HK1119465B - Wristwatch with an unfolding case - Google Patents

Description

Watch with unfolded case

Technical Field

The invention relates to a wristwatch displaying the current time in the "normal" position and capable of displaying a second piece of information, which may or may not be time-dependent, which is facilitated to be controlled and read by unfolding a watchcase comprising control and display means without requiring the watchcase to be detached from a strap or bracelet held on the wrist by a clasp.

Background

In the following description, the "normal position" display means a display in which the watch case is firmly attached to the watch band holding the watch on the wrist, and in which the displayed information is read on the back side of the hand.

The watch case may occupy the entire usual position by being permanently fixed to the bracelet and therefore have a visible display on the back side of the hand, while being substantially parallel to the latter. The case may also be slightly removed from this position by tilting and/or pivoting to provide a better view of the display and/or to allow a second display located on the back cover of the case to be seen.

Us patent No 1,804,048 discloses a device in which the watch case rotates about a hinge when a key through the middle part is pressed. In swiss patent No 161,610, the device is formed by two hinged watchcases, which completely hide the display oriented towards the back cover of the watchcase connected to the watchband and make it visible when the device is rotated at least 90 degrees when it is desired to see the displayed information.

In Cartier's "Tank bank" model, the watch case is pivotally mounted on a support, which is itself hinged to a fixed watch case by a hinge, which makes the movable watch case turn completely and makes visible a second display located on the movable watch case back when the latter is turned to the normal position. In all of these prior art devices, the movable watch case maintains a strong mechanical link with the watch band and only allows the display to be read on the back side of the hand.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention provides a new and innovative solution for reading the information carried by a display that can be moved completely away from its normal position, while maintaining a "safe" link with the wristband.

The invention therefore relates to a wristwatch with an unfolded case, comprising a strap or bracelet made in one piece to completely surround the wrist of the wearer and closed by a clasp connecting the straps of the two straps at six and twelve points. The watch band indirectly carries a watch case comprising at least one watch movement to display time information and at least one other piece of information that may or may not be time-related. The invention is essentially characterized in that the watch case is mounted at the end of an additional flexible strap, the other end of which is pivotably secured to one of the straps of the watchband. By attaching locking/unlocking means between the strap and the wristband, the watchcase can take up a normal position and a second position in which the watchcase can be unfolded to be positioned in the hand, i.e. for reading the display and operating the control members at the relative position of the normal position.

The additional strap may be made in one part or in several parts, which will determine the position of the pivot point on the watch band, so that the display is oriented in the right direction when the watch case is fixedly mounted on the additional strap and held in the hand. When the additional strap is only one part, the pivot point must be located on the six-point strap; when the additional strap is two parts interconnected by a second pivot point, the pivot points must be located on a twelve point strap.

If the second alternative is chosen for the pivot point, the display will be reversed, and the disadvantage can be easily removed by mounting the watch case rotatably such that it can be turned 180 degrees.

When the additional strap is in two parts, the hinge may replace one pivot point other than the one located on the watchband. When the number of parts forming the additional strap is even, the pivot pin must be provided along the length of said additional strap, so that the watchcase can be rotated when unfolded into the hand.

Drawings

Further advantages and features of the invention will become clearer in the following description of various embodiments, given by way of non-limiting illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figures 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a watch according to the invention worn on the wrist in the normal position and in the flat open position;

figures 3 and 4 show the same watch as in figures 1 and 2 in the deployed in-hand position and in the flat open position;

FIGS. 5 to 12 show top views of four other embodiments, in which the bracelet is in an open flat position, in the normal position in the odd numbered figures and in the extended position in the even numbered figures, respectively;

figures 13 and 14 show perspective views of the sixth embodiment in the normal and deployed positions respectively;

FIGS. 15 and 16 show top views of a seventh embodiment, in a normal position and in a deployed position, respectively, with the bracelet open flat;

fig. 17 and 18 show perspective views of a variation of the previous embodiment in the normal position and in the semi-deployed position, respectively.

