US3039263A - Wrist watch and bracelet construction - Google Patents

Description

June 19, 1962 P. WYLER ET AL 3,039,263

WRIST WATCH AND BRACELET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 30, 1961 INVENTORS PAUL WYLER RALPH KALICHMAN BY /WAQW AT RNEY United States Patent 3,039,263 Patented June 19, 1962 ice Filed Jan. 30, 1961, Ser. No. 85,527 Claims. (Cl. 58-88) This invention relates to a wrist watch and bracelet construction, and more particularly to a connecting plate which bridges the gap between the case and the bracelet or band of a watch.

In conventional wrist watch constructions the watch case and watch band or bracelet are spaced elements which are mechanically, but not necessarily esthetically, linked to each other. While great efforts have heretofore been exerted to design the watch and watch bracelet into a harmonious whole, the two have thus far remained entirely separate and apart as distinct entities, except for certain special designs in highly expensive watches in which the case and bracelet are actually soldered together. Although Watch bracelets may be designed to conform to the esthetic requirements of given watches, the fact remains that the gap or line of demarcation between the bracelet and the watch in the commercial product is plain to see and, except for the special designs above mentioned, no successful attempt has heretofore been made to obliterate or mask such gap.

Wrist watch designs in which the bracelet is soldered to the case are not very practical, for various reasons. For example, manufacture is quite costly. Furthermore, should a soldered bracelet break, there would be the problem of removing it from the watch case and attaching another bracelet to take its place. Moreover, the soldered type of watch case may not be used with conventional watch bands or bracelets, and the advantage of interchangeability would be entirely lacking. There is also the disadvantage of being unable to use different metals for the case and bracelet when they are soldered together.

I-t is the object of this invention to provide a mechanical link between a wrist watch case and a band or bracelet therefor. This link performs the function of bridging the gap between the watch case and the bracelet, and it renders the latter continuous with the former. More specifically, the present invention avoids or overcomes the disadvantages of soldered constructions, as above set forth, while at the same time providing the full advantage of the appearance of a soldered construction.

More precisely, the present invention provides a narrow slit at each end of the watch case, between and across the pin-supporting lugs which project therefrom. Mounted on each pin is a plate which extends the full distance from the bracelet to and into the slit. When the edge of a said plate is disposed within said slit, it provides the same appearance as a soldered connection. In short, the plate becomes continuous with and blended into the watch case. The plate is designed to correspond to or harmonize with the links of the bracelet, and it is physically connected to the bracelet in the sense that the same cross-pin which engages the bracelet also supports the plate. Not only, therefore, does the plate cover the normal gap between the bracelet and the watch case, but it also covers the gaps between the bracelet and the supporting lugs. Specifically, the plate completely covers the lugs and provides a continuous link or connection between the watch case and the watch bracelet.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, showing the combination of a watch, a watch bracelet and the connecting plate or link therebetween as herein described and claimed.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 2-4. of FIG. 1, said view extending transversely of the crosspin which connects the watch bracelet to the watch case.

FIG. 3 is another sectional view showing one of the lugs which support the connecting pin and also showing the slit in the watch case which receives the connecting plate.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 2, this view being enlarged and in a plane parallel to that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the connecting plate.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken through said connecting plate on the line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of the watch case showing the pin-supporting lugs and the plate-receiving slit.

Referring now to the details of the illustrated form of the invention as shown in the drawing, it will be observed that a conventional wrist watch 10 and a conventional watch band or bracelet 12. may be utilized. The watch includes, of course, a watch case 14 from which two pairs of spaced, generally parallel lugs 16 project, one pair from each side or end of the watch case. As is conventional, transverse holes 13 are formed in lugs 16 to receive the ends of spring-urged cross-pins 20. Each end of the watch band or bracket 12 may be provided with a tubular formation 30, which encircles the exposed portion of one of said cross-pins. It is by this conventional means that the bracelet or watch band is attached to the watch case. It will be understood that tubular formation 30 may be substantially coextensive with said exposed portion of the cross-pin, and its ends may abut said lugs 16 in order to prevent lateral shifting of the bracelet relative to the watch case.

It will be observed that a narrow slit 40 is formed at each end or side of the watch case, immediately above and across lugs 16. This may be done by machining the slits into the watch case wall to a predetermined depth, depending upon the thickness of the wall and the requirements of cover plate 42.

This cover plate is generally U-shaped in end view and may perhaps better be described as a shell. Its top wall 42a is the plate proper, and it has a bottom wall 42b and an end wall or Web 420. Top wall 42a is not necessarily a perfectly fiat plate, but instead may have a transverse bend 42d formed therein dividing said wall into two distinct fiat portions disposed at an angle of approximately 2Q degree relative to each other. This is not a critical angle and merely illustrates the angle at which lugs 16 are disposed relative to the plane of the watch case. This angle will vary in different watch designs, and in some cases curvature and other contours may be involved. Speaking generally, whatever shape or configuration is imparted to lugs 16 should also be impressed upon top wall 42a of the cover plate.

