US3832844A

US3832844A - Push button type display correction mechanism on a timepiece

Info

Publication number: US3832844A
Application number: US00259018A
Authority: US
Inventors: T Matsumura; A Tsuzuki; K Tanaka; C Suzuki
Original assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Current assignee: Citizen Watch Co Ltd
Priority date: 1972-06-02
Filing date: 1972-06-02
Publication date: 1974-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-03

Abstract

Push button-operated motion-control or display correction mechanisms in timepieces, especially chronograph- and stop watches in which at least one motion-transmitting member is arranged between a plate and a sensible member which is preferably a chronograph hand arbor, for cooperation with said button and said sensible member. A spring urges said motiontransmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button. The motion-transmitting member has two operating positions for different cooperation with said button. When a regular manual pressure force is applied to said button, the force as such will be transmitted from said button through said transmitting member when it is positioned at its first cooperating position, to said sensible member for effective position control thereof. When a substantial force is applied substantially larger than said manual pressure force upon said button, said transmitting member is positioned now at its second cooperating position under the combined influence of its substantial inertia and the resiliency of the spring will be blocked from its receding movement and the button movement checked through said transmitting member by a stationary member, preferably a watch casing.

Description

I United States Patent [191 Matsumura et al.

[ Sept. 3, 1974 PUSH BUTTON TYPE DISPLAY CORRECTION MECHANISM ON A TIMEPIECE [75] I Inventors: Tetso Matsumura; Akira Tsuzuki;

Kazuo Tanaka; Choken Suzuki, all of Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Citizen Watch Company Limited,

Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: June 2, 1972 211 App]. No.: 259,018

' [52] US. Cl. 58/74 [51] Int. Cl. G04f' 7/04 [58] Field of Search 58/74-79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,452,539 7/1969 Iwasawa et aL'. 58/79 3,457,720 7/l969 Bachmann .5 8/76 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stem 57 ABSTRACT Push button -operated motion-control or, display corsensible member.

rection mechanisms in timepieces, especially chronographand stop watches in which at least one motiontransmitting member is arranged between a plate and a sensible member which is preferably a chronograph hand arbor, for cooperation with said button and said A spring urges said motiontransmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button. The motion-transmitting member has two operating positions for different cooperation with said button. When a regular manual pressure force is applied to said button, the force as such will be transmitted from said button through said transmitting member when it is positioned at its first cooperating position, to said sensible member for effective position control thereof. When a substantial force is applied substantially larger than said manual pressure force upon said button, said transmitting member is positioned now at its second cooperating position under the combined influence of its substantial inertia and the resiliency of the spring will be blocked from its receding movement and the button movement checked through said transmitting member by a stationary member, preferably a watch casing.

6 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures Ran PAlimcosm m4 I 4 SHEET 20! 5 PA-TENTEBSE" v 3.832.844 sum w s I PUSH BUTTON TYPEDISPLAY CORRECTION MECHANISM ON A TIMEPIECE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION V PRIOR ART In the conventional push button-operated motion a control or display correction mechanism which is used in a timepiece, especially-a chronograph, stop watchor regular watch, for instance, for a position control or hands resetting operation includes a cam fixedly mounted on the arbor carrying the secondsor minute hand .or the like which is brought into pressure cooperation by a correction lever directly or indirectly connected with the push button normally exposing at least partially from inside of the watch case, for performing the required correction or the like job.

In this kind of the push button operated control or correction mechanism of the conventional structure, if the push button,.correction lever and the intermediate working members arranged therebetween be made of rigid material, then a sudden and substantial shock transmitted from the button through these intermediate members to the secondsor minute hand or to both, strong damage or even breakage of the arbor or its related bearing parts could be invited. For avoiding this possible drawback, resilient means is inserted in the intermediate-transmitting passage extending from the button to the arbor. By the provision of such resilient means, statical heavier forces can be effectively avoided to invite breakage of the arbor and its bearings. If, however, a sudden and substantial mechanical shock is applied to the button, such as by dropping the timepiece upon the floor, damage could frequently occur at the aforementioned most sensible watch parts, especially when the motion-transmitting speed exceeds beyond the responsible speed corresponding to the elasticity of the resilient means. In this case, the resilient means would act as if it was made from rigid material.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide an efficient push button-operated motion control-and- /or correction mechanism used in a timepiece, devoid of said kind of conventional drawbacks andwhich is highly effective for avoiding damage and breakage in and at the sensitivetimedisplay hand-carrying arborand/or its bearings by occasional and unintentional application of a mechanical shock onto the control button, yet having a simple design.

The above and further objects, featuresand advantages of the invention will become more apparent when read the following detailed description of the specifications, by reference to the accompanying drawings.

