EP1278108A1 - Device for adjusting the alignment of a back cover, which is screwed on the middle of a watchcase, with respect to an axis 12H-6H - Google Patents

Abstract

The intermediate assembly (1) which is a pressed fit within the watchcase consists of an elastic blocking ring (4) which contains a metallic threaded ring (2). The watchcase base (6) is screwed into the metallic ring using a threaded rim (8,10). If the alignment of any base markings is not satisfactory it may be rotated with complementary motion of first the metallic ring and then the blocking ring after engagement of lug (20). A case lug (67) facilitates unscrewing

Description

The present invention relates to a system for adjusting the alignment of a bottom screwing on the middle of a watch case with respect to a vertical axis 12 hours to 6 hours.

It often happens that, during the face of a watch box bottom on the the middle of the latter, we realize that when the bottom is completely screwed, inscriptions or decorative motifs that may have been struck by stamped or engraved on the face of the bottom located on the wrist side of the wearer of the shows, are not properly aligned with respect to the vertical axis 12 o'clock-6 o'clock of said watch, which, of course, detracts from the aesthetic appearance of this watch.

This lack of appearance, if it can be tolerated for cheap watches, is a very inconvenient disadvantage for more expensive watches.

To overcome this drawback, the only known solution so far is to match a background with a watchbox determined during the machining, so that it is ensured that once completely screwed, the bottom is perfectly aligned with the axis 12h-6h of the watch. This solution is, however, unsatisfactory because exposed to problems if the original background of the watch is lost or damaged and that it is necessary to replace it with another one of which we are not sure that a once screwed on the middle, it always aligns properly with the vertical axis 12h-6h.

The present invention aims to remedy this drawback as well as others by proposing a system allowing, after screwing a bottom on the the size of a watch case, to adjust in a simple and effective way the alignment of this background with respect to the axis 12h-6h of the watch, so as to guarantee a provision suitable inscriptions and other decorative motifs that have been reported on the face from the bottom of the watch directed towards the wrist of the wearer of this watch.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a device for fixing a bottom on a middle of a watch case, the bottom having a screw on his outer circumference, this device being characterized in that it comprises an element intermediary engaged forcefully in the lower part of the middle part of the watch, the bottom screwing by his screw on the intermediate element which presents for this purpose on its outer periphery a complementary thread, this intermediate element being likely to be forced to pivot relative to the middle of the watch for adjust the alignment of said bottom with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of said watch.

Thanks to these characteristics, the. present invention provides a device for fixing a watch case back that allows you to completely screw at the same time this background on the middle of the watch so as to seal the latter and to avoid as much as possible any risk of losing said bottom, then, although the bottom is screwed to block, to rotate this bottom relative to the middle to make up for a possible misalignment of the inscriptions or patterns applied to the visible face of the said background by compared to the 12h-6h axis of the watch.

The problems of the prior art are thus solved. In particular, we are no longer obliged to machine the bottoms and squares in pairs with great precision in order to to be assured that assembly, when a bottom is completely screwed on the corresponding size, this will be properly aligned with the axis vertical of the watch. Reducing the requirements related to the precision with which backs and squares must be machined, the present invention thus makes it possible to reduce sensitive way manufacturing costs and to limit the number of parts that must discarded due to machining defects, which, of course, has an impact favorable on the cost price of the completed watch.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the intermediate element comprises a resilient locking member and a metal member which is arranged so concentric inside the elastic locking element, the bottom being screwed on the metal element so that when the bottom is completely screwed on said metal element, this metal element may be forced to pivot relative to the middle of the watch by sliding on the elastic locking element which remains fixed up to a stop point from which the metallic element becomes fixed again by relative to the elastic locking element which, in turn, may be forced to pivot in sliding on the middle part of the watch being pivotally driven by said element metal, this allows to adjust the alignment of the bottom with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of said watch.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the adjustment torque of the alignment of the bottom with respect to the vertical axis is less than the locking torque of the bottom on the intermediate element by which said bottom is mounted on the middle part.

