EP1089144B1 - Contact bracket for multifunction push-button - Google Patents

Contact bracket for multifunction push-button Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1089144B1
EP1089144B1 EP99119316A EP99119316A EP1089144B1 EP 1089144 B1 EP1089144 B1 EP 1089144B1 EP 99119316 A EP99119316 A EP 99119316A EP 99119316 A EP99119316 A EP 99119316A EP 1089144 B1 EP1089144 B1 EP 1089144B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
contact
base
stem
push
button
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP99119316A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1089144A1 (en
Inventor
Clément Meyrat
Laurent Pantet
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Swatch Group Management Services AG
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Swatch Group Management Services AG
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Publication date
Application filed by Swatch Group Management Services AG filed Critical Swatch Group Management Services AG
Priority to DE69940346T priority Critical patent/DE69940346D1/en
Priority to AT99119316T priority patent/ATE421721T1/en
Priority to EP99119316A priority patent/EP1089144B1/en
Publication of EP1089144A1 publication Critical patent/EP1089144A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1089144B1 publication Critical patent/EP1089144B1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B3/00—Normal winding of clockworks by hand or mechanically; Winding up several mainsprings or driving weights simultaneously
    • G04B3/04—Rigidly-mounted keys, knobs or crowns
    • G04B3/048—Operation exclusively by axial movement of a push-button, e.g. for chronographs
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
    • G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a multifunctional contact flange in one piece of simple and economical design that acts as a key to prevent the extraction of the plunger after its introduction, as a return spring in neutral position and as contact means for example on a printed circuit board.
  • the invention also relates to a contact device in which several flanges of the above type are placed end to end.
  • Such a flange, or such a contact device finds its application in very varied fields, more particularly in the control of small electronic devices, such as timepieces.
  • a control mechanism for watch movement comprises a spring wire positioned between two supports disposed on either side of the push rod and whose middle portion is engaged in a groove of said rod, thus fulfilling the dual function of key and return spring, the contact as such being ensured by the action of the end of the push rod on a tilting blade.
  • a push mechanism is produced by means of a flat metal spring cut into a complex U-shaped contour while being fixed and / or guided by a plurality of studs integral with the plate, so that one of the branches has sufficient flexibility for closing a contact when a force is exerted thereon through the end of the push rod.
  • This mechanism thus performs the functions of return spring and contact means but has no key function.
  • the mechanism proposed in GB Patent 2,040,517 is formed by a pre-cut metal blade which has a number of folds outside its general plane parallel to the plate.
  • the blade is attached to one its ends by a curved portion anchored in the plate and a tenon secured to the plate.
  • the blade At the push rod, and near its end the blade has a recess bringing its plane below the general plane of the plate in a recess made for this purpose.
  • This end comprises on the one hand an opening whose edge is engaged in a groove of the push rod to form a key and return spring, on the other hand a rigid tab, bent outwardly of the plate and located in the axis of the push rod to form contact on a resilient blade located opposite.
  • a rigid spout extending beyond the stem abuts against an edge of the opening to properly position the pusher and arm the spring blade.
  • the object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by providing a timepiece comprising a contact flange formed by a metal blade cut and folded to ensure at least the functions of spring, key and contact , further allowing to obtain a lower contact force than the force to be exerted on the pusher head.
  • the invention relates to a timepiece according to claim 1.
  • flanges of the above type may be arranged opposite each push.
  • the bases of each flange are placed end to end to form a single base around the perimeter of the middle and comprising a plurality of flexible blades.
  • FIG. 1 to 4 an example of a case of an electronic timepiece with a digital display comprising a caseband 2 and a bottom 3 in one piece, commonly referred to as bottom-frame 4 and obtained for example by molding a plastic material.
