US2682146A - Waterproof watch - Google Patents

Description

June 29, 1954 T. M. wAcHTER WATERPROOF WATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 1, 1947 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR Tfff/QEJ/A /Z #VAC/WE@ BY mi 6cm* lwf'm' June 29, 1954 'rA M WACHTER 2,682,146

WATERPROOF WATCH Filed Aug. l, 1947 2 'Sheets-Sheet 2 INV NTOR #ff/@Hm M Me/fe ATTORNE Patented June 29, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WATERPROOF WATCH Theresia M. Wachter, New York, N. Y.

Application August 1, 1947, Serial No. 765,409

7 Claims. 1

`This invention relates to Watch construction and particularly to watch cases formed of plastic material, either wholly or partly. transparent.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a Watchcase which is effectively water, moisture and dust tight. In the preferred construction this isaccomplished by` making the front of the watch constituting the crystal, and the back, sides and lower end of waterproof plastic or other transparent material preferably molded as a unit. The watch movement is inserted in this casing edgewise, the open end of the casing being `closed by another piece of plastic material which can be sealed into the casing preferably by `theuse of a transparent plastic cement.

By making the entire casing of transparent plastic it is possible to determine whether or not the casing is actually Waterproof and tightly sealed, If any Water leaks into the casing it can be immediately detected by inspection and steps taken to remedy the situation before any harm is done to the watch movement. The sealing of the top in the casing by a thin layer of plastic cement is very effective and practically invisible. It furthermore permits the watch movement to be removed without difliculty as the sealing cement may be cut with a sharp blade or dissolved by a solvent, whereupon the movement is accessible. Resealing can be accomplished by a reapplication of cement. The Watchcase being made of plastic material is practically rust and corrosion proof, and the` plastic back of the watchcase, which in a wrist watch comes in contact with the skin, will not rub off and cause discoloration or irritation to the skin. The plastic material is furthermore a better heat insulator than metal so that it to some extent protects the watch movement against sudden changes in temperature. Condensation within the case is also reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective and permanent sealing means for preventing leakage around the stem of the watch, While still permitting the watch to be wound and set in the usual manner.

Other objects and advantages of the inven- 4tion Will appear in the course of the following description of certain embodiments thereof, chosen to illustrate the principles ofthe invention.

In the drawings: y

Fig 1 is a face view of a Wrist watch embodying one form of the invention;

` Fig. 2 is a View partly in plan and partly in sectiononjline 2-2 of Fig. l;

stituting the watch crystal cut away;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View of the watch and case on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the

*watch movement being shown conventionally;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in vertical section 'on an enlargedv scale of the watch stem construction;

Fig. '7 is a perspective exploded view of the watch case of the form shown in Figs. 1 to 5; .'Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a modified form of case;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of the case shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a front view of a modified form of wrist Watch construction;

Fig. l1 is a transverse sectional View on line II-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a disassembled View partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section of thel construction shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a vertical transverse section on line l3-I3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a horizontal sectional view showing a buoyant watch bracelet, the section being taken on liney Ill- I4 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the watch bracelet shown in Fig. 14.

The examples of the invention illustrated in the drawings are wrist watches, but it is to be understood that the invention may be used in connection with any other type of watch.

Referring to the form of the invention shown `in Figs. 1 to '7, a casing is provided which is preferably molded as a unitary tubular or hollow body of plastic, comprising a watch. crystal 2B, a back 22, sides 24 and a bottom or end 25, This casing unit may be formed of one or more parts cemented or welded together, but moldingl in one unit is most Ysatisfactory as it eliminates unsightly joints and the possibility of leakage. It is also the most economical process.

The casing is preferably formed of a transparent plastic which may be either clear or colored, suitable plastics being Lucite, Plexiglas, polystyrene or other suitable compounds, or the casing may be made of glass, although this has the disadvantage of breaking more easily. The top or open end of the casing is closed by a tight fitting top piece or cover plate 218 which is also ceive the dial.

preferably made of the same transparent plastic material as the body of the casing, and which is cf such size to nt in the open end of the casing and be sealed therein in any suitable manner. Preferably the sealing is accomplished by a layer of plastic cement indicated as 30 in Fig. 5. layer of transparent cement may be used which is practically invisible so that the entire watchcase looks likeaf body of transparent-crystal, revealing thewatch movement, theappearance being very pleasing and effective. In order to hold a small amount of the cement so as to makea good seal, the top edge of the cove-r plate is preferably beveled slightly as indicated at 32. The iit of the cover plate into the open end of the casing below this bevel is preferably a close push fit, so that the cement is effectively prevented from getting into the space below the bevel. The cement being limited to this somewhat bevelled space and to the top of the casing may readily be removed or severed with a sharp knife blade or the like or may be softened or dissolved with a solvent thereby permitting the cover to be taken out whenaccess to lthe watch movement is desired.

