EP1162521B1 - Snap-action actuating device and watch provided with such a device - Google Patents
Snap-action actuating device and watch provided with such a device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1162521B1 EP1162521B1 EP00202007A EP00202007A EP1162521B1 EP 1162521 B1 EP1162521 B1 EP 1162521B1 EP 00202007 A EP00202007 A EP 00202007A EP 00202007 A EP00202007 A EP 00202007A EP 1162521 B1 EP1162521 B1 EP 1162521B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- push
- button
- spring element
- support
- pusher
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
- G04C3/00—Electromechanical clocks or watches independent of other time-pieces and in which the movement is maintained by electric means
- G04C3/001—Electromechanical switches for setting or display
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- 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
- G04B3/00—Normal winding of clockworks by hand or mechanically; Winding up several mainsprings or driving weights simultaneously
- G04B3/04—Rigidly-mounted keys, knobs or crowns
- G04B3/048—Operation exclusively by axial movement of a push-button, e.g. for chronographs
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
- H01H13/02—Details
- H01H13/26—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members
- H01H13/48—Snap-action arrangements depending upon deformation of elastic members using buckling of disc springs
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
- H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
- H01H2215/02—Reversed domes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a click control device comprising a support, a pusher movably mounted on the support so as to have a translational stroke along an axis, and a spring element capable of exerting on the pusher a reactive force. which goes through a maximum during the stroke of the pusher.
- the invention also relates to a watch comprising a box and a control device of this type.
- Such a snap control device also called sudden action, is used in particular to actuate a contact blade of an electrical switch, in particular to control functions of a portable electronic device.
- the pusher of such a device can also produce a purely mechanical control.
- Such devices are used, for example, to control the starting and stopping of mechanical or electrical chronograph watches.
- the click function causes the pusher to remain ineffective as long as the pressure exerted does not exceed a limit value of the reactive force, and after this limit is exceeded, the device suddenly changes state, because the pressure required to complete the function is less than this limit value. It is thus possible to start or stop a meter accurately.
- the parts providing the click function are usually part of the chronograph mechanism and are fixed on a bridge or the stage of the movement.
- the force to be overcome is generated by a jumper type device, with a bending spring cooperating with a cam, as provided for example by the patent. CH 642 220 .
- Devices of this type require a large volume, which is a heavy handicap in a watch.
- a type of snap-on spring illustrated for example in the U.S. Patent 4,234,769 is formed by a straight flexible blade which is held longitudinally curved by compression between two fixed stops.
- this spring has two stable positions and, in a push-button control, this requires an additional return spring.
- Another disadvantage is that permanent compression requires a fairly robust support that can be an annoying element in a small device such as a watch.
- Patent documents US 3,928,741 and DE 23 60 167 discloses push-button controllers (10) which comprise a spring element comprising a sheet of elastic material interposed between the pusher and its support so as to exert on the pusher a reactive force.
- the sheet of elastic material has at rest a curved or V-shaped section and comprises a central zone intended to rest against the pusher and a pair of support zones intended to rest against the support (or vice versa), so that the stroke of the pusher tends to bend the sheet of elastic material.
- the control devices described in these two documents are not click devices. Indeed, the reactive force exerted by the spring element increases continuously over the entire stroke of the pusher.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a control device with simple click and compact.
- the device should be easy to manufacture and mount and reliable in operation.
- the present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a click control device according to the features of claim 1.
- an advantage of this arrangement is that the spring element does not need to be rigidly attached to the support, which therefore must not be particularly robust. It is sufficient that the bearing areas of the spring element are maintained in the correct locations, for example by the pusher or through a housing in which this element is freely fitted. In fact, the spring element need not be attached to the support or the pusher. Another advantage is that such an element can be very small, in particular not larger than the head of the pusher, and that the entire device can be manufactured and mounted at a very low price.
- the latter comprises, in its central part, an orifice through which a rod of the pusher passes.
- said pair of bearing zones is located on a concave face, and the medial zone is on a convex face of the spring element.
- the support bears against the concave face and the pusher against the convex face.
- the spring element is positioned relative to the support and the pusher. It comprises, for this purpose, cuts in the vicinity of its opposite ends in contact with the pusher. In addition, the latter is provided with protuberances engaged in these cuts to ensure the relative positioning of the spring element and the pusher.
- the pusher itself can be guided in a conventional manner with respect to the support.
- the shape of the spring element comprises two plane walls interconnected by a rounded portion.
- This structure also makes it possible to guarantee a clear click and to control the force to be applied, so that, for the same model, it is practically the same from one room to another.
- the present invention also relates to a watch provided with a box and a control device as defined above.
