US3733807A

US3733807A - Watertight watch case

Info

Publication number: US3733807A
Application number: US00256487A
Authority: US
Inventors: H Nozawa
Original assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date: 1971-06-05
Filing date: 1972-05-24
Publication date: 1973-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 1990-05-22
Also published as: CH830072A4; GB1361321A; CH577205B5

Abstract

A watertight watch case wherein a bezel is inserted into a space formed between a case body and and a crystal-support ring such that the bezel watertightly presses first and second sealing gaskets respectively mounted within a first groove provided on the outer surface of the crystal-support ring and within a second groove provided on the inner surface of the case body. A third gasket is interposed between the crystal-support ring and a case ring mounted in the case body, the third gasket being axially compressed by the insertion of the bezel into the space.

Description

limited States Patent 1 Nozawa 1 3,733307 51 May 22,1973

[54] WATERTIGHT WATCH CASE Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

[75] Inventor: lzhdeo Nozawa Tokyo Japan Att0rneyWaters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha,

, Tokyo, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: May 24,1972

A watertight watch case wherein a bezel is inserted [2]] Appl. N0.: 256,487 into a space formed between a case body and and a crystal-support ring such that the bezel watertightly [30] F orelgn Apphcatlon Pnomy D am presses first and second sealing gaskets respectively June 5, 1971 Japan ..46/47468 mounted Within a first groove Provided the Outer June 5, I97] Japan ..46/47470 surface of the y pp ring and Within a Second groove provided on the inner surface of the case body. Us. CL u, R A gasket is interposed between the crystal sup Clport ring and a case ring mounted in the case body [58] Fleld of Search ..58/90 R, 91 h thi d gasket being axially compressed by the insertion of the bezel into the space. [56] References Cited Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 3,512,354 5/1970 Jenny ..58/ 90R 9d 9 Q I BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a watch case, and more particularly to a watertight watch case in which a bezel is formed with a narrow upper surface.

2. Prior Art Conventional waterproof watch cases have been constructed in such a manner that a crystal-support ring on which a crystal is secured by means of an adhesive material is fixedon a case body through a gasket in fitted manner, and is pressed by a bezel mounted on the same horizontal surface of the'case body. Alternatively, the crystal is directly fixed to a bezel by means of an adhesive material, which is fitted adjacent an inner peripheral portion of the case body through the gasket. However, these constructions have many deficiencies among which is that the width ofthe bezel is very large and therefore the bezel becomes deformed or separated from the crystal when the bezel is assembled or disassembled, sothat the watertightness is disadvantageously lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a watertight watch case in which the bezel is separate from I the crystal and is fixedly mounted adjacent an inner peripheral portion of the case body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a watertight watch case which is of low cost.

The invention contemplates a watertight watch case comprising a case body serving as a case band and a back case and havingan inner peripheral surface with a groove, a first sealing gasket in said groove, a case ringhoused within said case body, a crystal-support ring having an outer surface with a groove, a second sealing gasket in said groove of the crystal-support ring, saidcrystal-support ring being mounted on said case ring, a crystal mounted on said crystal-support ring, and bezel means forceably inserted in a space provided between said crystal-support ring and said case body to clamp said rings together and hold the same in said case body, while pressing against said first and second sealing gaskets in watertight sealing relation.

The foregoing and other objects as well as the'characteristic features of the invention will become more apparent and more readily understandable by the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one embodiment of a watertight watch case according to the present invention; and

. ery of the case body 1. Extending from the lower end of theportion la is a groove 1b in which a gasket is inserted.

The bezel 9 is fixed in the case body 1 in the following manner: the case ring 2 is mounted on the case body 1, and then the crystal-support ring 4 together with the crystal 6 is mounted on the rectangular gasket 5 on case ring 2. It is to be noted that

gaskets

8 and 10 are disposed in the grooves 7 and 1b, respectively.

Next, the projection 9a of the bezel 9'is inserted by being pressed into the space between the case body 1 and the crystal-support ring 4 so that the portion 9b may interfit with the inner peripheral wall of the case body, while a flange 9c of the bezel 9 is pressed against the upper surface of the ring 4. The insertion of the bezel into the space, causes the

gaskets

10 and 8 disposed in the grooves 1b and 7 respectively to be compressed, while the rectangular gasket 5 is also compressed in the axial direction so that a watertight connection is assuredly guaranteed.

