CH706978B1 - Timepiece e.g. wrist watch, has frame and mobile elements arranged relative to glass such that frame element has portion defining stop for glass in event of deformation of glass to prevent glass from being in contact with mobile element - Google Patents

Abstract

The timepiece (1) has a case (2) closed by a glass (8), and containing a clockwork movement to actuate a display mechanism. The mechanism includes a mobile element formed by minutes hand (22) and cannon-pinion (36) adjacent to the glass. The movement has a frame element formed by a large bridge (12) and a balance bridge (18) adjacent to the glass. The elements are arranged with respect to the glass such that the frame element includes a portion defining a stop for the glass in an event of deformation of the glass to prevent the glass from being in contact with the mobile element.

Description

Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a timepiece comprising a box closed by an ice and containing a clockwork movement intended to drive at least one display mechanism comprising at least one movable member adjacent to an ice capable of being Distort when it is under pressure from the outside environment.

STATE OF THE ART [0002] Timepieces, and in particular those which are of small thickness, systematically pose problems of resistance to mechanical stresses likely to cause the deformation of certain components, in particular the box or the ice .

One of the components whose deformation has already been studied has been the ice which, depending on its thickness, can deform more or less because of the pressure it undergoes from the external environment.

This problem is, for example, present in the field of diving watches, where it is regularly solved by the use of ice sheets of considerable thickness in order to increase their resistance to pressure.

[0005] However, especially when it is a question of producing a timepiece of small thickness, in particular for the purpose of exhibiting a certain elegance, it is not conceivable to use an ice of a significant thickness Which would damage the aesthetic appearance of the timepiece.

[0006] Thus, a disadvantage which can result for timepieces, especially those comprising a thin ice, is that the ice can deform under the effect of a considerable ambient pressure at the point of entry In contact with moving parts such as the road, carrying the minute hand, and disturbing the display of the current time, or even causing damage to the watch movement.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to propose a timepiece construction comprising an ice of suitable thickness and in which the application of a large ambient pressure does not lead to a disturbance Of the display of the time due to the deformation of the ice.

To this end, the present invention relates more particularly to a timepiece, characterized in that the watch movement has at least one frame element adjacent to the window, this frame element and the mobile element being arranged Relative to the glass in such a manner that the frame element defines an abutment for the ice in the event of deformation of the latter in order to prevent it from coming into contact with the movable member.

[0009] By virtue of these characteristics, the glass can have a thickness adapted to the aesthetic requirements of the timepiece without compromising its proper functioning in the event of excessive ambient pressure.

Advantageously, the watch movement has at least two frame elements adjacent to the glass and arranged to define stops for the ice in the event of deformation of the latter.

Furthermore, the frame element or elements preferably have at least two points capable of defining stops for the crystal and substantially diametrically opposite one another with reference to an axis of rotation of the movable member.

Alternatively, provision may be made for the frame element (s) preferably to have at least three points capable of defining stops for the ice and distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner with reference to an axis of rotation of the mobile member.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one frame element comprises at least one bridge.

In this case, the timepiece preferably comprises a plate on which the bridge is arranged, so as to be located between the plate and the glass.

[0015] According to additional preferred features of the present invention, the box comprises a bottom with which the plate is made in one piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the detailed description of a preferred embodiment which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non- And in which: FIG. 1 shows a simplified top view of a timepiece according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the timepiece of FIG. 1, according to the plane of section 11 - II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a plan view similar to that of FIG. 1 on which particular features of the present invention are made more visible.

Mode (s) of realization of the invention [0017] FIG. 1 shows a simplified top view of a timepiece 1 according to an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. This view makes it possible to appreciate the general appearance of the timepiece 1 and more particularly the fineness of its lines.

The timepiece 1 is of the wristwatch type, by way of non-limiting illustration, and comprises a box 2 provided with horns 4 intended to be made integral with the ends of a bracelet (not shown). As will become clearer from the remainder of the description, the box 2 is here of the bottom-case type, in a non-limiting manner.

