Year: 1886

page_text: We, GEORGE BENJAMIN GARDNER and WILLEY BARKER both of Lynn in the
State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Shoemakers do
heroby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
. The object of our invention is to provide a new and improved attachment for
watches for the purpose of making it difficult or impossible for pickpockets to pull
a watch out of other persons' pockets, and also to prevent the watch from dropping
out when the person stoops down.
The Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts as will be
hereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this
specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
both the figures.
Figure 1 is a face view of a watch provided with our improved watch-
protecting ring. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ring.
The ring A, made or moulded of soft rubber and having a circular cross-section,
has a series of short radial rubber projections or studs, B, on the outer surface,
some of the projections extending downward, some upward, and some horizontally.
The bow C on the pendant D of the watch E is passed through the rubber ring A,
so that the said ring is held on the pendant.
When the watch is in the pocket, it can only be removed by pulling the chain
considerably, as the projections B catch on the pocket lining, and the strain on the
chain required to pull out the watch is so great as to be noticed by the owner or
person in whose pocket the watch is at the time. This person or owner can easily
withdraw the watch, especially if he grasps it at the pendant or part surrounded
by the ring.
The ring is very small, does not bulge out the pocket, it can be applied very
easily, and the projections cannot tear the pocket.
We are aware that a safety attachment for watches has been formed of a flat
circular or oval piece of rubber having a scalloped edge, a central aperture and
slots on opposite sides of the aperture, and we do not claim the same as of our

page_text: invention. In our construction a round rubber ring is used which is covered with
a series of projecting points. In the old construction, when strain was exerted on
the watch to remove it from the pocket, there was a great tendency for the scalloped
edges to bend downward over the upper part of the watch and allow the watch to
be pulled out; but it will be noticed that we use a round ring covered with
projecting points, which will engage the pocket, and should an attempt be made to
withdraw the watch the friction of the points against the pocket will effectually
prevent it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
As an improved article of manufacture, a safety attachment for watches, con-
sisting of a round soft-rubber ring, A, formed with projecting points B around its
outer surface, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described, set
forth, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.