Bracelet for a Watch or for an Item of Jewellery, Formed by an Assembly of Links

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 24179599.6 filed on Jun. 3, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to a bracelet for a watch or for an item of jewellery, formed by an assembly of articulated units.

Bracelets comprising link assemblies with at least part of the links made of a hard material such as diamond or ceramic, are well known in the prior art. Such bracelets are described, for example, in European patent documents EP 2803286 and EP 2057914.

A three-row bracelet comprises a plurality of side links with centre links sandwiched therebetween. Each of the side links typically comprises a blind hole and the centre link has a through-hole. A pin is engaged in the through-hole of the centre links and comprises, at one end, an external thread cooperating with an internal thread made in the blind hole of one of the side links. At its other end, the pin is driven and optionally welded in a socket screwed into the blind hole of the other side link.

This assembly solution allows the three rows of links to be rigidly connected to one another without plastic deformation of the side links, while ensuring that the links are permanently attached to each other.

However, it has been found that when a certain level of tensile stress is applied to the side links, the pins are released from the sockets. There is therefore a need to increase the stress resistance of the assembly of links between one another.

The invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and, to this end, relates to a bracelet comprising a plurality of articulated units formed by two centre links rigidly connected to each other by first and second side links between which the centre links are sandwiched. The first side link comprises two pins, each engaged in a hole extending through one of the centre links, each pin being attached to a socket provided on the second side link. Each socket comprises two separate attachment zones, via each of which the pin is driven into the socket.

In particular embodiments, the invention can further include one or more of the following features, which must be considered singly or according to any combination technically possible.

In particular embodiments, the sockets extend into the centre links by a distal part and extend into the second link by a proximal part.

In particular embodiments, each of the proximal and distal parts has one of the attachment zones.

In particular embodiments, one of the attachment zones is formed by a radial boss of the socket configured to apply clamping forces to the pin, the boss having a convex cross-sectional shape.

In particular embodiments, one of the attachment zones is formed by a flange configured to apply clamping forces to the pin, the flange being formed by a constant reduction in the cross-section of the socket.

In particular embodiments, the pins comprise a proximal part and a distal part, each cooperating with a different attachment zone of the socket, the distal part having a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the proximal part, the pin having a larger internal diameter at the boss than at the flange.

It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity.

The present invention relates to a bracelet for a watch or for an item of jewellery, which bracelet comprises a plurality of articulated unitsformed by two centre linksrigidly connected to one another by two opposite side linksand, as shown in.

The bracelet according to the invention is particularly suitable in that the side linksandand the centre linkshave a bodymade of a ceramic material; however, the invention is not limited to the use of such a material.

In the preferred example embodiment of the invention, the first side linkcomprises a bodyto which two pinsare attached without any degree of freedom. In particular, the bodyof the first side linkcomprises two recesses, each receiving a pinwith which it cooperates via a helical connection. Each pinis preferably also bonded within the recesswith which it cooperates.

As can be seen in, the pinsextend parallel to each other.

In the preferred example embodiment of the invention, the second side linkcomprises a bodyto which two socketsare attached without any degree of freedom. In particular, the bodyof the second side linkcomprises two recesses, each receiving a socketwith which it cooperates via a helical connection. Each socketis preferably also bonded within the recesswith which it cooperates.

The socketsextend parallel to each other, in a similar manner to the pins.

As can be seen in, the pinsand the socketsare intended to cooperate with each other so as to assemble the first and second side linksandand the centre linkswith one another to form an articulated unit. This cooperation is described in detail below.

Preferably, the pinsare made of titanium, as are the sockets. The use of titanium to make up the pinsand the socketshas the particular advantage of providing a more rigid attachment of the links than when using steel, and thus allows the articulated unitto better withstand mechanical stresses.

Each centre linkhas two through-holes, visible in, through each of which one of the pinsis engaged. In particular, the pinsof the first side linkare intended to be engaged respectively in holesin two different centre linksto form an articulated unit. It goes without saying that the pinsand the holesare dimensioned so as to allow the centre linksto rotate relative to the first and second side linksand.

In the example embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, each pinis made in one piece and has three successive portions. More specifically, as shown in detail in, each pinhas a first portionvia which it is attached to the first side link, a second portionextending from the first portionand engaged in a holein the centre linkwith a mechanical clearance allowing for a degree of rotational freedom, and a third portionextending from the second portionand connected, without any degree of freedom, with the socket.

Each socketis configured to cooperate with a pinvia two separate attachment zones, visible in detail in, into each of which the pinis driven. To this end, the third portionof each pincomprises two parts, including a proximal partand a distal part, each cooperating with a different attachment zoneof the socket. As can be seen in, the distal parthas a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the proximal part, so as to facilitate the engagement of the pinin the socket.

In the preferred example embodiment of the invention, and as seen in, one of the attachment zonesis formed by a radial bosson the socket, configured to apply clamping forces to the proximal partof the pin. The bossis characterised by a convex cross-section.

Moreover, the other attachment zoneof the socketis formed by a flangeconfigured to apply clamping forces to the distal partof the pin. The flangeis characterised by a constant reduction in the cross-section of the socket, the contact zone between the socketand the pinthus forming a straight cylindrical surface.

It is understood in this case that the contact zone between the bossand the pinis smaller than that between the flangeand the pin. As a result, the clamping forces applied by the flangeto the pinare more evenly distributed over the latter than those applied by the boss.

It should also be noted that the internal diameter of the pinat the bossis greater than at the flange, so as to make it easier to drive the pininto the socket.

As shown in particular in, the socketsadvantageously have a proximal partvia which they extend into the second side link, and a distal partvia which they extend into one of the holesin a centre link. The distal partis fitted in the holewith a mechanical clearance giving the socketa degree of rotational freedom relative to the centre link. The proximal and distal partsandeach have one of the attachment zones, as can be seen in the cross-sectional view of. These arrangements considerably increase the resistance of the articulated unitto mechanical stresses, in particular to tensile stresses.

Advantageously, the bossis arranged on the distal partof the socketand the flangeon the proximal part. This feature makes it easier to drive the pininto the socket.

It should be noted that, in the bracelet according to the invention, all of the pinsare preferably identical, as are the sockets.

It is understood from the above that an articulated unitis assembled by first attaching the pinsto the bodyof the first side link, and the socketsto the bodyof the second side link. The socketsare then engaged in the holespassing through different central links, then each of the pinsis engaged in one of said holes, until it enters a socketinto which it is then driven. At the end of this stage, an articulated unitis formed.

The present invention is not limited to the examples shown, and various alternatives and modifications within the reach of a person skilled in the art may be made thereto. In particular, the number of centre linksand side linksandmaking up an articulated unit according to the invention can vary. Moreover, the socketsand the pinscan be attached to the side linksandby any suitable attachment means such as bayonet-type devices, etc.

Moreover the number, dimensions and geometry of the elements for each articulated unitcan differ without losing the advantages of the invention.