EP0945083A1

EP0945083A1 - Wrist watch

Info

Publication number: EP0945083A1
Application number: EP98911001A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hiroshi Tanashiseizosho YAMAZAKI; Masahiko Tanashiseizosho SARUTA
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-26
Filing date: 1998-03-25
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Also published as: JPH10262710A; TW362961B; JP3964492B2; WO1998042227A1; CN1220585A; EP0945083A4

Abstract

A band connecting portion (14) on each of opposite sides of a watch case for connecting a flexible band has a case side upper connecting portion (15) and a case side lower connecting portion (16), each having a lateral hole with respect to the longitudinal direction of the band, and furthermore, a band side upper connecting portion (21) and a band side lower connecting portion (22) are provided on the band, each having a lateral hole. In each of said holes, a spring-loaded pin (28) or a slit pipe (29) is inserted, so as to attach the band side upper connecting portion to the case side upper connecting portion, and the band side lower connecting portion to the case side lower connecting portion, thereby holding the watch case and the band in a closely abutting state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a watch, and more particularly to a structure for connecting a band to opposite band connecting portions formed on each side of a watch case.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been known such a conventional structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open 55-157417 for connecting the band. As shown in Fig. 7, in the connecting structure, a watch case 50 has a downwardly inclined band connecting portion 51 at each side thereof. Each connecting portion 51 has a pair of connecting legs 52 and an overhang 53 provided above the legs 52, and an engaging hole 54 is formed in each connecting leg 52. A plastic band 55 has a connecting portion 56 as shown in Fig. 8. The connecting portion 56 comprises a projection 57 which abuts against the underside of the overhang 53 and the periphery of the watch case 50, and an abutting portion 59 which abuts against a back 58 mounted on the watch case 50. The connecting portion 56 further has a connecting hole 60.
After a spring-loaded pin 61 is inserted in the connecting hole 60 of the connecting portion 56, the connecting portion 56 is inserted between the pair of connecting legs 52, thereby abutting the projection 57 of the connecting portion 56 against the underside of the overhang 53 and the periphery of the watch case, and abutting the abutting portion 59 against the back 58. The projections at the ends of the spring-loaded pin 61 are further engaged with the engaging holes 54, thereby connecting the band 55 to the band connecting portion 51.
In the above described conventional connecting structure of the band, when the watch is worn on the wrist, a large force may be exerted on the band in a direction shown by an arrow in Fig. 7. Thus, there is formed a gap P between the end of the band 55 and the overhang 53 of the watch case 50, thereby degrading the appearance of the watch. Moreover, since the abutting portion 59 abuts against the back 58, the back cannot be removed without disengaging the band 55 from the band connecting portion 51, resulting in poor operability when exchanging a battery or repairing a module. In addition, there is a problem that it is impossible to connect a leather band to the watch case without a gap forming therebetween.
An object of the present invention is to provide a watch wherein a gap is not formed between a watch case and a band even though a large force may be exerted on the band. Another object is to provide a watch wherein a leather band can be connected to the watch case without forming a gap, and wherein a back can be removed without disengaging the band.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a watch having a band connecting portion on each of opposite sides of a watch case for connecting a flexible band, comprising, the band connecting portion having a case side upper connecting portion and a case side lower connecting portion, each having a lateral hole with respect to the longitudinal direction of the band, a band side upper connecting portion and a band side lower connecting portion provided on the band, each having a lateral hole, engaging members, each being inserted in each of said holes so as to attach the band side upper connecting portion to the case side upper connecting portion, and the band side lower connecting portion to the case side lower connecting portion, and holding means for holding the watch case and the band in a closely abutting state.
When the watch is worn on the wrist, a force is exerted on the band in an internal direction, thereby tensing the band. However, since the band is connected at the band side upper connecting portion to the case side upper connecting portion, and at the band side lower connecting portion to the case side lower connecting portion by the respective engaging members, the tensile force is not applied to the end portion of the band. As a result, a gap is not formed between the end portion of the band and the outer periphery of the watch case, so that the appearance of the watch is not deteriorated.
Each of the band side upper connecting portion and the band side lower connecting portion is formed on the band.
The band side upper connecting portion may be formed on a cover member having a band guide through which the band is inserted.
The case side lower connecting portion is positioned at a position outer than the case side upper connecting portion with respect to the side of the outer peripheral wall of the watch case. The band side lower connecting portion is positioned at a position outer than the band side upper connecting portion with respect to the side of the outer peripheral wall of the watch case.
At least one of the case side upper connecting portion and the case side lower connecting portion is covered by the band.
The engaging member is a spring-loaded pin.
The band is adapted not to contact an underside of a back.
The case side upper connecting portion is covered by the cover member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a first embodiment of a watch having a watch band connecting structure according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting structure of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the underside of an end portion of a band;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of a second embodiment of the watch having the watch band connecting structure according to the present invention;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the connecting structure of Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the underside of an end portion of a band and the underside of a cover member;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing a conventional watch band connecting structure; and
Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing an end portion of a conventional band.

