US3376701A - Watch crown - Google Patents

Watch crown Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3376701A
US3376701A US562294A US56229466A US3376701A US 3376701 A US3376701 A US 3376701A US 562294 A US562294 A US 562294A US 56229466 A US56229466 A US 56229466A US 3376701 A US3376701 A US 3376701A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
crown
gasket
watch
ring
pendant
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US562294A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Raymond J Grohoski
Robert W Denley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
United States Time Corp
Original Assignee
United States Time Corp.:The
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by United States Time Corp.:The filed Critical United States Time Corp.:The
Priority to US562294A priority Critical patent/US3376701A/en
Priority to DE19671673709 priority patent/DE1673709B1/de
Priority to CH768067A priority patent/CH511473A/de
Priority to CH768067D priority patent/CH768067A4/xx
Priority to GB30155/67A priority patent/GB1122140A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3376701A publication Critical patent/US3376701A/en
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/08—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits
    • G04B37/10—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits of winding stems

Definitions

  • a crown for a watch is adapted to fit over a tubular pendant.
  • the crown prevents leakage of water into the Watch.
  • the crown construction includes elastic annular gasket and a hard annular self-lubricating ring, both of which fit around the pendant.
  • the present invention relates to watches and more particularly to a waterproof watch crown.
  • the crown must also meet the general requirements for a quality watch crown, namely that it does not wear out the tubular neck (case pendant) when it turns; that it is relatively easy to turn; that the crown itself is not readily worn out by its turning on its pendant; and that the crown may be readily replaceable on its stem without requiring the use of special tools.
  • the crown should be relatively inexpensive. Its materials should not be costly and it should be simple to manufacture, in that it is adapted for high-speed production with high accuracy of its parts.
  • a crown having an internal cavity which fits over its case pendant (the tubular neck portion of the case).
  • An elastic gasket preferably of rubber, is tightly wedged between the crown and the pendant to provide sealing.
  • the gasket may be, for example, round (an O ring), square or D shaped.
  • a hard self-lubricating ring is provided within the cavity, either above or below the gasket, to prevent sidewise motion of the crown.
  • a metal washer is staked on the bottom of the crown to retain the gasket and the ring in their positions.
  • FIG. 1 is a side vertical sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 2-9 are side sectional views of other embodiments of the present invention.
  • the waterproof crown construction shown in FIG. 1 includes a crown body 1.
  • the crown body preferably constructed of brass or stainless steel, has teeth 2 to enable the fingers to grip the crown for turning.
  • the crown is turned when the watch is set in either a mechanical or electric watch, and when the latch is wound in a mechanical watch.
  • the crown body has a tubular cavity 3 forming a pedestal (center body) 4.
  • the pedestal 4 has internal screw threads 5 which are screwed onto the external screw threads 6 of the winding stem 7.
  • the winding stem is connected to gears which in a mechanical watch in one position, usually toward the case body, winds the mainspring. In its other position, usually pulled out from the case body, the crown sets the hands. In an electric watch the crown usually is pulled out from the case body to set the hands.
  • the cavity 3 of the crown body 1 fits over the case pendant 8.
  • the case pendant 8 is a tubular neck which is integral with a portion of the watch case, usually the bezel 30.
  • the cavity 3 has an enlarged lower portion 9 which is adapted for the insertion of the crown members utilized to prevent entry of water from outside of the crown and through the crown body and the internal opening of the case pendant and into the watch.
  • a hard selflubricating ring 10, preferably of plastic, is positioned at the top of cavity portion 9.
  • the plastic ring may be relatively inexpensively molded with great accuracy by conventional injection molding techniques.
  • the plastic is a selflubricating bearing material, preferably an acetal copolymer. Suitable acetal copolymers include Celcon brand, manufactured by Celanese Corporation, or Delrin brand, manufactured by Du Pont.
  • plastics are formed by the mixture of Teflon, Du Ponts brand of polytetrafluoroethylene, with polycarbonates or acetal copolymers.
  • molybdenum-disulfide may be included in the plastic mixture to increase lubricity and reduce wear.
  • the plastic ring has considerable compressive strength so it prevents side-wise motion of the crown body 1 under side-wise thrusts, such as is shown by arrow A. In addition, it prevents side-wise motion of the crown body 1 under those thrusts having side-wise components similar to the motion in the direction of arrow A.
  • a gasket 11 is positioned beneath the plastic ring 10 and within the lower portion 9 of cavity 3.
  • This gasket 11, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, is originally an O ring which is circular in cross section prior to the insertion of the case pendant within the cavity 3 of the crown body 1.
  • the O ring is made of rubber.
  • the rubber preferably is of the type which is resistant to salt water and may be artificial rubber.
