# US 8,739,506 B2 · Watch bracelet with ceramic links > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,506 B2 - Document ID: US8739506B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/364,959 - Filed: 2012-02-02 - Published: 2012-08-09 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-03 - Assignees: Montres Rado S.A.; Comadur SA - Applicants: Sébastien Bolzt; Sylvain Boucard; Christian Verdon; Alain Geiser - Inventors: Sébastien Bolzt; Sylvain Boucard; Christian Verdon; Alain Geiser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739506B2 ## CPC - A44C 5/107: {with links made of more than two elements including connecting elements} - A44C: PERSONAL ADORNMENTS, e.g. JEWELLERY; COINS ## Abstract Housing insert for a spacer of a ceramic link for a bracelet, including a housing for receiving a spacer having one end. It includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with this housing and an internal machined portion including a substantially cylindrical bearing area, arranged to closely receive this end and having a smaller diameter than that of this end. An equipped link includes such a link and such an insert of this type fixed in this housing. A bracelet including includes a plurality of equipped lateral links into which removably mounted spacers are driven. This bracelet includes intermediate links assembled to pivot freely relative to these spacers or relative to pins pivotably mounted in these equipped links. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A housing insert for a spacer piece of a ceramic link for a bracelet or piece of jewellery or a timepiece, said link being of the type comprising at least a first housing for receiving a spacer piece or a pin having at least one end, wherein said insert includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with said first housing, and an internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area arranged for closely receiving a said end of a said spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end, where said substantially cylindrical bearing is preceded by an inlet profile which is a cone, and followed by a housing, to ensure that the median part of said spacer is held on this substantially cylindrical bearing area. ### Claim 2 An equipped link including at least one ceramic link for a bracelet or a piece of jewellery or a timepiece, said link including at least a first housing for receiving a spacer piece or a pin having at least one end, wherein said equipped link includes, fixed in said at least one first housing, at least a housing insert, wherein said housing insert includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with said first housing, and an internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area arranged for closely receiving said end of a said spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end, where said substantially cylindrical bearing is preceded by an inlet profile which is a cone, and followed by a housing, to ensure that the median part of said spacer is held on said substantially cylindrical bearing area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The equipped link according to claim 2, wherein said external machined portion includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The equipped link according to claim 2, wherein said at least one insert is irreversibly fixed in said at least one first housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The equipped link according to claim 2, wherein at least one insert is fixed in said at least one first housing, and, in addition to said first housing occupied by said insert, said equipped link includes at least a second housing, arranged for receiving with play another spacer piece or a pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The equipped link according to claim 2, wherein said first housing includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) An assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 2, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of the said ends thereof, into a said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) A bracelet including a plurality of links, including at least one equipped link according to claim 2, wherein said equipped link is a lateral link into which a removably mounted spacer piece is driven and gripped. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2, 8) The bracelet according to claim 8, including at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 2, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of the said ends thereof, into said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2, 8) The bracelet according to claim 8, wherein it includes at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 2, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link, and wherein a said intermediate link includes a first guide, arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of said spacer piece, and a second guide arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of one said pin, and wherein it includes a plurality of said lateral links mounted on both sides of said median plane and surrounding in pairs one said intermediate link, and wherein it includes an alternately assembled series of said spacer pieces and said pins. ### Claim 11 An equipped link including a ceramic link, for a bracelet or a piece of jewellery or a timepiece, said link including at least a first housing for receiving a spacer piece or a pin having at least one end, wherein said equipped link includes at least one insert, which is integrated in said link during the manufacture of said link, and wherein said equipped link includes at least one internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area, arranged to closely receive an end of a spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end. ### Claim 12 An equipped link including a ceramic link, for a bracelet or a piece of jewellery or a timepiece, said link including at least a first housing for receiving a spacer piece or a pin having at least one end, wherein said equipped link includes at least one housing insert, wherein said housing insert includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with said first housing, and an internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area arranged for closely receiving said end of said spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end, wherein said substantially cylindrical bearing is preceded by an inlet profile which is a cone, and followed by a housing, to ensure that the median part of said spacer is held on this substantially cylindrical bearing area, where said housing insert is integrated in said link during the manufacture of said link, and wherein said equipped link includes at least one internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area, arranged to closely receive an end of a spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said insert includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with said first housing and an internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area, arranged to closely receive said end of said spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said external machined portion includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said at least one insert is irreversibly fixed in said at least one first housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein at least one insert is fixed in said at least one first housing, and, in addition to said first housing occupied by said insert, said equipped link includes at least a second housing, arranged for receiving with play another spacer piece or a pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said first housing includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) An assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 12, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of the said ends thereof, into a said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7, 18) The assembled link according to claim 7 or 18, wherein in each of said two equipped links at least one insert is irreversibly fixed in said at least one first housing, and, in addition to said first housing occupied by said insert, said equipped link includes at least a second housing, arranged for receiving with play another spacer piece or a pin, and wherein two of said second housings of said two equipped links are aligned, and wherein said two second housings of said two equipped links surround with play a pin which is pivotably mounted between said links. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A bracelet including a plurality of links, including at least one equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said equipped link is a lateral link into which a removably mounted spacer piece is driven and gripped. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12, 20) The bracelet according to claim 20, including at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 12, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of the said ends thereof, into said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link. ### Claim 22 (depends on 2, 20) The bracelet according to claim 20, wherein it includes at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 2, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link, and wherein a said intermediate link includes a first guide, arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of said spacer piece, and a second guide arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of one said pin, and wherein it includes a plurality of said lateral links mounted on both sides of said median plane and surrounding in pairs one said intermediate link, and wherein it includes an alternately assembled series of said spacer pieces and said pins. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said insert includes an external machined portion arranged to cooperate with said first housing and an internal machined portion including at least one substantially cylindrical bearing area, arranged to closely receive said end of said spacer piece and having a smaller diameter than that of said end. ### Claim 24 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said external machined portion includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 25 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said at least one insert is irreversibly fixed in said at least one first housing. ### Claim 26 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein at least one insert is fixed in said at least one first housing, and, in addition to said first housing occupied by said insert, said equipped link includes at least a second housing, arranged for receiving with play another spacer piece or a pin. ### Claim 27 (depends on 12) The equipped link according to claim 12, wherein said first housing includes a threaded profile or a non-cylindrical profile. ### Claim 28 (depends on 12) The assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 12, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of said ends thereof, into said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece. ### Claim 29 (depends on 13) The bracelet including a plurality of links, including at least one equipped link according to claim 13, wherein said equipped link is a lateral link into which a removably mounted spacer piece is driven and gripped. ### Claim 30 (depends on 12, 29) The bracelet according to claim 29, including at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 12, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, wherein said spacer piece is driven, on both sides of said median plane, at each of the said ends thereof, into said insert comprised in each of said two equipped links joined by said spacer piece, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link. ### Claim 31 (depends on 2, 29) The bracelet according to claim 29, wherein it includes at least one assembled link including, on both sides of a median plane, at least two equipped links according to claim 2, and including at least one spacer piece having two ends arranged to cooperate, at said two ends, with two of said equipped links, and wherein it includes at least one intermediate link assembled to pivot freely relative to a spacer piece driven and gripped into said equipped link or said assembled link or relative to a pin pivotably mounted with play in said equipped link or in said assembled link, and wherein a said intermediate link includes a first guide, arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of said spacer piece, and a second guide arranged to directly or indirectly guide, with play, the pivoting of one said pin, and wherein it includes a plurality of said lateral links mounted on both sides of said median plane and surrounding in pairs one said intermediate link, and wherein it includes an alternately assembled series of said spacer pieces and said pins.