CH702840A2 - Method for assembling lens in bezel of timepiece to form radiating and vibrating unit for diffusing sound signal issued from e.g. bell, involves maintaining lens in peripheral space outside junction zones to permit vibration of bezel - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves determining acceptable number of disjoint junction zones (4) to constitute assembly of vibratory transmission mechanical connection connecting a bezel (3) to a lens (2). The disjoint junction zones are realized, and the lens are fixed on the bezel by supporting or by tightening. The lens arranged at distance from the bezel is maintained in a peripheral space outside the junction zones to permit vibration of the bezel without bordering the bezel. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a lens-bezel assembly for a timepiece (2) a timepiece comprising a lens-bezel assembly.

Description

The invention relates to a method of assembly between firstly one, and secondly a bezel having a notch for housing said ice, for use in a timepiece of said ice like vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from a vibratory source such as a ring, a music box or the like.

The invention also relates to an ice-bezel assembly for a timepiece, arranged for the use of an ice as a vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal from a vibratory source such as ring, music box or the like, said set ice-glasses comprising firstly a bezel having a notch for housing an ice, and secondly such ice having an upper surface and a lower surface connected by a board.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such ice-bezel assembly.

The invention relates to the field of timepieces comprising means for transmitting a sound signal such as ringing, music box or the like. It relates more particularly to timepieces portable by the user, such as watches, pendants and the like.

Indeed, the invention proposes to solve the problem of the diffusion of sound by a small timepiece. Indeed, if the diffusion of sound is easy in the case of pendulums or clocks, which have volumes or sound boxes designed to spread the sound, and widely sized, it still poses a problem in the case of coins. small watchmaking, where the volume to form a box or a resonant cavity is necessarily very limited, and where many components impede the good diffusion of sound, damping instead of amplifying it. This problem is all the more arduous as the sound sources, consisting of timbres, gongs or even keyboards, are themselves very small, and that the amplification level of the sound must be important for the sound is audible by the user, and possibly by his entourage. The amplification and the diffusion of the sound must not alter its purity, it is therefore essential to prevent any untimely resonance of another component of the timepiece.

Various attempts have been made to create resonant cavities, generally turned on the side of the user, as for example in the patent document JP 9010 183 in the name of Seiko Epson. However the user himself helps to dampen the vibration, and the efficiency is therefore quite limited.

Tests to use ice as a vibrating organ have long given mixed results. The patent application CH 825 266 in the name of Spadini describes a flexible glass rigidly mounted on the bezel, and made in an organic artificial glass, the sound quality is generally greatly degraded due to the heterogeneity of the material. The patent application Fr 2 154 704 in the name of Timex describes an ice mounted on the bezel via an elastic lining, which absorbs too much energy to achieve the desired result.

Patent CH 626 497, in the name of Ebauches, innovated by allowing the use of ice as a vibrating member, serving as a transmitting member of vibrations, thanks to the interposition, between the bezel and the ice, of a thin annular connecting piece, which absorbs little energy, and which does not alter the sound. These provisions have been taken over by EP 0 694 824 in the name of Asulab and by patent CH 698 742 in the name of Richemont, in which the annular piece adopts a broken line profile. These solutions have the advantage of not distorting the sound, and can not dampen the vibrations, but the amplitude of vibration of the ice remains limited.

Also known a patent CH 698 533 in the name of Richemont, which sought a better sound transmission by fixing the stamps of a ring directly on an ice support welded thereto. Sound transmission is assured, but the location of the stamps is very special, under the ice, and can not be applied to all timepieces.

The invention proposes to provide a new solution to the problem of sound transmission using ice as a vibrating and radiating member, with respect for the quality of its expected, thanks to good vibration transmission from the mechanism for emitting the sound signal of the timepiece to the mirror via the telescope, with a sharp increase in the acoustic level regardless of the installation location of the sound signal transmission mechanism in the timepiece.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a method of assembly between an ice, on the one hand, and on the other hand a bezel having a notch for housing said ice, for use in a room of watchmaking of said ice as a vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from a vibratory source such as a buzzer, a music box or the like, characterized in that: an adequate number of disjoint junction zones intended to constitute together the only mechanical vibratory transmission link of said telescope to said ice, outside which junction zones said ice is remote from said telescope, said one or more junction zones are made, or by restriction of the direct contact surfaces between said ice and said bezel by peripheral removal of material from said ice and / or said bezel, and / or by interposition between said ice and said bezel 'at least one shim, said ice is fixed on said telescope by pressing and clamping at each said junction zone so as to transmit to said mirror any vibration communicated to said telescope, maintaining, in a peripheral space outside said one or more junction zones, said ice at a distance from said bezel so as to allow the vibrations of said bezel without hindering them.

