GB1566695A

GB1566695A - Battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece

Info

Publication number: GB1566695A
Application number: GB1896178A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Current assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc
Priority date: 1977-06-27
Filing date: 1978-05-11
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: JPS5410773A; SG43982G; JPS6016591B2; HK50782A

Description

(54) BATTERY MOUNTING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRONIC TIMEPIECE (71) We, KABUSHIKI KAISHA DAINI SEIKOSHA, a Japanese body corporate of 6-311, Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention concerns a battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece such, for example, as an electronic wrist watch.

The battery receiving portion of a known electronic wrist watch conventionally occupies considerable space and protrudes from the watch. In the conventional manner of mounting the battery in the watch, the latter cannot be made thin even if watch components such as a bridge and a circuit block are made as thin as possible. As a result the design of the watch is restricted.

According to the present invention, there is provided a battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece having a space for receiving a battery, said space being defined, at least in part, by an apertured portion of a base plate and by a battery insulating member, a battery lead member which is arranged to contact a battery in said space, and clamping means for clamping together the base plate, battery insulating member, and battery lead member.

The clamping means may comprise at least one pin and at least one screw. In this case, the said pin and/or screw may serve as a guide pin or fixing means for another member.

The clamping means may also comprise at least one pin having a head which engages the battery insulating member and an internal thread into which is screwed a screw which clamps the base plate and the battery lead member to the battery insulating member. A circuit board may be spaced from the base plate by an insulating spacer, the lastmentioned screw having a head which engages the circuit board and which clamps the latter and the insulating spacer to the base plate.

The invention also comprises an electronic timepiece provided with the battery mounting device set forth above.

The invention is illustrated, merely by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of a known battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece, Figure 2 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a battery mounting device according to the present invention, the timepiece dial not being shown in Figure 2 in order to simplify the drawing, Figure 3 is a broken-away cross-sectional view taken on the line A-Al of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a broken-away cross-sectional view taken on the line B-B1 of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a broken-away cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a battery mounting device according to the present invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown a known battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece, the device comprising a battery lead plate 21, a battery insulating plate 22, and a base plate 23. The base plate 23 is provided with a recessed portion a which defines a space b into which extends part of a battery 2. The battery insulating plate 22 is mounted on the surface of the recessed portion a facing the battery 2, the battery lead plate 21 being mounted on the battery insulating plate 22 and having a projection which contacts the cathode of the battery 2.

The base plate 23 is provided with the recessed portion a in order to reduce the thickness of the battery mounting device.

However, in order to ensure contact between the battery lead plate 21 and the battery 2 it is impossible to make the battery lead plate 21 unduly thin, while the thickness of the base plate 23 cannot be decreased too much or its mechanical stregth will be weakened.

In Figures 2 to 4 there is therefore shown a first embodiment of a battery mounting device according to the present invention, in which a battery 2 is mounted within a space 2a which is defined in part by an apertured portion la of a base plate 1 and by a battery insulating plate 5. The battery 2 within the space 2a has its cathode contacted by a projection 1 Sb on an end portion 15a of a battery lead member 15.

A back cover 13 contacts the rear of the battery 2 and substantially closes the space 2a.

Pins 3, 4 are respectively provided with heads 3a, 4a which engage the battery insulating member S and are located in recesses in the latter. The pins 3, 4, extend through and are firmly located in apertures in the battery insulating plate S and the base plate 1 as a result of being driven through the latter, the pins 3,4 being respectively provided with internal threads 3b, 4b. Screws 18, 20 are respectively screwed into the internal threads 3b, 4b so that the screw 18, and pin 3, serve to clamp together the base plate 1, the battery insulating plate 5, and the battery lead plate 15, while the screw 20 and pin 4 serve to clamp together the base plate, the battery insulating plate S and a bridge 19.

Mounted beneath the battery insulating plate5isadial14.

As shown in Figure 3, when the battery 2 is removed from the space 2a, the end portion 1 spa of the battery lead plate 15 occupies the position indicated by the chain dotted lines.

The battery lead plate 15, which contacts the cathode of the battery 2, also contacts a pattern 16a on a circuit board 16. Since the base plate 1 is connected to the positive side of the battery 2, it is necessary to insulate the pin 3 from the battery lead plate 15, and this is done by the use of an insulating spacer 17.

