Timepiece with interchangeable displays

• US 6,278,664 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ann C. Huffman, Huffman, Gary
• Original Assignee: Ann C. Huffman, Huffman, Gary
• Inventors: Huffman, Gary, Huffman, Ann C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/305,122
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 368/76, 368/80, 368/88, 368/222, 368/223, 368/228, 368/232, 368/276, 368/297, 368/299, 368/300, 368/314, 368/322-323
• US Class Current: 368/223
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/06 Dials moving discs G04B19/20; illuminated dials or hands G04B19/30; for time-pieces without clockwork G04B49/04 ; machines and arrangements for the manufacture of dials or hands G04D3/0048

Abstract

A timepiece includes interchangeable faces. The timepiece comprises a supportive structure, a face subassembly, and a clock mechanism. The face subassembly includes a backing with a front or outer surface and an inner surface, and a display with an inner surface and an outer surface. Markings may appear on the backing'"'"'s outer surface or on the display. The display'"'"'s outer surface can be decorated. First and second openings extend through the backing. An opening also extends through the display. One or more seats are attached near corners of the backing'"'"'s outer surface. One or more connectors are attached near corners of the display'"'"'s inner surface. The clock mechanism includes a clock motor with a shaft mounted on the backing'"'"'s rear surface with the shaft extending through the backing'"'"'s first opening. One or more hands are attached to an end of the shaft. The display can be removably attached to the backing by positioning thereon and is held in place by the coupling force between the backing'"'"'s seats and the display'"'"'s connectors. The display can be removed by inserting one'"'"'s finger through one of the backing'"'"'s openings and pushing the display away from the backing.

Claims

1. A method of removably mounting multiple timepiece displays to a timepiece backing having a plurality of openings extending through the backing, and having a plurality of connectors attached to one of the display or the backing and a plurality of seats attached to the other of the display or the backing, said method comprising the steps of:

a) positioning said display on top of the backing such that an attaching coupling force is created between the seats and the connectors; and

b) applying a detaching force through one of the backing'"'"'s openings such that the coupling force between the seats and the connectors is broken.

2. A timepiece, which comprises:

(a) a backing having a plurality of openings extending through the backing;

(b) multiple time piece displays;

(c) a plurality of connectors each attached to one of the displays or to the backing;

(d) a plurality of seats each attached to the other of the displays or to the backing;

(e) said multiple timepiece displays being adapted for removable mounting on the backing with the display positioned on top of the backing whereby an attaching coupling force is created between the seats and the connectors; and

(f) the displays being removable from the backing by applying a detaching force through one of the backing'"'"'s openings such that the coupling forces between the seats and the connectors are broken.