Index, dial plate, and timepiece

Abstract

To provide an index, a dial plate, and a timepiece which are excellent in aesthetics.SOLUTION: An index 30 fixed on a dial plate 3 includes: a first member 31 having a protrusion 34 and legs 35 for fixation on a dial plate, which protrude from the protrusion 34; and a second member 32 which has a fitting hole 37 so as to be engaged with the first member 31 by inserting the protrusion 34 into the fitting hole 37. Both of the first member 31 and the second member 32 can be visually recognized in planer view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an index, a dial, and a timepiece. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, hour characters have been used on the dial of a watch as indexes with a three-dimensional effect. Patent Document 1 discloses hour characters that are composed of two parts: a lower hour character and an upper hour character fixed to the upper surface of the lower hour character, and that have a three-dimensional effect and a wide variety of design variations that can be made into two colors by applying different color tones to the surface treatments such as plating, painting, and vapor deposition on the lower hour character and the upper hour character. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 7-34390 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, with the hour characters as indexes described in Patent Document 1, when the upper hour character is fixed to the top surface of the lower hour character, if adhesive is applied to the holes in the lower hour character into which the feet of the upper hour character are inserted, the adhesive may harden in a state where it overflows from the holes, creating gaps between the hour characters and the dial, which could reduce the aesthetic appeal. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The index is fixed onto the dial and comprises a first member having a convex portion and a leg for fixing the dial that protrudes from the convex portion, and a second member having a fitting hole that engages with the first member by inserting the convex portion into the fitting hole, so that both the first member and the second member are visible in a plan view.

[0006] The dial has the above-mentioned indexes.

[0007] The timepiece has the above-mentioned index and a dial to which the index is fixed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing the general structure of a timepiece having indexes according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the general structure of a timepiece having indexes according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of the index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of an index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of an index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of a first member of the index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a first member of the index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of a second member of the index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a second member of the index according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] Cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a schematic structure of a first member of an index according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 1. First embodiment First, a wristwatch will be taken as an example of a timepiece 1 having an index 30 according to the first embodiment, and will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. In this specification, the crystal 5 side will be referred to as the "front side" and the case back 9 side will be referred to as the "back side."

[0010] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the timepiece 1 comprises an outer case 2, a dial 3, a crystal 5, and a case back 9. The outer case 2 is constructed by fitting a bezel 22 made of ceramic or metal to a cylindrical case body 21 made of metal. The disc-shaped dial 3 is positioned on the inner periphery of the bezel 22 via an annular dial ring 6 made of plastic. Decorative indexes 30 are fixed to the front side of the dial 3. A crown 7 is provided on the side of the outer case 2 at the 3 o'clock position on the watch display.

[0011] The watch 1 has two openings in the metal case body 21, the opening on the front side of which is closed by a cover crystal 5 via a bezel 22, and the opening on the back side of which is closed by a back cover 9 made of metal. Metallic materials such as brass, stainless steel, and titanium are used for the case body 21 and back cover 9. Note that the case body 21 may also be made of materials other than metal, such as resin.

[0012] Next, the internal structure housed in the exterior case 2 of the timepiece 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the space enclosed by the outer case 2, the crystal 5, and the back cover 9 contains the dial ring 6, the time display unit 10 including the dial 3, and the movement 13.

[0013] The outer edge of the dial ring 6 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the bezel 22, and the dial ring 6 has a flat portion with one surface parallel to the crystal 5 and an inclined portion inclined toward the dial 3. The dial ring 6 has an annular shape in a plan view and a cone shape in a cross section.

[0014] The time display unit 10 is powered by power such as a battery and displays the time. It has hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C, which are hands, between the dial 3 and the cover crystal 5, and is located inside the dial ring 6.

[0015] A movement 13 is disposed between the dial 3 and the case back 9. A movement conventionally used in wristwatches can be used for the movement 13. In this embodiment, the movement 13 is mounted on the main plate 12 and includes a battery (not shown), a step motor (not shown) powered by the battery, and a wheel train (not shown) driven by the step motor. The movement 13 drives the hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C shown in Fig. 1 via a step motor and a wheel train. The hour hand 4A, minute hand 4B, and second hand 4C are attached to a pointer 11 provided at the center of the plane of the dial 3. The movement 13 also has a winding stem 8 attached to its end, and the crown 7 is attached to the end of the winding stem 8.

[0016] Next, the indexes 30 fixed on the dial 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5, the index 30 has a first member 31 and a second member 32. The first member 31 and the second member 32 have similar shapes but different sizes, and are engaged with their central axes overlapping and rotated 45 degrees. Therefore, both the first member 31 and the second member 32 are visible in a plan view from the front surface. Furthermore, the visible area of ​​the second member 32 in a plan view from the front surface is 10% to 1000% of the visible area of ​​the first member 31.

