EP3024350A1 - Adjustable buckle for a belt or strap such as a watch strap - Google Patents

Abstract

A buckle for a belt or a strap, wherein said buckle comprises at least one articulated lever (70) via an axis (16), wherein the movement of the lever (70) by pinching moves a stud (20) cooperating with the belt or strap to adjust the length of the belt/strap.

Description

ADJUSTABLE BUCKLE FOR A BELT OR STRAP SUCH AS A WATCH STRAP

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application elates priority to earlier Swiss application N°01314/13 filed on July 26, 2013 in the name of ROLAND ITEN MECHANICAL LUXURY SA, the content of this earlier applipation being incorporated by reference In lis entirety In tine present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns the field of buckles for belts or straps, such as watch straps:.

More specifically, the present invention concerns a buckle thai makes it easy to adjust the length of the belt or strap when in use and also to open or close the buckle, BACKGROUND ART

Belt buckles are well known in the art and have been made for ages. Some are very simple and only allows definite size of the belt. Other are a little more complicated and allow, for example, a continuous adjustment of the size of the belt,

A belt or watch strap generally comprises two parts: a buckle and a leather belt The belt itself may also be made out of materials other than leather, in the case of a watch strap, this comprises a leather strap rather than a leather belt. Both belts and watch straps may also be made out of materials other than leather suitable for the intended use. for example synthetic materials or a mix therefrom. Figures 1A-1C shows an example of a buckle 1 with an arm 3 and a belt stud 2 articulated via an axis 4 on a belt end 5. The other end of the belt 5 comprises holes 8 to allow the adjustment of the heft length by insertion of the stud 2 in the appropriate hole 8,

An example of such a buckle is disclosed in publication WO 2012/117326, the content of which is incorporated by reference in the present application In its entirety,

SUMMARY OF THE INVEMTION

An aim of the present invention Is to improve the buckles from the prior art when used with a belt or a watch strap.

In particular, an aim of the present Invention is to provide a buck is that Is simple and convenient to use and allows continuous adjustment of the belt length also when worn by a wearer.

The different embodiments of the present invention are defined by the appended claims:.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures 1 A to 1C Illustrate a buckle of the prior art: Figures 2A to 2E illustrate side cut views and top views of an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3A to 3D lilustrate top views of an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 4A to 4C illustrate a part: of an embodiment of the present invention;: Figures §A to 5F Illustrate top views of an embodiment of the present invention; Figures 6A to 66 illustrate top views of an embodiment of the present invention as manipulated by a user; Figures 7 A to 71 illustrate top views, of embodiments of the present invention ;

Figures 8Α to 8D illustrate top views of embodiments of the present invention;

Figures 9A to 9G illustrate top views of embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 10A to 10F illustrate top views of embodiments of the present invention-

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention will be explained now in more detail by referenoe to the figures, In trie following description, reference is made mainly to a bait but it is clear that the present invention equally applies to a strap for a watch or to any adjustabie strap/belt for any other use. Also, same or equivalent parts will be identified in the present description by the same references for the sake of simplicity.

Figures 2 A to 2E illustrate the principle of the invention. Specifically, in figures 2A to 2€« one has illustrated a buckle base 10 which comprises a groove 11 in wlhieh a stud platform 20' may move longitudinally. As in the prior art, the stud 20 itself is Introduced in a hole 6 of the belt or strap 6, but here the platform 20' may move longitudinally thus giving an additional degree of freedom to the: stud 20 and thereby provide a fine adjustment mechanism. Figures 2A and 28 illustrate two extreme positions of the platform (to the left and to the right). Figure 2C Is the buckle of figure 1G but with the movable platform of the stud 20,

