Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/04—Mounting the clockwork in the case; Shock absorbing mountings
  • G04B37/05—Fixed mountings for pocket or wrist watches
  • G04B37/057—Fixed mountings for pocket or wrist watches for shaped watches
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/08—Hermetic sealing of openings, joints, passages or slits
  • G04B37/081—Complete encasings for wrist or pocket watches also comprising means for hermetic sealing of the winding stem and crown
  • G04B37/083—Complete encasings for wrist or pocket watches also comprising means for hermetic sealing of the winding stem and crown for shaped watches

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mon ⁇ be sealed box comprising a window, a bottom fixed to the net and an intermediate lu ⁇ -shaped element, annular des ⁇ Tiné ⁇ to maintain the movement in place, itself retained between the bottom and bezel, these two elements having a junction plane located at an intermediate level between the upper and lower faces of the intermediate element.
• a watch case of this kind is already known from patent CH 566 048.
• the bezel and the back are equipped with fixing means of a simple implementation, which ensure the tightness of the case even in the case of a non-circular watch.
• the object of the present invention is to propose a construction which satisfies these requirements still unknown at present.
• the waterproof watch case of the invention is characterized in that the intermediate element is formed in one piece comprising an annular part and an external radial extension and in that said extension radial is included in height between said upper and lower faces, extends to the outside of the box between the bottom and the bezel, and is pierced with a passage " for the engagement of a rod of movement control.
• FIG. 1 is a view in partial axial section on the axis 12 o'clock - 6 o'clock
• FIG. 2 a view similar to FIG. 1 along the axis
• FIG. 4 a plan view from above on the same scale • • " as fig. 3, fig. 5 a sectional view along the axis 3 h - 9 h of the second embodiment, fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of this second embodiment along the axis 6 h - 12 h, and Fig. 7 a cross-sectional view of this second embodiment along an oblique axis passing through the fixing screws.
• the isolated parts of the box described consist of the glass 1, the bezel 2 and the base 3.
• the glass 1 is preferably a mineral glass. It is fixed in an annular groove
• the box is a rectangular box with rounded lateral sides, as seen in FIG. 4 the glass and the bezel have this same shape, but it is understood that the box could also be produced in the form of a circular box or any other shape.
• the outer shape of the bottom 3 corresponds to that of the bezel 2 with the exception of the end portions 5 which form protruding bulges and which have the shape of a parallelepiped connecting to the shape of the first links of the bracelet.
• the details of the attachment of the strap to the projecting elements 5 of the bottom 3 do not play a role with regard to the present invention and will not be described here.
• These projecting elements 5 are limited on the interior side by internal flat faces 6 which extend up to a shoulder 7.
• the bezel 2 has a flat lower face which is shaped so as to bear on the shoulder 7. Laterally it is limited along the midday axis - 6 h by two frontal surfaces which engage inside the surface 6 during the closing of the box. Screws 8 partially screwed into corresponding notches in the bezel and the bottom assu ⁇ rent the rigid attachment of the two parts to one another.
• the box is intended to contain a mechanical or electronic movement 9 which will generally be of circular shape and which carries a dial 10.
• an intermediate element of annular shape 11 is provided which plays the role of a casing circle.
• This part which will preferably be made of metal, or generally of a rigid material, will have a circular internal contour with a flange supporting the platinum thread of movement 9 so as to allow the fixing of this movement. to circle 11 by usual fixing keys.
• the outer contour of the circle 11 has a circular cylindrical shape in its lower part and a shape similar to that of the box in its upper part. So the faces 12 and (Fig. 2) of the circle 11 respectively have a rectangular shape with rounded and circular sides.
• a shoulder 14 which extends in the zones situated along the lateral sides above the internal part of the joining shoulder 7.
• two linings of ring seals 15 and 16 are provided.
• the lining 15 is pinned between a circular shoulder of the bottom and the lower surface of the circle 11 while the lining 16 which has the shape of the box is pinched between a shoulder of the bezel located at the base of the flange and the upper surface of the circle 11.
• movement 9 comprises a control rod, for example a rewinding and time-setting rod which projects from the radial movement over 3 h.
• the circle 11 is machined with a radial extension 17 which is pierced with a cylindrical passage designated by'lla.
• This radial extension extends outward over a sufficient distance so that, when the part 11 is fitted, it protrudes outside the bottom and of the lens or at least appears in radial grooves 18 and 19 which are formed in these parts.
• the passage 11a is a cylindrical hole of a diameter sufficient to allow the passage of a movement control rod.
• the entire radial extension 17 extends in height between the upper and lower faces of the circle 11.
• the circle 11 will be provided with as many tubes 17 that there will be movement controls.
• the box "described can be realized in any form.
• the construction described also makes it possible to produce circular boxes.
• Other alternative embodiments are constitutionale- "ment possible regarding the arrangement of the sealing and fixing means of the circle 11.
• the sealing means may consist of a single piece profile D completely surrounding the outer faces of the annular part 11. This embodiment would come in the case where the lower part and the upper part of this circle are of the same shape and the same dimensions. In this case, a suspension is obtained also elastically in the lateral direction.
• the circle 11 is dimensioned so that its shoulder 14 does not rest on the junction surface 7 when the box is closed.
• the side faces 12 and 13 of the bottom 3 and of the bezel 2 are adjusted so that the circle 11 slides freely between these elements, so that the seals 15 and 16 also ensure the elastic suspension of the movement.
• the circle 11 can also be shaped so that when the box is closed, it is blocked between the bottom and the bezel.
