WO1990012347A1

WO1990012347A1 - Wrist watch having a concave case so as to place the watch over the radius bone

Info

Publication number: WO1990012347A1
Application number: PCT/IT1989/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carlo Maldifassi
Original assignee: Carlo Maldifassi
Priority date: 1989-04-10
Filing date: 1989-07-24
Publication date: 1990-10-18
Also published as: IT8920076A0; AU3968389A

Abstract

Watch (10) for the wrist (13) contact between watch and said wrist (13) being made by means of a concave surface (12) fitting over the convexity of the radius bone so that the dial (14) may be placed in a position over said bone or in an intermediate zone between said bone and the dorsal surface of the wrist (13). The axis of the dial (14) showing the hours, passes through 12.00 and 6.00 hours parallel or variously angled to the longitudinal axis of the wrist, either fixed or adjustable as preferred. The dial placed over the radius bone can be associated to other dials lying over the dorsal surface of the wrist (13), or in an intermediate zone, for other functions such as that of chronometer, ship's compass, calculator or whatever is useful.

Description

WRIST WATCH HAVING A CONCAVE CASE SO AS TO PLACE THE WATCH OVER THE RADIUS BONE

The invention concerns a wrist watch.

In recent years, in which the cost of watches has been sharp- ly reduced, increasing efforts have been made to produce no¬ vel forms of watches for competitive reasons, and to make them attractive to a growing number of wearers of all ages and conditions . A hindrance to this trend has been the difficulty of find- ing new designs for an object whose characteristics have been repeated and unchanging for such a long time.

Attempts have even been made to make watch dials of the most unusual materials such as plastic, stone and wood. All watches, whether with hands or digital, are constructed so as to lie in place on the dorsal surface of the wrist.

This is because, being flat, the base of the watch case can only lie on flat or very slightly curved surfaces on the outside or inside of the wrist. Bearing in mind man's physiological behaviour and anatomi- cal structure, it is clear that, if so worn, the watch can only be read by rotating the pulse about 45° to bring the dial in line with the optic rays reaching it from the wear¬ er's eyes . • To a great extent this 45° rotation is an unnatural move- ment and, in some situations, is even difficult to make.

This is specially true for a car driver who wants to glance at his watch, a dangerous distraction from keeping his eye on the road and also means loosening his hold on the wheel. Even harder is it for cyclists or skiers, or anyone en- gaged in some other sport who wants to check the time ta¬ ken to cover a certain distance. This applies in particular 'to cyclists who, if taking one

_ hand off the handlebars, may risk losing the race or the control of their bicycles.

Watches are often worn for preference with the dial on the inside of the wrist for its greater protection, but it is more difficult to read in this position where it receives less light.

The above invention removes these drawbacks and offers con¬ siderable advantages both in the use of the watch and in its industrial production.

In the case of the wrist watch here invented, contact with the wrist is made by a concave surface that practically fits over the convex surface of the radius bone. In this way the position of the dial is either over the radius bone or in an intermediate position between said bone and the upper surface of the wrist.

The concave surface is given either to the watch case it¬ self or to a block-shaped piece which may be fixed perman¬ ently to the under surface of said case or be detachable from i .

For the latter type of attachment there are slits, hooks or other means on»the block which may or may not be used for fixing on the strap or the like, or else projections, hook-s and other means that grip the watch case when the strap is fastened round the wrist, or hold it by their own elastic pressure .

The reading axis of the dial, namely the axis passing through 12.00 o'clock to 6.00 o'clock, lies parallel to the longi¬ tudinal axis of the wrist or at the fixed or adjustable angle preferred by the wearer.

The fastening means of the strap, or the like, is placed centrally on the inside ot'the wrist in the normal way. In one type, suitable for competitions and for sport gen¬ erally, the second hand is mounted centrally and is clearly vi¬ sible while the outer rim of the dial is marked out in di- visions of 30 and 60, division 30 coinciding with division 60. The second hand is fixed at 12.00 hours and is set in motion by means of a press button.

