# US 4,397,566 A · Wrist-watch casing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,397,566 A - Document ID: US4397566A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/374,689 - Filed: 1982-05-04 - Granted: 1983-08-09 - Earliest claimed: 1982-05-04 - Assignees: Montres Rado S.A. - Inventors: Marc Lederrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4397566A ## CPC - G04B 37/05: Fixed mountings for pocket or wrist watches - G04B 37/0008: {for pocket watches and wrist watches} - G04B 37/11: of the back cover of pocket or wrist watches - G04B 39/02: Sealing crystals or glasses {(sealing the case and the winding stem G04B37/08)} - G04B 45/00: Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects (ornamental shaping of dials G04B19/10 ){(lubrication of clockwork bearings G04B31/008; special effects and pictures in general B44F)} - G04B: MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS (spring- or weight-driven mechanisms in general F03G; electromechanical clocks or watches G04C; electromechanical clocks with attached or built-in means operating any device at pre-selected times or after predetermined time intervals G04C23/00; clocks or watches with stop devices G04F7/08) ## Abstract The glass (1) of the wrist-watch casing carries the ornamental pieces of the casing visible face surrounding the watch dial (17). These pieces comprise a frame (2) of precious or semi-precious material or a very thin metallized layer (31) deposited under the glass (1). The frame (2) is glued in an indissoluble and resistant manner under glass (1) and a spacing frame (3) is similarly glued under frame (2). The collar (6) of tapped sockets (5) is caught and glued in lodgings (7) provided in the face of frame (3) which is glued to frame (2). The unit composed of these pieces (2, 3, 5) and the glass (1) are removably secured to the caseband (8) by means of screws (9) crossing the caseband and engaging sockets (5) fitting borings (19) of the caseband. Under the metallized layer (31) a single spacing frame (25) of base metal is necessary and sockets (5) are welded in lodgings (26) of that frame. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A watchcase comprising a caseband having a substantially flat upper face and being adapted for receiving and surrounding a watch movement provided with an analogical time display means, a section of glass, having an opaque unit secured thereto, covering said upper face of the caseband, said unit including a flat frame secured to said glass, tapped sockets having a collar extending radially outwards at their base and being individually secured to said frame, screws screwed into said sockets from the bottom side of the watchcase for removably securing said glass and said unit to said caseband, said glass and opaque unit being dimensioned such that the entire analogical time display means is visible when viewed along an axis perpendicular to said upper face of the caseband. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A watchcase according to claim 1, wherein said opaque unit comprises at least one ornamental element permanently secured to the glass, said flat frame being secured under said ornamental piece. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A watchcase according to claim 2, wherein the ornamental element permanently secured to the glass consists of a flat frame secured under the periphery of the glass, the frame to which said sockets are secured being made out of a base metal and provided with a recess and secured under the frame constituting said ornamental element, which wholly covers it, each one of said socket collars being positioned between the two frames in the recess of said frame of base metal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A watchcase according to claim 3, wherein the frame constituting said ornamental element is composed of a plurality of narrow and flat bands of precious or semi-precious stones, the glass extending outwards up to the outer edge of the caseband. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A watchcase according to claim 3, wherein said glass extends up to the outer edge of said caseband, said frame constituting said ornamental element being made out of base metal and having its upper face, which is secured to said glass, finely machined so as to constitute a decorative design. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) A watchcase according to claim 3, wherein said frame constituting said ornamental element is made out of hard metal and has only its inner area secured to said glass. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) A watchcase according to claim 3, wherein said ornamental element consists of a thin coating vaporized in the vacuum under the glass periphery, said frame of base metal being secured to said coating, recesses being formed in the lower face of said frame and the collars of said sockets being welded to the bottom wall of said recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A watchcase according to claim 1, wherein borings are provided across said caseband, said borings having a larger upper portion with a diameter adjusted to that of said sockets and a narrower lower portion having a diameter adjusted to that of said screws, said sockets and said screws fitting said boring portions, respectively. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A watchcase according to claim 8, wherein an independent bottom is removably secured to said caseband, said glass securing screws simultaneously securing said bottom to said caseband. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A watchcase according to claim 1, wherein said glass consists of a sapphire constituting a protective shield for the exposed watchcase face.