According to one characteristic of the invention, for the determination of said adequate number of said junction zones: the eigenfrequencies of the vibratory sources of said sound signal, such as timbres, gongs, keyboards or the like, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies is determined; the circumferential positioning around said ice, according to the characteristics of said ice, of an adequate number of said disjoint junction zones, is simulated by calculation to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of said ice, dependent on the thickness of said ice, to make them correspond to the bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies of said vibratory sources and to the bandwidth of the human ear; the thickness of said ice is selected, and the contact surface between said ice and said bezel at each said junction zone for, according to the preceding calculation, to match said natural and harmonic frequencies of said ice to said bandwidths, and to obtain said adequate number of attachment zones closest to the value two.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said appropriate number is chosen equal to two. Preferably, the number of junction zones is two, and only two.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the space between said ice and said bezel is hermetically sealed with sealing means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said sealing means is selected comprising at least one flexible seal, and / or at least one elastic membrane.

The invention also relates to an ice-cover assembly for a timepiece, arranged for the use of an ice as a vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal from a vibratory source such as ring, music box or the like, said set ice-glasses comprising firstly a bezel having a notch for housing an ice, and secondly such ice having an upper surface and a lower surface connected by an edge, characterized in that it comprises one or more junction zones together constituting the only mechanical link vibratory transmission of said bezel to said ice to resonate said ice under the action of vibrations transmitted to it by said telescope to level of said at least one joining zone, and said ice-cream being at a distance from said telescope outside the surfaces where they are joined by said at least one z-zone junction ones.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, for each of said junction areas, said upper surface of said ice is in direct support on said notch, and said edge of said ice is in direct or indirect support with said notch or with said bezel, and that said lower surface of said ice is in direct or indirect support with said bezel or with a middle part that comprises, juxtaposed to said bezel, said timepiece, to enclose said ice.

According to a feature of the invention, the ice-lens assembly comprises, at each said junction zone, at least one support wedge constituted by a spacing device wedge or by a lower wedge.

According to a feature of the invention, the peripheral space between said ice and said bezel, at least outside the surfaces where said glass and said bezel are joined by said connecting piece or pieces, is closed so that sealed with sealing means.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such ice-bezel assembly.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying figures in which. <tb> - fig. 1 <sep> represents, in schematic form and in front view, an assembly ice-glasses assembled according to the invention in a preferred embodiment; <tb> - fig. 2 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane AA of the ice-telescope assembly of FIG. 1, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 3 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane BB of the ice-telescope assembly of FIG. 1, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 4 <sep> represents, in a similar manner to Figure 1, another set ice-glasses assembled according to another embodiment of the invention; <tb> - fig. 5 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane AA of the assembly of FIG. 4, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 6 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane BB of the assembly of FIG. 4, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 7 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane AA of an assembly according to another embodiment, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 8 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane BB of the assembly of FIG. 7, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 9 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane AA of an assembly according to another embodiment still, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> -the fig. 10 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a section along a plane BB of the assembly of FIG. 9, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece; <tb> - fig. 11 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a detail of a section of the type of FIG. 3; <tb> - fig. 12 <sep> represents, in schematic partial form, a detail of a section of the type of FIG. 2.

The invention relates to the field of timepieces comprising means for transmitting a sound signal such as ringing, music box or the like. It relates more particularly to timepieces portable by the user, such as watches, pendants and the like.

In timepieces with a traditional sound signal of the bell or music box type, and in particular in watches, an actuator, of the hammer or cam type, strikes or vibrates a vibratory source such as a stamp, a gong or keyboard, or the like. The vibration produced by this vibratory source is transmitted to elements that can radiate, such as the middle and the bezel, provided however that no isolator or damper element is interposed in the path of the vibration. Very often, the vibration can not be transmitted to the ice, because it is usually insulated with a seal whose function is to seal the watch, and / or it is driven into the bezel by the intermediate of a hard plastic seal. As a result, the ice is not vibrated and can not radiate, which explains the limitations of the prior art.

The invention therefore seeks to make available the large radiation surface that can offer ice, which in addition is well disposed towards the user and his entourage, to make audible, with a perfect sound quality, the sound signal from the buzzer or vibratory source.

The invention relates to a method of assembly between on the one hand an ice 2, and on the other hand a bezel 3 for use in a timepiece 100 of the ice 2 as a vibrating and radiating member broadcasting a sound signal from a vibratory source such as a ring, music box or the like. The invention also relates to a set ice-glasses 1, in particular obtained by the implementation of this method.

