JPS6046499B2 - Button device for mobile watch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the structure of a button section for performing external operations on a portable watch.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional structure uses a button head 3a larger than the hole diameter of the pipe 2 to position the button 3 in the axial direction, which slides on the inner surface of the hole of the pipe 2 driven into the body 1. This was done with an E-shaped metal retaining ring 4 that engaged with a circumferential groove 3b provided at the tip and had an outer diameter larger than the hole diameter of the pipe 2. The order of this device was to attach the packing 5 to the button 3, insert the button 3 into the pipe 2 from the outside of the shell 1, and attach the retaining ring 4 from the inside of the shell 1. A disadvantage of this conventional construction is that it is not possible to set the retaining ring on the button and then insert it into the pipe, so the retaining ring must be installed from the inside of the barrel. For this reason, the small E-shaped retaining rings 4 had to be attached one by one by hand, requiring a high level of skill and a large amount of man-hours. In addition, the button processing had to rely on cutting to form the packing box, and it was impossible to forge the header, which can be press-formed in one shot, resulting in high costs. The present invention eliminates such drawbacks, and makes it possible to improve the ease of assembling buttons and streamline button processing. In the button device for a portable watch, the button has a shaft portion inserted into the hole, a first small diameter portion smaller in diameter than the shaft portion on the movement side of the shaft portion, and a first small diameter portion smaller in diameter than the shaft portion on the movement side of the shaft portion. A second small-diameter portion smaller in diameter is provided on the movement side of the first small-diameter portion, and the second small-diameter portion is provided with the hole larger than the hole portion on the movement side of the body or pipe. A ring made of synthetic resin and having a protrusion that can be engaged with the end thereof is attached, and the outer wall of the ring forms a side wall on the movement side of the packing box of the packing attached to the first small diameter portion. Further, a gap is provided in the radial direction between the inner circumferential wall of the projection and the button so that the projection of the ring is elastically deformed in the radial direction.

The present invention will be explained in detail below based on Examples.

In FIG. 2, a button 13 made of metal, plastic, etc. is connected to the inner surface of a hole 11a of a body 11 made of metal, plastic, etc. through a packing 15 made of synthetic rubber, soft plastic, etc.
slides in the axial direction of the button.

A ring 14 made of synthetic resin having a protrusion 14a larger than the hole diameter 11a is attached to the movement side B of the button 13 to position the button 13 in the axial direction. It forms a side wall 14b. To explain this structure in detail, the button 13 is provided with a shaft portion 13g that is inserted into the hole 11a, and a first small diameter portion 13n smaller in diameter than the shaft portion 13g is provided on the movement side.
On the movement side of the small diameter part 13n, there is a second part with a smaller diameter.
A small diameter portion 13b is provided. Next, the first small diameter portion 13n
After inserting the button packing 15 from the inner end of the button 13 on the movement side, the ring 14 is inserted into the second small diameter portion 13b and press-fitted up to the stepped portion 13c of the button. In this way, the outer wall 14b of the ring forms a side wall of the button packing 15 on the movement side of the packing box. Further, the protrusion 14a is provided on the outer periphery of the inner end of the ring 14, and a gap is provided on the inner circumference side of the protrusion 14a in the radial direction with respect to the tip shaft 13e of the button. At the tip of the groove 14 as shown in Figure 3.
By providing the projection 14, the projection 14 can be elastically deformed in the radial direction. Various methods can be considered for engaging the ring 14 with the second small-diameter portion 13b of the button, such as adhesion, press-fitting, and insert formation. It seems to be easiest to press fit with a margin. Button 13 13b
It is also possible to form an uneven part such as a thread, a knurling (axial groove), or a circumferential groove on the part to ensure the fixation of the ring 14. Also, the head 13a of the button 13 is made larger than the hole 11a. By doing so, the outside (pushing side) of the button is positioned. Further, by forming the sloped portion 11b, it is possible to insert the protruding portion 14a of the ring and the packing 15 from the outside of the shell. Button step 13
Part c is a stopper for ring 14, and button 13
d is the push-in surface of the ring 14. The tip shaft 13e of the button is a guide surface when press-fitting the ring 14, and is preferably made smaller than the inner diameter of the ring 14. Button 13f is the point of action on the movement. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ring 14 seen from inside, and shows the groove 14.
By inserting c at several locations, it becomes possible to increase the elasticity of the protrusion 14a in the radial direction. However, if the ring can be elastically deformed depending on its material, the groove is not necessarily necessary. The ring 14 is made of synthetic resin such as polyacetal or polycarbonate, and can be injection molded. This ring 14 is attached to the button 13 before being attached to the case 1 together with the packing 15.
), or it can be assembled into the button 13 after the case is attached, but the former method is easier to incorporate and can be automated. In that case, ring 1
The protrusion 14a of No. 4 is deformed inward when passing through the hole 11a of the body 11, and when passing through the hole 11a, it expands to its original state as shown in FIG. It engages to prevent it from coming off. The material 13a can be made of various materials such as metals such as stainless steel, nickel silver, yellow body, and zinc, as well as plastic, but metal is preferable in consideration of scratches caused by friction of the movement.