  • the bottom 3 comprises a plate 5 and a metal grid 15 shaped to receive and position the various components of the timepiece, shown only partially in the drawings by an LCD display module 6, below which is arranged a printed circuit flexible 7 provided with a tab 8 curved on the edge of the display cell 6 to serve as a contact area.
  • the housing is closed by an ice-cream 9.
  • This housing 1 comprises a mechanism making it possible to make contact on a range of the curved tab 8 of the printed circuit 7.
  • This mechanism is simply composed of a multifunctional metal flange 20 actuated by a push-button 10 on the head 11 which exerts a force F ⁇ transmitted by the rod 12 which has near its end a groove 17 visible on the figure 3 .
  • the flange 20 is obtained by cutting or stamping a metal sheet according to a particular contour and by folding so as to after its introduction into the housing, exercise both the key functions and the plunger return spring and contact means.
  • the flange 20 essentially comprises a base 21 parallel to the general plane of the housing and a blade 22 perpendicular to the base 21 and a first portion 23 of which is connected thereto over part of its length by a fold 21a .
  • This first portion 23 is extended beyond a fold 23a by a second portion 24 intended to extend beyond the rod 12.
  • the portion 24 comprises in its middle part a notch 30 intended to engage in the groove 17 of the rod 12 to form a key.
  • the fold 23a and the positioning of the base 21 relative to the inner surface of the middle part 2 are made such that the free portion of the first part 23, beyond the fold 21a and the second portion 24 are prestressed to form together the return spring of the pusher 10 in the rest position.
  • the blade 22 extends beyond the pusher by a strip, connected to the second portion 24 by a fold 24a and formed of three portions 25, 26, 27 interconnected by folds 25a, 26a, the zone 27 having at its end a small curved tab 28 in a fold 27a made to deform the blade in a direction opposite to the deformations resulting from the folds 23a, 24a, 25a and 26a all made in the same direction to bend the blade along a polygonal line which substantially follows the wall 2.
  • the curved shape of the portion 25 results solely from construction constraints related to the other components or supports of the movement.
  • the portion of strip, formed of the zones 26 and 27, is characterized in that it has on most of its length, for example from the middle of the zone 26, a section smaller than that of the remainder of the blade.
  • this lower section is obtained by giving this distal portion of the blade 22 a width smaller than the portion joining the base as it also appears on the sectional representations of the Figures 3 and 4 .
  • This configuration gives the distal portion greater flexibility so that the bent tab 28 presses the contact pad 8 of the printed circuit 7 with a force f ⁇ less than the force F ⁇ to be exerted on the pusher.
  • this difference in flexibility could be obtained in various other ways, for example by having a band of the same width from one end to the other, and by cutting a window in the distal portion. or by making said portion thinner. Similarly, one can achieve a blade having a greater number of folds, until it is perfectly curved to follow the inner periphery of the middle part.
  • the base 21 of the flange 20 further comprises a blade 29 bent out of the general plane of the housing to establish a contact for example between an area of the printed circuit 7 and the positive pole of the battery cover via the gate 15 .
  • the multifunctional flange according to the invention can be manufactured in a simple and economical way, requires only the implantation of two tenons in the bottom of the case or in a plate secured to it, and can be set up. place with a reduced number of manipulations that can easily be performed by a robot in an automatic assembly line. Indeed, with particular reference to the figure 2 after placing the pusher 10, it is sufficient to slightly compress the blade to engage the notch 30 in the groove 17 of the rod, then the pins 13, 15 in the holes 18, 19 and perform two welding points 16, for example laser.
  • FIG 5 schematically an embodiment of a multifunction contact flange for a housing comprising two pushers 10a, 10b associated with two blades 22a, 22b, as described above, the difference residing in the fact that the bases of each blade are joined to form a ring 31 comprising two radial extensions 32, 33 in which are drilled the fixing holes 18, 19.
  • the curved ends 28a, 28b of course support different contact areas of the printed circuit 7.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)

