Wrist watch protector

March 14, 1944,

Η. V. DRESSEN

WRIST WATCH PROTECTOR

Filed Feb. 22, 1943

2,344,136

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

Patented Mar. 14, 1944

2,344,136

2,344,136

WRIST WATCH PROTECTOR

Harold V. Dressen, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February

Claims.

This invention relates to a wrist watch protector.

This invention provides an article which is utilizable to protect a wrist watch while being worn from being injured by the entrance of dirt or moisture and also safeguards the watch against being defaced or broken.

It is especially serviceable to men and women employed in manufacturing plants where short sleeved garments are usually worn thus leaving wrist watches exposed to the entrance of dirt and to being scratched or otherwise injured. This is particularly true at the present time when such large numbers of people are engaged in war plant activities.

This wrist watch protector is also very useful to soldiers, whose wrist watches are often exposed to rainy weather and who, when on night duty are safeguarded by reason of the protector preventing any glare from the face of the watch being observed by the enemy.

Among the objects of the invention are: to provide a wrist watch protector which can be more quickly applied to the wrist of the user; one which will be more comfortable to wear; which is of a more sanitary character; one which can be manufactured more cheaply than other devices of its kind, considering its efficient functioning.

A further and more specific object is to utilize in a more advantageous manner, a pair of endless elastic cords to maintain the device in the applied position.

Still other objects and advantages pertain to the gentle, non-wear contact of the applied device with the wrist watch which it protects; to protect certain types of watch carrying bands from being released by blows against their latching elements; and to render the applied device more comfortable to the wearer by reason of limiting the gripping area thereof to a narrow line of pressure along each of its edges.

Yet other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is at present deemed to be a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing it in place upon the wrist of the wearer, the protected wrist watch being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the protector per se.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional detail thereof the plane of section being indicated by the line 3—3 K

22, 1943, Serial No. 476,791 (CI. 58—105) on Fig. 2, a portion of the structure located below the line of section being broken away.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the wristlet band 5 therein shown is desirably made of a nont elastic material, for example chamois skin or of some other leather or leather-like flexible but nearly inelastic material of a pliable, rather thin character. Each of the long edges of this band is provided with an inturned selvage strip 6 which 10 forms an enlarged pocket that incloses an endless elastic cord 1 and has running through and along its extreme edge portions a row of stitches 8 whereby it is securely fastened down to the body portion of the wristlet. Said row of stitches 15 is sufficiently spaced away from the hold line of the selvage strip to allow an adequate space for the contained elastic cord.

In its midlength portion 9 the wristlet band is shown broadened so as to furnish it at each side 20 with an outswelled portion 10, thus providing in this part of the article an additional space to receive the wrist watch H.

In Fig. 2, where the wristlet is shown in a slightly expanded condition, a small section of 25 each of the two elastic bands 1 is visible between the adjacent ends of the band 5, one end of said band having exteriorly attached to it the male member 13 of a two-part clasp, while the other end portion of said band is furnished with a 30 rounded end extension or lip 14 which has interiorly attached to it the female member 15 of the clasp. That end of the band to which the male member is shown attached in Fig. 2 terminates in a substantially straight, transversely 35 extending edge.

In Fig. 2 the band 5 and elastic cords 7 are shown normally contracted to at least as small a size as these parts will assume after the device has been applied. The cords 7 will be stretched 40 preparatory to slipping the device over the hand and then back upon the wrist, thus allowing the cords to contract so that the two parts of the clasp may be sprung together in the usual manner.

When the device is in the applied position with 45 its broadened part 9 in an overlying relation to the wrist watch, each of the elastic cords 7 acts in a puckering as well as a gripping manner upon said broadened portion of the band, owing to the fact that each bulged portion of the band pro50 jects out beyond the plane of that side of the band which it occupies. This construction not only tends to enlarge the recess in which the watch is housed, but also it facilitates inspection of the watch by rendering it easier for the wearer to turn back one or the other of the outswelled

2,344,130 parts of the applied band to momentarily uncover a sufficient amount of the face of the watch to note the time. A still further advantage in this connection resides in the fact that it causes the cords to draw the outswelled band edge portions more snugly inwardly and downwardly next to the watch, thus more efficiently protecting it from dirt and moisture.

In applying the device to the wrist of the user it is first diametrically expanded by internal pressure of the fingers of one hand preparatory to passing it over the other hand and then moving it back over the wrist of the latter hand into an encircling relation to the wrist watch and its attaching band.

Owing to the fact that the rows of stitches coincide with the contour of the edges of the watch together with the band whereby it is attached, the predetermined tension of said cords causes the elongated pockets wherein they are contained to dip inwardly along their edges over the edges of the watch-attaching band with a snug contact- At the same time, the contractile force of the cords brings the split end portions of the band 5 into contiguity so that the male and female fastening elements are properly positioned for connection with each other. Hence it will be seen that there is little, if any, pressure exerted on the flesh of the wearer, but this inward dipping of the pocketed areas causes the tensional force of the cords to be directed inwardly toward the edges of the band, rather than against the flesh of the person wearing the band, making the band much more comfortable to wear.

It. should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the subject matter claimed.