Abstract:
A watch case construction incorporating a pair of watch band lugs. The watch case may include an upper casing portion defining two opposing pairs of upper casing apertures and a lower casing portion defining two opposing pairs of lower casing apertures, with the upper casing portion being mated to the lower casing portion so that each upper casing aperture overlaps a lower casing aperture. The watch case also has a pair of opposing band lugs, with each band lug having a band portion for affixing a band thereto and a pair of attachment portions each defining a lug aperture. The attachment portions are interposed between the upper casing portion and the lower portion so that each lug aperture overlaps an upper casing aperture and a lower casing aperture. Still further, the case will include a plurality of fasteners, with a fastener extending through each of the upper casing apertures, the lug apertures, and the lower casing apertures to secure the band lug to the watch casing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a watch construction for attaching a watch band lug to a watch. Various examples of the invention may be particularly applicable to a watch band case incorporates a watch band lug into its construction. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The watch industry is continuously seeking to improve the durability of watch bands. Originally, watch bands were formed from leather or fabric. While these materials were relatively flexible and comfortable, bands made from these materials were not very durable. Exposure to water and continuous wear, for example, will quickly degrade leather and fabric watch bands. To address these deficiencies, some watch makers have created watch bands out of metal links. Metal link watch bands are more resilient than leather and fabric watch bands, but they are relatively heavy and expensive. 
         [0003]    Recently, inexpensive and rugged watches have become popular, particularly for various sporting activities such as running, boating, diving, and climbing. In order to keep the cost of these watches low while still providing an environmentally-resistant band, some watch makers have begun using watch bands formed from plastic or rubber. 
         [0004]    These bands conventionally will have an attachment portion on each end that defines some type of a springbar passage for receiving a springbar. As known in the art, a springbar has a hollow cylinder containing two pins at either end. The pins are forced outward by a spring within the cylinder. The watch, in turn, will have two extensions or “lugs” that extend from each side of the watch (i.e., the watch will have a pair of opposing lugs on either side). Usually, these lugs are integrally formed with the watch casing. Also, each lug defines a pin recess facing a corresponding pin recess on the opposite lug. 
         [0005]    To attach the band to a watch, a springbar is inserted into the springbar passage of an attachment portion at one end of the band, and the pins are pressed into the hollow cylinder. With the pins thus compressed, the attachment portion of the band is inserted between two opposing lugs of a watch casing. When the attachment portion is positioned so that the springbar is aligned between the lug recesses, the spring in the springbar forces the pins into the lug recesses to secure the attachment portion between the lugs. This process is then repeated with the attachment portion on the other end of the watch band and the remaining pair of opposing lugs. 
         [0006]    While this configuration allows a watch band to be quickly replaced, the entire strength of the attachment is based upon the springbar. If enough force is placed on the band or watch to bend the springbar or to compress even one of the pins in the springbar, then the band will come away from the watch. Because conventional springbars are very thin (typically not more than 1-1.5 millimeters in diameter), this type of separation is not an uncommon occurrence. Accordingly, watch makers are continuously seeking improved techniques and structures to securely attach a watch band to a watch. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Various embodiments of the invention provide a watch case construction incorporating a pair of watch band lugs. With some implementations of the invention, for example, a watch case will include an upper casing portion defining two opposing pairs of upper casing apertures and a lower casing portion defining two opposing pairs of lower casing apertures, with the upper casing portion being mated to the lower casing portion so that each upper casing aperture overlaps a lower casing aperture. The watch case also has a pair of opposing band lugs, with each band lug having a band portion for affixing a band thereto and a pair of attachment portions each defining a lug aperture. The attachment portions are interposed between the upper casing portion and the lower portion so that each lug aperture overlaps an upper casing aperture and a lower casing aperture. Still further, the case will include a plurality of fasteners, with a fastener extending through each of the upper casing apertures, the lug apertures, and the lower casing apertures to secure the band lug to the watch casing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a wristwatch implementing a watch casing construction according to various examples of the invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a wristwatch implementing another watch casing construction according to various examples of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 3-5  are planar views of watch band lugs that may be employed according to various examples of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Double Casing Construction 
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a watch  101  implementing a watch casing construction according to various examples of the invention. More particularly,  FIG. 1  illustrates a watch  101  employing an inner watch case  103  and an outer watch case  105 . The inner watch case  103  includes an upper inner watch case portion  103 A and a lower inner case watch portion  103 B. The outer watch case  105  then includes and upper outer watch case portion  105 A and a lower outer watch case portion  105 B. 