Detailed Description

The following embodiment is illustrated more particularly by an analogue display watch, the watch case 3 of which comprises a movement for displaying on the one hand the current time on the display 7 and on the other hand for driving a timing mechanism controlled by the keys 2a and 2b arranged on each side of the crown 4, so as to display timing information on the same display 7 as the current time.

It is clear that the display 7 may be a display of the liquid crystal analog type without departing from the scope of the invention.

With reference first to figures 1 to 4, a first embodiment showing the basic principle of the invention will be described hereinafter, in which case 3 can take a normal position, while being held on the wrist by a surrounding bracelet 5 closed with a clasp 8 (figure 1), and case 3 can take a second position, in which it is unfolded outside bracelet 5 to be able to be positioned in the hand (figure 3). The clasp 8 will be illustrated hereinafter by a simple buckle and tongue 8a fixed to the end of the strap 12 of the bracelet 10 located at the twelve-point position. It will be apparent that other types of fasteners may be used.

As can be seen more easily in fig. 2, when the clasp 8 is opened and the bracelet is laid flat on a table, the watch case 3 is fixedly mounted at the end of a further flexible strap 10 made in a single piece 14. The other end of the strap 14 includes a pivot point 15 on the strap 6 of the watchband 10 at the six o' clock position. This pivot point 15 may be achieved in any known manner, for example by riveting with a gap. The portion 14 forming the additional strap 10 and therefore also the case 3 are kept in the normal position by means of a locking/unlocking device 19 between the strap 12 and the additional strap 10 as can be seen in figure 4 showing the unfolded flat watch (figures 1 and 2). These locking/unlocking means may be of any known type, for example the illustrated pressure-type device, or a pusher-latch device.

Fig. 5 and 6 show, in top view, a flat second embodiment in which the watch is unfolded, which differs from the previous embodiments in that the pivot point 15 of the additional strap 14 is positioned on the strap 12 of the watch 5 at a twelve-point position. When watch case 3 is unfolded, as shown in fig. 6, it is apparent that display 7 will rotate. Case 3 is thus mounted rotatably about rotation point 9 on the end of additional strap 14. Watch case 3 can then be rotated 180 degrees to read display 7 normally when watch case 3 is positioned in the hand.

As with the first embodiment, the additional strap 14 may be flexible, but not longitudinally extendable. According to a variant also shown in fig. 5 and 6, the additional strap 14 may also be longitudinally extensible, to allow the user to have a better positioning in the palm or fingers of his hand. In the example shown, the additional band 14 is formed by a hollow sheath 14a, into which the tongue 14b can slide. Equally but not by way of limitation, strap 14 may be formed of spring-loaded links or of an elastic material. This variation is obviously applicable to the first embodiment in addition to the other embodiments which will now be described.

Fig. 7 and 8 show, in top view, a third embodiment of a flat type in which the watch is unfolded, which differs from the previous one in that the additional flexible band 10 is made in two parts 14, 16 hinged to each other by a second pivot point 25. The first part 14 comprises at its end a first pivot point 15 on the bracelet 5, the pivoting described in this embodiment taking place on the twelve-point strap 12.

The end of second portion 16 carries a fixedly mounted watch case 3. Double pivoting watch case 3 means that when watch case 3 is unfolded into the hand, display 7 thereof is in the normal reading position. When case 3 is in the normal position (fig. 7), first portion 14 is retained on bracelet 5 as previously by first locking/unlocking device 19 and second portion 16 is retained on bracelet 5 by second locking/unlocking device 29, second locking/unlocking device 29 being provided between the end of second portion 16 and first portion 14. It will be observed that the first locking/unlocking device 19 can be advantageously associated with the second pivoting device 25 to reduce the number of parts to be assembled.

