CH716973A2 - Oscillating winding weight fitted with a decorative element for an automatic movement of a timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an oscillating winding mass (1) of a movement (5) of a timepiece, said oscillating winding mass (1) being intended to be mounted for rotation on an axis (6) of the movement. (5) said mass (1) comprising a main element (2) giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass (1), a heavy part (4) allowing the oscillation of the mass (1) in response to the movement of the timepiece and the force of gravity, the mass (1) comprising a decorative element (3), for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element (3) being fixed to the main element (2) the main element (2) comprising a first material, the decorative element (3) comprising a second material and the heavy part (4) comprising a third material, the third material having a higher density than the second material, so that the heavy part is heavier than the decorative element (3) to position it in a predefined position.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an oscillating winding mass provided with a decorative element for a movement of a timepiece with automatic movement. More particularly, the invention relates to such a winding mass intended to equip a wristwatch comprising a transparent back.

Background of the invention

[0002] Wristwatches are already known with transparent-bottomed boxes to allow observation of their movement. However, when these watches include a self-winding movement, the observation of the movement is always truncated by the presence of the oscillating winding mass which, even perforated, as is the case in so-called "skeleton" watches, prevents a comfortable observation of movement.

To solve this problem, it has been proposed in patent EP 0 957 414 an oscillating winding mass comprising a heavy part fixed to a main element arranged to connect said heavy part to an axis integral with a movement, said element main being made of a transparent or translucent material. Such an oscillating winding weight allows observation of the movement that it equips without visible obstacle.

However, these transparent oscillating masses are not sufficient to have a very pleasant aesthetic rendering, especially when they are at rest.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an oscillating winding mass for a timepiece comprising a particular decorative element.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to an oscillating winding mass of a movement of a timepiece, said oscillating winding mass being intended to be mounted for rotation on an axis of the movement, said mass comprising a main element giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass, a heavy part allowing the oscillation of the mass in response to the movement of the timepiece and to the force of gravity.

The invention is remarkable in that it comprises a decorative element, for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element being fixed to the main element, the main element comprising a first material, the element decorative element comprising a second material and the heavy part comprising a third material, the third material having a density greater than the second material, so that the heavy part is heavier than the decorative element to position it in a predefined position.

Thanks to this new winding mass structure, a decorative element is arranged on the main element of the winding mass. Thus, the winding mass has a more attractive aesthetic rendering than a conventional winding mass known from the state of the art. Indeed, the decorative element, which may represent a logo or an acronym of a brand, gives more cachet to the winding mass and therefore to the timepiece. The two materials being different make it possible to orient the winding mass in a specific position, when the winding mass is at rest. Thus, the decorative element is in a particular position in the rest position.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the mass comprises an additional element forming the heavy part, the additional element being integral with the main element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the additional element is an unbalance, for example formed by an arc of a circle, which is arranged at the periphery of the main element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the decorative element is arranged in a position symmetrical to that of the additional element relative to the center of the main element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the additional element is embedded on the main element, or overmolded on the main element, or glued on the main element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the mass comprises an additional element forming the heavy part, the additional element being integral with the decorative element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the heavy part comprises a weight arranged on the decorative element to orient the decorative element in a preferred direction when the winding mass is at rest.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the weight comprises a high density material, with a density greater than 10, for example made of tungsten or of a tungsten alloy.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the additional element is embedded on the decorative element, or overmolded on the decorative element, or glued on the decorative element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second material has a density of less than 5, preferably less than 3, or even less than 2.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the second material comprises metal, for example aluminum, magnesium or titanium, preferably in its entirety.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the third material has a density greater than 10, preferably greater than 20.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the decorative element is embedded on the main element, or overmolded on the main element, or glued on the main element.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the first material is transparent, preferably made of sapphire, glass, or plastic.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case formed of a middle part closed by a crystal and an at least partially transparent back and in which is housed a self-winding timepiece movement, said movement being equipped with an oscillating winding mass according to the invention.

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 top view of a first embodiment of an oscillating winding mass according to the invention; and FIG. 2 is a top view of a second embodiment of an oscillating winding mass according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

There is shown in Figure 1 a first embodiment of an oscillating winding mass according to the invention, designated by the general reference 1. This mass 1 is intended to conventionally equip the movement 5 with automatic winding. a timepiece, the part comprising in particular a case formed of a middle part closed by a crystal and an at least partially transparent back to make the movement 5 visible from the back, and which are not shown in the figures.

