JPS5887491A - Device fixing battery into wristwatch - Google Patents

Abstract

The battery strap member comprises a ring (2) which is applied to the battery (4) and two fixing lugs (6). Each lug comprises notches (8, 10, 12) which co-operate with a slot 24 in the insulating substrate (20a). The notches form three bayonet-type closure systems which define three battery heights. The device thus makes it possible to use a single strap member for a watch which accepts batteries of three different thicknesses, while all being of the same diameter. <IMAGE>

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an Ω device for securing a battery in a wristwatch. The term "battery" refers to a single cell including a single cell.
Used according to common usage.

It is well known that electronic watches invariably use an electrical power supply, a battery, which is fixed to the watch, most often to the watch movement. In addition, the battery must be electrically connected to the various electronic or electro-mechanical components of the watch.

In many cases, battery fixation is carried out by means of a device that includes a strap part for fixing the battery to the watch plate, which strap part often additionally forms one of the two electrical connections.

US Pat. No. 2,985,705 discloses a battery securing strap in the form of a small par with two curved lugs terminating in two latching elements that fit into holes drilled in the support plate. By moving the ugs towards each other, the latch element can be inserted into the hole. When the lugs are released, their own elasticity causes them to move apart, thereby tightening the strap in that position and thus holding the battery to the plate.

However, such battery straps can only be used effectively to secure in place batteries that are all of the same thickness, if not the same diameter. . However, as is well known, batteries currently in use have a variety of different thicknesses, even if they have the same voltage and the same diameter.

For example, for lithium batteries, typical thicknesses range from 1.6 mm to 2.6 mm. In the case of silver oxide cells, the cell thickness varies, for example, from 1.6 mm to 3.6 m1I.

It is clear that the elasticity of the strap portion can accommodate small differences in thickness.

However, the aforementioned differences in thickness require that the elasticity of the strap portion be sufficient to accommodate such differences and to effectively and reliably secure the battery in its position over the life of the battery. Too big.

In order to overcome these problems, the first object of the present invention is to provide a device for securing batteries in a wristwatch, which allows batteries of different thicknesses to be secured in their position.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a battery fixing device that utilizes the structure of the battery strap itself and can adapt to such thickness differences without excessive elastic deformation. It is to provide.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a battery fixing device that allows the battery to be easily set and removed from its position, particularly without the need for screws.

A fourth object of the invention is to provide a battery securing device that does not result in a substantial increase in the thickness dimension of the assembly formed from the battery and battery securing device.

The device according to the invention is defined in claim 1.

The strap portion has a number of latching elements located at different heights, thereby making it possible to secure cells of different thicknesses in place.

In the first embodiment, each lug has a
Threads are made to form different latching elements. For example, a support element for a printed circuit of a wristwatch is provided with as many slots as there are lugs.

This assembly forms a number of jonet-type locking devices machined onto each lug. To perform latch operation.

The entire strap portion simply needs to be rotated about the axis of the cell.

It is clear that a device according to this method does not allow any substantial increase in the external diameter of the cell with the fixing screw. What is interesting, especially in watches fitted with lithium-type batteries, is that the diameter of the watch is very close to the diameter of the watch movement.

In another embodiment, the lug, on its side facing the cell or on its outer side, is provided with a number of protrusions that cooperate with the edges of the apertures provided in the support plate. The elastic deformation of the lug launches the strap portion (material) onto the support plate. This then becomes a locking device operated by a resilient clip operation. Each protrusion on the lug defines the entire height of one cell.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

While referring to Figures 1 to 4, strap part (material)
A first embodiment of a battery securing device is described, in which the battery is secured by a bayonet-type device.

1 and 2 show the shape of the strap part with a ring 2 of conductive material. The outer diameter of the ring 2 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the battery 4. The ring 2 is thus fitted around the substantially flat surface 4a of the battery. It should be pointed out in passing that this shape of the strap part makes it possible to read all the useful information appearing on the face 4a of the battery.

The ring 2 constitutes the support part of the strap part.

As best understood from FIG. 2, the ring 2 is not flat but bent along its diameter x, x'. Furthermore, the drag part has two fixing lugs 6 and 6', which are substantially perpendicular to the ring 2 and thus substantially parallel to the axis of symmetry of the cell 4. be. As best seen in FIG. 3, each of the lugs 6 or 6' has a tongue-like shape and its edges 6a and 6b (on the lugs 6) are provided with notches. Edge 6a has a single notch 8. this is,
It is defined by a lower edge 8a which is perpendicular to the height of the cell and whose distance from the ring 2 is equal to hl.