Abstract

Collar (20) has a base (21) fixed to the watch housing bottom and an elastic blade (22) extending from the base to a watch push button (10) and beyond. A sprung first part (23, 24) forms a key and a return spring, while a second part (25-27) of greater flexibility enables the collar end (28) to make an electrical contact with a force that is less than that exerted on the push button.

Description

La présente invention a pour objet une pièce d'horlogerie comportant une bride de contact multifonction en une seule pièce de conception simple et économique qui agisse comme clavette pour empêcher l'extraction du poussoir après sa mise en place, comme ressort de rappel en position neutre et comme moyen de contact par exemple sur une plage de circuit imprimé.The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a multifunctional contact flange in one piece of simple and economical design that acts as a key to prevent the extraction of the plunger after its introduction, as a return spring in neutral position and as contact means for example on a printed circuit board.

L'invention concerne également un dispositif de contact dans lequel plusieurs brides du type précédent sont mises bout à bout.The invention also relates to a contact device in which several flanges of the above type are placed end to end.

Une telle bride, ou un tel dispositif de contact, trouve son application dans des domaines très variés, plus particulièrement dans la commande d'appareils électroniques de petites dimensions, telles que les pièces d'horlogerie.Such a flange, or such a contact device, finds its application in very varied fields, more particularly in the control of small electronic devices, such as timepieces.

Dans des dispositifs à poussoir, l'utilisation d'éléments flexibles est déjà connue pour remplir certaines des fonctions clavette/ressort de rappel/moyen de contact, étant fait observé qu'il est souhaitable que la force de contact soit inférieure à la force devant être exercée sur la tête du poussoir, notamment lorsque ledit contact est établi sur une plage de circuit imprimé.In push-in devices, the use of flexible elements is already known to fulfill some of the functions of the key / return spring / contact means, it being observed that it is desirable for the contact force to be less than the force in front of it. be exerted on the pusher head, especially when said contact is established on a printed circuit board.

Dans le brevet CH 621 034 , un mécanisme de commande pour mouvement de montre comprend un fil ressort positionné entre deux appuis disposés de part et d'autre de la tige de poussoir et dont la partie médiane est engagée dans une gorge de ladite tige, en remplissant ainsi la double fonction de clavette et de ressort de rappel, le contact en tant que tel étant assuré par l'action de l'extrémité de la tige de poussoir sur une lame basculante.In the patent CH 621 034 , a control mechanism for watch movement comprises a spring wire positioned between two supports disposed on either side of the push rod and whose middle portion is engaged in a groove of said rod, thus fulfilling the dual function of key and return spring, the contact as such being ensured by the action of the end of the push rod on a tilting blade.

Dans le brevet US 4,818,830 , un mécanisme à poussoir est réalisé au moyen d'un ressort métallique plat découpé selon un contour complexe sensiblement en U en étant fixé et/ou guidé par plusieurs plots solidaires de la platine, de sorte que l'une des branches ait une flexibilité suffisante pour fermer un contact lorsqu'une force est exercée sur celle-ci par l'intermédiaire de l'extrémité de la tige de poussoir. Ce mécanisme remplit donc les fonctions de ressort de rappel et de moyen de contact mais n'a point de fonction de clavette.In the U.S. Patent 4,818,830 a push mechanism is produced by means of a flat metal spring cut into a complex U-shaped contour while being fixed and / or guided by a plurality of studs integral with the plate, so that one of the branches has sufficient flexibility for closing a contact when a force is exerted thereon through the end of the push rod. This mechanism thus performs the functions of return spring and contact means but has no key function.

Le mécanisme proposé dans le brevet GB 2 040 517 est formé par une lame métallique prédécoupée qui comporte un certain nombre de pliures en dehors de son plan général parallèle à la platine. La lame est fixée à l'une de ses extrémités par une partie recourbée ancrée dans la platine et par un tenon solidaire de la platine. Au niveau de la tige de poussoir, et près de son extrémité la lame présente un décrochement amenant son plan en dessous du plan général de la platine dans un évidement pratiqué à cet effet. Cette extrémité comprend d'une part une ouverture dont un bord est engagé dans une gorge de la tige de poussoir pour former clavette et ressort de rappel, d'autre part une patte rigide, recourbée vers l'extérieur de la platine et située dans l'axe de la tige de poussoir pour former contact sur une lame élastique située en regard. Un bec rigide s'étendant au-delà de la tige vient en butée contre un bord de l'ouverture pour positionner convenablement le poussoir et armer la lame formant ressort. Cette construction permet au moyen d'une unique lame d'assurer les fonctions ressort/clavette/contact, mais on observera d'une part qu'il convient non seulement de conformer une lame mais aussi de prévoir des structurations en creux dans la platine, et d'autre part que la force exercée sur la tête de poussoir est directement appliquée au point de contact qui ne peut en conséquence être formé que par une lame ressort.The mechanism proposed in GB Patent 2,040,517 is formed by a pre-cut metal blade which has a number of folds outside its general plane parallel to the plate. The blade is attached to one its ends by a curved portion anchored in the plate and a tenon secured to the plate. At the push rod, and near its end the blade has a recess bringing its plane below the general plane of the plate in a recess made for this purpose. This end comprises on the one hand an opening whose edge is engaged in a groove of the push rod to form a key and return spring, on the other hand a rigid tab, bent outwardly of the plate and located in the axis of the push rod to form contact on a resilient blade located opposite. A rigid spout extending beyond the stem abuts against an edge of the opening to properly position the pusher and arm the spring blade. This construction makes it possible, by means of a single blade, to provide the spring / key / contact functions, but it will be observed first of all that it is necessary not only to shape a blade but also to provide hollow structures in the plate, and on the other hand that the force exerted on the pusher head is directly applied to the contact point which can therefore be formed only by a leaf spring.

