Patent Document

FIELD 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to accessories, and is related in particular to a sleeve keeper watch bracket. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Many of today&#39;s garments worn by both men and women feature long sleeves that reach the wearer&#39;s wrist, such as dress shirts, blouses, suit jackets, windbreakers, dress coats, rain coats, tunics, hoodies, etc. When wearing these long-sleeve garments, the wearer must push back the sleeve when he/she raises his/her arm to reveal the wristwatch. Therefore, reading time becomes a two-handed operation that maybe impractical or inconvenient at times, such as when the wearer is carrying packages, an umbrella, a purse, a suitcase, etc., or operating machinery. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is an end view (with watch band removed) of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket and decorative cover in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket and decorative cover according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a top view (with watch band removed) of another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket and decorative cover according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is an end view (with watch band removed) of another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is an end view (with watch band removed) of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is an end view (with watch band removed) of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are top views of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and 
           [0014]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are top views of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  in use with a round-faced wristwatch  12  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  can be a component that a user can add onto an existing wristwatch  12 , or wristwatch  12  can be made with the bracket  10  integrally built-in.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  14  in use with a square-faced wristwatch  16  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Both sleeve keeper watch brackets  10  and  14  incorporate a lighting element  18  and  20  that may be decorative or functional in nature.  FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of the sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  and  12  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. 
         [0016]    The sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  includes a main member  22  with a generally planar surface, and a secondary member  24  also with a generally planar surface, where the main member  22  and secondary member  24  are securely linked or connected by a third member  26 . As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the main member  22  and secondary member  24  generally lie on two different but parallel planes, where the secondary member  24  is generally on a plane elevated above the plane of the main member  22 . As seen in the end view in  FIG. 5 , the angle α between secondary member  24  and third member  26  is generally a right angle (90°), but it may be any angle less than 90° (an acute angle). In a preferred embodiment, third member  26  is at right angles to both main member  22  and secondary member  24 . Preferably, the third member  26  extends a distance generally equal to the thickness of the wristwatch case  28 , so that the secondary member  24  is generally co-planar with the face of the wristwatch. Alternatively, the secondary member  24  may be on a plane below the face of the wristwatch as shown in  FIG. 9 . 
         [0017]    The sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  includes a main member  22  that is preferably identical or similar in shape and size with the case or back of the wristwatch  28 . Accordingly, if the wristwatch case  28  is round in shape, then the main member  22  may have a rounded shape such as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , and if the wristwatch case is square in shape, then the main member  32  may have a square shape such as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The length of the secondary member  24  and  34  is preferably such that the wearer&#39;s sleeve remained retained under the secondary member with the full range of arm motion, such as with the arm raised overhead and raised to the side, for example. The main member  22  and  32  may alternately form part of the watch case and be integral therewith, be detachably secured to the watch case (using, e.g., double-sided tape, hook-and-loop tape, etc.) or be permanently secured to the watch case (using, e.g., adhesives, bonding agents, two-part epoxy, etc.). The bracket may be constructed of a sturdy and rigid material such as metal, plastics, composites, etc. For example, the bracket may be constructed from a rectangular strip of metal bent to the desired shape. 
         [0018]    Further shown in  FIGS. 1-4  are lighting elements  18  and  20  disposed on secondary member  24  and  34 , such as one or more LED (light emitting diodes) for lighting (flashlight) and/or decorative purposes. The lighting element may point in a direction away from the secondary member  24  and  34  or along an axis parallel with the plane of the secondary member  24  and  34 . The lighting element may be powered by a small disc battery and turned on/off by a small hidden switch (not shown). Using the lighting element, the wearer may move his/her hand and wrist to aim the emitted light, which may be in one or more colors. 
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a an end view (with watch band removed for clarity) of an exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  10  and decorative cover  40  in use with a wristwatch  12  according to the teachings of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 6 and 7  are top views of exemplary embodiments of a sleeve keeper watch bracket and decorative cover  40  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The decorative cover  40  preferably fits snugly and securely (e.g., friction fit or using low-tack re-adherable adhesive) over the secondary member, and can be of a shade that is identical, close to, or complementary to the color of the garment sleeve. The decorative cover  40  may also complement the colors and tones found in the watch case and/or band. For example, if the watch band is of a dark brown leather, the decorative cover  40  may be constructed of the same material. The decorative cover  40  may additionally incorporate ornamental designs, beading, jewels, graphics, monograms, logos, fabrics, lights, and other decorative elements. Because the decorative cover  40  may be easily removed, the wearer may choose interchangeable designs and colors that hides or diminishes the visual impact of the bracket, or enhance and contribute to the wristwatch design. The decorative cover  40  may be constructed of plastic, rubber, fabric, leather, sued, metal, and/or a number of other suitable materials. In  FIG. 7 , an opening  42  is defined in the decorative cover  40  to allow the lighting element  18  on the secondary member  24  to emit its light. In  FIG. 6 , the cover  40  incorporates a lighting element  44  for decorative and/or functional purposes. 
