Strap

Abstract

Strap (1) comprising: a strand or a plurality of links (31b) of a first type; at least one connecting element (7b) connected inseparably to a strand or link of the first type; at least one adjusting link (32) which is intended to be connected to a watch case (2) or to a clasp and which can be connected separably to a connecting element; the at least one adjusting link including a button (6B) for locking and/or unlocking the connection to a connecting element.

1 . A bracelet strap comprising:
 a strap portion;   at least one connecting element connected inseparably to said strap portion;   at least one adaptation link, intended to be connected to an esthetic element and to be detachably connected to said at least one connecting element;   said at least one adaptation link including a locking and/or unlocking button intended, when actuated, to bring the adaptation link from a locked position, in which said at least one connecting element is locked to the adaptation link, into an unlocked position, in which said at least one connecting element can be disconnected from the adaptation link,   the locking and/or unlocking button being hidden when the bracelet strap is being worn.   
     
     
         2 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strap portion is either a strap portion formed completely or partly from a flexible material, or a strap portion made up of articulated links. 
     
     
         3 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the connecting element and the or each adaptation link are connected to one another removably by means of a male portion inserted into a female opening, said locking and/or unlocking button making it possible to prevent the male portion from being extracted from said female opening when said at least one adaptation is in the locked position, and allowing this extraction when said at least one adaptation link is in the unlocked position. 
     
     
         4 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said female opening forms part of a clasp and forms a groove in a transverse direction relative to the length of the strap portion, the male portion being designed to slide in the groove as it is being inserted or extracted. 
     
     
         5 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising at least one row of links comprising a fixed adaptation link and a mobile adaptation link, the fixed and mobile adaptation links being intended to be connected to the clasp, the mobile adaptation link being intended to perform the function of the locking and/or unlocking button, said mobile adaptation link being designed for this reason to pivot about an axis parallel to the groove between the locked position and the unlocked position so as to allow or respectively to block the insertion or the extraction of the male portion relative to the groove, the male portion being, for example, a post. 
     
     
         6 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 5 , designed so that a second strap portion of the bracelet strap prevents said locking and/or unlocking button from being manipulated when the bracelet strap is fastened. 
     
     
         7 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 3 , comprising at least one adaptation link, preferably two adaptation links, connected to a watch case when a strap portion of the bracelet strap is connected to said watch case. 
     
     
         8 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the or each adaptation link comprises a housing and wherein the locking and/or unlocking button is in the form of a pushbutton arranged inside the housing of the or of each adaptation link so that it can move therein when the or each adaptation link is brought from the locked position to the unlocked position. 
     
     
         9 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the or each adaptation link comprises, on one side, a passage communicating with the housing, the or each pushbutton comprising a mobile body and an elastic member arranged in the housing to collaborate with the mobile body, said mobile body comprising the female opening, and wherein at least one connecting element, preferably two connecting elements, is or are connected inseparably to said strap portion and is or are designed to be introduced into the passage and the female opening of the or of each corresponding adaptation link so as to lock said strap portion to the watch case without the need to actuate the pushbutton or pushbuttons. 
     
     
         10 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the mobile body has a tooth arranged facing the passage, the or each connecting element comprising a hook engaging with the tooth in the locked position, actuation of the pushbutton allowing the tooth to disengage from the hook so that said strap portion of the bracelet strap can be disconnected. 
     
     
         11 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the articulated-links strap portion comprises a plurality of links of a first type and a plurality of links of a second type,
 the or each adaptation link being substantially indistinguishable from said links of the second type when the bracelet strap is being worn.   
     
     
         12 . The bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 11 , the links of the first type having an appearance, for example a shape, a dimension, an orientation and/or a color that are substantially identical to one another,
 the links of the second type having an appearance, for example a shape, a dimension, an orientation and/or a color that are substantially uniform in relation to one another,   the or each adaptation link having an appearance, for example a shape, a dimension, an orientation and/or a color that is substantially identical to that of the links of the second type when the bracelet strap is being worn.   
     
     
         13 . A wristwatch comprising a bracelet strap as claimed in  claim 1 .