The invention attaches, in particular, to provide great ease of adaptation to any type of timepiece, regardless of the location of the vibratory sources relative to the ice. The essential thing is to be able to transmit these vibrations by elements constituting the structure of the timepiece up to a telescope, which can be the original telescope or a replacement telescope, this telescope that carries the ice making its sound. turn vibrate the ice. Whenever possible, it is advantageous to transmit the vibrations through the middle part of the timepiece, and to the direct contact of which the bezel is attached, and the following description is applicable while both to a particular ice-middle assembly, as the preferred embodiment of an ice-bezel assembly.

The innovative principle of the invention is to limit the attachment of the lens 2 to the window 3, which comprises a notch 30 for the housing of the ice 2, to one or more substantially specific areas hereinafter referred to as "zones". junction "4, so as to allow the free vibration of most of the periphery of the ice 2, in a peripheral space 7 between the glass 2 and the bezel 3 outside these junction areas 4, without this free vibration of the ice is hindered. The ice 2 behaves in a manner like a beam embedded at one end, or at both ends, if the number of attachment points is respectively one or two. A number of junction areas 4 greater than three is obviously possible, and improves the rigidity of the connection between the window 2 and the window 3, however the vibration is hampered, and the sound yield is less spectacular than with one or two zones junction only.

A good simulation of the vibratory behavior of the entire timepiece 100, and more particularly of the set ice-telescope 1, together with a quality achievement, allows to obtain the maximum sound efficiency .

For this purpose, according to the invention, an assembly method is implemented according to which the following steps are carried out: an adequate number of disjoint junction zones 4 is designed to form together the only mechanical vibratory transmission link of the telescope 3 to the ice 2, outside which junction zones 4 said ice 2 is remote from said telescope 3, the junction zone (s) 4 is made or by restriction of the direct contact surfaces between the lens 2 and the bezel 3 by peripheral removal of material from the lens 2 and / or the lens 3, or / and by interposition between the ice 2 and the window 3 of at least one support wedge 5, in particular constituted by a spacer wedge 50 and / or by a lower wedge 51, the ice 2 is fixed on the telescope 3 by pressing and clamping at each junction zone 4 so as to transmit to the ice 2 any vibration communicated to the telescope 3, in a peripheral space 7 outside the junction zone (s) 4, the ice 2 is maintained at a distance from the telescope 3, the periphery of the ice 2 being distant from the telescope 3, and preferably, when the the bezel is integrated into a timepiece 100, of a middle size 6 that includes this timepiece 100 intended to receive this telescope 3 and this mirror 2, by keeping the ice 2 at a distance from the telescope 3 so as to to allow the vibrations of said telescope without hindering them.

In a preferred manner, for determining the adequate number of junction zones 4: the natural frequencies of the vibratory sources of the sound signal, such as timbres, gongs, keyboards or the like, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to these natural frequencies is determined; the peripheral positioning around the ice 2 is simulated by calculation, according to the characteristics of the ice 2, an adequate number of such junction areas 4 disjoint, to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of the ice 2, depending on the thickness of the ice 2, to match the bandwidth corresponding to the eigenfrequencies of the vibratory sources and the bandwidth of the human ear; the thickness of the ice 2 and the contact surface between the ice 2 and the telescope 3 at the level of each junction zone 4 are chosen so as to correspond, according to the preceding calculation, the natural and harmonic frequencies of the ice 2 to these bandwidths, and to obtain the adequate number of attachment zones 4 closest to the value two.

Preferably, one chooses the adequate number of junction areas 4 equal to two, and preferably only two.

In a variant, the thickness of this ice 2 is determined, and the contact surface between this ice 2 and this bezel 3 at each of these junction zones 4 to, according to the previous calculation, match the natural and harmonic frequencies of this ice at these bandwidths, and to obtain the adequate number of junction zones closest to the value two.

The realization of junction areas 4 will be explained in more detail later in the presentation.

In a preferred manner, the number, the position and the surface of the junction zones 4, and the thickness of the ice 2 are dimensioned to obtain a natural frequency of between 1000 and 7000 Hz, and more. especially between 2000 and 6000 Hz.

