End attachment for watch bands

• US 3,889,323 A
• Filed: 08/23/1974
• Issued: 06/17/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kurt A. Reith
• Original Assignee: Kurt A. Reith
• Inventors: Reith, Kurt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheridan, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/500,045
• Time in Patent Office: 298 Days
• Field of Search: 224/4D,4E 24/265B,265WS,73WW
• US Class Current: 24/265.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/14 characterised by the way of fastening to a wrist-watch or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4718 Watch pintle connected

Abstract

An end attachment for a watch band for use with a wrist watch provided with customary spring bars. The end attachment includes an adaptor which comprises a plate-like member with a generally tubular member at one end adapted to axially receive a spring bar of a watch and a transverse generally rectangular opening through the plate-like member substantially parallel to and adjacent to the tubular member. It also includes a clasp-supporting member, means for securing it to the end of a watch band and clasp means pivotally connected to the clasp-supporting member. The clasp means includes a resilient flange. To assemble the end attachment, the resilient flange and the part of the clasp means which extends outwardly from the pivotal connection are passed through the rectangular opening and the clasp means is then moved about its pivotal connection until the resilient flange forms a snap fit with a portion of the clasp-supporting member, in which position the end attachment is fully assembled. The user may easily remove the end attachment from an adaptor which has been mounted between the lugs of his watch by merely opening the clasp and withdrawing its outwardly extending part and its resilient flange through the rectangular opening of the adaptor. Consequently the user can change watch bands used with his watch to coordinate his watch band with the clothes to be worn or he can remove his watch band to clean it, without the help of a jeweler.

Claims

1. An end attachment for watch bands adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch comprising, an adaptor which comprises a generally tubular member adapted to receive a spring pin of a wrist watch, a plate-like member having one end integral with said generally tubular member, said plate-like member comprising a transverse generally rectangular opening substantially parallel to and adjacent to said generally tubular member, a clasp-supporting member having at least a portion thereof adapted to be positioned in engagement with at least a portion of said plate-like member, means for securing said clasp-supporting member to a watch band, clasp means, and pivot means for connecting one end of said clasp means to a portion of said clasp-supporting member which is adjacent to said generally tubular member, siad clasp means comprising a resilient flange, said resilient flange and the part of the clasp means which extends outwardly from said pivot means being passed through said generally rectangular opening to close and open the clasp means and, when the clasp means is in closed position, at least a portion of the upper surface of the clasp means being in engagement with at least a portion of the lower surface of said plate-like member and said resilient flange forming a snap fit with a portion of said clasp-supporting member, thereby detachably to secure the clasp-supporting member to the adaptor when the clasp means is in closed position.

2. An end attachment according to claim 1 which also comprises an ornamental top shell and means for attaching it to said clasp-supporting member.

3. An end attachment according to claim 2 wherein said top shell comprises a longitudinal extension which is adapted to cover at least the upper portion of said generally tubular member.

4. An end attachment according to claim 3 wherein said longitudinal extension comprises an end portion which at least partially covers at least a portion of the adjacent side of said generally tubular member.

5. An end attachment according to claim 2 wherein said top shell comprises side walls which include tabs which form said means for attaching the top shell to said clasp-supporting member.

6. An end attachment according to claim 2 wherein the upper surface of said top shell is formed with the design of the upper surfaces of the links of the watch band.

7. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein the lower surface of said plate-like member is formed with a depressed central portion which receives said clasp means when it is in closed position, whereby the lower surface of said clasp means is positioned in substantially the same plane as the side portions of the lower surface of said plate-like member.

8. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein said clasp means is provided with means adjacent to said resilient flange for receiving the fingernail of the user for releasing the engagement of said resilient flange with said clasp-supporting member for opening the clasp means.

9. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein said clasp means forms at least a part of the bottom surface of the end attachment so that in use it engages the wrist of the wearer to prevent accidental opening of the clasp means.

10. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the lower surface of the clasp-supporting member is positioned in engagement with at least a portion of the upper surface of the plate-like member of the adaptor when the clasp means is in closed position.

11. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the clasp-supporting member is positioned in engagement with a side wall of a bottom link of the watch band when the clasp means is in closed position.

12. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein the plate-like member of the adaptor comprises an end flange, the clasp-supporting member comprises an upwardly extending portion and said end flange is positioned in engagement with said upwardly extending member when the clasp means is in closed position.

13. An end attachment according to claim 1 wherein the clasp-supporting member comprises an upwardly extending flange at its end which is opposite to its pivotal connection to the clasp means and said flange is positioned in engagement with a side wall of an element of the watch band at least when the clasp means is in closed position.

14. An end attachment according to claim 13 wherein said upwardly extending flange comprises tab means which engage at least the upper surface of a bottom link of the watch band for attaching the clasp-supporting member to the watch band.

15. An end attachment according to claim 13 wherein said upwardly extending flange is positioned against at least a portion of the resilient flange of the clasp means when the clasp means is in closed position.

16. An end attachment according to claim 13 wherein at least a portion of the resilient flange of the clasp means is positioned between the upwardly extending flange of the clasp-supporting member and at least a portion of the side wall of the adjacent bottom link of the watch band when the clasp means is in closed position.