The invention relates to the field of watches or personal accessories that can be mounted on different fasteners, and more specifically to the use of a watch case that can be mounted as a wristwatch, pocket watch, table clock, pendant or other.
Watches generally comprise one or more fasteners, making it possible to limit the risk of losing the watch when being worn on one's person, or to have the watch in a position allowing easy reading of the time displayed thereby. The fasters are, for example, a wristband for attaching the watch around the wrist, a chain for attaching the watch to a buttonhole, a lanyard or another support for placing the watch on a substantially horizontal plane, at a desired angle.
Enabling a pocket watch to be worn as a wristwatch is a known problem.
Indeed, there are wristbands comprising a housing in which a pocket watch can be placed, the housing securing the pocket watch to the wristband. There are also wristbands comprising arms in the form of clips, to which the pocket watch can be attached.
Document GB 191505485 describes a watch case comprising two opposite loops. A chain is capable of being attached to one of the two loops to form a pocket watch, or to both loops to form a wristwatch.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 4,976,548 discloses an example of watch, the watch case whereof comprises loops at the periphery thereof. A chain is capable of being attached in different ways to the loops, so as to produce either a wristband or a pendant.
All these examples show that the person skilled in the art has long sought to adapt a pocket watch as a wristwatch.
However, such devices only attempt to adapt pocket watches, and not to devise a watch capable of being worn both as a wristwatch or pocket watch, without the watch appearing to have been adapted in either one of those configurations. Moreover, such devices are uncomfortable to wear and/or considerably increase the size of the watch, increasing thereby its bulk and weight.
A first objective is to propose a personal accessory, for a watch for example, capable of being mounted either on a wristband or on a fastener.
Another objective is to propose a fastener for such an accessory on a wristband, a loop or a support.
Another objective is to propose a device comprising such an accessory and such a fastener.
Another objective is to propose such a device, for which the accessory and fastener are capable of being assembled without a tool.
Another objective is to propose such a device that does not negatively affect the aesthetics, weight, bulk or the comfort of wearing it, irrespective of the type of mounting chosen.
To that end, proposed first is a personal accessory for a watch, for example, comprising:
Various additional characteristics can be foreseen, alone or in combination:
Secondly, proposed is a fastener having in transverse cross-section a closed perimeter comprising:
Various additional characteristics can be foreseen, alone or in combination:
Thirdly, proposed is a device comprising an accessory and a fastener as presented above, the fastener having a shape complementary to the slot of the accessory, the fastener being inserted into the slot of the accessory.
Fourthly, proposed is a watch comprising an accessory and a fastener as presented above, the accessory comprising a cavity into which a watch movement is inserted, the accessory thus defining a watch case, the fastener having a shape complementary to the slot of the watch case, the fastener being capable of being inserted into the slot of the watch case.
Such a device thus makes it possible to mount the accessory on a wristband, a loop or a support by means of the fastener.
The accessory and the fastener are capable of being assembled quickly and without a tool.
The device does not negatively affect the aesthetic, weight, bulk or comfort of the wearing thereof, irrespective of the type of mounting chosen.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be seen more clearly and specifically from the following description of embodiments, which is provided with reference to the appended drawings in which:
Illustrated in
The watch case 2 comprises a slot 5 into which the fastener 3 is able to slide. The fastener 3 has a shape complementary to the slot 5.
The watch case 2 is only a first embodiment, shown in
The watch case 2 and respectively the accessory 6, comprise a first face 7, a second face 8 and a lateral face 9 connecting the first face 7 and the second face 8.
According to represented embodiments, the first face 7 corresponds to the face of the watch case 2 and of the accessory 6 comprising information (time, jewel, connected information, etc.) intended to be viewed. According to other embodiments, said information is shown on the second face 8 or on the first face 7 and the second face 8 of the watch case, and respectively of the accessory 6.
As shown in
As illustrated in
According to different embodiments, the watch case 2 and the accessory 6 have any shape whatsoever.
The fastener 3, preferably has a general shape complementary to the slot 5 in which the fastener 3 is intended to be inserted, so as to complete the form of the watch case 2 or the accessory 6.
The slot 5 forms, in the lateral face 9, a hole 10 intended to allow the entry of the fastener 3 into the slot 5.
