CH713117B1 - Lockable rotating bezel watch case. - Google Patents

Abstract

Watch case (1) comprising: a middle part defining a plane; a rotating bezel (7) rotatably mounted on said caseband; a locking system (17) of said rotating bezel (7), said locking system (17) comprising a control member (19) movable in a direction parallel to said plane and arranged to move between a first position in which said bezel is movable in rotation and a second position in which said bezel is locked. According to the invention, said locking system comprises: a movable finger (21) arranged to interact with a lower face (11) of said bezel (7) when said control member (19) is in its second position and to be out of contact with said lower face (11) when said control member (19) is in its first position; and a cam track (29) integral with said control member (19) and arranged to cause said movable finger (21) to move as a function of the position of said control member (19).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more particularly to a watch case with a lockable rotating bezel for a timepiece.

State of the art

[0002] Commonly, some watches have a rotating bezel, which carries a time scale whose recorded values are typically increasing in the clockwise direction. The bezel in question can be a rotating ring located around the crystal of the timepiece, or can be used to carry the crystal, the latter then pivoting when the bezel rotates. When starting a time measurement, the user positions the zero indication on the scale opposite the coin's minute hand, the scale effectively allowing timing. A second type of arrangement - reverse - is also known, in which the indicated values are increasing in the counterclockwise direction, the bezel being rotated by the user so that the maximum desired time is aligned with the minute hand in order to provide a countdown.

[0003] This type of rotating bezel typically comprises a unidirectional latching which allows rotation exclusively in the counterclockwise direction. Thus, inadvertent manipulation of the bezel can only induce an increase in the indication of the elapsed time, or a decrease in the indication of the time remaining in the case of the second type mentioned above.

[0004] However, an untimely rotation of the bezel always risks causing an error which is all the more significant the greater the rotation. This error can even give the impression that less time has elapsed than in reality in the case where the bezel has been rotated for example by almost a full revolution. Consequently, such rotating bezel systems are not suitable for use which requires a reliable indication of the time elapsed or the time remaining, in particular for safety reasons. This situation arises particularly during a dive, since incorrectly timing the dive time can cause the diver to exhaust his reserve of compressed air. This kind of rotating bezel is therefore not considered to be suitable for such an application.

In order to overcome this drawback, and thus make the rotating bezel system compliant with the ISO 6425: 1996 standard, which defines the requirements applicable to diving watches, the lockable bezel has been proposed. Such a bezel is associated with a locking system, which allows it to be locked in a determined angular position, either following an action by the user, or automatically by the effect of the pressure of the water. Since unwanted rotation of the bezel is prevented by its locking, such glasses can rotate either in one direction or in both directions of rotation when they are not locked.

[0006] An example of a bezel that can be locked by means of an action on the part of the user is disclosed in document FR 2 402 898, the locking system described in this document being particularly simple.

In this document, the rotating bezel is provided with a flat lower face, which interacts with a ball provided in a housing with which the middle part is provided. This ball is controlled to move vertically by means of a wedge machined in a rod passing transversely through the middle part. By moving the rod in one direction, the ball is released, and the bezel can be rotated. By moving the rod in the other direction, the wedge presses the ball against the underside of the bezel, which is therefore locked by friction.

However, the use of a ball and a wedge has several drawbacks. - The position of the rod in the locked state of the system is variable depending on the wear of the shim and the underside of the bezel - The locking force exerted by the ball on the bezel is variable according to the force applied by the user on the rod, and according to the state of wear of the system. - If the user presses the rod excessively, the ball may damage the underside of the bezel, and / or the surface of the cleat. - Unwanted manipulation of the bezel may cause the ball to roll on the wedge, which will displace the rod and loosen the ball, thus reducing the locking force. - This kind of system does not lend itself to a tactile stop position of the rod, for example by means of a ratchet, a ball trigger, a stop against a stop, or the like, because the use of the wedge and / or the underside of the bezel requires that the rod be pushed in more and more deeply to ensure the same locking force of the bezel. - The use of a ball is not very suitable in the case of a bezel provided with axial toothing, because there is the risk that the ball interacts with the toothing on the underside of the bezel when the latter does not is not blocked, which can be felt by the user when handling the telescope. - When the bezel is not blocked, the ball may float in its housing and generate metallic noises. - The use of a rod which moves linearly limits the number of possible variations for the integration of the system in a watch.

[0009] The aim of the invention is therefore to provide a watch case provided with a lockable rotating bezel, in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of the invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a watch case as defined by the claims.

This watch case comprises a middle part defining a plane, and a rotating bezel mounted in rotation on said middle part.

A locking system for said rotating bezel is also provided, said locking system comprising a movable control member in a direction parallel to said plane and arranged to move between a first position in which said bezel is rotatable and a second position in which said bezel is locked and is therefore prevented from rotating.

