Watch with case cap retainer and case cap

Abstract

The design and purpose of a wristwatch is to display the time. [Solution] This disclosure provides an exemplary wristwatch. The wristwatch includes a housing having (a) a first face and a second face and a cavity extending between the first face and the second face, wherein the first face includes a first bezel coupled to a first transparent crystal; (b) a disc disposed within the cavity between the first face and the second face and coupled to the housing, wherein the disc has a dial for displaying the time; and (c) a case cap detachably coupled to the second face of the housing, wherein the case cap has a first side configured to fit with the second face of the housing and a second side configured to be engraved.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] ,

[0001] (Cross - Reference to Related Applications) This application is a U.S. partial continuation patent application claiming priority to U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29 / 882,519, filed on January 16, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Background Art

[0002] Initial mechanical wristwatches served as time - display devices, but now also function as fashion accessories for consumers. Most existing wristwatch designs with mechanical movements employ conventional hour, minute, and second hands for time display. The axes of the hour, minute, and second hands are typically positioned at the same point, although some designs have these axes arranged at different positions on the dial. The movement of the hands of a wristwatch is generally determined by the watch's gear system.

[0003] Wristwatches have evolved to include automatic movements so that the wristwatch can be self - winding. An automatic - winding wristwatch uses a weighted mechanism to capture energy from the wearer's wrist movement and store that energy in the watch's mainspring.

[0004] Since the advent of automatic movements, quartz movements have been developed. Quartz wristwatches rely on a battery, thereby eliminating the need for winding by the wearer. The battery within a quartz wristwatch generates an electric current, which causes vibrations in a quartz piece inside the watch. This crystal piece vibrates at a specific frequency to maintain the accuracy of the watch's time display.

[0005] [[ID=2⑥]]The design and purpose of the aforementioned wristwatches is to display time.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure provides a case cap device and a watch device having a case back configured to be detachably coupled to the case cap. Advantageously, this novel system allows for the replacement of a first detachable case cap with a second detachable case cap, for example, by substituting an alternative material such as engraved material or other personalization material, or a different metal. When the case cap is replaced, the case back remains in place, protecting the watch movement control system.

[0007] In one beneficial implementation, the case cap retainer is coupled to the case back of the watch to detachably connect with the case cap device. This modification allows the user to remove and attach the case cap to the base back without relying on separate tools or other instruments, and without the service of a professional jeweler.

[0008] In a first embodiment, an exemplary wristwatch is disclosed. The wristwatch includes a casing comprising (a) a housing having a first face and a second face and a cavity extending between the first face and the second face, wherein the first face includes a first bezel coupled to a first transparent crystal; (b) a disc disposed within the cavity between the first face and the second face and coupled to the housing, wherein the disc includes a dial for displaying the time; and (c) a case cap detachably coupled to the second face of the housing, wherein the case cap has a first side configured to fit with the second face of the housing and a second side configured to be engraved.

[0009] In a second embodiment, an exemplary case cap for coupling to the case back of a wristwatch is disclosed. The case cap includes a casing having (a) a first side which is circular and configured to mate with the case back of a wristwatch housing and a second side which includes a flat surface configured to be laser-engraved or acid-engraved, and (b) an opening located on the first side of the casing and configured to receive a case cap retainer through the opening, wherein the casing defines a cavity communicating with the opening, and the cavity is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the case cap retainer and to allow rotation of the retention rim of the case cap retainer.