         [0012]    With various embodiments of the invention, the case portions may be formed of any desired material or combinations of materials. Typically however, the case portions will be formed of a relatively hard and durable material, such as hard plastics, hard rubbers hard resins, metals or metal alloys, or some combination thereof to protect the more sensitive components of the watch from damage and environmental hazards. With some implementations of the invention, for example, the lower inner case watch portion  103 B may be formed of stainless steel or some other metal or metal alloy, while the upper inner watch case portion  103 A, the upper outer watch case portion  105 A and the lower outer watch case portion  105 B are formed of a polycarbonate material, such as a polycarbonate material with a 15% glass fill. 
         [0013]    The inner watch case  103  encases a watch movement module  107 . With various implementations of the invention, the watch movement module  107  may include mechanical components, electrical components, or some combination thereof. The watch movement module  107  may include, e.g.; the components to perform any desired function associated with a watch. For example, the watch movement module  107  may provide a chronometer function, a stopwatch function, a timer function, an altimeter function, a thermometer function, a barometer function, or a remote control function for another electronic device. Similarly, if the watch movement module  107  implements one or more functions (e.g., a chronometer, stopwatch, or timer function) using mechanical components, then these mechanical components may be housed within the watch movement module  107  as well. 
         [0014]    Alternately or additionally, the watch movement module  107  may contain components to perform any other function or functions associated with a portable mechanical or electrical device. For example, with various embodiments of the invention, the watch movement module  107  can include the components to serve as a hand-held digital music player, a radio, a wireless telephone, a compass, a radio-frequency navigation device (e.g., a GPS navigation device), a calculator, a digital memory storage device, or the like. A plurality of control buttons  109  (or other type of control mechanism) is then provided to control the operation of the watch movement module  107 . 
         [0015]    The outer watch case  105  encases the inner watch case  103 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , it also encases a lens ring  111  and a dust ring  113 . The lens ring  111  holds a lens  115  over the watch movement module  107 . As well known in the art, the lens  115  allows a user to view information displayed by the watch movement module  107 . The watch movement module  107  may display information measured or otherwise produced by the function of its components using, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting (OLE) display, one or more analog rotating hands or dials, or another type of display using any other desired technology. The dust ring  113  prevents dust and other debris from reaching the watch movement module  107  through the spacing created between the lens  115  and the lens ring  111 , or between the lens ring  111  and the outer watch case  105 . The lens ring  111  and the dust ring  113  may be formed of any desired material. The lens ring  111 , for example, may be formed of a relatively hard material, such as a hard plastic material (e.g., polycarbonate having a 15% glass fill), a hard rubber material, a hard resin, or a metal or metal alloy. The dust ring  113  may then be formed of a more flexible or compressible material, such as a soft plastic (e.g., polyurethane), a soft rubber material, or a soft resin. 
         [0016]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the upper outer watch case portion  105 A includes four apertures  117 A- 117 D. A first pair of upper outer watch case apertures  117 A and  117 B are positioned on a first side of the outer watch case  105 , while the second pair of upper outer watch case apertures  117 C and  117 D are positioned on a second side of the outer watch case  105  opposite the first side. Similarly, the lower outer watch case portion  105 B includes four threaded cylinders  119 A- 119 D defining apertures  121 A- 121 D. A first pair of lower outer watch case cylinders  119 A and  119 B and corresponding apertures  121 A and  121 B are positioned on a first side of the outer watch case  105 , while the second pair of lower outer watch case cylinders  119 C and  119 D and corresponding apertures  121 C and  121 D are positioned on a second side of the outer watch case  105  opposite the first side. 
         [0017]    The upper outer watch case apertures  117 A- 117 D and the lower outer watch case apertures  121121 A- 121 D are arranged so that each upper outer watch case aperture  117  overlaps a corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 . With various examples of the invention, each upper outer watch case aperture  117  and each lower outer watch case aperture  117  is approximately the same size. 
         [0018]    The watch  101  also includes a pair of watch band lugs  123 A and  123 B. Each watch band lug  123  includes a band portion  125 , and two attachment portions  127 A and  127 B at either end of the band portion  125 . The band portion  125  may have, for example, a diameter of approximately 3 millimeters. With various examples of the invention, the band lugs  123  may be formed of a durable material, such as a metal, a metal alloy, a hard plastic, a hard resin, or a hard rubber. With some implementations of the invention, the band lugs  123  may be formed of a rigid material. For still other implementations of the invention, however, the band lugs  123  or the band portion  125  of the band lugs may be formed of a flexible material, such as a metal wire. 
