EP0224030A1 - Electronic watch with a control system in the bottom of the case - Google Patents

Abstract

The back cover of the case is provided with positioning means which determine more or less precisely the location where means external to the case must be placed in order to actuate each control mechanism. Such positioning means may for example take the form of grooves at the bottom of each of which is located a control mechanism and into which may be introduced a portion of the securing element of the bracelet. It might likewise comprise protuberances or portions in relief or cavities of more complex form, the remaining parts forming guide means for guiding the external actuating means toward such positioning means. This invention concerns electronic watches having a system of operating controls located in the back cover of their cases. The term "system of operating controls" here designates all or part of the mechanisms or components which are available to the user in order to permit him to accomplish time setting of the watch and eventually to exercise control over supplementary functions which such watch may be capable of accomplishing, as for instance that of a calendar or alarm. Naturally this definition does not exclude cases where the system is limited to a single mechanism. This may happen when the watch is of a simple nature and intended to indicate only hours and minutes, or because it is capable of responding differently according to whether one actuates the mechanism during a very short interval or relatively long interval, or more or less frequently during a predetermined time interval.

Description

The present invention relates to electronic watches which have a control system placed in the bottom of their case.

The expression "control system" here designates all or part of the devices or organs which are made available to the wearer to enable him to set his watch on time and, possibly, to exercise control over additional functions that it is able to perform, such as that of calendar or alarm clock. Of course, this definition does not exclude the case where the system is limited to a single device. This can happen when the watch is very simple and intended to indicate only the hours and minutes or because it is able to respond differently depending on whether the device is operated for a very short or relatively long time or more or less than times for a specified time.

The control devices that are currently known and which can be placed at the bottom of a watch case are numerous. They may, for example, be mobile or non-mobile organs which react to a pressure (push-buttons, membranes associated with an internal electrical contact, piezoelectric keys). They can also be devices which operate on a purely electrical principle (capacitive keys, simple and isolated contacts which can be grounded by touching them with your finger or by connecting them to the watch case by means of 'a metal object, pairs of contacts that are connected together). Finally, mention may also be made of electromagnetic devices which include a relay housed entirely in the watch which can be actuated from the outside using a small magnet.

In fact, this possibility of putting the control system of a watch on the back of it has so far been used very rarely. However, it would quite often simplify the production of the movement, of the box or of the control members themselves, of facilitating their assembly or of simply solving sealing problems. For example, in very thin watches, three millimeters or less, it is very difficult to make one or more holes in the middle to pass a time setting rod or accommodate push buttons, providing the necessary sealing means and without risking making these watches very fragile. As, in addition, they are mostly high-end watches, it is out of the question to place indicator elements such as pushbuttons or fixed electrical contacts at the front and even devices which are still not very widespread such as photodiodes or capacitive keys on ice which, in brackets, are difficult to develop and require complicated electronic circuits, would rarely be suitable. The solution of the control members at the bottom of the box would therefore be very advantageous in this case. However, it is only used when it is really constrained and this for the same reasons that we avoid using it for certain styles of watches where even the presence of a rod becomes unsightly and where, therefore , it would also be interesting.

One of the reasons why this solution is ruled out is that, with a few exceptions like watches mounted as a pendant, it obliges the wearer of the watch to put it on when he wants to correct or order it. In reality, this does not represent a big disadvantage because it is not uncommon to do it also with a watch fitted with a conventional correction system, finding that the manipulations are then easier.

The other reason is that generally the wearer finds it much more difficult to set his watch on time and, if necessary, to control its functions than if the control device (s) were placed at the front of it. here or on the side. Indeed, for this i1 must start by looking at the back of his watch to see where is the device that he must activate and, as the case may be, place the tip of the finger or an adequate object on or very close to it . Otherwise, he would risk groping for a long time and, if there are several devices, he could be wrong. Then, he must turn the watch over to follow the changes in the display while he acts on the device and it is entirely possible that at some point, including when he returns the watch, his finger or the object in question slides on the bottom of the box or moves away from it. It only remains for him to start the same maneuver again.

