CH714142A2 - Acoustic radiation membrane, and ringer watch provided with the acoustic membrane. - Google Patents

Abstract

The striking or musical watch (1) comprises a watch case, which comprises a caseband (4) and a bottom (5) sealingly and removably attached to the caseband, an ice-cream (2) sealingly closing the case box, a watch movement (12) or an electronic watchmaking module held inside the watch case and provided with a sound vibration generator intended to be activated in specified periods to produce a sound or a music. The watch comprises at least one acoustic radiation membrane (10) made of wood or composite material and connected to a portion of the box to radiate the sound produced by the sound vibration generator to the outside of the box.

Description

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an acoustic radiation membrane for a ring or musical watch.

The invention also relates to a bell or musical watch comprising at least one acoustic radiation membrane. The watch comprises a watch case having essentially a middle part and a bottom attached sealingly and removably on the middle part. An ice cream is disposed on an opposite side of the caseband to seal said box. A watch movement or a watch electronic module are held tightly in the watch case. With the watch movement, a striking mechanism is likely to be activated in specific periods to produce a sound or a music. At least one acoustic membrane is connected to the box for radiating the sound produced by the striking mechanism or the electronic clock module towards the outside of the box.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of watchmaking, a traditional architecture is used to perform movements, which may also include ringing mechanisms. Such a striking mechanism can be activated in well-defined periods to signal a programmed alarm or minute repeats, for example. For a conventional embodiment of a bell watch, the striking mechanism may comprise at least one stamp. This stamp is usually a circular-shaped wire, which can surround part of the watch movement in a watch cage. This stamp is attached to a door-stamp normally attached to a watch plate. The vibration of the stamp is produced by the impact of at least one hammer or equivalent against the stamp in specified periods.

In the case of a musical watch, the sound is produced by the blade vibrations of a keyboard of the striking mechanism.

To be able to radiate outwardly the sound generated in the watch box by the striking mechanism or musical, it can be used again a membrane of the acoustic type for vibro-acoustic transduction. This acoustic membrane is preferably fixed sealingly between the bottom and the middle of the watch case, in particular by being sandwiched between a portion of the middle and the bottom of the watch case. The bottom may further include one or more openings for transmitting the sound of the vibrating membrane to the outside of the watch case.

The acoustic membrane is usually made of steel, or amorphous metal or metal glass, or polymer, or other metallic material. This type of material is also chosen for reasons of resistance to environmental stresses, such as moisture or water. With these types of acoustic membranes in a watch case, the acoustic radiation of the vibrating membrane is generally not sufficient, which is a drawback.

It is known from patent BE 414 646 A, a clock bell or chime. The striking or chime mechanism is arranged in a wooden sheath attached to a marble sheath. One face of the wooden sheath is free to resonate following the generation of a sound by the striking or chime mechanism. However, such an arrangement is of large size and can not equip a watch type wristwatch or musical, which is a drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention therefore aims to overcome the disadvantages of the state of the art by providing a bell or musical watch, which is provided with an acoustic radiation membrane, to obtain a good acoustic performance during operation a striking mechanism in the watch case.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an acoustic radiation membrane for a striking or musical watch, which comprises the features defined in the independent claim 1.

[0010] Particular embodiments of the acoustic radiation membrane are defined in the dependent claims 2 to 18.

An advantage of the acoustic radiation membrane according to the present invention lies in the fact that this acoustic membrane in the watch case is made of wood or composite material, such as wood composite, preferably wood precious or noble, such as mahogany. A protective layer or lacquer may be deposited on the wooden membrane or impregnate said membrane to protect it from environmental conditions, such as moisture or water.

In the field of musical instruments, wood has been the preferred material for centuries for its acoustic properties, particularly its ability to radiate the vibrations of a large part of the audio spectrum in the air. However, in a design of a watch or high-end musical, it has never been imagined to use a wooden structure or membrane to effectively radiate the sound generated in the watch case by the striking mechanism.

To this end, the invention also relates to a bell or musical watch, which comprises an acoustic membrane, and which comprises the characteristics defined in the independent claim 19.

