Device for securing a watch dial to a watch-movement plate

• US 4,291,401 A
• Filed: 11/21/1979
• Issued: 09/22/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eta Set
• Original Assignee: Ebauches Bettlach SA
• Inventors: Bachmann, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US06/096,394
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 58/127 R, 58/127 B, 58/104, 368/236
• US Class Current: 368/236
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/14 Fastening the dials to the clock or watch plates tools, arrangements and machines for the manufacture of watch plates G04D3/0048

Abstract

A cylindrical bearing segment of a preferably metal sleeve is positioned within a hole in a watch-movement plate. A portion of the sleeve intended to project inwardly beyond the plate is divided by a lengthwise slot into two claws which yield so that the sleeve can be inserted in the hole by simple axial pressure. When the dial is to be fitted in place, a dial-foot is inserted in the sleeve, pushing the claws apart by pressing against inner bulges at the ends of the claws, these bulges then pressing laterally against the dial-foot and locking it firmly in place.

Claims

1. A device for securing a watch dial having two or more integral dial-feet to a watch-movement plate including opposing substantially planar faces and a like number of holes for receiving said dial-feet, of the type having a sleeve inserted through each of said holes, each said sleeve including a first portion sunk in said plate and a second portion projecting from the face of said plate intended to be situated remote from said dial, said second portion being formed of a plurality of claws separated from one or more slots, wherein the improvement comprises:

said sleeves are made of substantially non-deformable metal,

a cylindrical bearing segment included in each said first portion and situated within the associated one of said holes,

two radially outwardly extending substantially non-deformable shoulders, preformed before insertion of the sleeve into the respective hole, bounding said bearing segment and each having a planar face which abuts a respective substantially planar face of said plate, the exterior of said second portion being frustoconical in shape, the diameter of the smaller base thereof, most remote from said plate, being less than the diameter of said holes,

said one or more slots extending from the end of said second portion remote from said plate to within said bearing segment, and

said one or more slots being of sufficient length and width to permit said claws to bend resiliently toward the interior of said sleeve, thereby allowing the one of said non-deformable shoulders nearest said second portion to enter the associated one of said holes during insertion of said sleeve.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each said sleeve includes a single diametrical slot separating it longitudinally into two facing said claws.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the ends of said claws remote from said bearing segment each include an inner bulge intended to press resiliently against the side of one of said dial-feet when said dial is secured to said plate.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said plate includes at the periphery thereof a dial-support rim spaced from said holes, said first portion of each said sleeve including an annular flange extending to the same level as said rim.