Spring Bar with Radial Pin

Abstract

A spring bar assembly having a tubular member and a first end member at a first end of the tubular member. A first axial pin extends from the first end of the tubular member. A second end member is provided at a second end of the tubular member. A second axial pin extends from the end of the second end member. A biasing member positioned within the tubular member biases the axial pins towards each other, and a retractor is provided and connected to either the tubular member or the second end member (but not through the tubular member) for facilitating the urging of the axial pins toward each other, The second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between first and second lugs of a wristworn device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spring bar assembly comprising:
 a tubular member having a first end and a second end;   a first end member at the first end of the tubular member, the first end member comprising a first axial pin extending from the first end of the tubular member;   a second end member at the second end of the tubular member, the second end member comprising a first end and a second end, with a second axial pin extending from the first end of the second end member;   a biasing member positioned within the tubular member for biasing the first axial pin towards the second axial pin; and   a retractor connected to the tubular member for facilitating the urging of the first axial pin toward the second axial pin;   wherein the second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between first and second lugs of a wristworn device.   
     
     
         2 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first end member is integrally formed with the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         3 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first end member is not integrally formed with the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         4 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first end member is a press-fit insert at the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         5 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first end member is glued, soldered or welded at the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         6 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the first end member is glued, soldered or welded at the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         7 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         8 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first end member is formed from a deep-drawing process. 
     
     
         9 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the edges of second end of the tubular member are bent inwardly to form an annular flange; and   the second end member includes an annular shoulder that is engageable with the annular flange;   whereby the second end member is prevented from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is removed from between lugs of a wristworn device.   
     
     
         10 . A spring bar assembly comprising:
 a tubular member having a first end and a second end;   a first end member at the first end of the tubular member, the first end member comprising a first axial pin extending from the first end of the tubular member;   a second end member at the second end of the tubular member, the second end member comprising a first end and a second end, with a second axial pin extending from the first end of the second end member;   a biasing member positioned within the tubular member for biasing the second axial pin toward the first axial pin; and   a retractor connected to the second end member for facilitating the urging of the second axial pin toward the first axial pin; wherein the retractor does not extend through the tubular member;   wherein the second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between first and second lugs of a wristworn device.   
     
     
         11 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first end member is integrally formed with the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         12 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first end member is not integrally formed with the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         13 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first end member is a press-fit insert at the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         14 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the first end member is glued, soldered or welded at the first end of the tubular member. 
     
     
         15 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the first end member is formed from a deep-drawing process. 
     
     
         16 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein:
 the edges of second end of the tubular member are bent inwardly to form an annular flange; and   the second end member includes an annular shoulder that is engageable with the annular flange;   
       whereby the second end member is prevented from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is removed from between lugs of a wristworn device. 
     
     
         17 . A wristworn device comprising:
 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;   a strap for maintaining the wristworn device about a wrist, the strap including a first strap end itself having a slot; and   a spring bar assembly for coupling the first strap end to the wristworn device, wherein the spring bar assembly is positioned in the slot at the first strap end, and wherein the spring bar assembly comprises:   a tubular member having a first end and a second end;   a first end member at the first end of the tubular member, the first end member comprising a first axial pin extending from the first end of the tubular member and positionable in the recess in the inner face of the first lug;   a second end member at the second end of the tubular member, the second end member comprising a first end and a second end, with a second axial pin extending from the first end of the second end member and positionable in the recess in the inner face of the second lug;   a biasing member positioned within the tubular member for biasing the first axial pin toward the second axial pin; and   a retractor connected to the tubular member for facilitating the urging of the first axial pin towards the second axial pin;   wherein the second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between the first and second lugs of the wristworn device.   
     
     
         18 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first end of the strap includes a cut-out section through which the retractor extends so as to be accessible by fingers of a user's hand. 
     
     
         19 . A wristworn device comprising:
 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;   a strap for maintaining the wristworn device about a wrist, the strap having a first strap end itself having a slot;   a spring bar assembly for coupling the first strap end to the wristworn device, wherein the spring bar assembly is positioned in the slot at the first strap end, and wherein the spring bar assembly comprises:   a tubular member having a first end and a second end;   a first end member at the first end of the tubular member, the first end member comprising a first axial pin extending from the first end of the tubular member and positionable in the recess in the inner face of the first lug;   a second end member at the second end of the tubular member, the second end member comprising a first end and a second end, with a second axial pin extending from the first end of the second end member and positionable in the recess in the inner face of the second lug;   a biasing member positioned within the tubular member for biasing the second axial pin towards the first axial pin; and   a retractor connected to the second end member for facilitating the urging of the second axial pin towards the first axial pin; wherein the retractor does not extend through the tubular member;   wherein the second end of the tubular member and the second end member are cooperatively shaped to prevent the second end member from uncoupling from the tubular member when the spring bar assembly is decoupled from between the first and second lugs of the wristworn device.   
     
     
         20 . The spring bar assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the first end of the strap includes a cut-out section through which the retractor extends so as to be accessible by fingers of a user's hand.