Abstract:
A modular wristwatch assembly includes a watch case assembly, a watch movement assembly, and a watch strap. The watch case assembly includes a bezel assembly having split crown and pushers. The crown and the pushers are located on opposite sides of the watch case assembly for ease of accessibility. The crown controls movement of the hour, minute and second hands. The pushers control operation of function dials on the watch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to timepieces. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wristwatch having split crown and pushers. 
         [0002]    Wristwatches come in a variety of types including, but not limited to, mechanical windup watches, self-winding or “automatic” mechanical watches, electric or electronic (i.e., battery-powered) analog watches, battery-powered wristwatches with digital time displays (LED (light emitting diode) and constant-display LCD (liquid crystal display)) and analog quartz timing devices. 
         [0003]    Wristwatches serve both utilitarian and decorative purposes. A wristwatch has become more than just a tool used to measure the passing of time. A wristwatch also serves as a decorative accessory; a blending of fashion and technology. Typically, a wristwatch has a number of elements including, but not limited to, a watch case having an integral housing, a bezel (e.g., a rotatable numbered dial on top of the watch case), a watch dial or movement contained within the watch case having a watch face, an hour hand, a minute hand and a second hand that indicate the time of day (or an electronic display indicating the time), and a watch band or strap. Additionally, many wristwatches include a crown or knob of a watch stem connected to a watch movement that controls movement of the hour, minute and second hands. A wristwatch may include one or more knobs connected to different watch stems that control different functions. The knob of the watch stem typically extends outwardly from a rim of the watch case and the knob is capable of being partially withdrawn and turned and adjusted in order to adjust time indicating elements of the watch movement for display of the correct time. The knob, however, can detract from the symmetry and smooth lines of the watch case. Just as each visible wristwatch element can contribute to the overall decorative nature of the wristwatch, any element of the wristwatch (e.g., the knob) can also detract from the decorative appearance of the wristwatch. However, the arrangement of the components of the wristwatch is generally uniform with, for example, the knob(s) being on the right side of the wristwatch at or near the three o&#39;clock position. Not only does this ruin the symmetric appearance of the wristwatch by making the watch appear to be lop-sided, the conventional positioning of the knobs on the right side of the watch can make it difficult for someone who wears his or her watch on his or her right wrist to use the knobs to adjust the hands of the watch while wearing the wristwatch. 
         [0004]    Therefore, there is still room for improving the look of a wristwatch and accessibility of its components. For example, the ability to provide a watch with a symmetrical appearance or, at the very least, a watch that places elements in unconventional positions that provides easier access to those elements, is desirable from both decorative and functional standpoints. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, there is a need for a watch that allows a wristwatch wearer to more easily access components of the watch. There is a further need for a watch that streamlines the look of the watch case by positioning knob(s) in aesthetically pleasing positions. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages. 
         [0006]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrate, by way of example, the principals of the invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed toward a wristwatch assembly having a watch case and a watch movement assembly disposed therein. The watch movement assembly comprises a watch movement, a face, an hour hand and drive pin, a minute hand and drive pin, a second hand and drive pin, and a function dial having a dial hand and drive pin. A movement control knob on one side of the watch case engages the watch movement assembly. The movement control knob controls the movement of the hour, minute and second hands through their respective drive pins. At least one pusher knob is positioned on an opposite side of the watch case from the movement control knob. The pusher control knob controls the operation of the dial hand and drive pin on the function dial. 
         [0008]    The wristwatch assembly may include first and second pusher knobs, both located on the opposite side of the watch case from the movement control knob. The first pusher knob controls operation of the dial hand and drive pin on the function dial. The second pusher knob resets the operation of the dial hand and drive pin on the function dial. The watch movement assembly may include three function dials, each having separate dial hands and drive pins. The three function dials are calibrated so as to operate in unison. 
         [0009]    The watch movement assembly further includes a date dial which is controlled by the movement control knob. In addition, the hour, minute, second and dial hands may be coated with a self-illuminating substance, i.e., glow-in-the-dark. 
         [0010]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a watch of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the watch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an elevation of the right side of the watch taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an elevation view of the left side of the watch taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the watch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view of area  6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the watch take along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the watch taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the watch taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    As shown in the accompanying drawings for purpose of illustration, the present invention resides in a wristwatch assembly, generally referred to by the reference number  20 . By way of illustration, the wristwatch assembly  20  is depicted as being of an analog, chronometer type with three function dials including, without limitation, a stopwatch function having a twelve hour counter  88 , a thirty minute counter  90 , a sixty second counter  92  or the like. The present invention is equally applicable to a single function analog wristwatch, a single or multi-functional digital wristwatch or a combination analog and digital wristwatch. 