Similarly, by making one or the other of the portions 14, 16 of the additional strap 10 extendable, the variations provided in the second embodiment will allow the pivot points 15, 25 to be closer to the centre of the wristband, for aesthetic purposes only.

Figures 9 and 10 show a fourth embodiment which has all the features of the previous embodiments, but differs from them in that the first portion 14 of the additional band 10 is pivotably mounted on the six-point band 6 of the bracelet 5. As in the second embodiment, this appears as the case 3 can be reoriented by rotation about the rotation point 9. This embodiment is therefore not further described.

Fig. 11 and 12 show a fifth embodiment which is identical in principle to the third and fourth embodiments, but which differs from them in that the coupling between the parts 14, 16 of the additional belt 10 is realized by means of a hinge 22. In such a case, after watch case 3 has been unfolded, first display 7 is located opposite the palm of the hand and is therefore not visible. However, this embodiment allows second display 7 to be provided on the back cover of case 3. In the example shown, the second display 7 is a compass, but any other type of display can be envisaged, ranging from a simple cosmetic mirror to a keyboard of a calculator, a telephone, a diary, etc. In the latter case, the displays 7 and 17 should of course be read oppositely, or the housing 3 should be rotated, as in the second and fourth embodiments. It will be observed that the basic pivot point 15 may be located on either of the straps 6, 12 of the watch band 5.

Fig. 13 and 14 show a sixth embodiment in perspective view, which differs from the previous embodiments in that the coupling between the parts 14 and 16 of the additional strap 10 is also achieved by means of a pivot pin 23 along the length of the second part 16, the second part 16 then being formed as two separate parts 16a, 16 b. Equally, this pivoting 24 may occur on the first portion 14 of the additional strap 10. This structure has the advantage of allowing either one of the display 7 and the display 17 to be read when the housing is deployed in the hand.

In the embodiment just described, the additional flexible strap 10 is made in one or two parts 14, 16. Fig. 15 and 16 show a seventh embodiment in which the additional strap 10 is made in more than two parts, i.e. in this example in three parts 14, 16 and 18. The first portion 14 comprises a pivot point 15 on the strap 5, as in the previous example. The second part 16 comprises a hinge 22 for connecting the second part 16 to the first part 14 as in the fifth embodiment. Third portion 18 is connected to second portion 16 by a second hinge 24 and supports case 3. These three parts 14, 16, 18 can be kept in the normal position by three locking/unlocking means of the type described above, hiding them or almost hiding them under watch case 3 in an accordion type fold. The double rotation about hinges 22, 24 allows display 7 to have a normal reading position when it is desired to place case 3 in the hand.

It will also be observed that, according to the variant shown, third portion 18 can be incorporated in case 3, hinge 24 then being formed by strip 20 at position 6 of display 7.

Furthermore, strip 20 or portion 20a shown to extend beyond corner 3a of watch case 3 for improved understanding may also form locking/unlocking means by snapping into peg 21 of strap 6 fixed to watch band 5. The same arrangement may be provided at the six-point position so that the number of locking/unlocking means may be returned to two.

Fig. 17 and 18 show in a simplified manner a variation applicable to the foregoing embodiment. These figures show the possibility of fitting watch case 3 into rigid case 13 provided at the end of additional strap 10 (in this case portion 16), for example by means of an S-spring which fits in slot 11a of said case 13. This allows, for example, the chronograph to be detached from the strap and fixed to a chain worn around the neck.

Similarly, rigid case 13 or watch case 3 may fit inside another rigid case 23, rigid case 23 being fixed to first portion 14 when additional strap 10 is in two parts, or rigid case 23 being fixed directly to strap 5 when additional strap 10 is in a single part. The rigid housing 23 may thus replace one of the locking/unlocking means.