L'objet de l'invention est de pallier les inconvénients de l'art antérieur précité en procurant une pièce d'horlogerie comportant une bride de contact formée par une lame métallique découpée et pliée pour assurer au moins les fonctions de ressort, clavette et contact, en permettant en outre d'obtenir une force de contact plus faible que la force devant être exercée sur la tête de poussoir.The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by providing a timepiece comprising a contact flange formed by a metal blade cut and folded to ensure at least the functions of spring, key and contact , further allowing to obtain a lower contact force than the force to be exerted on the pusher head.

A cet effet l'invention a pour objet une pièce d'horlogerie selon la revendication 1.For this purpose the invention relates to a timepiece according to claim 1.

Dans le cas où le boîtier est pourvu de plusieurs poussoirs, par exemple lorsque le boîtier est celui d'une montre chronographe, des brides du type précédent peuvent être disposées en regard de chaque poussoir. Selon un mode de réalisation avantageux, les bases de chaque bride sont mises bout à bout pour former une base unique suivant le pourtour de la carrure et comprenant une pluralité de lames flexibles.In the case where the housing is provided with several pushers, for example when the housing is that of a chronograph watch, flanges of the above type may be arranged opposite each push. According to an advantageous embodiment, the bases of each flange are placed end to end to form a single base around the perimeter of the middle and comprising a plurality of flexible blades.

D'autres avantages de l'invention et les moyens de la réaliser sont exposés plus en détails dans la description ci-après en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un boîtier de montre comprenant un poussoir et une bride multifonction selon l'invention;
  • la figure 2 est une vue éclatée en perspective correspondant à la figure 1;
  • la figure 3 est une vue en coupe au niveau du poussoir selon la ligne III-III de la figure 1;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe au niveau de la lame de contact selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 1, et
  • la figure 5 est une vue de dessus d'un mode de réalisation d'une bride adaptée à plus d'un poussoir.
Other advantages of the invention and the means of producing it are described in more detail in the following description with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • the figure 1 is a top view of a watch case comprising a pusher and a multifunction flange according to the invention;
  • the figure 2 is an exploded view in perspective corresponding to the figure 1 ;
  • the figure 3 is a sectional view at the pusher along the line III-III of the figure 1 ;
  • the figure 4 is a sectional view at the level of the contact blade along the line IV-IV of the figure 1 , and
  • the figure 5 is a top view of an embodiment of a flange adapted to more than one pusher.

En se référant plus particulièrement aux figures 1 à 4 on a représenté à titre d'exemple un boîtier d'une pièce d'horlogerie électronique à affichage digital comprenant une carrure 2 et un fond 3 en une seule pièce, communément désignée par fond-carrure 4 et obtenue par exemple par moulage d'un matériau plastique. Le fond 3 comprend une platine 5 et une grille métallique 15 conformées pour recevoir et positionner les différents composants de la pièce d'horlogerie, représentés seulement partiellement sur les dessins par un module d'affichage LCD 6, en dessous duquel est disposé un circuit imprimé souple 7 pourvu d'une patte 8 recourbée sur le bord de la cellule d'affichage 6 pour servir de zone de contact. Le boîtier est fermé par une glace 9. Ce boîtier 1 comporte un mécanisme permettant d'établir un contact sur une plage de la patte recourbée 8 du circuit imprimé 7. Ce mécanisme est simplement composé d'une bride métallique multifonction 20 actionnée par un poussoir 10 sur la tête 11 duquel on exerce une force F̅ transmise par la tige 12 qui comporte près de son extrémité une gorge 17 visible sur la figure 3. La bride 20 est obtenue par découpe ou estampage d'une feuille métallique selon un contour particulier et par pliage, de façon à, après sa mise en place dans le boîtier, exercer à la fois les fonctions de clavette et de ressort de rappel de poussoir et de moyen de contact.With particular reference to Figures 1 to 4 an example of a case of an electronic timepiece with a digital display comprising a caseband 2 and a bottom 3 in one piece, commonly referred to as bottom-frame 4 and obtained for example by molding a plastic material. The bottom 3 comprises a plate 5 and a metal grid 15 shaped to receive and position the various components of the timepiece, shown only partially in the drawings by an LCD display module 6, below which is arranged a printed circuit flexible 7 provided with a tab 8 curved on the edge of the display cell 6 to serve as a contact area. The housing is closed by an ice-cream 9. This housing 1 comprises a mechanism making it possible to make contact on a range of the curved tab 8 of the printed circuit 7. This mechanism is simply composed of a multifunctional metal flange 20 actuated by a push-button 10 on the head 11 which exerts a force F̅ transmitted by the rod 12 which has near its end a groove 17 visible on the figure 3 . The flange 20 is obtained by cutting or stamping a metal sheet according to a particular contour and by folding so as to after its introduction into the housing, exercise both the key functions and the plunger return spring and contact means.

