Patent Publication Number: US-11042122-B2

Title: Timepiece with rotatable crown having tactile feel

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-039913 filed on Mar. 6, 2018, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present disclosure relates to the structure of a timepiece. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     For example, in a conventional common timepiece equipped with an in-revolving ring, it is possible to hold an in-revolving cogwheel installed on the shaft of a driving crown and a cogwheel formed on the in-revolving ring in mesh with each other, and to freely determine the rotational position of the in-revolving ring through rotation of the driving crown. No operational “feel,” however, is experienced when rotating the driving crown. That is, the rotational position of the driving crown, i.e., the rotational position of the in-revolving ring, is maintained solely by the resistance of a packing in the driving crown and the friction between the components. When rotating the driving crown, the fingers substantially feel free. In other words, they only receive a fixed resistance. 
     A prior art document (e.g., JP-A-2017-32286 (Patent Document 1)) discloses a timepiece provided with a rotation operating device in which a movable cogwheel having protrusions and recesses is slidably mounted to the shaft of a driving crown and which is equipped with a stationary cogwheel having protrusions and recesses in correspondence with the movable cogwheel on a cylinder installed in a case and a spring member pressing the protrusions and recesses of the movable cogwheel against the protrusions and recesses of the stationary cogwheel. Due to this structure, in the timepiece of the prior art document, it is possible to experience a tactile feel when rotating the driving crown. 
     In the rotation operating device of the prior art document, however, it is necessary to provide the spring member for pressing the protrusions and recesses of the movable cogwheel against the protrusions and recesses of the stationary cogwheel, resulting in an increase in the number of components and in cost compared with the conventional common timepiece. Thus, it leaves room for an improvement. 
     Further, in the rotation operating device of the prior art document, there exists, between an insertion hole of the movable cogwheel and the shaft portion of the driving crown inserted into this insertion hole, a gap for causing the shaft portion to slide. Thus, even when the movable cogwheel is at rest, the driving crown undergoes a minute rotation in the rotational direction. In other words, the driving crown rattles in the rotational direction. Thus, it leaves room for an improvement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Each of embodiments of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems. Each of embodiments provides a timepiece which provides a tactile feel in a simple structure and which can suppress inadvertent rotation of a crown. 
     According to a first aspect, there is provided a timepiece including a tube member which protrudes on an outer side of a case and a distal end portion of which is capable of elastic deformation in a radial direction; a crown rotatably inserted into the tube member; protrusions and recesses formed on a peripheral surface of one of the tube member and the crown; and an engagement portion that is formed on a peripheral surface of the other of the tube member and the crown and that is engaged with the protrusions and recesses. 
     According to a second aspect, there is provided a timepiece according to the first aspect, wherein a portion of the tube member capable of elastic deformation is formed by a divisional member obtained through peripheral division by a plurality of grooves extending from a distal end side toward a proximal end side of the tube member and formed at peripheral intervals. 
     According to a third aspect, there is provided a timepiece according to the second aspect, wherein the divisional member has on the proximal end side a thin-walled portion thinner than on the distal end side. 
     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timepiece according to any of the first to third aspects, wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member and a cap-like head portion which is connected to a distal end of the shaft member and the case side of which is open; a protrusion as the engagement portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the head portion; and the protrusions and recesses is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the tube member. 