Of course, these variations can be implemented in combination or separately for any of the embodiments, and one of ordinary skill in the art will contemplate other embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. Watch with an unfolded case (3), comprising a one-piece watchband or bracelet (5) fixed around the user's wrist by a clasp (8) connecting straps (6, 12) at six and twelve points, said case (3) carrying at least one watch movement and at least one first display (7) for the current time and for obtaining other time-related or non-time-related information, characterized in that the watch comprises an additional flexible strap (10) having one or several portions (14, 16, 18), one end of the additional flexible strap (10) having a pivot point (15) on one of the straps (6, 12) of the watchband (5), said pivot taking place around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the straps (6, 12), and the other end of the additional flexible strap (10) carrying the case (3), for holding said watchcase in a normal position by means of at least a first locking/unlocking means (19) or for unfolding said watchcase into a hand by acting on said at least first locking/unlocking means (19).

2. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional flexible strap (10) is a single part (14) and comprises a pivot point (15) on the strap (6) of the watchband (5) at six points, the watchcase (3) being fixedly mounted on the other end of the part (14) of the additional flexible strap (10).

3. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional flexible strap (10) is a single part (14) and comprises a pivot point (15) on the strap (12) of the watch band (5) at twelve points, the watch case (3) being rotatably mounted on the other end of the part (14) of the additional flexible strap (10) so as to be able to pivot 180 degrees.

4. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional flexible strap (10) is made in two parts (14, 16), the two parts (14, 16) being connected to each other by a second pivot point (25) about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the parts (14, 16) of the additional flexible strap (10), the first part (14) comprising at its end a pivot point (15) on the wristband (5) and at the other end said first locking/unlocking means (19), and the second part (16) carrying at its end the watch case (3) and the second locking/unlocking means (29).

5. Watch according to claim 4, characterised in that the pivot point (15) on the strap (5) is located below the strap (12) at twelve points, the case (3) being fixedly mounted on the end of the second part (16) of the additional flexible strap (10).

6. Watch according to claim 4, characterised in that the pivot point (15) on the strap (5) is located on the strap (6) at six points, the case (3) being rotatably mounted on the end of the second part (16) of the additional flexible strap (10).

7. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional flexible band (10) is made in two parts (14, 16) connected to each other by a hinge (22), the first part (14) comprising at its end a pivot point (15) on the bracelet (5) and the second part (16) carrying at its end a fixed watch case (3), the watch case (3) having in a normal position at least a first display (7) of the current time and on its opposite face a second display (17) of another piece of time-related or non-time-related information.

8. The watch according to claim 7, characterized in that the coupling between the two parts (14, 16) of the additional flexible strap (10) further comprises a pivot pin (23) along the length of said additional flexible strap (10).

9. Watch according to claim 7, characterised in that the watch case (3) is also rotatably mounted on the end portion (16) of the additional flexible band (10).

10. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional flexible band (10) is made in three parts (14, 16, 18), a first part (14) comprising at its end a pivot point (15) on the bracelet (5), a second part (16) connected to the first part (14) by a hinge (22) and a third part (18) connected to the second part (16) by a second hinge (24) while carrying the fixed case (3).

11. Watch according to claim 10, characterised in that the case (3) comprises a bar (20), one of which incorporates the second hinge (24) and forms said first locking/unlocking means (19) by fitting into a peg (21) fixed to the bracelet (5), the other of which forms the second locking/unlocking means (29) by fitting into another peg (21) also fixed to the bracelet (5).

12. A wristwatch according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the parts (14, 16, 18) of the additional flexible band (10) is also longitudinally extendable.

13. Watch according to claim 1, characterised in that the case (3) is fixed to the case (13), the case (13) itself being fixed to the additional flexible band (10).

14. Watch according to claim 13, characterised in that the case (3) can be detached from the case (13).

15. Watch according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the watch case (3) comprises external control members (2a, 2b) for the timing function.

16. A watch according to claim 15, characterized in that the control members (2a, 2b) are positioned at twelve points.

17. The watch according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and 8 to 14, characterized in that it comprises a second display (17) corresponding to a telephone function.