Crown Or Stem Details Patents (Class 368/319)
  • Patent number: 7794138
    Abstract: An operating mechanism of a multifunctional device which can be worn on the wrist and has a housing with integrated electronics. The operating mechanism is integrated into the housing and has an operating element which is a one-piece or multi-piece setting stem. The setting stem partly crosses the housing, and the setting stem is arranged parallel to a planar enlargement of the housing and is rotatably and linearly moveably mounted. The setting stem can be moved linearly parallel to the longitudinal axis and rotatively about the rotational axis/longitudinal axis by a first operating watch button and optionally with a second operating watch button. The movement of the setting stem triggers various contacts on a contact plate, from which contacts electronic signals are sent to the electronics, as a result of which the electronic control of the multifunctional device is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventor: Beppo Hilfiker
  • Publication number: 20100142333
    Abstract: In a wristwatch (portable device), a push button (push-pull operating member) includes an engaging portion, and the push button is mounted on a watch sheath (watch outer sheath). A locking member and a leaf spring (urging member) are arranged on the watch sheath. The locking member is movable between a locked position in which the push button is held at a predetermined position by the engagement with the engaging portion and an unlocked position where an operation of the push button is allowed. The locking member is urged by the leaf spring toward the unlocked position. A circular operating ring surrounding an hour plate (display portion) mounted on the watch sheath is rotatably mounted to the watch sheath from the front side. The invention is characterized in that the movement of the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position is interlocked with a rotating operation of the operating ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Kazutaka Imai
  • Patent number: 7651259
    Abstract: The invention concerns a timepiece including a case (10) and a crystal (22) together defining a housing (18) for a movement (20), and further including an element that is mobile in rotation (30) actuated by a control member (36) including a stem (42) of longitudinal axis AA, passing radially through said case (10), a crown (44) mounted on a first proximal end of said stem and a pinion (46) fixedly mounted in rotation on a second distal end of said stem (42). The control member (36) is fitted with a part (48) for axially securing said pinion (46) on said stem (42), arranged on the proximal side of said stem (42), said securing part (48) including: a first slit ring (62) mounted so as to be locked axially and radially on a first of the pinion (46)/stem (42) elements, and means for axially locking the second of the pinion (46)/stem (42) elements, secured to said slit ring (62).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventors: Bertrand Carrard, Sébastien Bolzt
  • Patent number: 7591582
    Abstract: A watch is offered in which the life of the threadedly engaged portion between the stem pipe and the crown can be improved and which has an internal thread capable of being machined relative to the crown easily and accurately. The watch is based on a watch in which the crown is threadedly locked to a stem pipe mounted to a barrel. The stem pipe has a barrel outside protruding portion provided with an external thread. The crown has a crown shaft and a crown ring having an internal thread removably threaded to the external thread, the ring being connected to the crown shaft. The crown shaft has a barrel insertion cylindrical portion which is smaller in diameter than the crown ring and inserted in the stem pipe and a ring connection portion mounted integrally with this cylindrical portion and connected to one end portion of the crown ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7570545
    Abstract: This pushbutton device for controlling the start/stop and resetting functions of a chronograph mechanism comprises two control pushbuttons able to slide between two limit positions, elastic return means which constantly tend to keep these pushbuttons in their outward limit positions, and a control rocker which pivots about a pivot. The control rocker is situated between the pushbuttons, the latter being, in their outward limit positions, simultaneously in contact with the control rocker, keeping it in a middle position between the limit positions of its pivoting, which correspond to the movement of the pushbuttons to their respective inward limit positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Montres Journe S.A.