In a preferred application of the invention, it is chosen, whatever the method variant implemented, the appropriate number of junction areas 4 at least equal to two. In particular, this number is equal to two, the ice 2 then vibrates substantially pivotally with respect to an axis joining the two junction areas 4. This possibility of pivot makes it possible to lower the first natural frequency. Preferably, the two junction zones 4 are diametrically opposite, or as far as possible if the ice 2 has no symmetry, so as to improve the impact resistance. Preferably, on a watch, the two junction zones 4 are arranged, either at noon and six o'clock, or at three o'clock and nine o'clock, according to the configuration of the mirror 2. For example, in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 11 and 12, the ice 2 is substantially a cylinder portion oriented on a parallel to the axis from three o'clock to nine o'clock, and the latter is chosen to position the two junction zones 4 therein.

Naturally, if we force the number of junction areas 4 during the simulation, we must act on other parameters, including the thickness of the ice 2 and the contact surface at the junction zone 4 Conversely, if the ice 2 is maintained only by a single junction zone 4, in single embedding, for example welded at a point, the lowering of the first natural frequency is obtained, albeit with resistance. less shock.

To seal the timepiece 100, sealing the peripheral space 7 between the ice 2 and the bezel 3 with sealing means 8. These means are preferably selected sealing 8 comprising at least one flexible seal, such as a silicone seal or the like, and / or at least one elastic membrane, in particular of the bellows type or the like, deployed between the bezel 3 and the ice-cream 2 and not impeding the vibrations of the latter. This bellows may be a metal bellows, or an elastomer bellows, or the like. Such an elastic membrane provides a good seal and very good impact resistance. It must be chosen as thin as possible to behave as neutral as a silicone seal, for example.

In particular, particularly when a silicone-type flexible seal or the like is chosen, the junction zones 4 are also covered with these sealing means 8.

Preferably, interpose as shown in FIGS. 5 to 10, between the bezel 3, the middle part 6, and at least one connecting ring or a lower block 51 interposed between the glass 2 and the middle part 6, a seal 9.

Advantageously, and particularly in the case where the emission source of the sound signal of the timepiece 100 is likely to cause, at the level of the ice 2, large amplitude vibrations, interposed between , on the one hand the ice 2, and on the other hand the notch 30 or the middle part 6 or an assembly ring bearing on the latter, at least one shock absorber 10. This shock absorber 10 is mounted away from the ice 2, in particular at a distance from a lower surface 21 and / or an upper surface 20 that the ice 2 has, relative to the equilibrium position of the ice 2. In a first version, this damper 10 has a single stop 10B, the side of the lower surface 21, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper stop then being constituted by the notch 30 of the bezel. Preferably, when the aesthetics and size of the timepiece 100 allow it, this shock absorber 10 comprises two stops, one 10A on the side of the upper surface 20 and one 10B on the side of the lower surface. 21 of the ice 2, as shown in Figs. 7 and 10 showing the end positions 2A and 2B of the glass 2. These stops are preferably made of an elastic material, or are the terminations of damping means such as springs or the like. Of course, the lower surface 10B, or both the upper surface 10A and the lower surface 10B, as the case may be, are arranged to limit the movement of the ice 2 in the event of impact or the like, but also so as not to interfere with its trajectory in its vibration and resonance movement. The surface or surfaces 10A, 10B is or are therefore beyond the maximum vibration amplitude of the ice, calculated in response to vibration of the vibratory source, in the extreme case of amplitude of vibration.

It is possible to design the realization of the junction areas 4 between the glass 2 and the bezel 3 in different ways: it is achieved or the junction areas 4, or by restriction of direct contact surfaces between the ice 2 and the telescope 3 by peripheral removal of material from the ice 2 or / and the telescope 3, or by the interposition between the window 2 and the telescope 3 of at least one support wedge 5 constituted by a peripheral wedge of spacing 50 or by a lower shim 51. The interposition of such support shims 5 is also possible in combination with the restriction of the contact surfaces between the bezel 3 and the ice 2. These support shims 5, peripheral wedges d spacing 50 and / or lower support wedges 51, realize the mechanical vibration transmission link between the ice 2 and the bezel 3 to these junction zones 4 only, and away from each other outside of these points. The material of the support wedges must be chosen with care, because it must transmit the vibration of the telescope 3 to the ice 2, and especially do not dampen this vibration. Particularly good results are obtained with metal shims, the connection to the junction surface 4 is then called mechanical metal link vibratory transmission. Support shims made of ceramic materials or the like, or other hard materials, also give good results. These support blocks can also be in the same material as ice 2.

The first way to design the junction areas 4 is thus to achieve them by localized peripheral clamping. This tightening can be achieved by restricting the surfaces of direct contact between the window and the window by peripheral removal of material from the ice and / or the window, for example by a particular machining of the window 3 at the notch 30 so to make bearing surfaces separated by recesses, which is preferable to a machining ice 2 because less expensive.

