US2926825A - Watch supporting devices - Google Patents

Description

March 1, 1960 RUSSELL T. WING WATCH SUPPORTING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 51, 1957 IN VEN '1 OR R0555 VWN United States Patent 2,926,825 WATCH SUPPORTING DEVICES Russell T. Wing, Excelsior, Minn. Application January 31, 1957, Serial No. 637,438 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-4) This invention relates to an improved device for detachably supporting a so-called wrist watch upon the hand of an individual, whereby the face of the watch is fully exposed at all times.

The usual wrist hands now commonly employed for supporting a wrist watch upon an individuals wrist have not proven entirely satisfactory in that they are usually more or less free to rotate upon the wrist, whereby the watch may, at times, be positioned at the front of the wrist and at other times at the back of the wrist, or elsewhere around the circumference of the wrist. It is also generally known that a wrist watch supported with a conventional wrist band is likely to be concealed under the sleeve portion of a garment, such as a shirt or a jacket, whereby it is often necessary for the user to momentarily slide the garment sleeve upwardly out of concealing relationship to the watch, when he desires to check the time. Conventional wrist bands are also usually made comparatively wide and snug fitting, particularly bands for mens watches, which may cause some irritation to the wearers wrist as a result of perspiration, particularly when the watch is worn in warm weather.

The present invention is the result of long and tedious experimental work in an attempt to develop a device for supporting a small watch on the edge or side of the hand of an individual, in which all of the objectionable features now inherent in conventional wrist watch bands have been completely eliminated, and whereby the watch cannot relatively shift its position upon the wearers hand.

An important object of the present invention therefore, is to provide a so-called harness for supporting a small watch upon an individuals hand adjacent to the base of the thumb, whereby it cannot relatively shift its position on the individuals hand, and whereby it is retained in plain view at all times.

A further object is to provide a harness for detachably supporting a so-called wrist watch upon an individuals hand, which harness comprises an elongated preferably flexible element having its opposite ends secured respectively to the forwardly and rearwardly facing portions of the body of the watch and cooperating therewith to form a loop adapted to receive the thumb of the wearer, and whereby the watch is positioned on the top of the thumb at the base of the usual V formed between the forefinger and thumb, and additional means being connected to the rearwardly directed portion of the watch adapted to encircle the wrist and prevent said loop from becoming disengaged from the thumb.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a harness for a so-called wrist watch, comprising two loops, one for receiving the thumb and the other the wrist, said loops cooperating to support the watch on the top edge of the hand, at the base of the V formed between the thumb and the forefinger of the users hand whereby it is readily visible at all times.

Also by thus supporting the watch on the edge of the hand the watch is not so likely to strike or engage foreign objects as a result of swinging movements of the arm while walking, which might cause serious damage to the watch.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a harness for supporting a small watch upon an individuals hand, said harness comprising an elongated element of small cross-section having one end secured to the forwardly facing edge portion of the watch and extending downwardly between the wearers thumb and forefinger and encircling the base of the thumb, and means being provided at the rear or opposite end of said member for securing it to the rearwardly facing portion of the watch case, and a semi-rigid member having one end fixedly secured to the rear portion of the watch and extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom and overlying the top of the wrist, and a hooklike element or segment having one end connected to the outer end of said semi-rigid member and extending therefrom around the back and bottom sides of the wrist, and an elongated connecting member having one end movably connected to the free end of said hook-like element, and having means at its opposite end for detachably connecting it to the watch, whereby said connecting member cooperates with said hook-like element and said semi-rigid member to encircle the wrist to prevent displacement of the watch upon the wearers hand.

A further object is to provide a harness for supporting a wrist watch comprising two loops, one for encircling the thumb of an individuals hand and. the other the wrist of the wearers hand, said loops so arranged relatively to one another and to the body of the watch, that when in operative position upon the users hand, the watch cannot rotatively shift its position on the edge of the wearers hand.

