Watch band and the links used thereof
A mental watch band and the connecting joints used thereof, wherein the joints each includes a first assembly, a second assembly and a decorative cover, a connecting part of a lower drum in the second assembly is connected to a first short fork and a second short fork in the first assembly while a chamber of the decorative cover is clasped into an upper drum, and tightened by the first and second decorative cover clasps. The long fork of the first assembly in one joint is inserted into a groove part of the second assembly in an abutting joint. The abutting joint can be connected together or the abutting joint can be detached. The watch band according to aspects of the present invention can be disassembled quickly and easily, and can be used on many kinds of bands. Advantageously, the watch band provided herein is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
This application claims priority of and the benefit of Chinese patent application No. 200410098872.2 filed on Dec. 13, 2004, which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates generally to a watch band. More particularly, it relates to an elastic watch band having links that can easily be attached and detached.
BACKGROUND ARTWatches, as a timer and an ornament, are widely used by people with a typical watch generally comprising a watch panel and a watch band. Usually, the watch band is manufactured with an extended length that can be re-sized r to satisfy the needs of different customers. To re-size the band to fit a certain wrist size, one or more of the watch band joints are removed and then the band is subsequently re-connected to provide a desired fit.
Referring initially to
The assembly process of the watch band 20′ is shown in
The watch band 20″ comprises at least one joint 10″. The disassembly process of the watch band 20″ is shown in
The assembly process of the watch band 20″ is shown in
The two prior art conventional watch bands 20′ and 20″ shown in
Firstly, the disassembly process is very difficult. It requires loosening or pulling out the clasps 12′ and the elastic sheets 310″ to remove a number of joints from the band for sizing the band to fit an individual. This generally requires special tools possessed only by a skilled artisan, such as a watch repair technician.
Secondly, after the joints 10′ and 10″ are disassembled, there are scattered parts (such as, decorative cover 300′, elastic sheet 310″, and so on) that can easily be lost or misplaced making the band difficult to assemble. Furthermore, some of the parts are very thin and small, which make them impossible, for some people whose fingers are relatively large, to pick up.
The width of the above-mentioned joints 10′ and 10″ in the watch band 20′ and 20″ cannot be made relatively narrower due to mechanical limitations of the conventional technology. Therefore, the watch bands 20′ and 20″ made from the aforementioned joints 10′ and 10″ can only be used as men's watch bands.
Lastly, the cost of the watch bands 20′ and 20″ in the conventional art are relatively high due to the complexity of the parts yet they readily deform during pulling tests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a watch band that has a length that can easily be adjusted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a watchband joint that can be disassembled and assembled easily, which overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional watch bands.
To achieve the above-mentioned objects of the present invention, a watch band is provided with at least one joint, and the joint comprises:
A first assembly comprising: a upper drum having a chamber of the upper drum, the upper drum comprises a first and a second edge parts that are disposed at the opposite two sides of the upper drum, and a first and a second ends of the upper drum that are disposed at the opposite two ends of the upper drum, a first elastic sheet that is disposed within a decorative cover, a long fork comprising a first end of the long fork and an opposite second end of the long fork, the first end of the long fork is seated between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the first end of the upper drum, and the second end of the long fork is seated between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the second end of the upper drum, a first short fork seating between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the first end of the upper drum, a second short fork seating between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the second end of the upper drum, wherein, the first short fork is parallel to the second short fork;
A second assembly comprising: a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part, and a chamber of the lower drum that is seated between the connecting part and the groove part, a second elastic sheet seating within the chamber of the lower drum;
A decorative cover comprising a chamber of the decorative cover, and at least one first clasp of the decorative cover and at least one second clasp of the decorative cover, which are seated at the opposite two edges of the chamber of upper drum;
Wherein the connecting part of the lower drum in the second assembly is connected to the first and the second short forks; and the chamber of the upper drum is attached to the upper drum, and tighten the first and the second clasps of the upper drum.
The watch band according to the invention comprises at least one joint with the above mentioned structure, within the groove part of the second assembly in one joint can be connected to the long fork of the first assembly in the abutting joint, thus, the adjacent joints can be detachedly connected together. On the contrary, the adjacent joint can be detached when the groove part of the lower drum of the second assembly in one joint is separated from the long fork of the first assembly in the abutting joint.
