WRIST BAND ATTACHMENT

• US 3,593,449 A
• Filed: 06/05/1969
• Issued: 07/20/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lonnie R. Nielson
• Original Assignee: Lonnie R. Nielson
• Inventors: Nielson, Lonnie R.
• Application Number:
  US04/830,663
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• US Class Current: 40/618
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/004 Jewellery with monograms or other inscription
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0015 providing information, e.g. bracelets with calendars identification bracelets G09F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/02 Signs, plates, panels or boards using readily-detachable elements bearing or forming symbols

Abstract

A frame for incorporation into a wrist band adjacent a wrist band watch has at least one window opening to receive a corresponding ornamental panel or insert which is secured by releasable keeper means. The frame provides a guide channel for movement of the insert into assembled position and the removable keeper means blocks the channel against withdrawal of the insert.

Claims

1. An ornament for incorporation into a wrist band of a wrist watch, comprising:

a frame to function as a link in the band with the band shortened to compensate for the length of the frame, said frame forming at least one window opening positioned to face radially outwardly of the band;

at least one ornamental panel dimensioned to span said window opening, said frame and panel having cooperative mutually engaged portions at opposite edges of the window opening and at opposite margins of the panel to prevent separation movement of the panel from its assembled position outwardly of the plane of the window opening, said frame forming a channel cooperative with the panel to guide the panel into its assembled position; and

keeper means releasably engaged with the frame to prevent movement of the panel out of its assembled position along said guide channel to captivate the panel.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the frame is divided transversely into two integral longitudinal portions;

in which said two longitudinal portions are at a slight angle to each other to approximately follow the curvature of the user'"'"''"'"'s wrist;

in which each of said two longitudinal portions has at least one window opening; and

in which panels are mounted in the window openings for retention therein by the keeper means.

3. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which the keeper means releasably engages both the frame and the panel.

4. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said cooperative portions comprise two opposite marginal portions of the panel and two opposite portions of the frame overlapping the marginal portions, said overlapping portions of the frame forming a guide channel in the plane of the panel with the guide channel opening onto at least one longitudinal side of the fRame, said keeper means blocking movement of the panel in its plane out of its assembled position.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said keeper means comprises at least one keeper member in releasable engagement with one longitudinal side of the frame in a position across an open end of the guide channel.

6. A combination as set forth in claim 5 in which one of said frame and said keeper member has a recess therein and the other of said frame and said keeper member has a lateral projection seated in the recess with a forced fit to releasably retain the keeper member at its assembled position.

7. A combination as set forth in claim 6 in which one of said frame and said keeper member is recessed at the juncture of the frame and the keeper member to receive a tool for prying the keeper member away from the frame.

8. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said guide channel is open at its opposite ends on the opposite longitudinal sides of the frame and said keeper means comprises two keeper members in releasable engagement with the opposite longitudinal sides respectively of the frame in positions blocking the opposite ends respectively of the guide channel.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which on each side of the frame one of the frame and the corresponding keeper member has a recess at the juncture of the frame and the keeper member to receive a tool for prying the keeper member away from the frame.

10. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said frame has two lateral projections on each of its two longitudinal sides overhanging the two ends respectively of the corresponding keeper members.

11. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said guide channel is of a given cross-sectional configuration;

in which a first portion of the panel is of corresponding cross-sectional configuration to fit in the channel; and

in which the panel is formed with integral opposite end flanges overhanging and concealing the opposite edges of the guide channel.

12. A combination as set forth in claim 11 in which said cross-sectional configuration is a dovetail configuration.

13. A combination as set forth in claim 12 in which the outer face portion of the panel is extended to form said end flanges of the panel.

14. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said guide channel extends perpendicular to the plane of the window opening with the guide channel opening onto the underside of the frame;

and in which said keeper means is releasably mounted on the underside of the frame across the lower open end of the guide channel.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which one of said frame and said keeper means has a plurality of recesses therein;

and in which the other of said frame and said keeper means has a corresponding plurality of projections fitting into the corresponding recesses with forced fit to releasably retain the keeper means at its assembled position.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 15 in which said keeper means has laterally projecting tongues on its opposite sides;

and in which the opposite longitudinal sides of the frame have recesses on the underside of the frame to receive said tongues at the assembled position of the keeper means.

17. A combination as set forth in claim 14 in which said window opening forms the guide channel;

in which the frame has downwardly facing transverse shoulders at the lower end of the guide channel; and

in which the opposite ends of the panel have longitudinally extending flanges spaced from the outer face of the panel, said transverse shoulders of the frame and said end flanges of the panel constituting said mutually engageable portions of the frame and panel.

18. An ornament for incorporation into a wrist band of a wrist watch, comprising:

a frame to function as a link in the band with the band shortened to compensate for the length of the frame, said frame forming at least one window opening, positioned to face radially outwardly of the band;

at least one ornamental panel to be mounted in said frame in a predetermined position therein for viewing through said window opening; and

keeper means engaged with the frame for holding said panel is said predetermined position on said frame, said keeper means abutting at least one edge of the ornamental panel and forming at least a portion of framing around the window opening, said keeper means being releasably engaged with said frame to permit disengagement from the frame for substitution of one ornamental panel for another.

19. A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which said keeper means abuts opposite edges of the ornamental panel and forms opposite sides of framing around the window opening.

20. A combination as set forth in claim 18 in which one of said frame and said keeper means has a plurality of bores;

and in which the other of said frame and said keeper means has a corresponding plurality of pins fixedly extending therefrom and dimensioned for forced fit in said bores to releasably connect the keeper means to the frame.