EP0466655A1 - Watch case and device for fastening a bracelet - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch case and device for fastening a bracelet (4) to the said watch case (1) according to the invention greatly facilitate the manufacture and the finishing of watch cases by eliminating from the latter the horns, lugs or other projecting elements which do not permit rational manufacturing methods on automatic machines for the said cases. For this purpose, the middle part (2) of the case comprises one or two recesses (20, 25) arranged in order to receive the end of each bracelet side, the bracelet ends being held by attachment means consisting of claws (30) or of hollows (32, 25), corresponding to notches (40) or protuberances (41, 42) provided close to the ends of the bracelet sides and arranged on extensions of the back of the case (3) or on intermediate pieces (33, 43, 44, 50, 56) integral with the said back of the case or of the middle part. In this manner, it is possible to renew the aesthetic appearance of the fastening of a bracelet to a watch, the device according to the invention comprising many variants adapted to all types of existing bracelets. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a watch case and more particularly to a device for fixing a bracelet to said watch case.

The device for attaching a bracelet to a watch case is generally quite complicated, as much by the number of different parts it requires as by the complexity of these different parts as well as their difficulty in machining; in particular the ends of each bracelet strand as well as the watch case must be specially formed and machined to be able to assemble. In addition the assembly of these various elements is also quite long and therefore expensive.

In particular, the current usual fixing system is based on the presence of two horns or other projecting elements for each strand of bracelet to be fixed to the case, a transverse bar, the ends of which are fixed to each of these horns, coming to be housed in a transverse haulage hole at the end of the bracelet strand. These horns or other elements, protruding around the circumference of the middle, prevent the automation of many machining or finishing operations, thus conducive to significant and costly manual work. Conventional cases provided with horns or other elements are generally hot stamped; for this, it is necessary to make several strikes to allow sufficient flow of the material, intermediate annealing being necessary. In addition, it is impossible to strike in a closed matrix which would avoid excess material, which will then have to be removed by subsequent operations of cutting, milling or turning, long and costly additional operations. Finally, during the finishing of the case, the presence of the same horns or other elements prevents the use of automatic stoning, faceting, diamond or polishing means, part of these operations having to be done manually to avoid damaging horns or other protruding elements.

These various factors, specific in particular to metal housings, considerably increase the cost of said housings.

It is the same for bracelets which must be specially shaped in order to understand the transverse hauling hole responsible for receiving the bar for fixing to the horns.

Various published documents show that the watch industry is actively seeking a satisfactory solution to the problem mentioned; most of them come up against the need to transfer the complexity of the machining either to the middle or to the bottom of the case. In particular, documents US-A-4,034,552, DE-U-8,136.009, EP-A-264.875, EP-A-52.316, CH-A-647.123, CH-A-355.095, CH-A-347.490 , US-A-2.225.474, JP-A-57.86.776, and DE-A-3.309.094 describe fastening systems involving shoulders and / or case backs which are difficult to machine. The case backs described in most of the above documents cannot be machined in a single pass and all require reworking, which significantly increases the cost. On the other hand, the system described in document DE-A-2,530,154 is not more satisfactory; machining the box is very expensive, due to the large number of machining and rework operations required. In addition, the arrangement of the recesses necessary to hold the ends of the strands of bracelets require end milling operations, operations which are always delicate. Finally, the bracelet strands are not held by the bottom of the case, but are glued into the recesses, which makes the system non-removable.

A first object of the invention is therefore to propose a watch case and a device for fixing a bracelet of very simple design, requiring few parts, and the manufacture of which is easy, which can be entirely automated by means conventional and not requiring rework for subsequent turning or milling operations. The case or middle part has neither horns, nor any other projecting element, which makes it possible to have a completely symmetrical case. The case back can be worked in a single pass from a sheet metal strip while the strands of the bracelet are also very simple to manufacture. These various factors must considerably reduce the cost price of the complete box.

A second object of the invention is that said device is removable and that one or other of its components, the bracelet for example, is exchangeable in case of wear or change of mode for example.

A third object of the invention is to propose a system of high aesthetic value, certain elements of which can be easily transformed or added, according to the fashion or the desire of the wearer of the watch.

