Adjustable watch strap component

Abstract

One variation of a wrist strap buckle includes a tang including: a base configured to pivot about a buckle bar passing through an end of a first strap segment of a wrist strap; and a tongue configured to insert into holes, arranged at a pitch distance, along a second strap segment of the wrist strap. This variation of the wrist strap buckle further includes a buckle frame including a center section, and a lobe extending from the center section and defining an aperture including: a proximal bore configured to receive the buckle bar in a lengthened configuration; a distal bore, offset from the proximal bore by less than the pitch distance, configured to receive the buckle bar in a shortened configuration; and a slot extending between the proximal and distal bores. This variation of the wrist strap buckle further includes a slit extending through the lobe and intersecting the aperture.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A wrist strap buckle comprising:
 a tang comprising:
 a base configured to pivot about a buckle bar passing through a distal end of a first strap segment of a wrist strap; and 
 a tongue extending from the base and configured to insert into holes, arranged at a pitch distance, along a second strap segment of the wrist strap; and 
   a buckle frame comprising:
 a center section defining a tang seat configured to receive the tongue; 
 a first lobe extending from a first side of the center section and defining:
 a first proximal bore configured to receive a first end of the buckle bar in a lengthened wrist strap configuration; 
 a first distal bore:
 longitudinally offset from the first proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and 
 configured to receive the first end of the buckle bar in a shortened wrist strap configuration; 
 
 a first slot extending between the first proximal bore and the first distal bore; and 
 a first flexure slit extending from a face of the first lobe and intersecting the first proximal bore; and 
 
 a second lobe extending from a second side of the center section, opposite and parallel to the first lobe, and defining:
 a second proximal bore configured to receive a second end of the buckle bar in the lengthened wrist strap configuration 
 a second distal bore:
 longitudinally offset from the second proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and 
 configured to receive the second end of the buckle bar in the shortened wrist strap configuration; 
 
 a second slot extending between the second proximal bore and the second distal bore; and 
 a second flexure slit extending from the face of the second lobe and intersecting the second proximal bore. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the first slot defines a tapered geometry and narrows from the first proximal bore toward the first distal bore. 
     
     
         3 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 2 :
 wherein the first proximal bore defines a first diameter approximating a diameter of the first end of the buckle bar;   wherein the first distal bore defines the first diameter; and   wherein the first slot defines the tapered geometry tapering from approximately 90% of the first diameter at the first proximal bore to approximately 80% of the first diameter at the first distal bore.   
     
     
         4 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 :
 wherein the first flexure slit extends from an interior surface of the first lobe to the first proximal bore; and   wherein the first lobe defines a first spring extending from the first proximal bore to the first distal bore and terminating at the first flexure slit.   
     
     
         5 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 4 , wherein the first spring is defined by the first lobe of the buckle frame and is configured to deflect to accommodate the first end of the buckle bar sliding from the first proximal bore toward the first distal bore. 
     
     
         6 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 4 :
 wherein the first lobe of the buckle frame further comprises a first distal slit extending from the first distal bore opposite the first proximal bore; and   wherein the first lobe defines the first spring further extending along the first distal slit, adjacent the interior surface of the first lobe, to the first distal bore.   
     
     
         7 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the first proximal bore defines a shelf:
 interposed between a proximal end of the first slot and the first flexure slit; and   configured to transiently retain the first end of the buckle bar.   
     
     
         8 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the first distal bore is longitudinally offset from the first proximal bore by an offset distance between 2.5 millimeters and 3.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         9 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 :
 wherein the tongue of the tang comprises a boss; and   wherein the base of the tang defines:
 a pivot bore configured to receive the buckle bar; 
 a third proximal bore configured to receive the boss of the tongue in the lengthened wrist strap configuration; 
 a third distal bore:
 longitudinally offset from the third proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and 
 configured to receive the boss of the tongue in the shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
 
 a third slot extending between the third proximal bore and the third distal bore. 
   
