CH700383B1 - Watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch case comprising a housing body (1), a watch glass (2), a movement holder (6) in an interior of the housing body (1) and an elastic sealing element (7), which a tight connection between the housing body (1) and watch glass (2) or between a floor and a housing body (1). The movement holder (6) is held deflectable on the sealing element (7) with respect to the housing body (1) so that impacts, vibrations and vibrations which act on the watch case are not transmitted to the movement holder (6) as far as possible. Furthermore, the invention relates to a clock with such a watch case.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a watch case comprising a housing body, a watch glass, a movement holder in an interior of the housing body and an elastic sealing element, which creates a tight connection between the housing body and watch glass or between a bottom and a housing body. Furthermore, the invention relates to a clock with such a watch case.

State of the art

The main task of a watch case is the protection of sensitive movement against environmental influences such as dirt and water. As a rule, this task is well resolved by today's popular watch cases. However, it may be desirable to find a particularly good and advantageous solution to this problem for reasons of being unique among competitors.

Watch cases are usually made of hard and durable materials such as steel, bronze alloys, or more recently also of sintered ceramic.

A clock (0) usually consists of the following components: the clockwork (5). the dial (4). the hand movement (hour, minute and second hands) (14). the movement holder (6), in which the movement (5) is fixed. The movement holder is in turn fixed in the housing body (1). the housing body (1). If the housing has a separate bottom, this is called the middle part of the housing. the housing bottom (3), if such is present as a separate part. After removing the floor repair and service work can be carried out on the movement. the glass (2), through which the time display by means of dial and pointer movement is visible. the so-called control shaft (9/10), which is connected to the outside of the housing lying crown (12) and adjusted with the pointer movement (14) and in certain movements, the spring can be wound. The sealing elements (7), which seal all openings through the housing against the ingress of dirt and water. The openings for the glass (2) and the control shaft (9/10) are minimal.

The prior art, for example, the following documents are to be mentioned. CH 486 059 (Marmoud): waterproof watch case CH 491 423 (Piquerez): shock-absorbing suspension of the movement CH 514 178 (Morf): split control shaft CH 524 178 (Girod): split control shaft CH 559 929 (Audemars Piguet): single-shell watch case CH 577 206 (Omega): single-shell watch case CH 578751 (Piquerez): watertight screwed crown CH 607 869 (Patek Philippe): single-shell watch case DE 3 205 823 A1 (IWC): waterproof watch case

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a the technical field mentioned above belonging watch case, which minimizes the impact of bumps and knocks on the movement and is structurally simple.

The solution of the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the sealing element (7) between glass (2) and housing body (1) and / or the sealing element (7) between the housing bottom (3) and the housing body (1) at the same time as a shock absorbing element for the movement (5).

In a preferred embodiment, the housing is in one piece, so it has no separate floor.

In a preferred embodiment, the hard and brittle glass (2) to be stored so elastic that it is better protected against bumps and shocks than the usual watch cases. There is usually the glass directly on the also usually hard middle part. In the case of impacts or sudden pressure on the glass, voltage spikes occur which could damage or destroy the glass.

From the following detailed description and the totality of the claims, there are further advantageous embodiments and feature combinations of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Figs. 1 to 11 used to explain the embodiment show various details and cross sections of preferred embodiments.

In the figures, the following reference numerals are used: <tb> 0 <sep> Whole clock <Tb> 1 <sep> housing body <Tb> 2 <sep> Glass <Tb> 3 <sep> caseback <Tb> 4 <sep> Dial <Tb> 5 <sep> Movement <Tb> 6 <sep> Movement holders <Tb> 6 <sep> Werkhalternut <Tb> 7 <sep> sealing element <Tb> 8 <sep> expansion space <Tb> 9 <sep> Movement wave <Tb> 10 <sep> Housing wave <Tb> 11 <sep> Clutch <Tb> 12 <sep> Krone <Tb> 14 <sep> Movement <Tb> 15 <sep> clamping plates <Tb> 16 <sep> Lunette <Tb> 17 <sep> travel limiters

Ways to carry out the invention

In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained, reference being made by reference numerals in brackets to the figures.

The glass (2) is located directly on an elastic sealing element (7), which in turn lies on or in a recess of the housing body (1). In this sealing element (7) of the movement holder (6) is hung. At its point of contact with the seal, the movement holder has a peripheral circumferential groove (6a) with a special geometry, such as a circular segment-shaped, conical or groove-like groove. In this groove (6a) into the elastic seal (7), in particular when it is compressed, forms true to form. As a result, this groove (6a) of the movement holder (6) is always reliably and precisely centered in the median plane of the elastic seal (7). By this measure, the movement holder (6) can be given a clearly definable position.

