GB2054217A

GB2054217A - A picture watch

Info

Publication number: GB2054217A
Application number: GB8023163A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bapic M M
Current assignee: Bapic M M
Priority date: 1979-07-16
Filing date: 1980-07-16
Publication date: 1981-02-11

Abstract

A watch having a face which is provided with a picture (18) comprises at least one pair of lugs (12, 13) to permit the attachment of the watch to a bracelet or strap (15). The face (17) of the watch defines a covered housing with an opening between the lugs (12, 13) and into which a picture (18) can be introduced via the opening. The portion of the face covering the picture (18) has an area (19) such as a cut-out or transparent region through which the picture (18) can be seen. The attachment loop of the strap prevents the picture from falling out of its housing. The watch may be an analogue or digital watch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A picture watch The present invention relates to watches which have faces provided with pictures, that is picture watches.

Picture watches are known in which the watch face is provided with a photographic reproduction. This reproduction is attached in a permanent fashion, for example by printing, and the owner of the watch is not able to change the picture so produced for another.

Such watches generally carry representations of well-known persons.

The object of the present invention is to provide a picture watch in which the picture can be changed so that the watch can be personalised and used in the manner of a locket.

According to the present invention there is provided a watch having a face provided with a picture and comprising at least one pair of lugs for the attachment thereto of a bracelet or strap, the face defining a covered housing opening between the lugs and having an area through which a picture located in the housing via the opening can show through.

Preferably, the said housing is defined between the watch case and a plaque which is located in a recess in the front face of the case, the plaque having a first cut-out comprising the aforesaid area through which the picture can show through and at least one other cut-out to enable a watch mechanism to show through.

The watch can be used as a wrist-watch or as a key-ring watch. The bracelet or strap then attached to the watch can be used to obstruct, at least partially, the entrance to the housing for the picture to prevent it from falling out of the housing.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrist-watch; Figure 2 is a plan view of a key-ring watch; and Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2, which view is also equally applicable to Fig. 1.

The wrist-watch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rectangular case 1 which is provided with two pairs of lugs 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively for the attachment of the two parts 6 and 7 of a bracelet to the case 1. The face of the watch is provided with a first cut-out area 8 through which can be seen a photograph 9 and a second cut-out area 10 in which is located a digital watch mechanism. In this particular case the watch is electronic.

The key-ring watch shown in Fig. 2 comprises a case 11 which is provided with a pair of lugs 12, 1 3 for the attachment of a connecting pin 1 4 therebetween to locate a strap 1 5 provided with key-ring 1 6. The case 11 is provided on its front face with a recess in which is located a metallic plaque 1 7 forming with the base 11 a of the recess a covered housing which is open between the lugs 1 2 and 1 3 and in which it is possible to introduce a photograph 18.The plaque 17 has a cut-out 1 9 therein enabling the photograph 18 to show through, the latter abutting against a glass plate or a plate of another transparent material which covers an area of the face in which is located a digital watch mechanism 20. It is also possible to provide a transverse projection on the face of the case to form an abutment to prevent the photograph from penetrating further beneath the plaque or to use a face with two levels, the deep level defining a housing for the photograph.

It can be seen in Fig. 3 that the loop formed by the strap or bracelet prevents the photograph 1 8 from falling out if its housing as can be seen by the dashed lines which show the edge of the photograph coming into contact with the loop. It is not always necessary, as can be seen, to unfasten the strap or bracelet from the watch to insert a photograph into the housing as this will depend on the flexibility of the photograph.

In a modification, one can attach the bracelet or strap in such a way that it completely obstructs the opening to the housing but in this case the bracelet or strap must be unfastened each time it is wished to insert or remove a photograph.

Other modifications are possible. In particular, the cut-out can be provided with a glass.

In addition, the metallic plaque 1 7 can be replaced by a glass having opaque areas and transparent areas. The digital mechanism could also be replaced by an analogue mechanism. Finally, the shape of the case as well as that of the cut-outs could be made in any shape apart from the rectangular as described above.

