US 4,362,401 A · Watchcase

Abstract

A watchcase comprises a case body, a back cover connected to the back of the case body and a bezel connected to the top of the case body. A support member is connected to either the back cover or the bezel and comprises an outwardly extending flange, and oppositely disposed beads extending outwardly from the flange. The beads are configured to coact with recesses which are oppositely disposed in the inner surface of the case body so as to be received therein upon insertion of first one bead in its respective recess followed by the displacement of the support member relative to the case body so as to temporarily dispose the beads in extreme positions with respect to the recesses, and the beads are maintained in their respective recesses upon the return displacement of the support member so as to move the beads from their extreme positions. The beads are normally biased out of their extreme positions when inserted in the recesses. In this way, the bezel or the back cover can be removed from the case body without any deformation of the case body thereby avoiding the disadvantages which would otherwise occur due to deformation of the case body.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A watchcase comprising:

a case body having oppositely disposed internal recesses therein;
a back cover;
a support member fixedly connected to said back cover, said support member having an outwardly extending flange extending an outward radial direction of the watchcase from the upper end surface of the support member and having at least a pair of peripheral beads extending further outwardly from said flange and engageable with respective ones of said recesses;
means defining clearances between the flange peripheral beads and the case body recesses to permit sufficient movement of the back cover relative to the case body in a diametrical direction of the watchcase to enable removal of the back cover from the case body without causing deformation of the case body, back cover or support member;
and biasing means for resiliently biasing the back cover to a balanced position in which the flange peripheral beads engage with respective ones of the case body recesses to thereby removably join said back cover to said case body.

2 more elements

A watchcase comprising:

a case body;
a back cover;
and connecting means removably connecting said back cover to said case body so as to permit removal of said back cover from said case body and replacement of said back cover onto said case body to define a watchcase, said connecting means comprising a support member connected to said back cover and having at opposite locations thereof radially outwardly extending flange portions, means defining recesses in said case body at opposite locations and movably receiving therein respective ones of said flange portions with sufficient clearance therebetween to enable a sufficient extent of movement of said back cover relative to said case body in a diametrical direction of the watchcase to permit removal and replacement of said back cover without deformation of said case body, back cover or support member, and a deformable elastic member interposed between said support member and case body and configured so as to undergo elastic deformation during removal and replacement of said back cover thereby preventing deformation of said case body, back cover and support member and having sufficient elasticity to urge said support member to a balanced position in which the support member flange portions engage the case body recesses upon replacement of said back cover thereby removably connecting said back cover to said case body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Watchcase

Life of this patent

Watchcase

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16