CH706599B1 - Timepiece box comprising at least one covering element. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a timepiece case (10) comprising a middle part (20) and at least one covering element (30), said covering element (30) being fixed to the middle part (20) on a fixing zone by elastic fixing means (70). Said middle part (20) further comprises at least one opening (26) opening onto the fixing zone at the level of the elastic fixing means (70) and thus allowing the user to act on said elastic fixing means (70). to deform them and separate the covering element (30) from said middle part. The covering element (30) can be a bezel system (80) or a bottom.

Description

The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a middle part closed by a bottom and a crystal, said timepiece further comprising a covering element, for example a rotating bezel system fixed to said middle part.

The technical field of the invention is the technical field of fine mechanics.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a covering element of a middle part of a timepiece box like a bezel of a timepiece.

Dressing elements such as known rotating glasses systems 1, visible in Figure 1, include a rotating bezel 8 in the form of an annular part. This annular part has an upper face and a lower face, the upper face being the face visible to the user. As can be seen in FIG. 2, this bezel 8 comprises, on its lower surface, a notch 13. The rotating bezel system also comprises a spring means 11. This spring means 11 is inserted between the rotating bezel and the middle part 3 of the timepiece 1 when the bezel is forcibly mounted on the middle of the timepiece. This spring means 11 is in the form of a flat ring comprising, on its face facing the notch of the bezel 8, strips. These strips are arranged to have an inclination relative to the plane of the flat ring. These strips have a certain elasticity so that the spring means act on the rotating bezel to exert a vertical force. This vertical force tends to push the bezel out of the middle of the timepiece.

These strips also serve to cooperate with the notching of the bezel. The slats and the notch are then configured so that the telescope can only rotate in one direction, the slats oppose the rotation of the telescope if the user attempts to rotate said telescope in the wrong direction. In general, the bezel and the spring means are made of steel which has the advantage of having a good service life and of being inexpensive.

This bezel is attached to the middle part 2 of the watch case by hunting. For this, the middle part has a peripheral shoulder 2a in which said rotating bezel system is placed. The shoulder 2a has a wall parallel 2b to the central axis (C) of the middle part and a wall perpendicular to the central axis of the middle part. The parallel wall 2b of said shoulder has a peripheral groove 2c. The bezel 8 is an annular piece having, on its underside, a peripheral rim 8a. This rim is provided with a continuous projection 12 extending along said rim towards the axial center of the telescope. When said rotating bezel system is mounted on the middle of the watch case by driving out, the continuous projection is inserted into the peripheral groove of the shoulder ensuring a vertical holding of the bezel on the middle.

A disadvantage of this system is that it is not removable. Indeed, the bezel of the rotating bezel systems according to the prior art is driven to the middle of the case so that an attempt to separate the system of the rotating bezel must generally be made by tearing off the said system, which causes its deterioration.

Of course, it depends on the material in which the glasses system is made. A plastic bezel that is driven out of the middle will be easier to remove than a steel bezel. This predisposition is the consequence of the fact that plastic has elastic properties making it more easily deformed than steel, which makes mounting and dismounting a plastic scope easier than for a steel scope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing to provide a middle part comprising at least one covering element which can easily be assembled and disassembled.

To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece box comprising a middle part and at least one covering element, said covering element being fixed to the middle part on a fixing zone by fixing means. elastic, characterized in that said middle part further comprises at least one opening leading to the fixing zone at the level of said elastic fixing means allowing the user to act on said elastic fixing means to deform them and separate the element of dressing said middle part.

A first advantage of the present invention is to have a timepiece box comprising at least one covering element which can easily be removed from said middle. This makes it possible to have a covering element which can be easily changed in the event of impact or damage or which can be easily removed to facilitate maintenance.

In a first embodiment, the fixing means comprise a male part arranged on one of the faces of said covering element and a female part arranged on said middle, the male part cooperating elastically with the female part in order to fix said covering element to said middle part and in that said at least one opening opens into the female part allowing the user to act on the male part to separate the covering element from said middle part.

