US2792684A - Crystal and bezel assembly - Google Patents

Description

I y 1, 1957 H. DINSTMAN\ CRYSTAL AND BEZEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 15, 1956 FYMAQ AI'IZN/Vf) JNVENTOR. DINSTMAN United States Patent CRYSTAL AND BEZEL ASSEMBLY Hyman Dinstman, New York, N. Y.

Application April 13, 1956, Serial No. 577,989

4 Claims. (CI. 58-91) This invention relates to an improved crystal and watch bezel.

The invention concerns a means for mounting a transparent flexible plastic crystal in a watch bezel in an easy and effective manner.

It is a principal object to provide an improved mounting means for a watch crystal.

It is a further object to provide a crystal with a plurality of lateral projections for engagement in correspond ing recesses in a bezel.

It is a further object to provide a simpler and more economical structure for a fancy watch bezel to secure a crystal therein.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a plan view of a watch with bezel and crystal embodying the invention, parts being shown broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an oblique plan view of the crystal showing the mounting lugs.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on lines 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an oblique plan view of a watchcase showing a bezel according to the invention.

In Fig. 1 the watchcase has a substantially rectangular frame 11 in which is set the rectangular crystal 12. The body of the crystal and frame may be bowed or arcuate as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. A ledge 13 is provided at each side of the rectangular wall or rim 14 of the frame. The ledge 15 is on a lower level than ledge 13 at each end of the frame. Just above the ledges in the sides of wall 14 are arcuate slots or recesses 16, 17 adjacent ledges 13 and 15, respectively. The crystal is provided with laterally disposed lugs 18 and 19 which fit into the recesses 16 and 17 respectively. The ends 20 of the crystal body are deeper or depend further from the body than the sides 21 and the lugs 19 are consequently on a lower level than lugs 18. Recesses 17 are similarly on a lower level than recesses 16.

The watchcase is provided with the strap supports 22 in which are recesses 23 for engagement of a suitable pintle of a watch band.

Crystal 12 will generally be formed by a suitable molding method of transparent material such as an acrylic, butyrate, urea, epoxy or other plastic. The material must be rather hard to resist scratching, yet must be flexible to a limited extent. This flexibility is necessary because the sides 20 and 21 must flex slightly as the lugs are snapped into the recesses 16 and 17. Once the crystal is mounted in this manner with sides 20, 21 juxtaposed to the sides of wall 14, the crystal will not come loose under all ordinary conditions encountered in daily use of a watch of the type shown. It is not necessary that the crystal and watchcase be bowed. They may be flat if desired.

The present invention makes it unnecessary to use glue, gaskets or packing to secure the crystal in the bezel. Also the simplified lug and recess structure avoids the diflicult slots and grooves heretofore used for mounting crystals in watch bezels. The present slots 16 and 17 are easily made with a rotary cutter. If desired these slots may be made with flat rather than curved inner surfaces. Also the lugs 18 and 19 may be made curved to correspond in curvature to the recesses 16 and 17.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A watch crystal and bezel, said bezel having a rectangular frame, said frame having an inside rectangular wall with an arcuate recess in each side of said wall, said wall having two pairs of ledges located thereon, with one pair of ledges being at a lower level than the other pair of ledges, each of the arcuate recesses being placed just above one of the ledges and being centrally disposed thereon, said crystal having a rectangular body with depending sides, one pair of sides depending further from said body than the other pair, each of the depending sides having a lug protruding therefrom and engaged in a corresponding one of said recesses, with the depending sides of the crystal abutting the sides of said wall.

2. A watch crystal having a rectangular bowed body with depending sides, one pair of said sides depending further from said body than another pair of sides, each of said sides having a protruding lug thereon, said body and sides being formed of transparent, flexible, plastic material.

3. A Watch bezel for a crystal, comprising a rectangular frame having a rectangular inside wall, two opposite ends of said wall being deeper than two sides of said wall, each of said sides and ends having a ledge thereon with a recess formed therein adjacent the ledge, said recess being adapted to engage a corresponding lug of said crystal.

4. A watch bezel for a crystal, comprising a bowed rectangular frame having a rectangular inside wall with a pair of sides and a pair of ends, said ends being deeper than said sides, each of said sides and ends having a ledge at the bottom thereof with an arcuate recess formed therein adjacent the ledge to engage a corresponding lug of said crystal.

Morf Dec. 2, 1941 Fengler May 31, 1955

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