US3817025A - Fluid tight mounting of crystal in watch case - Google Patents

Fluid tight mounting of crystal in watch case Download PDF

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Publication number
US3817025A
US3817025A US00293675A US29367572A US3817025A US 3817025 A US3817025 A US 3817025A US 00293675 A US00293675 A US 00293675A US 29367572 A US29367572 A US 29367572A US 3817025 A US3817025 A US 3817025A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bushing
watch
crystal
case
recess
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
US00293675A
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English (en)
Inventor
E Siegrist
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WENGER ED
Original Assignee
WENGER ED
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 WENGER ED filed Critical WENGER ED
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3817025A publication Critical patent/US3817025A/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
    • 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
    • G04B37/00—Cases
    • G04B37/08—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits

Definitions

  • G04b 37/08 a compression ring which fits into an inner portion of [58] Field of Search 522/88 R, 90 R, 91 the bushing and overlies the Peripheral portion of the watch dial.
  • the crystal fits into an outer portion of the 5 References Cited bushing and is positioned axially by the compression UNITED STATES PATENTS ring.
  • a tension ring surrounds an outer portion of the bushing and presses it tightly against the periphery of 2,609,655 9/l952 Vermot 58/90 R the Crystal to provide a Seal.
  • the present invention relates to the mounting of a crystal in a fluid tight manner in the case of a watch and pertains particularly to the fluid tight mounting of inorganic watch crystals formed of glass or sapphire.
  • the best known means of obtaining a fluid tight mounting of a watch crystal formed of transparent plastic is to force the crystal into a recess in the watch case, fluid tightness being obtained by the lateral compression of the plastic crystal against the surrounding wall of the recess.
  • the fluid tight joint between the plastic crystal and the recess of the watch case can be improved by means of a tension ring fixed to the interior of the crystal and compressing an annular border portion of the crystal against the lateral wall of a recess formed in one of the elements of the case.
  • a bushing of compressible material is compressed laterally between the crystal and the wall of a recess formed in one of the elements of the case. This compression is generally obtained by forcing the crystal-bushing assembly to the interior of the recess.
  • This simple procedure generally gives satisfactory results with flat crystals of inorganic material but unfortunately it requires a relatively great height of the case which is not compatible with general esthetic considerations. Apart from considerations of appearance, an increasein the height of the case has the inconvenience that, when the case is formed of precious metal, it results in increasing the weight of the case and hence its cost.
  • the arrangement in accordance with the present invention for fluid tight mounting of a crystal in a watch case comprising an annular portion provided with a resion element is inserted in the inner part of the bushing in a manner to compress the bushing against the surrounding wall of the recess.
  • the crystal is positioned on the compression element in an outer portion of the bushing.
  • a tension ring mounted on the watch case surrounds an outer portion of the bushing and compresses it against the periphery of the crystal. The compression exerted on the bushing by the element of compression and by the tension ring assure a fluid tight mounting of the crystal in the watch case.
  • the accompanying drawing represents by way of example a watch of which the watch case is provided with a mounting of the crystal in a fluid tight manner in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGURE of the drawing is a partial sectional view on the three hour-nine hour axis of a watch in accordance with the invention.
  • the watch illustrated by way of example in the drawing comprises a movement I mounted in a case 2 by means of a mounting ring 3.
  • a back 5 is removably secured to the case 2 by means of threads 5a.
  • a fluid tight seal between the back and the case is provided by a gasket 4.
  • a dial 6 on the front of the movement I is supported against a compression ring 7 fitting into a bushing 8 formed of compressible semi-rigid material such as nylon, Teflon, Delrin, I-lostaform C, plexiglass or polyvinylchloride.
  • the bushing 8 is L-shaped in cross section with an axially extending portion 8a and a radially inwardly extending portion 8b.
