CH714803A2 - An annular rotating bezel system comprising at least one elastic arm. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an annular rotating bezel system (6) intended to be rotatably mounted on a middle part (4) of a watch case inside which is housed a clockwork movement which extends in a plane, comprising a rotating bezel (14), an annular retaining ring (16), a toothed ring (18), and at least one elastic arm (20), one free end (38) of which is elastically and radially engaged with the ring toothed ring (18), said toothed ring (18) and said at least one elastic arm (20) being held in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of movement in the bezel (14) by the annular retaining ring (16), the one of the toothed ring (18) and the elastic arm (20) being arranged to be angularly integral with the rotating bezel (14), and the other being arranged to be angularly integral with the middle part (4); wherein the resilient arm (20) is formed of a planar leaf spring cantilevered in the system (6).

Description

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to an annular rotating bezel system.

The invention also relates to a watch case comprising a middle part and the annular rotating bezel system mounted for rotation on the middle part.

The invention further relates to a watch comprising the watch case. The watch is for example a diving watch, without this being limiting in the context of the present invention.

STATE OF THE ART Known annular rotating spectacle systems include a rotating bezel, an annular retaining ring, a toothed ring, and an elastic arm, one free end of which is elastically and radially engaged with the toothed ring. Such a rotating bezel system is for example described in patent document EP 0 686 897 B1. The elastic arm is angularly secured to the annular ring, itself driven onto the middle part, and the toothed ring is angularly secured to the rotating bezel. The elastic arm is formed by a wire spring comprising several segments extending in two planes perpendicular to each other. The presence of such a wire spring in the rotating bezel system therefore makes such a system relatively bulky, especially in thickness. In addition, the wire spring extends over roughly a quarter of the circumference of the telescope with a radius of curvature less than the radius of the telescope also increasing the size of the system in the radial direction of the telescope. In addition, another drawback of such an annular rotating bezel system is that it cannot be easily assembled to the middle part, since the ring must first be driven onto the middle part around a seal, then the elastic arm must be attached to the ring, then it is the turn of the bezel to be assembled. Thus not only is the assembly complex, but the disassembly is almost impossible and risks damaging the rotating bezel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is therefore to provide an annular rotating bezel system having a reduced bulk, while being simple to assemble and to manufacture, and overcoming the abovementioned drawbacks of the prior art .

To this end, the invention relates to an annular rotating bezel system which comprises the characteristics mentioned in independent claim 1.

Particular forms of the system are defined in dependent claims 2 to 10.

A first advantage of the present invention is that it makes it possible to reduce the bulk in thickness and in diameter of the system. In fact, the elastic arm is formed by a flat leaf spring mounted in a cantilever fashion in the system. Such a flat leaf spring occupies less space in the system, and is thinner than a wire spring, allowing a gain in overall dimensions. In addition, such a flat leaf spring has good elastic properties, ensuring the reliability of the rotating bezel system. In addition, such an arrangement is simple to assemble and manufacture, since the annular rotating bezel system is made independent of the watch case.

Finally, this arrangement makes it possible to choose a material for the toothed ring independently of the material used for the rotating bezel. This allows for example to make glasses of precious material without risk of premature wear since the toothed ring is not integrated into the bezel but is just attached to said bezel.

Advantageously, the rotating bezel comprises at least one lug extending over an internal lateral face of the bezel, and the elastic arm has, on the side of its other end on a face situated on the side opposite to the toothed ring, a notch in which the lug of the bezel is engaged, to allow a connection in rotation of the elastic arm to the rotating bezel. This allows the elastic arm to be easily linked in rotation to the rotating bezel, while facilitating the positioning of the elastic arm in the bezel.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the annular rotating bezel system comprises three elastic arms distributed over 360 °, the three elastic arms being spaced two by two by 120 °. This first embodiment of the invention makes it possible to ensure a good distribution of the bending and elastic retaining couples on the toothed ring.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the annular rotating bezel system comprises a single elastic arm.

Advantageously, the toothed ring has, on an inner periphery, at least one lug intended to be received in a notch provided in a cylindrical outer surface of the middle part. This allows easy angular attachment of the toothed ring to the middle part, while facilitating the positioning of the toothed ring on the middle part and allowing the rotating bezel system to be guided for its mounting on the middle part.