It is thus ensured that the bottom is not likely to be unscrewed when it is rotated to adjust its vertical alignment.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective et en éclaté de l'ensemble intermédiaire par lequel un fond est monté sur la carrure de la montre, cet ensemble intermédiaire comprenant un élément élastique de blocage et un élément métallique concentrique à l'élément élastique de blocage et sur lequel est vissé le fond;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe effectuée au niveau de l'ergot de l'élément métallique d'une pièce d'horlogerie comprenant un ensemble intermédiaire de fixation du fond conforme à l'invention;
• la figure 3 est une vue à plus grande échelle de la région entourée d'un cercle sur la figure 2;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe de l'élément élastique de blocage selon l'axe IV-IV de la figure 1;
• la figure 5 est une autre vue en coupe selon l'axe V-V de la figure 1 de l'élément élastique de blocage;
• la figure 6 est une vue en plan du fond de la boíte de montre vissé à bloc sur l'élément métallique de l'ensemble intermédiaire, le fond n'étant pas convenablement aligné par rapport à l'axe vertical 12h-6h de la montre;
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 6 sur laquelle on voit que l'ensemble formé par le fond vissé sur l'élément métallique est pivoté par rapport à l'élément élastique de blocage jusqu'à venir dans une position dans laquelle un ergot de l'élément métallique vient en butée contre l'élément élastique de blocage, et
• la figure 8 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 6 sur laquelle on voit que le fond vissé et l'ensemble intermédiaire par lequel ledit fond est fixé sur la carrure sont pivotés par rapport à la carrure jusqu'à venir dans la position dans laquelle le motif reporté sur la face visible du fond est convenablement aligné par rapport à l'axe vertical.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention, this example being given purely by way of illustration and not limitation in connection with the attached drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective and exploded view of the intermediate assembly through which a bottom is mounted on the middle part of the watch, this intermediate assembly comprising a resilient locking element and a metal element concentric with the elastic locking element. and on which is screwed the bottom;
• Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at the lug of the metal element of a timepiece comprising an intermediate fixing assembly of the bottom according to the invention;
• Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the region surrounded by a circle in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view of the resilient locking element along the axis IV-IV of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is another sectional view along the axis VV of Figure 1 of the resilient locking member;
• Figure 6 is a plan view of the bottom of the watch case bolted to the block on the metal element of the intermediate assembly, the bottom is not properly aligned with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch ;
• FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 on which it can be seen that the assembly formed by the bottom screwed onto the metal element is pivoted with respect to the elastic locking element until it comes to a position in which a lug of the metal element abuts against the elastic locking element, and
• Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 on which it is seen that the screwed bottom and the intermediate assembly by which said bottom is fixed on the middle part are rotated relative to the middle part until coming into the position in which the pattern carried on the visible face of the bottom is suitably aligned with respect to the vertical axis.

The present invention proceeds from the general inventive idea of screw a bottom not directly on the middle of a box of a watch, but on a intermediate assembly engaged by force in the lower part of the middle part of the shows, so that the bottom, screwed to block on the intermediate assembly, remains captive while being rotatable relative to the middle of the watch to adjust its alignment with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of said watch. Thanks to these characteristics, the present invention provides a timepiece whose middle and bottom do not need to be machined with great precision, which reduces manufacturing costs.

The intermediate assembly according to the invention intended for fixing a bottom on the middle of a watch is shown in perspective and in the dissociated state in FIG. Designated as a whole by the general numerical reference 1, this set intermediate comprises a metal element 2 which is in the form of of a ring and which is arranged concentrically inside a resilient locking member 4 also substantially shaped ring.

A circular bottom 6 is screwed by a screw thread 8 which is provided with a crown 10 concentrically on the inner side of the bottom, on the element 2, which has a screw thread on its inner periphery complementary 12.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 as well as in FIGS. 2 and 3, the metal element 2 has on its outer periphery an annular shoulder 14 on the upper surface 16 which supports a flange 18 which extends all the along the inner periphery of the resilient locking element 4.

The metal element 2 also comprises a pin 20 which, as will be described in more detail later, is able to pivot by an angle α (FIG. 7) along a rim 22 in an arc delimited by a rim 23 formed on the periphery inside the elastic locking element 4. The elastic locking element 4 also includes, formed on its outer periphery, a second edge 24 delimited by a border 25. This outer edge 24 also forms, in the zone where the inner rim 22 does not exist, an arc of a circle which is substantially the complement that formed by said inner rim 22. In other words, the angle β (Figure 8) which intercepts the arc formed by the second flange 24 has a value as added to the angle α it produces a sum of 360 °. In the example represented in the figures, the angle α preferably has a value of 270 °, which corresponds to three quarters of the perimeter of a circle, and the angle β therefore has a value of 90 ° corresponding to the last quarter circle. It goes without saying, however, that α angles and β can take any values for as long as their sum remains equal to 360 °. This condition on the value of the sum of the angles α and β is imposed by the fact that there may be cases where it is necessary to be able to rotate the bottom 6 of a complete revolution to the extent that it is completely misaligned compared to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch.

The timepiece, for example of the wristwatch type, which is provided with the intermediate assembly 1 according to the invention by which the bottom is mounted on the middle part of the watch case is partially shown in Figures 2 and 3. Designated as a whole by the general reference numeral 26, this timepiece comprises in particular a middle part 28 surmounted by a telescope 30 which can be screwed on the middle part 28 and which serves to maintain a mirror 32. The assembly formed by the bezel 30 and the ice 32 is sealed by interposition of a seal 34. The middle part 28 also has a bore 36 for the passage of a rod 38 on which is fixed in a crown 40. In the example shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wristwatch 26 is of the type with analog time display and includes for this purpose a hour and minute hands (a single needle has been shown at drawing) moving over a dial 44. It goes without saying that the present invention could as well apply to a watch with digital time display comprising, for example, a liquid crystal cell.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the present invention may apply to any type of timepiece with a circular base and not requires, in order to be implemented, only minor modifications which for the essentials relate to the shape to be given to the middle part 28 at the level of its part lower where is the junction with the intermediate assembly 1 fixing the bottom 6 according to the invention.