In its broadest sense, the push button-operated motion-transmitting or display correction'mechanism for a timepiece embodying the novel principles of the present invention resides in that it comprises a push button, a sensible member adapted for indication of a certain time-related display, at least a motion-transmitting member arranged between said button and said sensible member adapted for cooperation with said button and said sensible member, spring means urging said motion-transmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button, and means for bringing the last-mentioned member to two different positions for different cooperation with said button, a regular manual pressure force applied to said button being trans mitted as per se from said button through said transmitting member when positioned at its first cooperating position, to said sensible member and a sudden and substantial force substantially larger than said manual pressure force acting upon said transmitting member which is positioned at its second cooperating position under the combined influence of its substantial inertia and the spring resiliency of said spring means, and transmit said sudden and substantial force to a stationary member of the timepiece for being received thereby.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention, as applied to a chronograph watch movement,

only partially shown, in which the movable parts of the chronograph are shown in their moving position, while the upper and lower chronograph bridges have been omitted from the drawing for more clearly demonstrating inner working parts.

FIG. 2 is a similar view to FIG. 1 wherein the relative working parts of the mechanism and the chronograph are shown in their position corresponding to that in which the chronograph hands, not shown, are stopped.

FIG. 3 isa similar view to FIG. 1, wherein the control push button has been pushed-in to its most inward position.

FIG. 4 is only a part of the mechanism shown so far, yet being shown on a somewhat enlarged scale, wherein, however, the control push button has been pushed-in by application thereto of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along section line VV in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along section line VI-VI in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 1 for show ing several main parts of the mechanism more in detail a and more clearly.

FIG. 8 is a substantially similar view to FIG. 1, showing a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a similar view to FIG. 8, illustrating such position wherein the control push button has been pushed-in by application of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock.

FIG. 10 is a similar view to FIG. 8, showing a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged part of FIG. 10, for showing the operational relationship between the control push button and the inertia member employed therein.

FIG. 12 is a similar view to FIG. 8, yet showing a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a similar view to FIG. 9, showing the fourth embodiment. I

FIG. 14 is a similar view to FIG. 8, yet showing a fifth embodiment of the invention.

a FIG. 15 is a similar view to FIG. 9, showing the fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OFTHE EMBODIMENTS Referring now'to FIGS. 1-4 of the accompanying drawings, a first embodiment of the invention will be described in detail.

Numeral 1 represents a conventional pillar plate of a chronograph watch, only partially shown, on which plate a conventional barrel bridge 2, only partially shown, is fixedly mounted, although the fixing screws have been omitted from the drawing only for simplicity.

A control push button 3, shown only schematically and partially, is slidably mounted through the wall of a conventional watch casing, not shown, encasing the watch movement shown generally at 100. A further control push button 4, shown only schematically and partially, is mounted slidably in the same manner as above. A motion-transmitting lever 5 having an intermediate projection 5a and an end arm 5b, is pivotable around a pivot pin 7a studded on an upper chronograph bridge which is fixedly mounted on barrel bridge 2, although not shown, said end arm 5b being kept normally in pressure engagement with a pin 9a fixedly mounted on a buffer lever 9 which is pivotably mounted on-a pivot pin 7b studded on said upper chronograph bridge.

An elongated strip spring 10 is fixed with its root portion to said upper chronograph bridge by means of a set screw 7g and a positioning pin 7h, the tip end of said strip spring being kept in pressure engagement with the idle end of said lever 5, so as to urge the latter to rotate in a clockwise direction in FIG. 1.

An actuator lever 6 has a slot 6b through which a screw stud 2k passes and is studded on the barrel bridge 2, thus said lever being slidable as well as pivotable relative thereto. An elongated and curved strip spring 11 is fixedly attached atits root portion by a positioning pin 98 and a set screw 99 to the barrel bridge 2. An opening 11a formed at the tip end of said spring 11 is kept'in engagement with an upstanding pin 6a fixedly mounted on actuating lever 6 which is thus urged resiliently in the radially outward direction. In this way,:a pawl projection 60' formed on the lever 6 will be subjected to a-resiliently urging pressure with a toothed and pinned actuator wheel 12 which is rotatably mounted around a screwed stud 97 on the bridge 2. A plurality of concentrically arranged positioning and drive pins 12a are seen in FIGS. 1-3, as being fixedly mounted on the wheel 12 which is formed at itsouter periphery with sprocket teeth 12b.

An elongated pressure spring 13, substantially shown in dotted line only-in FIGS. 1-3, is fixedly attached to the barrel bridge 2 by means of a positioning pin 95 and a set screw 96, the tip end of this spring being shaped into a pawl and kept in engagement with the sprocket teeth 12b on the wheel 12'.

An operator lever 14 is formed with afirstprojection 14a which is adapted for cooperation with a heart shaped cam 22, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The lever 14 is further provided with three

different pins

14b, 14c and 14d, of which the first one is designed and arranged so as to cooperate with a minute hand stop lever pivotably mounted on a conventional lower chronograph bridge, not shown, by a pivot pin 80, with said lower bridge being rigidly attached to said upper chronograph bridge from below, although not shown. The second pin 140 is kept in pressure engagement with the tip of an elongated further spring 15 which is fixedly attached to the upper chronograph bridge by means of set screws, one of the latter being shown at 7d. The third pin 14d is adapted for cooperation with the intermediate projection 5a of the lever 5, as will be more fully described hereinafter. A tooth-like projection Me is formed on the lever 14, so asto cooperate with the pin 12a on wheel 12, with said lever 14 being further formed with a further projection 14f which is adapted for cooperation with a second heart shaped cam 18, as will be described more fully hereinafter. By the pressure engagement of the elongated strip spring 15 with the second pin 140, the lever 14 is urged resiliently to rotate counter clockwise in FIG. 1 around its stud pin 7c which is fixedly mounted on the upper chronograph bridge, although not shown.

