GB2147717A

GB2147717A - Wrist watch

Info

Publication number: GB2147717A
Application number: GB08326627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Yung Tak Lam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-05
Filing date: 1983-10-05
Publication date: 1985-05-15
Also published as: HK2089A; GB8326627D0; GB2147717B

Abstract

A wrist watch has a casing 10 which is provided with a top or cover plate 13 which can be exchanged for another top or cover plate 13 of a different style, the top or cover plate 13 being held on the casing 10 by the end portions 14, 15 of a wrist strap or bracelet 16 which are pivotably connected to the casing 10 by a connector portion 17 and have a flange 19 which overlies the top or cover plate 13, the end portions 14, 15 being held in position by a pivotable fastener 20 which when disengaged from the casing 10 allows the portions 14, 15 to be pivoted about the connector portion 17 to disengage the flange 19 from the top or cover plate 13 allowing it to be removed and replaced by another top or cover plate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wrist watch This invention relates to a wrist watch having an exchangeable top plate or cover plate.

According to the present invention there is provided a watch having a casing provided with a removable top or cover plate held in position on the casing by end portions of a wrist strap or bracelet pivotably connected to the casing to that the end portions of the strap or bracelet can be moved between a position in which end portions are locked to the casing and hold the top or cover plate on the casing and a position in which the ends of the strap or bracelet are unlocked and pivoted relative to the casing to disengage the top or cover plate to enable the top or cover plate to be removed from the casing and replaced by another top or cover plate.

Preferably each end part of the strap or bracelet is provided with a circular section retainer portion slidably received in a bore provided in the casing and with a flange portion which overlies the top or cover plate when the end parts are locked to the casing.

Each end part of the strap or bracelet is provided with a locking member pivotably connected thereto, said locking member having side wall portions which, in the locked position of the locking member, are received in a slot provided in the casing and retained therein by projections which engage in recesses provided in the walls of the recess.

Preferably the other end parts of the strap or bracelet are provided with a plurality of apertures, one strap or bracelet part being provided with a pivotable fastener provided with clips having pins which engage with respective apertures, said pins being retained in the holes by head portions.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I is a plan view of a wrist watch according to the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates plan views of four different top or cover plates which can be used with the wrist watch; Figure 3 is a side elevation of the wrist watch taken in the direction of arrow 3 of Figure 1, but showing the outer ends of the wrist strap or bracelet fastened together; Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, with the outer ends of the wrist strap or bracelet fastened together, Figures 5to 8 are side views of one end part of the wrist strap and the casing and illustrate the steps involved in removing the top or cover plate; Figure 9 illustrates the locking member in the locked position;; Figure 10 illustrates the locking member in the disengaged position; Figure 11 illustrates the outer ends of the strap or bracelet with all pins disengaged; Figure 12 illustrates the lower pin on the buckle engaged with an end of a strap or bracelet; and Figure 13 illustrates the buckle fully fastened.

The wrist watch comprises a casing 10 housing the watch movement 11 provided either with a digital read out 12 as illustrated or with a dial and fingers.

Provided on the casing 10 is a top or cover plate 13.

Secured to the casing 10 are two parts 14, 15 of a strap or bracelet 16. One end of each of the two parts 14, 15 is provided with a circular section retainer member 17 which is slidably received in a circular section bore 18 provided in the casing 10. Provided on the one end of the two parts 14, 15 is a flange portion 19 which engages with an end region of the top or cover plate 13 to hold it on the casing 10. Each of the two parts 14, 15 are locked in position by a locking member 20. Each locking member 20 comprises a member 21 which is pivotally mounted at 22 to the respective strap part 14, 15 and the member 21 is provided with side wall 23 which are received in a recess 24 provided in the casing 10.Each side wall 23 is provided on its outer side with a protrusion or dimple 25 which engages in a recess 26 provided in the walls of the recess 24 in order to hold the member 21 in its locking position. The wrist watch is provided with a plurality of top or cover plates 13 which differ in style but all of which have an aperture 27 in which the read out 12 is received when the plate 13 is mounted on the casing 10. Four different cover plates 13 are illustrated in Figure 2.