At the same time, the invention provides a joint used for the watch band, the joint comprises:
A first assembly comprising: a upper drum which comprises a chamber of the upper drum, a first and a second edge parts that are disposed at the opposite two sides of the upper drum, and a first and a second ends of the upper drum that are disposed at the opposite two ends of the upper drum, a first elastic sheet within a decorative cover, a long fork comprising a first end of the long fork and a opposite second end of the long fork, the first end of the long fork is seated between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the first end of the upper drum, and the second end of the long fork is seated between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the second end of the upper drum, a first short fork seating between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the first end of the upper drum, a second short fork seating between the chamber of the upper drum and the first elastic sheet in the second end of the upper drum, wherein, the first short fork is parallel to the second short fork;
A second assembly comprising: a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part, and a chamber of the lower drum which is seated between the connecting part and the groove part, a second elastic sheet seating within the chamber of the lower drum;
A decorative cover comprising a chamber of the decorative cover, and at least one first clasp of the decorative cover and at least one second clasp of the decorative cover which are seated at the opposite two edges of the chamber of upper drum;
Wherein the connecting part of the lower drum in the second assembly is connected to the first and the second short forks; and the chamber of the upper drum is attached to the upper drum, and tighten the first and second clasps of the upper drum.
The two abutting joints can be jointed together through the groove part of the second assembly in one joint being connected to the long fork of the first assembly in adjacent another joint.
According to one aspect of the present invention, the two abutting joints can be assembled/disassembled easily through the groove part of the second assembly in one joint being connected to/disconnect with the long fork of the first assembly in adjacent another joint, and the assembly/disassembly process can be operated easily without any help of a special tools.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, after one joint has been disassembled to resize the band, the remaining joints can be detached without having a plurality of loose parts. Therefore, the parts of the watch band will not be lost, and a user, possessing relatively large fingers, can easily pick up the parts of the watch band and complete the assembly process.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the minimal width of the watch band is 6.4 mm. Therefore, the watch band constructed by the joints can be used as men's watch band, women's watch band and children's watch band.
In addition, the watch bands provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention have excellent performance in anti-pulling bend and twisting tests.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The preferred embodiments of the invention are described hereinafter by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in order to explain the invention in greater detail.
Although various aspects of watch bands are discussed herein in detail in conjunction with a watch panel, the watch bands can be used for different applications, such as an elastic disassembly strip. Therefore, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments expressly discussed herein. In addition, although the watch bands can be made of stainless steel, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other appropriate material can be used.
The watch band 20 provided in accordance with aspects of the invention comprises at least one removable joint 10 (See, e.g.,
Referring now to
Broadly speaking, the joint 10 comprises a first assembly 100, a second assembly 200, and a decorative cover 300. The first assembly 100 comprises an upper drum 110, a first elastic sheet 120, a long fork 130, a first short fork 140, and a second short fork 150. The second assembly 200 comprises a lower drum 210 and a second elastic sheet 220.
In detail, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
The first elastic sheet 120 is placed into position inside the receiving space 408 between the first extending end 132 and the second extending end 134 of the long fork 130. The combination first elastic sheet 120 and long fork 130 is then placed into the upper drum chamber 112 of the upper drum 110 such that the first edge 114 and the second edge 116 of the upper drum 110 are in a clasped relationship with the first elastic sheet 120 (
In addition, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As shown in the view, the lower drum 210 comprises a connecting part 212, an opposite groove part 214, and a lower drum chamber 216 between the connecting part 212 and the opposite groove part 214. The connecting part 212 extends a distance toward the center of the lower drum chamber 216 from one side of the chamber of the lower drum 216. The connecting part 212 comprises a first connecting part clasp 212a and a second connect part clasp 212b disposed oppositely from one another. The center of the opposite groove part 214 has a cut 214a thereon. However, it is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the center of the groove part 214 may be formed without the cut 214a, although such a cut-out 214a is preferable to facilitate assembly of the various parts, which will be described in more detail hereafter.
The second elastic sheet 220, which is similar to the first elastic sheet 120, has a generally arc shape configuration with its two ends 410 raising and the center 412 projecting. The second elastic sheet 220 is configured to be inserted into the lower drum chamber 216, thus forming unit B, as shown in
In addition, as illustrated in the
Thereafter, the unit B obtained according to the above process is connected with the first and the second short forks 140, 150 (
Then, as illustrated in
The minimal width of the watch band 20 according to aspects of the present invention can be 6.4 mm. Thus, the watch band 20 incorporating a plurality of joints 10 provided in herein can be used as men's watch bands, women's watch bands and as children's watch bands.
