GB2178561A

GB2178561A - Improvements in or relating to a watch and a watch battery cover

Info

Publication number: GB2178561A
Application number: GB08601728A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Kwok Kuen Yu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-07-26
Filing date: 1986-01-24
Publication date: 1987-02-11
Also published as: GB8601728D0

Abstract

A watch, which is battery powered and waterproof, has an integral moulded casing 16 defining an aperture 15 providing access solely to a battery compartment. A cover 10 is provided for the battery compartment consisting of a flat disc 11 having a protruding peg which carries a sealing ring 14, the peg being inserted into the aperture 15 in order to seal the battery compartment. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to a watch and watch battery cover THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a watch and to a watch battery cover. More particularly the invention relates to a waterproof watch which is powered by a battery, the battery being covered by a removable cover.

It has been proposed previously to provide waterproof watches having a battery.

For some period of time it has been conventional to provide a battery-powered watch with a removable cover on the rear face of the watch, the cover occupying a significant part of the rear face of the watch. When such a cover is removed the inner workings of the watch are revealed.

It has also been proposed previously to provide a watch having a separate battery compartment with a discrete cover which serves to cover only the battery compartment. Thus, when the cover is removed only the battery compartment is revealed. However, in these previously proposed watches the cover for the battery compartment is secured on to the rest of the watch by means of a screw thread and therefore a screwdriver or very thin coin has to be utilised to turn the cover to enable the cover to be separated from the rest of the watch to enable the battery to be replaced.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved arrangement.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for a watch battery, said cover comprising a substantially flat disc of predetermined diameter, and a cylindrical peg protruding axially from one face of the disc, the peg having a lesser outer diameter than the diameter of the disc, said peg being provided with an annular recess therein which accommodates a sealing ring.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a watch, said watch comprising a watch case and a watch mechanism defining a battery chamber, therebeing a cover for the watch battery, said cover being removably mounted in an aperture in the casing, said cover comprising a substantially flat disc of predetermined diameter, and a cylindrical peg protruding axially from one face of the disc, the peg having a lesser outer diameter than the diameter of the disc, said peg being provided with an annular recess therein which accommodates a sealing ring.

Preferably the sealing ring is of resilient material, such as rubber.

Advantageously the sealing ring has a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the peg so that part of the sealing ring projects radially outwardly beyond the peg. The peg may be substantially solid.

Conceivably the diameter of the aperture in the casing is slightly greater than the diameter of said peg, the arrangement being such that the sealing ring is compressed when the peg is located in the aperture.

Preferably the watch casing is formed as an integral plastics moulding.

Advantageously part of the periphery of the disc of the cover is accessible when the cover is in position to facilitate removal of the cover.

In one embodiment the aperture is located adjacent the periphery of a raised face on the watch, the periphery of the disc of the cover extending beyond the periphery of said raised face when the cover is in position.

In another embodiment the aperture providing access to the battery chamber is provided in one face of the watch, and a recess is provided in said one face to provide access to the periphery of the disc of the cover when the cover is in position.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view, from the front, of a watch in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the watch of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the watch of Fig. 2, Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the battery cover of the watch of Fig. 2, Figure 5 is a rear view of the watch of Fig.

2 with the battery cover removed, Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line Vl-Vi of Fig. 5, Figure 7 is a view taken on the line VII-VII in Fig. 5, and Figure 8 is a side view of the casing of the watch with the battery cover removed.

Referring initially to Fig. 1 of the drawings a waterproof watch 1 comprises an integral moulded plastics material watch case 2, the casing 2 defining two pairs of protruding lugs 3, each pair of lugs being adapted to receive a spring-loaded bar to enable a watch strap to be connected to the watch case 2. The watch case defines a large central circular recess 4 in the front face thereof, the recess being adapted to receive a watch mechanism 5. The watch mechanism 5 has a projecting pin 6 which can be inserted to pass through a bore 7 provided in the wall of the recess 4 in the watch casing, a knob 8 then being located on the end part of the pin projecting through the bore 7. The knob can then be actuated to adjust the position of the hands of the watch mechanism 5.

A sealing ring 7 may then be located in position within the recess 4 and a glass 8 may finally be bonded in position thus completing the fabrication of the waterproof watch.

