Watch case cleaning device

Abstract

A cleaning device for a wristwatch comprising: a chamber into which the wristwatch (including the case lugs) may be inserted while leaving the attached watchband mostly outside the chamber; a fluid within the chamber; and an oleophilic, low-friction particulate medium that is agitated by mechanical means to bring the particulate medium into contact with the metal surface of the watch case and remove surface contaminants therefrom.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 378,522, filed October 6, 2022. [Background technology]

[0002] Background of the Invention Luxury watches are frequently housed in precious metal cases that are somewhat prone to scratches / abrasions due to the relative softness of the metals used (18k gold or platinum), especially when the strap is removed (to replace or clean the case / head). When worn, skin oils and other environmental contaminants build up on the watch case, which in turn attract other surface contaminants that, if left on the case, mar its appearance and further deteriorate the metal surface finish. Ideally, such watches should be carefully cleaned of contaminants after each wear before storing them in a storage case or watch winder. However, in practice, most owners of these watches simply wipe them with a soft cloth, which is completely ineffective at reaching the interior of the lugs, where grease and grit collect. The only way to thoroughly clean the watch case / head is to remove the strap, which is accomplished by jamming a metal spring bar tool between the strap and the interior of the lugs and prying the metal spring bars apart. This process results in the spring bar tool and the spring bar itself scratching / gouging the soft metal lugs during both the removal and reinstallation process. Therefore, there is a need for a simple, automatic method to adequately remove environmental contaminants from the metal cases of such watches (and other jewelry) without removing the strap. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] Brief description of the invention According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a chamber is provided into which a watch (including case lugs) can be inserted while leaving the attached watchband largely outside the chamber. After sealing the chamber, the internal fluid (which may be air, a dry gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, or a liquid such as a high vapor pressure fluorinated hydrocarbon) and oleophilic, low-abrasion particulate medium are agitated by mechanical means (e.g., a pump, fan, ultrasonic transducer, etc.) to bring the particulate medium into contact with the metal surface of the watch case. In this manner, surface contaminants, including skin oils, are transferred to the particulate medium by absorption and / or adsorption and to the fluid by dissolution, frictional removal and suspension, or similar mechanisms. After a suitable period of agitation, the chamber is unsealed, and the watch is removed and, optionally, further polished, if necessary, by conventional methods. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Figure 1] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Detailed Description of the Invention 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective view. Watch cleaner 100 comprises a base 110 and a chamber enclosure 150, each of which is provided with a sealing device 130 at the circumference where they meet. Sealing device 130 may be any suitable seal for containing the fluid to be contained within the chamber defined by base 110 and chamber enclosure 150, such as a flexible elastomeric seal, a smooth mating surface, or the like.

[0006] Disposed within the base 110 and in fluid communication with the chamber is an agitator 120. The agitator 120 may be any suitable device for causing circulation and turbulence of the fluid contained in the chamber. For example, if the fluid is air, dry carbon dioxide, dry nitrogen, or a similar gas, a fan or venturi may be used as the agitator. If the fluid is a liquid (e.g., distilled water, fluorinated hydrocarbon, or supercritical carbon dioxide), a pump may be used to agitate the fluid. Of course, the agitator may be provided with fluid flow into or out of the base 110 in a separate unit.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment, an elastomeric seal is used to allow the strap, which is attached to the case lugs of the watch 140, to protrude outside the chamber to minimize contact between the strap and the fluid and particulate medium 160 inside the chamber. Alternatively, a custom peripheral surface may be used to perform the same function, or the strap or band may be protected using a temporary sleeve or coating.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment, an oleophilic, low-abrasion particulate medium 160 is placed in the chamber prior to sealing it. Preferably, this medium is cellulose microfiber, which has low abrasion properties, a high affinity for nonpolar molecules, and a high surface area-to-volume ratio. One source of such material is cotton fibers, which produce "dust" or "lint," and in particular the very short, unbleached, undyed cotton fibers that are typically filtered from the air during cotton yarn production. Alternatively, other less abrasive natural cellulose fibers, such as ash and lignin, may be used. Another alternative is synthetic cellulose fibers, such as rayon or viscose, which may be preferred because the abrasiveness of the fibers can be controlled during production. If necessary, specially treated cotton can be prepared to be superoleophilic by the method described in Liping Liang, Yanyan Dong, Wang Xu & Xu Meng (2021) “Fabrication of hydrophobic / oleophilic cotton fabric based on thiol-ene click reaction for oil / water separation”, The Journal of Textile Institute, DOI: 10.1080 / 00405000.2021.1952805.

[0009] In one embodiment, a cycle timer (not shown) is provided to operate the agitator 120 of the present invention to provide sufficient contact between the particulate media 160 and the watch 140 case. In yet another embodiment, an optical sensor is used to monitor the surface of the watch case. By observing the reflection of an image from the metal surface, the reduction of contaminants during agitation can be determined, and agitation can be stopped in a timely manner. (Example)

[0010] example A Patek Philippe Calatrava 5227J watch with a yellow gold case and a polished alligator strap was worn for one day, resulting in the accumulation of a visible coating of contaminants on the case. 5 g of cotton fiber particulate media was loaded into a watch case cleaning device of the present invention, and the watch case was placed in the chamber with the strap protruding from the seal. The chamber was sealed, and the agitator was turned on for 60 seconds. After allowing the particulate media to settle, the device was gently agitated to sprinkle the particulate media into the base. The chamber was opened, and the watch was removed. The watch case was visually free of contaminants. After gently wiping it with a clean, dry, lint-free cotton cloth, the gold elements were observed to have a clean, mirror-like finish, and there was no visible contaminant on the crystal.

[0011] While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words used are words of description rather than of limitation, and that changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention in its broader aspects. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the range and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the spirit of the invention. The inventors further request that the scope to be given to the claims be accorded the broadest possible interpretation permitted under law as existing on the filing date of the claims (and of the application from which this application has priority, if any), and that any narrowing of the scope of the appended claims by reason of subsequent changes in law be prohibited, since such narrowing would amount to ex post facto adjudication and without due process or just compensation.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for the non-abrasive removal of surface contaminants from a watch case, comprising: a. a base having a cavity containing an agitator, a platform adapted to immovably position a watch case within said cavity, and a first peripheral sealing surface; b. a chamber enclosure having a second peripheral sealing surface; An apparatus comprising:

2. a. the mount is adapted to position a watch case having an attached wrist strap within the cavity; b. the sealing surface conforms to a wristwatch band to allow the strap to be positioned across the sealing surface from inside the chamber to outside the chamber; 10. The apparatus of claim 1.

3. a. an oleophilic, low-wear particulate medium disposed within the base cavity and the chamber enclosure; The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

4. a. an oleophilic, low-wear particulate medium disposed within the base cavity and the chamber enclosure; The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

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