EP0065016B1 - Watch in which the back of the case constitutes a frame plate - Google Patents

Description

Different kinds of watches are known, the case of which at least partially constitutes a plate, the general arrangement of the elements and more particularly the switch and the dial being arranged as in a conventional watch.

Watches and timepieces are also known in which at least one time indicator member is constituted by a disc made of transparent material comprising an external toothing serving to drive it by a pinion. These are relatively large pieces by which we essentially seek a particular effect of the time display.

The object of the present invention is to produce a watch which differs radically from these known watches by making it possible to produce a watch of high precision which, while being composed of easily machinable elements and ensuring high reliability, can be thinner than all known flat watches.

A watch having the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1 is known from document FR-A-1 085 277.

• au-dessous de la glace et concentriquement à l'axe d'aiguillage, un disque des minutes comprenant une denture sur son pourtour et un repère des minutes, et un disque des heures comprenant une denture sur son pourtour et un repère des heures caractérisée par le fait que la disque des heures est solidaire d'une bonde entraînée par un ressort de barillet logé entre le disque des heures et le fond de la boîte, cette montre comprenant en outre:
• une couronne-rochet dentée, logée concentriquement et au-dessous du disque des heures, à l'intérieur de laquelle est fixée la partie extérieure du ressort de barillet afin que celui-ci soit armé lorsque l'on actionne dans un sens unique la couronne-rochet,
• un train d'engrenages de finissage entraîné par le disque des heures et situé à côté de celui-ci et dont l'une des roues entraîne le disque des minutes complémentairement à sa fonction dans le train d'engrenages entretenant les oscillations du balancier par l'intermédiaire de l'échappement,
• et finalement un organe de mise à l'heure permettant de rendre la couronne-rochet solidaire du disque des heures afin de commander manuellement le déplacement de celui-ci lors de la fonction de mise à l'heure et cela sans modifier le degré d'armage du ressort de barillet.
• Il est à remarquer que le document FR-A-2 461 292 décrit une montre fort semblable à celle selon l'invention, moin qui est électronique et à micromoteur pas-à-pas.

To this end, the object of the invention is a watch, the bottom of the case supporting a middle-bezel and constitutes a plate on which the various elements of the movement are assembled, comprising:

• below the glass and concentrically with the referral axis, a minute disc comprising a toothing on its periphery and a minute mark, and an hour disc comprising a toothing on its periphery and a hour mark characterized by the fact that the hour disc is integral with a plug driven by a barrel spring housed between the hour disc and the bottom of the case, this watch further comprising:
• a toothed ratchet crown, concentrically housed and below the hour disc, inside which is fixed the external part of the barrel spring so that it is armed when the crown is actuated in one direction -ratchet,
• a train of finishing gears driven by the hour disc and located next to it and one of the wheels of which drives the minute disc in addition to its function in the gear train maintaining the oscillations of the balance wheel by the '' intermediary of the exhaust,
• and finally a time-setting device making it possible to make the ratchet ring integral with the hours disc in order to manually control the movement of the latter during the time setting function and this without modifying the degree of reinforcement of the barrel spring.
• It should be noted that the document FR-A-2 461 292 describes a watch very similar to that according to the invention, less which is electronic and with a stepping micromotor.

Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing represent respectively, a plan view of the indicator members and the area of the finishing gears, the escapement and the balance and, a plan view of the same indicator members and the area of the mechanism winding and setting the time, an embodiment.

Figures 3 and 4 show in section, successively, the center of the watch with the indicator and motor members, then the finishing gears, the escapement and the balance wheel.

Figures 5 and 6 show in section the winding and time-setting mechanism.

