US3719037A - Workwatch - Google Patents

Abstract

MARKED METAL FLAG PROTRUDES ABOVE THE TOP OF THE DEVICE WHEN THE WATCH IS IN THE RECORDING POSITION. RINGS, WITH MARKINGS THAT CONVERT THE INDICATED ELAPSED TIME TO A MONEY CHARGE, MAY BE SNAPPED INTO THE CIRCULAR BEZEL SURROUNDING THE WATCH FACE.

A STOP WATCH FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPUTING THE CHARGE FOR PERSONAL SERVICES, AND PARTICULARLY SERVICES OF A REPAIR NATURE WHICH ARE CHARGED IN PROPORTION TO THE TIME INVOLVED. THE WATCH IS FITTED WITH A CLIP FOR ATTACHMENT TO A POCKET OR BELT, WITH A HINGED COVER WHICH ENCLOSES AND PROTECTS THE OPERATING RESET AND WINDING CONTROLS AND ALSO ENCLOSE THE TRANSPARENT WATCH FACE. A COLORED OR

Description

March 6, 1973 D. R. WILLIAMS WORKWATCH Filed May 24, 1972 FIG.2

FIG. 5

United States Patent Oflice 3,719,037 Patented Mar. 6, 1973 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stop watch for the purpose of computing the charge for personal services, and particularly services of a repair nature which are charged in proportion to the time involved. The watch is fitted with a clip for attachment to a pocket or belt, with a hinged cover which encloses and protects the operating reset and winding controls and also enclose the transparent watch face. A colored or marked metal flag protrudes above the top of the device when the watch is in the recording position. Rings, with markings that convert the indicated elapsed time to a money charge, may be snapped into the circular bezel surrounding the watch face.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved stopwatch, and particularly to such a stopwatch which may be employed to determine the charge in money for repair services which are performed on an elapsed time basis.

An advantage of this invention is that the visible marked or colored metal flag protrudes from the watch, when the watch is in the recording mode. The visibility of the flag gives assurance to the supervisors of the repair personnel equipped with the invention that the proper charges are being recorded. The visibility of the said fia-g also gives assurance to customers who visit the work shop that the customers are being fairly billed, and that they are not charged for non-work related time.

A further advantage of the invention is the protective hinged cover which encloses the watch controls and the watch face so that the device may be externally worn, attached to a pocket or belt, while the wearer is performing arduous repair tasks.

A further advantage of the device lies in the replaceable bezel mounted ring, on which markings indicate the dollar charge for the indicated elapsed time period.

The invention, a workwatch, is an improved stop watch, with a hinged cover that encloses the watch face and the reset watch controls and the winding watch stem. In the ON mode, a metal fiag protrudes above the top of the workwatch, with said flag being withdrawn into the watch enclosure during the OFF mode. A window surfaced with shatterproof transparent plastic is located in the cover of the unit so as to display markings on the metal flag, when the flag is withdrawn into the workwatch enclosure.

A purpose of the device is the determination of the money charge for an elapsed time period. To this end, a replaceable marked ring fits into a circular bezel surrounding the watch face. The markings on the ring corresponding to the money charges for a specific ratio of money to elapsed time, where the elapsed time is indicated by the watch hands. Various replaceable rings may be provided, with each ring indicating a different specific ratio of dollars to hours.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed descriptlon of an illustrative embodiment of the invention,

taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the workwatch in the ON mode;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the workwatch in the OFF mode;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the workwatch;

FIG 4 is a back view of the workwatch; and

FIG. 5 is a front view of the workwatch with the cover opened.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the workwatch 10, with cover 11 which is mounted on hinges 27 enclosing the watch face 19, the rewind stem 21 and the reset control 20. A transparent window 15 in the cover 11 permits the view of marking 16 such as WATCH on indicating flag .14, when the indicating flag 14 is in the OFF mode of the workwatch 10. Metal indicating flag 14 protrudes beyond the housing 30 of the device 10, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3-5, with an appropriate marking 17, such as WORK displayed. The sector of indicating flag 14 which protrudes above the housing in the ON mode may be distinctively colored.

The instrument is started and stopped by alternately pressing side control member 26 which may be located on one, or both sides of the device 10. The reset knob 20 may be operated only when the cover 11 is in the open position, to prevent accidental tripping of this control.

The total dollar charge may be directly read from the numeral 24 on ring 25 to which the hands 22 of the watch point. The conventional hour numerals 23 are printed on the permanent watch face 19. Ring 25 is removable from a circular bevel concentric with the clock face, and ring 25, as shown in FIG. 5, which indicates charges at the rate of $10.00 per hour, may be replaced with another ring which is marked in terms of another hourly rate.

The workwatch 10 may be worn externally so as to be visible to others. Clip member 13 is fastened to the back 12 of the housing, and the workwatch 10 may be thus clipped to a belt or to a clothing pocket. It is to be noted that when the workwatch 10 is clipped to a blouse pocket, with the workwatch 10 fastened inside of the blouse pocket, the marking 17 of indicating flag 14 is visible above the top of the pocket to which the workwatch 10 is clipped, when the workwatch 10 is in the ON mode.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An improved stopwatch for the purpose of determining the money charge for services that are rendered on an elapsed time basis, said stopwatch being fitted with a hinged cover which encloses the watch face in the closed cover position, together with an attached metal indicator flag which protrudes out of the stopwatch housing when the stopwatch is in operation recording elapsed time.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 in which a detachable ring in a bezeled groove is fitted about the watch face said ring being marked so that the watch hands indicate the marking on the detachable ring that represents the product of the elapsed time multiplied by an hourly rate.

3. The combination recited in claim 2 in which the winding stem and the reset button of the stopwatch are enclosed by the protective cover, when the cover is in the References Cited closed position.

. UNITED STATES PATENTS 4. The combination recited in claim 3 n which a wln- 2,245,302 6/1941 Schmitz 58 74 dow 1n the watch cover enables the viewing of markings 2 797 863 7/1957 Shepard In X on the metal indicator flag, when said flag is entirely en- 5 3:673:793 7/1972 Barnard n R closed by the watch housing, and the stopwatch is in the OFF position. GEORGE H. MILLER, 111., Primary Examiner 5. The combination recited in claim 4 in which the stopwatch back is fitted with a clip for attachment to the side of a pocket. 10 58-88 E, 152 R

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