With Bezel Or Crystal Details Patents (Class 368/294)
  • Publication number: 20090073816
    Abstract: A timepiece having a movement, a substantially cylindrical case that houses the movement, a bezel that holds the outside edge part of a crystal and is fastened to the case, and a back cover that is fastened to the opposite side of the case as the side to which the bezel is disposed. The case has a plurality of movement fastening units for fastening the movement by means of screws, a plurality of bezel fastening units for fastening the bezel by means of screws, and a plurality of back cover fastening units for fastening the back cover by means of screws. The screws disposed to the movement fastening units, the bezel fastening units, and the back cover fastening units are substantially aligned with the axial direction of the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki OZAWA, Osamu TAKAHASHI, Masatoshi MOTEKI
  • Publication number: 20090059734
    Abstract: A wrist-worn timepiece may have a case, a timing element, and a wristband. The case includes a body, a crystal, and a bezel. The body may define a depression and a channel. The timing element is positioned within the depression, and the channel is located to extend at least partially around the depression. The crystal is located within the depression and adjacent to the timing element, and the bezel is at least partially located within the channel. The body may be formed from a polymer material and the bezel may be formed from a metal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Maximillian P. Burton
  • Patent number: 7490978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an analog wristwatch including a watch body and at least two bezels. The watch body further includes a face, along with an hour hand and a minute hand for telling time. The at least two bezels surround the circumference of the face and are rotatably mounted to the watch body. The bezels are used to measure elapsed time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Inventor: Jacqueline Crisci
  • Patent number: 7478945
    Abstract: A watchcase has a turning ring provided on one case surface and enclosing one case section. The turning ring is secured by at least one holding element engaging a peripheral groove of the case section and securing the turning ring to t case section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Inventor: Petra Damasko
  • Publication number: 20090003141
    Abstract: A timepiece having a retainer ring including a timepiece crystal and a glass retaining unit that holds the outside edge of the crystal, a back cover that is disposed facing the retainer ring, a case member that is substantially annular, is made at least in part from a non-magnetic member, and links the outside edges of the retainer ring and the back cover, an antenna that is disposed in a space formed between the retainer ring and the back cover, and can receive radio signals that pass through the non-magnetic member of the case member to the inside of the case member, and a timekeeping unit that is disposed in a space formed between the retainer ring and the back cover, and has a time display unit for displaying the time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Noriaki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7452124
    Abstract: A timepiece has an annular case band having a front side end part that protrudes radially inwardly toward the inside of a case band and defines a front opening of the case band. A case back is detachably attached to a back side end part of the case band. An annular edge member seats on a front surface of the front side end part and has a tubular part removably inserted into the front opening of the case and, the tubular part having an annular attaching groove that opens to an outer periphery of the tubular part, and a glass is fixed to the edge member. An elastically deformable open-ended snap ring is detachably attached to the attaching groove in an elastically deformed state, and the snap ring abuts a back surface of the front side end part of the case band so that the front side end part is held between the edge member and the snap ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7445376
    Abstract: A timepiece has a case band having a front side end part that projects inwardly toward the hollow interior of the case band and terminates in a front opening. A case back is detachably attached to a back side end part of the case band. A glass is fixed to an annular edge member that seats on a front face of the front side end part. The edge member has a tubular part slidably inserted into the front opening and threadedly engaged with an annular attaching member in the interior of the case whereby the front side end part of the case band is sandwiched and held between the edge member and attaching member. By detaching the case back and using a tool to unthread the attaching member from the edge member, the edge member and glass can be removed as a unit from the case band for repair or replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7413339
    Abstract: Watch case, in particular for a wristwatch, with a turning ring provided turnably on one case surface and for this purpose enclosing one case section, the turning ring being secured by at least one holding element engaging in one peripheral groove of the case section and securing the turning ring on the case section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Petra Damasko
  • Patent number: 7404668