Numeral 16 represents a stop lever which is formed with a pair of substantially oppositely arranged

tongue projections

16a and 16b, and with a depending hollow cylindrical projection 160, with the first tongue 16a being'inclined upwardly and the second tongue 16b being inclined downwardly, relative to the paper of FIG. 1. The stop lever 16 is slidable along a pair of stationary pins 72 and 7f, which depend from the upper chronograph bridge, although not shown, the vertical position relative to the paper of FIG. 1 being set at a proper height level bycontact of a part of said tongue 16awith the projection 14f of operator lever 14, so far as the relative position of several related parts is held as shown in FIG. 1.

A conventional chronograph spring 17, having substantially a S-shape is arranged concentrically with a chronograph seconds hand arbor 19 which is rotatably mounted in and between the pillar plate 1 and the upper chronograph bridge through suitable bearing means although not shown. The heart shaped cam 18 is fixedly attached to the arbor 19 for unitary rotation therewith.

Minute hand stop lever 20 has a long arm 20a and a short arm 20b, with the top end of said long arm 20a being normally kept in contact with the pin 14b and the short arm 20b being normally separated from contact with the periphery of a chronograph friction wheel 21.

' Heart shaped cam 22, only schematically shown, is fixedly mounted on a conventional chronograph minute hand arbor 23 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings mounted in turn in the pillar plate 1 and the upper chronograph bridge, not shown.

Buffer lever 9 is formed with an angular short arm 9b and a longer curved arm 90, with said short arm being urged resiliently by contact with the tip end of an elongated pressure spring 24 which is fixedly mounted at its crooked root end on the lower chronograph bridge, not shown, by means of a stud pin 8b, and the crooked arm end of said spring 24 is kept in engagement with an opening 80, only schematically shown. In this way, the buffer lever 9 is urged to rotate around said pivot pin 7b in a counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1. It should be noted, however, that the opening 8a is shown as if it had been drilled through the barrel bridge 2 and that the stud pin 8b had been studded thereon, only for simplicity of the drawing.

The longer arm is formed with a depending shoulder part 9d, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The thus vertically' staggered tip end part of said long arm 90 extends into a space 93 defined between and by the edge of a peripheral relatively large and shallow recess 2a on barrel bridge 2 and the downwardly crooked shoulder 5c of the motion-transmitting lever 5, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. The upper and lower chronograph bridges are shown in FIGS. 5. and 6 at 7 and 8, respectively in their section. Numeral 25 represents a conventional self-winding weight mass for automatic winding, and said weight mass being is rigidly supported'on a rocker arm 26 which is rotatable mounted at the center of the upper chronograph bridge, although not specifically shown.

As seen from FIGS. l-3, push buttons 3 and 4 are positioned with the

levers

5 and 6, respectively. Although the regular winding and time-setting stem is also provided, it has been, however, omitted from the drawingonly for simplicity.

In the off-service position of the chronograph mechanism shown in FIG. 1, the main working parts are shown at their relative position shown in FIG. 1 to that shown in FIG. 2, until actuator lever 6 is slidingly shifted to its innermost position shown therein, by sliding contact of screw stud 2k with guide slot 6b. By this sliding inward movement of actuator lever 6, the pawl projection 60 thereof willact upon the wheel 12 by en-. gagement with its peripheral tooth 12b, thereby the wheel 12 is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 by one tooth pitch. By this motion, tooth-like projection Me on the lever 14 will ride on the'related one of the pins 12a on the wheel 12, as clearly seen from FIG. 2, whereby the lever 14 is correspondingly swiveled around its pivot pin 7c clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the projection 14f on lever 14 acts upon stop lever 16 by pressure contact with its projecting tongue, 16b, so as to bring the lowermost end of said cylindrical projection 160 into pressure contact with the ends of arms of the S-shaped chronograph spring 17, with the latter being kept in mechanical separation from cooperation with the conventional fourth wheel, not shown, of the regular time-keeping gear train of the watch movement, said fourth wheel being rotatably mounted on the arbor 19. This arbor 19 is therefore deprived of driving torque normally supplied from the gear train through the fourth wheel and thus brought to adead stop, together with the chronograph seconds hand, not shown, attached thereto. At the same time, the pin 14b acts upon the long arm 20a of stop lever 20 which is thus caused to rotate counter clockwise in FIG. 1 until its short arm 20b is broughtinto pressure contact with the friction wheel 21, This wheel 21 is thus brought into dead stop, together with the chronograph minute hand arbor 23' carrying the chronograph minute hand, notshown. In this way, both the chronograph seconds and minute hands are brought to a stop.