Figures 2D (bottom: view) and 2E (top view) illustrate a buckle base 10 with base cogs 14, base groove 15, the stud groove 11 _:. base springs 12, base springs axles 13 and a base axle- 16. in figure 2D (bottom view) one sees the stud base or plaiform 20' in the groove 11 and a stud platform axle 21. Irs the top view of figure 2E_< one cannot see the stud 26 which is on the other side. Figures 3A to 3D illustrate the functioning of the adjustment mechanism according to the present invention. On the platform 20' of figure 2E, there are mounted two pincher levers 70 which are connected to base axle 16 and are connected via axis 71 to stud levers 90, said fevers being connected to the stud platform 20 via stud platform: axle 21. As illustrated in these figures, the pinching by fingers (see figure 3D, arrows next to the fingers) of the levers 90 moves the stud platform 20' longitudinally thus allowing a fine adjustment of the position of the stud 20, and therefore of the iength of the belt 5 with which the adjustment mechanism is used. Figures 4A to 40 illustrate different positions of the base spring 12 which allow the locking of the levers 70 into position.

Figures SA to 5F illustrate another embodiment of the present invention with cog wheels 9 moving onto the cog base 14. The wheels 9 are mounted on the Severs 70 and there are cog blocking springs 80 mounted on the levers 70. The springs 80 comprise a cog blockage 81 to block the rotation of the cog wheels 9 (see figure 5C and the detaii ot this figure) and a spring actuation mone 82 and a stabilization wing 83. When pushed towards the inside (as in figure 3D) by a user (see the arrows in figures SB and 5D), the springs 82 move towards the inside and the blockage 81 moves away from the wheels 9 (compare figures 5A and SB or 50 and 5D) such that the wheel 9 are free to rotate thereby allowing the adjustment When not pressed by a user and when the user presses on levers 70 at the pressing zone 72, the springs 80 remain in the blocking position (figures 5A and 5C). This is Illustrated by the different relati ve positions of lever 70 with respect to spring 80 is figures 5A and 513 for example, in figure 5A, the lever 70 is moved to the right In this figure relatively to spring 80 (blocking position) whereas in figure SB. the lever 70 is moved to the let (unblocked position). Reference 74 illustrate a spring blockage element to hold spring 80 in a stable position.

Figures 6A to 8C illustrate the actuation of the adjustment system by pinching and the blocking / unblocking operation. Figure 6A: the user pinches the levers 70 with the springs 80 on the actuation zones 82 of each spring BO to move the levers 70 toward each other (see the double arrows on the fingers), thus displacing longitudinally the axle 21 (see the arrow pointing towards the hand of the user} which has an effect on the length of the belt/strap 5 as explained herein. To block the system in a chosen positions the rotation of the cog wheels 9 is blocked via cog blockage 81 as explained above, and the relative movement of the springs 80 on the Severs 70.

This blocking action is illustrated by the thumb of a user on figure 8B and 6C which has moved downwards and now presses on zone 72 (and not on zone 82 anymore). in figure 8C, half the system is in locked position when the lever 70 has been pushed by the thumb of the user. This corresponds for example to figure 5A.

Figures 7A to 71 illustrate further embodiment of the invention. Specifically, figures 7A to 7G illustrate a variant with a single pincher lever 70 that can be moved (see the arrow in figures 7A-7C) for the adjustment

Figures 70 to 71 a variant with two pincher levers 70 and one single axle 16 or two axels 18.

Figures 8A So 80 illustrate other variants of the invention. Specifically, the embodiments of figures 8B, 8C and 8D use springs 120, 900 or 700 in addition to the previously described elements to: help the actuation of the mechanism. Figures 9A to- 9Θ illustrate another embodiment of the invention using- different blocking, means, that is a friction oontro! system 73, for example a nylon stud, that cooperates with a friction pattern 102 thereby creating a "click" effect when the levers are moved (for example pinched) and a blockage element 23 comprising a blockage lever 34 cooperating with a blockage pattern 101 , the lever 24 being mounted on a platform, such as stud platform 20'. The friction control system 73 may use different means for fulfilling its aim, for example a ball mounted on a spring. This system may of course be mounted on any embodiment described herein,

As regard the blocking_, system, when the lever 24 is in an upright position (figures 9D-9G), the system may be adjusted by pinching the levers 70. IN a variant, one direction of the. adjustment: may be carried out by pinching the touch zone 72 which are on the other side of the fevers 70 with respect to axis 71 , as illustrated by the arrows in figure 9F. By pinching the top of levers 70 as in figure 90, the platform 20' and the stud 20 moved downward in figure 9D, see the arrow ending in groove 11 , then to actuate the system in the other direction, the bottom of the Severs 70 is pinched, that is the touch zones 72, and the platform 20' and stud 20 moves upwards, see the arrow pointing upwards in the groove 11 in figure 9F.