In order to achieve the goals set, while avoiding the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art, the housing and the fixing device according to the invention include the characters mentioned in the characterizing parts of the claims.

• la figure 1 représente une première forme d'exécution du système de fixation selon l'invention, la figure 1A étant une coupe, la figure 1B une vue de dessous d'une portion du fond du boîtier, et la figure 1C une vue de dessous d'une portion du boîtier,
• la figure 2 représente une deuxième forme d'exécution du système de fixation selon l'invention, la figure 2A étant une coupe alors que la figure 2B est une vue de dessous d'une portion du fond du boîtier,
• les figures 3 à 8 représentent encore d'autres formes d'exécution de l'invention vue en coupe,
• la figure 9 représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention, la figure 9A étant une coupe alors que la figure 9B en est une vue par dessus,
• les figures 10 et 11 représentent encore d'autres formes d'exécution de l'invention vues par dessous,
• la figure 12 représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention, la figure 12A étant une coupe alors que la figure 12B est une vue par dessus d'une pièce constitutive,
• la figure 13 représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention, la figure 13A étant une coupe alors que la figure 13B est une vue par dessus d'une pièce constitutive,
• la figure 14 représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention, la figure 14A étant une coupe alors que la figure 14B est une vue par dessous d'une portion du fond du boîtier,
• la figure 15 représente encore une autre forme d'exécution de l'invention, vue en coupe, et
• la figure 16 représente une autre forme d'exécution du fond de boîtier, adaptée à la première forme d'exécution de l'invention, la figure 16A étant une coupe et la figure 16B une vue par dessous d'une portion du fond.

The watch case and the strap fixing device according to the invention, comprising different embodiments, are particularly understandable from the accompanying drawing with the figures where:

• FIG. 1 represents a first embodiment of the fixing system according to the invention, FIG. 1A being a section, FIG. 1B a view from below of a portion of the bottom of the housing, and FIG. 1C a view from below a portion of the housing,
• FIG. 2 represents a second embodiment of the fastening system according to the invention, FIG. 2A being a section while FIG. 2B is a view from below of a portion of the bottom of the housing,
• FIGS. 3 to 8 show still other embodiments of the invention seen in section,
• FIG. 9 represents yet another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 9A being a section while FIG. 9B is a view from above,
• FIGS. 10 and 11 show still other embodiments of the invention seen from below,
• FIG. 12 represents yet another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 12A being a section while FIG. 12B is a view from above of a component part,
• FIG. 13 represents yet another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 13A being a section while FIG. 13B is a view from above of a component part,
• FIG. 14 represents yet another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 14A being a section while FIG. 14B is a view from below of a portion of the bottom of the housing,
• FIG. 15 shows yet another embodiment of the invention, seen in section, and
• FIG. 16 represents another embodiment of the bottom of the housing, adapted to the first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 16A being a section and FIG. 16B a view from below of a portion of the bottom.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 1C lends itself particularly well to the attachment of a leather strap, synthetic or metallic; first of all there is a case 1 comprising a middle part 2, maintaining a clockwork movement 10, which can be of any type known in the art, as well as a glass 11. A case back 3 closes the case 1 from below, the seal being ensured by a seal 12 arranged in a groove made in the bottom of the middle part 2. A bracelet 4 is fixed to said case. In FIG. 1A, it can be seen that the middle part 2 comprises a recess 20, intended to receive the end of the bracelet strand 4, arranged on a crown portion of the bottom of the middle part. The general shape of this recess 20, cut as a crown sector, is visible in FIG. 1C. The recess 20 can also be cut with parallel faces. It is understood that the middle part also includes a second obviously, arranged symmetrically on the other side. It is therefore found that the middle part, unlike the other middle parts of the prior art, does not have any projecting element preventing or making difficult its complete machining by automatic means, and in particular a cold stamping in a closed matrix, the inputs for the strap and the bottom fixing holes being executed on a linear or circular machine with multi-spindle heads. The end of the bracelet 4 has a shape adapted to be housed in the recess 20 and there take up all the space. A little set back from this end of the bracelet strand, the latter is partially hollowed out by one or more notches 40 in which one or more claws 30 are housed, consisting of one or more extensions of the bottom 3, and which are folded to the top. The bottom of the housing 3, which is of uniform thickness, can therefore be obtained very easily from a sheet metal strip for example, which can be cut and the claws 30 of which can be folded back in a single automatic machining operation. , for example by a linear machine with multiple stations. For mounting the strap 4, it suffices to introduce its ends from below into the recesses 20 provided on each side of the watch, the notches 40 being directed towards the bottom of the watch, then presenting the bottom 3 with the claws 30 which engage in the notches 40 and screw the bottom 3 to the housing 1 by means of screws engaging in holes 31 in the bottom then in tapped holes arranged in the housing or the middle part. Given the good performance of the bracelet between the claws 30 and the bottom of the recess 20 against which it rests, it is not necessary to reinforce the notches 40 of the bracelet.

