US3149452A

US3149452A - Watch cushion

Info

Publication number: US3149452A
Application number: US192144A
Authority: US
Inventors: Smith Alice
Original assignee: Chicago Plastic Products Co Inc
Current assignee: Chicago Plastic Products Co Inc
Priority date: 1962-05-03
Filing date: 1962-05-03
Publication date: 1964-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 1981-09-22
Also published as: GB1035954A; DE1874477U

Description

p 1964 A. SMITH 3,149,452

WATCH CUSHION Filed May 3, 1962 INVENTOR. I44 /6[ 8/1/77? A TTORNE YS United States Patent Office 3,149,452 WATCH CUSHION Alice Smith, New York, N.Y., assignor to Chicago Plastic Products Co., Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed May 3, 1962, Ser. No. 192,144 4 Claims. (Cl. 58105) This invention relates to improvements in a watch cushion, and more particularly to a cushioning device readily and easily attachable to the rear of a watchcase to cushion and protect the watch, the invention being highly desirable for use in connection with Wristwatches, but may also be utilized on watches of other types as well, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the past, many and various types of watch cushions or watch protectors have been developed but were, for the most part exceedingly bulky, unsightly in appearance, and while they may have protected the watch against the ill effects of perspiration from the body of the user, they did not permit the perspiration to readily evaporate. In other instances, these formerly known watch cushions were objectionably difficult to attach to the watch and remove from the watch, and many were also objectionably expensive and required special fitting to a watch.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide an effective watch cushion that is practically weightless and substantially invisible when in use.

Also an important object of this invention is the pro vision of a watch cushion that may readily and quickly be attached to the back of a watch, and as easily removed from the watch, the cushion being so economical that it may be removed and replaced with a new cushion whenever desired.

Another object of the instant invention resides in the provision of a watch cushion which may be said to be breathable, and while it effectively protects the watch from the adverse effects of perspiration from the users body, the cushion also permits rapid evaporation of the perspiration.

Still another feature of this invention is the provision of a watch cushion which effectively prevents contact of the watchcase itself with the body of a user, effectively cushions the watch against shock from the body of the user, and maintains the watch in position, such for example as preventing a wristwatch from sliding around the wrist out of place.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of a simple form of watch cushion which may adhesively be attached to the back of a watchcase, and which provides an exceedingly gentle and somewhat clinging contact with the flesh of a user so that when worn it is practically unnoticeable by the user or to an observer.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view, fragmentary in character, and illustrating a watch cushion embodying principles of the instant invention in operative position on a wristwatch;

FIGURE 2 is a greatly enlarged edge view showing the wristwatch in elevation, but illustrating the cushion in vertical section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the cushion of FIGURE 2, showing the same prior to attachment to a watch; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan View illustrating 3,149,452 Patented Sept. 22, 1964 some of the various shapes in which the instant invention may be made so as to fit various styles of watches.

As shown on the drawings:

While, as stated above, the instant invention may be utilized with watches of substantially any character and style, the invention is herein illustrated and described in association with the commonly known wristwatch, since that will in all probability be its greatest use. In FIG- URE 1 there is shown a wristwatch, schematically illustrated and generally indicated by numeral 1, embodying a metallic case 2, and an attaching strap 3 by means of which it is secured around the wrist 4 of a user. Secured to the back of the watchcase 2 is a cushioning device embodying principles of the instant invention, and generally indicated by numeral 5 in FIGURE 1. The showing in FIGURE 1 is somewhat exaggerated for illustrative purposes, since in actual use the instant invention when applied to the watch will be much less visible to an outside observer than the showing in FIGURE 1. This is especially true if a watch cushion slightly less in area than the back of the watchcase is selected. The use of a slightly undersized cushion more effectively conceals the cushion from view, but does not detract from the effectiveness of the cushion in operation.

With reference more particularly to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the instant cushion embodies a thin film 6 of heat-scalable plastic material, a film made of a synthetic resin polymer, such as a vinyl film being satisfactory, among others, for the purpose. This film carries a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive 7 on the outer face thereof by means of which the cushion is adhesively attached to the back of the watchcase. The inside face of the film 6 is preferably uncovered. Overlying the uncovered face of the film is a much thicker sheet of foam material, a synthetic resin foam being highly desirable for this purpose, such as a polyester, polyurethane, vinyl foam, or the equivalent. The foam layer has intercommunicating cells therein whereby the layer is rendered breathable since air may pass therethrough.