It will be seen from FIG. 1 that in the case of a watch 10 which is generally cylindrical in shape slit 40 is itself arcuately shaped in plan view to conform to the curvature of the watch case. In the use of connecting plate 42 as herein described and claimed, the free or leading edge of top wall 42a projects into slit 40. Consequently, said free or leading edge should also be arcuately shaped to conform to the curvature of the slit. It will also be observed in FIG. 2 that only one flat portion of top wall 42a projects into the slit, namely, that portion which lies to the right of the bend as viewed in said FIG. 2. The width of top wall 42w corresponds to the distance between the outer side edges of lugs 16 and consequently that portion of top wall 42a which projects outwardly from slit 40 rests upon the lugs. Since the configuration of said top wall corresponds to the configuration of said lugs, the top or the watch case. This is evident from FIG. 1.

wall will be disposed snugly against the lugs in close conforrnity therewith.

While bottom wall 42b does not project into a slit corresponding to slit 40, its leading edge nonetheless does conform to the curvature of the outer cylindrical surface It will also be noted in FIG. 2 that said bottom wall 42b conforms in shape to that of lugs 16 and more specifically conforms to the shape 'of the lower edges thereof. Hence bottom wall 42b is disposed as snugly against the lower portions of the lugs as top wall 42a is disposed against their upper portions.

Connecting wall or web 420 is disposed substantially at right angles to the adjacent portions of upper and lower walls 42a and 42b. This, however, is not essential, and the sole requirement is that said connecting wall 42c be disposed as snugly against the ends of lugs 16 as upper and lower walls 42a and 421) are disposed against the upper and lower portions of said lugs. In the illustrated form of this invention, as shown, for example, in FIG. 3, the ends of lugs 16 are substantially perpendicular to the upper and lower walls thereof, and this. accounts for the corresponding' relationship of wall 42c to walls 42a and 42b. Any modification in the configuration of lugs 16 would require, in the preferred form of this invention, a corresponding variation in the configuration of cover plate 42.

It will be noted particularly in FIG. that a generally rectangular opening 50 is formed in end wall or web 42c. If desired, this opening may extend into bottom wall 4%, as shown for example in FIG. 2. The function of this opening is to receive the narrow neck portion 52 of end link 54 of bracelet 12. This narrow neck portion is connected to tubular formation 30' above mentioned, and it will now be understood that it is through said opening in end wall 420 that the bracelet may be attached to the cross-pin 20 of the watch.

Cover plate 42 is locked in position by reason of its engagement with slit 40', lugs 16 and end link 54. When held in place as aforementioned, it covers the lugs and bridges the gap between the watch case and end link 54 of the bracelet. In effect, it renders the bracelet continuous with the watch case, and it is cliflicult to determine from casual inspection where the one terminates and the other begins.

The foregoing is illustrative of a preferred form of the invention, and it will be understood that modifications and variations may be incorporated therein within the broad principles of the invention and the wide scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a wrist watch construction, a watch case having a pair of spaced lugs projecting outwardly from each side, a pin supported by each pair of lugs, a bracelet connected at its end portions to said pins, and a pair of U-shaped pair of lugs to cover said lugs and to render the bracelet continuous with the Watch case.

2. In a wrist watch construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein each U-shaped cover plate comprises a top wall, the bottom wall thereof being substantially parallel to said top wall and the two walls receiving the corresponding lugs of the watch case between them.

3. In a wrist watch construction in accordance with claim 1, wherein each U-sha-ped cover plate comprise a top wall, the bottom wall thereof being substantially parallel to said top wall and the two walls receiving the corresponding lugs of the watch case between them, said generally U-shaped cover plate being also provided with an end wall which joins said top and bottom Walls and abuts the ends of the lugs, said end wall having an opening formed therein through which the corresponding end portion of the bracelet projects.

4. In a Wrist watch construction in which a bracelet is connected at its end portions to opposite sides of a watch case by means of lugs projecting from the watchcase and cross-pins supported by said lugs, a cover plate adapted to create the impression of continuity between such Watch case and each end of such bracelet, said cover plate comprising a generally U-shaped member having generally parallel top and bottom walls joined by an end wall, said cover plate being adapted to slip over the lugs at each side of such watch case, the top wall extending across the top portions of said lugs, the bottom wall extending across the bottom portions of said lugs, and the end wall abutting the ends of the lugs, said end Wall having an opening formed therein through which the corresponding end portion of the bracelet may be inserted for engagement with the cross-pin on said lugs.

5. In a wrist watch construction in accordance with claim 4, wherein a slit is formed a each side of the watch case immediately adjacent and across its lugs, the top wall of the cover plate engaging'said slit throughout its entire length, thereby creating the impression of continuity between the connecting element and the watch case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,775,8 61 Fachon Jan. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,151,234 France Aug. 19, 1957 943,937 Germany June 1, 1956

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