Timepiece Display Plate Attachment Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing timepieces face difficulties in easily attaching and detaching display plates due to the low resilience of cylindrical projection portions, leading to misattachment issues during rearrangement.

Innovation Solution

A timepiece design featuring a ring member with convex engagement portions and corresponding accommodation grooves on the display plate, allowing for easier elastic deformation and attachment, with features like narrowed groove widths and relief grooves to facilitate attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If cylindrical projection portions with short length are used to fix the display plate, then the structural compactness is improved, but the elastic deformation capability deteriorates making attachment troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural compactnessVSAvoidattachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the engagement structure by providing engagement convex portions that extend in the radial direction with sufficient length, and designing accommodation grooves with narrowed widths at specific portions. This parameter optimization enables both compact structure and adequate elastic deformation capability for easy attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The display plate is segmented with multiple accommodation grooves distributed around its peripheral portion, each groove containing engagement convex portions. This segmentation allows localized elastic deformation at each groove while maintaining overall structural integrity and compactness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If cylindrical projection portions with short length are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of attachment deteriorates leading to misattachment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment structure complexityVSAvoidattachment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The accommodation grooves are designed with asymmetric cross-sections where the widths are narrowed at specific portions rather than being uniformly circular. This asymmetric design creates reliable engagement with the convex portions while preventing misalignment, achieving both simplicity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional cylindrical projection engagement system with a groove-based engagement system featuring narrowed widths. This substitution provides more reliable mechanical interlocking through the narrowed portions that prevent lateral deviation and rotation, improving attachment reliability without significantly increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of manufacture

If cylindrical projection portions are used for engagement, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the ease of detachment deteriorates requiring troublesome removal work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddetachment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The engagement structure is designed to be dynamically reversible - the accommodation grooves with narrowed widths allow easy insertion by elastic deformation, and equally easy removal by reversing the deformation. This dynamic design simplifies both manufacturing and detachment operations compared to fixed cylindrical projections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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 simplifies the attachment and detachment of display plates, reducing the risk of misattachment and making the process more manageable, while also improving the structural integrity and visibility through proper alignment and light transmission.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of interposition portions which divides the accommodation grooves, comes into close contact with the contact part in the state of being elastically deformed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8547802B2Timepiece

Publication Date: 2013.10.01 SEIKO WATCH CORP

AI summary

A timepiece includes a movement, a ring member, and an hour plate. Upward engagement convex portions of the ring member have contact parts placed near an outer peripheral surface of the ring member. The hour plate has a plurality of interposition portions and a plurality of convex portion accommodation grooves opened to the peripheral surface thereof. The interposition portions divide the convex portion accommodation grooves, come into close contact with the contact parts in the state of being elastically deformed, and interpose the engagement convex portions therebetween along a direction perpendicular to a radial direction of the ring member. The convex portion accommodation grooves are housed in the respective engagement convex portions, and the hour plate is attached to the ring member.