Push-button Stem Type Patents (Class 368/290)
  • Patent number: 11886150
    Abstract: A push button system for activating an actuation member, the system including a button head, a pusher actuator integral with the button head, a first hollow guide member, the pusher actuator being mounted to slide inside the first hollow guide member, the first hollow guide member being intended to be secured to a fixed element relative to the button head and to the pusher actuator, a second hollow guide member arranged in the button head, and a pin mounted to slide inside the second hollow member, and intended to be secured to the fixed element. The pusher actuator has an upper portion provided on the periphery thereof with a collar intended to cooperate with an internal face of the first hollow guide member to guide the pusher inside the member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Meco SA
    Inventors: Herve Avril, Samuel Geiser
  • Patent number: 11810737
    Abstract: A switch device includes: a case provided with a through-hole; an operation member having an operation shaft to be inserted into the through-hole of the case, and an operation head provided at an outer end of the operation shaft; and a protective buffer member which has elasticity and is attached to an outer surface of the case. The protective buffer member includes a storage which has a bottom facing an inner end surface of the operation head and stores a periphery of the operation head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takumi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11796964
    Abstract: A watch including: a case including a through hole formed in a side surface of the case; a cylindrical member which is an integral body formed of a first cylindrical portion being threadedly engageable with the through hole and a second cylindrical portion in contact with the side surface of the case and having a recessed housing portion which opens to the outside of the case, and has an insertion hole continuously formed with the recessed housing portion; an operating member which has a shaft portion being inserted into the insertion hole of the cylindrical member in a slidable manner, and a head portion being formed on an end portion of the shaft portion and housed in the recessed housing portion; and a sealing member which is disposed between the case and the second cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventor: Koki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11363731
    Abstract: A waterproof structure includes a shell which is provided with an air hole extending therethrough, a waterproof membrane is provided in a mounting cavity in the shell which abuts the inner side opening of the air hole, and the air hole is internally provided with a ball having waterproof performance and a constraint structure which constrains the ball in a preset range in the air hole; the preset range has a space allowing the ball to freely move; in a gas environment, there is gap between the ball and a boundary face of the present range, so as to allow the communication between the inner side opening and the outer side opening of the air hole; and the ball can press against the constraint structure under the pushing of liquid entering from the outer side opening and seal the inner side opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Goertek Inc.
    Inventors: Xingyu Li, Xiangxiang Liu
  • Patent number: 10901370
    Abstract: A safety valve for a watch including a head that is movably mounted on a tube and able to move between an open position and a closed position, the tube including in its internal volume a first spring and wherein the tube is provided on an external face with a cam surface allowing a manual movement and an automatic movement of the head into its open position, after the first spring, the tube includes a second spring having a higher stiffness than that of the first spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd
    Inventors: Pierry Vuille, Michel Willemin, Jean-Claude Martin
  • Patent number: 10895847
    Abstract: An orientable valve including a device for adjusting the angular orientation of the valve head with respect to the watch case, wherein the device for adjusting the angular orientation of the valve head includes a friction ring disposed between the valve head and the upper step, the friction ring rotates integrally with the shaft and is free in translation with respect to the shaft, the friction ring has a cylindrical external friction surface in friction contact with an internal wall of the tube, and wherein the shaft includes, in its distal portion, a device for actuating the latter in rotation making it possible to pivot the valve to adjust the angular orientation of the valve head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Omega SA
    Inventor: Philippe Loetscher
  • Patent number: 10845764
    Abstract: An electronic device has a housing and a rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The housing has an aperture and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism has a shaft positioned at least partially within the aperture and a manipulation structure coupled to the shaft. The manipulation structure may be manipulated to rotationally and translationally move the shaft to provide rotational and translational input to the electronic device. A compressible seal is positioned in a gap between the housing and the rotatable and translatable input mechanism. The compressible seal may resist and/or prevent passage of contaminants into the aperture and/or obscure one or more internal components. The compressible seal may be configured to collapse or bend when the rotatable and translatable member translates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Colin M. Ely
  • Patent number: 10295960
    Abstract: A musical timepiece includes a gong fastened to a structure or a resonator of a watch case, the resonator rigidly assembled to the structure around a chamber, by lugs allowing vibration of the resonator within a determined frequency range, the chamber enclosing a sealing element forming with the lugs the only mechanical connection between the structure and the resonator. The structure or the resonator includes a groove receiving a gasket in contact with the structure and the resonator The structure structure or the resonator or the sealing element includes a rigid protruding relief portion compressing a gasket in its groove, with a hardness less than 20 Shore A, for minimum damping of the vibration of the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Montres Breguet S.A.