Thus, the breakthrough for the control shafts (9/10) of the movement (5) by the housing body (1) are also clearly positioned.

The movement holder (6) is now dimensioned so that it has on all sides a distance from the housing body (1) and the glass (2), which is 0.20 to 0.40 mm here. Once the seal (7) is biased after assembly of the glass (2) and / or the bottom (3), the position of the work holder (6) is immovable and thus can not vibrations, shocks and vibrations, which act on the housing the movement holder (6) and thus not in the delicate movement (5) are transmitted. The movement holder (6) is thus elastically deflectable in the housing body (1).

The transmission of shocks and vibrations could only take place via the elastic seal (7); However, in addition to its sealing properties, it also has the property of being a damping element like all elastomeric materials. The relevant characteristic number, the so-called Shore hardness, must be interpreted accordingly.

The movement (5) itself is rigidly connected to the movement holder (6). This is done by means of screws which are screwed into the circuit board of the movement, and clamping plate (15), which clamp the movement (5) on a circumferential rib of the movement holder (6). The rigid attachment of movements on movement holders is well known and will not be described further here.

In the embodiment shown here, the housing is single-shell, that is, the housing bottom (3) is an integral part of the housing body (1). However, a housing according to the invention may also have a separate floor, and the transition between floor (3) and housing body (1) must then also be sealed against the ingress of dirt and water. In this case, the movement holder (6) can then be freely clamped in the bottom seal (7).

It is then possible in this case, the movement holder (6) in both seals (7) - the seal of the glass (2) and the seal of the bottom (3) - aufzuspannen. The movement holder (6) is then fastened or clamped simultaneously in two seals (7), which results in an even better damping of vibrations, shocks and vibrations.

If the constructive solution to fixation and sealing of the glass is simply transferred to the ground, so the floor can also be a glass insert, which allows the view in the clockwork.

The movement (5) is connected via the control shaft (9/10) with the crown (12). It would then make no sense to separate the movement holder (6) circumferentially from the housing (1) and thus protect the movement (5), and then this movement (5) by means of a rigid, one-piece shaft with the crown (12) connect. Then vibrations, shocks and vibrations acting on the crown (12) would be transmitted directly into the movement (5).

The control shaft is therefore divided into two parts and the two parts via a coupling (11) connected to each other.

A part of the control shaft is fixed to the movement (5) connected (clockwork shaft (9)); the other part of the control shaft is fixedly connected to the housing body (1) (housing shaft (10)).

This coupling (11) is designed so that it can transmit tensile and compressive forces and rotations in the longitudinal axis of the control shaft. The clutch (11) is designed so that that part of the clutch (11a) which is connected to the clockwork shaft (9), with respect to the coupling (11b) of the housing shaft (10) has an all-round distance. Thus, in the resting state of the control shafts (9/10) - so if the crown (12) is not pulled - also no vibrations, vibrations and shocks on the clutch (11) of the control shafts (9/10) in the delicate movement (5) be transmitted.

This tolerance between the two coupling parts (11a and 11b) is also necessary, since the movement (5), together with the movement holder (6), due to the previously described damping function, between the glass (2) and housing bottom (3) can move. This then leads to a shift between clockwork shaft (9) and housing shaft (10), in a plane perpendicular to the control axis longitudinal axes. The path of this shift is about half the size of the damping path of the glass (2).

The distance between the two coupling parts (11a and 11b) is therefore necessary on the one hand, so that impacts and vibrations from the outside on the clock (0) do not transmit from coupling part 11b to 11a (and introduced into the movement (5)) become; and thus on the other hand not with elastic movements or deflections of the unit movement holder (6) and movement (5) relative to the housing body (1) the coupling (11a) of the clockwork shaft (9) does not touch the coupling (11b) of the housing shaft and thereby either parts of Clutch (11) or parts of the control shaft (9/10) or the movement (5) are damaged.

In the present embodiment of the inventive housing, the crown (12) is screwed; that is, the crown (12) has an internal thread and is thus screwed to a firmly inserted into the housing body (1) tube with external thread. Only when screwed in, the seals of the crown are fully biased and fulfill their sealing function. A screw-down crown sits tighter on the case and is the sturdier construction than a non-bolted crown.

Since screwed crowns are well known, will be omitted here on the further description of their operation.

