US316767A - Watch-case - Google Patents

Description

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. C. PITCH.

WATCH GASE- (No Model.)

Patented Apr. 28, 1885.

lNVENTDFi WITNESSES Mf /may 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. 0-. FITCH.

WATCH CASE.

No. 316,767. Patented Apr. 28, 1885.

INVENTUF hw WITNEEEEE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EZRA c. FITCH, OF NEWTON, MAssAoHUsE'rTs.

WATCH-OAS E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,767, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed September 29, 1834.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EZRA O. Frrcrr, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Imp rove ments in WVatch-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

'This invention consists in the hereinafter-described improvements, whereby the strength and stiffness of a watoh-case, particularly at the back, are increased and secure proteotion for the watch-movement is afforded.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a view of the front or face of a watch-case having my improvement, the case center and back being made in a single seamless piece. Fig. 2 represents a section on line or .r, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged sectional view of the cap, which is screwed into the case-center and re-enforces the back thereof. Fig. 4 represents an edge view of said cap, showing amovement-holding ring hinged to it. Figs. 5 and 6 represent, respectively, a front and an edge View of a seamless case center and back. Fig. 7 represents a front view of the bezel; and Fig. 8 represents a section on line 3 y, Fig. 7. Figs. '9 and 11 represent side views of cases provided with modifications of my invention, the case center and back being made in separate pieces. Figs. and 12 represent, respectively, sections on lines 2 .2, Fig. 9, and c :4, Fig. 11.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to Sheet 1, Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, a represents the case-center, and a the back, the two being formed in a single seamless piece. The front side of the casecenter is provided with an inwardly-projecting shoulder, I), which is provided with a screw-thread in its inner edge, its outer side constituting a seat for the bezel c.

d represents a cap, which is formed to enter the case-center and closely fit the contour of the inner surface of the back. Said cap has an externally-screw-threaded shoulder, cl, which is adapted to be screwed into the i nternally-threaded shoulder b of the case-center, the threaded shoulder d of the cap being of greater width than the threaded shoul- (N'o model.)

der of the casecenter, so that the former when screwed to place will project outside of the latter and present a threaded surface to which the bezel 0 may be screwed, as shown in Fig. 2, the bezel being internally threaded at c,- or, if preferred, the bezel may have a snapedge, the cap (I having a shoulder adapted to engage said edge. The. cap is provided with an internal shoulder, (1?, which constitutes a seat for a 1novement-holding ring, 0. I prefer to connect the ring 6 to the cap by a hinge, f, as shown in Fig. 4:, so that the ring may swing outwardly from the case, as in my Patent No. 224,670, dated February 17, 1880. The cap has an orifice at g for the passage of the winding and hand-setting arbor. It will be seen that the cap (I, fitting the back closely and being securely connected to the case-center by screw-threads, re-enforces and stiffens the back. The projection of the cap outside of the case-center enables it to engage and hold the bezel, a close joint be ing formed by the contact of the bezel with the flat seat on the case-center and the engagement of the threaded portion of the bezel with the projecting threaded portion of the cap. The cap may be of a baser metal and have greater rigidity than the back, thus imparting a marked degree of stiffness thereto.

The threaded shoulder d on the cap may be made integral with the body of the cap, as shown in Fig. 2, or in a separate piece or ring, 2, as shown in Fig. 3, said piece being preferably formed to snap onto the edge of the cap and remain in place without a positive fastening. The internal diameter of the ring 2 is greater than that of the edge of the cap, the shoulder (1 being the result of this difference in the diameters of said parts.

In Sheet 2, Figs. 9 to 12, I have shown the case center and back made separately, the back being screwed to the center in the cou struction shown in Figs. 9 and 10,,and connected by a snap-edge to the center in the construction shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this modification the cap (I is connected only with the back a instead of to the case-center, as in the construction previously described. The connection may be effected by screw-threads formed in the back and on the margin of the cap, as shown in the drawings, or by riveting, soldering, or otherwise permanently at taohing said parts.

The entire outer surface of the cap bears closely against the inner surface of the baclgthe margin being extended outwardly nearly to the margin of the back. When the back is removed, the cap is necessarily removed with it, so that when the parts of the case are separ0 rated the number of detached pieces is less than when the cap and back are separable.

It is obvious that the cap constructed as shown in this modification may be applied to the covers of hunting-case watches.

I claim 1. A watch-case having an internal cap formed to bear against the inner surface of the back or cover of the case, as set forth.

2. In awatch-case composed of a center and back made in a single piece, an internal cap secured to the case-center and bearing against the inner surface of the back, as set forth.

3. In a watch-case composed of a center and back made in asingle piece, an internal cap secured to the case-center and projecting outside of the same, and a bezel formed to be applied to the projecting portion of the cap, as set forth.

4. In a watchcase composed of a center and back made in a single piece, an internal cap secured to the case-center, and a movement-holding ring fitted to the interior of said cap, as set forth.

5. In awatch-case composed of a center and back formed in a single piece, an internal cap secured to the case-center and projecting outside of the same, a movementholding ring fitting the interior of the cap, and a bezel formed to be applied to the projecting edge of the cap, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of September, 188i.

EZRA G. FlTCH.

.Vitnesses:

E. A. Mnnsn, D. H. CHURCH.

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