A further object is to provide a watch supporting harness of the class described, comprising a narrow semi-rigid strap-like element having means at one end for attaching it to a watch, said element. being adapted to partially encircle the wrist and being bendable whereby it may readily be shaped to fit the contour of the wearers wrist, circumferentially, thereby to prevent said wrist encircling element from rotatively shifting its position upon the wearers wrist, and a connecting member having one end movably connected to the opposite or free end of said semi-rigid element, said connecting member having means at its opposite end for attaching it to the watch and cooperating with said semi-rigid element to provide a loop adapted to loosely encircle the wrist, and other loop means encircling the thumb and cooperating with said first loop means to retain the watch in a relatively fixed position on the top edge of the wearers hand at the base of the thumb, where it is clearly visible at all times.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensive construction of the watch supporting device, per se, whereby it may be manufactured in quantity production at extremely low cost; in the unique construction of the wrist encircling portion or band of said device or harness, whereby when applied to a wrist, it will fit the oval or somewhat flattened cross-sectional contour of the wrist, whereby the composite wrist band cannot relatively rotate upon the wearers wrist when in use; and in the means embodied in said wrist encircling band for facilitating its application to the wrist or its detachment therefrom, said band assuring the indvidual carrying the watch, that the watch is not likely to become displaced on his hand, even when indulging in active sporting events, such as when playing ball, swimming, etc., provided, of course that the watch is fully waterproof; and in the provision of a thumb encircling loop having means for attaching it to one side of the watch case only, and in such a manner that it may readily'be increased or decreased in size to fit the wearers thumb.

These an'd other objects of the invention andthe means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompartying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed astructure designed to carryout the various objects of the invention, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is notconfined to the exact feature shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow:

lnthe drawings:

Figure l is a view' showing a watch supported on an indiViduals hand by the novel watch supporting device herein disclosed;

FigureZ is a view showing the watch detached from the individuals hand, and showing the wrist encircling portion of the harness in open'position;

FigureS isa rear edgeview of the watch showing the wrist encirclingmeans in opcrative'or securing position, as shown in Figure 1, the dotted es within the wrist encircling means representing the wrist of the users hand;

IFigure 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showing the connecting elements provided at the front and rear edge portions of the body of the watch for connecting the loop forming means thereto;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing a watchsupporting harness of slightly modified construction, wherein the portions of the wrist band which engage the back and bottom sides of the wrist are made integral;

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line a e of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view on the line 7-7 of Figure 5, showing the latch for closing the band around the wearers wrist;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary iew illustrating the connection between the free end of the wrist band and the fixed end thereof and also the connection between one endof the thumb engagingloop element and the coupling element at the rear of the watch;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing a thumb engaging loop of different construction; and

.Figure 10 is a detail sectional view on the line ill-ltl of Figure 9.

In the selective embodiment of the invention here shown, there is illustrated, for purposes of disclosure, a small watch 2 of the type commonly known as a wrist watc having the usual stem wind 3. Provided at the forwardlylfacing edge portion of the watch case, when viewed as shownin Figure l, are the usual lugs 4 l between which is pivotally mounted a coupling element 5 by such means as a pin 6, well known in the construction of wrist watches.

A similar pair of oppositely disposed lugs '77 are fixed to the rearwardly facing edge portion of the watch case between which is mounted a coupling element, generally designated by the numeral 8. Coupling element 3 is pivoted to the lugs 77 by a pivot pin 9, similar to pivot pin 6- at the opposite side of the watch.

The connecting element 5 at the front side or": the watch is preferably shaped, as best shown in Figure 2, with its side edges tapering inwardly. One end of a flexible element, generally designated by the numeral 11, is secured to the coupling element 5 by suitable means such as the spaced slots 12, best shown in ri ure 4. The opposite end of'the flexible element 13 may be provided with a connecting link 13 which preferably is permanently interlocked with the coupling element 3, as by a fixed loop 14. The flexible element ill. is of such length that when the watch is placed on the top edge of the hand, or at the base of the V provided between the forefinger and thumb, the flexible element ll cooperates with the watch to completely encircle the th and thus prevent the watch from shifting rearwardly on the hand, as shown in Figure l. The flexible element 11 is relative small in cross-section and may be in the form of a cord, a small chain, a wire, or it may be made or" leather, plastic, or any other material applicable for the purpose. its connection with the coupling member 5 is preferably made adable whereby the thumb encircling loop formed by t ent ll may be varied in size to fit the wearers thumb. While the loop element E1 is herein referred to as being flexible, it may in some instances be made of semi-flexible or rigid material without departing from the scope of the invention.

The coupling clement ti provided at the rear portion of the watch is shown having its rear marginal edge coiled upon-itself to provide a tubular bore 35 adapted to receive the dual strands in of a id wire element 17, best shownin Figure 2. The dual wire elements 16 within the tubular bore I15 are fixedly secured therein by suitable means, such as soldering, whereby the semirgid member 17 cannot relatively rotate in bore 15. This is importannas will subsequently be described.

