GB2200032A

GB2200032A - Wrist watches

Info

Publication number: GB2200032A
Application number: GB08712570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tung Wing Li
Original assignee: TIMOS Ltd
Current assignee: TIMOS Ltd
Priority date: 1987-05-28
Filing date: 1987-05-28
Publication date: 1988-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2007-05-28
Also published as: GB2200032B; GB8712570D0

Abstract

A watch assembly consisting of a case 2, a removable bezel or jacket element 1 and a replaceable band element 14 is provided, the case 2 of the assembly being provided with a pair of brackets 11 depending from its rear face for receiving the band element 14 in the composite assembly. The bezel or jacket element 1 is constructed with a pair of retaining platforms 9 for supporting the case 2 when it is placed within the bezel. In assembly, the case 2 and bezel 1 are coupled together, with the platforms 9 holding the case in one direction, and then the band 14 is inserted through the depending brackets 11 of the case, lapping against the bezel 1 and the rear face of the case 2, thereby preventing movement of the case in an opposite direction. <IMAGE>

Description

WRIST WATCHES This invention relates to wrist watches and in particular, but not exclusively. to jackets for mounting on the wrist watch case.

Conventional watch cases have a pair of support bars mounted on either side thereof for enabling the attachment of a two-part watch strap or bracelet. Such watches have the disadvantage that special techniques or tools are often required for the attachment or detachment of the strap or bracelet to or from the support bars. This means that once a particular strap or bracelet is fitted to the watch case. the strap or bracelet is not readily interchangeable with another style of strap or bracelet.

A solution to the above problem is to provide a watch case having a pair of supports extending therefrom. which supports define apertures between the watch body and the supports. The aperatures are such that a one-piece watch strap or bracelet can be threaded through the apertures without the need for special tooling or expertise.

Such an arrangement allows the wrist watch user easily to interchange the strap or bracelet with a strap or bracelet of another size or style.

Although such an arrangement permits easy interchangeability of a watch strap or bracelet. the appearance of the watch case itself remains unchanged.

In addition. the watch case and, in particular. the winder which projects from the side of the watch case, are susceptible to damage due to knocks and scrapes.

According to the present invention, there is provided a jacket for a wrist watch case, the jacket comprising a body portion for at least partially surrounding the peripheral edge of the wrist watch case, and support means for supporting the wrist watch case and for locating the body portion in position to surround said peripheral edge.

The support means. which may be integral with the body portion. may be configured so that the jacket will snap-fit onto the wrist watch case.

Alternatively, the support means may comprise a pair of flanges extending from the body portion, which flanges are configured so as to engage the rear of the wrist watch case.

The body portion may comprise an opening for allowing access to the winder of the wrist watch case.

Preferably, the flanges are disposed along opposite sides of the body portion. and one of the flanges may bridge the opening.

The overall shape of the body portion may be, for example, circular, square or rectangular, so that the jacket can be fitted to a correspondingly shaped watch case. Preferably. the inner surface of the body portion corresponds in shape to the peripheral edge of the wrist watch case.

Alternatively, the shape of the outer periphery of the body portion may be different from that on the inner portion, for example, the inner portion may be substantially circular in shape whereas the outer portion may be, for example, square or rectangular.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a wrist watch arrangement comprising a watch case, a strap and a jacket as defined in the above paragraphs. A pair of strap supports extend from the watch case such that a pair of apertures are defined between the watch body and the strap supports. The apertures are such that the strap can be threaded therethrough so that the watch case is supported on the strap. In this arrangement. the jacket is disposed between the watch case and the strap and is retained in position. so that it surrounds the peripheral edge of the watch case, by the support members of the body portion and the strap itself.

Preferably, the support bars extend rearwardly from the watch case.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit-of-parts for a wrist watch arrangement comprising a watch case, a strap and a jacket as defined above.

Embodiments of the present invention have the advantage that the jacket can be easily interchanged by simply unthreading the strap through the apertures and removing the jacket from the watch case. The user can not only change the style and/or size of the watch strap, but the appearance of the watch body itself can be modified by simply interchanging the jacket to one having a different shape. size or colour.

The invention will now be further described. by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate light elements, and in which: Figs la to le show plan, underside, side and end views of a watch body having a jacket, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, mounted thereon: Fig 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a wrist watch arrangement comprising a watch case, strap and jacket in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs 3a to 3e show plan, underside, side and end views of an assembled wrist watch arrangement according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs 4a and 4b show plan and underside view of an assembled wrist watch arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Figs 5 to 5e show plan. underside, side and end views of a jacket ring. according to a second embodiment of the present invention, mounted on the watch case, with the strap omitted.

