A WRIST WATCH BAND COMPRISING LINKS

The present invention relates to a wrist watch provided with a case and a so-called "links band", i.e. a band composed of links.

Wrist watches are known that are provided with a case containing mechanical gears and/or electronic circuits, and/or electromechanical devices necessary for operation of the watch itself. The watch case is further typically provided with hands disposed on a dial and/or with a digital display showing the time and possible other information (the current date, ^' for example) .

The watch case is coupled with a band, typically provided with an opening and/or closing device enabling the user to wear the watch on his/her wrist. The band can be composed of mutually coupled links .

Generally in case of watches provided with links bands, the band has a high flexibility in the longitudinal direction, which allows the watch to be worn with easiness due to its high adaptability around the wrist of any user.

The Applicant has however noticed that the band flexibility gives rise to a weak steadiness of the watch worn on the wrist .

The Applicant has therefore realised the necessity to make a wrist watch comprising a watch case and a band composed of links which has a high adaptability around

the wrist of a user, together with a high steadiness when held on the wrist.

The Applicant has found that a wrist watch is steady in position during use and particularly adaptable to the user's wrist shape if the case and band are variously coupled so as :

(i) to form a substantially O-shaped side profile of said watch in a closed configuration, and (ii) to maintain this shape under the action of forces acting in a plane parallel to a longitudinal section of said watch.

In one aspect, the invention relates to a wrist watch comprising a watch case attached by a first coupling and a second coupling to a first end and a second end respectively of a band, said band comprising a plurality of links mutually coupled by a third coupling, wherein said first coupling, second coupling and third coupling being made in such a manner as to obtain a substantially O-shaped side profile of said watch in a closed configuration, and in such a manner that said substantially O-shaped side profile is substantially indeformable under the action of forces acting in a plane parallel to a longitudinal section of said watch.

The Applicant has found that a wrist watch thus made keeps a very steady position around the user's wrist when worn after closure of the clasp, wearing this type of watch being subsequently particularly comfortable due to the special conformation of the case and band assembly, mainly obtained by virtue of said couplings between the links forming the band itself.

The present invention, in said one aspect, can have one or more of the preferred features that will be described hereinafter.

In a preferred embodiment said first coupling is such made that it substantially leaves no transverse slit between said watch case and said first end of the band.

According to another embodiment, said second coupling too is made in such a manner that it substantially does not leave any transverse slit between said watch case and said second end of said band.

Advantageously, due to the substantial absence -of clearances or slits, storage of dust and/or debris of various kind is avoided between the band links and this type of band gives a sensation of continuity to the touch.

According to a further embodiment said first coupling is obtained through fastening of said first end of the band to said watch case.

According to another preferred embodiment, said- -second coupling too is obtained through fastening of said second end of said band to said watch case.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the angle in the longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width larger than about ^{60 ° .}

According to another embodiment, the angle in the

longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width smaller than about 180°.

According to another embodiment, the angle in the longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width larger than about 70°.

According to a further embodiment the angle in the longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width smaller than about 120°.

Preferably, the angle in the longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width included between about 60° and about 180°.

Still more preferably, the angle in the longitudinal plane of the watch subtended between the centre of the "O" shape and the axially opposite ends of the links presenting said first end and said second end of said band has a width included between about 70° and about 120° .

According to one embodiment, said fastening of said first band end to said watch case is made by insertion of a first end projecting from said watch case into a first housing created in a first end link of said band.

Preferably, said fastening of said second band end too to said watch case is made by insertion of a second end projecting from said watch case into a second housing created in a second end link of said band.

Still more preferably, the centre lines of said first and second projecting ends lie in a plane of substantial longitudinal symmetry of said watch case.

Advantageously, application of links of a particular shape can be provided, with male/female fittings substantially over the whole extension of the band, which will not only help in increasing the capability of wear of the watch, but will .also give a feeling of continuity to the case . and band assembly, .also improving the :.aesthetic appearance of the watch.

According to another preferred embodiment, said fastening of said first end projecting from said watch case to said 'first end link of said band or fastening of said second end projecting from said watch case to said second end link of said band is obtained by a first and a .second pin, said first and second pins respectively passing through a first- and a second hole respectively created in said first or said second projecting ends, said first hole being created in a portion of said first or said second projecting end adjacent to said watch case, said second hole being created in a portion of said first or said second projecting end far from said watch case.

According to a different embodiment, said third coupling is made in such a manner.that it substantially does not leave any transverse slit between the links of said link plurality in said band.

