Self-Winding Watch Decorative Disc via Non-Circular Stem
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-winding watches with decorative oscillating weights are complex and expensive to produce, and the decorations are not easily separable or adaptable, limiting flexibility in design and potentially straining the weight during impacts.
Innovation Solution
A decorative disc is attached to the oscillating weight via a support with a non-circular section stem and bore, allowing 360° coverage of the movement and easy removal, enabling flexible decoration changes and reduced strain on the weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional decorative oscillating weights are used, then the watch has decorative appeal, but the production becomes complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration is segmented from the oscillating weight itself, creating a separate decorative disc that can be independently manufactured and attached. This allows the weight to remain simple while the decoration can be customized without increasing overall production complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative element is extracted as a separate component (decorative disc) from the functional oscillating weight. This extraction enables independent production of each component, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining decorative appeal
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex decorations are attached to the oscillating weight, then the decorative appeal is enhanced, but the decorations become difficult to separate and replace
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative disc is segmented as a separate removable component from the oscillating weight, enabling easy separation and replacement while maintaining decorative appeal during wear
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the decorative disc and oscillating weight is made dynamic and reversible through the snap-fit mechanism, allowing the decoration to be easily attached and removed based on user preference
3Ease of repair
If decorations are permanently attached to the oscillating weight, then the structural integrity is maintained, but the accessibility to the movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The decorative disc is segmented as a separate component that can be independently removed, providing easy access to the movement for repair while maintaining structural integrity during normal wear
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure acts as an intermediary between the decorative disc and the oscillating weight, providing a reversible connection that maintains attachment strength while enabling easy removal when needed
4Reliability
If the decorative disc is tightly fixed to the oscillating weight, then the decoration remains stable, but the weight experiences excessive strain during impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the decorative disc and oscillating weight is made dynamically adjustable through the snap-fit mechanism, allowing the decoration to be securely attached during normal wear but easily removed to prevent strain during impacts
Solution Approach 2:
The removable decorative disc design provides beforehand protection by allowing users to remove the decoration before activities that may cause impacts, preventing excessive strain on the oscillating weight
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 allows for easy decoration changes and improved accessibility to the movement, reducing production complexity and stress on the oscillating weight, while maintaining a visually appealing animation visible through the transparent case back.
Implementation Method 1
The stem and the bore each comprise a non-circular section portion corresponding with one another, so that the support and the disc are pivotally driven by the shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A self-winding mechanical horological movement including a pivotally oscillating weight, wherein the oscillating weight is provided with a decorative disc mounted on the oscillating weight and pivotally driven by the weight. The disc is fastened to a support that includes a stem inserted into a hole provided in the rotational shaft of the weight. The stem and the hole include non-circular section cylindrical portions corresponding with one another, so that the support and the disc are pivotally driven by the shaft. The disc forms a decoration that covers the entire surface of the movement, without requiring technical complexities. The disc can be free to undergo an axial movement in relation to the weight, so that the disc may be removed from the weight when the horological movement is dismantled from a watch case.