The clamping can also, more economically, be achieved by the interposition, between the notch 30 and the ice 2, support wedges 5, formed by spacer spacers 50. These wedges 50 are so called because they provide both the first transmission function of the vibration of the bezel 3 to the ice 2 by the contact surface therebetween at the junction zone 5, and the second spacer function of the rest of the the periphery of the window 2 relative to the notch 30 of the window. Fig. 7 illustrates this embodiment, where the junction zone 4 is formed by a radial peripheral support, and where the shim 50 is more precisely constituted by a connecting piece 11.

It is obvious that the ice 2 must remain permanently in the bezel 3, whatever its vibration level, which can be high for example during a sequence of big ring or chime. It is then necessary to have an ice cream 2 having sufficient elastic properties for its tightening in the bezel 3 to be assured whatever its vibratory level, and that the connection to the junction zones 4 is excellent.

Preferably, one chooses the sapphire crystal 2, or mineral glass, or in an elastic material of suitable characteristics, preferably organic glasses which are generally too heterogeneous to ensure the purity of sound. The sapphire is preferably chosen for its scratch-proof character. It is still possible to use a lead crystal, particularly with more than 21% lead, which has great elasticity, and dampens vibrations much less than mineral glass. The attenuation of the propagation of the acoustic wave is slower in sapphire or crystal than in a mineral glass, which results in an increased resonance time with these materials. The dissipation of energy in thermal form is very weak with sapphire, most of the energy remains available for the sound emission. As a result, a clamping assembly, especially in two junction zones, a sapphire crystal, or lead crystal, in a bezel, gives good energy results and good sound quality without disturbing the sound, and pleasant for the listener. The ice can still be made of a natural mineral material of adequate crystallographic structure, such as rock crystal, quartz, or the like.

The second way to design the junction areas 4 is to achieve a localized clamping of the ice 2 in the direction of its thickness, in the manner of a clamp. In this version, as shown in FIG. 11, the periphery of the ice 2 is at a distance from the walls of the notch 30, only one of the faces of the ice 2, in this case its upper surface 20, comes into contact, at least one-time at the junction zone 4 , with a surface of this notch 30. The lower surface 21 of the ice 2 is immobilized, at each junction zone 4, by a support wedge 5. This support wedge 5 can be made, or under shape of a lower wedge 51 bearing on the bezel 3 or the middle part 6, or in the form of a boss of an intermediate piece. This lower wedge 51 or this intermediate piece is preferably substantially annular in shape similar to that of the bezel. Such an intermediate piece also bears, directly or indirectly, on the middle part 6, and is housed in the bezel 3, either in the notch 30, or in a housing provided for this purpose. The ice 2 is thus pinched punctually between the notch 30 on the one hand, and this lower wedge 51 or this intermediate piece on the other hand.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7, at least one junction zone 4 is formed by wrapping the periphery of the window 2 with a connecting piece 11, whose inner profile bears on the ice both on the one hand the upper surface 20 of the ice 2, and secondly on the lower surface 21 of the ice 2 or / and on an edge 22 connecting the lower surface 21 and the upper surface 20 of the ice 2.

For fixing the ice 2 on the bezel 3, in a variant, this ice 2 is positioned and equipped with a connecting piece 11 in the notch 30 so as to move the ice 2 away from this bezel 3 in any other way point that these junction areas 4, and so that, for each of these junction areas 4, at least this upper surface 20 or this edge 22 is in direct or indirect support on this notch 30, and that for each of these junction areas 4, this lower surface 21 is in direct or indirect support with the telescope 3 or the middle part 6 juxtaposed to this bezel, to enclose the ice 2.

In a particular embodiment as visible in the example of Figs. 5and 6, there is interposed between, on the one hand the glass 2 and on the other hand the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6, at least one intermediate connecting ring.

These figures show the example of two superposed assembly rings, one 50 radially to the ice 2 between the edges of its edge 22 on the one hand and the wall of the notch 30 on the other hand, and other 51 disposed between the vicinity of the lower surface 21 of the ice 2 on the one hand, and a surface 60 of the middle part 6 on the other hand.

Whatever the way to achieve the junction areas 4, the periphery of the ice 2, outside the junction areas 4, is free to vibrate in a peripheral space 7 where it has no contact, or with the bezel 3, or with the middle part 6, as visible in FIGS. 8, 10 and 12.