The watch mechanism 5 defines a battery compartment adapted to contain a battery to power the watch, this battery compartment being aligned with a battery cover 10 which is removably mounted on the rear part of the watch.

As can be seen most clearly from Figs. 3 and 4 the battery cover 10 comprises a flat circular disc 11 having a round cylindrical solid peg 12, which has a lesser diameter than the diameter of the disc 11, protruding axially from the undersurface thereof. The disc and the peg are co-axial. The peg 12 defines an annular recess 13 adjacent the free end of the peg 12. A sealing ring comprising an "O"-ring of rubber or other resilient material, 14, is mounted in position within the annular recess 13, and the arrangement is preferably such that the outer diameter of the ring 14 is slightly greater than the diameter of the peg 13. The cover 10, as can be seen from Figs.

3 and 5, is intended to be inserted into a circular aperture 15 formed in the rear face 16 of the watch case 2. The aperture 15 provides direct access to the battery compartment and enables a battery to be inserted into or removed from the compartment. The aperture 15 has a diameter which is very slightly greater than the diameter of the peg. As the peg is introduced into the aperture the O-ring 14 is compressed radially inwardly, thus forming a water tight seal, and also serving to retain the cover 10 in position.

It will be observed from Fig. 3 that the aperture 15 is provided with a rebate to accommodate the disc 11 so that the rear face of the disc 11 is substantially flush with the face 16.

It will be seen, from Figs 2 and 3, that the rear face 16 of the watch is raised up relative to the rest of the watch case 2, and the position of the aperture 15 is so chosen that when the cover 10 has been inserted in the aperture 15 a part, 17, of the disc 11 projects beyond the edge of the face 16. This provides a projecting lip which can be engaged by a screw driver, a coin, or even with a finger nail to enable the battery cover 10 to be readily removed, when desired. In an alternative arrangement the aperture 15 may be provided at a more central location in the face 16, and then an appropriate recess may be provided in the face 16 to permit access to the edge of the disc 11 to facilitate removal of the cover 10.

The battery cover 10 is preferably made of metal and establishes electrical contact with the battery when in position.

Whilst the invention has been described by way of example it is to be appreciated that many modifications may be effected without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cover for a watch battery, said cover comprising a substantially flat disc of predetermined diameter, and a cylindrical peg protruding axially from one face of the disc, the peg having a lesser outer diameter than the diameter of the disc, said being provided with an annular recess therein which accommodates a sealing ring.

2. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the sealing ring is of resilient material.

3. A cover according to claim 2 wherein the sealing ring is of rubber.

4. A cover according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the sealing ring has a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the peg so that part of the sealing ring projects radially outwardly beyond the peg.

5. A cover according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the peg is substantially solid.

6. A watch, said watch comprising a watch case and a watch mechanism defining a battery chamber, therebeing a cover for the watch battery, said cover being removably mounted in an aperture in the casing, said cover comprising a substantially flat disc of predetermined diameter, and a cylindrical peg protruding axially from one face of the disc, the peg having a lesser outer diameter than the diameter of the disc, said peg being provided with an annular recess therein which accommodates a sealing ring.

7. A watch according to claim 6 wherein the sealing ring is of resilient material.

8. A watch according to claim 7 wherein the sealing ring is of rubber.

9. A watch according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the sealing ring has a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the peg so that part of the sealing ring projects radially outwardly beyond the peg.

10. A watch according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the peg is substantially solid.

11. A watch according to any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein the diameter of the aperture in the casing is slightly greater than the diameter of said peg, the arrangement being such that the sealing ring is compressed when the peg is located in the aperture.

12. A watch according to any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein the watch casing is formed as an integral plastics moulding.

13. A watch according to any one of claims 6 to 12 wherein part of the periphery of the disc of the cover is accessible when the cover is in position to facilitate removal of the cover.

14. A watch according to claim 13 wherein the aperture is located adjacent the periphery of a raised face on the watch, the periphery of the disc of the cover extending beyond the periphery of said raised face when the cover is in position.

15. A watch according to claim 13 wherein the aperture providing access to the battery chamber is provided in one face of the watch, and a recess is provided in said one face to provide access to the periphery of the disc of the cover when the cover is in position.

16. A battery cover for a watch substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

17. A watch substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.