    Inventor: Francois-Paul Journe
  • Patent number: 7563020
    Abstract: The control stem device for a watch includes a first stem (1) rotating about its longitudinal axis and provided with means (32) for securing it to a manual control crown on the exterior of the watch, and a second stem (2), substantially parallel and shifted in relation to said first stem and secured to an axially mobile sliding pinion (8) for selectively driving in rotation a mechanism for a first function (20) and a mechanism for a second function (242), the first and second stems being connected in rotation by a transmission device (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Montres Breguet SA
    Inventor: Jan Pittet
  • Patent number: 7556422
    Abstract: A push-actuated control device for watches includes a push-piece button (1) connected with a push-piece shaft (2) passing through a push-piece pipe (3) intended to be accommodated in the watchcase. The device further includes a compression ring (4) screwed onto the push-piece pipe (3) and a compression gasket (5) placed between pipe (3) and ring (4), the gasket (5) being compressed while ring (4) is in a screwed first position. Compression ring (4) on a segment of its inner circumference includes a twofold axial stop (4.1, 4.2), and push-piece button (1) includes a projection (1.1) on its outer circumference, so that compression ring (4) cooperates with push-piece button (1) to block the push-piece button (1) in its first position, and liberate it in an unscrewed second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Richemont International S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe Cretin, Laurent Morel
  • Patent number: 7540655
    Abstract: A setting device (1) includes an outer crown body (11), an inner crown body (12) firmly connected to this, a coupling (13,14) mounted at the inner crown body, as well as a crown sleeve (15) at least partly enveloping the inner crown body (12) and the coupling (13,14), inside of which the inner crown body (12) is mounted in both axially adjustable and rotatable manner. The setting device (1) further includes an elastic element (16) exerting on at least one of the crown bodies (11,12) a force pre-tensioning it in its axial direction, the force of pretension of the elastic element (16) being determined as a function of the effective front surface (A) of the outer crown body (11), in order to allow for an automatic, axial change-over of position of the setting device as a function of the applied external pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Richemont International S.A.
    Inventor: Ferdinand Speichinger
  • Patent number: 7517139
    Abstract: A portable timepiece has a timepiece movement and a movement interlock axle that undergoes linear movement and undergoes rotational movement to transmit a rotational force to the timepiece movement. An external operation body is operable to linearly move and rotate the movement interlock axle. A stopper member undergoes movement between a first position in which the stopper member is engaged with an engagement part of the movement interlock axle to prevent linear movement thereof and a second position in which the stopper member is not engaged with the engagement part to permit linear movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Koremoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 7517138
    Abstract: Control device for a watch movement having a part rotatably movable around an axis A. The device is associated with a watch case (11) and has a lock (25) actuatable from outside the watch. The lock is movably mounted in translation to the periphery of the watch case (11). The device also has a movably mounted plate (30) which is rotatable around an axis D inside the watch case and is kinematically connected to the lock. An arm (34) is pivotable around and axis B, whose first end is placed on the plate in such a way that it is freely rotatable around an axis C non-merging with the axis D and whose other end is fixed to the part for driving the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Bruno Affolter S.A.
    Inventor: Alain Guyot
  • Patent number: 7494270
    Abstract: Even if a lock member impeding a crown from being excessively pull-moved is carelessly moved, its recovery is easy, and a function for stopping a careless movement of the crown, by the lock member, is maintained for a long period. A wristwatch possesses a case band, a crown, a protector, and a lock mechanism. A winding stem pipe is attached to the case band. The crown has a crown head having non connection relation with the winding stem pipe. This crown is supported to the winding stem pipe so as to be movable in an axial direction of this pipe. The protector is attached to the case band while facing on an end face of the crown head so as to allow an operation of this crown head. The lock mechanism is provided operably in the protector. The lock mechanism has a screw body, and a lock member linearly moving in a direction contacted with and separated from the end face of the crown head by a rotation of the screw body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Koremoto Takeda
  • Publication number: 20090003142