This drawback is therefore much more annoying than the previous one and what the invention aims to do is not to eliminate it because it is almost impossible but to minimize it.

In other words, the object of the invention is to seek to make a control system placed at the bottom of the case of a watch as practical to use as those which are on the side or at the front and which , they are not always perfect from this point of view either.

This object is achieved thanks to the fact that when at least one control device is secured to the bottom of the case of a watch according to the invention, this bottom is provided with positioning means which determine at least approximately where means external to the box must be placed to be able to activate the device in question.

In addition, in preferred embodiments of the invention, the bottom of the box is also provided with means for guiding the external actuation means towards the positioning means.

When the watch also includes a strap with a closing element, it is advantageous to be able to use a part of this element as means for actuating the control device because it is always and immediately on hand. Consequently, in this case the positioning and possibly guiding means are preferably adapted to the shape and dimensions of this part of the closure element and the control device is chosen so as to be able to be actuated by it. .

• - les figures 1 à 4, 5 et 6 représentent totalement ou partiellement six montres-bracelets différentes, conformes à l'invention; et
• - la figure 4_a montre partiellement une variante du fermoir du bracelet Je la montre de la figure 4.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of several possible embodiments chosen by way of examples. This description will be made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Figures 1 to 4, 5 and 6 show totally or partially six different wristwatches, according to the invention; and
• - Figure 4 shows a variant _partially wrist strap buckle I show in Figure 4.

The watches of FIGS. 1 to 3 all include a box 1 which contains the various elements necessary for the production of a watch with analog, digital or mixed display and to which is attached a flexible strap 2 quite classic, with a strand 2 has pierced with a series of holes not visible in the drawing and another 2 _b at the end of which is a metal loop 3 with a barb ³ a.

The nature of the strands of the bracelet and the way it is attached to the case is immaterial. For against, for a reason that will be readily understood by the following, it is desirable that the loop 3 is rectangular or at least that the transverse part _3b against which the free end of the pin normally abuts either substantially straight and extends roughly over the entire width of the bracelet.

Regarding the box 1, it has been shown as being round in the three figures but it could just as well be rectangular, oval or of another shape. On the other hand its structure can be arbitrary provided that it has a metallic bottom 4.

In the case of the watch of FIG. 1, this bottom 4 has in its central part an elongated and roughly rectilinear boss 5 disposed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strands 2 _a and 2 _b of the bracelet. The shape of this boss can be for example that of a rectangular parallelepiped, that of a prism with a trapezoidal section or that of a half-cylinder. In general, this shape of the boss 5 as well as its dimensions are chosen so that, on the one hand, it cannot hinder and is preferably invisible when the watch is worn on the wrist and that, on the other First, it is an obstacle that we can not avoid nor overcome easily when, as will be seen further, it is necessary to drag the cross section _3b of the loop on the bottom of the box, direction from him.

This watch also comprises two control devices constituted by two fixed contacts 6 and 7 which are incorporated in the bottom of the box so as to be electrically isolated and which are placed on either side of the boss 5, at a certain distance from it and roughly on the midline of the bottom perpendicular to it.

For the electronic circuit of the watch of which it obviously forms the two contacts 6 and 7 can only be considered to be actuated when they are connected to the back 4 by a metallic object and so that they can be so by the part transverse 3 _b of the strap buckle they must at least be flush with the external surface of this bottom. In fact, it is preferable that they come out very slightly but without risking to interfere with the sliding movement of the loop on the bottom which we have already mentioned. This can be achieved by giving their emerging part the shape of a spherical cap. In addition, they must not be very far from the boss 5 to prevent them from being actuated involuntarily, at least if one comes to place the watch on a metal surface.

If the watch is very simple and has no other function than to indicate the current time, the contacts can be used for example one to advance and the other to delay it or else one to perform time zone changes, that is to change the display of one or more whole hours, and the other to set the time, that is to correct the indication of the minutes together or not with that of the hours. If the watch is more complicated, one of them can be provided to select an item of information (hours, minutes, day of the week, date, wake-up time, wake-up minute, etc.) and the other to correct it.

