CH719166B1 - Device for closing an opening for a timepiece. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (40) for closing an opening (54) for a timepiece. The opening (54) serves to allow the exit of a mobile indicator or animation element actuated by a mechanism of the timepiece. The shutter device (40) comprises at least one movable shutter (44, 46) and a control device (68 to 138) of the at least one movable shutter (44, 46). The control device (68 to 138) is arranged to allow the at least one movable shutter (44, 46) to occupy at least the following three positions: an inactive closed position in which the at least one movable shutter ( 44, 46) closes the opening (54) to hide the movable indicator or animation element; an open position in which the at least one movable flap (44, 46) leaves the opening (54) open, allowing the movable indicator or animation element to exit; and an active closed position in which the at least one movable flap (44, 46) mainly but not completely closes the opening (54), the still open part of the opening (54) serving for the passage of a mechanical connection between the mobile indicator or animation element pulled out and the mechanism operating it.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for closing an opening for a timepiece, the opening serving to allow the exit of a mobile indicator or animation element, for example a star from a planetarium or a mechanical songbird, operated by a timepiece mechanism. The shutter device closes or opens the opening to either hide the movable element when it is inactive or allow the movable element to exit and perform its function.

[0002] A disadvantage of known shutter devices is that they can only occupy two states, open and closed, and that when the movable indicator or animation element performs its function (open state), unsightly parts of the mechanism or the interior of the timepiece may be visible.

[0003] The present invention aims to remedy this drawback, or at least to attenuate it, and to this end proposes a device for closing an opening for a timepiece according to claim 1, particular embodiments being defined in the dependent claims.

[0004] The present invention further proposes a timepiece comprising such a shutter device.

[0005] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description made with reference to the appended drawings in which: – Figure 1 is a schematic drawing of a shutter device according to a first mode of carrying out the invention; – Figures 2 to 4 are respectively a perspective view, a side plan view and a top plan view of a shutter device according to a second embodiment of the invention, with movable shutters of this device in an active closed position; – Figures 5 and 6 are respectively a side plan view and a top plan view of the shutter device according to the second embodiment, with the movable shutters in an inactive closed position; – Figures 7 and 8 are two perspective views of the shutter device according to the second embodiment, with the movable shutters in an open position; – Figure 9 is a perspective view of an upper part of the shutter device according to the second embodiment, with the movable shutters in the active closed position; – Figure 10 is another perspective view of the upper part of the shutter device according to the second embodiment, with the movable shutters in the active closed position; – Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lower part of the shutter device according to the second embodiment.

[0006] In the description which follows, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "upper", "lower" and "height" will be used with reference to the orientation of the shutter device as it appears on the Figures 3 and 5. The shutter device could of course, in practice, have other orientations than that shown.

[0007] Figure 1 schematically illustrates the principle of the invention, in the context of a first embodiment of the shutter device, designated by the reference 1. A flap 2 is movable in translation in its plane to, in combination with another shutter (not shown) which is symmetrical to it, open or close an opening 4 made in a surface of a timepiece, for example through a dial of the timepiece. The movable shutter 2 is controlled by a cam 6, successively via a rake 8, a pinion 10 and a rack 12. The rake 8 comprises a feeler 14 which rests against the cam 6 under the action of a return spring (not shown) and a toothing 16 which meshes with the pinion 10. The pinion 10 also meshes with the rack 12, which is integral with the movable flap 2. The cam 6 comprises four positioning surfaces concentric with the center of the cam 6, namely two opposite surfaces 18, 20 of large radius of curvature r1, a surface 22 of small radius of curvature r2 and a surface 24 of intermediate radius of curvature r3. These positioning surfaces 18, 20, 22, 24 are separated by transition surfaces 26.

When the probe 14 is against the surface 22 of small radius r2, the movable flap 2 is in an inactive closed position represented by the dotted line 28, where, with the other movable flap controlled symmetrically, it closes the opening 4, that is to say closes it completely or almost.