The inside of the casing and cover are preferably shaped so as to receive and firmly hold a watch movement. In the construction shown the watch movement is of usual tonneau form, the dial being shown as rectangular. For use with a movement of this shape the casing has a thickened bottom part 34 formed with a curved surface 36 (Fig. 7) upon which the movement seats, there being a recess 38 between the crystal and the thickened portion. 34 to receive the edge of `the rectangular watch dial 4D. The side walls of the casing are also providedwith thickened seating portions 42, the space 38 extending between these portions and the crystal so as to re- The top ends` 44 of these thickened side portions 42 formseats for receiving the corners of a seat portion 46 formed on the lower side of the cover plate 28. The curved surface -48 of this seat portion fits the edge of the watch movement thereby holding the same firmly within the casing when the cover plate is closed. Of

course if a round or rectangular watch movement were used the seats for thesame would be shaped to t it. By providing they seats shaped to iit the` movement, unnecessary space within the case is nlled thereby reducing the amount f of air within the case Vand cutting down condensation. On top of the cover plate is formed an integral neck 5B through which is a hole 52 .for receiving the winding stem of the watch.

69 is the watch movement which is indicated f conventionally and with `which is connected the `winding stem 62 on the Vupper end of which is secured the usual crown cap B4 by which the watch may be wound and set. .'Iihe stem serves to hold the watch movement normally in assembled relationship with the cover plate 28 of the case so that the movement is inserted into the case at the time the cover plate is tted into the open end of the casing. .Whenthe .movement is to be removed, the seal is cut and the lifting out of the cover plate and stem removes the movement from the casing.

An important feature of 'the invention comprises the means for sealing the joint between the stem of the watch vand the neck in the cover plate so as to prevent leakage at this point, while still permitting the watchto be wound and set.

"In the construction shown a sleeve 10 which is preferably of plastic andmay be of a nature similar to the plastic of which thecasing isl con- A thin structed, and which is preferably provided with a small top flange 12, is tted closely on to the core 'i4 of the crown cap 64 into which the upper i .wslightly between the inner wall of the neck and core 'M The neck and the sleeve both being of plastic there is a certain temporary adherence `between thetwo, more so than there probably would be between metal and plastic surfaces. A `highly effective water tight seal is thus produced, and this seal will maintain its tightness under varying conditions of temperature, humidity, etc., because the material of the neck and material of the sleeve lll, both parts being plastic; have the same or similar coefcients of f expansion and therefore willnot be caused to draw away from one another due to temperature changes, etc. A permanently tight seal is thus provided. At the same time the plastic sleeve has suflicient yield so that while the seal visY tight, it is still possible to rotate the crown cap -in the sleeve T0 for the purpose of `winding the watch, or to move itin and out to effect the setting of the watch. A11 this can be done without permitting any leakage. The iiange I2 at the top of the sleeve 10 preferably fits closely against the inside ofthe crowncap when the crown cap and stem`62 are pushed in after the watch has been set, and also fits against the outer end of the neck 50 as shown in Fig. 6. This helps to secure the tightness of the seal.

` It will be seen that the front `face of the curved seat portion 46 on the cover plate, `togetherwith the faces of the parts 42 and' 35 at the sides and bottom of thel recess 38` form a ledge all the way around the casing for receiving the margin of the Watch dial.

The `Watchcase `described above may' be used for a pocket watch or mounted in any suitable manner. In the; construction shown the case is 'fitted within a bezel frame 8i) of rectangular form and having anarrcw flange 82 overlying watchcase. so as to provide an attractive 'finish 'The back of the watchcase which comes in contact with the skin has no metal part'thereon, so that there is no discoloration of the Wrist. The bezel frame 8G is provided with ears 84 carrying pins 86 to whichV are iixedthe wrist strap indicated in broken. lines. Obviously any other suitableconstruction for attaching a strap, band or` bracelet may be employed.

Figs. 8 and 9 show a modified construction of case in which no bezel frame is. used, 4but the case itself has slotted lugs S0 molded integrally therewith out of plastic material. Wrist straps vould be passed through the slots 92 in these ugs.