- the box forms the support of the control device
- the pusher has a head disposed outside the box and a rod engaged in a hole of the box and opening inside the latter.
- the spring element is disposed in a recess of an outer face of the box and cooperates with the head of the pusher.
- both the pusher head and the spring element of the control device can be elongated, preferably oval.
- the device represented in the drawing comprises a support formed of a watch case 10, a pusher 12 mounted to move in translation along an axis AA on the box 10, and a spring element 14 interposed between the box 10 and the pusher 12.
- the box 10 can be made of any solid material, for example metal or plastic. It comprises a middle part 16 and a bottom 17, which define a housing 18 in which is disposed a watch movement 20. In the watch described here, the bottom 17 forms the plate of the movement 20.
- the middle part 16 is pierced with a hole cylindrical 22 whose axis, coincident with the axis AA, is oriented radially, connecting the housing 18 to the outside of the box 10.
- the middle part 16 comprises on its outer surface an elongate recess 24 which the side wall 24a is for example in the form of an oval cylinder.
- the bottom of the recess 24 has two opposite recesses 24b, adjacent to the wall 24a, and a convex central portion 24c having a spherical cap shape whose center is on the axis A-A of the pusher 12.
- the pusher 12 comprises a cylindrical rod 26, preferably metal, engaged in the hole 22, and a head 28 preferably made of plastic, fixed to the rod 26 by overmolding and disposed outside the box 10.
- the rod 26 has a diameter slightly smaller than the hole 22, so that it can slide freely. It is provided with two grooves 26a and 26b arranged so that, when the pusher 12 is in place, the groove 26a is inside the housing 18, flush with the inner wall of the middle part 16, and the groove 26b in the middle part of the hole 22.
- a leaf spring 30, part of a metal piece 29 fixed on the movement and connected to one of the poles of the electric battery supplying the movement 20, has a notch 31 to engage the groove 26a and thus prevent the pusher 12 to be removed from the hole 22. It also provides an electrical contact function, its free end being pressed against a pin 32 of a printed circuit board 33 fixed to the bottom 17, when the pusher 12 is hurry enough, as will be explained later.
- An O-ring 34 disposed in the groove 26b, is in contact with the wall of the hole 22 all around its circumference, to seal the passage of the pusher 12 in the hole 22 of the middle part 16.
- the head 28 of the pusher 12 has an elongate shape that corresponds to that of the recess 24, so that it can slide but can not rotate. It has here a cap shape having a convex outer portion 28a, integral with the rod 26, and an oval cylindrical portion 28b extending from the outer portion towards the middle 16, inside the recess 24.
- the head 28 has a concave inner surface 28d in the form of a truncated cone.
- the cylindrical portion 28b is provided on its inner face with two protuberances formed by fingers 28c. extending respectively from the head inside each recess 24b and whose function will be specified later.
- the spring 14 is formed of a thin sheet of stainless steel, generally oval in shape and provided at its center with a round orifice 14a whose diameter is slightly greater than that of the rod 26, so that the latter can slide freely.
- the oval shape has a major axis B-B and a small axis C-C, these axes being perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the axis A-A of the hole 22.
- the sheet forming the spring 14 is notched at both ends of the major axis of the oval, to form cutouts 14b for receiving the fingers 28c. It is curved or folded so as to have a shape inscribed on a geometric surface generated by a generatrix parallel to the longitudinal axis B-B, with a concave face 14c and a convex face 14d.
- the spring has a generally roof-like shape which has two flat walls interconnected by a rounded portion, thus forming a substantially V-shaped cross section. It will be noted that the spring has a symmetrical shape. rotation about the axis AA, as well as a symmetry with respect to its median longitudinal plane passing through the axes AA and BB.
- the spring element 14 is disposed in the recess 24, so that the rod 26 passes through the orifice 14a when it is engaged in the hole 22 and that its concave face 14c bears against the head 28, on at least one pair of bearing zones 36 located near the ends of its oval shape, while its convex face 14d bears against the central portion 24c of the support by at least one median zone 38 near the stem of the button.
- the spring element 14 is positioned relative to the pusher 12 by engagement of the fingers 28c in the cutouts 14b, so that it does not rub against the side wall 24a.
- the bearing areas of the spring 14 against the head 28 are along the edges of the cuts 14b. In the initial position represented in figure 1 there are in fact two of these support zones 36 on either side of each cut 14b. The convex face of the central portion of the spring 14 rests against the box 10 on two median areas 38 located on either side of the orifice 14a.
- the spring 14 behaves like a beam supported in its middle part and subjected to a force at its two ends.
- the beam tends to flex on the one hand in the direction of its length, but also to flatten in its transverse direction CC because of the tensile stresses that act along its two edges parallel to BB.