     
     
         10 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the tang defines:
 a third proximal bore configured to receive the buckle bar in the lengthened wrist strap configuration;   a third distal bore:
 longitudinally offset from the third proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and 
 configured to receive the buckle bar in the shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
   a third slot extending between the third proximal bore and the third distal bore.   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a band element comprising:
 a center section; 
 a first lobe extending from a first side of the center section and defining:
 a first aperture comprising:
 a first proximal bore configured to receive a first end of a pin in a lengthened wrist strap configuration, the pin coupling the band element to a distal end of a first strap segment of a wrist strap; 
 a first distal bore:  longitudinally offset from the first proximal bore; and  configured to receive the first end of the pin in a shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
 a first slot extending between the first proximal bore and the first distal bore; and 
 
 a first flexure slit extending from a first face of the first lobe and intersecting the first aperture; and 
 
 a second lobe extending from a second side of the center section, opposite and parallel to the first lobe, and defining:
 a second aperture comprising:
 a second proximal bore configured to receive a second end of the pin in the lengthened wrist strap configuration; 
 a second distal bore:  longitudinally offset from the second proximal bore; and  configured to receive the second end of the pin in the shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
 a second slot extending between the second proximal bore and the second distal bore; and 
 
 a second flexure slit extending from a second face of the second lobe and intersecting the second aperture. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 :
 further comprising a tang comprising:
 a base configured to pivot about the pin at the distal end of the first strap segment of the wrist strap; and 
 a tongue extending from the base and configured to insert into holes arranged at a pitch distance along a second strap segment of the wrist strap; 
   wherein the center section of the band element defines a tang seat configured to receive the tongue; and   wherein the first distal bore is longitudinally offset from the first proximal bore by less than the pitch distance.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the band element is configured to locate between the distal end of the first strap segment and a proximal end of a buckle. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the band element defines an extensive link configured to install a clasp and a link of a metallic watch bracelet. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the first distal bore is longitudinally offset from the first proximal bore by an offset distance between 2.5 millimeters and 3.5 millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 11 :
 wherein the first flexure slit extends from an interior surface of the first lobe to the first proximal bore; and   wherein the first lobe defines a first spring extending from the first proximal bore to the first distal bore and terminating at the first flexure slit.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first spring is defined by the first lobe of the band element and is configured to deflect to accommodate the first end of the pin sliding from the first proximal bore toward the first distal bore during transition of the band element from the lengthened wrist strap configuration to the shortened wrist strap configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the first lobe of the band element further comprises:
 a first distal slit extending from the first distal bore opposite the first proximal bore; and   wherein the first lobe defines the first spring further extending along the first distal slit, adjacent the interior surface of the first lobe, to the first distal bore.   
     
     
         19 . A wrist strap buckle comprising:
 a tang comprising:
 a base configured to pivot about a buckle bar passing through a distal end of a first strap segment of a wrist strap; and 
 a tongue extending from the base and configured to insert into holes, arranged at a pitch distance, along a second strap segment of the wrist strap; and 
   a buckle frame comprising:
 a center section defining a tang seat configured to receive the tongue; and 
 a lobe extending from a side of the center section and defining:
 an aperture comprising:
 a proximal bore configured to receive an end of the buckle bar in a lengthened wrist strap configuration; 
 a distal bore:  longitudinally offset from the proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and  configured to receive the end of the buckle bar in a shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
 a slot extending between the proximal bore and the distal bore; and 
 
 a slit extending from a face of the lobe and intersecting the aperture. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The wrist strap buckle of  claim 19 , wherein the buckle frame further comprises:
 a second lobe extending from a second side of the center section, opposite and parallel to the lobe, and defining:
 a second aperture comprising:
 a second proximal bore configured to receive a second end of the buckle bar in the lengthened wrist strap configuration; 
 a second distal bore:
 longitudinally offset from the second proximal bore by less than the pitch distance; and 
 configured to receive the second end of the buckle bar in the shortened wrist strap configuration; and 
 
 a second slot extending between the second proximal bore and the second distal bore; and 
 
 a second slit extending from the face of the second lobe and intersecting the second aperture.