US520628A - Archibald bannatyne - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) I

A. BANNATYNE.

CLOCK CASE.

Patented May 29, 1894.

} UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARCl-IIBALD BANNATYNE, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE l/VATERBURY CLOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CLOCK-GAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,628, dated May 29, 1894.

' Application filed December 5, 1892. Serial No. 454,024- (lIo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARCHIBALD BANNATYNE, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut,have invented a new Improvement in Timepieces; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon,to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a View in front elevation of a time piece constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a view thereof with the back member of the case open to show so much of the interior of the article as is then disclosed; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the time piece on the irregular line 00-00 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, an enlarged sectional view of the article, to show the locking-spring by means of which the front and back members of its case are held together, and also such a push-pin as may be used for operating the said spring in opening the case; Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional view showing the winding mechanism of the movement; Fig. 6, a detached view of the ring to which the flanged movement-cap is attached; Fig.7, an enlarged broken View in section of the combined dial-plate, mat and bezel.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of time pieces called clock-watches, which are very small clock-movements, of the marine type, mounted in sheet-metal cases, having the general characteristics of watchcases, the object of my present invention be ing, to produce an article of reduced size, superior time-keeping qualities, and closely simulating in appearance, and adapted to be opened, wound, set and regulated in much the same manner as, a real watch.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in a time piece having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a case, composed of a front member A, and a back member A attached together at their lower edges bya hinge B, and both struck up from sheet-metal, the former'having an outwardly ofisetting flange a, at its edge, and the C, which is of ordinary form, and furnished in the ordinary manner with a ring D. The inner end of the said pendant is made hollow, and swaged and expanded upon the inner face of the said flange a, as at c in Fig. 4 of the drawings, whereby the pendant is secured to the said front member of the case. I do not, however, limit myself to fastening the pendant to the case in the manner described, as it might be threaded, soldered, or otherwise secured thereto, but asI design to make the inner end of the pendant hollow, as at C, it will probably be found most convenientto expand it for securing it in place. By making the inner end of the pendant hollow, I adapt it to receive the beveled finger e, of the locking-sprin g E, which as herein shown, (Fig. 4) is made of sheet metal, and riveted to the inner face of the flange a',of the back member A, of the case, its finger being bent outwardly at about a right angle to its main portion, and playing through an open notch a formed in the flange a, as clearly shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings. By snapping into the hollow inner end of the pendant, the said locking-spring normally holds the back member A, of the case in its closed position.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, I have provided the pendant with a push-pin, comprising a shank or stem F, a push-button F, located at the outer end thereof, and a beveled head F located at its inner end, the said pin being retained in place within the pendant by its button and head. The outer face of the said head is beveled for engagement with the beveled finger e, of the locking-spring, which, when the case is closed, sustains the pin in the normal position in which it is shown in the said figure of the drawings. When it is now desired to open the case, the pin is pushed inward by the push-button, whereby the finger of the locking-spring is cleared from, or thrown out of, the inner end of the pendant, thus leaving the sheet-metal fly-back spring G, (Fig. 2) the outer end of which engages with that leaf of the spring B, which is fastened to the back member A, of the case, free to act on the said member which is then thrown into its open position, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is not necessary, however, to employ the pushpin at all, as shown by Fig. 2, for the beveled edge of the locking-spring may he jumped, so to speak, out of the inner end of the pendant, by holding the clock-watch in the left hand, in the usual manner, and pressing against the edge of the rear member of its case with the thumb-nail; In a watch-case constructed as described,the nail would be pushed against the rib a as seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The time-movement which I design to employ, in connection with my improved timepiece, is a compact, carefully made clockmovement of the marine type, and comprises substantially circular front and back movement plates H, and H, pillars I, for securing the said plates together, and a train, which is in part shown by the drawings, but which it is not thought necessary to describe in detail. This movement is secured within a circular, flanged sheet-metal, movement-cap J, the flange J, whereof stands at a right angle to its side walls, and is adapted in its external diameter to fit within the flange a, of

the front member A, of the case. The movement is secured in place within the case by means of the said cap, the flange whereof is perforated to receive screwsj, which bind it to an annular ring K, soldered, or otherwise secured within the flange a, of the frontmemher of the case, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings. This ring is struck out of sheetmetal, and not only forms a means for the attachment of the clock-movement, but also greatly assists in giving the case the required stiffness. While I prefer to use such a ring, it might be dispensed with, and replaced by inwardly projecting fingers, forming points for the attachment of the flange of the cap,or by some equivalents of such fingers. The face of the cap is struck up to increase its depth, and so as to clear the features of the time-movement which are located upon the outer face of the inner plate thereof, whereby an economy of space is secured, and the thickness of the time piece reduced to the minimum. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the cap is struck up as atj to clear the ratchet L, its pawl L, and the spring Z of the pawl, as atj to clear the outer end of the regulator M, and as atj to clear the bearing N, of the inner end of the arbor O, of the third wheel 0, as shown by Fig. 3 of the drawings. I do not limit myself, however, to striking up the cap in the particular manner shown, for the form given to it in striking it up might vary with variations in the construction of the movement.

