Abstract:
A wristwatch case is structured by an outer case and an inner case mounting a movement. The inner case is structured movable vertical to a plane to provide, in a vertical movable range, a stop point where the inner case is allowed to rotate and a stop position inhibiting rotation. In a state the inner case is rotatable, the inner case can be rotated to an angle easy to see.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a wristwatch case.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the prior Art  
           [0004]    The conventional wristwatch case could be divided into an outer case and an inner case, but the inner case could not be moved in a vertical direction. Also, it was impossible to rotate only the inner case.  
           [0005]    In the related-art wristwatch, when the wristwatch is worn on the wrist to see it, the wristwatch is positioned in a direction easy to see by moving the wrist. However, in a state that wrist movement is put under restriction, the timepiece is in an angle not easy to see it. Also, if, in such a state, the wrist is unnaturally moved to see the timepiece, there is a possibility of inducing mistake of operation or drive.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In the present invention, it is a problem to provide a wristwatch case which solves the foregoing problem and can change the inner case to a one&#39;s desired angle regardless of a wrist position and positively lock the rotation of the inner case in that position.  
           [0007]    The inner case mounting a timepiece movement is structurally given a function movable generally vertical with respect to a plane of a wristwatch case, being divided into a plurality of stop points in a vertical operating range, i.e., a stop point that rotation of the inner case is positively fixed and a stop point for rotating the inner case. This makes it possible to change the inner case to a desired angle and positively lock the rotation of the inner case in that position.  
           [0008]    According to the present invention, at the stop point for positively fixing the rotation of the inner case, the gear-formed convex-concave formed in the outer case engages a rotation-regulating portion of a concave-convex-formed gear of a rotation-regulating ring and positively regulates the rotation. At the stop point for rotation, the engagement is released from the rotation-regulating portion of the rotation-regulating ring to enable the inner case to rotate. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESICRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    A preferred form of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a main structure fragmentary sectional view in an inner case lower stop point of the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a main structure fragmentary sectional view in an inner case upper stop point of the invention;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a main structure fragmentary sectional view in an inner case lower stop point of the invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an A-A arrow direction sectional view in the inner case lower position of the invention;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a main structure fragmentary sectional view in an inner case upper stop point of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a B-B arrow direction sectional view in the inner case upper position of the invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a plan view of a ring elastic part of the invention; and  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a plan view as viewed in a glass direction of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]    An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings.  
         [0019]    The present invention is structured, as shown in FIG. 1, by a degree-contact step  11 , a positioning groove  12  holding a positioning elastic member  5 , an outer case  1  having a gear-formed convex/concave portion  13 , an outer case degree-contact surface  26 , an inner case  2  having a positioning protrusion  25 , a rotation stop dowel  43  engaged in a rotation stop hole  23 , and a rotation regulating ring  4  having a rotation regulating portion  41  corresponding to the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  and fixed in the inner case  2 . Also, the inner case  2  is mounted with a timepiece movement  9 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 shows a state that an inner case receiving surface  14  is in contact with an outer case-receiving surface  21  of the inner case  2 , which state is rendered as a lower stop point. Due to a positioning elastic member  5  held by a positioning groove  12  of the outer case  1  and a positioning protrusion  25  of the inner case  2 , the inner case  2  can stop at the lower stop point.  
         [0021]    By engaging the rotation stop dowel  43  possessed by the rotation-regulating ring  4  in a singular or plurality of rotation stop holes  23  opened in the inner case  2 , the rotation-regulating ring  4  will not rotate. At this time, engagement is made between the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  of the outer case  1  and the rotation-regulating portion  41  of the rotation-regulating ring  4  fixed by the inner case  2 , so that the inner case  2  secures stop stability and will not rotate.  
         [0022]    The rotation regulating portion  41  of the rotation regulating ring  4  fixed in the inner case  2  is provided singular or in plurality.  
         [0023]    The stop stability is further secured for the inner case by the contact between the flatter-preventing elastic member  6  fitted in a fixing groove  24  of the inner case  2  and an elastic contact surface  15  of the outer case  1 . A band  8  is provided with the outer case  1  so it is able to attach a watch on the arm. A glass  3  and a back lid  7  are fixed on the outer case  1 . The outer case  1  protects the timepiece movement  9  and keeps hermeticity.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 2 shows a state that the inner case  2  is vertically moved from a finger-engaging portion  19  having no outer peripheral wall  16  to a finger-engaging slant surface  28  of the outer case  1 , whereby the positioning elastic member  5  held by the positioning groove  12  of the outer case  1  deforms and gets over a positioning protrusion  25  of the inner case  2 . Also, the inner case  2  may be vertically moved by finger-pressing a back-lid bottom surface  71  of the back lid  7 .  
