US2986795A

US2986795A - Expanding attachment for watch bands

Info

Publication number: US2986795A
Application number: US850672A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morelos Lorenzo-Antonio De
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-11-03
Filing date: 1959-11-03
Publication date: 1961-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 1978-06-06
Also published as: BE605417A

Description

J1me 1961 LORENZO-ANTONIO DE MORELOS 2,986,795

EXPANDING ATTACHMENT FOR WATCH BANDS Filed Nov. 3. 1959 m R E MR W E mu m N 0 T N m N E R O L United States Patent 2,986,795 EXPANDING ATTACHMENT FOR WATCH BANDS Lorenzo-Antonio de Morelos, Palais de la Scala, Monte Carlo, Monaco Filed Nov. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 850,672 3 Claims. (Cl. 24265) This invention relates in general to means for fastening a wrist band to a wrist watch, and more particularly to an element suited for use with a one piece non-elastic and non-expansible band which incorporates means for allowing the watch band to be passed over the hand of the wearer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a structure which may be used in conjunction with non-expansible watch bands and which normally tends to reduce the watch band circumference to a minimum but may serve to provide the necessary extra band material when the watch is to be passed over the hand of the wearer.

It is another object of this invention to provide an attachment for use with leather and other non-expansible watch bands which eliminates the necessity for two separate lengths joined by the conventional buckle and tongue.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an expansible attachment for use with leather and fabric watch bands which contributes to such watch bands the characteristic of elasticity, providing for the automatic setting of the watch band size to accommodate varying sizes of wrists.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a Wrist watch and band incorporating the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the exterior housing forming a part of this structure;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the internal telescoping element forming a portion of the structure of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is an end elevational view showing the two telescoping members in a unitary relationship;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view showing the telescoping members in a unitary relationship and showing the position of the spring within;

FIGURE 6 is a plan View of the clip used to secure the band to the expansible element of this invention;

FIGURE 7 shows a preferred manner of assembling the watch band and the telescoping member of FIGURE 3 using the clip of FIGURE 6.

Generally, this invention incorporates means for securing a non-expansible watch band to one lateral edge of a wrist watch casing (preferably to both lateral edges) and comprises a member having telescoping parts which is readily secured at one end to the pin along the lateral edge of a Watch and at the opposite end to a wrist watch band, especially a leather, metal or non-elastic fabric band. The exterior housing of the telescopic unit has a supporting member at one end which is directly attached to the watch casing about the aforementioned pin. Extending outwardly from the support are a pair of inturned, parallel, U-shaped tracks. The internal element of the telescopic unit is of suflicient width to bridge the gap between the tracks and ride relatively freely therein. The element is a generally hollow body having open sides and an open middle and having a back member of an appropriate Width to fit between the flanges of the U-shaped members. Extending outwardly from the back member is means for securing thereto a watch band of conventional leather or fabric. A pin extends across the space between the tracks at the end thereof opposite and farthest removed from the track support, the pin providing an abuttment which prevents the telescoping elements from being pulled apart. Positioned between the pin and the back member is a resilient element such as a piece of sponge rubber or a coil spring which urges the elements into a telescoped position and resists extension of the internal element beyond the housing end.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in FIGURE 1 a wrist watch case 10 having flange-mounted pins 12 providing means for securing a conventional strap thereto. The non-expansible strap 14 is a unitary structure lacking the conventional buckle and tongue, and has secured at the opposite ends thereof the elements of this invention, generally 16, which provide means for securing the wrist band to the lateral edge or edges of the watch case. The means for attaching the non-elastic band to the case comprises a support 18 of about the same width as pin 12. A hook 20 runs the entire width of the support, and is easily crimped about a pin 12.

Other convenient (and conventional) means may be substituted for hook 20. Extending outwardly from the support 18 are elements 22, which, viewed from an end as in FIGURE 4, are generally U-shaped and hence provide tracks within which the telescoping inner member 24 rides. This telescoping element has a back 26 of sufficient depth to ride freely within the tracks of extensions 22. Secured to the back 26 is the outwardly extending, curved base plate 28, having a slot 30 at the far end thereof. Also secured at right angles to the back 26 is the top plate 32, preferably having an integral, downwardly extending front flange 34. Member 24 thus constitutes a unit having open sides and a hollow middle. During assembly, the hollow member 24 is slid partially into place, spring 40 forced into the far end of the hollow member abutting the back plate 26, and pin 42 is forced into place through holes 23 so as to hold the spring where intended. Hence, when the hollow, inner telescoping member is pulled out from the housing, as shown in FIGURE 5, the spring is compressed and the spring resists such movement.

FIGURES 5 and 6 show a convenient means for securing the one piece leather or fabric strap 14 to the expansible element 16. The clip 50 consists of a main body portion having a pair of notches 52 along either longitudinal edge thereof and a pair of ears 54 at the opposite end thereof. The main body portion of the clip is passed through slot 30, ears 54 are passed through suitable holes in the leather, as shown in FIGURE 6, the main body portion of the clip is folded down upon the leather and the ears are crimped over upon one another so that they are retained in place by slots 52. The clip may also be used to secure a medallion and other ornamentation to the wrist band, if desired.

The described means for securing the leather or fabric wrist band to the expansible structure 16 of this invention is obviously only one alternative, and various other attaching means may be used.

Also, while it is preferred that two separate expansible elements 16 be provided, one on either side of the watch case, it would obviously be possible to use a conventional means of securing a leather wrist band to one side of the watch case, with the expansible element of this invention being used on the other side only.

Obviously, many modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for securing a watch band to one lateral edge of a wrist watch case comprising: a member having means at one end thereof for securing said member to the said wrist band, and means at the other end thereof for securing the said member to the said lateral edge of the wrist watch case, said member including spaced parallel, inturned tracks extending outwardly from a support therefor, said support being normally adjacent the watch case and secured thereto; a sliding element of sufiicient width to bridge the space between said inturned tracks and slide freely therein, said sliding element being a generally hollow body having open sides and an open middle, and having a back member bridging the space between the said tracks; means on that end of said sliding element farthest removed from said back for attaching said sliding element to a watch band; a pin extending between said tracks at the end thereof opposite the support therefor; and a resilient member mounted within said hollow sliding element between said back of said sliding element and said pin, said resilient member tending to maintain the said pin and the said back of said sliding element in a distantly-spaced relationship.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the resilient member is a coil spring.

3 The structure of claim 1 wherein the means for attaching said element to the said watch band comprises a plate extending from said back member, said plate having a slot therein and a clip for registry with said slot, said clip having a pair of cars on one end thereof for passing through holes in the said watch band, and means integral with the said clip for anchoring the said ears in a folded position, said band and said attaching means being so assembled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS