Improvements in bearing and frame structure of a timepiece
AssigneeSeiko Epson Corporation
InventorToshimasa Ikegami
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A timepiece includes a main plate and gear train bridge with a center wheel and pinion supported therebetween by one or more bearing members integrally formed in the main plate and gear train bridge. A plurality of springs integrally formed in said plate and bridge are used for positioning internal members of the timepiece relative to each other. Additional similar springs are used for fixing the frame structure to the casing of the timepiece. A pressing plate can be connected to the main plate and includes one or more leaf springs for fixing a back cover of the timepiece away from the frame structure. One or more of the plates or bridge can be electrically conductive for delivery of current to an internal member.
Claims20
A timepiece comprising:
- a plurality of internal members including a timekeeping gear train;
- a first frame formed of metal, having bearing means formed integrally therein, and including a first side and a second side;
- a second frame formed of metal having a first side and a second side and spaced from said first frame so that at least a part of the second side of said second frame faces a part of said first side of said first frame, a portion of said internal members including said timekeeping gear train being supported between and by said first and second frames, said second frame including first leaf spring bias means formed integrally therewith for applying holding force when deflected relative to said second frame;
- and
- circuit pressing means formed of metal connected to said first frame and disposed in part facing a portion of the first side of said second frame for preventing movement of said second frame relative to said first frame, said circuit pressing means being shaped so as to not overlie the portions of said first and second frames supporting said timekeeping gear train and being coupled to the second side of said first frame, said circuit pressing means including second leaf spring bias means formed integrally therewith for positioning at least two other of the internal members relative to each other by exerting pressure against at least of one of said at least two other internal members.
A timepiece comprising:
- a first frame;
- a second frame spaced from said first frame;
- a plurality of internal members positioned intermediate said first and second frames;
- at least one of said first and second frames being formed from an integral plate of thin sheet metal deformed and cut to define at least bearings, strengthening portions and leaf spring bias means for supporting and positioning a portion of said internal members and means for defining a space between the frames,
- the other of said frames being formed from a thin sheet of metal deformed to define at least bearings and leaf spring means for supporting and positioning at least a portion of the internal members;
- said internal members including timekeeping gear means rotatably supported between said first and second frames by said bearings,
- said internal members further including a plurality of members involved in the powering of a timepiece including at least one means requiring electrical current;
- and each of said first and second frames having a first side and a second side, at least a part of the second side of said second frame facing a part of the side of said first frame;.
- circuit pressing means formed of metal and disposed in part facing a portion of the first side of said second frame and coupled to the second side of said first frame for retaining the first and second frames together, said circuit pressing means being formed of an electrically conductive material, at least a portion of the internal members involved in the powering of the timepiece including the means requiring electrical current being positioned and retained between said circuit pressing means and said first frame so that said circuit pressing means conducts current to said means requiring electric current, said circuit pressing means being shaped so as not to overlie the portions of said first and second frames supporting said timekeeping gear means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.