The bezel is disassembledin the following manner: the top portion of a tool with a sharp end such as a pincette is inserted into an aperture 9d provided on the lower surface of the bezel 9, and the bezel is thrust upwardly by the tool to extract the projection 9a of the bezel 9 from the space between the ring 4 and body 1.

Referring nextto FIG. 2, therein is shown another embodiment of the present invention where a bezel 19 having a projection 19a extending downwardly from the lower edge thereof is pressed into the periphery of a case body Hand is in pressure contact with a gasket 20 made from a hard plastic material such as Teflon or a polyester. A crystal 16 is joined by an adhesive 14a to a crystal-support ring 14. In this embodiment, the

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment ofa watertight case according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION projection 19a presses against the inner peripheral surface of the gasket 20 so that the gasket 20 is tightly fitted in an L-shaped portion of the case body, and further a flange 19b of the bezel l9 presses on a flange 16a of crystal 16. At the same time, the pressing action of the bezel 19 causes a gasket 18 disposed in a groove 17 of ring 14 to be compressed by the inner peripheral surface of the projection 19a, while a gasket 15 is axially compressed. This assures watertightness in even a more pronounced degree than the embodiment described in FIG. 1. The bezel 19 may be disassembled in the same manner as described with reference to the first embodiment, by engagement with the aperture 19c.

As mentioned above, the watertight watch case ac cording to the present invention brings about the following advantages: the width of the bezel becomes very small because the bezel is fixedly mounted against the inner periphery of the case body; watertightness can be assured irrespective of any partial deformation of the bezel upon the mounting thereof in assembling the timepiece because the bezel only serves to fix the crystal and it is separate therefrom; a strong attachment force between the bezel and case body can be obtained because the bezel is fixedly coupled to the inner periphery of the case body in fitted manner; and assembly or disassembly of the bezel is easy because the bezel is inserted between gaskets made of a plastic material.

What is claimed is:

l. A watertight watch case comprising a case body serving as a case band and a back cover and having an inner peripheral surface with a groove, a first sealing gasket in said groove, a case ring housed within said case body, a crystal-support ring having an outer surface with a groove, a second sealing gasket in said groove of the crystal-support ring, said crystal-support ring being mounted on said case ring, a crystal mounted on said crystal-support ring and bezel means forceably inserted in a space provided between said crystalsupport ring and said case body to clamp said rings together and hold the same in said case body, while pressing against said first and second sealing gaskets in watertight sealing relation.

2. A watch case as claimed in claim 1 comprising a third sealing gasket between the crystal support ring and said case ring, said bezel means compressing said third sealing gasket when forceably inserted into said space.

3. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said crystal is adhesively secured to said crystal-support ring.

4. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bezel means comprises a bezel member having an outer profiled surface, said case body having an inner surface of corresponding shape as said outer profiled surface.

5. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bezel means includes a flange which clamps against said crystal-support ring.

6. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first gasket is constituted of an elastic plastic material.

7. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bezel means comprises a bezel member having an aperture which is disposed outside the case body when the bezel means is operatively inserted in said space, said bezel member being removable by engagement of a tool in said aperture to lift the bezel member from said space.

8. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said case body has an L-shaped recess receiving said first gasket.

9. A watch case as claimed in claim 8 wherein said first gasket is constituted of a hard plastic material.

10. A watch case as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bezel means includes a flange which clamps against said crystal.

11. A watch case as claimed in claim 10 wherein said crystal is provided with a flange against which the flange of the bezel means engages.

Claims

1. A watertight watch case comprising a case body serving as a case band and a back cover and having an inner peripheral surface with a groove, a first sealing gAsket in said groove, a case ring housed within said case body, a crystal-support ring having an outer surface with a groove, a second sealing gasket in said groove of the crystal-support ring, said crystal-support ring being mounted on said case ring, a crystal mounted on said crystal-support ring and bezel means forceably inserted in a space provided between said crystal-support ring and said case body to clamp said rings together and hold the same in said case body, while pressing against said first and second sealing gaskets in watertight sealing relation.