Chain – staple – and horseshoe making – Chains – Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-24
2001-01-09
Jones, David (Department: 3725)
Chain, staple, and horseshoe making
Chains
Ornamental
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170250
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a structure of a band comprising a plurality of links connected together used for wearing a personal adornment such as a wrist watch and a bracelet, and more particularly to a connecting structure where certain of the links can be easily attached and detached to adjust the length of the band.
BACKGROUND ART
A typical conventional structure for connecting links of a band made of metal plate is described with reference to FIG.
12
. The figure is an exploded perspective view of a part of the band, drawn to show the underside thereof upward.
A link
60
is formed by shaping a metal plate cut and machined beforehand into a square tube, and comprises three annular portions
61
,
62
and
63
at the ends and the center thereof, and connecting portions
64
connecting the annular portions. An engaging recess
66
is formed at the inner portion of the annular portion
63
provided at the end. When the link
60
is formed into the tube, a core
67
is wrapped in and clasped by the other annular portion
61
so as to block the opening of the link
60
, hence being secured therein. A connecting link
68
has a gap
70
through which the connecting portion
64
of the link is inserted, thereby sequentially connecting the links
60
.
A connecting member
71
substantially has a U-shape, and comprises a base
72
, engaging projection
73
formed on the axis of symmetry, and a pair of connecting arms
74
. The connecting member
71
is inserted into the inner space of the link
60
from an end opening
75
. The engaging projection
73
renders an abutting portion
76
adjacent the annular portion
63
to slightly yield, overcoming the resistance thereof, and then engages in an outer end portion of the engaging recess
66
, thereby preventing disengagement. During the course of insertion, each of the connecting arms
74
penetrates the two of the adjacent two pairs of connecting links
68
, so that the connection of each link is completed.
In the conventional structure, in order to remove or add a link to adjust the length of the band, a part of the connected links must be temporarily disengaged. In order to detach a link, a rod-shaped tapered tool
77
is diagonally inserted in the engaging recess
66
of the link
60
as shown in the drawing, and forcefully pushes the bottom of the U-shape of the connecting member
71
in the outer direction. Thus, the connecting member
71
is pushed outward from the band. The engaging projection
73
overcomes the resistance of the abutting portion
76
and is forced outward. The connecting member
71
is then taken out by such a tool as pliers. Thus the link can be detached.
During the detaching operation, the tool
77
is pushed diagonally so that the effective force for pushing out the connecting member
71
is a horizontal component of the pushing force exerted by the tool
77
, amounting only to several tens of percentages thereof. Although there is also generated a normal component of the pushing force amounting to several tens of percentages thereof, such a force increases the coefficient of friction between the connecting member
71
and the link so that the pulling force must be increased. When the tool
77
is inserted at an angle of 45°, horizontal and normal component are each about 71 percent of the pushing force exerted by the tool. In addition, the engaging projection
73
must cover a long distance to overcome the abutting portion
76
. Namely, a large operating force and a relatively long stroke must be applied to the tool
77
, and it is difficult to pull out the connecting member
71
, and the tool may slip, causing a damage to the band.
Furthermore, in the conventional structure, the engaging recess
66
and the engaging projection
73
engaged with the recess
66
are apparent from the underside of the band, thereby deteriorating the appearance of the underside of the band. In addition, the engaging recess
66
gives a rugged feel to the wrist or catches the skin and hair, so that the band cannot be comfortably worn.
An object of the present invention is to provide a structure for connecting links of a band formed by shaping a metal plate, wherein the above described defects of the conventional structure are overcome, so that the connecting member can be pulled out with a small force, the appearance of the underside of the band improved, and the width of the band can be decreased.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a connecting structure of a link having a plurality of annular portions and connecting portions between the annular portions, an annular connecting link having a gap through which the connecting portion passes and engaged with the connecting portion, a connecting member having a base, a connecting arm, and an end portion, the connecting member being provided to be inserted between the link and the connecting link so as to connect the connecting link to the link with the connecting arm, stopping means for holding and stopping the connecting member within the link, and disclosing means for disclosing an outer surface of the end portion of the connecting member from one of the annular portions at an end thereof, so as to allow a tool to push the connecting member.
The connecting member may substantially have a U-shape having a pair of connecting arms, or may comprise a pair of L-shaped members inserted in the link in point symmetry.
The stopping means comprises a projection and a recess which are formed on a side of the base of the connecting member and on the inner wall of the annular portion at an end so as to be mutually engaged.
The link further comprises a core partially blocking an opening of the annular portion at an end, the core forming at a side thereof a tool inserting passage as the disclosing means.
The length of the connecting member is preferably smaller than the length of the link, and the end portion of the connecting arm is retreated from the outer edge of the end annular portion, thereby forming a tool introducing recess.
The connecting arm of one of the L-shaped member may be bent at halfway of the arm in the direction of the thickness thereof so that an end thereof abuts on the inner wall of the link.
The recess and the projection are formed on an extended line of the connecting arm.
The recess or the projection formed on the annular portion is formed so as not to deform the outer surface thereof.
The connecting arm comprises a shoulder opposite the core and an inserting portion inserted in a tool inserting passage.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1822894 (1931-09-01), Kestenman
patent: 3482394 (1969-12-01), East
patent: 3609963 (1971-10-01), Ichinose
patent: 52-24971 (1977-02-01), None
patent: 52-24452 (1977-06-01), None
patent: 53-14216 (1978-04-01), None
patent: 55-11694 (1980-03-01), None
patent: 56-86018 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 2-7643 (1990-02-01), None
Hara Toshiaki
Yamakawa Jindai
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Dennison, Scheiner Schultz & Wakeman
Jones David
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