US2472351A - Combined watchcase and bracelet - Google Patents

Description

June 7, 1 949. E. P. TYLER 2,472,351

I COMBiNED WATCHCASE AND BRACELET Filed Sept. 4, 1945 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

. Err/120A TYLER,

ATTOE/VEK June 7, 1949. E, P, TYL R 2,472,351

I COMBINED WATCHCASE AND BRACELET Filed Sept. 4, 1945 2 ShetS-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. EDWARD A 7152,

Afro/amen Patented June 7, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to watchcases, and has for an object the provision of a case for a wrist or a finger watch which includes the entire means for mounting the watch as an integral and permanent portion of the watchcase.

A more detailed object of my invention is to provide a watchcase, the opposite sides of which are extended to provide fingers so elongated and curved that they cooperate with each other to define a bracelet adapted to be slipped over a portion of a wearers arm, to mount the watch in a convenient and readily visible position, thus avoiding the necessity of providing a band, strap, or the like in addition to the watchcase in accordance with more conventional practice.

A further object in this connection is to fashion the extended portion of the case so that they merge gradually into the body portion, thus presenting an article of jewelry of novel and unusually attractive design.

Another object of my invention is to provide a watchcase having an integral mounting as described, which is constructed of resilient material .possessed of suflicient strength to permit its retaining a predetermined form whereby a bracelet or ring constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention can be fitted precisely to a persons wrist or finger, and thus present an article of so-called individualized or custom made jewelry capable of commanding a higher sale value because of its having been made expressly for a certain wearer.

Still another object is to provide novel means for fastening the watch movement within its case whereby the fastening is of a permanent nature precluding removal of the movement without the destruction of at least a portion of its mounting unless special tools be employed, thus making any tampering with the movement by others than duly authorized, skilled craftsmen readily detectable.

The invention possesses other objects and valuable features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiments of my invention illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawing and description as I may adopt variations of the preferred forms within the scope of my invention as defined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bracelet watchcase constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention, showing the inside surface of that portion in which the watch movement is mounted.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the exterior surface of that portion of the bracelet with which the watch movement is associated.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, medial sectional view taken through the bracelet of Figures 1 and 2, a portion of the figure being broken away to reduce its size.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a slightly modified form of bracelet watchcase.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the exterior surface of that portion of the bracelet of Figure 4 with which the watch movement is associated.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal, medial sectional view of the bracelet of Figures 4 and 5.

Referring first to that modification of my invention illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, it will be observed that the bracelet ll comprises a central body portion l2 extended at opposite sides to present fingers l3 integral with the body portion I2 and projecting oppositely therefrom so that by being curved through substantially 180 degrees,

their extreme ends l4 approach each other, with the result that the combined body portion l2 and fingers 13 take the form of an elongated strip curved to substantially oval form. This strip is composed of suitable resilient material, any of the metals commonly employed in jewelry having been found satisfactory. It might be mentioned, however, that stainless steel has been found particularly appropriate as material of which to construct the bracelet ll, inasmuch as its severely plain and yet highly attractive finish has been found to blend perfectly with the plain, simple structural design of the bracelet ll. Moreover, stainless steel is characterized by the high coefficient of resiliency; and this is a rather essential characteristic of the material of which the bracelet I l is formed, inasmuch as the bracelet is designed to remain in position upon the wearer's arm by being fitted nicely thereto either to his wrist or, in the event that the watchcase is designed as a finger ring, upon the finger. In fact, the body portion l2 and fingers 13 are preferably of a relatively massive, heavy design, which permits forming the bracelet to the exact shape of the wrist or finger of the person by whom it is to be worn so that it will retain the exact position which affords the greatest convenience to the user by locating its watch in that position wherein it is most readily visible. This feature also adds commercial value to the invention, because of the higher sale value Which can be commanded by ,a

3 custom made article which has been fashioned expressly for an individual.

The parts are so proportioned and arranged that the extreme ends it of the fingers it are separated from each other a distance slightly less than the minimum thickness of the wrist of the person for whom the bracelet l l is fashioned. The bracelet is placed on the wearers wrist by sliding the wrist laterally between the ends M, with one end pressed rather firmly between the tendons just under the skin of the front of the wearers wrist below the base of the thumb. As the wrist passes between the ends 54, a rotary motion of the bracelet ll with respect to thewrist, causes the bracelet to assume a position upon the wrist with the ends l l against the front oi. thewrist while the body portion it bears against the back of the wrist, thus placing the watch carried by the body portion E2 in the most convenient position for its ready visibility.

Of course, pressing one of the ends li'isofirmly into the flesh of the wrist will cause a certain amount of spreadingof the fingers it; and one -of the details to be taken into consideration in the design of the bracelet l l is'to proportion the fin- -gers to permit their being so spread. The fingers shouldbe of sufiiciently small cross sectional area to =permit their being flexed far enough so that the bracelet can be slipped into position inthe :manner described without discomfort to the wearer. Consequently, each of the fingers i3 is of considerably reduced cross-sectional area as compared to-the bodyportion l2, thus assuring that the flexure of 'the'bracelet coincident with placing the bracelet upon the wrist occurs solely in t-he fingers l3 and without any danger of deformation of thebody portion l2 withinwhich the watch H5 is carried.

In order 'to'mounta watchmovement E6 in the bracelet, a recess H is iormed'in the body portion 12, this recess being so proportioned that the movement l s fits snugly therein, as by having its :forward plate to fit relatively tightly into the bore 'of the recess ll! and bearing against the inner surface of abezel iii-which defines the forward end of the recess l'l'. Thebezel i9 also-serves to retain-the crystal 2! in its proper position before --"the face of the watchmovement so as to exclude dust and moisture.

