Band

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6179177
  • Patent Number
    6,179,177
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 25, 1999
    25 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 30, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A band comprising: a first band member; a connecting ring attached to a left end portion of the first band member; a string attached to a right end portion of the first band member; a clasping fixture; and a hook member connected to the string by the clasping fixture; wherein the clasping fixture comprises first and second clasping rings and a releasing ring. When the band is attached to the wrist, a hook portion of the hook member is hooked to the connecting ring attached to the first band member and the string is pulled, so that the first and second clasping rings clasp the string. Accordingly, it is possible to attach the first band member to the wrist with suitable fitting without slacking. When the band is detached therefrom, by rotating the hook member by the releasing ring, it is possible to easily loosen to release the clasping of the string.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a band, such as a watch band or the like.




2. Description of Related Art




Conventionally, a watch band attached to a case and having a structure, as shown in

FIG. 17

has been known.




Such a band comprises a band body


1


made of elastic rubber, a female buckle


2


attached on one end portion of the band body


1


, and a male buckle


3


detachably attached on the other end portion thereof. In a state that the male buckle


3


is detached from the band body


1


, the band body


1


is inserted into each insertion hole


6


of two band attachment portions


5


which are provided on a case complete


4


, so that the case complete


4


can be attached to the band body


1


. Thereafter, the male buckle


3


is attached to the other end portion of the band body


1


.




In such a case, an attachment hole


2




a


into which the one end portion of the band body


1


is inserted is formed in the female buckle


2


. The one end portion of the band body


1


is inserted into the attachment hole


2




a


to be turned back. By securing the turned and overlapped portions to each other, the female buckle


2


is attached to the one end portion of the band body


1


.




Two attachment holes


3




a


and


3




b


into which the other end portion of the band body


1


is inserted are formed in the male buckle


3


. By inserting the other end portion of the band body


1


into one attachment hole


3




a


and inserting a top end portion thereof into the other attachment hole


3




b


to be turned back, the male buckle


3


is detachably attached to the other end portion of the band body


1


. A watch glass


7


is attached on an upper surface of the case


4


, a case back


8


is attached on a lower surface thereof, and a watch module


9


is contained in an inside thereof.




However, according to the watch band, since the female buckle


2


is attached to the one end portion of the band body


1


made of elastic rubber, while the male buckle


3


is attached to the other end portion thereof, positions of the female buckle


2


and the male buckle


3


are not stable to tend to move when the band body


1


is attached to the wrist. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to attach the female buckle


2


and the male buckle


3


by one hand.




Further, with the watch band, the other end portion of the band body


1


is inserted into the two attachment holes


3




a


and


3




b


of the male buckle


3


with being turned back in order, thereby the male buckle


3


is detachably attached to the other end portion of the band body


1


. Accordingly, even if a length of the band body


1


is adjusted by the male buckle


3


, the attached portion of the male buckle


3


maybe loosened. In this case, there is a problem that it is not possible to suitably fit the watch band to the wrist unless the length of the band body


1


is adjusted again.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




An object of the present invention is to provide a band whose handling for attaching and detaching of a band body thereof to the wrist or the like is improved, and which can be attached to the wrist or the like with suitable fitting.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side view of a watch band according to the first embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a plan view of

FIG. 1

, in a state that a case is detached therefrom;





FIGS. 3A

to


3


C show a hook member and a clasping fixture of

FIG. 1

; wherein

FIG. 3A

is an enlarged plan view thereof;

FIG. 3B

is an enlarged bottom view; and

FIG. 3C

is an enlarged left side view;





FIGS. 4A and 4B

show cross-sections of

FIG. 3A

; wherein

FIG. 4A

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line


4


A—


4


A of

FIG. 3A

; and

FIG. 4B

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line


4


B—


4


B of

FIG. 3A

;





FIGS. 5A and 5B

show two states that a string is clasped by the hook member and the clasping fixture of

FIG. 3A

; wherein

FIG. 5A

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state that the string is inserted into the first and second clasping rings of the clasping fixture and before the string is clasped by them;

FIG. 5B

is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state that the string is clasped by the first and second clasping rings of the clasping fixture:





FIG. 6

is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a string holding piece of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 7

is a view showing a state that the watch band of

FIG. 1

is attached to the wrist;





FIG. 8

is a view showing a position restricting member according to a modified example of the first embodiment;





FIG. 9

is a view showing the first clasping ring in which a release handling portion is formed as a releasing means in place of a releasing ring in the first embodiment, according to a modified example of the first embodiment;





FIG. 10

is a view showing a string holding member according to a modified example of the first embodiment;





FIGS. 11A

to


11


C show a hook member and a clasping fixture of a watch band according to the second embodiment of the present invention; wherein

FIG. 11A

is an enlarged plan view thereof;

FIG. 11B

is an enlarged left side view thereof; and

FIG. 11C

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line


11


C—


11


C of

FIG. 11A

;





FIG. 12

is a side view showing a watch band according to the third embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 13

is a plan view of

FIG. 12

, in a state that a case is detached therefrom;





FIG. 14

is a partly enlarged perspective view of

FIG. 13

;





FIG. 15

is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken the line


15


D—


15


D of

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 16

is a view showing a watch band attached to band attachment portions of the case in a state of overlapping the first and second band members to each other according to a modified example; and





FIG. 17

is a cross-sectional view showing a former watch band.











PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION




First Embodiment:




Hereinafter, the band applied to a watch band, according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 1

to


7


. To structural members, elements or the like in the first embodiment, corresponding to the former example shown in

FIG. 17

, the same reference numerals are attached, and the detailed explanation for them is properly omitted.




The watch band comprises a band body T having a first band member


10


to which a case


4


is attached and a second band member


11


attached to the first band member


10


such that the first band member overlaps the second band member, and a first fastening member


12


for detachably fastening the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


to each other. The first band member


10


has a double layered structure comprising an upper sheet


13


and a lower sheet


14


, which are made of inelastic cloth. The first band member


10


is inserted into each insertion hole


6


of the two band attachment portions


5


which are provided on the case


4


, so that the case


4


is attached to the first band member


10


. The second band member


11


is made of inelastic cloth or elastic rubber and provided with a second fastening member


15


for detachably fastening both end portions


11




a


and


11




b


to each other, of the second band member


11


.




The first band member


10


has a length which is shorter than that of the second band member


11


. In one end portion, i.e., a right end portion


10




a


in

FIG. 1

, of the first band member


10


, a string


16


described later is attached, while in the other end portion, i.e., a left end portion


10




b


in the Figure, a D-shaped connecting ring


17


is attached. In the case, at the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


, a right end portion of the upper sheet


13


wraps a portion of the string


16


to be turned back, and the turned back portion is sewn to be secured to the lower sheet


14


and also be secured to the second band member


11


by sewing. At the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


, a left end portion of the upper sheet


13


is inserted into the connecting ring


17


to be turned back and the turned back portion is sewn to be secured only to the lower sheet


14


. Accordingly, the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


is in a free state against the second band member


11


. A woven name-sheet


13




a


is secured on an upper surface in a side of the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


, that is, on an upper surface in a side of the right end portion of the upper sheet


13


.




The first fastening member


12


comprises a pair of sheet fasteners


12




a


and


12




b


, that is, a pair of sheets having resilient hook and loop fasteners (sold under the registered trademark “Magic Tape” or “VELCRO”) which are attached to surfaces of the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


, facing to each other. One sheet fastener


12




a


is attached to a lower surface of the lower sheet


14


of the first band member


10


, while the other sheet fastener


12




b


is attached to an upper surface of the second band member


11


. The sheet fastener l


2




a


is attached to the position for the case


4


to be set thereon, of the lower sheet


14


, while the sheet fastener


12




b


is attached to the second band member


11


, extending from the position for the case


4


to be set thereon to the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


.




The second fastening member


15


comprises a pair of sheet fasteners


15




a


and


12




b


attached on facing surfaces of the overlapped portions to each other at the both end portions


11




a


and


11




b


of the second band member


11


when the second band member


11


is bent to be attached to the wrist. One sheet: fastener


15




a


is attached on a lower surface of the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


, while a side of the left end portion of the sheet fastener


12




b


of the first fastening member


12


serves as the other sheet fastener which is attached on an upper surface of the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


.




With the string


16


, an approximately intermediate portion thereof is attached to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


and the string


16


is separated in two portions in both sides of the right end portion


10




a


. The two portions of the string


16


are extended to a further right side of the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


. A hook member


18


is connected to the extended portion of the string


16


by a clasping fixture


19


. The two portions of the string


16


are turned back at the clasping fixture


19


. On top end portions of the separated strings


16


, a securing member


20


is attached. To the string


16


positioned between the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


and the clasping fixture


19


, a string holding piece, i.e., a string holding member


20


is attached movably along the string


16


.




The hook member


18


is, as shown in

FIGS. 3A

to


4


B, made of a metallic plate having an approximately rectangular shape. In a top end thereof, that is, a right end portion in

FIG. 4A

, a hook portion


18




a


is formed by bending downwardly to be turned back; at both sides along a longitudinal direction of the first band member


10


, both side portions


18




b


are formed by bending downwardly; and a long hole l


8




c


is formed in the both end portions


18




b


, along the longitudinal direction of the first band member


10


.




The clasping fixture


19


comprises, as shown in

FIGS. 3A

to


5


B, a first clasping ring


19




a


into which the two separated strings


16


in outsides are inserted to be turned back from a left side to a right side in

FIG. 5A

, a second clasping ring


19




b


into which the two strings


16


turned back at the first clasping ring


19




a


in an inside are inserted from the right side to the left side, and a releasing ring


19




c


for releasing the clasping of the strings


16


clasped with the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


by pulling up a back end of the hook member


18


to rotate. The portions of the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


are, as shown in

FIG. 3B

, movably inserted into the long hole


18




c


of the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


, thereby the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


are attached to the hook member


18


in a state that, as shown in

FIG. 4A

, the first clasping ring


1


.


9




a


is located in a right side and the second clasping ring


19




b


is located in a left side. A portion of the releasing ring


19




c


is rotatably attached to back ends, i.e., left end portions in

FIG. 4A

, of the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


.