         [0019]    The attachment portion  127  of each lug  123  defines a lug aperture  129 . With various examples of the invention, each lug aperture  129  is approximately the same size as the upper outer watch case apertures  117 A- 117 D and the lower outer watch case apertures  121121 A- 121 D. The band portion  125  is configured so that a watch band can be wrapped around the band portion  125 , molded around the band portion  125 , or alternately, so that the band portion  125  can be inserted through a passage formed in an end of a watch band (similar to a springbar passage formed in many conventional watch bands). In this manner, a watch band can be securely affixed to the band portion  125  of a band lug  123 . 
         [0020]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , the watch band lugs  123 A and  123 B are positioned so that each lug aperture  129  overlaps both an upper outer watch case aperture  117  and its corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 . More particularly, the first watch band lug  123 A is positioned so that its first lug aperture  129 A overlaps the upper outer watch case aperture  117 A and fits over the threaded cylinder  119 A so as to overlap its corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 A, and so that its second lug aperture  129 B overlaps the upper outer watch case aperture  117 B and fits over the threaded cylinder  119 B so as to overlap its corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 B. The second watch band lug  123 B then is positioned so that its first lug aperture  129 A overlaps the upper outer watch case aperture  117 C and fits over the threaded cylinder  119 C so as to overlap its corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 C, and so that its second lug aperture  129 B overlaps the upper outer watch case aperture  117 C and fits over the threaded cylinder  119 D so as to overlap its corresponding lower outer watch case aperture  121 D. 
         [0021]    With the case construction shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper outer watch case portion  105 A is secured to the lower outer watch case portion  105 B by fasteners that extend through each upper outer watch case aperture  117 , each lug aperture  129 , and each lower outer watch case aperture  121  into each threaded cylinder  119 . For example, with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the watch  101  includes four threaded screws  131 A- 131 D. The first threaded screw  131 A extends through the upper outer watch case aperture  117 A, through the lug aperture  129 A of the first band lug  123 A, and through the lower outer watch case aperture  121 A into the threaded cylinder  119 A. Similarly, the second threaded screw  131 B extends through the upper outer watch case aperture  117 B, through the lug aperture  129 B of the first band lug  123 A, and through the lower outer watch case aperture  121 B into the threaded cylinder  119 B. The third threaded screw  131 C then extends through the upper outer watch case aperture  117 C, through the lug aperture  129 A of the second band lug  123 B, and through the lower outer watch case aperture  121 C into the threaded cylinder  119 C, while the fourth threaded screw  131 D then extends through the upper outer watch case aperture  117 D, through the lug aperture  129 B of the second band lug  123 B, and through the lower outer watch case aperture  121 D into the threaded cylinder  119 D. 
         [0022]    Because the attachment portion  127  of each band lug  123  is securely sandwiched between the upper outer watch case portion  105 A and the lower outer watch case portion  105 B, rather than by the expansive force of a spring in a conventional springbar, a watch band attached to the band lugs  123  will be more securely attached to the watch  101  than with a conventional springbar. Further, because the band lugs  123  are incorporated directly into the case construction, the band lugs  123  can be substantially thicker, and thus stronger, than a conventional springbar. 
       Single Casing Construction 
       [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of a watch  201  implementing another watch casing construction according to various examples of the invention. While the watch  101  illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes two watch cases (an inner watch case  103  and an outer watch case  105 ), the watch  201  has only a single watch case  205 . As seen in this figure, the watch case  205  includes an upper watch case portion  205 A and a lower watch case portion  205 B. 
         [0024]    With various embodiments of the invention, the case portions may be formed of any desired material or combinations of materials. Typically however, the case portions will be formed of a relatively hard and durable material, such as hard plastics, hard rubbers hard resins, metals or metal alloys, or some combination thereof to protect the more sensitive components of the watch from damage and environmental hazards. With some implementations of the invention, for example, the upper watch case portion  205 A and the lower watch case portion  205 B are formed of a polycarbonate material, such as a polycarbonate material with a 25% glass fill. 
         [0025]    The watch case  205  encases a watch movement module (not shown) positioned in the upper watch case portion  205 A. As shown in  FIG. 2 , various examples of the invention may optionally include a watch movement cover  203 . The watch movement cover  203  may be secured to the upper watch case portion  205 A to help protect the watch movement module from moisture, dust, and other debris. The watch movement cover  203  may be formed of any desired material, but will typically be formed of a relatively hard and durable material, such as a hard plastic, a hard rubber, a hard resin, metal or a metal alloy, or some combination thereof. With some implementations of the invention, for example, the watch movement cover  203  may be formed of stainless steel or another metal or metal alloy. 