[0010] The features, functions, and advantages discussed herein can be achieved individually in various embodiments or in combination in other embodiments, and further details thereof can be understood by referring to the following description and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a bottom view of a wristwatch, showing one exemplary implementation configuration in which the case cap is attached to the case back of the wristwatch. [Figure 2] This is a bottom view showing a case cap retainer attached to the case back of a watch, with the case cap removed, in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 3] This is a top view of the first face of a watch housing in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 4] This is a right-side view of a wristwatch, showing one exemplary implementation configuration in which the case cap is attached to the case back of the wristwatch. [Figure 5] This is a left side view of a wristwatch in one exemplary implementation configuration, with the case cap in the detached position. [Figure 6]This is a front view of a case cap retainer attached to the case back of a wristwatch, in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 7] This is a top view of the first side of the casing of the case cap in a disconnected position, according to one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 8] This is a second side view of the casing of the case cap in a disconnected position, according to one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 9] This is a bottom view of a case cap retainer in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 10] This is a top view of a case cap retainer in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 11] This is a bottom view of a triangular-shaped case cap retainer in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 12] This is a bottom view of a case cap retainer having a rectangular or square shape, in one exemplary mounting configuration. [Figure 13] This is a bottom view of a case cap retainer having a pentagonal shape, representing one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 14] This is a bottom view of a hexagonal case cap retainer in one exemplary implementation configuration. [Figure 15] This is a bottom view of a case cap retainer coupled to the case back of a watch by a reciprocal locking mechanism, in one exemplary implementation. [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a reciprocal locking mechanism, seen through line AA, in one exemplary implementation, where, when the case cap is in the locked position, a male ball plunger is coupled to the case back and seated within a female ball detent coupled to the case cap. [Figure 17] This is a top view of a case cap in one exemplary configuration, where the case cap retainer interface-engaged with the case back such that, in the unlocked position before rotation or removal, it aligns with the opening of the case cap and is located within the cavity of the case cap. [Figure 18] Top view of a case cap retainer rotating within the cavity of a case cap, out of alignment with the opening of the case cap, and interfacing with a case back such that the case cap is in a locked position and coupled to the case back, according to one exemplary implementation. [Figure 19] Top view of the top surface of the first side of the casing of a case cap in the decoupled position, according to one exemplary implementation. [Figure 20] Bottom view of the second side of the casing of a case cap in the decoupled position, according to one exemplary implementation.

[0012] The drawings are for illustrative purposes of examples, and it is understood that the present invention is not limited to the configurations and means shown in the drawings.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Figures 1 - 20 depict a wristwatch 100 including a housing 105 having a first face 110 and a second face 115, and a cavity 106 extending between the first face 110 and the second face 115. The first face 110 includes a first bezel 111 coupled to a first transparent windshield 112. The wristwatch 100 further includes a disk 120 disposed within the cavity 106 between the first face 110 and the second face 115 and coupled to the housing 105. The disk 120 includes a dial 121 for displaying time. The wristwatch 100 also includes a case cap 125 removably coupled to the second face 115 of the housing 105. The case cap 125 includes a casing 126 having a first side 127 configured to mate with the second face 115 of the housing 105 and a second side 128 configured to be engraved.

[0014] In one optional implementation shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 9, 11-15, and 17-18, the wristwatch 100 includes a case cap retainer 130 coupled to the second face 115 of the housing 105. The case cap 125 is removably coupled to the case cap retainer 130. As shown in FIG. 6, the case cap retainer 130 has a support 131 at a first end 132 coupled to the second face 115 of the housing 105 and a retention rim 133 at a second end 134.

[0015] In this exemplary implementation, as shown in FIG. 7, the case cap 125 has an opening 135 disposed on the first side surface 127 of the casing 126 and is configured to receive the case cap retainer 130 through the opening. The casing 126 defines a cavity 136 that communicates with the opening 135. As shown in FIG. 17, the cavity 136 receives at least a portion of the case cap retainer 130 and allows rotation of the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 to a locked position on the housing 105, whereby, as shown in FIG. 18, the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 is sized and shaped to be displaced from alignment with the opening 135 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125.

[0016] In an optional implementation, the shape of the opening 135 of the case cap 125 and the shape of the retention rim 133 are the same. For example, the shape of the retention rim 133 is oval (FIG. 9), triangular (FIG. 11), rectangular or square (FIG. 12), pentagonal (FIG. 13), or hexagonal (FIG. 14).

[0017] In another optional implementation, the watch 100 includes at least one locking mechanism 140 having reciprocal male 141 and female 142 components coupled to the first side 127 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125 and the second face 115 of the housing 105. In a further optional implementation shown in Figure 16, the at least one locking mechanism 140 is in the form of a ball detent 142 coupled to or defined by one of the second face 115 of the housing 105 and the first side 127 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125, and a ball plunger 141, including but not limited to a capsa ball, coupled to the other of the second face 115 of the housing 105 and the first side 127 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125.

