GB2127673A

GB2127673A - Structure for attaching watch band to watch case

Info

Publication number: GB2127673A
Application number: GB08326395A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hiromichi Nagata
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-10-01
Filing date: 1983-10-03
Publication date: 1984-04-18
Also published as: GB2127673B; JPS5955012U; GB8326395D0

Abstract

A structure for attaching a watch band to a watch case, comprises the watch band 30 having a cavity 32 and screw holes 34, 34, the watch case 40 having an arcuate curved surface 42 provided at an end face thereof and a recess 44, provided at a central portion of the arcuate curved surface, a flat connecting member 48 welded to a base surface of the recess and inserted in the cavity, and screws 38, 38 screwed into the screw holes for attaching the watch band to the watch case by pressed tapered faces 39, 39 of the screws to inclined side surfaces 53, 53 of the flat connecting member. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Structure for attaching watch band to watch case This invention relates to a watch band attaching structure wherein a band can be attached to a watch case in a state of intimate fitting contact.

Structures for attaching the watch band to the watch case are multifarious and in wide use.

Usually, the watch band is attached to foot portions projected from a case body by inserting a shaft to holes of the watch band and the foot portions. Recently, owing to improve a design of the watch, it is proposed that the attaching structures are concealed under or in the watch band. A typical one of these is shown in Figs.

1 and 2.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the conventional structure for attaching a watch band to a watch case, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view shown partially in section, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line Il-IlofFig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a watch band 10 has a cavity 12 provided at the end portion, and screw holes 14, 14 provided at a pair of side walls 16, 1 6. Screws 18, 18, which are tapered from the tip portion so as to have a gradually larger diameter in the direction of the base portion thereof, is screwed into the screw holes 1 4, 14. A watch case 20 has a flat connecting member 22 having a substantially T-shaped configuration and provided at the end surface thereof. The flat connecting member 22 is inserted in the cavity 12. The mounting screws 18, 18 are in pressured contact with the outer side walls of the flat connecting member 22 received.Thus, the side face of the watch case 20 and the watch band 10 are attached to each other without a gap between them so that it appears as if the watch case 20 and band 10 form a unitary body.

In this prior art, there are two methods available for providing the flat connecting member 22. In one, the watch case 20 and the flat connecting member 22 are fabricated as a unitary body. In the other, the watch case 20 and the flat connecting member 22 are fabricated separately and then joined by welding. Joining these be welding is satisfactory in the case of using a watch case having a flat side surface such as the watch case 20 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

However, in the case of using a watch case having a curved side surface, forming the flat connecting member 22 on the curved side surface of the watch case is very difficult, despite the market demand for such a configuration.

The reasons are as follows. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2, since the flat connecting member 22, which is a thin plate, is arranged at an incline with respect to the watch case 20, it is extremely difficult to machine the side surface of the watch case 20 into a prescribed curved surface without altering the flat connecting member 22. Another reason is that even when the flat connecting member 22 is fabricated separately and welded to the end face of the watch case 20, it is extremely difficult to form a weld projection at the side face of the watch case 20 or at the junction between the flat connecting member 22 and the case 20. This is because of the curved shape of the surface of intimate contact between the flat connecting member 22 and the watch case 20.

According to the present invention, there is provided a structure for attaching a watch band to a watch case, comprising: said watch band having a cavity provided at an end portion thereof, and screw holes provided at side walls of said cavity; said watch case having an arcuate curved surface provided at an end face thereof, and a recess provided at a central portion of the arcuate curved surface; a flat connecting member welded in the recess of said watch case and inserted into the cavity of said watch band; and screws having tapered faces at a tip of each screws and screwed into the screw holes of said watch band for attaching said watch band to said watch case by pressed the tapered faces of said screws to said flat connecting member.

In the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing the principal portion of the prior art; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along line Il-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view, partially cut away, showing a principal portion of a first embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a partially side view of an attaching portion of a watch band and a watch case shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a partial perspective view seen from the side face of the watch case shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the flat projection shown in Fig. 3;; Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view seen from the side face of a watch case of a second embodiment according to the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a side view partially cut away in the longitudinal direction of the watch band shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to Figs. 3 to 5, there are shown a structure for attaching a watch band 30 to a watch case 40 according to the present invention.

