JPS6355492A - Push button construction of wrist watch case - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost of a wrist watch and to permit dealing with varied needs by providing a push button which is formed of a freely flexible material in a projecting part for transmitting action and a guide hole aligned to the axial direction of the action of an input contact provided to a case. CONSTITUTION:A movement 9 is built into the wrist watch case 1 formed integrally with a band 2 and the external input contact 9a is provided to the top surface part of the movement 9. A resin sheet 8 printed with a conductive film is incorporated thereon. The guide hole 1a is provided to the case 1 in the position right above the contact 9a. The projecting part 5a of the push button which is made of the elastic and freely flexible material is so disposed as to be loosely fitted into the hole 1a. The button 5a is inclined theta deg. from the horizontal plane and has a difference of an angle theta deg. from the axial line C of the action of the contact 9a but the projecting part 5a is of the elastic and freely flexible material and is guided by the hole 1a; therefore, the projecting part is eventually actuated perpendicularly to the contact 9a. The smooth switching is thus permitted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a push button structure for a wristwatch case.

[Conventional technology]

An example of a push button structure of a conventional wristwatch case is shown in a sectional view of a main part in FIG. 6, for example. A circular movement 35 is incorporated inside a square watch case 61, and the operating axis A of the two external input contacts of the movement 65 is generally placed in the radial direction of the movement 65 in consideration of manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the push button guide hole of the wristwatch case 61 is opened in the same direction as the operating axis A. Two push buttons 63 are inserted into these holes. In watches with a square outer diameter, the shape of the head of the pushbutton 660 is often required to be relatively large and square in terms of design, and therefore the head is formed parallel to the side surface C of the wristwatch case. In the figure, 34 is a C ring that engages with the protrusion 33a of the push button to prevent it from being pulled out, and 32 is a band.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

This results in a push in the direction of the arrow B perpendicular to the side surface C of the push button, creating an angle θ° between this arrow B and the arrow A of the actuation axis of the push button. For this reason, the operation of the push button is often unnatural and lacks smoothness, which not only reduces the product value but also tends to cause input errors. In particular, wristwatches that place emphasis on the timing of input signals, such as stopwatches, have a structure that is fraught with inconveniences.

The design of the exterior of a wristwatch has been diversifying as the market has matured in recent years, and there is a strong desire to change the mounting angle and position of the push button depending on the design. cannot be easily changed, so we were forced to face difficult design choices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a push button structure for a wristwatch that operates smoothly, reduces input errors, and allows for a wide variety of design variations.

[Means for solving problems]

It consists of a push button whose protrusion that transmits the operation is made of a bendable material, and a guide hole or guide groove that corresponds to the operation axis direction of the input contact provided in the case or the inner frame, and the protrusion is connected to the guide hole. Or fit it into the guide groove and install it.

〔Example〕

FIG. 2 shows a side view. Cross section A- in Figure 1
A is shown in FIG. A movement 9 is incorporated into a wristwatch case 1 integrally formed with a band 2.

There is an external input contact 9a on the upper surface of the movement 9, on which a resin sheet 8 with a suitable cap and printed with a conductive film is assembled. A guide hole 1a is provided in the wristwatch case 1 directly above this external input contact 9a, and the protrusion 5a of the push button 5 made of an elastic and bendable material is fitted into the guide hole 1a. It is arranged to do so. This pushbutton 5 is inclined by θ° from the horizontal plane, so the operating axis B of this pushbutton 5 and the operating axis C of the external input contact 9a are at an angle of θ.
Although there is a difference in angle, the protrusion 5a of the pushbutton 5 is made of an elastic and bendable material.
By being guided by the guide hole 1a of the movement 9, it operates perpendicularly to the external input contact 9a of the movement 9, allowing smooth switching.

In addition, 3 is a glass, 4 is a name plate on which the push button 5 is fixed, 6 is a back cover, and 7 is a set screw for fixing the back cover. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a pushbutton section showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this case, the mounting surface of the push button 15 is θ from the horizontal plane.
3, so that the operating axis E of this push button 15 and the operating axis of the input contact differ by an angle θ°, which is greater than in the embodiment of FIG. The protrusion 15a of the push button 15 is made of an elastic and bendable material, and is further guided by a guide hole 11a, and a conductive rubber 15b is provided at the tip of the protrusion 15a, and when the push button 15 is pressed, the conductive rubber 15b is movement 190
It is designed to hit the input contacts of the circuit board perpendicularly.

In addition, 16 is a glass, 14 is a name plate for fixing the push button 15, 16 is a back cover, and 17 is a set screw for fixing the back cover. FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view of a wristwatch according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

The push button 24 made of an elastic material is provided perpendicularly to the side surface H of the rectangular watch case 21, and its protrusion 24a is fitted into a guide hole 22a provided in the inner frame 22 and guided. It operates in accordance with the operating axis G of the 27 input contacts. If the operating axis of the push button 24 is F, then G and F have an angle of θ°.

In addition, 23 is a crown, 25 is a stop plate that defines the push button 24, and 26 is a coil spring.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above explanation, in the pushbutton structure of the present invention, the attachment position and angle of the pushbutton to the watch case can be relatively freely adjusted regardless of the position and angle of the input contact of the movement. Settings can be made more easily, and operation is smoother, reducing input errors. In other words, it is possible to mass-produce the same movement to reduce costs, and at the same time, it is possible to create models with many designs using the same movement.At the same time, it is possible to reduce costs and meet the diverse needs of the mature wristwatch market. is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a top view and a side view, respectively, of a wristwatch according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main part taken along line A-A in FIG. In the example, 1.11.21...
...watch case, la. 11a, 22a... Guide hole, 2.12...
...Band, S, 13...Glass, 4, f4
...Nameplate, 5.15.24...Push button, 5a115a, 24a...Protrusion,
6.16... Back cover, 7.17... Set screw, 8... Resin sheet, 9.19.27.
... Movement, 9a ... External input contact, 15b ... Conductive rubber, 22 ... Middle frame, 23 ... Crown, 25 ... ...stop plate, 26...coil thread 1 length. Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a watch case where the operating axis direction of the external input contact of the watch movement and the operating axis direction of the input push button are at an angle, the push button whose protrusion that transmits the operation is made of a bendable material and the case or inner frame are A push button structure for a wristwatch case, which is comprised of a guide hole or a guide groove that corresponds to the operating axis direction of a provided input contact, and the protrusion is fitted into the guide hole or guide groove.