Martin R. Cooper

TECHNICAL FIELD

{0001] Aii accessory for a wrist watch can be selectively attached to a back plate of a wrist watch.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Wrist watches can be prone to shifting on the user's wrist which can affect a user's abilit to readily observe the face of the wrist watch. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a mechanism to maintain proper placemen t of a wrist watch on an individual during use.

SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with one embodiment, an accessory for a wrist watch is provided and comprises a .substantially planar lower surface, an end surface, a concave upper surface, and an adhesive layer. The end surface extends upwardly from the substantially planar lower surface. The concave upper surface extends between the substantially planar lower surface and the end surface. The adhesive layer is coupled to the substantially planar lower surface and is configured to facilitate selective coupling of the planar lower surface to a back plate of a wrist watch.

[0004] in accordance with another embodiment, an accessory for a wrist watch is provided and comprises a first end, a second, end., a substantially planar lower surface, an upper surface, and an adhesive layer. The substantially planar lower surface extends between the first end. and the second end. The upper surface extends between, the first end and. the second end. The upper surface is spaced irom the substaniiaiiy lower surfece and cooperates with the lower surface to define a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness. ^' The maximum thickness is more proximate the first end than the second end. The adhesive layer is coupled with t e substantially planar lo wer surface and is configured to facilitate selective coupling of the planar lower surface to a back plate of a wrist watch.

{Θ0Θ51 in accordance with yet another embodiment, an accessory for a wrist watch is provided and comprises a substantially planar lower surface, an end surface, an upper surface, and. a pair of side surfaces. The substantially planar lower surface is configured for selective attachment to a wrist watch. The end surface extends upwardly from the substantially planar lower surface. The upper surface extends between the substantially planar lower surface and the end surface. The upper surface is configured to conform to a user's wrist. Each side surface extends between the substantially planar lower suriace and the upper surface. The upper surface is spaced irom the .substantially lower surface and cooperates with the lower surface to define a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness. The maximum thickness is more proximate the first end than the second end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS f0006j Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:

[ ^' δ00?] FIG. .1 is an upper rear perspective view depicting an accessory for a wrist watch according to one embodiment, wherein the accessory includes an adhesive layer, and a protective laminate is partially peeled away to expose an adhesive suriace of the adhesive layer; [0008] FIG. 2 is a lower front perspective view depicting the accessory of FIG. 1 ;

10 09] FIG. 3 is a upper perspective view depicting the accessory of FIG. 1 with the protective larninaie peeled, away and the accessory being installed on a back plate of a wrist watch;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view depicting the accessory of FIG. 1 with the pro tective laminate peeled away and the accessory installed on the back plate of the wrist watch;

[00111 FIG. 5 is side eievationai view depicting the accessory of FIG . I with the adhesive layer removed tor clarity of illustration;

[ 0012] FIG. 6 is a top plan view depicting the accessory of FIG. 1;

[0013] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view depicting an accessory for a wrist watch according to another embodiment, wherein the accessory includes an adhesive layer;

[0014] FIG. 8 is a sice eievationai view depicting the accessory of FIG. 7 with the adhesive layer removed for clarity of illustration; and 0Θ15] FIG. 9 is an upper perspective view depicting the accessory of FIG. 7 installed on a wrist watch and a band of the wrist watch in contact with the accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Selective embodiments are hereinafter described in detail in connection with the views and examples of FIGS. 1-9, wherein like numbers indicate the same or corresponding elements throughout the views. An accessory 10 for a wrist watch 12 is illustrated in FIGS. I -6, according to one embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the accessory 1.0 can Inckxie a first end .14 and a second end 16 and can be generally wedge-shaped. As illustrated in. FIGS. 3 and 4, the accessory 10 cars be selectively attached to a back piate 17 of the wrist watch 12. When a user wears the wrist watch 12 with the accessory .10 installed on the hack plate 17, the accessory 10 can contact the user's wrist to provide comfort and consistent placement of the wrist watch .12 on the user's rust.