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece in which it is possible to promote an edge thinning of an edge member without impairing an exchangeability of a gasket between the edge member to which a glass has been fixed and a case band, and a selectivity of a fixation means of the glass to the edge member. In a case band of an armor case in which a timepiece movement with a dial has been built in, there is provided an inner periphery convex part forming a fit hole while protruding to a case band inside. In an annular edge member which is overlapped to a front side of the case band and to which a glass has been fixed, there are provided a tubular fit part fitted to a fit hole, and a dial cover site covering a peripheral part surface of the dial. An annular seal gasket made of an elastic material is nipped, in an outside than the fit hole, between the edge member and the case band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hideaki Koshoji
  • Patent number: 7399114
    Abstract: A timepiece has a glass fixed to an annular edge member to permit the glass and edge member to be removed as a unit from a case band. A tubular part of the edge member is removably inserted in a hole in the case band. An annular engaging groove in the case band communicates with an annular attaching groove in the tubular part through plural through-holes in the edge member tubular part. A C-shaped spring member is fitted in the attaching groove in a compressed state and has plural convex parts that extend through respective through-holes into the engaging groove to releasably secure the edge member to the case band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Kinshuro Itoh
  • Patent number: 7384189
    Abstract: The invention proposes a watch comprising a case which includes a middle part, a crystal and a display dial. The crystal includes an outer radial collar which abuts axially against the middle part and which is held axially against the middle part by means of a bezel. The bezel includes a lower annular radial surface which abuts axially against the top face of the collar. According to one feature of the invention, the collar includes a convex outer peripheral surface which is generally complementary to a concave inner surface of the bezel arranged opposite, underneath the radial abutment surface of the bezel and which abuts radially against said inner surface in the event of an axial shock applied to the crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse
    Inventor: Baptist Wyssbrod
  • Publication number: 20080089185
    Abstract: An instrument case assembly may include an instrument case having a face, a back, and at least one side extending between the face and the back about a perimeter of the case. The face may include a crystal held by a perimetrical bezel. In some aspects, a pair of strap brackets may be removably coupled to the at least one side at substantially opposite perimetrical regions of the case. In some aspects, a crystal guard may be coupled to the case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Jason Perry Martin, Michael D. Prstojevich
  • Publication number: 20070253290
    Abstract: A modular wristwatch includes a watch case assembly and a removable watch movement assembly. The watch case assembly includes an articulating bezel having a first bezel portion pivotally connected to a second bezel portion that enables the first bezel portion to move between open and closed configurations, allowing the watch movement assembly to be moved into and out from the watch case assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventor: Christopher Aire
  • Publication number: 20070147184
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece in which it has been made possible to exchange an edge member, to which a glass has been fixed, without accompanying a case band. A wristwatch comprises an annular case band, a case back, an annular edge member, a glass, and an attaching member. A fitting hole is formed in a front side end part of the case band, and an edge receiving face is provided around the fitting hole. The case back is detachably attached to a back side end part of the case band. The glass is fitted and fixed to an annular step part having been formed in the edge member. In the edge member there are provided a tubular part fitted to the fitting hole so as to be capable of being inserted and disengaged, and a cover part overlapping with the edge receiving face. The tubular part is detachably attached to the front side end part by the attaching member attached/detached under a state that the case back has been detached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7234858
    Abstract: The invention relates to a watch case comprising a case middle (16), a bezel (18) mounted so that it can turn on the middle and defining between them an annular chamber (36) and a gap (40) open towards the outside of the case, a glass (22) mounted in sealed fashion on the bezel, a seal (42) inserted between the bezel and the middle and arranged in said chamber (36). According to the invention said seal comprises a ring (44) of annular shape made of a material of the highly elastically deformable type, of annular shape, and the cross section of which comprises two lips (44a), one bearing against the bezel (18), the other against the case middle (16), and a compression member (48) arranged in said chamber on the side of the gap, inserted between and collaborating with said lips in order to compress them against the bezel and against the case middle, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: Eterna SA
    Inventor: Willy Meier
  • Patent number: 7167689