[0019] A winding stem (not visible) carrying a winding and setting ring 6 at its end situated outside the box 2 is provided in a conventional manner.

The box 2 is closed by a bezel 7 carrying a crystal 8 (visible in FIG. 2) and houses a watch movement of the mechanical winding type, in a non-limiting manner. The glass 8 may for example be glued to the bezel 7. This watch movement is mounted upside down here, ie in the opposite direction to the most common sense. More precisely, it comprises a plate 10 arranged at the bottom of the box as will be more clearly apparent from the detailed description of FIG. 2, while bridges are assembled on the plate, being located on the side of the glass 8.

[0021] A large bridge 12 of the winding and setting-up wheels extends over the right-hand part of the plate in FIG. 1, substantially between the noon and six o'clock positions. The latter is held integral with the plate 10 by means of two screws 14.

[0022] A finishing train bridge 16 is arranged substantially between the six o'clock and seven o'clock positions.

[0023] Finally, a third balance bridge 18, or rod, is arranged substantially between the positions 10 hours and 8 hours.

The timepiece 1 also comprises display elements for the current time, in particular the hour and minute hands 22, arranged to rotate above a main dial 24 having a position Eccentric with respect to the box 2, substantially between the positions of ten hours and eleven hours. The dial 24 is made integral with the plate 10 by means of screws 26. A secondary dial 28 is arranged at the periphery of the main dial 24, being held between it and the plate 10 by a portion (reference numeral 30 in FIG. 2) extending beneath the main dial 24.

[0025] It can be seen from FIG. 1 that the box 2 has an important opening, that is to say that the diameter of the glass 8 represents a significant fraction of the diameter of the box 2. Also, insofar as the timepiece is intended to present A small thickness, the glass 8 necessarily has a measured thickness and is therefore subject to deformation when it is subjected to a large external pressure, or even if it is subjected to an impact.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the timepiece 1 along the sectional plane 11 - II of FIG. 1, and makes it possible to better appreciate the consequences of an excessive deformation of the ice 8.

[0027] The section in FIG. 2 passes through the median planes of the mobiles carrying the hour and minute hands 22.

It will be seen from this figure that the plate 10 is made in one piece with the bottom of the box 2. The bottom presents machining and drilling making it possible to place different components of the watch movement therein.

Thus, more particularly, a hole 32 formed in the plate 10 on the central axis of the dial 24 makes it possible to accommodate a stud 34 bearing a roadway 36 and an hour wheel 38, carrying themselves, respectively, The hands of the minutes 22 and of the hours 20.

[0030] The view in FIG. 2 makes it possible to illustrate very clearly the risk, if a high external pressure on the ice 8 is applied, that the latter comes into contact with the roadway 36.

By way of example, it will be noted that the nominal distance between the glass 8 and the top of the roadway 36 could be of the order of 0.2 mm. Thus, taking into account manufacturing and assembly tolerances, this distance could be reduced to about 0.12 mm. At the same time, a sapphire crystal having a diameter of the order of 30 mm and a thickness of the order of 0.5 mm could be deformed by having a deformation amplitude at its center of the order of 0, 15 mm, under the effect of applying a pressure of the order of 2 bars.

It can be deduced that, in the case of a roadway arranged in the center of the box, there is a risk of collision of the ice with the roadway, which could not only disrupt the precision of the movement of the watch movement but possibly Damage it.

