US3704584A - Waterproof watch with improved seal construction - Google Patents

Waterproof watch with improved seal construction Download PDF

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Publication number
US3704584A
US3704584A US136428A US3704584DA US3704584A US 3704584 A US3704584 A US 3704584A US 136428 A US136428 A US 136428A US 3704584D A US3704584D A US 3704584DA US 3704584 A US3704584 A US 3704584A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
seal ring
seal
tubular portion
seal construction
waterproof
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
US136428A
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English (en)
Inventor
Yoshiaki Fujimori
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.)
Suwa Seikosha KK
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Suwa Seikosha KK
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 Suwa Seikosha KK filed Critical Suwa Seikosha KK
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3704584A publication Critical patent/US3704584A/en
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
    • G04B39/00—Watch crystals; Fastening or sealing of crystals; Clock glasses
    • G04B39/02—Sealing crystals or glasses

Definitions

  • Adhesives may be used to replace flexible packing, but in the-event of breakage of a watch glass it is extremely difficult to remove all of the glass fragments in preparation for replacement. In fact, if such a construction is used, it is generally necessary to replace the entire-case body as well as the watch glass, an expensive way to cope with the problem.
  • the watch glass is sealed to a glass annulus which, in general, is essentially cylindrical and which is thin enough to exhibit some flexibility.
  • a seal ring which has some flexibility but which is stiffer than the conventional rubber ring used in waterproof watches engages the tubular portion of the glass annulus in an interference fit.
  • the case body also has an annular periphery and this periphery is engaged by the seal ring in a second interference fit.
  • the advantage of the above construction over the conventional construction is that part of the flexibility necessary for making the interference-fit is supplied by the glass annulus, so that a stiffer seal ring can be used. As a consequence, the seal ring can withstand higher pressures than is ordinarily the case.
  • Suitable materials for the seal ring are plastic and soft metals.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an improved seal construction wherein' replacement of a broken watch glass is more readily carried out.
  • the invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of an embodiment showing a method of increasing the flexibility of the glass cylinder
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section showing a method of retaining the seal ring within the case body
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section of an embodiment in which the case body makes contact with the seal ring along a ridge;
  • FIG. 5 is a cross section in which the glass annulus seats in an axial direction on the seal ring
  • FIG. 6 is a cross section in which both the case body and the seal ring are undercut
  • FIG. 7 is a cross section-in which both the case body and the glass annulus have grooves therein in which the seal ring seats;
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section in which the seal ring is L- shaped and seats on a shoulder of the case body.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross section in which the glass cylinder is external to the seal ring and the case body periphery against which the seal ring seats.
  • a watch glass 11 is sealed to a glass annulus 12 in such a manner as to preclude leakage at the joint.
  • the watch glass 11 and the annulus 12 could be in one piece, or alternatively, could be cemented together.
  • the glass annulus 12 has a tubular portion 13 which is thin enough to be flexible in a radial direction but nevertheless is not so thin as to be fragile.
  • the tubular portion 13 engages a seal ring 14 at a surface, I5 of the tubular portion.
  • the seal ring 114 is of a flexible material harder than the conventional rubber seal ring used in waterproof watches.
  • a suitable material is plastic or a soft metal such as copper or silver.
  • the outer diameter of the portion 13 is somewhat larger than the inner diameter of the seal ring 14, resulting in an interference fit when the two parts are engaged.
  • the seal ring 14 also engages a case body 16 at an inner surface 17, the diameter of the surface 17 being somewhat'less than the outer diameter of the seal ring 14 so that the seal ring and the case body engage each other in a second press-fit.
  • the combined flexibilities of the seal ring I4 and the tubular portion 13 make it possible to assemble the components of the seal construction.
  • the seal'ring 14 can be stiffer than is the case when the tubular portion 14 is completely rigid. The greater stiffness of the seal the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
  • the contact regions 17 and 15 must, at least in part, lie opposite each other in order to balance the opposing forces exerted by the case body and the tubular portion of the glass annulus
  • the flexibility of the tubular portion 13 is increased by means of a groove 18 therein.
  • the tubular portion 13 has a bevel l9 and the seal ring has a corresponding bevel 20, these bevels acting as guides in the assembly of the seal rin 14 to the tubular portion 13.
  • FIG. 3 is provided with shoulders 21 and 22 in the case body 16 for holding the seal ring I4 against axial thrust.
  • the surface 17 of the case body 16 terminates in a ridge 24, as a result of the fact that angle is less than 90.
  • a surface 25 of the case body 16 is cut at an angle so that it constitutes a bevel, and the seal ring 14 is provided with a second bevel 26 to facilitate assembling of the seal ring to the case body.
  • FIG. has an L-shaped seal ring 14 having a radial arm 27.
  • the thickness of the radial ram 27 in an axial direction is greater than the height a of the bevel 26 in the seal ring 14. This is necessary in order to provide adequate contact surface between the seal ring and the case body at the surface 17.
  • the tubular portion 13 seats against the seal ring 14 at surfaces 28 and 15.
  • the tightness of the seal can be further improved by the use of adhesive or cement on the surfaces between the tubular portion of the glass annulus and the seal ring.
  • the peripheral surface 17 of the case body 14 and the peripheral surface of the tubular portion 13 are frustocones with approximately equal cone angles.
  • the resistance of the assembly to separation of the components is increased both by the undercutand the fact that the seal ring is L-shaped.
  • the L-shape for the seal ring is again shown in FIG. 7 where surfaces 17 and 15 are provided with notches 29 and 30 respectively for holding the seal ring against accidental removal.
  • An L-shaped seal ring 14 is again shown in FIG. 8, but in this case the radial arm 27 extends in an outward direction.
  • the radial arm seats against a shoulder 31 of the case body 16.
  • the outer diameter of the tubular glass portion 13 of the glass annulus 12 has been smaller than the diameter 17 of the inner periphery of the case body 16.
  • the glass cylinder has been internal to the case body, so that in the assembled construction the radial force on the glass cylinder has been inward.
  • the glass member be exterior to the case body.
  • FIG. 9 Such an embodiment is shown in FIG. 9 where the glass annulus 12 and its tubular section 13 are exterior to the seal ring 14 which in turn is exterior to the case body 16.
  • an L-shaped seal ring is shown although an essentially I-shaped seal ring could have been used as inthe embodiments of FIGS. 1 through 4.
  • an L-shaped seal ring where the tubular portion of the glass annulus seats on the radial arm of the seal ring, has the advantage that contact between the glass member and the case body is prevented.
  • the axial force of the water pressure might cause fracture in the region of contact between the glass and the case body.
  • the surface of the case body making contact with the seal ring in the finished assembly be highly polished.
  • adhesive or cement may be used at .either or both of the pairs of contact surfaces.
  • an improved waterproof seal construction comprising a glass water crystal having a flexible tubular portion formed with an annular periphery, an annular seal ring of flexible nonelastomeric material selected from the group including plastic and soft metal engaging said periphery of said tubular portion in an interference fit and a casebody having an annular periphery engaging said seal ring in an interference fit, said seal with said interference fits being assemblable by reason of the combined flexibilities of said seal ring and said tubular portion.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Gasket Seals (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US136428A 1970-04-24 1971-04-22 Waterproof watch with improved seal construction Expired - Lifetime US3704584A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP3475170 1970-04-24
JP3475270 1970-04-24
JP3475070 1970-04-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3704584A true US3704584A (en) 1972-12-05

