US365984A - Watch-case - Google Patents

Description

Patented-July 5, 1887.

(Model.)

C. K, GILES.

WATCH CASE.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orti-CE.

I CHARLES K. GILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATC H -CAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,984, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed April 27, 1885. Serial No. 163,658. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be 1t known that I, GnAnLEs K. GrLEs,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the' county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vatch-Cases, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying` drawings, in which y Figure l is a planview of a watch-case cmbodying my invention, a portion thereof being broken away to show the construction, Fig. 2, a sectional view of the same on theline m @cof Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional view of the back portion of the case detached, showing the inner bezel hinged thereto; Fig. 4, a similar sectional view ofthe case-center detached; Fig. 5, an end view of the back portion of the case, with the inner bezel removed at the hinge; Fig. 6, a transverse sectional view of the inner bezel detached, showing the movement-holding ring in position in the bezel; and Fig. 7, an end elevation of the same.

' Like letters refer to like parts in all the tigures of the drawings.

My invention relates to watch-cases, and is in the nature of an improvement upon the combined dust-proof b oX and case for watches set forth in LcttersPatent No. 30S, S40, granted to me December 2, 1884..

I will now proceed to describe the construction and operation of my invention as I have embodied it in one form, and will then point out definitely in the claims the special iniprovements which I believe to be new and wish to secure by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the back-portion of the case or box, which may be constructed in one piece,or in two pieces, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, where a represents a ring of base metal,and a an outer portion or cap of precious metal, the two parts being permanently joined together, however, so as to form practically a single piece. This construction I prefer on account of the economy in the use of precious metal. This back portion A of the case is provided with a flange or projection, A', extending around it about midway of its height, as shown, and at its upper edgeis further provided with. a groove, a,

which forms a seat to receive the outer bezel, B, which forms the front portion of the case. This bezel B carries the crystal and snaps into place in the seat ai, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, thus forming a dust-proof case to receive the movement. In this form the boX or case, consisting of the back portion, A, and upper portion, B, will'form a dust-proof box, which may be used for the transportation or exhibition of the movement.

Cindicates the case-center, which is annular in form and of sufficient depth to fill the space between the iiangeA and the bezel B when the latteris in position, as shown in Fig. 2. This case-center is preferably screw-threaded yinternally for a portion or the whole of its depth, as shown at c, the upper portion of the part A being correspondingly threaded, as shown at c', between the seat a2 and flange A. By reason of this construction the box may be readily transformed into a case suitable for -personal wear by applying the center C over the part A, screwing it into position when screw-threads are used, and then snapping down the bezel B into its seat, thelower edge of the bezel and the flange A holding the center in place in an obvious manner.

In order to providev a suitable support for the movement whereby it will be securely retained in position and yet be readily inspected,

I have devised the following construction:

-D indicates a ring or bezel, which is hinged to the upper edge-of the lower portion', A, of the casein any suitable manner, the hingejoint being shown in the present instance as consisting ofthe perforated lugs d on the bezel,

arranged between two similar lugs, d', on the case A, the whole being connected by means of a pintle, d2, passing through all the lugs. Tithin this bezel D is formed a seat, D', into which the movement-holding ring E snaps. `It will be seen that this inner bezel, D, may be readily swung out from the case, carrying with it the movement, which is located in the movement-holding ring F, so that thelatter may be' inspected or removed, if desired. The bezel may, however, be swung out alone by disengaging it from the ringE, a seat, c, being formed in the interior of the part A near its upper edge, in which the movement-holding IoC and shown in the drawings.

ring may rest, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.' The hinge-joint connecting the inner bezel, D, with the case is preferably located at the point Where the winding-stem enters the case, as shown in Fig. l, the movement being so arranged within the movement-holding ring E that the winding-stud thereof comes in line with the winding-key o1" the stem, which latter may be drawn out when it is desired to swing the movement out.

In Letters Iatent No. 308,840, hereinbefore speeiiied, there is shown a watch-case consisting of a back and front portion and acase-eenter clamped between the two. In this construction, however, the body or cylindrical portion of the case forms a part of the front portion of the ease, the back consisting of aA mere cap, which screws thereon. In this construction the movement is not protected until the entire ease-fi. c., both the front and back portions-is assembled, since when the movement is placed in the front portion its rear face is exposed. In my present improvement the back portion is adapted to receive the movement, which rests therein, and its exposed portions are completely surrounded by the back portion, which protects it in a great measure even if the front portion be not applied thereto. It is obvious that this will be the ease, since the front face of the movement is protected by a plate, while the back face is unprotected, unless completelysurrounded by the lower portion of the case, as hereinbefore set forth. l

It is obvious that various modifications in the details of construction may be made without departing from the principle of my inven tion, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limitingr myself strictly to the precise details of constructionhereinbefore described, For instance, in order to form a hunter-case watch, the bezel proper, B, may be made somewhat smaller than inthe construction shown in the drawings, and a front plate of ordinary construetion will be hinged to the case-center C in such a manner as to cover the said bezel when closed and form a complete hunter-ease.

I make no claim in the present application to the subject-matter claimed in an application filed by me of even date herewith, Serial No. 163,660.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. rIlhe combination, with the dust-proof box consisting of the part A, having flange A and seat a2, and the part I3, adapted te be sprung or snapped into positionin the said seat, oi the threaded casecenter C, adapted to be screwed upon acorrespondiugly-threaded portion ofthe part A, and to be retained in position between the [lange A and the lower edge of the part B, substantial-ly as and for the purposes specified.

2. The combinatiomwith a watehcase,of the inner bezel or ring hinged to the ease and having a seat to receive the movementholding` ring, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. The combination, with the back portion,

A, of the case, of the bezel D, hinged to its upper edge,and provided with the seat D', into which the movement-ring may be sprung or snapped, substantially as and for the purposes specified. A

4. The combination, with the part A,of the outswinging bezel I), hinged thereto and carrying the movement-holding ring, the part A being provided with a seat, e, in which the movement-holding` ring rests when in position, substantial] y as and for the purposes specified.

CHARLES K. GILES.

fitnessesz J. M. Piinsim'tl., XV. E. JoNEs.

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