[β017| As illustrated in FIGS, i and 2, the accessory 10 can include a lower surface 18, an upper surface 20, an end surface 22, and a pair of side surfaces 24. The lower surface 18 can extend between the first end 14 and the second end 16. The end surface 22 can. be disposed at the first end 14 of the accessory 10 and can extend generally upwardly from the lower surface 18. The upper surface 20 can extend between the first end 14 and the second end 16, and more particularly between the end surface 22 and the lower surface 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The side surfaces 24 can each extend between the lower surface 18 and the upper surface 20.

[0018J in one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. i , the upper surface 20 can have a substantially concave configuration that: extends from the second end 16 of the accessory 10 to the end suriace 22, The upper surface 20 can intersect with the end surface 22 along an upper cage 26. The upper surface 20 can slope generally upwardly from the second end 1 to the end suriace 22 such that the overall thickness of the accessory 10 (e.g., the distance between the lower surface 18 and upper surface 20) is greatest at the upper edge 26 and slopes to form a tapered portion at the second end 16.

{00191 The accessory 10 is shown to be generally rectangular-shaped and sized to fit upon the back plate 17 of the wrist watch 12. it will be appreciated that the accessory can. be provided in any of a variety of suitable alternative sizes or arrangements. For example, an accessory can be generally circular and sized to substantially overlie a round back plate.

|0 2 ] The end surface 22 is shown, to have a substantially convex configuration and the sice surfaces 24 are shown to be generally planar surfaces that are generally parallel to one another, it will be appreciated that any of a variety end surface and/or side surface configurations is contemplated. For example, one continuous side surface can extend from the end surface and along the second end 16 such that the thickness of the taper a the second end 16 is defined by ihe height of the side surface. It will also be appreciated that although the each, of the surfaces of the accessory are shown to be continuous and contoured, the accessory can have any of a variety of additional and/or alternative surfaces, such as surfaces with discontinuities, multiple contours, chamfers, etc.

[0021 The lower surface 18 can be configured for selective attachment to the wrist watch 12. As illustrated in FJG. 2, the accessory 10 can include an adhesive layer 28 that is coupled with the lower surface 18 and mcilitaies selective attachment of the accessory 10 to the back plate 17 of the wrist watch 12. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a adhesive surface 30 of the adhesive layer 28 can be exposed by peeling away a protective laminate 32. When the accessory .10 is positioned, on the back plate 17 of the wrist watch 12, the adhesive surface 30 can contact the back plate 17 to secure the accessory 1 0 in place. Downward pressure can be applied to the accessory 1 to ensure proper adhesion of the adhesive surface 30 to the back plate 17.

{0022) in one embodiment, as illustrated, in. FIG. 2, the lower surface 18 of the accessory

1.0 can be a substantially planar surface. The back plate 17 of the wrist watch 12 can be substantially planar such that, when the accessory 10 is adhered to the back plate 17 of the wrist watch 12, the lower surface I B and the back plate 17 conform to each other which can provide for effective contact and adhesion between the accessory 10 and the back plate 17.

[0023] The accessory 10 can be selectively oriented on the back piaie .17 of the wrist watch 12 such that the first end 14 is beneath an upper portion of a dial (e.g., at about the 12 on. the dial) and the second end. 16 is beneath a lower portion of the dial (e.g., at about the 6 on the dial). When the wrist watch 12 is worn on a user's wrist, the wedge-shape configuration of the accessory 10 can angle the dial, of the wrist watch 12 at a more effective viewing angle than would, otherwise be possible with a conventional wrist watch. To this end, when the user beings the wrist watch 12 into view, the user does not need to rotate her wrist into a strained position in order to properly view the dial of the wrist watch 12.

[002 j The accessory 10 can be selectively removed from the back plate 17. Therefore, if the accessory 10 begins to degrade or become dirty over time or the adhesive layer 28 begins to lose adhesion, the accessory 10 can be removed and replaced with another accessory '· 0. It will be appreciated that the accessory 10 can be removed from the back plate 17 of the watch 12 by lifting the accessory 10 away from the back plate 17 (e.g., peeling) with sufficient force to overcome the adhesion between the accessory 10 and the back plate 17.