Advantageously, the annular rotating bezel system is formed by an independent module, said module being configured to be clipped onto the middle part. This makes it possible to obtain a simple and practical assembly of the rotating bezel system on the middle, also allowing easy disassembly. This further simplifies assembly and

CH 714 803 A2 manufacturing process for the watch case. The clip-on mounting system used forms a free hanging system.

To this end, the invention also relates to a watch case comprising the annular rotating bezel system described above, and which comprises the characteristics mentioned in dependent claim 11.

Particular forms of the watch case are defined in dependent claims 12 and 13.

To this end, the invention also relates to a watch comprising the watch case described above, and which comprises the characteristics mentioned in dependent claim 14.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The objects, advantages and characteristics of the annular rotating bezel system according to the invention will appear better in the following description on the basis of at least one non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the drawings in which:

fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the annular rotating bezel system according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprising three elastic arms;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the elastic arms of the annular rotating bezel system of FIG. 1;

fig. 3 is a bottom view of the annular rotating bezel system of FIG. 1; and fig. 4 is a bottom view of the annular rotating bezel system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] FIG. 1 represents a watch 1 provided with a watch case 2. The watch case 2 typically comprises a middle part 4. The watch case 2 also comprises an annular rotating bezel system 6 as well as a watch movement which extends in a plan, the watch movement not being shown in the figures for reasons of clarity. The annular rotating bezel system 6 is mounted for rotation on the middle part 4. Preferably, as illustrated in FIGS. 1,3 and 4, the annular rotating bezel system 6 is formed by an independent module. The annular rotating bezel system 6 is for example clipped onto the middle part 4, as will be detailed later.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the middle part 4 is of annular shape. The middle part 4 comprises a cylindrical outer surface 8. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cylindrical outer surface 8 is provided with a peripheral shoulder defined by a side wall 12a and a base 12b. This peripheral shoulder serves as a housing for the rotating bezel system 6. The side wall 12a includes an annular projection or bead 13 extending over the entire perimeter of the side wall 12a and allowing the spitting of the rotating bezel system 6 to the middle part 4, by clipping. The annular rotating bezel system 6 is based on the base 12b. The rotating bezel system 6 is thus mounted on the middle part 4, from above the latter, allowing the system 6 to be blocked in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the watch movement, while allowing rotation of the bezel around the middle part 4. In the watch case 2 taken as an example in figs. 1,3 and 4, the configuration of the watch case is substantially circular. However, the invention is in no way limited to such a configuration of the watch case, nor to the other arrangements described above for the middle part. The middle part can be made of metal, typically steel, titanium, gold. , platinum or ceramic typically based on alumina, zirconia or silicon nitride.

The annular rotating bezel system 6 comprises a rotating bezel 14, an annular retaining ring 16, a toothed ring 18 and at least one elastic arm 20. A first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 3. In this first embodiment, the annular rotating bezel system 6 comprises three elastic arms 20 distributed over 360 °, the three elastic arms 20 being spaced two by two by 120 °.

Preferably, the system 6 further comprises a decor ring 22 forcibly engaged on the rotating bezel 14. The decor ring 22 carries for example graduations, typically diving graduations in the case of a watch 1 dive. The decor ring 22 is for example ceramic.

The rotating bezel 14 is of annular shape and comprises an upper face 23a visible to the user and a lower face 23b. As illustrated in fig. 1, the rotating bezel 14 is for example provided on an inner periphery with an annular rim 24. The annular rim 24 cooperates by clipping with the protrusion 13 of the middle part 4, and forms with the latter a free spitting system. The rotating bezel 14 is for example made of metal but could be made of any other material, for example ceramic.

The annular ring 16 maintains the toothed ring 18 and the elastic arms 20 in the bezel 14, in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the watch movement. This makes it easier to mount the rotating bezel 14 on the middle part 4. Preferably, the annular ring 16 is driven into the rotating bezel 14, securing it to the latter. In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the annular ring 16 is secured to the middle part 4.