    Inventors: Younes Kadmiri, Sylvain Marechal, Stephane Cadau, Davide Sarchi
  • Patent number: 9105413
    Abstract: A pushbutton of a portable apparatus is locked against inward axial movement by engagement with a locking member when the locking member is unthreaded a distance A from the apparatus body and brought into abutment with a fixed stopper member. The pushbutton is released from its locked state when the locking member is threaded into the apparatus body and brought out of abutment with the stopper member and into abutment with the apparatus body. In its unlocked state, a head portion of the pushbutton is axially spaced a distance B from an opposedly facing portion of the locking member, wherein A?B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Koremoto Takeda
  • Patent number: 9046875
    Abstract: Provision of a portable apparatus which is of a simple construction and which can prevent a lock member arranged at a lock position where a pushbutton is locked from being erroneously rotated to an excessive degree. A pipe inserted into a through-hole of an apparatus exterior body is fixed to the apparatus exterior body. The pipe consists of a single component, and has a male screw portion and a stopper portion on an external arrangement tube portion thereof. A lock member is provided with a female screw portion, a lock part, and a lock portion configured to move toward and away from the stopper portion. The two screw portions and are threadedly engaged with each other, and the lock member is mounted so as to be movable in the axial direction of the pipe. A shaft portion of a pushbutton is passed through the pipe, and the pushbutton is urged toward the exterior of the apparatus exterior body by a spring. A head with which the pushbutton is equipped has an opposing portion facing the lock part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
    Inventors: Haruki Hiranuma, Masahiro Ishida
  • Patent number: 9028134
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide a portable device, such as a wrist watch, which realizes, with a simple structure, improved waterproof property against water leak associated with a push-in operation. A wrist watch (portable device) includes an outer case (device outer housing), an operation member and a holding ring. The outer case includes a holding portion in which an annular bearing surface is formed. The operation member is made of a soft material having waterproof performance. The operation member includes an annular packing portion to be seated on the bearing surface and a push-in portion integrally connected to the bearing portion, to which the push-in operation is performed from the outside of the device outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hideaki Koshoji, Haruki Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 8971156
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for controlling a time function or a non-time related function including at least two push-buttons (28A, 28B) each provided with a stem (30A, 30B) and a head (32A, 32B), said push-buttons (28A, 28B) being able to move axially between a first inactive rest position and a second position in which they control the function, characterized in that the stems (30A, 30B) of the two push-buttons (28A, 28b) extend side by side and parallel to each other. The invention also concerns a timepiece fitted with this control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Meco S.A.
    Inventor: Hakim El Kadiri
  • Publication number: 20150023142
    Abstract: A control device for a timepiece, the device including a primary crown adapted to be rotated and pulled, having at least two axial positions, and also including a secondary crown arranged coaxially with respect to the primary crown, the primary crown including a crown head and a control rod fixed rigidly to the crown head and adapted to be coupled to or decoupled from a winding rod of a movement of the timepiece in order to control functions of the timepiece, and the secondary crown including a crown body. The control device distinguishes in that the secondary crown is adapted be rotated and pulled, has at least two axial positions, and includes a kinematic link adapted to control at least one additional function of the timepiece, the primary crown and secondary crown being actuatable independently of one another. The invention also includes a timepiece having such a control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Julien BREUILLOT, Marc HODEBOURG
  • Patent number: 8920022
    Abstract: Provision of a waterproof device capable of improving waterproof property in a push-in operation portion formed by including an extensible member, a holding member and an operation shaft. A wrist watch (portable device) 11 includes an outer case (device outer housing) 12, an extensible member 32 with waterproof property, a holding member 41 attached to the case 12 and an operation shaft 51. The case 12 includes a seating portion 29 and a hole 30. The extensible member 32 includes a cylindrical portion 33 which can be extended/retracted in an axial direction, closing one end as well as opening the other end, and inserted into the hole 30, and a flange 35 projecting integrally from an outer periphery of the other end portion of the cylindrical portion and seated on the seating portion 29.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ishida, Masataka Hayashi
  • Publication number: 20140233359
