US1964334A - Novelty case - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1934- G. VERGER Er AL 1,964,334

NOVELTY CASE Filed may 9, 1929 3 sheets-sheet 1 June 26, 1934. G. VERGER m- AL l 1,964,334

NOVELTY CASE Filed May '9, 1929 s snee'cs-shee` 2 fave-alfort:

3 SheetsfSheet 3 June 26, 1934.

J/'gw iff/1 Patented .lune 216, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NOVELTY CASE Application May 9, 1929, Serial No. 361,800 In Switzerland February 11, 1929 10 Claims.

The present invention has for an object a box or case for watches or other articles, provided with a pivoting cover or shutter, covering the watch case, likewise pivoting and lodged inside the case, the raising of the cover and of the watch case taking place successively in two operations, by acting on push-pieces suitably arranged.

The cover and the watch case are provided, if necessary, with a catch device which allows them to be maintained in inclined open position.

The said opening in two operations can be realized, fo;1 example, by releasing of the watch case in a position of concealment in the bottom of the case by means of a hook or movable lug Whose disengagement is obtained by the pushpiece controlling the shutter forming the cover, at the end of the stroke ofthe said push-piece.

The case or box is applicable not only to watches but also small clocks or any other article which can be disposed in the case, instead of the watch case.

In certain cases the mechanism for latching the watch case in concealed position in the bottom of the box is eliminated, the said Watch case being maintained in such position concealed during the rst opening operation by means of a guard plate projecting from the exterior of the box and surrounding the push-piece controlling the opening of the watch case.

Under these conditions, during the first opening operation, it is the push-piece controlling the cover which alone is pushed in and determines the opening of the said cover, the thrust exerted by the nger on the push-piece controlling the watch case being without eiect because of the said guard plate against which abuts the finger. It is only by subsequently displacing this finger, in a way to avoid the said plate guard that the shoving in of the second push-piece is produced and consequently the raising of the watch-case.

The description which follows taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, given by way of example, will enable the manner of executing the invention to be well understood.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the case;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the case, in plan, on a larger scale with the shutter raised;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 5--5 of Fig. 4, with the shutter and the watch-case removed;

Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

(Cl. 20G-37) Fig. 7 is a view' analogous to Fig. 4 with the push-piece controlling the shutter pushed in;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the case in open position;

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a modified form of case;

Fig. 11 is the corresponding front elevational view;

Fig. 12 is a section along the line 12-12 of Fig. l1 with the case in closed position;

Fig. 13 is a section along the line 13-13 of Fig. 11 illustrating the first opening operation;

Fig. 14 is a similar section illustrating the second opening operation;

Fig. 15 is a section along the line 15-15 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 16 relates to a modification of Fig. 15.

Our case or box comprises a tubular flattened body or casing a, open at its two extremities a1 and a2 and in which the upper surface is provided with a slot or large opening b, covered by the pivoting shutter or cover c. Said shutter is mounted on hinges d along the lateral edge of the opening b. It is provided at the rear on each side with a tail e provided with a.slot in which engages a tenon ,f carried by each of the lateral arms g1 of push-piece g which slides at the extremity a1 of the case a.

At the opposite extremity a2 of the case a slides another push-piece h which controls, by means of tenons h1, tails or extensions i, provided with slots in which the said tenons engage, which tails i are provided at the rear and on each side of a watch case j pivotally mounted on a hinge at Ic along the edge of the recess b opposite to that which carries the hinge d of the shutter. Springs r1 and r2 are interposed between the extremities of the lateral arms of the push-pieces and maintain said push-pieces in the separated position indicated in Fig. l and for which the shutter c is folded up above the watch case y', itself concealed on the interior of the case, in such wise that said case is in closed position.

