CH704691A1 - Push button system for actuating functional actuating member placed inside case of e.g. electronic watch, has complementary guiding member connecting case and button head so as to partially resume operating efforts of system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a button head (1) moved in translation with respect to a case (2). An actuation tappet (3) e.g. screw, is mounted to slide through an opening (4) in the case, where the opening connects the button head to a functional actuating member. A primary guiding member (5) in form of tube, is secured to the case and inserted partially into the opening, where the tappet slides in the guiding member. A complementary guiding member (6) mechanically connects the case and the head so as to partially resume operating efforts of the system during actuation and displacement of the head. The complementary guiding member includes a bush formed or covered with a self-lubricating synthetic material such as Teflon(RTM: PTFE).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the general technical field of watchmaking and more particularly to the field of watches or chronographs having a push button system accessible from the outside of a box.

This kind of push button system, widely used in the field of watchmaking, is generally used to activate and / or deactivate one or more features of a watch.

The present invention relates to a push button system adapted to a watch.

State of the art

For example, a pushbutton system is known for actuating an actuating functional element arranged in a box, said system comprising a button head accessible from the outside of the box and movable in translation relative to the box. , an actuating pusher slidably mounted through an opening in the box and for connecting the button head to the functional member and a primary guide member integral with the box, inserted at least partly in the opening of the box and wherein slides the actuating pusher. This kind of push button system has a number of disadvantages. Indeed, such a push-button is often subjected to actuating forces directed in a non-axial direction, causing a risk of jamming of the actuating pusher. This risk exists particularly when the actuating pusher has a long body, involving a large lever on the axis and / or that the actuating pusher has an asymmetric actuating surface. This type of pusher may undergo a bending or tilting force out of the sliding axis of the pusher. The long-body pushers may also have an off-axis operating axis, thus increasing the risk of jamming.

For example, it is also known EP 0443 087 which discloses a push button system, the button head is mounted on a pivot to ensure the movement of the actuating pusher. The use of a pivoting member increases the mounting complexity on the one hand and increases manufacturing costs on the other hand. In addition, the use of a pivoting actuator, to activate certain functionalities, imposes a certain morphology which may prove to be not indicated to obtain a large actuating stroke. In addition, users of chronographs are rather accustomed to mobile pushers in pure translation and not in rotation. Moreover, such a pivoting member, often has a large size.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a new push button system whose reliability is improved and in various handling configurations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new push button system whose actuation does not alter its sealing qualities in the long run.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new push button system whose manufacture and integration into a watch are simple and economical.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a push button system for actuating a functional actuating member arranged inside a box, said system comprising an accessible button head. from the outside of the box and movable in translation relative to the box, an actuating pusher slidably mounted through an opening in the box and connecting the button head to the functional member, a guide member primary integral with the box, inserted at least partially into the opening of the box and wherein slides the actuating pusher, characterized in that it comprises a complementary guide member mechanically connecting the box and the button head so as to take up at least part of the operating forces during actuation and when moving the button head.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the complementary guiding member comprises a pin whose one end is secured to the box and a socket integral with the button head, mounted slidably. on a second end of the pin.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the sleeve is made of or covered with a self-lubricating synthetic material. This material is for example a compound based on Teflon (trade name).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the primary guide member also comprises an outer portion projecting from the box, said outer portion being slidably fitted in a housing formed in the button head.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the actuating pusher is a rod or a screw passing through the primary guide member and whose end is fixed in the bottom of the housing of head, the other end being arranged for with the functional organ in the box.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the actuating pusher is movable towards the inside of the box against a restoring force of a compression spring. which is supported on the one hand on the bottom of the head housing and on the other hand on the primary guide member.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the compression spring is a helical spring extending around the actuating pusher.

According to an exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the push button system comprises a sealing means disposed between the actuating pusher and the primary guide member.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the primary guide member is sealingly mounted on the box.

The objects assigned to the invention are also achieved with the aid of a watch or chronograph comprising a box in which is arranged at least one watch movement, at least one actuating functional member and at least one pushbutton system as presented above, to act on the operating actuator.

The push button system according to the invention has the advantage that it avoids the jamming problems related to the morphology of the actuating pushers including actuating pushers of large dimensions. The user of a watch provided with such a push button system can thus press the button head without worrying about the optimal or axial bearing direction.

Another advantage of the push button system according to the invention is related to the fact that the operating forces of said system are taken at least partly by the member of the complementary guide. The stress applied to the actuating plunger and the associated sealing means is therefore reduced. The risks of jamming are thus avoided and the degradation of the seal is substantially slowed down.

The push button system according to the invention also has the advantage of improving the speed of transmission of the movement. This is particularly interesting for triggering certain functions, for example a chronograph.

Another advantage of the push button system according to the invention lies in the fact that the button head is locked in rotation. This makes it possible to affix on the push button system, inscriptions which remain aligned with a determined angular orientation during the actuation of said head.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: - fig. 1 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a push button according to the invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a detail of the push button system of FIG. 1.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention

The push button system illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a button head 1 accessible from the outside of a box 2. The button head 1 is movable in translation relative to the box 2.

The push button system comprises an actuator 3 slidably mounted through an opening 4 formed in the box 2. The actuating pusher 3 allows for a permanent or occasional mechanical connection between the head of the button 1 and a functional member (not shown) housed inside the box 2.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the actuating pusher 3 is a rod or a screw whose one end 3a is fixed in the bottom of the head housing 9, the other end 3b can cooperate with the functional member disposed in the box 2.

The push button system also comprises a primary guide member 5, in the form of a tube, integral with the box 2, inserted at least partially in the opening 4. The actuating pusher 3 slides so in the primary guide member 5.

