Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-28
2001-08-14
Jones, David (Department: 3725)
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272836
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to watchbands, and in particular, to an improved adjustable watchband that provides for removal and insertion of individual links within a watchband without the need of special coupling or decoupling tools.
Generally speaking, the watchband links themselves or the watchband/watchhead casing are connected together by the use bars or springbars, respectively, or other assembly constructions that permit the attachment or detachment of individual links within the watchband, or permit the attachment or detachment of the watchband to the watchhead casing. This enables a wearer to adjust the length of the wristband to accommodate the size of the wearer's wrist, as the length of the desired watchband (i.e. the tightness about one's wrist) will vary from user to user, or from time to time.
Many such attempts to provide for easy coupling and decoupling of links, for watchbands or other devices, are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,233 describes a wristwatch strap and the use of resilient loops in which adjacent link ends may be axially introduced. U.S. Pat. No. 1,939,346 describes the use of a hook a
2
and bar a
3
arrangement for coupling the links, wherein the use of notches a
4
permit the slidability of the bar into corresponding hooks. U.S. Pat. No. 2,699,035 describes yet another example of an ornamental chain for bracelets in which the individual links may be connected or disconnected.
However, the foregoing constructions do not provide the ease with which one may desire to remove individual links while at the same time providing the desired security that the links will not inadvertently become detached.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a watchband construction for a wristworn timepiece and/or wrist instrument, such as a watch, that overcomes the above-identified deficiencies and achieves the above and below-identified objectives.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Generally speaking, in accordance with the present invention, a removable link for use in an arrangement comprising a plurality of interlocking links is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the removable link is used in a watchband and preferably comprises a link body having a first end and a second end; a hand portion having a bar receiving region formed at the first end of the body; a retractable retaining pin having a first end within the link body and a second end extending from the link body into the bar receiving region, the retractable retaining pin being slideable within a bore provided in the link body, the retaining pin for retaining a retainable bar in the bar receiving region; and a biasing member, coupled to the retaining pin, for biasing the retaining pin towards the bar receiving region; whereby the retainable bar is retained within the bar receiving region by the retaining pin, and where the retainable bar is decoupled from the removable link by the retracting of the retaining pin away from the bar receiving region sufficiently to allow the retainable bar to be removed therefrom.
The link body may include integrally formed, spaced apart first and second shoulders between which a bar is secured between. The removable link is preferably decoupled from the decoupling link by decoupling the bar of the removable link from a bar retaining region of the decoupling link. The retainable bar may be part of another one of the plurality of interlocking links or may be a springbar coupled between a pair of lugs which themselves are part of a watch casing.
In another preferred embodiment, an arrangement comprising a plurality of interlocking links is provided. Here, the arrangement comprises at least one removable link and at least one decoupling link. The removable link preferably comprises a link body, a hand portion having a bar receiving region formed at a first end of the body; a bar coupled to a second end of the body; a retractable retaining pin having a first end within the link body and a second end extending from the link body into the bar receiving region, the retractable retaining pin being slideable within a bore provided in the link body, the retaining pin for retaining a retainable bar in the bar receiving region; and a biasing member, coupled to the retaining pin, for biasing the retaining pin towards the bar receiving region. In a similar manner, the decoupling link comprises a link body having a first end and a second end; a hand portion having a bar receiving region formed at the first end of the body; a retractable retaining pin having a first end within the link body and a second end extending from the link body into the bar receiving region, the retractable retaining pin being slideable within a bore provided in the link body, the retaining pin for retaining the bar of the removable link in its bar receiving region; and a biasing member, coupled to the retaining pin, for biasing the retaining pin towards the bar receiving region. In this construction, the first end of the removable link is decoupled from the arrangement by causing the retainable bar to be decoupled therefrom by retracting the retaining pin thereof away from the bar receiving region sufficiently to allow the retainable bar to be removed therefrom, and further whereby the second end of the removable link is decoupled from the decoupleable link by causing the bar of the removable link to be decoupled from the decoupling link by retracting the retaining pin of the decoupling link away from the bar receiving region of the decoupling link sufficiently to allow the bar of the removable link to be removed therefrom. This arrangement may include a plurality of removable links and also be part of a watchband that may also be comprised of fixed, removable links that require a tool for further adjustment as well as the above described removable links, (i.e. no tool needed for decoupling).
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved watchband for a wristwatch that permits easy linking and delinking of individual links within the watchband, all without the need to use a special tool or device therefor.
Another object of the present invention to provide an improved watchband in which the removable link(s) are not visible from the upper surface of the watch (i.e. when on a user's wrist).
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved watchband in which the link configuration conforms to the shape of the existing watchband design.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved watchband in which the removable link(s) have the same function (i.e. movement and integration) as the non-removable links which make up the remaining interlocking links of the watchband.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved watchband in which the removable link can be removed by hand.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved watchband that can incorporate a plurality of removable links.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide an improved interlocking link arrangement that can be utilized for bracelets, necklaces and other devices where adjustability is desired.
In yet another advantage, the present invention can be used so as to interchange various watchheads with the interlocking link arrangement disclosed herein.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1939346 (1933-12-01), Green
patent: 2699035 (1955-01-01), Becker
patent: 3726083 (1973-04-01), Pompeo
patent: 3837163 (1974-09-01), Fujimoro
patent: 3930364 (1976-01-01), Wong
patent: 3976233 (1976-08-01), Cobelli
patent: 4051668 (1977-10-01), Learn
patent: 4269026 (1981-05-01), Bulle et al.
patent: 4414714
Carmody & Torrance LLP
Jones David
Timex Corporation
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