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(11) | EP 1 836 918 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A fastening device for a bracelet |
| (57) There is described a fastening device (1) for a bracelet. The described fastening
device (1) is comprised of a fixed part (11), which is hollow and integral with an
end (2) of the wristband, and with a mobile part (4). The second end of the wristband
may be housed within the cavity (20) and be locked by compression by a coordinated
action of the fixed part (11) with the mobile part (4). The device implies the use
of compression and locking means. The application of the described invention allows
to decrease production costs and, furthermore, to obtain bracelets which may be customised
by the owners by simple operation.
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[0002] Bracelets are pieces of jewellery, which are widespread in virtually all societies and in virtually all countries. They have a well known ornamental function, many youngsters 6wearing them around the wrist or ankles resort to. The ornamental function is often achieved by the contribution of decorative elements displaying pictures, drawings or logos, which confer a feature of charm or appeal to the bracelet. Such decorative elements are usually connected to a flexible material wristband adhering to the wrist.
[0003] For a bracelet to be worn around the wrist, it is required that it is provided with a fastening device; the latter is usually formed by a mechanism which leads the wristband to take a conformation roughly similar to a flexible ring, constrained to adhere to the wrist.
[0004] The known technique allows different types of fastening devices. Thereafter, there are discussed devices by which the wristband changes from an "open" position, in which the two ends of said wristband are unconstrained, to a "closed" position, in which the two ends of the wristband are constrained to one another; the wristband may adhere to the wrist only in the closed position.
[0005] The fastening devices, made of metal or rigid plastic, often comprise two separate parts, each of which is integral with an end of the wristband.
[0006] The competitive atmosphere imposed by the market and the need to limit manufacturing costs induce to seek more cost-effective solutions also for fairly simple mechanisms such as fastening means. A possible solution to such a problem may be represented by only one end being engaged by a fastening device, the second end being completely free instead and not needing any additional working.
[0007] A further benefit obtained by means of such a device would be the interchangeability of the decorative elements and the customisability of the bracelets. Indeed, it often happens that the owner of a bracelet desires to make modifications thereto by the addition, the removal or the substitution of decorative elements. The insertion and release of such elements are hindered if both ends of the bracelet are engaged by the fastening device; instead, if an end is free, these become trivial operations: the only condition required is for the decorative element to display one or more holes within which the wristband may be introduced.
[0008] It is the object of the present invention to make a fastening device for a bracelet, which engages only one end thereof, thus bringing the above listed benefits regarding the reduction of production costs, and to allow the interchangeability of the decorative elements.
[0009] According to the invention, such an object is achieved with a fastening device for a flexible wristband, adapted to bind a first and a second end of said wristband, said device comprising a first and a second part, said first part being fixed and integral with said first end, said second part being mobile and connected to said fixed part, characterised in that said fixed part displays a cavity adapted to house said second end and in that said mobile part is displaceable from an open position to a closed position in which it compresses and locks said second end within said cavity.
[0010] These and other features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of an example of practical embodiment thereof set forth by no way of limitation in the accompanying drawings, in which:
figure 1 shows a plan view of a fastening device according to a first embodiment in an open position;
figure 2 shows a section of the device in figure 1 along line II-II;
figure 3 shows a side view of the device in figure 1;
figure 4 shows a plan view of the device in figure 1 in a closed position;
figure 5 shows a section of the device in figure 4 along line V-V;
figure 6 shows a section of the device in figure 4 along line VI-VI.
[0011] With reference to figures 1-3, there is shown a fastening device 1 in an open position, formed by a fixed part 11 and a mobile part 4.
[0012] Said fixed part 11 is integral with an end 2 of a wristband made of a flexible material. The end 2 of said wristband is stably inserted, without the possibility of escaping, within a hole obtained in the volume 7 of said fixed part.
