US231729A - Watch-key - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) l

G. P. REED.

Watch Key'. A

Patented Aug. 31', 1880.

- @@JFM` PEIERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER, wA Hl WMM the other, as shown at B, to form a shoulder,

rose, inthe county of Middlesex and State Vtion represent,pin Figure l, a side elevation,

key is shown at A as a straight rod or tube,

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE,

WATCH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 231,729, dated August 31, 1880.

Application filed July To all whom it! may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE I. REED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Melof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVatch-Keys; and

I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to means for concealing the winding-pipe of a watch-key by the employment of a sleeve loosely encompa-ssin g the barrel or body of the key, and adapted, when the key is suspended from one end, to drop over and conceal the pipe, or be pushed over the same by hand, if necessary, the sleeve being prevented from escape by suitable means, and converting a watch-key into an ornamental appendage for a watch-chain, resembling the load-pencil now much worn.

yThe drawings accompanying this specifica,-

and in Fig. 2 a longitudinal section, ofa watchkey containing my improvements. y

In these drawings, the body or barrel of the one halt' of which is of larger diameter than a., at the middle ofthe key, or thereabout, the end of the larger portion A terminating in the winding-pipe b, common to watchkeys.

C represents a sleeve composed of 4a straight tube of a diameter to loosely encompass the larger half B of the key, and after being passed over such portion B is turned down at its inner end over the shoulder a, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, by which an annular lip, c, is formed, which engages the shoulder and prevents escape of the sleeve in the di rection of the pipe b, and yet permits of end play ot' the sleeve upon or about the smaller or upper half, d, of the barrel A.

Toprevent escape of the sleeve in the` opposite direction, its lower or outer end is con tracted to a diameter less than that of the lower portion, B, of the barrel, as shown at e. 4

To expose the pipe b preparatory to winding a watch, the sleeve O is pushed inward until the pipe is uncovered, and as the key would be naturally held in a horizontal position while 1, 1880. (No model.)

the winding of the watch takes place, the sleeve would not interfere with the operation, or if it should drop into contact-'with the cover of the watch-case would do no harm.

Vhen the watch is wound and the key is permitted to hang from the chain the sleeve will drop over the pipe and conceal it, or if sufcient friction existed between the two to prevent this the sleeve may be pushed by hand over the pipe.

Objection exists with many persons to wear ing a watch-key (when it is known as snch) upon a watch-chain. By the employment of the sleeve O the real character of the key is disguised, and it cannot be detected from the ornamental lead-pencil now so common, in which one portion slides upon another with a telescopic joint.

The swivel in the upper end or head of the barrel A, to which allusion has before been made, is shown as composedof aspherical ball, f, let into a socket, g, in the end ofthe barrel, and with the edge of the socket -turned over upon and so as toinclose the largest diameter ot' the ball, by which means escape of the latter is prevented, and it is permitted universal freedom of motion.

The ring by which the key is suspended is shown at JL as passed through the outer side ot' the ball j', which completes the key.

I do not -coniine myself to the form of the ball j' as represented in a true sphereas in place of this a cylindrical disk of other shapes may be used-as, for instance, a iiattened ellipsoid, a truncated cone, &c.and effect a substantially like result so long as its greater diameter was inclosed in the socket.

I claiml. In combination with a cylindrical case, a watch-key provided with a barrel or shank that protrudes through the rear end of said case.

2. In combination with case O, open only at the ends, a key consisting of protruding barrel A, enlargenilent B, and windingpipe b, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with cylindrical case O and key A B b, a ring, 7L. attached to said key by a ball-and-socket joint.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE I). REED.

Witnesses H. F. LODGE, F. G. SIMrsoN.

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