Self-contained component for use in making watch bands

• US 4,023,243 A
• Filed: 04/28/1976
• Issued: 05/17/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Textron Inc
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Vargas, Walter Smith
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliam, Paul R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US05/681,072
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 24/265 B, 24/265 WS, 24/73 WW, 224/4 E, 224/4 D
• 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

A self-contained component for use in making an end attachment for a watch band adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch which permits use of a watch band with wrist watches having different spacings between their attachment lugs. The self-contained component may be used in the end attachment portions of a watch band and it includes a generally tubular member formed from a strip of bendable material having two pairs of tabs, one pair adjacent to one end of the strip and the other pair adjacent to the other end thereof. Coiled compression spring means is located within the generally tubular member. The component also includes a pair of generally tubular inserts adapted to slide within the generally tubular member and each insert is formed with a generally rectangular slot which has an open outer end and a substantially closed inner end. The facing ends of each of the pairs of tabs are bent inwardly into the adjacent generally rectangular slot of the associated generally tubular insert to provide sliding engagement between their inner surfaces and the opposite longitudinal edges of the slot during longitudinal movement of the insert relative to the generally tubular member. These tabs are formed to prevent skewing of the insert relative to the generally tubular member. Preferably the inner edges of the tabs engage the inner ends of the rectangular slots and thereby stop excessive outward movements of the inserts by the coiled spring means.

Claims

1. A self-contained component for making an end attachment for a watch band adapted to be mounted between spaced lugs of a wrist watch, comprising a generally tubular member formed from a strip of bendable material and devoid of any lateral projections,

two pairs of tabs, one pair adjacent to one end of said strip and the other adjacent to the other end thereof,

coiled compression spring means within said tubular member,

a pair of generally tubular inserts adapted to slide within said generally tubular member, each insert being formed with a generally rectangular slot which has an open outer end and a substantially closed inner end, and

the ends of each of said pairs of tabs being bent inwardly about the opposite longitudinal edges of said generally rectangular slot of the associated generally tubular insert thereby to provide sliding engagement between their inner surfaces and the opposite longitudinal edges of said slot during longitudinal movement of the insert relative to the generally tubular member and to prevent skewing of the insert relative to the axis of the generally tubular member.

2. A component according to claim 1 wherein the inner edges of said tabs of the generally tubular member are positioned to engage the inner ends of the rectangular slot thereby to stop excessive outward movements of said inserts by said coiled spring means.

3. A component according to claim 1 wherein the generally tubular member is formed from a strip of metal.

4. A component according to claim 1 wherein each insert is formed from a strip of metal and said generally rectangular slot is formed between the edges of said strip of metal.

5. A component according to claim 4 wherein the inner end of said generally rectangular slot is formed by the edges of a pair of tabs which extend inwardly towards each other.

6. A component according to claim 1 which also comprises stop means extending inwardly from said generally tubular member substantially midway between the ends of said generally tubular member for engaging said coiled compression spring means.

7. A component according to claim 6 wherein said coiled compression spring means comprises a pair of coiled compression springs, one extending outwardly from one side of said stop means and the other extending outwardly from the other side thereof.

8. A component according to claim 6 wherein said stop means comprises a tab extending inwardly from one end of said generally tubular member substantially midway between the ends of said generally tubular member.

9. A component according to claim 6 wherein the ends of said strip of bendable material from which said generally tubular member is formed comprise oppositely positioned cutout portions substantially midway between the ends of said cutout portions and said stop means comprises a tab extending from one side of one of said cutout portions.