Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Patent
1990-01-25
1993-03-09
Brittain, James R.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
24685, 24589, 24265WS, A44C 520
Patent
active
051916851
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a buckle for watch bands.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,955 discloses a buckle having a lock mechanism which reliably locks the buckle and can be easily operated by a user. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a buckle disclosed in the U.S. Patent. An engaging projection 4 provided on a clasping member 1 is engaged with an edge 3a of an opening 3 formed in a lock member 2, so that the opposite watch bands are connected to each other through the buckle. To disengage the buckle, a projected end of the lock member 2 and a projected end of a pressing up member 5 are simultaneously and inwardly pushed, whereby the engaging projection 4 is released from the edge 3a and pushed by the slant of the pressing up member 5. Thus, the clasping member 1 is released from the lock member 2 and pushed up.
However, the buckle has disadvantages as follows. The lock member 2 and the pressing up member 5 are formed by bending metal plates so as to be slidable on guide pins 7. Further, both the members 2 and 5 are vertically disposed as shown in FIG. 3. Consequently, the buckle becomes large in thickness. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a pair of holes 8 from which the ends of both members are projected are not equal in height. Therefore, the appearance of the buckle is asymmetrical.
The U.S. Patent discloses a further embodiment solving the problem of thickness. However, in the embodiment, the length of the buckle in the longitudinal direction of watch bands is increased. As a result, the buckle becomes large in size, which causes the range of design to reduce.
The object of the present invention is to provide a buckle which may be made in small size with a good appearance.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a buckle for a watch with opposite bands, the buckle having a first engaging member connected to one of the bands, a second engaging member connected to the other band, the first engaging member comprising a frame member having a base frame and a pair of side frames each of which has a hole, a lock lever having a locking portion, and a pressing-up lever having a pressing-up slant, each of the levers being laterally slidably mounted in the frame member and having an operating lug projected from the hole of one of the side frames, and the second engaging member comprising a lock member corresponding to the lock lever and a slant member corresponding to the pressing-up lever, characterized in that both the holes are located at the same height, the locking portion of the lock lever and disposed so as to overlap with each other, the operating lug of one of the levers is bent so as to be inserted into the corresponding hole, and a spring is provided between the lock lever and the pressing-up lever so as to outwardly urge both the levers.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention and wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional buckle;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a lock member of the buckle;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the engaging state of the buckle;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle for a watch band according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a first engaging member of the buckle shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the first engaging member;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the first
REFERENCES:
patent: 4310953 (1982-01-01), Nansi
patent: 4359808 (1982-11-01), Fontaine
patent: 4675955 (1987-06-01), Nakamura
Aoki Yasushi
Azuma Masaaki
Hirayama Katsuzo
Tanaka Akihiro
Tanaka Eiichiro
Brittain James R.
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
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