WO2017080911A1

WO2017080911A1 - Convertible watch

Info

Publication number: WO2017080911A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/076618
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arnaud Duval
Original assignee: Sevenfriday AG
Priority date: 2015-11-11
Filing date: 2016-11-03
Publication date: 2017-05-18

Abstract

A convertible watch (10), which can be alternatively used as a wrist watch or a pocket watch, comprises a watch case (11) with first means (12) for reading the actual time at the upper side, and a cover (17), which is connected with said watch case (11) by means of a hinge joint (16) provided at a first side of said watch case (11) to be movable between a first position, where it covers said first means (12), and a second position, where said first means (12) is uncovered. A simplified conversion can be achieved by said cover (17) being detachable from said watch case (11) at said hinge joint (16), and said hinge joint (16) being configured to be used to fasten one end of a watch band to said watch case (11) after said cover (17) has been detached.

Description

CONVERTIBLE WATCH

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable watches. It refers to a convertible watch according to the preamble of claim 1 .

PRIOR ART

Portable watches, which can be worn on one's body, are usually either wrist watches or pocket watches.

In the past, various watches have been proposed, which are convertible, i.e. can be used either as a pocket watch or a wrist watch.

Document US 2,229,978 discloses a wrist watch mounting, which provides for use with a wristwatch of a mounting that is attractive in appearance, is comfortable to the wearer and is readily convertible so as to permit the use of the watch for other purposes than for being worn on the wrist. The wrist watch mounting comprises a case for receiving a watch movement, and a pair of spaced lugs protruding forwardly from one end thereof and curved downwardly below the case, whereby the case will conform itself to the contours of the wrist, and a member pivotally mounted on said case at a point removed from said lugs and adapted to support said case in an upright position, removable means for attaching a wristband carried by said case, and removable means for attaching a wristband pivotally carried by said member.

Document US 3,277,646 discloses a watch assembly comprising a case with a back closure plate, a front crystal, a plurality of watch movements or units in annular formation around the case and in the center interposed between the back plate and crystal. Each movement including a dial, an hour hand, a minute hand, stem winding mechanism, the hour and minute hand being visible through the crystal, a peripheral removable ring encircling the case and adapters mounted on the ring for attaching the case selectively to a wristband, a watch chain or a swingable supporting frame. Document US 5,177,71 5 describes an analog timepiece in which the hands are in a given set position, for example superimposed at 1 2 hrs, to indicate a time reference, for example noon. This timepiece has adjustment means to change the time reference in relation to the dial. Thus, for example, reorientating the time reference through 1 80° to 6.00 hrs, a wristwatch designed to be worn on the left wrist can be converted into a wristwatch designed to be worn on the right wrist. Using the same principle it is easily possible to convert a wristwatch, designed for example to be worn on the left wrist, into a pocket watch.

Document US 201 2/08721 5 A1 shows how a special housing comprising a holding structure and binding means allows a pocket watch to be transformed in an extremely simple and reliable way into a wristwatch. The pocket watch is seated inside the housing and kept in position by the binding means, which are conceived in such a way as to not affect negatively the watch final aesthetic appearance. In a way equally simple, the case can be disengaged in order to be used again as a pocket watch or as a neck pendant by adding a simple chain.

Document CN 202141896 U discloses a wristwatch with a dual-structure transfer function. The wristwatch comprises a watch body with a piece of watch glass covered at the upper end, whereby a movement component is arranged in the watch body, an inner lid is arranged on the inner side at the lower end of the watch body, an outer lid connected with the bottom of the lower end of the watch body is wrapped at the periphery of the inner lid, and a wristwatch middle sleeve is arranged between the bottom of the lower end of the watch body and the outer lid and can be replaced by a pocket watch middle sleeve. In the wristwatch provided by the utility model, the middle sleeve can be transferred to achieve the purpose that the watch body can be worn as a wristwatch and a pocket watch.