The circuit board 16 is thus spaced from the base plate 1 by the insulating spacer 17, the head of the screw 18 engaging the circuit board 16 and clamping the latter and the insulating spacer 17 to the base plate 1.

The base plate 1 has a shoulder 1k which extends adjacent to the battery insulating plate S, to an hour wheel 11, to a minute wheel 10, and to a holder plate 6, which serves to hold in place the minute wheel 10.

The bolder plate 6 is provided with a hole id within which there is mounted a clutch wheel 8. The base plate 1 is provided with an integrally formed pin le which serves as a pivot on which is mounted a setting wheel 9, the setting wheel 9 meshing with the clutch wheel 8 when hand setting of the timepiece is effected. The setting wheel 9 meshes with the minute wheel 10, while the minute wheel 10 meshes with the hour wheel 11.

The holder plate 6 is itself fixed to the base plate 1 by meansof a locating pin 12 which is driven into the base plate 1 and by means of a screw 7. As shown in Figure 4, the holder 'plate 6 has a hole therein through which passes a pin Sa which extends from the battery insulating plate 5. The pin Sa thus acts as a guide pin for positioning the holder plate 6.

As will be seen by comparing Figures 1 and 3, the:construction shown in Figure 3 enables the thickness of the battery mounting device to be ducedw In Figure S there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention which is generally similar to that of Figures 2 to 4 and which for this reason will not be described in detail, like reference numerals indicating like parts. In the case of the construction of Figures 2 to 4, however, the peripheral portions of the battery insultaing plate S are received within downwardly facing recesses in the base plate 1, whereas in the Figure 5 construction, the peripheral portions of the battery insulating plate S overlie the base plate 1.

In the Figure 5 construction, moreover, the base plate 1, the battery insulating plate S, and the battery lead plate 15 are clamped together by pins 31, 41, which are driven into holes in the base plate 1 and in the battery insulating plate S, the pins 31, 41 being internally threaded to receive screws 1 8a, 20a which are screwed thereinto. The pins 31, 41 have heads which engage the battery insulating plate 5, the screw 20a having a head which clamps the bridge 19 to the head of the pin 41.

Since the base plate 1 is connected to the positive side of the battery 2, the battery lead plate 15 is insulated from the pin 31 by way of an insulating spacer 17a.

In the constructions shown in the drawings, the thickness of the base plate can be reduced to a greater extent than in the prior art, while the protruberance of the battery 2 from its mounting can be substantially eliminated. In contrast to the prior art, the base plate does not need to be provided with a shoulder for the mounting of the battery, because all that is necessary is to stamp out the apertured portion 1a in the base plate. Thus the thickness of the base plate is no longer critical.

Moreover, since the pin Sa which is formed at the back of the battery insulating plate S constitutes a guide pin for the holder plate 6 which is provided at the back of the timepiece movement, the manufacture is simplified.

