System for charging the battery of watches without opening the lid

• US 5,703,460 A
• Filed: 09/19/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francisco Planells Almerich
• Original Assignee: Francisco Planells Almerich
• Inventors: Planells Almerich, Francisco
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Law, Patrick B.
• Application Number:
  US08/666,313
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 320/2, 368/203, 368/204, 368/205, 310/191
• US Class Current: 320/107
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 10/00 Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces circuits G04G19/00; mounting, assembling of components of electromechanical watches G04C3/008, of electronic watches G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/26 Button or hearing aid type

Abstract

The battery (4) is never removed from its location. The battery is charged through the difference of voltage maintained by means of an external source. The two poles of the source may be connected to the watch (1) through a plug if the lid of the watch is connected to the earth of its circuit, and through two plugs if the lid is isolated, or by a method of connection without penetration. The orifices (7) for inserting the plugs may be provided with appropriate isolators. In the case of two plugs, and in order to avoid an erroneous connection, the plugs may have different and incompatible shapes. Application to watches and apparatuses which are battery-operated.

Claims

1. A system for charging a button battery of a watertight watch of a type having a body and cover, without taking off the cover, and without altering watertight conditions thereof, in which charging is performed by a voltage drop, while maintaining an amperage through a voltage differential, and with the battery including an anode and cathode, said system comprising:

an anode connection in the watch body for connection to the anode of the battery;

a cathode connection in the watch body for connection to the cathode of the battery;

a first hole in the watch body;

external anode connection means for electrically connecting said anode connection outside said watch, through said hole;

external cathode connection means for electrically connecting said cathode connection outside said watch; and

said external anode connection means and said external cathode connection means have different shapes and sizes so that said anode connection is not accessible through said hole by said external cathode connection means; and

wherein said watch body has a chassis, and said external cathode connection means electrically connects said cathode connection via said chassis.

2. A system for charging a button battery of a watertight watch of a type having a body and cover, without taking off the cover, and without altering watertight conditions thereof, in which charging is performed by a voltage drop, while maintaining an amperage through a voltage differential, and with the battery including an anode and cathode, said system comprising:

an anode connection in the watch body for connection to the anode of the battery;

a cathode connection in the watch body for connection to the cathode of the battery;

a first hole in the watch body;

external anode connection means for electrically connecting said anode connection outside said watch, through said hole;

a second hole in the watch body, said second hole having a shape and dimensions different from a shape and dimensions of said first hole;

external cathode connection means for electrically connecting said cathode connection outside said watch, through said second hole;

said external anode connection means and said external cathode connection means have different shapes and sizes so that said anode connection is not accessible through said first hole by said external cathode connection means; and

said anode connection is not accessible through said first hole by said external cathode connection means and said cathode connection is not accessible through said second hole by said external anode connection means.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein one of said first hole and said second hole has a substantially circular shape, and the other of said first hole and said second hole has a substantially oval shape.

4. A system for charging a button battery of a watertight watch of a type having a body and cover, without taking off the cover, and without altering watertight conditions thereof, in which charging is performed by a voltage drop, while maintaining an amperage through a voltage differential, and with the battery including an anode and cathode, said system comprising:

an anode connection in the watch body for connection to the anode of the battery;

a cathode connection in the watch body for connection to the cathode of the battery;

a first hole in the watch body;

external anode connection means for electrically connecting said anode connection outside said watch, through said hole;

a second hole in the watch body;

external cathode connection means for electrically connecting said cathode connection outside said watch, through said second hole;

said external anode connection means and said external cathode connection means have different shapes and sizes so that said anode connection is not accessible through said first hole by said external cathode connection means; and

each of said first and second holes is elongated and each has an exterior that is insulated and has an interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface being electrically connected to said anode connection and cathode connection, respectively.

5. A system according to claim 4,

further comprising:

an insulating O-ring slidable in each of said first and second holes;

a spring in each of the first and second holes for biasing the respective O-rings outwardly of said first and second holes; and

a stop in each of said first and second holes for limiting travel of said respective O-rings in said first and second holes; and

wherein;

said external anode connection means includes a charging pin insertable in said first hole, such that insertion of said charging pin in said first hole moves said O-ring in said first hole in a direction against a biasing force of the respective spring to enable electrical connection between said charging pin and said portion of said first hole so as to electrically connect said charging pin to said anode connection, and

said external cathode connection means includes a charging pin insertable in said second hole, such that insertion of said charging pin in said second hole moves said O-ring in said second hole in a direction against a biasing force of the respective spring to enable electrical connection between said charging pin and said portion of said second hole so as to electrically connect said charging pin to said cathode connection.

6. A system for charging a button battery of a watertight watch of a type having a body and cover, without taking off the cover, and without altering watertight conditions thereof, in which charging is performed by a voltage drop, while maintaining an amperage through a voltage differential, and with the battery including an anode and cathode, said system comprising:

an anode connecting in the watch body for connection to the anode of the battery;

a cathode connection in the watch body for connection to the cathode of the battery;

a first elongated hole in the watch body, having an exterior that is insulated and having an interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface being electrically connected to said anode connection;

external anode connection means for electrically connecting said anode connection outside said watch, through said hole;

external cathode connection means for electrically connecting said cathode connection outside said watch; and

said external anode connection means and said external cathode connection means have different shapes and sizes so that said anode connection is not accessible through said hole by said external cathode connection means.

7. A system according to claim 6,

further comprising:

an insulating O-ring slidable in the first hole;

a spring in the first hole for biasing the O-ring outwardly of said first hole; and

a stop in said first hole for limiting travel of said O-ring in said first hole; and

wherein said external anode connection means includes a charging pin insertable in said first hole, such that insertion of said charging pin in said first hole moves said O-ring in a direction against a biasing force of said spring to enable electrical connection between said charging pin and said portion of said first hole so as to electrically connect said charging pin to said anode connection.