  • the O ring is sufiiciently large so that it is compressed and distorted when the crown is positioned over the case pendant. The O ring prevents water from seeping between the crown body and the case pendant.
  • a metal retaining washer 12 is staked or glued within a ledge portion 13 of the crown body 1.
  • the metal retaining washer is used to retain the O ring gasket 11 and 0 the plastic ring 10 within the crown body. It is not possible to simply extend the metal retaining washer 13 as far as the case pendant and to utilize that washer to prevent side-wise thrust because it would rapidly wear out the case pendant when the crown is turned.
  • a crown having an internal diameter of 0.133 inch at its lower cavity section was constructed in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • a plastic ring having an internal diameter of 0.099 inch and an external diameter of 0.135 inch and an O ring rubber gasket having an external diameter of 0.143 inch and an internal diameter of 0.094 inch (all dimensions prior to insertion into the cavity) were inserted in the crowns cavity. This watch would not leak under actual diving conditions and when tested at a pressure of 267 lbs. per square inch under static conditions.
  • FIGS. 29 are similar in most of their parts to the embodiment of FIG. 1 and the parts labeled with the same numerals perform the same function in the described embodiments.
  • the gasket 14 fills the entire space between the metal retaining washer 13 and the plastic ring 10.
  • the gasket 14 is an annular ring of a substantially square cross section before the case pendant is pushed within the crown.
  • the gasket 14 is larger than the available space between the crown and the case pendant so that it becomes under pressure when the case pendant is fitted within the crown.
  • the gasket 15 is a ring, preferably of rubber, of a D shape, in cross section prior to its being placed under pressure when the case pendant is fitted within the crown.
  • annular rubber gasket 16 is, like the gasket 15 of FIG. 3, of a D shape. However, gasket 16 is relatively elongated in shape compared to its height.
  • annular gasket 17 is in the form of a trapezoid in cross section.
  • the crown of FIG. 6 has an annular gasket 18 having a cross section of an elongated rounded shape, similar in crosssection to an egg shape.
  • the rubber gasket -19 is in the form of a fiat annular ring, i.e., shaped like a washer, prior to insertion of the case pendant within its hole.
  • the hole within the gasket 19 is slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the case pendant 8.
  • the ring 10 has an inverted L shape.
  • the outer portion of gasket 19 is held firmly between the bottom of ring 10 and the top of washer 12.
  • the inner portion of gasket 18 is loose within opening 20.
  • a gasket 21 is held, at its outer periphery, between inverted L shaped plastic ring 10' and the retainer washer 12.
  • the gasket 21 is relatively thick compared to gasket 19 of FIG. 7.
  • the inner hole of flat rubber annular gasket 21 is smaller than the outer diameter of case pendant 8 so that its inner portion is forced upward and squeezed between the case pendant 8 and the inner lower wall 22 of plastic ring 10.
  • a lubricating material for example, a suitable lubricating oil, may be placed on the crown pendant prior to its being joined with the crown body, so that :the gasket may more readily be turnable in relationship to the case pendant.
  • the crown body and the winding stem may be made of an integral pieceof metal or of a hard plastic.
  • the plastic ring may be replaced by other relatively hard self-lubricating materials such as an artificial jewel or an oil impregnated porous metal made from sintered metal powder.
  • the position of the plastic ring and the gasket may be interchanged.
  • the plastic ring may be placed next to the metal retaining washer and the gasket positioned on top of the plastic ring. This interchange is shown in FIG. 9, which is the same as the construction of FIG. 1 except that the position of the ring and the'gasket are interchanged and a staking lip 23 is used in place of washer 12.
  • a waterproof watch crown comprising a crown body having an internal tubular cavity, said crown body being adapted to fit over a watch case tubular pendant; a pedestal portion affixed to said crown body within said cavity and adapted to fit within the said case pendant and to be attached to the winding stem of a watch; a hard ring of self-lubricating material within said crown cavity and adapted to be substantially pressed between said crown and said pendant to prevent side-wise motion of said crown; an elastic gasket within said cavity adapted to be compressed between said crown and said pendant; and means on said crown to partially cover said cavity and retain said ring and said gasket within said cavity.
  • a watch crown as in claim 1 wherein the gasket is an O ring which is substantially circular in cross section prior to its compression.
  • a watch crown as in claim 1 wherein the gasket is a ring which is substantially D shaped in cross-section prior to its compression.
  • a watch as in claim 9 wherein the hard ring is of the form of an inverted L.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)
US562294A 1966-07-01 1966-07-01 Watch crown Expired - Lifetime US3376701A (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US562294A US3376701A (en) 1966-07-01 1966-07-01 Watch crown
DE19671673709 DE1673709B1 (de) 1966-07-01 1967-05-19 Wasserdichte uhrenkrone
CH768067A CH511473A (de) 1966-07-01 1967-05-31 Wasserdichte Uhrenkrone
CH768067D CH768067A4 (de) 1966-07-01 1967-05-31
GB30155/67A GB1122140A (en) 1966-07-01 1967-06-29 Watch crown

