US3874162A - Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly - Google Patents

Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly Download PDF

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Publication number
US3874162A
US3874162A US488366A US48836674A US3874162A US 3874162 A US3874162 A US 3874162A US 488366 A US488366 A US 488366A US 48836674 A US48836674 A US 48836674A US 3874162 A US3874162 A US 3874162A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
stem
watch
detent
solid state
switch assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US488366A
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English (en)
Inventor
Raymond Robert Boxberger
Jack Schwartzschild
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Timex Group USA Inc
Original Assignee
Timex Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Timex Corp filed Critical Timex Corp
Priority to US488366A priority Critical patent/US3874162A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3874162A publication Critical patent/US3874162A/en
Priority to CA228,279A priority patent/CA1034387A/fr
Priority to GB2663575A priority patent/GB1473458A/en
Priority to AU82449/75A priority patent/AU485599B2/en
Priority to DE19752530317 priority patent/DE2530317A1/de
Priority to CH904775D priority patent/CH904775A4/xx
Priority to CH904775A priority patent/CH589882B5/xx
Priority to MX100133U priority patent/MX2969E/es
Priority to JP50089601A priority patent/JPS5136975A/ja
Priority to FR7522901A priority patent/FR2280126A1/fr
Priority to HK580/77A priority patent/HK58077A/xx
Assigned to CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE reassignment CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FREDERIKSPLEIN HOLDING 1970 B.V., TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP., TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP., TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP., TIMEX ENTERPRISES, INC., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX GROUP LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX MEDICAL PRODUCTS LTD., A BERMUDA CORP., TIMEX N.V.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A solid state digital watch comprises a stem detent and switch assembly which includes a crown portion on the outside of the watch case and a shaft portion extending therethrough.
  • the shaft portion includes an intermediate rectangular section on the inside of the case which cooperates with a single stamped spring to provide a four position rotary detent action.
  • this arrangement In addition to permitting detent holding of the stem in the proper contact position, this arrangement also provides electrical contact to ground the stem to the case.
  • the internal end of the shaft includes an eccentric tab which contacts one of three precisely positioned blades when the stem is rotated to advance the minutes or hours counters, to reset the seconds "ounter or to shut down the watch.
  • the present invention relates to solid state watches and particularly to a stem detent and switch assembly for solid state digital watches.
  • the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive arrangement which fulfills the necessary watch functions with a single stem assembly and provides a four position rotary detent action with reliable electrical connection between the stem and the case.
  • the stem shaft of the invention includes a rectangular section which cooperates with a peculiarly shaped spring for detenting and axial biasing purposes while a tab portion on the internal end of the shaft selectively engages spaced watch blades.
  • the present invention relates to a stem assembly for solid state digital watches which comprises a stem having a shaft portion with a knurled knob or crown mounted on the end thereof protruding from the bezel and an elongated cylindrical shaft portion having an intermediate rectangular section of lesser diameter in the portion immediately inside the bezel and an eccentric tab at the internal end thereof.
  • the rectangular portion engages a unitary stamped spring having two spaced arm portions engaging opposite sides of the rectangular section.
  • the stem is locked axially in one of four positions by the cooperating action of the spring arms and the rectangular section which is smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion.
  • the spring also includes outwardly extending base portions at each end which are biased against the case so that this preformed arrangement provides high simultaneous contact pressure between both the stem and detent and between the detent and case. In the embodiment described above, good electrical connection is further enhanced by the wiping action of the stem when rotated.
  • the eccentric tab on the end of the stem is designed to engage one of three switch blades. Two of the blades are positioned on opposite sides of the shaft and the third blade is positioned intermediate the opposing blades and in a plane below said blades. This arrangement permits setting and resetting the watch or shutting down the watch in a unique and expeditious manner by merely rotating the single stem to control the watch circuit.
  • an object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stem assembly for a solid state digital watch.
  • Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved detent arrangement for a solid state digital watch which also provides reliable electrical connection between the stem and detent and between the detent and case.
  • a further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved single stem assembly means for setting, resetting, and shutting down a solid state digital watch.
  • a more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stem assembly for a solid state digital watch which includes a multi-position stem detent arrangement and an internal switch arrangement in a rather advantageous and economical design.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the stem assembly and cooperating portions of the solid state watch
  • FIG. 2 is a view taken along the lines of 2-2 of FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a portion of the stem assembly cooperating with the spring member in the vicinity of the watch case
  • FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the detent contact pressure
  • FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and,
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the stem and particularly the rectangular portion under rotation.
  • the invention comprises a solid state watch stem assembly 10 which includes an eccentric tab 11 at one end, a main shaft portion 12, an intermediate rectangular section 13 of lesser diameter than the shaft 12, and another end portion 14 having the watch crown 16 affixed thereto outside the case or bezel 17.
  • the eccentric tab 11 cooperates with the cantilevered switch blades 18 and 19 and 21 to effect an electrical connection with predetermined portions of the watch circuit.
  • the switch blades 18, 19, and 21 are thin beryllium copper stampings riveted or soldered to the substrate 22 at points 23 and 24 and 26 respectively.
  • the switch blade 18 is connected to an integrated circuit chip (not shown) through printed circuit lead 27.
  • Printed circuit leads 28 and 29 similarly connect switch blades 19 and 21 to the aforementioned chip which is located within the plastic dam 31.
  • a plurality of contact terminals 32 and their respective leads 33 are shown in FIG. 1 but since they are not pertinent to the present invention, reference must be made to the co-pending application of the inventors Ser. No. 462,151 filed Apr. 18, 1974.
  • the switch blade 18 which is engaged by the tab 11 when the stem assembly 10 is turned in that particular direction is designated as the setting switch blade and is coupled to logic circuits (not shown) to provide a capability off selectively advancing the minutes or hours counters at lHz rate and/or to reset the seconds counters to zero by manipulation of switch blades 18 and 21.
  • Switch blade 21 is characterized as the mode switch blade.
  • Switch blade 19 is engaged by tab 11 when it is desired to shut down the watch.
  • the stem assembly 10 also permits detent holding of the stem in a proper contact position and provides electrical contact to ground the stem to the case. This is effected through the rectangular section 13 which is smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion 12.
  • the rectangular portion 13 engages a single stamped spring 34 to provide a four position rotary detent action.
  • the spring 34 comprises a pair of spaced, substantially U- shaped arms extending upwardly from the preformed base 36 of the spring 34.
  • the opposing legs 37 and 38 of the protruding contact members 39 and 41 are spring biased into engagement with the rectangular section 13.
  • the spring 34 is preformed so as to exert a high simultaneous radial contact pressure between the stem portion 13 and the arms 37 and 38 and axial contact pressure between the base 36 of spring 34 and the case 17. This electrical connection is further enhanced by the wiping action of the stem when rotated.
  • FIG. shows the rectangular section 13 of the stem and particularly edges 41 and 42 thereof in contact with the arms 38 and 37 with corner portions 43 and 44. It is to be noted that the distance across the corners of the rectangular portion 13 is smaller than the shaft diameter in order to provide a shoulder for the arms 38 and 37 to bias the stem axially regardless of its rotational position. The stem is prevented from moving axially inward by the crown 16 against bezel 17, thus creating good contact pressure between spring base 36 and case 17.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch with a circuit inside a case which comprises:
  • a spring member engaging the rectangular section to provide a detent action and having a base portion biased against the case to provide electrical contact therewith.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein the plurality of switch blades comprise a pair of spaced apart cantilevered blades mounted opposite each other in the same plane and a third cantilever blade mounted in the space between the opposed blades and in a plane parallel to the plane of the first two blades.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
  • the cooperating spring member comprises an elongated base portion in biased engagement with the watch case, and, a pair of protruding substantially U-shaped arms extending therefrom with the juxtaposed arms being free at the ends thereof to exert radial locking pressure on the rectangular section of the shaft which is located therebetween and to exert axial biasing of the stem.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
  • the rectangular section cooperates with the spring to provide a four position rotary detent action.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
  • the switch blades comprise thin beryllium copper stampings.
  • a stem detent and switch assembly for a solid state digital watch in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
  • the end portion of the shaft projecting outwardly from the case includes a crown mounted thereon, and,
  • the cantilevered switch blades are connected at one end thereof to the solid state circuit of the watch.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US488366A 1974-07-22 1974-07-22 Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly Expired - Lifetime US3874162A (en)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US488366A US3874162A (en) 1974-07-22 1974-07-22 Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly
CA228,279A CA1034387A (fr) 1974-07-22 1975-06-03 Ensemble contact et remontoir a couronne d'une montre a semiconducteurs
GB2663575A GB1473458A (en) 1974-07-22 1975-06-23 Solid state watch electrical switch
AU82449/75A AU485599B2 (en) 1974-07-22 1975-06-25 Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly
DE19752530317 DE2530317A1 (de) 1974-07-22 1975-07-08 Stellvorrichtung fuer eine digitaluhr
CH904775A CH589882B5 (fr) 1974-07-22 1975-07-10
CH904775D CH904775A4 (fr) 1974-07-22 1975-07-10
MX100133U MX2969E (es) 1974-07-22 1975-07-16 Mejoras en un dispositivo de conmutacion y escape de vastago para un reloj digital de estado solido
JP50089601A JPS5136975A (fr) 1974-07-22 1975-07-22
FR7522901A FR2280126A1 (fr) 1974-07-22 1975-07-22 Ensemble a tige de reglage a encliquetage et a commutateur pour montre electronique
HK580/77A HK58077A (en) 1974-07-22 1977-11-17 Solid state watch electrical switch

