Horology Dial Foot Mechanical Interlock for Brittle Plates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing horology dial assembly methods, such as welding, brazing, and adhesive bonding, are not optimal for brittle materials like ceramics, leading to repeatability issues and unsuitable for materials lacking plastic deformation, and prior solutions like crimping and screw fixation are inadequate for horology dials.

Innovation Solution

A horology dial foot with a plastically deformable element that cooperates with a shaped portion of the dial plate to achieve secure fixation, allowing for reliable attachment to brittle materials without adhesives, welding, or brazing, using obstacle cooperation and plastic deformation to lock the foot in place.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If adhesive bonding is used to attach feet to dial plates, then assembly is simplified, but repeatability deteriorates due to metering issues and adhesive changes over time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidassembly repeatability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces adhesive bonding (chemical system) with a mechanical interlocking system consisting of a foot head with lateral protrusions that engage with corresponding recesses in the dial plate. This mechanical substitution eliminates metering issues and adhesive degradation problems while maintaining assembly simplicity and improving repeatability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Strength

If welding or brazing is used to attach feet to dial plates, then strong fixation is achieved, but the dial material must withstand these high-temperature processes which limits material choices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation strengthVSAvoidmaterial compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces thermal joining processes (welding/brazing) with a mechanical interlocking system using foot heads with lateral protrusions. This substitution eliminates the need for high-temperature processes, allowing brittle materials like ceramics and stones to be used without restriction while maintaining strong fixation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If a lower dial plate is added to accommodate assembly methods, then fixation is achieved, but dial thickness increases and assembly repeatability remains problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefixation capabilityVSAvoiddial thickness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the foot attachment function directly into the dial plate structure by integrating recesses into the dial plate itself. This eliminates the need for a separate lower dial plate, reducing overall thickness while achieving strong fixation through the mechanical interlocking of foot heads with the dial plate recesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If crimping is used to fix feet in grooves, then rotational locking is achieved, but the dial plate material must undergo plastic deformation which excludes brittle materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot retentionVSAvoidmaterial suitability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the deformation approach: instead of deforming the dial plate (brittle material) to lock the foot, the foot head itself is designed with lateral protrusions that engage with pre-formed recesses in the dial plate. This inversion allows brittle materials to be used while achieving reliable rotational locking without requiring the dial plate to undergo plastic deformation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 a simple and reliable method for attaching horology dials to brittle materials, ensuring secure fixation and preventing unintentional displacement, suitable for materials like ceramics and stones, while maintaining dial thickness consistency.

Implementation Method 1

a plastically deformable element arranged so as to connect the foot (2; 2'; 2''; 2*) to a dial plate (1; 1'; 1''; 1*) by cooperation, in particular by obstacle cooperation, of the plastically deformable element in the deformed configuration with a shaped portion (15; 15'; 15''; 15*) of a dial plate (1; 1'; 1''; 1*)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPlastic deformation: Plasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12443144B2Horology dial foot, horology dial plate and horology dial

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 ROLEX SA

AI summary

A foot (2) for a timepiece dials includes a plastically deformable element (23) arranged so as to connect the foot (2) to a dial plate by cooperation, in particular by obstacle cooperation, of the plastically deformable element (23) in the deformed configuration with a shaped portion (15) of a dial plate.