    Abstract: The telephone watch includes a crystal (1) including a keyboard (2) formed in particular of a plurality of capacitive sensors (3) disposed under the crystal. This crystal includes a thick zone (4) at its center and a thinned zone (5) at its periphery. The keyboard (2) is deposited under the thinned zone (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Asulab S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Martin, Dominique Dubugnon, Jean-Pierre Mignot
  • Patent number: 7144151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wrist device, particularly to a fastening mechanism of a cover part and a plastic body part of the wrist device. The fastening mechanism comprises a fastening structure, which in turn comprises a projecting grip structure extending at least partly into the body part, setting against a positioning surface of the body part, and blocked in relation to the mounting direction of the cover part to prevent the fastening structure from moving in a direction opposite to the mounting direction once the fastening structure has been pressed into the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
    Inventors: Jarmo Saaski, Tero Mattinen
  • Patent number: 7137732
    Abstract: A portable timepiece has a bezel rotatably disposed on a case body, and an elastically deformable gasket interposed between the case body and the bezel in an elastically deformed state to exert a frictional force on the case body and the bezel sufficient to maintain the bezel in a stationary rotational position though permitting the bezel to be manually rotated to any desired position by overcoming the frictional force. One or more lock members are movably disposed on the bezel and contact a slip-preventing part provided on the case body. A manually rotatable holding ring engages with the lock members and is rotatable in one direction to increase the contact pressure between the lock members and the slip-preventing part to thereby prevent unintended rotation of the bezel, and is rotatable in the other direction to decrease the contact pressure to thereby permit manual rotation of the bezel by overcoming the frictional force exerted by the elastically deformed gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Koremoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 7091964
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a bezel feature, a connector and a processor. The bezel feature is provided on the front panel and interfaces with the processor. The bezel feature includes a circumferential track provided on the front panel and is formed by a contact-sensitive material that provides a surface capable of detecting contact from a user at multiple positions on the track. The contact indicates an input based on both a starting position and a finishing position of the contact on the track. The processor is configured to calculate the input based on the starting position and the finishing position and to perform an operation corresponding to a selection of an application based on the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
  • Patent number: 7072247
    Abstract: To provide a wrist watch capable of easily exchanging a bezel by a user per se. A wrist watch is locked in a state in which a case body packing is arranged between a main body of an inner case bodyl including a module including an electronic circuit realizing watch function and an outer case body, an upper end face of a peripheral edge of an inner face body main body is pressed by an inner wall face of a decorative bezel main body and a spring projected portion is fitted to a click hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Koremoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 7052173
    Abstract: To provide a timepiece whose bezel can be easily attached and detached by a user without requiring a special-purpose tool. A male screw, an annular groove disposed downwardly away from the male screw and an annular clearance groove positioned between the annular groove and the male screw are provided on the outer periphery of an annular convex of a case band to which a cover glass is attached. A soft and resilient engagement ring is fitted to the annular groove such that the engagement ring projects out from the annular groove. A bezel includes on its inner periphery a female screw disposed within the clearance groove for releasably engaging with the male screw and an annular engagement convex having a stopper slope. The stopper slope is disposed below the female screw to tightly contact with the outer periphery of the ring. The bezel attached in a condition in which the ring tightly contacts with the stopper slope is rotated in a loosening direction of the bezel through a screw-engagement between the screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6821014
    Abstract: A rotating-type bezel apparatus has a case body and a bezel rotatably mounted on the case body and having alternately spaced recesses and projections. A first member is mounted on the case body and has an end portion elastically engageable with surface portions of the recesses and projections of the bezel to impart a click feel to the bezel during rotational movement thereof. A second member is movably mounted on the case body for movement between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the second member engages the first member to prevent a release of an elastic engagement between the front end portion of the main body of the first member and the surface portions of one recess and the two projections on either side of the one recess of the bezel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa, Nobukazu Oomori
  • Patent number: 6788623
    Abstract: To provide a wrist watch having a small rim width while ensuring the strength of a glass rim. A movement with hands and a dial plate is assembled into a barrel from a side of a glass rim. A water-proof packing is arranged between a glass rim and the barrel. Machine screws are mounted inside the water-proof packing to fix the barrel and the glass rim together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Isao Ajiro, Nobukazu Oomori
  • Patent number: 6762976
    Abstract: There is disposed a middle comprising a metallic inner middle (20) in which a movement (30) is housed, and a metallic outer middle (21) covering at least a part of the inner middle, and an elastic shock absorber (35) disposed between the inner middle and the outer middle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuaki Tamaru, Ryo Fujita, Susumu Tosaka
  • Patent number: 6738111
    Abstract: An arm portable information apparatus has a case and a film liquid crystal device disposed in the case and having a pair of opposite side edge portions. A pair of support members are connected to the case and support the film liquid crystal device. Each of the support members has at least one groove receiving a respective one of the side edge portion of the film liquid crystal device so that the film liquid crystal device does not contact any part of the arm portable information apparatus except for the contact between the support members and the side edge portions of the film liquid crystal device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kawata
  • Patent number: 6616329
    Abstract: In a structure in which a rotating bezel is mounted on a case body, the present invention provides the structure which permits the rotating bezel to be mounted and removed without difficulty even if a brittle material and a deformation difficult material is used in the rotating bezel. When the rotating bezel 25 is pushed downward, the lower end of the engaging rib 25a of the rotating bezel 25 is abutted against the upper end of the holding rib 21d of a glass fixing ring 21 and stress is applied thereby so that the elastically deformable section 21b of the glass fixing ring 21 is elastically deformed inward, that is, toward the side where a clearance is formed. As a result, the engaging rib 25a goes over the holding rib 21d and the rotating bezel 25 is kept in a held state as shown in the figure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Sasaki, Noriaki Ozawa
  • Patent number: 6599009
    Abstract: The rotary vessel is structured having a function movable generally vertical relative to a plane of a wristwatch case, and divided with a plurality of stop points in a movable range in a vertical direction, i.e. a stop point for securing stop stability of rotation and a stop point for rotating the rotary vessel. Due to this, in the case that the rotary vessel is in a rotatable state, rotation torque can be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Dai Terasawa, Toshiaki Kume, Masayuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20030099165
    Abstract: A rotary bezel (1) is stopped at a lower stop point by a positioning elastic member (105) held by a positioning groove (12) of the rotary bezel (1) and a positioning projection (25) of a case body (2). At this moment, a rotation stop portion (43) provided to a rotation restricting ring (4) is engaged with a single or a plurality of rotation stop holes (23) perforated to the case body (2) by which the rotation restricting ring (4) cannot be rotated. By pulling the rotary bezel (1) to move in a vertical direction, a positioning elastic member (105) held by a positioning groove (12) of the rotary bezel (1) is bent and rides over the positioning projection (25) of the case body (2). At this moment, the positioning elastic member (105) held by positioning groove (12) of the rotary bezel (1) interferes with a positioning projection upper inclined face (27) of the case body (2) by which the rotary bezel (1) can be stopped at an upper stop point and at the upper stop point, the rotary bezel (1) can stably be rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Inventor: Dai Terasawa
  • Patent number: 6565253
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein a watch that includes a steerable light. The light may be attached to a rotating bezel on the watch, or included in a crown or other moveable fixture of the watch, such that the light may be pointed independently from the orientation of the watch. A light that is moveably attached to a watch in this manner may be securely fastened to a user's wrist in an unobtrusive form factor, while at the same time freely directed toward an object of interest without requiring a specific orientation of the user's limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: The Timberland Company
    Inventor: Jong H. Yang
  • Patent number: 6456569
    Abstract: In order to angularly position and centre the crystal (5) with respect to the dial (4), the dial is provided with at least one lug (8) capable of being introduced precisely into a hollow (11) made in a collar (10) of the crystal (5). Thus, if the crystal has a lens (41) and the dial (4) has a window (40), the lens will be superposed exactly on said window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Philippe Stauffer
  • Publication number: 20020131332
    Abstract: The watch case includes a back cover (2), a middle part (3) and a bezel (4) closed by a crystal (5) delimiting together a space in which a watch movement (1) is housed for an analogue or digital time display on a dial (6) arranged below the crystal (5). It is characterized in that the bezel (4) is made of metal and has locally a ring (14) of sufficient thickness to include in its lower portion a first series of threaded holes (11) for screwing in a first series of screws (10) for fixing the movement (1) onto the bezel (4) and a second series of threaded holes (21), offset angularly with respect to the first series, passing through the movement (1), and intended for screwing the back cover (2) into the lower part of the bezel (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: ETA SA FABRIQUES D'EBAUCHES