In a second embodiment, the middle part comprises a horizontal wall perpendicular to a central axis of the middle part at the level of which the female part is arranged, the covering element being arranged on this horizontal wall by the face of said covering element on which a male part is arranged.

In a third embodiment, the middle part includes a shoulder formed by said horizontal wall and by a vertical wall parallel to the central axis of the middle part, the covering element being mounted on this shoulder.

In a fourth embodiment, said male part comprises at least two hooks, at least one of which is flexible, said female part comprising at least one groove in which the at least two hooks are inserted in order to fix said element d 'dressing to said middle and in that said at least one opening allows to act on said at least one flexible hook.

In a fifth embodiment, each of said hooks comprises a blade extending perpendicularly from the face of the covering element on which the male part is arranged, the free end of said blade having a horizontal projection s 'extending perpendicular to said blade.

In a sixth embodiment, said male part comprises several blades arranged along a circle, at least two of said blades comprising a projection, said female part comprising at least one groove in which the blades are inserted.

In another embodiment, said male part comprises a first blade and a second blade having a projection, the first blade and the second blade being diametrically opposite and arranged so that the first blade extends angularly along a first angle and the second blade extends angularly at a second angle, the first angle being less than the second angle and in that an action on the first blade makes it possible to separate the covering element from said middle.

In another embodiment, the middle part includes a shoulder, formed by a vertical wall parallel to the central axis of the middle part and a horizontal wall, perpendicular to the central axis of the middle part, at the level of which the female part is arranged, in which the covering element is arranged.

In another embodiment, said female part comprises a rim extending from the horizontal wall of the middle in a direction parallel to the central axis of the middle, the free end of said rim comprising a first protuberance s 'extending parallel to said horizontal wall towards the central axis of the middle part, this first protrusion defining a space forming the groove into which said at least one opening opens.

In another embodiment, said female part comprises a recess forming the groove, this recess has an inner flank and an outer flank perpendicular to the horizontal wall of the middle, said outer flank having a second protrusion extending parallel to said horizontal wall towards the central axis of the middle part, this first protrusion defining a space in which said male part is inserted, said at least one opening opening into said space.

In another embodiment, the first angle extends over approximately 20 ° and the second angle extends over approximately 120 °.

In another embodiment, the middle part includes two openings allowing the user to act more effectively on said male part to separate the covering element from the middle part.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece box comprising a middle part, said middle part being closed by a crystal and a bottom, said box further comprising a bezel system, characterized in that said middle part is the middle part according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment, the covering element of the middle part is said bezel system.

In another advantageous embodiment, the covering element of the middle part is the bottom.

In another advantageous embodiment, the telescope system includes a telescope comprising the male part of the fixing means.

In another advantageous embodiment, the glasses system comprises a pre-assembly ring fixed to a glasses ring, the pre-assembly ring comprising the male part of the fixing means, the glasses system further comprising spring means and notching means.

The present invention also relates to a timepiece comprising the box according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The objects, advantages and characteristics of the box according to the present invention will appear more clearly in the following detailed description of at least one embodiment of the invention given solely by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the drawings annexed on which: Figure 1 shows a section of a timepiece equipped with a bezel system; FIG. 2 schematically represents a telescope system according to the prior art; Figures 3 and 4 schematically represent two alternatives of the first embodiment of the scope system according to the invention; FIG. 5 schematically represents a bottom view of a preferred variant first embodiment of the telescope system according to the invention; FIGS. 6A and 6B schematically represent a second variant of the first embodiment of the telescope system according to the invention; FIG. 7 schematically represents a second embodiment of the telescope system according to the invention; FIGS. 8 to 11 schematically represent the steps for separating the bezel from the middle part according to the invention; and FIG. 12 schematically represents an exploded view of the telescope system according to the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea which consists in providing a covering element for the middle part of a timepiece that is easy to disassemble.