A modified form of case` is shown in Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive. In this construction the body of the case Hi8 is preferably molded as an integral hollow. body of plastic having a front transparent crystal portion |02, a back vH14, sides 106, and a bottom or end |08. In this construction a plastic cover plate is also preferably provided, such plastic plate being indicated at H0. This plastic plate, however; need not be cemented into thecasing, asother means areprovidedfor'sealing the top of the* casing. For this purpose' the casing is provided with metal top and bottom clamping plates ||2 and 4 which fit the top and bottom ends of the casing, and are firmly clamped together so as to grip the casing between them. Any suitable construction may be used for this purpose, As shown, the bottom plate ||4 has tubes ||6 projecting upwardly therefrom, these tubes projecting through holes ||8` formed in the side walls of the casing. The tubes ||6 are internally threaded as indicated at,|2|1. Screws |22 pass through holes in the top plate ||2 and screw into the threaded ends of the tubes |6, thereby drawing the two clamping plates together as forcibly as may be necessary. The top plate ||2 has a recess |24 in its lower face in which is placed a suitable resilient packing |26 of rubber, vinyl, plastic treated leather or other suitable material which nts against the top of the wall of the casing so that when the clamping plates are tightly screwed towards each other this packing will effectually seal the joint at the open end of the casing, thereby preventing leakage. This method of sealing is satisfactory for` some purposes, but is not believed to be as eifective and permanent a seal as that obtained by the use of plastic cement. However, it permits access to the watch movement without the necessity of cutting the cement seal, as in the construction previously described. The joint around the watch stem may be sealed in any suitable manner. Preferably the same construction is used as in the form of casing already described. For this purpose the closure plate lli! is provided with a plastic neck 5|) which projects through a hole |30 in the top clamping plate ||2.

The use of the clamping plates I l2 and IM. provides a convenient means for mounting the watch. In the construction shown pins |46 are provided which may be held at their ends in recesses |42 in the top and bottom clamping plates, so that when the parts are assembled a wrist band of any suitable type may be connected to these pins.

Figures 14 and 15 showa Wrist watch construction which is not only waterproof, but buoyant, so that if it becomes detached from the wrist of the wearer, it will float and permit ready recovery. In the construction shown a watch movement |50 is employed which is preferably of as small and light a construction as is available. This is mounted in a chamber |52 in a case |54 made of a light plastic, the movement being sealed in the case by means of a closure plate |56 similar to those already described. Attached to the ends of the case are hollow wrist enclosing arms |60 and |52 which are formed of light plastic and which have chambers of such size therein as to provide, with the space |52 in which the movement is mounted, sulcient buoyancy so that the wrist watch as a whole will iioat. One of the hollow arms |62 is preferably hinged to the case so that it will swing about a pivot |64 thereby permitting the bracelet to be opened for application to the wrist. Any suitable construction of hinge may be used. As illustrated, a at spring |66 is provided which bears against a nat surface |68 on the end of the pivoted arm. When the arm is swung to open position the 'spring bears against the surface |76 so as to hold it open until such time as it is to be snapped shut about the wearers wrist.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it

.is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may be embodied.

What I claim is:

l. A watchcase composed of plastic including a transparent front comprising a crystal, a back, sides and end united to form a self-sustaining unitary casing into which a watch movement may be inserted edgewise, and a plastic closure for the open end of the casing tting tightly inside thereof, and wholly supported by its engagement therewith, said casing and closure having like properties of expansion and contraction, whereby there is no tendency for the closure to Work loose from its tight engagement with the casing due to diierential expansion and contraction, the inside of the end wall of the casing and the inside wall of the closure being shaped to provide seats for engaging the edges of a watch movement, said seats being spaced from the inside of the crystal to provide a groove for receiving the watch dial, the walls of the seats facing the groove forming a seat for the margin of the dial.

2. A watch comprising a plastic casing having a watch movement mounted edgewise therein, the winding stem of the watch movement projecting out of the open end of the casing and a plastic closure for the open end of the casing, said closure having an integral tubular neck of plastic material projecting from the top thereof through which the winding stem of the watch extends,

` and a sealing tube of plastic material tting tightly in the tubular neck and tightly surrounding a portion of the winding stem, the casing, closure, neck and sealing tube having similar properties of expansion and contraction, the closure member being wholly supported by its engagement with the plastic walls of the casing so that there is no tendency for the sealing engagement between the closure member and casing to work loose due to differential expansion and contraction.