     According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a timepiece according to any of the first to third aspects, wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member and a cap-like head portion which is connected to a distal end of the shaft member and the case side of which is open; the protrusions and recesses is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the shaft member; and the engagement portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the tube member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a wristwatch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view, partly in section, of the wristwatch according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of the wristwatch shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a driving crown and peripheral components of the wristwatch according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of the wristwatch shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the driving crown of the wristwatch according to the first embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of a main portion of a wristwatch according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 - 8  of the wristwatch shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of a driving crown and peripheral components of the wristwatch according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a head portion of the driving crown of the wristwatch according to the second embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of a driving crown, a shaft portion, and an elastic material winding stem pipe of a wristwatch according to a third embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     First Embodiment 
     The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a wristwatch  10  is equipped with a case  12  constituting an outer jacket. The belt of the wristwatch  10  is omitted in the drawing. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , accommodated in the case  12  are mechanisms such as a dial  14 , a movement  18  controlling the movement of time indicator hands  16  indicating time, and a rotated member, for example, an in-revolving ring  20 . The movement  18  is accommodated in the case  12  along with a movement retaining ring  19 A and a middle frame  19 B. The rotated member is not restricted to the in-revolving ring  20  described below. It is only necessary for the rotated member to be one that is rotatably accommodated in the case  12  and that is rotated in conjunction with an operation performed from the outside of the case  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the dial  14  is circular and has in the peripheral portion a time-indicating scale  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the time indicator hands  16  of the present embodiment include an hour hand  16 A, a minute hand  16 B, and a second hand  16 C. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the 3 o&#39;clock direction of the wristwatch  10 , a time correction crown  24  is mounted so as to be rotatable with respect to the case  12 . The time correction crown  24  is rotated outside the case  12 . The rotation of the time correction crown  24  is imparted to a train wheel (not shown) of the movement  18  in order to rotate, for example, the minute hand  16 B, adjusting the position of the minute hand  16 B. 
     The in-revolving ring  20  is rotatably arranged on the front surface side of the peripheral portion of the dial  14 . The in-revolving ring  20  is formed, for example, of synthetic resin, and is of a ring-like configuration in plan view as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer diameter of the in-revolving ring  20  is larger than the diameter (outer diameter) of the dial  14 , and the inner diameter of the in-revolving ring  20  is smaller than the diameter of the dial  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the thickness of the in-revolving ring  20  increases gradually from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery. The oblique and annular surface of the in-revolving ring  20  thus formed serves as a display surface  20 A, and a display  26  is provided on the display surface  20 A as shown in  FIG. 1 . The display  26  is, for example, a scale provided by printing or the like at equal intervals along the peripheral direction of the in-revolving ring  20 . For example, it is possible to attain a timer function by which a period of time elapsing from a predetermined point in time is measured through a change in the relative position of the display  26  moved to a predetermined position through the rotation of the in-revolving ring  20  and the time indicator hands  16 . 
     The display  26  of the in-revolving ring  20  is not restricted to a scale but may be a plurality of display regions divided by colors different from each other. Alternatively, the display  26  may consist of symbols respectively depicted in a plurality of plain display regions (e.g., a sun symbol representing daytime and a moon symbol representing the time after sunset). Further, instead of functioning as a timer, the display  26  may be a directional display (N, W, S, E, etc.) allowing simple directional measurement. 
     While, as described above, it is necessary for the in-revolving ring  20  to be of a ring-like configuration in plan view, this should not be construed restrictively. In the case where the in-revolving ring  20  is of a ring-like configuration in plan view, it may be of an endless configuration in plan view or it may have ends that are opposite each other to form a C-shaped configuration in plan view. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , on the back surface side of the in-revolving ring  20 , there is provided a moved cogwheel portion  28  in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge. The moved cogwheel portion  28  is a so-called crown wheel. It has a plurality of teeth extending in the radial direction of the in-revolving ring  20  and formed at equal peripheral intervals. The moved cogwheel portion  28  is situated on the outer side in the radial direction of the outer peripheral edge of the dial  14 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the case  12 , an annular glass edge  30  is attached to the front surface side in the thickness direction of an annularly formed case band  12 A in a liquid-tight fashion through the intermediation of an annular glass edge fixation packing  32 . A circular glass  36  as a transparent cover is attached to the inner peripheral side of the glass edge  30  in a liquid-tight fashion through the intermediation of an annular glass fixation packing  34 . Through this glass  36 , the dial  14 , the time indicator hands  16 , and the in-revolving ring  20  are visible. 
     Further, in the case  12 , a case back  38  is attached to the back surface side in the thickness direction of the case band  12 A in a liquid-tight fashion through the intermediation of an annular packing  39 . The case back  38  of the present embodiment is a so-called screw back. While it is desirable for the case  12  to be formed of a metal such as stainless steel or titanium, it may also be formed of synthetic resin, ceramics or the like. 