[0009] When the probe 14 is against one of the surfaces 18, 20 of large radius r1, the movable flap 2 is in an open position, represented by the solid line 30, which allows a movable indicator element or animation 32 mounted on a rod 34 - the movable element 32 is here a star - to exit the opening 4 perpendicular to the plane of the movable shutters and parallel to the rod 34.

When the probe 14 is against the surface 24 of intermediate radius r3, the movable flap 2 is in an active closed position, intermediate between the inactive closed position and the open position and represented by the dotted line 36, where, with the The other movable shutter, it mainly closes the opening 4 but without blocking it. The gap 38 which remains between the two movable flaps in this position is slightly wider than the diameter of the rod 34, which offers a passage for the rod 34 allowing it to mechanically connect the movable indicator or animation element 32 , located in this configuration outside and above the opening 4, and the mechanism (not shown) which activates it from inside the timepiece. In this configuration, the movable indicator or animation element 32 is for example rotated on itself by rotation of the rod 34 and/or moves with the rod 34 in the gap 38. The movable indicator element or animation 32 can in particular be mobile on a predefined path which extends or loops back on the gap 38 and be controlled to stop in a position where, in collaboration with a graduation, it indicates a quantity such as the time , the date or the power reserve. The driving and guiding of the mobile indicator or animation element 32 can be based, for example, on the principle explained in document JPH0197282.

[0011] In a variant, the movable indicator or animation element could be a mechanical singing bird emerging from the opening 4 in a traditional manner when the movable shutters are in the open position and which, when the movable shutters are in the active closed position, would be driven by a mechanism located inside the timepiece via a mechanical connection passing through the opening 4 between the movable shutters.

Of course, the movable flaps can have different shapes and the shutter device 1 can include more than two flaps. In another variant, the shutter device 1 could comprise a single movable flap. In this case, typically, the rod 34 would not be located, when opening and closing the shutter, in the center of the opening 4 but towards one of its sides.

[0013] In all cases, the movable shutter(s) make it possible, in their active closed position, to hide the interior mechanism from the user while allowing the movable indicator or animation element to be actuated to exert its function. function.

[0014] Preferably, as shown, one revolution of rotation of the cam 6 controls the movable shutters according to a cycle in which the movable shutters are successively in the inactive closed position, in the open position, in the active closed position and back to the open position. In this cycle, the movable indicator or animation element 32 is first hidden inside the timepiece (state corresponding to the inactive closed position of the movable shutters), then exits through the opening 4 (the movable shutters being in their open position) and is set in motion (the movable shutters being in their active closed position), then enters through the opening 4 (the movable shutters being in their open position) to return to its initial position . Variations of such a cycle are of course possible in which certain states of the flaps are repeated or become redundant. For example, once the movable indicator or animation element 32 has left the opening 4, it can be set in motion at one or more locations which are not above the opening. 4, and during this period the movable shutters can be in the inactive closed position since the rod 34 does not need to pass through the opening 4.

Figures 2 and 3 show a shutter device 40 according to a second embodiment of the invention. The shutter device 40 comprises a frame 42 intended to be fixed in a timepiece and surmounted by an interior movable shutter 44 and an exterior movable shutter 46. The movable shutters 44, 46 are located at different heights because intended to be integrated into a curved surface 48 of the timepiece, typically in a curved surface of a planetarium of the timepiece. The exterior movable flap 46, the flap farthest from the center of the convex surface, is deployable. The movable shutters 44, 46 are articulated relative to the frame 42 around respective horizontal parallel pivot axes 50, 52 to be able to open and close in the manner of leaves. These axes 50, 52 are however movable in translation in the vertical direction, therefore in a direction which moves them away or closer to the frame 42, to facilitate the opening and closing of the movable shutters 44, 46 taking into account the convex shape of surface 48.

