U.S. patent number 3,830,414 [Application Number 05/318,586] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-20 for wristwatch band.
Invention is credited to Leon Raymond Caprielian.
United States Patent |
3,830,414 |
Caprielian |
August 20, 1974 |
WRISTWATCH BAND
Abstract
A wristwatch band having two major components, each having one
of its ends attached respectively to the opposite sides of a
wristwatch case. The other ends of the major components are not
normally attached to anything when the wristwatch is not being
worn. The major components are each comprised of at least two
distinct sections, one of said sections having expansible structure
and said other section having non-expansible structure. The
sections of non-expansible structure are located at the ends of
said major components that normally aren't attached to anything.
Buckle structure is attached to the free end of one of the
non-expansible sections and the other non-expansible section has a
plurality of apertures formed therein to receive the pin of the
buckle for detachably securing together the free ends of the
non-expansible sections when the wristwatch is being worn. The
non-expansible sections are normally made of leather and the
expansible sections are normally made of metal.
Inventors: |
Caprielian; Leon Raymond
(Providence, RI) |
Family
ID: |
23238792 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/318,586 |
Filed: |
December 26, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
224/175; 63/3;
24/265WS |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44C
5/00 (20130101); Y10T 24/4782 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A44C
5/00 (20060101); A44c 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;224/4D,28W,28A,28B,28C,28D ;63/3,5,6,7,8,9,11 ;24/265WS |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Spar; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Forsberg; Jerold M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barlow & Barlow
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination a wristwatch case and a watchband,
said watchband comprising two major components each of which have
one of their ends attached respectively to the opposite sides of
said wristwatch case by a member embracing a spring pin, the
opposite ends of said major components normally being unattached to
anything when the combination is not being worn on the wrist,
said major components each comprising at least two distinct
sections, each of said sections having a metal expansible structure
at the end of the major components which are attached to the watch
case and each of said other sections having non-expansible
structure, said sections of non-expansible structure being located
and pivotally attached at the ends of said expansible structure,
and means for detachably securing together the free ends of said
non-expansible sections once the wristwatch case has been
positioned next to the wrist of the wearer with the opposite ends
of the wrist band wrapped around the opposite sides of the wearer's
wrist to form a closed loop,
said means for detachably securing together the free ends of said
non-expansible sections comprises buckle means attached to the free
end of one of said non-expansible sections and a plurality of
apertures formed in said other non-expansible section.
2. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein said
non-expansible sections are made of leather.
3. The combination as recited in claim 1 wherein the non-expansible
section of each major component of said watchband comprises at
least 50 percent of the length of said major component.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a wristwatch band in combination with a
wristwatch case. Wristwatch bands are either made of a closed loop
type or of the open loop type. The closed loop type is formed as a
single member whose opposite ends are attached respectively to the
opposite sides of the watch case and at least a portion of it has
expansible structure. The open loop type of wristwatch band is made
of two separate members, each having one of its ends attached
respectively to the opposite sides of a watch case with its other
ends being fastened together by a buckle on the free end of one of
those members and a plurality of apertures in the other member.
These two types of construction each have their own separate
desirable characteristics, but until the advent of applicant's
invention the desirable characteristics of both of these types of
wristwatch bands could not be enjoyed by a single wristwatch band.
Many people prefer having a wristwatch band made of leather both
because of the natural beauty of its appearance and also the
comfort of its feel against the wrist of the wearer. Unfortunately
with this type of an open loop wristband, it is almost impossible
to obtain a comfortable snug fit. Either the wristband is too tight
or too loose. In practice it is common when putting an open loop
type wristband around the wearer's wrist to pull the tongue portion
through the buckle until the wrist is overly squeezed. Then the
buckle's pin is put through the closest aperture on the tongue.
However, after the pin has been inserted through that aperture it
is discovered that the wristwatch band still has a looseness in
fit. Because of the inability to obtain a snug fit with the open
loop type wristband many people have switched to the closed loop
expansible ones. These overcome the problem of looseness initially.
However, after continued stretching of the wristwatch band during
putting it on and taking it off over the wearer's hand, the
expansible sections lose a portion of their elastic memory. When
this occurs, the wearer again has the undesirable loose, sloppy
fit. At this point he normally has to purchase a new wristwatch
band.