The known convertible watches are disadvantageous in that their conversion mechanisms have a complicated configuration with several components, and are difficult and time- consuming to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a convertible watch, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art solutions, having a simple and appealing configuration, and which can be easily transformed from a wrist watch into a pocket watch, and vice versa.

This and other objects are obtained by a convertible watch according to Claim 1 . A convertible watch, which can be alternatively used as a wrist watch or a pocket watch comprises a watch case with first means for reading the actual time at the upper side, and a cover, which is connected with said watch case by means of a hinge joint provided at a first side of said watch case to be movable between a first position, where it covers said first means, and a second position, where said first means is uncovered. It is characterized in that said cover is detachable from said watch case at said hinge joint, and said hinge joint is configured to be used to fasten one end of a watch band to said watch case after said cover has been detached. In a variation of the invention, said hinge joint comprises two ears extending in parallel from said watch case to the outside with a predetermined distance between said two ears, whereby said two ears are configured to define a perpendicular swivel axis crossing said two ears. In a variation of the invention a second means is provided on a second side of said watch case opposite to said first side to fasten the other end of said watch band to said watch case. Said second means may be designed as a lug. Furthermore, said swivel axis may e.g. be defined by bores in said ears. Said cover may be provided at one side with a hinge part, which is configured to be received between said ears in order to be part of said hinge joint. Said watch may have a crown, which is arranged e.g. at a side of said watch case halfway between said hinge joint and said second means. In a variation of the invention said cover is provided with a window, through which at least part of said first means can be seen, when said cover is in said first position. The cover is preferably arranged in the direction of the watch band.

Depending on the field, an RFID-tag as described hereinafter can be attached to or incorporated into the cover. The cover may comprise a body with a recess which is foreseen to receive the RFID-tag. However, the RFID-tag can be incorporated, i.e. embedded, into the cover. In a variation, the RFID-tag comprises a chip and a coil interconnected to the chip by connecting lines. The chip can be placed in the middle of the coil. Therefore, the coil provides an open space in the centre. The coil is wound from a cooper wire. It normally has an annular shape. Depending on the design, it can be round, oval or rectangular. The coil and the chip may be laying in the same vertical plane. In a variation, the chip and the coil are enclosed in an embedding made from plastic material as described herein after. The embedding preferably has a cylindrical shape. An RFID-tag incorporated in the cover can e.g. be used for identification purposes at sports events, or to identify a person e.g. for opening a car or provide access to a building etc. In this cases it may be advantageous if the RFID-tag is arranged near the front face of the watch.

A variation of the invention is directed to a convertible watch, which can be alternatively used as a wrist watch and/or a pocket watch. The convertible watch comprises a watch case with first means (hands) for reading the actual time at the upper side and a cover, which is connected with said watch case by means of a first adapter. The cover is provided at a first side of said watch case to be movable between a first position, where it covers said first means, and a second position, where said first means is uncovered. The cover is normally detachable from said watch case by said first adapter. The first adapter may comprise two ears extending from said watch case to the outside with a predetermined distance between. Said two ears may be configured to receive a swivel axis crossing said two ears. The swivel axis may be defined by a spring bar arranged in corresponding bores arranged in said ears. A second adapter may be attached on a second side of said watch case opposite to said first side to provide a lug. The first and the second adapter may be interconnected to each other or even form a single part, which extends along the lower side of the watch case. The adapters as well as the cover may be formed from plastic or metal or a combination thereof. The first adapter is preferably arranged in a first recess of the watch case. The first adapter can be in contact with at least one sidewall of the first recess for better load distribution, namely when opening and closing the cover. The first adapter can e.g. be attached to the watch case by one or several spring elements. The at least one spring element can e.g. be arranged in a transversal bore of the first adapter. The spring element can be a conventional spring bar as used to attach a watch band. The cover may be provided at one side with a hinge part, which is configured to be received between the ears in order to be part of said hinge joint. Depending on the field of application, an inverse arrangement can be foreseen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention is now to be explained more closely by means of different embodiments and with reference to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of a convertible watch according to an embodiment of the invention in its pocket watch configuration with detached watch band attached and closed cover; Fig. 2 is a side view of the watch according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view from above of the watch according to Fig. 1 with the cover fully opened;