In this case, the first clasping ring


19




a


has, as shown in

FIGS. 3C and 4B

, a rectangular shape projecting as a thickness of the string


16


into the both outsides of the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


. The second clasping ring


19




b


has, as shown in

FIG. 3C

, a D-like shape which is narrower than the first clasping ring


19




a


and projecting to upward from the vicinity of the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


. The releasing ring


19




c


has, as shown in

FIGS. 3A and 4A

, an elliptic shape projecting to backward from the back end, that is, the left end portion in the Figures, of the hook member


18


. In the releasing ring


19




c


, position restricting projections, that is, position restricting portions


22


are formed, which restrict rotating positions of the releasing ring


19




c


by contacting to the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


when the releasing ring


19




c


is rotated to upward of the hook member


18


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the two outside strings


16


separated in both sides are passed through outsides of the second clasping ring


19




b


along the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


, inserted into the first clasping ring


19




a


from the left side to the right side in

FIG. 5A

, and turned back. The turned back two inside strings


16


are grouped together and inserted into the second clasping ring


19




b


from the right side to the left side in FIG.


5


A. In the state, the hook portion


18




a


of the hook member


18


is hooked to the connecting ring


17


, thereafter the two inside strings


16


are pulled in a direction of parting from the hook member


18


. Thereby, the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


tighten and clasp the strings


16


. In the state, when the back end of the hook member


18


is pushed up by raising the releasing ring


19




c


, and the hook member


18


is rotated about the hook portion


18




a


in the top end, the strings


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


are loosened.




The securing member


20


is, as shown in

FIG. 2

, for tying and securing each top end portion of the two strings


16


separated in both sides. The securing member


20


is attached to the top end portions of the strings


16


by sandwiching them, which is severed with being adjusted the length of them.




The string holding piece


21


comprises, as shown in

FIGS. 2 and 6

, a piece body


21




a


having a long thin bar-like shape of which both ends have a circular shape. In the both end portions, through holes


21




b


into which the two outside strings


16


are penetrated are formed. In the intermediate portion of the piece body


21




a


, a holding recess portion, i.e., a holding portion


21




c


is formed for holding the two inside strings


16


in the tied state, which is turned back by the clasping fixture


19


.




Next, functions of the above-described watch band will be explained as follows.




In a case of putting the watch band on the wrist, as shown in

FIG. 7

, at first, the second band member


11


is wound around the wrist, thereby the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


is overlapped on the left end portion


11




b


thereof. Then, the right end portion


11




a


and the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


are fastened by the second fastening member


15


, thereby the second band member


11


is temporarily secured to the wrist. In the state, the hook portion


18




a


of the hook member


18


connected to the string


16


at the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


is hooked to the connecting ring


17


attached to the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


, thereafter the strings


16


in a side of the securing member


20


are pulled in the direction of parting from the hook member


18


. Thereby, with tightening the second band member


11


by the first band member


10


to fit it to the wrist, the string


16


is tightened to be clasped by the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


of the clasping fixture


19


. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching of the watch band to the wrist, to easily control a degree of the fitness of the watch band to the wrist by controlling the strength of pulling the string


16


, and to suitably attach the watch band to the wrist with fitting without slacking. Thereafter, the strings


16


in the side of the securing member


20


are inserted to the holding recess portion


21




c


of the string holding piece


21


to be secured; and the securing member


20


is, as shown in

FIG. 2

, placed and secured between the two strings


16


separated in the both sides. Thereby, it is possible to secure the securing member


20


and the string


16


to the watch band without dangling to become a hindrance.




In a case of detaching the watch band from the wrist, at first, the strings


16


in the side of the securing member


20


are taken out from the holding recess portion


21




c


of the string holding piece


21


to be moved in a side of the case


4


, thereby the releasing ring


19




c


of the clasping fixture


19


is exposed. When the releasing ring


19




c


is picked to be pulled up, the position restricting portions


22


formed in the releasing ring


19




c


are brought into contact with the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


. Accordingly, the rotating position of the releasing ring


19




c


is restricted, thereby it becomes to easily pick the releasing ring


19




c


. In the state, when the back end of the hook member


18


is pulled up by the releasing ring


19




c


, and the hook member


18


is rotated upward about the hook portion


18




a


in the top end to be laid in a side of the connecting ring


17


, it is possible to easily loosen to release the clasping of the string


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


. Accordingly, when the hook member


18


is rotated to be in the original state again, a play is occurred in the connecting of the hook portion


18




a


against the connecting ring


17


as the string


16


is loosened, thereby it is possible to simply and easily detach the hook portion


18




a


from the connecting ring


17


. Thereafter, the both end portions


11




a


and


11




b


of the second band member


11


are pulled apart from each other, and the fastening with the second band member


11


by the second fastening member


15


is released, so that it is possible to easily detach the watch band from the wrist.