- the curved or V shape of the spring tends to open.
- the arrangement of the spring and its support zones is symmetrical with respect to its median longitudinal plane, the forces and deformations are also symmetrical and require no fastening means to stabilize the spring.
- the reaction force of the beam is a function of its deflection and the static moment of inertia of its cross section. But this moment of inertia is all the higher as the V is closed. In other words, by subjecting the beam to a sufficient force, the V deviates during the stroke of the pusher, which reduces the moment of static inertia. There comes a moment beyond which the force required to bend the beam decreases as the arrow increases. Past this point, the maintenance of the pressure causes a sudden depression of the pusher, which generates the click function. The leaf spring 30 then abruptly comes into contact with the pin 32, thus ensuring the desired electrical contact.
- the transverse spacing between the two bearing zones 36 at each end of the spring 14 also contributes to flatten the cross section thereof, but this complementary effect is not essential.
- the pusher By releasing the pusher, it returns alone in its place, under the combined action of the spring 14 and the leaf spring 30.
- the spring 14 provides a restoring force over the entire stroke of the pusher, the force of the spring- blade 30 is not essential. The latter could also be recalled by the spring 14 via the rod 26.
- the spring 14 described above can not only be manufactured inexpensively, but also is very easy to assemble and does not require a great strength of the support, since the greatest force applied to it is the pressure on the pusher. If this pressure exceeds the maximum reactive force of the spring, it will be absorbed by the fingers 28c abutting against the watch case.
- the spring element could be turned over if the corresponding bearing surfaces of the box and the pusher are reversed. Many other solutions are possible.
- the spring element could for example have a round or rectangular shape, or have a left surface. In all cases, it is necessary that the static moment of inertia decreases when the element is subjected to bending. This condition is satisfied when the section of the element in a plane defined by the axes AA and CC, which is perpendicular to the axis BB along which the bending takes place, is curved in a rest position, it is that is, when the element is not subjected to elastic deformation.
- the spring element could also be disposed inside the box, or in a housing made in the box and intended for this purpose. On the other hand, the spring element could be extended by one or more blades making themselves the electrical contact in place of the leaf spring 30.
- the device could also be used for pushbuttons used in other devices than watches, for example telephones or computers.
Abstract
Description
La présente invention se rapporte à un dispositif de commande à déclic comportant un support, un poussoir monté mobile sur le support de façon à avoir une course de translation selon un axe, et un élément à ressort capable d'exercer sur le poussoir une force réactive qui passe par un maximum pendant la course du poussoir. L'invention concerne aussi une montre comportant une boîte et un dispositif de commande de ce type.The present invention relates to a click control device comprising a support, a pusher movably mounted on the support so as to have a translational stroke along an axis, and a spring element capable of exerting on the pusher a reactive force. which goes through a maximum during the stroke of the pusher. The invention also relates to a watch comprising a box and a control device of this type.
Un tel dispositif de commande à déclic, dit aussi à action brusque, est utilisable en particulier pour actionner une lame de contact d'un interrupteur électrique, notamment pour commander des fonctions d'un appareil électronique portable. Cependant le poussoir d'un tel dispositif peut aussi produire une commande purement mécanique.Such a snap control device, also called sudden action, is used in particular to actuate a contact blade of an electrical switch, in particular to control functions of a portable electronic device. However, the pusher of such a device can also produce a purely mechanical control.
De tels dispositifs sont utilisés, par exemple, pour commander le départ et l'arrêt des montres chronographes mécaniques ou électriques. La fonction de déclic fait que le poussoir reste sans effet tant que la pression exercée ne dépasse pas une valeur limite de la force réactive, puis cette limite étant dépassée, le dispositif change brusquement d'état, car la pression nécessaire à terminer la fonction est inférieure à cette valeur limite. Il est ainsi possible de faire partir ou arrêter un compteur avec précision.Such devices are used, for example, to control the starting and stopping of mechanical or electrical chronograph watches. The click function causes the pusher to remain ineffective as long as the pressure exerted does not exceed a limit value of the reactive force, and after this limit is exceeded, the device suddenly changes state, because the pressure required to complete the function is less than this limit value. It is thus possible to start or stop a meter accurately.