         [0022]    The wristwatch assembly  20  includes a watch case assembly  30 , a watch movement assembly  40  disposed within the watch case assembly  30 , and a watch strap  50  detachably connected to the watch case assembly  30 . 
         [0023]    The watch case assembly  30  includes a housing  32  formed by a back plate assembly  34  and a bezel assembly  36  removably connected together in a conventional manner to provide the housing  32  with an environmental seal. The housing  32  may be a variety of shapes including, without limitation, a generally cylindrical shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape or the like. Two pairs of wrist band lugs  38  extend from the housing  32  to enable attachment of the watch band or strap  50  to the housing  32 . Each pair of wrist band lugs  38  are disposed on opposite sides of the housing  32 . Each end of the watch strap  50  is connected by a hinge pin (not shown for clarity) to band-receiving ends of a respective pair of wrist band lugs  38  in a conventional manner. The watch strap  50  may be various types including, but not limited to, a leather strap, a plastic strap, a metal strap or a combination of the aforementioned types of straps. The housing  32  may be made from a variety of materials including, but not limited to, aluminum, gold (plated or solid), platinum (plated or solid), stainless steel, silver, plastic or the like. In the alternative, gem stones may be embedded on the surface of the housing  32 . 
         [0024]    The watch movement assembly  40  includes a watch movement  42  having a watch face or dial  44  disposed thereon. The watch movement  42  is sized and shaped in order to fit within the watch case assembly  30 . Conventional components of the watch movement  42  not shown for clarity include a winding-mechanism that winds a mainspring; a setting-mechanism (usually connected to the winding-mechanism by common parts for altering the position of the hands of the watch); and a dial-train fitted under the dial  44  for transmitting the rotation of a minute-pinion to the hour hand. The watch dial  44  which serves as the indicating “face” of the watch  20 , usually in the form of a plate of metal or other material, bearing various markings to show at least the hours, minutes and seconds by means of numerals, divisions or symbols of various types, printed, raised, applied and/or combined with other skills like “cloisonné” enamel, diamond-set or “pave” decoration. Gem stones may be embedded on the surface of the watch face  44  within a decorative channel  78  along a perimeter of an outer surface of the upper plate  46  of the housing  32 . 
         [0025]    The bezel assembly  36  includes an upper plate  46  defining, in conjunction with the back plate assembly  34 , an inner cavity  48  into which the watch movement assembly  40  can be inserted. A watch crystal  52 , preferably made from a scratch-resistant mineral glass, is positioned within a niche  54  of the upper plate  46  of the bezel assembly  38  between the dial  44  and an aperture  56  in the upper plate  46  aligned with the watch face  44 . The back plate assembly  34  includes a watch crystal  58 , preferably made from a scratch-resistant mineral glass, positioned within a niche  60  of the back plate assembly  34  between the watch movement  42  and an aperture  62  in the back plate assembly  34  aligned with the watch movement  42 . An environmental seal  64  is positioned about each crystal  52 ,  58  within its respective niche  54 ,  60 . 
         [0026]    A watch movement control knob crown  66  extends through a right side wall  68  of the housing  32 . This knob  66  is connected via a watch stem  70  to the watch movement  42 . The knob  66  is capable of being partially withdrawn and turned and adjusted in order to adjust the time indicating elements of the watch movement  42  for display of the correct time. Also associated with both the watch movement  42  and the watch face  44  are hour, minute and second hands  72 ,  74 ,  76  operationally connected to the watch movement  44  by respective drive pins  73 ,  75 ,  77 . The hour, minute and second hands  72 ,  74 ,  76  may be made from metal and covered with a decorative fluorescent coating to enable the hour, minute and second hands  72 ,  74 ,  76  to glow-in-the-dark. The watch hands  72 ,  74 ,  76  are usually made of a thin, light piece of metal, very variable in form, which moves over the graduated watch dial  44 . Usually for each indication of time (i.e., hour, minute, second) one specific hand is needed (i.e., hands  72 ,  74 ,  76 ). The hands  72 ,  74 ,  76  may come in a variety of styles, qualities and colors and may be made from various materials including, but not limited to, solid gold, tempered steel, brass or the like with the materials protected and/or decorated either by a thin galvanized layer of gold, rhodium or some kind of lacquer. 
