Timepiece Dial Decoration Attachment Using Spacer and Silicone Washer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing timepiece dial decorations lack sufficient mechanical stability and resistance to shocks and vibrations, especially for decorative pieces of significant dimensions and weight, requiring multiple feet which increases complexity.
Innovation Solution
A dial decoration attachment system using a single point of attachment via a fixing screw, supported by a combination of a support bar and foot, with a spacer and silicone washer to distribute shocks and vibrations, reducing the load on the fixing screw and enhancing stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple feet are used to attach heavy decorations, then mechanical stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment structure is divided into distinct functional segments: a single foot element, a separate fixing screw, a spacer component, and a silicone washer. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while keeping the overall structure simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The silicone washer acts as an intermediary element between the foot and the base plate, absorbing shocks and vibrations. The spacer serves as an intermediary that distributes mechanical loads. These intermediary components enable a single-foot attachment to achieve the stability that would otherwise require multiple feet.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple feet are used to support large decorations, then shock resistance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone washer is pre-installed on the foot before final assembly, creating a cushioning layer that absorbs future shocks and vibrations. This beforehand cushioning protects the decoration from mechanical impacts without requiring complex multi-foot structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer and silicone washer serve as intermediary components that simplify manufacturing by providing standardized, replaceable elements that absorb mechanical stresses, making the overall assembly process easier despite the need for shock resistance.
3Device complexity
If a single fixing screw is used, then attachment simplicity is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer and silicone washer act as intermediary components that enhance the mechanical stability provided by the single fixing screw. The spacer distributes loads while the silicone washer absorbs vibrations, allowing one screw to achieve the stability of multiple attachment points.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system combines different materials (metal foot and screw, plastic spacer, silicone washer) to achieve complementary properties: structural strength from metal components and shock absorption from elastomeric materials, enabling stable attachment with minimal hardware.
4Reliability
If heavier materials are used for decorations, then decorative quality is improved, but resistance to vibrations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The silicone washer serves as a vibration-absorbing intermediary between the heavy decoration and the dial base plate. It isolates the rigid decorative material from vibrational forces, allowing high-quality heavy materials to be used without compromising vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the attachment interface by introducing elastomeric materials with different stiffness and damping characteristics. This allows heavy rigid decorations to be mounted while the interface parameters are optimized for vibration absorption.
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 solution provides increased mechanical stability and shock resistance for three-dimensional decorations, allowing for reliable attachment of heavy or large decorative elements with reduced complexity and increased reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a spacer (19) arranged between the fixing screw and the support foot and a silicone washer (27) arranged between the base plate and the support foot
Data Source
AI summary
A dial for a timepiece, such as a watch, includes at least one three-dimensional decoration offset away from a base plate which forms part of the dial. The decoration is mounted on the base plate by an assembly of elements including a fixing screw, a support bar including a proximal end secured to the base plate by the fixing screw and a distal end attached to a first point of the lower surface of the decoration, a support foot including a proximal end held in a fixed position in the plate of the base plate and a distal end attached to a second point of the lower surface of the decoration, and a spacer which forms a lateral connection between the fixing screw and the support foot, the spacer being secured with the support bar to the base plate by the fixing screw.