US3470638A

US3470638A - Watch band construction

Info

Publication number: US3470638A
Application number: US712136A
Authority: US
Inventors: Samuel Friedman; Robert O Harris; Erwin W Mauch; James P Harris; Joseph F Manzo
Original assignee: Brite Ind Inc
Current assignee: GENAL STRAP Inc DBA VOGUE WATCH STRAP CREATIONS A CORP OF NY
Priority date: 1968-03-11
Filing date: 1968-03-11
Publication date: 1969-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1986-10-07
Also published as: GB1230551A

Description

Oct. 7, 1969 5 FRlEDMAN ET AL 3,470,638

WATCH BAND CONSTRUCTION Filed March 11, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS SAMUEL FRIEDMAN ROBERT 0. HARRiS ERWIN W. MAUCH haw/M ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1969 s. FRIEDMAN ET AL 3,470,638

WATCH BAND CONSTRUCTION Filed March 11. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS SAMUEL FRIEDMAN ROBERT O. HARRIS ERWIN W. MAUCH JAMES P. HARRIS BY JOSEPH F. MANZO fmw ATTORNEYS United States Patent O US. Cl. 40-107 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A watchband construction that is adapted to be secured to a wrist Watch and including a link assembly that is comprised of a plurality of interconnecting links, a housing located between a pair of the links and joined thereto to define a portion of the link assembly, the housing having a window formed therein and a plurality of small cards, located in the housing in stacked relation, each of the cards having information conveying indicia imprinted thereon and the uppermost of the cards being visible through the window for conveying indicia imprinted thereon and the uppermost of the cards being visible through the window for conveying information to the wearer of the wrist watch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Calendar wrist watches have been used for some time and normally have included a small window located in the dial of the wrist watch, through which a number, representing a date is visible. Unless the dial of the calendar wrist watch was also constructed with a window that showed the day of the week therethrough it was sometimes difficult to coordinate the day with the date of the month, unless other information was available to the wearer of the watch. Heretofore, small monthly calendar cards have been provided for use with such calendar wrist watches and have normally been secured to the wrist band of the watch in some manner. Such calendar cards were removable from the wrist band so that a replaceable calendar card could be inserted thereon upon expiration of each month. Thus the wearer of the watch Was provided with a plurality of small calendar cards one of which was supposed to be secured in place on the wrist band at the beginning of each month. Obviously, the securement of each of the small calendar cards on the wrist band at the beginning of each month was somewhat of a nuisance and the tendency was to misplace or lose one or more of the month cards and the wearer of the watch eventually discarded the cards or left the card that he was currently wearing on the band without bothering to replace it at the end of each month.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a watch band construction that includes a plurality of links and that incorporates a housing as part of the link assembly thereof, the housing being constructed for insertion of a plurality of small cards therein. As constructed, the housing is adapted to be removably assembled between the links of the link assembly and includes top and bottom sections that are joined together to define an interior chamber into which a plurality of the small cards are inserted. The top section of the housing is formed with a window, while the bottom section of the housing is formed with a pivotally mounted door. The small cards are inserted into the housing and the uppermost of the cards is visable through the window. By imprinting the days of the month on each of the small cards, the current month can be placed on top of the stack so as to be visible through the window. Upon expiration of the current month, the door of the housing is opened and the appropriate card having the days of the month imprinted thereon is then placed on top of the stack so as to be viewable through the window. Since it is contemplated that the wrist watch that is to be used in conjunction with the watch band construction of the present invention may include a date window thereon, the date as viewed through the window can be correlated with the top calendar card so that the day and date of the month are always available for viewing by the wearer of the wrist watch.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a watch band construction that is adapted to be secured to a wrist watch and that includes a link assembly to which a housing is removably connected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a watch band construction having housing formed as a part thereof and that includes a window in the top section thereof and a door in the bottom section thereof, a plurality of small cards being received in the housing and the topmost of the cards being visible through the window thereof.

Still another object is to provide a housing for use in a watch band construction that is formed with link engaging means opposed marginal portions thereof that provide for removable interconnection of the housing in the link assembly.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wrist watch having a watch band assembly incorporating a housing of the present invention therewith;

FIG. 2. is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the watch band assembly showing the housing embodied in the present invention as disposed between links of the watch band construction;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the housing as embodied in the present invention and that is adapted to be assembled between the links of a watch band construction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a watch generally indicated at It) is illustrated and as shown includes a casing 12 to which spaced lugs 14 are joined on opposed sides thereof. The watch 10 also includes a dial 16 and since the Watch 10 as constructed is preferably of the calendar type, an opening 18 is formed in the dial for viewing a numeral therethrough, the numeral being representative of a day of the month. Joined to the lugs 14 of the watch 10- is a watch band or bracelet assembly generally indicated at 20 that is preferably formed of a plurality of expansible links 22 that define the mid portion of the bracelet assembly and that may be interconnected in any suitable manner such as by springs or the like. In the form of the bracelet assembly 20 as intended for use herein, the end portions thereof are non-expansible and are defined by links 24, the non-expansible links 24 being interconnected through a spring lock element indicated 3 at 26 in FIG. 3 and which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

In order to provide a readily accessible calendar and to further correlate the date that appears in the window 18 on the dial 16 of the watch, a plurality of calendar card-s 27 are provided in a stack and are adapted to be stored in a housing generally indicated at 28. It is seen that by orienting or placing the proper calendar card within the housing 28 for viewing therein, the current month will always be available for inspection by the wearer of the watch and may be correlated with the date as vie-wed through the window 18 for determining the day and date at any particular time.

