Patent Publication Number: US-2022214649-A1

Title: Timepiece

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a timepiece. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Timepieces including a crown have been available. In such a timepiece, the crown is connected to a movement via a stem. Rotary power generated by rotation of the crown is transmitted to the movement to wind a mainspring of the movement, driving the timepiece. The crown of such a timepiece can be pulled out, and is rotated in a pulled state by a user of the timepiece to perform, for example, an operation for setting the time. 
     To prevent an operation that a user does not intend from being performed, some of such timepieces lock the crown into an outer case with a screw structure to restrict pulling out the crown. However, a user needs to unlock and then rotate the crown every time the mainspring is wound, and may find it troublesome. Patent Literature 1 describes a timepiece that can wind a mainspring by rotating a crown even when the crown is locked by a screw structure. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-139400 
     SUMMARY 
     However, the timepiece described in Patent Literature 1 includes a guard part for locking the crown and an operation part for rotating the crown, and the operation part is provided closer to an outer case than the guard part, separately from the head of the crown. This increases the number of components, imposing constraints of design on the timepiece described in Patent Literature 1. 
     A timepiece according to an embodiment enables a crown to be rotated even when it is locked, using a structure that does not cause constraints of design. 
     The timepiece according to an embodiment includes an outer case having a movement therein, the outer case having a crown hole through a portion thereof; an engagement member connected to the outer case; and a crown. The crown includes a shaft part inserted into the crown hole and connected to the movement; an operation part holding the shaft part movably along an axial direction of the shaft part and enabling the shaft part to rotate in a circumferential direction; and an engagement part disposed between the engagement member and the operation part and restricting movement of the operation part in the axial direction when engaged with the engagement member, the engagement part rotatably holding the operation part whether or not engaged with the engagement member. 
     The engagement member in the timepiece according to an embodiment is preferably formed integrally with the outer case. 
     The engagement member in the timepiece according to an embodiment is preferably formed separately from the outer case. 
     The engagement part in the timepiece according to an embodiment preferably engages with the engagement member by screwing. 
     The engagement part in the timepiece according to an embodiment preferably rotatably holds the operation part with a fastening structure formed between an inner circumference of the engagement part and the operation part. 
     The engagement part in the timepiece according to an embodiment preferably rotatably holds the operation part with a barbed structure formed between an outer circumference of the engagement part and the operation part. 
     The crown in the timepiece according to an embodiment is preferably configured to be capable of winding a mainspring of the movement by rotation when the engagement part is engaged with the engagement member, and configured to be capable of rotating, by rotation, a hand connected to the movement when engagement between the engagement part and the engagement member is released and the crown is pulled out. 
     The timepiece according to an embodiment enables a crown to be rotated even when it is locked, using a structure that does not cause constraints of design. 
     The objects and advantageous effects of the present invention will be understood and achieved by means of components and combinations thereof mentioned, in particular, in the claims. Both the foregoing general and the following detailed descriptions are illustrative and explanatory ones, and do not limit the invention described in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a movement  8 . 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram for briefly describing the movement  8 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram for explaining operation depending on the position of a pull-out crown in a first state. 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram for explaining operation depending on the position of a pull-out crown in a second state. 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a timepiece  1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the timepiece  1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the timepiece  1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a crown  3  of the timepiece  1  and its vicinity. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a crown  3  of the timepiece  1  and its vicinity. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of a crown  3  of the timepiece  1  and its vicinity. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a crown  3   a  of a timepiece and its vicinity. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, note that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and includes the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     First Embodiment 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a movement  8  of a timepiece according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram for briefly describing the movement  8 .  FIG. 2  schematically shows the relationship between components of the movement  8 . In  FIG. 2 , the teeth of gears of the components are omitted from illustration. 
     First, operation in a state in which a crown is not pulled out (hereafter, a “first state”) will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     A stem  34  is a shaft-like member screwed to a crown, and rotates in the circumferential direction together with rotation of the crown. To the stem  34 , a clutch wheel  81  is fitted slidably in the axial direction of the stem  34 , and a winding pinion  82  is fitted rotatably in the circumferential direction of the stem  34 . In the first state, when the stem  34  rotates together with rotation of the crown, the clutch wheel  81  rotates and the winding pinion  82 , which meshes with the clutch wheel  81 , rotates. Rotation of the winding pinion  82  is transmitted to a crown wheel  83 , a ratchet wheel  84 , and a barrel arbor  85  in this order, and a mainspring connected to the barrel arbor  85  is wound. In this way, the crown is configured to be capable of winding, by rotation, a mainspring connected to the barrel arbor  85  of the movement  8 . This enables a first operation on the movement  8  for winding the mainspring. 