CH 714 803 A2 The annular ring 16 rests on the base 12b of the middle part 4, and thus surrounds the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the middle part 4. The annular ring 16 is configured to cooperate with the cylindrical outer surface 8 to allow the rotation of the rotating bezel 14 on the middle part 4. The annular retaining ring 16 is for example a flat ring. According to a particular variant embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, the annular ring 16 comprises means 26 for guiding the rotating bezel 14 in rotation around the middle part 4, and means 28 configured to slow down the rotation of the rotating bezel 14 around the middle part 4 and to dampen the sound. In this variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the annular ring 16 is for example formed from a single piece of material consisting of a plastic material, in particular, PTFE, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (Tefzel®), and polyoxymethylene (Delrin®) where appropriate coated with a layer to improve the coefficient of friction. The annular ring 16 is for example of rectangular section.

Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the annular ring 16 comprises on an inner periphery an alternation between tabs 30a of a first group of tabs, and tabs 30b of a second group of tabs. The tongues 30a of the first group and the tongues 30b of the second group are in contact with the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the middle part. Such tongues 30a, 30b limit the passage of dirt inside the rotating bezel system 6. In the variant not shown in the figures according to which the annular ring 16 is secured to the middle part 4, the tongues 30a of the first group and the tongues 30b of the second group are arranged on an outer periphery of the annular ring 16 and are in contact with a inner surface of the rotating bezel 14.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the first and second groups of tabs each comprise six tabs 30a, 30b, distributed over the inner periphery of the ring 16 over 360 °. The tabs of the same group of tabs are thus spaced two by two by 60 °, the tabs 30a, 30b of the first and second groups of tabs being alternated.

The tongues 30a of the first group and the tongues 30b of the second group have dimensions, in differentiated radial direction. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the tongues 30a of the first group of tongues have dimensions in the radial direction smaller than those of the tongues 30b of the second group of tongues, and form the means for guiding in rotation 26.

The tongues 30b of the second group of tongues form the braking and damping means of the sound 28. More precisely, the tongues 30b of the second group of tongues are made up of softer segments than the tongues 30a of the first group. Such segments are capable of bending in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the watch movement. To do this, a particular example of embodiment shown in FIG. 1 consists in that the tongues 30a of the first group and the tongues 30b of the second group have differentiated thicknesses, the thickness being measured in the axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the watch movement. Typically, the tabs 30b of the second group have a thickness less than that of the tabs 30a of the first group, thus giving them greater flexibility. Thanks to the axial flexibility of the tongues 30b of the second group, these can ensure braking of the rotation of the rotating bezel 14 around the middle part 4 by friction against the cylindrical outer surface 8, as well as damping of the sound produced.

Braking the rotation of the telescope 14 by the means 28 has the advantage of smoothing the various clearances inside the system so that the user of the telescope does not feel them, as well as controlling the torque of the bezel making it softer. In addition, the braking and sound damping means 28 make it possible to reduce the noise produced by the rotation of the telescope and therefore to improve the user feeling.

Preferably, the tongues 30a, 30b of the first and second groups are separated from each other by notches 32. This makes it possible in particular to improve the flexibility of the tongues 30b of the second group of tongues.

More preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the tongues 30a, 30b of the first and second groups of tongues extend angularly over a substantially equal angular sector.

It goes without saying that according to other alternative embodiments of the invention the annular retaining ring may comprise a simple annular ring of rectangular section over its entire periphery driven into the bezel 14.

The toothed ring 18 includes several teeth, for example 120 teeth, also distributed over its outer periphery over 360 °. Preferably, the toothed ring 18 also has, on its inner periphery, at least one lug 34 received in a notch 36 provided in the cylindrical outer surface 8 of the middle part 4. In the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the toothed ring 18 comprises three lugs 34 distributed over 360 ° and spaced two by two by 120 °. The cylindrical outer surface 8 of the middle part 4 comprises three corresponding notches 36. This lug system 34 / notches 36 allows easy angular attachment of the toothed ring 18 to the middle part 4, while facilitating the positioning of the toothed ring 18 on the middle part 4. This system also makes it possible to guide the rotating bezel system 6 for its mounting on the middle part 4. Thus, by pressing from above the system 6, the lugs 34 are engaged in the notches 36, making it possible to snap the elements inside the system 6 and to clip the system 6 onto middle 4.