When the finger pressure is released from the button 4, the latter is caused to return from its operating position shown in FIG. 2 to its off-service position shown When the reset or return-to-zero button 3 is pushedin from the position shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 3 with regularly operating effort or speed, and in place of the secondary operation of the start-and-stop button 4, motion is transmitted from button 3 to lever 5 which is thus rotated counter clockwise in FIG. 2 around its pivot pin 7a, until it occupies the position shown in FIG. 3. In this 'way, the arm 5b is brought into separation from the pin 9a on buffer lever 9. Thus, the lever 9 is rotated counter clockwise around its pivot pin 7!) under the resilient force exerted by the spring 24 and finally, its longer arm 9c is receded from the operating field of the motion-transmitting lever 5.

During this operation, the intermediate projection 5a exerts pressure upon the pin 14d on the start-and-stop lever which is thus turned clockwise around its pivot pin 70, whereby the

actuating projections

14f and 14a act upon the respective heart shaped

cams

18 and 22 for returning the chronograph seconds and minute hands to their respective zero positions corresponding those of these cams which are shown in FIG. 3.

Upon release of the finger pressure from application on the button 3, the lever 5 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 3 and the end arm 5b is brought into engagement with pin 9a so as to rotate the buffer lever 9 clockwise. At the same time, the intermediate projection 5a on lever 5 is separated from contact with pin 14d, and thus the lever 14 is caused to rotate counter clockwise under the influence of spring force at 15 and the main operating parts of the chronograph are returned from their position shown in FIG. 3 back to that shown in FIG. 2.

When the reset button 3 is pushed-in from its offservice position with the chronograph hands kept in their operation as referred to-hereinbefore with reference to FIG. l, the lever 14 is moved from its position shown in FIG. 1 through an intermediate position shown in FIG. 2 to the reset position shown in FIG. 3. Since, in the intermediate position shown in FIG. 2, the chronograph hands are positioned at their stopped one, the similar reset operation can naturally be assured.

In the position shown in FIG. 3, stop lever 16 has been shifted to its lower level by actuation of operator lever 14 from its uppermost level position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 upon performing a slight amount of downwardly sliding movement along

stationary guide pins

7e and 7 f and relative to the level of the paper of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 4, the buffer lever 9 is shown in its operating position. In this case, the reset button 3 has been pushed-in fromthe position shown in FIG. 1 or 2, as the case may be, with a sudden and substantial pressure, as may be met when the watch has been droped on the floor. Therefore, the motion-transmitting lever 5 is suddenly rotated counter clockwise in FIG. 4 about pivot pin 7a before an execution of the receding movement of buffer lever 9 to its free position from being effected by the lever 5 otherwise cooperating therewith. Therefore, the resilient and longer arm 9c of buffer lever 9 is caught at its tip end by and between the shoulder 5c on the lever 5 and the recessed wall edge 2a of barrel bridge 2, as most clearly seen from FIG. 6. Theotherwise rotationally receding velocity of buffer lever 9 is determined by the moment of inertia thereof, on the one hand, and by the spring force acting thereon by the buffer lever spring 24, on the other hand. Therefore, the desired minimum receding period of the buffer a rotational movement of start-and-stop lever 14 is positively and definitely prevented. Any breakage of chronograph hand arbors l9 and 23 by application of sudden and substantial shocks can be avoided therefore in this manner. According to a practical experiment, any breakage of these chronograph hand arbors has not been experienced so far as the button 3 is manually operated. l

The invention is' not limited to the chronograph watch shown and described, but is applicable to those which are fitted with control button means adapted for the control of time-indicating hands and have delicate working parts liable to damage by reception of shocks transmitted thereto through the control button means.

In FIG. 7, the relative relationship betweenmotiontransmitting lever 5 and buffering lever 9 is shown on an enlarged scale for better a understanding of the invention. In this drawing, a minimum receding angle is shown which corresponds to the aforementioned minimum receding distance of the buffering lever.

Next, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a second embodiment will be described in detail.

In these figures, numeral 101 denotes a base plate, preferably a main train bridge, of a watch and numeral 102 represents a watch case, only partially shown, normally fixedly, yet detachably attached to said base plate, although the attaching means have been omitted from the drawing for their very popularity. The case 102 is formed with a recess 102a for loose reception of an enlarged head 105a of a push button 105, and with a guide opening 102b for allowing axial movement of a stern part lb of the push button. Said button 105 is similar with that shown at 3 in the first embodiment.

Numeral 103 represents a second hand arbor which is similar to that shown at 19 and kept in friction contact with the conventional fourth wheel of the regular time-keeping gear train, although not shown. A heart shaped cam 104-which is similar to that shown at 18, is fixedly mounted on the arbor 103.

