Rotatable Bezel Time-Setting Mechanism for Diving Watches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Analog watches face difficulties in manipulating the small crown mechanism, especially in diving watches with a concealed crown under a 'canteen' cover, making it hard to set time or wind the watch, especially for users wearing gloves.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable bezel mechanism is introduced, where the bezel is mounted on the watch casing with a cylindrical gear that drives a shaft, allowing users to easily set time, date, or wind the watch by rotating the bezel, with a push button and lever system for axial movement between different gear engagements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional crown mechanism is used for time setting, then the watch structure remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the crown is small and difficult to manipulate, especially when concealed under a canteen cover or when wearing gloves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the time-setting function with the rotatable bezel, which is a naturally large and accessible component on diving watches. The bezel's gear teeth are directly engaged by the shaft, combining the bezel's rotational function with time-setting operation. This eliminates the need for a separate small crown while utilizing an existing prominent feature of the watch.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable bezel serves multiple functions: it acts as both the traditional diving bezel for timing dives and as the control mechanism for setting time and date. The shaft mechanism can engage with different gear elements depending on the bezel's position, allowing one component to control multiple watch functions that traditionally required separate crowns or pushers.
2Reliability
If the crown is concealed under a canteen cover for water resistance, then water resistance is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the crown becomes even more difficult to access and manipulate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time-setting function from the concealed crown and relocates it to the rotatable bezel, which remains accessible even when the crown is covered. The bezel protrudes from the case and can be manipulated without removing the canteen cover, separating the water-sealing function from the user interface function.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the rotational motion of the accessible bezel into the appropriate gear engagements for time and date setting. When the bezel is rotated, the shaft engages with different gear elements based on the bezel's position, mediating between the user's input and the internal watch mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a larger control mechanism is used to improve ease of operation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional gears and axial movement mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic engagement system where the shaft can axially move to engage different gear elements. The first gear element engages with the cylindrical gear for one function, while the second gear element engages for another function. This dynamic reconfiguration allows a single bezel mechanism to control multiple functions without requiring separate static mechanisms for each.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the axial dimension to the traditionally two-dimensional rotation of the bezel. The shaft moves axially (in and out) to engage different gear elements, creating a three-dimensional control mechanism. This allows the same rotational input (bezel rotation) to produce different outputs (time setting, date setting, winding) based on the axial position of the shaft.
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
The rotatable bezel mechanism provides a more accessible and intuitive way to control watch functions, enabling users to set time, date, or wind the watch without the need for a small crown, even when wearing gloves, while maintaining water resistance.
Implementation Method 1
the rotatable bezel having a cylindrical gear element fixed to the rotatable bezel and projecting into the casing... the shaft mechanically coupled to the cylindrical gear so that the rotation of the bezel drives the rotation of the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A watch with a time-setting bezel includes a watch face containing a time-telling mechanism including at least one hand, the watch face enclosed in a casing, a rotatable bezel mounted on an annular shoulder of the casing, the rotatable bezel having an axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the watch face, the rotatable bezel having a cylindrical gear element fixed to the rotatable bezel and projecting into the casing, anda shaft having an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the rotatable bezel, the shaft mechanically coupled to the cylindrical gear so that the rotation of the bezel drives the rotation of the shaft.