EP0282934A1

EP0282934A1 - Wristwatch

Info

Publication number: EP0282934A1
Application number: EP88103956A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Eva Aprile
Original assignee: METAMORFOSI OLOGRAFIA ITALIA DI EVA APRILE
Current assignee: METAMORFOSI OLOGRAFIA ITALIA DI EVA APRILE
Priority date: 1987-03-19
Filing date: 1988-03-12
Publication date: 1988-09-21

Abstract

Wristwatch, including a case (2) having a face (3) and a strap (6) connected to it by means of a holder (5); the wristwatch comprises means for releasably fastening a hologram (7) at said face, said hologram being interchangeable.

Description

The present invention relates to a wristwatch, particularly to a wristwatch having a hologram, or any other image support, at its face substituting, or overlapping, the protective glass.
Holography is a particular image recording technique which provides tridimensional pictures called holograms. Holograms are nowadays commonly available on the market as ornamental objects for numerous different uses.
A main object of the invention is to provide a wristwatch having a hologram at its face substituting, or overlapping, its protective glass in such a way as to be easily interchangeable without the need of tools or any particular skill by the user.
Within this object, a scope of the invention is to provide a wristwatch adapted to receive holograms of different sizes as commonly available on the market.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a wristwatch having a very simple and sturdy structure.
This object and the scopes mentioned are achieved by a wristwatch, comprising: a case having a face, a strap connected to said case by means of a holder, characterized in that it comprises means for releasably fastening a hologram at said face, said hologram being interchangeable.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of non limitative example in the drawings of which:

fig 1 is an exploded perspective view of a wristwatch acccording to the invention;
fig 2 is a perspective view of the watch of figure 1 assembled;
fig 3 is a side sectioned view of the watch of figures 1 and 2;
fig 4 is a sectional exploded view of a watch according to a variated aspect of the invention and having different means for releasably fasten the hologram;
fig 5 is a partially exploded and sectioned view of still another watch;
fig 6 is a partial sectioned view of a watch having different means for releasably fasten the hologram;
fig 7 is a view similar to the preceeding one of still a variated means;
fig 8 is a perspective exploded view of a another variated watch;
fig 9 is a side sectioned view of a further variated watch.

With reference to figures 1-3, the wristwatch according to the invention, generally designated by the numeral 1, comprises a case 2 having a face 3 on which the time is displayed in a conventional manner. The case 2 may be provided with a conventional protective glass at its face 3 and with a winder 4.
A holder 5 is made in one piece with a strap 6 and of an elastic material such as, for example, plastics or rubber.
The holder 5 is ring-shaped and flanged so as to engage the case 2 by virtue of its elastic deformation and to fasten a hologram 7 between its flange 8 and the case face 3.
The case 2 is also provided with dents 9 adapted to be engaged by axial projections 10 provided on the inner side of the holder 5 in order to prevent any rotation between the case and the holder.
The use of the wristwatch is very simple: with the wristwatch assembled as shown in fig. 2, it is sufficient to press on the hologram 7 while holding the case 2 to disengage the case from the holder by elastic deformation of the latter.
The holder 5 can be easily repositioned on the case 2 by snap action.
Figure 4 shows a wristwatch 101 according to a variated aspect of the invention in which the means for releasably fastening the hologram 107 comprises a screw cap 105 adapted to be screwed on the case 102 blocking the hologram 107 therebetween by means of a flange 108.
Figure 5 shows a further wristwatch 201 in which the means for fastening the hologram 207 comprises a bayonet mount ring 205 having a flange 208 for blocking the hologram.
Figure 6 shows a wristwatch 301 according to still another variated aspect of the invention comprising an annular groove 309 formed at the case 302 and a cap 305 releasably forced fitted on the case 302 by means of an elastic ring 310 positioned at the annular groove. As shown in figure 7 an annular groove 309a can be provided also at the inner side of the cap 305a facing the case 302a.
In figure 8 a wristwatch 401 according to a variated further aspect of the invention is illustrated in which the case 402 has an annular groove 409 formed on its side; the side has a plurality of axial dents 411 adapted to be engaged by corresponding projections 408 formed on a cap 405. Each of said projections 408 are provided with a groove matching the groove 409 provided at the case 402; an elastic ring 410 is also provided to engage said case and said cap projections at the grooves so as to releasably fasten the cap which holds the hologram 407.
Figure 9 illustrates another wristwatch 501, according to a variated aspect of the invention, and which comprises a ring 505, having a U-shaped section and adapted to engage the top edge of the case 502 at its face 503. The ring 505 comprises a plurality of pins 509 adapted to engage in corresponding bores provided on the side of the case. The ring 505 can be snap fitted on the case interposing the hologram 507. Gaskets 510,511 are advantageously provided between the ring 505 and the case 502, and between the ring and the hologram to seal the wristwatch. Shock absorber 512 and spacer rings 513,514 are also advantageously provided for enhancing the mechanical resistance of the wristwatch.
It has thus been observed that the invention achieves the intended object by providing a wristwatch having an easily interchangeable hologram.
An advantage of the invention is that holograms of different sizes can be mounted and always without the need of any tool.
Naturally the materials, as well as the dimentions may be any according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Wristwatch, comprising: a case (2,102,202,302,402, 502) having a face (3,103), a strap (6) connected to said case by means of a holder (5), characterized in that it comprises means (5,8,105,205,305,405,505) for releasably fastening a hologram (7,107,207,307,407,507) at said face, said hologram being interchangeable.

2. Wristwatch, according to claim 1, characterized in that, said holder (5) and said strap (6) are made in one piece, said holder (5) being adapted to releasably hold said case (2), said hologram (7) being releasably fastened at said face (3) between said holder and said case , said holder being releasably to said case by virtue of elastic deformation of said holder.

3. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means for releasably fastening said hologram (107) comprises a screw cap (105) associable with said case (102), said hologram being releasably fastened at said face (103) between said screw cap and said case.

4. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means comprises a bayonet mount ring (205) releasably fastened to said case (202), said hologram (207) being releasably fastened at said face (203) between said ring and said case.

5. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said means comprises an annular groove (309) formed at said case (302), a cap (305) releasably forced fitted on said case by means of an elastic ring (310) positioned at said annular groove, said hologram (307) being releasably fastened betwen said cap and said case.

6. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cap (305a) has a further annular groove (309a) formed on its side facing said case (302a), said further annular groove being adapted to receive said elastic ring (310a).

7. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said case (402) has an annular groove (409) formed on its side, said side having a plurality of axial dents (411), said means comprising a cap (405) having a plurality of projections (408) adapted to engage said dents, each of said projections being provided with a groove matching said groove provided at said case, an elastic ring (410) being furthermore provided adapted to engage said case and said cap projections at said grooves so as to releasably fasten said cap, said hologram (407) being releasably fastened at said face (403) between said cap and said case.

8. Wristwatch, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a ring (505) having a U-shaped section adapted to engage a top edge of said case (502) at said face (503), said ring comprising a plurality of pins (509) adapted to engage in corresponding bores provided on the side of said case upon elastic deformation of said ring, said hologram (507) being releasably fastened at said face between said ring and said case.