         [0025]    At this time, the positioning elastic member  5  held by the positioning groove  12  of the outer case  1  interferes with a positioning protrusion upper slant surface  27  of the inner case  2  whereby the inner case  2  can stop at an upper stop point and the inner case  2  can be stably rotated in the upper stop point.  
         [0026]    In this state, engagement is completely released between the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  of the outer case  1  and the rotation-regulating portion  41  of the rotation-regulating ring  4  fixed on the inner case  2 . The inner case  2  can rotate freely.  
         [0027]    The rotation regulating ring  4  has a removal-preventing protrusion  42  such that, when the inner case  2  is moved to the upper stop position, the rotation regulating ring  4  fixed to the inner case  2  is not left together with the outer case  1  in the lower stop point. By the interference between the removal preventing protrusion  42  of the rotation regulating ring  4  and a circumferential groove lower wall  22 , the rotation regulating ring  4  is not left in the lower stop point but can be moved together with the inner case  2  to the upper stop point.  
         [0028]    In the upper stop point, meshing is made between the gear concave portion  17  of the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  of the outer case  1  and a click elastic protrusion  45  is provided in a click elastic portion  44  of the rotation regulating ring  4  fixed in the inner case  2 .  
         [0029]    If the inner case  2  is rotated, the click elastic protrusion  45  provided in the click elastic portion  44  of the rotation regulating ring  4  is moved in a radial direction by a rotation force and intermittently interferes with the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  formed in the outer case  1 , thereby giving click feel to the inner case  2 .  
         [0030]    The rotation regulating portion  41  of the rotation regulating ring  4  and the click elastic protrusion  45  are planarly alternately arranged.  
         [0031]    Also, the rotation regulating portion  41  of the rotation regulating ring  4  and the click elastic protrusion  45  are arranged in an upper surface and a lower surface with respect to a planar direction.  
         [0032]    The click elastic portion  44  of the rotation regulating ring  4  and the click elastic protrusion  45  are singular or in plurality.  
         [0033]    The outer case  1  has a degree-contact step  11  and the inner case  2  has an outer-case-degree-contact portion  26  such that, when the inner case  2  is moved in the upper direction, the inner case  2  is prevented from falling out of the outer case  1 .  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 shows the inner case  2  in the lower stop point, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 3. The gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  having the gear concave portion  17  and the gear convex portion  18  engages the rotation-regulating portion  41  of the rotation regulating ring  4  on a plane, so the inner case  2  does not rotate.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the rotation regulating ring  4 . FIG. 7 shows a state in which the rotation-regulating portion  41  and the click elastic protrusion  45  are alternately arranged on a plane.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 shows a plan view of a watch case as viewed in a glass direction. The finger-engaging portion  19  having an outer peripheral wall  16  is provided with the outer case  1  so as to easily operate it with fingers when the inner case  2  is moved toward a vertical direction. It is better that the finger-engaging portion  19  is provided at two or more position. The band  8  is provided with the outer case  1 .  
         [0037]    In this invention, as described above, when the inner case  2  is positioned in the lower stop position, the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  engages the rotation regulating portion  41  of the rotation regulating ring  4  to inhibit the inner case  2  from rotating. When the inner case  2  is positioned in the upper stop position, the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  and the rotation-regulating portion  41  of the rotation-regulating ring  4  are released from engagement to enable the inner case  2  to freely rotate. Thus, a wristwatch case structure could have been realized that is different in rotation function of the inner case  2  by the stop positions.  
         [0038]    This has made it possible to change the inner case to a desired angle easy to see the timepiece regardless of a wrist position, and lock the rotation of the inner case at that position.  
         [0039]    As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in a state the inner case  2  is moved to the upper stop position, slight interference is caused between the gear-formed concave-convex portion  13  and a click elastic protrusion  45  provided in the click elastic portion  44 , enabling to provide a click feeling to free rotation of the inner case  2 .