10025] The upper surface 20 can be spaced from, the lower surface i 8 and ca cooperate with the lower surface 1 8 to define a minimum thickness and a maximum thickness for the accessory 10. ^' To achieve the wedge -shape configuration of the accessory 10, the maximum thickness can be more proximate the first end .14 than, the second end 1 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper surface 20 can be spaced from the lower surface 18 by a distance 'a" that defines the maximum thickness of the accessor,' .10 and can be spaced from the lower surface 18 by a distance ⁴ ' that defines the minimum thickness of the accessor}' 10. 0026J In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper edge 26 can be positioned such thai it is spaced from the lower surface 18 by the distance 'a' (e.g... the maximum thickness) and spaced from the first end 14 by a distance V. The accessory 10 can have a maximum length 'd' that is the maximum distance between the first end 14 and the second, end 16. The upper edge 26 can be positioned such that me ratio of the distance 'c' to the maximum length, 'd' is about 1 :3 or less in certain embodiments and about 1 :8 in certain other embodiments. The upper edge 26 can be spaced from the lower surface 18 such tha the ratio of the distance 'a ⁵ to the maximum length 'd' is between about 1 : 1 5 and about .1 :3 in certain embodiments about 1 :5 in certain other embodiments, it will be appreciated that the distances 'a', 'h\ and 'c\ and the maximum lengt 'd ^" can be selected to achieve any part icular wedge shape for arty of a variety of applications. In one embodiment, the distance 'a' is about 6 mm, the distance 'b' is about. 0.5- i mm, the distance V is about 4-6 mm, and the maximum length ^* d ⁵ is about 30-40 mm. The distance 'a' can have a maximum distance of about 15 mm and the ma imum length, 'd' can have a maximum distance of about 50 mm. The accessory 10 can have a width 'eh as illustrated in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the width can be about 20 mm but in other embodiments, the width V can be selected for any of a variety of applications. The width 'e' ca . have a maximum distance of about 50 mm.

[0027| The shape and radius of curvature of the upper surface 20 can be configured to conform to the shape of a user's wrist, and more particularly, to conform to the shape of the pisiform bone of the wrist. The wrist watch 12 can accordingly be positioned more consistently on top of a user's wrist (e.g., resting on or near the pisiform bone) and can be less prone to inadvertent ly moving out of position, such as when the dial shifts to the side or underneath the user ^' s wrist during use.

[0028] Irs some embodiments, the material of the accessory 10 can be selected to provide added, comfor and/or durability for a user. For example, the accessory 10 can be formed from an eiastomeric material, such as rubber or silicone having a durometer value of between about 25A and 60A. in another example, the accessory 10 can be formed from leather. In yet another example, the accessory 10 can be formed from copper, a magnetic material, or any of a variety of materials that might have certain therapeutic benefits when worn on a user's wrist. In. some embodiments, the accessory 10 can be formed from a rigid materia! that is coated with a softer material., such as neoprene, to provide both comfort and durability. It will be appreciated that the accessory 10 can be formed from any of a variety of suitable alternative materials that can provide effective comfort and/or durability.

|0029j FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an accessory 1 10 according to another embodiment. The accessory 1 .10 can be similar in many respects to the accessory 10 shown in FIGS. 1 -6. For example, the accessory 1 10 can include a first end 114, a second end 1 16, a lower surface 1 18. an upper surface 120, an end surface 122, a pair of side surfaces 124 (one shown), and an adhesive layer 1.28. However, the end surface .122 can extend away from the lower surface i 18 such that the end surface .122 and the lower surface 1 18 cooperate to form, an obtuse angle , as shown in FIG. 8 with the upper edge 126 caniilevered with respect to the lower surface 1 18.

|003δ| As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the accessory 110 is installed on a wrist watch 1 12 and the wrist watch 1 12 is worn by a user, a band 134 of the w rist watch 1 12 can. lie against and be in contact with the end surface 122. The obtuse angle between the end surface 122 and the lower surface 1 18 can be selected such that the end surface 122 is configured to substantially match the contour of the band 134 when the wrist watch 1 j 2 is worn by an individual.

{003.11 The foregoing description of embodiments and examples has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the forms described. Numerous modifications are possible in light of the above teachings. Some of those modifications have been discussed and others will be understood by those skilled in. the art. The embodiments were chosen, and described for illustration of various embodiments. The scope is, of course, not limited to the examples or embodiments set forth herein, but can be employed in any number of applications and equivalent devices by those of ordinary skill in the art. Rather it is hereby intended the scope be defined by the claims appended h reto.