The winding mass 1 comprises a main element 2 giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass 1. The main element 2 is formed of a solid disc. The main element 2 is formed from a first transparent material. The main element 2 is for example made of sapphire with a density substantially equal to 4, of glass with a density of substantially equal to 2, or of plastic with a density of substantially equal to 1.2. It goes without saying that any other transparent or translucent, synthetic or natural material can be used. For example, a polycarbonate suitable for this application can be used. In all cases, the material must at least allow the passage of light to be able to distinguish the shapes of the elements behind it.

The main element 2 is connected to the movement mechanism 5 by an axis 6 around which it can rotate. Axis 6 crosses the disc at its center. Thus, the main element 2 performs a circular movement around the axis 6, when it oscillates.

A part of the winding mass forms a heavy part allowing the oscillation of the mass in response to the movement of the timepiece and to the force of gravity. The heavy part comprises a third material with a density greater than 10, preferably greater than or equal to 20. for example, the third material comprises tungsten or a tungsten alloy with a density substantially equal to 20, preferably entirely .

In the first embodiment, the oscillating weight 1 comprises an additional element 4 forming the heavy part. The additional element 4 is integral with the main element 2. In this embodiment, the additional element 4 is an unbalance in the form of an arc of a circle arranged at the periphery of the disc of the main element 2. The circular arc forms an angle between 90 and 180 °, preferably between 150 and 180 °, which is for example substantially equal to 170 °.

According to different embodiments, other unbalance geometries are of course possible.

According to the invention, the winding mass 1 comprises a decorative element 3, for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element 3 being fixed to the main element 2 of the mass 1. The decorative element 3 is formed of a second material, preferably opaque to be seen on the transparent main element 2. In this embodiment, the second material of the decorative element 3 has a density of less than 5, preferably less than 3, or even less than 2. The second material comprises for example metal, preferably all of which can be. titanium with a density substantially equal to 4.5, aluminum with a density substantially equal to 2.7 or magnesium with a density substantially equal to 1.7, or an alloy of these metals with one another or with others.

The decorative element 3 is here an anchor-shaped logo having a substantially straight segment 7 and a curved segment 8, the straight segment 7 being connected to the curved segment 8 in its middle, on the inner side of the curvature. The decorative element 3 is arranged in a position symmetrical to that of the additional element 4 with respect to the center of the main element 2. The position of the decorative element 3 is reversed with respect to the curvature of the unbalance. Thus, in the rest position, the unbalance is positioned towards the bottom of the disc, gravity being directed towards the bottom of the figure, while the anchor is positioned at the top of the disc, in the inverted position, that is to say say that the curved segment 8 is above the straight segment 7. By rest position is meant the fact that the oscillating mass does not move, and therefore that the heavy part is positioned as a function of gravity. This arrangement brings an aesthetic particularity to the oscillating winding mass, when it is at rest. Indeed, the logo is positioned upside down at the top of the main element 2.

The second and the third material therefore have different densities. Thus, the additional element 4 is heavier than the decorative element 3, and allows the oscillating winding mass 1 to orient itself in a specific position, when the mass 1 is at rest. Indeed, the difference in density induces a lower positioning of the additional element 4 in the direction of gravity. Consequently, a predefined position of the decorative element 3 is obtained. In this embodiment, this configuration makes it possible to oppose gravity and to place the decorative element 3 in a preferred direction, for example upside down as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the decorative element 3 keeps a position in a specific orientation with respect to the caseband of the watch, when the oscillating weight is at rest.

In a first variant embodiment of the oscillating weight 1, the decorative element 3 and the additional element 4 are embedded on the main element 2. To this end, the main element 2 is hollowed out to form imprints in which each element 3, 4 is embedded, each footprint corresponding to the dimensions of one of the elements 3, 4.

In a second variant embodiment of the oscillating weight 1, the decorative element 3 and the additional element 4 are molded onto the main element 2. The decorative element 3 and the additional element 4 are for example also formed of transparent materials.

In a third variant embodiment of the oscillating weight 1, the decorative element 3 and the additional element 4 are glued on the main element 2. Footprints can also be hollowed out in the main element 2 to ensure a good support.

The second embodiment of Figure 2 shows an oscillating winding mass 10, in which the heavy part of the mass 10 is arranged on the decorative element 12.

The winding mass 10 comprises a main element 12 giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass 10. The main element 12 is formed of a solid disc. The main element 12 is formed from a first transparent material. The main element 12 is for example made of sapphire with a density substantially equal to 4, of glass with a density of substantially equal to 2, or of plastic, such as polycarbonate, of a density substantially equal to 1.2. The main element 12 rotates around the axis 16 of the movement 15.

