GB2195793A

GB2195793A - Improvements in or relating to pieces

Info

Publication number: GB2195793A
Application number: GB08621591A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sam Sun Yeung
Original assignee: KILOVEST
Current assignee: KILOVEST
Priority date: 1986-09-08
Filing date: 1986-09-08
Publication date: 1988-04-13
Also published as: GB8621591D0

Abstract

The invention provides a timepiece having mounting means which allow it to serve both as a wrist watch and as a free-standing clock. Such mounting means comprise an elongate flexible rod (2) which can be bent to form a stable cantilever support carrying the watch case (1) or which can be wound around the wrist. The rod (2) is removable to attach to the case in its place a conventional wrist band (16). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to timepieces This invention relates to clocks and watches, referred to generally herein as timepieces, and is concerned with mounting means by which they are located or held.

Conventional wrist watches have a strap for attaching the watch to the wearer's wrist. If the watch is removed, if the face is not to be laid flat, it requires some careful manipulation to sit it upright for it to be read like a table clock, and even when it is possible to place the face thus, it cannot be assured that it will remain stably in position.

According to the present invention, a timepiece is provided with mounting means that allow it to serve usefully both as a wrist watch and as a free-standing clock. The same mounting means may be arranged both to support the timepiece when it is used as a free-standing clock and also to hold it on the user's wrist when it is employed as a wrist watch.

Thus, in one aspect of the invention, a timepiece is provided with a mounting deformable into alternative stable shapes, in one of which it provides a base for the free-standing support of the timepiece of a surface and in the other of which it attaches the timepiece to the wrist of a user. Such a mounting may comprise an elongate, flexible tube or rod which allows the timepiece to be raised some distance above the surface on which it is supported. A suitable rod may be formed comprising a deformable metal core sheathed in a softer covering.

In another aspect of the invention, a timepiece comprises a case provided with means for detachably engaging mounting means and there are provided alternative mounting means, one serving to support the timepiece in a freestanding manner and the other to attach it to a user's wrist.

The elongate, flexible mounting already referred to may also be arranged to be detachably engaged with the timepiece and in this and other instances the timepiece may be provided with means for a further mode of mounting, e.g. as a pendant.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a timepiece according to the invention serving as a free-standing clock, Figure 2 shows the timepiece of Fig. 1 being worn as a wrist watch, Figure 3 shows the rear of the timepiece with a detachable clip for holding the mounting illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows the timepiece and the clip separated from each other, and Figure 5 shows the timepiece with an alternative mounting in place, for use as a wrist watch.

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the alternative ways of employing a timepiece as a free-standing clock and a wrist watch, using the same mounting, which may be permanently secured to the timepiece casing or may be detachable, as will be described below.

The mounting 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is an elongate cylindrical bar composed of a central core wire 4 shrouded in a soft plastics or rubber tube 6. The tube may be cut from a continuous length of tubing and cover plates attached to the cut ends to conceal the wire.

The core wire may be of copper or soft iron, such as to be easily deformable to alternative stable shapes. The shrouding tube is sufficiently soft so that the resilience of its material does not produce any measurable restoring force that might restore the shape of the wire once it has been bent. It is thus easy to deform the free length of the mounting bar into a stand to support the timepiece 1 on a surface, as shown in Fig. 1, with its face tilted to any desired angle, or to coil the mounting bar 2 around the wrist, as shown in Fig. 2, if the timepiece is to be worn as a wrist watch.

The rear of the timepiece has a pair of parallel staples 8 providing slots in which is held a support clip 10 for the mounting bar 2. The clip has an arch-shaped body with flanges 12 along its opposite longitudinal edges that are located in the slots. The clip is sprung into place, a longitudinal recess 14 along its inner face making it easier to flex the clip by finger pressure when it is to be attached or removed. The height of the clip 10 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of the mounting bar 2, or the clip is otherwise formed so as to grip the bar lightly, in order to hold the timepiece firmly in place on the bar.

With the clip removed, a wrist band 16 can be inserted through the slots, as shown in Fig. 5, to give an alternative way of converting the timepiece to a wrist watch. The casing also has an eye 18 for a cord or chain to enable the timepiece to be used as a pendant.

1. A timepiece having a mounting deformable into alternative stable shapes, in one of which it provides a base for the free-standing support of the timepiece on a surface and in the other of which it attaches the timepiece to the wrist of a user.

2. A timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the mounting comprises an elongate flexible tube or rod.

3. A timepiece according to claim 2, wherein the mounting tube or rod comprises a deformable metal core sheathed in a softer covering.