Preferably, said third coupling between the links of said, link plurality m said band is such made that a relative rotation between contiguous links is allowed. m a plane parallel to a longitudinal section of said watch, the angular extension of which is included between about 0° and about 15°.

According to a preferred embodiment, said links of said band comprise at least one projecting portion and at least one opposite housing portion, each projecting portion of a link matching with said housing portion of the contiguous link, so as to form said third coupling.

Preferably, matching between said projecting portion of said link and said housing portion of said contiguous link takes place by means of a pin transversely passing through a hole created an said projecting portion of said link.

According to a preferred embodiment, said pin transversely passing through said projecting portion of said link allows said rotation of said link to be carried out as far as an abutment point against said housing portion of said contiguous link, so _ as tp restrict the angular extension of said rotation to about 15°.

Preferably, said projecting portion of said link is embedded in said housing portion of said contiguous link.

Typically, said watch case comprises a container and a closing shield or cover.

Preferably, said watch case has an upper surface

disposed at a radially external position to a lower surface, said upper surface having a greater longitudinal curvature than the longitudinal curvature of said lower surface.

According to a further embodiment, said upper surface essentially consists of said cover.

According to another preferred embodiment said watch case is of a substantially hexagonal shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the watch case has one vertex disposed close to said first and second projecting ends, the four remaining vertices having an angular width, larger than about 95°.

According to a further embodiment, said links each have a transverse section of a substantially lenticular shape the circumscribed rectangle of which has _ a base and a height.

Preferably, the ratio between said base and height is smaller than about 5.

Preferably the ratio between said base and height is greater than about 3. .

More preferably, the ratio between said base and height is included between about 3 and about 5.

Preferably, said ratio is varying from one link to the subsequent one along a longitudinal extension of , the band.

Advantageously, use of links of a substantially

lenticular transverse section enables a band to be obtained that once in a closed configuration becomes particularly steady on the user's wrist without being uncomfortable. This feature, in the Applicant's perception, is due to the fact that a slightly convex radially external surface enables achievement of a better resistance to interfering forces in a direction transverse to the links themselves, which forces even if of weak intensity as in the case of small accidental shocks or the action of clothes for example, could modify the band position and therefore the position of the whole watch around the wrist.

Preferably, said substantially 0-shaped conformation comprises two essentially rectilinear segnents joined to each other by two curvilinear segments.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture, of the band is greater than about 70 degrees Shore A.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the .band is greater than about 85 degrees Shore A.

According to another preferred embodiment, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the band is lower than about 110 degrees Shore A

According to another preferred embodiment, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the band is lower than about 95 degrees Shore A

Preferably, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the band is included between about 70

degrees Shore A and about 110 degrees Shore A.

Still more preferably, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the band is included between about 85 degrees Shore A and about 95 degrees Shore A. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of an example given hereinafter for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Fig. 1 shows an example of a wrist watch according to the invention in an exploded perspective view;

- Fig. 2 is a side view of the wrist watch seen in Fig. 1 in a closed configuration; - Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section view of a detail of the coupling between the band links of the watch seen in Fig . 1 ;

- Fig. 4 is a front view of the wrist watch seen; in Fig. 1 in a closed configuration; - Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section view of the wrist watch in Fig. 1 in a closed configuration when submitted to external forces;

- Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section view of the wrist watch in Fig. 1 in a closed configuration, when submitted to different external forces.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a wrist watch 10 comprises a watch case 11, coupled to a first, .end, 12a and a second end 12b respectively of a band 12,. .Band .,12 comprises a plurality of mutually-coupled links 13. A fastener or clasp 14 enables watch 10 to be opened and closed, i.e. passage of watch 10 from an open configuration to a closed configuration, respectively.

The watch case 11 comprises a container 11a for housing

mechanical gears, and/or electronic circuits, and/or electromechanical devices necessary for operation of watch 10, as well as for housing a dial provided with hands, and/or a digital display showing the time and possible other information (the current date, for example) . The watch case 11 may also comprise an adjustment crown lib and/or push-buttons lie for activation of some additional functions of watch 10. At a radially lower portion thereof, container 11a is closed by a bottom Hd that can be fastened to container 11a by fastening screws He, or through embedding. In a radially upper portion thereof, container Ha is closed by a cover Hf of typically transparent material. In the example shown in the figures, the watch case has an essentially hexagonal shape .