[0018] During operation, in the unlocked position, when the case cap retainer 130 is received through the opening 135 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125, the male and female components 141, 142 of the at least one locking mechanism 140 are not aligned. In the locked position, as the case cap 125 rotates around the support 131 of the case cap retainer 130, the male and female components 141, 142 of the at least one locking mechanism 140 are aligned and mated together. In various implementations, when the male and female components 141, 142 first engage with each other, the at least one locking mechanism 140 may provide tactile or audible feedback.

[0019] In another optional implementation, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, the cavity 136 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125 is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 to rotate at least 15 degrees within the cavity 136. Such rotation of the retention rim 133 moves it out of alignment with the opening 136 of the case cap 125, thereby retaining the case cap on the watch housing. The retention rim 133 may be rotated to realign with the opening 135 of the case cap 125 in order to remove the case cap 125 from the case back 115 of the watch 100. In a further exemplary implementation, the cavity 136 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125 is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 to rotate up to 75 degrees.

[0020] In one optional implementation, at least one locking mechanism 140 includes two locking mechanisms positioned 180 degrees apart on the second face 115 of the housing 105 and 180 degrees apart on the first side surface 127 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125.

[0021] In an alternative, optional implementation, as shown in Figures 19 and 20, the outer circumference 124 of the case cap 125 includes at least one through-hole 145 configured to receive a removable connector in the form of a threaded screw, and the second face 115 of the housing 105 includes at least one threaded cavity 146, the at least one threaded cavity 146 configured to receive a threaded screw when the at least one through-hole 145 of the case cap 125 is concentrically aligned with the at least one threaded cavity 146 of the second face 115 of the housing 105.

[0022] In another optional implementation shown in Figure 8, the second side surface 128 of the casing 126 of the case cap 125 includes a flat surface 129 configured to be laser-engraved or acid-engraved. In a further optional implementation, the outer periphery 124 of the case cap 125 is chamfered.

[0023] In yet another optional implementation, as shown in Figures 2 and 16, the second face 115 of the housing 105 includes a second bezel 116 coupled to a second transparent crystal 117. This implementation allows observation of the watch movement control system 150, including, for example, gears and spindles, when the case cap 125 is uncoupled from the case back 115 of the watch 100. In an alternative implementation, the second face 115 of the housing 105 is opaque.

[0024] In yet another optional implementation, the disk 120 has a through hole 122 located in the center of the disk 120. In this implementation, the watch 100 further includes a shaft 151 disposed within the through hole 122 of the disk 120. The watch 100 includes at least one hand 123 for displaying the time, coupled to a first end 152 of the shaft 151 between a first face 110 of the housing 105 and a first side surface 113 of the disk 120. The watch 100 also includes a watch movement control system 150, coupled to a second end 153 of the shaft 151 between a second side surface 114 of the disk 120 and a second face 115 of the housing 105.

[0025] In a further optional implementation, the wristwatch 100 includes a rotatable knob 155 coupled to a wristwatch movement control system 150 and configured to move at least one hand 123 for displaying the time. The rotatable knob 155 is coupled to a side 107 of the housing 105 between a first face 110 and a second face 115.

[0026] In yet another optional implementation, the wristwatch 100 includes two pairs of lugs 160a, 160b extending from opposing ends 108a, 108b of the housing 105 between the first face 110 and the second face 115.

[0027] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a case cap 125 for coupling with the case back 115 of a wristwatch 100 is provided. As used herein, the second face 115 of the housing 105 corresponds to the case back 115 of the wristwatch 100. The case cap 125 includes a casing 126 having a first side surface 127 configured to mate with the case back 115 of the wristwatch housing 105, and a second side surface 128 having a flat surface 129 configured to be laser-engraved or acid-engraved.

[0028] For the purpose of illustrating the case cap 125 and case back 115 (i.e., the second face 115 of the housing 105), the wristwatch 100 is illustrated and described as being substantially circular, but it should be understood that it is within the scope of this disclosure that the case cap 125 and case back 115 may be made in any shape, such as square, rectangular, octagonal, oval, elliptical, triangular, or any other shape that may be desired.

