Watch case provided with an external element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9977403-B2
Application number	US-201515326742-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2015
Priority date	Aug 12, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A watch case includes a case middle, a bezel, and an external element at least partially disposed between the case middle and the bezel. The bezel includes at least one hollow revealing the external element. The external element is attached directly to the case middle, independently of an attachment of the bezel to the case middle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A watch case comprising:
a case middle provided with horns and having two areas for attachment of a bracelet strand to said case middle, a bezel, and an external element at least partially clasped between said case middle and said bezel, said bezel comprising at least one hollow configured to reveal said external element, wherein
said external element comprises two covering elements respectively covering each attachment area and is directly attached to said case middle, independently of an attachment of said bezel to said case middle, and
the case middle comprises in each attachment area, two vertical ribs between the horns, configured to cooperate with two guide grooves formed on an inner face of the covering elements, so as to hold the external element correctly in place on the case middle.

2. The watch case according to claim 1 , wherein said external element comprises a ring at least partially covering said case middle, said ring being housed between said case middle and said bezel so as to form a decorative surface at a bottom of said at least one hollow.

3. The watch case according to claim 2 , wherein said ring and said two covering elements of said external element form a one-piece component.

4. The watch case according to claim 1 , wherein said external element is snap fitted onto said case middle by means of said covering elements in the attachment areas.

5. The watch case according to claim 2 , wherein said ring of said external element has a substantially semi-toroidal cross-section.

6. The watch case according to claim 2 , wherein said ring lies substantially flush across all or part of a peripheral surface of said case middle.

7. The watch case according to claim 1 , wherein said external element is made of a plastic material such as polycarbonate, PMMA or MABS.

8. The watch case according to claim 1 , wherein said bezel comprises at least two hollows symmetrically arranged around said bezel.

9. The watch case according to claim 1 , wherein said external element is made of a transparent or opaque material having a matt or polished surface.

Assignees

• Eta Sa Mft Horlogere Suisse
• Eta Sa Mfg Horlogere Suisse

Inventors

• Leoni Stephane
• Studer Sebastian

Classifications

• G04B37/1486 Primary

  Arrangements for fixing to a bracelet (building watches into bracelets (montre marquise) G04B37/12; arrangements for hanging pocket- or other watches on chains G04B37/1446) · CPC title

• G04B45/0076

  Decoration of the case and of parts thereof, e.g. as a method of manufacture thereof (specially shaped G04B45/0061, G04B45/0069; decoration with inscriptions and pictures G04B45/0084; construction of the hands G04B19/042; decoration by adding extra pieces to the clockwork G04B47/04; colouring by treatment of the surface, e.g. by oxidation C25D) · CPC title

• G04B19/223

  with rotary disc, rotary bezel, or rotary dial · CPC title