    Abstract: A crown includes a crown shaft, a crown head, a screw ring, and a spring for urging the head in a direction of being separated from a case band. The crown shaft cooperatively moving a hand setting stem is provided with a rotational force receiving portion of a deformed shape. The receiving portion is arranged at outside of a pipe fixed to the case band and is provided with a diameter larger than that of a male screw portion formed at the pipe. A head main body of the crown head includes a rotational force transmitting portion of a deformed shape fitted attachably and detachably to the receiving portion, a ring mounting face in a circular shape formed on one end side of the main body from the transmitting portion, and an inner peripheral face in a circular shape formed on other end side of the main body from the transmitting portion at an inner periphery thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: Haruki Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 7404669
    Abstract: The clockwork movement comprises a crown (12) connected with at least one element of the movement through a connecting organ. It is provided with a selection device (13) that includes a blocking device (15) provided with two blocking spring blades (26, 27) cooperating with a set of teeth (28) of crown (12). This blocking device allows rotation of the crown to be blocked in a first direction, and to be permitted in a second direction, in a predetermined position of a control lever (30) selectively acting on the first or second of these spring blades (26, 27) through a sector (31). When this lever (30) is turned into a second position, rotation of the crown is permitted in the first direction but blocked in the second direction. One thus obtains a movement in which the direction of rotation of crown (12) is selected by the user by his prior action on selection device (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Montblac-Simplo GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Marie Marc Lambert
  • Patent number: 7401975
    Abstract: To obtain a degree of freedom in a design of a circumference part of a timepiece armor assembly, and provide a watch whose degree of freedom in a size of a dial is high. A timepiece armor assembly is formed of an armor case of one-piece structure in which a case bottom wall and a case band part provided with a crown have been monolithically molded and of an armor cover which has a transparent member and an edge member supporting a circumference edge of the former member and has been mounted to the case band part. In the armor assembly, a timepiece movement which has a movement main body and a winding stem attached to this main body so as to be capable of being inserted into or detached from it and connected to the crown, and a dial are built, and a winding stem attachment/detachment mechanism which makes an insertion/detachment of the winding stem into/from the main body possible is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7387434
    Abstract: There is provided portable apparatus capable of maintaining a function of preventing accidental operation of a push button when the apparatus is carried on the wearer's body. The apparatus includes a watch enclosure body (apparatus enclosure body), a pipe, a push button, a biasing member, a locking member, and a whirl-stop. The pipe is fixed to the enclosure body by inserting it into a through hole in the enclosure body. A retainer tube of the pipe has a female thread formed thereon and is disposed outside the enclosure body. The push button has a shaft passed through the pipe, a detent for preventing the push button from being pulled out of the pipe, and a manipulator head disposed outside the enclosure body. The biasing member biases the push button outward with respect to the enclosure body. The locking member has an inner wall with a male thread and a stopper projection that comes into contact with and moves away from the head, and an outer wall that fits on the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Kinshuroh Itoh
  • Patent number: 7384190
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a crown for a timepiece comprising a disconnecting gear device for preventing damage to the components of the movement of the timepiece in which it is implemented. For this purpose, the crown is provided with a housing which houses a pipe, to which one end of a winding stem is connected, carrying at least one spring and a rigid ring secured to the crown and comprising notches adapted to cooperate with the spring. In common use, a rotation of the crown causes a rotation of the pipe and thus of the winding stem, via the rigid ring and the spring. Owing to the device according to the present invention, when the mechanical resistance to the rotation opposed by the winding stem, via the pipe, exceeds a predefined threshold, the spring is deformed and is no longer driven in rotation by the rigid ring. Consequently, the winding stem is no longer driven in rotation in such conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Meco SA
    Inventor: Georges Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20080112275
    Abstract: The magnetic control device (1) for a timepiece comprises a sealed tube (3) which comprises a blind end inserted into an opening of the timepiece, whereas the other end of the tube opens towards the outside. A control stem (12) is provided in order to slide inside the tube (3). It carries a magnet (21) which is displaced integrally with the stem inside the tube. By manipulating the end of the stem which emerges from the tube (3), the wearer of the watch can make the magnet selectively occupy three positions. A first and a second magnetic sensor (22, 23) with two states are disposed inside the timepiece along the sealed tube so that three different combinations of a state of the first sensor (22) with a state of the second sensor (23) are respectively associated with three predefined positions of the first magnet (21).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Applicant: THE SWATCH GROUP RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LTD.