The toothed ring 18 is formed from a single piece of material. The toothed ring 18 is for example made of a metal alloy, in particular a cobalt-based alloy (40% Co, 20% Cr, 16% Nï and. 7% Mo) commercially called phynox or steel typically a stainless steel for example 316L. Alternatively, the toothed ring 18 can be formed

CH 714 803 A2 of a thermoplastic material, in particular a thermostable semi-crystalline thermoplastic material such as for example polyarylamide (Ixef®), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or also a ceramic material such as zirconia or alumina.

Each elastic arm 20 has a fixed end 37 and a free end 38 elastically and radially engaged with the toothed ring 18. Each elastic arm 20 is formed of a flat leaf spring, the flat leaf springs 20 extending around the toothed ring 18, substantially in the same plane as the plane defined by the latter. The plane leaf springs 20 are arranged so that a longitudinal face of each plane leaf spring 20 extends opposite the toothed ring 18. Each plane leaf spring 20 is mounted in cantilever in the telescope system rotating annular

6. To do this, according to a particular embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fixed end 37 of each elastic arm 20 is angularly secured to the rotating bezel 14 while the opposite free end 38 has the shape of a spout 38a forming a tooth cooperating with the teeth of the toothed ring 18 More specifically, each elastic arm 20 has, on the side of its fixed end 37 on a face situated on the side opposite the toothed ring 18, a notch 40 in which a lug 42 of the bezel 14 is engaged. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the rotating bezel 14 comprises on an internal lateral face three lugs 42 distributed over 360 ° and spaced two by two by 120 °. This lug system 42 / notches 40 makes it easy to link the elastic arms 20 in rotation to the rotating bezel 14, while facilitating the positioning of the arms 20 in the bezel 14.

According to this configuration, the planar leaf springs 20 are mounted flexible and overhanging in the annular rotating bezel system 6.

Preferably, and as visible in FIGS. 1 to 3, each elastic arm 20 has, on a face situated on the side opposite to the toothed ring 18, a boss 44. Each boss 44 is in abutment against an internal lateral face of the bezel 14. The spring is arranged to flex between its free end engaged with the tooth and the boss. The location of this boss thus determines the desired return force of the spring. This boss is arranged on the spring in this example but could also according to a variant (not shown) be arranged on the bezel.

More preferably, each elastic arm 20 has an arcuate shape whose center of curvature is located inside the bezel 14. In addition, the free end 38 of each elastic arm 20 preferably has a curved shape towards the center of the rotating bezel 14 ending with the spout 38a. In other words, the free end 38 of each elastic arm 20 has an accentuated curvature relative to the rest of the arm 20, that is to say that the radius of curvature of the free end 38 is less than the radius of curvature of the rest of arm 20.

In this way, the free ends 38 of the elastic arms 20 cooperate elastically via the spout 38a with the toothed ring 18. In this configuration, each free end 38 of an arm 20 is in contact with the toothed ring of so that there is a rest position in which the spout 38a of each free end 38 is in a hollow between two teeth of the toothed ring 18. When the user grasps the bezel 14 and imposes on it a torque greater than a certain spring torque determined by the elastic arms 20, the elastic arms 20 are deformed by moving radially closer to the rotating bezel 14, allowing the nozzles 38a of the free ends 38 of the arms 20 to emerge from the recesses of the toothed ring 18 and to re-mesh in an adjacent tooth of the toothed ring 18. The bezel 14 then effectively rotates from a corresponding angular sector, to a new position. This movement is possible in only one predefined direction: clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the orientation of the elastic arms 20 with respect to the toothed ring 18. The telescope in such a system according to the invention is therefore a telescope unidirectional. The direction of rotation of the telescope can however be modified by changing the orientation of the elastic arms 20 with respect to the toothed ring 18.

Each planar leaf spring 20 is formed from a single piece of material. Each flat leaf spring 20 is for example made of a metal alloy having good spring properties, that is to say which easily deforms elastically while being able to deform significantly without undergoing plastic deformation, in particular phynox ® or amorphous metal alloys. Of course, each flat leaf spring 20 can also, as a variant, be made of a synthetic material.