En se référant plus particulièrement aux figures 1 et 2, on voit que la bride 20 comprend essentiellement une base 21 parallèle au plan général du boîtier et une lame 22, perpendiculaire à la base 21 et dont une première partie 23 est reliée à celle-ci sur une partie de sa longueur par une pliure 21a. Cette première partie 23 est prolongée au-delà d'une pliure 23a par une deuxième partie 24 destinée à s'étendre au-delà de la tige 12. La partie 24 comprend dans sa partie médiane une encoche 30 destinée à venir s'engager dans la gorge 17 de la tige 12 pour former clavette. Comme on le verra par la suite, la pliure 23a et le positionnement de la base 21 par rapport à la surface interne de la carrure 2 sont réalisés de telle sorte que la portion libre de la première partie 23, au-delà de la pliure 21a et la deuxième partie 24 soient précontraintes pour former ensemble le ressort de rappel du poussoir 10 en position de repos.With particular reference to figures 1 and 2 it can be seen that the flange 20 essentially comprises a base 21 parallel to the general plane of the housing and a blade 22 perpendicular to the base 21 and a first portion 23 of which is connected thereto over part of its length by a fold 21a . This first portion 23 is extended beyond a fold 23a by a second portion 24 intended to extend beyond the rod 12. The portion 24 comprises in its middle part a notch 30 intended to engage in the groove 17 of the rod 12 to form a key. As will be seen later, the fold 23a and the positioning of the base 21 relative to the inner surface of the middle part 2 are made such that the free portion of the first part 23, beyond the fold 21a and the second portion 24 are prestressed to form together the return spring of the pusher 10 in the rest position.

La lame 22 se prolonge au-delà du poussoir par une bande, reliée à la deuxième partie 24 par une pliure 24a et formée de trois portions 25, 26, 27 reliées entre elles par des pliures 25a, 26a, la zone 27 ayant à son extrémité une petite patte recourbée 28 selon une pliure 27a effectuée pour déformer la lame dans un sens opposé aux déformations résultant des pliures 23a, 24a, 25a et 26a effectuées toutes dans le même sens pour courber la lame selon une ligne polygonale qui suit sensiblement la paroi interne de la carrure 2. La forme courbe de la portion 25 résulte uniquement de contraintes de construction liées aux autres composants ou supports du mouvement. La portion de bande, formée des zones 26 et 27, est caractérisée par le fait qu'elle présente sur la plus grande partie de sa longueur, par exemple à partir du milieu de la zone 26, une section inférieure à celle du reste de la lame.The blade 22 extends beyond the pusher by a strip, connected to the second portion 24 by a fold 24a and formed of three portions 25, 26, 27 interconnected by folds 25a, 26a, the zone 27 having at its end a small curved tab 28 in a fold 27a made to deform the blade in a direction opposite to the deformations resulting from the folds 23a, 24a, 25a and 26a all made in the same direction to bend the blade along a polygonal line which substantially follows the wall 2. The curved shape of the portion 25 results solely from construction constraints related to the other components or supports of the movement. The portion of strip, formed of the zones 26 and 27, is characterized in that it has on most of its length, for example from the middle of the zone 26, a section smaller than that of the remainder of the blade.