[0014] Embodiments of the ring or musical watch are defined in the dependent claims 20 to 31.

Advantageously, the acoustic membrane can be mounted in the watch case as a double bottom and one or side openings can be provided in the bottom giving access to the membrane for good sound transmission of the membrane vibration to the outside the watch box. This membrane can be mounted by gluing on an inner surface of the middle part of the watch case or wedged between parts of the metal case for example.

Advantageously, the acoustic membrane can be mounted at the watch dial in place of it or above or below the traditional dial. It can be connected to the bezel fixing the watch glass and one or more side openings in the bezel can be provided giving access to the membrane for good sound transmission of the vibrating membrane to the outside of the watch case.

Advantageously, the acoustic membrane can be mounted in combination with a portion of the dial and preferably in the same plane. The membrane may be in the form of a half-moon, while the dial portion is in the form of half-moon shape complementary to the membrane to form in combination a circular dial. It may also be envisaged to have a dial in rectangular form with the membrane constituting a rectangular part linked to the other part of the dial.

Advantageously, it can be provided several acoustic membranes of wood or wood composite in the watch case. It can be provided a first membrane at the dial and a second membrane as a double bottom above the bottom of the watch case. It may also be planned to mount several acoustic membranes spaced from one another or superimposed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The purposes, advantages and characteristics of the acoustic radiation membrane and the ring or musical watch comprising it will appear better in the following description on the basis of non-limiting embodiments illustrated by the drawings in which: FIG. . 1 schematically shows a partial section of a first embodiment of a bell or musical watch provided with an acoustic membrane according to the invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified view of a partial section of a variant of the first embodiment of a bell or musical watch provided with an acoustic membrane according to the invention, FIG. 3 schematically shows a partial section of a second embodiment of a bell or musical watch provided with an acoustic membrane according to the invention, and FIG. 4 schematically shows a partial top view of a third embodiment of a bell or musical watch provided with an acoustic membrane according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, all parts of the ring or musical watch, which comprises at least one acoustic membrane, and which are well known to a skilled person in this technical field, are described only in a simplified manner. .

FIG. 1 represents a simplified partial section of a first embodiment of a bell or musical watch 1 with an acoustic membrane 10. The watch essentially comprises a watch case, which is composed of a caseband 4, on which a telescope 3 is sealingly attached with a gasket 18 on one side and a bottom 5 fixed on the other side of the middle part 4. The bottom 5 is mounted by known means and removably on the middle part 4 with a seal 9. A watch glass 2 is fixed in particular by a seal 19 to the bezel 3 to seal the watch case. A dial 13 is held at the edge on the middle part 4 and placed beneath the watch glass 2. In the case of a mechanical bell or musical watch 1, time indicating hands, which are not not shown, are provided on the dial 13 which generally carries hourly indices periphery.

The ring or musical watch 1 also comprises a watch movement 12 or an electronic clock module, which are normally mounted on a platen. A border piece is attached to the platen, which defines a watch cage. Usually both the plate and the edge piece are made of a metallic material, which is usual in a high-end type mechanical watch.

The watch movement 12 or the electronic clock module comprises a sound vibration generator for generating a sound or a music in defined time periods. In the case of a watch movement 12, the sound vibration generator is a striking mechanism, not shown. This striking mechanism may comprise at least one stamp mounted on a stamp holder fixed on the plate, and at least one hammer rotatably mounted on the plate to strike said stamp in specified periods. The generally circular stamp may surround parts of the watch movement. Such a striking mechanism is provided to signal a programmed alarm or minute repeats, for example.

In a more elaborate embodiment of a musical watch, the striking mechanism may comprise a keyboard with a set of blades connected to a heel, which is fixed on the plate. The sound or succession of musical notes is produced by keyboard blade vibrations. Each blade is configured to produce a particular note. To produce a music for example in programmed periods, the keyboard blades are lifted and released by pins integral with a cylinder or a disk rotating on the plate. Each activated blade oscillates mainly at its first natural frequency. The vibrations generated by the activated blades are transmitted to the display parts of the watch, which must allow to radiate acoustically the sound produced by each blade vibration.

