US3672157A

US3672157A - Combined watch and continuous watch band

Info

Publication number: US3672157A
Application number: US198518A
Authority: US
Inventors: John Manceri
Original assignee: Judson Jewelry Corp
Current assignee: Judson Jewelry Corp
Priority date: 1971-11-15
Filing date: 1971-11-15
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27

Abstract

A wrist watch which comprises a substantially continuous watch band arranged so that a central portion of the band extends across the user''s wrist and further serves as the dial or face of the watch. Soldered or otherwise secured to the underside of the band is the watch case including the watch movement and from which a center spindle supporting the hour and second hands extends through a small opening in the watch band so as to be positioned over said band central portion. A frame or bezel is soldered or otherwise secured to the opposite, upper side of the band above the watch movement. A crystal is supported by the bezel. As a result, the watch band become part of the watch itself, specifically its face. A standard size watch case movement can be used regardless of any form the watch frame or bezel will take. On the other hand, the frame or bezel may assume unlimited shapes and configurations because it is used to delineate any desired portion of the band central portion. Thus the over-all construction of the watch is simplified while unlimited aesthetic configurations are made possible.

Description

United States Patent Manceri [54] COMBINED WATCH AND CONTINUOUS WATCH BAND [7 2] Inventor: John Manceri, Long Island, NY.

[73] Assignee: Judson Jewelry Corp., New York, N.Y.

[22] Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 [21] Appi. No.: 198,518

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,189,909 4/1970 GreatBritain ..58/88W 370,265 8/1963 Switzerland ....58/88W 1 June 27, 1972 Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr Attorney-S. Stephen Baker ABSTRACT A wrist watch which comprises a substantially continuous watch band arranged so that a central portion of the band extends across the users wrist and further serves as the dial or face of the watch. Soldered or otherwise secured to the underside of the band is the watch case including the watch movement and from which a center spindle supporting the hour and second hands extends through a small opening in the watch band so as to be positioned over said band central portion. A frame or bezel is soldered or otherwise secured to the opposite, upper side of the band above the watch movement. A crystal is supported by the bezel. As a result, the watch band become part of the watch itself, specifically its face. A standard size watch case movement can be used regardless of any form the watch frame or bezel will take. 0n the other hand, the frame or bezel may assume unlimited shapes and configurations because it is used to delineate any desired portion of the band central portion. Thus the over-all construction of the watch is simplified while unlimited aesthetic configurations are made possible.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUH 2 7 m2 SHEET 2 BF 2 COMBINED WATCH AND CONTINUOUS WATCH BAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a wrist watch provided with a band or bracelet the remote ends of which may be provided with complementary clasps if desired. Conventional wrist watches comprise a watch movement and case as well as the usual central spindle supporting hour and second hands and the like. A separate dial face, crystal bezel, and a band or bracelet are conventionally provided. All these are correlated such as for shape, size and for function of course. This imposes severe limitations, one, for example, being the fact that the bezel and crystal must have a configuration which matches the dial face. Often, the watch case movements must be similarly correlated.

However, the present invention substantially eliminates all the above inter-relationships of configuration by automatically providing a dial face which matches the bezel. The use of a standard, universal watch case movement is also made possible in the combination. Other unexpected and highly economic advantages are further realized while in fact improving the aesthetic qualities of the watch as will be shown hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a combined vwrist watch and band therefor which assume a peculiar relationship in that the band itself functions as an integral part of the watch, specifically its face. This objective is further augmented by most important details in that the usual hour and second hands cooperate with the band, rather than with a separate watch dial as is conventional.

Another most important object of this invention is to make possible the use of infinite varieties and configurations of crystals and bezels, regardless of the watch face and in fact substantially independent thereof. My experience has been that those skilled in the art have pronounced such an objective as impossible since it 'wasjgenerally assumed that a bezel must substantially surround and conform to a dial face of finite configuration. Other limitations were similarly imposed on watch construction.

Essential1y, this invention solves problems indicated above by first extending the band or bracelet completely across the upper wrist. 'This'per se is not new. However, I employ the band control portion at the watch face. To this end, I secure a standard sized watch case movement on the underside of said band central portion with a watch hand spindle which penetrates said central portion and to which the watch hands are secured as is conventional.

Now, a bezel or frame and crystal of any configuration may be secured over said band central portion. It will be realized accordingly that the watch face immediately and automaticallyassumes the shape of the bezel, because it is the bezel which defines and delineates the watch face portion of the wrist band.

The advantages of the foregoing construction are multiple. In addition to'the aesthetic advantages, considerable economies are are realized. A standard sized watch movement case may be employed in all instances. A dial or watch face is eliminated. Even the dial numeral markings may be eliminated because the numerals are advantageously painted on the underside of the crystal, although I believe this per se is not new. At any rate, precision in positioning the bezel in place is minimized because it need not be correlated to dial numerals. As above set forth, watch attachment clasps on the band are eliminated. To all the above advantages is added the fact that a wrist watch of unusually pleasing appearance is realized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the combined watch and watch hand therefor according to this invention, the band being broken away at its end portions;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one form of the assembled watch and watch band;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. '4 is a bottom plan view as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the component parts of the invention comprise a standard watch movement 10 having the usual winding stem 11 and the center spindle l2. Spindle 12 of course is actuated by the usual watch movement gears and the like and it supports the usual hour, minute and second hands 13. A covering case 14 is provided as is conventional for the movement 10.

A substantially continuous elongated watch band 15 is provided. The watch band is continuous except that it may optionally incorporate remote complementary end clasps 16 as shown in FIG. 2 for the usual wrist attachment function although other means may obviously be employed for this purpose.

Watch band 15 is most advantageously fabricated of flexible tight mesh metal construction of uniform texture and composition but this is not essential since the band may well be of leather or plastic or thelike. The actual mesh construction is conventional. Preferably at the center of the band 15 is formed a hole 16 which admits the spindle l2 therethrough. The hands 13, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 are supported by the spindle 12 immediately above the central portion of the band 15 so as to cooperate or co-act therewith in the manner that the hands of a conventional watch co-act with a conventional separate watch face or dial.

Secured to the upper face of a central portion of the band 15, as will hereinafter be described, is the frame or bezel 18 which supports in conventional fashion the crystal 19. Preferably, but not necessarily, the underside of crystal I9 is provided with numeral indications 20 which may be painted on such underside and visible of course through the transparent crystal.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the bezel I8 is shown as secured by solder 22 around its perimeter to the metal watch band 15. Should the band be of leather or plastic other types of connection may be made, whether by rivets or an adhering plastic or the like. The crystal is then supported above the band portion which is delineated by the particular bezel employed. For example, the bezel may assume an infinity of shapes. It may be diamond shaped, rhomboid shaped, round, or have an irregular configuration, but it always will delineate a corresponding portion of the upper face of the band l5, which portion will automatically serve as the face or dial of the composite watch assembly. The crystal underside markings 20 avoid the necessity of precise positioning of numerals or indicia on the band face. In fact, all that is necessary in regard to the upper face portion is to dispose the bezel symmetrically in respect to spindle l2 and solder it in place.

Another important aspect is that the watch movement 10 with its case 12 may have a configuration entirely independent of that of bezel 18. Accordingly, it may be completely standardized to co-act with the bezel regardless of the bezel shape. Employing a standard sized watch case movement in all watch forms is obviously a considerable economy. The movement may be secured to the underside of the band 15 as by the perimeter solder 24.

It will be recognized from the foregoing that an intermediate portion of the watch band 15, usually its center portion, will normally be positioned directly over the back of the wearers wrist and will in fact function as the dial or face of the composite watch assembly with all the unexpected advantages above described. The delineated watch face portion is of course integral with and indistinguishable in texture and composition from the remainder of the watch band.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention but it is obvious that numerous changes and omissions may be made therein without departing from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined watch and elongated watch band therefore comprising a substantially continuous watch band having an intermediate portion thereof normally positioned over the upper wrist of the user, a watch case and enclosed watch movement secured to the underside of said intermediate portion and having a central spindle penetrating said intermediate portion, watch hands secured to said spindle so as to overlie said intermediate portion whereby said intermediate portion serves as a watch face for said watch hands and are jointly visible therewith when viewed from above, and a bezel and transparent crystal secured in place over said intermediate portion whereby said intermediate portion and said watch hands may be jointly viewed through said crystal.

2. An article according to claim 1 and wherein said watch band is of substantially uniform texture and composition throughout its length and said bezel is secured at a centrally disposed intermediate portion thereof so that said bezel delineates a portion of said band depending upon the configuration of said bezel and whereby said crystal likewise delineates a portion of said band so that the delineated portion of said band constitutes the face or dial of the article over which the watch hands lie, and wherein said watch face is integral with and indistinguishable in texture and composition from the remainder of the band.

3. An article according to claim 2 and wherein said watch case and enclosed movement have a configuration and size independent of the configuration of said bezel and crystal.

4. An article according to claim 3 and wherein said watch band is uniformly fabricated substantially throughout its entire length of flexible mesh metal material.

5. An article according to claim 4 and wherein watch numeral indications are applied to said crystal for joint visibility with both said watch hands and said delineated watch band portion.

Claims

1. A combined watch and elongated watch band therefore comprising a substantially continuous watch band having an intermediate portion thereof normally positioned over the upper wrist of the user, a watch case and enclosed watch movement secured to the underside of said intermediate portion and having a central spindle penetrating said intermediate portion, watch hands secured to said spindle so as to overlie said intermediate portion whereby said intermediate portion serves as a watch face for said watch hands and are jointly visible therewith when viewed from above, and a bezel and transparent crystal secured in place over said intermediate portion whereby said intermediate portion and said watch hands may be jointly viewed through said crystal.