As herein shown, the movement is secured within the cap which incloses it by means of two nuts P P, which are screwed down upon the outer face of the same, and over the threaded outer ends of two of the pillars I, by means of which the front and back movement-plates H and 11 are fastened together, the face of the cap being perforated as at 01 i, at suitable points to receive the threaded inner ends of the said pillars with which the cap is engaged before the said nuts are applied. As herein shown, the cap is also provided with two large perforations 2" i, (Fig. 2) which clear the nuts P P screwed over the threaded inner ends of theother two pillars, the outer ends of all of the said pillars being riveted, or otherwise secured to the front movemenbplate H. If preferred, however, the cap might be constructed to have the nuts of all of the pillars screwed down upon its outer face. On the other hand, the movement might he obviously secured within the cap independent of the said pillars, as by screws passing through it and into the back movement-plate H.

To the front of the movement is applied a combined dial-plate Q, mat Q, and bezel Q all struck from a single piece of metal, and provided upon its rear face with short studs g; by means of which it is attached to the front movement-plate. The dial-plate Q, re ceives the dial R, the mat Q, gives the dial the required depth and appearance, while the bezel Q receives the edge of the glass S, which, as shown, is beveled, and which fills the opening A formed in the center of the front member A, of the case.

In assembling the parts of my improved time piece, the glass dial and movement are placed within the front member of the case in right position, and secured therein by means of the screws j, which, as they extend at a right angle to the plane of the case, pull in lines parallel with the force that is required to firmly impinge the beveled edge of the glass against the inner edge of the opening in the front member of the case, and as the glass is seated and brought into position before the screws come to a stop, variations in its thickness will thus be accounted for. It is not essential that the edge of the glass be beveled, but that construction I prefer.

The only feature of the movement train that I wish to particularly describe, concerns the winding-key, as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings. This key comprises a finger-piece T, made of wire, and a perforated, internally threaded hub T, in which the ends of the said finger-piece are pivoted. The said hub is screwed over the sleeve L of the ratchetwheel L, the said sleeve being thereto eXteriorly threaded. The said sleeve is also interiorly threaded to adapt it to be itself screwed over the threaded outer end u of the main or winding-arbor U, which has bearing at its opposite ends in the front and back movement-plates H and H. To this arbor is attached the inner end of the spring V, the outer end of which is fastened to the mainspring barrel WV, which is mounted on the said arbor so as to rotate independently there- IIO of. Normally the arbor is held against rotation by means of the ratchet L, and its pawl L, the barrel IV, rotating and driving the main driving-wheel X, which actuates the movement with a force proportionate to the power of the spring at any given time. When, however, the time piece is being wound by the rotation of the arbor U through the winding-key, the movement is actuated by a power represented by the power of the spring plus the power of the fingers in turning the key. From this it will be seen that the maintaming-power provided for in this time p ece, is superior in force to its normal running power, so that the time movement will not lose while it is being wound. It will be observed, also, from the construction described, that the key is normally at rest, which is desirable, as its rotation might cause friction in so contracted a space as is provided for within the case, and thus interfere with the action of the time piece.

I The fly-back spring G, before referred to, is made of sheet-metal, and secured by rivets or screws g g, to the periphery of the cap J, at a suitable point thereon for the engagement of the bevel-finger g at its outer end with that leaf of the hinge B, which is fasten ed to the back member A of the case. :FhIS arrangement of the spring avoids rivet- 1ng it to the case, and the consequent disfigurement thereof, it being particularly desirable to avoid riveting the case, which being of sheet metal, is comparatively light.

It is obvious from the suggestions of change which have been made, that in carrying out my invention I may make some alterations from the particularconstruction herein shown and described. I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to such exact form, but hold myself at liberty to make such variations therefrom as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware, however, that it is old to construct a time-piece of the watch-clock type with a front case-member and a back casemember hinged together, the latter having a flange adapted to shut within the edge of the former.