Numeral 106 represents an inertia lever which in its function is a combination of the operator lever with the buffer lever in the foregoing and formed with a slot 106a, a first projection 10612 adapted for cooperation with the push button 105, a second projection l06c adapted for cooperation with an enlongated arm 108b, an actuating end 106d adapted for cooperation with said heart shaped cam 104 and a resilient arm l06e extending between said first projection l06b and said ac tuating end 106d. A pin 107 which is fixedly mounted on said bridge 101, is kept in slidable and pivotable engagement with said slot 106a. A double spring member 108 is fixedly mounted at its root portion by a guide pin 91 and a set screw 92 on the base plate 101, with said member 108 having a first spring arm 108a kept in engagement with a ring groove 105a formed on the button stem 105k for returning the button from its pushed-in actuating position to its regular partially exposed offservice position, and a second spring arm 108b adapted for pressure engagement with said second projection 106c of the inertia lever 106. A stationary pin 109 is fixedly mounted on'base plate 101 and is kept in slidable contact with said inertia lever 106 for guiding the movement thereof. A return lever 110 is pivotably mounted on base plate 101 by means of a pivot pin 110a and kept by its one arm end with said ring groove 1056 on button stem l05b and adapted with another arm end for contacting the inertia lever 106 for control of the movement thereof. I

The operation of the second embodiment is as follows:

When an operator or watch wearer pushes the button inwards from its full line position to its chaindotted line position in FIG. 8 with his regular finger pressure, the return lever is rotated counter clockwise from its full line position to its chain-dotted line one in FIG. 8, so as to bring inertia lever 106 into its free position. Then, this lever 106 is urged by spring arm 108b to move leftwards in FIG. 8 from its full line position, while being guided by

guide pins

107 and 108. Then, the projection 106b on inertia lever 106 is brought into contact with the inner end of button stem 105b upon preparatory advancement of said projection 106b below said button stem end. At the last stage of the pushed-in movement of the button 105, certain inward pressure is transmitted from the button stem l05b through its contact with the projection l06b to the inertia lever 106 which is thus turned slightly counter clockwise in FIG. 8 around guide pin 107, so as to bring the lever into its chain-dotted line positionfor contact with the heart shaped cam 104. Thus, the heart shaped cam 104 together with its arbor 103 carries the chronograph seconds hand, not shown, for resetting thereof to its zero position.

Even if a sudden and strong axial shock should be applied to the push button 105 under these conditions, it will be absorbed by and in the resilient arm 106e of inertia lever 106 and only thereafter, the push button head 105a is brought into contact with the bottom surface of recess 102a. In this way, otherwise possible breakage of the sensible arbor 103 and the related jewel bearings, not shown, can be effectively avoided.

When the finger pressure is released from the push button 105 upon completion of resetting job in the above sense, the spring force of inertia control spring arm l08b becomes effective for clockwise return rotation of the inertia lever 106, while, at the same time, the push buttonretum spring arm 1080 becomes effective for return movement of the button 105 and for bringing the return lever 110 to rotate counter clockwise. Hence the inertia lever 106 is urged to move rightwards to its full line position shown in FIG. 8.

When sudden and substantial mechanical shock is applied to the push button 105 shown in full lines in FIG. 8, return lever l 10 will be rotated as before clockwise so that the inertia lever 106 is released into its free position. Then, the inertia lever 106 will be moved leftwards under the influence of spring arm 108b, yet with a certain lever 106 being urged to move rightwards to its full line position shown in FIG. 8.

When a sudden and substantial mechanical shock is applied to the push button 105 shown in full lines in FIG. 8, return lever 110 will be rotated as before clockwise so that the inertia lever 106 is released into its free 9 position. Then, the inertia lever 106 will be moved leftwards under the influence of spring arm 108b, yet with a certain retardation as determined by its own inertia and with an acceleration as determined by the spring force-exerted by spring arm 108b, with the results being such that the button 105 descends more'rapidly than attaining its axial engagement by its innermost stem end with the projection I06b on lever 106. In fact, the related parts of the button 105 and lever 106 are so designed and arranged that the trapezoidal cone-shaped stem end of said button 105 is brought into engagement with the upper and left corner of said projection I06b thus otherwise invited rotational movement of the inertia lever 106 is positively prevented and kept separate from contact with heart shaped cam 104. Therefore, the shock is not transmitted to the cam 104 and its arbor 103.

In a third embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, numerals19l; 192; 201; 202;.202a; 203; 204; 205; 205a; 205b; 2050 and 208a denote those which are similar to respective parts denoted with same reference numerals in the foregoing second embodiment, yet each being reduced by 100.

