US3849981A - Watertight watch case - Google Patents

Watertight watch case Download PDF

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Publication number
US3849981A
US3849981A US00411501A US41150173A US3849981A US 3849981 A US3849981 A US 3849981A US 00411501 A US00411501 A US 00411501A US 41150173 A US41150173 A US 41150173A US 3849981 A US3849981 A US 3849981A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
frame
bezel
crystal
gasket
overlying
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
US00411501A
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English (en)
Inventor
Y Tarusawa
Y Futami
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
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Suwa Seikosha KK filed Critical Suwa Seikosha KK
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3849981A publication Critical patent/US3849981A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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

  • watches are manufactured in oval shape, square shape, egg shape, etc.
  • the cost of the frame is greater than for a circular frame, so that the saving in cost resulting from the elimination of the need to replace the frame when a crystal is broken becomes particularly important.
  • the joint between the watch crystal and the frame for said crystal is made water-tight by providing a gasket therebetween and means for pressing said crystal toward said frame. Further, the joint between said crystal frame and the watch case body is made water-tight by providing another gasket between said frame and said case body. Means are also provided for pressing together said frame and said case body in an axial direction. Means for pressing said crystal toward said frame may consist of a pin passing through coincident openings in a bezel and said frame when said bezel is pressed toward said frame, and a snap fit between a bezel and a frame. Other means are screws drawing said bezel toward said frame and a leaf spring pressing said frame toward said bezel.
  • An object of the present invention is a watch case of improved water-tightness wherein the watch crystal and a frame around said watch crystal are pressed together in a water-tight joint.
  • Another object of the present invention is a watch case of improved water-tightness wherein a gasket is provided between the watch crystal and the frame of said watch and means are provided to press said crystal toward said frame.
  • a further object of the present invention is a watch case of improved water-tightness wherein the method of making the waterproofjoint between the watch crystal and the frame is applicable to circular glasses, polygonal glasses, elliptical glasses, egg-shaped glasses, and free-formed glasses in general.
  • Yet another object ofthe present invention is a watch case of improved water-tightness where said watertightness does not deteriorate with age or with change in temperature.
  • An important object of the present invention is a watch case of improved water-tightness wherein the tendency of the watch crystal to break under shock is decreased.
  • a significant object of the present invention is a watch case ofimproved water-tightness wherein in the event of breakage of the watch crystal, only the watch crystal need be replaced, thereby reducing the cost of replacement.
  • FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a watch in accordancewith the prior art
  • FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a watch case in accordance with the present invention wherein a bezel and a frame are held together in a snap fit;
  • FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention wherein a bezel and a frame are held together by a projection fitting into a groove;
  • FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the present invention wherein a bezel and a frame are held together with a screw;
  • FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the present invention wherein a bezel and a frame are held together by a pin;
  • FIG. 6 is an embodiment of the present invention wherein a bezel and a frame are held together by a leaf spring.
  • FIG. 1 A sectional view of a watch in accordance with the prior art is shown in FIG. 1 where watch crystal 3 is held to crystal. frame 6 by means of cement. Further,
  • the cement bond of the conventional construction can be replaced with a gasket as shown in FIG. 2.
  • gasket 18 rests in a groove in crystal frame l6.'The lower surface of crystal 13 is pressed against gasket 18 by means of bezel 17.
  • Bezel 17 is engaged in asnap fit with frame 16 and the relative dimensions of members 13, 16, 17 and 18 are such that when bezel l7 snaps into position on frame 16 pressure is exerted in an axial' direction on gasket 18, thereby establishing water tight seals at the interfaces between gasket 18 and crystal l3 and gasket 18 and frame 16.
  • a water tight seal is established between gasket 14 and inner case body on the one hand and gasket 14 and frame 16 on the other hand by means of outer case body 11 using the same arrangement of a leaf spring in a groove in inner case body 12 and a pin 15 fitting into an'opening 11a in outer case body 11.
  • FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which bezel 37 has a projection or tongue 37a and frame 36 has a mating groove 36a.
  • Projection 37a can be held in 36a in a snap fit or by threading or by the use of cement.
  • gasket 38 it should be noted that if cement is used it need not be waterproofsince the seal between crystal 33 and frame 36 is established by gasket 38. It should be noted that the pressure of bezel 37 against gasket 38 results in scaling in a radial direction as well as in an axial d'irection.
  • FIG. 4 is an embodiment in which frame 46 is held to bezel 47 by means of screw 40.
  • pressure is applied by the shoulde r of bezel 47 against the diagonal surface of crystal 43 and thereby against gasket 48 establishing the needed water-tight seal.
  • applying downward pressureto bezel 57 aligns openings in bezel 57 and frame 56 so that pin 50 can be inserted, thereby maintaining pressure on crystal 53 and on gasket 58.
  • FIG. 6 is similar in construction to that of FIG. 4 except that the pressure holding bezel 67 and frame 66 together is applied by leaf spring 60.
  • the shape of the gaskets in all of the embodiments of the present invention could be varied so that either an axial seal alone results or a combination of an axial and a radial seal results.
  • FIGS. 2 through 6 are applicable to crystals and crystal frames of any of the aforenoted shapes, with one exception.
  • the single exception is that in which projection 37a is threaded into groove 36a.
  • An improved water-tight crystal mounting for a watch of the type having a frame for supporting a watch crystal, a gasket respectively overlying and underlying said frame, an inner case body releasably connected to said underlying gasket, a bezel retaining said crystal against said overlying gasket and an outer casing cooperatively connecting said frame and said inner case body, said improvement comprising an auxiliary means for releasably connecting said frame and said bezel for thereby reinforcing the seal of said crystal against said overlying gasket, said reinforced seal being undisturbed by successive releases of said outer casing and said inner case body for access to an encased movement.
  • said frame including an axially upstanding rim provided with a blind groove seat, a shoulder radially outside of and below said rim on which a lip of said outer casing is seated, a leg radially outside of and below said rim terminating in an upstanding foot, said leg providing a seat for said overlying gasket, said gasket having a recess for the periphery of said crystal, said bezel overlying said frame, overlying gasket, and the periphery of said crystal and including an axially depending rim snap-fit into and seated in said frame groove seat, said snap-fit bezel thereby compressing said crystal against said gasket supported on said frame for a reinforced water-tight seal, said outer casing being disconnectable from said frame shoulder without concurrently disconnectable from said frame shoulder without concurrently disconnecting the sealed members.
  • said frame including substantially linear recessed and raised portions, said raised portion thereof terminating at its interiorly extending end in an upstanding flange, said recessed portion of said frame having a through hole therein, said bezel being mounted on said recessed portion of said frame and upstanding thereon, said bezel including a widened base, and a narrowed upstanding body portion terminating in a radially extending flange, a lip of said outer casing being releasably connected to said widened base portion of said bezel, said widened base portion of said bezel having a blind threaded hole located in the underside surface thereof extending upwardly through said base into said narrowed body portion, said blind threaded hole being registered with said through hole, said overlying gasket overlying said raised portion of said frame and being secured against a side wall of said bezel by said upstanding flange, said crystal overlying said gasket and being compressed thereagainst by said radially extending flange of said bezel
  • said frame including an exterior side wall continuously engaging an interior side wall of said bezel, said frame and said bezel being contiguous, said frame including a substantially flat upper surface terminating in an upstanding flange for securing said overlying gasket in a: seat formed between said frame and said bezel, said bezel upstanding adjacent said frame and upwardly beyond said frame, said bezel including a widened base portion and a narrowed neck terminating in an inwardly radially extending rim simultaneously compressing said overlying gasket and engaging a chamfered exterior edge of said crystal for compressing said crystal into said overlying gasket, a lip of said outer casing being releasably connected to said widened base portion of said bezel, said bezel further including a radial through hole through the base portion thereof and said frame further including a blind hole therein registrable with said through hole, and a pin tightly fit through said through hole and said blind hole for radially compressing said overlying gasket into said neck of
  • said frame including a radially outwardly extending shoulder and a groove seat in the upper surface thereof, said overlying gasket being overfltted into said groove seat, said bezel upstanding on said shoulder of said frame and including an outer stepped surface defining first and second shoulders therein, said first shoulder of said bezel being substantially aligned and contiguous with said shoulder of said frame, said bezel terminating in a radial inwardly extending flange engaged to a chamfered edge of said crystal and compressing said crystal axially downwardly into said overlying gasket, a lip of said outer casing being releasably connected to said second shoulder of said bezel, and a continuous compression spring abutting aligned ends of said shoulder provided in said frame and said first shoulder provided in said bezel and compressing said shoulders for reinforcing the compressive force of said radial inwardly extending flange of said bezel against said chamfered edge of said crystal for a reinforced water-tight seal,