In a case of exchanging the watch band to another one, as shown in

FIG. 1

, at first, the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


and the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


are pulled apart up and down, respectively, thereby each sheet fastener


12




a


and


12




b


of the first fastening member


12


is pulled apart from each other, so that the fastening between the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


by the first fastening member


12


is released. Then, the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


is detached from the second band member


11


to be in a free state. In the state, the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


is pulled out from each insertion hole


6


of the two band attachment portions


5


provided on the case


4


, so that it is possible to easily detach the case


4


from the first band member


10


. On the other hand, the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


is inserted into each insertion hole


6


of the two band attachment portions


5


of the case


4


, thereafter the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


are fastened by the first fastening member


12


. Accordingly, it is possible to easily attach the case


4


to the first band member


10


and to attach the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


to each other. Therefore, it is possible to simply and easily exchange the watch band.




As above-described, according to the watch band, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching and detaching of the watch band to the wrist, to suitably attach the watch band to the wrist with fitting without slacking, and to simply and easily exchange the watch band to the case


4


. Particularly, the first band member


10


has the length which is shorter than that of the second band member


11


, and the both end portions


10




a


and


10




b


of the first band member


10


are connected through the string


16


, the connecting ring


17


and the hook member


18


. Accordingly, even if the watch band has a double layered structure when it is attached to the wrist, it is possible to obtain a watch band having a suitable design without a thick appearance of the band as a whole.




In the first embodiment above-described, the releasing ring


19




c


of the clasping fixture


19


is provided with the position restricting projections


22


; and the rotating position of the releasing ring


19




c


is restricted by that the position restricting projections


22


are contacted to the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


. However, it is not limited to that, for example, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the position restricting projections


22


can be provided on each outside surface of the both side portions


18




b


of the hook member


18


. When the releasing ring


19




c


is rotated upward of the hook member


18


, the releasing ring


19




c


is got over the position restricting projections


22


, thereby the rotating position of the releasing ring


19




c


may be restricted.




In the first embodiment above-described, the releasing ring


19




c


is attached to the back end of the hook member


18


; and the hook member


18


is rotated by pulling up the back end thereof by the releasing ring


19




c


. However, it is not limited to that, for example, as shown in

FIG. 9

, a release handling portion


23


can be made as a body in one end portion of the first clasping ring


19




a


with projecting upward. In such a structure, the release handling portion


23


is picked to be rotated to be apart from the second clasping ring


19




b


, so that the string


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


19




a


and


19




b


can be loosened to be released. Accordingly, it is not required the releasing ring


19




c


as another piece of the clasping fixture


19


in the first embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of pieces of the watch band, and to produce the watch band at a low cost using an easy fabrication method.




Further, in the first embodiment above-described, the holding recess portion


21




c


is formed in the piece body


21




a


of the string holding piece


21


attached movably to the string


16


; and the string


16


in the side of the securing member


20


is secured in the holding recess portion


21




c


in the tied state. However, it is not limited to that, for example, as shown in

FIG. 10

, a string holding sheet


24


can be attached to a predefined portion in the side of the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


by sewing so that the string


16


in the side of the securing member


20


may be secured in the tied state. The string holding sheet


24


is made of a strap-like cloth or the like which is longer than the width of the second band member


11


and disposed on the second band member


11


to cross the string


16


with covering the two outside strings


16


in the side of the right end portion


11




a


of the second band


11


and with adjusting an upper side of the second band


11


and an upper end of the string holding sheet


24


to each other. In this state, the string hold inch sheet


24


is secured to the second band member


11


by sewing the upper end thereof and both side portions of the two outside strings


16


in a state that the strings


16


can be passed between the string holding sheet


24


and the second band member


11


. With the string holding sheet


24


, a fastening portion


25


having a pair of sheet fasteners


25




a


and


25




b


for detachably fastening an upper end side and a lower end side of the string holding sheet


24


is disposed. The string


16


turned back at the clasping fixture


19


is disposed between the two outside strings


16


with crossing the string holding sheet


24


. In the state, the lower end side of the string holding sheet


24


is turned back in the upper side; and the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the string holding sheet


24


are secured by the fastening portion


25


. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the string


16


turned back at the clasping fixture


19


to the watch band without dangling to become a hindrance.




Second Embodiment:




Next, the band applied to a watch band, according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C. To structural members or the like in the second embodiment, corresponding to those of the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1

to


7


, the same reference numerals are attached, and the detailed explanation for them is omitted.




The watch band has the same structure as that in the first embodiment except that a hook member


26


and a clasping fixture


27


, which are attached to the string


16


are different from the one in the first embodiment. In the case, the string


16


is, as the first embodiment, attached to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


.




The hook member


26


is, as shown in

FIGS. 11A and 11B

, made of a metallic plate; a left end portion thereof is turned back with bending in arc-shaped; both ends


26




c


at right end portions of an upper plate portion


26




a


are bent to a lower side to be welded on a lower surface of a lower plate portion


26




b


; a right end portion of the lower plate portion


26




b


is projected to the right side between the both bent ends


26




c


of the upper plate portion


26




a


; a hook portion


26




d


is formed by bending the projected portion to the lower side to be turned back; and an attachment portion


26




e


having a circular shape is formed at the left end portion by cutting portions of the upper plate portion


26




a


and the lower plate portion


26




b


, in the left end sides to be bent in a circular shape.