In the case of a clock or electronic musical watch 1, the sound vibration generator of the electronic clock module generates at least one sound or music, which can be stored in an autographed memory. The sound vibration generator may conventionally include a piezoelectric element or a speaker for broadcasting sound or music in defined time periods.

The mechanical or electronic bell or musical watch 1 essentially comprises at least one acoustic membrane 10 for improving the acoustic performance of the sound produced by the sound vibration generator, such as the striking mechanism. For this invention, the acoustic membrane 10 is advantageously made of wood or composite material, which may be a wood composite for example without any limitation. The thickness of the membrane may be close to 1 mm.

It should be noted that is generally understood by composite material, a material, which consists of a frame or base called reinforcement, which may generally comprise fibers, which ensures the mechanical strength, and a binder called matrix. This binder is most often a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, which ensures the cohesion of the structure and the transmission of forces towards the reinforcement. In the case of the present invention, the composite material may also comprise a matrix of one or more polymers in which are inserted one or more natural or synthetic fibers and / or particles of any type. It can also be a wooden matrix in which is inserted a resin and / or particles of any type.

The material of the acoustic membrane 10 may also be precious or noble wood, such as mahogany or oak or cherry, which is known for its excellent acoustic radiation properties. It can also be chosen spruce or maple or rosewood or the wood of violets or cherry or ebony used generally for the design of violins or guitars. It can still be chosen other woods, such as poplar, willow, walnut, fir and even some fruit trees.

Wood is a material relatively sensitive to moisture, in particular its geometric properties. Typically, an elongation of 2 to 10% can be observed when a dry wood is immersed in water. This undesirable effect may be acceptable in a watch whose construction is adapted, but ideally this effect will have to be minimized, for example with an infiltration treatment or with superficial layers.

Thus, the acoustic membrane once produced can be tinted with a color, coated with a protective layer or lacquer or impregnated with a protective substance to protect the membrane from environmental conditions, such as humidity. or water. Nano-cellulose is a new material that can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the wood membrane, and improve dimensional strength in variable environments (T and RH), or even to avoid moisture absorption.

To achieve such a wooden membrane, it can also be used several wood species in the same radiation membrane, whose acoustic properties are complementary. It can be used a light and very nervous wood with a homogeneous dense wood. Welding techniques exist and can be applied in this particular case. These combinations may take the form of reinforcements or thinning of different geometries, for example straight or concentric in the same membrane. The wood used can be further densified to improve acoustic radiation properties.

It can be achieved a membrane with an assembly or gluing of several layers one above the other for example with different wood species. It can be provided that at least one of the layers consists of natural or synthetic fibers arranged in a well-defined orientation. It can still be made openings in the membrane, which are inspired rosettes and gills of stringed instruments, but in this case, it must still be provided a protective membrane inside the watch case to protect the watch movement or the electronic watchmaking module.

In the case of at least one layer of natural or synthetic fibers, the orientation of the fibers in the membrane may be dependent on the location of the membrane in the watch case and depending on the arrangement of the carrier. stamp or the base of a keyboard for a mechanical striking mechanism. The layer or layers may include wood fibers or carbon fibers.

For comparison, it was performed tests on a mahogany membrane, which were compared to a traditional construction. These tests have shown that a mahogany membrane improves acoustic radiation by 4 to 5 dBA compared to a traditional construction, which is significant for the user at a distance of 30 cm from the vibrating membrane. The resonance is also increased.

It is still noteworthy that the tonal balance is also improved. All frequencies created by the struck tone, particularly the low frequencies below 7 kHz, are radiated at a substantially equivalent level, whereas a traditional solution based on metal or ceramic membranes tends to select a mode for example high pitch sound at around 6.8 kHz, and radiate little other modes. This results in a richer and more balanced radiated sound when the wooden membrane, in particular mahogany, is used. This has also been confirmed by psychoacoustic listening.

It can still be seen that the mahogany membrane improves both the radiation of the low frequencies, which contributes to the "seat" of the sound, as well as the attack at high frequencies, which improves its "shine" .