The foam layer is secured to the film by means of a heat seal seam 9, and this seam is preferably only around the bounding edge of the complete cushion, leaving the film and foam layer otherwise unattached, as indicated by the exaggerated showing of a space 10 therebetween, in FIGURE 2.

Of course, the foam layer 8 provides all of the desired cushioning effect and Will absorb perspiration from the wrist of the user, but by virtue of the intercommunicating cells in the foam such perspiration may readily evaporate. The impervious film 6 prevents any perspiration from contacting the watchcase. The foam layer also prevents the watchcase from coming in contact with the body of the user whereby one who is allergic to various metals may satisfactorily wear a wristwatch without discomfort. The soft somewhat clinging contact of the foam layer with the skin of the user also effectively maintains the wristwatch in proper position against slipping out of place around the wrist.

In FIGURE 3 I have illustrated the watch cushion above described as it is manufactured and sold and before application to a watch. The cushion is mounted on a facing sheet 11 either of release material or having a release coating thereon, which facing sheet functions as a protection for the adhesive until time for use when the cushion is stripped from the facing sheet and applied to the back of a watch as shown in FIGURE 2. The cushion is extremely economical since it is merely necessary to place a film carrying adhesive on a facing sheet 11, place a layer of foam cushioning material thereover, and with suitable high frequency electrode dies heat and tear seal the material at the same time so that the heat seal seam 9 is provided, the waste may be removed from around the finished cushion, and the cushion remains on the same facing sheet, which is uneifected during the heat sealing process,

In FIGURE 4 I have illustrated an assortment of Watch cushions on a facing sheet 11. All of these cushions are made in the same manner as above described and operate the same way but are shaped to fit. different watches. For example, a cushion 12 is of small circular size for such a shaped Watchcase; a cushion 13 is of a small square size; a cushion 14 is for a rectangular watchcase; and a cushion 15 generally in the form of an oval with straight cut ends. These various sizes and; shapes are shown by way of example, and not by way of limitation, to illustrate the fact that the instant invention may be made in substantially any sizev and shape to fit most watchcases.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a match cushion easily attachable and as. easily removed, which is practically weightless, substantially invisible in use, permits perspiration evaporation while protecting the watchcase against perspiration, which is highly durable, and so economical in construction as to warrant replacement practically whenever desired.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination,

a watchcase,

a cushion adhesively attached to the back of said case,

and comprising a plastic film, a spread of pressure sensitive adhesive on one face of said film,

4: a thicker layer of plastic foam overlying the other face of said film, and a heat seal seam joining said foam to said film around the bounding edge of the cushion. 2. In combination, awatchcase, an impervious film carrying pressure sensitive adhesive bywhich it is secured to the back of said watch case, and a thick layer of porous foam overlying the outer face of said film. 3. In combination, a watchcase, an impervious film carrying pressure sensitive adhesive by which it is secured to the back of said watchcase, and a thicker layer of porous foam overlying the outer face of said film,

said foam layer being secured to said film at the bounding edge only. 4. In combination, a watchcase, an impervious film carrying pressure sensitive adhesive by which it is secured to the back of said watchcase, a relatively thick layer of porous foam overlying the outer face of said film, and a fine line heat seal seam uniting said bounding edges of said film and foam layer,

said foam layer being thicker centrally than at the heat seal seam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,711,068 Kelly June 21, 1955 2,763,999 Norman Sept. 25, 1956 2,904,814 Scholl Sept. 22, 1959 3,026,233 Scholl et al Mar. 20, 1962

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, A WATCHCASE, A CUSHION ADHESIVELY ATTACHED TO THE BACK OF SAID CASE, AND COMPRISING A PLASTIC FILM, A SPREAD OF PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE ON ONE FACE OF SAID FILM, A THICKER LAYER OF PLASTIC FOAM OVERLYING THE OTHER FACE OF SAID FILM, AND A HEAT SEAL SEAM JOINING SAID FOAM TO SAID FILM AROUND THE BOUNDING EDGE OF THE CUSHION.