Alternativaly the outermost ring of divisions idles round the face while the second hand is continually moving.

When, for example, a cyclist passes a road sign showing kilometres, the 30/60 division is made to coincide with the second hand. This means that racing speed can be read, es¬ pecially by cyclists, conveniently and quickly. As the case may be and according to personal preference, the wrist watch can incorporate a spring device or be operated by electric, automatic, quartz or electronic means showing hours marked in the traditional style by hands, or by li¬ quid crystal digits or some equivalent means. In one type of execution the watch dial placed over the ra- dius bone is associated to another dial placed on the dor¬ sal surface of the wrist in the way watches are usually worn. The two dials are associated by articulations or by some rigid means. In other executions the dial placed over the radius bone is associated, by means of separate rigidly connected or arti¬ culated watch cases or else by having one case for both, to one or more dials placed on the back of the wrist or be¬ tween the back and front, whose function may be those of a ship's compass, a calculator, a chronometer, a heat beat counter, a blood pressure counter or something else.

These functions may be readable, as desired, on the dials to be read perpendicularly- or parallel to the axis of the wrist or at various angles to said axis.

As the case may be and according to personal preference, the watch and its devices for other functions may be of the kind worked by a spring or by mechanical, electric, elec^¬ tronic or digital means, may have hands or liquid crystal images .

Again as the case may be, the dial showing the hours is situated on the back of the wrist., as usually worn, or over the radius bone or in an intermediate position.

By means of this invention the time can be read without having to move the wrist, particularly without having to rotate it, as the position of the dial over the radius bone places said dial in a line perpendicular to the line of vi- sion between eyes and dial, maintaining the arm and hand, and therefore the wrist, in their usual positions. Further, in this position, the dial is also better protec¬ ted since the radius bone lies on the inner side of the wrist . Industrial production and sale of such a watch, always the main aim of a patent, are also greatly facilited because of the undoubted novelties it offers from the standpoints of position, form, function and aesthetic features. The use of plastic material makes it an easy matter to ob- tain the desired concave base fitting over the convex sur¬ face of the radius bone of the wrist, whether the watch case itself is given this shape or whether another supporting piece is interposed between the case of an ordinary watch and the curved side of the wrist. Exploiting the area over the radius bone considerably in¬ creases the surface space available and enables other wide¬ ly adopted means such as a digital calculator, heart beat counter, or any of the digital devices made available by electronic techniques, to be associated to the watch it*- self.

For those practising sport and for anyone driving a vehicle greater safety and easier time keeping are made possible by a watch whose dial lies over the radius bone. Characteristics and purposes of the invention will be made even clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatic drawings. Fig.1: Watch with hands worn over the radius bone, its reading axis lying parallel with that of the wrist. Fig.2: Digital watch worn over the radius bone, its read¬ ing axis lying parallel with that of the wrist. Fig.3: Digital watch worn over the radius bone, its read- ing axis lying perpendicular to that of the wrist.

Fig. : Watch with hands worn over the radius bone, its reading axis lying at 45° in relation to that of the wrist . Fig.5: Watch with hands worn over the radius bone and ha- ving a block interposed between the watch case and the radius bone, said block comprising perforated means through which the watch strap passes. Fig.6: Watch with hands worn over the radius bone having a block between the case and the radius bone, said block comprising projections for holding it to the case . Fig.7: The block to be fixed to the watch illustrated in

Figure 6. Fig.8: Watch with hands worn over the radius bone, reading axis being parallel to that of the wrist,with central second hand,marked round the edge with divisions of 30 and 60, for those practising sports. Fig.9: Watch worn in a position between the radius bone and the dorsal surface of the wrist, associated to a chronometer worn over the radius bone.

Fig.10: Watch worn over the radius bone and articulated to a ship's compass worn on the dorsal surface of the wrist .