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US00411501A 1972-11-02 1973-10-31 Watertight watch case Expired - Lifetime US3849981A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP47109936A JPS5229949B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-11-02 1972-11-02

Publications (1)

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US3849981A true US3849981A (en) 1974-11-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00411501A Expired - Lifetime US3849981A (en) 1972-11-02 1973-10-31 Watertight watch case

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US (1) US3849981A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5229949B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3939647A (en) * 1973-08-24 1976-02-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Structure of water-tight watch case
US4117658A (en) * 1975-09-05 1978-10-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Waterproof watch case
US4132062A (en) * 1976-04-23 1979-01-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Digital watch case
US4222228A (en) * 1976-10-28 1980-09-16 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Waterproofed watchcase construction
EP1291739A1 (fr) * 2001-09-05 2003-03-12 Manufacture JAEGER-LECOULTRE S.A. Boíte de montre étanche et son procédé de montage
US20030174589A1 (en) * 2002-03-15 2003-09-18 Hiroshi Kawamata Wrist mounting type portable appparatus having bangle type strap
US20080025157A1 (en) * 2006-07-26 2008-01-31 Haruki Hiranuma Timepiece
US20180059623A1 (en) * 2015-03-13 2018-03-01 Levitation AG Method for producing a watch glass having at least one gemstone

Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US22036A (en) * 1858-11-09 Improvement in manufacture of white lead
DE640293C (de) * 1936-12-29 Ernest Morf Wasserdichtes Gehaeuse fuer Taschen- oder Armbanduhren
CH215448A (de) * 1940-05-27 1941-06-30 Lacher & Co Inh Ludwig Hummel Wasserdichtes Uhrgehäuse.
CH218928A (fr) * 1940-02-12 1942-01-15 Robert Gygax Fils De Boîte de montre étanche.
CH219707A (fr) * 1941-03-26 1942-02-28 Breguet Henri Boîte de montre étanche.
DE741064C (de) * 1940-08-06 1943-11-03 Inh Ludwig Hummel Wasserdichtes Uhrgehaeuse
CH254856A (fr) * 1946-10-19 1948-05-31 Finger Jean Boîtier de montre étanche.
CH274299A (fr) * 1948-10-21 1951-03-31 Freres Pauli Boîte étanche pour montre.
CH305774A (de) * 1952-10-03 1955-03-15 Kunz Hans Dichtes Uhrgehäuse.
CH317193A (fr) * 1954-01-06 1956-11-15 Morf Ernest Boîte de montre de forme, étanche
US2845773A (en) * 1956-08-27 1958-08-05 Bulova Watch Co Inc Watch case
US3264820A (en) * 1963-06-18 1966-08-09 Piquerez Ervin Shaped watertight watch case fastening means
CH443158A (fr) * 1964-10-29 1968-01-31 Emir S A Montre de plongée
US3479771A (en) * 1966-10-14 1969-11-25 Jean Steimann Watchcase
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3782105A (en) * 1971-05-04 1974-01-01 Seiko Instr & Electronics Rectangular waterproof watch casing assembly

Patent Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US22036A (en) * 1858-11-09 Improvement in manufacture of white lead
DE640293C (de) * 1936-12-29 Ernest Morf Wasserdichtes Gehaeuse fuer Taschen- oder Armbanduhren
CH218928A (fr) * 1940-02-12 1942-01-15 Robert Gygax Fils De Boîte de montre étanche.
CH215448A (de) * 1940-05-27 1941-06-30 Lacher & Co Inh Ludwig Hummel Wasserdichtes Uhrgehäuse.
DE741064C (de) * 1940-08-06 1943-11-03 Inh Ludwig Hummel Wasserdichtes Uhrgehaeuse
CH219707A (fr) * 1941-03-26 1942-02-28 Breguet Henri Boîte de montre étanche.
CH254856A (fr) * 1946-10-19 1948-05-31 Finger Jean Boîtier de montre étanche.
CH274299A (fr) * 1948-10-21 1951-03-31 Freres Pauli Boîte étanche pour montre.
CH305774A (de) * 1952-10-03 1955-03-15 Kunz Hans Dichtes Uhrgehäuse.
CH317193A (fr) * 1954-01-06 1956-11-15 Morf Ernest Boîte de montre de forme, étanche
US2845773A (en) * 1956-08-27 1958-08-05 Bulova Watch Co Inc Watch case
US3264820A (en) * 1963-06-18 1966-08-09 Piquerez Ervin Shaped watertight watch case fastening means
CH443158A (fr) * 1964-10-29 1968-01-31 Emir S A Montre de plongée
US3479771A (en) * 1966-10-14 1969-11-25 Jean Steimann Watchcase
US3577876A (en) * 1968-06-17 1971-05-11 Paolo Spadini Watertight alarm wristwatch
US3782105A (en) * 1971-05-04 1974-01-01 Seiko Instr & Electronics Rectangular waterproof watch casing assembly

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3939647A (en) * 1973-08-24 1976-02-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Structure of water-tight watch case
US4117658A (en) * 1975-09-05 1978-10-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Waterproof watch case
US4132062A (en) * 1976-04-23 1979-01-02 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Digital watch case
US4222228A (en) * 1976-10-28 1980-09-16 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Waterproofed watchcase construction
EP1291739A1 (fr) * 2001-09-05 2003-03-12 Manufacture JAEGER-LECOULTRE S.A. Boíte de montre étanche et son procédé de montage
US20030174589A1 (en) * 2002-03-15 2003-09-18 Hiroshi Kawamata Wrist mounting type portable appparatus having bangle type strap
US6796708B2 (en) * 2002-03-15 2004-09-28 Seiko Instruments Inc. Wrist mounting-type portable electronic apparatus having bangle-type strap
US20080025157A1 (en) * 2006-07-26 2008-01-31 Haruki Hiranuma Timepiece
US7404668B2 (en) * 2006-07-26 2008-07-29 Seiko Instruments Inc. Timepiece
CN101114157B (zh) * 2006-07-26 2010-10-13 精工电子有限公司 时计
US20180059623A1 (en) * 2015-03-13 2018-03-01 Levitation AG Method for producing a watch glass having at least one gemstone

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4969170A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1974-07-04
JPS5229949B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-08-04

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