Watch Push Button System Collar Guide for Radial Force Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing push button systems in watches are prone to jamming and bending under non-axial forces, which compromises their reliability and water resistance, particularly in chronograph watches.
Innovation Solution
A push button system with a collar on the periphery of the pusher actuator that cooperates with the internal face of the first hollow guide member, increasing the guide length and reducing play, thereby stiffening the system and minimizing the risk of bending under radial forces, and incorporating additional sealing means to enhance water resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a traditional push button system with a single hollow guide member is used, then the structure is simple, but the pusher is prone to bending and jamming under non-axial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is segmented into two distinct parts: a first hollow guide member extending from the case and a second hollow guide member extending from the button head. These two guide members work together to provide enhanced guidance and support for the pusher, preventing bending and jamming while maintaining structural simplicity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a single guide member to a two-dimensional guide system where the first and second hollow guide members are positioned at different locations (case side and button head side respectively). This spatial arrangement creates a more rigid guidance structure that resists non-axial forces without significantly increasing complexity
2Reliability
If a second hollow guide member is added to take up operating stresses, then the risk of pusher jamming is reduced, but the pusher may still bend under radial forces
Solution Approach 1:
A collar is introduced as an intermediary element that fits onto the pusher actuator. This collar serves as a mediator between the pusher and the two hollow guide members, providing additional support and preventing bending under radial forces while allowing the guide members to continue preventing jamming
Solution Approach 2:
The collar is positioned locally at a specific location on the pusher actuator to provide targeted reinforcement. This local quality enhancement addresses the bending issue at the critical point where radial forces are applied, without requiring a complete redesign of the entire pusher structure
3Strength
If the guide length of the pusher in the first hollow guide member is increased, then the pusher stiffness is improved, but the system may become hyperstatic
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is segmented between two hollow guide members, allowing each to contribute to the overall stiffness without requiring excessive length. The first hollow guide member provides guidance from the case side while the second provides guidance from the button head side, distributing the stiffness requirement across multiple components rather than over-constraining a single component
Data Source
AI summary
A push button system for activating an actuation member, the system including a button head, a pusher actuator integral with the button head, a first hollow guide member, the pusher actuator being mounted to slide inside the first hollow guide member, the first hollow guide member being intended to be secured to a fixed element relative to the button head and to the pusher actuator, a second hollow guide member arranged in the button head, and a pin mounted to slide inside the second hollow member, and intended to be secured to the fixed element. The pusher actuator has an upper portion provided on the periphery thereof with a collar intended to cooperate with an internal face of the first hollow guide member to guide the pusher inside the member.