Clasp with folding buckle

Abstract

The clasp ( 1 ) for a bracelet can adopt a closed position designed to hold the bracelet around the wrist of the wearer and an open position suitable for removing the bracelet over the hand wearer. The clasp has a central strip ( 10 ), at least one intermediate strip ( 20 ) mounted pivotably movable via a first end ( 21 ) on one end ( 11 ) of the central strip ( 10 ), and at least one end strip ( 30 ) mounted pivotably movable via a first end ( 31 ) on a second end ( 24 ) of the intermediate strip ( 20 ) and including a member for receiving a bracelet strand ( 2 ) on a second end ( 34 ). The central strip ( 10 ), the at least one intermediate strip ( 20 ), and the at least one end strip ( 30 ) are fitted together in the transverse direction in the closed position of the clasp without forming any excess thickness in the direction perpendicular to the clasp.

1 . A clasp for a bracelet, the clasp being able to occupy a closed position designed to hold the bracelet around a wrist of a wearer and an open position suitable for removing the bracelet from a hand of the wearer, wherein the clasp comprises:
 a central blade,   at least one intermediate blade fitted to be movable in pivoting via a first end on an end of the central blade, and   at least one end blade fitted to be pivotably movable by a first end on a second end of the intermediate blade, the at least one blade comprising an element for receiving a bracelet strand on a second end,   wherein the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade and the at least one end blade are fitted together in a transverse direction in the closed position of the clasp without forming any overthickness in a direction at right angles to the clasp.   
     
     
         2 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, a total maximum thickness of the clasp corresponds to a maximum thickness of a thickest blade of the clasp, among the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the end blade. 
     
     
         3 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clasp comprises an elastic holding device for stabilizing the closed position of the clasp. 
     
     
         4 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade do not generate any overthickness of the clasp by a vertical superpositioning, or wherein the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade are substantially exclusively fitted together in the transverse direction, with no superpositioning. 
     
     
         5 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in the closed position, the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade occupy a configuration so that the top surfaces of the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade form a continuous surface. 
     
     
         6 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate blade comprises two parallel branches which come to be positioned on either side of the central blade in the transverse direction in the closed position, and wherein the at least one end blade comprises two parallel branches which come to be positioned on either side respectively of the parallel branches of the at least one intermediate blade, in the transverse direction, in the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade have a substantially equal maximum thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a maximum thickness of the clasp, in the closed position, is less than or equal to 3.5 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a length of the at least one intermediate blade and a length of the at least one end blade are substantially equal. 
     
     
         10 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central blade comprises a set back portion for housing, without overthickness, a transverse branch of the intermediate blade in the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clasp comprises an elastic holding device which comprises through-slits produced in the central blade. 
     
     
         12 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the clasp comprises two intermediate blades fitted to pivot on the central blade and two end blades, respectively fitted to pivot on each intermediate blade, forming a symmetrical structure relative to a transverse median plane of the clasp. 
     
     
         13 . A bracelet, wherein the bracelet comprises two bracelet strands fixed to the clasp as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . The bracelet as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein, in the closed position of the clasp, a top surface of at least one bracelet strand comes into continuity with a top surface of the clasp. 
     
     
         15 . A timepiece, wherein the timepiece comprises the bracelet as claimed in  claim 13 . 
     
     
         16 . A timepiece, wherein the timepiece comprises the bracelet as claimed in  claim 14 . 
     
     
         17 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the central blade, the at least one intermediate blade, and the at least one end blade have a substantially equal average thickness. 
     
     
         18 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a maximum thickness of the clasp, in the closed position, is less than or equal to 3 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein a maximum thickness of the clasp, in the closed position, is less than or equal to 2.8 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The clasp as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the clasp comprises an elastic holding device for stabilizing the closed position of the clasp.