IP Library Granted Patent US 6,846,998
Granted Patent B2
US 6,846,998 · App. 10/349,100 · Granted Jan 25, 2005

Switch connecting structure for timepiece

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,846,998
App. No.
10/349,100
Granted
Jan 25, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An inexpensive switch connecting structure is provided capable of avoiding abnormal wear-off or deformation of a contact spring of a supporting plate even if a movement in a basic shape is placed in a timepiece case having a shape different from the movement and a push button is repeatedly used. The switch connecting structure includes a supporting plate attached to cap a movement of a timepiece and provided with a contact spring having a contact portion at a tip brought into contact with a switch contact portion of a circuit board, and a switch regulating plate provided with a switch spring on an outer periphery corresponding to said contact spring and covering at least part of said supporting plate, wherein said switch spring is flexed by operation of an externally operated component attached to a timepiece case, thereby bringing the contact portion of the contact spring of said supporting plate into contact with the switch contact portion of said circuit board. The switch spring of the switch regulating plate acts as an intermediary to properly convey the pressing force from the externally operated component such as a push button attached to the timepiece case having a different shape from the basic shape of the movement.

Claims (12)

1. A switch connecting structure, comprising:

a supporting plate attached to cap a movement of a timepiece and provided with at least one or more contact springs having a contact portion at a tip brought into contact with a switch contact portion of a circuit board; and

a switch regulating plate provided with at least one or more switch springs on an outer periphery corresponding to said contact springs, and covering at least part of said supporting plate; wherein

said switch spring is flexed by operation of an externally operated component attached to a timepiece case, thereby bringing the contact portion of the contact spring of said supporting plate into contact with the switch contact portion of said circuit board.

2. A switch connecting structure according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of said switch springs are disposed symmetrically on the outer periphery of said switch regulating plate.

3. A switch connecting structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein

a plurality of hook portions hooking onto said movement of the timepiece are disposed on the outer periphery of said switch regulating plate.

4. A switch connecting structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein

the switch spring of said switch regulating plate extends substantially in parallel to a inside wall of a body of said timepiece case, and has a round portion where it contacts said contact spring.

5. A switch connecting structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein

the switch spring of said switch regulating plate extends substantially in parallel to a inside wall of a body of said timepiece case, and has a corner extending substantially in parallel to said contact spring and provided at a position where it contacts said contact spring.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 25, 2017
From: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 041479/0804 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 13, 2007
From: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
To: CITIZEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019817/0701 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2003
From: HASUMI, TAKAYUKI; YAMADA, SHINICHI; SHIMODA, KENJI
To: CITIZEN WATCH CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 013698/0052 →