To act on one of the contacts, the transverse portion may firstly apply 3 _b of the buckle 3 against the bottom of the box in the region which lies between this contact and the strand to the nearest band, as as shown in the figure, then move it towards the boss 5. The contact is actuated when the loop passes over it. To make it a second time just bring the loop back and if it is not enough we can then make it move back and forth on the bottom until the contact has been actuated the desired number of times.

When at least temporarily finished with this contact, we can, if necessary, then act in the same way on the other APRET bringing the portion _3b contacting the bottom right of where is attached the other end of the bracelet or simply after passing the loop over the boss.

As you can imagine, we can do this very easily without having to look at the back of the watch, even at the start, and without losing sight of the display means. In addition, thanks to the presence of the boss, there is no risk when one acts on one of the contacts to inadvertently actuate the other, even when the loop is subjected to a back-and-forth movement. comes fast. Therefore, one has no more difficulty in ordering the watch and one is not more likely to be mistaken in doing so than if it were provided with control devices - on the side of the box or at the before.

Of course, this is largely due to the fact that part _3b of the loop is straight and long enough. It would not be the same if it were for example very rounded.

On the other hand, it is very clear that, most of the time, these advantages that the watch of FIG. 1 has, like all those which conform to the invention, compared to known watches provided with rear control systems. remain even if one does not proceed in the manner which was indicated to actuate the contacts. This method was chosen as an example because it is very convenient, but there are obviously others. Indeed, nothing obliges to start by placing the transverse part of the loop between the contact that one wants to actuate and the strand of the bracelet which is closest to it. We can bring it into contact with the bottom, making sure only that it is on the right side of the boss and if we do not immediately fall on the contact we can find it very quickly by moving the loop. Similarly, one is not forced to subject the loop to a back and forth movement on the bottom to act several times on the same contact. When it has been activated for the first time, we can move the transverse part of the loop away from it, whether or not keeping one of its ends pressed against the bottom, bring it back and so on, but the handling is then less easy and less fast. On the other hand, nothing prevents the use of anything other than the loop to activate the contacts. We can use for example a coin, a key, a pen if it is metallic or the element used to hang it in a pocket.

In the case of the watch of FIG. 1, the boss 5 constitutes positioning means in particular for the part _3b of the loop in that it does not limit the displacements of the latter on the bottom of the box to areas in which are the contacts and that it can help to keep it parallel to him, including reducing the still very low probability that it will miss these contacts when it is subjected to the back-and-forth movement which we have speak.

It would play the same role or more or less if it were not perpendicular but parallel to the direction of the strands of the bracelet, the contacts of course continuing to be placed on each side of it. On the other hand, it would form clearly more precise positioning means if it remained perpendicular to the direction of the strands and if the contacts were placed not at a certain distance but just next to it. These two variants of the watch in FIG. 1 are entirely conceivable. The second would even further limit the risks of involuntary actuation of the contacts but, still in the case of the simplest method of back-and-forth of the loop on the bottom, it would take more time to activate them the same number of times.

What is also perfectly conceivable is to replace the buckle bracelet 2 by another for which the boss 5 and the contacts 6 and 7 would be just as well suited and in particular by that with which the watches of FIGS. 4 and 5 are fitted. So as not to have to come back to this subject, we can immediately say that this also applies to the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 and that, conversely, the bracelet shown in Figures 4 and 5 could very well be associated with boxes of Figures 1 to 3. Saying this obviously does not take into account how the bracelets can be attached to the boxes.