It is understood that it is also possible to freely perform on the same timepiece 100, or on the same set ice-glasses 1, junction areas 4 differentiated and variegated, some according to the first way , the others according to the second way. These embodiments of the junction zones 4 are, moreover, in no way limiting. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates a junction zone 4 comprising both a radial peripheral support of the lens 2 in the bezel 3 by a connecting piece 11 enclosing the lens 2, and which bears in the notch 30 via a spacing spacer 50, and a maintenance in the direction of the thickness of the ice, which is here ensured by a lower wedge 51 resting on the middle part 6. Such an assembly allows to choose the elements to achieve the tightening, for example the wedge 50 and the lower wedge 51 can be made of elastic materials for mounting by compression, provided however to ensure the good vibratory transmission of the bezel 3 to the ice 2 without damping effect of makes holds. Advantageously, at least one adjustment screw 61 at the middle part 6 makes it possible to adjust the stress on the lower block 51, and thus on the ice 2.

A junction zone 4 may consist of the juxtaposition of two junction points or more, spaced a few millimeters between them. The important thing is that the distance between these junction areas is as large as possible. However, it is preferable, within the same junction zone, to limit the spacing between the end points making the connection, typically those making the embedding of the ice 2, because the greater this spacing, the higher the frequency clean of the set is high, and the less the gain is important. For a timepiece such as a watch, the maximum spacing within the same junction zone should be between a few tenths of a millimeter, and a few millimeters, for example.

In a variant, the junction zone may also be constituted by a fixing of the lens 2 on the bezel 3 by a mechanical attachment, for example by screwing, or even by welding or brazing between the bezel 3 and a deposit metal made on ice 2 by a chemical vapor deposition process, or sputtering, or the like.

The invention also relates to a set of ice-glasses 1 for dressing timepiece 100, which is arranged for the use of a mirror 2 as a vibrating and radiating member of a sound signal issued from a vibratory source such as a bell, a music box or the like. This set ice-telescope 1 comprises firstly a telescope 3 having a notch 30 for the housing of an ice 2, and secondly such an ice 2 having an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 21 connected by an edge 22.

According to the invention, this ice-lens assembly 1 comprises one or more junction zones 4 together constituting the only mechanical vibratory transmission link of the bezel 3 to the ice 2 to make the ice 2 resonate under the action of vibrations that are transmitted thereto by the telescope 3 at, respectively, this or these junction areas 4. The ice 2 is at a distance from the bezel 3 outside the surfaces where they are joined by, respectively, this or these junction areas 4.

For each of these junction zones 4, the upper surface 20 or the edge 22 of the ice 2 bears directly on the notch 30. For each of the junction zones 4, the lower surface 21 of the ice is direct or indirect support with the telescope 3 or with the caseband 6.

In a particular embodiment, for each of the junction areas, the upper surface 20 of the ice 2 is in direct support on the notch 30, and the edge 22 of the ice 2 is in direct or indirect support with the notch 30. or with the window 3. And the lower surface 21 of the window 2 bears directly or indirectly with either the window 3 or the middle part 6.

The ice-lens assembly 1 advantageously comprises, at least one junction zone 4, and preferably at each junction zone 4, at least one support wedge 5. This support wedge 5 is formed by a spacing device shim 50 or a lower shim 51, as previously described.

Preferably, such a peripheral shim 50 is mounted under stress between the window 2 and the window 3 for holding the window 2, and preferably has a substantially U-shaped profile, and is arranged to take support by its internal profile on the ice 2 and its outer profile on the bezel 3. The ice 2 equipped with this wedge 50 is housed in the notch 30 away from the telescope 3 at any point other than a junction zone 4.

In the variants of FIGS. 4 to 10, the assembly ice-telescope 1 thus comprises at least one such support wedge 5 constituted by a connecting piece 11 located at the junction zone 4, or preferably a group of disjoint connecting pieces 11 located at all junction areas 4. The ice 2 is supported on the bezel 3, at the junction zone 4, through at least one such connecting piece 11. This connecting piece 11 is, of preferably with a substantially U-shaped profile, and arranged to bear, by its internal profile on the ice 2, preferably both on the edge 22 and on the upper and lower surfaces 20 of the ice 2, and by its external profile on the telescope 3 near the upper surface 20 of the ice in direct or indirect support on the notch 30 to resonate the ice 2 with the telescope 3. The ice equipped with this wedge 50 is housed in the notch 30. The ice 2 is away from the telescope 3 outside of s surfaces where they are joined by a junction zone 4. Preferably, for each connecting piece 11, at least one of the surfaces of its outer profile near the upper surface 20 of the ice is in direct or indirect support on the notch 30, and another surface of its outer profile near the lower surface 21 of the ice bears directly or indirectly with the bezel 3 or the middle part 6.