According to the invention, the locking system comprises a movable finger arranged to interact with a lower face of said bezel when said control member is in its second position, and which is out of contact with said lower face when said control member is in its first position. Consequently, the bezel is blocked when the control member is in its second position, and is released when the latter is in its first position. Furthermore, the system comprises a cam track integral with said control member and arranged to cause said movable finger to move as a function of the position of said control member.

The use of a cam track instead of a wedge or other form of simple cam ensures that the finger is positively controlled in both directions of travel, and is under control at all times. Furthermore, the use of a finger controlled by said cam track instead of a ball controlled by a simple wedge prevents the above-mentioned floating, and this without requiring any additional part such as a spring. The locking system is thus simple and easy to construct.

Advantageously, the movable finger is carried by a finger holder and is arranged to move in a direction at least partially perpendicular to said plane, preferably linearly. Alternatively, the finger can be pivotally mounted on the middle part and thus move along a curve.

Advantageously, in the case where the finger moves linearly, it is guided by one, two or even more pins extending in a direction perpendicular to said plane. The use of pins facilitates fabrication, as the openings necessary for their mounting in the system can be drilled with a simple drill. In a variant, said at least one pin is integral with said middle part, the finger holder sliding on it. Alternatively, the pins can be integral with the finger holder and can slide on the middle part, or can be free of each of these two elements of the construction.

Advantageously, the system further comprises a stud integral at least in translation with said movable finger, the stud taking place in said cam track. The stud can, for example, extend in a direction parallel to the plane of the middle part.

Advantageously, the lower face of the bezel comprises toothing extending towards said middle part in a direction perpendicular to said plane, the finger being shaped to interact with said toothing. For this purpose, the shape of the finger can be a tooth, several teeth (which constitute several adjacent fingers), a pin, or any other similar construction, arranged to be interposed between two consecutive teeth of said toothing when said control member is interposed. found in its second position. This finger can enter the toothing with play, and therefore avoids applying a force to it when the bezel is blocked. System wear is thus minimized.

[0019] Alternatively, the lower face of said bezel facing said middle part may be smooth, said finger being arranged to interact with said lower face by friction in order to lock said bezel when said control member is in its second position.

Advantageously, the two ends of said cam track each follow a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said middle part, one of these ends being active (that is to say in contact with the stud or with a similar element ) when said control member is in said first position, the other being active when said control member is in said second position. In doing so, the position of the finger in each of the extreme positions of the control member is constant, and no force must be exerted by the finger on the bezel. Therefore, the risk that the user could damage the bezel or the finger by applying excessive force is eliminated.

Advantageously, said control member is associated with a trigger adapted to maintain said control member in its second position, in order to prevent the locking system from unblocking untimely. A similar trigger can also be provided to maintain the control member in its first position, if necessary.

Finally, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a watch case as described above.

Brief description of the drawings

Other details of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a timepiece according to the invention, the bezel being unlocked; FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, the bezel being cut cylindrically and shown in its locked state; Figure 3 is an isometric view cut cylindrically through the locking system, the bezel being cut cylindrically and shown in its unlocked state; and FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the bezel being in its locked state.

Embodiment of the invention

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a watch case 1 for a timepiece, according to the invention. Usually, the watch case 1 comprises a middle 5, in which can be housed a movement of any kind (for example mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic), closed by a back (not shown). The caseband 5 defines a plane, which is parallel to the caseband in the case of a simple flat caseband, or an average plane in the case of a curved caseband.

On the upper face of the caseband 5 is rotatably mounted a rotating bezel 7, this bezel serving as a support for a crystal 9. However, the same principle of the invention also applies to the case of a worn crystal. directly by the caseband in a fixed manner, the bezel 7 being a separate part mounted in rotation around the fixed crystal. The bezel 7 is guided in a conventional manner on the middle part 5, the corresponding guide means not being shown in the figures.

In the variant shown, the lower face 11 of the bezel 7, that is to say its face facing the middle part 5, and which extends generally parallel to the plane of the latter, is provided with an axial toothing 13, extending perpendicularly to the plane of the middle part 5. This toothing 13 cooperates with a ball 15, which is kept in contact with the toothing 13 by means of an elastic element (not shown) in a known manner , to form a snap. This latching serves to index the bezel 7, as generally known, and to allow rotation of the bezel 7 in both directions. Alternatively, a unidirectional snap-fit can be provided.

The watch case 1 comprises, mounted in the middle part 5, a locking system 17. This locking system 17 comprises a control member 19 which is arranged to move along the periphery of the middle part 5 in response to a action of a user. The control member 19 therefore moves in the plane of the caseband 5, in the direction of the arrows drawn in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In order to block the bezel 7, the locking system 17 comprises a finger 21, carried by a finger holder 23. In the variant shown, the finger holder 23 is forced to move vertically, that is to say say in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the middle part 5. For this purpose, the finger holder 23 is guided linearly by means of a pair of pins 25, or at least one other ad hoc guide means, integral with of the middle 5. These pins 25 take place in corresponding openings provided in the finger holder 23, which slides on the pins 25. Alternatively, the pins 25 can be integral with the finger holder 23, and can slide in openings provided for this effect in the caseband 5, or they may be integral with any of these elements. Moreover, since the finger holder 23 is constrained by the walls of its housing, a single pin 25 can be used. Still alternatively, the finger holder 23 can be arranged to pivot about an axis integral with the middle part. In any case, the finger holder 23 is arranged so that the finger 21 can move between its inactive position, in which it does not interact with the toothing 13 (see Figures 1 and 3), and its active position, in which it blocks the teeth 13 (see Figures 2 and 4).