    Abstract: Provision of a waterproof device capable of improving waterproof property in a push-in operation portion formed by including an extensible member, a holding member and an operation shaft. A wrist watch (portable device) 11 includes an outer case (device outer housing) 12, an extensible member 32 with waterproof property, a holding member 41 attached to the case 12 and an operation shaft 51. The case 12 includes a seating portion 29 and a hole 30. The extensible member 32 includes a cylindrical portion 33 which can be extended/retracted in an axial direction, closing one end as well as opening the other end, and inserted into the hole 30, and a flange 35 projecting integrally from an outer periphery of the other end portion of the cylindrical portion and seated on the seating portion 29.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Masahiro ISHIDA, Masataka HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20140233360
    Abstract: Provision of a portable device capable of improving waterproof property in a push-in operation portion with a simple structure. A wrist watch (portable device) 11 includes an outer case (device outer housing) 12, an operation member 41 and a holding ring 46. The outer case 12 includes a holding portion 35 in which an annular bearing surface 35a is formed. The operation member 41 is made of a soft material having waterproof performance. The operation member 41 includes an annular packing portion 42 to be seated on the bearing surface 35a and a push-in portion 43 integrally connected to the portion, to which push-in operation is performed from the outside of the device outer housing 12.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hideaki KOSHOJI, Haruki HIRANUMA
  • Publication number: 20130163395
    Abstract: Sealed pushbutton for a wristwatch comprising a pushbutton head that is movable between a resting position and an active position, a first fixed conductive element and a second movable conductive element. It comprises an elastically deformable capsule that hermetically covers the first fixed conductor, wherein an upper surface of the capsule is in physical contact with a lower surface of the pushbutton head. The capsule can be located in a non-deformed position when the pushbutton head is in its resting position and in a deformed position when the pushbutton head is in its active position, and the first and second conductive elements form a capacitive or resistive switch device, wherein the switch is in open state when the pushbutton head is in its resting position and in closed state when the pushbutton head is in its active position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
    Inventor: The Swatch Group Research and Development Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20110280111
    Abstract: In a watchcase of a time-piece an internal blocking device for simultaneously blocking the push-buttons (10, 20) of the timepiece comprises an internal collar (11, 21) for each push-button pressing a gasket (12, 22) thereof against the watchcase (30) and at least one sliding element (40) providing blocking members (41, 42) for blocking the movement of the push buttons (10, 20). The sliding elements (40) are operated from outside the timepiece through the wind/set crown (50), a specific screw down button, the bezel (60) or other external members of the timepiece. The internal push buttons blocking device of the invention improves watertightness of the timepiece by a simple and reliable mechanism which is very easy and rapid to use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventor: Michele Romano
  • Patent number: 7744272
    Abstract: A portable apparatus has a push button mounted on a casing for operating a contact inside the casing. The push button is axially slidable in a pipe fixed in a through-hole extending through the casing. A coil spring encircles the pipe and is interposed between a flange of the pipe and a head of the push button to urge the push button outwardly. A packing ring for sealing the space between the pipe and push button is attached to either the pipe or the push button in the region where the coil spring encircles the pipe. Since the coil spring overlaps the packing ring, the axial length of the pipe and push button can be shortened to reduce the size of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshio Hozumi, Kazutaka Imai
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090147630
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a push-button control device for a timepiece, including a push-button head secured to a push-button stem that is fixed to a timepiece case, said stem being able to move axially between at least a rest position and an active position, against a return member, to control at least one function of said timepiece, and water-resistant sealing means, said device being characterized in that the water-resistant sealing means include a cap made of flexible, water-resistant material which covers the push-button head and which is secured to the timepiece case.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: TISSOT S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Clerc, David Apotheloz
  • Publication number: 20080285390
    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: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2006
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicant: RICHEMONT INTERNATIONAL SA
    Inventors: Christophe Cretin, Laurent Morel
  • 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: 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: 6315443