The metal bottom 4 of the watch in FIG. 2 also has a boss 8 but this has substantially the shape of an H. The transverse bar 8a of H is arranged in the same way as the boss 5 of the watch of Figure 1 and has a length equal or slightly greater than that of the cross portion _3b of the bracelet buckle 3. Furthermore, the two side bars 8 _b and 8 _c of the H are shaped so as to have facing flanks 8 _d and B _e roughly perpendicular to the bottom 4 bu, at least quite strongly inclined relative to the latter and which move away from each other when moving away from the crossbar 8 _a . Finally, the watch again has two fixed electrical contacts which are designated by the same references 6 and 7 as those in FIG. 1 because they are identical and must be actuated in the same way. The only difference is that they are not at a certain distance from the boss but in the immediate vicinity of the crossbar 8a so that, to activate them, the part _3b of the loop must be brought into abutment against this bar .

The crossbar 8 has bosses and a small part of each sidebar located near it therefore in this case form precise positioning means for the part _3b of the loop. The rest of the side bars 8 _b and 8 _c serve to guide the part 3 _b towards these positioning means when it is brought into contact with the bottom 4 and when it is slid onto it.

Naturally, the best way to go about actuating the contacts 6 and 7 is the same as with the watch in FIG. 1 but, when it is necessary to act several times on the same contact, one can also use more easily the solution which consists in spreading the transverse part of the loop from this contact while keeping one of its ends pressed against the bottom.

Note that this embodiment may suggest another wherein the H-shaped embossment would be replaced by a boss-shaped and wherein X either by the transverse portion operable contacts _3b of the loop but by the barb 3a would be placed near the crossing point of the X bars. One could thus provide up to four contacts which, instead of being flush with the bottom surface, could be recessed in relation to the latter, therefore better protected. We could even replace these contacts with pushbuttons which would dispense with having a metal box bottom.

The watch of FIG. 3 has only one contact 9 placed in the middle of the back and identical to the contacts 6 and 7 of the watches of FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, the back 4 no longer has only a boss, designated here by the reference 10, but also a groove 11 which are both approximately rectilinear and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet and which are located on either side of the contact 9, substantially equal distance from him. The groove 11 which is on the side of the strand 2 _b of the bracelet which carries the buckle 3 has a length slightly greater than that of the transverse part 3 _b of the latter and, preferably, a semi-cylindrical shape or about so that this transverse part can engage and come out quite easily when it is dragged on the bottom. The boss 10, for its part, has a shape and dimensions which allow it to meet the same requirements and play the same role, in particular with respect to the buckle as that of the watch in FIG. 1.

Thus, when after having applied the part _3b of the loop on the bottom, near the place where the strand _2b of the bracelet is fixed, it is moved in the direction of the other strand, 2. we meet all d 'first the groove 11 which allows to place this part _3b in the middle of the bottom and roughly parallel to it and to the boss 10 if it was not already there and which, therefore, guarantees the subsequent actuation of the contact. The groove 11 therefore serves as prepositioning means for the loop. In addition, when this loop is made to move back and forth on the bottom, the groove is associated with the boss 10 to limit the amplitude of this movement and to more or less maintain part _3b in the direction she imposed on him at the start.

The watch of Figure 4 comprises a box 12, for example rectangular, to which is fixed in a way one metal strap 13 provided with a folding clasp 14 consists of three articulated pads 14a, 14 _b and 14 _c.

The way in which the box 12 is made is even more indifferent than in the case of the preceding watches because it is not even necessary for its base 15 to be metallic.

The bottom 15 has two grooves 16 and 17 substantially parallel to each other which extend in the direction of the width of the box and at the bottom of each of which emerge two fixed electrical contacts 18, 19, respectively 20, 21, which, to be actuated, must be connected together by a metallic object. Naturally, if the bottom of the box is itself metallic, the contacts must be isolated.

With regard to the grooves 16 and 17, it should also be specified that their length and width are chosen so that it is easy to engage the parts of the clasp in which the hinges 14 _d and 14 _{e are located} which join the plate medium 14 _b to the other two 14a and _14c or at least Tune of these parts. In addition there is interest that they are quite far from each other but not too close to the edges of the box. A good compromise is to make them divide the length of the latter roughly into three equal parts.

