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US 5,416,752 AGranted
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.
Claims53
A timepiece comprising:
- a first frame having bearing means formed integrally therein, said first frame formed of a thin metal plate;
- a second frame having bearing members formed integrally therein, connected to said first frame and formed of a thin metal plate;
- and
- a plurality of internal members supported between said first and second frames including:
- gear means supported between said first frame and said second frame by said bearing means;
- and
- bias means formed integrally in one of said first and second frames by plastic working and having a plate spring, said bias means for resiliently positioning the height of at least one of said internal members between said first frame and second frame by exerting pressure against this internal member.
4 more elements
A timepiece having a plurality of internal members comprising:
- a power source for producing electrical current;
- a first frame having bearing means integrally formed therein, said first frame formed of a thin plate;
- a second frame connected to said first frame and including integrally formed additional bearing means and formed of a thin plate;
- gear means supported between said first and second frames at least in part by said bearing means;
- and
- bias means formed integrally in one of said first frame and said second frame by plastic working and having a plate spring, said bias means for resiliently positioning the height of at least two of said plurality of internal members relative to each other between said first frame and second frame by exerting pressure against at least one of said at least two internal members;
- and
- additional bias means supported by one of said first frame and said second frame for positioning at least an additional two of said internal members relative to each other by exerting pressure against one of said additional two internal members.
5 more elements
An analog timepiece, comprising:
- a timekeeping mechanism including a plurality of internal members for performing functions associated with timekeeping;
- at least two frames positioned in spaced relation, formed of a thin plate material and integrally formed for supporting and positioning at least a portion of a plurality of said internal members, at least one of said frames being formed with a plurality of integral elongated portions deformed out of the plane of the plate in the vicinity of the periphery thereof for providing rigidity to said plate and at least one of the frames including a plate spring formed integrally therein by plastic working for resiliently positioning the height of at least one of the plurality of internal members between said at least two frames by direct engagement of said plate spring and said at least one of said internal members.
A timepiece comprising:
- a timekeeping mechanism including a plurality of internal members for performing functions associated with timekeeping;
- a first frame;
- a second frame fixed to said first frame;
- an integral wheel and pinion means;
- bias means formed integrally in one of said first and second frames by plastic working and having a plate spring, said bias means for resiliently positioning the height of at least one of said internal members between said frames by exerting pressure against this member;
- and
- at least one of said frames being formed with an integral bearing portion for supporting said wheel and pinion means, said bearing portion including an essentially annular portion projecting from the remainder of the frame and adapted to support said wheel and pinion means in the thrust direction, said at least one frame being formed from a sheet of material, said bearing portion being formed by deformation of a portion of said sheet.
4 more elements
An analog timepiece, comprising:
- a timekeeping mechanism including a plurality of internal members for performing functions associated with timekeeping;
- a first frame;
- a second frame spaced from said first frame a distance sufficient to permit a plurality of said internal members to be 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 material deformed and cut to define integral bearings, strengthening portions, leaf spring bias means, a plate spring and means for engaging the other of said first and second frames to define the space between the frames so that said first and second frames support and position said plurality of internal members;
- and
- said bias means being formed by plastic working for resiliently positioning the height of at least two of the plurality of said internal members relative to each other between said frames by exerting pressure against one of said at least two of the plurality of internal members.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.