The edge 6b is provided with two notches 1o and 12, which are associated with each other. The notch 12 is defined on the underside by an edge 12a.

The notch 1o is defined on the underside by an edge 10a. It is clear that the notch 1o is deeper than the notch 12, and thus the edges 10a and 12& form a staircase shape. Edge 10a is provided at a distance h2 from ring 2, and one edge 12a is provided at a distance h3 from ring 2. The difference between the heights hl and h3 is, for example, l.

It is clear that the fixing lug 6' is provided with similar notches on its edges 6'a and 6/b.

As will be explained hereinafter, these three notches on the two securing lugs define three securing depths, i.e., three thicknesses of batteries that are compatible with the strap type. It is.

The strap part, more precisely the ring 2, also has a projection, designated as 14, which projects outwardly from the ring and which sets the battery in its position even when the movement is installed. This makes it easy to remove. In addition, two retaining lugs 16 and 16
' (only lug 16 is shown in FIG. 2) means N
It serves to hold the pond 4 in its position within the strap section. In fact, the strap part is secured by only two lugs 6 and 6' and two retaining lugs 16, by rotating it about an axis that does not coincide with the axis of the cell.
It is fixed to the support plate to prevent possible loosening of the strap portion.

FIG. 4 in its illustrated embodiment.

It is shown that the plate to which the strap portion is attached is formed by a printed circuit 20.

The printed circuit 20 is secured to a watch frame support structure 22, such that its face 22a faces the dial. The printed circuit 20 is provided with two slots, only one of which is visible in FIG. 4, and is wide enough to allow all of the lugs 6 or 6' to be inserted. be. Additionally, the height of each notch is greater than the thickness 24 of the printed circuit. As we know, a typical printed circuit consists of a rigid insulating substrate 20a and a conductor track, which is 20
It has the and shown by b.

The operation of setting the battery in a certain position and fixing it in that place by means of this strap part is extremely simple. The battery is set in position, the battery strap part is placed on the top surface 4a of the battery, the strap part is attached to the fixing lugs 6 and Q' and also to the positioning lugs 16 and 16'.
Centered with respect to the battery by.

Lugs 6 and 0' are thus inserted into slots 24. By applying a light force to the ring in that direction at the starting point of the lugs 6 and 6', the ring undergoes a slight deformation and performs a bending action on itself, and by means of the projection 14 the strap part is aligned in the correct direction with respect to its axis. One of the edges 26 of the printed circuit insulating substrate 20a, which is rotated to define the slot 24, joins the notch corresponding to the required cell thickness (notch 8 in FIG. 4a).
be used).

4a, 4b and 4c correspond to different cell thicknesses hl, h2 and h3, respectively. In addition, the bending action and elastic deformation of the ring 2 ensure that the edge of the notch (the edge shown in FIG. 4a) is attached to the printed circuit, and more precisely to the conductor track 20b.
pressed against. , As a result, good electrical continuity is obtained.

FIG. 5 shows a simplified form of a second embodiment of the invention, in which the strap portion is secured in place by a clip.

The strap part also includes a ring, indicated at 28, which supports the top surface 4a of the battery and which is attached to one of its two securing lugs (3).
0) only as shown in FIG. 5, and the locating lugs 16 and 1 in FIG.
6' and two positioning lugs (not shown) similar to 6'. The basic difference lies in the mechanism for setting different positions for latching the strap portion to the support plate. This mechanism is not provided on the edges of the fixed lugs, but on the inner flat surface 3Oa of each fixed lug. This mechanism basically has three protrusions 32a, 32b and 32c, which are provided on the inner surface 3Oa and separate or define at the bottom three grooves 34a, 34b and 34c. In fact, the groove 34a is represented by a protrusion 32a provided below it.

defined only by There is no upper limit here.

This groove mates with the edge of a slot such as 24' in the insulating substrate 20' of the wristwatch printed circuit as in the first embodiment. It is clear that the edge 24a parallel to the length of the slot is what joins the groove. Thus, the upper edges of the protrusions defining the lower side of each groove are located at different distances hl, h2 and h3 from the ring 28, thereby securing cells of different thicknesses corresponding to different distances in place. It will be done.