Figures 7 and 8 show two termination variants, each according to four separate projections.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom 51 of the box is also shown, constituting also the base plate of the movement capped by the bezel-middle part 62 carrying the crystal 61. On the internal face of the crystal, a graduation of the timer and possibly some brand or decor inscriptions are transferred or deposited by metallization. The surface generally constituting the dial is here constituted by the upper face of the hour disc 1.1. concentric to the glass and comprising an hour mark transferred or added in relief as well as a toothing on its periphery driving the gear train of finishing. This hour disc performs 2 rotations per day under the action of a barrel spring. The 1.2 minute disc is made of transparent material, performs 1 rotation per hour and also includes a minute mark transferred or added in relief as well as a toothing on its periphery used for its training. This disc can also be made of metal, but then it consists of an outer crown (invisible by the glass) connected to a central core by at least one arm constituting the minute marker and is obtained either by cutting or electroforming, this the latter making it possible to produce a very thin disc as well as very thin and very fine arms capable of creating a particular aesthetic of the switch and the "dial".

All the elements constituting the movement are located inside a rectangle inside which the hour indicator disc determines approximately a written circle separating two opposite zones occupied, one (fig. 1) by the train finishing gears, the escapement and the balance wheel, the other (fig. 2) by the winding and time-setting mechanism.

An intermediate gear 2 carried by the gear train 52 meshes with an intermediate pinion of the intermediate wheel 3 which meshes with the large medium pinion of the large medium wheel 4 meshing on the one hand with the minute disc 1.2 and on the other hand with the small medium wheel pinion small medium 5 which meshes with the second wheel pinion second 6 meshing with the escape pinion of the escape wheel of the escape wheel 7 actuating the anchor 8 located under the anchor bridge 53 and maintaining the oscillations of the balance wheel 9 located under the cock 54.

The winding mechanism proper comprises the winding crown 60.1 secured to the winding pinion 10.1 located under the mechanism plate 55.1 held by the key 56.1 and meshing with a ratchet crown 1.6 whose toothing is identical to that of the hour disc 1.1 under which it is arranged. Therefore the rotation of the winding crown, manually controlled, controls the rotation of the ratchet crown 1.6.

The time setting crown 60.2 can occupy two distinct angular positions, the first selecting the mechanism winding function, the second selecting the mechanism setting time function.

For the winding function represented in FIG. 2 in solid lines, the time-setting cam 59, which is a solidiary of the time-setting crown, which it locks elastically in this position by a spout of the setting lever. at hour 57, position the latter so that the free setting pinion 14, does not mesh with the ratchet crown 1.6 and the hour disc 1.1. The time setting lever is located above the mechanism plate 55.2 held by the key 56.2 and is biased by a rocking spring housed in the recess of the winding pinion and acting so that the rocking beak setting the time resiliently presses the time setting cam. The pawl 13 urged by the pawl spring 63 works with the teeth of the ratchet crown so as to allow rotation only in the one direction corresponding to the reassembly.

During the time setting function, the angular movement of the time setting crown places the time setting cam in a position controlling the movement of the spout of the time setting rocker. in such a way that the time setting pinion simultaneously penetrates into the teeth of the ratchet crown and of the time setting disc, making them integral. In addition to the penetration function of the toothing of the time-setting pinion, a particular beak of the time-setting cam acts on the pawl, the beak of which is released from the teeth of the ratchet crown which can then move back and forth.

The free time setting pinion working with the teeth of the ratchet crown and the hour disc has the effect of neutralizing the driving torque of the barrel spring because it acts on the one hand on a bung 1.3 secured to the hour disc 1.1 and on the other hand directly inside the ratchet ring so that its degree of winding is a function of the displacement of one of the parts relative to the other. The two parts becoming integral, it is then possible, by acting on the winding crown, to angularly move the hour and minute discs without modifying the degree of winding of the barrel spring. During this function, part of the gear train is driven to a mobile comprising a calibrated friction in order to slide in both directions. When the mechanism is in the time setting position, a protrusion of the lever constitutes a particular reference 57.1 appearing under the glass.

By manually returning the time-setting crown to the winding position, by reverse angular movement, the time-setting pinion releases the teeth of the ratchet crown and the hour disc while the pawl again limits the rotation of the ratchet crown in the single winding direction.

Depending on the type of watch, it is possible to develop variants of this mechanism, for example by using the winding crown to perform all the selection functions, the lever then being immediately controlled by it.