Dans l'exemple représenté cette section inférieure est obtenue en donnant à cette portion distale de la lame 22 une largeur inférieure à la portion rejoignant la base comme cela apparaît également sur les représentations en coupe des figures 3 et 4. Cette configuration confère à la partie distale une plus grande flexibilité de sorte que la patte recourbée 28 appuie sur la plage de contact 8 du circuit imprimé 7 avec une force f̅ inférieure à la force F̅ devant être exercée sur le poussoir.In the example shown, this lower section is obtained by giving this distal portion of the blade 22 a width smaller than the portion joining the base as it also appears on the sectional representations of the Figures 3 and 4 . This configuration gives the distal portion greater flexibility so that the bent tab 28 presses the contact pad 8 of the printed circuit 7 with a force f̅ less than the force F̅ to be exerted on the pusher.

De façon équivalente cette différence de flexibilité pourrait être obtenue de différentes autres façons, par exemple en ayant une bande de même largeur d'un bout à l'autre, et en découpant une fenêtre dans la partie distale ou en rendant ladite partie plus mince. De même, on peut réaliser une lame présentant un plus grand nombre de pliures, jusqu'à être parfaitement courbe pour suivre le pourtour intérieur de la carrure.Equivalently, this difference in flexibility could be obtained in various other ways, for example by having a band of the same width from one end to the other, and by cutting a window in the distal portion. or by making said portion thinner. Similarly, one can achieve a blade having a greater number of folds, until it is perfectly curved to follow the inner periphery of the middle part.

La base 21 de la bride 20 comporte en outre une lamelle 29 recourbée en dehors du plan général du boîtier pour établir un contact par exemple entre une zone du circuit imprimé 7 et le pôle positif du couvercle de pile par l'intermédiaire de la grille 15.The base 21 of the flange 20 further comprises a blade 29 bent out of the general plane of the housing to establish a contact for example between an area of the printed circuit 7 and the positive pole of the battery cover via the gate 15 .

Pour permettre la fixation de la base 21 de la bride 20 sur la platine 5, celle-ci comprend deux trous 18, 19 dans lesquels viennent s'engager deux tenons 13, 15 solidaires de la platine pour permettre un positionnement précis dans le plan horizontal, l'ensemble étant maintenu axialement par deux points de soudure 16 sur la grille 15. Il est bien évident que d'autres moyens équivalents peuvent être utilisés pour obtenir le positionnement axial, telle que la déformation des têtes des tenons 13, 14 ou l'engagement de rondelles sur leur extrémité.To allow the fixing of the base 21 of the flange 20 on the plate 5, it comprises two holes 18, 19 in which are engaged two pins 13, 15 integral with the plate to allow precise positioning in the horizontal plane , the assembly being held axially by two welding points 16 on the grid 15. It is obvious that other equivalent means can be used to obtain the axial positioning, such as the deformation of the heads of the pins 13, 14 or l engagement of washers on their end.

Comme on le voit, la bride multifonction selon l'invention peut être fabriquée de façon simple et économique, ne nécessite que l'implantation de deux tenons dans le fond du boîtier ou dans une platine solidaire de celui-ci, et peut être mise en place avec un nombre réduit de manipulations pouvant facilement être exécutées par un robot dans une chaîne d'assemblage automatique. En effet, en se référant plus particulièrement à la figure 2, après mise en place du poussoir 10, il suffit de comprimer légèrement la lame pour engager l'encoche 30 dans la gorge 17 de la tige, puis les tenons 13, 15 dans les trous 18, 19 et effectuer deux points de soudure 16, par exemple au laser.As can be seen, the multifunctional flange according to the invention can be manufactured in a simple and economical way, requires only the implantation of two tenons in the bottom of the case or in a plate secured to it, and can be set up. place with a reduced number of manipulations that can easily be performed by a robot in an automatic assembly line. Indeed, with particular reference to the figure 2 after placing the pusher 10, it is sufficient to slightly compress the blade to engage the notch 30 in the groove 17 of the rod, then the pins 13, 15 in the holes 18, 19 and perform two welding points 16, for example laser.

