US2751132A

US2751132A - Expansible wrist watch band

Info

Publication number: US2751132A
Application number: US340953A
Authority: US
Inventors: Myerson Simon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1953-03-09
Filing date: 1953-03-09
Publication date: 1956-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1973-06-19

Description

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s. MYERSON EXPANSIBLE WRIST WATCH BAND Filed Maron 9. 195s INVENTOR.

SIMON MYERSON ATTORNEYS" United States Patent i EXPANSIBLE WRIST WATCH BAND Simon Myerson, Newton, Mass.

Application March 9, 1953, Serial No. 340,953

6 Claims. (Cl. 224-4) Expansible wrist watch bands of the type that may be slipped on or ofi without disconnecting the sections generally fall into one of the two classes, viz., those embodying foldable links, and those comprising links and associated retracting springs. The former type is subject to the objection that in time the links become so worn that they are apt to unfold with a result that the wrist watch and band may accidentally drop off the wrist; and the latter type is objectionable in that it is quite difficult to select the precise number of links either to prevent uncomfortable binding of the band about the wrist or avoid objectionable looseness which is apt to cause the watch and band to slide ofi the wrist or shift its position on the wrist if the arm is quickly extended. If the band is under sufficient tension to prevent objectionable looseness, it tends to indent the skin and irritate the wearer.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the aforementioned objectionable features and to provide a band for a Wrist watch or the like article which is of simple design and of pleasing appearance, which is of strong and durable construction, which may be readily slipped on and ofi the wrist, which may be made secure on the wrist without binding or otherwise irritating the wearer and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a wrist watch band constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the sections in retracted position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the sections expanded;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line S-S of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an isometric of the end connector for attaching one of the sections to a wrist watch or the like;

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but showing a further embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 9 is a view showing a modification of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8.

ln accordance with the present invention I provide a band for a wrist watch or the like article, which comprises two relatively non-expandable sections, each having an end attachable to the wrist watch, and the adjacent ends of these sections carry interengaging coupling means such as a buckle, hook, snap or the like by which they may be detachably secured together. A retracting member or band is juxtaposed to the two sections and connected therewith so as to extend across the coupling means normally to hold the two sections in position to complete the encirclement about the wrist. The sections are preferably so constructed as to provide a sheath or housing for the retracting member and the parts are made from material which not only provides an attractive ap- 2,751,132 Patented June 19, 1956 ICC pearance, but also is acceptable to the skin of different people. In any case, the retracting member is sufficiently expandable so that the ensemble may be slipped or or off the wrist when the coupling members are detached, but it is preferably so constructed and arranged to exert only sufiicient force to bring the sections back to normal wrist encircling position without binding the wrist of the wearer.

The accompanying drawings show different embodiments of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration and referring to Figs. 1 to 6 the numerals 1 and 2 designate the two detachable, relatively non-expandable sections which may be of leather or the like suitable material. These sections comprise outer and inner

elongate straps

4, 5, 6 and 7, which may be of leather, plastic or other suitable material, stitched together at their elongate edges to provide sheaths 10 and 11 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The opposite ends of the sections 1 and 2 carry attaching hooks 12 (Fig. 6) by means of which they may be secured to the coupling pintles 14 (Fig. 2) of a wrist watch (not shown), and the adjacent ends of the

outer straps

4 and 5 carry interengaging locking means here shown as a snap fastener having male and

female parts

15 and 16.

A retracting member, here shown in the form of an elastic webbing 18, has its opposite ends secured to the opposite end portions of

sections

4 and 5 and to this end the inwardly directed

flanges

20 and 2,1 (Fig. 6) of the coupling 12 may be formed with inwardly struck detents 22 and 23 effective to hold the parts together. The retracting member 18 extends through the sheath 10, across the adjacent ends of the sections 1 and 2 and through the sheath 11, as shown in Figs. 2 to 5, thus being entirely concealed when the band is worn. The length and retractability of the web 18 is such that is preferably exactly effective to hold the two sections in normal retracted position (Figs. l and 2) so that the coupling member is in position to be interlocked, but its elasticity is such as to permit sufficient expansion when the coupling member is disengaged to allow the band to be slipped on or ofi the wrist.

In order to avoid both objectionable binding and looseness of the band about the wrist of the wearer, it is preferable that the hooks 12 are not at first permanently attached to the opposite ends of the sections 1 and 2 and hence the band may be fitted to the wearers wrist. To this end the coupling member is first interlocked and the hooks 12 are applied to the pintles 14 of the wrist watch. The opposite ends of the sections are then slipped beneath the

flanges

20 and 21 of the hooks 12 and while holding the parts together the ensemble may be fitted about the wrist of the wearer to determine the precise length of the two sections necessary to secure a snug comfortable fit, after which the detents 22, 23 are pressed inwardly so as permanently to hold the parts together. However, the invention is not limited to this feature since very desirable results may be achieved by the manufacture of a sufficient range of sizes.