In the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the acoustic membrane 10 is formed in the form of a bowl, whose upper edge is sealingly mounted by an annular seal 8 on an inner annular rim of the bottom 5 of the box. The diameter of this bowl, which may be equivalent to the diameter of the watch ice 2, may be between 20 and 40 mm. An annular support 11 supports the plate with the edge piece on one side and rests on the upper edge of the acoustic membrane 10. At the time of fastening the caseband 4 on the bottom 5 of the watch case , the support 11 and the peripheral edge of the acoustic membrane 10 are clamped, or even glued between the middle part 4 and the rim of the bottom 5.

The central part of the acoustic membrane is not in contact with the support 11 and the inner surface of the bottom 5. Therefore, sufficient space 7 in the box is provided for the acoustic membrane to freely vibrate or radiate acoustically. The entire acoustic membrane 10 and the bottom 5 thus constitutes a double bottom. One or more lateral openings 6 are also provided laterally through the bottom 5 to allow the acoustic membrane 10 to radiate the sound produced by the striking mechanism to the outside.

During operation of the striking mechanism, the sound produced by said striking mechanism is transmitted directly to the acoustic membrane 10 to make it vibrate. A vibration transmission to the acoustic membrane 10 is also provided at the edge of the acoustic membrane by the connecting pieces, such as the annular support 11. As the acoustic membrane 10 is made of wood or composite material, it is likely to radiate more intensely the sound generated by the striking mechanism to the outside compared to a traditional acoustic membrane made of metal or amorphous metal or ceramic for example.

FIG. 2 shows a variant of the first embodiment described above in relation to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the acoustic membrane 10 of wood or composite material, such as wood composite is for example circular planar shape. This acoustic membrane 10 is fixed to a support 11 comprising a wedge-shaped inner edge for fixing the acoustic membrane, especially by gluing. This support 11 may be made of a metallic material.

A peripheral edge of the support 11 is held by pinching through a seal 9 between the middle 4 and the bottom 5 attached to the middle 4. One or more openings 6 are formed in the bottom 5 , and sufficient space 7 is left in the watch case between the acoustic membrane 10 and the inner surface of the bottom.

FIG. 3 shows a simplified partial section of a second embodiment of a ring-type watch 1 with an acoustic membrane 10 '. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the acoustic membrane 10 'is arranged as a watch face under the window 2 fixed by a seal 19, for example to a window 3. The membrane is in this case in the form of a plane disk. The bezel can also be mounted in a sealed manner with a seal 18 on the middle part 4. The acoustic membrane 10 'can therefore replace the traditional dial of such a watch, but can also be arranged below or preferably at above a traditional dial.

In this second embodiment, it may further be provided one or more side openings 16 in the bezel giving access to the acoustic membrane 10 '. These lateral openings 16 are provided for transmitting the sound of the vibrating membrane towards the outside of the watch case. On the other hand, the bottom 5 of the watch case no longer includes openings since the acoustic membrane 10 'is arranged only at the level of the dial. The bottom 5 is mounted by known means and removably on the middle 4 with a seal 9, and another seal 8 can also be provided to maintain the annular support 11 supporting the watch movement 12 with the ring mechanism.

Claims (31)