  • the bushing 8 fits tightly into an annular recess 2a in the case 2.
  • the radially extending portion of the bushing 8 seats on a radial face of the bottom of the recess 2a while an inner portion of the axially extending portion 8a is gripped tightly between the axial wall of the recess 2a and the compression ring 7.
  • the compression ring 7 is stepped to provide an outer portion of larger external diameter which presses the axially extending portion 8a of the bushing 8 against the wall of the recess 2a of the case and an inner portion of smaller external diameter which extends inside of the radial portions 8b of the bushing and abuts a peripheral portion of the dial 6.
  • the inner peripheral surface 7a of the compression ring has an outer portion which is beveled and an inner portion which is cylindrical.
  • An inorganic glass crystal 9 fits inside the outer portion of the bushing 8 and seats on the outer edge 7b of the compression ring 7.
  • the crystal 9 is formed for example of tempered glass or of sapphire.
  • a removable tension ring 11 has an undercut recess 11a which snaps onto a corresponding annular projection 2b of the case.
  • the tension ring 11 has a tapered inner surface Ila which presses radially inwardly on the bushing 8, thereby pressing the bushing 8 tightly against the periphery of the crystal 9.
  • the case 2, back 5, compression ring 7 and tension ring 11 are formed, for example, of metal although other hard, strong, durable material of attractive appearance can, if desired, be used.
  • the bushing 8 may be clear or may be white or any desired color to provide an attractive appearance to the watch.
  • the construction in accordance with the present invention presents no particular difficulties in mass production which can be carried out in the following practical manner.
  • the removable ring 11 is snapped onto the projection 2b of the case 2.
  • the bushing 8, previously provided with the compression ring 7 is pressed into the recess 20 of the case 2.
  • the 3 crystal 9 is pressed into the outer portion of the bushing
  • the fabrication of the different parts constituting the construction in accordance with the invention for providing a fluid tight mounting of the crystal on the watch case likewise presents no particular difficulty and can be carried outby known means such as turning, milling, molding, casting etc. y
  • an advantage of such fluid tight mounting of the crystal of a watch is that it makes possible the replacement of a crystal of organic material with a crystal of inorganic material without the need of changing the height of the watch case.
  • the fact that the height of the watch case is not increased is important for watch cases made of precious metal since an increase in height would mean an increase in weight and thus an increase in cost.
  • a watch having a case, a movement in the case and a dial on the front of the movement, said case comprising an annular part surrounding the movement and having a forwardly opening annular recess with an axially extending annular wall, an annular bushing of compressible semirigid material fitting in said recess and extending out beyond the adjacent surrounding portion of said annular part, a compression ring fitting in said bushing and pressing a portion of the bushing against said annular wall of said recess to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween, a crystal positioned in said bushing outwardly of said compression ring, and a tension ring surrounding an outer portion of said bushing and press- 4 ing said bushing against the periphery of said crystal to provide a fluid-tight sea] therebetween, whereby said crystal is mounted in a fluid-tight manner in said watch case.
  • a watch construction according to claim 1 in which an inner edge of said compression ring rests on a peripheral border portion of the dial and said crystal rests on the outer edge of said compression ring.
  • a watch construction according to claim 8 in which said compression ring has an inner portion of smaller external diameter fitting inside said radial portion of said bushing and an outer portion of larger external diameter engaging said axial portion of said bushing to press it against said annular wall of said recess.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
  • Gasket Seals (AREA)
US00293675A 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Fluid tight mounting of crystal in watch case Expired - Lifetime US3817025A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH1438471A CH551037A (it) 1971-09-30 1971-09-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3817025A true US3817025A (en) 1974-06-18

Family

ID=4400359

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00293675A Expired - Lifetime US3817025A (en) 1971-09-30 1972-09-29 Fluid tight mounting of crystal in watch case