     On the inner peripheral portion of the glass edge  30 , there is formed an annular protrusion  40  protruding toward the inner side in the radial direction. The outer peripheral surface of the glass  36  is in contact with the inner peripheral portion of the glass edge  30  on the timepiece surface side of the annular protrusion  40 , and the back surface of the peripheral portion thereof is in contact with the annular protrusion  40  to be supported by the glass edge  30 . 
     This annular protrusion  40  covers the outer peripheral portion of the in-revolving ring  20  from the timepiece front surface side. As a result, the in-revolving ring  20  is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the dial  14  and the annular protrusion  40  and so as to be immovable in the thickness direction of the wristwatch  10 . Further, the inner peripheral surface of the glass edge  30  situated on the back side of the annular protrusion  40  is close to the outer peripheral surface of the in-revolving ring  20 , whereby the in-revolving ring  20  is supported by the glass edge  30  so as to be immovable in the radial direction. 
     (Click Mechanism) 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the case band  12 A has, at a position deviated from the mounting position of the time correction crown  24 , and, in the present embodiment, in the 4 o&#39;clock direction (See  FIG. 2 ), a through-hole  42  extending through in the radial direction. An elastic material winding stem pipe  44  is inserted into this through-hole  42 . 
     The elastic material winding stem pipe  44  is formed in a stepped cylindrical configuration having a large diameter portion  44 A and a small diameter portion  44 B, with the small diameter portion  44 B being inserted into the through-hole  42  for fixation by adhesive or the like. The large diameter portion  44 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  is arranged outside the case  12 , with the end surface on the small diameter portion  44 B side thereof being in contact with the outer surface of the case  12 . The end portion of the small diameter portion  44 B on the side opposite the large diameter portion  44 A protrudes to the inner side of the case  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a grain knurl  46  is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion  44 A. On the grain knurl  46 , there are arranged at equal peripheral intervals V-shaped (triangular in the present embodiment) teeth  46 A extending along the axial direction. In the present embodiment,  18  teeth  46 A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion  44 A. It is desirable for the teeth  46 A to be of a tapered configuration. The configuration is not restricted to a triangular one. For example, the distal end of the triangle may be rounded. It may also be an isosceles trapezoid or the like. In the present specification, the recessed portions between the teeth  46 A are referred to as trough portions  48 . The teeth  46 A and the trough portions  48  of the present embodiment are an example of the protrusions and recesses of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the large diameter portion  44 A has four expanding slots  50  extending in the axial direction and formed at a peripheral interval of 90 degrees. The expanding slots  50  are formed from the end portion of the large diameter portion  44 A on the side opposite the small diameter portion  44 B to the vicinity of the stepped portion. That is, the slot bottoms of the expanding slots  50  are situated in the vicinity of the stepped portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the large diameter portion  44 A, the portions between the expanding slots  50  are formed as elastically deformable members  52  of an arcuate configuration as seen from the axial direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion  44 A has an annular groove  54  on the outer side of the slot bottoms of the expanding slots  50 , thus reducing the thickness of the proximal portion of the elastically deformable member  52 . This portion in which the thickness of the elastically deformable member  52  is reduced is an example of the thin-walled portion of the present invention. As a result, the elastically deformable member  52  is capable of elastic deformation so as to be inclined in the radially inner-outer direction using the annular groove  54  as a fulcrum. The elastic material winding stem pipe  44  of the present embodiment can be formed, for example, through the cutting of a metal material such as stainless steel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 , a shaft member  58  integrally connected to a driving crown  56  is inserted into the small diameter portion  44 B of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 . The driving crown  56  is used to rotate the in-revolving ring  20 . When the driving crown  56  is rotated outside the case  12 , the in-revolving ring  20  rotates in conjunction therewith. The driving crown  56  and the shaft member  58  are an example of the crown of the present invention, and the driving crown  56  is an example of the head portion of the present invention. 
     The driving crown  56  as the head portion is formed in a cap-like configuration having a ring-like peripheral wall  62  and an end wall  64  closing one end of this peripheral wall  62 . The outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  62  has a grain knurl  60  for preventing slipping of the fingers of the operator rotating this driving crown  56 . 