It is well known that all ordinary wristwatch bands will slip or
rotate about the wrist unless they are fastened so tightly as to be
uncomfortable to the wearer, and that such unavoidable displacement
is not only disquieting but also inconvenient, because the watch
carried thereby will slide to such a position that it cannot be
properly viewed without abnormal twisting of the wrist with the
result that the position of the watchband must be frequently
adjusted. It is also well known that very often the watchband will
be so tight around the wrist of the user circulation is cut off in
the wrist and particularly along the inner side of the arm over the
veins and arteries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The novel wristwatch band of this application permits a more
accurate fitting of the watch to the wrist of the wearer with less
pressures on the wrist and considerably more comfort. The novel
wristwatch band is wrapped around the wrist of the wearer with its
tongue portion being inserted through the buckle portion on the
opposite member. The tongue is pulled therethrough to a comfortable
degree of snugness with the expansible sections being stretched a
limited amount. The pin of the buckle is then inserted through one
of the apertures in the tongue and the tongue is then inserted
through the loop of that member. With the normal closed loop type
wristwatch band of the past the snug fit would disappear as the
buckle pin becomes fully inserted into the aperture but with
applicant's novel structure the expansible section on both sides of
the wristwatch case can contract a sufficient amount to keep the
fit snug. Additionally since the wristwatch band will be opened
when removing the watch from the wearer's arm the expansible
sections will not have to undergo the constant stretching action to
which a normal expansion band is subjected when it must be slid
over the hand of the wearer to remove it. This results in the
ability of the expansible sections to retain their elastic memory
for an almost indefinite length of time.
Additionally this novel structure permits interchange of any of the
four parts of the wristwatch band at less cost than replacement of
the whole band. This also permits the wearer to have contrasting
colors of the parts as desired. A new dimension in aesthetic
appearance can be developed around this novel structure.
An added feature allows for minute adjustments and varying degrees
of snugness to be obtained by varying which holes the pin of the
buckle is placed in with the expansible section taking up any of
the slack produced when the pin of the buckle is fully inserted
into the apertures on the tongue portion.
It is an object of the invention to produce a wristwatch band
capable of giving a snug and comfortable fit on the wrist of the
wearer.
It is also an object of the invention to produce a wristwatch band
whose expansible sections will be stretched only a limited degree
in usage thus allowing them to retain their elastic memory
indefinitely.
It is a further object of the invention to produce a wristwatch
band having the most desirable characteristics of both the open
loop and the closed loop types.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the combined wristwatch with its
watchband in a relaxed state;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the combined wristwatch with its watchband
in an expanded state;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the combined wristwatch case and
watchband is generally designated numeral 10. The wristwatch band
is comprised of two major components 12 and 14 that have one of
their ends attached respectively to the opposite sides of
wristwatch case 16. This novel wristwatch band is of the open loop
variety.
The major components 12 and 14 of the wristwatch band have an
expansible section 18 and 19 and non-expansible sections 20 and 21,
respectively. One end of each of the expansible sections 18 and 19
is attached to the wristwatch case 16 by a member embracing spring
actuated pins 22 in a manner well known in the watch industry.
Spring actuated pins 24 of a like structure are used to attach one
end of the non-expansible sections 20 and 21 to one end of the
expansible sections 18 and 19. Normally the non-expansible sections
are made from leather or any other non-expansible material. The
expansible sections are normally made from a metallic material.
At the free end of non-expansible section 20 a buckle 26 having a
pin 27 is attached thereto. Spaced inwardly therefrom is a loop 28.
The other non-expansible section 21 is referred to as the tongue
portion of the watchband, and it has a plurality of apertures 36
spaced along its length. As is well known, when the wearer puts the
watch on his wrist, he would insert the tongue portion through
buckle 26 and by inserting pin 27 through the desired aperture 36
the watch can be snugly secured to the wrist of the wearer. Since
the expansible section need only be capable of limited linear
expansion, its proportion of length of the major components 12 or
14 is normally less than 50 percent of the total length.
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