A la figure 5 on a représenté schématiquement un mode de réalisation d'une bride de contact multifonction pour un boîtier comprenant deux poussoirs 10a, 10b associés à deux lames 22a, 22b, telles que décrites précédemment, la différence résidant dans le fait que les bases de chaque lame sont jointives pour former un anneau 31 comprenant deux extensions radiales 32, 33 dans lesquelles sont percés les trous de fixation 18, 19. Les extrémités recourbées 28a, 28b appuient évidemment sur des zones de contact différentes du circuit imprimé 7.To the figure 5 schematically an embodiment of a multifunction contact flange for a housing comprising two pushers 10a, 10b associated with two blades 22a, 22b, as described above, the difference residing in the fact that the bases of each blade are joined to form a ring 31 comprising two radial extensions 32, 33 in which are drilled the fixing holes 18, 19. The curved ends 28a, 28b of course support different contact areas of the printed circuit 7.

Le même agencement est bien sûr réalisable avec plus de deux poussoirs et/ou avec un boîtier n'ayant pas une forme circulaire.The same arrangement is of course achievable with more than two pushers and / or with a housing not having a circular shape.

Claims (6)

  1. Timepiece including a case closed by at least a back cover (3) and in which are assembled a plate (5), a metal grid (15), at least a push-button (10) having a head (11) and a stem (12) passing through the middle part of said case, at least a contact clamp (20) linked with said at least a push-button (10) characterised in that said contact clamp (20) is formed of a single part including a plane metal base (21) substantially parallel to the back cover (3) and provided with means (18, 19) for immobilising it in the case on one side of the stem (12) and at least one elastic strip (22) substantially perpendicular to the base (21), extending beyond the stem (12) following a portion of the inner periphery of the middle part (2), said strip (22) having opposite the stem (12) a first prestressed portion (23, 24) having a notch (30) cooperating with a groove (17) arranged close to the end of the stem (12) to form the key and return spring in the idle position, and a second portion (25, 26, 27) having greater flexibility than the first portion, and whose end (28) closes a contact (8) of a printed circuit (7) with less force than that which is necessary to activate the push-button (10).
  2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the second portion (26, 27) of the strip (22) has a smaller cross-section to the cross-section of the first portion (23, 24).
  3. Contact clamp according to claim 2, characterised in that the second portion (26, 27) of the strip has a smaller width than the width of the first portion (23, 24).
  4. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the immobilising means (18, 19) of the base are formed by two circular openings (18, 19) through which two studs (13, 14) pass, one end of which is secured to the back cover (3) or a plate (5) parallel to the back cover (3), and by two weld points on the grid (15).
  5. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the base (21) further includes a pad (29) bent outside the plane of the case to form a contact portion on the printed circuit (27).
  6. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterised in that the base (31) follows the entire periphery of the middle part and includes a plurality of flexible strips (22a, 22B) arranged facing an equal number of push-buttons (10a, 10b).
EP99119316A 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 Contact bracket for multifunction push-button Expired - Lifetime EP1089144B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69940346T DE69940346D1 (en) 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 Contact clip for multifunctional push button
AT99119316T ATE421721T1 (en) 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 CONTACT BRACKET FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL PRESS BUTTON
EP99119316A EP1089144B1 (en) 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 Contact bracket for multifunction push-button

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99119316A EP1089144B1 (en) 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 Contact bracket for multifunction push-button

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1089144A1 EP1089144A1 (en) 2001-04-04
EP1089144B1 true EP1089144B1 (en) 2009-01-21

Family

ID=8239084

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99119316A Expired - Lifetime EP1089144B1 (en) 1999-09-29 1999-09-29 Contact bracket for multifunction push-button

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1089144B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE421721T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69940346D1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN1708734B (en) * 2002-10-28 2010-09-01 Eta瑞士钟表制造股份有限公司 Control device for a push-piece and portable electronic instrument comprising same
EP1416343A1 (en) 2002-10-28 2004-05-06 ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse Push button control, in particular for time piece, and portable electronic instrument comprising such a button
NL2023823B1 (en) * 2019-09-12 2021-05-17 Flexous Mech Ip B V Watch

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE347620C (en) * 1919-09-23 1922-01-23 Edmund Magerle Push button contact
CH587173A4 (en) * 1973-04-25 1975-05-30
JPS5619743Y2 (en) 1974-12-26 1981-05-11
CH618829B (en) 1979-02-01 Bulova Watch Co Inc MANUAL CONTACT ARRANGEMENT FOR ELECTRONIC WATCH.
CH664863GA3 (en) 1986-04-09 1988-04-15

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1089144A1 (en) 2001-04-04
DE69940346D1 (en) 2009-03-12
ATE421721T1 (en) 2009-02-15

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