     The sectional configuration of the shaft member  58  orthogonal to the axis is circular except for a portion at the distal end side. Its total length is larger than the total length of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 . A part of the outer peripheral portion at the distal end side of the shaft member  58  is machined to be flat to form a step  66 . The portion of the shaft member  58  machined to be flat is of a D-shaped sectional configuration orthogonal to the axis. Hereinafter, in the present specification, the portion of the shaft member  58  the sectional configuration of which is D-shaped is referred to as an irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A. 
     In the shaft member  58 , the diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the portion from the driving crown  56  side root to the step  66  is fixed, and is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the small diameter portion  44 B of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 . Hereinafter, in the shaft member  58 , the portion the diameter of which is fixed will be referred to as a fixed diameter shaft member  58 B. This fixed diameter shaft member  58 B is rotatable while inserted into the hole of the small diameter portion  44 B of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 . 
     The fixed diameter shaft member  58 B of the shaft member  58  has, at the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction thereof, an annular mounting groove  68  continuous in the peripheral direction. Accommodated in this mounting groove  68  is a ring-like packing  70  sealing the gap between the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  and the shaft member  58 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a driving wheel  72  transmitting the rotation of the driving crown  56  to the in-revolving ring  20  is mounted to the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A of the shaft member  58 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the driving wheel  72  has a fit-engagement hole  74  having a configuration corresponding to the sectional configuration of the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A, and the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A of the shaft member  58  is fit-engaged with this fit-engagement hole  74 . At the distal end side of the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A, there is formed an annular groove  76  that is peripherally continuous, and by mounting a retaining ring  78  to this groove  76 , the driving wheel  72  is mounted in a state in which it is prevented from rotating at the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A between the retaining ring  78  and the step  66 . 
     As a result, the driving wheel  72  is constantly in mesh with the moved cogwheel portion  28  of the in-revolving ring  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  62  of the driving crown  56 , there are formed, at equal peripheral intervals, three protrusions  80  protruding toward the inner side in the radial direction. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the protrusions  80  are formed in a chevron-shaped configuration the apex portion of which is arcuate as seen from the axial direction of the driving crown  56 . The protrusions  80  are an example of the protrusion as the engagement portion of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the large diameter portion  44 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  is inserted into the annular space portion between the peripheral wall  62  of the driving crown  56  and the shaft member  58 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , normally, each of the protrusions  80  of the driving crown  56  enters the trough portions  48  between the teeth  46 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  to be contact with the inclined surface of one tooth  46 A and the inclined surface of the other tooth  46 A. In other words, each protrusion  80  of the driving crown  56  is retained while held between two teeth  46 A. 
     (Operation and Effect) 
     In the following, the operation and effect of the wristwatch  10  will be described. 
     Normally (when the driving crown  56  is not being operated), the protrusion  80  of the driving crown  56  enters the trough portion  48  between the teeth  46 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the protrusion  80  is kept retained while held between the two teeth  46 A, so that when, for example, the driving crown  56  comes into contact with some object, it is possible to suppress inadvertent rotation of the driving crown  56 . In other words, to rotate the driving crown  56 , it is necessary to deform the elastically deformable member  52  (as described in detail below), and, to rotate the driving crown  56 , a certain degree of torque (e.g., an intentional torque with which the operator tries to rotate the driving crown  56 ) is necessary, so that it is possible to suppress rotation of the driving crown  56  by the degree of force exerted by the driving crown  56  coming into contact with some object. 
     In the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment, although the driving wheel  72  is constantly in mesh with the moved cogwheel portion  28  of the in-revolving ring  20 , it is possible to suppress inadvertent rotation of the in-revolving ring  20  and idling of the driving crown  56  when, for example, the wristwatch is being carried about. 
     In this way, inadvertent rotation of the driving crown  56  is suppressed, and malfunction of the in-revolving ring  20  is suppressed, so that it is possible to suppress inadvertent disorder of the function (e.g., timer function) determined by the relationship between the display  26  of the in-revolving ring  20  and the time display scale  22  of the dial  14  or the time indicator hands  16 . 
