US2676736A - Watchcase and bracelet structure - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1954 H. K. TOURNEAU 2,676,736

WATCHCASE AND BRACELET STRUCTURE Filed May 12, 1950 INVENTOR. HFMQ) A. roam/540 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED s sears N T 0 ERIC a 2,676,736 "WATGHGASE AND BRAGELET STRUCTURE Henry-'KflTourneau, New-york, -N., Y.

' Application'Maylfl, 1950;.Se'l1ial No: 161,567

wrist watch be as small as possible and this is particularly so in the case of ladies Wristwatches. Small watches of this type have been provided v butthereare a number of disadvantages inherent in the manufacture and use thereof. Theface of the watch is necessarily small so thatv it became difiicult'for the user to correctly tell the time indicated thereon. In the manufacture of such small .watches, the partsbecomc very delicate,

-causing additional expense in: fabricatiorrzof the martsandassembly of thezwatch movement. Also in use such a delicatemechanism. isxsubje'ct to accidental damage or breakage.

The present invention is intended and "adapted toovercome the difficulties and disadvantages in herent in such watches, it being among the objects of thepresentinvention'to provide a wrist watchzassembly whereinthe watch. is of :relatively large size but whichhas the. appearance of a small watch.

It is also among the objects of the present invention to provide a combination of a link bracelet and a watch case wherein the said elements are of unitary construction and the watch casing is in part a continuation of the bracelet.

It is further among the objects of the present invention to provide a combination of the type described wherein the watch glass or watch crystal is relatively large and in which the watch case when viewed from above, appears to be part of the bracelet.

In practicing the present invention there is provided a watch case having a top member with an opening therein into which a watch glass is set. There is also provided a back or bottom closure for the casing. The side edges of the upper face of the watch casing has a design thereon which usually extends from the edge of the face to the watch glass. A bracelet, usually of a linked construction is secured to the top casing in such a, manner that the design on th casing appears to be a continuation of the design of the bracelet.

In appearance the watch case seems to consist only of the watch glass. Therefore, it would appear to the observer to be a watch of a very small type. However, the watch case itself extends laterally under the design portion so that the movement which fits into the casing is relatively large. As a result, th expense of manufacture of the watch movement is greatly reduced; the

.2 -:watch is 'sturdierand it is easier to see thehan'ds :and figures on the dial while atthe. samertime giving theimpression of a small-watch movement. In the accompanying drawing constituting a part hereof and in which like referenc -characters indicate like parts,

Fig. 1 iszatop plan view of a combinedwatch case. andflbracelet structure made in accordance -.-:with r the. present invention;

i Figs-2 is a side 'elevational View thereof iEigs'BHis a fragmentary enlarged bottom elevational view of the present invention, some parts gbeings'omitted' for. clearness, and

.Fig. .4 i is .;;a" longitudinal cross-sectional view 1 :;taken along; line: 4-4 of Fig. 3.

3 watch movement to extend out of the casing.

Along the side edges of easing i is a design 9 which extends from the edge of the casing to practically in contact with watch glass 4. At the ends of design 9 are fixed connecting memhers I 0, which as shown in Fig. 4 become a part of the casing. Said members have depending sides I I which blend into sides 1 of the watch casing I.

Members l0 have at their outer ends hinge members l2 formed integrally with said members, adapted to surround pins l3 attached to links M. A series of such links I 4 is provided, of suitabl length, and constituting the bracelet of the watch.

40 End connecting members It of the bracelet are fixed into transverse bar [6 whereby the two sets of members whichextend from the sides of the watch are joined together. To one of the bars I6 is secured a keeper I! for a clasp. The oppo- 45 site end of connecting members [8 are fixed to transverse bar 19 which carries a clasp 20 on support 2| fixed to bar Hi.

It will be noted particularly from the showing of Fig. 1 that in appearance the bracelet in- 0 eludes not only the two sets of links [4 on either 55 Therefore, only watch glass 4 appears to cover the entire watch movement and the watch appears to be quite small, when in actual fact it is relatively large.

Although the invention has been described setting forth a single specific embodiment thereof, the invention is not limited thereto but various changes in the details of construction may be made within the spirit of the invention. For instance, bottom closure 5 may be relatively deep and hold the watch movement and the top casing may be relatively shallow. Access to the movement may be obtained through the top casing, which may be made removable from the bracelet. Any suitable type of design may be used instead of that shown and various decorative effects may be employed. Many other possible variations in the type of bracelet may be made, it being important that the sides and ends of the top casing appear to be part of the bracelet itself.

These and other changes in the details of the construction may be made within the spirit of the invention, which is to be broadly construed and not to be limited except by the character of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a combined watchcase and bracelet structure having a top casing, a watchglass in said casing, a bottom closure member adapted to fit said top casing and carry a watch movement, the improvement which comprises a pair of relatively narrow flat connecting members at each of the opposite edges of said casing, said members being fixed on the ends of said casing and extending in a direction normal to said ends, said members having hinge elements on the extending parts thereof, the distance between the members on each said end being greater than their width, two sets of relatively narrow bracelets, each set comprising two bracelets each having a series of links pivoted together, one end of each set being hinged to said hinge elements with the two hinges in substantial alinement along an axis substantially parallel to the end of said casing, the outer edges of said members being in alinement with the sides of said casing, the bracelets of each set being capable of flexing independently of each other, the ends of the two bracelets of each set remote from said members being secured together.

2. A combination according to claim 1 in which the distance between the bracelets at said remote end is less than the width of said links.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which the means for securing said remote ends together comprises a bar substantially parallel to the end of said casing, a pair of connecting members fixed on said bar and extending toward said casing and having hinge elements on the extending parts thereof to which the end links of said bracelets are hinged.

4. A combination according to claim 1 in which the faces of said casing, connecting members and the links adjacent to said members are in substantial alinement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 146,300 Chifari Feb. 4, 1947 D. 155,768 Austin Nov. 1, 1949 1,750,786 Roy Mar. 18, 1930 1,754,884 Frey Apr. 15, 1930 1,852,016 Kent Apr. 5, 1932 2,119,436 Lauf May 31, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 65,186 Switzerland June 11, 1913 298,503 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1928 331,155 Great Britain June 26, 1930 776,675 France Nov. 8, 1934 184,367 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1937 197,915 Switzerland Aug. 16, 1938 OTHER REFERENCES New Yorker Magazine, Page 3 advertisement of Cartier, June 18, 1949.

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