Manufacture of a bracelet strand
AssigneeRolex SA
InventorPhilippe Di Piazza
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The process for manufacturing a bracelet strand includes positioning an insert (15) within a cavity (21) of a manufacturing mould (20); positioning at least one fastening element (12) on the insert (15) using at least one guide element (35); filling the manufacturing mould (20) with a material so as to overmould, i.e. at least partially envelop and set, the insert (15) and the at least one fastening element (12) in the material; removing the bracelet strand (10) from the manufacturing mould (20), this bracelet strand (10) being at least partly formed by the material, the insert (15), and the at least one fastening element (12).
Claims23
A bracelet strand comprising a material, wherein the bracelet strand comprises:
- an insert extending along a main longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand, the insert having an upper surface and a lower surface, and
- at least one fastening element, resting on the insert or being set in the insert,
- the insert and the at least one fastening element being overmoulded by the material including by being at least partially enveloped and set by the material,
- wherein the at least one fastening element extends over an entire thickness at least from the upper surface of the insert to an upper surface of the bracelet strand,
- and wherein
- the at least one fastening element has a shape of a ring of cylindrical or frustoconical shape;
- and/or
- the at least one fastening element has an annular cross-sectional shape;
- and/or
- the at least one fastening element has a shape of a seating ring.
A bracelet strand comprising a material, wherein the bracelet strand comprises:
- an insert extending along a main longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand, the insert having an upper surface and a lower surface, and
- at least one fastening element, resting on the insert or being set in the insert,
- the insert and the at least one fastening element being overmoulded by the material including by being at least partially enveloped and set by the material,
- wherein the at least one fastening element extends over an entire thickness at least from the upper surface of the insert to an upper surface of the bracelet strand,
- and wherein the insert has a shape of a blade, and wherein the insert comprises two setting devices respectively at each of two ends thereof, in order to connect the bracelet strand (i) to a watch case and on (ii) to another bracelet strand.
A timepiece comprising a bracelet strand comprising a material, wherein the bracelet strand comprises:
- an insert extending along a main longitudinal direction of the bracelet strand, the insert having an upper surface and a lower surface, and
- at least one fastening element, resting on the insert or being set in the insert,
- the insert and the at least one fastening element being overmoulded by the material including by being at least partially enveloped and set by the material,
- wherein the at least one fastening element extends over an entire thickness at least from the upper surface of the insert to an upper surface of the bracelet strand.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.