    Inventors: Jean-Jacques Born, Francois Gueissaz
  • Patent number: 7360944
    Abstract: A device includes a supporting tube fixed at the case of a watch, a drive shaft with teeth extending inside the supporting tube for controlling at least one function of the watch, a crown having a crown's head and a tube with teeth integral with the crown's head that is mounted so as to be mobile in rotation and translation, between the inner wall of the supporting tube and the drive shaft, and an indexing gasket seated in the inner wall of the supporting tube and cooperating with first and second grooves provided on the outside of the mobile tube in order to define a first axial position of the crown in which the mobile tube is engaged with the drive shaft and can transmit a torque to it, and a second axial position of the crown in which the mobile tube is disengaged from the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Richemont International SA
    Inventor: Laurent Morel
  • Patent number: 7357569
    Abstract: A crown lock structure for a timepiece has a crown having an inner surface provided with a threaded section and a connecting assembly for removably connecting the crown to a case of the timepiece. The connecting assembly comprises a tubular member for integral connection to the timepiece case and a tubular insert removably connected to the tubular member. The tubular member has a first tubular portion for insertion into a through-hole of the timepiece case and a second tubular portion integral with the first tubular portion and removably connected to the tubular insert so as to prevent relative rotation between the tubular member and the tubular insert. The tubular insert has a threaded section for threaded engagement with the threaded section of the crown to removably connect the crown to the timepiece case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hisamitsu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7347620
    Abstract: A watch has a crown threadedly locked to a stem pipe mounted to a barrel. The barrel has a pipe installation hole and a threaded hole that extends perpendicular to and in communication with the pipe installation hole. The stem pipe has an insertion portion and a barrel outside protruding portion. The insertion portion is inserted in the pipe installation hole such that the insertion portion can be withdrawn from outside the barrel. The barrel outside protruding portion is disposed outside the barrel and has an external thread to which the crown is removably threaded. An engaging recessed portion is formed in the outer surface of the insertion portion. An annular waterproof packing is sandwiched between the pipe installation hole and the insertion portion. A mounting screw is threaded into the threaded hole so as to be removable back and forth. A front-end portion of the mounting screw is inserted in the engaging recessed portion to hold the stem pipe to the barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Omori, Haruki Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 7329042
    Abstract: There is provided a watch in which a crown and associated parts, excluding a winding stem pipe, can be replaced when the screw locking function is impaired. The watch includes a case band having a pipe attachment hole, a winding stem pipe, a ring gasket made of elastic resin material, a ring, and a crown. The winding stem pipe is inserted into the pipe attachment hole and fixed to the case band in a liquid tight manner. Outer grooves are formed on the outer cylindrical surface of an off-case band projection of the winding stem pipe that is disposed outside the case band. The removable gasket is fitted on and in close contact with the outer cylindrical surface of the off-case band projection such that the outer grooves prevent the rotation of the gasket. The ring has a male screw formed on the outer cylindrical surface thereof and inner grooves formed on the inner cylindrical surface thereof. The ring is removably fitted on the outer cylindrical surface of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Kinshuroh Itoh
  • Patent number: 7275860
    Abstract: A timepiece has a train wheel, a display member for undergoing rotation in accordance with rotation of the train wheel, and a display correcting mechanism for correcting a display content of the display member. The display correcting mechanism has a corrector setting transmission wheel mounted for undergoing rotation, a correction transmitting spring mounted for undergoing movement in accordance with rotation of the corrector setting transmission wheel, a correcting member for undergoing operation in accordance with rotation of the corrector setting transmission wheel and movement of the correction transmitting spring to correct a display content of a display member, and a hand setting stem mounted for undergoing rotation to rotate the corrector setting transmission wheel and move the correction transmitting spring to thereby operate the correcting member to correct the display content of the display member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Kei Hirano, Shigeo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7255473
    Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece having high durability constructed by a constitution capable of promoting operability of attaching and detaching a crown and holding a crown in an unoperated state so as not to rotate the crown unpreparedly. In a winding stem pipe attached to a case body, a crown urged in a direction of separating from the case body by a coil spring (urging member) included in a crown cylinder portion of the pipe is removably provided to a case body outside projected portion of the winding stem pipe. An outer periphery of the case body outside projected portion is formed with a plurality of communicating grooves along a rotational direction of the crown, a plurality of attaching and detaching through grooves communicated to the communicating grooves and opened to an end face of the case body outside projected portion, and a plurality of holding grooves communicated with the communicating grooves and formed in a dead end state and contiguous to the through grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7210845
    Abstract: There is disclosed a portable electronic instrument (1) including a case (2), at least one electronic unit (72, 74) housed inside the case, and at least a first input and/or output terminal (A; B) accessible from the exterior of the case and including an electrically conductive element (100) which is mounted so as to be mobile with respect to the case. The input and/or output terminal is adapted to be electrically connected to an input and/or output terminal (72A, 74A; 72B, 74B) of said electronic unit via a transmission line (I/OA; I/OB) and for allowing transmission of electric signals on the transmission line through the connecting element. The connecting element can occupy a first or second position in which the input and/or output terminal is respectively uncoupled from or coupled to the input and/or output terminal of the electronic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Asulab SA
    Inventors: Yves Oesch, Jean-Daniel Etienne, Emil Zellweger, Yvan Ferri
  • Patent number: 7192184
    Abstract: A portable timepiece has a pipe extending from a case and a winding stem for transmitting a rotational force to a timepiece movement in the case. A crown is connected to the winding stem for rotational movement therewith and for detachable engagement with an outer periphery of a male threaded section of the pipe to prevent unintentional rotation of the crown. The crown has a crown shaft for rotating the winding stem, a crown head having a female threaded section for threaded engagement with the male threaded section and mounted for undergoing rotation to rotate the crown shaft in a state in which the engagement between the male and female screw sections is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Oomori
  • Patent number: 7192182
    Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece in which the maintenance of a winding stem pipe and its surroundings is facilitated. Basically provided is a portable timepiece comprising a winding stem pipe releasably screwed into a pipe attachment opening of a case band, in which portable timepiece an accidental rotation of a crown is avoided by bringing a crown head of the crown into screw-engagement with a pipe end of the winding stem pipe disposed outside of the case band such that the crown head caps the pipe end. A ring receiver is formed on one of the pipe attachment opening and an insert portion of the winding stem pipe screwed into the opening. A soft and resilient friction ring is supported on the other of the pipe attachment opening and the insert portion. The friction ring is resiliently brought into tight contact with the ring receiver to prevent a rotation of the winding stem pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7182507
    Abstract: To provide a portable timepiece capable of interchanging a part at a surrounding of a crown when a screw lock function is deteriorated. A premise is established by a portable timepiece screwing to lock a crown urged in a direction of separating from a case body by a coil spring (urging member) included in a winding stem pipe to the winding stem pipe attached to the case body. The winding stem pipe includes a winding stem pipe main body inserted into a pipe attaching hole of the case body and fixed in liquid tight by using a brazing member, and a ring fitted to a case body outside projected portion of the main body removably by being stopped to rotate and provided with a male screw portion to which the crown is removably screwed at an outer periphery thereof. A ring holding member is pinched between the ring and a holding portion of the case body outside projected portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Nobukazu Omori
  • Patent number: 7175341
    Abstract: To provide a wrist-portable equipment that may prevent malfunction of an internal rotational ring. There is provided a wrist-portable equipment including: a case, an internal rotational ring to be used as a display member for rotating independently and separately from a gear train of circumferential divisional hour/minute/second within the above-described case, an operating shaft that may be pushed into and drawn out of the above-described case, a clutch for transmitting the rotation of the above-described operating shaft to the above-described internal rotational ring and for releasing the transmission of the rotation by pushing in the above-described operating shaft; and a stem provided at one end portion of the above-described operating shaft and disposed on a side surface portion of the above-described case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Oomori, Haruki Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 7118270