     Restoring force of the wound mainspring is transmitted to a barrel wheel  86 , a center pinion  871 , a center wheel  872 , a third pinion  881 , a third wheel  882 , a fourth pinion  891 , a fourth wheel  892 , an escape pinion  901 , and an escape wheel  902  in this order to cause a balance  91  to periodically oscillate. The center pinion  871  and the center wheel  872 , the third pinion  881  and the third wheel  882 , the fourth pinion  891  and the fourth wheel  892 , and the escape pinion  901  and the escape wheel  902  are components of a center wheel and pinion  87 , a third wheel and pinion  88 , a fourth wheel and pinion  89 , and an escape wheel and pinion  90 , respectively. In order for the escape wheel  902  to oscillate the balance  91 , an escapement, such as an anchor escapement, is used. 
     To the center wheel and pinion  87 , a minute hand  73   m  is attached. The center wheel and pinion  87  is configured to make one revolution in 60 minutes. The fourth wheel and pinion  89  is configured to transmit this rotation to a second hand  73   s  (see  FIG. 4 ) and to make one revolution in 60 seconds. Rotation of the center wheel and pinion  87  is transmitted from a cannon pinion (not shown), which operates together with the center wheel  872 , via a minute wheel and pinion  92  to an hour wheel  93 . To the hour wheel  93 , an hour hand  73   h  is attached. The hour wheel  93  is configured to make one revolution in 12 hours. 
     Next, operation in a state in which the crown is pulled out (hereafter, a “second state”) will be described. 
     In the second state, the clutch wheel  81  does not mesh with the winding pinion  82  but with a setting wheel  94 . In the second state, when the stem  34  rotates together with rotation of the crown, rotation of the stem  34  is transmitted to the clutch wheel  81 , the setting wheel  94 , an intermediate setting wheel  95 , and a minute wheel  922  in this order to rotate the hour wheel  93 , to which the hour hand  73   h  is attached, and the cannon pinion. Rotation of the cannon pinion rotates the center wheel and pinion  87 , to which the minute hand  73   m  is attached. In this way, the crown is configured to be capable of rotating, by rotation, the hour hand  73   h  and the minute hand  73   m  connected to the movement  8 . This enables a second operation on the movement  8  for setting the time. The hour hand  73   h  and the minute hand  73   m  are examples of the hand. 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic diagrams for explaining operation depending on the position of the pull-out crown.  FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram of the first state. In the first state, the clutch wheel  81  receives elastic force of a yoke spring  97  via a yoke  96  to be pushed toward the winding pinion  82 , meshing with the winding pinion  82 . In the first state, rotary power of the stem  34  is transmitted to the winding pinion  82 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram of the second state. In the second state, a head  981  of a setting lever  98  inserted into a groove  341  of the stem  34  is pulled out together with the stem  34 , and a bottom  982  of the setting lever  98  pushes the yoke  96  toward the setting wheel  94 . In the second state, the clutch wheel  81  meshes with the setting wheel  94 , causing rotary power of the stem  34  to be transmitted to the setting wheel  94 . 
     Note that the above brief description of the movement  8  is for explaining operation of the crown, and that another movement different from the movement  8  may be used for the timepiece according to the embodiment. 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a timepiece  1  according to the first embodiment, and  FIG. 5  shows a portion of a cross section taken along line I-I in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 5 , the hour hand  73   h , the minute hand  73   m,  and the second hand  73   s  are omitted from illustration. The timepiece  1  includes an outer case  20 , a crown  3 , a bezel  41  and  42 , and a protective glass  60 . Below the protective glass  60 , a dial  70 , a first dial ring  71 , a second dial ring  72 , and a rotating shaft  73  are provided. The hour hand  73   h,  the minute hand  73   m,  and the second hand  73   s  are set to the rotating shaft  73  and rotates together with the hour wheel  83 , the center wheel and pinion  87 , and the fourth wheel and pinion  89 , respectively. The first dial ring  71  and the second dial ring  72  are annular members covering the periphery of the dial  70 . Below the dial  70  is incorporated the movement  8  connected to the rotating shaft  73  to drive the hands, i.e., the hour hand  73   h , the minute hand  73   m,  and the second hand  73   s  (regarding the components of the movement  8 , see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). On the underside of the timepiece  1 , a case back  61  and a case back holder  62  are provided. The side surface of the outer case  20  has a crown hole  23  through a portion thereof. Into the crown hole  23 , a cylindrical pipe  22  is inserted and attached by fixing. The pipe  22  is an example of the engagement member. In the example shown in  FIG. 5 , the pipe  22  is formed separately from the outer case  20 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pipe  22  may be formed integrally with the outer case  20 . For example, the pipe  22  may be formed together with the outer case  20  by injection molding. The following description will be given by assuming that the pipe  22  is formed separately from the outer case  20 . 