In view of what has just been said, the manner of actuating one or the other of the pairs of contacts by means of the clasp 14 is obvious. Just bring the hinge 14 _d or 14 _e in the right groove, as shown in the figure. If you want to actuate the same pair of contacts several times, you can either take the hinge out of the groove each time and bring it back then, or keep it pressed on one of the contacts and move it aside only the other. The first solution is perhaps more convenient from a handling point of view, but if it is used it may take longer to activate the contacts the same number of times as using the second.

The watch of Figure 4 has certain advantages over those of Figures 1 to 3. The contacts are better protected against involuntary actuation and, unlike what can happen with bosses, the grooves 16 and 17 are not likely to affect the aesthetics of the watch and there are no precautions to be taken so that the wearer is not bothered by their presence. By cons, although it is still easy to operate the contacts, it is a little less than in the case of previous watches.

A variant of this watch of FIG. 4 could be obtained by replacing the grooves 16 and 17 by two cylindrical or, preferably, conical holes situated on the longitudinal center line of the bottom, the opening of which would be sufficiently large so that one can find them easily and at the bottom of each of which would be placed a contact that could be actuated by connecting it to the bottom 15 which, in this case, would necessarily be metal or a push button, To be able to continue to use the clasp of the bracelet as a means of actuation, it would be sufficient if one of the plates 14, 14 _b or 14 extends beyond the hinge which connects it to another by a point adapted to the shape and dimensions of the holes, such as that which can be seen in FIG. 4 _a and which is designated by the reference 14 _f . Of course, this point should also be shaped and placed so as not to hinder or risk injuring the wearer.

The watch in Figure 5 has the same case 12, the same strap 13 and the same pairs of contacts 18, 19 and 20, 21 as that of Figure 4. The only difference is that the grooves 16 and 17 are replaced by two recesses 22 and 23 of more complicated shape. Each recess has on the side of the middle of the bottom 15 an abrupt longitudinal flank 22a, respectively 23a, at the foot of which is the pair of contacts, another longitudinal flank _22b , respectively _23b , slightly inclined, opposite the previous one, and two lateral flanks which on either side of the bottom where the pair of contacts is located are parallel to each other and which then move away from one another when they border the inclined plane.

Note that there would be no disadvantage if the steep sides are both oriented on the same side and the inclined planes on the other.

We immediately see the similarity between the transition from the watch in Figure 4 to that of Figure 5 and that of the watch in Figure 1 to that of Figure 2. While the watch of the Figure 4 has only positioning means for the clasp 14, constituted by the grooves 16 and 17, that of Figure 5 has both positioning means formed by the steep sides 22a, 23a and the parts of the side sides 22 _c , 22 _d , 23 _c , 23 _d which are mutually parallel and guide means formed by the inclined planes 22 _b , 23 _b and the rest of the lateral flanks.

Furthermore, it is easy to imagine a variant of the watch of FIG. 5 which would correspond to that envisaged for the watch of FIG. 4. It would be that in which each recess would have only one inclined plane and two flanks forming a V at the bottom of which would be placed a push button or a contact actuable by a point which would have the clasp.

In the last example of a watch according to the invention which we have chosen to describe and which is represented by FIG. 6, the bottom 25 of the box 24 has a single recess 26 with an abrupt flank 27 somewhat in the form of a sinusoid whose general direction is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet 29 and a plane 26 inclined towards this side.

In the three recesses 27, 27 _b and 27 presented by the sidewall 27 there are three push buttons 30, 31, 32 or, possibly, three fixed electrical contacts if the bottom of the box is metallic which, if the watch is simple , can be used for example the first 30 to correct the indication of the hours, the second 31 to correct the indication of the minutes and the third 32 to reset that of the seconds to zero.

To act on one of these control devices, it suffices to bring a pointed object which can be the barb of the buckle if the bracelet has one, to bring it into contact with the bottom of the box approximately in face of the corresponding recess and slide it roughly perpendicular to the general direction of the recess until it comes up against the side 27. If you are lucky enough to fall immediately on the device all that remains is to activate it adequately. If this is not the case, you only have to let yourself be guided by the sidewall 27 to reach it. This flank 27 can also be used to pass from one device to another.