A timepiece box 10 includes a middle part 20 closed by a bottom 60 and by a crystal 40. This box 10 further comprises the covering element 30. This covering element 30 is fixed on a middle attachment area. This covering element 30 can be a bezel system 80 fixed to the middle part. This bezel system 80 is in the form of an annular part having an upper face and a lower face. The middle part 20 includes a shoulder 2a in which the bezel is placed. This shoulder 2a has a vertical wall 21, that is to say parallel to the central axis (C) of the middle part 20, and a horizontal wall 22, that is to say perpendicular to the central axis ( C) of the middle part 20. The upper face of the annular part is the face visible to the user, the lower face is the opposite face of the horizontal wall 22 of the middle part. An exploded view of the box 10 is visible in FIG. 12.

According to the invention, the bezel system 80 visible in Figure 3 is a bezel 82 attached to the middle part 20 so as to be easily removable. For this, fixing means 70 are arranged on the middle part 20 and on the covering element 30, here the bezel 82, so that the disassembly of said bezel system 80 is possible and simple.

The fastening means 70 comprise a male part 71 arranged on the bezel 80 and a female part 72 arranged on the middle part 20. The male part 71 is arranged on the bezel 82 preferably at the lower face 84. This male part 71 is in the form of at least two hooks 83 extending from said lower face 84, that is to say perpendicular to the plane of the lower face 84. These hooks 83 are composed of a blade 86 extending in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the plane of the lower face 84, and the free end of which comprises a projection 87. This projection 87 extends in a horizontal direction, that is to say parallel to the plane from the lower face 84 or perpendicular to the blade, towards the outside. By this is meant that this projection 87 extends in a direction tending to move away from the central axis of the annular part that is the telescope 82.

The female part 72 is arranged on the middle part 20 and is, in this first embodiment, in the form of grooves 23, 203 in which a hook 83 of the bezel 82 is received. The number of grooves 23, 203 is at least equal to the number of hooks 83 arranged on the bezel 82. This groove 23, 203 is arranged so that, when the hook 83 is fully engaged there, the projection 87 of said hook 83 prevents the bezel to be detached from the middle part 20. It will be understood that at least two hooks 83 are necessary for fixing the bezel 82.

In a first alternative of the female part 70 of the middle part visible in Figure 3, it is in the form of a flange 24 located on the horizontal wall 22 of the shoulder. This rim 24 extends perpendicular to the horizontal wall 22 of the shoulder and is peripheral. This rim 24 has an inner face and an outer face 24a. The outer face, the furthest from the central axis (C) of the middle part 20, comprises, at the free end of the rim 24, a protrusion 25 parallel to the horizontal wall 22. This protrusion 25 makes it possible to form an open space 27 between said protuberance 25 and the horizontal wall 22 of the shoulder 2a. This space is used so that the projection 87 of the hook 83 can be inserted therein.

In a second alternative of the female part 70 of the middle part visible in Figure 4, the female part 70 comprises a recess 203a forming a groove 203 located on the horizontal wall 202 of the shoulder 2a. This groove 203 has an internal flank and an external flank 204. From the external flank 204, the furthest from the central axis (C) of the middle part 20, extends a projection 205 making it possible to form an open space 207 between said protrusion 205 and the horizontal wall 202 of the shoulder 2a. This space 207 is used so that the projection 87 of the hook 83 can be inserted therein when the hook 87 is inserted in the groove 203.

During assembly, the bezel 82 is placed in the shoulder so that each hook 87 is placed in front of a groove 23, 203. When pressure is exerted on the bezel 82 to fix it to the middle part 20, 200, the hooks 83 tend to deform elastically to enter the grooves 23, 203. When the projection 87 of each hook 83 is opposite the space 27, 207 between said protuberance 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 of the shoulder, the hooks 83 return to their rest position and the projection 87 of each hook 83 enters said space 27, 207. The cooperation of the hooks 83 with the space between said projection 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 provides axial support. The projection 87 provides a blocking surface coming to bear on the projection 25, 205 and block the bezel 82 if the user exerts traction on the latter. Thus, for two hooks 83 located on the bezel, the middle part 20, 200 comprises two grooves 23, 203, these hooks 83 and grooves 23, 203 being arranged so that the bezel 82 is positioned correctly, that is to say that the serigraphs on the bezel as well as the time indications are placed correctly in relation to the dial.