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US562294A US3376701A (en) 1966-07-01 1966-07-01 Watch crown

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3376701A true US3376701A (en) 1968-04-09

Family

ID=24245667

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US562294A Expired - Lifetime US3376701A (en) 1966-07-01 1966-07-01 Watch crown

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3376701A (de)
CH (2) CH511473A (de)
DE (1) DE1673709B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1122140A (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3863438A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-02-04 Rene Soguel Device for insuring the tightness of a timepiece casing
US4502791A (en) * 1980-11-10 1985-03-05 Jean Lassale S.A. Water-resistant device between an outside control member and a watch case
US6137750A (en) * 1997-06-11 2000-10-24 Meco Sa Grenchen Safety valve for a timepiece
US6200020B1 (en) * 1997-06-11 2001-03-13 Meco Sa Grenchen Operating means with a seal, for a timepiece
US20030030230A1 (en) * 2001-07-28 2003-02-13 Manufacture Jaeger-Lecoultre Sa Sealed crown for watch casing
US20050162985A1 (en) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-28 Richemont International S.A. Automatic setting device
US20180059620A1 (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Meco S.A. Setting crown for timepieces

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1092189A (fr) * 1954-02-02 1955-04-19 Couronne de remontage étanche, notamment pour montre
CH316459A (fr) * 1954-07-15 1956-10-15 Chevalier Edgar Pièce d'horlogerie, dont une paroi de la boîte est traversée, de façon étanche, par un organe de commande
US2771734A (en) * 1953-05-06 1956-11-27 Morf Ernest Watch crown seal
US2779153A (en) * 1951-07-13 1957-01-29 Soguel Rene Crown for waterproof watches
CH327358A (fr) * 1954-12-20 1958-01-31 Piquerez Sa Camille Remontoir pour montre étanche
CH331280A (fr) * 1955-12-21 1958-07-15 Morf Ernest Couronne étanche pour appareil de mesure, notamment pour montre
US2844421A (en) * 1954-11-05 1958-07-22 Haskel Engineering Associates Sealing structure
US2862736A (en) * 1956-09-28 1958-12-02 Parker Hannifin Corp Sealing assembly of packing rings of different qualities
US2912819A (en) * 1957-07-19 1959-11-17 Joseph Waldman & Sons Waterproof watch crown
US2973978A (en) * 1957-08-21 1961-03-07 North American Aviation Inc Bimaterial back-up ring

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH284492A (fr) * 1949-10-24 1952-07-31 Vaurillon Emile Boîte étanche et procédé de fabrication de cette boîte.
CH327020A (fr) * 1955-01-14 1958-01-15 Piquerez Camille Couronne de remontoir étanche pour montre
CH346176A (fr) * 1957-04-25 1960-04-30 Soguel Rene Couronne de remontoir étanche
FR1186414A (fr) * 1957-07-19 1959-08-24 Perfectionnements aux couronnes des montres étanches
CH344026A (fr) * 1958-01-15 1960-01-15 Morf Ernest Dispositif de remontage et de mise à l'heure pour montre étanche
CH352968A (fr) * 1959-03-06 1961-03-15 Certina Kurth Freres S A Remontoir étanche