The clasping fixture


27


comprises, as shown in

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C, approximately the same as the first embodiment, a first clasping ring


27




a


into which the two separated strings


16


in outsides are inserted to be turned back from the left side to the right side, a second clasping ring


27




b


into which the two inside strings


16


turned back at the first clasping ring


27




a


are inserted from the right side to the left side, and a releasing ring


27




c


for loosening the clasping of the strings


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


by pulling up a back end of the hook member


26


and rotating the hook member


26


. Portions of the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


are movably inserted between the upper plate portion


26




a


and the lower plate portion


26




b


of the hook member


26


, thereby the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


are attached to the hook member


26


in a state that the first clasping ring


27




a


is located in the right side and the second clasping ring


27




b


is located in the left side. A portion of the releasing ring


27




c


is rotatably attached to the attachment: portion


26




e


at the left end portion of the hook member


26


.




In the case, the first clasping ring


27




a


has, as shown in

FIGS. 11A and 11B

, an oval shape projecting as a thickness of the string


16


into the both outsides of the hook member


26


. The second clasping ring


27




b


has, as shown in

FIG. 11B

, a D-like shape which is narrower than the first clasping ring


27




a


and projecting to upward from the vicinity of the both sides of the hook member


26


. The releasing ring


27




c


has, as shown in

FIG. 11A

, an approximately rectangular shape at a portion to be attached to the attachment portion


26




e


at the back end of the hook member


26


, and a triangular shape gradually widening to the backward, i.e., the leftward in

FIG. 11A

from the rectangular shape.




As in the first embodiment, the two outside strings


16


shown in

FIG. 2

, and separated in the both sides are passed through outsides of the second clasping ring


27




b


along the both sides of the hook member


26


, inserted into the first clasping ring


27




a


from the left side to the right side, and turned back. The turned back two inside strings


16


are grouped together and inserted into the second clasping ring


27




b


from the right side to the left side. In the state, the hook portion


26




d


of the hook member


26


is hooked to the connecting ring


17


, thereafter the two strings


16


are pulled in a direction of parting from the hook member


26


. Accordingly, the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


tighten and clasp the stings


16


. In the state, when the attachment portion


26




e


at the back end of the hook member


26


is pushed up by raising the releasing ring


27




c


, and the hook member


26


is rotated about the hook portion


26




d


at the top end, the strings


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


are loosened.




In a case of putting the watch band on the wrist, as the first embodiment, the second band member


11


is wound around the wrist, and the right end portion


11




a


and the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


are secured by the second fastening member


15


, thereby the second band member


11


is temporarily secured to the wrist. In the state,. the hook portion


26




d


of the hook member


26


connected to the string


16


at the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


is hooked to the connecting ring


17


attached to the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


, thereafter the string


16


is pulled in the direction of parting from the hook member


26


. Accordingly, with tightening the second band member


11


by the first band member


10


to fit it to the wrist, the string


16


is tightened to be clasped by the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


of the clasping fixture


27


. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching of the watch band to the wrist, to easily control a degree of the fitness of the watch band to the wrist by controlling the strength of pulling the string


16


, and to attach the watch band to the wrist with suitable fitting without slacking.




In a case of detaching the watch band from the wrist, as in the first embodiment, the string


16


is moved in a side of the case complete


4


, thereby the releasing ring


27




c


of the clasping fixture


27


is exposed. The releasing ring


27




c


is picked to be pulled up, thereby the attachment portion


26




e


at the back end of the hook member


26


is pulled up, and the hook member


26


is rotated about the hook portion


26




d


in the top end in the side of the connecting ring


17


. Thereby, it is possible to easily loosen and release the clasping of the string


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


. Accordingly, as in the first embodiment, when the hook member


26


is rotated to be in the original state again, a play is occurred in the connecting of the hook portion


26




d


against the connecting ring


17


as the string


16


is loosened, thereby it is possible to simply and easily detach the hook portion


26




d


from the connecting ring


17


.




In the second embodiment above-described, the releasing ring


27




c


of the clasping fixture


27


is simply attached to the attachment portion


26




e


of the hook member


26


. However, it is not limited to this, for example, as the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 3A and 3B

or the modified example thereof shown in FIG.


8


, the position restricting projections can be provided on both sides of the releasing ring


27




c


or the attachment portion


26




e


of the hook member


26


so that the rotating position of the releasing ring


27




c


may be restricted by the position restricting projections.




Further, in the second embodiment above-described, the releasing ring


27




c


is attached to the attachment portion


26




e


at the back end of the hook member


26


; and the hook member


26


is rotated by the releasing ring


27




c


. However, it snot limited to this. For example, as in the modified example of the first embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 9

, the release handling portion


23


can be made as a body in one end portion of the first clasping ring


27




a


with projecting upward. When the release handling portion


23


is picked and the first clasping ring


27




a


is rotated to be apart from the second clasping ring


27




b


, the string


16


clasped by the first and second clasping rings


27




a


and


27




b


can be loosened to be released.




Third Embodiment:




Next, the band applied to a watch band, according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to

FIGS. 12

to


15


. To structural members or the like in the third embodiment, corresponding to those of the first embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1

to


7


, the same reference numerals are attached, and the detailed explanation for them is omitted.