[0017] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first member 31 includes a decorative portion 33 for providing decoration, a convex portion 34 protruding from the decorative portion 33 toward the back side, and legs 35 for fixing the dial, protruding from the convex portion 34 toward the back side. The decorative portion 33 of the first member 31 is shaped like a four-leaf clover that is symmetrical from top to bottom and has been processed to have slopes that are higher on the periphery and recessed in the center along the center line of each leaf. By processing the decorative portion 33 in this way, the index 30 can be made more three-dimensional.

[0018] 8 and 9, the second member 32 has a fitting hole 37 that penetrates from the front side to the back side in the center of a decorative portion 36 that has been processed in the same manner as the decorative portion 33 of the first member 31. The second member 32 is engaged with the first member 31 by inserting the protrusion 34 of the first member 31 into the fitting hole 37. The fitting hole 37 is rectangular, and allows the first member 31 to be accurately positioned at a desired rotation angle relative to the second member 32. Note that the first member 31 and the second member 32 may be made of metal or plastic.

[0019] The method of fixing the index 30 to the dial 3 is to insert the convex portion 34 of the first member 31 into the fitting hole 37 of the second member 32, and then, as shown in Figure 10, insert the leg 35 of the first member 31 into the through hole 3a provided in the dial 3 and fix it with adhesive or the like. With this method, the back surface of the decorative portion 33 of the first member 31 presses the three-dimensionally processed portion of the decorative portion 36 of the second member 32, so that the index 30 made up of the first member 31 and the second member 32 can be fixed to the dial 3 without adhesively bonding the first member 31 and the second member 32 together.

[0020] The first member 31 and the second member 32 have different colors and reflectances due to surface treatments such as plating, painting, and vapor deposition. Also, the first member 31 and the second member 32 can have different colors and reflectances by using different materials. By making the first member 31 and the second member 32 different in color and reflectance, for example, by gold-plating the first member 31 and silver-plating the second member 32, the aesthetic appeal of the index 30 can be further enhanced.

[0021] In this embodiment, the index 30 has been described as having a design resembling two overlapping four-leaf clovers, but this is not limited to this, and the index 30 may be hour characters, inset characters, or abbreviated characters indicating the hours, minutes, and seconds.

[0022] As described above, the index 30 according to this embodiment engages the first and second members 31 and 32 by inserting the protrusions 34 of the first member 31 into the fitting holes 37 of the second member 32, so the first and second members 31 and 32 can be fixed to the dial 3 without being glued together. Furthermore, because both the first and second members 31 and 32 are visible in a plan view, it is possible to provide an index 30, dial 3, and timepiece 1 that are aesthetically pleasing by using different colors for the first and second members 31 and 32.

[0023] 2. Second embodiment Next, the index 30a according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0024] The index 30a of this embodiment is similar to the index 30 of the first embodiment except for the structure of the first member 31a, which is different from the index 30 of the first embodiment. Note that the following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and a description of similar points will be omitted.

[0025] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first member 31a of the index 30a comprises a base 38, a protrusion 34 protruding from the base 38 to the back side, a leg 35 for fixing the dial protruding from the protrusion 34 to the back side, a prong 39 protruding from the base 38 to the front side, and a jewel 40 located in the center of the first member 31a.

[0026] The jewel 40 is placed in a recess provided in the base 38 and the protrusion 34, and is fixed to the first member 31a by bending the tips of four prongs 39 surrounding the jewel 40 toward the jewel 40.

[0027] This configuration enhances the sense of luxury and enhances aesthetic appeal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 1...watch, 2...external case, 3...dial, 3a...through hole, 4A...hour hand, 4B...minute hand, 4C...second hand, 5...crystal, 6...dial ring, 7...crown, 8...winding stem, 9...back cover, 10...time display section, 11...hand axis, 12...main plate, 13...movement, 21...case body, 22...bezel, 30, 30a...index, 31, 31a...first component, 32...second component, 33...decorative section, 34...protrusion, 35...legs, 36...decorative section, 37...fitting hole, 38...base, 39...prong, 40...jewel.

Claims

1. An index fixed on the dial, a first member including a protrusion and a dial fixing leg protruding from the protrusion; a second member having a fitting hole formed therein, the second member being engaged with the first member by inserting the protrusion into the fitting hole; Both the first member and the second member are visible in a plan view. Index.

2. In a plan view, the visibility area of ​​the second member is 10% to 1000% of the visibility area of ​​the first member. The index of claim 1 .

3. The fitting hole is rectangular. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The first member and the second member have similar shapes but different sizes. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. The first member and the second member are different in color. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The first member and the second member are made of different materials. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. The first member and the second member have different reflectances. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The first member has a jewel fixed thereto. The index according to claim 1 or claim 2.

9. An index according to any one of claims 1 to 8, Dial.

10. An index according to any one of claims 1 to 8; a dial to which the indexes are fixed; clock.

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