US20050082180A1

US20050082180A1 - Bangle watch box

Info

Publication number: US20050082180A1
Application number: US10/686,867
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Smouha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-15
Filing date: 2003-10-15
Publication date: 2005-04-21

Abstract

A watch box includes a generally cylindrical housing which has a flange formed on a first end and a transparent hemispherical cover threaded onto a second end. The housing enclosed a wristwatch support collar which during use supports a wristwatch which is visible through the hemispherical cover. A locking member is slideably mounted relative to the housing and projects through the wristwatch support collar thereby locking the wristwatch support collar and the housing. The hemispherical cover includes a flange. A plurality of bangles are slideably mounted on the housing between the flange on the cover. The bangles cover the locking member thereby preventing access to the locking member and unauthorized removal of the wristwatch. A thin sleeve covers the flange on the cover and the flange on the housing, thereby preventing the unauthorized opening of the cover. After purchase, an owner can remove the sleeve, then remove the cover, and the remove the bangles which can be used as a decorative bangle bracelet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of watch boxes for the display and protection of wrist watches and more particularly, to a bangle watch box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The prior art related to watch boxes includes various examples of display boxes which include a clear window for display of a wristwatch to prospective buyers and a support collar for protection of the wristwatch during shipment and storage. The size of the watch box is generally such that the size provides a deterrent to theft since the size of the watch box generally makes it difficult to surreptitiously slip the watch box into a pocket or purse.
One of the disadvantages of the prior art watch boxes is related to the relatively large size of the conventional watch boxes. The conventional watch boxes are purposely made larger than the minimum size required for protection during shipment in order to provide an attractive display and to reduce pilferage. The customer, however, after purchasing the wristwatch, remains with a watch box which is larger than required and often disposes of the watch box after purchase. The purchaser in this case may tend to consider conventional watch boxes as unneeded and relatively costly packaging which does not provide consumer value.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bangle watch box which incorporates a bangle bracelet.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bangle watch box which provides storage for bangle bracelet members.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an attractive display for a wristwatch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bangle watch box which provides attractive instructional material.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bangle watch box which incorporates a lock to prevent unauthorized removal of the wristwatch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a bangle watch box which provides a combination bangle bracelet and storage receptacle for a wristwatch.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a bangle wristwatch which is composed of a relatively small number of component parts which can be manufactured economically in volume resulting in a relatively low unit cost.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly hereinafter.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bangle watch box which includes a generally cylindrical housing which has a flange formed on a first end and a transparent hemispherical cover mounted on a second end. The housing encloses a wristwatch support collar which is positioned between guide portions formed in the housing. During use, the wristwatch support collar supports a wristwatch which is visible through the transparent cover. A locking member is slideably mounted on the housing and an intermediate portion of the locking member projects through the wristwatch support collar thereby locking the wristwatch support collar and the housing and an end of the locking member engages the housing thereby locking the locking member and the housing.
The hemispherical cover includes a flange. A plurality of bangles are slideably mounted on the housing between the flange on the housing and the flange on the cover. The bangles cover the locking member thereby preventing access to the locking member and unauthorized removal of the wristwatch. A thin sleeve covers the flange on the cover and the flange on the housing thereby preventing the unauthorized opening of the cover. After purchase, an owner can remove the sleeve, then remove the cover and then remove the bangles, which can be used as a decorative bangle bracelet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a bangle watch box made according to the present invention with a wristwatch shown mounted in the bangle watch box;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bangle watch box of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the bangle watch box of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bangle watch box of FIG. 1 with the bangles shown removed;
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the bangle watch box of FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bangle watch box taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the bottom portion of the housing of the bangle bracelet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the top portion of the housing of the bangle bracelet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 10 is a developed plan view of the locking sleeve member of the bangle bracelet of FIG. 1;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of a typical bangle; and
FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view showing engagement of the locking tab on the locking sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings in which like reference numbers designated like or corresponding parts throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a bangle watch box 10 made in accordance with the present invention.
