US 11,399,600 B2Granted

Coupling assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a strap

AssigneeTimex Group USA, Inc.

InventorThomas Dornhege

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Abstract

A sleeve for use in an assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap. The sleeve has a first end dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug of a wristworn device, an inner cavity dimensioned to receive therein the first end of a conventional spring bar, and a retractor coupled to the sleeve for urging the first end of the spring bar towards the second end of the spring bar. The second end of the spring bar is coupled to the second lug, the spring bar is coupled to the strap, the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the inner cavity of the sleeve and the first end of the sleeve is coupled to the first lug. A removable retractor for use with a spring bar, which allows for the use of a plurality of spring bars and therefore, lends itself to widespread use and retrofitting of an assembly that couples a strap to a wristworn device, is also provided.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An assembly for coupling a wristworn device to a first end of a strap, wherein the wristworn device comprises a first lug and a second lug spaced from the first lug, wherein the first lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof and the second lug includes a recess in an inner face thereof, and wherein the assembly is coupleable to the first end of the strap, wherein the assembly comprises:

a spring bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and the second end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased away from the second end of the spring bar;
and
a retractor, the retractor being mountable on and removable from the spring bar while the first end of the spring bar remains coupled to the second end of the spring bar;
and
wherein the retractor is ring-shaped;
whereby when the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug and the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, moving the retractor moves the first end of the spring bar toward the second end of the spring bar causing the removal of the first end of the spring bar out of the recess of the inner face of the first lug.

3 more elements

a spring bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and the second end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased away from the second end of the spring bar;
and
a retractor, the retractor being mountable on and removable from the spring bar while the first end of the spring bar remains coupled to the second end of the spring bar;
wherein the retractor is half ring-shaped;
and
whereby when the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug and the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, moving the retractor moves the first end of the spring bar toward the second end of the spring bar causing the removal of the first end of the spring bar out of the recess of the inner face of the first lug.

3 more elements

a spring bar comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, and the second end is dimensioned to be received in the recess in the inner face of the second lug, and a biasing member for permitting the first end of the spring bar to be biased away from the second end of the spring bar;
and
a retractor, the retractor being mountable on and removable from the spring bar while the first end of the spring bar remains coupled to the second end of the spring bar;
wherein at least the first end of the spring bar comprises at least a first and second shoulder, wherein the retractor is in the shape of a full ring or half ring, and wherein the retractor is removably positioned between the first and second shoulder;
and
whereby when the second end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the second lug and the first end of the spring bar is positioned in the recess in the inner face of the first lug, moving the retractor moves the first end of the spring bar toward the second end of the spring bar causing the removal of the first end of the spring bar out of the recess of the inner face of the first lug.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/157,419Filed 25 Jan 2021 · continuation
Priority: 15 Oct 2012
Published: US 2021/0137225 A113 May 2021
Granted: 2 Aug 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification17 codes

A44C 5/14
Bracelets; Wrist-watch straps; Fastenings for bracelets or wrist-watch straps: characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
B23P 15/00
Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other
E05D 5/12
Pins, sockets or sleeves; Removable pins: securing pins in sockets, movably or not
E05D 7/1011
By axially moving free pins, balls or sockets: biased by free springs

Family

Application13/651,651Parent of this division · filed 15 Oct 2012
Application14/743,262Parent of this division · filed 18 Jun 2015
US 9,092,012 B2Parent of this division · filed 28 Jul 2015
Application15/678,492Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Aug 2017
US 9,743,724 B2Parent of this division · filed 29 Aug 2017
Application16/408,684Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2019
US 10,285,474 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 14 May 2019
US 2021/0137225 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 May 2021
US 10,912,352 B2Parent of this continuation
Application15/678,492Parent of this division
US 2014/0101893 A1Published application
US 2015/0282573 A1Published application
US 2017/0340072 A1Published application
US 2019/0313748 A1Published application
US 11,399,600 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.