The assembly process of the plurality of joints 10 forming the watch band 20 of the second embodiment of the invention is the same as the first embodiment. Accordingly, certain detailed assembly description will be omitted. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in the
As previously discussed, because the width of each part of a joint 10 according to the second embodiment decreases, the width of the watch band 20 can be about 6.4 mm wide after being assembled. The watch band 20 with a width of 6.4 mm is shown in
The watch bands 20 according to aspects of the present invention and the joints 10 used thereof are made of stainless steel.
The watch bands 20 according to aspects of the present invention can be connected/disconnected by manipulating the groove part 214 of the lower drum 210 in the second assembly 200 of one joint 10 to clasp with/separated from the long fork 130 of the first assembly 100 of the adjacent joint 10 to adjust the length of the band 20. Thus, the length of the watch band 20 can be adjusted by the user my merely manipulating a groove part 214 and a long fork 130 of two joints.
In addition, when a joint 10 of the watch band 20 provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention is removed from the band, the various parts of the removed joint and the remaining joints will not separate from one another to risk being misplaced. Furthermore, the joints are easy to pick up and manipulate.
Furthermore, the minimal width of the joint 10 can be 6.4 mm. Thus, the watch band 20 formed by the joints 10 can be used as men's watch bands, as women's watch bands, and as children's watch bands.
Watch bands according to aspects of the present invention perform well against pulling, bending, and twisting, and yet relatively inexpensive to produce.
A test report provided by the China Quality Assurance Lab for the watch bands according to aspects of the present invention includes the following information:
Pulling test (4.5 kg max)
Equipment-fixtures simulating spring bar connection with force gage/dial indicator, gage pins.
Samples shall be attached to force gage and apply the force to 4.5 kg (max).
Acceptance criteria—no broken or distortion of the band allowed once force is released. Samples must be functional and meet the above static load requirements.
Flex test (2 k cycles)
Equipment—a motorized cyclical fixture that applies tension-release-tension on attachment simulating customer removal/return of attachment to wrist.
Each sample shall be subjected to a two-thousand (2,000) cycle test.
Upon completion, attachment will be evaluated for wear/durability resistance to known standard expectations.
Extended Flex test (10 k cycles)
Same as the Flex test requirement, but increase to a ten-thousand (10,000) cycle test.
Remove/assembly adjustable link test (5 times)—engage/disengage work instruction is required for customers.
Pull test/flex test after remove/assembly links.
Twist test
Samples shall be subjected a 70 degree twist across a span of 5.9 inches (150 mm) without damage, unfolding, separation of leakage.
While aspects of the present invention have been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. A watch band comprising a plurality of interconnected joints, the watch band comprising:
- a first joint, the first joint comprising:
- A) a first assembly, said first assembly comprising: 1) an upper drum comprising an upper drum chamber, a first edge part and a second edge part disposed on two sides of the upper drum, and a first end and a second end of the upper drum disposed on another two sides of the upper drum; 2) a first elastic sheet seated within the upper drum chamber; 3) a long fork comprising a first end and a opposite second end, the first end of the long fork is seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the first end of the upper drum, and the second end of the long fork is seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the second end of the upper drum; 4) a first short fork, shorter than the long fork, seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the first end of the upper drum; and 5) a second short fork, shorter than the long fork, seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the second end of the upper drum, wherein the first short fork is generally parallel to the second short fork; and
- B a second assembly, said second assembly comprising:
- 1) a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part, and a lower drum chamber disposed between the connecting part and the groove part;
- 2) a second elastic sheet seated within the lower drum chamber; and
- 3) a decorative cover, comprising a decorative cover chamber and having at least one first clasp and at least one second clasp seated adjacent two edges of the upper drum chamber,
- wherein the connecting part of the lower drum in the second assembly is in contact with the first short fork and the second short fork; and the upper drum chamber covers the upper drum and engages the first clasp and the second clasp of the upper drum; and
- a second joint, said second joint mechanically coupled to the first joint.
2. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the groove part the first joint is connected to the long fork of the second joint.
3. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the upper drum has a generally hexahedron shape and the first edge part and the second edge part extend from a respective outside position toward a center section of the upper drum chamber.
4. The watch band as recited in claim 3, wherein the first edge part and second edge part are each provided with at least one cut-out.
5. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the first elastic sheet has a generally arc shape and having two ends and a center.
6. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the first end and the second end of the long fork extend toward a center section of the long fork.
7. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the first short fork and the second short fork have a generally “U” shape configuration.
8. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the connecting part of the lower drum comprises a ledge that extends toward a center section of the lower drum chamber from one edge of the lower drum and comprises a first clasp and a second clasp.