    Abstract: A portable watch comprises a case body having a noncircular pipe-attachment hole extending therethrough, and a winding stem pipe removably inserted from outside of the case body into the pipe-attachment hole and having a noncircular outer peripheral portion that cooperates with the noncircular pipe-attachment hole to prevent relative rotation between the case body and the winding stem pipe. An inner end portion of the winding stem pipe extends beyond the inside surface of the case body into the interior of the case body and an outer end portion of the winding stem pipe extends out from the exterior of the case body, the outer end portion having a male screw section and the inner end portion having an annular groove around the outer periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7111977
    Abstract: To provide a portable watch enabling components exchange around a crown while retaining the waterproof capability of a winding-stem-pipe attachment section when the screw lock capability is reduced. A winding stem pipe is screwed into a pipe-attachment hole of a case band for attachment in a removable manner. To an intracase-band end section of this winding stem pipe, provided is a screw section being a reverse screw to a first male screw section of the winding stem pipe screwed into the pipe-attachment hole. To this screw section, a clamp ring is screwed into in a removable manner. The case band is sandwiched by the ring and the extracase-band end section of the winding stem pipe screwed with the crown, and a waterproof gasket is sandwiched between the case band and the winding stem pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 7083325
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control mechanism for a timepiece of the type comprising a frame (10) defining a reference plane and, secured to this frame: a control rod (12) furnished with an annular groove (14) having a width l, an external diameter D and an internal diameter d, mounted so as to move in translation on the frame (10) along a first axis (AA?) included in said plane, and a retaining plate (20) mounted on the frame (10) parallel to said plane and comprising a locking piece (22) mounted so as to rotate about a second axis (BB?) perpendicular to the reference plane and interacting with said rod (12) by engagement in the groove (14), in order to limit its translational movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Girard-Perregaux S.A.
    Inventors: Cyrille Clot, Nicolas Dehon, Yves Corthesy
  • Patent number: 7025494
    Abstract: A wrist-portable apparatus has a case housing a rotational display member and an operational shaft for undergoing rotational movement and sliding movement relative to the case so that the operational shaft may be axially displaced between a pushed-in position, in which the operational shaft is pushed into the case, and a drawn-out position, in which the operational shaft is drawn out from the case. A clutch assembly transmits rotational movement of the operational shaft to the display member to rotate the display member when the operational shaft is displaced to the drawn-out position and releases the transmission of the rotational movement of the operational shaft to the display member when the operational shaft is displaced to the pushed-in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Nobukazu Oomori, Haruki Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 7001064
    Abstract: The invention concerns a push-piece control device for a watch comprising a case (10) provided with a middle (12), an arbor (16) integral with a crown (20) and mounted pivoting in the middle (12) and a push-piece (18) mounted sliding and coaxial to the arbor (16). The invention is characterized in that it further comprises a lever (32) mounted pivoting on said case (10) by one of its ends (32a), mobile in a plane substantially parallel to the watch plane, including, in its median part (32b), a contact point designed to co-operate with said push-piece (18) and, at its other end (32c), a concave control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Inventor: Pierre-André Finazzi
  • Patent number: 6980488
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a device for winding and setting the time of a timepiece such as a date watch (1) including a date disc (14), characterized in that the device includes a crown (12) arranged in the top plane of the watch (1) parallel to the plane of the movement (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Assignee: Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH
    Inventor: Mathias Schneider
  • Patent number: 6974248
    Abstract: A crown for watches, especially wristwatches or pocket watches, the crown body which is provided on a winding stem is made up of two parts and includes of a first part which forms the grip surface of the crown and a second part. The crown body furthermore has a crown body thread and can be screwed to a penetration which is provided on the watch case for the winding stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Konrad Damasko
  • Patent number: 6935774