FIGS. 2A and 2B represent another embodiment which lends itself very well to the attachment of a bracelet of synthetic material; the middle part 2 comprises a recess 20 identical to that described for the previous embodiment, while the base 3 no longer has claws, but one or more transverse openings 32, in which one or more will be housed one or more protuberances 41 fitted at the end of the bracelet strand 4. It is obvious that in this embodiment, the case back 3 can also be obtained from a sheet metal strip by automatic production means. This or these protuberances 41 are directly obtained during the molding of the bracelet 4. As previously, after introduction of the ends of the bracelet 4 into the recesses 20, the protuberances 41 being directed towards the bottom of the case, it suffices to place the bottom 3 with its openings 32 surrounding the protuberances 41 and screwing it to the housing 1. Another embodiment of the middle part 2 is also shown in FIG. 2A; instead of being formed in one piece as before, it is formed here of three pieces, the middle part itself 22, a cartridge or container 21 of the movement and a packing ring 23. These three pieces can be metallic, in ceramic or synthetic material, the three parts being of the same or different materials; they are assembled and fixed to each other and to the housing by known means, by driving out, crimping or bonding. In particular, the trim ring 23 can be fixed or rotating, in order to move a reference mark or a mobile scale, or else it can constitute a decoration that can be interchangeable.

The advantage of providing the middle part in three separate parts comprising in particular a cartridge or container containing the movement, is that the injection of such a plastic container is very easy, and does not require any additional machining, this container also playing the role of gasket for glass.

Another embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, an L-shaped intermediate piece 50, the long side of which is slightly curved and is pierced with a hole, with its short side engaged in the opening 32 in the bottom 3 , while the bracelet 4 is fixed to said L-shaped part by a rivet 51 or by any other suitable means which keeps it in place bottom of the recess arranged in the middle. Another embodiment of the middle part 2 is also shown in this figure, the middle part being here formed of two parts, the middle part itself also serving as a cartridge or container as well as the packing ring 23. As before, these parts may be metallic or made of synthetic material, of the same material or of different materials, the packing ring 23 being able to be fixed, rotating or interchangeable.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 lends itself very well to the attachment of a bracelet 4 made up of metal links, the last link of which occupies the recess 20 arranged in the middle part 2. As in the previous embodiment, an L-shaped intermediate piece 50 has its long side welded to the underside of the last and second-to-last link, while its short side engages in the opening 32 in the bottom 3.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment for attaching a bracelet made of metal links; the last link, which may be of synthetic or metallic material, has a notch 40 in which is housed a claw 30 arranged as above on an extension of the bottom 3. An intermediate piece 50, also held by the claw 30, is welded to the undersides of the last and the penultimate link of the bracelet to strengthen them.

In Figure 6, the embodiment shown is a juxtaposition of the first and the second embodiment described above; an intermediate piece with two opposite fins 56 sees its first fin used as the claw 30 housed in the notch 40 of the bracelet 4 while its second fin is housed in the opening 32 of the bottom 3, like the projection 41.

The embodiment of Figure 7 lends itself well to a synthetic strap; the end of the latter has a protrusion 42 directed towards the bottom of the recess 20 which itself has a second recess 25 making it possible to retain the protrusion 42. In this embodiment, the bottom 3 is flat having no claw or retaining opening.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 is derived from the previous one and makes it possible to adapt it to a leather strap: a retaining piece 52 comprises a small fin coming to be housed in the second recess 25 and an elongated body, slightly bent , attached to the bracelet 4 by any suitable means, for example using a rivet 51. Since part of this retaining piece 52 is visible above the bracelet, said part is designed to be of aesthetic presentation.