Dans de telles montres connues, les pièces assurant la fonction de déclic font d'habitude partie du mécanisme de chronographe et sont fixées sur un pont ou sur la platine du mouvement. La force à vaincre est engendrée par un dispositif de type sautoir, avec un ressort travaillant en flexion, qui coopère avec une came, comme le prévoit par exemple le brevet
Il a également été proposé de réaliser des poussoirs à déclic dans lesquels cette fonction est assurée par un élément à ressort monté sur la boîte ou le poussoir. Une solution de cet ordre est représentée dans le brevet
On connaît par ailleurs, dans le domaine spécifique des interrupteurs électriques, des dispositifs de commande utilisant des ressorts à déclic pour produire une action brusque. Un type de ressort à déclic peu encombrant, illustré par exemple dans le
On peut pallier en partie ces inconvénients en incorporant la lame courbée par compression dans une lame-ressort plus grande qui forme un cadre autour d'elle et qui sera elle-même fléchie par le poussoir, par exemple comme le montre le brevet
Les documents de brevets
Un but de la présente invention est de réaliser un dispositif de commande à déclic simple et peu encombrant. A titre additionnel, le dispositif devrait être facile à fabriquer et à monter et fiable en fonctionnement.An object of the present invention is to provide a control device with simple click and compact. In addition, the device should be easy to manufacture and mount and reliable in operation.
Dans ce but, la présente invention concerne, selon un premier aspect, un dispositif de commande à déclic selon les caractéristiques de la revendication 1.For this purpose, the present invention relates, in a first aspect, to a click control device according to the features of claim 1.
Un avantage de cet agencement est que l'élément à ressort n'a pas besoin d'être fixé rigidement au support, lequel ne doit donc pas être particulièrement robuste. Il suffit que les zones d'appui de l'élément à ressort soient maintenues aux emplacements corrects, par exemple par le poussoir ou grâce à un logement dans lequel cet élément est librement emboîté. En fait, l'élément à ressort n'a besoin d'être fixé ni au support, ni au poussoir. Un autre avantage est qu'un tel élément peut être très petit, notamment pas plus grand que la tête du poussoir, et qu'on peut fabriquer et monter l'ensemble du dispositif à un prix très bas.An advantage of this arrangement is that the spring element does not need to be rigidly attached to the support, which therefore must not be particularly robust. It is sufficient that the bearing areas of the spring element are maintained in the correct locations, for example by the pusher or through a housing in which this element is freely fitted. In fact, the spring element need not be attached to the support or the pusher. Another advantage is that such an element can be very small, in particular not larger than the head of the pusher, and that the entire device can be manufactured and mounted at a very low price.
De préférence, afin d'assurer de bonnes conditions de travail du poussoir et de l'élément à ressort, ce dernier comporte, dans sa partie centrale, un orifice à travers lequel passe une tige du poussoir.Preferably, in order to ensure good working conditions of the pusher and the spring element, the latter comprises, in its central part, an orifice through which a rod of the pusher passes.
Dans un mode de réalisation préféré, ladite paire de zones d'appui est située sur une face concave, et la zone médiane sur une face convexe de l'élément à ressort. De manière avantageuse, le support est en appui contre la face concave et le poussoir contre la face convexe.In a preferred embodiment, said pair of bearing zones is located on a concave face, and the medial zone is on a convex face of the spring element. Advantageously, the support bears against the concave face and the pusher against the convex face.
Pour garantir que les conditions de travail restent les mêmes au cours de la vie du produit, il est souhaitable que l'élément à ressort soit positionné par rapport au support et au poussoir. Il comporte, à cet effet, des découpes au voisinage de ses extrémités opposées en contact avec le poussoir. En outre, ce dernier est muni de protubérances engagées dans ces découpes pour assurer le positionnement relatif de l'élément à ressort et du poussoir. Le poussoir lui-même peut être guidé de manière classique par rapport au support.To ensure that the working conditions remain the same during the life of the product, it is desirable that the spring element is positioned relative to the support and the pusher. It comprises, for this purpose, cuts in the vicinity of its opposite ends in contact with the pusher. In addition, the latter is provided with protuberances engaged in these cuts to ensure the relative positioning of the spring element and the pusher. The pusher itself can be guided in a conventional manner with respect to the support.
De bonnes conditions de fabrication ont été obtenues lorsque la forme de l'élément à ressort comporte deux parois planes reliées entre elles par une portion arrondie. Cette structure permet, en outre, de garantir un déclic net et de bien maîtriser la force à appliquer, de manière à ce que, pour un même modèle, elle soit pratiquement la même d'une pièce à l'autre.Good manufacturing conditions have been obtained when the shape of the spring element comprises two plane walls interconnected by a rounded portion. This structure also makes it possible to guarantee a clear click and to control the force to be applied, so that, for the same model, it is practically the same from one room to another.
