US3735583A - Mechanism for hand-setting and winding - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for setting the hands and for rewinding a watch. A setting lever is associated with an elastic arm in such a way that it is resiliently held in its two extreme positions. The resilient arm is blank in one piece with a lever spring and comprises an arcuate section engaging around a pin held by the watch frame. A flexible arm acting as a lever spring extends from one side of this arcuate member and the lever extends from the other side of the arm.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 3, 35,53

Bachmann 5] May 29, 1973 MECHANISM FOR HAND-SETTING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AND WINDING [75] Inventor: Peter Bachmann, Bettlach, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Ebauches Bettlach S.A., Bettlach,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Dec. 21, 1971 [211 Appl. No.: 210,390

[52] 11.8. C1 ..58/65, 58/68 [51] Int. Cl. ..G04b 27/04 [58] Field of Search 58/63-72 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 966,149 8/1910 Wolf ..58/68 1,151,960 2/1958 France ..58/67 71,714 2/1916 Switzerland ..58/65 154,233 4/1932 Switzerland ..58/67 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney-Richard K. Stevens. Davidson C. Miller, Ellsworth H. Mosher et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A device for setting the hands and for rewinding a watch A setting lever is associated with an elastic arm in such a way that it is resiliently held in its two extreme positions. The resilient arm is blank in one piece with a lever spring and comprises an arcuate section engaging around a pin held by the watch frame. A flexible arm acting as a lever spring extends from one side of this arcuate member and the lever extends from the other side of the arm.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MECHANISM FOR HAND-SETTING AND WINDING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION notch to the other, thus fixing the two extreme positions of the winder stem, and hence that of the setting lever, while preventing this peg from any displacement outside the set limits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the goal sought after, the mechanism according to the invention is characterized by a blanked setting lever provided with an elastic arm pushing against either one of the two fixed elements fastened to the movement frame, in such a manner as to keep the setting lever in its two extreme positions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The appended drawings illustrate one form of the mechanism according to the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are top views of the two extreme positions of the winder stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The mechanism shown in the drawing may be incorporated into a wrist-watch of conventional size. It comprises the main conventionally known parts of such a mechanism, that is, a winder-stem 1, a winding pinion 2 freely pivoting on a cylindrical bearing 3 of the stem and a clutch pinion 4 which may glide on a square 5 machined near the inward end of stem 1. The stem is kept in position on the internal face of bottom plate 6 of the movement by a bracket 7 fixed to the bottom plate. Collars 8 and 9 bounding the stem groove are guided in recesses on the internal face of the bottom plate. These recesses are of such depths that the setting lever 10, which is also mounted on the internal face of this bottom plate by means of the setting lever screw 11, by its arm 12 engages the stem groove approximately at the height of its stafi. Thus the setting lever lacks a setting lever stud. It further lacks a peg such as the one normally provided for funtioning together with the setting lever spring, rather it is made up of a simple blanked plate. Indeed, as shown by the drawing, it is made up of three arms comprising, besides the arm 12 above-mentioned, an arm 13 functioning together with clutch lever 14 as shown further below, and an elastic arm 15. The latter two arms start from the center of the setting lever, which is represented by a hole for screw 11, and extend on either side of a line passing through this stems axis. They assume the shape of a V fork.

To set the extreme positions of the setting lever, that is, the positions assumed when the stem is in the rewinding position (FIG. 1) and in the hand-setting position (FIG. 2), a pin 16 of cylindrical form has been provided which is fastened to the outer face of the bottom plate between the arms 13 and 15 of the setting lever. In the position of FIG. 1, the internal edge 13a of arm 13 is touching pin 16, whereas in the other extreme position, it is the internal edge 15a of arm 15 that touches this pin. Further, arm 15 is bent inside and its extremity elastically pushes against either of the two elements of the lateral surface of pin 16, depending uponthe position of the setting lever. It provides the friction necessary to maintain the two positions.

Lever 14 is blanked in one piece together with the lever spring. This part comprises a median section in the form of an arc of circle 14a which engages round a peg provided with a flat head 18 partly covering section 14a so as to keep it in place. The lever extends on one side of its section 14a, by a rigid part 14b making up the lever proper, which is so bent as provide an oblique slope 14c functioning together with the end of arm 13 of the setting lever. The lever's end engages the groove of the clutch pinion 4 in the conventional manner.

With respect to part 14d which constitutes the lever spring, it has the shape of a narrow straight arm extending from peg 17, the end of which part is fixed by a pin 19 itself also mounted on the bottom plate.

Thus all the functions of the rewinding and handsetting mechanism are realized by the two parts 10 and 14 which are simply made up of blanked plates. The two extreme positions of the winder stem, the setting lever and the clutch lever, are bounded by pin 16. It is to be noted in this respect that the elastic arm 14d may store a larger energy than arm 15 of the setting lever. In the position of FIG. 2, arm 14b of the lever therefore tends to displace towards the top of the figure because of the deflection exerted upon arm 14d. The setting lever therefore is subjected to a very slight moment from the lever, which is clock-wise as shown in FIG. 2. This explains why the setting lever does not wholly stay in its banking position and that arm 15 only touches pin 16 by its free end, which exerts an elastic pressure upon this pin.

The described mechanism may also be executed in a different manner and for instance may be provided with two arms only, one bearing the setting lever stud or else engaging the stem groove, whereas the other might oscillate between two fixed elements so as to set the stems two end positions. This arm may be so made as to activate the lever and to function together with the two bankings.

What is claimed is:

1. In a setting and winding mechanism for a watch movement comprising a stem; a clutch pinion; a setting lever having a first arm which engages a groove provided in the stem; and a clutch lever having an arm which engages a groove provided in the clutch pinion, said setting lever being blanked with an elastic portion, said elastic portion abutting on either of two areas of a fixed element so as to maintain the stem in either of two axial end positions, said clutch lever being blanked with an elastic arm arranged to permanently urge said clutch lever and said clutch pinion towards said setting lever, and said setting lever having a second arm which moves said clutch lever in response to displacements of the stem between said positions.

2. The setting and winding mechanism of claim 1 wherein said two areas are each a difierent side portion of a cylindrical fixed pin, said difierent side portions being situated each on a different side of a straight line extending through the pivoting axis of the setting lever and the axis of said pin.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said second arm of the setting lever is arranged to abut said pin when the stem is pushed in its innermost position.

i *0 k i

Claims (3)

1. In a setting and winding mechanism for a watch movement comprising a stem; a clutch pinion; a setting lever having a first arm which engages a groove provided in the stem; and a clutch lever having an arm which engages a groove provided in the clutch pinion, said setting lever being blanked with an elastic portion, said elastic portion abutting on either of two areas of a fixed element so as to maintain the stem in either of two axial end positions, said clutch lever being blanked with an elastic arm arranged to permanently urge said clutch lever and said clutch pinion towards said setting lever, and said setting lever having a second arm which moves said clutch lever in response to displacements of the stem between said positions.

2. The setting and winding mechanism of claim 1 wherein said two areas are each a different side portion of a cylindrical fixed pin, said different side portions being situated each on a different side of a straight line extending through the pivoting axis of the setting lever and the axis of said pin.

3. The mechanism of claim 2 wherein said second arm of the setting lever is arranged to abut said pin when the stem is pushed in its innermost position.

Images