With this construction and arrangement of parts the sections 1 and 2 are effective to provide the encircling band which holds the ensemble in place and prevents expansion; and the retracting member 18 not only provides a second band preventing the ensemble from slipping off the wrist in event the coupling member 18 accidentally becomes disengaged but also allows sufiicient expansion to permit the ensemble to be quickly slipped on or off the wrist.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 is, in principal, the same as that of the previously described embodiment, but provides a less expensive construction designed to be made in a range of sizes. In this embodiment the sections la and 2a each consists of a leather strap or the like, the opposite end portions of which are folded inwardly to form small loops 12a for receiving coupling pintles 14 of a wrist watch and inwardly directed aps 25 to which the ends of a retracting member 18a are stitched or otherwise secured, the retracting 'memberpreferably being slightly narrower than the sections 1a and 1b so as to substantially-be concealed thereby, Whenthe band is worn. The adjacent ends of the sections carry suitably interlocking fastening elements 26 'and 27 by means of which they may be detachably secured together, the construction and arrangement of `parts being such that the retracting member 13a normally holds the sections to gether so that the

elements

26 and 27 may be coupled, but preferably without exerting ya retracting rforce on the sections when coupled together. In all material particulars the band of this embodiment is the same as that above described.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 8 is also the same, in principal, as those previously described and each ot the sections 1b and 2b consist ofa plurality of pivotally interconnected tubular links 38. The outer link of'each section is formed with an integral hooked extension 12b by which the section may be secured to the pintle 14 of a wrist watch. The inner link of section 1b is formed with an integral hook 32 and the inner link of section 2b is formed with a slot 33 which receives the -hook 32 so as to couple the sections in normal retracted position. The retracting member may consist of one or more tension springs 3S extending through the links 30 of the two sections with their opposite ends secured to the outer links by pins 36. Here again the springs 35 are effective to retract the sections to permit the inner links to be `interlocked, and thus the sections are held in normal position as in the previously described embodiment.

The modification shown in Fig. 9 embodies the same 'basic construction as shown `in Fig. 8, but is provided with a single retracting spring or band 35a, one end of which is coupled to one ofthe pintles 40 ofthe wrist watch W and the opposite end is coupled to the other pintle 40, it being understood that the coupling members of the watch W are shown separately merely'for the purpose of illustration. One orboth terminal `links 30a of the non-expandable section is formed with a Alocking tongue 42 by lmeans of which the terminal link may be detachably secured to the adjacent pinfle 4t). ltwill be noted that the

links

30, 30a provide a non-expandable, detachable band and the spring 35a provide a non-detachable, expandable band which holds the ensemble about the wrist of the wearer, even if the non-expandable band 30, Stia should be accidentally disconnected.

While reference has been made herein to a watch, as a component of the band, the watch may be omitted and the ends so joined as to make a continuous bandolbracelet. In such cases, the bracelet will comprise a nouexpandable element completely encircling the wrist and an expandable element also completely encircling the wrist. The said element may have a Vsegment of the band in common, as in the case of the wrist watch.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention it' is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modications may be made-without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A wrist watch band comprising two sections, corresponding ends of which may be attached to a wrist watch, the other ends of said sections having interengageable coupling means by which such ends are detachably connected when the band is worn about the wrist, each of said sections having an elongate sheath, andan elongate retracting member 'having a portion within one sheath and another portion within the other sheath, said retracting member extending across said coupling means and its opposite ends being anchored to the Vrespective sheaths, the normal length of said retracting member being less than that of the two sections so as to exert a retract'ing force which normally holds the two sections snugly about the Wrist, the expanded length of said retracting member being sufficient t'o permit removal of the band from the wrist when said coupling means are detached.

2. A wrist watch band comprising two sections, corresponding ends of which may be attached'to a wrist watch,

-the other ends Vof said sections having interengageable coupling means by which such ends are detachably connected when the band is worn about the wrist,each of said sections having an elongate flexible member, and elongate retracting means having a portion adjacent to one llexible member and another portion adjacent to the other exible member, said retracting means extending across said ycoupling means and its opposite ends being anchored relative to the watch when the band is attached thereto, the normal'lengt'h of said retractiug means lbeing 'less than that of the two sections so as-to exert a retracting force which normally holds the two sections snugly about the wrist', the expanded length of said retracting means being sutiicient to permit removal of the band from the wrist when said coupling means are detached.

3. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2 wherein said retracting means comprises a tension spring.

4. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2 wherein the opposite ends of said retracting means are anchored adjacent to the outer ends of said sections.

5. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 2-Wherein cach of said sections comprises a `plurality of pivotally interconnected links.

6. A wrist watch band as set forth in claim 5 wherein said links are hollow and wherein said retracting means extends through said hollow links.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,315,729 lolly Sept. 9, V1919 2,558,007 Smith .Tune 26, 1951 2,639,067 Hirsch May 19,. 1953 2,686,622 Augenstein Aug. 17, 1954 2,695,740 Kolbe Nov. 30, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 289,923 Switzerland May 16, 1952 729,182 France Apr. 25, 1932 814,672 Germany Sept. 24, 1951