As viewed from Fig. 2, coupling between case 11 and band 12 as well as mutual coupling of links 13 gives a substantially O-shaped conformation to the side profile of watch 10 in a closed configuration. By "side profile" of watch 10 it is intended a view of watch 10 substantially parallel to a longitudinal section of the watch 10 itself.

In more detail, the substantially O-shaped conformation given to the radially internal side profile of watch 10 has two substantially rectilinear segments (or segments with a very reduced curvature in the longitudinal direction), at the bottom Hd of the watch case 11 and at the fastener 14. Two curvilinear segments having a much more marked longitudinal curvature relative to the preceding segments and formed by band portions 12, join the two substantially rectilinear segments with each other, thus completing the substantially O-shaped

conformation of the radially internal side profile. This particular profile gives watch 10 an excellent adaptability to the user's wrist, by substantially reproducing the outer profile of same. The substantially 0-shaped conformation given to the radially external side profile of the watch is on the contrary more rounded in the region of the watch case 11 relative to' the radially internal side profile. This more rounded profile is obtained through use for the watch case 11 of a cover 11f of a greater longitudinal curvature than 'the curvature of the bottom 11d.

The Applicant points out that the assembly composed of the. watch case 11 and the two links 13 comprising the first and second ends 12a and 12b of the band 12 determines said "0" shape of watch 10 from a geometrical point of view, i.e. represents a guide leading the remaining band links to form said geometry fcr different sizes of the user's wrist. Preferably, the angle in the longitudinal plane of watch 10 subtended between the centre of the "0" shape and the axially opposite ends of said two links 13 has a width larger thar. 60°. Preferably this width is smaller than 180°. More preferably this width is included between about 60° and about 180°. According to a preferred embodiment, said width is larger than 70°. Preferably, this width is smaller than 120°. Still more preferably, this width is included between about 70° and about 120°. In the present specification and in the subsequent claims, by centre of the "O" shape it is intended the .intersection point of the horizontal and vertically symmetry axes.

Coupling between the watch case 11 and the first end 12a of the band 12 can be obtained by fastening of the

first end 12a of band 12 to the watch case 11 itself. This fastening can be advantageously made by insertion of a first end Hg projecting from said watch case 11 into a housing 13a ¹ created in a first end link 13a of band 12.

More particularly, the first projecting end 11g has a first hole 11g' and a second hole 11g", transversely passing through the firsc projecting end 11g. The first hole Hg' is formed in a portion of the projecting end 11g adjacent or proximal to the watch case 11. The second hole 11g" is formed in a portion of the projecting end 11g far or distal from said watch case 11. A first and a second pin (not shown in the figures), transversely passed through holes 11g' and 11g" enable the projecting end 11g, to be fastened into the housing 13a' of the first end link 13a of band 12.

Likewise, coupling between the watch case 11 and the second end 12b of band 12 can be obtained, by fastening of the second end 12b of band 12' to the watch case 11 itself. This fastening can be advantageously obtained by insertion of a second end 11h projecting,. from said watch case 11, into a housing 13b' created in a second end link 13b of band 12.

For fastening of the second projecting end 11h into housing 13b' created in the second end link 13b of band

12 it is possible to utilise .the same mechanism described above, with reference, to fasteningof the first projecting end 11g into the housing 13a' created in the first end link 13a of band 12.

According to a preferred emb.odiment, the centre lines of said first and second projecting. ends 11g and 11h

respectively, lie in a plane of substantially longitudinal symmetry of said watch case 11.

According to a preferred embodiment, the watch case 11 of hexagonal shape has a vertex in the vicinity of each of said first and second projecting ends Hg and Hh. In this configuration the four remaining vertices of the hexagonal shape of the watch case 11 have an angular width larger than about 95°.

The first end link 13a and second end link 13b of band

12 can be of greater longitudinal sizes than the remaining links 13 forming the band 12 itself.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the coupling between any pair of links 13c, 13d being part of the plurality of links

13 of band 12., Possibly, one of the two links, 13c, 13d can be one of the end links I3a, 13b of band 12.

Coupling between the links is formed in such a manner as to allow a relative rotation between the two contiguous links 13c, 13d of limited angular extension α not exceeding about 15°, preferably included between about 0° and about 15°. Note that this relative rotation lies in a plane parallel to a longitudinal section of said watch 10. In particular, each link 13c, 13d comprises projecting portions 13c ¹ , 13d ¹ and housing portions 13c", 13d" that are longitudinally opposite to the projecting portions 13c', 13d ¹ . Each projecting portion 13c ¹ of link 13c matches with the housing portion 13d" of the contiguous link 13d and vice versa each projecting portion 13d ¹ of link 13d matches with the housing portion 13c" of the contiguous link 13c.

