IP Library Granted Patent US 11,042,122
Granted Patent B2
US 11,042,122 · App. 16/291,881 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Timepiece with rotatable crown having tactile feel

Inventor: Katsunobu Iguchi (Chiba, JP)
Assignee: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
G04B3/041
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,042,122
App. No.
16/291,881
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A timepiece which provides a tactile feel in a simple structure and which can suppress inadvertent rotation of a driving crown is to be provided. A wristwatch includes an elastic material winding stem pipe protruding on the outer side of a case and a distal end portion of which is capable of elastic deformation in a radial direction; a shaft member of a driving crown rotatably inserted into the elastic material winding stem pipe; protrusions formed on the peripheral surface of the driving crown; and trough portions formed in the peripheral surface of the elastic material winding stem pipe and configured to be engaged with the protrusions.

Claims (33)

1. A timepiece comprising:

a tube member extending along an axial direction and having a through-hole extending along the axial direction, wherein the tube member protrudes out of an outer side of a case, and wherein a distal end portion of the tube member along the axial direction is capable of elastic deformation in a radial direction;

a crown rotatably inserted into the through-hole of the tube member;

protrusions and recesses formed on a peripheral surface of one of the tube member or the crown, wherein the peripheral surface of the one of the tube member or the crown extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

an engagement portion that is formed on a peripheral surface of another of the tube member or the crown and that is engaged with the protrusions and recesses, wherein the peripheral surface of the other of the tube member or the crown also extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

2. The timepiece according to claim 1 ,

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.

3. The timepiece according to claim 2 ,

wherein the divisional member has, on the proximal end side thereof, a thin-walled portion that is thinner than on the distal end side.

4. The timepiece according to claim 1 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the head portion extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the protrusions and recesses are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

5. The timepiece according to claim 1 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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 are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the shaft member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the shaft member extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the engagement portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

6. The timepiece according to claim 2 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the head portion extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the protrusions and recesses are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

7. The timepiece according to claim 2 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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 are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the shaft member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the shaft member extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the engagement portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

8. The timepiece according to claim 3 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the head portion extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the protrusions and recesses are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

9. The timepiece according to claim 3 ,

wherein the crown is equipped with a shaft member inserted in the through-hole of the tube 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 are formed on an outer peripheral portion of the shaft member, wherein the outer peripheral portion of the shaft member extends along the axial direction of the tube member; and

the engagement portion is formed on an inner peripheral portion of the tube member, wherein the inner peripheral portion of the tube member extends along the axial direction of the tube member.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Oct 17, 2024
From: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
To: SEIKO WATCH CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069183/0051 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2019
From: IGUCHI, KATSUNOBU
To: SEIKO INSTRUMENTS INC.
Reel/Frame 048497/0465 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2018-039913 · Mar 6, 2018 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190278226A1 · Sep 12, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,393,163 US 12,554,223