GB2129280A

GB2129280A - Watchband attachment structure

Info

Publication number: GB2129280A
Application number: GB08327284A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Junsuke Kashikie
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-11-01
Filing date: 1983-10-12
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: JPS5970512U; HK41886A; GB2129280B; DE3339173A1; GB8327284D0

Abstract

Watchband attachment structure for attaching a watchband to a watchcase 1 using a watch attachment hook 4 which prevents the movement of an attachment portion of the watchband and the watchcase 1. The attachment hook 4 has an end 4a projecting into a recess 1a in the case 1 and secured to part of an underside of the watchband, and a bent portion 4b abutting upon an underside of a flange 1c of the case 1. The watchband is attached to the case 1 by fixing a spring bar 3 to the lugs 2. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Watchband attachment structure Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a structure for attaching a watchband to a watchcase using a watch attachment hook which prevents the movement of an attachment portion of the watchband and the watchcase.

2. Description of the PriorArt In recent years, as watches are becoming fashionable, it is necessary to improve the designs of watchcases and watchbands. Accordingly, it has been proposed to show a watchcase and a watchband as one unitary structure by improving them.

In conventional watchband attachment structures, for example, as disclosed in British Patent No. 1,462,030, a watch attachment hook provided at the end of a watchband has been designed so as to match the outward appearance of the watchband, or lugs of a watchcase have been formed extending laterally so as to hold a watch attachment hook within the lugs. However, in any case, the watch attachment hook secured to the case or the band is seen from the front of the watch, making it difficult to show the case and the band as a unitary structure. Thus, conventionally, designs are limited.

Furthermore, watchbands should be flexible around the wrist of a wearer. On the other hand, any movement of the attachment portion of the watchcase and the watchband gives a handling difficulty to the wearer when he puts on or takes off the watch. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the movement of the watch attachment hook, for ease of handling.

Many conventional structures for preventing the movement of the band, for example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of United States Patent No.

3,554,414, are designed so that a portion (a stop tab 26 in that patent) projecting from the watch attachment hook abuts on the underside of the watchcase to secure the attachment portion of the case and the band. However, since the distance from the position of a bar spring to the underside of the case varies with the case, the configuration of the watch attachment hook must be changed for each case.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of the underside of a watchband attachment structure of the invention; Fig. 2 is a front view of the front of the watchband attachment structure of the invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the case shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the case shown in Fig. Sand Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another modification of the case shown in Fig. 5.

Summary of the Invention The object of the invention is to provide a watchband attachment structure which permits an attachment portion of the band and case to be unmovably connected and to be concealed when viewed from the front of the watch in order to show the band and the case as a unitary structure.

To accomplish the above-mentioned object, a watchband attachment structure of the invention is provided comprising: a case having lugs, a recess provided between said lugs at an outer side of said case, and a flange provided at a lower position of said recess; a watchband; a watch attachment hook secured to said watchband; a spring bar accommodated in said attachment hook; and an upper plate fixed between said watchband and said case for covering said lugs and said watch attachment hook; said attachment hook having an end projecting into the recess in said case and abutting upon undersides of said watchband and said upper plate, and a bent portion abutting upon an underside of the flange of said case, and said band being unmovably attached to said case by fixing said spring bar to said lugs.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the invention will be described: Fig. 1 is a front view of the underside of an attachment structure of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a front view of the front of the attachment structure of the invention, in which numeral 1 designates a case, 2 lugs projecting from the case 1, and 3 a spring bar. The case 1 is provided with a recess 1 a at the outer side between the lugs 2. Underneath the recess 1 are a flange 1 c and another recess 1 b at the lower surface of the flange 1 c.Numeral 4 designates a watch attachment hook having an end 4a projecting into the recess 1 a in the case 1; a pair of bent portions 4b provided at both sides of the projecting end 4a and abutting on the underside of the flange 1 c of the case so as to prevent the movement of the watch attachment hook 4; a curved portion 4c for holding the spring bar 3; a spring bar accommodating portion 4d generally U-shaped in section for accommodating the spring bar 3; and a pair of fixation portions 4e welded, soldered, or otherwise fixed to the watchband (or an upper plate). Numeral 6 is an upper plate welded, soldered, or otherwise fixed to the upper surface of the fixation portions 4e and the projecting end 4a of the watch attachment hook 4.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 2. The projecting end 4a of the attachment hook 4 projects into the recess 1 a in the case 1, and the upper plate 6 secured on the projecting end 4a and the spring bar accommodating portion 4d abuts upon the inside of the recess 1 a.