Coupling of the projecting portion of link 13c into the housing portion 13d" of the contiguous link 13d can be obtained by a pin transversely passed through a hole created m the projecting portion 13c ¹ of link 13c. The pin enables rotation of the link 13c as far as an abutment point against the housing portion 13d" of the contiguous link 13d, so as to restrict the angular extension α of this rotation to 15°.

Coupling between the contiguous links 13c, 13d can also take place with different mechanisms, by embedding the projecting portion 13c' of link 13c into the housing portion 13d" of tne contiguous link 13d, but in any case restricting the angular extension α of the relative rotation between the links 13c, 13d to a maximum value of 15°.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, coupling, of the ends 12a, 12b of band 12 to the watch case 11, and coupling between tne links 13 so as to form the band 12 gives the watch 10 m a side view (in a closed configuration) a substantially O-shaped conformation that is substantially indeformable under the action of forces acting in a plane parallel to a longitudinal section of said watch.

In addition, according to a preferred embodiment, each of said links 13 has a transverse section of substantially lenticular shape the circumscribed rectangle of which has a base and a height. In the present specification and in the following claims, by case of a rectangle it is intended one of the two sides of greater size, by height one of the two sides of smaller size. According to one embodiment, the ratio between said base and height is smaller than about 5.

According to another embodiment, the ratio between said base and height is greater than about 3. Preferably, the ratio between said base and height is included between about 3 and about 5. Preferably, this ratio is varying between one link and the subsequent one along an extension of the band. This configuration of links 13 enables the watch 10 once worn not to suffer from forces of small amount transverse to the watch itself, so that the watch is maintained steady in position on the wrist.

To the aims of the present invention, the expression "substantially indeformable" referred to the substantially O-shaped conformation of the side view of watch 10 means that this shape is practically maintained even in case of compressions or tractions, until these compressions or tractions reach such an amoμnt that the integrity of the couplings between the watch case 11 and the ends 12a, 12b of band 12, as well as of the couplings between the links 13 forming band 12 is impaired.

For instance, the substantially O-shaped conformation shown in Fig. 2 is practically maintained also following the action of the force of gravity acting on the watch case 11, when the latter is disposed with cover 11f (and bottom 11d). in a position substantially parallel to a support plane of the band 12 . In other words, the watch is self-supported also under the action of the force of gravity.

Then, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said substantially, O- shaped conformation is also maintained following the action of forces disposed in any manner and in any plane parallel, to a longitudinal section of watch 10.

It being understood that the substantially 0-shaped conformation given to the side view of watch IO is indeformable, a perfect adaptation of watch 10 to the user's wrist is in any case ensured by the small rotation allowed by the couplings between the links 13 of band 12. Once the number of links 13 has been adjusted, watch 10 can therefore adapt itself to the wrist of any user.

Coupling between the watch case 11 and the ends 12a, 12b of band 12 can be formed in such a manner that no slit is substantially left between the watch case 11 and the ends 12a, 12b of band 12. Also coupling between the links 13 for formation of band 12 can be made in such a manner that no slits are left between the links

13 forming band 12. Together with the rounded radially external side profile, due to the substantial absence of slits, a practically constant continuity of watch 10 in a longitudinal, direction is visualIy, obtained, which makes the watch itself very similar to a bracelet. --As shown in Fig. 4, the substantial absence of slits also prevents storage of dusc and/or debris between the links 13 of band 12 and/or between the band 12 and watch case 11. Note that to the aims of the present invention by "substantial absence of slits" it is intended that each slit created by a coupling between the parts forming watch 10 has a maximum, width of 1.2 mm.

Preferably, thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers, elastomer polymers or the like for example, such as natural or synthetic rubbers can be used for the links

13 of band 12. Finally also portions of links made of metal can be provided.

According to a preferred embodiment, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of the band 12 is greater ϋhan about 70 degrees shore A. According to a preferred embodiment , the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of band 12 is greater than about 85 degrees Shore A. According to another preferred embodiment the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of band 12 is lower than about 110 degrees Shore A. According to another preferred embodiment the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of band 12 is lower than about 95 degrees Shore A. Preferably, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of band 12 is included between about 70 degrees Shore A and about 110. degrees Shore A. Still more preferably, the hardness of the materials used for manufacture of band 12 is included, between about 85 degrees Shore A and about 95 degrees Shore A.