La présente invention se rapporte également à une montre munie d'une boîte et d'un dispositif de commande tel que défini plus haut. Dans cette montre, la boîte forme le support du dispositif de commande, le poussoir comporte une tête disposée à l'extérieur de la boîte et une tige engagée dans un trou de la boîte et débouchant à l'intérieur de cette dernière. L'élément à ressort est disposé dans un évidement d'une face extérieure de la boîte et coopère avec la tête du poussoir.The present invention also relates to a watch provided with a box and a control device as defined above. In this watch, the box forms the support of the control device, the pusher has a head disposed outside the box and a rod engaged in a hole of the box and opening inside the latter. The spring element is disposed in a recess of an outer face of the box and cooperates with the head of the pusher.
L'épaisseur des montres joue un rôle important du point de vue esthétique. Aussi, afin de réduire cette épaisseur autant que possible tout en ayant des poussoirs faciles à manipuler, tant la tête du poussoir que l'élément à ressort du dispositif de commande peuvent être de forme allongée, de préférence ovale.The thickness of watches plays an important role from an aesthetic point of view. Also, in order to reduce this thickness as much as possible while having pushers easy to handle, both the pusher head and the spring element of the control device can be elongated, preferably oval.
D'autres avantages et caractéristiques de l'invention ressortiront de la description suivante d'un mode de réalisation préféré, en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :
- la
figure 1 est une vue en plan partiellement coupée d'une partie d'une boîte de montre équipée d'au moins un dispositif de commande à poussoir selon l'invention, - la
figure 2 est une vue éclatée en perspective de l'objet de lafigure 1 , et - la
figure 3 est une vue analogue à lafigure 2 , mais sous un autre angle.
- the
figure 1 is a partially cut plan view of a part of a watch case equipped with at least one push-button control device according to the invention, - the
figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the object of thefigure 1 , and - the
figure 3 is a view similar to thefigure 2 , but from another angle.
Le dispositif représenté au dessin comporte un support formé d'une boîte de montre 10, un poussoir 12 monté mobile en translation selon un axe A-A sur la boîte 10, et un élément à ressort 14 interposé entre la boîte 10 et le poussoir 12.The device represented in the drawing comprises a support formed of a
La boîte 10 peut être réalisée en n'importe quel matériau solide, par exemple en métal ou en plastique. Elle comporte une carrure 16 et un fond 17, qui définissent un logement 18 dans lequel est disposé un mouvement de montre 20. Dans la montre décrite ici, le fond 17 forme la platine du mouvement 20. La carrure 16 est percée d'un trou cylindrique 22 dont l'axe, confondu avec l'axe A-A, est orienté radialement, reliant le logement 18 à l'extérieur de la boîte 10. Au voisinage du trou 22, la carrure 16 comprend sur sa surface externe un évidement allongé 24 dont la paroi latérale 24a est par exemple en forme de cylindre ovale. Le fond de l'évidement 24 comporte deux renfoncements opposés 24b, adjacents à la paroi 24a, et une portion centrale bombée 24c présentant une forme de calotte sphérique dont le centre se trouve sur l'axe A-A du poussoir 12.The
Le poussoir 12 comporte une tige cylindrique 26, de préférence en métal, engagée dans le trou 22, et une tête 28 avantageusement en plastique, fixée à la tige 26 par surmoulage et disposée à l'extérieur de la boîte 10. La tige 26 présente un diamètre légèrement inférieur à celui du trou 22, de façon qu'elle puisse y coulisser librement. Elle est munie de deux gorges 26a et 26b disposées de manière que, lorsque le poussoir 12 est en place, la gorge 26a se trouve à l'intérieur du logement 18, affleurant la paroi intérieure de la carrure 16, et la gorge 26b dans la partie médiane du trou 22.The
Un ressort-lame 30, faisant partie d'une pièce métallique 29 fixée sur le mouvement et reliée à l'un des pôles de la pile électrique alimentant le mouvement 20, comporte une échancrure 31 pour s'engager dans la gorge 26a et empêcher ainsi le poussoir 12 d'être retiré du trou 22. Il assure en outre une fonction de contact électrique, son extrémité libre allant s'appliquer contre une goupille 32 d'une carte à circuits imprimés 33 fixée au fond 17, lorsque le poussoir 12 est pressé suffisamment, comme on l'expliquera plus loin.A
Un joint torique 34, disposé dans la gorge 26b, est en contact avec la paroi du trou 22 sur tout son pourtour, pour assurer l'étanchéité du passage du poussoir 12 dans le trou 22 de la carrure 16.An O-
La tête 28 du poussoir 12 a une forme allongée qui correspond à celle de l'évidement 24, de sorte qu'elle peut y coulisser mais sans pouvoir tourner. Elle présente ici une forme de calotte ayant une portion extérieure bombée 28a, solidaire de la tige 26, et une portion cylindrique ovale 28b s'étendant de la portion extérieure en direction de la carrure 16, à l'intérieur de l'évidement 24. La tête 28 présente une surface intérieure concave 28d en forme de tronc de cône. La portion cylindrique 28b est munie, sur sa face interne, de deux protubérances formées par des doigts 28c s'étendant respectivement de la tête à l'intérieur de chaque renfoncement 24b et dont la fonction sera précisée plus loin.The