A contact between the connecting piece 11, or more generally the support wedge 5, and the middle part 6, is advantageous because it allows the transmission of vibrations to the ice 2 at a time by the bezel 3 and by the middle part 6.

Advantageously, this caseband 6 is, in the timepiece, in vibratory connection with a membrane, which is itself in vibratory contact with the vibratory source or sources. The middle part 6 can also directly support, by vibratory contact, the vibratory source or sources.

In a particular embodiment, the set of glasses and bezel 1 comprises, interposed between, on the one hand, the junction zone (s) 4 and, on the other hand, the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6, at least one ring intermediate assembly. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, at least one intermediate connecting ring 51 is interposed between, on the one hand or the connecting pieces 11, and on the other hand the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6. Preferably, this ring of assembly 51 makes it possible to create a constraint, for example adjustable by screw 61 as visible in FIGS. 5 and 6.

The peripheral space 7 between the ice 2 and the bezel 3, at least outside the surfaces where the ice 2 and the bezel 3 are joined by this or these junction zones 4, is closed sealingly with sealing means 8, as described above.

Preferably, a soft seal of silicone type or similar is chosen, and the junction areas 4 are also covered with this seal constituting these sealing means 8.

In an advantageous embodiment, as visible in the figures, the ice-cover assembly 1 comprises, in addition to these sealing means 8 which concern the periphery of the window 2, at least one sealing gasket 9. as described above for the seal at the level of the joint plane 60 or the junction surface entered the bezel 3 and the middle part 6 of the timepiece 100.

Preferably, the set ice-bezel 1 comprises interposed between, on the one hand the ice 2, and on the other hand the notch 30 or the middle part 6 or an assembly ring bearing on this last, at least one shock absorber 10, as described above, mounted at a distance from the ice 2 relative to the equilibrium position of the latter.

In an alternative embodiment, the ice-glasses assembly 1 further comprises elastic return means for the repositioning of the ice 2 in the event of stress.

In an advantageous embodiment, the ice is made of sapphire. In a first embodiment, it is made of mineral glass. In a second embodiment, it is made of lead crystal.

Preferably, the ice-lens assembly 1 according to the invention comprises two junction zones 4, allowing both a very good mechanical strength and a large vibration amplitude of the ice 2.

Preferably, for a watch, the clamping value is between 0.010 and 0.060 millimeters at the radius, and preferably between 0.010 and 0.030 millimeters. This clamping is a radial clamping on the periphery of the ice. Axial clamping is possible in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of the thickness of the ice, but it is understood that such excessive axial clamping hampers the vibration and radiation of the ice according to this direction, so it is better to be limited to a simple maintenance of the ice, in particular by the lower holds 51.

Compared to a traditional timepiece where the ice can only very slightly vibrate, the acoustic gain obtained by the implementation of the invention is important, of the order of 20 dBA.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 100 comprising at least one such ice-bezel assembly 1. It comprises a middle part 6 of which a junction plane 60 is arranged to cooperate sealingly with the bezel 3.

In short, the invention provides the advantage of involving both the glass and the bezel to vibration and acoustic radiation.

The agreement on the natural frequency of the assembly is possible by adjusting the dimensioning of the connecting surfaces to the junction areas 4, or connecting pieces 11 when they are used, as well as the thickness of the ice cream 2.

Of course, the invention is also applicable to a direct mounting of the window 2 in the middle part 6, but the mounting of the window 2 in the window 3 according to the invention allows, precisely, the independence with respect to the timepiece 100, and the invention can be implemented easily for any timepiece, replacing the original bezel and / or the ice by a set ice-glasses 1 according to the invention, or even by adapting the original parts by machining and / or by the interposition of adequate bearing blocks as described above.

It is understood that the invention focuses on transmitting the vibrations from the sound source to the ice to resonate it. Depending on the case, the vibratory chain transmits the vibration from the vibratory source, ring, timbre, gong, chime, music box, vibrator, or other, to the turntable of the timepiece, the platinum to the middle of the timepiece, from the case to the bezel, and the bezel to the ice.

Naturally other vibratory link chains are achievable by implementing the invention, including the vibratory source type / middle / glasses / ice, or vibratory source / glasses / ice.

