GB2273796A

GB2273796A - Watch casing and wrist-watch.

Info

Publication number: GB2273796A
Application number: GB9226720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Norwood Cheung
Original assignee: PM Co Ltd
Current assignee: PM Co Ltd
Priority date: 1992-12-22
Filing date: 1992-12-22
Publication date: 1994-06-29
Also published as: GB9226720D0

Abstract

A wrist-watch (10) incorporating a watch casing (11) which comprises a generally flat body (12) which has a top face on which time is to be displayed and opposite end portions (13) for connection to corresponding ends of a watch strap (28), band or bracelet. The watch casing (11) further includes a peripheral member (25) disposed around on the body top face, and securing means (26) associated with the peripheral member (25) and co-operable with the respective body end portions (13) to secure corresponding ends of said watch strap (28), band or bracelet. <IMAGE>

Description

WATCH CASING AND WRIST-WATCH The present invention relates to a watch casing and a wrist-watch incorporating the same.

According to the invention, there is provided a watch casing which comprises a generally flat body which has a top face on which time is to be displayed and opposite end portions for connection to corresponding ends of a watch strap, band or bracelet, a peripheral member disposed around on the body top face, and securing means associated with the peripheral member and co-operable with the respective body end portions to secure corresponding ends of said watch strap, band or bracelet.

It is preferred that the securing means is fixed on the body by engagement with the peripheral member.

Preferably, the securing means is disposed around the body top face under the peripheral member.

It is preferably for the peripheral member to be fixed on the body top face by direct engagement with the body.

In a preferred embodiment, the peripheral member is screwthreadably engaged with the body.

Preferably, the body has a peripheral wall upstanding from the top face, around which wall the peripheral member is engaged with.

In a specific construction, each end portion of the body comprises a hook formation and the securing means closes the hook formation in order to secure the corresponding end of said watch strap, band or bracelet.

The invention also provides a wrist-watch which incorporates such a watch casing.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a wrist-watch, incorporating a watch casing, in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the wrist-watch of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a wrist-watch 10 incorporating a watch casing 11, embodying the invention.

The watch casing 11 is formed by a generally flat main body member 12 which is essentially a collar having two diametrically opposite end lug portions 13 which are slightly set-in. The body member 12 provides a top compartment 14 for accommodating hour, minute and second hands 15 and a bottom compartment 16 for accommodating a watch movement 17. The top compartment 14 is formed by the upper end of the body member 12, namely an upstanding peripheral wall 18 which is of a reduced diameter, and is closed by a crystal 19 press-fitted within and across the rim of the peripheral wall 18 by a ring gasket 20. The bottom compartment 16 is closed by a back lid 21 pressfitted in place and sealed by another ring gasket 22.The top and bottom compartments 14 and 16 are separated by a watch face plate 23, through which a driving shaft 24 of the watch movement 17 extends upwards to support the watch hands 15.

The watch casing 11 further comprises a peripheral member or bezel ring 25 disposed around the peripheral wall 18.

The inner side of the bezel ring 25 and the outer side of the peripheral wall 18 have co-operable screw threads provided for screw-threadably fixing the bezel ring 25 in place.

The body member 12 has an outer diameter, excluding the end lugs 13, slightly smaller than that of the bezel ring 25, resulting in the bezel ring 25 overlapping with the end lugs 13. Before the bezel ring 25 is fitted, the horizontal annular gap between the bezel ring 25 and the body member 12 immediately above the end lugs 13 is preoccupied by a securing ring 26. The securing ring 26 is sandwiched in position by the bezel ring 25 and have a pair of diametrically opposite end lugs 27 which are aligned with the corresponding end lugs 13 of the body member 12.

The body member end lugs 13 are each in the form of an upwardly opening hook, whereas the corresponding 'securing ring end lugs 27 are generally flat and have a slightly declining profile to match with the respective end lugs 13 of the body member 12.

The wrist-watch 10 further includes a pair of watch straps 28, each of which has a transversely extending end pin 29.

To connect each strap 28 to the corresponding end of the watch casing 11, the associated pin 29 is located in the respective hook-like body member end lug 13 which is subsequently closed by the corresponding end lug 27 of the securing ring 26, thereby securing the end of the strap 28.

It is envisaged that in a slightly different embodiment, the bezel ring may by itself close the body member end lugs, without making use of a separate securing ring, in order to secure the watch straps.

The watch casing of the subject invention has a construction which facilitates replacement of watch straps, bands or bracelets and offers the option of changing bezel rings of different designs conveniently by a user.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiment may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A watch casing comprising a generally flat body which has a top face on which time is to be displayed and opposite end portions for connection to corresponding ends of a watch strap, band or bracelet, a peripheral member disposed around on the body top face, and securing means associated with the peripheral member and co-operable with the respective body end portions to secure corresponding ends of said watch strap, band or bracelet.

2. A watch casing as claimed in claim 1, wherein the securing means is fixed on the body by engagement with the peripheral member.

3. A watch casing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the securing means is disposed around the body top face under the peripheral member.

4. A watch casing as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 3, wherein the peripheral member is fixed on the body top face by direct engagement with the body.

5. A watch casing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the peripheral member is screw-threadably engaged with the body.

6. A watch casing as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the body has a peripheral wall upstanding from the top face, around which wall the peripheral member is engaged with.

7. A watch casing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each end portion of the body comprises a hook formation and the securing means closes the hook formation in order to secure the corresponding end of said watch strap, band or bracelet.

8. A watch casing substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A wrist-watch incorporating a watch casing as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

10. A watch casing comprising a generally flat body having an upper face on which the time is to be displayed, said body having diametrically-opposed outwardly extending projections adapted to receive respective ends of a watch strap, band or bracelet, and locking means attached to said body and adapted to retain -said ends of said watch strap, band or bracelet in respective said projections.