Wristwatch Push Button Shaft Segmentation for Impact Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable timepieces with push buttons face issues of shaft deformation due to impact and poor attachment/detachment workability of snap rings, leading to contact malfunctions and loss of small components.
Innovation Solution
A push button design featuring a button shaft formed by two components, a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion, where the second shaft portion has a larger diameter and an engagement surface that interacts with the insertion cylindrical portion, eliminating the need for snap rings and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly from outside the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a snap ring is used to attach the push button to the body, then the push button can be secured to the body, but the shaft portion is likely to be deformed by impact and attachment/detachment workability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The push button shaft is divided into two separate components: a first shaft portion that passes through the pipe and a second shaft portion that is screwed to the first shaft portion. This segmentation eliminates the need for a snap ring and allows for easier attachment and detachment operations from outside the body, while maintaining secure fixation through the screw connection between the two shaft portions.
2Ease of operation
If the shaft portion is made long to reach the contact, then the push button can operate the contact, but the shaft portion is more likely to be bent by impact
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the shaft into two portions connected by a screw mechanism, the invention allows the first shaft portion to be sufficiently long to reach the contact while the second shaft portion provides additional structural support. The screw connection creates a stronger joint that resists bending forces better than a single long shaft or a shaft with a snap ring attachment.
3Reliability
If a snap ring is used for attachment, then the push button can be secured, but handling and attachment/detachment becomes difficult and component loss is likely
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the snap ring attachment method with a screw-based connection between two shaft portions. This allows the second shaft portion to be screwed to the first shaft portion from outside the body, significantly improving assembly and disassembly ease while eliminating the risk of losing small snap ring components.
Solution Approach 2:
The screw mechanism acts as an intermediary connection method between the two shaft portions, providing a secure attachment that is easier to handle and assemble than a snap ring. The screw thread structure allows for controlled engagement and disengagement without requiring narrow space operations inside the body.
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 design prevents deformation of the button shaft during impact and enhances the operability and reliability of the push button attachment, reducing the risk of contact malfunctions and component loss.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member which is provided so as to bias the push button toward outside the body so that the engagement surface is held in a state of coming into contact with the tip of the insertion cylindrical portion
Data Source
AI summary
A wristwatch has a casing containing a movement. An insertion cylindrical portion of a pipe is inserted into a through-hole in a body of the casing, and the pipe is fixed to the body. A push-button has a button shaft engageable with a contact member of the movement through the pipe, and a push operation head connected to the button shaft and disposed outside the body. The button shaft has a first portion integrated with the head and a second portion screwed onto the first portion. The second portion has a diameter greater than that of the first portion and an engagement surface capable of approaching and being separated from a tip of the insertion cylindrical portion. The push-button is biased toward the outside of the body by a spring so the engagement surface is held in contact with the tip of the insertion cylindrical portion.