Clasp, band with a clasp, portable device, timepiece, and accessory
A clasp has a first member and a second member that are disposed to two coupled members. The clasp is closed by the first member and the second member mutually engaging when the coupled members slide in relatively opposite directions. The first member has a first attachment member that has side walls, a spine that connects the side walls, and a button unit that has a push button which is urged to the outside from the inside of the coupled members in the direction intersecting the sliding direction of the coupled members. The second member has a second attachment member that has side walls attached at a prescribed position to the other coupled member on both sides. The first attachment member and the button unit are attached at a prescribed position to the one coupled member.
1. A clasp comprising:
a first member and a second member that are respectively disposed to a first and second coupled members, the clasp being closed by the first member and the second member mutually engaging when the first and second coupled members slide opposite to each other in a sliding direction, the first member having a first attachment member that has a first spine longitudinally extending in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and two side walls each of which is disposed on each longitudinal end of the first spine, the first spine connecting the two side walls; and
a button unit having a push button which is urged to the outside from the inside of the coupled members in a direction intersecting the sliding direction, and which is disposed with the first coupled member held between the first attachment member and the button unit,
the second member having a second attachment member that has a second spine longitudinally extending in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and a two side walls which are attached at a prescribed position to the second coupled member, each of the two side walls is disposed on each longitudinal end of the second spine, the second spine connecting the two side walls,
the first attachment member and the button unit being attached at a prescribed position to the first coupled member,
the button unit having a protruding catch that moves in conjunction with the push button and engaging with the side walls of the second attachment member when the coupled members are slid together,
the side walls of the second attachment member having a recessed strike to which the protruding catch is inserted from the inside of the side walls,
the first coupled member being configured to be inserted between the second spine and the second coupled member,
one of the first spine or the button unit having a stud that protrudes towards the other of the first spine and the button unit,
the stud being configured to be inserted to a hole formed in the first coupled member.
2. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein:
when the one coupled member is attached to the attached object to which the coupled members are attached, the one coupled member is located on the attached object side of the button unit; and
the coupled members are slid with the second attachment member placed on the button unit side of the one coupled member.
3. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein
the first attachment member and the button unit are assembled in unison by means of the push button passing through the opening.
4. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein:
the first attachment member and the button unit are connected to pivot relative to the other on a shaft unit disposed in the direction intersecting the sliding direction of the coupled members;
the button unit has a pivot locking button that is urged to the outside from the inside of the coupled members in the direction intersecting the sliding direction of the coupled members and engages the side walls of the first attachment member, and a button unit frame that holds the push button, the protruding catch, and the pivot locking button;
the side walls of the second attachment member have a pivot locking recess in which the pivot locking button is inserted from the inside of the side walls;
the pivot locking button opposes the push button or protruding catch with a gap therebetween in the direction the push button is depressed; and
the gap is sized so that A is less than B where
A is the distance the push button moves relative to the button unit frame when the protruding catch engages and releases the recessed strike, and B is the distance that the push button moves relative to the button unit frame when the pivot locking button engages and releases the pivot locking recess.
5. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the second member side end part of the protruding catch in the sliding direction of the coupled member, and the first member side end part of the second attachment member side walls in the sliding direction of the coupled member, is an inclined face that is sloped in the direction causing a component force to work toward the inside of the side walls of the first attachment member when the protruding catch and the side walls of the second attachment member touch because the coupled members are slid together.
6. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein
the second member includes a spring pin having a rod member that is inserted in a cylinder and is pushed to the outside by a spring; and
the side walls of the second attachment member are attached by the spring pin to the second coupled member.
7. The clasp described in claim 1 , wherein
the push button and the protruding catch are formed as parts of a single flat member; and
a notch that holds a part of one of the side walls of the first attachment member and a part of one of the side walls of the second attachment member is formed between the push button and the protruding catch.
8. A band comprising the clasp described in claim 1 .
9. The clasp described in claim 3 , wherein
the first attachment member is substantially U-shaped;
the first attachment member has a first opening on one of the two side walls and a second opening on the other of the two side walls so that the push button passes through the firs and second openings;
the size of the second opening is smaller than the size of the first opening in the sliding direction; and
a necked part that is arraigned to be inserted to the second opening is formed in the part of the push button that protrudes from the first opening when the push button is not depressed.
10. The clasp described in claim 4 , wherein:
at least one of the end part on the first attachment member side of the pivot locking button in the pivoting direction in which the first attachment member and the button unit come together, and the end part on the button unit side of the side wall of the first attachment member in said pivoting direction, is an inclined face that is sloped in the direction causing a component force to work toward the inside of the side walls of the first attachment member when the first attachment member and the button unit pivot together and the pivot locking button and the side wall of the first attachment member touch.
11. A portable device comprising the band described in claim 8 .
12. A timepiece comprising the band described in claim 8 , wherein
the band is connected to a timepiece case.
13. An accessory comprising the band described in claim 8 , wherein
the accessory is worn by means of the band.
14. The timepiece described in claim 12 , wherein the band is a timepiece band.