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3817025A (it)
JP (1) JPS4843966A (it)
CH (1) CH551037A (it)
IT (1) IT968436B (it)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3858388A (en) * 1973-04-23 1975-01-07 Suwa Seikosha Kk Crystal mounting structure for a water-proof watch
US4110970A (en) * 1975-11-11 1978-09-05 Citizen Watch Company Limited Water-proof watch case
US4132062A (en) * 1976-04-23 1979-01-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Digital watch case
US4184317A (en) * 1976-12-27 1980-01-22 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Watch movement mounting structure
US4479725A (en) * 1982-04-20 1984-10-30 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Watchcase
US6575619B1 (en) * 1999-04-22 2003-06-10 Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches Method for assembling a casing ring in a watch case and casing ring for such method
US20150212491A1 (en) * 2014-01-24 2015-07-30 The Swatch Group Management Services Ag Device for securing a timepiece dial
US20180011445A1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2018-01-11 Omega Sa Sub-assembly of external parts for watch
US20210191333A1 (en) * 2019-12-20 2021-06-24 Rolex Sa Timepiece component for a timepiece case or for a timepiece

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5056167U (it) * 1973-09-21 1975-05-27
JPS5162066A (ja) * 1974-11-28 1976-05-29 Seiko Instr & Electronics Udedokeikeesu
JPS5218075U (it) * 1975-07-28 1977-02-08
JPS6025588Y2 (ja) * 1976-04-20 1985-07-31 セイコーエプソン株式会社 時計側構造
JPS5837025Y2 (ja) * 1978-04-28 1983-08-20 シチズン時計株式会社 腕時計のガラス縁固定構造
JP2021167809A (ja) 2020-04-03 2021-10-21 ロレックス・ソシエテ・アノニムRolex Sa 時計ケース用密封システム

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2609655A (en) * 1950-01-06 1952-09-09 Hamilton Watch Co Waterproof watchcase
CH332896A (fr) * 1958-04-09 1958-09-30 Longines Montres Comp D Boîte de montre étanche
CH390162A (fr) * 1963-08-10 1964-12-15 Manuf De Boites De Montres Edg Boîte de montre étanche

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2609655A (en) * 1950-01-06 1952-09-09 Hamilton Watch Co Waterproof watchcase
CH332896A (fr) * 1958-04-09 1958-09-30 Longines Montres Comp D Boîte de montre étanche
CH390162A (fr) * 1963-08-10 1964-12-15 Manuf De Boites De Montres Edg Boîte de montre étanche

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3858388A (en) * 1973-04-23 1975-01-07 Suwa Seikosha Kk Crystal mounting structure for a water-proof watch
US4110970A (en) * 1975-11-11 1978-09-05 Citizen Watch Company Limited Water-proof watch case
US4132062A (en) * 1976-04-23 1979-01-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Digital watch case
US4184317A (en) * 1976-12-27 1980-01-22 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Watch movement mounting structure
US4479725A (en) * 1982-04-20 1984-10-30 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Watchcase
US6575619B1 (en) * 1999-04-22 2003-06-10 Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches Method for assembling a casing ring in a watch case and casing ring for such method
US20150212491A1 (en) * 2014-01-24 2015-07-30 The Swatch Group Management Services Ag Device for securing a timepiece dial
US9535403B2 (en) * 2014-01-24 2017-01-03 The Swatch Group Management Services Ag Device for securing a timepiece dial
US20180011445A1 (en) * 2016-07-08 2018-01-11 Omega Sa Sub-assembly of external parts for watch
US10073418B2 (en) * 2016-07-08 2018-09-11 Omega Sa Sub-assembly of external parts for watch
US20210191333A1 (en) * 2019-12-20 2021-06-24 Rolex Sa Timepiece component for a timepiece case or for a timepiece
US11966199B2 (en) * 2019-12-20 2024-04-23 Rolex Sa Timepiece component for a timepiece case or for a timepiece

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4843966A (it) 1973-06-25
IT968436B (it) 1974-03-20
CH551037A (it) 1974-06-28
CH1438471A4 (it) 1974-01-31

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