     Here, when the in-revolving ring  20  is to be rotated, the operator pinches the driving crown  56  with fingers to rotate the driving crown  56 . When the driving crown  56  is rotated, the driving wheel  72  mounted to the driving crown  56  rotates the moved cogwheel portion  28  of the in-revolving ring  20 , rotating the in-revolving ring  20  provided with the moved cogwheel portion  28 . 
     When the driving crown  56  is rotated, the protrusions  80  formed on the inner peripheral surface of the driving crown  56  press the side surfaces of the teeth  46 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 , and the elastically deformable member  52  undergoes elastic deformation so as to be inclined inwards in the radial direction. Further, when the rotation of the driving crown  56  is continued, each protrusion  80  gets over the apex portion of the tooth  46 A to escape from the trough portion  48 , and enters the next trough portion  48  between the tooth  46 A gotten over and the other tooth  46 A adjacent to the tooth  46 A gotten over. When the protrusion  80  enters the next trough portion  48 , the elastically deformable member  52  elastically deformed toward the inner side in the radial direction is elastically restored to the former position. 
     In this way, the driving crown  56  is rotated, and each protrusion  80  gets over the apex portion of the tooth  46 A and enters the next trough portion  48 , whereby a tactile feel is provided, and the operator can perceptibly determine that the driving crown  56  is rotating. 
     As described above, a click structure for providing a tactile feel can be formed by the two components of the driving crown  56  and the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 , so that it is possible to realize the click mechanism in a simple structure. 
     Further, each protrusion  80  of the driving crown  56  enters the trough portion  48  between the teeth  46 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 , and the protrusion  80  is retained while held in contact with two teeth  46 A, so that it is also possible to suppress rattling in the rotational direction of the driving crown  56 . 
     Further, the click mechanism can be assembled by the following simple operation. After the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  is inserted into the through-hole  42 , the shaft member  58  of the driving crown  56  is inserted into the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 , and then the driving wheel  72  is fixed to the distal end side of the shaft member  58  by the retaining ring  78 . In the present embodiment, when the shaft member  58  is inserted, there is involved no repulsion due to a spring as in Patent Document 1, so that the incorporating operation is facilitated. 
     While in the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment the grain knurl  46  formed on the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  has 18 teeth  46 A, the number of teeth  46 A of the grain knurl may be less than 18 or more than 18. 
     In the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment, 18 trough portions  48  are formed in the outer peripheral portion of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 , so that when the driving crown  56  makes one rotation, a tactile feel can be experienced 18 times (i.e., each time the protrusion  80  gets over one tooth  46 A, a tactile feel is experienced once). 
     When the number of teeth of the driving wheel  72 , the number of teeth of the moved cogwheel portion  28 , and the number of clicks per rotation of the driving crown  56  are adjusted, and the operator grasps the correspondence relationship between the number of clicks of the driving crown  56  and the rotational angle of the in-revolving ring  20 , the operator can rotate the in-revolving ring  20  by a predetermined rotational angle without visually checking the in-revolving ring  20  by counting the number of clicks when the driving crown  56  is rotated. 
     For example, in the case of an in-revolving ring  20  designed to grasp time, it is possible to cause the number of clicks of the driving crown  56  to correspond to the rotational angle of the in-revolving ring  20  (the time as indicated by the display  26 ), and, in the case of an in-revolving ring  20  designed to grasp direction, it is possible to cause the number of clicks of the driving crown  56  to correspond to the rotational angle (directional angle) of the in-revolving ring  20 . 
