Bezel Stop Member Elastic Deformation Wear Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timepiece designs that utilize the flexural force of a bezel's foot to engage with the case band face issues with wear and unsuitability for materials like gold or titanium, particularly when the bezel is frequently mounted and detached, leading to potential damage and maintenance challenges.

Innovation Solution

A timepiece design featuring a bezel with a protrusion and a rotatable stop member that undergoes elastic deformation to engage with the case band, allowing for easy mounting and detachment while minimizing wear, and optionally incorporating a support portion to restrict the stop member's rotation and reduce component count or enhance radial engagement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the engagement portion is engaged with the case band by utilizing the flexural force of the foot of the bezel, then the bezel can be mounted to and detached from the case band, but the case band or bezel is scraped after repeated opening/closing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting and detachment of bezelVSAvoidwear resistance of case band and bezel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: the foot portion of the bezel provides engagement protrusions, while the case band provides corresponding recesses. This segmentation allows the bezel to be mounted and detached without requiring flexural force that causes wear to the case band or bezel itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion-recess engagement system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the bezel and case band. Instead of directly engaging through flexural force, the protrusions on the bezel foot engage with recesses in the case band, providing a wear-resistant intermediate engagement point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the engagement portion is engaged with the case band by utilizing the flexural force of the foot of the bezel, then the bezel can be mounted to and detached from the case band, but the structure is unsuitable for materials like gold or titanium

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting and detachment of bezelVSAvoidsuitability for different materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement mechanism is divided into separate functional elements: the foot portion of the bezel provides engagement protrusions, while the case band provides corresponding recesses. This segmentation allows the bezel to be mounted and detached without requiring flexural force that causes wear to the case band or bezel itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusion-recess engagement system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the bezel and case band. Instead of directly engaging through flexural force, the protrusions on the bezel foot engage with recesses in the case band, providing a wear-resistant intermediate engagement point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a machine screw is used to fix the case band and bezel in position, then the bezel can be securely mounted to the case band, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixed position of bezel and case bandVSAvoidfixation structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement protrusions on the bezel foot are integrated directly into the bezel structure, and the corresponding recesses are formed in the case band. This merging of the engagement features into the existing structural elements eliminates the need for separate machine screws and fixation components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bezel itself provides the engagement protrusions that enable it to be securely mounted to the case band without requiring external fastening components. The structure is self-sufficient, using the bezel's own geometry to achieve secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Facilitates comfortable and repeated opening and closing of the bezel, improving maintenance properties by reducing wear and allowing for thinner bezel designs, thus enhancing visibility and maintaining the structural integrity of the timepiece.

Implementation Method 1

a stop member which is rotatably mounted to the bezel, which is made swingable between an upper side and a lower side of the protrusion by getting over the protrusion while undergoing elastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11036187B2Timepiece including a stop member rotatably mounted to a bezel

Publication Date: 2021.06.15 SEIKO WATCH CORP

AI summary

A timepiece according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a case band which has an opening on the upper surface side thereof, and which has a recess in an inner peripheral portion thereof; a bezel (windshield bezel) to which a glass (windshield) is fixed and which is mounted to the upper surface side of the case band; a protrusion which is provided at the portion of the bezel inserted into the inner side of the case band and which protrudes toward the inner peripheral portion so as not to enter the recess; and a stop member which is rotatably mounted to the bezel, which is made swingable between the upper side and the lower side of the protrusion by getting over the protrusion while undergoing elastic deformation, and the upper portion of which abuts a ceiling portion of the recess and the lower portion of which abuts the protrusion in a state in which the bezel is mounted to the case band to be respectively engaged with the case band and the bezel.