Waterproof watch pushbutton

• US 9,123,483 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Original Assignee: The Swatch Group Research And Development Ltd (The Swatch Group AG)
• Inventors: Ferri, Yvan, Rota, Sergio, Martin, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): WICKLUND, DANIEL PM
• Application Number:
  US13/722,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20130163395A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 368288-291, 368/308, 368319-321, 200/600
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/046 Operation by rotation and axial movement with extra function of axial shift of operating element, e.g. crown combined with push button winding up by push button G04B3/001
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 3/048 Operation exclusively by axial movement of a push-button, e.g. for chronographs winding up by push button G04B3/001; hermetically sealed push button G04B37/106
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/106 of push buttons winding up by push button G04B3/001; crown in the form of push button G04B3/046; construction of push buttons G04B3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/001 Electromechanical switches for setting or display in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 17/00 Structural details; Housings constructional details of radio-controlled time-pieces, e.g. antennas G04R60/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/06 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/975 using a capacitive movable element

Abstract

A sealed pushbutton for a wristwatch includes a pushbutton head that is movable between a resting position and an active position, a first fixed conductive element, a second movable conductive element, and an elastically deformable capsule. The elastically deformable capsule hermetically covers the first fixed conductor, and an upper surface of the capsule is in physical contact with a lower surface of the pushbutton head and the capsule is locatable in a non-deformed position when the pushbutton head is in its resting position and in a deformed position when the pushbutton head is in its active position. The first and second conductive elements form a capacitive or resistive switch device, and the switch is in open state when the pushbutton head is in its resting position and in closed state when the pushbutton head is in its active position.

Claims

1. A sealed pushbutton for a wristwatch, comprising:

a pushbutton head that is movable between a resting position and an active position,

a first fixed conductive element in a case of the wristwatch,

a second movable conductive element in the case of the wristwatch,

an elastically deformable capsule that hermetically covers said first fixed conductive element, wherein an upper surface of said capsule is in physical contact with a lower surface of the pushbutton head and said capsule is locatable in a non-deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in a deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the active position, and

a guide piece of said pushbutton head, wherein said guide piece is pressed onto a peripheral part of said capsule, wherein

said first and second conductive elements form a capacitive switch device in the case of the wristwatch, wherein said switch is in open state when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in closed state when the pushbutton head is in the active position, and

an outer surface of said first fixed conductive element is 1 square millimeter at maximum and a spacing between said outer surface of said first fixed conductive element and a surface of the second movable conductive element is at least 0.3 millimeter in said resting position of the pushbutton.

2. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 1, wherein the pushbutton head is axially guided and travel of the pushbutton head between said resting position and the active position is less than or equal to 0.3 millimeter.

3. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 2, wherein the pushbutton head comprises a lower peripheral abutment surface that determines said travel of the pushbutton head.

4. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 2, wherein a spacing between a surface of said first fixed conductive element and a surface of the second movable conductive element is greater than or equal to said travel of the pushbutton.

5. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 1, wherein said capsule is arranged to determine an activation threshold of less than 500 grams and of which a curvature inversion during elastic deformation of the capsule provides a mechanical activation confirmation click when the pushbutton head is in the active position.

6. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 5, wherein a deformable central part of said capsule forms the second movable conductive element.

7. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral part of said capsule is fixed to an annular pushbutton body separate from a center part of the watch.

8. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 7, wherein said capsule and said pushbutton body are conductive.

9. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 8, wherein the first fixed conductive element is transversal and the pushbutton comprises an annular insulating piece interposed between said first fixed conductive element and said pushbutton body.

10. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 1, wherein the pushbutton comprises a holding flange of said pushbutton head partially accommodated in a recess of a central part of the pushbutton head.

11. The sealed pushbutton according to claim 10, wherein said holding flange has an oblique outer side face.

12. A wristwatch comprising:

a pushbutton including

a pushbutton head that is movable between a resting position and an active position,

a first fixed conductive element in a case of the wristwatch,

a second movable conductive element in the case of the wristwatch,

an elastically deformable capsule that hermetically covers said first fixed conductive element, wherein an upper surface of said capsule is in physical contact with a lower surface of the pushbutton head and said capsule is locatable in a non-deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in a deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the active position, and

a guide piece of said pushbutton head, wherein said guide piece is pressed onto a peripheral part of said capsule, wherein

said first and second conductive elements form a capacitive switch device in the case of the wristwatch, wherein said switch is in open state when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in closed state when the pushbutton head is in the active position,

an outer surface of said first fixed conductive element is 1 square millimeter at maximum and a spacing between said outer surface of said first fixed conductive element and a surface of the second movable conductive element is at least 0.3 millimeter in said resting position of the pushbutton, and wherein

said first fixed conductive element is connected to an electronic detection circuit based on relative impedance variation.

13. The wristwatch according to claim 12, wherein a detection threshold is fixed at more than 5%.

14. The wristwatch according to claim 12, wherein the wristwatch is a waterproof watch.

15. A sealed pushbutton for a wristwatch, comprising:

a pushbutton head that is movable between a resting position and an active position,

a first fixed conductive element in a case of the wristwatch,

a second movable conductive element in the case of the wristwatch,

an elastically deformable capsule that hermetically covers said first fixed conductive element, wherein an upper surface of said capsule is in physical contact with a lower surface of the pushbutton head and said capsule is locatable in a non-deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in a deformed position when the pushbutton head is in the active position, and

a guide piece of said pushbutton head, wherein said guide piece is pressed onto a peripheral part of said capsule, wherein

said first and second conductive elements form a capacitive or resistive switch device in the case of the wristwatch, wherein said switch is in open state when the pushbutton head is in the resting position and in closed state when the pushbutton head is in the active position, and

an outer surface of said first fixed conductive element is 1 square millimeter at maximum, a spacing between said outer surface of said first fixed conductive element and a surface of the second movable conductive element is at least 0.3 millimeter in said resting position of the pushbutton, and the pushbutton head is axially guided and travel of the pushbutton head between said resting position and the active position is less than or equal to 0.3 millimeter.