The movable shutters 44, 46 can together occupy an active closed position (shown in Figures 2 to 4) where they are folded down to close an opening 54 of the frame 42, but leaving between them a gap 56 which a rod can pass through. vertical carrying a movable indicator or animation element such as the star 32 of Figure 1.

[0017] The movable shutters 44, 46 can also occupy an inactive closed position (shown in Figures 5 and 6) where they are folded down but where the exterior movable shutter 46 is deployed in order to fill the gap 56 and thus close the opening 54.

[0018] Finally, the movable flaps 44, 46 can occupy an open position (shown in Figures 7 and 8) allowing the movable indicator or animation element to exit the opening 54 or to enter it in the direction vertical.

As in the first embodiment, the movable shutters 44, 46 are preferably controlled cyclically, being in each cycle successively in the inactive closed position, in the open position, in the active closed position and again in the open position, and are controlled synchronously with the movements of the movable indicator or animation element.

The exterior movable shutter 46 comprises a body 58 and an extension 60 held under the body 58 by a plate 62 fixed to the body 58. The extension 60 is movable in translation relative to the body 58 to increase or decrease the surface of the shutter external mobile 46 and thus deploy or retract it. One or more return springs 64 (see Figure 9) tend to maintain the extension 60 in a retracted position where it is stored under the body 58 and abutting against a surface 66 of the body 58. The interior movable flap 44 is not not deployable but it could also be in a variant, or could be deployable without the external movable flap 46 being so.

The mobile shutters 44, 46 are controlled by a drive mechanism mounted in the frame 42. The input mobile 68 of this drive mechanism comprises three coaxial and integral wheels (see Figures 2 and 3). Among them, the lower wheel 70 receives a force from the movement of the timepiece. The upper wheel 72 is intended to drive the interior movable shutter 44. As for the intermediate wheel, not visible in the drawings, it is intended to drive the exterior movable shutter 46.

The upper wheel 72 drives a shaft 74, represented in Figure 2 schematically by a dotted line, which drives a wheel with edge teeth 76 whose edge teeth mesh with a first vertical wheel 78 located on the inner side of a wall 80 of the frame 42. The shaft of the first vertical wheel 78 is integral with a second vertical wheel 82 located on the exterior side of the wall 80 and which meshes with a third vertical wheel 84. A first connecting rod 86 is articulated at one of its ends to the third vertical wheel 84 and at its other end to the lower end of a second connecting rod 88 arranged vertically (see Figures 2 and 8). The second connecting rod 88 is guided in vertical translation in the wall 80 and is articulated at its upper end to the interior movable flap 44, this articulation defining the pivot axis 50 of the interior movable shutter 44 relative to the frame 42.

[0023] On the interior side of the wall 80 of the frame 42 is mounted a crank 90 secured to the shaft of the third vertical wheel 84 (see Figures 7 and 10). At the end of this crank 90 is articulated one of the ends of a third connecting rod 92, the other end of which is articulated to the lower end of a fourth connecting rod 94 arranged vertically and guided in vertical translation in the wall 80 The upper end of the fourth connecting rod 94 cooperates with a slide 96 (best visible in Figure 3) of the interior movable flap 44 to pivot the latter around the pivot axis 50.

[0024] Thus, one revolution of rotation of the third vertical wheel 84 results in a lifting of the interior movable flap 44 and its pivot axis 50 by the second connecting rod 88, an opening of the interior movable flap 44 by pivoting around the axis 50 by the fourth connecting rod 94 during this lifting, then by the reverse movement and the return of the interior movable flap 44 to its initial position.

[0025] With reference to Figure 8, the intermediate wheel of the input wheel 68 drives, via a wheel with edge teeth 98, a cog 100 of three vertical wheels located on the interior side of a wall 102 of the opposite frame 42 to the wall 80. The shaft of the third wheel 104 of the cog 100 passes through the wall 102 and carries on the exterior side of this wall 102 a crank 106 (see Figure 7). A fifth connecting rod 108 is articulated at one of its ends to the crank 106 and at its other end to the lower end of a sixth connecting rod 110 arranged vertically and guided in vertical translation in the wall 102. The upper end of the sixth connecting rod 110 is articulated to the outer movable flap 46, this articulation defining the pivot axis 52 of the outer movable flap 46 relative to the frame 42.

