IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,976,630
Granted Patent B2
US 8,976,630 · App. 13/540,038 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Dial assembly and timepiece

Inventor: Takumi Oshio (Nagano, JP)
Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
G04B19/04G04B19/065G04B19/12
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,976,630
App. No.
13/540,038
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A dial assembly held within a timepiece case together with a movement for which the hour hand and minute hand are supported to be able to rotate is provided. The movement supports at least one miniature hand to be able to rotate at a position different from the hour hand and minute hand. The dial assembly comprising includes a first dial that is light transmissive, a second dial arranged on the back surface side of the first dial, and at last one spacer forming a ring shape arranged between the first dial and the second dial. The miniature hand rotates within a space enclosed by the first dial, the second dial, and the spacer.

Claims (24)

1. A dial assembly held within a timepiece case together with a movement for which the hour hand and minute hand are supported to be able to rotate, which supports at least one miniature hand to be able to rotate at a position different from the hour hand and minute hand, the dial assembly comprising:

a first dial that is light transmissive,

a second dial arranged on the back surface side of the first dial, and

at last one ring-shaped spacer arranged between the first dial and the second dial such that the spacer surrounds an outer peripheral surface of the first dial,

wherein the miniature hand rotates within a space enclosed by the first dial, the second dial, and the spacer.

2. The dial assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the spacer has a step part of a different thickness, and the first dial is placed on that step part.

3. The dial assembly according to claim 1 , wherein with the first dial, the hour hand and the minute hand fulfill indicating functions, and

with the second dial, the miniature hands fulfill indicating functions.

4. The dial assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the movement is an item that respectively supports two miniature hands to be able to rotate, and

the second dial comprises a first display part for which one miniature hand of the two miniature hands performs indicating, and

a second display part for which the other miniature hand performs indicating.

5. The dial assembly according to claim 3 , wherein on the first dial, on the part that the first display part faces, a first opening part is formed piercing that concerned part, and on the part that the second display part faces, a second opening part is formed piercing that concerned part.

6. The dial assembly according to claim 1 , wherein within the case, a solar battery is arranged on the back surface side of the second dial, and

the second dial is light transmissive.

7. The dial assembly according to claim 1 , comprising a ring member arranged on the front side of the first dial, and forming a ring shape along the edge part of the first dial.

8. The dial assembly according to claim 7 , wherein within the case, on the back surface side of the second dial, a solar battery having a light receiving surface for receiving light is arranged, and the light receiving surface is divided into a plurality of areas, and

at least one of the first dial, the second dial, the spacer, and the ring member has a mask part that in plan view overlaps the boundary part of adjacent areas.

9. The dial assembly according to claim 1 , comprising regulating unit for regulating the mutual positional relationships of the first dial, the second dial, the spacer, and the movement.

10. A timepiece comprising:

the dial assembly according to claim 1 ,

the movement for which the hour hand and minute hand are supported to be able to rotate, which supports the at least one miniature hand to be able to rotate at a position different from the hour hand and minute hand, and

a case in which the dial assembly and the movement are held.

11. The dial assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the spacer has a pin on the step part, with the pin being fitted into a cut-out of the first dial.

12. The dial assembly according to claim 7 , wherein the spacer has a second step part of a different thickness and a second pin on the second step part, with the ring member being placed on the second step part such that the second pin is fitted into a recess part of the ring member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2012
From: OSHIO, TAKUMI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 028477/0670 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-189498 · Aug 31, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130051192A1 · Feb 28, 2013