In the single-shell design of the inventive watch case, the division of the control shafts (9/10) also offers advantages in assembling the clock, when the movement (5) in the housing body (1) is used. The two coupling parts (11a and 11b) of the adjusting shafts (9 and 10) can then be rotated into the appropriate position and simply pushed into each other.

The glass (2) by means of a fastener, the so-called Lunette (16), held on the housing body (1). In the present embodiment of the invention, the bezel (16) with a so-called bayonet lock on the housing body (1) is held. This is done so that when assembling the clock, the movement holder (6) with already mounted clockwork (5), dial (4) and pointer mechanism (14) in the housing body (1) and the elastic seal (7) is used. Then the glass (2) is placed on the seal (7) and the bezel (16) on the edge of the glass. Then the bezel (16) is pressed against the resistance of the seal (7) to the stop on the housing body (1). Then, the bezel (16) is rotated by 18 ° relative to the housing body (1) and thus toothed Lunette (16) and housing body (1) against each other. Thus, the bezel (16) can not open unintentionally, then four screws are screwed from the bottom side through the housing body through. The tips of the screws then engage in corresponding recesses in the bezel (16) and this is thus rotationally secured.

The bezel (16) is thus also a Wegbegrenzer for the glass (2), on the one hand when this returns to its rest position after a successful Dämpfungsweg in the direction of the dial (4), under the pressure of the prestressed elastic seal (7) , And on the other hand in the rest position, when the biased sealing element (7) wants to push the glass (2) further away from the dial (4) and the bezel (16) limits this intended "escape route" of the glass (2).

The inventive type of attachment of the glass (2) by the bezel (16) has a further advantage. It can happen that there is a higher pressure inside the watch case than outside the case. This can be done on the plane or while staying in areas with lower air pressure than the place of manufacture of the watch; or after staying in zones with higher external pressures, when gaseous substances consisting of particularly small molecules - for example helium or hydrogen - have diffused through the seal into the interior of the watch case and the wearer of the watch returns to zones with lower external pressures ,

In this case, the higher pressure inside the watch in conventional constructions may cause the watch glass to be pushed out. In the present embodiment of the invention this is not the case since the glass (2) is reliably held by the bezel (16) or its path away from the dial (4) is limited. Small molecule gases inside the watch can then slowly diffuse through the seals (7) until a balance between internal and external pressure is created without damaging the watch.

The present embodiment of the clock is therefore also negative pressure.

The bezel (16) does not necessarily have to be held on the housing body (1) by means of a bayonet closure; also the attachment by screws, circumferential threads and so on is conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensitive movement (5) to be protected by an internal second housing made of a soft magnetic material against magnetic fields. These could greatly affect the accuracy of the movement. The effect of soft magnetic material shields is well known and will not be further described here.

The second housing consists in this case of the dial (4), the movement holder (6) and a second bottom (3a). These three components are made of a soft magnetic material, for example, an iron-cobalt alloy.

The second housing is in turn free, with allseitigem distance to the housing body (1), suspended in the seal (7). In a preferred embodiment variant, the soft magnetic secondary bottom (3a) is glued firmly to the bottom (3) of the housing body (1). With similar mechanical strengths of the material of the housing body (1) and of the soft-magnetic secondary floor (3a), this composite floor thus becomes stiffer and more stable. The second floor (3a) then has an all-round distance to the movement holder (6). The soft magnetic shielding is achieved by overlapping.

In another embodiment, the soft magnetic second floor (3a) is firmly connected to the movement holder (6) - for example, clamped, screwed or otherwise connected. The soft magnetic base (3a) then has an all-round distance to the bottom (3) of the housing body (1) so that no transmission of vibrations, shocks or vibrations on the movement holder (6) and thus in the movement (5) can be done.

The glass of a watch case is always one of its weak points. The glasses used are hard, so they do not scratch quickly and then "blind". These hard glasses are also brittle and therefore impact-sensitive. This property is further enhanced by the fact that the hard glass on a hard material - the housing rests. Impacts on the glass are thus not dampened in any way and the glasses are often damaged by blows.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive housing, this is prevented by the fact that the glass (2) does not rest directly on a hard material, but on the elastic sealing element (7). The relevant parts are now all dimensioned so that in case of a shock or sudden pressure on the glass (2) this at least 0.20 mm in the direction of dial (4) can escape before it in an intended end position on a Dämpfungsweg-limiter (17a ) and is stopped. In this damping travel of 0.20 mm, the elastic seal (7) must be further biased, and the energy required for this is no longer transferred into the glass (2), but remains in the damping element (7) and then when retreating into the Issued starting position again, but in the glass (2) harmless type, since the delivery through a soft element (the seal (7)) takes place and thus spikes are absent.