FIG. 6 shows a second battery in which battery 4' is, for example, a silver oxide battery.
An example is shown. As is well known, the diameter of this battery is relatively small compared to the watch movement, so that the battery is partially received in a housing provided within the movement. FIG. 6 schematically shows a plate 40 of the movement, whose side faces the dial of the watch, an insulating substrate part 42 of the printed circuit with conductor tracks 42', and a part 4 of the movement.
4. It is in fluid contact with the part forming the housing or cutout 46 in which the battery 4' is to be accommodated. This embodiment is very similar to that shown in FIG.
In FIG. 6, only the lug 3o is shown). Different protrusions similar to those shown in FIG. 5 define different cell depths. This protrusion is represented in FIG. 6 by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 5, but with a prime numeral added. In this case,
The different groove heights ant, h2 and h3 are such that the strap portion is positioned and latched at the level of the printed circuit.
It is clear that the value is smaller than the total height H of the battery, for example, more than half the height of the battery.

From the descriptions of the different embodiments of the invention given so far, it is clear that the particular shape of the strap part and the workings on the support plate, which may be formed by other parts of the watch,
This effectively offers the possibility that the same strap piece can be used to secure batteries of different thicknesses. Additionally, securing and removing these batteries is extremely easy as there is no material to be released. Furthermore, different latching positions corresponding to different thickness arrangements are possible for the battery, but intermediate values for such thickness are realized by elastic deformation of the strap portion. Furthermore, it is also important that the strap part not only acts as a mechanical fixing device but also has an electrical connection function carried out by other parts.
This is an inseparable feature from the present invention. Finally, in the embodiment described, the battery had two securing lugs. Furthermore, in general, the device has n (n≧2
), each lug containing P mechanical devices (P≧2). This thus defines the P heights of cells that can be used in the fixing device according to the invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the strap portion placed on the battery. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■--■ of FIG. 1, showing a first embodiment of the strap part; FIG.
3 is a detailed view of the strap section shown in FIG. 2, showing more detail of the notches in the lugs of the strap section; FIG. Figures 4a to 4c are views showing different positions of battery fixation using the strap portions shown in Figures 2 and 3. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a strap portion for securing a battery by clipping action. FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of a battery strap for securing the battery in place with a clipping action when the battery is partially housed within the housing. 2...Ring, 4...Battery, 6...Lug, 8,1
゜, 12... Notch, 14... Protrusion, 16... Lug, 20... Printed circuit, 22... Support structure, 28
...Ring, 30...Lug, 32...Protrusion, 34
...Groove, 40...Plate, 42...Insulating substrate,
46°°°notch

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A device for completely fixing a battery in an electronic wristwatch, of the type comprising a strap part and a support element to which the battery is fixed. Support part (material) where the strap part (material) is adjacent to the battery surface
, substantially in the height direction of the battery, and the support part (
a plurality of fixing lugs connected to a material (6), each lug forming a plurality of P latch elements, each of which is offset in the height direction toward its free end; The support element has a plurality of molded parts P, which cooperate with a molded part of one of the lugs to fix the strap part (material) to the support element and to press the support part (material) against the battery surface. A battery fixing device characterized by having a plurality of lock parts. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support portion of the strap portion has a ring shape that supports the outer periphery of the battery surface. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ring has folds arranged along the diameter of the ring. 4. The strap portion further comprises at least one lug for retaining the battery, the retaining lug being bent with respect to the ring and provided on the same side of the ring as the securing lug. Section 2 or 3
Apparatus described in section. 5. Each fastening lug is defined by two edges, each of the P moldings of each fastening lug having an open notch in the locking part of one of said edges, and Me n in front of the support element. each part has a notch defined at least in part by an edge such as to allow one of the fixed lugs to be guided, and each notch has a notch defined at least in part by an edge such as to allow one of the fixed lugs to be guided into the respective notch. Claims 1 to 4 are characterized in that the cutout and the notch form P bayonet-type devices for fixing the strap part to the support element. The device described in any of the above. 6. The fixing lug is defined by an inner face and an outer face in the direction towards the battery, and each of the P molded parts of the fixing lug has a protrusion provided on one of said faces. two successive protrusions are separated by a groove, the locking part of the support element having a cutout allowing one of the lugs to be guided, each cutout being at least partially defined by an edge; Each groove is greater in height than the thickness of the edge of the notch to allow engagement of the edge with the protrusion. 6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the projections and cutouts form P devices for fixing the strap part to the support element by means of an elastic clipping action. 7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support element is a printed circuit of a wristwatch.