The watch band has approximately the same structure as that in the first embodiment except that a string


16


to be attached to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


, a hook member


30


and a sliding piece, that is,, a clasping member


31


, which are attached to the string


16


are different from the one in the first embodiment. In the case, the first band member


10


is made of inelastic cloth and has a single layered structure. The string


16


is attached to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


, while the connecting ring


17


is attached to the left end portion


10




b


thereof. The right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


wraps a portion of the string


16


to be turned back; and the turned back portion is secured to the first band member


10


together with the second band member


11


by sewing. The left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


is inserted into the connecting ring


17


to be turned back; and the turned back portion is attached to the first band member


10


by sewing, thereby the left end portion


10




b


is in a free state against the second band member


11


.




The string


16


has no end portion. With the string


16


, a portion of which is attached to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


and the string


16


is separated in two portions from the right end portion


10




a


in both sides of the right end portion


10




a.


The two portions of the string


16


are extended to the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


from the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


; and the extended portions are attached to the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


by sewing to be turned back.




The hook member


30


is movably attached to a top end of the string


16


extended to the right end portion la of the second band member


11


, i.e., it is movably attached to an intermediate portion of the string


16


, positioned at the right


3


ide thereof. The hook member


30


is, as shown in

FIG. 14

, made of a metallic plate having a rectangular shape; in a top end thereof, that is, a right end portion in the Figure, a hook portion


30




a


is formed to be turned back by bending downwardly; at both sides along in a longitudinal direction of the second band member


11


, both side portions


30




b


are formed by bending downwardly; and in the both end portions


30




b


, attachment holes


30




c


into which the string


16


is penetrating are formed.




The sliding piece


31


as a clasping fixture is, as shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

, disposed between the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


and the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


. In the sliding piece


31


, as shown in

FIGS. 14 and 15

, two first insertion holes


32


are formed at both sides, into which the two outside strings


16


extended to the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


from the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


are penetrated from the left side to the right side in

FIG. 14

; and two second insertion holes


33


are formed at intermediate portions, into which the two inside strings


16


secured to the right end portion


11




a


of the second band member


11


by sewing to be turned back are penetrated from the right side to the left side in FIG.


14


. In this case, the strings


16


penetrated into the second insertion holes


33


are turned back with the sliding piece


31


to the right side on an upper side of the sliding piece


31


. The hook member


30


is attached to the top end of the turned back strings


16


. On the both end surfaces of the sliding piece


31


, handling projections


34


are disposed with projecting to each sideward.




In a case that the watch band is put on the wrist, as in the first embodiment, the second band member


11


is wound around the wrist, and the right end portion


11




a


and the left end portion


11




b


of the second band member


11


are secured by the second fastening member


15


, thereby the second band member


11


is temporarily secured to the wrist. In this state, the hook portion


30




a


of the hook member


30


attached to the string


16


at the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


is hooked to the connecting ring


17


attached to the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member


10


, thereafter the sliding piece


31


is slid in the direction of parting from the hook member


30


. The sliding piece


31


is slid along the two outside strings


16


penetrated into the first insertion hole


32


, and the two strings


16


turned back at the sliding piece


31


is drawn to the side of the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


. Thereby, the hook member


30


is pulled. Accordingly, with tightening the second band member


11


by the first band member


10


to fit it to the wrist, the string


16


is clasped by the sliding piece


31


. Therefore, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching of the watch band to the wrist, to easily control a degree of the fitness of the watch band to the wrist by controlling the strength of pulling the sliding piece


31


, and to attach the watch band to the wrist with suitable fitting without slacking.




In a case of detaching the watch band from the wrist, when the sliding piece


31


is slid toward the hook member


30


, the two strings


16


turned back at the sliding piece


31


are loosened as the sliding piece


31


is slid in the side of the hook member


30


, thereby it is possible to simply and easily detach the hook portion


30




a


from the connecting ring


17


. Thereafter, the both end portions


11




a


and


11




b


of the second band member


11


are pulled apart from each other, and the fastening of the second band member


11


by the second fastening member


15


is released, so that it is possible to easily detach the watch band from the wrist.




As above-described, according to the watch band, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching and detaching of the watchband to the wrist, to attach the watch band to the wrist with suitable fitting without slacking, and to simply and easily exchange the watch band against the case complete


4


. Particularly, because the two strings


16


turned back at the sliding piece


31


are pulled or loosened by sliding of the sliding piece


31


, the top end portion of the strings


16


does not remain as the first embodiment. Therefore, it is does not require the string holding piece


21


for, so that it is possible to obtain the watch band having easier structure.




In the third embodiment above-described, the string


16


is simply penetrated into the first and second insertion holes


32


and


33


of the sliding piece


31


. However, it is not limited to this. For example, the handling projections


34


can have a structure utiliging a side-push method. In the structure, a spring member is disposed in the sliding piece


31


. Then, the handling projections


34


can be energised by the spring member in a direction of being pushed out, so that the string


16


can be clasped at least in the first insertion holes


32


with being sandwiched. When the handling projections


34


are pushed against the spring force, the clasping of the string


16


can be released. In the structure, it can be possible to more certainly clasp or secure the string


16


and sliding piece


31


.




