Watch Case-Back Bayonet Attachment for Watertight Angular Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing watch assemblies face challenges in achieving watertight and secure connections with angular indexing while preventing involuntary disassembly, which often require after-sales intervention for maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A fixing device for a watch back cover that uses a pin and groove system with elastic deformation, providing angular indexing and bayonet fitting to ensure secure and watertight assembly, requiring a special tool for disassembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a bayonet connection is used to assemble watch parts, then the assembly becomes secure and watertight, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewatertight sealVSAvoidassembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bayonet connection system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the middle with pin recesses, the back cover with protruding pins, and the seal. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function (mechanical connection, angular indexing, sealing) while maintaining overall simplicity and reliability of the assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pin protrusions on the back cover are designed to fit into recesses on the middle, creating a nested configuration where the back cover's pins engage with the middle's pin recesses. This nested structure provides secure mechanical connection and angular indexing in a compact arrangement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Manufacturing precision

If angular indexing is implemented for component alignment, then the positioning precision improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in achieving proper alignment and tightening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular indexingVSAvoidassembly operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bayonet connection system is designed to be self-indexing: when the back cover is rotated during assembly, the pins automatically engage with the pin recesses at the correct angular position, and the seal compression provides self-locking. This eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures or specialized tools, making the operation simple while maintaining precise angular indexing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The connection system transitions from a static alignment problem to a dynamic assembly process: the back cover is rotated dynamically during assembly, allowing the pins to naturally find and engage with the pin recesses at the correct angular position, while the seal provides progressive self-locking as compression increases

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the back cover is made secure against disassembly, then the reliability improves, but the ease of repair deteriorates as disassembly requires special tools

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-disassemblyVSAvoiddisassembly
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The bayonet connection system incorporates preliminary anti-action through the seal compression and pin engagement geometry: the seal is pre-compressed to create friction resistance, and the pins are positioned to engage with the pin recesses in a way that requires significant rotational force to disengage. This preliminary anti-action prevents accidental disassembly while allowing intentional disassembly by qualified personnel using appropriate tools

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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

Ensures watertight and secure assembly with angular indexing, preventing accidental disassembly and maintaining sealing integrity, while allowing easy maintenance by qualified personnel.

Implementation Method 1

a pin (4) secured to the middle (1), the pin (4) comprising at least one elastically deformable zone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3958067B1Device for attaching a bottom on a middle for a clockpiece
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 THE SWATCH GRP RES & DEVELONMENT LTD
  • EP3958067B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3958067B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b
  • EP3958067B1 patent drawingFigure 5a~5b

AI summary

A device for attaching a case back to a watch case, the case back having a shoulder forming a cover arranged to fully or partially cover the case and a body arranged to rest within the case, said device comprising at least one pin integral with the case, and a gasket mounted between the case back and the case. According to the invention, the case back comprises, near its periphery, at least one groove, the pin being arranged to slide in the groove between a first position, called the insertion position in which the case back is free, and a second position, called the locking position, in which the case back is locked and positioned angularly relative to the case, and said groove comprising at least one bump to form a resistance point and increase the torque when the pin passes over the bump.