claims 1. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') for a striking or musical watch (1) and intended to be mounted in a box of the ring or musical watch, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is made of wood or made of composite material. 2. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is made of precious wood, such as mahogany, oak or cherry. 3. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is made of wood composite comprising several species of wood welded together. 4. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 3, characterized in that the membrane is made of light wood and very nervous with a homogeneous dense wood. 5. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is made of composite material, which is composed of a framework called reinforcement, which comprises fibers and / or particles, and of a binder called matrix. 6. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 5, characterized in that the binder is a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin. 7. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 5, characterized in that the composite material comprises a matrix of one or more polymers in which are inserted one or more natural or synthetic fibers and / or particles. 8. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the membrane is an assembly or gluing of several layers one above the other. 9. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 8, characterized in that the layers comprise different wood species. 10. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the layers is composed of natural or synthetic fibers. 11. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 10, characterized in that the fibers are arranged in a defined orientation depending on the position of the membrane in a watch case in relation to a mechanical striking mechanism . 12. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 10, characterized in that the fibers are carbon fibers. 13. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a layer or protective lacquer is deposited on the acoustic membrane to protect it from environmental conditions. 14. acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is impregnated with a protective substance to protect it from environmental conditions. 15. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is impregnated with nano-cellulose to enhance its mechanical properties. 16. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is tinted with a color. 17. Acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is coated or impregnated with at least one protective layer, which comprises an inorganic layer, such as a metal layer or oxide. 18. acoustic radiation membrane (10,10 ') according to claim 1, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is made of composite material comprising in combination at least one layer of wood with a layer of carbon or polymer. 19. Bell or musical watch (1) comprising a watch case, which comprises a caseband (4) and a bottom (5) sealingly attached and removably to the middle part, an ice (2) sealingly closing the case, a watch movement (12) or an electronic watchmaking module held inside the watch case and equipped with a sound vibration generator intended to be activated in specified periods to produce a sound or a music, and at least one acoustic radiation membrane (10, 10 ') according to one of the preceding claims, which is made of wood or composite material, and connected to a part of the box for radiating the sound produced by the sound vibration generator to the outside of the box. 20. Striking or musical watch (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the sound vibration generator is a striking mechanism provided with at least one stamp intended to be struck by at least one hammer, or from less a keyboard with a set of blades, which can be lifted and released by pins integral with a cylinder or disc rotating. 21. Striking or musical watch (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the acoustic membrane (10, 10 ') is disposed inside the watch case between the bottom (5) of the box and the watch movement (12) or the watchmaking electronic module with the sound vibration generator forming a double bottom. 22. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that the acoustic membrane (10, 10 ') is held on an inner rim of the bottom (5) of the box and a part of the middle part (4). ). 23. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 22, characterized in that the watch movement (12) or the electronic clock module is disposed on an annular support (11), and in that the periphery of the acoustic membrane (10, 10 ') is clamped with the periphery of the support between the middle part (4) and an inner rim of the bottom (5) of the box. 24. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 23, characterized in that the acoustic membrane (10, 10 ') has a bowl shape, an upper edge is clamped with the annular support between the middle part (4) and an inner annular flange of the bottom (5) of the can, an annular seal (8) being placed between the bottom flange (5) and the annular edge of the membrane, and in that a central portion of the acoustic membrane is not in contact with the support (11) and an inner surface of the bottom (5) of the box to define a space (7) in order to be able to oscillate freely. 25. bell or musical watch (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is of flat circular shape and is fixed to a support (11) comprising a wedge-shaped inner edge for fixing the membrane acoustically adhesive, and in that a peripheral edge of the support (11) is held by pinching via a seal (9) between the middle (4) and the bottom (5). 26. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that the bottom (5) of the box comprises at least one lateral opening (6) or in the bottom to allow the vibration acoustic membrane to produce sound radiation to the outside of the watch case. 27. Striking or musical watch (1) according to claim 21, characterized in that several acoustic membranes (10, 10 ') are connected to the watch case and spaced from one another or superimposed. 28. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the ice (2) is attached to a bezel (3) of the watch case, which is sealingly mounted on the middle part (4) of the watch case, and in that the acoustic membrane (10, 10 ') is mounted as a watch face or above or below a traditional watch dial (13). 29. Watch bell or musical (1) according to claim 19, characterized in that the ice (2) is attached to a bezel (3) of the watch case, which is sealingly mounted on the middle part (4) of the watch case, and in that the acoustic membrane is made or mounted in a part of the watch face (13). 30. Ring or musical watch (1) according to claim 29, characterized in that the acoustic membrane is in the form of a half-moon fixed to a half-moon shaped portion of the dial (13). 31. bell or musical watch (1) according to one of claims 28 to 30, characterized in that the telescope (3) comprises at least one lateral opening (16) to allow the acoustic membrane vibration to produce radiation sound to the outside of the watch case.