Watch Case Striking Device Gong Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional watch striking devices are complex to assemble and often fail to effectively propagate vibrations for rich sound production, with existing designs requiring individual element mounting and lacking optimal vibration transmission.

Innovation Solution

The watch case integrates the gong and gong holder as a single piece with the middle or back, allowing for a unified manufacturing process that enhances vibration propagation and sound quality through precise geometry and material selection, such as precious metals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If traditional individual elements are mounted one after another on the watch plate, then the striking device can be assembled, but the assembly process becomes relatively long and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoidnumber of individual elements
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the gong and gong holder into a single integrated component made from one piece of material. This eliminates the need to mount separate gong and gong holder elements individually on the watch plate, significantly reducing assembly steps and complexity while maintaining the functional integrity of the striking device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If traditional separate elements are used, then individual components can be made independently, but vibration propagation is not optimized and sound quality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidconfiguration of multiple elements
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By integrating the gong and gong holder into one piece, the patent creates direct structural coupling that optimizes vibration propagation from the hammer impact through the gong holder to the gong. This eliminates vibration loss at connection interfaces between separate components, enhancing sound quality and transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the gong is configured to optimize vibration transmission, then sound quality improves, but the design becomes more difficult to achieve with traditional ringing devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration propagationVSAvoiddesign implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated one-piece design allows the gong and gong holder to be manufactured together as a single unit, simplifying the optimization of vibration transmission pathways. The direct structural connection enables easier tuning and adjustment of vibration characteristics compared to assembling separate components, as the entire assembly can be designed and adjusted as one system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This integrated design simplifies assembly, improves sound richness by optimizing vibration transmission, and allows for a more compact and efficient watch case with enhanced acoustic intensity.

Implementation Method 1

The vibration of the gong is produced by the impact, generally close to the gong holder, of at least one hammer of the striking device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpact Force: Impact Force

Implementation Method 2

The vibration of the gong is produced by the impact... of at least one hammer... to signal, for example, an alarm time or minute repeaters

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2196869B1Watch case with striking device
Publication Date: 2012.05.23 BLANCPAIN SA
  • EP2196869B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2196869B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The case (1) has a glass defining a housing for a clock movement and a striking device equipped with gongs (3, 5) fixed to a gong holder (4). A hammer strikes the gongs. The gongs and the gong holder are made of a material similar to that of middle (2) or a back cover of the case and directly associated with the middle or the back cover to form a single piece, where the material is a precious metal such as gold or platinum, or a precious metal alloy. An independent claim is also included for a method for fabricating a watch case.