In the context of the present invention, the term "finger" should be interpreted broadly, and includes for example a pin, a section of toothing (each tooth of this toothing being by definition a finger), or the like.

In order to move the finger holder 23, the latter is provided with a control stud 27, which extends laterally projecting from the finger holder 23 parallel to the plane of the middle part 5 and which takes place in a Cam track 29 which the control member 19 comprises. The control stud 27 is thus constrained on two opposite sides, by the cam track.

The cam track 29 is shaped so as to convert a movement of the control member 19 in the plane of the middle part 5 into a movement of the finger holder in the direction of the teeth 13. The two ends 29a , 29b of this cam track 29 follow a direction parallel to the plane of the middle part 5, in order to provide a predetermined stable position of the finger holder 23 in each of its two states, without requiring the finger holder 23 to exert a force on the toothing 13 of the bezel 7. In fact, the finger 21 can simply penetrate between two adjacent teeth with play, in order to block the bezel 7 without causing wear to the surface of its lower face 11. Consequently, it does not There is no risk that the user could damage said lower face 11 by actuating the control member too powerfully. A ball trigger 31 or the like which acts on the actuator 19 can provide a tactile stop so that the user can manually feel that the locking system 17 is in the desired state, the ends 29a, 29b thus locking. the finger 21 in the desired position. Alternatively, the ball trigger 31 or the like can be associated with the finger holder 23.

The use of a cam track instead of a wedge or other form of simple cam ensures that the control pin 27 is positively retained on both sides, and that the finger holder 23 does not can not float like the ball of document FR 2 402 898 mentioned above, without requiring for example any spring, or other means to eliminate such floating. The number of parts present in the locking system 17 is thus minimized.

As mentioned above, it is possible that the lower face 11 of the bezel is devoid of toothing. In such a case, the finger 21 interacts with said lower face 11 by friction. In order to prevent the locking system from exerting too much force on the surface of this lower face, the finger 21 can be resiliently mounted on the finger holder 23, so that the elastic element connecting the finger 21 to the door -finger 23 is compressed when the bezel 7 is locked. For example, the finger holder 23 can be cut to form a leaf spring, or an ad hoc spring can be interposed between the finger 21 and the body of the finger holder 23. The normal force exerted between the finger 21 and the face lower part of the bezel can thus remain substantially constant.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (12)

1. Watch box (1) including: - a middle part (5) defining a plane; - a rotating bezel (7) rotatably mounted on said caseband (5); - a locking system (17) of said rotating bezel (7), said locking system (17) comprising a control member (19) movable in a direction parallel to said plane and arranged to move between a first position in which said bezel is rotatable and a second position in which said bezel is locked; characterized in that said locking system comprises: - a movable finger (21) arranged to interact with a lower face (11) of said bezel (7) when said control member (19) is in its second position and to be out of contact with said lower face (11) when said control member (19) is in its first position; - A cam track (29) integral with said control member (19) and arranged to cause said movable finger (21) to move as a function of the position of said control member (19). 2. Watch case (1) according to claim 1, wherein said movable finger (21) is arranged to move in a direction perpendicular to said plane. 3. Watch case (1) according to claim 2, wherein said movable finger (21) is carried by a finger holder (23) and is arranged to move linearly. 4. Watch case (1) according to claim 3, wherein said movable finger (21) is guided by at least one pin (25), preferably two pins (25), extending in a direction comprising a perpendicular component. said plan. 5. Watch case (1) according to claim 4, wherein said at least one pin (25) is integral with said middle part (5). 6. Watch case (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a stud (27) integral with said movable finger (21), said stud taking place in said cam track (29). 7. Watch case (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower face (11) of said bezel (7) comprises toothing (13) extending towards said middle part in a direction perpendicular to said plane, said finger (21) being shaped to interact with said toothing (11). 8. Watch case (1) according to claim 7, wherein said finger is shaped to be interposed between two consecutive teeth of said toothing (13) when said control member (19) is in its second position. 9. Watch case (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lower face (11) of said bezel (7) facing said middle part (5) is smooth, said finger (21) being arranged to cooperate with said lower face (11) by friction in order to lock said bezel (7) when said control member is in its second position. 10. Watch case (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the two ends (29a, 29b) of said cam track (29) each follow a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said middle part (5), one of these ends (29a) being active when said control member (19) is in said first position, the other (29b) being active when said control member (19) is in said second position. 11. Watch case (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said control member (19) is associated with a trigger (31) adapted to maintain said control member (19) in at least its second position. 12. Timepiece comprising a watch case (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11.