Granted Patent B2

US 12,357,061 · App. 17/993,189 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Inventors: Dohan Schlichtig (Aarburg, CH); Marc Schenk (Le Landeron, CH)

Assignee: ETA SA MANUFACTURE HORLOGÈRE SUISSE

A44C5/147

Abstract

Claims (23)

1. A portable object ( 1 , 2 ) comprising a case ( 20 ) having a middle ( 21 ) devoid of fastening horns and comprising two longitudinal cavities ( 110 , 120 ) extending in a longitudinal direction (X-X), a bracelet ( 30 ) comprising two ends ( 31 ), each end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) cooperating with a mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) configured to removably cooperate with a longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) of said middle ( 21 ) to make it possible to mount the bracelet ( 30 ), wherein the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) is one-piece and, as one-piece, comprises the following as unitary with each other:

elements ( 210 , 310 , 410 ) for receiving and securing one end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 );

elastic casing elements ( 220 , 320 , 420 ), unitary with the elements ( 210 , 310 , 410 ), for axially locking the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) in said longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) in the longitudinal direction (X-X); and

elements ( 230 , 330 , 430 ), unitary with the elements ( 210 , 310 , 410 ) and the elastic casing elements ( 220 , 320 , 420 ), for axially locking the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) in said longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (X-X).

2. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein said mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) is configured to cooperate by sliding into said longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) of said middle ( 21 ).

3. The portable object ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elements ( 210 ) for receiving and securing one end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) are formed by two support plates ( 211 , 212 ) spaced apart from one another of a distance making it possible to position the end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) between the two support plates ( 211 , 212 ).

4. The portable object ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein said support plates ( 211 , 212 ) have orifices ( 213 ) for passing through a member for securing the bracelet ( 30 ).

5. The portable object ( 1 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) is stitched, soldered or overmoulded on the support plates ( 211 , 212 ).

6. The portable object ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elements ( 310 , 410 ) for receiving and securing one end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) are formed by a slot ( 311 , 411 ) receiving the end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ) and by teeth ( 312 ) or reliefs ( 412 ) configured to be inserted and penetrate into the material of the bracelet ( 30 ) in order to ensure its locking.

7. The portable object ( 2 ) according to claim 6 wherein the teeth ( 312 ) or the reliefs ( 412 ) are arranged within the slot ( 311 , 411 ).

8. The portable object ( 2 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the teeth ( 312 ) have different profiles and/or different orientations.

9. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 6 , wherein the slot ( 411 ) has, in free position, an opening larger than the thickness of the end ( 31 ) of the bracelet ( 30 ).

10. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 9 wherein the external dimensions of the mounting interface ( 400 ) close to the slot ( 411 ), in free position, are larger than the internal dimensions of the longitudinal cavity, the mounting interface ( 400 ) being configured to compress elastically to reduce the opening of the slot ( 411 ) during its insertion into the longitudinal cavity.

11. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic casing elements ( 220 , 320 , 420 ) are formed by at least one elastic clip ( 221 , 222 , 321 , 421 ) cooperating with at least one housing ( 116 , 117 , 126 ) arranged in the longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ).

12. The portable object ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic casing elements ( 220 ) are formed by two elastic clips ( 221 , 222 ) located at the longitudinal ends of the mounting interface ( 200 ), the two elastic clips ( 221 , 222 ) being configured to cooperate with two end housings ( 116 , 117 ) arranged at the longitudinal cavity ( 110 ).

13. The portable object ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic casing elements ( 320 , 420 ) are formed by a central elastic clip ( 321 , 421 ) configured to cooperate with a central housing ( 126 ) arranged at the longitudinal cavity ( 120 ).

14. The portable object ( 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elastic casing elements ( 220 , 320 , 420 ) are configured to be reversible and make it possible to unlock the axial position of the mounting interface ( 220 , 320 , 420 ) without damaging one of the elements constituting the mounting interface ( 220 , 320 , 420 ).

15. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the elements ( 230 , 330 , 430 ) for locking the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) in said longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction (X-X) are formed by a bearing surface ( 224 , 331 , 332 , 431 , 432 ) cooperating with an undercut portion or a complementary stop surface of the longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ).

16. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) is made of polymer material or of metal material.

17. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the middle ( 21 ) of the case ( 20 ) is made of thermoplastic, preferably of polyamide 11.

18. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ) is opening so that the mounting interface ( 200 , 300 , 400 ) can be inserted indifferently through a first end or through a second end of the longitudinal cavity ( 110 , 120 ).

19. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal cavities ( 110 , 120 ) extend over two circular segments of the middle ( 21 ) located at 6 o'clock and at 12 o'clock.

20. The portable object ( 1 , 2 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the portable object is a wristwatch.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (52)