GB2338170A

GB2338170A - Wrist watch casing with releasable strap mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2338170A
Application number: GB9812784A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eddie Wai-Ho Leung
Original assignee: DAILYWIN WATCH PRODUCTS Manufacturing LT
Current assignee: DAILYWIN WATCH PRODUCTS Manufacturing LT
Priority date: 1998-06-12
Filing date: 1998-06-12
Publication date: 1999-12-15
Also published as: GB9812784D0

Abstract

A wrist watch casing 110 has at each end a pair of opposed lugs 130,140 with recesses 136,146 receiving hinge pins 200 for the watch strap. The lugs 140 are pivotable (Fig 4) to allow release of the pin, which snap-fits in the recess 146 via a nib 148. The rear face 112 of the casing closes the recess in the non-release position.

Description

2338170 WRIST WATCH The present invention relates to a wrist watch.

In a conventional wrist watch, the ends of the watch straps (or band or bracelet) are connected to the watch case by means of hinge pins. The hinge pins are releasable to permit replacement of the straps. However, release of the hinge pins is found to be not easy and would sometimes require the assistance of a professional watch maker.

The subject invention seeks to provide a wrist watch incorporating hinge pins that can easily be released.

According to the invention, there is provided a wrist watch comprising a watch case having opposite ends and a fastening member, for example a strap or bracelet, having two ends connected to the corresponding ends of the watch case by means of respective hinge pins extending substantially perpendicular to the fastening member, each end of said watch case having opposed parts for holding opposite ends of a corresponding hinge pin, one of said parts being formed with a recess and movable between a first position engaging with the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin by means of the recess and a second position disengaging from said hinge pin end to permit disconnection of the fastening member.

Preferably, the movable part is pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to either hinge pin.

In a preferred embodiment, the recess of the movable part has a hook-like inner end for hooking the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin against pulling of the fastening member from the watch case.

more preferably, the hook-like inner end of the recess of the j 1 movable part is defined by a nib formed on one side of the recess.

In a preferred embodiment, the recess of the movable part has a width marginally smaller than the size of the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin such that the movable part will snap with the hinge pin end when moving into the first position.

More preferably, the width of the recess of the movable part is restricted by a nib formed on one side of the recess.

It is preferred that the recess of the movable part is closed by the watch case when the movable part is in the first position.

The other part may be fixed and is preferably connected with the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin by soldering.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of an embodiment of a wrist watch in accordance with the invention, incorporating two hinge pins; Figure 2 corresponds to figure 1, showing the manner in which the hinge pins are fitted; Figure 3 is a fragmentary side view of the wrist watch of Figure 1 taken in the direction of arrow A, showing how one hinge pin is locked; and Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3, showing how the hinge pin is unlocked.

3 - Referring to the drawings, there is shown a wrist watch 100 embodying the invention, which wrist watch 100 has a watch case 110 and a wristfastening member such as a pair of watch straps 120 (or a watch band or bracelet) connected to opposite ends of the watch case 110 by means of respective hinge pins 200 which extend perpendicular to the straps 120.

A pair of opposed lugs 130 and 140 are formed at each end of the watch case 110 on the bottom side for holding opposite ends 202 and 204 of the respective hinge pin 200. Each strap has an end 122 formed with a transversely extending hole 124, through which the respective hinge pin 200 engages to connect the strap 120 to the watch case 110. A flat bottom recess 112 is formed at each end of the watch case 110 to accommodate the associated hinge pin 200 and strap end 122 between the lugs 130 and 140, as well as the lug 140 itself.

The construction relating to each end of the watch case 110 will now be described. The first lug 130 is integrally formed with the watch case 110, whereas the second lug 140 is a separate part. The second lug 140 has a rear end 142 which is neatly fitted within a matching recess 114 such that the fitted second lug 140 will be a mirror image of the first lug 130. The second lug 140 has a hole 144 at its end 142, which is aligned with two holes 116 on opposite sides of the recess 114. A screw 118 engaging through the holes 116 and 144 connects the lug 140 for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the hinge pin 120. The lug 140 is pivotable between a normal position lying flat against the watch case 110 within the recess 112 (Figure 3) and a second position extending downwards from the watch case 110 (Figure 4).

The inner side of the first lug 130 is formed with a recess in the form of a hole 136, into which one end 202 of the hinge pin 200 is fixed for example by soldering. The inner side of the second lug 140 is formed with a recess 146 which opens - 4 also on the side of the lug 140 capable of lying against the watch case 110. The outer side of the recess 146, nearer to the front end of the lug 140, has a nib 148 to define a part circular hook-like inner end 150 of the recess 146.

In the normal position of the lug 140, the recess 146 engages, through a hooking action by its inner end 150, and thus locks the free end 204 of the hinge pin 200 (Figures 1 and 3), thereby keeping the end 122 of the associated watch strap 120 in connection with the watch case 110. The recess 146 will be closed by the adjacent part(s) of the watch case 110.

The recess 146 is configured to hook the hinge pin end 204 by the inner end 150 against pulling of the strap 120 from the watch case 110. The midwidth of the recess 146 is restricted by the nib 148 to be marginally smaller than the diameter of the hinge pin end 204, such that the lug 140 will snap with the hinge pin end 204 when pivoting into the normal position.

When the lug 140 is pivoted to the second position, the recess 146 disengages from and thus unlocks the free end 204 of the hinge pin 200 (Figure 4), such that the watch strap 120 may be disconnected for replacement.

i 1 - 5

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A wrist watch comprising a watch case having opposite ends and a fastening member having two ends connected to the corresponding ends of the watch case by means of respective hinge pins extending substantially perpendicular to the fastening member, each end of said watch case having opposed parts for holding opposite ends of a corresponding hinge pin, one of said parts being formed with a recess and movable between a first position engaging with the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin by means of the recess and a second position disengaging from said hinge pin end to permit disconnection of the fastening member.

2. A wrist watch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable part is pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to either hinge pin.

3. A wrist watch as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the recess of the movable part has a hook-like inner end for hooking the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin against pulling of the fastening member from the watch case.

4. A wrist watch as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hooklike inner end of the recess of the movable part is defined by a nib formed on one side of the recess.

5. A wrist watch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the recess of the movable part has a width marginally smaller that the size of the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin such that the movable part will snap with the hinge pin end when moving into the first position.

6. A wrist watch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the width of the recess of the movable part is restricted by a nib formed on one side of the recess.

6 -

7. A wrist watch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reces.s of the movable part is closed by the watch case when the movable part is in the first position.

8. A wrist watch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the other part of the watch case end, holding the end of the pin opposite that held by the movable part, is fixed.

9. A wrist watch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said other part is connected with the adjacent end of the respective hinge pin by soldering.

10. A wrist watch substantially as herein described with re-.:erence to the accompanying drawings.