Wrist Watch Shield

Abstract

A wrist watch shield includes similarly shaped longitudinally extending superimposed main and backing members formed of soft pliable polyvinyl chloride sheet and heat sealed to each other along their peripheral edges. The members have medially enlarged sections with top and bottom convex edges and laterally extending wing sections. The wing sections of the main member each have a pair of longitudinally spaced transverse slits convex toward each other delineating respective loops and the backing member is imperforate. In use the watch rests on the main member enlarged section with the watch band extending through the loops.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to improvements in watch accessories and it relates more particularly to an improved protective shield for wrist watches and the like.

The conventional wrist watch generally includes a metal casing provided with a rear wall and a pair of pins along opposite sides of the casing which engage the looped ends of a wrist band for separably securing the watch to the wrist. The wrist band may be a strap formed of leather, cloth or plastic web, an expandable metal band, a cord or the like. The wearing of the wrist watch with the metal casing rear wall and the junction assembly of the watch and the wrist band being in contact with the skin of the wearer is frequently inconvenient and uncomfortable, not only being irritating to the wearer's skin but also causing or accelerating the corrosion of the watch casing and the band attaching assembly and frequently resulting in discoloration of both the watch, the wearers skin and surrounding surfaces. Devices have been heretofore available and proposed for overcoming the above conditions but such devices possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. They are awkward and complicated devices, unattractive in appearance, uncomfortable and inconvenient to use and wear, and otherwise leave much to be desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved watch accessory device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved shield for wrist watches and other wrist worn instruments.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wrist watch shield for obviating the inconvenience, discomfort and irritation often accompanying the wearing of a wrist watch.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a wrist watch shield of the above nature characterized by its convenience, effectiveness, ease of application, comfort of use, low cost, attractive appearance, and high versitility and adaptability.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment thereof.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a shield for a wrist watch having a wrist band comprising a body member formed of a soft pliable material and including a main medial section and a pair of wing sections integrally formed with and projecting longitudinally from opposite sides of the main section, each of the wing sections having formed therein a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending slits delineating respective loops for engaging the band on opposite sides of the watch.

In its preferred form, the improved watch shield includes similarly shaped front and rear plies of soft pliable material, advantageously of synthetic organic polymeric sheet, joined along their coinciding peripheral edges and otherwise free from each other. The assembled plies include a transversely enlarged medial section having convex outer edges and laterally projecting rounded wing sections. Each wing section of the front ply has a transverse loop delineating slits formed therein which are outwardly concave and the rear ply is imporforate. In use, the wrist watch rear face is engaged by the front medial section of the shield and the watch band extends through the loops in the front ply.

The shield is simple, inexpensive and highly effective, completely shielding the watch and the skin from each other in the area of the watch and those portions of the band proximate the watch. Moreover, the shield is highly attractive, versitile and adaptable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a wrist watch with the improved shield attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4 -- 4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5 -- 5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the plies forming the shield; and

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the improved shield.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved watch shield which is illustrated as applied to a wrist watch 11, it being understood that the shield 10 may be applied to other types of wrist watches. The wrist watch 11 is of conventional construction and includes a metal case 12 having a front crystal 13 and a rear wall 14. Wings 16 project laterally from case 12 and include end ears 17 which are releasably engaged by coupling pins 18.

A wrist band includes a pair of opposite strap sections 19 and 20 which are formed of any suitable material and are provided with loops 21 at their inner ends which are engaged by the coupling pins 18. The strap section 19 is provided with an end buckle 19a and the strap section 20 has formed therein longitudinally spaced apertures 20a. The wrist band may be of other constructions and materials than that shown, for example metal link, expandable bands, cords or the like.

The shield 10 is formed of superimposed top and bottom plies 22 and 23 respectively which are of similar shape and have coinciding borders. The plies 22 and 23 are formed of any suitable soft, pliable sheet material which may be the same or different, advantageously a synthetic organic thermoplastic polymeric resin such as polyvinyl chloride or the like. The plies 22 and 23 are joined along their peripheral edges such as by heat sealing to provide a decorative border 24 and their confronting faces are otherwise free from each other. The plies may be colored or otherwise decorated by being embossed, or textured or the like or otherwise treated.

The shield 10 includes an enlarged medially located main section 26 having convex opposite longitudinal edges 27 which are substantially arcuate. Extending laterally from main section 26 are a pair of similarly shaped wing sections 28 of lesser width than main section 26 and having rounded outer edges 29 which are smoothly joined to edges 27 by concave edges 30.

Formed in each of the wings sections 28 of top ply 22 are longitudinally spaced transversely extending curved inner and outer slits 32 and 33 respectively which extend between points inwardly of the opposite longitudinal edges 34 of wing sections 28. The slits 32 and 33 of each pair of slits are convex toward each other and delineate corresponding transversely extending loops 36 whose edges diverge outwardly from the center. The bottom ply 23 is imperforate.

Considering now the application and operation of the improved shield 10, the watch 11 is centrally positioned on the top ply 22 which completely underlies and extends beyond the periphery of the watch. The strap sections 19 and 20 pass through corresponding slits 32 and 33 beneath respective loops 36 to be embraced between the loops 36 and bottom ply 23 and extend beyond the ends of wing sections 28. The watch 10 may now be worn in the usual manner with, however, the shield 10 being positioned between the wrist and the watch 10 and the inner ends of the wrist band. The shield 10 thus separates the watch 11 from the wrist for the full area of the shield and functions as a protective device as well as a cushion and is of highly attractive appearance.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions maybe made without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

I claim:

1. A shield for a wrist watch having a wrist band comprising a body member formed of a soft pliable material and including a main medial section and a pair of wing sections integrally formed with and projecting longitudinally from opposite sides of said main section, each of said wing sections having formed therein a pair of longitudinally spaced transversely extending slits delineating respective loops for engaging said strap on opposite sides of said watch and an imperforate integrally formed backing member formed of a soft pliable material and of similar shape to and underlying said body member, said body member and backing member being joined along their peripheral edges.

2. The watch shield of claim 1 wherein said wing sections are of lesser width than said main section.

3. The watch shield of claim 1 wherein said body member and said backing member are formed of a synthetic organic thermoplastic polymer web and said body and backing members are heat sealed to each other along their peripheral edges.

4. The watch shield of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom longitudinal edges of said main section are convex and their junction with the respective adjacent edges of said wing sections are concave.

5. The watch shield of claim 1 wherein the opposite edges of respective loops are concave.

6. In combination with the shield of claim 3 a wrist watch having a wrist band extending laterally from opposite sides of said watch through respective pairs of said slits and underlying said loops, said medial section being at least coextensive in area with the rear face of said watch.