When it is desired to remove a top or cover plate 13 from the casing 10 in order to exchange it for another, then the steps illustrated in Figure 5 to 7 are carried out. Firstly the member 21 is moved about its pivot 22 from the locking position shown in Figure 5 to the downwardly pivoted position shown in Figure 6 in which the walls 23 are disengaged from the recess 24. This enables the strap part 14, 15 to be pivoted about the axis of the member 17 to the position shown in Figure 7 and in this position the flange portions 19 are disengaged from the top or cover plate 13 enabling it to be removed from the casing 10 and replaced by another top or cover plate 13 of different style. It is also possible to remove the strap parts 14, 15 by sliding the member 17 out of its bore 18 as shown in Figure 8 and 10.When the alternative cover on top plate 13 has been placed in position on the casing 10, the strap part 14, 15 is pivoted back to the position shown in Figure 6 in which the flange portion 19 engages the cover or the top plate 13 and then the member 21 is pivoted about the pivot 22 to engage the walls 23 back into the recess 24 and the protrusions or dimples 25 engage with the recesses 26 to hold the member 21 in the locking position.

The other end of the strap or bracelet part 15 is provided with a plurality of apertures 28 and the other end of the strap or bracelet part 14 is provided with a plurality of apertures 29. Each of the apertures 28, 29 tapers inwardly and then outwardly. Provided on the end of the part 15 is a clip 30 which is pivoted at 31 to the part 15. Provided on the clip 30 is a pin 32 having a head 33.

Slidably mounted on the part 15 is a fastener 34 having a clip 35 which is pivoted at 36 and which has a pin 37 provided with a head 38. Mounted on the opposite side of the fastener 34 is a clip 39 which is pivoted at 40 and has a pin 41 provided with a head 42.

In order to fasten the ends of parts 14, 15 together, the fastener 34 is suitably positioned with both of the parts 14, 15 extending through it and the fastener clip 35 is pivoted about pivot 36 so that its pin 37 enters one of the holes 29 and is retained therein by the head 38. The part 15 is pulled through the fastener 34 so that the strap or bracelet 16 fits the wrist and the fastener clip 39 is pivoted about pivot 40 so that its pin 41 enters one of the holes 28 and is retained therein by the head 42. The clip 30 is then pivoted about pivot 31 to engage the pin 32 in a hole 29 and is retained therein by the head 33. In order to unfasten the ends of parts 14, 15 it is only necessary to disengage the pins 32 and 41 from their respective holes 28,29.

Claims

1. A watch having a casing provided with a removabie top or cover plate held in position on the casing by end portions of a wrist strap or bracelet pivotally connected to the casing so that the end portions of the strap or bracelet can be moved between a position in which end portions are locked to the casing and hold the top or cover plate on the casing and a position in which the ends of the strap or bracelet are unlocked and pivoted relative to the casing to disengage the top or cover plate to enable the top or cover plate to be removed from the casing and replaced by another top or cover plate.

2. A watch as claimed in claim 1, in which each end part of the strap or bracelet is provided with a circular section retainer portion slidably received in a bore provided in the casing and with a flange portion which overlies the top or cover plate when the end parts are locked to the casing.

3. A watch as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each end part of the strap or bracelet is provided with a locking member pivotally connected thereto, said locking member having side wall portions which, in the locked position of the locking member, are received in a slot provided in the casing and retained therein by projections which engage in recesses provided in the walls of the recess.

4. A watch as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the other end parts of the strap or bracelet are provided with a plurality of apertures, one strap or bracelet part being provided with a pivotable fastener provided with clips having pins which engage with respective apertures, said pins being retained in the holes by head portions.

5. A watch as claimed in claim 4, in which one of said end parts is provided at its end with a pivotable fastener having a pin engageable in one of the holes in the other end part.

6. Awatch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.