9. The watch band as recited in claim 8, wherein the lower drum is provided with a plurality of convex lines.
10. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the second elastic sheet has a generally arc shape and having two ends and a center.
11. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the decorative cover has a plurality of convex sheets corresponding to the plurality of convex lines.
12. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the decorative cover has at least one of the following configuration: an arc shape, a straight shape, curves, and traces.
13. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of joints are made from stainless steel.
14. The watch band as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of joints each has a minimum width of about 6.4 mm.
15. A joint used for part of a watch band, the joint comprising:
- A) a first assembly, said first assembly comprising: 1) an upper drum comprising an upper drum chamber, a first edge part and a second edge part disposed on two sides of the upper drum, and a first end and a second end of the upper drum disposed on another two sides of the upper drum; 2) a first elastic sheet seated within the upper drum chamber; 3) a long fork comprising a first end and a opposite second end, the first end of the long fork seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the first end of the upper drum, and the second end of the long fork seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the second end of the upper drum; 4) a first short fork, shorter than the long fork, seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the first end of the upper drum; and 5) a second short fork, shorter than the long fork, seated between the upper drum chamber and the first elastic sheet at the second end of the upper drum, wherein the first short fork is generally parallel to the second short fork; and
- B) a second assembly, said second assembly comprising: 1) a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part, and a lower drum chamber disposed between the connecting part and the groove part; 2) a second elastic sheet seated within the lower drum chamber; and 3) a decorative cover comprising a decorative cover chamber having at least one first clasp and at least one second clasp seated adjacent two edges of the upper drum chamber,
- wherein the connecting part of the lower drum in the second assembly is in contact with the first short fork and the second short fork; and the upper drum chamber covers the upper drum and engages the first clasp and the second clasp of the upper drum.
16. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the upper drum has a generally hexahedron shape and the first edge part and the second edge part extend from a respective outside position toward a center section of the upper drum chamber.
17. The joint as recited in claim 16, wherein the first edge part and second edge part are each provided with at least one cut-out.
18. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the first elastic sheet has a generally arc shape and having two ends and a center.
19. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the first end and the second end of the long fork extend toward a center section of the long fork.
20. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the first short fork and the second short fork have a generally “U” shape configuration.
21. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the connecting part of the lower drum comprises a ledge that extends toward a center section of the lower drum chamber from one edge of the lower drum and comprises a first clasp and a second clasp.
22. The joint as recited in claim 21, wherein the lower drum is provided with a plurality of convex lines.
23. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the second elastic sheet has a generally arc shape and having two ends and a center.
24. The joint as recited in claim 22, wherein the decorative cover has a plurality of convex sheets corresponding to the plurality of convex lines
25. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the decorative cover has at least one of the following configuration: an arc shape, a straight shape, curves, and traces.
26. The watch band as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of joints are made from stainless steel.
27. The joint as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of joints each has a minimum width of about 6.4 mm.
28. A watch band comprising a plurality of interconnected joints, each joint comprising a first assembly mechanically coupled to a second assembly, wherein
- the first assembly comprises an upper drum comprising an upper drum chamber receiving a fork comprising at least two extending members and a middle overhanging member disposed therebetween defining a catch point;
- the second assembly comprises a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part comprising a lip and a lower drum chamber disposed therebetween;
- wherein the connecting part is removeably coupled to the upper drum and the groove part extends away from the upper drum chamber; and
- wherein the groove part of a first joint extends under the fork of an adjacent joint so that the lip of the groove part of the first joint contacts the catch point of the fork of the adjacent joint.
29. A watch band comprising a plurality of interconnected joints, each joint comprising a first assembly mechanically coupled to a second assembly, wherein
- the first assembly comprises an upper drum comprising an upper drum chamber receiving a fork having an elongated catch lever, the drum comprising a first end edge and a second end edge defining a length and a first side edge and a second side edge defining a width;
- the second assembly comprises a lower drum comprising a connecting part, a groove part comprising a lip and a lower drum chamber disposed therebetween;
- wherein the connecting part is removeably coupled to the upper drum and the groove part extends beyond the two side edges defining the width; and
- wherein the groove part of a first joint extends under the fork of an adjacent joint so that the lip of the groove part of the first joint contacts the catch point of the fork of the adjacent joint.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 21, 2005
Publication Date: Jun 15, 2006
Inventor: Che Chan (Kowloon)
Application Number: 11/187,051
International Classification: A44C 5/00 (20060101);