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US488366A US3874162A (en) 1974-07-22 1974-07-22 Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3874162A true US3874162A (en) 1975-04-01

Family

ID=23939455

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US488366A Expired - Lifetime US3874162A (en) 1974-07-22 1974-07-22 Solid state watch stem detent and switch assembly

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3874162A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5136975A (fr)
CA (1) CA1034387A (fr)
CH (2) CH589882B5 (fr)
DE (1) DE2530317A1 (fr)
FR (1) FR2280126A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1473458A (fr)
HK (1) HK58077A (fr)
MX (1) MX2969E (fr)

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3952176A (en) * 1974-12-13 1976-04-20 Texas Instruments Incorporated Multiple pole pushbutton rotary switch
US3975896A (en) * 1973-12-24 1976-08-24 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Switching device for electronic timepiece
US4019313A (en) * 1975-10-17 1977-04-26 Motorola, Inc. Liquid crystal watch module
US4023002A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-05-10 Timex Corporation Pusher and switch device for electronic watch
US4031341A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-06-21 Timex Corporation Dual function pusher and rotate switch for solid state digital watches having detent spring
US4055945A (en) * 1975-12-15 1977-11-01 Timex Corporation Frequency adjustment means for an electronic timepiece
US4062179A (en) * 1974-12-28 1977-12-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Switching mechanism for an electronic timepiece
US4088854A (en) * 1975-07-24 1978-05-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece switch mechanism having substrate mounted pivoted contact and lever or cam actuator
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US4509867A (en) * 1980-04-30 1985-04-09 Ebauches Electroniques S.A. Electronic timepiece movement
EP0845718A1 (fr) * 1996-12-02 1998-06-03 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Dispositif d'interrupteur électrique sur un circuit imprimé, et montre comportant un tel dispositif
US6146010A (en) * 1999-03-08 2000-11-14 Timex Corporation Combined crown and pusher electro mechanism
WO2001007971A2 (fr) * 1999-07-22 2001-02-01 Timex Corporation Fonctions de reglage pour dispositif electronique d'horlogerie multimode
US6203190B1 (en) 1999-06-07 2001-03-20 Timex Corporation Crown switching mechanism
US6286991B1 (en) 2000-01-12 2001-09-11 Equitime, Inc. Crown control for enhanced quadribalanced digital time displays
US20110205855A1 (en) * 2010-02-23 2011-08-25 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Device for electromechanical watch for determining the moment at which and the direction in which a time indication has to be corrected
US20140056112A1 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4865133U (fr) * 1971-11-26 1973-08-18
JPS5338069B2 (fr) * 1972-12-15 1978-10-13
JPS6320184Y2 (fr) * 1980-10-31 1988-06-06
US4536095A (en) * 1984-09-13 1985-08-20 Timex Corporation Crown setting switch for a wristwatch

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3359392A (en) * 1964-05-28 1967-12-19 United Carr Inc Rotary switch
US3733803A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-05-22 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Device for correcting time displayed on electronic timepiece
US3756011A (en) * 1971-09-13 1973-09-04 Suwa Seikosha Kk Time correcting device for electronic timepieces
US3841081A (en) * 1972-07-10 1974-10-15 Seiko Instr & Electronics Electronic watch with a time display correcting device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3359392A (en) * 1964-05-28 1967-12-19 United Carr Inc Rotary switch
US3733803A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-05-22 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Device for correcting time displayed on electronic timepiece
US3756011A (en) * 1971-09-13 1973-09-04 Suwa Seikosha Kk Time correcting device for electronic timepieces
US3841081A (en) * 1972-07-10 1974-10-15 Seiko Instr & Electronics Electronic watch with a time display correcting device