Cleverly according to the invention, it is expected that the covering element 30 that is to say the bezel 82 can be easily removable. For this, provision is made for the middle part 20, 200 to comprise at least one opening 26, 206 opening at the level of the fixing zone, that is to say at the level of the female part. It is understood that said at least one opening 26, 206 opens into the space 27, 207 present between said protuberance 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 of the shoulder. This opening 26, 206 is dimensioned so that the user can slide a tool 90 which can be a blade or a point as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. This tool 90 is inserted into said opening 26, 206 so as to be able to make pressure on the projection 87 which allows the said bezel 82 fixed to the middle part 20, 200 to be maintained as shown in FIGS. 8 to 11. Thus, when the user slides the tool 90 into the opening 26, 206 until entering in contact with said projection 87. It then exerts pressure on the projection 87 via its tool 90 so that the hook 83 is deformed and that the projection 87 of said hook comes out of the space 27, 207 present between said protuberance 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 of the shoulder as visible in FIG. 10. It then becomes possible for the user to lift the telescope to take out one of the hooks 83 from the groove 23, 203 as visible in FIG. 11 The user can then manipulate the telescope 83 to disengage the aut re hook 83 of the groove 23, 203 with which it cooperates.

Preferably, the middle part 20, 200 comprises two openings 26, 206 arranged so that a tool 90 with two points can be used. Indeed, if the hook 83 has a large width, the fact of exerting a force at a single point presents the risk of seeing said hook 83 deforming only at the place where the pressure is exerted. The force exerted therefore risks not being sufficient to cause the disengagement of the projection 87 from the space 27, 207 present between said protuberance 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 of the shoulder. The fact of having a part configured with two points makes it possible to better distribute the forces exerted by the tool on the projection 87 and therefore the hook 83. This makes it possible to have two points of contact with the projection 87 and therefore to elastically deform said hook 83 more effectively .

In a first variant of this first embodiment, the male part 71 of the fastening means 70 comprises several blades 86 arranged on a virtual circle 86a as visible in Figure 5. The male part 71 is arranged so that certain blades 86 have a projection 87 extending in a direction tending to move away from the center of the virtual circle 86a. The female part 72 located on the middle part 20, 200 is in the form of a groove 23, 203 forming a circle identical to the virtual circle 86a. This groove 23, 203 can be arranged to use the principle of the first version or the second version of the attachment system. The male part 71 of the bezel 82 can then cooperate with the female part 72 of the middle part 20, 200. This configuration also makes it possible to simplify the assembly since the bezel 82 can be mounted without specific orientation relative to the middle part 20, 200. The advantage of such a configuration is that it allows the telescope 82 to rotate relative to the middle part, the main part moving along the groove acting here as a rail. Locking means and spring means are then arranged at the middle to allow the rotation of the bezel to be controlled.

Another advantage is that the male part can, in addition, have blades 86 having no projection 87. These blades 86 act as radial retention.

Advantageously, this variant, visible in Figure 5, is configured so that the male part 71 comprises two blades 86 having a projection 87. These blades 86 are preferably diametrically opposite, a first blade 88 extends angularly along a first angle α1 of approximately 20 ° while the second blade 89 extends at a second angle a2, greater than the first angle, of approximately 120 °. This particular configuration allows better axial support. Indeed, the axial retention of the bezel 82 on the middle part 20, 200 is achieved by the projections 87 of the hooks 83 which cooperate with the groove 23, 203 as explained above. However, if the two blades 86 extended angularly over a small angle, the axial retention would be ensured but there is a risk that strong traction on the bezel 82 could tear it from the middle part 20, 200 while damaging it . Indeed, the tensile force would be applied to a small area resulting in a strong stress on the blades 86 having a projection 87 and therefore a significant risk of rupture. With the proposed configuration, the axial retention is improved because the male part 71 has a larger blocking surface. As a result, the stress exerted during traction is distributed over a larger surface and the stresses applied to the projections 87 are less.