[0029] In one optional implementation, the case cap 125 of the second embodiment of the present disclosure also includes an opening 135, which is located on a first side surface 127 of the casing 126 and configured to receive a case cap retainer 130 through the opening. The casing 126 defines a cavity 136 communicating with the opening 135. The cavity 136 is sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the case cap retainer 130 and to allow rotation of the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130.

[0030] In an exemplary configuration, the case cap 125 includes at least one male component 141 or female component 142 of a reciprocal locking mechanism 140 coupled to a first side surface 127 of the casing 126. In one variation, the at least one male or female component 141, 142 of the reciprocal locking mechanism 140 includes at least one ball detent coupled to or defined by the first side surface 127 of the case cap 125. In another variation, the at least one male component 141 or female component 142 of the reciprocal locking mechanism 140 includes at least one ball plunger coupled to the first side surface 127 of the case cap 125.

[0031] In one optional implementation shown in Figures 17 and 18, at least one male or female component 141, 142 (or a combination thereof) of the reciprocal locking mechanism 140 includes two male or female components 141, 142 positioned 180 degrees apart so as to face each other.

[0032] In yet another optional implementation, the shape of the opening 135 of the case cap 125 may be oval, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal (see, for example, the exemplary case cap retainer 130 having the same shape as the case cap opening 135 in Figures 9 and 11-14).

[0033] In yet another optional implementation, the cavity 136 of the case cap 125 is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 to rotate at least 15 degrees. Furthermore, optionally, the cavity 136 of the case cap 125 is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim 133 of the case cap retainer 130 to rotate up to 75 degrees.

[0034] In further optional implementation configurations, the outer circumference 124 of the case cap 125 is chamfered. In further implementation configurations, as shown in Figures 1, 4, and 5, grooves may be repeatedly cut into the outer circumference 124 of the case cap 125.

[0035] While the wristwatch 100 and the case cap 125 for mounting it have been described and illustrated in accordance with this disclosure for the purpose of illustrating a manner in which the device may be advantageously used, it should be recognized that this disclosure is not limited thereto. Accordingly, any and all modifications and variations that a person skilled in the art could conceive of are deemed to be within the scope of the claims and intent appended herein.

Claims

1. It is a wristwatch, A housing comprising a first face and a second face, and a cavity extending between the first face and the second face, wherein the first face comprises a first bezel coupled to a first transparent crystal, A disk comprising a dial for displaying time, disposed within the cavity between the first face and the second face and coupled to the housing, the disk comprising a dial for displaying time, A wristwatch comprising a case cap detachably coupled to the second face of the housing, wherein the case cap comprises a casing having a first side configured to fit with the second face of the housing and a second side configured to be engraved.

2. The wristwatch according to claim 1, further comprising a case cap retainer coupled to the second face of the housing, wherein the case cap is detachably coupled to the case cap retainer.

3. The wristwatch according to claim 2, wherein the case cap retainer has a support at a first end coupled to the second face of the housing and a retention rim at a second end.

4. The wristwatch according to claim 2, wherein the case cap has an opening located on the first side surface of the casing and is configured to receive the case cap retainer through the opening, the casing is sized and shaped to define a cavity communicating with the opening, the cavity receiving at least a portion of the case cap retainer and allowing the retention rim to rotate to a locked position on the housing, thereby disengaging the retention rim of the case cap retainer from alignment with the opening of the casing.

5. The wristwatch according to claim 4, wherein the shape of the opening of the case cap and the shape of the retention rim are the same.

6. The wristwatch according to claim 5, wherein the shape of the retention rim is oval, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal.

7. The wristwatch according to claim 4, further comprising at least one locking mechanism having reciprocal male and female components, wherein the reciprocal male and female components are coupled to the first side of the casing of the case cap and the second face of the housing.

8. The wristwatch according to claim 7, wherein the at least one locking mechanism is in the form of a ball detent coupled to or defined by one of the second face of the housing and the first side surface of the casing of the case cap, and a ball plunger coupled to the other of the second face of the housing and the first side surface of the casing of the case cap.