'Thus it may be seen that the bracelet l I actually constitutes the watchcase inasmuch as the watch movement it isfitted directly :thereinto.

A dustproof cover 22 is removably receivable within the back end ofthe recess ll,-preferably being provided with the threads engageable with complementary threads formed directly in the body portion of the bracelet. The inner surface of the cover 22 is recessed as indicated at M :to receive the back plate 26 of the move- *ment l 5, this plate preferably being fitted accurately to the recess 2d. Actually therefore, the cover 22 constitutes the back of the watchcase which not only assists in excluding dust and moisture from the-movement IGJ-but it also aids in the act of immobilizing the movement it within its case H2.

The winding stem 2'? extends through :a slot 28 which is formed in the back or imdersurface pt'the body portion l2 insu ch position as to estabf l-ish'communication between the recess l? and an aperture-29 which is formed in the body portion posed within the aperture 29. The parts are preferably so proportioned that the peripheral edge of the head 3| projects beyond both the front and the back surfaces of the body portion l2, thereby 5 facilitating its being engaged between thumb and finger for either rotating as in winding the spring of the movement is or in setting the hands in the well known manner.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 disclose a modified form of my watchcase and bracelet, which differs from the first described modification in that the back 4! of the watchcase, instead of being separable from the remainder of the case 42, is integral therewith. Thistrequires that the movement 43 be inserted into the reecess 4 3 from the front and prior to the insertion of the crystal 46. In this modification, the crystal 46 serves as the member which locks the movement 43 so securely within the case 42 that it is effectually immobilized therein. This is accomplished by causing the crystal l-3 wto :press firmly against the peripheral edge .oi-lt-he'front plate'4-l oithe watch movement rtsthus causing the back :plate 4-8 to press-against the back ii of the case with equalfirmness. Preferably, the crystal at is anchored in positionwith respect to the case "42, :behind -,a bezel flange 49 overlapping the peripheral edgeof .thecrystal .46 and is permanently mounted within the case 42. i. e., so mounted there-inthat it cannot-be removed without actual deformation or destruction of either the crystal it or the bezel '49, or both. .Aclcordingl-y, a preferred manner of mounting the :crystal it in thecase 42 is that which forms the subject matter of :my application Serial No. .384,-

767 filed March :22, 1-941, now abandoned. The advantage of permanently mounting the crystal 4.6 :in the case 4-2 is that it provides-substantially positiveassurance against'tampering-with the. reellatively delicate watch movement 143 byother than authorized persons possessed of the proper tools and skill. i-If others than authorized persons attempt to remove the {crystal :46 and thus gain access to the watch movement 43, it will be unavoidable that at least some of the bezel 49 be destroyed iiythe crystal 46 is to be removed without its fracture, and therefore any such attempt will be :readily detectable.

:Since in the second described modification the watch movement '43 is inserted into the .case 42 from the :front of the recess .144, :it is impractical "to provide 'aslot extending :fromone end of the recess deep enough to receive \the winding and setting :stem 5! inasmuch as the forward end of I :such :slot would constitute a disfigurement of the outer visible face of the watchcase. Conse nuentl y,:a pref erred. accommodation for the wind- :ing and setting-stem 51 :is an opening 52 extending .from the recess '44 into an aperture 53 in the watchcase .42 adjacent the recess and adjacent or :in the base of one of the fingers 54. Conse- -quently,:it ianecessary to remove thezknurled head 5.6 :from the stem 52 before the movement is inserted intothe recess 44 and :-then to insert the movement '43 but first slipping -.the end of the stem 315:! through the =opening-52 and then sl pping the movement 43 int-othe recess 44 in a twisting movement. Thereafter, the head 56 can be secured tdfthe exposed end :of the :stem 15! in the usual :manner.

I-claim: 1. As a novel article of jewelry. a watchbrace let comprising an elongated strip of resilient material having its end portions curved to substantially oval "form,'=but spaced apart sufiiciently to permit passage of a wearers wrist =therebetween without spreading the ends of said strip to the extent of exceeding the elastic limit of said material, said strip having a recess therein, a Watch movement fitted directly into said recess, and a crystal fitted to said strip with its edge encircling said recess and retaining said movement within said bracelet 2. As a novel article of jewelry, a watch bracelet comprising an elongated strip of resilient material having its end portions curved to substantially oval form, but spaced apart sufficiently to permit passage of a wearers wrist therebetween without spreading the ends of said strip to the extent of exceeding the elastic limit of said material, said strip having a recess therein, a Watch movement fitted directly into said recess, means integral with said strip defining a bezel encircling said recess, and a crystal seated under said bezel said movement. being rigidly retained in said recess by said crystal and bezel.

3. As a novel article of jewelry, a watch bracelet comprising an elongated strip of resilient material havin its end portions curved to substantially oval form, but spaced apart sufliciently to permit passage of a wearers wrist therebetween without spreading the ends of said strip to the extent of exceeding the elastic limit of said material, said strip having a recess therein, a watch movement fitted directly into said recess, and a crystal fitted to said strip with its edge encircling said recess and retaining said movement within said bracelet, said movement being removable from said bracelet only by destruction of said crystal.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a watchcase comprising a central body portion apertured in its outer face to receive a Watch movement, and extended laterally outwards at opposite sides thereof to define laterally extending fingers integral with said body portion, said fingers being curved and their ends extending toward each other, whereby said body portion and curved fingers cooperate in defining a bracelet, one of said fingers having an opening therethrough adjacent said recess for the reception of the winding crown of said movement, and said one of said fingers and said body portion having a hole therein interconnectin said aperture and said opening, and adapted to receive the winding stem of said movement.

EDWARD P. TYLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,066,437 Vitrone Jan. 5, 1937 2,189,096 Alonge Feb. 6, 1940

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