    Inventors: Laurent Kaelin, Chrystel Gressly
  • Patent number: 6379037
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rotational aid for setting a multimode electronic device of the type having a rotatable ring coupled to a switching mechanism. The rotational aid includes a handle and a device for coupling the handle to the ring. The handle is positionable in at least a retracted position and a deployed position. When in the deployed position, the handle projects outwardly from the ring such that the rotation of the ring is facilitated by the movement of the deployed handle. The present invention also provides a multimode electronic device having a case and an integrated circuit operable in a plurality of states. The electronic device includes a rotating switching mechanism at least partially disposed within the case. The switching mechanism includes a rotatable setting stem operatively coupled to the integrated circuit. The electronic device also includes a ring rotatably mounted on the case. The ring is coupleable to the switching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventors: Muhammad A. Saleh, John T. Houlihan
  • Patent number: 6357908
    Abstract: A timepiece including a case (24) provided with a back cover (28) and a middle part (26), a movement (30) mounted in the casing ring (32), a dial (34) mounted above the ring (32) and a crystal (36) mounted above the dial (34), said crystal (36) being provided with an annular collar (70) surrounding the flank (64) of the dial (34), characterised in that the casing ring (32) includes means (38) arranged to remove all the play inherent in the dimensional tolerances of the dial (34), the ring (32) and the back cover (28) of the case (24), these means (38) on which the collar (70) of the crystal (36) is supported being arranged at the upper end of the ring (32), along the outer circumference (86) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques D' Ebauches
    Inventor: Yannick Hunziker
  • Publication number: 20020021624
    Abstract: To provide a wrist watch capable of easily exchanging a bezel by a user per se. A wrist watch is locked in a state in which a case body packing is arranged between a main body of an inner case bodyl including a module including an electronic circuit realizing watch function and an outer case body, an upper end face of a peripheral edge of an inner face body main body is pressed by an inner wall face of a decorative bezel main body and a spring projected portion is fitted to a click hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Koremoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 6310835
    Abstract: Metal case part (9) having a wall whose outer surface (11) includes separated knobs (23a, 23b, 23c) formed by a synthetic material, characterized in that one face (12) opposite to the outer surface (11) of the part (9) includes a groove (15) connected to said outer surface (11) by through passages (13a, 13b, 13c) at locations provided for the knobs (23a, 23b, 23c) and in that said knobs (23a, 23b, 23c) originate from a filler (20) made of synthetic material projecting from the outer surface (11), while being connected to each other through said through passages (13a, 13b, 13c) to a strand 25, also made of synthetic material, held on the bottom of the groove (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Lascor S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giancarlo Mantoan, Tommaso Biraghi
  • Patent number: 6275450
    Abstract: Formed in glass framing (21) attached to a watch case (20) are a main opening (21a) and four sub-openings (21b, 21c, 21d, 21e), with display window members (22, 23, 24, 25, 26) respectively engaged and fixed to each. Positioned at the rear side of the glass framing (21) are dials (27, 27′), and a time-of-day indicating area (27a) which is round to the view when viewed flat is provided to the dial (27). A round opening (27a′) corresponding to the time-of-day indicating area (27a) is formed to the dial (27′) adhered on the dial 27, and four sub-indicating areas (27b′, 27c′, 27d′) which are round to the view when viewed flat are formed on the surface of the dial (27′). The time-of-day indicating area and sub-indicating areas are arranged so as to be separately viewed by the respective display window members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Makiba
  • Patent number: 6238084
    Abstract: A decorative article such as a wristwatch, pin or pendant having a case with a substantial visible surface area is provided with a display mounted on said area and an electrical circuit arranged to provide signals for said display so that a predetermined image appears on, or is displayed by, said display. One or more external members are also provided which can be selectively mounted on the case. Imbedded in each external member is a memory storing digital imaging data. When a particular external member is mounted on the case, its memory is accessed by the electrical circuit and the corresponding data is retrieved and used to generate the image on the display. Changing the external member to a different member results in a different image being displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Time Warner Entertainment Co., L.P.