4. A timepiece according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said tube or rod is of a form and length to permit it to be wound around a user's wrist to hold the timepiece thereon.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to timepieces This invention relates to clocks and watches, referred to generally herein as timepieces, and is concerned with mounting means by which they are located or held. Conventional wrist watches have a strap for attaching the watch to the wearer's wrist. If the watch is removed, if the face is not to be laid flat, it requires some careful manipulation to sit it upright for it to be read like a table clock, and even when it is possible to place the face thus, it cannot be assured that it will remain stably in position. According to the present invention, a timepiece is provided with mounting means that allow it to serve usefully both as a wrist watch and as a free-standing clock. The same mounting means may be arranged both to support the timepiece when it is used as a free-standing clock and also to hold it on the user's wrist when it is employed as a wrist watch. Thus, in one aspect of the invention, a timepiece is provided with a mounting deformable into alternative stable shapes, in one of which it provides a base for the free-standing support of the timepiece of a surface and in the other of which it attaches the timepiece to the wrist of a user. Such a mounting may comprise an elongate, flexible tube or rod which allows the timepiece to be raised some distance above the surface on which it is supported. A suitable rod may be formed comprising a deformable metal core sheathed in a softer covering. In another aspect of the invention, a timepiece comprises a case provided with means for detachably engaging mounting means and there are provided alternative mounting means, one serving to support the timepiece in a freestanding manner and the other to attach it to a user's wrist. The elongate, flexible mounting already referred to may also be arranged to be detachably engaged with the timepiece and in this and other instances the timepiece may be provided with means for a further mode of mounting, e.g. as a pendant. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a timepiece according to the invention serving as a free-standing clock, Figure 2 shows the timepiece of Fig. 1 being worn as a wrist watch, Figure 3 shows the rear of the timepiece with a detachable clip for holding the mounting illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, Figure 4 shows the timepiece and the clip separated from each other, and Figure 5 shows the timepiece with an alternative mounting in place, for use as a wrist watch. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the alternative ways of employing a timepiece as a free-standing clock and a wrist watch, using the same mounting, which may be permanently secured to the timepiece casing or may be detachable, as will be described below. The mounting 2 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is an elongate cylindrical bar composed of a central core wire 4 shrouded in a soft plastics or rubber tube 6. The tube may be cut from a continuous length of tubing and cover plates attached to the cut ends to conceal the wire. The core wire may be of copper or soft iron, such as to be easily deformable to alternative stable shapes. The shrouding tube is sufficiently soft so that the resilience of its material does not produce any measurable restoring force that might restore the shape of the wire once it has been bent. It is thus easy to deform the free length of the mounting bar into a stand to support the timepiece 1 on a surface, as shown in Fig. 1, with its face tilted to any desired angle, or to coil the mounting bar 2 around the wrist, as shown in Fig. 2, if the timepiece is to be worn as a wrist watch. The rear of the timepiece has a pair of parallel staples 8 providing slots in which is held a support clip 10 for the mounting bar 2. The clip has an arch-shaped body with flanges 12 along its opposite longitudinal edges that are located in the slots. The clip is sprung into place, a longitudinal recess 14 along its inner face making it easier to flex the clip by finger pressure when it is to be attached or removed. The height of the clip 10 is preferably slightly less than the diameter of the mounting bar 2, or the clip is otherwise formed so as to grip the bar lightly, in order to hold the timepiece firmly in place on the bar. With the clip removed, a wrist band 16 can be inserted through the slots, as shown in Fig. 5, to give an alternative way of converting the timepiece to a wrist watch. The casing also has an eye 18 for a cord or chain to enable the timepiece to be used as a pendant. CLAIMS

5. A timepiece comprising a case having means for detachably engaging mounting means, wherein there are provided alternative mounting means, one serving to support the timepiece in a free-standing manner and the other to attach it to a user's wrist.

6. A timepiece according to claim 5 wherein said means for detachable engagement of alternative mounting means comprises a clip member for securing free-standing mounting means to the case.

7. A timepiece according to claim 6 wherein said free-standing mounting means comprises a member that is deformable to alternative stable states.

8. A timepiece according to claim 7 wherein the mounting comprises an elongate flexible tube or rod.

9. A timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the mounting tube or rod comprises a deformable metal core sheathed in a softer covering.

10. A timepiece according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said tube or rod is of a form and length to permit it to be wound around a user's wrist to hold the timepiece thereon.

11. A timepiece according to any one of ciaims 6 to 10 wherein the case has a pair of staples for detachably engaging said clip member and being adapted to receive alternatively a wristband.

12. A timepiece according to any of the preceding claims further comprising an eye for receiving a cord or chain.

13. A timepiece substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.