    Abstract: The invention concerns a chronograph watch made of precious metal including a case (1), closed by a crystal (12) and a back cover (13) resting on a rigid middle part-bezel (20) having a recess (19) opening towards the center of the case and wherein are provided through passages (3, 25) for a time-setting stem (4) and for guide sleeves (50) for at least two push buttons (2), and a chronograph movement (5) with its display device (6, 7, 8) positioned in said case by a casing ring (40) arranged between said movement (5) and said middle part-bezel (20), characterized in that the guide sleeves (50) include a tube (55) threaded on the outside and which ends in a collar (56) and in that at least two separated segments (30) shaped substantially like the recess (19) and pierced with a threaded hole (35) are arranged facing the push button (2) sleeves (50) to assure, by screwing from the exterior, both that said segments (30) are firmly positioned and that said sleeves (50) are sealed by crushing a metal ring (26) of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Swatch Group Management Services AG
    Inventors: Clément Meyrat, Olivier Silvant
  • Patent number: 6282153
    Abstract: This invention relates to a rubber plate (elastic) (FIG.1) which, when soldered at its edges (FIG. 1A) to the inside of the body (case) of a watch (or other object) (FIG. 3A), totally seals it against water and dust. At the same time, in view of the fact that it is soldered at its sides (edges), its central part remains totally free, thus permitting the movement of the outside control buttons (FIG. 4C, D and 6A) and activating the mechanism, whether it is electronic (FIG. 3D) or mechanical (FIG. 5 and 7) (digital or analog). When the external controls are pressed, the corresponding function is switched on internally (FIG. 4E, F). A single plate (FIG. 3A) can be used for various controls (FIG. 3B, C) or one plate for each control (FIG. 4A, B), depending on the distance between them and the space available in the watch-case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Inventor: Jose Luis Santos Neri
  • Patent number: 6200020
    Abstract: An operating means such as for example a crown, with an element rigid with the housing and with an operable element which is movable with respect to this. Between these two elements there is arranged a lip seal with an elastic lip, which bears on the element rigid with the housing and delimits the timepiece inner space to the surroundings. By way of the fact that the lip is led in the direction of the surroundings conically onto the element rigid with the housing and lies on this element with pretensioning, on the one hand with an inner space excess pressure it may release itself from the element rigid with the housing for the purpose of pressure compensation between the inner space and the surroundings and on the other hand with a surrounding excess pressure it is more strongly pressed on the element rigid with the housing for the purpose of sealing the inner space with respect to the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Meco SA Grenchen
    Inventor: Hans Rieben
  • Patent number: 6137750
    Abstract: A safety valve with an element rigid with the housing and with an operable element which is movable with respect to this. Between these two elements there is arranged a lip seal with an elastic lip, which bears on the element rigid with the housing and delimits the timepiece inner space from the surroundings. By way of the fact that the lip is led in the direction of the surroundings conically onto the element rigid with the housing and lies on this element with pretensioning, on the one hand with an inner space excess pressure it may release itself from the element rigid with the housing for the purpose of pressure compensation between the inner space and the surroundings and on the other hand with a surrounding excess pressure it is more strongly pressed on the element rigid with the housing for the purpose of sealing the inner space with respect to the surroundings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Meco SA Grenchen
    Inventor: Hans Rieben
  • Patent number: 5751668
    Abstract: Push button comprising a stem (10), provided with a head (5) able to be manipulated and sliding into an opening (2) provided in the middle part (3) of a timepiece, and stopping means preventing the removal of said stem (10), wherein the stem (10) comprises, on the head side (5), a main cylindrical body (11) extended by a shank (13) separated from the latter by a groove (12) intended to receive an O-ring sealing gasket (30), said shank (13) having at its end an axial stud (17) ending in an annular rim (18), and the stopping means comprise a sleeve (20) inserted between the wall of the opening (2) and the shank (13), partially blocked by a ring (22) of greater external diameter than that of the opening (2) and of substantially equal aperture to the diameter of the stud (17), said (20) sleeve compressing the O-ring sealing gasket (30) and being fixed to the shank (13) by riveting of the annular rim (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Eta sa Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: David Eray
  • Patent number: 5663934
    Abstract: The watertight push button device is intended for example to equip a timepiece, in particular for controlling said timepiece. It comprises a body (2) inside which a cavity (4) of generally oblong shape is arranged, and a push button stem (6) arranged inside the cavity (4) and capable of moving, inside the latter, by a sliding movement when its head (8) is pushed.In order to prevent a shock at the end of the travel and/or an accidental activation of the push button, the device comprises pneumatic means intended to dampen the sliding movement of the stem (6) inside the body (2). These pneumatic means comprise an annular chamber defined around the stem (6) by a fixed gasket (28) and one of the sealing gaskets (20,22) mounted on the stem. Leakage means are preferably provided between the fixed gasket and the stem or the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Werthanor S.A.
