IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYLESS WATCHES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER KINDS OF WATCHES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Christian Lange of Great Portland Street in the County
of Middlesex, Watchmaker for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYLESS
WATCHES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER KINDS OF
WATCHES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Christian Lange at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1883.
CHRISTIAN LANGE of Great Portland Street in the County of Middlesex, Watch-
maker "IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYLESS WATCHES, PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER KINDS OF WATCHES. "
This invention relates mainly to keyless watches, or those which are wound up
by rotating a milled head or "pendent" situate within the "bow" to which the
watch chain is attached, the object in view being to increase the strength of the
attachment between the watch and the chain, and render the winding "pendent"
more easily manipulated.
In keyless watches as at present constructed the "bow" cannot be secured to the
pendent" by a screw passing transversely through the said "pendent" (as in
watches of the ordinary kind) and the ends of the "bow" are therefore simply
pressed into deep sockets in the fixed base or neck of the "pendent."
A slight wrench is sufficient to disengage the bow from its attachment, and the
bow of an ordinary watch may also be similarly broken or detached by a slight
twisting action.
According to the present invention I reduce the bow to a solid ring of small size
having a stem inserted and arranged to swivel within and centrally of the
"pendent," or knob by which the winding spindle is actuated.
The bow by this arrangement cannot be wrenched off as it turns freely within
the "pendent," and the pendent being unsurrounded by any bow can be more easily
got at and rotated by the finger and thumb than when enclosed in a bow as in
keyless watches of the present inake.
In carrying my invention into effect I attach to the case, or form in one there
with, a lump or boss accurately drilled to receive the shaft of the winding spindle.
га

page_text: The winding spindle is passed through from the inside and has a squared head on
its outer end, and a collar bearing against the case on its inner end. It has also on
its inner end a pinion as usual.
I then fit over the accurately turned cylindrical end of the lump or boss a cap
having a square socket fitting on to the end of the spindle and I secure the cap to
the spindle by a bolt or pin. The cap is then free to be rotated by hand around
and upon the cylindrical end of the lump or boss, and will thereby cause the spindle
to be rotated.
-
I next take the "pendent" or spherical lead, and chamber it out to fit accurately
upon the cap piece. ring or "bow" having a short stem preferably tapering is
then secured to the "pendent" by a steel nut and the "pendent" is fitted onto the
cap piece and securely soldered thereto
The chain is secured to the swivelling ring or bow-which cannot be broken off
by twisting and the "pendent" cap and spindle can be freely rotated to wind the
watch.
In Swiss watches wherein a loose pinion is used the spindle may be retained in
place within the watch by a groove and a half-collar, strap or spring or in any other
convenient manner.
"
The invention may be in part applied to watches of the ordinary construction
by making the bow swivel as above explained through or centrally of the "pendent
and by allowing it to have a slight end way motion and causing its end to bear
against the spring by which the back of the case is held closed. Keyless watches
constructed as above explained are stronger, neater in appearance and more easily
manipulated than those at present made, and and it is impossible to break their
connection with the chain or guard by twisting.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Christian Lange in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 17th August
1883.
CHRISTIAN LANGE of Great Portland Street in the County of Middlesex Watch-
maker " IMPROVEMENTS IN KEYLESS WATCHES PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS
APPLICABLE TO OTHER KINDS OF WATCHES
"
3
This Invention relates mainly to keyless watches or those which are usually
wound up by rotating a milled head or "pendent" situate within the "bow" to
which the watch chain is attached, the object in view being to increase the strength
of the attachment between the watch and the chain and render the winding
'pendent" more easily manipulated.
65
$$
In keyless watches as at present constructed the "bow" cannot be secured to
the "
'pendent" by a screw or screws passing transversely through the said
'pendent" (as in watches of the ordinary kind) as such a screw or screws would
prevent the winding of the watch; and the ends of the "bow" are therefore
simply sprung or pressed into deep sockets in the fixed base or neck of the
pendent."
A slight wrench under these circumstances is sufficient to disengage the bow from
its attachment and the bow of an ordinary watch, not a keyless one, may also be
similarly broken or detached by a slight twisting action.
According to the present invention I reduce the bow to a solid ring or loop of
small size which I secure by a central swivel connection to the "pendent" or knob
by which the winding spindle is actuated.
The bow, or the swivelling ring, which has taken the place of the "bow," by this
arrangement cannot be wrenched off by twisting as it turns freely with respect to
the "pendent", and the pendent being unsurrounded by any bow, can be more
easily got at, and rotated by the finger and thumb than when enclosed in or by a
bow as in keyless watches of the present make.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is an external view of a keyless watch
fitted according to my invention. Fig: 2 is a sectional view shewing one method
of uniting the knob or "pendent" and the "bow" by a central swivel connection,
and attaching them to the case, according to my Invention. Fig: 3 is a sectional
view of the bow and pendent before being secured to the lump or boss on the case.
Fig: 4 is a sectional viow showing the mode of adapting my arrangement of knob
or pendent and swivelling bow to watches of the ordinary construction fitted with
push pieces.
Fig: 5 is a sectional view of an arrangement of bow and pendent in common use
which I have shown the better to define the nature of my improvements.