Theouter free-end of the semi-rigid member 1'7 has one end of a hook-shaped element lit; pivotally connected thereto by means of an eye 19 formed on the adjacent end of member Pivotaily connected to the opposite end of member is one end of an elongated connecting member, generally designated by the numeral 21. Connecting member .21 is shown having a hook 2;; at its free end adapted to engage the link 13 of the strap element Ilil, as indicated in Figures '1 and 3, thereby to secure the watch in position upon the users hand, as will be understood by reference to Figure l.

The angle of the rear edge portion of the coupling element 8 of the watch is such that when the watch is placed upon the top edge of the users hand, as ind cated in Figure 1, with the flexible element ill. encircling the thumb, the hook element is will extend under the bottom edge of the individuals wrist and thus eiliciently encircle the wrist to prevent the watch from dropping from the indiv' als hand by gravity, when initially placed on the users hand prior to attaching hook 22 of connecting member 21 to link 13.

To thus initially suppot the watch upon the users hand, the connection between the semirigid member 17 and coupling element 8 is fixed so that the dual wire elements it: within the bore 15 cannot relatively rotate therein. By carefully observing Figures l and 3 of the application drawings, it will be noted that the semi-rigid member 17 and hook element it in conjunction with the loop member 11, cooperate to initially suppont the watch in position upon the top edge of users hand, whereby the user may readily engage the hook 22 with the link 33 to secure the watch to the users hand. in like manner, the watch may quickly be removed from the hand by simplydisengaging the hook from 13 and sliding the Clloop 11 forwardly off the thumb, as will be understoo One of the dominant features of the invention, as

se. i

hereinbefore stated, resides in the provision oithe thumb encircling loop element ill in connection with the wrist encircling band 17 which cooperate to retain the watch in position on the top edge of the hand at the base of the thumb, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings.

Another feature resides in the small cross-section of parts ll, 17, 18, and 21, whereby these parts, when engaged with the users thumb and wrist, are not likely to promote perspiration in hot humid weather and cause irritation of the skin and discomfort to the individual wearing the watch. Such a harness may therefore be worn in hot sultry weather with utmost comfort, and with the assurance the watch will be retained in its correct position on the top edge of the individuals hand at all times, regardless of how the user may manipulate his hand. 1

In Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, there is illustrated a wrist watch supporting harness of slightly different construction from the form illustrated in the preceding figures. In the form here shown, the composite wrist encircling band, generally designated by the numeral 23, is shown comprising a portion 2% for engaging the back of the wrist provided at one end with an enlarged head 24 having one of its marginal edges rolled upon itself to provide a tubular element 25 adapted to be received between the lugs 7--7 of the watch case and to be secured thereto by the pivot pin 9.

The portion 29 of the composite wrist band 23 extends from the head 24 over the back side of the wrist and has its lower free end portion extending partially under the bottom edge of the wrist, as indicated at 26 in Figure 6. The free end portion of the band 23 is curved inwardly to form, in effect, a hook element 27, corresponding to the hook element 18 of the wrist band shown in Figure 1. The hook element 27 of the wrist band is important in that it serves to retain the watch and the wrist band in position upon the upper edge of the users hand, as will next be described.

The wrist band 23 is shown having one end of a chain section 28 secured thereto, as indicated at 29. Secured to the opposite end of the chain 23 is one end of a flat strap-like element 31, the opposite end of which has a clasp 32 secured thereto. The clasp 32 is receivable in an aperture 33 provided in a depending flange 34 of the head 24, as best illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. Clasp 32 is shown provided with a detent 35 which extends slightly above the adjacent surface 36 of the clasp so that when the clasp is inserted into the opening 33 in the head 24 of the wristband, the yieldable member 37 of the clasp is slightly depressed, when the clasp is inserted through the opening 33, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 7. Thus, when the clasp is operatively positioned in the aperture 33 it can not accidentally become detached from the head 24 of the wrist hand because of the detent 35 engaging the flange 34, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 7. The resilient member 37 of the clasp has its free end portion extending outwardly beyond the flange 34, whereby it may readily be engaged with a finger and depressed to permit the withdrawal of the clasp from the opening 33 of the wrist band, as is well known in structures of this general type. The portions 20 and 27 of the wrist band 23, which are preferably made integral, are constructed of a suitable, semi-rigid material, preferably metal, having the inherent characteristics of being readily bendable and retaining its shape when bent to a predetermined form, whereby it may readily be shaped to conform substantially to the contour of the wrist, circumferentially, upon which the wrist band is to be worn. This constitutes an important feature of the present invention, as hereinbefore stated, in that it makes it possible to fit each wrist band to the wrist of the individual who is to wear it, whereby the composite wrist band cannot relatively rotate on the wrist and shift the position of the watch, even when loosely fitted to the wrist. This results largely because of the oval or flat-like crosssectional shape of the average wrist.