In the embodiments represented in
According to different embodiments, the slot 5 is generally triangular or elliptical in shape, as represented respectively in
According to embodiments not shown, the slot generally has any shape whatsoever, except for the particularity that the slot 5 flares towards the hole 10 formed in the lateral face 9. In other words, a transverse cross-section of the slot 5 has a decreasing dimension from the hole 10 towards one end of the slot 5 opposite the hole 10.
As shown in
According to the first embodiment, illustrated in
The first retaining segment 16 of the first lateral side 14 and the first retaining segment 16 of the second lateral side 15 are substantially perpendicular to the bottom 12. The second retaining segment 17 of the first lateral side 14 and the second retaining segment 17 of the second lateral side 15 are substantially perpendicular to the opening 13. The intermediate retaining segment 18 of the first lateral side 14 and the intermediate retaining segment 18 of the second lateral side 15 are, respectively, substantially perpendicular to the first retaining segments 16 and to the second retaining segments 17. Thus, the slot 5 defines a T-shape in transverse cross-section.
According to other embodiments illustrated in
According to a different embodiment, in transverse cross-section the slot 5 has a shape of any kind, except that the first lateral side 14 and the second lateral side 15 respectively comprise a first part and a second part extending, from the bottom 12 towards the opening 13, towards the opposite lateral side 14, 15.
The first lateral side 14 and the second lateral side 15, in the entirety thereof or at least the first part and the second part thereof, thus make it possible to prevent the release of the fastener 3 from the slot 5 along a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening 13.
As shown in
According to the first embodiment, illustrated in
The first locking segment 24 of the first lateral edge 22 and the first locking segment 24 of the second lateral edge 23 are substantially perpendicular to the first facet 20. The second locking segment 25 of the first lateral edge 22 and the second locking segment 25 of the second lateral edge 23 are substantially perpendicular to the second facet 21. The intermediate locking segment 26 of the first lateral edge 22 and the intermediate locking segment 26 of the second lateral edge 23 are, respectively, substantially perpendicular to the first locking segments 24 and to the second locking segments 25. Thus, in transverse cross-section the fastener 3 defines a T-shape.
According to other embodiments illustrated in
According to a different embodiment, in transverse cross-section the fastener 3 has a shape of any kind, except that the first lateral edge 22 and the second lateral edge 23 respectively comprise a first portion and a second portion extending, from the first facet 20 towards the second facet 21, towards the opposite lateral edge 22, 23.
The first lateral edge 22 and the second lateral edge 23, in the entirety thereof or at least the first part and the second part thereof, thus make it possible to prevent the release of the fastener 3 from the slot 5 along a direction substantially perpendicular to the opening 13 of the slot 5.
According to the first embodiment represented in
According to a third embodiment, the accessory 6 comprises two slots 5, as shown in
According to different embodiments, the watch case 2 comprises two slots 5. The watch case 2, and respectively the accessory 6, comprise a single non-through slot 5.
The fastener 3 of the device 1 is chosen based on the slot 5 of the watch case 2 or the accessory 6, according to one of the embodiments described below.
As illustrated in
According to one embodiment shown in
According to one embodiment shown in
The second of the two fasteners 3 preferably comprises only the body 28 complementing the slot 5.
As illustrated in
According to one embodiment illustrated in
According to one embodiment shown in
According to a fourth embodiment represented in
The watch case 2, respectively the accessory 6, and/or the fastener 3 preferably comprise one or more coupling means. The coupling means are capable of securing the watch case 2, respectively the accessory 6, and the fastener 3 when the latter is inserted into the slot 5.
The coupling means are preferably magnets 32, 33 as illustrated in
The watch case 2, respectively the accessory 6, and/or the fastener 3 thus preferably comprise one or more magnets 32,33.
According to the first embodiment shown in
According to the first embodiment, the fasteners 3 also each comprise a plurality of central magnets 33. The central magnets 33 are positioned at an inner boundary 35 of the body 28 of the fasteners 3. The inner boundary 35 is opposite to the outer angles 34. The central magnets 33 are preferably positioned so that the pole of two consecutive central magnets 33 are not identical. The central magnets 33 are substantially parallelepiped in shape.