    Inventors: Randolph M. Blotky, Gregory B. Thagard, John H. Dargan
  • Patent number: 6206563
    Abstract: A device comprising an annular seal having an annular projection engaged into a groove in the edge of the watch glass is disclosed. The lower part of the seal, said lower part having a bulge, engages onto a surface of the housing and is compressed radially by the bezel. The inner lateral surface of the bezel, said surface being fitted around this seal, comprises two concentric cylindrical surfaces of different cross sections, the surface of larger cross section being that which is adjacent to the base of the bezel, these cross sections being slightly smaller than the cross sections of the outer lateral face of the seal and of the bulge in the non-compressed state. The base of the outer lateral surface of the upper part of the housing has a groove in order to receive a portion of the seal, said portion being deformed by the bezel, thus ensuring the axial blocking of this seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Montres Rolex S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Dombre, William Passaquin
  • Patent number: 6053631
    Abstract: A plastic case for an electronic device such as a wrist or pocket watch, has a bottom (1), a cover glass (2) and a support body (3), as well as a dial (6). The support body (3) serves as a base for the dial (6). The bottom (1) and cover glass (2) are fixed to the support body (3) by means of irreversible connections (7, 8). The irreversible connections have first self-locating structures (7) for irreversibly attaching the bottom (1) to a lower portion of the support body (3), and second self-locating structures (8) for irreversibly attaching the cover glass (2) to an upper portion of the support body (3) so that the support body (3) lies between the cover glass (2) and the bottom (1). The support body (3) can have attachments (12) for fitting holders such as a bracelet or chain or holders can be formed on the support body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Createc Patent Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Elmar Mock, Mathias Hell
  • Patent number: 5943302
    Abstract: A modular wristwatch assembly comprises a bezel having a transparent watch crystal mounted therein, first and second pairs of watch band lugs joined to opposite exterior side edge regions of the bezel, a rigid watch back member, and a rigid, annular watch movement retaining member disposed between the bezel and the back member. Included in the assembly are a watch movement, having a watch face and hands for indicating the time, installed in the watch movement retaining member and having operating controls extending outwardly therethrough. There is further included a decorative ring installed between an under surface of the bezel and an upper surface of the watch face, the ring being around peripheral edge regions of the face so as not to interfere with the time indicating means and being visible through said watch crystal. Screws are used for detachablably attach the bezel and the watch back member together with the watch movement retaining member and watch movement held therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Bonneville Watches
    Inventor: Bradley J. Fanshaw
  • Patent number: 5894456
    Abstract: Wristwatch including a case (1) for accommodating a movement (4), luminous elements carried by the bezel or by the middle part of said case, a source of energy (44, 45) and an electronic circuit (33) housed in said case to control the power supply of said luminous elements and at least one control element (5), characterized in that at least one luminous element is formed by a finger (11-15) made of flexible materials, supported by said case and extending beyond the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques D'Ebauches
    Inventor: Rolf Schneider
  • Patent number: 5798984
    Abstract: Timepiece including a case, a bezel and a transponder including a radio broadcast signal transmitting and/or receiving circuit and an antenna connected to that circuit, the antenna and the transmitting and/or receiving circuit being both fixed to the bezel wherein they are, for example arranged in an appropriate recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Daniel Koch
  • Patent number: 5771209
    Abstract: The wrist watch according to the invention has a strap or bracelet (8) and a case, formed from three case parts (upper part or cover glass 5, middle part or dial, lower part or bottom 3) and in which is placed a clockwork with time indicating means, particularly hands, and has standardized connecting areas (9) in which the bracelet (8) and at least two of the case parts are interconnected or interconnectable. The connecting areas (9) are e.g. constructed as hinges and during assembly serve as orientation aids for the orientation of the individual parts with one another and as application and orientation points for the orientation and assembly tools, as well as as definitive or temporary connections between the case parts and the bracelet. Shape-differing watch models having the same, standardized connecting areas, can be assembled using a substantially identical assembly procedure and tools, which leads to a faster model change procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Createc Patent Holding, S.A.