9. The wristwatch according to claim 7, wherein the male and female components of the at least one locking mechanism are disaligned in the unlocked position when the case cap retainer is received through the opening of the casing of the case cap, and the male and female components of the at least one locking mechanism are aligned and fitted together in the locked position.

10. The wristwatch according to claim 9, wherein the cavity of the case cap is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim of the case cap retainer to rotate at least 15 degrees.

11. The wristwatch according to claim 10, wherein the cavity of the case cap is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim of the case cap retainer to rotate up to 75 degrees.

12. The wristwatch according to claim 9, wherein the at least one locking mechanism comprises two locking mechanisms positioned 180 degrees apart on the second face of the housing and 180 degrees apart on the first side surface of the case cap.

13. The wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the case cap includes at least one through-hole configured to receive a removable connector in the form of a threaded screw, the second face of the housing comprises at least one threaded cavity, the at least one threaded cavity configured to receive the threaded screw when the at least one through-hole of the case cap is concentrically aligned with the at least one threaded cavity of the second face of the housing.

14. The wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the second side surface of the case cap is a flat surface configured to be laser engraved or acid engraved.

15. The wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of the case cap is chamfered.

16. The wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the second face of the housing comprises a second bezel coupled to a second transparent crystal.

17. The wristwatch according to claim 1, wherein the housing and the second face are opaque.

18. The disc has a through hole located in the center of the disc, and the wristwatch is A shaft disposed within the through hole of the disk, A first hand for displaying the time is coupled to the first end of the shaft between the first face of the housing and the first side surface of the disk, The wristwatch according to claim 1, further comprising: a wristwatch movement control system coupled to the second end of the shaft between the second side surface of the disc and the second face of the housing.

19. The wristwatch according to claim 17, further comprising a rotatable knob coupled to the wristwatch movement control system and configured to move at least one hand for displaying the time, wherein the rotatable knob is coupled to the side of the housing between the first face and the second face.

20. The wristwatch according to claim 1, further comprising two pairs of lugs extending from opposing ends of the housing between the first face and the second face.

21. A case cap for attaching to the case back of a wristwatch, A case cap comprising a casing, the casing having a first side surface configured to engage with the case back of a watch housing, and a second side surface having a flat surface configured to be laser-engraved or acid-engraved.

22. The case cap according to claim 21, further comprising an opening, the opening being located on the first side of the casing and configured to receive a case cap retainer through the opening, the casing defining a cavity communicating with the opening, the cavity being sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the case cap retainer and to allow rotation of the retention rim of the case cap retainer.

23. The case cap according to claim 22, further comprising at least one male or female component of a reciprocal locking mechanism coupled to the first side surface of the casing.

24. The case cap according to claim 23, wherein the at least one male or female component of the reciprocal locking mechanism comprises at least one ball detent coupled to or defined by the first side surface of the case cap.

25. The case cap according to claim 23, wherein the at least one male or female component of the reciprocal locking mechanism comprises at least one ball plunger coupled to the first side surface of the case cap.

26. The case cap according to claim 23, wherein the at least one male or female component of the reciprocal locking mechanism comprises two male or female components, the two male or female components are arranged 180 degrees apart so as to face each other.

27. The case cap according to claim 21, wherein the shape of the opening of the case cap is oval, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, or hexagonal.

28. The case cap according to claim 21, wherein the cavity of the case cap is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim of the case cap retainer to rotate by at least 15 degrees.

29. The case cap according to claim 27, wherein the cavity of the case cap is sized and shaped to allow the retention rim of the case cap retainer to rotate up to 75 degrees.

30. The case cap according to claim 21, wherein the outer circumference of the case cap is chamfered and / or grooves are carved into the outer circumference of the case cap in a repeating manner.

31. The case cap according to claim 21, wherein the outer circumference of the case cap includes at least one through-hole configured to receive a removable connector in the form of a threaded screw, and the second face of the housing comprises at least one threaded cavity, the at least one threaded cavity configured to receive the threaded screw when the at least one through-hole of the case cap is concentrically aligned with the at least one threaded cavity of the second face of the housing.

Images