1. A watch having a face provided with a picture and comprising at least one pair of lugs for the attachment thereto of a bracelet or strap, the face defining a covered housing opening between the lugs and having an area though which a picture located in the housing via the opening can show through.

2. A watch as claimed in claim 1, in which the said housing is defined between the watch case and a plaque which is located in a recess in the front face of the case, the plaque having a first cut-out comprising the aforesaid area through which the picture can show through and at least one other cut-out to enable a watch mechanism to show through.

3. A watch as claimed in claim 1, in which the said housing is defined by the watch case and a cover having at least one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A picture watch The present invention relates to watches which have faces provided with pictures, that is picture watches. Picture watches are known in which the watch face is provided with a photographic reproduction. This reproduction is attached in a permanent fashion, for example by printing, and the owner of the watch is not able to change the picture so produced for another. Such watches generally carry representations of well-known persons. The object of the present invention is to provide a picture watch in which the picture can be changed so that the watch can be personalised and used in the manner of a locket. According to the present invention there is provided a watch having a face provided with a picture and comprising at least one pair of lugs for the attachment thereto of a bracelet or strap, the face defining a covered housing opening between the lugs and having an area through which a picture located in the housing via the opening can show through. Preferably, the said housing is defined between the watch case and a plaque which is located in a recess in the front face of the case, the plaque having a first cut-out comprising the aforesaid area through which the picture can show through and at least one other cut-out to enable a watch mechanism to show through. The watch can be used as a wrist-watch or as a key-ring watch. The bracelet or strap then attached to the watch can be used to obstruct, at least partially, the entrance to the housing for the picture to prevent it from falling out of the housing. The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a wrist-watch; Figure 2 is a plan view of a key-ring watch; and Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view on the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 2, which view is also equally applicable to Fig. 1. The wrist-watch shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rectangular case 1 which is provided with two pairs of lugs 2, 3 and 4, 5 respectively for the attachment of the two parts 6 and 7 of a bracelet to the case 1. The face of the watch is provided with a first cut-out area 8 through which can be seen a photograph 9 and a second cut-out area 10 in which is located a digital watch mechanism. In this particular case the watch is electronic. The key-ring watch shown in Fig. 2 comprises a case 11 which is provided with a pair of lugs 12, 1 3 for the attachment of a connecting pin 1 4 therebetween to locate a strap 1 5 provided with key-ring 1 6. The case 11 is provided on its front face with a recess in which is located a metallic plaque 1 7 forming with the base 11 a of the recess a covered housing which is open between the lugs 1 2 and 1 3 and in which it is possible to introduce a photograph 18.The plaque 17 has a cut-out 1 9 therein enabling the photograph 18 to show through, the latter abutting against a glass plate or a plate of another transparent material which covers an area of the face in which is located a digital watch mechanism 20. It is also possible to provide a transverse projection on the face of the case to form an abutment to prevent the photograph from penetrating further beneath the plaque or to use a face with two levels, the deep level defining a housing for the photograph. It can be seen in Fig. 3 that the loop formed by the strap or bracelet prevents the photograph 1 8 from falling out if its housing as can be seen by the dashed lines which show the edge of the photograph coming into contact with the loop. It is not always necessary, as can be seen, to unfasten the strap or bracelet from the watch to insert a photograph into the housing as this will depend on the flexibility of the photograph. In a modification, one can attach the bracelet or strap in such a way that it completely obstructs the opening to the housing but in this case the bracelet or strap must be unfastened each time it is wished to insert or remove a photograph. Other modifications are possible. In particular, the cut-out can be provided with a glass. In addition, the metallic plaque 1 7 can be replaced by a glass having opaque areas and transparent areas. The digital mechanism could also be replaced by an analogue mechanism. Finally, the shape of the case as well as that of the cut-outs could be made in any shape apart from the rectangular as described above. CLAIMS

3. A watch as claimed in claim 1, in which the said housing is defined by the watch case and a cover having at least one transparent area.

4. A watch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the opening of the housing is at least partially obstructed by the attachment of the bracelet or the strap to the watch.

5. A watch having a face provided with a picture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, and Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing.