Means for supporting clockwork elements of clocks

Apparatus comprising a central support means for retaining clockwork mechanism elements such as a dial carrier and a mechanism housing,

• said central support means comprising a generally cylindrical member having a diameter over its main body portion slightly less than that of the through apertures in said elements and having adjacent one end thereof an outwardly extending radial flange whose surface facing the opposite end of said member forms a supporting ledge for said elements when fitted with their respective through apertures surrounding said main body portion,
• said cylindrical member having at its said opposite end a plurality of resiliently supported latch means for insertion into said through apertures of said elements during assembly of said elements into said member,
• said member defining a plurality of axially extending recesses extending from said opposite end of said member to form at least in part said latch means,
• said latch means each having at least a portion thereof normally extending beyond the diameter of the main body portion of said cylindrical member and each being resiliently movable toward the central axis of said member to permit the placement of each said element over said plurality of latch means and onto said member in abutment with said ledge, each said latch means being restored by its resilient support to its normal position once said elements have been assembled onto said member,
• each said latch means having a surface thereon which faces said one end of said member to thereby prevent inadvertent removal of said elements from said member once assembled thereon,
• said radial flange being joined to said main body portion by a plurality of angularly spaced ribs each disposed generally opposite a corresponding one of said recesses,
• said radial flange supporting thereon a plurality of upstanding protuberances whose spacing from said surfaces on said latch means is slightly less than the combined thicknesses of said elements supported on said central support means, each said protuberance being supported substantially midway between a pair of said ribs.