WRISTWATCH

Abstract

A watch comprises a wristwatch casing having a front surface with pivot; a mechanism enclosed within the casing including a magnetic hand positioned to rotate in the casing proximal to the front surface; a face including at least one marker for visually indicating the time and a magnetic element; and a bezel disposed above the face and extending towards the front surface to cover the side walls of the face and part of the side walls of the casing, in which the face is supported by the upper surface of the casing, being rotationally mounted to the pivot and retained by the bezel, the front surface is between the magnetic hand of the mechanism and the face, and the magnetic hand of the mechanism guides the face via the magnetic element of the face.

Claims

1. A wristwatch comprising: a wristwatch casing having a front surface with a pivot; a mechanism enclosed within the casing including a magnetic hand positioned to rotate inside the casing proximal to and behind the front surface; a face including at least one marker for visually indicating the time and a magnetic element; and a bezel removably attached to the casing disposed around the face and extending over a periphery of the face, in which the face is supported by the upper surface of the casing, the face being rotationally mounted to the pivot and retained by the bezel, the front surface is between the magnetic hand of the mechanism and the face, and the magnetic hand of the mechanism guides the face via the magnetic element of the face.

2. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the casing is substantially cylindrical, ends of the cylinder forming a front wall and a back wall, and a curved side wall of the cylinder connecting the front wall to the back wall.

3. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 2 in which the bezel includes a substantially cylindrical portion of internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the casing for receiving the casing.

4. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the bezel includes an annular lip for holding the face to the casing.

5. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 3 in which the bezel includes at least one pin on an inside face of the cylindrical portion, and the casing includes at least one L-shaped groove on the curved side wall, the or each L-shaped groove being for receiving a respective pin.

6. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the bezel includes markings for visually indicating the time.

7. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1, in which the face includes a jewel bearing for receiving the pivot.

8. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face includes a face layer for visual apprehension and a face backing for engagement with the mechanism.

9. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 8, in which the face layer includes a notch and the face backing includes a corresponding protrusion for reception in the notch, so that the marking is provided by the protrusion.

10. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face or face layer is made of stone.

11. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face or face layer is made of metal.

12. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face or face layer is made of glass.

13. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face or face layer is made of wood.

14. A wristwatch as claimed in claim 1 in which the face or face layer is made of a plastics material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0026] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a watch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the wristwatch is indicated generally at 10. The wristwatch includes a casing 12, within which is housed a time keeping mechanism (not shown). The casing 12 is substantially cylindrical. A removable casing back 14 provides a bottom surface of the casing 12. The removable casing back 14 is a flat sheet of metal, and is secured to the casing 12 by a plurality of screws 16. In this embodiment, there are eight screws 16. The casing back 14 can be removed to change a battery in a battery powered mechanism.

[0029] The casing 12 includes two pairs of lugs 20. The pairs of lugs 20 are disposed on opposite sides of the casing 12. Each pair of lugs 20 receives a spring bar (not shown). A strap 22 is also provided for securing the wristwatch to the wrist of a user. An end of the strap 22 passes around each spring bar.

[0030] The casing also includes a crown 18. The crown 18 protrudes from the cylindrical side wall of the casing and allows the time told by the time keeping mechanism to be set.

[0031] A front surface 24 of the casing 12 is circular and flat. The front surface 24 includes a centrally disposed pivot 26.

[0032] The wristwatch also includes a face layer 28 and a face backing 30. The face layer 28 and the face backing 30 are both circular. The face backing 30 includes a centrally disposed jewel bearing 32. The face backing 30 is supported by the upper surface 26 and is concentric with the upper surface 26 so that the jewel bearing 32 engages the pivot 26, allowing the face backing 30 to rotate on the casing 12.

[0033] The face layer 28 is substantially the same size and shape as the face backing 30. The face layer 28 sits atop the face backing 30 and is supported by the face backing 30 concentric with the face backing 30. The face layer includes a notch 34. The notch 34 engages a protrusion 36 on the face backing 30. This joins the face layer 28 and the face backing 30 and ensures that they rotate together.

[0034] The face backing 30 includes a magnetic element 38. The magnetic element 38 is attracted to a magnetic hand (not shown) of the mechanism. This causes the face backing 30 and the face layer 28 to rotate with the magnetic hand so that the time may be visually ascertained from the position of the face.

[0035] A bezel 40 is also provided. The bezel 40 comprises a hollow cylindrical portion of internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the casing 18. The internal face of the hollow cylindrical portion includes at least one pin 42. In this embodiment four pins 42 are provided. The pins 42 are equally spaced around the circumference of the bezel 12.

[0036] The casing 12 includes three L-shaped slots 44. Each pin 42 releasably engages with one of the L-shaped slots 44 in the casing 12.

[0037] The casing 12 also includes four spring plungers 46 (one not shown). The spring plungers 46 are disposed on opposite sides of the casing 12. The internal face of the hollow cylindrical portion further includes a plurality of recesses 48. The recesses 48 releasably engage the spring plungers 46 when each pin 42 is disposed at a distal end of a horizontal portion of an L-shaped slot 44. This secures the bezel 40 rotationally relative to the casing 12.

[0038] The bezel 40 also includes an annular lip 50. The annular lip 50 extends inwardly from the upper edge of the cylindrical portion of the bezel 40.

[0039] A plurality of interchangeable faces 28 is provided.

[0040] In use, a face layer 28 is selected based on aesthetic preferences of the user. The face layer 28 is placed on the face backing 30 so that the notch 34 of the face layer 28 engages the protrusion 36, rotationally coupling the face layer 28 to the face backing 30. The assembled face layer 28 and face backing 30 are placed on the casing 12 so that the pivot 26 engages the jewel bearing 32.

[0041] In other embodiments, the face layer might be permanently bonded to the face backing so that both are replaced together. If a plurality of interchangeable faces is provided, each face may comprise a permanently bonded face layer 28 and face backing 30, a detachable face layer 28 and face backing 30, or an integrally formed face.

[0042] The bezel 40 is then placed over the face layer 28, face backing 30 and casing 12. The bezel 40 is orientated relative to the casing 12 so that the pins 42 are above the vertical portions of the L-shaped slots 44. The bezel 40 is lowered so that the pins 42 move in to the vertical portions of the L-shaped slots 44 and rotated in a clockwise direction (in this embodiment) so that the pins 42 move to the distal ends of the horizontal portions of the L-shaped slots 44. The sides of the face layer 28, face backing 30 and casing 12 are hidden by the sides of the bezel. The annular lip 50 covers a periphery of the face layer 28 so that the face layer 28 and face backing 30 are restrained.

[0043] The face 28 and face backing 30 are orientated so that the magnet 38 is above the magnetic hand of the time keeping mechanism (not shown). It will be understood that the face layer 28 and face backing 30 will naturally move to this orientation by action of the magnetic element 38 and magnetic hand if permitted. The magnetic hand of the time keeping mechanism moves as time passes, and the attraction between the magnet 38 and the magnetic hand causes the face backing 30 and face 28 to rotate correspondingly. This changes the position of the notch 34 relative to the bezel 40.

[0044] In use, if the face is knocked, the magnetic attraction between the hand and the magnetic element of the face breaks because it is weaker than the hand or mechanism. The face then rotates freely on the pivot until it has lost enough kinetic energy through friction to be recaptured by magnetic attraction to the hand, at which point its position once more indicates the correct time.

[0045] The components are arranged so that when the time keeping mechanism tells the time as 12:00, the notch 34 is disposed exactly mid-way between the lugs of one of the pairs of lugs 20, as on a conventional watch.

[0046] These embodiments are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.