Le ressort 14 est formé d'une feuille mince d'acier inoxydable, de forme générale ovale et munie en son centre d'un orifice rond 14a dont le diamètre est légèrement supérieur à celui de la tige 26, de manière à ce que cette dernière puisse y coulisser librement. La forme ovale a un grand axe B-B et un petit axe C-C, ces axes étant perpendiculaires entre eux et perpendiculaires à l'axe A-A du trou 22.The
La feuille formant le ressort 14 est entaillée aux deux extrémités du grand axe de l'ovale, pour former des découpes 14b destinées recevoir les doigts 28c. Elle est incurvée ou pliée de manière à présenter une forme inscrite sur une surface géométrique engendrée par une génératrice parallèle à l'axe longitudinal B-B, avec une face concave 14c et une face convexe 14d.The sheet forming the
Dans le mode de réalisation représenté au dessin, le ressort a une forme générale en toit qui présente deux parois planes reliées entre elles par une portion arrondie, formant ainsi une section transversale sensiblement en forme de V. On relèvera que le ressort présente une symétrie de rotation autour de l'axe A-A, ainsi qu'une symétrie par rapport à son plan longitudinal médian passant par les axes A-A et B-B.In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the spring has a generally roof-like shape which has two flat walls interconnected by a rounded portion, thus forming a substantially V-shaped cross section. It will be noted that the spring has a symmetrical shape. rotation about the axis AA, as well as a symmetry with respect to its median longitudinal plane passing through the axes AA and BB.
L'élément à ressort 14 est disposé dans l'évidement 24, de manière que la tige 26 le traverse par l'orifice 14a lorsqu'elle est engagée dans le trou 22 et que sa face concave 14c soit en appui contre la tête 28, sur au moins une paire de zones d'appui 36 situées à proximité des extrémités de sa forme ovale, tandis que sa face convexe 14d est en appui contre la portion centrale 24c du support par au moins une zone médiane 38 à proximité de la tige du poussoir. L'élément à ressort 14 est positionné relativement au poussoir 12 par l'engagement des doigts 28c dans les découpes 14b, de sorte qu'il ne frotte pas contre la paroi latérale 24a.The
Dans l'exemple représenté, les zones d'appui du ressort 14 contre la tête 28 se trouvent le long des bords des découpes 14b. Dans la position initiale représentée en
Lorsque l'utilisateur d'une montre munie d'un dispositif tel que décrit plus haut actionne le poussoir 12, il exerce sur la tête 28 une pression manuelle qui tend à faire pénétrer la tige 26 à l'intérieur de la boîte 10. La tête 28 prend appui, au voisinage de ses doigts 28c, contre la face concave 14c du ressort 14, plus précisément sur les deux paires de zones d'appui 36 situés aux extrémités du ressort 14, dont les zones médianes 38 sont en appui contre la portion centrale 24c bombée du logement 24. La pression engendre ainsi une force qui tend à déformer le ressort 14.When the user of a watch equipped with a device as described above actuates the
De la sorte, le ressort 14 se comporte comme une poutre appuyée dans sa partie médiane et soumise à une force à ses deux extrémités. Sous l'effet de la pression manuelle sur le poussoir, la poutre tend à fléchir d'une part dans le sens de sa longueur, mais aussi à s'aplatir dans sa direction transversale C-C à cause des contraintes de traction qui agissent le long de ses deux bords parallèlement à B-B. Autrement dit, la forme incurvée ou en V du ressort tend à s'ouvrir. Comme la disposition du ressort et de ses zones d'appui est symétrique par rapport à son plan longitudinal médian, les efforts et les déformations sont également symétriques et ne nécessitent aucun moyen de fixation pour stabiliser le ressort.In this way, the
La force de réaction de la poutre est fonction de sa flèche et du moment d'inertie statique de sa section transversale. Or, ce moment d'inertie est d'autant plus élevé que le V est fermé. En d'autres termes, en soumettant la poutre à une force suffisante, le V s'écarte durant la course du poussoir, ce qui diminue le moment d'inertie statique. Il arrive un moment au-delà duquel la force nécessaire pour faire fléchir la poutre diminue lorsque la flèche augmente. Passé ce point, le maintien de la pression provoque un enfoncement brutal du poussoir, ce qui engendre la fonction de déclic. Le ressort-lame 30 entre alors brusquement en contact avec la goupille 32, assurant ainsi le contact électrique voulu.The reaction force of the beam is a function of its deflection and the static moment of inertia of its cross section. But this moment of inertia is all the higher as the V is closed. In other words, by subjecting the beam to a sufficient force, the V deviates during the stroke of the pusher, which reduces the moment of static inertia. There comes a moment beyond which the force required to bend the beam decreases as the arrow increases. Past this point, the maintenance of the pressure causes a sudden depression of the pusher, which generates the click function. The