In Figures 3 and 4, we notice the hour disc 1.1 secured to the bung 1.3 pivoting around the center shaft 1.4 adjusted on the center lug 1.5 of the bottom of the case 51. This hour disc is also maintained in height, on its periphery by several flanges also constituting spacers with the minute disc 1.2 in order to maintain good parallelism with the crystal 61 carried by the middle-bezel 62. The ratchet crown 1.6 pivots in a central housing of the box and is kept between the hour disc and the bottom of the case. The barrel spring 64 is disposed between the hour disc and the bottom of the case and has its outer turn connected to the ratchet crown, possibly by a sliding flange when the maximum winding is reached so as not to drive the disc of the hours if the torque exceeds the setting friction at the time of finishing. It is possible to make a radial opening in the hours disc by which it is then easy to control the situation of the turns of the barrel spring determining the degree of winding or the power reserve. For example, it is possible to reconcile the hour mark (two lines) with a radial slot and, on a silver or gold disc, to bring out the turns of the dark blue spring which, when they are wound near the center of the switches signal a maximum winding and, conversely, when they are wound in the external zone (close to the window opening) draw attention to the fact that the power reserve is low.

The intermediate return is pivoted on an intermediate tenon driven into the gear train 52 which also carries all the upper bearings located, at least partially, in the same plane as the glass. The lower bearings 3.2, 4.1, 7.1, respectively of the intermediate wheel 3, the large wheel 4 and the escape wheel 7 are driven into shaped holes (allowing the evacuation of cleaning liquids) closed off sealed by plugs 51.1 driven into the bottom of the box and of the same material before the termination and the decoration thereof.

The anchor bridge carries the lower bearings of the small medium 5 and second 6 wheels as well as the upper bearing of the anchor.

The small medium wheel is constituted by an axis around which the small medium pinion freely rotates, secured to a friction spring, the outer arms of which slide at a determined torque on the small medium wheel driven onto the shaft so that the assembly is integral when the watch is running and that, when setting the time, the small medium gear can rotate in both directions without driving or overloading the small medium wheel.

The cock 54 carries the upper bearing of the pendulum 9 which is also in the same plane as the ice as well as the snowshoeing.

The lower bearings 9.1 and 8.1 of the balance and the anchor are also designed so that they can be washed without disassembly and are also flushed out in the bottom of the box. In the embodiment described, the counter-pivot of the balance (thickened and tightly mounted) is visible in the bottom of the box, which gives it a special character. It is interesting to note that this type of watch makes it very easy to adapt a gait correction system, acting on the racket and actuable from the bottom of the box. In the embodiment described, the second wheel makes one revolution in thirty seconds. We can easily make a window with a small glass in the middle case, centered on the longitudinal axis of the watch and located above an area of the second wheel and an opening of the gear train so as to scroll through said quichet indications or signs carried by the second wheel (second or running indicator).

The bridges are guided and assembled on the bottom of the box using guide tubes and screws, said tubes being driven either into blind holes in the box, or in holes passing through it in the same way as plugs or bearings.

In Figures 5 and 6, we find the hour disc 1-1 and the ratchet 1.6 and we notice the time setting pinion 14 freely pivoting on a tenon driven into the time setting lever the spout 57.2 working with the time-setting cam 59 integral with the time-setting crown 60.2, determines the position while a protuberance of the time-setting lever functions as a spacer and as a reference mark. time setting 57.1.

The winding crown 60.1 is integral with the winding pinion 10.1 which drives the ratchet crown via the winding gear 11 freely pivoting around a lug of the mechanism plate 55.1 also serving as a bearing for the winding stem and supporting the latch 56.1 now holding it while the pawl 13 also pivots on a tenon of an identical mechanism plate 55.2 also serving to support an identical key 56.2.

This embodiment of the mechanism is particularly interesting by the fact that it separates the control members whose functions are easily identifiable and especially by the fact that it allows the standardization of certain supplies (rods, mechanism plate, key, joint) constituting mechanisms occupying little height (occupying practically approximately the lower half of the height of the case), which allows to widely use the volume of the middle-bezel located above the mechanisms to perform decorative bevels ( or milling) or embedding additional elements (coats of arms or initials, precious stones) without exceeding the upper face of the box.