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3975896A (en) * 1973-12-24 1976-08-24 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Switching device for electronic timepiece
US3952176A (en) * 1974-12-13 1976-04-20 Texas Instruments Incorporated Multiple pole pushbutton rotary switch
US4126992A (en) * 1974-12-26 1978-11-28 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Stem mechanism for a watch
US4062179A (en) * 1974-12-28 1977-12-13 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Switching mechanism for an electronic timepiece
US4088854A (en) * 1975-07-24 1978-05-09 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece switch mechanism having substrate mounted pivoted contact and lever or cam actuator
US4019313A (en) * 1975-10-17 1977-04-26 Motorola, Inc. Liquid crystal watch module
US4055945A (en) * 1975-12-15 1977-11-01 Timex Corporation Frequency adjustment means for an electronic timepiece
US4023002A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-05-10 Timex Corporation Pusher and switch device for electronic watch
US4031341A (en) * 1976-01-14 1977-06-21 Timex Corporation Dual function pusher and rotate switch for solid state digital watches having detent spring
FR2338523A1 (fr) * 1976-01-14 1977-08-12 Timex Corp Ensemble a bouton-poussoir et interrupteur pour montre electronique
FR2338524A1 (fr) * 1976-01-14 1977-08-12 Timex Corp Ensemble commutateur a bouton-poussoir tournant pour montre electronique
US4509867A (en) * 1980-04-30 1985-04-09 Ebauches Electroniques S.A. Electronic timepiece movement
EP0845718A1 (fr) * 1996-12-02 1998-06-03 Eta SA Fabriques d'Ebauches Dispositif d'interrupteur électrique sur un circuit imprimé, et montre comportant un tel dispositif
US5774427A (en) * 1996-12-02 1998-06-30 Eta Sa Fabriques D'ebauches Electric switch device on a printed circuit and watch comprising such a device
US6146010A (en) * 1999-03-08 2000-11-14 Timex Corporation Combined crown and pusher electro mechanism
US6203190B1 (en) 1999-06-07 2001-03-20 Timex Corporation Crown switching mechanism
WO2001007971A2 (fr) * 1999-07-22 2001-02-01 Timex Corporation Fonctions de reglage pour dispositif electronique d'horlogerie multimode
WO2001007971A3 (fr) * 1999-07-22 2001-09-27 Timex Corp Fonctions de reglage pour dispositif electronique d'horlogerie multimode
US6286991B1 (en) 2000-01-12 2001-09-11 Equitime, Inc. Crown control for enhanced quadribalanced digital time displays
US6418085B2 (en) 2000-01-12 2002-07-09 Equitime, Inc. Facilitated AM/PM hour settings of enhanced quadribalanced digital time displays
US20110205855A1 (en) * 2010-02-23 2011-08-25 Eta Sa Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Device for electromechanical watch for determining the moment at which and the direction in which a time indication has to be corrected
US8454225B2 (en) * 2010-02-23 2013-06-04 ETA SA Manufacturing Horlogère Suisse Device for electromechanical watch for determining the moment at which and the direction in which a time indication has to be corrected
US20140056112A1 (en) * 2012-08-21 2014-02-27 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism
US9164482B2 (en) * 2012-08-21 2015-10-20 Rolex S.A. Coupling lever and coupling device for a horology mechanism

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2280126A1 (fr) 1976-02-20
JPS5136975A (fr) 1976-03-29
HK58077A (en) 1977-11-25
CA1034387A (fr) 1978-07-11
FR2280126B3 (fr) 1979-04-27
CH904775A4 (fr) 1976-11-30
MX2969E (es) 1980-01-10
DE2530317A1 (de) 1976-02-12
AU8244975A (en) 1977-01-06
GB1473458A (en) 1977-05-11
CH589882B5 (fr) 1977-07-29

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A., THE

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:TIMEX CORPORATION, A DE CORP.;TIMEX COMPUTERS LTD., A DE CORP.;TIMEX CLOCK COMPANY, A DE CORP.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:004181/0596

Effective date: 19830331