Since the button 13 does not require the packing groove shown in FIG. 1, 3c, or the retaining ring engaging groove, shown in FIG. Further, because of the press processing, the head 13a can be formed into a non-circular shape. If a high fixing force of the ring 14 to the button 13 is desired, it is possible to provide unevenness on the part 13b with threads, circumferential grooves, etc. using a rolling process that enables high efficiency production. As shown in the figure. The section 23b is a threaded section formed by rolling.

Although FIG. 4 shows an embodiment with a vibrator 22, the same thing can be said as in the case without a vibrator. Furthermore, in FIG. 2, a vibrator as shown in FIG. 4 may be attached to the torso. The present invention allows the ring 14 to be set before assembling the button into the case, making it easy to assemble the ring, and making it possible to automatically assemble the packing 15 and ring 14 to the button 13, thereby greatly improving integration. Cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, since the button 13 does not require packing groove processing, it is possible to perform a press molding process, and it is possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost of button parts. In addition, the shape of the button head can be freely selected by forming the button head, making it possible to increase the attractiveness of the design. Similarly, the shape of the ring 14 can be easily injection molded and mass-produced. Since the packing box is formed after the packing is inserted, it is extremely easy to assemble the packing. In addition, since the ring 14 is made of synthetic resin, it does not damage the sliding surface of the body packing.
Reliable waterproofness can be guaranteed. The button can be easily replaced by strongly pressing the action point 13f of the movement on the button from inside the case. It is also possible to attach the button after the movement is assembled into the case, and the button can be attached to the switch spring 16 of the movement (the point of action 13f).
When pressed, the movement switch switches to 0N, 0F.
F is given. ) can be eliminated, contributing to miniaturization of the inside of the case. It is effective for all button operation devices, mainly digital watches, and has an excellent structure with a wide range of applications and significant cost reduction benefits.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ring 14 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing another example of application of the present invention. 11, 12... Torso, 22...
... Vibrator, 13, 23... Button, 13b
...Second small diameter part, 13g...Shaft part, 13n
...First small diameter portion, 14, 24... Ring,
14a... Protrusion, 15, 25... Packing.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a button device for a portable watch that slides through a packing on the inner surface of a hole in the body or a hole in a pipe driven into the body, the button has a shaft portion inserted into the hole, and a movement side of the shaft portion. a first small-diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the shaft portion; and a second small-diameter portion smaller in diameter than the first small-diameter portion on the movement side of the first small-diameter portion; A ring made of synthetic resin and having a protrusion larger than the diameter of the hole and capable of engaging with the movement side end of the body or pipe provided with the hole is attached, and the outer wall of the ring is connected to the first The space between the inner circumferential wall of the protrusion and the button in the radial direction forms the movement-side side wall of the packing box in the packing attached to the small-diameter portion, and the protrusion of the ring is elastically deformed in the radial direction. A button device for a portable watch, characterized in that a gap is provided between the buttons.