Claims (14)

1. A method of assembling between on the one hand an ice, and on the other hand a bezel comprising a notch for the housing of said ice, for use in a timepiece of said ice as a vibrating and radiating member of broadcasting a sound signal coming from a vibratory source such as a ring, a music box or the like, characterized in that: An adequate number of disjoint junction zones are designed to form together the only mechanical connection for vibratory transmission of said telescope to said ice, outside which junction zones of said ice are remote from said telescope, Said junction zones are formed, or by restriction of the surfaces of direct contact between said ice and said bezel by peripheral removal of material from said ice and / or said bezel, and / or by interposition between said ice and said bezel at least one support block, Said ice is fixed on said bezel by pressing and clamping at each said junction zone so as to transmit to said mirror any vibration communicated to said telescope, Maintaining, in a peripheral space outside said one or more junction zones, said ice-cream at a distance from said telescope so as to allow the vibrations of said telescope without hindering them. 2. Assembly method, according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the determination of said adequate number of said junction areas: The natural frequencies of the vibratory sources of the sound signal, such as timbres, gongs, keyboards or the like, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to said natural frequencies is determined; The peripheral positioning around said ice, according to the characteristics of said ice, of an adequate number of said disjoint junction zones, is simulated by calculation to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of said ice, dependent on the thickness of said ice, to make them correspond to the bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies of said vibratory sources and the bandwidth of the human ear; The thickness of said ice is selected, and the contact surface between said ice and said bezel at each said junction zone for, according to the preceding calculation, to match said natural and harmonic frequencies of said ice to said bandwidths , and to obtain said adequate number of attachment zones closest to the value two. 3. A method of assembly, according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that carries out at least one said junction area by wrapping the periphery of said ice with a connecting piece, an inner profile takes pressing on the ice both on one hand said upper surface of said ice, and secondly on said edge and / or on said lower surface of said ice. 4. A method of assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that selects said adequate number of said junction areas equal to two. 5. A method of assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that seals tightly the space between said ice and said bezel with sealing means comprising at least one flexible seal, and / or at least one elastic membrane. 6. Assembly method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that interposed between, on the one hand said ice, and on the other hand said notch or a middle part that comprises, juxtaposed to said bezel , said timepiece, at least one shock absorber mounted at a distance from said ice with respect to the equilibrium position of the latter. 7. Set ice-bezel (1) cladding for timepiece (100), arranged for the use of an ice (2) as vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal from a source vibration device such as a buzzer, music box or the like, said set of glasses and glasses (1) comprising on the one hand a telescope (3) having a notch (30) for housing an ice cream (2), and other such an ice-cream (2) having an upper surface (20) and a lower surface (21) connected by an edge (22), characterized in that it comprises one or more junction zones (4) constituting together the only connection vibratory transmission mechanism of said bezel (3) to said mirror (2) for resonating said mirror (2) under the action of the vibrations transmitted to it by said telescope (3) at said junction zone (s) ( 4), and said lens (2) being at a distance from said bezel (3) outside the surfaces where e they are joined by said junction zone (s) (4). 8. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for each of said junction areas (4), said upper surface (20) of said ice (2) bears directly on said notch (30). ), and that said edge (22) of said crystal (2) bears directly or indirectly with said notch (30) or with said telescope (3), and that said lower surface (21) of said crystal (2) is in direct or indirect support with said bezel (3) or with a middle part (6) that comprises, juxtaposed to said bezel (3), said timepiece (100), to enclose said ice (2). 9. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises, at each said junction zone (4), at least one support wedge (5) constituted by a peripheral wedge of spacing (50) or by a lower shim (51). 10. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said wedge (50) is mounted under stress between said ice (2) and said bezel (3) for maintaining said ice (2), and is arranged to bear by its inner profile on the ice (2) and by its outer profile on the bezel (3), the ice (2) equipped with said wedge (50) being housed in the notch (30) so away from the telescope (3) at any point other than a junction zone (4). 11. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the peripheral space (7) between said ice (2) and said bezel (3), at least outside the surfaces where said ice (2) and said bezel (3) are joined by said junction zone (s) (4), is sealingly closed with sealing means (8) comprising at least one flexible joint or at least one elastic membrane. 12. Ice-bezel assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that it comprises, interposed between, on the one hand said ice (2), and on the other hand said notch (30) of a telescope or a middle part (6) which comprises, juxtaposed with said bezel (3), said timepiece (100), at least one shock absorber (10) mounted at a distance from said mirror (2) with respect to the equilibrium position of the latter. 13. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that it comprises two junction zones (4), and only two. 14. Timepiece (100) comprising at least one ice-bezel assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a middle part (6), a junction plane (60). is arranged to cooperate sealingly with said bezel (3).