Watch Dial Plate Cover Member Prevents Indicator Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dial plate structures for analog watches, where the sub needle or discoid needle is formed from thin metal plates, result in a rough outer periphery finish and difficulty in surface treatment, leading to poor visual quality and exposure issues.
Innovation Solution
A dial plate structure with a first and second dial plate, a rotary indicator, and a cover member that prevents the outer periphery of the rotary indicator from being visually exposed, using a transparent or translucent synthetic resin for the upper and lower dial plates and metal for the cover member, with function display sections arranged radially outward to enhance visual quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the sub needle or discoid needle is formed by punching out thin metal plate, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the outer periphery finish is rough and surface treatment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dial plate structure is divided into multiple components: a first dial plate with cutout portion, a second dial plate with function display sections, a rotary indicator, and a cover member. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately with optimized processes, where the thin metal plate can be easily punched out while the cover member provides the necessary finish protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member acts as an intermediary element between the rotary indicator and the external environment. It covers the outer periphery of the rotary indicator, providing a smooth finish and preventing direct exposure of the rough edges while allowing the rotary indicator to function properly.
2Device complexity
If the outer periphery of the rotary indicator is exposed through the cutout portion, then the structure is simple, but the visual quality is poor and false recognition may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cover member serves as a visual intermediary that blocks the direct view of the rotary indicator's outer periphery through the cutout portion. This prevents false recognition while maintaining structural simplicity, as the cover member is a single component that achieves both protection and aesthetic purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member is strategically positioned to provide localized coverage only where needed - specifically over the outer periphery of the rotary indicator visible through the cutout portion. This localized approach improves visual quality without requiring complete coverage of the entire dial plate, maintaining simplicity.
3Weight of moving object
If the thickness of the sub needle or discoid needle is low, then the structure is lightweight and simple, but surface treatment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The thin metal plate rotary indicator is segmented from the cover member. The rotary indicator maintains its thin profile for weight reduction, while the cover member provides a separate structural element that can be manufactured with standard thickness and surface treatment capabilities, eliminating the need to treat the thin rotary indicator directly.
Data Source
AI summary
A dial plate structure includes first and second dial plates, a rotary indicator and a cover member. The first dial plate has a cutout portion. The second dial plate is arranged under the first dial plate and has a plurality of function display portions exposed through the cutout portion. The rotary indicator is arranged between the first and second dial plates and has a function indicator to selectively indicate one of the function display portions by rotation. A part of the rotary indicator is exposed through the cutout portion. The cover member is arranged on the second dial plate. The plurality of function display sections are arranged radially outward than the rotary indicator. The cover member is arranged to face the outer periphery of the rotary indicator and to prevent the outer periphery of the rotary indicator from visually contacted through the cutout portion.