In Figure 6 the progress of the background between the recess 27 _b of the recess 27a is much less prominent than that which separates the recess 27. This means that it is not very annoying that one comes to actuate one of the devices 30 and 31 when one wanted to act on the other but that it is not necessary that the same thing can happen with regard to the devices 31 and 32. This also means that we want to eliminate the risk that the device 32 will be actuated involuntarily when we seek to move quickly from the device 30 to the device 31. It is clear in fact that less the advances are prominent the greater the chances of error but it also happens quite often that one does not bring a time-setting rod immediately in the correct axial position to make the desired correction or that we begin by turning it in one direction when in fact it must be rotated in the other.

Finally, to conclude, it should also be clarified that if, in the six watches that have just been described and in the possible variants that have been indicated, the positioning and guiding means are always constituted by reliefs or recesses this is because it is the simplest and most economical way of implementing the invention. Indeed, in the case of a box or, at the very least, of a metallic background, it will be possible most of the time to form these reliefs or these hollows by stamping and as this technique is already very widely used for the manufacture of bottoms or boxes in one piece this will often not require any additional operation. If it is excluded or if it is not advantageous to use this method we can fall back on another, for example that of milling. In the case of a plastic box it will suffice to give the appropriate shape to the mold which allows it to be produced.

On the other hand, if we take into account that there are many different types of control devices that can be used, as the number of these devices can range from one to four in the same watch, and even more if necessary, that the bracelet closure members that currently exist are very varied, that we can find others, that we can very well provide positioning means adapted not to these organs but something else, for example in the shape of a finger, and finally that the invention is not reserved for wristwatches, we can easily imagine that, already, only with the solution of the recesses, that of bosses and their combination, the possibilities of making a watch according to the invention are innumerable, especially if one does not consider these recesses and these bosses only from the practical aspect but also from the aesthetic aspect.

Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to this kind of positioning and guiding means and, to show that it is possible to remain within the framework thereof even while moving far away from the forms of '' execution which have been described we can cite the example of a watch in the bottom of which would be incorporated at least one pellet of magnetic material, with just behind, a electro-magnetic relay, and the closure of the bracelet could be provided with a small permanent magnet to activate the relay. One could even provide in addition, as guide means in the bottom, one or more tracks also made of magnetic material which would lead to the pellet.

Claims (18)

