Annular Rotating Bezel Spring Ring Thinned Portions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing annular rotating bezel systems have limited flexibility and complex manufacturing due to the need for elastic arms, requiring significant space and complex cutting operations, which restricts design flexibility and increases production complexity.
Innovation Solution
The annular rotating bezel system incorporates thinned portions in the spring ring to enhance flexibility, allowing teeth to move in and out of mesh with the toothed ring during rotation, and features a modular design with clip-on mounting for ease of assembly and disassembly, enabling precise dimensions and independent material selection for the toothed ring and rotating bezel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If elastic arms are arranged on the spring ring by cutting to enable elastic cooperation with the toothed ring, then the spring ring can deform elastically, but the manufacturing complexity increases and the required width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring ring is segmented into multiple independent elastic arms that can deform elastically. Each arm is a separate element that can flex independently, allowing the spring ring to cooperate with the toothed ring through elastic deformation of individual segments rather than requiring complex cutting operations on a continuous ring.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms are positioned at specific locations around the spring ring where elastic deformation is needed for engagement with the toothed ring. This localized elastic capability is concentrated at the engagement points rather than requiring the entire ring to be cut or modified, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining functional flexibility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If sufficient width is provided for radial deformation of the spring ring, then enough clear space is available for elastic deformation, but the overall width of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic deformation of the spring ring arms occurs primarily in the axial direction (perpendicular to the plane of the ring) rather than requiring increased radial width. By orienting the elastic deformation along the axis, the design achieves sufficient deformation space without increasing the overall width of the assembly, as the arms flex up and down rather than requiring more radial clearance.
3Ease of manufacture
If the spring ring is made from a single piece of material without added tongues or strips, then manufacturing is simplified, but flexibility in the plane of the ring is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spring ring is divided into multiple discrete elastic arms that are arranged around the ring. These segmented arms provide the necessary planar flexibility for engagement with the toothed ring, while each arm remains a simple, easily manufactured element. The segmentation allows flexibility without requiring complex modifications to a continuous ring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms are designed as thin, flexible elements that can bend and deform in the plane of the spring ring. These thin-film-like structures provide the required planar flexibility for tooth engagement while being simple to manufacture from standard materials, avoiding the need for complex cutting operations or added components.
4Device complexity
If the toothed ring is integrated with the rotating bezel, then the structure is simplified, but precious materials in the bezel are subject to premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The toothed ring is extracted from the rotating bezel structure and made as a separate, independent component. This allows the precious material bezel to remain intact and undamaged, while the toothed ring (made from a more wear-resistant material) handles all the mechanical engagement and wear. The separation protects the valuable bezel material from premature wear while maintaining functional integration through the spring ring mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration increases the flexibility of the spring ring, reduces the required width, simplifies manufacturing, allows for precise control of dimensions, and enables the use of precious materials for the bezel without premature wear, while providing a compact and user-friendly rotating bezel system with unidirectional or bidirectional rotation options.
Implementation Method 1
the spring ring flexes in its plane, allowing the teeth it carries to move in and out of mesh with the toothed ring as the bezel rotates
Data Source
AI summary
An annular rotating bezel system to be rotatably mounted on a case middle of a watch case inside which is housed a timepiece movement which extends in a plane, including a rotating bezel, an annular holding ring, a toothed ring, and a spring ring which extends in a plane in which it is capable of deforming elastically along a radius, the spring ring cooperating elastically with the toothed ring, the toothed ring and the spring ring being held in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the movement in the bezel by the annular holding ring, either the toothed ring or the spring ring being arranged to be angularly joined to the rotating bezel, and the other being arranged to be angularly joined to the case middle, wherein the spring ring has a thinned portion to increase the flexibility of the spring ring in its plane, the thinned portion having a tooth elastically and radially meshed with the toothed ring.