Claims (8)

In its research, the Applicant has succeeded in estimating that, in the configuration illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with eccentric pavement, the deformation amplitude of the portion of the ice situated opposite the roadway can reach 0, 12 mm, which can always be a problem in case of high external pressure. Obvious solutions to prevent the occurrence of such a problem would consist in increasing the thickness of the ice and / or the distance separating it from the roadway. However, as already mentioned above, such solutions are not particularly suitable for the general spirit of a timepiece of small thickness since they contribute to increasing the latter. [0035] Also, the Applicant has developed the solution corresponding to the present invention, The latter consisting in providing that the watch movement has at least one frame element adjacent to the window, the frame element and the movable element, in this case the roadway by way of illustration, being arranged relative to the window in such a way that The frame element defines an abutment for the ice in the event of deformation of the latter, in order to prevent it from coming into contact with the mobile member. Providing that a frame element arranged on the plate 10 can define an abutment for the ice when the latter deforms ensures protection of the roadway and guarantees a good functioning of the watch movement. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated and described, several bridges 12, 16 and 18 are carried by the plate 10 and define different zones of potential stops in the event of deformation of the ice 8. [0038] These zones are made visible in FIG. 3 which is the same view as that of FIG. 1 but on which the areas of potential stops are gray. [0039] It appears in FIG. 3 that the bridges 12, 16 and 18 are arranged in such a way that they have respective portions distributed over substantially the entire periphery of the dial 24, each portion having a plurality of points capable of defining each a stop for the ice 8. The person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in adjusting the manufacturing and assembly tolerances of the components of the timepiece movement as a function of the dimensions desired for the timepiece to be produced and / or in reducing the distance Separating the ice from the bridges relative to the distance separating the ice from the roadway, According to its own needs and without departing from the scope of the present invention. The foregoing description sets out to describe a particular embodiment by way of non-limiting illustration and the invention is not limited to the implementation of certain particular characteristics which have just been described, Such as for example the construction of the box, in particular the fact that the caseband and the bottom are made in one piece, or else that of the watch movement, in particular the fact that the plate is machined directly in the bottom of the box. Moreover, according to an alternative embodiment that can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, the plate may be situated on the ice side 8, as is more conventionally the case, And in this case it is then the plate which can comprise at least one part capable of presenting a stop zone for the ice 8 in the event of deformation. The person skilled in the art will also not encounter any particular difficulty in adapting the contents of the present disclosure to his own needs and implement a timepiece of small thickness whose timepiece movement has at least one element Of a frame arranged adjacent to the glass, so as to define a stop for it in the event of deformation. Thus, it is possible to provide that the watch movement is mechanical or self winding, or that the dial only partially covers the watch movement so that a frame element can project from it, or because The dial has a reduced diameter, In accordance with the described embodiment, or because the dial has one or more windows allowing portions of one or more frame elements to emerge. In addition, the present invention can be applied to the implementation of a protection for any type of mobile member other than the pavement or the minute hand. claims

1. A timepiece (1) comprising a box (2) closed by a glass (8) and containing a clockwork movement for driving at least one display mechanism comprising at least one movable member (22, 36) adjacent to Characterized in that said watch movement has at least one frame element (12, 16, 18) adjacent said window (8), said frame element (12, 16, 18) and said movable member (22, 36) being arranged relative to said glass (8) in such a way that said frame element (12, 16, 18) comprises a portion defining an abutment for said crystal (8) Preventing it from contacting said movable member (22, 36).

2. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said watch movement comprises at least one second frame element adjacent to said window, said frame elements, , 16, 18) being arranged to define at least one additional stop for said crystal (8) in the event of deformation of the latter.

3. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frame element has at least two points capable of defining stops for said crystal and substantially diametrically opposite one to the other, The other with reference to an axis of rotation of said movable member (22, 36).

4. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frame element has at least three points capable of defining stops for said crystal and distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner around An axis of rotation of said movable member (22, 36).

5. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frame element comprises at least one bridge.

6. The timepiece according to claim 5, wherein it comprises a plate on which said bridge is arranged so as to be situated between said plate ) And said glass (8).

7. The timepiece according to claim 6, wherein said box comprises a bottom with which said plate is formed in one piece.

8. The timepiece according to claim 1, wherein said at least one frame element comprises a plate.