Since the movement holder (6), as described above, always reliably centered thanks to its geometry in the median plane of the seal (7), in this case, the whole unit movement holder (6) - movement (5) - dial ( 4) - Movement (14) pressed towards the housing bottom (3). As a result of the self-centering of the movement holder (6) in the median plane of the seal (7), the path of the movement holder (6) with respect to the path of the watch glass (2) is halved. If, therefore, the glass (2) is pressed by 0.20 mm in the direction of the dial (4), the seal (7) is compressed in its height by 0.20 mm. It then differs radially into the intended expansion or expansion spaces (8) in the housing groove, since the volume of seals made of elastomers can not be compressed, but can only be deformed.

The movement holder (6) is then moved in this case by 0.10 mm in the direction of the housing bottom (3). The distances from the movement holder (6) to the housing bottom (3) are designed accordingly.

In the inventive housing any known type of movements can be installed, be it self-winding mechanical works, hand-mounted spring-operated plants or electrically driven movements.

Claims (14)

1. Watch case comprising: <tb> a) <sep> a housing body (1), <tb> b) <sep> a watch glass (2), <tb> c) <sep> a movement holder (6) in an interior of the case body (1) and <db> d) <sep> an elastic sealing element (7) which creates a tight connection between housing body (1) and watch glass (2) and / or between the housing body (1) and the housing bottom (3), <tb> e) <sep> a two-part control shaft (9/10) having a first part (9) and a second part (10), <tb> f) <sep> wherein a coupling mechanism (11) is provided between the first part (9) and the second part (10), characterized in that <tb> g) <sep> the movement holder (6) on the sealing element (7) relative to the housing body (1) is deflectable, so that shocks, vibrations and vibrations that act on the watch case, not possible on the movement holder (6 ) be transmitted <tb> h) <sep> and the first part (9) of the control shaft as a clockwork shaft (9) is fixedly connected to a clockwork (5) and the second part (10) of the control shaft as a housing shaft (10) fixed to the housing body ( 1) is connected, and i) <sep> the coupling mechanism allows a transverse displacement of the two parts of the control shaft, so that impacts, vibrations and vibrations acting on the housing body (1) or the crown (12), if possible not via the control shaft ( 9/10) can be transferred to the movement (5). 2. watch case according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling mechanism (11) of the actuating shaft allows axial displacement of the first part (9) and the second part (10). 3. watch case according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a coupling part (11 a) of the clutch (11) which is connected to the clockwork shaft (9), with respect to a coupling part (11 b) of the housing shaft (10) has an all-round distance. 4. Watch case according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movement holder (6) is supported exclusively by said sealing element (7), wherein watch glass (2) and movement holder (6) in a rest position preferably have a mutual distance, so that the watch glass (2) does not touch the movement holder (6). 5. watch case according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movement holder (6) has a peripherally encircling, in particular circular segment-shaped, conical or grooved groove (6a), in which the sealing element (7) rests, so that this groove (6a) of the movement holder (6) always centered in a median plane of the sealing element (7). 6. Watch housing according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an expansion space or expansion space (8) is provided on the circumference of the, preferably annular, sealing element (7) in the housing body (1), which a radial deflection of the loaded sealing element (7 ) allowed. 7. watch case according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the watch glass (2) in a rest position on the sealing element (7) rests and is held on the housing body (1), that a damping path in the direction of a housing interior so that impacts and pressures on the glass (2) can be absorbed by this seal (7). 8. watch case according to claim 7, characterized in that the damping travel of the watch glass (2) is about 0.2 mm. 9. watch case according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that a maximum transverse displacement between the clockwork shaft (9) and housing shaft (10) corresponds substantially to half of the damping travel of the watch glass (2). 10. Watch case according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a first Wegbegrenzer (17 a) on the housing (1) is provided, which limits the damping path of the glass (2). 11. Watch case according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a second Wegbegrenzer (17b) is provided on the housing for the movement holder (6) which limits a damping path of the movement holder (6). 12. watch case according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that an outer Wegbegrenzer (17c) is fixed to the housing, which limits a path of the glass (2) to the outside. 13. watch case according to claim 12, characterized in that the outer Wegbegrenzer (17c) by a bezel (16) is formed, which engages over the glass (2) in an edge region. 14. Clock comprising a watch case according to one of claims 1 to 13.