In addition, this configuration is achieved so that the first blade 86 which extends angularly over a small angle is that which the user manipulates to disengage the bezel 82 from the middle part 20, 200. Indeed, when the user wants to disengage the bezel 82 from the middle part 20, 200, he acts on the bezel 82 so that this first blade 86 comes opposite the at least one opening 26, 206 opening into the space 27, 207 present between said protuberance 25, 205 and the horizontal wall 22, 202 of the shoulder. This allows the user to use his tool 90 to act on the first blade 86 and thus disengage the bezel 82 from the middle part 20, 200. The fact of having two blades 86 with protrusion 87 arranged diametrically opposite and a blades extending angularly more than the other allows to have a bezel 82 which is well maintained in the middle part 20, 200 while being easily detachable. However, the blade which extends angularly in the most important way must not exceed a certain angle.

In a second variant of this first embodiment, the bezel system 800, visible in Figures 6a and 6b, is composed of several elements. It will then be understood that the bezel system 800 comprising a pre-assembly ring 812 having a lower face 812b and an upper face 812a. On the upper face 812a of the pre-assembly ring 812 are arranged spring means 810, notching means 811 and a bezel ring 809, the latter being the part visible to the user. The spring means 810 and the notching means 811 are arranged so that the spring means 810 are angularly secured to the middle part 20, 200, the notching means 811 being angularly secured to the pre-assembly ring 812 and the bezel ring 809. It may be that the spring means 810 are angularly integral with the pre-assembly ring 812 and the bezel ring 809, the notching means 811 being angularly integral with the middle part 20, 200. On the underside 812b of the pre-assembly ring 812 is arranged the male part 71 of the fixing means 70. This variant has the advantage of making it possible to have a bezel system 800 in the form of an independent module which can be fixed to the middle part 20, 200 or detached from the middle 20, 200 in one piece.

In a second embodiment visible in Figure 7, the covering element 30 is the bottom 60 fixed to the middle part 2000. Indeed, whether in a mechanical timepiece or a piece of electronic watchmaking, it may be useful to have a removable bottom 60. This possibility of a removable bottom 60 allows easy access to the movement of the watch, maintenance of the movement, replacement of part or change of battery can therefore be carried out easily.

The middle part 2000 comprises a lower face on which said bottom 60 is fixed. Preferably the middle part 2000 and the bottom 60 have a substantially similar shape for aesthetic reasons. The underside of the middle part 2000 comprises the female part 72 of the fixing means 70 so that the male part 71, arranged on the bottom 60, can cooperate.

It is also possible that the underside of the middle part has a shoulder similar to that described for the first embodiment. The covering element is here in the form of a cover which closes the middle part. The characteristics of the first embodiment and its variants and versions can be applied for this second embodiment.

The tightness of this trim element arranged as the bottom of the middle part can be improved by installing a seal at said trim element.

It will be understood that various modifications and / or improvements and / or combinations obvious to those skilled in the art can be made to the various embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (18)