3. In watch construction, a casing of plastic material having a watch movement mounted edgewise therein, said casing having an open end through which the watch movement may -be inserted or removed, a closure of plastic material tting in said open end and having a tubular neck of plastic material projecting therefrom, the Winding stem of the watch movement projecting through said tubular neck and carrying a crown cap having a cylindrical core portion, and a sealing sleeve of slightly elastic plastic material fitting tightly around said core portion and being of such diameter relative to said core portion as to be slightly expanded thereby, said sleeve tting tightly in the tubular plastic neck of the closure so as to seal the joint between the neck and the winding stem and crown cap, while permitting rotary and slight endwise movement of the winding stem to enable the watch to be wound and set, the casing, closure, neck and sealing tube having similar properties of expansion and contraction, the closure member being wholly supported by its engagement with the plastic walls of the casing so that there is no tendency for the sealing engagement between the closure member and casing to work loose due to diiferential of expansion and contraction.

4. In wirst watch construction, a substantially rigid, self-sustaining plastic shell having an open end for receiving a watch movement edgewise therein, a plastic closure tting in said open end and wholly supported by its engagement therewith, said casing and closure having like properties of expansion and contraction, whereby there is no tendency for the closure to work loose from its tight engagement with the casing due to difierential expansion and contraction, said shell having holes extended vertically thereof at each side of the space for the watch movement, a clamping plate having a packing therein for fitting on the top edge of the shell and sealing the joint between the closure member and the shell, a second clamping member fitting against the other end of the shell, one of said members having internally threaded tubular portions projecting through the holes at the edges of the shell and screws engaging the other clamping member and screwing into said screw threaded tubular portions, and wrist strap attaching members carried by said clamping members, said clamping members being supported against the clamping pressure of said screws entirely by the self-sustaining plastic shell and closure,

5. A watch case construction comprising a substantially rigid, self-sustaining plastic shell open at one end for edgewise reception of a watch movement, said shell having transverse seats formed therein adajcent to said open end, a plastic closure member iitting tightly in the open end of said shell and engaging said seats, said closure member having an integral neck projecting therefrom for receiving the winding stem of a Watch movement, and clamping members for covering the ends of said plastic shell and closure member, the member covering the end of the shell with the closure member fitting therein containing a packing for sealing the joint between the closure member and shell and having a hole therein through which said neck on the closure member projects, and means for connecting said clamping members together and drawing them tightly against the ends of the shell and closure member.

6. A substantially rigid, self-sustaining watch case composed of plastic including a transparent front forming a crystal, a back, sides and end molded as a unitary casing into which a watch movement may be inserted endwise, a `plastic closure member tting in the open end of the casing, the inside of the end wall of the casing `and the inside wall of the closure being shaped to provide seats for engaging the edges of a watch movement, said seats being spaced from the inside of the crystal to provide a groove for receiving the margin of the Watch dial, the Walls of the seats facing the groove forming a support for the margin of the dial, the inner side walls of the casing being provided with transverse seats for supporting the closure member and limiting its movement into the casing, said closure member having an integral neck for reception of the winding stem of the watch, clamping mem-bers for engaging the ends of the Vcasing and closure member, the clamping member engaging the closure member having a hole therein through which the winding stem neck passes and containing apacking for sealing the joint between the closure member and shell, and means for connecting said clamping members together and drawing them tightly against the ends of the shell and closure member.

7. A watch case for a Watch movement of nonrectangular outline having a substantially rectangular dial of larger area than the movement so as to provide a projecting dial edge surrounding the movement, said case comprising a substantially rectangular rigid self-sustaining casing of plastic including a transparent front forming a crystal, a back, sides and end molded as a unitary casing into which the watch movement may beinserted endwise, a plastic closure member fitting in the open end of the casing, the inside end wall of the casing and the inside wall of the closure being shaped to conform to the outline of the watch movement so as to provide seats forengaging the edges of the movement, said seatsproviding thickened portions reinforcing the corners of the casing to increase the rigidity thereof, said seats being spaced from the inside of the crystal to provide a groove for receiving the margin of the Watch dial, the walls of the seats facing the groove forming a support for the margin of the dial, the inner side walls of the casing being provided with transverse seats for supporting the closure member and limiting its movement into the casing, said closure member having an integral neck for the reception of the winding stem of the watch, and means for sealing the closure member in the casing, said casing and closure member having like properties of expansion and contraction, the closure member being wholly supported by vits engagement with the plastic walls of the casing so that there is no tendency for the sealing engagement between the closure member and casing to work loose due to diierential expansion and contraction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 969,680 Worrell Sept. 6, 1910 1,340,003 Benjamn et al May 11I 1920 2,260,835 Haapanen et al. Oct. 28, 1941 2,302,340 Morf Nov` 17, 1942 2,465,571 Boninchi Mar. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 115,559 Switzerland July 1, 1926 507,868 Great Britain June 22, 1'939 213,951 Switzerland June 16,1941

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