         [0020]    In these embodiments, the underside surface of the secondary member  24  and  34  that faces the garment sleeve may further incorporate a material that tends to engage, adhere, or stick to the sleeve. For example, using just the hook portion of the hook-and-loop tape on the underside surface may help to engage the garment sleeve and retain it under the bracket. Other suitable materials may be used. The material may be adhered or applied to the secondary member  24  and  34 . Alternatively, the underside of decorative cover  40  may incorporate the tacky material to encourage the garment sleeve to be retained thereunder. 
         [0021]    In alternate embodiments, the secondary member  24  and  34  may be hinged at its interface to the third member  26  and  36 , and may even be spring-loaded to help push down and retain the sleeve underneath it toward the wearer&#39;s arm. 
         [0022]    Yet in another alternate embodiment, the secondary member  24  and  34  may be generally identical or similar in shape and size as the watch face, so that in the closed state or position, the secondary member  24  and  34  may fold over the face of the wristwatch and act as a cover for the face of the wristwatch. Upon detection of the wearer&#39;s arm being raised in a substantially horizontal manner, as when the wearer desires to look at the wristwatch worn on the wrist, the secondary member  24  and  34  may automatically spring from the closed position to an open position, revealing the face of the wristwatch and holding back the garment sleeve at the same time. The secondary member  24  and  34  may incorporate ornamental designs on both surfaces to enhance the beauty of the wristwatch. A microprocessor, motion sensors, actuator, spring-loaded hinges, and latches may be used to achieve these functionalities. 
         [0023]      FIG. 8  is an end view of another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  50  in use with a wristwatch  52  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. This embodiment employs a watch bracket  50  that is a generally planar plate adhered or incorporated to the wristwatch case. The plate may be a rectangular flat metal plate that extends from under the wristwatch case toward the garment sleeve, and is operable to retain the sleeve underneath it. The extended member may incorporate a decorative cover, a spring-loaded retainer, and/or sleeve-retention material as set forth above. In this embodiment, the sleeve keeper watch bracket has a slimmer combined profile the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and is not as bulky. 
         [0024]      FIG. 9  is an end view of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  54  in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Its main member  56  is disposed below the wristwatch case or incorporated therein. The secondary member  58  also extends toward the garment sleeve and has the same functionality of retaining the garment sleeve. However, the third member  59  is substantially shorter, so that the secondary member  58  does not lie in the same plane as the watch face. The secondary member  58  lies in a plane below the plane of the watch face. In this embodiment, the sleeve keeper watch bracket  54  has a slimmer combined profile than the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-7  and is not as bulky. 
         [0025]      FIG. 10  is an end view (with watch band removed) of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  60  in use with a wristwatch  62  according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the main member  64  is connected to a secondary member  66  via a third member  68 . Unlike using a tacky material as described above, the secondary member  66  of this embodiment incorporates a sleeve retention element in the form of a spring-loaded clip or clamp  70 . In operation, the user clips the garment sleeve to the bracket with the clip  70  so that the sleeve is securely held back from the watch face. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 11A and 11B  are top views of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  80  in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, two spring-loaded members/fingers  82  and  83  are operable to go from a first closed state resting on the wristband  84 , to swing or flip to an open state so that they protrude from the wristband  84  in substantially perpendicular relation thereto and hold back the garment sleeve. In this way, the garment sleeve is held back and the wristwatch can be easily seen without two-handed operations. A microprocessor, motion sensors, actuator, spring-loaded hinges, and latches may be used to achieve these functionalities. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 12A and 12B  are top views of yet another exemplary embodiment of a sleeve keeper watch bracket  90  in use with a wristwatch according to the teachings of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, two members/fingers  92  and  93  may be hidden and stored inside the wristband  94 . When the wearer desires to deploy the sleeve keeping function, the wearer can pull out or actuate the two members/fingers so that they protrude from the wristband  94  in substantially perpendicular relation thereto and hold back the garment sleeve. Alternatively, the two members may deploy automatically when sensing the wearer&#39;s arm motion that indicate a desire to view the timepiece. 
         [0028]    The bracket described herein can be made to be part of a decorative bracelet, for example. The bracket is operable to keep the garment sleeve up to reveal the bracelet. Some garments may have sleeves that are too long and the wearer may desire to keep the sleeve back when performing certain activities. For example, the user may slip on two wrist bands equipped with the sleeve keeper brackets when the user is working on automotive repairs, painting, craft projects, cleaning, etc. 
         [0029]    The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the sleeve keeper watch bracket described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.

Technology Category: 3