IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR PROTECTORS FOR WATCHES AND THE LIKE
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frank Wirth, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent
Solicitors, of Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES OR PROTECTORS FOR WATCHES AND
THE LIKE."
A communication from Gustav Speckhart, of Nürnberg, in the
Empire of Germany.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frank Wirth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th September 1881.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, of
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES
OR PROTECTORS FOR WATCHES AND THE LIKE A communication from Gustav
Speckhart, of Nürnberg, in the Empire of Germany.
"
This improved protecting case or covering consists in contradistinction to those
hitherto in use (which are made of metal or other rigid substance) of india-rubber,
or of a similar elastic material. It is of the shape and size of an ordinary
watch case. In that part of a watch where the bow is placed for attaching the
watch to the watch chain the case has a small circular aperture, corresponding
to the thickness of the neck of the pendant. The front of this case has also a
circular aperture corresponding in size to the watch face or dial, so that when the
watch is in the case the dial remains uncovered. The aperture for the dial and the
aperture for the neck of the stem of the pendant are both surrounded by a raised
ring-shaped rim; the outer periphery of the whole case is likewise surrounded by
another rim. The case being elastic and yielding, it can easily be drawn over the
watch or other like instrument by first pushing the bow into the aperture
intended for the same from the interior, and by then pulling the rest of the case
or covering over the watch or other instrument this being easily accomplished by
reason of the above stated qualities of the case. The walls or sides of this case
are so thin and elastic that if a "keyless" watch for instance be surrounded thereby
the walls or sides will allow the stud, by means of which the setting of the hands

page_text: is accomplished, to be readily perceived by a projection, so that the said stud can
be depressed without requiring the case or covering to be removed. The advantages
offered by this case when compared with other cases made of rigid material, are as
follows: The case closely adhering to the watch in all parts, it will not make the
latter bulky as has been the case with protecting cases or covers hitherto used, and
for the same reason, no dust nor dampness can enter the works, thus protecting the
watch from dirt and rust. If the watch happens to. fall on the ground, the case,
with its elastic rims, prevents the glass being broken and the works being damaged.
By reason of its yielding nature, the protecting case prevents wear of the metal
casing of the watch, and the latter when surrounded by the said protecting case
always remains in as good a state as if it were new. Moreover, the elastic material
from which the protecting case is made obviates the necessity for tedious "fitting,"
as by reason of this property the said case can be easily applied to any watch or
like instrument.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frank Wirth, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
March 1882.
FRANK WIRTH, of the Firm of Wirth and Company, Patent Solicitors, at
Frankfort on the Main, in the Empire of Germany. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CASES
OR PROTECTORS FOR WATCHES AND THE LIKE." A communication from Gustav
Speckhart, of Nürnberg, in the Empire of Germany.
This improved protecting case consists in contradistinction to the cases hitherto
in use, and made of metal or other rigid substance, of india rubber or a similar
elastic material. It is of the shape and size of an ordinary watch; at the part
where the bow is placed for attaching the watch to the chain there is a small
circular aperture corresponding to the thickness of the neck of the pendant, likewise
the front or face of the case is cut out circularly to correspond with the size of the
dial, so that when the watch is in the case the dial remains uncovered (Figure 1,
Sheet 1 of the Drawings). Both apertures are surrounded by a raised annular rim,
the aperture for the dial with the rim b, and the aperture for the neck of the
pendant, with the rim c. In the same manner the rim a surrounds the outer
periphery of the entire case. As the case is elastic and capable of stretching, it can
be easily pulled over the watch by first pushing the bow from the inside through
the aperture of the case intended for the same, and then drawing the case further
over the watch, and this Drawing, in consequence of the above mentioned property
of the case, offers no further difficulty. The sides or walls of the case are so thin
and elastic that, if a keyless watch for instance be provided with the same, the stud
which is depressed when the setting of the hands is to be effected, is clearly
perceived by a projection d (Figure 1), this enabling the stud to be depressed
without necessitating the removal of the protecting case. The advantages which
these cases offer over others made of rigid material may be shortly stated as follows:-
As the case lays closely against the watch at all parts it does not make the latter
bulky, as in the protecting cases hitherto in use. For the same reason neither
dust nor dampness can penetrate the works, and thus the case protects the watch
against dirt and destruction by rust. If the watch is dropped, the case with its
rims prevents the glass being broken and the works being damaged. By reason of
its pliability the case prevents the wearing off of the metal covers of the watch,
but on the contrary, under its protection the watch remains as if it were new. The
elasticity of the material used in the manufacture of this case renders laborious
fitting of the same to the watch unnecessary, as in consequence of this property
the case can readily be applied to any watch. Figure 1 (Sheet 1) of the Drawings
shows such a case applied to a watch; Figure 3, the same without a watch; and
Figure 2, the same in section. Moreover, the metal case can be entirely dispensed
with when this case is used. The pillar plate a (Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet II of
the Drawings) to which the separate parts of a watch are screwed, has upon its
front or face the bezil b for the glass, and upon its back a similar bezil c for the cover
or lid, in which there are the apertures for the insertion of the key for winding
and setting purposes. On the plate a there is also provided the pendant with the
bow e; the glass is then fitted into the corresponding bezil on the front of the
plate a, and the lid or cover with the aforesaid apertures into the bezi! at the
back of the plate a, and the whole is then covered with the india rubber case, and
thus the watch is completed, and its inner works are perfectly protected as the
openings in the lid or case are enclosed by the india-rubber protecting covering
which at the same time keeps the glass and the lid or cover fast in their bezils
on the plate.

page_text: In another arrangement or modification (Figures, 4, 5, 6, and 7, Sheet II), the
metal hoop is firmly connected to the pendant h, and the latter is cut through. the
centre, and can be again fastened together by the screw k (Figure 6). The bow is
when this has been done sprung into the corresponding apertures in the pendant.
When the parts of the watch are to be put together it will only be necessary to
remove the screw k from the neck of the pendant h and the bow i from the cor-
responding apertures of the pendant; the hoop, whose sides are approximately
semicircular in cross section being springy, it will be easy to insert the plate a (which
in this case is of course not provided with the bezils b and c) with the glass and
the lid d therein. This being done, the pendant h is brought together by the
screw k, the bow is inserted, and the india-rubber case being drawn over the
whole, the watch is ready for use.
Besides the advantage that a watch made in this manner is as it were unbreak-
able, a further advantage is that it can be produced at a low price, as the hoop
and the lid are not as was hitherto done turned, but stamped. This hoop can
obviously be made of any metal, and its advantage is its simplicity of manufacture,
no hinges being employed. By dispensing with the various lids or covers the
watch has a very elegant appearance and looks very flat.
Although I have described and shewn the Invention as applied to a watch, it
can be applied in precisely similar manner to other like instruments.
.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and in what manner the
same may be perforined, I declare that I claim,―
The protecting case for watches and like instruments, made of india rubber or
similar elastic material, and provided with a circular aperture, surrounded by an
annular rim c for the pendant and bow of the watch, and with an aperture sur-
rounded by the rim b for the dial; the outer periphery of said case being provided
with the rim a, substantially as specified and shewn in the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frank Wirth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of March, in the year 1882.
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