         [0027]    A number of pusher knobs  80  extend through a left side wall  82  of the housing  32 . Each pusher knob  80  is connected via a spring-loaded stem  84  to a spring-loaded pivotal lever  86  capable of engaging the watch movement  42  when the pusher knob  80  is depressed by a wearer and automatically disengages from the watch movement  42  when the pusher knob  80  is released by the wearer. The pusher knobs  80  activate/deactivate the functions of first, second, and third small, calibrated dials  88 ,  90 ,  92  on the watch face  44 . The dials  88 ,  90 ,  92  perform a stopwatch function and serve, respectively, as a twelve hour counter, a thirty minute counter, and a sixty second counter. Each dial  88 ,  90 ,  92  includes a dial hand  94 . Each hand  94  is connected to the watch movement  42  by a drive pin  96  to display, respectively, hour, minute and seconds. The watch face  44  also includes a dial  98  connected to the watch movement  42  that displays a day of the month. Alternatively, day of the week and month dials connected to the watch movement  42  may also be disposed on the watch face  44 . The dial hands  94  may be made from metal and covered with a decorative fluorescent coating to enable the dial hands  94  to glow-in-the-dark. 
         [0028]    While the wristwatch  20  has been described with the crown knob  66  extending through the right side wall  68  of the housing  32  and the pusher knobs  80  extending through the left side wall  82  of the housing  32 , the respective positions of the knobs  66 ,  80  may be reversed. Additional knobs  66 ,  80  that provide other functionality may be added to the wristwatch  20 . 
         [0029]    The watch face  44 , regardless of configuration, may be made from any thin, suitable material and may be finished in any desired manner. For example, the watch face  44  may include a black face with white dials  88 ,  90 ,  92 , white hour, minute, and second hands  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and black hands  94 . Alternatively, the previously described color scheme may be reversed or other color schemes may be used to provide a contrast between the watch face  44 , the dials  88 ,  90 ,  92 , and the hands  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  94 . Likewise, the watch face  44  may include a color scheme to complement that of the bezel assembly  36 . 
         [0030]    The watch movement  42  may be any existing type, with the watch face  44  adapted for that particular type, including, but not limited to a mechanical type (either automatic (self winding) or a wind-up type), a digital type, a quartz electronic type, or any other available type. 
         [0031]    In operation, when a user wishes to engage a stopwatch function of the watch  20 , the user depresses one of the pusher knobs  80  which, in turn, pushes the spring-loaded stem  84  connected to the knob  80  so that an end of the stem  84  engages an adjacent spring-loaded pivotal lever  86  which, in turn, mechanically swings out of a recess  100  to mechanically engage the watch movement  42 . Both the spring-loaded pivotal lever  86  and the watch stem  84  automatically return to their original positions once the pusher knob  80  is released by the wearer. Engagement of the lever  86  with the watch movement  42  activates the timing functions of the first, second, and third dials  88 ,  90 ,  92  by causing the drive pin  96  of each dial  88 ,  90 ,  92  to turn each respective dial hand  94  clockwise to indicate the passage of time in up to twelve hour, up to thirty minutes, and up to sixty second increments on each respective dial  88 ,  90 ,  92 . When the user desires to end the stopwatch function, the user again depresses one of the pusher knobs  80  which, in turn, pushes the spring-loaded stem  84  connected to the knob  80  so that the end of the stem  84  engages the adjacent spring-loaded pivotal lever  86  which, in turn, mechanically swings out of the recess  100  to mechanically engage the watch movement  42 . The watch movement  42  then deactivates the drive pins  96  of each dial  88 ,  90 ,  92  which, in turn, causes the respective dial hands  94  to cease clockwise movement. When the user desires to re-set the dial hands  94  into a zero or twelve o&#39;clock position, the user depresses the other of the pusher knobs  80  which, in turn, pushes an associated spring-loaded stem  84  connected to that knob  80  so that the end of that stem  84  engages an adjacent spring-loaded pivotal lever  86  which, in turn, mechanically swings out of its recess  100  to mechanically engage the watch movement  42 . The watch movement  42  then activates the drive pins  96  of each dial  88 ,  90 ,  92  which, in turn, causes the respective dial hands  94  to moves into the zero or twelve o&#39;clock position. 
         [0032]    Although embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.