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2779153A (en) * 1951-07-13 1957-01-29 Soguel Rene Crown for waterproof watches
US2771734A (en) * 1953-05-06 1956-11-27 Morf Ernest Watch crown seal
FR1092189A (fr) * 1954-02-02 1955-04-19 Couronne de remontage étanche, notamment pour montre
CH316459A (fr) * 1954-07-15 1956-10-15 Chevalier Edgar Pièce d'horlogerie, dont une paroi de la boîte est traversée, de façon étanche, par un organe de commande
US2844421A (en) * 1954-11-05 1958-07-22 Haskel Engineering Associates Sealing structure
CH327358A (fr) * 1954-12-20 1958-01-31 Piquerez Sa Camille Remontoir pour montre étanche
CH331280A (fr) * 1955-12-21 1958-07-15 Morf Ernest Couronne étanche pour appareil de mesure, notamment pour montre
US2862736A (en) * 1956-09-28 1958-12-02 Parker Hannifin Corp Sealing assembly of packing rings of different qualities
US2912819A (en) * 1957-07-19 1959-11-17 Joseph Waldman & Sons Waterproof watch crown
US2973978A (en) * 1957-08-21 1961-03-07 North American Aviation Inc Bimaterial back-up ring

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3863438A (en) * 1973-06-29 1975-02-04 Rene Soguel Device for insuring the tightness of a timepiece casing
US4502791A (en) * 1980-11-10 1985-03-05 Jean Lassale S.A. Water-resistant device between an outside control member and a watch case
US6137750A (en) * 1997-06-11 2000-10-24 Meco Sa Grenchen Safety valve for a timepiece
US6200020B1 (en) * 1997-06-11 2001-03-13 Meco Sa Grenchen Operating means with a seal, for a timepiece
SG98363A1 (en) * 1997-06-11 2003-09-19 Meco Sa Grenchen A safety valve for a timepiece
US20030030230A1 (en) * 2001-07-28 2003-02-13 Manufacture Jaeger-Lecoultre Sa Sealed crown for watch casing
US6902169B2 (en) * 2001-07-28 2005-06-07 Richemont International Sa Sealed crown for watch casing
US20050162985A1 (en) * 2004-01-23 2005-07-28 Richemont International S.A. Automatic setting device
US7540655B2 (en) * 2004-01-23 2009-06-02 Richemont International S.A. Automatic setting device
US20180059620A1 (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Meco S.A. Setting crown for timepieces
US10152024B2 (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-12-11 Meco S.A. Setting crown for timepieces

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH768067A4 (de) 1971-04-15
CH511473A (de) 1971-04-15
DE1673709B1 (de) 1971-12-30
GB1122140A (en) 1968-07-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN101470405B (zh) 按钮控制装置
US3376701A (en) Watch crown
US3621649A (en) Watertight control member for watches
US3499281A (en) Watch crown
CN102004436B (zh) 携带钟表
US3817025A (en) Fluid tight mounting of crystal in watch case
US3479771A (en) Watchcase
US2463315A (en) Watertight watch
DE3666985D1 (en) Watch case at least partially made of a hard material
US2875574A (en) Waterproof snap case for watches
US3768504A (en) Check valve for use with a snorkel type breathing tube
US5521889A (en) Watch having a fluid-tight rotary crystal or crystal-bezel unit
US2909893A (en) Watch case
US3748849A (en) Water-proof wrist watch case having oval glass profile
US3923195A (en) Sealed indicator mechanism
US2720748A (en) Watertight watch-case
US2716328A (en) Square waterproof watch case
US3545197A (en) Watertight watch case with oval crystal
US2302340A (en) Waterproof watchcase
US2912819A (en) Waterproof watch crown
US2773347A (en) Winding crown for timepiece movement
US3485036A (en) High pressure watertight watch crown
US3618312A (en) Watch crown
US2260835A (en) Watchcase
US2341271A (en) Watch

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331