US3618312A - Watch crown - Google Patents

Watch crown Download PDF

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Publication number
US3618312A
US3618312A US820190A US3618312DA US3618312A US 3618312 A US3618312 A US 3618312A US 820190 A US820190 A US 820190A US 3618312D A US3618312D A US 3618312DA US 3618312 A US3618312 A US 3618312A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
crown
watch
gasket
cavity
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
US820190A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
William W Macchia
Cyril F Seymour
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.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
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 Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3618312A publication Critical patent/US3618312A/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

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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 watch crown for a waterproof watch includes a metal or plastic crown body having an interior cavity.
  • a tubular pendant protruding from the bezel portion of the case of the watch is adapted to fit within the cavity of the crown body.
  • Waterproof sealing is obtained by the use of a molded elastic gasket which is held in place in the crown by a ring which is fixed to the crown body.
  • the gasket in cross-section, has a fiat washer-like portion and, integral thereto at the inner diameter of the washer, a raised flange-like portion having an arcuate inner face.
  • the present invention relates to horology and more particularly to a crown for a waterproof watch.
  • a watch should be waterproof. Watches, even when treated with care, occasionally may become wet, for example, due to rain or accidental immersion. When watches were a luxury item, they Were treated with considerable care. Wrist watches were removed from the wrist before washing the hands. However, wrist watches are no longer considered a luxury item and they are often treated carelesslythey are left on when washing the hands, when going out in the rain, or even when swimming or bathing. 'People nevertheless expect that their watches will continue to operate, despite the adverse treatment to which they subject them. There is a demand that even relatively lowpriced watches be waterproofed.
  • the problem of waterproofing inexpensive watches has been particularly acute in obtaining a satisfactory waterproof watch crown.
  • the watch crown is used in a mechanical watch to wind the mainspring and to set the hands.
  • the watch crown In winding the mainspring the watch crown is connected to a winding staff, which is co-axially within a tubular pendant fixed to the bezel of the watch and the winding staff is turned upon rotation of the crown. The crown is pulled outward away from the body of the watch and rotated in order to set the hands.
  • the watch crown sealing element must perform various functions. It must keep the watch waterproof during the normal position of the crown, that is, with the crown pressed inwardly against the watch body. It must also prevent leakage of water into the pendant when the crown is pulled outward in order to set the hands.
  • the waterproofing mechanism must permit the crown to rotate in relationship to the pendant, both in its winding and hand-setting positions. It is important that the rotation of the crown not cause the waterproofing seal to become worn out; for, if that seal should fail, Water may flow from outside of the crown, through the pendant and into the watch, harming or destroying its mechanism.
  • a watch crown in accordance with the present invention, includes a plastic or metal crown body, preferably having conventional outer teeth.
  • the crown body has an inner cavity.
  • a pedestal, integral with the body, is positioned at the top of the cavity and protrudes into the cavity.
  • the pedestal has a bore for an interference fit, or other attachment means, so that it may be fastened, either permanently or removably, to the winding stem of the watch.
  • the cavity is adapted to fit over the tubular case pendant, which protrudes from the bezel of the watch.
  • An annular elastic gasket is held within the cavity by a metal or plastic ring, the ring being staked, glued or otherwise joined to the crown body.
  • the gasket has a bottom flat washer-like portion and a raised flange-like portion at the inner diameter of the washer-like portion.
  • the flat washer-like portion of the gasket is firmly positioned between the top surface of the ring and the bottom of a ledge formed in the crown body.
  • the flange-like portion on its inner surface, is curved but on its outer surface is flat.
  • the outer surface of the flange-like portion is held against a circumferential wall of the cavity of the crown body.
  • the curved inner surface of the flange portion of the gasket when the crown body is in its position on the pendant of the watch, is compressed against the pendant.
  • the gasket is firmly held within the crown body even when the crown body is removed from the watch. It will not fall out of the crown body and may be exactly centered within the cavity of the crown body.
  • the curved surface of the gasket permits rotation of the crown body without binding. At the same time the gasket provides an excellent seal against water.
  • FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the watch crown of the present invention in its position on the watch;
  • FIG. 2 is a side view, the left half in section and the right half in plan, showing the crown removed from the watch;
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the gasket ring