• an intermediate element 21 is formed in a single piece with a radial extension 22 which is pierced with a passage 23 for the movement control rod.
• the intermediate element 21 here takes a first annular part 24 which is made of steel like the tubular part 22 and a prominent annular part 25 which is made of gold and welded to the part 24.
• This annular part 25 has a notch crystal 26 in which a sapphire crystal 27 is fixed with the interposition of a plastic seal 28.
• the annular part 25 projects inwardly under the seal 28 and under the periphery of the glass 27 for ⁇ mant a flange 25a which covers the periphery of a dial 28 fixed on a movement 29.
• This movement is itself carried by a plastic enlargement circle 30 which is engaged inside the intermediate element 21 ;
• the watch case also coi ⁇ p ⁇ rte a bezel 31 which can be made of steel for example.
• This bezel presents an internal step 32 which is engaged on an upper shoulder of the intermediate element 21. It is. fixed to a bottom 33 whose shape is the same as that of the bottom 3 of the first form 'execution.
• a seal 34 is pinched between a shoulder peripheri ⁇ that of the bottom 33 and the lower flat face of the element 21.
• FIG. 6 shows the structure of the box described in a section along the axis 6 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• this box is of generally rectangular shape, with curved sides, it can be seen that the annular parts 24 and 25 of the intermediate element 21 are located at a distance from the movement 29 which is greater at the ends of the box than in section 3 h - 9 h.
• the enlargement circle 30 is therefore ⁇ T ⁇ y ⁇ . wider in this section than in fig. 5.
• horns 35 are formed in one piece with the bezel 31 and that along its short sides, the latter has a rib so that its thickness is greater than on its long sides. This rib is engaged on a corresponding detachment of the bottom.
• the bezel 31 and the bottom 33 are in contact along a junction plane 36 which is located at the axis of the radial passage 23, c ' that is to say at a medium level, located halfway between the upper and lower faces of the element .21.
• the junction plane 37 between the bottom 33 and the bezel 31 is almost at the level of the lower face 38 of the element 21.
• the fixing of the bottom 33 to the bezel 31 can be carried out by means of four screws 39 which are screwed into tapped holes 40, located in the angles " of the telescope.
• the thickness of the telescope is indeed large enough in these places so that tapped blind holes provide good grip for the screws.
• the heads 39a of the fixing screws are supported on shoulders internal 41 formed at the end of passages 42 drilled in the bottom 33.
• This second embodiment makes it possible to produce various box models thanks to a judicious choice of the different materials of the parts described.
• the intermediate element For manufacturing reasons, and in order to allow ⁇ to produce boxes of minimum thickness, the intermediate element must necessarily be made of steel and formed in one piece with the radial extension.
• the construction of FIG. 6 makes it possible to produce a box in which the visible part 25 of the intermediate element is made of gold, while the bezel 31 is made of steel.
• the bezel therefore ensures the reliability of the fixing of the bottom by means of the screws, 39 and forms a decorative element thanks to the contrast of the materials with the annular part 25.
• the part can be perfectly sealed thanks to the seals 28 and 34.
• the engagement of a sapphire crystal in a notch like notch 26 allows executions in which the glass 27 is of reduced thickness. Sapphire crystals are currently used with a thickness of 70/100 for example or even less.
• Aesthetics The visible parts of the case, that is to say the bezel and the back, are simple in shape, so that their final surface condition can be given by rational means. Thanks to the fact that the two parts are separated by a junction plane which is halfway up the box, it is possible, for example, if we give a different final surface finish to the telescope and to the bottom, -a box whose ultra-thin appearance is very 'striking. It will be noted that a height reduction is obtained - which is particularly significant, while ensuring the other characteristics targeted, by producing the intermediate part in one part with its radial extension.
• the distance between each of the upper and lower generatrices of the cylindrical passage 11a and the upper and lower shoulders of the part 11, in contact with the linings 15 and 16, can be reduced to a value much lower than in the case where, according to the usual technique, a radial hole is drilled in the intermediate piece and an insert tube is expelled in this hole.
• the intermediate piece 11 does not require the same kind of finishing operation as those that require pieces which are visible in the finished box.
• the precision of this part which contributes to enabling constructions of minimum height, while guaranteeing the aesthetics of the box and the reliability.
• Simplicity of fitting As the fitting is done in a similar way to what we knew with the classic three-piece boxes, many difficulties are avoided. In particular, it is not necessary to provide a broken rod system, as in most monococci. The movement is fixed to the circle 11, after which the rod is placed through the tube 17.
• the intermediate element will preferably be made of stainless steel.
• performances of molded plastic material including 'using a rigid plastic, carrying a high-precision shaping will be also possible.
• the means for fixing the bezel to the bottom could be different from what is shown in the drawing. Any known means such as keys, screws directed in the axial direction, notch, if necessary conventional screwed bottom, can be used.
• the intermediate element instead of the glass being fixed by means of a gasket which surrounds it in a notch of ice in the telescope the intermediate element, it could also, as a variant, be pressed against a seal supported by the intermediate element, by virtue of an internal rim of the bezel applying, for example, to a peripheral bevel of the glass.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

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ID=4274978

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1981
  • 1981-09-08 EP EP19810902481 patent/EP0082840B1/de not_active Expired
  • 1981-09-08 WO PCT/CH1981/000102 patent/WO1983000236A1/fr active IP Right Grant

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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