In the present third embodiment shown, the foregoing inertia lever 106 has been divided into two separate members, or more specifically, an inertia member 212 and a correction lever 215. The inertia member 212 is formed with a slot 212a and a notch 212b. A stationary guide pin 213 which is mounted on main train bridge 201, is kept in slidable engagement with said slot 212a. A further stationary guide pin 214 on said bridge 201 is kept in slidable contact with inertia member 212 for proper guidance of the movement thereof. The correction lever2l5 is kept in slidable contact with said inertia member 212 and has an elongated slightly resilient arm 215a. with the inclined end edge of the latter being adapted for cooperation with-the heart shaped cam 204 fixedly mounted on seconds hand arbor 203. The correction lever is pivotable around a stationary pivot pin 215b which is mounted on the base plate 201. A twinarm spring 216 is fixed at its root portion on the base plate 201 by means of a guide pin 89 and a'set screw 90, and comprises a first resilient arm 216a which is keptin pressure engagement with the left-hand end of the inertia member 212 for leftward pushing thereof, and a second resilient return spring arm 216b which is kept in pressure contact with the correction lever 215 for counter clockwise rotation thereof about its pivot pin 215b. v v I Push button 205 is formed at its innermost end with a flange 205d whichis normally kept in contact with the right-hand end of inertia member'2l2 and in close proximity to said notchf212b. a

The operation of the third embodiment is as follows:

When the push button 205 is pushed-in with usual manual effort, the inertia member 212 is moved gradually rightwards in FIG. 10 by resilient pressure exerted thereupon by the spring arm 216a, until the flange 205d is brought into full engagement with the notch 212b, while at the same time, the inertia member is rotated clockwise in FIG. 10 around its guide pin 213, with the correction lever 2l5 being rotated clockwise therein against the action of second spring arm 2161;. Finally, the lever arm 215a is broughtinto'contact with the heart shaped cam 204 which is thus reset to its zero position, accompanying the chronograph'seconds hand.

Even if a sudden and substantial statical force is applied axially onto the push button 205, it is optimumly absorbed firstly by the elasticity possessed by the correction lever 215 and then by contact of button head 20511 with the bottom surface of recess 202a. Upon release of finger pressure from the button 205 upon completion of the resetting job, correction lever 215 and inertia member 212 will be returned to their original position in which the lever is brought into contact with stationary pin 214 as shown, under the spring force at 216b, while at the same time, push button 205 is returned to its off-service position under the influence of spring force at 208a. During the thus invited upward movement of button 205, its end flange 205d will slide up along the upper inclined wall surface of notch 212b, with the inertia member 212 being caused to shift leftwards and all the main working parts being returned to their full line position shown in FIG. 10.

When a sudden and substantial shock is applied axially onto the button 205, the latter is caused to move inwards at a substantially rapid speed while the otherwise regular rightward movement of the lever 212 can not keep pace with the button movement by virtue of a relatively large mass of the lever and a relatively small back-up spring force at 216a. Thus, the end flange 205d of button 205 will step over the notch 212b, as shown by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 10, and a correction movement for carrying out the resetting job is not brought aboutg The critical push-in speed of the button 205 necessary for the execution of said correction movement depends in practice not only upon the mass of the lever 212 and the strength of inertia control spring arm 216a, but also upon the specifically selected configuration and dimensions of the notch 212b, especially the notch length H and the step length L specifically shown in FIG. 11.

In a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, main similar components are shown by respective same reference numerals shown in the third embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, yet each being added with 100.

Numeral 308a represents a push button return spring, the tip end of which is kept in engagement with a first ring groove 305c on button 305.

Numeral 312 represents an inertia member which corresponds in its function to that shown at 212 in the third embodiment, with the inner tip end of said member 312 being kept in slidable engagement with a second ring groove 305e on the push button 305 and with a stationary guide pin 314 on the-base plate 301. The right-hand shouldered end 312a is adapted for cooperation with either a notch 321a or a shoulder 321b formed on a positioning member 321 fixedly mounted on the base plate 301 by means of a guide pin 293 and a set screw 294 as shown. The inertia member 312 has a slight resiliency as a whole.

An elongated inertia control spring 316 kept in contact with the inertia member 312 so as to provide normally a pressure force to the latter as shown by a small arrow B shown in FIG. 12, with saidspring 316 being fixedly attached at its root end to the base plate 301 by means of a guide pin 295 and a set screw 296.

Angular-shaped correction lever 315 is pivotably mounted by its pivot pin 291 on the base plate 301 and adapted for cooperation by its one arm end 315b with the inertia member at its left-hand end, while the other arm end 315a is adapted for cooperation with a heart shaped cam 304 which is similar to that'shown at 204 in the third embodiment. An elongated return spring 317 is fixedly attached at its root end portion to the base plate 301 by means of a guide pin 297 and a set screw 298, while the tip and of said return spring is kept in pressure engagement with the correction lever 315 at an intermediate portion in proximity of said other end 315a thereof.