  • FIG. 4 is a bottom plan View of the watch crown of the present invention.
  • the watch crown of the present invention includes a crown body 1, preferably made from metal or plastic.
  • the body 1 has an exterior set of conventional external teeth (knurlings) 2 and are used to grip the crown.
  • a cavity 3 is formed within the body 1.
  • the body has a hollow pedestal portion 4 which protrudes into the cavity 3.
  • the pedestal portion 4 has a bore 5 which is adapted to grip the external teeth 6 of the winding stem 7.
  • the bore of pedestal 4 may have internal screw threads adapted to be screwed to the exterior screw threads of the winding stem.
  • the setting stem 7 is a round staff which is rotatable within the tubular pendant 8.
  • the tubular pendant 8 is integral with, and protrudes from, the bezel or other portion of the watch case.
  • a ring 10 in the form of a metal or plastic washer (a fiat annular shape) is attached to the crown body 1.
  • the attachment may be, as shown, by staking a lip 11 of the crown body over the ring 10 or alternatively by adhesive or other joining means.
  • the flat outer diameter wall of the ring may be close to, or rest against, the internal wall portion 12 of the crown.
  • the gasket 13 is in the form of a ring.
  • the gasket is made of a moldable elastic material, for example, the plastic resin polyurethane.
  • the gasket includes a bottom washer-like portion 14 and an upright flange portion 15.
  • the bottom portion .14 which is in the form of a fiat washer, is held between the upper (internal) face of the ring 10 and the downwardly inclined ledge 17 of the crown body.
  • the flange-like portion 15 of the gasket has, at its inner diameter, a curved arcuate face 16.
  • the curved face 16 presents the same type of low resistance surface to the pendant 8 as would be presented by an O ring.
  • the gasket 13 presents the advantage, as compared to an O ring, of being firmly held in place within the crown body. Due to its being compressed between the ledge 17 and the upper surface of the ring 10, the gasket prevents water leakage between the ring and the crown.
  • a waterproof watch crown comprising a crown body having an interval cavity, said crown body being adapted to fit over a watch case tubular pendant, said crown body having a tubular portion within said cavity extending outwardly from the top of the cavity in the crown body to fit within the said case pendant and to be attached to the winding stem of a watch; an annular molded elastic gasket within said cavity adapted to be compressed between said crown and said pendant to form a seal; and an annular hard washer having an inner round hole fitted about the pendant and being fixedly attached at the bottom thereof to a 'lower portion of said crown to partly cover said cavity and retain said gasket within said cavity, said engagement of the pendant with the inner round hole preventing adverse effects on the seal from side loading of the crown; wherein said gasket viewed in cross-section has as integral portions a bottom flat Washer-like portion and a flange-like upper portion at the inner edge of said fiat portion, said flange-like portion having an arcuate inner face and a fiat outer face; and wherein said washerlike portion
  • a watch crown as in claim 1 wherein the internal wall of said cavity in said crown body forms a first enlarged cylindrical cavity portion and, above said first portion, a second smaller cylindrical cavity portion, the walls forming between them a ledge, said gasket, at its washer-like portion, being clamped between said ledge and the top of said hard washer to form a seal.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Bolts, Nuts, And Washers (AREA)
  • Sealing Devices (AREA)
US820190A 1969-04-29 1969-04-29 Watch crown Expired - Lifetime US3618312A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US82019069A 1969-04-29 1969-04-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3618312A true US3618312A (en) 1971-11-09

Family

ID=25230131

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US820190A Expired - Lifetime US3618312A (en) 1969-04-29 1969-04-29 Watch crown

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3618312A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS4825948B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
DE (1) DE2020358C3 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
FR (1) FR2096716B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
GB (1) GB1269874A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060184159A1 (en) * 2005-01-19 2006-08-17 Lambert Bruno Marie Marc Clockwork movement

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS52110935U (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) * 1976-02-16 1977-08-23

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH272324A (fr) * 1948-05-20 1950-12-15 Morf Ernest Organe de commande, notamment pour montre étanche.
US3499281A (en) * 1968-02-29 1970-03-10 Us Time Corp The Watch crown

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060184159A1 (en) * 2005-01-19 2006-08-17 Lambert Bruno Marie Marc Clockwork movement
US7404669B2 (en) * 2005-01-19 2008-07-29 Montblac-Simplo Gmbh Clockwork movement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2020358B2 (de) 1978-03-30
GB1269874A (en) 1972-04-06
JPS4825948B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-08-02
DE2020358C3 (de) 1978-11-16
FR2096716B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1973-07-13
FR2096716A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1972-02-25
DE2020358A1 (de) 1970-11-12

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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