That is to say, it is no longer necessary to hold the holder plate 6 in position by means of a specially formed pin nor is it necessary to make a hole to receive this pin. Furthermore, the assembly of the holder plate 6 with the base plate 1 is simplified.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece having a space for receiving a battery, said space being defined, at least in part, by an apertured portion of a base plate and by a battery insulating member, a battery lead member which is arranged to contact a battery in said space, and clamping means for clamping together the base plate, battery insulating member and battery lead member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the clamping-means comprises at least one pin and at least one screw.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. on an end portion 15a of a battery lead member 15. A back cover 13 contacts the rear of the battery 2 and substantially closes the space 2a. Pins 3, 4 are respectively provided with heads 3a, 4a which engage the battery insulating member S and are located in recesses in the latter. The pins 3, 4, extend through and are firmly located in apertures in the battery insulating plate S and the base plate 1 as a result of being driven through the latter, the pins 3,4 being respectively provided with internal threads 3b, 4b. Screws 18, 20 are respectively screwed into the internal threads 3b, 4b so that the screw 18, and pin 3, serve to clamp together the base plate 1, the battery insulating plate 5, and the battery lead plate 15, while the screw 20 and pin 4 serve to clamp together the base plate, the battery insulating plate S and a bridge 19. Mounted beneath the battery insulating plate5isadial14. As shown in Figure 3, when the battery 2 is removed from the space 2a, the end portion 1 spa of the battery lead plate 15 occupies the position indicated by the chain dotted lines. The battery lead plate 15, which contacts the cathode of the battery 2, also contacts a pattern 16a on a circuit board 16. Since the base plate 1 is connected to the positive side of the battery 2, it is necessary to insulate the pin 3 from the battery lead plate 15, and this is done by the use of an insulating spacer 17. The circuit board 16 is thus spaced from the base plate 1 by the insulating spacer 17, the head of the screw 18 engaging the circuit board 16 and clamping the latter and the insulating spacer 17 to the base plate 1. The base plate 1 has a shoulder 1k which extends adjacent to the battery insulating plate S, to an hour wheel 11, to a minute wheel 10, and to a holder plate 6, which serves to hold in place the minute wheel 10. The bolder plate 6 is provided with a hole id within which there is mounted a clutch wheel 8. The base plate 1 is provided with an integrally formed pin le which serves as a pivot on which is mounted a setting wheel 9, the setting wheel 9 meshing with the clutch wheel 8 when hand setting of the timepiece is effected. The setting wheel 9 meshes with the minute wheel 10, while the minute wheel 10 meshes with the hour wheel 11. The holder plate 6 is itself fixed to the base plate 1 by meansof a locating pin 12 which is driven into the base plate 1 and by means of a screw 7. As shown in Figure 4, the holder 'plate 6 has a hole therein through which passes a pin Sa which extends from the battery insulating plate 5. The pin Sa thus acts as a guide pin for positioning the holder plate 6. As will be seen by comparing Figures 1 and 3, the:construction shown in Figure 3 enables the thickness of the battery mounting device to be ducedw In Figure S there is shown a second embodiment of the present invention which is generally similar to that of Figures 2 to 4 and which for this reason will not be described in detail, like reference numerals indicating like parts. In the case of the construction of Figures 2 to 4, however, the peripheral portions of the battery insultaing plate S are received within downwardly facing recesses in the base plate 1, whereas in the Figure 5 construction, the peripheral portions of the battery insulating plate S overlie the base plate 1. In the Figure 5 construction, moreover, the base plate 1, the battery insulating plate S, and the battery lead plate 15 are clamped together by pins 31, 41, which are driven into holes in the base plate 1 and in the battery insulating plate S, the pins 31, 41 being internally threaded to receive screws 1 8a, 20a which are screwed thereinto. The pins 31, 41 have heads which engage the battery insulating plate 5, the screw 20a having a head which clamps the bridge 19 to the head of the pin 41. Since the base plate 1 is connected to the positive side of the battery 2, the battery lead plate 15 is insulated from the pin 31 by way of an insulating spacer 17a. In the constructions shown in the drawings, the thickness of the base plate can be reduced to a greater extent than in the prior art, while the protruberance of the battery 2 from its mounting can be substantially eliminated. In contrast to the prior art, the base plate does not need to be provided with a shoulder for the mounting of the battery, because all that is necessary is to stamp out the apertured portion 1a in the base plate. Thus the thickness of the base plate is no longer critical. Moreover, since the pin Sa which is formed at the back of the battery insulating plate S constitutes a guide pin for the holder plate 6 which is provided at the back of the timepiece movement, the manufacture is simplified. That is to say, it is no longer necessary to hold the holder plate 6 in position by means of a specially formed pin nor is it necessary to make a hole to receive this pin. Furthermore, the assembly of the holder plate 6 with the base plate 1 is simplified. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A battery mounting device for an electronic timepiece having a space for receiving a battery, said space being defined, at least in part, by an apertured portion of a base plate and by a battery insulating member, a battery lead member which is arranged to contact a battery in said space, and clamping means for clamping together the base plate, battery insulating member and battery lead member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which

a said pin and/or screw serves as a guide pin or fixing means for another member.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim in which the clamping means comprises at least one pin having a head which engages the battery insulating member and an internal thread into which is screwed a screw which clamps the base plate and the battery lead member to the battery insulating member.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 in which a circuit board is spaced from the base plate by an insulating spacer. the last-mentioned screw having a head which engages the circuit board and which clamps the latter and the insulating spacer to the base plate.

6. A battery mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 to 4 or in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

7. An electronic timepiece provided with a device as claimed in any preceding claim.