    Inventors: Elmar Mock, Matthias Hell
  • Patent number: 5751667
    Abstract: A measuring instrument assembly, such as a clock, thermometer, or barometer, comprises a casing including a base and an upstanding perimeter (e.g. annular) portion (e.g. integral with the base). An instrument face is mounted by the base and has an upper surface facing away from the base, typically including instrument indicia (such as clock numbers) and preferably also including word indicia. A substantially transparent cover substantially parallel to the instrument face and supported by the casing is spaced from the instrument face to define, with the casing upstanding perimeter portion, an interior volume. At least one discrete object, and preferably a plurality of loosely provided objects, such as golf tees, are disposed within the interior volume. A passageway is defined through the interior volume for an instrument shaft extending from the base substantially perpendicular to the face through the cover and spaced from the upstanding perimeter portion of the casing. A measuring instrument movement (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Brendon Nunes
  • Patent number: 5699324
    Abstract: A retaining ring (17) which rests on the peripheral area of the dial (16), which is in turn bonded to a dial support (14). Several securing means (25) are on the one hand secured in the retaining ring (17) and on the other hand in a base element (13), such as an annular tool holder. This ensures a flat, smooth and lasting support of the dial (16) on the dial support (14). It also permits the simple assembly and dismantling of the unit composed of dial (16), dial support (14) and annular securing means (17) onto or from a base element (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventors: Friedrich Perrot, Marco Bettelini
  • Patent number: 5521889
    Abstract: The crystal-bezel unit (1, 20) allows dismantling of the timepiece from above and can be moved rotatingly relative to a caseband (4), where a joining gasket (10) including at least one active portion is disposed between the crystal-bezel unit and the caseband. An optional fixing means (20) holds the fixed and rotating units together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Walca SA
    Inventors: Renato Scarinzi, Alfred Joss, Hanspeter Gradel
  • Patent number: 5519674
    Abstract: An annular packing (30) has a cross-section in the form of a dumbbell including two enlargements (31, 32) connected by a neck (33). In a preferred embodiment the enlargements exhibit a polygonal cross-section. The packing advantageously replaces an O-ring seal in which the interior diameter of the ring is large relative to the diameter of the cross-section of the ring. The packing is arranged between two parts driven at different speeds, in precision mechanisms or in horology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Werthanor S.A.
    Inventors: Alfred Vollert, Roger Ecoffet
  • Patent number: 5490123
    Abstract: This watch case includes a caseband (1), a detachable bezel (4) and bayonet means (8,9,10,11,12,13) for interlocking the bezel onto the caseband. Blocking means (6) are interposed between the bezel and the caseband when a predetermined rotation angle has been effected by the bezel, this in order to prevent any rotational movement of the bezel. Such blocking means include manual grasping means (7) enabling retraction of said blocking means, then disengagement of the bezel from the caseband by rotation initially and then translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Blancpain S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Biver
  • Patent number: 5400304
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ornamental clock having a clock glass with gems glued to the underside of the clock glass with transparent adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: D. Swarovski & Co.
    Inventor: Beate Offenstein
  • Patent number: 5333123
    Abstract: A water-resistant timepiece of the type including a crystal, a timepiece dial and movement assembly, and a long-life energy cell, which comprises a continuous case of plastic having: a first outer peripheral member adapted to receive said dial and movement assembly and the long-life energy cell, and further adapted to receive the crystal to form a water-resistant seal therewith; a thin substantially flat case back wall integral with the peripheral member to form an annular edge; and a peripheral groove located in the bottom of the peripheral member. A case back blank of substantially uniform thickness, having a substantially flat central portion and an integral peripheral side wall, and preferably made of stainless steel, cooperates with the peripheral groove of the case to integrally attach the case back blank to the case to complete a thin timepiece having improved water resistance, high mechanical and structural integrity, and an aesthetic appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Plancon, Jean L. Cuinet