     Normally (when the driving crown  56  is not being operated), it is only necessary for at least the protrusion  80  of the driving crown  56  to be retained while held in contact with two teeth  46 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44 . At this time, the elastically deformable member  52  may not be deformed, or may be somewhat deformed inwards in the radial direction by being pressed by the protrusion  80 . By placing the elastically deformable member  52  in a state in which it is somewhat deformed inwardly in the radial direction by being pressed by the protrusion  80 , it is possible to enhance the requisite torque for rotating the driving crown  56 , making it possible to further suppress inadvertent rotation of the driving crown  56 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     The wristwatch  10  according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIGS. 7 through 10 . The components that are the same as those of the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be left out. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , in the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment, an elastic material winding stem pipe  82  of a configuration different from that of the first embodiment is inserted into the through-hole  42  of the case  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  of the present embodiment is equipped, on one side of a small diameter portion  82 B formed as a cylinder, with a large diameter portion  82 A formed as a tube of a hexagonal sectional configuration. The large diameter portion  82 A has, at every other one of six corner portions, expanding slots  84  extending in the axial direction. The expanding slots  84  are formed to extend from the end portion of the large diameter portion  82 A on the side opposite the small diameter portion  82 B to the vicinity of the stepped portion. That is, the slot bottoms of the expanding slots  84  are situated in the vicinity of the stepped portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , in the large diameter portion  82 A, the portion between the expanding slots  84  is formed as an elastically deformable member  86  bent into a chevron shape as seen from the axial direction. The inner peripheral portion of the elastically deformable member  86 , which is protruded and recessed in the peripheral direction, is an example of the engagement portion of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion  82 A has an annular groove  88  on the outer side of the slot bottoms of the expanding slots  84 , reducing the thickness of the proximal portion of the elastically deformable member  86 . The portion of the elastically deformable member  86  reduced in thickness is an example of the thin-walled portion of the present invention. Due to this structure, the elastically deformable member  86  is capable of elastic deformation so as to be inclined in the inner-outer direction in the radial direction using the annular groove  88  as a fulcrum. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , the driving crown  56  and a shaft member  92  of the present embodiment are formed as separate members. The driving crown  56  and the shaft member  92  are an example of the crown of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the driving crown  56  of the present embodiment is formed in a cap-like configuration having a ring-like peripheral wall  94  and an end wall  96  closing one end of this peripheral wall  94 . The grain knurl  60  is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  94 . The inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  94  of the present embodiment is formed in a fixed diameter. At the center of the end wall  96 , there is formed a female screw  100  with which a male screw  98  of the shaft member  92  described below is threadedly engaged. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , like the shaft member  58  of the first embodiment described above, the shaft member  92  of the present embodiment is equipped with the fixed diameter shaft member  58 B, the step  66 , and the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A. However, on the side of the fixed diameter shaft member  58 B opposite the irregular shaped section shaft member  58 A, it is equipped with a large diameter shaft portion  102  formed in a larger diameter than the fixed diameter shaft member  58 B and the male screw  98 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a grain knurl  104  is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter shaft portion  102 . The grain knurl  104  has axially extending chevron-shaped (triangular in the present embodiment) teeth  104 A arranged at equal peripheral intervals. In the present embodiment,  18  teeth  104 A are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion  82 A. The teeth  104 A, which are preferably of a tapered configuration, are not restricted to a triangular configuration. For example, the distal ends of the triangles may be rounded, or the teeth may be of an isosceles trapezoidal configuration or the like. Here, the recessed portions between the teeth  104 A are referred to as trough portions  106  in the present specification. The teeth  104 A and the trough portions  106  are an example of the protrusions and recesses of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the large diameter portion  82 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  is inserted into the annular space portion between the peripheral wall  94  of the driving crown  56  and the large diameter shaft portion  102  of the shaft member  92 . Between the large diameter portion  82 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  and the peripheral wall  94  of the driving crown  56 , there is provided a space allowing deformation to the outer side in the radial direction of the elastically deformable member  86 . 
     Normally, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inner side corner portion at the peripheral end portion of the elastically deformable member  86  of the elastic material winding stem pip 2   82  is held inside the trough portion  106  between the teeth  104 A of the large diameter shaft portion  102 , and the inner peripheral surface of the elastically deformable member  86  is in contact with the apex portion of one tooth  104 A, with the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  being in contact with the inclined surface of the other tooth  104 A. 
     (Operation and Effect) 
     In the following, the operation and effect of the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment will be described. 
     To rotate the in-revolving ring  20 , the driving crown  56  is rotated as in the first embodiment, whereby the in-revolving ring  20  is rotated. 