Fig. 4 is another perspective view from below of the watch according to Fig. 1 with the cover fully opened; Fig. 5 shows a first and a second adapter along with a cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 to 4 show in different views a convertible watch 1 0 according to an embodiment of the invention, which is in its pocket watch configuration with detached watch band (not shown) and attached cover 1 7, which is in its closed position in Fig. 1 and 3, and in its fully opened position in Fig. 3 and 4. If appropriate, intermediate positions are possible.

The convertible watch 1 0 comprises a watch case 1 1 , which has a bottom 1 3 at its underside (Fig. 4) and a watch glass 1 2 on its upper side (Fig. 3 ) . The cover 1 7 is connected to the watch case 1 1 at one side thereof by means of a hinge joint 1 6 which forms part of a first adapter 2 1 and can be moved from a fully closed position ( Fig. 1 and 2) to a fully opened position (Fig. 3 and 4) , and vice versa . The cover 1 7 is directed in the direction of the watch band (when converted ) . The convertible watch 1 0 comprises a mechanical and/or electronic movement, which is arranged within said watch case 1 1 and drives means for reading the time (not shown ) , e.g . hour and minute hands or an LCD display, etc.. Cover 1 7 protects the watch glass 1 2 , when in its closed position, and covers said means for reading the time. However, the cover 1 7 may have a window 1 9, e.g. in form of a sector, to enable optical access to at least part of the means for reading the time, when the cover 1 7 is closed .

In the shown variation, the hinge joint 1 6 comprises two ears 1 5a and 1 5b, which extend in a parallel manner from the first adapter 2 1 to the outside with a predetermined distance between them. The two ears 1 5a and 1 5b are configured to receive a swivel axis 1 6a , which crosses the two ears 1 5a and 1 5 b in a perpendicular manner. In the shown variation, swivel axis 1 6a is defined by bores running through said ears 1 5a and 1 5 b. These bores may receive the ends of a spring bar ( not visible in detail ) that can be attached or detached by being compressed in longitudinal direction. Cover 1 7 is provided at one side with a hinge part 1 8, which is configured to be received between ears 1 5a and 1 5b in order to be part of the hinge joint 1 6. The hinge part 1 8 has a bore, which can be brought into alignment with the bores of ears 1 5a and 1 5b, so that the spring bar extends as an axis from one ear to the other through the hinge part 1 8. To detach the cover 1 7 from the first adapter 21 , the spring bar is compressed so that its ends are disconnected from ears 1 5a and 1 5b. Then, the spring bar can be used to fasten the other end of a watchband between ears 1 5a and 1 5 in the usual way.

Opposite to the hinge joint 1 6, a lug 1 4 is fastened to the watch case 1 1 by a second adapter 22. The lug 1 4 can be used to attach one end of watch chain (not shown) , or the like, so that convertible watch 1 0 can be used in the usual way as a pocket watch, which is e.g. fastened to a waistcoat and can be pulled out of a watch pocket by means of said watch chain.

As visible in Fig. 4, the first and the second adapter 21 , 22 are arranged in a detachable manner in a first and a second recess 25, 26 of the watch case 1 1 . In the shown variation, the first and the second recess 25, 26 comprise conventional spring bars arranged in corresponding bores arranged in the recesses 25, 26 (both not shown in detail) and suitable to attach a conventional watch band.