I am also aware that it is old to secure the back case-members of watches of the watchclock type to their front case-members by means of a spring operated by a push pin located in a pendant secured to the front casemember.

I am also aware that it is old to locate a timemovement within a cap adapted to be secured within the case of a watch. I do not, therefore, claim any of the constructions above referred to, broadly.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type,

the combination with a front case-member, of

a back case-member constructed with a flange adapted to shut within the edge of the front case-member, a pendant having its inner end made hollow, secured to the said front casemember, and a locking-spring secured to the back case-member and constructed and arranged to snap into the hollow inner end of the pendant with which it is thus detachably connected for holding the two members of the case together, substantially as described.

2. In a time-piece of the Watch-clock type, the combination with the front case-member, of a back case-member constructed with a flange adapted to fit within the edge of the front case-member, a pendant having its inner end made hollow, secured to the front casemember, a locking-spring secured to the said back case-member and constructed and arranged to snap into the hollow inner end of the pendant with which it is thus detachably connected for holding the two members of the case together, and a loose push-pin located in the pendant, and arranged to engage with the said spring to eject the same therefrom, substantially as described.

3. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the front case-member constructed with aperforation,of aback casemember constructed with a flange adapted to fit within the edge of the front case-member, and notched in line with the perforation thereof, a pendant havingits inner end made hollow and secured to the said front case-member through the perforation therein, a she etmetal locking spring secured to the inner face of the flange of the back case-member, and constructed with a beveled outwardly turned finger which plays through the said notch through which it projects into the hollow inner end of the pendant for detachable connection therewith, and a push-pin located in the pendant and arranged to engage with the said finger for ejecting it from the pendant, substantially as set forth.

4. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the front and back members of the case thereof, of a circular sheet-metal movement cap, means for the attachment of the said cap to the front member of the case with its closed side facing the back member of the case, and a time-move- Inent located Within and inclosed by the said cap, and attached directly to the inside of the face thereof, substantially as described.

5. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the front and back members of the case thereof, of a ring secured within the said front member in the plane thereof, a circular sheet-metal movement-cap attached to the said ring with its closed side facing the back member of the case, and a time-movement located within and inclosed by the said cap, and directly attached to the inside of the face thereof, substantially as described.

6. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the front and back members of the case thereof, of a ring fixed in the said front member in the plane thereof,

a circular sheet-metal movement-cap attached to the said ring with its closed side facing the back member of the case, and a timemovement located within and inclosed by the said cap, and attached directly to the inside of the face thereof, the said face of the cap being struck from its inside outward to give clearance to those portions of the movement which project from the back movement-plate, substantially as described, and whereby an economy of space is effected.

7. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the case thereof, of a ring fixed therein, a circular sheet-metal movement-cap having a flange extending at a right angle to its side walls, means for attaching the said cap to the said ring by the flange of the former which bears directly upon the latter,and a time-movementlocatedwithin and inclosed by the cap, and attached directly to the face thereof, substantially as described.

8. In a time-piece of the watch-clock type, the combination with the front and back members of the case thereof, of a sheet-metal nvement-cap,a time-movement located within and inclosed by the said cap and attached directly to the face thereof, a dial attached to the outer face of the front plate of the movement, a glass interposed between the said dial and the front member of the case, and screws passing through the cap at a right angle to the plane thereof to connect it with the front member of the case, the said parts being constructed so that the screws first clamp the glass between the dial and the front member of the case, substantially as set forth, and whereby variations in the thickness of the glass are thus compensated for.

9. In a time-piece, a combined dial-plate, mat and bezel, struck out from a single piece of metal, the mat flaring outwardly and rising from the edge of the dial-plate, and the bezel offsetting from the outer edge of the mat, and consisting of a flange which presents a right angle in cross section, substantially as described.

10. In a time-piece of the watch-clocktype, the combination with a main-spring-barrel, of a main arbor having its inner end threaded, a main-spring having its respective ends attached to the said barrel, and arbor, both of which are free to rotate independently of the other, a ratchet-wheel having a sleeve which is interiorly threaded for its application to the said threaded end of the arbor, and also exteriorly threaded, a spring-actuated pawl to engage with the said ratchet, and a winding-key having a perforated, threaded hub which screws over the said sleeve, and a swinging finger-piece pivoted in the said hub, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARCHIBALD BANNATYN E.

Witnesses:

J. K. GOODRIGH, H. L. DANIELS.

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