In the above-described first to third embodiments, the case


4


is attached to the first band member


10


which is overlapped on and attached to the second band member


11


, however, it is not limited to this. For example, as shown in

FIG. 16

, the case


4


can be attached to the band body T having the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


, which are overlapped to each other. Further, in the case that the band body T has the double layered structure having the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


, however, the band body T can comprise only the first band member


10


. In this case, the both ends of the string


16


in the third embodiment can be attached to the first band member


10


by sewing. The string


16


can be extended to the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member


10


from the attached portion, and attached thereto by sewing to be turned back.




Further, in the above-described first to third embodiments, the watch bands to which the case


4


is attached are described, however, it is not limited to this. For example, the band in the present invention can be applied widely to a band to which a wrist member, such as an accessory, a pedometer, a compass, or the like is attached.




As above-described, according to the first to third embodiments, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


16


, the band comprises: a band body (T); a connecting member (the connecting ring


17


) attached to one end portion of the band body; a string member (the string


16


) attached to the other end portion of the band body; a hook member (


18


,


26


, or


30


) connected to the string member, for detachably hooking the connecting member, wherein when the hook member is hooked to the connecting member and the string member is pulled, the string member tightens the band body; and a clasping member (


19


,


27


, or


31


) for clasping the string member, and for loosening to release a tightening of the band body.




For the clasping member, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


5


B, the clasping fixture


19


is applied, which comprises the first clasping ring


19




a


movably attached to the long hole of the hook member and having the rectangular shape, the second clasping ring


19




b


movably attached to the long hole of the hook member and having the D-like shape, and the releasing ring


19




c


rotatably attached to the back end of the hook member and having the elliptic shape.




For the clasping member, as shown in

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C, the clasping fixture


27


is also applied, which comprises the first clasping ring


27




a


movably attached to the hook member between the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion thereof and having the rectangular shape, the second clasping ring


27




b


movably attached to the hook member between the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion thereof and having the D-like shape, and the releasing ring


27




c


rotatably attached to the attachment portion at the back end of the hook member.




The band body comprises, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


7


,


12


, and


16


, the first band member


10


and the second band member


11


detachably attached underneath the first band member


10


with overlapping each other. To the left end portion


10




b


of the first band member, the connecting member is attached. To the right end portion


10




a


of the first band member, the string member is attached. To the string member, the hook member is connected through the clasping member. In the case, a wrist member (


4


) is detachably attached to the first band member.




On the both end portions of the second band member, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


7


, and


16


, the band comprises a pair of fastening members (the sheet fasteners


12




b


and


15




a


) for detachably fastening the both ends. On the facing surfaces, of the first band member and the second band member, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 7

, the band comprises a pair of fastening members (the sheet fasteners


12




a


and


12




b


) for detachably fastening the first and second band members.




To the band body, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


7


, and


16


, a wrist member (


4


) is detachably attached. For the wrist member, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


7


, and


16


, the watch


4


is applied. Through the band attachment portions


5


and


5


provided on the watch, the watch is detachably attached to the first band member or the band body comprising the first band member and the second band member, which are overlapped to each other.




According to the invention, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


16


, a band comprises: a band body (T); a connecting member (the connecting ring


17


) attached to one end portion of the band body; a string member (the string


16


) attached to the other end portion of the band body; a hook member (


18


,


26


, or


30


) connected to the string member, for detachably hooking the connecting member, wherein when the hook member is hooked to the connecting member and the string member is pulled, the string member tightens the band body; and a clasping member (the clasping fixture


19


,


27


, or


31


) for clasping the string member, and for loosening to release a tightening of the band body.




According to the invention, when the band body is attached to the wrist or the like, at first, the band body is disposed on the wrist or the like. Next, the hook member connected to the string member is hooked to the connecting member attached to one end portion of the band body; in the state, the string is pulled, thereby the string member is clasped by the clasping member. Accordingly, it is possible to attach the band body to the wrist or the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily attach the band body to the wrist or the like and to attach the band body thereto with suitable fitting without slacking. On the other hand, when the band body is detached therefrom, the clasping of the string member is loosened to be released by the clasping member, thereby it is possible to easily release the hooking of the hook member to the connecting member. Accordingly, it is possible to easily detach the band body from the wrist or the like. Therefore, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching and detaching of the band body.




The hook member can have various shapes. To the hook member, for example, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


5


B, a hook member (


18


) can be applied, which is made of a metallic plate having an approximately rectangular shape; in a top end thereof, a hook portion is formed; both side portions are formed at both sides thereof; and a long hole is formed in the both side portions.




A hook member (


26


) can be also applied, as shown in

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C, which is made of a metallic plate; a left end portion thereof is turned back; both ends at a right end portion of an upper plate portion are welded on a lower plate portion; a right end portion of the lower plate portion is projected to the right side to form a hook portion; and an attachment portion having a circular shape is formed at the left end portion.




The clasping member can have various shapes. To the clasping member, for example, as shown in

FIGS. 1

to


5


B, the clasping fixture


19


can be applied, which comprises the first clasping ring


19




a


movably attached to the hook member and having the rectangular shape, the second clasping ring


19




b


movably attached to the hook member and having the D-like shape, and the releasing ring


19




c


rotatably attached to the back end of the hook member and having the elliptic shape. As shown in

FIGS. 11A

to


11


C, the clasping fixture


27


can be also applied, which comprises the first clasping ring


27




a


movably attached to the hook member and having the rectangular shape, the second clasping ring


27




b


movably attached to the hook member and having the D-like shape, and the releasing ring


27




c


rotatably attached to the attachment portion at the back end of the hook member.




The band body comprises, as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


, and


7


, a first band member (


10


) and a second band member (


11


) detachably attached underneath the first band member with overlapping each other. To one end portion of the first band member, the connecting member is attached. To the other end portion of the first band member, the string member is attached. To the string member, the hook member is connected through the clasping member. In the case, a wrist member (


4


) is detachably attached to the first band member.




On the both end portions of the second band member, the band comprises a pair of fastening members (the sheet fasteners


12




b


and


15




a


) for detachably fastening the both ends.




On the facing surfaces, of the first band member and the second band member, the band comprises a pair of fastening members (the sheet fasteners


12




a


and


12




b


) for detachably fastening the first and second band members.




To the band body, for example as shown in

FIGS. 1

,


2


, and


7


, a wrist member (


4


) is attached. For the wrist member, a watch (


4


) is applied. Through band attachment portions (


5


and


5


) provided on the watch, the watch is attached to the band body.




As above-described, according to the band in the present invention, when a band body is attached to the wrist or the like, at first, the band body is disposed on the wrist or the like. A hook member connected to a string member is hooked to a connecting member attached to one end portion of the band body. In the state, when the string member is pulled, the band body can be attached to the wrist or the like by that a clasping member clasps the string member. Accordingly, it is possible to easily attach the band body to the wrist or the like with suitable fitting without slacking. On the other hand, when the band body is detached therefrom, because the clasping of the string member is loosened to be released by the clasping member, it is possible to easily release the hooking of the hook member against the connecting member. Accordingly, it is possible to easily detach the band body therefrom. Therefore, it is possible to improve the handling for attaching and detaching of the band body.



Claims
  • 1. A band comprising:a band body; a connecting member attached to a first end portion of the band body; a string member attached to a second end portion of the band body; a fastening member connected to the string member for detachably fastening the connecting member, said fastening member comprising a side portion with a long hole extending in a longitudinal direction thereof; a first clasping ring which is movably inserted into the long hole of the side portion of the fastening member, and which is arranged at a position in a free end side of the fastening member; a second clasping ring which is movably inserted into the long hole of the side portion of the fastening member, and which is arranged at a position in the long hole between the first clasping ring and the other end side of the fastening member; and a releasing ring attached to the fastening member in the other end side of the fastening member; wherein the string member is tightened by pulling the string member through the first clasping ring and the second clasping ring after fastening the connecting member to the fastening member, and tightening of the string member is released by rotating the releasing ring.
  • 2. The band as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member has a ring shape, and the fastening member comprises a hook portion at a free end thereof, and wherein the connecting member is fastened to the fastening member by fastening the hook portion to a portion of the ring shape of the connecting member.
  • 3. The band as claimed in claim 1, wherein a case is attached to the band body.
  • 4. The band as claimed in claim 3, wherein the band body comprises a band attachment portion at which the case is attached.
  • 5. A band comprising:a first band member to which a case is adapted to be detachably attached; a connecting member attached to a first end portion of the first band member; a string member attached to a second end portion of the first band member; a fastening member connected to the string member for detachably fastening the connecting member, said fastening member comprising a side portion with a long hole extending in a longitudinal direction thereof; a first clasping ring which is movably inserted into the long hole of the side portion of the fastening member, and which is arranged at a position in a free end side of the fastening member; a second clasping ring which is movably inserted into the long hole of the side portion of the fastening member, and which is arranged at a position in the long hole between the first clasping ring and the other end side of the fastening member; a releasing ring attached to the fastening member in the other end side of the fastening member; and a second band member disposed underneath the first band member such that the first band member overlaps the second band member; wherein the string member is tightened by pulling the string member through the first clasping ring and the second clasping ring after fastening the connecting member to the fastening member, and tightening of the string member is released by rotating the releasing ring.
  • 6. A band as claimed in claim 5, wherein the connecting member has a ring shape, and the fastening member comprises a hook portion at a free end thereof, and wherein the connecting member is fastened to the fastening member by fastening the hook portion to a portion of the ring shape of the connecting member.
  • 7. The band as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second band member is integrally attached to the first band member at a position between the first and second end portions of the first band member.
  • 8. The band as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pair of fastening members are provided on both ends of the second band member for detachably fastening the both ends.
  • 9. The band as claimed in claim 5, wherein a pair of fastening members are provided on facing surfaces of the first and second band members for detachably fastening the first and second band members.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
10-167818 Jun 1998 JP
US Referenced Citations (18)
Number Name Date Kind
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