As visible in Fig. 5, the first and the second adapter 21 , 22 each comprises a transversal bore 23 which is suitable to receive an above-mentioned spring bar or a similar means. Furthermore, on each side of the bore 23 a lead in 24 is visible which allows access of the spring bar. Thereby, it is possible to remove the spring bar and thereby the adapter 21 , 22 from the respective recess 25, 26 by a tool, e.g. such as a screwdriver (not shown). To convert the watch 1 0 into a wrist watch with a conventional watch band (not shown in detail), the first and the second adapter 21 , 22 are removed from the first and the second recess 25, 26 of the watch case 1 1 . Then a conventional watch band is attached to the watch case 1 1 by a first and a second spring bar (both not shown in detail). Depending on the embodiment, it is possible to use the same kind of spring bars to attach the adapters 21 , 22 and/or the watch band.

If necessary, a crown 20 may be arranged at a (third) side of the watch case 1 1 halfway between hinge joint 1 6 and lug 1 4.

If appropriate, the cover 1 7 can be spring loaded such that it opens at least partially automatically after activation of a locking device (not shown in detail). In this case a lock device may be foreseen to keep the cover 1 7 in a closed position. A spring may be foreseen to store the necessary energy to open the cover 1 7. Furthermore, a holding device (not shown in detail) may be foreseen to hold the cover 1 7 in an open position. Thereby it is achieved that the cover 1 7 does not swivel back in an unwanted manner. The holding device is preferably integrated in the first adapter 21 in or adjacent to the hinge joint 1 6.

The convertible watch of the present invention has the following advantages:

• The conversion between wrist watch mode and pocket watch mode is quick and easy. · The number of additional parts is minimized.

• The concept of the invention allows maximum design flexibility. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 watch

11 watch case

12 watch glass

13 bottom

14 lug

15a, b ear

16 hinge joint

16a swivel axis

17 cover

18 hinge part

19 window (sector) 20 crown

21 first adapter 22 second adapter 23 bore

24 lead in

25 first recess

26 second recess

Claims

Convertible watch (10), which can be alternatively used as a wrist watch or a pocket watch, comprising a. a watch case ( 1) with first means ( 12) for reading the actual time at the upper side, and b. a cover (17), which is connected with said watch case ( 11 ) by means of a first adapter (21 ) provided at a first side of said watch case (11 ) to be movable between a first position, where it covers said first means (12), and a second position, where said first means ( 12) is uncovered.

Convertible watch (10) as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first adapter (21) comprises two ears ( 15a, 15b) extending from said watch case ( 11 ) to the outside with a predetermined distance between said two ears (15a, 15b), whereby said two ears ( 15a, 15b) are configured to receive a swivel axis ( 16a) crossing said two ears (15a, 15b).

Convertible watch (10) as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said swivel axis (16a) is defined by a spring bar arranged in bores in said ears ( 15a, 15b).

Convertible watch (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said cover ( 17) is detachable from said watch case ( 11 ) by said first adapter (21 ).

5. Convertible watch (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein a second adapter (22) is attached on a second side of said watch case (11) opposite to said first side to provide a lug ( 14).

6. Convertible watch ( 10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein the first adapter (21 ) is arranged in a first recess (25) of the watch case (11).

7. Convertible watch (10) as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the first adapter (21) is in contact with at least one sidewall of the first recess (25).

8. Convertible watch ( 10) as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the first adapter ( 21 ) is attached to the watch case ( 11 ) by a spring element.

9. Convertible watch (10) as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the spring element is arranged in a transversal bore (23) of the first adapter (21 ).

10. Convertible watch (10) as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, wherein the spring element is a spring bar.

11. Convertible watch (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said cover (17) is provided at one side with a hinge part ( 18), which is configured to be received between said ears ( 15a, 15b) in order to be part of said hinge joint (16).

12. Convertible watch (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said watch (10) has a crown (20), which is arranged at a side of said watch case (11) halfway between said hinge joint (16) and said second means (14).

13. Convertible watch (10) according to one of the previous claims, wherein said cover (17) is provided with a window (19), through which at least part of said first means (12) can be seen, when said cover (17) is in said first position.