By thus fitting each individual wrist band to the contour of each wearers wrist, the band portions 29, 27 and 31 may be fitted to the circumferential contour of each given wrist, as illustrated by the full and dotted lines in Figure 6, wherein the full lines represent the band portions 20, 27, 28, and 31, and the dotted lines R, the outline of the wrist.

A flexible thumb engaging element 38 has one end secured to the spaced lugs 4-4 of the watch by a suitable coupling element 39. This element is shown detachably secured to the lugs by the pivot pin 6,

The opposite end of the elongated flexible element 38 is shown inseperably attached to the flange 34 of the head 24 of the wrist band by suitable means, such as a link 41, shown in Figure 5. The thumb engaging element 38 is of restricted cross-section and may be made of any suitable material which, when engaged with the thumb, may conform more or less to the contour of the base of the thumb, when the latter is inserted through the loop element, as illustrated in Figures 3 to 8.

Another important feature of the device shown in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, resides in the construction of the Wrist band 23 which, it will be noted, is preferably formed of sheet materialand is strap-like in cross-section, and has the head 24 integrally formed therewith. The head, however, may, if desired, be made independently of the wrist engaging portion 20 and the two parts suitably secured together to provide in efiect an integral structure. 7

By thus integrally forming the wrist band 23 with the head 24, when the watch is positioned on the top edge of the users hand, the portion 20 of the wrist band 23 will overlay the back of the wrist with the hook portion 27 thereof engaging the bottom edge of the wrist, whereby the watch cannot slip off the hand by gravity, when in the position shown in Figure 5, as when initially placing the watch on the hand in preparation to closing the wrist band 23 around the wrist. This results because of the wrist band 23 fitting the contour of the: wrist, as hereinbefore stated, it being understood that the thumb encircling loop element 38 prevents rearward movement of the watch upon the hand.

As hereinbefore stated, the thumb engaging element 38 may be made from any suitable material applicable for the purpose such as a plastic cord, a small chain, or various other materials, its only function being to retain the watch in position on the top edge of the users hand, as illustrated in Figure 5.

The wrist encircling band 23, including the portions 20 and 27, is constructed of a suitable semi-rigid bendable material, which is of such shape cross-sectionally, that it may readily be shaped to conform to the contour of the individuals wrist, when initially fitting the wrist band thereto. The chain section 28 provides means for varying the length of the wrist band in accordance with the circumference of the wearers wrist.

The novel watch supporting device or harness herein disclosed is characterized by the unique arrangement of the thumb and wrist engaging loops which cooperate to support the watch on the top edge of the hand where the watch is less likely to contact foreign objects, and whereby it is plainly visible at all times. Said supporting loops also prevent the watch from relatively shifting its position upon the wearers wrist, regardless of arm and body movements. The composite harness is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture, is light in weight, and presents a very neat and attractive appearance to the eye when worn on an individuals wrist, as indicated in Figures 1 and 5.

In the drawings and accompanying specification, the semi-rigid member 17 is shown and described as being constructed of dual wires. Obviously, this member may be otherwise constructed without departing from the scope of the invention. In like manner the hook member 22 of the wrist encircling member 21 need not necessarily be engaged with the link 13, shown at the rear end of the strap-like element 11, as obviously it could be engaged with other means connected to the coupling member 8, as will be understood. The portions 21 and 28- 31 of the two wrist bands shown in Figures 3 and 6 could be constructed of expandable links or elements, whereby the free ends of said connecting elements 21 and 31 could be permanently secured to the body of the watch, as will be understood. It is also to be understood that the novel watch supporting harness herein disaeaases closed may be varied in numerousways without departing from the scope of the invention.

In Figures 9 and 10 there is illustrated a thumb encircling element or loop 42 constructed of a suitable flexible material which may readily adapt itself'to the contour of the thumb, as may best be understood by referring to Figure 9. There are now available various plastic materials which are suitable for this purpose. Such materials are highly resistent to moisture, and provide adequate strength for such a device.