         [0026]    As with the examples of the invention illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the watch movement module may include mechanical components, electrical components, or some combination thereof. The watch movement module may include the components to perform any desired function associated with a watch. For example, the watch movement module may provide a chronometer function, a stopwatch function, a timer function, an altimeter function, a thermometer function, a barometer function, or a remote control function for another electronic device. Similarly, if the watch movement module implements one or more functions (e.g., a chronometer, stopwatch, or timer function) using mechanical components, then these mechanical components may be housed within the watch movement module as well. 
         [0027]    Alternately or additionally, the watch movement module may contain components to perform any other function or functions associated with a portable mechanical or electrical device. For example, with various embodiments of the invention, the watch movement module can include the components to serve as a hand-held digital music player, a radio, a wireless telephone, a compass, a radio-frequency navigation device (e.g., a GPS navigation device), a calculator, a digital memory storage device, or the like. A plurality of control buttons  209  (or other type of control mechanism) is then provided to control the operation of the watch movement module. 
         [0028]    In addition to the watch movement, the watch case  205  encases a lens  215  over the watch movement module. As well known in the art, the lens  215  allows a user to view information displayed by the watch movement module. The watch movement module may display information measured or otherwise produced by its functional components using, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting (OLE) display, one or more analog rotating hands or dials, or another type of display using any other desired technology. Of course, the watch case  205  may additionally encase any other desired watch parts, such as a lens ring or a dust ring. 
         [0029]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the upper watch case portion  205 A includes four apertures  217 A- 217 D. A first pair of upper watch case apertures  217 A and  217 B are positioned on a first side of the upper watch case portion  205 A, while the second pair of upper watch case apertures  217 C and  217 D are positioned on a second side of the upper watch case portion  205 A opposite the first side. Similarly, the lower watch case portion  205 B includes four threaded cylinders  219 A- 219 D defining apertures  221 A- 221 D, respectively. A first pair of lower watch case cylinders  219 A and  219 B defining apertures  221 A and  221 B are positioned on a first side of the lower watch case portion  205 B, while the second pair of lower outer watch case cylinders  119 C and  119 D defining apertures  221 C and  221 D are positioned on a second side of the lower watch case portion  205 B opposite the first side. The upper watch case apertures  217 A- 217 D and the lower watch case apertures  221221 A- 221 D are arranged so that each upper watch case aperture  217  overlaps a corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 . With various examples of the invention, each upper watch case aperture  217  and each lower watch case aperture  217  is approximately the same size. 
         [0030]    The watch  201  also includes a pair of watch band lugs  123 A and  123 B. As previously described, each watch band lug  123  includes a band portion  125  and two attachment portions  127 A and  127 B at either end of the band portion  125 . Each attachment portions  127  defining a lug aperture  129 . With various examples of the invention, each lug aperture  129  is approximately the same size as the upper outer watch case apertures  217  and the lower outer watch case apertures  221 . The band portion  125  is configured so that a watch band can be wrapped around the band portion  125 , molded around the band portion  125 , or alternately, so that the band portion  125  can be positioned in a passage formed in an end of a watch band (similar to a springbar passage formed in many conventional watch bands). In this manner, a watch band can be securely affixed to the band portion  125  of a band lug  123 . 
         [0031]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , the watch band lugs  123 A and  123 B are positioned so that each lug aperture  129  overlaps both an upper watch case aperture  217  and its corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 . More particularly, the first watch band lug  123 A is positioned so that its first lug aperture  129 A overlaps the upper watch case aperture  217 A and fits over the threaded cylinder  219 A so as to overlap its corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 A, and so that its second lug aperture  129 B overlaps the upper watch case aperture  217 B and fits over the threaded cylinder  219 B so as to overlap its corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 B. The second watch band lug  123 B then is positioned so that its first lug aperture  129 A overlaps the upper watch case aperture  217 C and fits over the threaded cylinder  219 C so as to overlap its corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 C, and so that its second lug aperture  129 B overlaps the upper watch case aperture  217 C and fits over the threaded cylinder  219 D so as to overlap its corresponding lower watch case aperture  221 D. 
         [0032]    With the case construction shown in  FIG. 2 , the upper watch case portion  205 A is secured to the lower watch case portion  205 B by fasteners that extend through each upper outer watch case aperture  217 , each lug aperture  129 , and through each lower outer watch case aperture  221 . For example, with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the watch  201  includes four threaded screws  229 A- 229 D. The first threaded screw  229 A extends through the upper watch case aperture  217 A, through the lug aperture  129 A of the first band lug  123 A, and through the lower watch case aperture  221 A into the threaded cylinder  219 A. Similarly, the second threaded screw  229 B extends through the upper watch case aperture  217 B, through the lug aperture  129 B of the first band lug  123 A, and through the lower watch case aperture  221 B into the threaded cylinder  219 B. The third threaded screw  229 C then extends through the upper watch case aperture  217 C, through the lug aperture  129 A of the second band lug  123 B, and through the lower watch case aperture  221 C into the threaded cylinder  219 C, while the fourth threaded screw  229 D then extends through the upper watch case aperture  217 D, through the lug aperture  129 B of the second band lug  123 B, and through the lower watch case aperture  221 D into the threaded cylinder  219 A. 