    Abstract: A wristwatch case (11) and a method of manufacturing the case, the wristwatch case comprising a wristwatch case body (1) made of titanium or stainless steel and a crown pipe (3) fixed to each other, wherein a stem hole (2) corresponding to the crown pipe (3) is formed in the wristwatch case body (1), a small diameter part is formed in the crown pipe (3), and a small diameter part corresponding to the a small diameter part of the crown pipe is formed in the stem hole (2), the method comprising the step of fitting the crown pipe (3) into the stem hole (2) in the wristwatch case body (1) to form a solid phase diffusion joining part at a portion where the small diameter parts thereof are fitted closely to each other, and to form a brazed connection part at a portion other than that where the small diameter parts are fitted closely to each other, whereby a watch external part having excellent corrosion resistance and waterproof and a large number of design variations can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Fujii, Junji Satoh, Hitoshi Uchida, Norio Hashimoto, Ryo Fujita
  • Patent number: 6902169
    Abstract: The sealing device for a control member (17) is provided with a shaft (16) passing through a sealed casing and comprising a tube (1) driven into a bore (3) of the casing (4) . A shaft (16) of the control member (17) is engaged in the tube (1) and at least one joint (18, 19) ensures normal sealing between this tube and this shaft. It comprises a compression key (6) screwed on the tube (1) comprising an upper portion (8) overlying the tube (1) and surrounding the shaft (16) of the control member (17). A compression joint (15) is disposed in the space comprised between the upper portion (8) of the compression key, the tube (1) and the shaft (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Richemont international SA
    Inventor: Daniel Wild
  • Patent number: 6896403
    Abstract: The mode selecting assembly comprises a flexible hand, coupled to a frame in the casing, that has extending therefrom fingers that are sufficiently deflectable so as to deflect from first positions where they are not in contact with associated pads on a circuit board to second positions where they are in contact with their associated pads on the circuit board. A setting stem comprises an annular ring for selectively contacting and deflecting the fingers from their respective first positions to second positions, wherein the integrated circuit is operable in a selected modes depending on which finger is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventor: Siegfried Grau
  • Patent number: 6886975
    Abstract: To provide a watch in which, in case where a screw lock function has decreased, a part exchange around a crown is made possible while ensuring a waterproofness. To an outside winding stem pipe having a bridge portion and brazed to a case band there is passed an inside winding stem pipe having a male screw portion directed to an outside of the case band and a convex portion colliding against the bridge portion so as to be capable of being put in or out, the pipe is locked to the pipe by a lock means provided over both of the winging stem pipes, and the pipe is interposed between an attaching ring detachably meshing with the pipe and the convex portion, thereby positioning the pipe with respect to the former pipe in an axial direction. A crown is detachably meshed with the male screw portion of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa, Nobukazu Oomori
  • Patent number: 6872899
    Abstract: There is provided a button capable of entry and exit with respect to a base. The button has a button member, ring member, lock member, and fixed member. The button member has a shaft portion mounted in a manner that allows entry and exit with respect to the base, and an expanded-diameter portion with a shaft diameter that is larger than the diameter of the shaft portion. The ring member accommodates the shaft portion and can rotate about the axial center of the shaft portion. The lock member moves along the axial center between the ring member and the shaft portion due to the rotation of the ring member, and restricts the entry and exit action of the button member by coming into contact with the expanded-diameter portion of the button member. The fixed member is fixed to the base and stops the ring member to restrict the movement of the ring member along the axial center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takumi Oshio, Kowk Fai Lam
  • Patent number: 6830371
    Abstract: An accuracy adjustment apparatus for a timepiece has an accuracy adjustment data input control section including a case-mounted switch such as a crown of the timepiece. A crown state detection signal is used to determine the state of the crown. When an accuracy adjustment data input mode is indicated based on the position of the crown, an indicator of the timepiece is driven to provide a visual indication of accuracy adjustment data selectable by operation of the crown. When the proper accuracy adjustment data has been selected, the data is stored to a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Masaki
  • Patent number: 6773157
    Abstract: A time adjustment assembly for a timepiece comprises a fast hour wheel that is movable between a first position where it is not rotationally engageable with the hour wheel and a second position where it is rotationally engageable with the hour wheel; a corrector wheel, mounted on the setting stem, for rotating the fast hour wheel; and a setting spring selectively engageable with the fast hour wheel to move the fast hour wheel between the fast hour wheel's first position and second position; wherein when the fast hour wheel is in rotational engagement with the hour wheel the setting stem is out of engagement with the setting wheel and an hour hand is movable independently of the minute hand via the rotation of the setting stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Timex Group B.V.