The tube forming the primary guide member 5 has a reduced diameter portion 5a for insertion into the opening 4 and a larger diameter portion 5b.

The primary guide member 5 defines, in a given direction, a sliding tube 5c opening on a cylindrical joint housing 5d. The seal housing 5d opens on a cylindrical cavity 5e. The diameter of the seal housing 5d is larger than the diameter of the sliding tube 5c and the diameter of the cavity 5e is larger than the diameter of the seal housing 5d. This configuration is advantageously obtained by machining.

The seal housing 5d is defined by a first shoulder 5f and the cavity 5e is delimited by a second shoulder 5g.

The primary guide member 5 can be mounted in force on the box 2. It is usually driven and welded to the box. Such an assembly makes it possible to obtain a definitive and sealed mechanical connection between the box 2 and the primary guide member 5.

The primary guide member 5 has an outer portion projecting on the box 2. This outer portion is engaged in a head housing 9 formed in the button head 1, on the face of the head 1 facing the side. of the box. The head housing 9 can thus slide on the outer portion of the primary guide member 5, which thus defines a second guide means.

The push button system also comprises a complementary guide member 6 mechanically connecting the box 2 and the button head 1 so as to take up at least part of the operating forces during the actuation and during the movement of said button head 1.

The complementary guiding member 6 comprises a pin 7, a first end 7a is integral with the box 2. The complementary guiding member 6 also comprises a sleeve 8 inserted rigidly into a hole 1a of the button head 1 A second end 7b of the pin 7 is slidably mounted in the sleeve 8. The sleeve 8 is preferably made of a self-lubricating synthetic material.

The button head 1 can slide on the one hand on the primary guide member 5 and on the other hand on the complementary guide member 6.

In another exemplary embodiment according to the invention, the connection between the primary guide member 5 and the head housing 9 has a mechanical play, so that the outer portion of the primary guide member 5 does not provide additional guidance for the actuating pusher 3. The latter is then guided only by its sliding in the sliding tube 5c. The button head 1 is then guided only by the sliding tube 5c and by the complementary guide member 6.

The actuating pusher 3 and the button head 1 are movable towards the inside of the box 2 against a restoring force of a compression spring 10. The compression spring 10 is supported on the one hand on the bottom of the head housing 9 and on the other hand on the primary guide member 5.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the push button system according to the invention, the compression spring 10 is a helical spring extending around the actuating pusher 3 and at least partly in the cavity 5 e taking support on the second shoulder 5g.

The push button system further comprises a sealing means 11 interposed between the actuating pusher 3 and the primary guide member 5. The sealing means 11, for example consists of at least a seal of the "O-ring" type disposed in the seal housing 5d, bearing on the first shoulder 5f.

A support on a face 1b of the head button 1 thus compresses the compression spring 10 and moves the actuating pusher 3 towards the inside of the box 2. The second end 3b of the actuating pusher 3 can then act on a functional organ such as a control rocker chronograph or a switch in the context of an application to an electronic watch.

The second end 3b of the actuating pusher advantageously has a shape on the one hand adapted to interact with a functional member and on the other hand adapted to abut on the end of the primary guide member 5 when the button head 1 returns to its stable end-of-stroke position, under the effect of the compression spring 10.

Thus, when a push button system according to the invention is actuated, the button head 1 is doubly guided, the complementary guide member 6 taking at least part of the operating forces. The movement of the push button is therefore particularly flexible and pleasant. Any jamming is avoided and the button head 1 remains positioned angularly, since it has no degree of freedom in rotation. The orientation of a possible logo is thus guaranteed and the direction of the pressure of the user is not dependent on a possible random angular position of the button head.

It is obvious that the present description is not limited to the examples explicitly described, but also includes other embodiments and / or implementation. Thus, a described technical feature can be replaced by an equivalent characteristic without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

A push button system for actuating a functional actuating member disposed within a box (2), said system comprising: - a button head (1) accessible from the outside of the box (2) and movable in translation relative to the box (2), - an actuating pusher (3) slidably mounted through an opening (4) in the box (2) and connecting the button head (1) to the functional member, - a primary guiding member (5) integral with the box (2), inserted at least partly in the opening (4) of the box (2), and in which slides the actuating pusher (3), characterized in that it comprises a complementary guide member (6) mechanically connecting the box (2) and the button head (1) so as to take up at least part of the operating forces during the actuation and during the moving the button head (1). 2. push button system according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary guiding member (6) comprises a pin (7) having a first end (7a) is integral with the box (2) and a sleeve ( 8) secured to the button head (1) slidably mounted on a second end (7b) of the pin (7). 3. Push button system according to claim 2, characterized in that the sleeve (8) is made of or covered with a self-lubricating synthetic material. 4. Push button system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the primary guide member (5) also comprises an outer portion projecting on the box (2), said outer portion being adjusted slidably in a head housing (9) in the button head (1). Push button system according to Claim 4, characterized in that the actuating pusher (3) is a rod or a screw sliding through the primary guide member (5) and having one end (3a). is fixed in the bottom of the head housing (9), the other end (3b) being arranged to cooperate with the functional member inside the box (2). 6. Push button system according to claim 5, characterized in that the actuating pusher (3) is movable towards the inside of the box (2) against a restoring force of a spring compression (10) which bears on the one hand on the bottom of the head housing (9) and on the other hand on the primary guide member (5). 7. Push button system according to claim 6, characterized in that the compression spring (10) is a coil spring extending around the actuating pusher (3). 8. Push button system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a sealing means disposed between the actuating pusher (3) and the primary guide member (5). . 9. Push button system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the primary guide member (5) is sealingly mounted on the box (2). 10. Watch or chronograph, comprising a box in which a watch movement is arranged, comprising at least one actuating functional element and at least one push button system according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to act on the watch. actuating functional unit.