         [0033]    Again, because the attachment portion  127  of each band lug  123  is securely sandwiched between the upper outer watch case portion  205 A and the lower outer watch case portion  205 B, rather than by the expansive force of a spring in a conventional springbar, a watch band attached to the band lugs  123  will be more securely attached to the watch  201  than with a conventional springbar. Further, because the band lugs  123  are incorporated directly into the case construction, the band lugs  123  can be substantially thicker, and thus stronger, than a conventional springbar. 
       Band Lug Configurations 
       [0034]    With various examples of the invention, the band lugs  123  may be formed of a single piece of material, such as a metal, a metal alloy, a hard plastic, a hard resin, or a hard rubber. For still other examples of the invention, however, it may be useful to be able to change the length of the band portion  125  to accommodate differently sized watches. Also, it may be desirable to be able to separate section of the band portion  125  so that it can be inserted into a springbar passage of a watch band. Accordingly,  FIGS. 3-5  illustrate some band lug configurations that may be employed according to various examples of the invention. 123125 
         [0035]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the band portion  125  may be formed of a support portion  301  integrally formed with and supporting a male pin portion  303  and a separate female portion  305 . As may be seen from this figure, the male pin portion  303  is inserted into a recess in the female portion  305 , so that the male pin portion  303  can be slid along the length of the recess in the female portion  305  to change the length of the band portion  125 . Further, with some implementations of the invention, the female portion  305  can be inserted into the springbar passage of a watch band, and the male pin portion  303  then inserted into the recess of the female portion so that the band portion  125  passes through the springbar passage. 
         [0036]    Alternately, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the band portion  125  may be formed of a separate male pin portion  401  and two female portions  403  and  405 . As may be seen from this figure, one end of the male pin portion  401  is inserted into a recess in the female portion  403 , while the other end of the male pin portion  401  is inserted into a recess in the female portion  405 . In this manner, the male pin portion  401  can be slid along the length of the recess in either the female portion  403 , the recess in the female portion  405 , or both, to change the length of the band portion  125 . Again, with some implementations of the invention, the male portion  401  can be inserted into the springbar passage of a watch band, and the female pin portions  403  and  405  then inserted over the male portion  401  so that the band portion  125  passes through the springbar passage 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  illustrates yet another implementation of a band lug  123 . As seen in this figure, the band portion  125  may be formed of a separate female pin portion  501  and two separate male portions  503  and  505 . As may be seen from this figure, the male pin portion  503  is inserted into a recess in one end of the female portion  501 , while the male pin portion  505  is inserted into a second recess formed in the other end of the female portion  501 . In this manner, the male pin portions  503  and  505  can be slid along the length of the aperture in either end of the female portion  403 , or both, to change the length of the band portion  125 . Further, with some implementations of the invention, the female portion  501  can be inserted into the springbar passage of a watch band, and the male pin portions  503  and  505  then inserted into the recesses of the female portion  501  so that the band portion  125  passes through the springbar passage. 
         [0038]    The implementation of the band lug  123  shown in  FIG. 5  may additionally allow the female portion  501  to freely rotate around the male pin portions  503  and  505 . This in turn may allow the watch band to more easily rotate relative to the two attachment portions  127  of the lug  123 , and thus the watch. Further, the implementations of the band lug  123  shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , having portions formed with relatively simple shapes, may be more easily manufactured with some manufacturing techniques. 
       Alternate Implementations 
       [0039]    While various implementations of embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it should be appreciated that there are a variety of alternate configuration that also may implement various embodiments of the invention. For example, some implementations of the invention may omit the threaded cylinders described above. Instead, each a fastener, such as a bolt, may pass through an upper casing aperture, a lug aperture, and a lower casing aperture. The nut can then be screwed onto the end of the bolt to secure the upper casing to the lower casing, and thereby secure the band lug to the casing. Likewise, rivets or other such fastening devices can similarly be employed without using the threaded cylinders described above. 
         [0040]    Also, while various examples described above employ a pair of band lugs, some implementations of the invention may employ only a single band lug. For example, a watch, such as a pocket watch or stopwatch, may have only a single band lug for attaching the watch to a watch band. 
       Conclusion 
       [0041]    While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.