BEST MODE FOR EMBODYING THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention is described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.
The first embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.
A watch case 1 of a watch A comprises a middle 2, bezel 3 and a joint ring 4. The middle 2 houses a module 5, and has an upper opening 2a wherein a glass 6 is embedded, interposing a packing 7. The joint ring 4 for preventing the packing 7 from falling off is held by the bezel 3 on the upper portion of the middle 2. A dial 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the module 5. Furthermore, a back 10 is mounted on the middle 2 adjacent a lower opening 2b thereof by a plurality of screws.
As shown in Fig. 2, band connecting portions 14 are formed on the opposite outer periphery of the case 2. Each band connecting portion 14 has a case side upper connecting portion 15 and a case side lower connecting portion 16. The case side upper connecting portion 15 has a projection 9 which extends parallelly to the axial direction of the watch A, and having a connecting hole 17. The case side lower connecting portion 16 comprises a pair of downwardly inclined projections 16A, each having a connecting hole 18.
Thus, the connecting hole 17 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 is positioned above the connecting holes 18 of the case side lower connecting portion 16, and the connecting holes 18 of the case side lower connecting portion 16 is formed at a position outer than the connecting hole 17 with respect to the outer wall of the middle 2.
As shown in Fig. 3, a band 20 made of a synthetic resin such as urethane, has an arcuated abutting surface 20c formed on an edge of an end portion 20A thereof. The abutting surface 20c has the same curvature as that of the periphery of the bezel 3 so as to be able to abut against the bezel. In addition, a band side upper connecting portion 21 and a band side lower connecting portion 22 are formed on the back of the end portion 20A.
The band side upper connecting portion 21 has a pair of projections 23 formed apart from each other in a lateral direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the band. Each projection 23 is provided with a connecting hole 24. The projections 23 are provided adjacent the abutting surface 20c and an inserting recess 23A is formed between the projections 23. The inserting recess 23A is so curved that the arcuated periphery of the projection 9 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 may abut against the inner wall of the recess.
The band side lower connecting portion 22 comprises an elongated projection 25 extending in the lateral direction of the band, having a lateral connecting hole 26 with respect to the band. The projection 25 is spaced apart from the abutting surface 20c in the longitudinal direction of the band, and the distance between the connecting holes 24 and the connecting hole 26 is set equal to the distance between the connecting hole 17 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 and the connecting holes 18 of the case side lower connecting portion 16. Moreover, the length of the projection 25 in the lateral direction of the band is slightly smaller than the distance between the pair of projections 16A. Each of the connecting holes 24 formed in the projections 23 of the band side upper connecting portion 21 is communicated with a large diameter recessed pin hole 27 formed on the respective side surfaces 20a of the band 20.
Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1, the band 20 is so adapted not to cover the underside of the back 10.
The method of connecting the band 20 to the watch case 1 is described. A spring-loaded pin 28 is inserted in the connecting hole 26 of the band side lower connecting portion 22, and the projection 25 of the band side lower connecting portion 22 is inserted between the pair of projections 16A of the case side lower connecting portion 16, thereby engaging projections 28A at both ends of the spring-loaded pin 28 with the connecting holes 18. Next, the projection 9 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 is inserted in the inserting recess 23A formed between the projection 23 of the band side upper connecting portion 21, so that the connecting hole 17 and the connecting holes 24 are aligned. When thus assembled, a slit pipe 29 is inserted into a connecting holes 17 and 24, and headed pins 30 are inserted in the slit pipe 29 from both ends thereof. Hence, a shaft 30a of each of the headed pins 30 is press-fitted in the end portion of the slit pipe 29 so that the band 20 is connected to the band connecting portion 14.
In such a state, the abutting surface 20c of the end portion 20A of the band 20 closely abuts on the outer periphery of the bezel 3 and the arcuated outer surface of the case side upper connecting portion 15 snugly fits in the inserting recess 23A. The outer surfaces of the projections 16A closely abut on projection abutting surface portions 20d on the underside of the end portion 20A of the band 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the projection 25 of the band side lower connecting portion 22 does not contact the underside of the back 10 so that the back 10 can be removed without taking off the band 20.
When the watch A is worn on the wrist, a force is exerted on the band 20 in a direction shown by an arrow in Fig. 1, thereby tensing the band 20. However, since the band 20 is connected by way of two engaging members at different positions, namely the slit pipe 29 and the spring-loaded pin 28, the tensile force is not applied to the end portion 20A of the band 20. As a result, a gap is not formed between the abutting surface 20c of the end portion 20A of the band 20 and the outer periphery of the bezel 3, so that the appearance of the watch is not deteriorated.
The second embodiment of the watch band connecting structure according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.
The second embodiment is modified so as to be applied to a leather band. Since the band connection portion 14 formed on the periphery of the middle 2 of the watch case 1 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the parts of the band connecting portion 14 are designated by the same references and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
A band 31 made of leather has a width enabling the band to be inserted between the pair of projections 16A of the case side lower connecting portion 16. A connecting hole 32 (Fig. 6) is formed in an end portion 31A (Fig. 4) of the band 31 in a lateral direction of the band. The underside of the end portion 31 has a step portion 33 at a predetermined distance from the connecting hole 32 in a longitudinal direction of the band so that the thickness of the rest of the band is rendered smaller.
The band is provided with a cover member 34 made of synthetic resin such as urethane. The cover member 34 has, on the underside thereof at an end portion 34c, an arcuated abutting surface 35 which abuts on the outer periphery of the bezel 3. A band side upper connecting portion 36 and a band passing portion 37 are further formed on the underside of the cover member 34.
The band side upper connecting portion 36 has a pair of projections 38 spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of the band. Each projection 38 has a lateral connecting hole 39. An inserting recess 40 is formed between the projections 38. The recess 40 is curved so as to allow the arcuated outer surface of the case side lower connecting portion 15 to be abutted thereto. Each of the connecting holes 39 is communicated with a recessed pin hole 41 formed on the respective side surfaces 34a of the cover member 34.
The band passing portion 37 is integrally formed on the side surfaces 34a of the cover member 34 at the other end portion 34b thereof. The band passing portion 37 and the side surface 34a of the cover member 34 consists a band guide 37A.
The method of connecting the band to the case is described. The foremost end of the band 31 is passed through the band guide 37A of the cover member 34. A spring-loaded pin 42 is inserted in the connecting hole 32 of the band, and the end portion 31A of the band 31 is inserted between the pair of projections 16A of the case side lower connecting portion 16. Projections 42A at the ends of the spring-loaded pin 42 are inserted in the connecting holes 18 of the projections 16A. Hence the band 31 is connected to the band connecting portion 14. The cover member 34 is then moved toward the end portion 31A of the band 31. The projection 9 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 is inserted in the inserting recess 40 of the band side upper connecting portion 36, so that the connecting hole 17 and the connecting holes 39 are aligned. When thus assemble, a slit pipe 43 is inserted into connecting holes 17 and 39. Headed pins 44 are inserted into the recessed holes 41 formed on the side surfaces 34a of the cover member 34. Hence, a shaft 44a of each of the headed pins 44 is press-fitted in the end portions of the slit pipe 43 so that the cover member 34 is connected to the band connecting portion 14 and the band is connected to the case 1.
In such a state, the abutting surface 35 of the cover member 34 closely abuts on the outer periphery of the bezel 3 and the arcuated outer surface of the projection 9 of the case side upper connecting portion 15 snugly fits in the inserting recess 40. The end portion 31A of the band 31 does not contact the underside of the back 10 so that the back 10 can be removed without disengaging the band 30.
Thus, even the leather band 31 can be attached to the band connecting portion 14 of the watch case 1 by passing the band 31 through the band guide 37A of the cover member 34 and holding the band by the cover member 34. In such a state, since the cover member 34 is not exerted with force applied on the band 31, no gap is formed between the abutting surface 35 of the cover member 34 and the outer periphery of the bezel 3.
In the above described embodiments, the case side upper connecting portion 15 may be modified to comprise two projections instead of one projection 9, and the case side lower connecting portion 16 to comprise one projection instead of the pair of projections 16A. In addition, other pins and hairpins may be used as the engaging members, that is, the spring-loaded pins 28 and 42 and slit pipes 29 and 43.