In figure la, a jacket ring is shown mounted on a watch case 2. The numerical detail and hands of the watch face 3 have been omitted from the drawing. The jacket ring comprises a body portion 1 having an outer peripheral edge 4, and an inner peripheral surface 5 which corresponds to the circular shape of the outer peripheral edge of the watch case 2. The jacket ring has an opening 6 for enabling access to the winder 7 of the watch case 2. The ends of the body portion 1, of the jacket ring 1, which define the opening 6 have sloped portions 8 which help to provide access to the winder 7.

Figure ib shows the underside of the jacket ring and the watch case 2. The body portion 1 has a pair of flanges 9 extending therefrom for locating the body portion 1 of the jacket ring in position with respect to the watch case 2. One of the flanges 9 bridges the opening 6 and is disposed diametrically opposite from the other flange 9. The ends of the body portion 1 have sloped portions 10 for providing access to the winder 7.

The watch case 2 has a pair of support bars 11 extending from its rear side. As can be seen from figures ic to le. the support bars 11 define apertures 12 between the support bars and the underside of the watch case 2.

Figure ib also shows a cover 13 which serves to cover an access opening provided in the underside of the watch case 2.

Figure 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the watch case 2, jacket ring and a watch band or strap 14.

To assemble the wrist watch arrangement. the jacket ring is first placed rearwardly onto the watch case 2 so that the flanges 9 locate with the rear side of the watch case 2, and the body portion surrounds the peripheral edge of the watch case 2. The strap 14 is then threaded through the apertures defined by the support bars 11 and the rear side of the watch case 2 in order to maintain the jacket ring in position between the strap 14 and the watch case 2.

Figures 3a to 3e show views of the assembled wrist watch arrangement. Since the strap 14 is slidingly threaded through the apertures 12. the position of the watch case 2 along the length of the strap 14 can be varied according to requirements. In addition, the strap 14 and/or jacket ring can be interchanged with a strap or jacket ring of different shape and style with relative ease as desired.

Figures 4a and 4b show an assembled wrist watch arrangement according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the relative dimensions of the jacket ring are different from that of the first embodiment thereby changing the appearance of the wrist watch arrangement. In this embodiment, the inner peripheral edge 5 of the body portion 1 corresponds to the shape of the peripheral edge of the watch case 2. However. the outer peripheral edge 15, the body portion 1 has a diameter which is less than that of the first embodiment.

The specific embodiments described above are examples of the present invention only. It is envisaged that modifications may be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, various shapes of jacket ring are envisaged, for example, the outer edge of the jacket ring may be of a different shape from the inner edge. In addition. the use of the word "strap" in the above description is not intended to limit the invention to any particular type of strap or band. The watch strap may be in any shape or form, for example, handkerchief. scarf, string or interlocking metal elements. Moreover. although the cross-section of the body portion 1, of the described embodiment is substantially 'D' shaped. it is envisaged that the body portion 1 may have other cross-sections.

Claims

1. A jacket for a wrist watch case, comprising a body portion for at least partially surrounding the peripheral edge of the wrist watch case, and support means for supporting the wrist watch case and for locating the body portion in position to surround said peripheral edge.

2. A jacket for a wrist watch case as claimed in claim 1, in which the support means are so configured that the jacket will snap-fit onto the wrist watch case.

3. A jacket for a wrist watch case as claimed in claim 1, in which the support means comprise a pair of flanges extending from the body portion, which flanges are configured so as to engage the rear of the wrist watch case.

4. A jacket for a wrist watch case as claimed in claim 3, in which the body portion comprises an opening for allowing access to the winder of the wrist watch, the flanges are disposed along opposite sides of the body portion, and one of the flanges bridges the said opening.

5. A wrist watch arrangement comprising a watch case, a strap, and a jacket as claimed in any preceding claim.

6. A wrist watch arrangement as claimed in claim 5, in which a pair of strap supports extend from the watch case, such that a pair of apertures are defined between the watch body and strap supports, the said apertures being such that the strap can be threaded therethrough whereby the watch case is supported on the strap.

7. A kit of parts for assembling a wrist watch arrangement, comprising a watch case, a watch strap, and a jacket as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4.