The thumb-encircling loop 42 is preferably fiat, as indicated at 40, so as to lie flatly against the peripheral surface of the thumb. Its terminals 43 and 44 may, however, be otherwise shaped to facilitate securing them to a suitable coupling element, generally designated by the numeral 45. For example, terminals 43 and 44 may be cylindrical in cross-section, as shown in Figure 9. Terminal 43 may be permanently secured'in a socket device 46 formed at one end of coupling element 45, and terminal 44 may be frictionally received in a bore 47, provided in a restricted portion 48 of the coupling element 45, as best indicated in Figure 10. The end portion '44 of loop element 42 fits into bore 47 with suflicient friction to assure the wearer that it is' not likely to shift its position therein when the watch is worn.

To vary the size of loop 42, its end portion 44 is simply moved axially in bore 47, until the size of the loop freely fits the thumb, as will be understood. The coupling element 45 is shown slightly curved, as shown in Figure 10, whereby the socket device 46 may engage the inner side of the thumb in such a manner that the watch cannot relatively-shift its position upon the top edge of the hand, as may readily be understood by reference to Figure 9. By thus attaching both ends of loop element 42 to coupling element 45 only, the stem wind 3 may readily be grasped by the fingers in the operation of winding or setting the watch. The coupling element 45 is pivotally connected to the watch case by a pivot pin 6, similar to the ones shown in the previous figures.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, and the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a wrist watch having a case provided with a pair of laterally spaced outwardly projecting lugs on opposite sides thereof, and a pin extending between and engaged with each pair of lugs, of a wrist band comprising first and second semi rigid sections, said first section having one end secured to one of said pins between the lugs thereof and extending laterally therefrom over the top of the wrist, said second section having one end pivotally connected to the opposite end of said first section and being shaped to provide a hooklike member conforming substantially to the curvature of the lower portion of the wrist, and a third section having one end pivoted to the free end of said second section, and having means at its opposite end for detachably securing said end to the watch engaging end of said first section, whereby said first, second, and third sections cooperate to completely encircle the wearers wrist, and a thumb encircling member secured to the pin between the lugs at the opposite side of the watch and cooperating with said wrist-band forming sections to support the watch on the top edge of the wearers hand.

2. A wrist watch supporting device according to claim 1 wherein the thumb encircling member has its opposite end secured to the lugs at the opposite sides of the watch.

3. The combination with a wrist watch having a case provided with a pair of laterally-spaced outwardly-projecting lugs on opposite sides thereof, and a pin extending between and engaged with each pair of lugs, a semi-rigid flat main wrist band section having an enlarged head at one end pivotally connected to the lugs at one side of the watch by one of said pins, said main band-forming section extending laterally over the top of the wrist and under the bottom side thereof, a flexible band section having one end pivoted to the free end of said main semi-flexible band section at the bottom side of'the wrist and having means at its opposite end for detachably connecting it to the enlarged head of said semi-rigid main band section, said sections cooperating to completely encircle the wrist, a flexible thumb-encircling member having one end secured to the pin at the opposite'side of the watch between the lugs thereof, and means at the opposite end of said thumb encircling member for connecting it to the enlarged head of said main wrist band section.

4. A wrist watch supporting device according to claim 3, wherein the semi-flexible main wrist band section has its free end portion shaped to form a hook for engaging the lower edge of the wrist and serves to retain the watch in position on the top edge of the wearers hand, when the free end of said flexible wristband-forming member is momentarily detached from the enlarged head of said main semi-rigid main band section, as when applying the watch to the hand and wrist or removing it therefrom.

5. In combination with a wrist watch having lugs on opposite sides for detachable engagement of a wrist band, the lugs on one side engaging a flexible loop member for encircling the thumb, the lugs on the opposite side of the watch engaging one end of a semi-rigid wrist-encircling member, unyielding in a lateral direction to the face of the watch for at least one-fourth the circumference of the wrist, and having a hook-like portion extending around the wrist on the side opposite from the Watch, and means for securing said hook-like portion to the watch thereby to retain the watch in position on the hand.

6. A wrist band according to claim 5 wherein the means for securing the hook-like portion to the watch cooperates with said hook-like member and said semirigid member to completely encircle the wrist.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 601,982 Peirson Apr. 5, 1898 1,139,560 Mosher May 18, 1915 1,628,278 Schever May 10, 1927 1,765,966 Clark June 24, 193-0 FOREIGN PATENTS 618,601 France Dec. 20, 1926 a one 3%

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