L'espacement transversal entre les deux zones d'appui 36 à chaque extrémité du ressort 14 contribue aussi à aplatir la section transversale de celui-ci, mais cet effet complémentaire n'est pas indispensable.The transverse spacing between the two bearing
En relâchant le poussoir, celui-ci revient seul à sa place, sous l'action conjuguée du ressort 14 et du ressort-lame 30. Comme le ressort 14 fournit une force de rappel sur toute la course du poussoir, la force du ressort-lame 30 n'est pas indispensable. Ce dernier pourrait aussi être rappelé par le ressort 14 par l'entremise de la tige 26.By releasing the pusher, it returns alone in its place, under the combined action of the
Des essais effectués ont montré qu'avec un ressort 14 réalisé à partir d'une tôle de 0,06 mm d'épaisseur, ayant une largeur de 3,50 mm, une longueur active de 5,00 mm (définie par la distance entre les deux découpes 14b), un trou central 14a de 1,40 mm de diamètre et une ouverture du V égale à 140°, la force à appliquer sur le poussoir est égale à environ 7 N.Tests have shown that with a
On comprend aisément que le ressort 14 décrit ci-dessus peut non seulement être fabriqué à peu de frais, mais aussi est très facile à monter et ne nécessite pas une grande robustesse du support, puisque la plus grande force qui lui est appliquée est la pression sur le poussoir. Si cette pression dépasse la force réactive maximale du ressort, elle sera absorbée par les doigts 28c butant contre la boîte de montre.It is easily understood that the
Il est bien évident que le mode de réalisation décrit n'est qu'une variante parmi d'autres. L'élément à ressort pourrait être retourné si les surfaces d'appui correspondantes de la boîte et du poussoir sont inversées. De nombreuses autres solutions sont envisageables. L'élément à ressort pourrait par exemple avoir une forme ronde ou rectangulaire, ou encore présenter une surface gauche. Dans tous les cas, il faut que le moment d'inertie statique diminue lorsque l'élément est soumis à une flexion. Cette condition est satisfaite lorsque la section de l'élément selon un plan défini par les axes A-A et C-C, qui est perpendiculaire à l'axe B-B le long duquel s'effectue la flexion, est incurvée dans une position de repos, c'est-à-dire quand l'élément n'est pas soumis à une déformation élastique.It is obvious that the embodiment described is only one variant among others. The spring element could be turned over if the corresponding bearing surfaces of the box and the pusher are reversed. Many other solutions are possible. The spring element could for example have a round or rectangular shape, or have a left surface. In all cases, it is necessary that the static moment of inertia decreases when the element is subjected to bending. This condition is satisfied when the section of the element in a plane defined by the axes AA and CC, which is perpendicular to the axis BB along which the bending takes place, is curved in a rest position, it is that is, when the element is not subjected to elastic deformation.
L'élément à ressort pourrait également être disposé à l'intérieur de la boîte, voire dans un logement pratiqué dans la boîte et destiné à cet effet. D'autre part, l'élément à ressort pourrait être prolongé par une ou plusieurs lames réalisant elles-mêmes le contact électrique à la place du ressort-lame 30.The spring element could also be disposed inside the box, or in a housing made in the box and intended for this purpose. On the other hand, the spring element could be extended by one or more blades making themselves the electrical contact in place of the
Le dispositif pourrait également être utilisé pour des boutons-poussoirs utilisés dans d'autres appareils que les montres, par exemple des téléphones ou des ordinateurs.The device could also be used for pushbuttons used in other devices than watches, for example telephones or computers.
Claims (10)
- Control device including a support (10), a push-button (12) mounted so as to move on the support so as to have a travel in translation along an axis (A-A), and a spring element (14) able to exert a reactive force on the push-button, , the spring element (14) including a sheet made of resilient material, inserted between the push-button (12) and the support (10) and having at least a median zone (38) located in its central portion and at least a pair of support zones (36) located at the ends of an axis (B-B) of said sheet, the axis (B-B) of said sheet crossing said median zone, the pair of support zones and the median zone being intended to abut one against the push-button (12) and the other against the support (10) so that the travel of the push-button tends to bend said sheet along said axis (B-B) of said sheet, characterized in that the control device is a snap-action control device, said reactive force passing through a maximum during the travel of the push-button, and in that, in the rest position, said sheet has a bent or V-shapecross section transversally to the axis (B-B) of said sheet.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (14) is not secured to the support (10) or to the push-button (12).
