US712288A - Reversible watchcase. - Google Patents

Description

No. 7I2,288. 4 Patented Oct. '28, |902.

y W. H. FITZ GERALD.

REVERSIBLE WATCHCASE.

(Application tiled July 3, 1002.)

(llo Indel.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.|

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- IIALF TO RUBE R. FOGEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

REVERSIBLE WATCHCASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,288, dated October 28, 1902. Application tiled .Iuly 3, 1902. Serial No. 114,242. (No model.)

T @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that LWALTEEHFITZ GERALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, Brooklyn borough,in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reversible Watches,which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to improvements in 1o mechanical structures of that class employed for measuring time and commonly known as watches; and it relates more particularly to Watches in which the movements are reversible and which accordingly may be readily converted from the so-called huntingcase type of watch to the so-called openface type, or vice versa.

The object of this invention is to provide a reversible watch which shall be simple, inexzo pensive, and novel as regards construction, which shall embody features of construction whereby the watch movement shall be adjustable concentrically within the case-center for bringing the trunnions or pivots supporting the watch-movement into a true diametric alinement with respect to said casecenter, which shall be positive and reliable in practical service, and which shall possess certain well-defined advantages over prior 3o analogous structures.

The invention consists in the employment of certain parts novel as to form, in the novel disposition and arrangement of those parts whereby the watch-movement shall be ren- 3 5 dered adjustable concentrically with respect to the case-center, in certain combinations, and in certain details of construction, all of which will be specifically referred to hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference-numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and as to said drawings, Figure l is a rear face View of a reversible watch-body embodying my said improvements. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, the Watch-movement being shown as having undergone a portion of its reversing action. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View illus- 5o trating the shifting trunnion which I make use of and the manner of conjoining the same with the adjacent cooperating parts. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating the construction of the trunnion-guide which I employ. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing 5 5 the shifting trunnion aforenamed and parts immediately cooperating therewith in the position they occupy when said trunnion shall have been shifted to one limit of its movement concentrically with respect to the trans- 6o verse axis of the watch, the section being taken centrally and horizontally through the parts, as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5, the shifting trunnion aforenamed and cooperating parts being shown as having been moved concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the watch out of the positions they occupy in Fig. 5.

In a general sense my invention comprises a case, a watch-movement therein, and ele- 7o ments supporting said watch-movement, the latter being reversible on said elements and also movable concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the case and one of said supporting elements being adapted to accompany the watch-movement in its concentric action.

Having reference tothe accompanying drawings, the watch there illustrated comprises, primarily, a case-center 2, hinged cover 3, 8o pendant 4, winding-stem 5, and movementring 6, all of ordinary construction. The casecenter 2 has a continuous or substantially continuous channel at its inner side.

6 represents the watch movement as a 85 whole. This watch-movement is arranged within the ring 6 in any common and approved manner. The inner end portion of the stem 5 projects through the ring 6 by way of a suitable opening formed in said ring and 9o engages the winding-arbor of the watch-movement, as in common practice. The movement 6 is adapted to undergo a reversing action within the case-center 2, and to this end has a pivotal relation with respect to the said case-center. I have accordingly shown the movement 6/ as being arranged to turn on diametrically opposite supporting elements or trunnions, and I have shown the windingstem 5 as performing the function of one of loo these trunnions, while a trunnion 7 supports the watch-movement at the segment thereof opposite the stem 5.

It will be understood that the employment in connection with the watch-movement of supporting elements which under all conditions occupy each a fixed position relative to the case-center, as in common practice, necessitates extreme accuracy as regards the matter of diametric alinement of such supporti ing elements and the adjustment of the Watchmovement relatively thereto, else when the parts are assembled the watch-movement in its reversing action not rarely engages or binds on the case-center 2 and prohibits complete reversing action of the watch-movement within said case-center. It has been the common practice to remedy this diiculty by filing away a portion of the parts where the binding eect aforenamed takes place. I overcome this diiiiculty by utilizing in connection with the watchmovement supporting elements, one of which is adapted to shift concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the case-center, and as the watch-movement is adapted to likewise shift concentrically within the case-center said shifting supporting element accordingly accompanies the watch-movement in the latters concentric action. Thus in assembling the parts of my improved watch the movement-supporting elements or trunnions thereof automatically seek and enter into such diametric alinement as insures complete reversing action on the part of the watch-movement at all times within the case-center.

To secure the operation of the parts above mentioned, I have shown the trunnion 7 connected with a slide 8, held loosely to the back or convex side of the guide 9 through the medium of a headed stud 7 which projects through the slide 8 by way of an elongated opening 8. and rmly engages the guide 9, the latter to this end being provided with the opening 8'. The guide 9 is here shown in the form of a segment of a ring; but if preferred it :may have the form of a complete ring. This guide is forced or otherwise inserted into the channel of the case-center and in such manner as to remain stationary when the parts of the Watch are assembled. Guide 9 is provided -with an elongated opening 9', corresponding with the opening 8', and the trunnion 7, carried by the slide 8, projects inwardly or toward the transverse axis of the watch through the guide 9 by Way of the opening 9 and supports at its inner end portion l one side of the watch-movement 6, as hereinbefore explained. It will accordingly be observed that where the construction now under consideration is employed the openings 8 9' permit the slide 8, accompanied by the trunnion 7, to shift to and fro along or with respect to the guide 9 and concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the watch.

To facilitate the operation of assembling the parts, particularly the adjustment of the watch-movement with respect to the case-center 2, I have shown the slide 8 as having an enlarged end with which the trunnion 7 has a threaded engagement. Trunnion 7 may accordingly have a screw-slot 5' at its inner end.

The operation of the assembled parts will be apparent from the foregoing, and it will be readily seen that my invention may be modified to some extent, particularly as regards the elements immediately cooperating with the trunnion 7, and whereby a concentric shifting action is secured for said trunnion without material departure from the spirit and principle of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A watch comprising a case-center, and a Watch-movement, the latter being reversible and held within the case-center by supporting elements adjustable one independently of the other and concentrically to the transverse axis of the watch.

2. A watch comprising a case-center, and a Watch-movement, the latter trunnioned for reversing action withinthe case-center, and` one of the trunnions supporting said watchmovement being adjustable independently of the other and concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the watch.

3. A watch comprisinga case-center anda Watch-movement, the latter being reversible within the case-center; and trunnion-like elements supporting said movement, the said elements being adjustable one independently of the other for a self-alining action diametrically with respect to the case-center.

4. A watch comprising a channeled casecenter; a movement trunnioned for reversing action within the case-center; a slide carrying one of the trunnions supporting said movement and a guide for said slide, the said guide being fixed in the channel of the case-center, and said trunnion-carrying slide being movable to and fro along the guide, and concentrically with respect to the transverse axis of the watch.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD.

Witnesses:

MAX B. A. DORING, P. BOLEMAN.

IOO

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