IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH CASE SPRINGS, AND IN FASTENERS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Frank, of Bloomsbury, in the County of
Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH CASE SPRINGS,
AND IN FASTENERS FOR THE SAME."-A communication from abroad by

page_text: Heretofore a series of screw holes have been used as a means for
adjusting and securing springs in their places; it however frequently
happens that the holes in the springs will not register with the hole in
the case or rim, and vice versa, and consequently drilling, filing, fitting
and tompering must be resorted to in order to get the springs properly
inserted and screwed. According to this Invention these defects are
happens that the holes in the springs will not register with the hole in
the case or rim, and vice versa, and consequently drilling, filing, fitting
and tempering must be resorted to in order to get the springs properly
inserted and screwed. According to this Invention these defects are
obviated
The Invention substantially consists in the construction and employ-
ment of an adjustable fastener made and used in combination with an
improved spring, as hereafter more fully described.
The fastener is free to slide when required on the spring, and is
secured thereto by a screw. The fastener may consist of a slotted block,
staple, or slide, with hole in the top for screw, or it may be made of
shape or right angle form, in which latter case the screw must be long
enough to pass down on the back side of the spring, and so clamp
the spring to the long and vertical arm of the fastener; or by another
arrangement there may be a rest provided for the spring at the bottom
of the fastener, or other suitable or equivalent means; in all cases, how-
ever, the fastener is made so as to shift and fix in any required
position.
The springs for watch cases have heretofore been formed with flanges
in order to allow the holes for the screws to be made therein, the flange
being continued about half their length, thereby reducing their elasticity
and increasing their liability to break. By using the adjustable fastener
before described, it is not necessary to flange the spring, but instead they
are made parallel, thereby equalizing the elasticity, and reducing to a
minimum the possibility of breakage.
The springs are made with a notch or recess cut out of their side, into
which the fasteners are placed, the tops thereof being level with the top
of their respective springs. By placing the adjustable fastener on the
spring before the latter is placed in the recess in the case; a new and
convenient means of securing the spring is provided by simply moving
the fastener to the proper point for the admission of the screw, and then
driving the screw in.
Besides dispensing with the screw holes in the spring as before-

page_text: be reduced. In cases where both springs are to be placed in one side of
the rim, the rear ends may be cut off and then bent, so as to press the
rim in the rear of and close to the fasteners. Long and heavy ends in
rear of point when fastened may be dispensed with in all cases when
these fasteners are used; in addition, therefore to saving time and labour
in securing springs in watch cases, a practical means is provided for
using springs reduced in thickness, length, and weight, and of more
simple and durable form than heretofore.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Peter Frank in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 12th August 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
FRANK, of Bloomsbury, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Peter Frank, Her special licence that I,
the said Peter Frank, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Peter Frank, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATCH
CASE SPRINGS, AND IN FASTENERS FOR THE SAME," (a communication to me
from abroad by George Lee Eason, of Guelph, Ontario, Canada West,)
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Frank,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be
filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next
and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Frank, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon, that is to

page_text: In the perspective view both the springs a and a¹ are shewn in their
relative positions, fitting into the recess referred to. While in order to
shew the manner in which they are held therein, a portion of the rim is.
cut away, permitting the screws c, c, to be plainly seen, as also the style
5 of the spring a and a', which is constructed as follows:-These springs
have hitherto been flanged, as shewn at Figure 6, in order to allow of
the holes for the screws c, c, being made therein, the flange being con-
tinued about one-half their length, reducing thereby the elasticity and
increasing the probability of their breaking. By the application of this
adjustable fastener it is not necessary to flange the spring, instead of
which they are made parallel, equalizing their elasticity and reducing
the possibility of their breaking.
It will be noticed that both springs a and a¹, Figures 7 and 8, have a
notch or recess cut out of their upper side, into which the fasteners b, b,
are placed; the tops bring these level with the top of their respective
springs.
1. The fastener, represented in Figure 2, is a slotted block or slide, with
hole in the top for the screw.
The fastener, represented in Figure 3, is a simple right angle in form.
The screw used with this style of fastener must be long enough to pass
down on the back side of the spring, and clamp the spring to the long
and vertical arm of the fastener.
Figure 4 is a modification of Figure 2, shewing a rest for the spring
attached to the bottom.
Figure 5 is a modification of Figure 3, showing a rest attached.
By the use of this fastener screw holes in the spring can be dispensed
with, and consequently the springs may be reduced in thickness. In
instances when both springs are to be placed in one side of the rim, the
rear ends may be cut off, and then bent so as to press the rim in the rear
of and close to the fasteners.
Long and heavy ends in rear of point when fastened may be
dispensed with in all cases when these fasteners are used; in addition,
therefore, to saving time and labour in securing springs in watch cases,
I provide practical means for using springs reduced in thickness, length,
and weight, and of more simple and durable form than those in general
use.

page_text: Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the improved
springs a and a¹, with the notches cut therein, in combination with a
sliding or adjustable fastener used for the same purposes, substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8
of the accomnanting Drawings
described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8
of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Frank, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Frank, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Ninth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.