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (14) includes in its central portion an orifice (14a) through which a stem (26) of the push-button passes.
- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said pair of support zones (36) is located on a concave face (14c), and the median zone (38) on a convex face (14d) of the spring element.
- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the concave face (14c) of the spring element (14) abuts against the support (10), and in that the convex face (14d) of said spring element (14) abuts against the push-button (12).
- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring element (14) includes cut out portions (14b) in proximity to its opposite ends and in that the push-button includes protrusions (28c) engaged in said cut out portions to assure relative positioning of the spring element and the push-button.
- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring element (14) is symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal plane passing through the axis of the push-button.
- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring element includes two plane walls connected to each other by a rounded portion.
- Watch including a case (10) and a control device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that:- the case (10) forms the support of the control device;- the push-button (12) includes a head (28) arranged outside the case, and a stem (26) engaged so as to slide in a hole (22) of the case and opening out inside (28) the latter; and- the spring element (14) is arranged in a recess (24) of an outer face of the case (10) and cooperates with a head (28) of the push-button (12).
- Watch according to claim 9, characterized in that the head (28) of the push-button and the spring element (14) both have an elongated shape, in particular an oval shape.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00202007A EP1162521B1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | Snap-action actuating device and watch provided with such a device |
DE60044023T DE60044023D1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | Snap action actuator and clock equipped with such a device |
AT00202007T ATE461472T1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | ACTUATING DEVICE WITH SNAP EFFECT AND WATCH EQUIPPED WITH SUCH DEVICE |
ES00202007T ES2340355T3 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | RATCHET CONTROL AND WATCH DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SUCH DEVICE. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00202007A EP1162521B1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | Snap-action actuating device and watch provided with such a device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1162521A1 EP1162521A1 (en) | 2001-12-12 |
EP1162521B1 true EP1162521B1 (en) | 2010-03-17 |
Family
ID=8171608
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00202007A Expired - Lifetime EP1162521B1 (en) | 2000-06-07 | 2000-06-07 | Snap-action actuating device and watch provided with such a device |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1162521B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE461472T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE60044023D1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2340355T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2851845B1 (en) * | 2003-02-27 | 2006-07-14 | Itt Mfg Enterprises Inc | SWITCHING DEVICE MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH A CENTRAL LIGHT SOURCE, AND ELECTRIC APPARATUS KEYBOARD BUTTON COMPRISING SUCH A SWITCHING DEVICE. |
JP4445837B2 (en) * | 2004-04-21 | 2010-04-07 | ホシデン株式会社 | Push-on switch |
CN100501890C (en) * | 2004-04-21 | 2009-06-17 | 星电株式会社 | Push-on switch |
EP4092490A1 (en) * | 2021-05-19 | 2022-11-23 | Meco S.A. | Device for controlling a timepiece movement with touch return and timepiece, in particular a watch, including such a device |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1157462A (en) * | 1956-08-24 | 1958-05-29 | Jaeger Ets Ed | Maneuvering device with sudden release |
DE2360167A1 (en) * | 1973-12-03 | 1975-06-05 | Marquardt J & J | Snap-action push-button switch - has moving contact arm with snap-action leaf spring between two support bearings |
US3928741A (en) * | 1974-09-16 | 1975-12-23 | Texas Instruments Inc | Momentary contact single pole switch |
DE2557703C3 (en) * | 1975-12-20 | 1979-03-15 | Telefonbau Und Normalzeit Gmbh, 6000 Frankfurt | Pressure switch |
DK142007B (en) | 1978-02-22 | 1980-08-04 | Mec Mekanisk Elek Sk Compagni | Electric switch with click spring. |
FR2420834A1 (en) | 1978-03-24 | 1979-10-19 | Suisse Horlogerie | PUSHBUTTON SWITCH FOR WATCH PART |
DE3928650A1 (en) | 1989-08-30 | 1991-03-28 | Stocko Metallwarenfab Henkels | ELECTRIC PRESSURE SWITCH |
-
2000
- 2000-06-07 AT AT00202007T patent/ATE461472T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-06-07 DE DE60044023T patent/DE60044023D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-06-07 EP EP00202007A patent/EP1162521B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-06-07 ES ES00202007T patent/ES2340355T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1162521A1 (en) | 2001-12-12 |
DE60044023D1 (en) | 2010-04-29 |
ES2340355T3 (en) | 2010-06-02 |
ATE461472T1 (en) | 2010-04-15 |
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