FIGS. 9A and 9B show an embodiment derived from the first embodiment; or the claws 30 completely pass through the bracelet 4 in through notches 40, an aesthetic cover plate 53, held by one of its ends curved in the recess 20, hides the ends of the claw (s) 30. In the figure 9B, we see an example of the aesthetic appearance that the cover plate 53 can have on the bracelet 4.

Figures 10 and 11 show two different embodiments, in which the claws 30 for Figure 10 or the opening 32 for Figure 11 are not made on a part in extension of the bottom 3, but on a bar 33 fixed by two screws at the bottom of the middle part 2. In this way, the bottom 3 of the case is absolutely circular and can be screwed by an external thread in the housing to be fixed to the middle part or to the container by known sealing and fixing means.

If for reasons of commercial or fashion requirements, we wish to find a usual fixing system by horns or hinges, we can adopt the embodiments of FIGS. 12 and 13. In FIGS. 12A and 12B, there is a intermediate fixing part 43, a first part of which is housed in the recess 20, being held by claws 30 in the notches 40 arranged in this first part, while the second part is in the form of a hinge, making it possible to fix n ' any bracelet intended to be attached using this known technique. The fixing piece 44, visible in FIGS. 13A and 13B is similar to the previous one, except that its second part comprises two horns making it possible to fix any bracelet intended to be fixed according to this known technique.

It is understood that the intermediate parts 43 and 44 described above as comprising notches 40 for receiving the claws 30, can just as easily be arranged with protuberances coming to be housed in openings in the bottom. Similarly, the hinge fastening system is shown with a single hinge, but any hinge fastening system, possibly comprising several hinges can be envisaged.

A variant of these latter embodiments consists in placing these fastening elements directly on the bottom 3 of the box, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B for an execution with ears, obtained by folding down two extensions of the bottom 3.

Yet another embodiment is shown in FIG. 15, this embodiment making it possible in particular to change the strap without it being necessary to unscrew the case back 3. For this, an extension of the case 3 is slightly bent in order to accommodate the curvature wrist; this extension is pierced with one or more holes in which one or more screws 54, cooperating with one or more threaded plugs 55, hold the strap 4, drilled so as to receive said threaded plugs. The upper ends of these being visible, their appearance will be treated.

Figures 16A and 16B show yet another embodiment of the bottom 3, adapted to the embodiment of the fixing device shown in Figures 1A and 1B. The bottom 3 here consists of three parts, a first central part 34, of generally circular shape and having two bearing surfaces 34A, arranged symmetrically and against which two support flanges 35 are supported, each of them comprising a bearing surface of a shape complementary to that of the corresponding bearing surface 34A and fixed to the middle part 2 by means of the screws 36 engaged in the holes 31 arranged in the flanges 35. This particular embodiment of the base 3 , described here for the first embodiment of the fixing device, can obviously be adapted and used for all the other described embodiments of said device for fixing a bracelet to a case.

The different embodiments of the case and of the device for attaching a bracelet to a watch case have been described adapted to a circular watch case; it is understood that the invention also adapts perfectly well to oval or square or rectangular boxes; more generally, the system according to the invention can be intended for a watch case of any shape. In certain application cases where the watch is not put around the wrist but is suspended, it is obvious that this device applies just as well by providing only one fixing device connecting the housing to the suspension strand .

For reasons of simplification of the manufacturing or finishing processes mentioned above, the invention is particularly well suited to metal cases, specifically made of stainless steel; the additional machining operation to arrange the recess (s) to receive the end of the bracelet strand can easily be carried out by plunge milling, using automatic machines with multiple stations and with conventional linear or circular cycles. The case backs, also metallic, respectively made of stainless steel, can easily be obtained in a single machining operation by stamping possibly followed by folding for making the claws, and this, whatever the shape of execution retained.

However, mainly for aesthetic reasons, nothing prevents the fixing system according to the invention from being used for cases and / or bottoms made of other materials, such as simple or precious metals, composites, ceramics, sintered metals or synthetic materials, in this case the advantage of the invention lies in the fact that it is possible to use molds or dies which are simple and easy to execute.