Thus, owing to the fact that the upper plate 6 abuts upon the inside of the recess 1 a in the case 1, a clockwise movement (in Fig. 3) of the attachment hook 4 is prevented. Also owing to the fact that the bent portions 4b of the attachment hook 4 abut upon the underside of the flange 1 c of the case 1, the attachment hook 4 is prevented from moving in a counterclockwise direction (in Fig. 3). In this embodiment, the projecting end 4a of the attachment hook 4 is provided in order to increase the joint area with the upper plate 6 and give more positive securing.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the case shown in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

As mentioned above, the case 1 is provided with recesses 1 a and 1 b and flange 1 c (Fig. 5).

The recess 1 a makes it possible to increase the length of the projecting end 4a when it is formed.

As a result, it is possible to increase the joint area of the projecting end 4a and the upper plate 6.

On the other hand, the recess 1 b in the case 1 prevents the bent portions 4b of the attachment hook 4 from projecting beyond the back side of the case 1.

Each lug 2 is provided at the lower position than the upper surface 1 d of the case 1, in which the end of the upper plate 6 secured on the upper surface of the attachment hook 4 lies upon the lugs 2 to conceal them from view and the upper plate 6 is accommodated in the space from the upper surfaces of the lugs 2 to the upper surface 1 d of the case 1 so that the upper surface of the upper plate 6 is continuously connected to the uppersurface idofthecase 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the case 1 of Fig. 4. In Fig. 6, there is not provided a recess under the flange 1 c of the case. This is because, in forms of cases for use in thin type watches, the flange 1 c is designed to have almost the same thickness (t) as in Fig. 5, and if only the thickness (t) of the flange 1 c is the same as those of the other cases, an identical attachment hook shown in Fig. 3 can be secured to thin type watchcases.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of another modification of the case 1 of Fig. 4. An upper surface 2a of each lug 2 shown in Fig. 7 is cut so as to connect continuously to the upper surface of the flange 1 c and the inside of the recess 1 a of the case 1 , for enhanced operability when the recess 1 a and the like are formed by cutting.

As mentioned above, according to the invention, an upper plate which forms part of a band permits attachment portions to be concealed, thereby showing the band and the case as a unitary structure.

In addition, since a projecting end of the attachment hook provides the increased joint area of the upper plate and attachment hook.

Furthermore, if only the thickness (t) of the flange of the case is fixed, an identical attachment hook can be secured to a variety of cases, improving mass production. Thus, this invention has a remarkable effect on practical use.

Claims

1. A watchband attachment structure comprising: a case having lugs, a recess provided between said lugs at an outer side of said case, and a flange provided at a lower position of said recess; a watchband; a watch attachment hook secured to said watchband; a spring bar accommodated in said attachment hook; and an upper plate fixed between said watchband and said case for covering said lugs and said watch attachment hook; said attachment hook having an end projecting into the recess in said case and abutting upon undersides of said watchband and said upper plate, and a bent portion abutting upon an underside of the flange of said case, and said band being unmovably attached to said case by fixing said spring bar to said lugs.

2. A watchband attachment structure according to claim 1, in which the flange of said case has a substantially fixed thickness.

3. A watchband attachment structure according to claim 1, in which said case is provided with another recess at a lower surface of the flange.

4. A watchband attachment structure according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which said upper plate has an end abutting upon the recess in the upper surface of said flange and the bent portion of said attachment hook abuts on the lower surface of said flange, whereby said band is unmovably attached to said case.

5. A watchband attachment structure substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.