[0026] On the interior side of the wall 102, a seventh connecting rod 112 is articulated at one of its ends to the third wheel 104 of the gear train 100 and at its other end to the lower end of an eighth connecting rod 114 arranged vertically and guided in vertical translation in the wall 102. The upper end of the eighth connecting rod 114 cooperates with a slide 116 of the external movable flap 46 to pivot the latter around the pivot axis 52.

[0027] Thus, one revolution of rotation of the third wheel 104 of the cog 100 results in a lifting of the outer movable flap 46 and its pivot axis 52 by the sixth connecting rod 110, an opening of the outer movable flap 46 by pivoting around of the axis 52 by the eighth connecting rod 114 during this lifting, then by the reverse movement and the return of the external movable flap 46 to its initial position.

The deployment and retraction of the exterior movable flap 46 is controlled by a cam 118 located at the base of the frame 42, on the exterior side of the wall 102 (see Figures 7 and 11). This cam 118 is carried by a wheel 120 driven by the intermediate wheel of the input wheel 68 via the peripheral teeth of the edge-toothed wheel 98. A cam follower finger 122 carries a roller 124 which is kept in contact with the periphery of the cam 118 by the action of a tension spring 126 on the finger 122. This cam follower finger 122 is integral with a vertical shaft 128 whose upper end carries a first stop finger 130 intended to cooperate with a first roller 132 of the external movable shutter 46. Another vertical shaft 134 is made integral with the vertical shaft 128 by a connecting rod 136 and carries at its upper end a second stop finger 138 intended to cooperate with a second roller 140 of the exterior movable shutter 46. The rollers 132, 140 are mounted on feet 142, 144 which are integral with the extension 60 of the exterior movable shutter 46.

The periphery of the cam 118 is composed of a main part in the form of an arc of a circle concentric with the axis of the wheel 120 and of a part not concentric with the axis of the wheel 120. The concentric part maintains the cam follower finger 122 stationary in an angular position which, for the stop fingers 130, 138 secured to the cam follower finger 122, corresponds to an angular position where they are not in the path of the rollers 132, 140 during the movements of the movable flaps 44, 46 and therefore cannot cooperate with these rollers 132, 140. The non-concentric part, on the other hand, has the function of lifting the cam follower finger 122 to rotate the stop fingers 130, 138 in such a way that they are placed in the path of the rollers 132, 140 in a phase where the movable shutters 44 46 close to force the extension 60 to slide relative to the body 58 against the action of its return spring(s) 64 and deploy thus the exterior movable shutter 46.

As already indicated, in each operating cycle of the shutter device 40, the movable shutters 44, 46 are successively in the inactive closed position, in the open position, in the active closed position and again in the open position . In the inactive closed position (Figure 5), the exterior movable flap 46 is deployed by the action of the stop fingers 130, 138 on the rollers 132, 140. From this inactive closed position, the movable flaps 44, 46 are then lifted by the connecting rods 88, 110 and, during this lifting, pivoted by the connecting rods 94, 114 to reach the open position. During this phase, the rollers 132, 140 roll on the ends of the stop fingers 130, 138 while the latter are gradually moved away from the zone of action of the rollers 132, 140. As soon as the rollers 132, 140 no longer cooperate with the stop fingers 130, 138, the extension 60 returns to its retracted position under the action of its return spring(s) 64, thus retracting the external movable flap 46.

[0031] From their open position, the movable flaps 44, 46 are closed and lowered by the connecting rods 88, 94, 110, 114, and the extension 60 remains in its retracted position. The movable shutters 44, 46 are then in the active closed position, allowing the movable indicator or animation element, taken out of the frame 42 while the movable shutters 44, 46 were open, to be animated by the rod which door and connects it to its drive mechanism and which passes through the gap 56.