     The crown  3  enables operation on the movement  8 . For example, the crown  3  transmits rotary power to the movement  8 . To achieve this, the crown  3  includes a shaft part  31 , an operation part  32 , and an engagement part  33 . The shaft part  31  is inserted into the pipe  22 . The shaft part  31  has one end connected to the movement  8  via the stem  34 , and transmits rotary power. The operation part  32  is provided at the other end of the shaft part  31  and operated to enable the shaft part  31  to move in the axial direction and rotate in the circumferential direction. The engagement part  33  is a cylindrical member disposed between the operation part  32  and the pipe  22 . The engagement part  33  restricts movement of the operation part  32  in the axial direction when engaged with the pipe  22 , and rotatably holds the operation part  32  whether or not engaged with the pipe  22 . In the following, the state in which the engagement part  33  is engaged with the pipe  22  and thereby restricts movement of the operation part  32  in the axial direction will be referred to as a “locked state.” 
       FIGS. 7 to 9  are enlarged views of the crown  3  and its vicinity in a cross section of the timepiece  1 . The following describes details of the structure of the crown  3 , using  FIGS. 7 to 9 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view in the locked state. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shaft part  31  is inserted into the pipe  22 , which is inserted into the crown hole  23  formed in the outer case  20 . The outer circumference of the shaft part  31  and the inner circumference of the pipe  22  are both circular, and the shaft part  31  is rotatable in the circumferential direction when inserted into the pipe  22 . The end of the shaft part  31  has a recess  311  into which the stem  34  is inserted. The stem  34  is fixed to the recess  311 , for example, by screwing and thereby connected to the shaft part  31 . The stem  34  may be formed integrally with the shaft part  31 . Around the shaft part  31 , a waterproofing member  313 , such as a gasket, may be provided. 
     The operation part  32  includes a head  321  and an inner cylinder  322 . The head  321  is fixed to the inner cylinder  322 , into which part of the shaft part  31  is inserted. The inner circumference of the inner cylinder  322  and the outer circumference of a flange  314  of the shaft part  31  each have a square shape of substantially the same diameter, and the inner cylinder  322  and the shaft part  31  rotate in the circumferential direction together. More specifically, rotation of the head  321  rotates the inner cylinder  322  fixed to the head  321  and rotates the shaft part  31  together. In this way, the operation part  32  enables the shaft part  31  to rotate in the circumferential direction. 
     The engagement part  33  includes a body  331  and a holder  332 . The body  331  fixed to the holder  332  is coupled to a flange  324  of the inner cylinder  322  to form a fastening structure  100  between the inner circumference of the engagement part  33  and the operation part  32 . More specifically, the holder  332  is fixed to the inner circumference of the body  331 , and thereby the engagement part  33  has a portion whose inner circumference has a larger diameter. The fastening structure  100  is formed by coupling to this larger-diameter portion the flange  324 , whose outer circumference has a larger diameter in the inner cylinder  322 . With the fastening structure  100 , the engagement part  33  holds the operation part  32  so that it is rotatable relative to the engagement part  33 . Further, the body  331  and the holder  332  are not fixed to the inner cylinder  322 , and are rotatable relative to the inner cylinder  322 . This makes the engagement part  33  operate together with the operation part  32  in the axial direction of the shaft part  31  and hold it rotatably in the circumferential direction. Additionally, an internal thread structure  333  provided on the inner circumference of the body  331  is screwed to an external thread structure  221  of the pipe  22 . This makes the engagement part  33  restrict movement of the operation part  32  in the axial direction when engaged with the pipe  22 . Instead of the external thread structure  221  and the internal thread structure  333 , any structure that enables engagement may be used. Additionally, waterproofing members  334  and  335 , such as gaskets, may be provided between the body  331  and the inner cylinder  322  and between the body  331  and the head  321 , respectively. 