Inside the body of the case a are provided two opposite partitions, one of which is illustrated at Z in Fig. 6 and is situated on the side of pushpiece g. Said partition l carries through the medium of a small shaft m a pivotal hook n of which the lug n1 comes, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, into engagement with a notch o of the edge 7'1 of watch case i and, by bearing on the bottom o1 of the notch, maintains the said watch case in con-v cealed position on the inside of the case proper, which position is shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. A

spring p formed by a blade iixed at p1 on the external surface of partition l, as shown in Fig. 6, engages in a groove oi the hook n and maintains said hook in engagement with the watch case. The releasing of the said watch case takes place at the end oi the pushing on the push-piece g, due to the thrust exerted by the boss g2 of the said push-piece y, on the lower extremity n2 of the said hook 1i, which thrust causes the hook to rock and disengage the lug nl from the notch o.

' i gagement of the hook and rises by pivoting in the direction of the arrow F2 of Fig. 8, which causes the dial of the watch to appear.

If the push-pieces are slightly relaxed the watch case can remain in raised and inclined poi sition by bearing of the stem of the Watch in a small notch o furnished on the internal surface of the shutter c, as indicated in Fig. 9. We may provide any other releasing device for the watch case in open position.

For closing the case, it is merely necessary to I bear on the push-pieces for disengaging the stem from the said notch and then release the pushpieces in a way that the watch case by lowering becomes automatically locked in the interior of the case, the shutter c subsequently folding over upon the said watch case. The pivoting of the watch case and of the shutter in opposite directions to the arrows Fl and F2 takes place under the action or" the return springs r1 and r2 provided w between the lateral arms of the push-pieces.

It is to be understood that modifications can be introduced into the device when constructing the case which has just been described without departing from the spirit of the invention as com- 1 prehended within the scope of the present claims.

In particular the control of the shutter and of the watch case may be realized in any other manner, for example, by a tongue adapted to push an extension or central bracket of the shutter and of the watch case.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 10 to 16, the opening in two operations is accomplished in a way which will now be described with reference to said gures.

The push-piece h which controls the opening of the watch case is surrounded at the projecting part on the outside of the case by a stationary guard plate o as shown in section in Fig. 15, the said plate being soldered or secured in any suitable manner to the case or box a.

The edge q1 of the plate lies iiush with the external edge h2 of the push-piece IL, as shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Under these conditions, if the case is seized in 1. the hand and the thumb is applied against the push-piece It whereas the middle finger and index finger are applied against the push-piece g, it will be obvious that by drawing the fingers together, it is only the push-piece g which becomes pushed in the case, by the fact that the thumb abuts and is stopped against the edge q1 of the guard plate q forming a stationary point and having no effect on the push-piece 7i.

There is therefore determined the rst opening operation illustrated in Fig. 13, during which it is only the cover c of the case which raises uncovering the watch case which remains in the bottom of the case and thus allows the time to be seen.

If it is desired to raise the watch case, that is instigate the second opening operation, it is merely necessary to place the thumb near the bottom in a way that it avoids the guard plate q and push on the push-piece h, as shown in Fig. 14.

The opening of the watch case 7' is then determined, the said watch case and the cover being able to rest in latched position as indicated in Fig. 9 of the drawings after the fashion of a travellers clock, the watch case and the cover then being in the inclined position represented by the axes shown by the dotted lines k k1 and d dl of Fig. 14.

It is to be understood that the manipulation of the case, for producing the second opening operation, might be brought about by taking the body of the case in one hand and by acting with the other hand on the two push-pieces in a way that the linger which must shove the push-piece h exerts its force lightly beneath the guard plate q in order to avoid the said plate.

The guard plate may be given a variable shape or contour, the said plate being composed for example of two parts q2 and Q3 as indicated in section in Fig. 16.

Having described our invention what we claim .'j'

as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a novelty case of the kind described the combination of an open casing, a watch case pivoted at one end of said casing adapted to be swung within said casing, a cover pivoted at the 1.2-

other end of said casing, adapted to close over said watch case, a push piece slidably mounted in each end of said casing, means for operatively connecting said push pieces to said watch case and said cover respectively so as to cause said watch case and said cover to swing open when said push pieces are moved inwardly, means on said casing for locking said watch oase within said casing, and means, operatively connected to the push piece that controls the cover, for releasing i said locking means near the end of the inward stroke of said push pieces.