[0032] From their active closed position, the movable flaps 44, 46 are lifted by the connecting rods 88, 110 and, during this lifting, pivoted by the connecting rods 94, 114 to reach the open position, in order to allow the movable indicator or animation element to enter the frame 42. Then, the movable flaps 44, 46 are closed and lowered by the connecting rods 88, 94, 110, 114. During this movement, the stop fingers 130, 138 are repositioned in the path of the rollers 132, 140 and the meeting between the rollers 132, 140 and the stop fingers 130, 138 causes the deployment of the exterior movable shutter 46. The movable shutters 44, 46 then return to their inactive closed position.

The cycle described above can be of constant or variable duration. Variations of this cycle in which certain flap states are repeated or become redundant are also possible.

The shutter device according to the invention can be installed in a timepiece such as a clock, pendulum, clock or watch.

Claims (11)

1. Device for closing (1; 40) an opening (4; 54) for a timepiece, the opening (4; 54) serving to allow the exit of a mobile indicator or animation element ( 32) actuated by a mechanism of the timepiece, the shutter device (1; 40) comprising at least one movable shutter (2; 44, 46) and a control device (6, 8, 10; 68- 138) of the at least one movable shutter (2; 44, 46), the control device (6, 8, 10; 68-138) being arranged to allow the at least one movable shutter (2; 44, 46) to occupy at least the following three positions: – an inactive closed position in which the at least one movable flap (2; 44, 46) closes the opening (4; 54) to hide the movable indicator or animation element (32); – an open position in which the at least one movable flap (2; 44, 46) leaves the opening (4; 54) open, allowing the movable indicator or animation element (32) to come out; – an active closed position in which the at least one movable flap (2; 44, 46) mainly but not completely closes the opening (4; 54), the still open part of the opening (4; 54) serving to passage of a mechanical connection (34) between the mobile indicator or animation element (32) extended and said mechanism. 2. Shutter device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device (6, 8, 10; 68-138) is arranged to control the at least one movable shutter (2; 44, 46) according to a cycle in which the at least one movable shutter (2; 44, 46) is successively in the inactive closed position, in the open position, in the active closed position and again in the open position. 3. Shutter device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one movable flap (2; 44, 46) comprises a deployable movable flap (46) which is in a deployed state when the at least a movable flap (2; 44, 46) is in the inactive closed position and which is in a retracted state when the at least one movable flap (2; 44, 46) is in the active closed position. 4. Shutter device according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (68-138) comprises a cam (118) for controlling the deployment and retraction of the deployable mobile shutter (46). 5. Shutter device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the deployable movable flap (46) comprises a body (58) and an extension (60) movable in translation relative to the body (58). 6. Shutter device according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the control device (68-138) comprises at least one stop member (130, 138) controlled by the cam (118) and arranged to act on the extension (60) when moving from the open position to the inactive closed position of the at least movable shutter (44, 46). 7. Shutter device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the or at least one of the movable flaps (44, 46) is arranged to move in rotation and in translation. 8. Shutter device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control device (68-138) comprises at least one connecting rod (86, 88, 92, 94, 108-114) for controlling the opening and closing of the at least one movable shutter (44, 46). 9. Shutter device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control device (68-138) comprises, for the or at least one of the movable shutters (44, 46), a first connecting rod (88, 110) articulated to this movable flap (44, 46) so as to define a pivot axis (50) of this movable flap (44, 46) and guided in translation in the direction of its length and a second connecting rod (94, 114) parallel to the first connecting rod (88, 110), guided in translation in the direction of its length and cooperating with a slide (96, 116) of this movable flap (44, 46) to pivot this movable flap (44, 46) around the pivot axis (50, 52). 10. Shutter device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises first and second movable flaps (44, 46). 11. Timepiece comprising a shutter device according to one of claims 1 to 10.