In the embodiment described, the middle-bezel 62 comes to adjust elastically around the bottom of the box by means of a seal while box screws 66 ensure the assembly of the 'together. Depending on the type of watch, it is possible to reduce the middle part so that it simply constitutes a cover that fits over the case or to apply any other known assembly.

The fact that the surface occupied by the winding and time-setting mechanism is smaller than the surface occupied by the gear train, the escapement and the balance wheel, makes it possible to produce a box in which the ice is off-center relative to the longitudinal axis of the box towards the mechanism.

Finally, it is interesting to note that the embodiment described makes it possible to standardize in an absolute way all the elements of the movement and of the case and to obtain a variety of the forms of the watch by various shapings and dimensions of the middle -glasses and possibly the ice carried by it, which is particularly interesting both in terms of manufacturing problems, as in terms of problems of stocks or after-sales service.

In Figure 7, we note the bottom of the box 51, the middle-bezel 62 carrying the crystal 61 and the bracelet 65 fixed in the extension of the longitudinal axis. The bottom of the case bears an indication of the winding direction opposite the winding crown 60.1 and an indication of the selection positions (winding or setting the time) opposite the time setting crown 60.2, as well than the ruby of the counter pivot 9.1 of the balance bearing and the box screws 66.

In FIG. 8, the same box is noted in an identical manner but with the crystal 61 (and the switch) oriented as a function of the strap 65 in the extension of the transverse axis of the box.

As the object of the invention essentially relates to the production of very flat watches, the particular aesthetics of this type of piece accommodates a marriage between the upper face of the watch and the crystal (and the disc of the hours) in order to use the entire surface for the design of the dial, bezel and bracelet, special shapes and decorations allowing a wide variety of shapes to be produced independently of the rectangular base of the movement.

On the other hand, this particular arrangement of the movement makes it possible to produce a watch ensuring chronometric performance, having a greater power reserve than known watches while being even flatter.

Claims (9)

1. Watch the back cover (51) of the case of which carries a middle bezel (62) and constitutes a plate on which are assembled the different elements of the movement, comprising:

under the mirror (61) and concentrically to the axis of the hands, a disc (1.2) for the minutes comprising a toothing on its periphery and a minute mark, and a disc (1.1) for the hours comprising a toothing on its periphery and a hour mark, characterized by the fact that the hours disc is fast with a core (1.3) driven by a main spring located between the hour disc and the back cover (51) of the case, this watch comprising further:

a toothed ratched crown (1.6), located concentrically and bellow the hour disc (1.1) inside which is fastened the outside portion of the main spring so that it is armed when actuating the rached crown in one direction of rotation,

a finishing gear train driven by the hour disc and located beneath it and one of the wheels of which drives the minute disc on top of its function in the gear train maintaining the oscillations of the balance (9) through the intermediary of the escapment (7),

and finally a time setting member permitting to fix the rachet crown (1.6) to the hour disc (1.1) in order to manually control its displacement during the function of time setting and this, without modifying the amount of winding of the main spring.

2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the assembly of the element constituting the movement is located inside a rectangle inside which the disc of the hours (1.1) determines approximatively an inscribed circle separating two opposed zones occupied the one by the finishing gear train, the escapement (7) and the balance (9), the other by the winding mechanism and the time setting mechanism.

3. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the minute disc (1.2) is in a transparent material.

4. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the minute disc (1.2) is constituted by a crown connected to a central body by at least one arm constituting the minute mark.

5. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the teethings of the hour disc (1.1) and of the rached crown (1.6) are identical.

6. Watch according to claim 5, characterized by the fact that the time setting member comprises a free pinion penetrating simultaneously in the teethings of the disc (1.1) for the hour and of the rached crown (1.6) in order to make them fast the one with the other.

7. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the time setting member comprises a particular mark appearing under the mirror when it is in time setting position.

8. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the hour disc (1.1) comprises a radial aperture through which it is possible to visually control the amount of winding of the main spring.

9. Watch according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that one of the wheels of the finishing gear train carries indications relative to fractions of minutes which are visible through a particular window of the middle bezel.

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