According to different embodiments, the magnets 32, 33 have any shape whatsoever.
According to different embodiments, the fasteners 3 comprise only the end magnets 32.
Advantageously, the end magnets 32 of the fasteners 3 are positioned substantially facing end magnets 32 of the watch case 2 when the fastener 3 is inserted into the slot 5 of the watch case 2.
According to the first embodiment shown in
According to one embodiment, the partition 27 comprises central magnets 33.
The watch case 2 preferably comprises enclosures 36 into which the magnets 32, 33 are inserted. The enclosures 36 comprise walls 37 capable of blocking the electromagnetic waves, emitted by the magnet [sic: magnets] 32, 33 positioned therein, in every direction except for a predefined direction.
The enclosures 36 thus make it possible to insulate the magnets 32, 33 so as not to disturb the operation of the watch case 2 or an element exterior to the device 1 while ensuring the securing of the fastener 3 and of the watch case 2.
In a variant, the enclosures 36 are positioned in proximity to the magnets 32, 33, blocking the propagation of the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnets 32, 33 along a single direction or along a plurality of predefined directions.
According to the second embodiment, shown in
In a variant, the coupling means are, for example, protrusions capable of forcibly penetrating into recesses, adhesive strips, or a general dimension of the fastener 3 substantially greater than the dimension of the slot 5 in such a way that the fastener 3 is forcibly inserted into the slot 5.
The coupling means described above are combinable, and can be dimensioned in such a way as to maintain the fastener 3 in place in the slot 5.
According to a different embodiment, the coupling means define the end-of-travel of the fastener 3 in the slot 5. Means can replace the projection of the lugs 4 on the lateral face 9 or the abutment 30.
The watch case 2 can either display the time analogically or digitally, from an automatic or battery-operated mechanism, or an electronic system.
According to the embodiment shown in
According to one embodiment, the stem 40 is positioned substantially on a bisector of the angle formed by the hands when they show 3 o'clock or 12:15. In this configuration, the stem 40 is positioned between the standard arrangement for a wristwatch (on a line that coincides with the hands when they indicate 3:15) and the standard arrangement for a pocket watch or a table clock (on a line that coincides with the hands when they indicate 12 o'clock).
According to different embodiments, the stem 40 is positioned on the line that coincides with the hands when they show 3:15 or on the line that coincides with the hands when they indicate 12 o'clock, as shown in
As a variant, the stem 40 is movable between the last two positions described by a stem 40 support system on shafts provided for such purpose. The stem 40 can also be retractable, so as to merge into the lateral face 9 of the watch case 2, or be positioned invisibly such as in the slot 5.
Advantageously, the watch case 2 comprises, on the second face 8, a cavity into which a watch movement is inserted. The cavity preferably comprises walls 37 capable of blocking the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnets 32, 33 in order to insulate said magnets so as not to disturb the operation of the movement.
The watch case 2 comprises a plate 41 closing the cavity and aligned with the second face 8. The plate 41 is transparent, for example, leaving the inside of the movement visible.
The plate 41 is preferably capable of blocking the electromagnetic waves emitted by the magnet [sic: magnets] 32, 33.
Such a device 1 thus makes it possible to mount the watch case 2, or respectively the accessory 6, on a wristband, a loop 29 or a support 31 by means of the fastener 3.
The watch case 2, or respectively the accessory 6, and the fastener 3 are capable of being assembled quickly and without a tool.
The device 1 does not negatively affect the aesthetic, weight, bulk or comfort of the wearing thereof, irrespective of the type of mounting chosen.
The device 1 as described makes it possible, for example, to assemble a watch in different types of watches such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch or a table clock, but also on other supports such as a pendant or a brooch.
Such a watch thus enables a simple and quick customization by changing the wristband or the way of wearing it, while ensuring a fastening strength between the watch case 2 and the fastener 3, the dimensions whereof can be determined easily, avoiding the separation thereof by their own weight or by being pulled off.
Because the magnets 32, 33 do not lose their magnetism spontaneously, they offer great longevity to the attachment between the watch case 2 and the fastener 3 of the watch
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FR1751611 | Feb 2017 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2018/050222 | 1/31/2018 | WO | 00 |