Although several embodiments of the housing and of the fixing device according to the invention have been described, it is obvious that other embodiments, deriving from the preceding ones, are possible; therefore these other embodiments, as well as those resulting from slight modifications of the described embodiments, remain protected by the present request.

The case and the device for attaching a strap to a watch case according to the invention perfectly meet the requirements set, that is to greatly facilitate the machining and finishing of the watch case since the latter is entirely symmetrical, without any element projecting, which allows it to be mounted on a machining or automatic finishing machine, which results in a significantly reduced manufacturing cost. In addition, some of the embodiments described make it possible to renew the aesthetics of the attachment of the bracelet to the case, which is an additional advantage of the invention. On the other hand, the fixing of the bracelet is absolutely secure, is not subject to wear and allows easy changing of the bracelet and even, passing from one embodiment to another, while keeping the same case, to change the type of bracelet, going from a synthetic bracelet to a leather bracelet or a metallic bracelet or vice versa, and even to use bracelets of classic design.

Claims (16)

1- Watch case and device for fixing a strap (4) to a watch case (1), characterized in that the middle part (2) of said case does not include any horn or projecting element, but one or two recesses (20) arranged symmetrically at the bottom of the middle part, each of said recesses being intended to receive the end of a bracelet strand, said end of bracelet strand being held in the recess of the middle part by means of own attachment to the bottom (3) of said housing, said housing bottom consisting of a piece of sheet metal of uniform thickness, completely machined on a single multi-station machine and being fixed to the housing by a plurality of screws. 2- watch case and fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said attachment means consist of one or more claws (30) arranged symmetrically, perpendicular to said case back, said claws being introduced into notches (40) arranged near the end of a bracelet strand. 3- watch case and fixing device according to claim 2, characterized in that said claws are an integral part of one or two symmetrical extensions of the case back. 4- watch case and fixing device according to claim 2, characterized in that said claws are arranged on one or two support flanges (35), said flanges maintaining in position a central part of the case back via support spans. 5- watch case and fixing device according to claim 2, characterized in that said claws are arranged on one or two complementary attachment pieces (56) disposed between said case back and said bracelet strand. 6- watch case and fixing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said attachment means consist of one or more openings (32,25), into which are introduced one or more protuberances (41,42) arranged perpendicularly near the end of a bracelet strand. 7- Watch case and fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that said openings (32) are made in an extension of said case bottom. 8- Watch case and fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that said openings (25) are made in the bottom of said recess, the end of the strap being held by an extension of the case bottom. 9- Watch case and fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that said protrusions consist of a thickness reinforcement of the end of the bracelet strand. 10- Watch case and fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that said protrusions are arranged on a part additional attachment (50,52) fixed to the bracelet strand. 11- Watch case and fixing device according to claim 6, characterized in that said protrusions consist of a screw fastening system (54) and threaded plug (55). 12- Watch case and fixing device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that said complementary attachment piece (52) or said threaded plug (55) is visible and is formed as an aesthetic decoration. 13- Watch case and fixing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bracelet strand is fixed to an intermediate fixing device, comprising horns or hinges, and being connected to said attachment means. 14- Watch case and device for attaching a strap (4) to a watch case (1), characterized in that the middle part (2) of said case does not include any horn or projecting element, but one or two recesses (20) disposed symmetrically at the bottom of the middle part, each of said recesses being intended to receive the end of a bracelet strand, said bracelet strand end being held in the recess of the middle part by a bar (33 ) comprising one or more claws, said claws being introduced into notches arranged near the end of a strand of bracelet, said bar being fixed to the bottom of the middle by means of screws. 15- Watch case and device for attaching a strap (4) to a watch case (1), characterized in that the middle part (2) of said case does not include any horn or projecting element, but one or two recesses (20) arranged symmetrically in the lower part of the middle part, each of said recesses being intended to receive the end of a bracelet strand, said bracelet strand end being held in the recess of the middle part by a bar (33 ) comprising one or more openings into which one or more protuberances arranged perpendicularly near the end of a bracelet strand are introduced, said bar being fixed to the base of the middle by means of screws. 16- Watch case and fixing device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the middle part comprising said recesses further comprises a cartridge or container (21) of synthetic material supporting the movement (10) and acting glass seal (11).

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