The watch band 30 has a cavity 32 provided at the end portion, and screw holes 34, 34 provided at a pair of inner side walls 36, 36 of the cavity 32. The cavity 32 may be formed by cutting a recess into the end face of the watch band 30 by electric discharge machining. In this embodiment, the cavity 32 is formed by welding a back plate 37 to the watch band 30 as shown in Fig. 5.

Screws 38, 38 are tapered from the tip portion so as to have a gradually larger diameter in the direction of the base portion thereof. The screws 38, 38 are screwed into the screw holes 34, 34 of the watch band 30.

The watch case 40 has an arcuate curved surface 42 provided at the end face thereof, and a recess 44 provided at a central portion of the arcuate curved surface 42. As shown in Fig. 6, a base surface 46 of the recess 44 is flatly formed without regard to the arcuate curved surface 42.

A flat connecting member 48 is provided to the watch case 40 for attaching the watch band 30 to the watch case 40 by means of screws 38, 38.

The flat connecting member 48 is formed into a substantially T-shaped configuration and has a wide portion 50, a narrow portion 52, inclined side surfaces 53, 53 provided between the wide portion 50 and the narrow portion 52, and welding projections 54, 54 provided at the end face of the narrow portion 52, as shown in Fig. 7.

The flat connecting member 48 is welded to the base surface 46 of the recess 44 by means of the method of projection welding.

When the watch band 30 is attached to the watch case 40, the cavity 32 of the watch band 30 is fitted over the flat connecting member 48, and the screws 38, 38 are screwed into the screw holes 34, 34. Then the tapered faces 39, 39 at the tip of each screw 38 are pressed to the inclined side surfaces 53, 53 of the flat connecting member 48 and act so that the wide portion 50 of the flat connecting member 48 is pulled away from the watch case 40. The other way, the end of the watch band 30 is drawn into intimate contact with the arcuate curved surface 42 of the watch case 40.

In this embodiment, the flat connecting member 48 is welded to the base surface of the recess of the watch case 40 without regard to the configuration of the watch case 40. Therefore, it is possible to form the end face of the watch case 40 into a curved surface.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the structure for attaching the watch band to the watch case according to the present invention.

Like elements corresponding to those of Figs. 3 to 7 are indicated by like numerals.

In this embodiment, the watch case 40 has a recess 56 which opens in the downward direction. A base surface 58 of this recess 56 is also flat.

In both the embodiments, the width of the watch band 30 is made larger than that of the recesses 44, 56.

The present invention as described hereinabove make it possible to closely attach a watch band to a watch case, even if the watch case has a curved end surface to which the watch band is attached.

Claims

1. A structure for attaching a watch band to a watch case, comprising: said watch band having a cavity provided at an end portion thereof, and screw holes provided at side walls of said cavity; said watch case having an arcuate curved surface provided at an end face thereof, and a recess provided at a central portion of the arcuate curved surface; a flat connecting member welded in the recess of said watch case and inserted into the cavity of said watch band; and screws having tapered faces at a tip of each screw and screwed into the screw holes of said watch band for attaching said watch band to said watch case by pressed the tapered faces of said screws to said flat connecting member.

2. A structure according to claim 1, in which the recess has a base surface formed into the flat, said connecting member being welded to the base surface of the recess of said watch case.

3. A structure according to claim 1, in which the recess of said watch case is formed wider than the width of said flat connecting member.

4. A structure according to claim 2, in which said flat connecting member has a substantially T-shaped configuration including a wide portion, a narrow portion and inclined side surfaces provided between the wide portion and the narrow portion thereof, and also has at least one welding projection provided at an end face of the narrow portion thereof.

5. A structure according to claim 4, in which the tapered faces of said screws are pressed to the inclined side surfaces of said flat connecting member and act so that the wide portion of said flat connecting member is pulled away from said watch case.

6. A structure according to claim 2, in which the recess of said watch case opens in the downward direction.

7. A structure for attaching a watch band to a watch case substantially as shown and described with reference to Figs. 3 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.