Improvements in Watch-case Pendants and Bows.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Watch-case Pendants and Bows.
I, EZRA CHARLES FITCH, of Newton, in the County of Middlesex, in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The ordinary method of constructing watch case pendants and bows may be briefly
described as follows:-the pendant is formed (from a piece of heavy wire of proper
size and of any desired material) into the desired form, and after being suitably
attached to the body or centre of the case is held in position by suitable fixtures, and
two holes are drilled in to a slight depth on opposite sides of the pendant and in
position desired. If the case is of the better grade, these two holes are made suitable
to receive sockets which are made to project slightly from the body of the pendant
and are firmly attached to it by solder so as to be practically integral with it. In
cheaper forms of cases however, the sockets do not project but are made in the body
of the pendant.
The bow or ring is made from wire or any desired metal, and is formed by being
wound upon a suitable sized arbor in the form of a cylindrical spiral, and is then
sawed into pieces so that each encircling coil will form an independent ring, or rather
a portion of a ring, enough metal being removed from the coil to allow the ends to
be sprung into the sockets of the pendants above described. As the rings or bows
are held in place in the sockets by their resilience only, it sometimes happens that
a sudden strain on the bow, such as might be caused by a watch slipping from
one's pocket and being caught by the vest chain, or the snatching of the watch by a
pickpocket, will serve to detach the ring from the pendant with the result of the
loss of or injury to the watch. Moreover, as both the bow and pendant are ordinarily
of soft metal, as gold or silver, there will inevitably be a wear of the two surfaces,
resulting in time in dangerous looseness.
To overcome this danger and liability, and also to provide a pendant bow of tasteful
design and which will permit the use of the winding bar of stem winding watches,
is the object of my invention, which consists in the improvements hereinafter described
and claimed.
Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1
represents a sectional view of the watch case pendant and bow provided with my
improvements. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of another form of bow, the same
having socketed bosses on its ends and the collar which secures the same to the
pendant. Fig. 3 represents a section on line x x of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a
section on line y, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a top view of the bow securing studs
or pins and their supporting collar.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
In the drawings, a represents a watch case pendant secured to the case centre 6 in
the usual or any suitable manner. In the exterior of the pendant and at opposite
sides of the same are formed suitable sockets or depressions a¹ a¹ to receive the
inwardly projecting ends c c of the bow d. Said ends are provided with sockets to
receive the pins ee which secure the bow to the pendant. Said pins are detachably
secured to the pendant and project outwardly therefrom through orifices o o extending
from the sockets a¹ to the interior of the pendant. I have shown the pins provided
at their ends with heads e! which are larger than the diameter of the orifices o, and,
being placed within the pendant, prevent the pins from being withdrawn. Said pins
are held in place and prevented from moving inwardly by the sleeve.g, which is
inserted in the pendant and is provided with seats g¹ formed to support the heads e¹

page_text: 8, and is
of the pins e.
The sleeve g may be secured to the pendant by any suitable means,
such as a small screw inserted in the pendant and bearing against or pointed into
the sleeve. The sleeve is preferably cut through at one side, as shown at
thereby made elastic so that its seats g₁ g¹ exert an outward pressure against the
heads of the pins and thereby keep the latter in close contact with the inner surface
of the pendant.
The ends cc of the bow d are sprung into the sockets a¹ which are formed for
them in the pendant, and after said bosses are in place in said sockets the pins ee are
inserted from within the pendant, the heads e¹ of said pins bearing against the inner.
surface of the pendant. The collar g is then secured as described, and the pins are
thus firmly attached to the pendant and, by their projection into the sockets formed
in the ends c c of the bow, they secure said bow to the pendant so that it cannot be
detached by a twisting movement or by springing its ends outwardly, it being
impossible to remove the pendant without removing the pins e, which operation can
only be performed by first removing the collar, as will be readily seen.
It is evident that by the described improvement, not only is all danger of accident
from a disengagement of the bow obviated, but also that the wearing surfaces are
so increased that a far greater durability is ensured, and also that still greater strength
and durability are ensured by the opportunity to use a harder and more rigid metal
for the acting surfaces.
.
It will be observed that the pins are wholly outside the longitudinal centre of the
pendant, so that ample room is left for the winding bar within the pendant.
The pins e e are preferably made of a metal or alloy harder than gold or silver, to
prevent them from being worn by the friction caused by the swinging of the bow
and also to impart additional strength.
I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to provide the ends of the bow
with inwardly projecting grooved studs or projections formed integral with or
rigidly attached to the ends of the bow, their inner ends being engaged within
the pendant by a sleeve which is inserted in the pendant to prevent the withdrawal
of said studs.
In the construction last described, the studs are necessarily parts of the bow when
the latter is applied to the pendant, hence the bow has to be opened or expanded to
enable said studs to be sprung into the holes formed to receive them in the pendant,
so that the bow has to be distorted or widely expanded preparatory to the insertion of
said studs.
It will be seen that in my improvement the pins e e are not attached to the bow,
but are inserted in the sockets of the bow after the latter is in place in the pendant,
consequently no unusual opening or expansion of the bow is required to apply it to
the pendant.
1 am also aware that it has been proposed to secure a bow to a watch pendant
by screws inserted from the outside of the pendant through sockets formed in the
ends of the bow, their threaded inner ends being engaged with threaded sockets
formed in a collar within the pendant; but I am not aware that pins made
independent of the bow and passing through sockets made in the ends of the
bow have ever been locked within the pendant, so that they cannot be removed
from the pendant.
In the proposed construction last referred to there is nothing to prevent the with-
drawal of the screws by their accidental rotation, hence there is always a liability
of the screws working loose and releasing the bow from the pendant.
By my improvement the pins are locked within the pendant, so that they cannot be
withdrawn therefrom, without first releasing their inner ends.
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 :
A watch case pendant having orifices in its sides, combined with the smooth
surfaced or unthreaded bow securing pins inserted in said orifices and having heads

page_text: within the pendant larger than the orifices, the collar g inserted within the pendant
and provided with recesses or seats g¹ formed to support the heads of the pins
and prevent inward movement thereof, and the bow having socketed ends formed to
receive the projecting portions of the pins, as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of November A n 1080
EZRA CHARLES FITCH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.