Fig.11: Digital watch worn over the radius bone and articu¬ lated with a calculator placed on the dorsal sur¬ face of the wrist with digital date indicator between. Fig.12: Watch with hands worn over the radius bone, read- axis being parallel to that of the wrist,and another digital dial between the radius bone and dorsal sur¬ face of the wrist , with reading axis perpendicular to that of the wrist. The watch 10 comprises its case 11 whose surface 12, in con¬ tact with the wrist 13, is concave in shape corresponding substantially to the convexity of the wrist at the point of the radius bone.

The dial 14 is orientated with its reading axis, namely the axis passing through the hours 12.00 and 6.00, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wrist.

The watch chain 16 has a clasp 17 on the inside of the wrist.

The watch 20 occupies the same position on the wrist 21 a.s that in Fig. 1 and is worked electronically having digital figures for the time 22 and for the date 23.

The case is curved concavely 24 to fit over the convexity of the radius bone.

The watch 25 on the wrist 26 is substantially the same as the watch 20 except that the figures for the time 27 and the date 28 lie perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wrist . The case is shaped with a concave curve 29 to fit over the convexity of the radius bone. _»

The watch 30, worn on the wrist 31 over the radius bone, has a dial 32 with the 12.00 to 6.00 hour axis orientated at 45° in relation to the longitudinal axis of the wrist. This case too is concave 33 in shape corresponding to the convexity of- the radius bone.

The watch 35, worn on the wrist 36 over the radius bone, has a block 37 of concave shape 38 placed between the case 39 and the wrist.

The sides 40 of said block 37 have slits 41 through which pass the brackets 42, 42' of the case and also the strap 43. On closing the clasp 45, the block 37 is held firmly over the radius bone together with the watch, more or lesss of the usual type except that the dial is read at an axis passing through the hours 12.00 and 6.00 parallel to the axis of the wrist.

The block 37 is made of flexible plastic to enable it to adapt its shape to allow the pairs of brackets 42, 42', opposite one another on the case 39, to pass through the slits 41.

The watch 50 is worn on the wrist 51 over the radius bone by means of the interposed block 52 with its concave sur- face 53 wristward. On this block there are parallel projections 54 54' that pass through the slits 55 made between the case 56 and the ends 57 of the strap 58 held to the pins 59.

These pins are supported by the brackets 60 of said case.

With its concave case 66, the watch 61 is worn over the radius bone, its dial 62 orientated on the longitudinal axis of the wrist; clearly visible are the central hand 63, the outer, ring .64 o f d iv i s i ons o f 30 and 60 , th e pus h s t ud 65 for setting the hand in motion and for zero setting. This watch is most useful for racing purposes especially for cyclists who can easily see the time and also their speeds, but avoiding rotation of the wrist .

Watch 66 is associated by means of articulations 67 to chronometer^' 68. The respective cases 69, 70 for watch and chronometer, with their concave surfaces 71 72, cor^¬ respond to the convexity of the wrist. Under surfaces being concave, the chronometer 68 can lie^* over the ra- dius bone while the watch 66 is in an intermediate posi¬ tion between the chronometer and the upper side of the wrist .

Figure 9 shows a rectangular watch case enclosing a cir¬ cular dial 73 for the hours and another alongside it 74 for the seconds.

The 12.00 to 6.00 hour reading axis is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wrist.

On the chronometer 68 the hands of dials 75 76 are worked by buttons on the side of the case. The watch 80, worn on the wrist 81 over the radius bone, has a case 83 with inner concave surface 82. By means of articulation 84 this watch is associated to the case 85 supporting the compass 86 placed on the upper surface of the wrist. The watch 90, worn on the wrist 91 has a case 92 with in¬ ner concave surface 93 to fit closely over the radius bone This is a-digital watch and comprises a date dial 94, di¬ gital as well, the case 95 of which has an inner concave surface 96. Said case 95 is in turn associated to the case 97 for the digital calculator 98. Associating means consist of articulations 99 and 100.

The calculator lies over the dorsal surface of the wrist while the digital date indicator lies between the watch and the calculator. The devices are read perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the wrist.