PROBABILITY OF INDUSTRIAL EXPLOITATION

In accordance with the present invention, the band is connected to the band connecting portion by two engaging members at different connecting positions. Since the tensile force generated when the watch is worn does not cause a gap to be formed between the end portion of the band and the outer periphery of the watch case, the appearance of the watch is not deteriorated.
Even when attaching an ordinary leather band, the band is rendered to pass through the band guide of the cover member and held therein, thereby enabling to be connected to the band connecting portion of the watch case. Since the cover member is not exerted with the tensile force applied to the band, no gap is formed between the cover member and the watch case.
In addition, the band is not in contact with the back, so that operations such as exchanging of the battery can be carried out without removing the band.

Claims

A watch having a band connecting portion on each of opposite sides of a watch case for connecting a flexible band, comprising:

the band connecting portion having a case side upper connecting portion and a case side lower connecting portion, each having a lateral hole with respect to the longitudinal direction of the band;

a band side upper connecting portion and a band side lower connecting portion provided on the band, each having a lateral hole;

engaging members, each being inserted in each of said holes so as to attach the band side upper connecting portion to the case side upper connecting portion, and the band side lower connecting portion to the case side lower connecting portion; and

holding means for holding the watch case and the band in a closely abutting state.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein each of the band side upper connecting portion and the band side lower connecting portion is formed on the band.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the band side upper connecting portion is formed on a cover member having a band guide through which the band is inserted.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the case side lower connecting portion is positioned at a position outer than the case side upper connecting portion with respect to the side of the outer peripheral wall of the watch case.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the band side lower connecting portion is positioned at a position outer than the band side upper connecting portion with respect to the side of the outer peripheral wall of the watch case.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the case side upper connecting portion and the case side lower connecting portion is covered by the band.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member is a spring-loaded pin.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member is a slit pipe.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the engaging member is a pin or a hairpin.
The watch according to claim 1 wherein the band is adapted not to contact an underside of a back.
The watch according to claim 3 wherein the case side upper connecting portion is covered by the cover member.