US1544932A - Watchcase - Google Patents

Description

Ju v 7. 1925.

W. PETERSON WATCHCASE Filed MaICh 31', 1924 1,544,932 PATENT OFFICE.

WILBERT rmason, or rnamvmw, rrnias.

warcncasri Application filed March 31, 1924. serial lio; 708,206.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILBERT PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plainview, in the county of Hale andState of Texas, have invented a certain new and .useful Improvement in a -VVatchcase, of

which the following" is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to watches and more particularly to a construction of watch case for pi ote'cting the delicate mechanism of thewatch from shocks and jars.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a watch case in which the watch I radially mechanism is floated within a watch case upon aplurality of delicate spiral springs the periphery of the watch mechanism within the periphery of the watch case. 7

Another object of my invention is to: pro vide a spiral spring suspension for delicate watch mechanism in a watch case having means for connecting a winding stem with the watch mchanis1nfrom the outside of the watch case and operating the same within causing the spring suspension "watch mechanism to turn sidewise within the watch .or impact of any character imparted to the watch case is prevented from affecting the delicate watch mechanism.

Still other objects of my invention reside in the construction of the mounting of a watch mechanism within a watch case as will be hereinafter referred to in more detail by reference to the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in

which:

F1 ure 1 1s a front view showing my watc case construction in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is'a perspective view showing the construction of the guide rinr carried within the watch case; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the construction of the rim which surrounds the frame supporting the watch mechanism; Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view of the resilient. supporting means taken on line H of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a front elevation. of the watch case partially broken 'away'to show in cross-section ositioned at different points about a modified construction of resilient mounting for the watch mechanism; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the rim of the watch case taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the modified form of resilient mounting,

shown in Fig; 5.

Heretofore in the art it has been proposed to provide a protective casing for watches which entirely surrounds the watch case and which may be constructed of soft rubber or ,a hard metallic casing within which the watch case is held by means of leaf springs' It has also been proposed to provide leaf spring devices having means projecting from the watch case which may absorb the shocks or jars which the watch mechanism might receive in the event that the watch wasaccidentally dropped. I am also aware that it has been proposed to place leaf springs between the watch mechanism and the watch case forpreventing violent shocks from injuring the watch mechanism but all of these constructions have inherent disadvantages which I have overcome by the .construction described hereinafter. I have found that the spring suspension supporting the delicate mechanism of a watch in order to be effective must be capable of absorbing shocks and jars of even slight amplitude. .I have therefore devised a mounting in which a plurality of spiral springs are disposed between the frame of the watch mechanism and the casing of the watch. Guide means are positioned concentrically within the spring means at. equally spaced points about the periphery of the frame of the watch case distributing the weight of the watch parts equally within the watch case and enabling the frame of the watch mechanism to move only in a single direction within the watch case and to be unaffected during the winding operation of the watch.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings, in which reference character 1 represents the outer frame of the watch case in which is seated a circular rim member 2. The circular rim member 2 is provided with a plurality of elongated apertures 3 disposed in diametrically opposed positions. The rim 2 also includes inwardly projecting in members 4 which are radially aligned with the center of the watch and alternately positioned between the apertured means 3. The watch operating mechanism is carried within a apertures 3.

verating mechanism is at all times floating of the watch mechanism.

frame upon which circular rim member 5 is secured. The circular rim member 5 has a plurality of pins extending outwardly from its surface in a radial direction. One set of these pins is relatively short as represented by reference character 6, which set of pins aligns with pins 4 of the first mentioned rim member 2. Another set of pins.

on the rim member 5 is'relatively long as represented by reference character 7 and are diametrically oppositely positioned on the rim 5 to register with apertures 3 in rim member 2. The watch operating me'chanisn'i which is circumferentially bounded by rim member 5 is positioned within frame 1 with pins 7 of rim 5 passing through apertures 3 in rim 2. Spiral springs 8 are concen trieally disposed upon the pin members 4, 6, and 7 at a plurality of points about the periphery of the watch operating mechanism as indicated in such manner that pins 7 are free to ride back and forth radially within apertures 3 while adjacent ends of pins 4 and 6 are spacedapart by the clear springs 8. The watch operating mechanism 1s wound as usual through anydesired form of winding stem 9 with operating shaft 10 butrotative movement of the watch in the watch frame carrying the Watch operating mechanism is precluded by pins?- guided in In Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I show a modified mounting in which the pins 4 are secured directly within the outer frame 1 with cup shaped devices or lug members 11 alternately positioned with the pins 4 about the outer framel extending inwardly in a radial line to receive the pins 7 and guide the said pins against movement in all directions ex-. cepting a radial direction within the outer frame 1. 'Spiral springs 8 are positioned over the pins 4 and 6 and lug members 11 and pins 7 providing a resilient cushion for the watch operating mechanism.

It will be understood that the watch opwithin the outer frame 1 on delicate springs 8 which are so proportioned as to preclude the transfer of sudden shocks and jars or other impact forces which may be imparted to the outer frame 1 from the delicate parts While I have described my invention in directed pin members carriedat a plurality of points about the periphery of said circular rim member, a second circularrim member carried by said inner frame and having a'plurahty of pins extending outof said pin members registering with the apertured points 1n sald hrst mentioned c1r- 'cular rim member and the other of said pin members being concentrically aligned with corresponding pin members-on said first mentioned circular rim, and spiral springs disposed on said pin members between-the inner surface of the first mentioned circular rim member and the outer surface of the second mentioned circular rim member whereby said watchoperating mechanism freely floats within said outer frame shield ed from shocks and jars to which said outer.

frame'may be subjected.

' wardly from the surface thereof, a number 2. A-watch case, comprising in combination an outer frame, an inner frame, a plurality of alternately positioned apertured means and pins extending radially inwardly from said outer frame, said inner frame having a plurality of outwardly extending radially positioned pins corresponding in number to the number of said apertured means and pins on said outer frame, a plu-' rality of'sets of diametrically disposed pins.

on said inner frame being substantially longer than other pins on said frame and arranged. to extend into said apertured means in the outer frame, and spiral springs disposed concentrically upon said pins whereby said inner frame floats within said outer frame free from effects of shocks and jars to which said outer frame may be subjected. r a WILBERT. PETERSON.

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