The same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
A is the watch case B the bow or its equivalent, and C the knob or "pendent".
The knob or pendent may be deeply milled as is usual or it may be fitted with a
ring of projecting studs and ribs, or rays, as shown in. Fig: 1.
Attached to the case A or formed in one therewith is a lump or boss a accurately
drilled to receive the shaft of the winding spindle D. The winding spindle is
passed through from the inside and has a squared head on its outer end, and a
collar d. bearing against the case on its inner end. It has also on its inner end, a
pinion d. as usual, by which the winding mechanism is operated.-This mechanism
is the same as usual in Keyless watches and has therefore been omitted from. the
drawing..

page_text: Fitting over the accurately turned cylindrical end of the lump or boss a. is a
The cap E
cap E having a square socket fitting on to the end of the spindle D.
is secured to the spindle by a bolt or pin e. The cap it will be seen can thus be
freely rotated around and upon the cylindrical end of the lump or boss, and the
spindle may be thereby rotated to wind the watch or set the hands in the usual
manner.
Cis the "pendent" or spherical head, chambered out to fit accurately upon the
cap piece E A ring or "bow" B having a short and preferably tapering stem b.
is then connected to the pendent by inserting the stem b. through a hole drilled
centrally of the pendent, and securing it in place by a steel nut as shewn in
Fig 3, so that it can swivel freely.
a.
The pendent is then fitted onto the cap piece E and securely soldered or
otherwise attached thereto.
It is obvious that the solid ring or "bow" B may be securely attached to the
winding knob or pendent C. by swivel connections of various kinds, but the above
is a simple and efficient swivel connection.
The chain or guard is secured in the ordinary manner to the swivelling ring or
bow B or to a solid ring passed through the said swivelling ring or bow as ghewn
in Fig: 2.
This swivelling ring or bow cannot be broken off by twisting or pulling and the
knob or "pendent" O together with the cap E and spindle D can be freely rotated
to wind the watch or set the hands.
-
In Swiss watches, wherein a loose pinion is used the spindle may he retained in
place within the watch by a groove and a half collar, strap or spring, or in any
other convenient manner, instead of by a coilur such as 2. Fig 2.
The invention may be in part applied to watches of the ordinary construction
by making the bow swivel as above explained through or centrally of the fixed
knob, and by allowing its stem to have also a slight endway play so that its end
may be brought to bear against the "push piece or spring when it is desired to
open the case. This arrangement is shown in Fig: 4 and needs no further
explanation.
"
Keyless watches constructed as above explained afford a more secure attachment
for the chain or guard, and are more easily manipulated in winding than those at
present made, besides being neater in appearance.
I am aware that keyless watches have been made in which the ring or bow was
sprung into or secured to a collar adapted to swivel around the stem or neck of the
winding knob or "pendent" but in such watches the ring or bow may be easily
detached from the said collar by a direct pull and the pendent cannot be more
easily manipulated than in keyless watches of the ordinary kind.
An arrangement of this kind is shown in Fig: 5 in which the ends of the bow B
are sprung into holes formed at diametrically opposite points in a collar mounted
so as to swivel around the stem or neck D of the winding knob or pendent C.
In this arrangement the stem D is grooved as shown, to allow the ends of the
bow to obtain a better grip and yet to allow of the stem being turned freely to
wind the watch.
Such an arrangement of swivel attachment for the bow is essentially different
from and far inferior to my invention, as it affords no security against an end way
pull; and in watches as ordinarily constructed in which the collar a. does not rotate
but forms part of the case a slight sideway wrench of the bow suffices to disengage
its ends from the watch case.
I am also aware that toy watches have been made in which a ring or bow is
secured to the head of a swivelling pin, which pin is also capable of end way motion
for the purpose of racking round the hands of the said watch.
This arrangement is also different from mine as a direct pull would suffice to
disengage the ring or bow from the head of the swivelling pin or push piece, and
such an arrangement it is obvious is not applicable to a Keyless watch as it would
not permit of the winding stem being rotated, without twisting the chain.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention of "Improvements in
Keyless watches part of which improvements is applicable to other kinds of
watches" and having explained in what manner the same may be carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim.
First: Substituting for the ordinary bow in keyless watches a solid ring or its
equivalent secured to the winding knob or pendent by a central swivel connection
substantially as described, whereby the strength of the attachment between the
watch and the chain or guard is increased, and greater facilities for manipulating
the winding knob or pendent are afforded.
Secondly The combination with the case A lump or boss a, and winding stem D
securely held within the case, of the cap-piece E secured to the said stem and
capable of rotation therewith, winding knob or pendent C soldered or otherwise
fixed to the cap piece, and a solid ring or its equivalent B securely attached by a
central swivel connection to the said winding knob substantially as described
with reference to Figures 1. 2 and 3 of the drawing and for the purpose setforth.
Thirdly The adaptation to watches of ordinary construction, which require to
be wound by a key, of a solid ring or its equivalent B having a stem fitted to
swivel centrally of the knob and securely connect the ring thereto, the said stem
being also capable of a slight endway motion as and for the purpose described with
reference to Fig: 4 of the drawing.
In witness whereof I the said Christian Lange have hereunto set my hand
and seal the seventeenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
CHRISTIAN LANGE (L.S.)