As shown in FIG. 3, the housing 28 is adapted to be removably connected in the bracelet assembly 20 between a pair of the fixed links 24 by means of the lock elements 26 which provide for disconnecting of the housing 28 from the bracelet assembly as desired. Referring now to FIG. 5, the component parts of the housing 28 are illustrated in detail and as shown include an upper section generally indicated at 30 and a lower section generally indicated at 32 that when joined to the upper section 30 defines an interior chamber therewith in which a plurality of the calendar cards 27 are adapted to be inserted. The upper section includes a central portion 36 which is cut out to define an opening 38 for receiving a window 40 therein. Joined to the central portion 36 are side portions 39 and stepped down from the central portion 36 are

end shelves

42 and 44 on the bottommost side edges of which

end tabs

46 and 48 respectively are joined. Slots 50 and openings 52 are formed in the shelf 42 for receiving the tabs 56 of a link cover 58 that simulates the appearance of a link when the housing 18 is joined to the links 24 of the bracelet assembly. Similar openings 50 and 52 are formed in the shelf 44 for receiving tabs 56 of a link cover 58 for securement thereof on the shelf 44.

The lower section 32 of the housing 18 is constructed in such a manner as to cooperate with the upper section 30 for enclosing the calendar cards 27 in the interior chamber of the housing. As shown in FIG. 5, the lower section 32 is formed with opposed sides 60 that have upstanding central portions that are received within the side portions 39 of the upper section 30 in engaging relation therewith. Formed between the sides 60 is a central opening '61 that corresponds in configuration to the central portion 36 of the upper section. Formed as marginal ends of the opening 61 located between the sides 60 are

end portions

62 and 64, the end portion 62 being formed with spaced openings 66 therein and being provided with marginal walls that receive the shelf 42 therebetween. Formed in the forward marginal wall of the end portion 62 are spaced notches 67 between which a projection 68 is located. Depressions indicated at 69 are formed in the end portion 62 for receiving the folded tabs 46 of the upper sect-ion sidewall 36 when the upper and lower sections are joined together. The opposite end portion 64 is formed with similar depressions for receiving the tab 48 when they are folded on joining of the upper and lower sections. The end portion 64 is also formed with a central notch 70 in the forward wall thereof that communicates with a wider notch 71 through which a spring lock element 26 is adapted to be inserted. A protuberance 72 is formed on the rearward wall of the side portion 64, the purpose of which will be described. Notches 7'4 and 76 are formed in the inner marginal walls of the

end portions

62 and 64 respectively and receive the tabs 56 of the link covers 58 when they are mounted in place on the

shelves

42 and 44.

Pivotally mounted on the bottom section 32 is a cover 78 to which hinge rolls 80 are joined, the hinge rolls 80 being received in the openings 66 formed in the side portion 62. A pin 82 projects through openings '84 formed in the sides 60 of the bottom section and further projects through the hinge rolls 80 for .mounting the cover 78 in pivotal relation with respect to the bottom section. A

4 lock finger 86 is formed on the cover 78 and is adapted to engage the protuberance 72 for locating the cover 78 in a positive closed position.

As described hereinabove, the spring lock element 26 is provided for interconnecting the adjacent non-expansible links 24 and is also employed for removably interconnecting the housing 18 in the bracelet assembly and between two of the non-expansible links 24. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the lock elements 26 is formed of a spring material and is stamped and then bent along a fold line to define opposed and spaced fingers 88 that are normally captured within a link housing for exposing spaced noses 89 defined by a groove 90 that is formed in the fold line. When the lock element 26 is used in conjunction with the housing 18, the fingers 88 are captured in the end portion 64 by the shelf 42, the spaced noses 89 extending through the notches 67, and the groove 90 accommodating the projection 68 and the portion of the wall to which it is joined. Formed on the underside of the lock element as defined by the folded portion is a catch 91 that is designed to snap behind a link end wall or when received in the end portion 64 of the housing 18 through the

notches

70 and 71, is adapted to snap behind the wall in which these notches are formed. A finger tab 92 is formed on a central portion of the lock element 26 while a slot 93 is formed on a lower extension 94 that is joined to the catch 91, the slot 93 receiving the projection 68 when the spring element 26 is placed between the upper and lower sections and within the end portion 62. The lock element 26 is inserted in place by projecting the nose end into a link housing or into the end portion 64 of the housing 18, the catch 91 locking behind the wall through which it is inserted. Pressure on the tab 92 will act to release the lock element from its locked position.