1. Electronic watch comprising a box (1; 12; 24) provided with a bottom (4; 15; 25) and at least one control device (6; 7; 9; 18-21; 30-32) integral with this bottom, characterized in that said bottom is provided with positioning means (5; 8; 10, 11; 16, a 1 ⁷ ; 22a, 23a; 27a-27 _c ) which determine at least approximately the place where external means (3 _b ; 14 _d , 14 _e ) to the box must be placed to be able to actuate said control device. 2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (4; 15; 25) of the box (1; 12; 14) is also provided with means (8, 8 _c ; 22 _b , 22 _c , 23 _b , 23 _c ; 28) to guide said external means (3 _b ; 14d, 14 _e ) towards said positioning means (8 _a ; ² 2a, 23 _a ; 27 _a -27 _c ). 3. Watch according to claim 1, further comprising a bracelet (2; 13; 29) provided with a closure element (3; 14), characterized in that said control device (6, 7; 18-21 ; 30-32) is chosen and placed in the bottom (4; 15; 25) of the box (1; 12; 24) so that at least part (3 _b ; 14 _d , 14 _e ) of said element closure can be used as external means to actuate and that said positioning means (5; _8a; 10, 11; 16) 17; 22a, 23a; 27a-27 _c ) are adapted to the shape and dimensions of this part of the closure element. 4. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom (4) of the box (1) has approximately in its middle a boss (5) of elongated shape which serves as positioning means for the actuation of two control devices (6, 7) placed on either side of it, substantially on the center line of the bottom which is perpendicular to the direction in which it extends. 5. Watch according to claim 4, characterized in that said boss (5) extends in the direction of the width of the bracelet) (2). 6. Watch according to claim 5, characterized in that said control devices (6, 7) are placed in the immediate vicinity of the boss (5), so as to be able to be actuated by said part (3 _b ) of the element closing (3) when the latter is supported both against the bottom (4) and against said boss. 7. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (9) is placed approximately in the center of the bottom (4) of the box (1) and that said positioning means comprise a boss (10) of elongated shape and a groove (11) substantially rectilinear and parallel to each other, oriented in the width direction of the strap (2) and placed on either side of said control device, said groove having dimensions such that the part (3 _b ) of the closure element (3) can engage there. 8. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom (4) of the box (1) has a boss (8) substantially H-shaped with a crossbar (8a) oriented in the direction a of the width of the bracelet (2), of length at least equal to the dimension which in this same direction has the part ( _3b ) of the closure element (3) and two side bars ( _8b , _8c ) which have opposite sides (8 _d , 8 _e ) which move away from each other when moving away from the crossbar, and by the fact that it comprises two control devices (6, 7) placed on either side and in the immediate vicinity of the transverse bar of the boss, said transverse bar thus being able to serve with a part of each lateral bar situated near it of positioning means for the actuation of each of said control devices and the rest of said side bars to guide said part of the closure element towards these positioning means. 9. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom (15) of the box (12) has a groove (16) which extends substantially in the width direction of the strap (13) and at the bottom of which is placed said control device (18, 19), said groove having sufficient dimensions for said part (14 _d , 14) of the closure element (14) to be able to engage therein. 10. Watch according to claim 9, characterized in that the bottom (15) of the box (12) has another groove (17) substantially of the same orientation and the same dimensions as the first (16), at the bottom of which another control device (20, 21) is placed. 11. Watch according to claim 3, characterized in that the bottom (15) of the box (12) has a recess (22) with a first longitudinal flank (22a) abrupt and substantially straight, oriented in the width direction of the bracelet (13) and of length at least equal to the dimension that in this same direction the part (14 _d , 14 _c ) of the closing element, a bottom in which is placed the control device (18, 19), a second longitudinal side (22 _b ) slightly inclined, opposite the first, and two abrupt side sides (22 _c , 22 _d ) which move away from each other when moving away from the bottom of said recess, said first longitudinal flank and the parts of the lateral flanks which border said bottom thus being able to serve as positioning means for actuating said control device and the second longitudinal flank and the parts of the lateral flanks which border it guiding said part of the closure element towards these positioning means. 12. Watch according to claim 11, characterized in that the bottom (15) of the box (12) has another recess (23) substantially identical to the first (22), at the bottom of which is placed another control device ( 20, 21). 13. Watch according to one of claims 3 to 12, the bracelet (2) comprises two strands (2a, _2b ) and a loop (3) with a transverse part ( _3b ) against which the end bears. free of a barb (3a), characterized in that said part of the closure element is said transverse part of the buckle. 14. Watch according to one of claims 3 to 12, the bracelet (13) comprises two parts joined together by a folding clasp (14) which comprises at least two plates (14a, 14 _b ) hinged together by a hinge (14 _d ), characterized in that said part of the closure element is the part of the clasp in which said hinge is located. 15. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning means comprise a boss (5; 10) which externally has the bottom (4) of the box (1) and which delimits an area in which said device is placed control (6, 7; 9). 16. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said positioning means comprise a recess (16, 17) that has the bottom (15) of the box (12) and at the bottom of which is placed said control device (18, 19, 20, 21). 17. Watch according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning and guiding means are formed by a relief (8) that externally has the bottom (4) of the box (1). 18. Watch according to claim 2, characterized in that said positioning and guiding means are formed by at least one recess (22, 23; 26) that externally has the bottom (15; 25) of the box (12; 24 ) and at the bottom of which is placed said control device (18, 19, 20, 21; 30, 31, 32).

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