As is shown in FIGS. 1-3, the bangle watch box 10 includes a plurality of bangles 12 which are slideably mounted on a housing 14 which is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The housing 14 includes a generally cylindrical hollow body 16 and an integrally formed flange 18 disposed on the lower end 20 of the body 16. The flange 18 is generally square in configuration with rounded corners 21, 22, 24, 26. An intermediate portion 28 of the body 16 includes a pair of spaced apart guide portions 30, 32 which define a space 34 therebetween. The upper end 36 of the body 16 includes a threaded portion 38 which is proportioned to engage the threaded portion 40 of the cover 42. A bottom panel 194 provides additional strength for the body 16.
The cover is generally hemispherical in configuration and includes a circular flange 44 which in combination with the square flange 18 forms a locking arrangement which retains the plurality of bangles 12 on the body 16 of the housing 14 as is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The cover 42 is preferably made of a transparent plastic material.
The plurality of bangles 12 which form a key feature of the present invention are identical in shape; however, they are preferably different in color. The bangles 12 are each generally square in configuration with rounded corners 46, 48, 50, 52 and rounded edges 54, 56, 58, 60. Each of the bangles 12 includes a central aperture 62 which allows each of the bangles 12 to fit loosely on the body 16 of the housing 14 as is shown in FIGS. 1-3. The bangles 12 fit between and are retained on the housing 14 by the flange 44 on the cover 42 and the flange 18 on the housing 14.
The plurality of bangles 12 are identified for reference by the numerals 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192. While a quantity of ten (10) bangles 12 have been shown, the number of bangles 12 may be larger or smaller as desired to suit larger and smaller versions of the bangle watch box 12 and for aesthetic considerations. A typical individual bangle 190 is shown in FIG. 11.
The flange 18 on the housing 14 is generally of the same shape and size as the bangles 12.
The bottom surface 64 of the flange 18 includes four generally circular bosses 66, 68, 70, 72. The bosses 66, 68, 70, 72 cooperate with a locking sleeve 74 in a manner which will be presently described.
The bangle watch box 10 includes a wristwatch support collar 76 which is best shown in FIG. 5. The wristwatch support collar 76 is a generally flat rectangular member which is formed in a generally circular configuration thereby forming a collar 76 having an opening 78. The opening gives the collar 76 a degree of flexibility which enables the collar 76 to accommodate a range of wristwatch band sizes. The edges 80, 82 of the collar 76 include a plurality of projecting tabs 84 which aid in retaining a wristwatch 86 which has been placed on the collar 76. FIG. 1 shows the bangle watch box 10 with the wristwatch 86 shown in broken lines mounted on the collar 76. The width of the collar 76 is proportioned to slide between the guide portions 30, 32.
As is best shown in FIG. 5, the body 16 includes a slot 88 which accepts a locking member 90 which, when installed, passes through the opening 92 formed by the wristwatch support collar 76. The body 16 includes a step portion 93 shown in FIG. 6 which defines the slot 88. The locking member 90 is a generally flat member which includes a body portion 94 and a first end portion 96. The surface 99 of the first end portion 96 is curved to conform with the curvature of the body 16. The first end portion 96 also includes a pair of projecting tabs 98, 100, which engage the step portion 92 of the body 16 as shown in FIG. 6.
The second end 102 of the locking member 90 includes a pair of projecting prongs 104. Each of the prongs 104 includes a projecting tab 106, 108 which engages and locks onto a vertical detent wall portion 110 which is formed in the body 16 as is best shown in FIG. 6.
When in the locked position shown in FIG. 6, the locking member 90 cannot be withdrawn from the body 16 and thus serves to lock the wristwatch support collar 76 in place. When it is desired to remove the locking member 90, the prongs 104 must be grasped by a user and squeezed in the directions shown by the arrows 112, 114 in FIG. 6, thus freeing the projecting tabs 106, 108 from the detent wall portion 110 and then pulling the locking member 90 out of the body 16 in the direction shown by the arrow 116 in FIG. 6.
However, when the plurality of bangles 12 are in place on the body 16, as is shown in FIGS. 1-3, the locking member 90 is covered by the bangles 12 and cannot be grasped or even easily seen. The locking member 90 thus locks the wristwatch support collar 76 in place until such time as the bangles 12 are removed from the housing 14.
In addition to the locking arrangements previously described, the bangles 12 are locked onto the housing 14 by the locking sleeve 74 which is shown in a developed plan view in FIG. 10. The sleeve 74 includes: a first panel 120 which includes four holes 122, 124, 126, 128, which accept the four bosses 66, 68, 70, 72 on the bottom surface 64 of the flange 18 and a central aperture 130; a second panel 132 which has an aperture 134 which accepts the opposite corner portions 136, 138, 140, 142 of selected bangles 190, 174, 180, 182 of the plurality of bangles 12 as shown in FIG. 3. A third panel 146 has an aperture 148 which accepts the hemispherical cover 42. A fourth panel 150 which has an aperture 151 and is generally similar to the second panel 132 and a fifth panel 152 which includes a slotted portion 154 which forms an engaging tab 156 which interlocks with the aperture 130 in the first panel 120 as is shown in FIG. 12.
The locking sleeve 74 is preferably made of a relatively thin sheet of plastic material. The panels 120, 132, 146, 150, 152 are connected as shown in FIG. 10, by hinge portions 158, 160, 162, 164, which are shown in broken lines. The hinge portions 158, 160, 162, 164 are preferably formed as relatively thinner portions of the plastic material and which are commonly known as a “living hinge.”
The cover 42 includes a pair of relatively small apertures 166, 168. A beaded chain 170 passes through the apertures 166, 168 and is connected to a tag 172 which includes indicia explaining the operation of the bangle watch box 10.
The arrangement of the bangles 12 shown in FIG. 1 allows light to enter the bangles 12. The bangles 12, which are preferably made of colored transparent or translucent plastic, thus provide an attractive display.
The foregoing specific embodiment of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviations and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention without departing from the main theme thereof.

