Improvements in Adjustable Watch Keys and Holding Tools.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1839-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Watch Keys and Holding Tools.
I, RHODOLPH HENRY FRANKLIN of No. 79 and 81 Washington Street in the City of
Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of New York United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
nanner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to the kind of adjustable watch keys and holding tools in
which a pair of opening and closing jaws are made to grip winding posts of
watches and other articles as wire and the like of different sizes by the effect of
the longitudinal thrust of the spring on them, the tubular case containing them
and the spring to hold and turn them by the case and it consists of an improved
contrivance whereby the same thrust of the spring is utilized to effect such
positive grip in the contact of the jaws with the interior surface of a plain round
mouth of said tubular case as will ensure the turning of the jaws with sufficient
power to wind any watch without any other provision therefor, and so as to
avoid the expense of such devices as are now employed to effect the turning of
the jaws by the tube, and also enable the jaws to be made smaller in diameter
of the thicker parts and therefore slimmer thereat than can be made when a pin
is inserted between them and through the tube, as they are commonly made for
turning the jaws, so that besides the cheaper construction, the jaws are better
adapted for reaching the small posts of delicate watches through the correspondingly
small holes of the back plates of the watches all as hereinafter fully described
reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a watch key of the kind which is the subject
of my invention and constructed in accordance therewith.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are end views of the same as seen looking at the jaws and
illustrating my invention, all the views being on a scale much larger than full size.
These keys consist essentially of the two jaws a, arranged in the tube b, to
project somewhat from one end of said tube and to slide out and in to some
extent for opening and closing by the action of the taper shape at c, on the
mouth of the tube and of the loop spring d, pressing the jaws together above the
convex parts at e, said loop spring also connecting the jaws with the push bit f
sliding in the upper end of the tube b, and having a coiled spring g, under it which is
compressed when the push bit is forced down for the opening of the jaws, and, by its
recoil when the pressure is removed from the push bit, forces the jaws up again into
the tube for closing them and gripping the post of the watch or other article to be
held by the jaws.
Below the taper e, the jaws are reversely tapered so as to form a slender cone shape
enabling them to be inserted through the hole in the back plate of the watch through
which the post is reached, and they are grooved at h, in their gripping faces to form
the socket for gripping the post.
It will be seen that when the jaws are pressed down and further projected from tho
end of the case so that the parts c, tapering upward are somewhat relieved of the
limits of the mouth of the tube, the loop spring d, which is adjusted to press
the upper ends of the jaws together, will thereby open the lower ends, and when the
coiled spring 9, forces the jaws upward and draws the taper e, into the end of the tube,
the jaws are closed on and grip and hold the post for turning it by turning the key
with the fingers.
As these keys have been heretofore made it has been found necessary to fit a pin
hrough the case and between the jaws or to provide some equivalent means for
preventing the tube from slipping on the jaws when turning the key, such as studs of
[Prins C

page_text: the case projecting slightly into the division space between the jaws, or by the jaws
being made with one or more flat sides, and the tube with corresponding flat shapes
in the mouth, but these devices are all expensive and objectionable, especially the
flat shapes in the mouth of the tube and to be avoided if possible as they amount
to a considerable percentage of the expense of the key.
I have found that by constructing the jaws in a key or holding tool in which the
case has a plain round mouth of the simplest form, with acute angles as i, at their
edges or j, thereat and at intervals around the back from edge to edge, or with the
obtuse angles k, together with angles i, so that the edges of these angles have contact
with the surface of the mouth of the tube and being pressed thereon by the effect of
the coiled spring g, will bite with such positive hold as ensures the proper action of
the jaws without any special holding device. If desired the surface of the mouth
of the tube may be fluted slightly but it is not essential. These shapes of the jaws
are made without more cost than the ordinary shapes and thus the expense of the
holding devices heretofore provided is wholly avoided and the jaws can be made with
less space between them than when the pin or the studs of the case projecting into the
dividing space between them are used, which enables the jaws to be made smaller in
diameter at the thickest part and still have sufficient material for strength and this
enables the cone to be slimmer as before stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a watch key or holding tool of the character herein described, the
combination of the tube having the round mouth, the jaws having acute angles in
contact with the surface of the mouth and the spring pressing said angles on the
surface of the mouth substantially as described.
2nd. In a watch key or holding tool of the character described, the combination of
the tube having the round mouth, the jaws having acute and also obtuse angles in
contact with the surface of the mouth, and the spring pressing said angles on the
surface of the mouth substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of November 1889.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.