The watch 105 with hands is associated to the digital watch 106 by means of a case 107.

Said case has a convex form 108 suitable for fitting over the radius bone so as to keep the dial 109 stable on the inner side of the wrist and the dial 110 at a point on the wrist midway between its side and dorsal surfaces.

Reading axis for the watch with hands ,passing through

12.00 and 6.00 hours, is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wrist, while reading axis of the digital watch is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the same wrist .

Claims

1. Wrist watch (10 20 25 30 35 50 61 66 80 90 105) charac¬ terized in that its contact with the wrist is made by means of a concave surface (12 24 39 33 38 53 66 71 72 82 93 96 108) substantially fitting over the convexity of the radius bone .

2. Wrist watch (10 20 25 30 35 50 61 66 80 90 105) as in claim 1, characterized in that the dial (14 32 46 62 75 76) lies in a position corresponding to that of the radius bone.

3. Wrist watch (66 90 105) as in claim 1, characterized in that the dial (73 74 110) is placed in a zone between the radius bone and the dorsal surface of the wrist.

4. Wrist watch (10 20 25 30 61 66 80 90 105) as in claim 1, characterized in that the concave surface (12 24 29 33 66 71 72 82 93 96 10δ)in contact with the wrist is the lower surface of the watch case ( 11 69 70 83 92 95 107).

5. Wrist watch (35 50) as in claim 1, characterized in that the concave surface (38) (53) in contact with the wrist is that of a block (37) (52) applied stably or moveably to the case (39) on its lower surface and is therefore inter¬ posed between said case (39) and the wrist.

6. Wrist watch (10 20 35 50 61 80 105) as in claim 1, cha¬ racterized in that the dial (14) showing the hours appears rotated in relation to the case (11) so that the reading axis, namely that which in watches with hands passes through the hours 12.00 and 6.00, lies parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wrist .

7. Wrist watch (30) (80) as in claim 1, characterized in that the dial (32) appears rotated, in relation to the case so that the reading axis, namely that which in the watches with hands passes through the hours 12.00 and 6.00, lies at various angles in relation to the longitudinal axis of the Wrist, the angle being fixed or adjustable as preferred by the wearer.

8. Wrist watch as in claim 1, characterized in that the second hand (63) is mounted centrally and is clearly seen while 30 and 60 divisions are marked crownwise (64) all round the dial, division 30 coinciding with division 60, said hand (63) being locked at 12.00 hours and set in motion by means of a push button (65) or the like, to enable racing speeds to be quickly and easily noted during races or in sport generally, especially in cycling.

9. Wrist watch as in claim 1, characterized in that the second hand is mounted centrally and clearly visible while a ring marked out in 30 and 60 divisions rotates on the dial, division 30 coinciding with division 60, so that in racing, in order to note racing times, it is possible to make the 30/60 division coincide with the second hand when passing by a road sign stating mileage.

10. Wrist watch (66 80 90 105) as in claim 1, character- ized in that the dial (75 76 109)situated over the radius bone, is associated to one other or more dials (73 74 110) situated on the dorsal surface of the wrist as is usual with ordinary watches, or in an intermediate position, the func¬ tions of which may be that of a watch ( 106), date indicator (94), ship's compass (86), calculator (98), counters for heart beats or blood pressure or anything else, said func¬ tions being arranged as preferred on the dials in the nor¬ mal position, namely with the reading axis perpendicular to the axis of the wrist or parallel to it or orientated var- iously in relation to this latter axis, the various dials (73 74 75 76 109 110), both for the watch or destined for other functions, being supported by cases (69 70 83 85 92 95 97) associated by means of articulations (67 84 99 100) or rigidly connected or supported by a single case ( 103) , the various devices, as the case may be and according to preferences, being of a mechanical, electric, electronic, quartz or digital type, the dial showing the time being situa¬ ted, as preferred, on the dorsal surface of the wrist in the usual manner or over the radius bone or in an intermediate position .