Claims

1. A bangle watch box comprising:

a housing with said housing having a wall portion and an outer surface;

a cover mounted on said housing;

a wristwatch support collar mounted in said housing;

first locking means for reversibly locking said wristwatch support collar and said housing;

a plurality of bangles, with said bangles each having an aperture and with said housing disposed projecting through said apertures;

second locking means for locking said bangles and said housing; and

third locking means for locking said cover, said bangles and said housing.

2. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first locking means comprises a locking member with said locking member slideably mounted in said housing.

3. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking member projects through said wristwatch support collar.

4. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 2 wherein said locking member comprises at least one locking prong.

5. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 4 wherein said locking prong is flexible.

6. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 4 wherein said locking prong engages said housing.

7. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of bangles comprises a generally square member having a centrally disposed aperture, and having four corner portions and four edge portions.

8. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of bangles comprises a generally planar member having an aperture, a plurality of edge portions and a plurality of corner portions.

9. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of bangles comprises rounded corner portions.

10. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said plurality of bangles comprises rounded edge portions.

11. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second locking means comprises a flange portion disposed on said cover.

12. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second locking means comprises a flange portion disposed on said housing.

13. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover and said housing form a threaded engagement.

14. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover is made of a transparent material.

15. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover is made of a translucent material.

16. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a transparent material.

17. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing is made of a translucent material.

18. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of bangles are made of a transparent material.

19. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said plurality of bangles are made of a translucent material.

20. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover, said housing, and said plurality of bangles are made of plastic.

21. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover is generally hemispherical.

22. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 1 wherein said third locking means comprises a sleeve member.

23. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 22 wherein said sleeve member comprises a first aperture portion with said first aperture portion disposed to accept a portion of said cover.

24. The bangle watch box as claimed in claim 23 wherein said sleeve further comprises a second aperture portion and a third aperture portion with said second and said aperture portions disposed to accept selected corner portions of said bangles.

25. The bangle bracelet as claimed in claim 1 further comprising tag means with said tag means connected to said cover.

26. The bangle bracelet as claimed in claim 21 wherein said sleeve further comprises inter engaging locking portions.