Timepiece Push Button With Offset Cantilever Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push buttons for timepieces can suffer damage when the operating member is strongly pushed, causing the contact parts to collide and potentially damage the circuit board, leading to various operational issues.
Innovation Solution
A push button design featuring a dynamic contact member that is elastically deformable and supported in a cantilever state, with a movable contact part positioned out of the line connecting the acting portion and the base, allowing for stable contact and separation from a fixed contact part, reducing the impact of strong pushes and enhancing impact resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the operating member strongly acts on the contact spring, then the switching function is achieved, but the contact part and circuit board are damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning the movable contact part off the line connecting the acting portion and base part, creating a geometric buffer zone. This offset arrangement ensures that even when strong force is applied to the operating member, the contact spring can deform elastically without transmitting excessive impact force directly to the contact part and circuit board, thus preventing damage while maintaining switching functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by leveraging the elastic deformation characteristics of the contact spring. The contact spring is designed to undergo controlled elastic deformation when force is applied, changing its physical state temporarily to absorb impact energy. This elastic parameter change allows the system to handle strong pushes without permanent damage, maintaining both reliability and protection.
2Ease of operation
If the contact part is arranged on the line connecting the acting portion and base part, then the switching action is direct, but the impact force is transmitted to the circuit board
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately positioning the movable contact part at an offset location relative to the line connecting the acting portion and base part. This asymmetric arrangement creates a non-linear force transmission path through the contact spring, allowing efficient switching action while distributing and reducing impact forces. The offset position ensures that the contact spring acts as a flexible intermediary rather than a rigid force transmitter.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If additional cushioning components are added, then impact resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing the contact spring itself to provide cushioning functionality through its inherent elastic properties and optimized geometric arrangement. The offset positioning of the movable contact part enables the contact spring to automatically absorb and dissipate impact energy without requiring separate cushioning components. This self-service approach improves impact resistance while maintaining simple device structure.
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 design prevents damage to the push button and the circuit board by absorbing the force of strong impacts, ensuring reliable operation and increased durability without the need for additional cushioning, thus enhancing the impact resistance of the timepiece.
Implementation Method 1
a dynamic contact member that is supported in a cantilever state with a base part fixed to the module, that has the movable contact part which is electrically contactable with the fixed contact part, and that is elastically deformable
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a push button including: a module that has a fixed contact part which is able to contact and separate from a movable contact part; an elastically deformable dynamic contact member that is supported in a cantilever state with a base part fixed to the module, and that has the movable contact part electrically contactable with the fixed contact part; and an operation receiving member that makes the movable contact part contact the fixed contact part by having one end acting on an acting portion. The movable contact part is arranged out of (i) a line connecting the acting portion and the base part and (ii) an extended line thereof, the dynamic contact member has a first movable part and a second movable part, the acting portion is arranged in the first movable part, and the movable contact part is arranged in the second movable part.