According to a particular embodiment, each plane leaf spring 20 is manufactured by a LIGA training process (from the German RöntgenLithographie, Galvanoformung, Abformung).

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. According to this second embodiment, the annular rotating bezel system 6 comprises a single elastic arm 20. The characteristics of the elastic arm 20 illustrated in FIG. 4 are identical to the characteristics of the other arms 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and described with reference to the first embodiment of the invention. Of course, variants with more than three elastic arms, preferably distributed equally around the periphery of the telescope, can also be envisaged.

The previous description of the annular rotating bezel system according to the invention was made with reference to a toothed ring angularly secured to the middle part, and to elastic arms angularly secured to the rotating bezel. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the reverse configuration is possible without departing from the scope of the present invention, that is to say that the toothed ring can be angularly integral with the rotating bezel, and the or each elastic arm angularly secured to the middle part.

Claims (14)

1. System (6) of an annular rotating bezel intended to be mounted for rotation on a middle part (4) of a watch case (2) inside which is housed a clockwork movement which extends in one plane, comprising a rotating bezel (14), an annular retaining ring (16), a toothed ring (18), and at least one elastic arm (20) of which a free end (38) is elastically and radially engaged with the ring toothed (18), said toothed ring (18) and said at least one elastic arm (20) being held in an axial direction perpendicular to the plane of movement in the telescope (14) by the annular holding ring (16), the one of the toothed ring (18) and the elastic arm (20) being arranged to be angularly secured to the rotating bezel (14), and the other being arranged to be angularly secured to the middle part (4); characterized in that the elastic arm (20) is formed by a planar leaf spring mounted in a cantilever fashion in the system (6). 2. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating bezel (14) comprises at least one lug (42) extending on an internal lateral face of the bezel (14), and in what the elastic arm (20) has, on the side of its other end (37) on a face situated on the side opposite the toothed ring (18), a notch (40) in which the lug (42) of the bezel (14) is engaged, to allow a rotational connection of the elastic arm (20) to the rotating bezel (14). 3. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elastic arm (20) has, on a face located on the side opposite the toothed ring (18), a boss (44) , said boss (44) bearing against an internal lateral face of the telescope (14). 4. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic arm (20) has an arcuate shape whose center of curvature is located inside the bezel (14) . 5. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to claim 4, characterized in that the free end (38) of the elastic arm (20) has a curved shape towards the center of the bezel (14). 6. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planar leaf spring (20) is formed from a single piece of material consisting of a crystalline or amorphous metal alloy. 7. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planar leaf spring (20) is manufactured by a LIGA formation process. 8. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises three elastic arms (20) distributed over 360 °, the three elastic arms (20) being spaced two by two from 120 °. 9. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toothed ring (18) has, on an inner periphery, at least one lug (34) intended to be received in a notch (36) provided in a cylindrical outer surface (8) of the middle part (4), to allow the angular attachment of the toothed ring (18) to the middle part (4). 10. System (6) of annular rotating bezel according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said system (6) is formed of an independent module, said module being configured to be clipped onto the middle part (4). 11. Watch case (2) comprising a middle part (4) and a system (6) provided with an annular rotating bezel (14) rotatably mounted on the middle part (4), characterized in that the system (6) of An annular rotating bezel conforms to any one of the preceding claims. 12. Watch case (2) according to claim 11 when the system (6) of the rotating bezel depends on claim 10, characterized in that the middle part (4) comprises a cylindrical outer surface (8) provided with a peripheral shoulder (12a, 12b), the peripheral shoulder (12a, 12b) comprising on an lateral face (12a) an annular projection (13), and in that the rotating bezel (14) is provided on an inner periphery with a rim annular (24), said annular flange (24) cooperating with said annular protuberance (13) by clipping and forming a free spitting system. 13. Watch case (2) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the toothed ring (18) is angularly integral with the middle part (4), and the other end (37) of the elastic arm (20) is angularly secured to the rotating bezel (14). 14. Watch (1) comprising a watch case (2), characterized in that the watch case (2) conforms to any one of claims 11 to 13.