     In the present embodiment, when the driving crown  56  is rotated, the elastically deformable member  86  is pressed by a tooth  104 A of the shaft member  92 , and the elastically deformable member  86  undergoes elastic deformation so as to be inclined outwardly in the radial direction. When the rotation of the driving crown  56  is further continued, the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  gets over the apex portion of the tooth  104 A, and enters the next trough portion  106  between the tooth  104 A gotten over and the other tooth  104 A adjacent to the tooth  104 A gotten over. When the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  enters the next trough portion  106 , the elastically deformable member  86  is elastically restored to the former position. 
     In this way, the driving crown  56  is rotated, and the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  gets over the apex portion of the tooth  104 A to enter the next trough portion  106 , whereby it is possible to experience a tactile feel, and the operator can perceptibly determine that the driving crown  56  is rotating. 
     On the other hand, normally (i.e., when the crown is not being operated), the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  enters the trough portion  106  between the teeth  104 A of the shaft member  92  and is held therein as shown in  FIG. 8 , so that it is possible to suppress inadvertent rotation of the driving crown  56  when, for example, the driving crown  56  comes into contact with some object. 
     Thus, also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, although the driving wheel  72  is constantly in mesh with the moved cogwheel portion  28  of the in-revolving ring  20 , it is possible to suppress inadvertent rotation of the in-revolving ring  20  and idling of the driving crown  56  when, for example, the wristwatch is being carried about. 
     As described above, the click structure providing a tactile feel can be formed by the two components of the driving crown  56  and the elastic material winding stem pipe  82 , so that also in the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment, it is possible to realize the click mechanism in a simple structure. 
     Further, the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  enters the trough portion  106  between the teeth  104 A of the shaft member  92  of the driving crown  56 , and is retained therein, so that it is possible to suppress rattling in the rotational direction of the driving crown  56  in a simple structure. 
     Further, the click mechanism can be assembled by the following simple operation. After the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  is inserted into the through-hole  42 , the shaft member  92  of the driving crown  56  is inserted into the elastic material winding stem pipe  82 , and then the driving wheel  72  is fixed to the distal end side of the shaft member  92  by the retaining ring  78 . Also in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, when the shaft member  92  is inserted, there is involved no repulsion due to a spring as in Patent Document 1, so that the incorporating operation is facilitated. 
     While in the above description the inner side corner portion of the elastically deformable member  86  enters the trough portion  106  between the teeth  104 A of the shaft member  92  and the driving crown  56  is retained, it may also be said that the two teeth  104 A of the shaft member  92  enter the recessed portion on the inner peripheral surface side of the elastically deformable member  86  bent into a chevron-like shape to retain the driving crown  56 . 
     Third Embodiment 
     The wristwatch  10  according the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 11 . The components that are the same as those of the above-described embodiments are indicated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be left out. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the wristwatch  10  of the present embodiment is a modification of the second embodiment, and the configuration of the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  is somewhat different from that of the second embodiment. 
     The large diameter portion  82 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  82  of the present embodiment is of a cylindrical configuration, and has on the inner peripheral surface thereof a protrusion  108  configured to enter the trough portion  106  between the teeth  104 A of the shaft member  92 . The operation and effect of the present embodiment is the same as those of the second embodiment. 
     Other Embodiments 
     The above description of the embodiment of the present invention should not be construed restrictively. The present invention naturally allows various modifications without departing from the scope of the gist of the invention. 
     While in the first embodiment the protrusion  80  formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  62  of the driving crown  56  is caused to enter the trough portion  48  between the teeth  46 A provided on the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion  44 A of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  to thereby form the click mechanism, this should not be construed restrictively. It is also possible for a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the elastic material winding stem pipe  44  to enter a recess formed in the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall  62 . 
     While in the above-described embodiment the in-revolving ring  20  constitutes an example of the mechanism inside the case  12  that is driven through rotation of the driving crown  56 , this should not be construed restrictively. Apart from the in-revolving ring  20 , the object of driving through rotation of the driving crown  56  may, for example, be a calendar or a movement. 
     While in the above embodiments the present invention is applied to a wristwatch, this should not be construed restrictively. The present invention is also applicable to a timepiece other than a wristwatch. There are no particular restrictions regarding the configuration and mode of the timepiece so long as it is capable of displaying time. It may also be a portable apparatus or the like which is not usually called a timepiece.