©nee the proper position has been reached, the lever 24 may be moved downwards and thereby bioek the system in position (see figure 9B-9C) by the cooperation of element 23 (such as an extension} with (in) pattern 101. Of course, other equivalent blocking systems may be envisaged In the scope of the present invention as described herein.

In flgyres 10A to iOF another embodiment of the Invention Is represented. In this embodiment, a different blocking mechanism is used, it comprises a movable frame 100 rotating on axis ΊΒ, as the fever 70 and the Sever 70 comprises at its end a blacking niechanism vvith spring head 80. For the ease of understanding, only one lever 70 is illustrated but of course this embodiment applies to a construction with one or two layers 70. In figure 10A, the system is in a blocking position and by pinching (see the description above) the lever 70 is moved to the right of the figure (see trie arrow pointing to the right), with: the spring head 80 working as a ratchet to prevent a backwards movement (to the left of the figure) of the lever 70. Figure 108 Illustrates a back view of figure 10A. in figure 10G, the system Is unlocked to allow the lever to move back from the right to fee left of the figure, see the arrow pointing to the left. The unlocking Is produced toy moving the frame 100 to the right {compare its position in figures 10A/B with respect to figures 10C/D). The moving of the frame 100 allows "filling" of the teeth 14 of the ratchet so that a smooth surface is provided oh which the spring head may glide towards the left, the "ratchet effect" being removed- In a locking configuration, the teeth 14 and 140 (of the frame 100) are aligned, as illustrated in figure 10A or 10E, in order to allow the unlocking, the teeth 140 of the frame are in mirror with respect to the teeth 14.

This is illustrated in more detail in figures 10E and I0F which are detailed view in a locking configuration (figure 10E) and unlocked configuration (figure 10F) where the spring head is rotated around axis 71 to free the locking mechanism.

The examples given in the present specification are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed in a limiting manner, Other constructions are possible using equivalent means and within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The different embodiments and their technical features may he combined between them according to circumstances.

As mentioned,: the buckle of the present invention may be used for a: belt or tor a strap such as a watch strap. Other uses are of course possible. The parts of the present invention may be made in any suitable materials: metals, alloys, precious metals or alloys, plastic and synthetic materials etc, and the different embodiments disclosed herein may be combined together with different materials.

Claims

1. A buckle for a belt or a strap, wherein said buckle comprises at least one articufateci lever (70} via an axis (16), wherein the movement of the lever (70) by pinching moves a stud (20) cooperating with the belt or strap (5) to adjust the length of the belt/strap.

2. The buckle of claim 1 , wherein it comprises two levers (70) articulated on the same axle (16) or on different axles (18),

3. The buckle of claim 1 or 2, wherein if comprises blocking means to block the lever; or levers in a desired adjustment: position,

4. The buckle of one of the preceding claims, wherein the lever or levers comprise(s) a least a first (ever (70) articulated on the buckle and a second lever (90) articulated on said first lever and connected to a movable platform {20').

5. The buckle of one of the preceding claims, wherein said blocking means comprise base cogs (14) cooperating with wheels (9) that can be blocked by cog blockage (82);

6. The buckle of one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said blocking means (23) comprise a lever (24) on the platform (20) comprising an extension (23) cooperating with a blockage pattern (101).

7. The buckle of one of the preceding claims, wherein it is made -of metal, or alloys or synthetic materials or a combination therefrom.

8. An object in combination with a buckle as defined in one of the preceding claims. 9, The object of claim 8 wherein said object is a belt (5) or a strap, such as a watch strap.