In the assembly of the 'upper section 30 to the lower section 32, the

tabs

46 and 48 are folded in interlocking relation around the

end portions

62 and 64 and are received in the depressions 69 as formed in the end portions. The cover 78 is pivotally locked to the lower section 32 and the spring element 26 is enveloped between the shelf 42 and the end portion 62 when the top and bottom sections are interconnected, to expose the spaced noses 89. As previously described the projection 68 is received in the slot '93 for locking the lock element in place. The link covers 58 are then mounted on the

shelves

42 and 44 for similating links and for imparting the appearance that the housing 18 is formed as an integral part of the bracelet assembly when interconnected between two of the fixed links 24. With the window 40 in place, the calendar cards 34 are inserted in the housing, the card bearing the current month arrangement of days being located in adjacent relation to the window 40 for viewing therethrough when the bracelet assembly as connected to the watch 10 is mounted on the wrist of the wearer. In this connection, seven of the calendar cards 27 are provided, since the numeral designations on each card will show the first day of the month on a different day of the week. A resilient pad 96 may be inserted in the housing 18 in back of the stack of calendar cards 27 and thereby imparts pressure on the rear of the stack when the door 78 is closed for locating the uppermost of the cards 27 in firm engagement with the rear surface of the window 40 and preventing movement of the cards 34 as contained in the housing 18.

In the use of the device, the particular calendar card that is applicable to the current month is placed on top of the stack for viewing through the window 40 and the door 78 closed behind the stack. When a date is observed through the opening 18 in the watch dial 16, this date can be correlated with the date on the calendar card for noting a particular day of the month. Since the calendar card always refers to the current month, a ready calendar is available for the wearer to observe whenever it is desired.

If required, the housing 18 may be removed from the bracelet assembly by disconnection of the spring lock element 26 from the end portion 64 of the adjacent link and by further disconnecting the spring lock element 26 located in the end portion 62 from the link located adjacent thereto in which it is inserted.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a watch band construction for use with a wrist watch, an elongated flexible band having opposite end portions for attachment to said watch, a housing connected to said band between said opposite end portions and in adjacent relation to said wrist watch and having a compartment formed therein, a plurality of monthly calendar sheets located in said compartment in stacked relation, a portion of said housing being pivotally mounted thereon for permitting access to said compartment and said stacked calendar sheets located therein, a window formed in the upper surface of said housing and facing outwardly of said compartment so as to provide for visual inspection of said compartment and the topmost calendar sheet located therein, said window being defined by an opening that is formed in the upper surface of said housing, marginal edges extending around the periphery of said opening to form a continuous and uninterrupted flange under which said calendar sheets are positioned in said compartment, said calendar sheets occupying substantially the entire compartment and being effectively held in place therein by said pivotal portion, said monthly calendar sheets located in said compartment comprising only seven in number, and each sheet having calendar indicia thereon that represents a calendar month and the first day of the month being indicated on each sheet as a different day of the week from that indicated on the other calendar sheets, wherein the calendar sheets cooperate to provide a complete annual calendar that is perpetual in nature as the appropriate calendar sheet in turn is shifted to the topmost of the stack each month.

2. In a watch band construction as set forth in claim 1, said pivotally mounted portion of said housing being located on the opposite side of the housing from said window, and a pad located in engagement with the inner surface of said pivotal portion for urging said calendar sheets toward said window.

3. In a watch band construction as set forth in claim 1, a transparent panel underlying said flange in intimate faceto-face engaging relation and overlying the topmost calendar sheet to form a protective surface therefor.

4. A watch bracelet comprising an elongated flexible band having opposite end portions for attachment to a watch case, a housing connected to said band between the said opposite end portions, said housing having a window permitting visual inspection of the interior of said housing, a portion of said housing being swingable between an open position permitting access to said housing and a closed position, and a plurality of monthly calendar sheets mounted in said housing in stacked relation, whereby the top sheet may be seen through said window, said housing comprising a. raised central portion in which said window is positioned, and stepped-down side portions aligned with said band, said side portions each having mounted thereon a link cover, the upper surface of which is substantially flush with the top of said central portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 497,611 5/1893 Stauffer 63-23 774,694 11/1904 Post 40-122 1,192,054 7/1916 Fuller 40-l22 1,539,781 5/1925 Smythe. 2,559,211 7/1951 Brunengraber. 2,749,634 6/1956 Billet et a1. 40-21 2,796,747 6/1957 Ebert 63-l 2,954,622 10/1960 Moore 4021 3,340,630 9/1967 Becker 40-107 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 40-21; 22428