JPH10123265A - Dial for time piece - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make up a dial having a plenty of variety and high quality sense in such a way that it has a less problem in fabricating than the case of using conventional plastic plate and ceramic plate and various patterns can be formed on the surface or plating process can be applied by adopting a metal plate in the dial of a time piece using solar battery. SOLUTION: In a time piece having an outer case 3, a movement 5 contained in the outer case 3 putting inside a middle frame 4 and a solar battery 6 and a dial 1 arranged close on the movement 5, a metal plate is used for the material of the dial 7 arranged on the solar battery 6 and light path holes 13 for gaining light good transmissivity necessary for driving the time piece with the solar battery 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dial for a timepiece, and more particularly to a dial used for a timepiece having a solar cell on the back side of the dial.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a timepiece using a solar cell, the solar cell is arranged close to the back side of the dial, and the electromotive force of the solar cell required for driving the clock is secured by light transmitted through the dial. Was. For this reason, many dials have been made of a transparent plastic or a thin plate-shaped ceramic having excellent translucency.

[0003]

However, when a plastic dial is used as described above, the surface of the dial is easily scratched during processing due to the softness of the material of the plastic itself, and static electricity is generated. There is a problem that dust removal is required because dust and the like are easily attached to the dial surface.

On the other hand, when a ceramic dial is used, there is a problem that the material cost is high and the workability is poor because the material is hard, so that the processing cost is high.

Accordingly, the present invention focuses on the fact that some recent solar cells can obtain an electromotive force necessary for driving a timepiece with a low light transmittance, and compared with the above-mentioned conventional plastics and ceramics. A metal dial is used, which has good workability, is hardly scratched, and is economically advantageous.

[0006]

A timepiece dial according to a first aspect of the present invention uses a metal plate as a material of a dial disposed on a solar cell and is required for driving a timepiece by the solar cell. A lighting hole for obtaining light transmittance is opened directly in a metal plate.

In the timepiece dial according to a second aspect of the present invention, the daylighting holes are provided so that each of the divided pieces constituting the solar cell can obtain uniform light transmittance. Features.

Further, the timepiece dial according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a transparent or colored transparent plastic plate is adhered to the back surface of the metal plate and integrally formed.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a timepiece dial according to the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a timepiece 1 according to this embodiment, in which a movement 5 is housed via an inner frame 4 inside an outer case 3 having a bottom cover 2. A solar cell 6 is arranged on the movement 5, and a dial 7 according to the present invention is mounted on the upper surface of the solar cell 6. Engagement projections 8 and 9 are provided on the outer periphery of the solar cell 6 and the dial 7, respectively, and are fitted into the concave grooves 10 and 11 of the middle frame 4 for positioning.
The upper part of the dial 7 is covered with a glass cover 12.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the dial 7 according to this embodiment is formed of a metal disk having substantially the same shape as that of the solar cell 6, and is provided around a pointer hole 20 formed at the center. Are provided with eight round holes 13 at equal intervals.
These lighting holes 13 are arranged so that the light transmittance is equal to each of the divided pieces 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d of the solar cell 6 divided into four. In addition, the opening area of the lighting hole 13 in this embodiment is set so that the solar cell 6 can obtain a predetermined light transmittance. Here, the light transmittance is defined as 100 when the electromotive force when no obstacle is placed on the solar cell 6 and the ratio of the electromotive force when the dial 7 is mounted on the solar cell 6 next. Is expressed as light transmittance. In this embodiment, the daylighting hole 13 is constituted by a collection of round holes. However, the daylighting hole 13 is a striped daylighting hole 14 as shown in FIG. Lighting holes 15 provided radially
In addition, a lighting hole having various shapes such as a diffraction grating shape and a geometric shape can be applied.

Therefore, in the dial 7 of the above embodiment, light passes through the lighting hole 13 provided on the surface, and the light passes through the solar cell 6.
By irradiating the surface of the watch 1, an electromotive force necessary for driving the timepiece 1 can be obtained. Further, since the lighting hole 13 is provided only on a part of the surface of the dial 7, the dark green color of the solar electric field 6 arranged on the back side does not become so noticeable through the lighting hole 13. Furthermore, a variety of models can be provided by giving a variation to the shape of the lighting hole 13 or providing a satin pattern or a basis pattern on the surface of the metal plate. In the case where the dial is formed of a metal plate, the surface can be plated, so that the dial can be finished with a high-class feel. In addition, by attaching a colored transparent plastic film to the back surface of the dial 7, it is possible to soften the unique dark green color on the surface of the solar cell 6 and enhance the appearance.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the timepiece dial according to the present invention. The dial 7 in this embodiment is such that a colored transparent plastic plate 17 is arranged on the back surface side of a thin metal plate 16 and both are bonded to be integrated. By using the transparent plastic plate 17 as a reinforcing material, the metal plate 16 itself can be formed as thin as possible, and when the lighting hole 18 is opened with a press, the peripheral edge of the opening edge can be small and beautifully finished. Also,
A slightly large lighting hole 18 is formed at the center of the metal plate 16, but since the transparent plastic plate 17 is colored, the dark shade of the solar cell 6 can be made inconspicuous.
The size of the lighting hole 18 formed in the metal plate 16 is such that the solar cell 6 can secure a predetermined light transmittance, similarly to the above embodiment.

[0013]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
According to the timepiece dial according to the above, since a metal plate is used as the material of the dial, there are fewer problems in processing compared to the case of using a conventional plastic plate or ceramic plate, and various The dial can be finished with a variety of high-quality dials, such as the ability to form a pattern or a plating process.

In addition, since the light transmittance required for the solar cell can be ensured by opening the lighting hole in the metal dial, the light transmittance can be controlled by the shape and size of the lighting hole. In addition, there is an effect that the range of choice of solar cells is expanded and various kinds of watches can be mass-produced.

Further, according to the timepiece dial according to the second aspect of the present invention, since each of the divided pieces of the solar cell is provided with a lighting hole so as to obtain a uniform light transmittance, the solar cell is always provided with a predetermined light. This produces an effect that an electromotive force can be obtained.

According to the timepiece dial of the third aspect of the present invention, since the dial is formed by bringing a transparent or colored transparent plastic plate into close contact with the back surface of the metal plate, the metal plate itself is made as thin as possible. Can be formed. By making the metal plate thinner, when the lighting hole is opened by a press, the peripheral edge sag can be made small and beautifully finished, and a predetermined dial strength can be ensured by closely attaching the plastic plate. Further, by using a colored and transparent plastic plate, it is possible to make the dark green color of the solar cell inconspicuous.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire configuration of a timepiece using a dial according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dial.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another shape of a lighting hole opened in the dial.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a different shape of the lighting hole.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a dial formed by a metal plate and a transparent plastic plate.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Watch 3 Outer case 4 Middle frame 5 Movement 6 Solar cell 7 Dial 13 Lighting hole

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaaki Sato 26663 Funatsu, Kawaguchiko-machi, Minamitsuru-gun, Yamanashi Inside Kawaguchiko Precision Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A timepiece having an outer case, a movement housed in the outer case via a middle frame, and a solar cell and a dial disposed close to the movement, A timepiece dial, characterized in that a metal plate is used as a material of the dial placed in the device, and a lighting hole for obtaining a light transmittance required for driving a timepiece by a solar cell is directly opened in the metal plate. 2. The timepiece dial according to claim 1, wherein the daylighting holes are arranged such that each of the divided pieces constituting the solar cell can obtain uniform light transmittance. 3. The timepiece dial according to claim 1, wherein a transparent or colored transparent plastic plate is closely attached to the back surface of the metal plate to be integrally formed.