8. A watch assembly comprising; a case having a front face for displaying the time, a rear face and a rim defining the circumference of said case; a removable bezel adapted to be releasably secured around said rim of said case; first means for inhibiting movement of said case in a first direction substantially normal to said case; a removable hand positioned in overlapping relation to said rear face of said -case; and second means for inhibiting movement of said case in a second direction substantially normal to said case and substantially opposite to said first direction.

9. The watch assembly of claim 8, further including means for coupling said band element to said case to establish said overlapping relationship therebetween.

10. The watch assembly of claim 9, wherein said first means comprises at least one platform extending inwardly from said bezel element to receive said rear face of said case thereon.

11. The watch assembly of claim 9, wherein said second means comprises said band element in said overlapping relation position with said rear face of said case.

12. The watch assembly of claim 11, wherein said coupling means includes means projecting from said rear face of said case and spaced therefrom to accommodate said band therethrough.

13. A method for assembling a watch according to Claim 10, substantially as hereinbefore described.

13. The watch assembly of claim 12, wherein said coupling means comprises at least one bracket element extending from said rear face of said case and defining a slot between said bracket and said rear face for receiving said band therethrough.

14. The watch assembly of claim 13, including a pair of said brackets at opposed ends of said rear face.

15. The watch assembly of claim 13, wherein said case includes a time adjusting knob extending therefrom.

16. The watch assembly of claim 15, wherein said bezel is formed with a recess for receiving said knob.

17. A method for assembling a watch from components including a case having a first displaying face, a second rear face opposite the displaying face, and a rim defining the circumference of the case, a removable bezel and a removable band, the method comprising: releasably securing said bezel around the rim of said case so that movement of said case in a first direction normal to said case is inhibited; and positioning said band in overlapping relation to said rear face of said case so that movement of said case in a second direction normal to said case and substantially opposite said first direction is inhibited.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said positioning step comprises coupling said band element to said case by threading said band through at least one bracket extending from said rear face of said case.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said securing step includes receiving said rear face of said case on at least one platform extending inwardly from said bezel element.

20. A jacket for a wrist watch case, substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 3, or figures 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.

21. A wrist watch arrangement, substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 to 3, or figures 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed since search CLAIMS: 1. A watch assembly comprising a case having a front face for d-isplaying the time, a rear face and a rim defining the circumference of said case; a removable hand positioned in overlapping relation to the rear face of said case; a removable bezel releasably secured around said rim of said case, wherein first means is provided for inhibiting movement of said case relative to said bezel in a direction substantially normal to said case and towards said band; and means for coupling said band to said case so that said band inhibits movement of said case in a direction normal to said case and away from said band, said coupling means projecting from the rear face of said case and spaced therefrom to accommodate said band therethrough.

2. A watch assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said bezel includes said first means.

3. A watch assembly according to Claim 2, wherein said first means comprises at least one platform extending inwardly from said bezel element to receive said rear face of said case thereon.

4. A watch assembly according to Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said coupling means comprises at least one bracket element extending from said rear face of said case and defining a slot between said bracket and said rear face for receiving said band therethrough.

5. A watch assembly according to Claim 4. including a pair of said brackets at opposed ends of said rear face.

6. A watch assembly according to Claim 4, wherein said case includes a time adjusting knob extending therefrom.

7. A watch assembly according to Claim 6, wherein said bezel is formed with a recess for receiving said knob.

8. A watch assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the bezel and watch case are configured so that the bezel can snap-fit onto the case, thereby provided said first means for inhibiting movement of said case relative to said bezel.

9. A kit of parts for assembling a watch assembly according to anyone of the preceding claims. comprising a case, a removable band and a removable bezel.

10. A method for assembling a watch from components including a case having a first displaying face, a second rear face opposite the displaying face. and a rim defining the circumference of the case, a removable bezel and a removable band, the method comprising: releasably securing said bezel around the rim of said case so that movement of said case in a first direction substantially normal to said case and towards said band is inhibited; and positioning said band in overlapping relation to said rear face of said case, by passing said band through spaces defined by coupling means projecting from the rear face of said case,so that movement of said case in a second direction normal to said case and away from said band is inhibited.

11. The method of Claim 10, wherein said securing step includes receiving said rear face of said case on at least one platform extending inwardly from said bezel element.

12. A watch arrangement, substantially as herein described with-reference to figures 1 to 3, or figures 4 and 5, of the accompanying drawings.