1. Timepiece case comprising a middle part (20, 200) and a covering element (30), said covering element being fixed to the middle part on an attachment zone by elastic fixing means (70). , characterized in that said middle part further comprises at least one opening (26, 206) opening onto the fixing zone at the level of said elastic fixing means allowing the user to act on said elastic fixing means to deform them and detach the covering element (30) from said middle part. 2. Timepiece case according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastic fixing means (70) comprise a male part (71) arranged on one of the faces of said covering element (30) and a part female (72) arranged on said middle part (20, 200), the male part cooperating elastically with the female part in order to fix said covering element to said middle part and in that said at least one opening (26, 206) opens into the female part allowing the user to act on the male part to separate the covering element from said middle part. 3. Timepiece case according to claim 2, characterized in that the middle part (20, 200) comprises a horizontal wall (22) perpendicular to a central axis (C) of the middle part at which the female part ( 72) is arranged, the covering element (30) being arranged on this horizontal wall (22) by the face of said covering element on which the male part (71) is arranged. 4. Timepiece case according to claim 3, characterized in that the middle part (20, 200) comprises a shoulder (2a) formed by said horizontal wall (22) and a vertical wall (21) parallel to the 'central axis (C) of the middle part, the covering element (30) being mounted on this shoulder. 5. Timepiece case according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that said male part (71) comprises at least two hooks (83), at least one of which is flexible, said female part (72) comprising at least one groove (23, 203) in which the at least two hooks (83) are inserted in order to fix said covering element (30) to said middle part and in that said at least one opening (26, 206 ) allows to act on said at least one flexible hook. 6. Timepiece case according to claim 5, characterized in that each of said hooks (83) comprises a blade (86) extending perpendicularly from the face of the covering element (30) on which the part male is arranged, the free end of said blade having a horizontal projection (87) extending perpendicular to said blade. 7. Timepiece case according to claim 5, characterized in that said male part (71) comprises at least two blades (86) arranged along a circle, said at least two of said blades comprising a projection (87 ), said female part (72) comprising at least one groove (23, 203) into which said at least two blades are inserted. 8. Timepiece case according to claim 7, characterized in that said male part (71) comprises a first blade (88) and a second blade (89) each having a projection (87), the first blade and the second blade being diametrically opposite and arranged so that the first blade (88) extends angularly at the center of the circle at a first angle α (1) and the second blade (89) extends angularly at a second angle (α2) , the first angle (α1) being less than the second angle (α2) and in that an action on the first blade makes it possible (88) to separate the covering element (30) from said middle part (20, 200). 9. Timepiece case according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said female part (72) comprises a flange (24) extending from the horizontal wall (22) of the middle part (20) in a direction parallel to the central axis (C) of the middle part (20), the free end of said flange comprising a first projection (25) extending parallel to said horizontal wall (22) towards the central axis (C ) of the middle part, this first protrusion (25) defining a space (27) forming the groove (23) into which the at least one opening (26) opens. 10. Timepiece case according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that said female part (72) comprises a recess (208) forming the groove (203), this recess has an inner flank and a flank outer (204) perpendicular to the horizontal wall (202) of the middle part (200), said outer flank (204) having a second projection (205) extending parallel to said horizontal wall (202) towards the central axis (C ) of the middle part, this first projection (205) defining a space (207) in which said male part (71) is inserted, said at least one opening (206) opening into said space (207). 11. Timepiece case according to claim 8, characterized in that the first angle (α1) extends over approximately 20 ° and the second angle (α2) extends over approximately 120 °. 12. Timepiece case according to claim 2 or 8, characterized in that the middle part (20, 200) comprises two openings (26, 206) allowing the user to better distribute the forces exerted on said male part ( 71) to separate the covering element from the middle part. 13. Box (10) for a timepiece according to one of the preceding claims, said middle part (20, 200) being closed by a crystal (40) and a bottom (60), said box (10) further comprising a glasses system (80, 800). 14. Timepiece case according to claim 13, characterized in that the covering element (30) of the middle part is said bezel system (80, 800). 15. Timepiece case according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the covering element (30) of the middle part is the bottom (60). 16. Timepiece case according to claims 2 and 14, characterized in that the bezel system (80) comprises a bezel (82) comprising the male part (71) of the fixing means (70). 17. Timepiece case according to claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the bezel system (800) comprises a pre-assembly ring (812) fixed to a bezel ring (809), the pre-assembly ring comprising the male part of the fixing means, the telescope system (800) further comprising spring means (801) and notching means (811). 18. Timepiece comprising the case (10) according to one of claims 13 to 17.