     In the locked state, the shaft part  31  is at a first position where it is not pulled out, as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the locked state also, the operation part  32  is rotatably held by the engagement part  33 . Thus the crown  3  is configured to be capable of winding, by rotation, the mainspring connected to the barrel arbor  85  of the movement  8  in the locked state. The mainspring can be wound by a user of the timepiece  1  rotating the operation part  32 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view in the first state. Rotating the engagement part  33  in the locked state shown in  FIG. 7  releases screwing between the internal thread structure  333  of the engagement part  33  and the external thread structure  221  of the pipe  22 , resulting in the first state shown in  FIG. 8 . In the first state, the engagement part  33  operates together with the operation part  32  in the axial direction. Release of screwing moves the operation part  32  and the engagement part  33  in the direction away from the pipe  22 , but elastic force of a spring  312  embedded in the shaft part  31  keeps the shaft part  31  in the first position where it is not pulled out, as in the locked state. In other words, the position of the shaft part  31  relative to the pipe  22  does not change from that in the locked state. 
     In the first state, a user of the timepiece  1  can wind the mainspring by rotating the operation part  32 . Since the engagement part  33  operates together with the operation part  32  in the axial direction, the user of the timepiece  1  can pull out the operation part  32  and the engagement part  33 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view in the second state. When the operation part  32  and the engagement part  33  are pulled out in the first state, the shaft part  31  is pulled out by the flange  314  of the shaft part  31  being caught by the inner circumference  323  of the inner cylinder  322 . Then, the position of the shaft part  31  relative to the pipe  22  changes in the direction away from the outer case  20 . In other words, the shaft part  31  moves to a second position where it is pulled out. This results in the second state and enables the second operation for setting the time. 
     As described above, the engagement part  33  of the timepiece  1  is disposed between the pipe  22  and the operation part  32  and engaged with the pipe  22  to restrict movement of the operation part  32  in the axial direction of the shaft part  31 , and rotatably holds the operation part  32  whether or not engaged with the pipe  22 . Thus the timepiece  1  enables the crown  3  to be rotated even when it is in the locked state. Additionally, the engagement part  33  disposed between the pipe  22  and the operation part  32  eliminates the need for including another member outside the crown  3 , and does not cause constraints of design. 
     Second Embodiment 
     A timepiece according to a second embodiment differs from the timepiece  1  according to the first embodiment in the structure of the operation part  32  and the engagement part  33  of the crown  3 . The following describes a crown  3   a  of the timepiece according to the second embodiment, using  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the crown  3   a  of the timepiece according to the second embodiment and its vicinity. The crown  3   a  according to the second embodiment includes a shaft part  31 , an operation part  35 , and an engagement part  36 . The cross section shown in  FIG. 10  is taken along the same line as the cross sections shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , but in  FIG. 10 , the outer case  20 , the stem  34 , the case back holder  62 , and the second dial ring  72 , which are shown in  FIGS. 7 to 9 , are omitted from illustration. The same reference numerals are assigned to components similar to those in the first embodiment, and explanation thereof will be omitted as appropriate. 
     The operation part  35  includes a head  351  and an inner cylinder  352 . The shaft part  31  is inserted into a recess  353  of the head  351 . The inner circumference of the recess  353  and the outer circumference of the flange  314  of the shaft part  31  each have a square shape of substantially the same diameter, and the head  351  and the shaft part  31  are configured to rotate in the circumferential direction together. The head  351  has a skirt structure  354  extending from its outer circumference toward the outer case. The inner cylinder  352  is a cylindrical member into which the shaft part  31  is inserted, and is fixed to the head  351 . 
     The engagement part  36  is a cylindrical member into which part of the operation part  35  is inserted, and has an internal thread structure  362  on its inner circumference. The engagement part  36  has such a shape as to fit in the skirt structure  354  of the operation part  35 . The internal thread structure  362  is a structure that can be screwed to the external thread structure  221  of the pipe  22 . Between the engagement part  36  and the inner cylinder  352 , a waterproofing member  364 , such as a gasket, may be provided. 
     The engagement part  36  has an edge  363  hooked to an edge  355  of the operation part  35  to form a barbed structure  110  between the outer circumference of the engagement part  36  and the operation part  35 . More specifically, the engagement part  36  has the edge  363  whose outer circumference has a larger diameter. The barbed structure  110  is formed by hooking the edge  363  to a portion of the skirt structure  354  whose inner circumference has a larger diameter. With the barbed structure  110 , the engagement part  36  rotatably holds the operation part  35 . In the locked state, the engagement part  36  is engaged with the pipe  22  to restrict movement of the operation part  35  in the axial direction. Additionally, the engagement part  36  rotatably holds the operation part  35  whether or not engaged with the pipe  22 . 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  TIMEPIECE 
           20  OUTER CASE 
           3  CROWN 
           31  SHAFT PART 
           32  OPERATION PART 
           33  ENGAGEMENT PART