Clasp for watch bracelet

Abstract

A clasp ( 100 ) for a watch bracelet including a cover ( 1 ) on a first side to a bracelet strand ( 200 ) and on a second side to a folding system ( 300 ), a connecting device assembled between the bracelet strand and the cover, and including a sledge ( 3 ) sliding in a longitudinal direction of the clasp between a first position wherein the sledge is engaged in the cover of the clasp ( 100 ), and a second position wherein the sledge is disengaged from the cover ( 1 ) of the clasp ( 100 ). The clasp ( 100 ) comprises a lever ( 2 ), provided with a toothed element ( 20 ), when pressed along a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the cover, causes the toothed element ( 20 ) to move from a rest position, in which the toothed element ( 20 ) is in mesh with a rack toothing, to an actuated position, in which the toothed element ( 20 ) is released.

1 . A clasp ( 100 ) for a watch bracelet comprising a cover ( 1 ) connected on a first side to a bracelet strand ( 200 ) and on a second side to a folding system ( 300 ), connecting means being assembled between the bracelet strand and the cover ( 1 ) of the clasp ( 100 ), these connecting means comprising a sledge ( 3 ) sliding in a longitudinal direction of the clasp ( 100 ) between a first position wherein the sledge ( 3 ) is engaged in the cover ( 1 ) of the clasp ( 100 ), and at least a second position wherein the sledge ( 3 ) is at least partially disengaged from the cover ( 1 ) of the clasp ( 100 ), wherein the clasp ( 100 ) comprises a lever ( 2 ), provided with a toothed element ( 20 ), when pressed along a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the cover, causes the toothed element ( 20 ) to move from a rest position, in which the toothed element ( 20 ) is in mesh with a rack toothing ( 30 ) integral with the sledge ( 3 ), to an actuated position, in which the toothed element ( 20 ) is released from its engagement with the rack toothing ( 30 ) so that the sledge ( 3 ) is free to slide, and in that the cover ( 1 ) comprises an opening ( 11 ) to actuate the lever ( 2 ) from the exterior of the cover ( 1 ). 
     
     
         2 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever ( 2 ) is arranged such that it pivots relative to the cover ( 1 ) when moving from the first position into said at least second position. 
     
     
         3 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever ( 2 ) is held in the rest position by means of a spring ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one toothed element ( 20 ) and said lever ( 2 ) form an element made in one piece. 
     
     
         5 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the sledge ( 3 ) is equipped with stopping means preventing the sledge ( 3 ) from being removed from the cover ( 1 ) of the clasp ( 100 ). 
     
     
         6 . The clasp according to  claim 5 , wherein the stopping means is formed by a screw ( 6 ) which projects into a slot ( 13 ) made in the cover ( 1 ) and which defines two end stop. 
     
     
         7 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover ( 1 ) has an overall U-shaped section and is provided with two wings ( 14 ) facing one another, each of these wings ( 14 ) bearing a guiding groove ( 12 ) on the inwards-facing face thereof to guide the sledge ( 3 ) in translation. 
     
     
         8 . The clasp according to  claim 7 , wherein the sledge ( 3 ) comprises lateral guide surfaces ( 34 ) so as to be guided while sliding in the guiding grooves ( 12 ) of the cover's wings ( 14 ). 
     
     
         9 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the rack toothing ( 30 ) comprises teeth ( 31 ,  32 ) which are asymmetrically shaped in such a manner that one portion of the tooth ( 31 ,  32 ) is aligned almost perpendicular to the direction of movement of the sledge ( 3 ) along its longitudinal axis, while the angle of the second part of the tooth ( 31 ,  32 ) is about halfway between that of the first part of the tooth and said direction of movement of the sledge ( 3 ). 
     
     
         10 . The clasp according to  claim 9 , wherein the toothed element ( 20 ) of the lever ( 2 ) is designed in a complementary asymmetrical manner as the teeth ( 31 ,  32 ) of the rack toothing ( 30 ). 
     
     
         11 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever ( 2 ) comprises at least one toothed element ( 20 ). 
     
     
         12 . The clasp according to  claim 1 , wherein the lever ( 2 ) comprises a recess for receiving said spring, said spring bearing at least against the bottom of said recess. 
     
     
         13 . A wristband ( 9 ) comprising the clasp according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A watch comprising a watch case, which is configured to receive the wristband according to  claim 13 .