US2811732A - Main spring oilers - Google Patents

Description

. INVENTOR. %?0mw1 kwwarw 7 Am ay KAZUMA OKAMOTO MAIN SPRING OILERS Flled July 5 1955 IIIIIIIII'IIIIII Nov. 5, 1957 United States Patent MAN SPRING OILERS Kazuma Okamoto, Cheyenne, Wyo.

Application July 5, 1955, Serial No. 519,980 1 Claim. (Cl. 15-133) This invention relates to a tool for servicing the main springs of clocks, watches, and other spring-actuated devices, and is more particularly designed for use by watchmakers in repairing, cleaning and servicing watches.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple, highly efiicient, economical device by means of which the entire length of a main spring may be quickly and easily cleaned, polished, and lubricated.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the device that it can be supported and operated with one hand while the other hand is used to support and manipulate the spring being serviced.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efliciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates the improved spring-servicing tool as it would appear in use;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view thereof; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, longitudinal section through the improved spring-servicing tool.

The improved tool consists of an elongated, tubular barrel adapted to contain spring lubricating oil, such as indicated at 11 in Fig. 5. The barrel 10 is closed at its rear extremity by means of any suitable closure, such as a removable cork 12, and at its forward extremity by means of an absorbent core 13. The core 13 may be formed of any suitable absorbent material, such as felt or cotton, and extends well within the barrel 10 to provide an absorbent Wick-like portion therewithin. The forward extremity of the core 13 protrudes from the forward extremity of the barrel to provide a spring wiping pad or portion.

A cylindrical sleeve 14 slidably surrounds the barrel 10 adjacent its forward extremity. The sleeve 14 is formed with a forwardly projecting, pointed arm portion 15 and with a thumb-receiving opening 16. It is also preferably knurled or otherwise roughened, as indicated at 17, to provide a firm thumb and finger grip.

A channel-shaped post 18 is formed on or attached to the pointed arm portion 15 of the sleeve 14 so as to extend diametrically across the forward extremity of the barrel 10. A resilient absorbent pad 19 is inserted in the channel of the post 18 and projects toward the forward extremity of the core 13 and diametrically across the latter.

The forward longitudinal movement of the sleeve 14 is limited by means of a stop pin 20 mounted in the barrel 2 10 and extending through an elongated slot 21 in the sleeve 14. The slot 21 and the pin 20 also serve to prevent rotation of the sleeve 14 on the barrel 10. Rearward movement of the sleeve 14 is, of course, limited by the absorbent pad 19 contacting the extremity of the core 13.

In use, the barrel is partially filled with the lubricating oil 11 and the cork 12 is inserted to maintain the oil in place. When it is desired to service a spring, the barrel is gripped in one hand with the thumb and fingers engaging the sleeve 14. By movement of the thumb and fingers, the sleeve is moved forwardly to separate the pad 19 from the core 13, and a coil of a main spring, such as indicated at 22 in Fig. 1, is slipped between the pad 19 and the core 13.

The sleeve 14 is now drawn rearwardly on the barrel 10 by the movement of the thumb and fingers so that the coil of the spring will be firmly gripped between the pad 19 and the core 13. The spring is now rotated to pass its entire length between the pad and the core so that it will be efficiently cleaned and lubricated throughout its length by frictional contact with the dry pad 19 and the lubricant-saturated core 13.

When the cleaning is completed, the sleeve is simply forced forwardly with the thumb and removed from the spring. The thumb opening 16 allows the thumb of the user to be inserted through the sleeve and into contact with the barrel to firmly lock the sleeve in its main spring engaging position during the cleaning and lubricating operation.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

A tool for lubricating timepiece springs comprising: an elongated tubular barrel adapted to contain spring lubricating oil; a closure member closing the rear extremity of said barrel; an absorbent core closing the forward extremity of said barrel and projecting from the latter; a tubular cylindrical sleeve slidably surrounding said barrel adjacent its forward extremity; a forwardly projecting pointed arm portion formed on and being integral with said sleeve and partially surrounding and lying against said barrel and provided with an opening through which the thumb of a user may be pressed against said barrel to lock said sleeve against longitudinal movement; a channel-shaped post mounted on the forward extremity of said pointed arm and extending diametrically across the forward extremity of said barrel; and an absorbent pad mounted in the channel of said arm opposite said pad, said barrel projecting unobstructedly rearward from said sleeve a distance sufficient to be gripped in the palm of the hand, with the forefinger and thumb manipulating said sleeve longitudinally of said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 531,959 Oldham Jan. 1, 1895 556,786 Thompson Mar. 24, 1896 2,575,495 Hummel Nov. 20, 1951v FOREIGN PATENTS 132,685 Switzerland July 1, 1929 484,169 Italy Aug. 29, 1953

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