Family

ID=27288526

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US136428A Expired - Lifetime US3704584A (en) 1970-04-24 1971-04-22 Waterproof watch with improved seal construction

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3704584A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH596871A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1303914A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
MY (1) MY7600175A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104035316A (zh) * 2013-11-11 2014-09-10 珠海罗西尼表业有限公司 手表及其制造方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4258065B1 (fr) * 2022-04-05 2024-12-25 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Procede d'assemblage d'un verre avec une boite de montre

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2308189A (en) * 1937-12-29 1943-01-12 Marti Fritz Watchcase
US2607082A (en) * 1947-07-31 1952-08-19 Star Watch Case Company Method of assembling crystals in watch bezels
US2712216A (en) * 1954-03-12 1955-07-05 Bauer Alfred Fluidtight case for watches
CH328498A (de) * 1958-02-14 1958-03-15 Hirt Steiner Arthur Wasserdichte Uhr

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2308189A (en) * 1937-12-29 1943-01-12 Marti Fritz Watchcase
US2607082A (en) * 1947-07-31 1952-08-19 Star Watch Case Company Method of assembling crystals in watch bezels
US2712216A (en) * 1954-03-12 1955-07-05 Bauer Alfred Fluidtight case for watches
CH328498A (de) * 1958-02-14 1958-03-15 Hirt Steiner Arthur Wasserdichte Uhr

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104035316A (zh) * 2013-11-11 2014-09-10 珠海罗西尼表业有限公司 手表及其制造方法
CN104035316B (zh) * 2013-11-11 2015-01-28 珠海罗西尼表业有限公司 手表及其制造方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1303914A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-24
CH596871A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1975-10-15
CH573620B5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1976-03-15
MY7600175A (en) 1976-12-31

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