US365986A - Watch-case - Google Patents

Description

(Model.)

0. K. GILES..

WATCH UA$E.

No. 365,986. Patented July 5, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

CHARLES K. GILES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WATCH-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,986, dated July 5, 1887.

Application filed Ocibrr22, 1885. Serial No. 180,674. (IModcL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. GILES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin \Vatch Oases,which arefully set forth and described in the annexed specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whioh- Figure 1 represents a face view of a watchcase embodying my present improvements, the front cap being thrown open and a portion of the crystal broken away; Fig. 2, a section of the same taken on the line 00 m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan section of the same taken on theline 3 3 Fig. 2, with the case-lining and ring-center removed; Fig. 4,a section of the same taken on the line .2 z and looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an elevation of the catch and lifting-spring detached; Fig. 6, an elevation, partly in section, of the case-lining and crystal detached; Fig. 7, a section of the case taken on the line a c, Fig. 1, the lining being removed; and Fig. 8, a similar section, showing a modification in the attachment of the center to the case-body.

My invention relates to certain improvements in watch-cases, being especially adapted to a closed or hunter case. I

The object of the invention is to provide a dust-proof case, which in this instance is obtained by means of a case-lining within which the movement-ring is placed and to which the crystal-bezel is attached, thereby providing a complete protection for the movement within the case, and also a movement-box for exhibition separate from the case-body.'

The invention also includes an improvement in the construetion of the case-body and ring-eenter.

I will proceed to describe in detail one way in which I have practically embodied my invention, and will then definitely state in claims the special improvements which I believe to be new and wish to protect by Letters Patent.

In the drawings, A represents the casebody, which is cup-shaped, the annular body a and the back cap, a, being made in one piece, or permanently secured to each other, as seen in Fig. 4. of the drawings. About midto be turned down within the cup.

to the lining.

itupon the latter, beingmade to fit tightly; or

the two parts may be threaded, in which case the center is turned upon the body until it isproperly seated against the flange. It will be seen that in either case the center is attached directly to the case-body, and secured thereon independently of any separate retaining part, as is the case in the construction set forth in Letters Patent No. 308,S40,grante'd to me Deeember 2, 1884.

These two constructions are shown in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, respectively, and either may be used with the other partsof my present invention.

In stem-winders the windingstem will of course pass through the center and case-body A, and to a certain extent aid in holding them together in proper position. The front cap, G, is hinged to the ring-center, and a single circular spring, D; is at one end made to form a lifting-spring, d, for the front cap, and at the other end a spring-catch, d, for the same. These springs may be made in separate pieces; but it will be seen that here they are combined in one piece or single spring, whiehis secured in a suitable recess or cavity, (1 cut in the case-body for this purpose. This latter construct-ion I prefer, although any approved form of spring may be employed, the same forming no part of my present invention.

A case lining, E, is provided, which is adapted to be set within the ease-body from the front. This liningis cup-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and a movenientring, F, is hinged to its margin and adapted This ri ng is of course constructed to receive the movement, which is attached to itin any usual way, and so may be swung out and in with the movement as the ring is turned on its hinge rela-' tively to the cup. The lining is provided with a snap-flange around its margin, by means of which the crystal'bezel G is secured directly This bezel holds the crystal g in the usual manner, and when applied to the lining-cup projects somewhat beyond the edge thereof, so that when put within the ease this projecting portion of the bezel is seated upon the upper edge of the case-body, and so supports an holds the lining-cup and movementring within. If the case is for astem-winder, the windingstem passes through the cup-lining, thereby assisting to hold it in position. As shown in the drawings, the stem also passes through the movementa-ing, and so the latter is hinged just over the winding-stem; but this construction and arrangement of the winding stem, ring, and hinge are merely arbitrary, and not essential to the present improvements. The front cap, G, closes down over the crystalbezel and completes the case.

It will be seen from the above description that the crystal-bezel may be secured to the lining-cup before the latter is placed within the case, so that the lining, with or without the movement-ring hinged thereto, and the crystal-bezel and crystal make a complete inclosing-box for the movement independent of the case. These parts thus constructed and arranged may be used as a box for holding-and exhibiting the movement, and without further change may be placed in position in the casebody, described above, by simply setting it within the latter from the front.

The box formed by the case-lining, crystal, and erystal-bezel removed from the case is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. It will be noticed that this box may be set in position in the case withoutdisplacing any of its parts, and that the same is true in regard to removing it from the case. It is taken out and replaced as an entirety. The case also is undisturbed in these operations. The box is removed and replaced at pleasure without detaching or changing any part of the case, except the wind ingstem, if the case is a stem-winder. In a prior application, No. 163,659, filed April 27, 1885, I have shown a box formed in a some what similar way from the case-lining, crystal, and crystal-bezel. I have not claimed this improvement, however, in said application, and do not intend so to do, as I desire to make it one of the special features of the invention set forth and claimed in the present case. The construction shown in my earlier application, mentioned above, also differs from the present in that the box formed from the parts mentioned cannot be placed within the case or taken out thereof without removi ng some parts of both the case and box. In this respect the construction here shown and described is preferable to that shown in the earlier application.

I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the particular construction and arrangement of all the parts as herein de scribed and shown, for they may be modified in some respects without losing theimportant features of my invention, and I contemplate such modifications, changes, and substitutions as may be found necessary in the practical manufacture of cases containing in whole or part the improvements herein set forth and claimed.

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

1. A cup-shaped case-body formed in asingle piece and having an exterior horizontal flange some distance back of its front edge, in combination with a ring-center applied to the front portion of the case-body, seated on the flange andseeured directly to the case-body independently of the other portions of the ease, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an external horizontal flange, a, in combination with an independent ringcenter seated on said flange, and a front cap hinged to the ring-center, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. A eup-shaped outer or main ease, in combination with a cup-shaped lining adapted to set within said ease, and a crystal-bezel secured to the margin of the lining, whereby the said caselining and bezel may be set within the case and removed therefrom without detaching the bezel, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4-. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an internal seat at its front edge, in combination with the cup-shaped lin ing E, adapted tobe placed within the said case from the front, and the bezel G, secured to the margin of the lining and seated upon the said internal seat of the case, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. The outer or main case, A, cup-shaped and provided with an 4 external horizontal flange, in combination with the independent ring-center B, fitted to the front portion of the ease and seated on said flange, the cup-shaped lining E, fitted within the said ease, the crystal-bezel G, secured to the margin of the said lining and seated in the case, and the front cap, 0, hinged to the ring-center, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

' CHARLES K. GILES.

Vitnesses:

JOSEPH HARDIE, Josnrir IIARR Is.

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