2. In a novelty case of the type described, the combination of an open casing, a watch case pivoted at one end of said casing adapted to be on said casing for locking said watch within said casing, and means, operatively connected to the push piece that controls the cover, for releasing said locking means near the end of the inward stroke of said push piece.

3. In a novelty case of the type described, the

combination of an open casing, a watchcase pivoted at one end of said casing adapted to be swung within said casing, said Watchcase being provided with a notch, a cover pivoted at the other end of said casing adapted to close over said watchcase,

obliquely disposed tails on said cover and said 111 watchcase, push-pieces slidably mounted one in each end of said casing, and operatively connected to each of said tails respectively for causing said cover and said watchcase to swing upwardly away from said casing, a partition disposed in said casing, a hook pivoted to said partition, a lug on said hook adapted to engage said notch in the watchcase, and a boss on the pushpiece which controls said cover, adapted to trip said hook near the end of the stroke thereof.

4. In a novelty case of the type described, the combination of an open casing a watch case pivoted at one end of said casing adapted to be swung within said casing, said watch case being provided with a notch, a cover pivoted at the other end of said casing adapted to close over said watch case, a push-piece slidably mounted in each end of said casing means for operatively connecting said push pieces to said watch case and said cover respectively so as to cause said watch case and said cover to swing open when said push pieces are moved inwardly, a partition disposed in said casing, a hook pivoted to said partition, a lug on said hook, a leaf spring cooperating with said hook adapted to cause said lug to engage said notch, and a boss on said remote push-piece adapted to trip said hook near the end of the stroke thereof.

5. In a novelty case of the type described, the combination of an open casing, a watch case pivoted at one end of said casing adapted to be swung within said casing, said watch case being provided with a notch, a cover pivoted at the other end of said casing adapted to close over said watch case, a push-piece slidably mounted in each end of said casing, obliquely disposed tails on said cover and said watch case slidably engaged by said push-pieces for causing said cover and said watch case to swing open when said push pieces are moved inwardly, a partition disposed in said casing, a hook pivoted to said partition, a lug on said hook adapted to engage saidnotch, a leaf spring normally pressing said lug in said notch, and a boss on said push-piece which controls said cover adapted to trip said hook near the end of the stroke thereof.

6. A novelty case according to claim 1 in which the inner face of the cover is provided with a notch, and a winding stem on said watch case adapted to engage said watch so as to engage said notch for holding said watch case in an inclined position.

'7. In a watch having an exterior casing with an outwardly swinging cover hinged near one end of said casing and in which casing said watch is also hinged near the other end thereof so as to swing outwardly after said cover has first been swung away from it, the combination, with said above described apparatus, of mechanism located mainly in said casing but having members projecting oppositely therefrom, said mechanism being operatively connected to said watch and to said cover and acting, when the projecting portions thereof are subjected to external pressure exerted toward the interior of said casing, to first cause said cover to swing outwardly and thereafter, if said pressure is continued, to cause said watch also to swing outwardly.

8. A combination such as defined in claim 7 in which said mechanism comprises oppositely disposed plungers projecting through said watch casing end walls, spring means tending to force both said plungers outward, a projection extending radially from the axis of the hinge of said cover and engaging one of said plungers and a similar projection on said watch engaging the other plunger, a lock for holding the watch down in the casing and means for releasing said lock after the plunger connected to the cover has first been pushed inwardly a distance sufiicient to at least partially raise said cover.

9. A combination such as defined in claim '7 in which the portion of said mechanism allowing said watch to be swung upward only after said cover has been initially raised, comprises a lock normally holding said watch in said casing and a plunger connected to said cover to swing it upward when said plunger is initially pressed into the casing, said plunger also having a part engaging and tripping said lock after said plunger has been pressed in far enough to raise said cover.

10. A combination such as defined in claim 'l in which the portion of said mechanism allowing said watch to be swung upward only after said cover has been initially raised, comprises a projection from said casing partially masking the plunger connected to said watch; whereby hand pressure applied to that side of the casing will normally be resisted by said mask until the operator avoids it and thus shifts his hand pressure to the adjacent plunger.

GEORGES VERGER. HENRI VERGER. JEAN WEIL.

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