Timepiece with rotary bezel

{
  "publication_number": "US9395694B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Timepiece with rotary bezel",
  "abstract": "A timepiece with a rotary bezel includes a rotary bezel attached to a case body so as to be rotatable relative thereto and a spring member disposed between the case body and the rotary bezel. The rotary bezel includes clicking engagement sections and locking engagement sections provided along the direction in which the rotary bezel is rotated and is configured to be movable relative to the case body in a timepiece thickness direction, and the spring member includes an urging piece that urges the rotary bezel toward a timepiece front side.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A timepiece with a rotary bezel comprising: a case body; an annular rotary bezel attached to the case body so as to be rotatable relative thereto; and an annular spring member attached to the case body and disposed between the case body and the rotary bezel, wherein the rotary bezel includes clicking engagement sections and locking engagement sections provided along the direction in which the rotary bezel is rotated and is attached to the case body so as to be movable relative thereto in a timepiece thickness direction, and the spring member includes an urging piece that urges the rotary bezel toward a timepiece front side, a clicking piece that engages with and disengages from any of the clicking engagement sections when the rotary bezel is rotated, and a locking piece that engages with any of the locking engagements section when the rotary bezel is moved toward the timepiece front side to prevent the rotary bezel from rotating, whereas disengaging from the locking engagement section when the rotary bezel is moved toward a timepiece rear side to allow the rotary bezel to rotate.",
    "2. The timepiece with a rotary bezel according to claim 1, wherein the rotary bezel includes a bezel body provided with the clicking engagement sections, and an annular fixed member fixed to the bezel body and provided with the locking engagement sections.",
    "3. The timepiece with a rotary bezel according to claim 1, wherein the rotary bezel includes a bezel body, and an annular fixed member fixed to the bezel body and provided with the clicking engagement sections and the locking engagement sections.",
    "4. A timepiece with a rotary bezel comprising: a case body; an annular rotary bezel attached to the case body so as to be rotatable relative thereto; and an annular spring member attached to the case body and disposed between the case body and the rotary bezel, wherein the rotary bezel includes engagement sections provided along the direction in which the rotary bezel is rotated and is attached to the case body so as to be movable relative thereto in a timepiece thickness direction, the spring member includes a first spring member fixed to the case body and a second spring member disposed between the first spring member and the rotary bezel and movable in the timepiece thickness direction, the first spring member includes an urging piece that urges the second spring member toward a timepiece front side, and a locking piece that engages with any of the engagement sections when the rotary bezel is moved toward the timepiece front side to prevent the rotary bezel from rotating in one direction, whereas disengaging from the engagement section when the rotary bezel is moved toward a timepiece rear side to allow the rotary bezel to rotate in the one direction, and the second spring member includes a clicking piece that engages with and disengages from any of the engagement sections when the rotary bezel is rotated so that the clicking piece that engages with the engagement section prevents the rotary bezel from rotating in another direction.",
    "5. The timepiece with a rotary bezel according to claim 4, wherein the second spring member is provided with a pressing section that presses the locking piece when the rotary bezel is moved toward the timepiece rear side to cause the locking piece to disengage from the engagement section."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Technical Field\n\nThe present invention relates to a timepiece with a rotary bezel.\n\n2. Related Art\n\nAs a timepiece having a rotary bezel, such as a diver's watch and a sports watch, there has, for example, been a known timepiece apparatus described in JP-A-2009-186279.\n\nThe timepiece apparatus described in JP-A-2009-186279 includes a case body, an annular rotary bezel, and a click member that is supported by the case bezel and engages with and disengages from the rotary bezel. Indices corresponding to the indication hands of the timepiece and other markings are displayed on the front surface of the bezel, and setting a relationship between the indication hands and the indices allows predetermined information to be obtained. Clicking grooves are provided in the rear surface of the rotary bezel along the direction in which the rotary bezel rotates, and a clicking member made of an elastic material is placed in a placement groove that is a groove formed in the case body and faces the clicking grooves.\n\nIn the timepiece apparatus described above, when the rotary bezel is rotated against elastic force produced by the clicking member, the engagement between a clicking groove of the rotary bezel and the clicking member is released, and the rotary bezel is allowed to rotate. During the rotation of the rotary bezel, a clicking sensation is provided when a recessed portion of each of the clicking grooves passes over the tip of the click member.",
  "cpc": [
    "G04B 19/286"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G04B 19/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Seiko Epson Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Choi hung Wong"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-02-10",
  "publication_date": "2016-07-19",
  "grant_date": "2016-07-19",
  "priority_date": "2015-02-26",
  "application_number": "US-201615040647-A",
  "family_id": "56381596",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
  "citations": [
    "US4420264A",
    "US5319617A",
    "US20030099165A1",
    "US6821014B2",
    "US20060114753A1",
    "JP2009186279A"
  ]
}