Improvements in and relating to Secret Springs for Watch Cases.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Secret Springs for Watch Cases.
I, JOHN ROTHERHAM of 27 Spon Street Coventry in the County of Warwick
Watch Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This my invention relates to improvements in and relating to secret springs for
watch cases and has for its object to simplify the method of forming the springs and
the mode of attachment of said springs to the band of the watch case.
Hitherto the fly and lock springs of a case have been formed out of a length of
solid wire by the operation of filing, this method involving considerable waste of
metal time and labour. Now my invention consists in forming the said springs out
of ribbon steel of suitable width and thickness by means of dies of the required
shapes the locking head and spur being separately formed by a series of press
tools.
My invention also consists in an improved method of attachment of said springs
to the band of the case by which method the use of screws for securing the springs
is dispensed with. My improved method consists in adjusting the springs in the
band to the position they are to occupy and securing them by means of tension pins
inserted through suitable holes in the band of the case and the pressure exerted
between the tension pins and the springs will firmly retain the said springs in the
required position.
Dated this 26th day of March 1891
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Secret Springs for Watch Cases.
I JOHN ROTHERHAM of 27 Spon Street Coventry Warwickshire Watch
Manufacturer do hereby 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:-
This my invention relates to improvements in and relating to secret springs for
watch cases and has for its object to simplify the method of forming the springs and
the mode of attachment of the said springs to the band of the watch case.
Hitherto the fly and lock springs of a case have been formed out of a length of
solid wire by the operation of filing, this method involving a considerable waste of
metal time and labour. Now my invention consists in forming the said springs out
of ribbon steel of suitable width and thickness by means of dies of the required
shapes, the locking head and spur being separately formed by a series of press
tools.
My invention also consists in an improved method of attachment of said springs
to the band of the case by which method the use of screws for securing the springs
is dispensed with. My improved method consists in adjusting the springs in the
band to the position which they are to occupy and securing them by means of
tension pins inserted through suitable holes in the band of the case and the pressure
exerted between the tension pins and the springs will firmly retain the said springs
in the required position.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood, reference should be

page_text: made to the accompanying drawings wherein like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures, and in which
Fig. 1 shows the fly spring of a watch case formed in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 shows the lock spring of the same and
Fig. 3 shows a watch case in section having the springs applied thereto.
As will be seen from the drawings the springs are formed from a sheet of steel
or other metal, being preferably stamped out, and afterwards pressed up into shape
as illustrated.
The spur a and the locking head b on their respective springs being afterwards
formed by means of press tools, and the opposite ends or "heels "d of the springs
are bent so as to increase the elasticity of the spring.
The springs are secured to the band of the watch case in the manner shown in
Fig. 3 the springs being placed in the band and adjusted to the required position,
and are retained by means of a pin c which is inserted through holes formed in the
said band the pressure exerted by the spring acting against the tension pin c being
sufficient to retain the spring in position.
Although I have described my invention as applied to a watch case, I do not
wish to confine myself to the said application, as the springs may be applied to other
similar cases without departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,-
1. The method of forming springs for watch or other similar cases from one
thickness of metal, substantially in the manner described and set forth.
2. The combination with a watch or other case of springs retained in the said
case by means of tension pins, substantially in the manner described and illus-
trated.
3. The method of bending the "heel" of the spring so as to impart elasticity to
the said spring, substantially in the manner described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of December 1891.
HORN & SON,
Applicant's Agents.