Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Chronological – With significant casing or mounting support structure
Patent
1995-11-15
1997-12-30
Miska, Vit W.
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Chronological
With significant casing or mounting support structure
368227, 368232, G04B 1930, G04B 1906
Patent
active
057038376
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a watch provided with an EL (electroluminescence) element, a solar panel, or the like and a light transmitting type display plate.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In recent years, watches which utilize an EL element or a light emitting diode (LED) or the like have been developed. When a symbol or a hand which indicates the time is illuminated by light emitted from a built-in lamp, LED, or an EL element, it becomes possible to tell the time even in the dark.
A conventional structure with a display plate and a light diffusion plate used together with an EL element or a lamp or a light emitting diode, fixed to the movement, is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Laid Open Patent Application (kokai) No. 84886/1993. The fixing structure has a transparent display plate and a light diffusing plate having almost the same shape as the transparent display plate and positioned on the bottom surface of the transparent display plate, the both being fixed to a support frame using double-sided adhesive tape.
This type of conventional fixing structure has a superior feature inasmuch as it is possible to easily fix the light diffusing plate and the transparent display plate to the support frame. However, the structure has a disadvantage in that the positioning is unstable because it is not possible to position the transparent display plate and the support frame. Therefore, the positioning depends, in the final analysis, on a method in which an operator must make a visual judgment.
Furthermore, it is difficult to disassemble the transparent display plate and the light diffusing plate because these are affixed by the double-sided adhesive tape. This causes problems inasmuch as assembly and modification, afterservice, and the like become difficult.
At the present time it is well understood that batteries such as silver oxide and lithium batteries and the like have an adverse effect on the environment, therefore a second look is being taken at clean solar cells, with due consideration to environmental problems.
In this case, examples of a fixing structure by which solar cells and the display plate are fixed to the movement include, for example, a structure wherein the color of the solar cell itself is used to full advantage by exposing the solar cell, a structure wherein the time characters or the like are printed directly onto the surface of the solar cell, or a structure wherein a transparent seal onto which an ornament has been printed is affixed to the solar cell. These structures are fixed by a solar cell fixing member.
Other structures have also been proposed such as a structure wherein the solar cell is fixed by inserting an ornamental parting plate into the external periphery of the solar cell, and pressing a parting plate pin into the watch movement while supporting the solar cell by means of this parting plate; and a structure wherein the light transmitting display plate is incorporated when the watch outer casing is mounted and the light transmitting display plate is maintained by the outer casing.
Next, this type of conventional solar cell and display plate fixing structure will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 28 is an outline of a sectional view showing the case in which a transparent seal is used. In this drawing, a transparent seal 151, on which an ornament has been printed, is fixed by being affixed to the upper surface of a solar cell 140, except for a shaft section 152 which supports the hands of the watch. The solar cell 140 to which is affixed the transparent seal 151 is securely connected to a movement 110 by means of a solar cell fixing member 153.
FIG. 29(a) is an outline of a sectional view of a watch with a solar cell and a parting plate and FIG. 29(b) is a plan view. In these drawings, a fixing pin 154a on a parting plate 154 on which an ornament is printed engages a plurality of holes 110a set in a flange section of the movement 110, to incorporate the parting plate 154 and interpose the solar cell 140 between the parting plat
REFERENCES:
patent: 4775964 (1988-10-01), Alessio et al.
patent: 5265071 (1993-11-01), Thorgersen et al.
patent: 5426621 (1995-06-01), Akasaka
Fukuda Masami
Kitajima Yasuo
Kobayashi Isamu
Shimoda Kenji
Udou Yurie
Citizen Watch Co. Ltd.
Miska Vit W.
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