The operation of the lows. I

When the push button 305 is pushed in with a reasonable finger pressure by the operator, the inertia memher 312 is swivelled around at an intermediate portion thereof which is in proximity of its contacting point with control spring 316, clockwise in FIG. 12 while being shifted rightwards therein by virtue of the resilient urging force exerted thereon by the control spring 316 and of the guiding action by contact'with the guide pin 314. In this way, the right-hand and shouldered end 312a of the lever 312 will enter into the notch 321a of stationary positioning member 321, and the lever 312 will perform a partial rotation around said notch 321a counter clockwise in FIG. 12. In this way, correction lever 315 is partially rotated counter clockwise and brought into cooperation with heart shaped cam 304 which is thus reset to its zero position, together with the chronograph seconds hand arbor 303 carrying thereon a chronograph seconds hand, not shown. This position fourth embodiment is as folof several related members is shown by chain-dotted lines in FIG. 12. 1

When the finger pressure is relieved from application to the push button 305, thereturn spring 308a will act upon the button. This return movement of the button and the spring force at 316, will act in the mutually assisting direction upon the lever 312 which is thus brought at first into contact withguide pin 314, and while in the course thismovement, the lever end 312a will rise up along theupper inclined wall surface of said recess 321a of positioning member 321 until it returns to its full line position shown in FIG. 12.

When a sudden andsubstantial mechanical shock is applied axially to the button head 305a, the button 305 is rapidly shifted inwards for actuation of the inertia member or lever 312 to move rapidly inwards before the inertia member or lever 312 has performed an enough rightward movement as hereinbefore described. In this way, the lever end 312a can step over the notch 321a, and the lever 312 is brought into a third position shown in full lines in FIG. 13. Thus, no effect will appear upon the position and movement of the cam 304.

In the fifth embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 14 and 15, several main components are represented with respective same reference numerals as employed in the fourth embodiment, each being, however, added with 100 for easy comparison and better understanding. A 1

Numeral 406 represents an inertia lever which is attached at its one end with a pin 406a which is slidably received in a slot 401a provided through the base plate 401, while the opposite end 406b of said inertia lever is adapted for cooperation with heart shaped cam 404. At an intermediate point, nearer to the pinned end, of both ends, the inertia lever 406 is formed with a motion-receiving projection 4060 adapted for cooperation with innermost end 405d of push button 405. The part t 2 406d of the inertia lever 406 which extends between said projection 406c and the cooperating end 406b with heart shaped cam 404, constitutes a spring part of said lever.

A double arm spring 408 is fixedly mounted on the base plate 401 by means of a guide pin 391 and a set screw 392. This spring 408 comprises a first spring arm 408a which is kept'in engagement with a ring recess 4050 as before, and a second spring arm 408b which is kept in pressure engagement with the pin 406a, whereby in cooperation with guide pin 414 studded on the base plate, the inertia lever 406 is positioned at its full lined position shown in FIG. 14. In this position, the pin 406a is kept at its uppermost position relative to slot 401a as shown in FIG. 14.

Numeral 416 represents a return spring which is fixedly attached to its root portion to the base plate by means of a guide pin 395 and a set screw 396. The tip end of this return spring 416 is kept in pressure contact with inertia lever 406.

The positioning spring arm 408b for the slidingly shiftable pivot pin 406a and the return spring 416 are selected so that the former has a rather stronger spring force than the latter, while the spring part 406d has a considerable mass.

The operation of the fifth embodiment is as follows:

When the push button 405 is pushed-in with reasonable finger pressure, it urges the inertia lever 406 by contact with its motion-receiving projection 4060. Since, in this case, even rather large inertia possessed by the lever 406 affects practically no influence and the positioning spring arm 408b is practically not fixed, while the return spring arm 416 is flexed so that the lever 406 will perform a counter clockwise partial rotation around its pivot pin 406a, until it occupies the chain-dotted line position shown, until it is brought into cooperation with the heart shaped cam 404. This cam 404 is thus reset to its zero position. Even if an appreciably large statical force is applied to the button, it will be absorbed at first by the resilient lever part 406d or by the flexture of the pivot-stabilizing spring arm 408b, accompanying a downward movement of the pin 406a. Then excess force is taken up by the bottom surface of recess 402a receiving positively the pushing button 405.

If a sudden and substantial shock should be applied to the push button axially, the appreciably large inertia of the inertia lever 406 about its pivot pin 406a will act to reset the turning movement of the lever, and the pivot pin 406a will slide along the slot 401a upon flexing both the spring arm 408b and return spring 416. In this way, otherwise possible breakage of arbor 403 or damage of its bearing means, not shown, can effectively be avoided.

It will be clear from the foregoing that the invention is not limited to the chronograph mechanism, but it can be effectively to be brought about in any push-button type motion-control or correction mechanism of a timepiece. For instance, calendar mechanism'or the like can be called for.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclu- I bly arranged between said button and said sensible member for cooperation with said button and said sensible member, a buffer lever adapted to release or restrict the motion-transmitting member, said motiontransmitting member having a first position in which force from the push button is transmitted to the sensible member and asecond position in which forceis transmitted to the buffer lever but not to the sensible member, spring means urging saidmotion-transmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button, and means for bringing the motion-transmitting member to its first and second positions, a regular manual pressure force applied to said button being transmitted from said button through said motiontransmission member to said sensible member in the first position, when the buffer lever releases the motion-transmitting'member and a sudden and substantial force substantially larger than said manual pressure force applied to said button being transmitted to the buffer lever in the second position of the motiontransmitting member when the buffer lever restrains the motion-transmitting member, the alternative actions of the buffer lever being determined by the combined influences of its inertia and the spring resiliency of said spring means.

2. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a stationary member, said buffer lever being arranged to partially enter into a space defined by and between said motiontransmitting member and said stationary member, and being capable of receding from said space upon application of a regular manual pushing effort upon said but ton and yet being squeezedly caught by and between said motion-transmitting member and said stationary I member upon application of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock to said button.

3. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said motiontransmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is kept in engagement with a ring recess provided on said button and backed up by said spring means for performing a sliding movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of said button with said motion-transmitting member being adapted for engagement at its one end with a notch formed on a stationary positioning member, an engaging end of said motion-transmitting member acting as a pivot thereof upon application of regular manipulating effort onto said button, and said engaging end stepping over said notch without engagement therewith upon application of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock onto said button.

4. The push button-operated motion-transmitting or display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said one motion-transmitting member is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through a pinand-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring means cooperable with said one motion-transmitting member and resilient forces ex- 1 erted by said second and third spring means being so selected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform a sliding motion.

5. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein the timepiece includes a base plate and said motion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is mounted slidably and pivotably on said base plate through a pinand-groove connection, with the sliding direction being directed substantially at right angles to the axis of said push button, and spring means backing up said motiontransmitting member.

6. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said motiontransmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through a pin-and-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring means cooperable with said motion-transmitting member and resilient forces exerted by said second and third spring means being so selected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform a sliding mo- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OFv 'CORRECTIO PATENT N0: ,3 I I v v "DATED September 3, 1974 INVENTOR(S) Tetsuo Matsmnura, et al' It is certified that erro appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Lett rS Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: g

[30] Foreign Priority Data Japanese Patent Appln. No. 38381/1971 filed June 2, 1971 Signed an sealed t is ism dayof April 1775.

attest: I

' C. ILARSIL-ILL DANE? Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFv CORRECTION PATENT N0. 1 2,

DATED September 3, 1974 INVENTOR(S) Tetsuo Matsumura, et a].

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that. said Letter Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[30] Foreign Priority Data:

Japanese Patent Appln. No. 38381/1971 filed June 2, 1971 Signed and sealed this 15th day of April 1775.

(53. .1) ttest:

C. I-ZARSIII-ILL DANE? -E C. LUIS-SI! Y Commissioner of Patents ittesting Officer and Trademarks

Claims

1. A push button-operated display correction mechanism for a timepiece comprising a push button, a sensible member for indication of a certain time-related display, at least one motion-transmitting member operably arranged between said button and said sensible member for cooperation with said button and said sensible member, a buffer lever adapted to release or restrict the motion-transmitting member, said motion-transmitting member having a first position in which force from the push button is transmitted to the sensible member and a second position in which force is transmitted to the buffer lever but not to the sensible member, spring means urging said motiontransmitting member towards its cooperating position with said button, and means for bringing the motion-transmitting member to its first and second positions, a regular manual pressure force applied to said button being transmitted from saiD button through said motion-transmission member to said sensible member in the first position, when the buffer lever releases the motiontransmitting member and a sudden and substantial force substantially larger than said manual pressure force applied to said button being transmitted to the buffer lever in the second position of the motion-transmitting member when the buffer lever restrains the motion-transmitting member, the alternative actions of the buffer lever being determined by the combined influences of its inertia and the spring resiliency of said spring means.

2. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a stationary member, said buffer lever being arranged to partially enter into a space defined by and between said motion-transmitting member and said stationary member, and being capable of receding from said space upon application of a regular manual pushing effort upon said button and yet being squeezedly caught by and between said motion-transmitting member and said stationary member upon application of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock to said button.

3. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said motion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is kept in engagement with a ring recess provided on said button and backed up by said spring means for performing a sliding movement in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of said button with said motion-transmitting member being adapted for engagement at its one end with a notch formed on a stationary positioning member, an engaging end of said motion-transmitting member acting as a pivot thereof upon application of regular manipulating effort onto said button, and said engaging end stepping over said notch without engagement therewith upon application of a sudden and substantial mechanical shock onto said button.

4. The push button-operated motion-transmitting or display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said one motion-transmitting member is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through a pin-and-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring means cooperable with said one motion-transmitting member and resilient forces exerted by said second and third spring means being so selected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform a sliding motion.

5. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein the timepiece includes a base plate and said motion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is mounted slidably and pivotably on said base plate through a pin-and-groove connection, with the sliding direction being directed substantially at right angles to the axis of said push button, and spring means backing up said motion-transmitting member.

6. The push button-operated display correction mechanism of claim 1, wherein said motion-transmitting member made as one body with said buffer lever is slidable and pivotably mounted on said stationary member through a pin-and-groove connection, a second spring means being cooperable with said connection for stabilization thereof, a third spring means cooperable with said motion-transmitting member and resilient forces exerted by said second and third spring means being so selected that by application of a sudden and substantial shock upon the button, the pivot of said member at said connection will perform a sliding motion.