US1721651A - Watchcase - Google Patents

Description

July 23, 1929. A. w. WADSWORTH WATCHCASE Filed July 8, 1927 INVENTOR. Ag'ihur wwads'worl'h ATTORNEY.

Patented July 23, 1929.

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR w. wAnsw'OaTH, or FORT THOMAS, KENTUCKY, Assienoaro THE wAnswom'n WATCH CASE COMPANY, or DAYTON, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION or KENTUCKY.

Application filed m 8,

This invention relates to watch cases and more particularly to a novel movement retaining means whereby the movement is securely held within the watch case without the use of the usual and well-known casescrews.

The objects of this invention are to provide sii'nple, eificient, inexpensive and easily operated means for securely holding a movement within a watch case.

The invention consists in the provision of a flexible or spring arm mounted within a 'atch case with means in combination therewith for engaging said arm with the movement of a watch whereby said movement is held within said case.

The invention further consists in the constructitm, combination, location and arrangement of parts, as herein set forth and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of thecenter of a watch case showing the invention in stalled therein taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on a plane corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the expansible arm and adjusting screw.

In the embodin'ient of my invention as illus trated and which shows a preferred construction I provide a center 1 formed of one piece of base metal and having its outer ends reinforced. by metal members or bearing lugs 2, 3, 4t and 5, respectively. The top 6 of center 1 is provided with opening 7 within which a movement is adapted to be inserted. Heretofore it has been the practice in mounting movements within a watch case to securely attach said movement to the watch case center (such as center 1 or other types) by the usual. and well-known case screws (not shown.)

To eliminate the usual case screws, thus elin'iinating the danger of the movement being placed in the center without fastening it thereto in the proper manner I preferably provide yieldable or spring arm 8 rigidly attached near one end to center 1 in any suitable manner, as for example by rivet 9. The main portion of said arm 8 is shaped to conform with the contour of the opening 7 of center 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, and with the peripheral surface of the watch movement.

The free end 10 of arm 8 is provided with WATCI-ICASE.

19a. Serial No. 204,373.

hole 1 1, which hole receives the reduced end 12 of tightening screw 13. Said tightening screw 13 is received by threaded hole 14 in metal member or bearing'lug 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the invention is as follows: To install a movement within the center 1, all that is necessary is to place said movement within opening 7 of said center.

Then insert a tool (such as a screw-driver) within slot 15 of screw 13 and turn in a clock wise direction, thereby advancing said screw within threaded hole 1 1 which causes the shoulder 16'o't said screw to bear against face 17 of yieldable arm 8 and, in turn, force the curved portion of said arm tightly against the outer periphery of the movement which looks said movement between said arm and said center 1.

An advantage of this invention is that should it be desired to remove the movement from the watch case, all that is necessary is to withdraw the tightening screw 13 slightly. thereby releasing the pressure of arm 8 against the movement, whereupon the spring arm will yield outwardly under spring tension thereby releasing the movement for easy and quick removal from the watch case. lVhen replacing the movement within the center 1, it is necessary that the arm 8 be tightly clamped about said movement. in order that said movement may be properly positioned and firmly held. within the center 1. With the use of the usual and well-known case screws for holding movements within the center of watch cases often times said case screws are emitted by persons tampering with, or fixing said movements, whereupon the movements are left within said cen ter in a unlocked or loose position.

It will be understood that certain changes and modifications of the invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit thereof as defined in the claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination in a. watch case of an arm having one end secured to the interior of the watch case and having the other end adjustably secured to the watch case whereby saidarm may be adjustably moved against the watch movement to firmly hold it in position or moved away from said movement to permit the latter to be removed from the case.

2. In combination with a watch case, a

curved spring arm, means for attaching one end thereof to the interior of the watchcase, a screw mounted in said watch case from the outside of the center thereof in engagement with the other end of saidspring whereby the latter may be adjusted into holding position against the watch movement or withdrawn therefrom to permit said watch movement to he removed from the watch case.

3. In a watch case having a case center, an arm having one end fixed to said center and having a hole in its other end, a hearing lug on said center having a threaded hole therethrough, and through the watch case center, a screwrmounted in said threaded hole and having a reduced end adapted to enter said hole in said other end whereby said arm may he forced tightly and firmly against the moval from the watch case.

ARTHUR WV. WADSW'ORTI-I.

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