According to the invention, the winding mass 10 comprises a decorative element 13, for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element 13 being fixed to the main element 12 of the mass. The decorative element 13 is here an anchor-shaped logo having a substantially straight segment 17 and a substantially curved segment 18, the straight segment 17 being connected to the curved segment 18 in its middle, on the internal side of the curvature. The decorative element 13 comprises a second material, preferably opaque to be seen on the transparent main element. The second material of the decorative element 13 has a density of less than 5, preferably less than 3, or even less than 2. The second material comprises, for example, metal, preferably entirely, which can be titanium of substantially equal density. at 4.5, aluminum with a density substantially equal to 2.7 or magnesium with a density substantially equal to 1.7, or an alloy of several metals.

In this embodiment, the heavy part comprises a weight 14 arranged on the decorative element 13. The weight 14 is formed of a third high density material, preferably of a density greater than 10. The third material comprises, for example, tungsten with a density substantially equal to 20, or a tungsten alloy, preferably in its entirety.

The weight 14 has, for example, the shape of a ball or of a cylindrical block, or even of a grub screw. The flyweight 14 can also be hidden in or under the anchor.

The weight 14 allows to orient the decorative element 13 in a preferred direction when the winding mass is at rest. As shown in Figure 2, the weight 14 is disposed at one end 19 of the curved segment 18 of the anchor. Thus, the weight 14 weighs on one side of the decorative element 13 to shift the position of the decorative element when the mass 10 is in the rest position. Indeed, without the flyweight 14, the anchor would be substantially straight, while with the flyweight, the anchor is angularly offset by the weight of the flyweight 14. The anchor is presented in a transverse position with respect to its balanced position, without weight 14. The function of the weight 14 is to unbalance the decorative element 13 in order to orient it in a predefined position.

According to different variants of this embodiment, the weight 14 can be arranged at other places of the decorative element 13, depending on the orientation that one wishes to give it, when the oscillating weight 10 is at rest .

The variant embodiments of the oscillating weight are the same as for the first embodiment, except for the weight 14 which is screwed, glued, overmolded or embedded on the decorative element 13 instead of the main element 12 .

Claims (15)

1. Oscillating winding mass (1, 10) of a movement (5, 15) of a timepiece, said oscillating winding mass (1, 10) being intended to be mounted to rotate on an axis (6 , 16) of the movement (5, 15), said mass (1, 10) comprising a main element giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass (1, 10), a heavy part allowing the oscillation of the mass (1 , 10) in response to the movement of the timepiece and to the force of gravity, characterized in that it comprises a decorative element (3, 13), for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element (3 , 13) being fixed to the main element (2, 12), the main element (2, 12) comprising a first material, the decorative element (2, 12) comprising a second material and the heavy part comprising a third material, the third material having a higher density than the second material, so that the heavy part is heavier than the decorative element (3, 13) to position it in a predefined position. 2. Winding mass (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional element (4) forming the heavy part, the additional element (4) being integral with the main element (2). 3. Winding mass (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the additional element (4) is an unbalance, for example in the form of an arc of a circle, which is arranged at the periphery of the element. main (2). 4. Winding mass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative element (3) is arranged in a position symmetrical to that of the additional element (4) relative to the center of the main element (2). 5. Winding mass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the additional element (4) is embedded on the main element (2, 12), or molded onto the main element (2, 12), or glued to the main element (2, 12). 6. Winding weight (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an additional element (14) forming the heavy part, the additional element (14) being integral with the decorative element (13). 7. Winding weight (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the heavy part comprises a weight (14) arranged on the decorative element (13) to orient the decorative element (13) in a preferred direction when the winding mass (10) is at rest. 8. Winding weight (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the weight (14) comprises a high density material, of density greater than 10, for example tungsten or tungsten alloy. 9. Winding weight (1) according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the additional element (4) is embedded on the decorative element (3, 13), or molded onto the decorative element ( 3, 13), or glued to the decorative element (3, 13). 10. Winding mass (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second material has a density less than 5, preferably less than 3, or even less than 2. 11. Winding mass (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second material comprises metal, for example aluminum, magnesium or titanium, preferably in its entirety. 12. Winding mass (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third material has a density greater than 10, preferably greater than 20, and comprises for example tungsten or a tungsten alloy. , preferably in full. 13. Winding weight (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the decorative element (3, 13) is embedded on the main element (2, 12), or molded onto the main element ( 2, 12), or glued to the main element (2, 12). 14. Winding mass (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first material is transparent, preferably made of sapphire, glass or plastic. 15. Timepiece comprising a case formed of a middle part closed by a crystal and an at least partially transparent back and in which is housed a self-winding clock movement (5, 15), characterized in that said movement (5, 15) is equipped with an oscillating winding mass (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.