Setting mechanism of a watch

A setting mechanism of a watch, comprising:

• a dial plate;
• a winding stem interior to said dial plate and essentially parallel thereto, said winding stem comprising, in longitudinal sequence, a first portion of a first cross-section and a second portion of a second cross-section, said stem portions being coaxial;
• frame plate means for supporting said winding stem for rotation and for axial translation;
• a member actuatable in response to axial movement of said winding stem, a setting wheel means mounted rotatably on said frame plate;
• and
• clutch wheel means coaxially mounted on said stem and having two ends, one of said ends for mating with said first stem portion, a portion between said ends for supporting said clutch wheel means rotatably on said second stem portion, an engaging annular groove between said ends for engaging said member, and first engaging means at said other end for engaging said setting wheel means, said one end of said clutch wheel means and first stem portion being shaped for permitting entry of said first stem portion into said one end and for thereby joining to each other for cojoint rotation when said winding stem is rotated, said groove being in registry with said second portion of said winding stem, the maximum distance in said second cross-section from the stem axis of rotation to said clutch wheel being less than the maximum distance in said first cross-section from said axis to said clutch wheel, whereby said groove can extend inwardly closer to said axis and the watch can be thinner.

A setting mechanism of a watch, comprising:

• a dial plate;
• a winding stem interior to said dial plate and essentially parallel thereto, said winding stem comprising a connecting portion of a first cross-section, said connection portion being the inner end of said winding stem and having an axial socket therein;
• main plate means for supporting said winding stem for rotation and for axial translation;
• shaft means having a first end seatable in said stem socket and a second end, said second end having a flange thereon, said main plate means having therein a semi-annular groove for receiving said flange, and an axial half-groove for supporting said shaft means;
• auxiliary plate means bonded to said main plate means for cooperating therewith in supporting said shaft means and having therein a semi-annular groove and a half-groove corresponding to those in said main plate means;
• setting wheel means rotatably supported on said auxiliary plate means;
• clutch wheel means coaxially supported for rotation and axial translation on said shaft means;
• and
• a member actuatable in response to said axial translation of said clutch wheel means, said clutch wheel means having a first end having a socket therein for receiving therein said connecting portion, a support portion for supporting said clutch wheel means on said shaft means, an engaging annular groove about said support means for actuating said member, and a second end having thereon first engaging means for actuating said setting wheel, said member and said setting wheel being disposed on the opposite side of said winding stem from said dial plate and said engaging groove being in registry with a second cross-section of said shaft means beyond said socket, the maximum distance in said second cross-section from the axis of rotation to said clutch wheel means being less than the maximum distance in said first cross-section from said axis to said clutch wheel means, whereby said groove can extend inwardly closer to said axis and the watch can be thinner.