    Inventor: Siegfried Grau
  • Publication number: 20040100869
    Abstract: The invention concerns a push-piece control device for a watch comprising a case (10) provided with a middle (12), an arbor (16) integral with a crown (20) and mounted pivoting in the middle (12) and a push-piece (18) mounted sliding and coaxial to the arbor (16). The invention is characterised in that it further comprises a lever (32) mounted pivoting on said case (10) by one of its ends (32a), mobile in a plane substantially parallel to the watch plane, including, in its median part (32b), a contact point designed to co-operate with said push-piece (18) and, at its other end (32c), a concave control portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: Pierre-Andre Finazzi
  • Publication number: 20040090873
    Abstract: A crown for watches, especially wristwatches or pocket watches, the crown body which is provided on a winding stem is made up of two parts and includes of a first part which forms the grip surface of the crown and a second part. The crown body furthermore has a crown body thread and can be screwed to a penetration which is provided on the watch case for the winding stem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Konrad Damasko
  • Publication number: 20040071049
    Abstract: To provide a watch in which, in case where a screw lock function has decreased, a part exchange around a crown is made possible while ensuring a waterproofness. To an outside winding stem pipe having a bridge portion and brazed to a case band there is passed an inside winding stem pipe having a male screw portion directed to an outside of the case band and a convex portion colliding against the bridge portion so as to be capable of being put in or out, the pipe is locked to the pipe by a lock means provided over both of the winging stem pipes, and the pipe is interposed between an attaching ring detachably meshing with the pipe and the convex portion, thereby positioning the pipe with respect to the former pipe in an axial direction. A crown is detachably meshed with the male screw portion of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Hisamitsu Yoshikawa, Nobukazu Oomori
  • Patent number: 6719455
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for assembling a screwed crown on a watch case, characterized in that it includes the following steps: providing a crown with an inner threading the position of which is set with respect to the logo arranged on the front face of the crown; providing an intermediate tube including two threaded sections; mounting said intermediate tube in a smooth through hole passing through the case and wedging it on an assembling jig to arrange the thread start of the tube intended to accommodate the internal screw thread of the crown in an angular position such that when the crown is screwed as far as possible onto the tube said logo or said mark is located in a determined position; providing a nut and immobilizing the tube in said angular position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: KS 22 SA
    Inventor: Roger Ecoffet
  • Patent number: 6679624
    Abstract: When using wristwatches for diving or action sports, it is desirable to be able to prevent the winding button from being pulled out inadvertently and the time unintentionally altered. To avoid this, the button (3) has the overall shape of an H and a lever (2) engages in the groove (10) in said button (3) to prevent this button from being pulled out in error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Promomark SA
    Inventor: Alain Mouawad
  • Patent number: 6672758
    Abstract: The wall of a case includes a U-shaped recess with two through passages (11, 17) for a control stem (20) held in a neutral position by a spring (27) and guided in the outer passage (11) by an O ring (25) allowing translation and tilting movements, and in the inner passage (17) by a contour of oblong shape allowing the end (22) to close an electric contact (32) by pressure and two other contacts (31, 33) by tilting. Application to an electronic timepiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventors: Nicolas Ehrsam, Clement Meyrat
  • Patent number: 6639874
    Abstract: A pointer electronic timepiece (1) has a plurality of step motors, a plurality of pointers (11 to 18), and a plurality of external operation members of a winding crown (5) and buttons (6, 7). The pointer to be adjusted is selected from the plurality of pointers (15 to 18) by operating one of the buttons (6) while drawing out the winding crown (5) to a second stage and the other button (7) is operated to adjust the position of the selected pointer. Since the position of the pointers (15 to 18) driven by three step motors can be adjusted by the two buttons (6, 7), the number of the external operation member is not necessary to be increased even when the pointers (15 to 18), i.e. the step motors, are increased, so that the size and thickness of a movement-holder and cost thereof can be reduced and operability during adjustment can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eisaku Shimizu, Akihiko Maruyama
  • Publication number: 20030174590
    Abstract: A push button structure reduces the manufacturing cost as well as thickness by improving the configuration of functional parts of the push button structure. A pipe is fixed in a through-hole of an external case, and the shaft of an operating member is inserted slidably to the pipe. A cylindrical flexible member is held between the pipe and the crown of the operating member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Yasuo Arikawa, Imao Hiraga, Takumi Oshio