second pair of dead holes (56) configured to receive the ball catch (65, 66), and the first pair of dead holes (54) and the second pair of dead holes (56) are on the same plane.
  8. A watch comprising the interchangeable buckle device (1) described in claim 1.

Description

This invention relates to the field of timekeeping devices or jewelry. More specifically, this invention relates to interchangeable buckle devices. The band is typically made of leather or metal and has a buckle attached to it by a rod. In the watchmaking industry, solutions have been proposed to allow users to easily change watch bands, especially when bands become severely worn, or to make it possible to swap between, for example, leather and metal bands. In recent years, considerable effort has been devoted to improving these systems for separating the band from the case, and numerous solutions have been proposed. However, the above efforts have not been dedicated to removing the buckle, and there are not enough advantageous solutions. The usefulness of a precious metal buckle or clasp lies in the fact that the wearer would want to be able to change the band simply, quickly, safely, and without tools, without altering the buckle. Another need addressed by this invention is the ability to replace this band with an unmodified band, i.e., a standard band, a need that is not addressed by most solutions proposed to date. More specifically, while the band is usually at a distance from the case due to its mounting height relative to the watch, the band touches the wearer's wrist at this mounting point. This causes the latch components of the band to rub against the skin, resulting in discomfort. Furthermore, the band mechanism (made from multiple different metals) is exposed to the wearer's sweat. This not only presents problems related to product degradation (oxidation, etc.), but also increases the risk of allergies to the wearer, as materials containing nickel or other allergens are most frequently used. U.S. Patent Document No. 5,951,193 describes a method for mounting a buckle on a component in which a rod cooperates with two elastic elements assembled within a band, thereby enabling the rod to be attached by sliding it through an elongated opening that opens into the band. This solution has several drawbacks when used to achieve universal interchangeability, as it requires a band that has been modified to incorporate these assembly elements. Therefore, this solution limits interchangeability with commercially available bands, as it does not allow the buckle to be mounted on a standard band. Furthermore, because the position for attaching and detaching the buckle to the attachment element is in the direction of the band's operating position, the buckle may come undone when the watch is worn, especially if the watch is worn fairly loosely, or in the case of a watch worn over a neoprene wetsuit during diving, as the thickness of the wetsuit shrinks and the band loosens. Finally, the width of the holes for receiving the rods should not be such that part of the hole remains visible after assembly. This not only looks bad, but can also create recesses where debris can accumulate, potentially disrupting the device's operation. Patent document CH714409 describes a replaceable buckle and a method for assembling the same. In this replaceable buckle, the pin must be moved along the axis of the pin material to remove the pin, and the band must be modified so that the opening intended to receive the pin is wide enough to allow this movement. Therefore, this solution is not universal as it only fits bands with a wider-than-usual opening. Furthermore, when assembling and disassembling the buckle, the force the user applies to the pin material to push in the loading pin material is always applied to the same side of the band's components, causing deformation of the component parts, increasing the radial play of the pin, and compromising the security of the buckle and the aesthetics of the band. Finally, the buckle assembly/disassembly process does not provide the user with tactile and/or audible signals to inform them of correct assembly, which can lead to the risk of incorrect assembly and, consequently, unintended separation. Patent document CH713108 describes a buckle device intended to be easily assembled and disassembled by a clip fastening that follows the rotation of the first element of the buckle to the second element of the buckle. This document provides an example of its application to a folding clasp buckle, and no embodiment for a pin-type buckle is described or illustrated. However, it is advantageous to propose a device applicable to both pin-type and folding clasp buckles. The fastening devices described are typically used in interchangeable buckles that can be replaced at the wearer's discretion. However, these fastening devices have drawbacks. In particular, they require significant structural modifications to the rod, such as creating an opening into the tube or modifying the piston. Such modifications lead to substantial additional manufacturing costs. U.S. Patent No. 5951193CH714409CH713108 This is an exploded perspective view of the replaceable buckle device according to the present invention.This i