Timepiece with indexed annular member around dial

• US 9,329,574 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2015
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Momose, Tomonori
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Amy Cohen
• Assistant Examiner(s): POWELL, MATTHEW T
• Application Number:
  US14/591,234
• Publication Number:
  US 20150205263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/06 Dials moving discs G04B19/20; illuminated dials or hands G04B19/30; for time-pieces without clockwork G04B49/04 ; machines and arrangements for the manufacture of dials or hands G04D3/0048
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/10 Ornamental shape of the graduations or the surface of the dial; Attachment of the graduations to the dial cases for special purposes, e.g. ring or button watches G04B37/12; indicating means with special effects G04B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/12 Selection of materials for dials or graduations markings
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/12 inside metal cases

Abstract

An electronic timepiece has a dial; a dial ring disposed around the outside circumference of the dial; and an index marker affixed to the dial ring. The dial ring has a protruding part that protrudes to the inside in the radial direction of the dial ring; and the index marker is disposed to the protruding part. The annular member is made of plastic, and the index marker is made of metal.

Claims

1. A timepiece comprising:

a dial;

an annular member disposed around the outside circumference of the dial and having a plurality of protruding parts that protrude inward in the radial direction of the annular member; and

a plurality of index markers each of which is disposed to a corresponding one of the plurality of protruding parts so that each of the plurality of protruding parts is completely hidden by the corresponding one of the plurality of index markers so as not to be visible in plan view, each of the plurality of index markers including a first material;

wherein each of the plurality of protruding parts is made of a second material that is different than the first material.

2. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the second material is plastic; and

the first material is metal.

3. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the outside end of one of the plurality of index markers in the radial direction is positioned further to the outside in the radial direction than the inside edge of the annular member in the radial direction.

4. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

one of the plurality of index markers is fastened to the annular member by adhesive.

5. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

one of the plurality of index markers has a post member;

the protruding part corresponding to the one of the plurality of index markers has a first hole at a position corresponding to the post member; and

the post member is fit into the first hole and fastened in the first hole by adhesive.

6. The timepiece described in claim 5, wherein:

the protruding part corresponding to the one of the plurality of index markers has a second hole that communicates with the first hole from the opposite side as the side in which the first hole is formed, and the adhesive is applied from the second hole side.

7. The timepiece described in claim 6, wherein:

there are plural post members and first holes; and

the second hole is a single oval hole that communicates with the plural first holes.

8. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

the length of one of the plurality of protruding parts in the radial direction of the annular member, and the width of the one of the plurality of protruding parts in the circumferential direction of the annular member, are less than the length in the radial direction and the width in the circumferential direction of the corresponding index marker.

9. The timepiece described in claim 6, wherein:

when the post member is fastened in the first hole or the second hole, the length of the post member that protrudes from the first hole or the second hole is greater than or equal to ½

the depth of the first hole or the second hole.

10. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

one of the plurality of protruding parts has a portion that is parallel to the dial; and

the index marker corresponding to the one of the plurality of protruding parts is disposed to the parallel portion.

11. The timepiece described in claim 1, wherein:

one of the plurality of index markers has a constant thickness.

12. The timepiece described in claim 1, further comprising:

an annular antenna that receives radio signals, the annular antenna being covered by the annular member and being disposed to a position not overlapping one of the plurality of index markers in the plan view;

wherein the dial is disposed inside an inside circumference of the annular antenna.