[0013] Said fixed part 11 displays a cavity 20 having side walls 9 and bottom 8 and is closed by said volume 7; said cavity 20 must have a size such that it may house the second end of said wristband. A pin 3 is fixed to the side walls 9, about which said mobile part 4, comprising a small catch 5 and small compression teeth 6, may rotate.
[0014] With reference to figures 4-6, there is shown the fastening device 1 when said wristband is in a closed position. In this case, an end 10 of said wristband has been inserted along the walls 9 and the bottom 8 of said cavity 20. Subsequently, the mobile part 4 has performed a rotation from the position in figures 1-3 to the position in figures 4-6, which has brought said small catch 5 into contact with said volume 7, and has forced said small compression teeth 6 to hold said end 10, locking said end 10 within said cavity 20. The protruding point 12 of said mobile part 4 makes the operation of rotating said mobile part 4 with the fingers easier.
[0015] To bring the bracelet from the open position (figures 1-3) to the closed position (figures 4-6), for instance in order to wear said bracelet, the owner may carry out the following operations:
- inserting said end 10 within said cavity 20 having side walls 9 and bottom 8;
- rotating said mobile part 4 about said pin 3 from the position shown in figures 1-3 to the position shown in figures 3-5, with the subsequent compression of said end 10, causing the locking within the fixed part and the subsequent configuration of said bracelet in a closed position.
[0016] To bring the bracelet from a closed position (figures 4-6) to an open position (figure 1-3), for instance in order to remove said bracelet, the owner may carry out the following operations:
- the owner of said bracelet inserting a fingernail within the aperture between said point 12 of said mobile part 4 and said volume 7;
- rotating said mobile part 4 about said pin 3 from the position shown in figures 4-6 to the position shown in figures 1-3; at this point, the end 10 of said wristband is no longer locked within said fixed part;
- extracting said end 10 from said fixed part having walls 9 and bottom 8; said bracelet is, at this point, conformed in an open position.
[0017] It must finally be noted that said invention may not only be applied to the fastening of wristbands for bracelets; it may indeed be efficiently included in other pieces of jewellery, as necklaces, or in other objects which may be applied to the body, such as watches; finally, there may be embodiments to also connect any kind of pair of bands made of a flexible material even if not wearable.
1. A fastening device (1) for a flexible wristband, adapted to constrain a first and
a second end (2, 10) of said wristband, said device comprising a first and a second
part, said first part being fixed (11) and integral with said first end (2), said
second part being mobile (4) and connected to said fixed part (11), characterised in that said fixed part (11) displays a cavity (20) adapted to house said second end (10)
and in that said mobile part (4) is displaceable from an open position to a closed position wherein
it compresses and locks said end (10) within said cavity (20).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said mobile part (4) may be returned to said open position to allow the unlocking
of said second end (10).
3. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that said mobile part (4) is rotatably hinged to side walls (9) of said fixed part (11)
and, when rotated, compresses and locks said second end (10) within said cavity (20).
4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that said mobile part is provided with small teeth (6) which compress said second end
(10) to hold it and lock it against the bottom (8) of said cavity (20).
5. A device according to any of claims 3-4, characterised in that said mobile part (4) may be returned in said closed position by the rotation in an
opposite direction to the locking direction of said second end (10).
6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that said mobile part (4) displays, in a locked position of said second end (10), a protruding
point (12), adapted to make easier the insertion of a fingernail to start the rotation
movement in an opposite direction of said mobile part (4).
7. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises catching mechanisms (5) adapted to maintain the locking of said second
end (10) within said cavity (20).
8. A device according to claim 7, characterised in that said catching mechanisms (5) comprise small catches (5) which, by an engagement with
said fixed part (11), lock said mobile part (4) in a position such that it locks said
second end (10) within said cavity (20).
9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is applicable to a wristband of a bracelet.
10. A device according to any of claims 1-8, characterised in that it is applicable to a wristband of a watch.
11. A device according to any of claims 1-8, characterised in that it is applicable to a pair of flexible bands.