    Inventors: Sylvain Wenger, Joseph Eray
  • Patent number: 5631881
    Abstract: A push button assembly for an electronic wrist instrument requires only two components, a push button member and a gasket which dually functions as a spring, thereby reducing the cost of manufacturing and easing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Timex Corporation
    Inventors: Claude Pessey, Paul G. Chavin
  • Patent number: 5299179
    Abstract: This pushpiece (1) for a timepiece includes a movable head (3) slidingly mounted on a tube (4), said head partially enveloping such tube. The head exhibits a central cylindrical core (5) which penetrates into the tube, at least one O ring seal (6) being located between the tube and the core. A return spring (7) urges the head towards the exterior. The core (5) is extended by a stem (8), the diameter of which is greater than the diameter of the core, the spring being arranged between the stem and the tube. In this manner the spring is located in a sealed zone of the pushpiece and the mean diameter of the O ring seal is less than the mean diameter of the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: SMH Management Services AG
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Miche, Gerard Palix
  • Patent number: 5257247
    Abstract: This valve (1) for a watch case comprises a head (3) and a tube (4) onto which the head can be screwed. A stem (8) fixed to a core (5) borne by the head is surrounded by a return spring (7) bearing, on the one hand, under the head and, on the other hand, onto a bottom (3) exhibited by the tube through a ring (14) and a first packing (6). A second packing (18) is mounted under the head in line with the tube. When the head is screwed down the second packing (18) is compressed and the valve is inoperative and at the same time totally sealed. When the head is unscrewed the first packing (6) is able to rise up against the return force of spring (7) if the fluid pressure prevailing within the case is higher than that on the exterior thereof. An excessive interior pressure which can damage the case is thus avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: SMH Management Services AG
    Inventors: Marc-Andre Miche, Gerard Palix
  • Patent number: 4497584
    Abstract: A case body is fixed to a glass by means of an interposed ring of a vulcanizable elastomer, this ring being bonded by vulcanization either directly to the glass or to a metallized coating applied to the glass, as well as to the upper surface of the case body. The metallic coating is applied to an annular zone at the periphery of the underside of the glass. Instead of this coating, the inside surface of the glass may be frosted in that zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1985
    Assignee: Firma H. Finger
    Inventor: Michel Ratajski
  • Patent number: 4451160
    Abstract: A watch comprises a push button 3 with an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the watch. It is slidable in a tube 2 which is fixed with respect to the bottom 1 of the casing and which is disposed in the interior of the casing. The push button 3 comprises a stem member 4 which is slideable within the tube 2, and a cap member 5 around the tube 2. A return spring 7 co-operates with the cap member 5 by way of the end which is remote from that which is fixed to the stem member 4, whereby the return spring does not require additional thickness of the casing to accommodate it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1984
    Assignee: ETA S.A. Fabriques d'Ebauches
    Inventor: Josef Fluck
  • Patent number: 4430532
    Abstract: A pushbutton device comprises a pipe or tubular member for being affixed to a casing as of an electronic watch, a pushbutton body axially movably disposed in the pipe, resilient structure for returning the pushbutton body to an original position, structure for retaining the pushbutton body in the pipe, and a plurality of contacts selectively actuatable by the pushbutton body into and out of mutual electrical contact. Either the pushbutton body or the pipe has at least one step on its upper surface remote from the contacts to provide a plurality of stepped strokes of depressed movement of the pushbutton body with respect to the pipe for selective actuation of the contacts. The resilient structure may be a coil spring or a resilient leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 4428683
    Abstract: An electronic timepiece assembly interposed between a module and an exteriorly operable member and comprising a switch lower base including a plurality of electrically conductive portions connected to a contact pattern formed on the module and a switch upper plate including a plurality of terminal portions formed in correspondence with the conductive portions and a plurality of projections operable by means of the exteriorly operable member so as to be resiliently deformed and connect the terminal portions through the electrically conductive portions to the contact pattern formed on the module. A button box including a lower case and an upper cover is mounted in an opening in the front side of the timepiece case. The upper cover of the button box includes sound-emitting openings for the alarm and an opening for receiving a button which is arranged to engage a projection on the alarm oscillation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1984
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Saito, Hideo Hatanaka
  • Patent number: 4389123
    Abstract: A waterproof construction around a miniature buzzer incorporated in an electronic alarm watch depends on a gasket alone. The construction is such that the gasket can secure a resonant plate without any storage of distortion in the resonant plate. This feature makes it possible to provide the electronic alarm watch having a stable performance for acoustic emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha
    Inventors: Ichiro Horikoshi, Fumikazu Murakami, Yoshiaki Hara, Susumu Fujita, Osamu Ide
  • Patent number: 4218601
    Abstract: A pushbutton for actuating a switch of an electronic timepiece wherein the pushbutton may be reduced in diameter. According to the present invention, in order to reduce the diameter of the pushbutton, a packing of resilient material for providing a watertight seal is pressed into a pipe secured to a hole in watch case, the packing is so arranged that it may be axially moved in the pipe by the pushbutton body for actuating a switch provided in the watch case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1980
    Assignee: Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motoyuki Saito