The elastic locking element 4 forms at its center an annular recess in which the metal element 2 can be engaged. We must then be able to mount this set 1 in the watch 26.

For this purpose, the intermediate assembly 1 formed by the metal element 2 and the elastic locking element 4 is force-fed from the bottom of the watch 26. facilitate this movement of engagement, the elastic element 4 presents over the entire length of its upper edge 46 located on the outside of the watch 26 a plane inclined 48 which slides on a corresponding inclined plane 50 made to the part lower part of the middle part 28.

The metal element 2 and the elastic element 4 are dimensioned such that so that, when they are forced into the caseband 28, the metallic element 2 radially presses the elastic element 4 against said middle part 28, which has the effect of compressing said elastic element 4. This elastic element 4 comprises in particular a base 51 which extends all along its lower part and which, in reaction to the compressive force, will firmly apply the metal element 2 against the bottom 6, ensuring a good maintenance of the constructive set. A rate of compression of the base 51 of the order of 20% is preferred. Such a rate causes a increased frictional forces between the metallic element 2 and the element elastic band 4 on the one hand, and between the latter and the caseband 28 on the other hand, and determines therefore the couples involved for adjusting the alignment of the bottom 6 with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch 26 as will now be described in connection with Figures 6 to 8.

For its axial retention, the elastic element 4 comprises all around its periphery outside a protrusion 52 which penetrates into a groove 54 arranged opposite in the 28. The groove 54 has a top return 56 which overhangs the element elastic 4 and the metal element 2 and which serves as abutment surface.

Once the intermediate assembly 1 according to the invention engaged in the middle 28 of the watch 26, the bottom 6 can be screwed onto the metal element 2. For this purpose, the bottom 6 includes on its outer surface 58 turned on the wrist side of the wearer of the watch 26 of the notches 60 which serve for the introduction of the tenons of a key of tightening (not shown) which will allow to completely screw said bottom 6 in the metal element 2.

Note that the bottom 6 advances under the middle 28 of the watch 26 of to mask the metal element 2 and the elastic element 4 at the sight of a observer. The advanced 62 of the bottom 6 also serves as a stop surface against the metal element 2 at the end of the screwing of said bottom 6.

In Figure 6, we see that a pattern 66 (in this case, it is the Greek letter uppercase lettering) carried on the outer surface 58 visible with respect to the bottom 6 by any suitable technique such as stamping or etching is totally misaligned with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch 26. The problem therefore to straighten that ground 66 so that it is properly aligned and that the aesthetic appearance of the watch 26 is improved.

The present invention solves the problem mentioned above. In firstly, the bottom 6 was completely screwed in using the wrench in the metal element 2. It can indeed screw the bottom 6 to a strong pair of blockage because the lug 20 of the metal element 2 abuts against the border inside 23 of the elastic element 4 which itself stops with its outer edge 25 against a pin 67 forcibly engaged in the middle part 28 of the watch 26 (see FIG. 6).

Screwing the bottom 6 is done by turning it in the direction of the needles of a watch. The pattern 66 being misaligned with respect to the axis 12h-6h, we will now rotate, still using the wrench, the assembly formed by the bottom 6 and the metal element 2 on which said bottom 6 is screwed in the direction counterclockwise along arrow A (Figure 7). The bottom 6 and the metal element 2 which are stationary relative to each other pivot relative to the elastic member of blocking 4.

Of course, it is necessary that the couple that it is necessary to exercise to be able to pivoting the bottom assembly 6 / metallic element 2 is less than the locking torque said bottom 6 on said metal element 2, otherwise the bottom 6 would risk unscrew. The adjustment torque of the alignment of the bottom 6 with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h clock 26 is essentially determined by the friction forces that are exerted between the metal element 2 and the elastic element 4 at the base 51 of the latter. As already mentioned above, a compression ratio of the base 51 of the order of 20% is preferred because it was found that such a rate led, by the frictional forces that it induces between the metallic element 2 and the element 4, at a setting of the alignment torque of the bottom 6 sufficiently high for that said bottom 6 is not likely to move unexpectedly, but also low enough so that by turning the bottom 6 counterclockwise, it does not unscrew.

It can be seen in FIG. 7 that the bottom assembly 6 / metal element 2 has pivoted one angle α substantially equal to 270 ° relative to the elastic locking element 4 which remains fixed. During this movement, the lug 20 which protrudes on the outer periphery of the metal element 2 has slid along the upper surface of the inner rim 22 of the elastic element 4. The end position of the assembly formed by the bottom 6 and the metal element 2 is determined by the point where the lug 20 abuts against a vertical face 68 of the inner edge 23 which delimits the inner rim 22 of the elastic element 4 (Figure 7).

Of course, if, during this move, the pattern 66 passes through a position in which it is aligned with the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch 26, we will stop rotate the bottom.

In the case represented in the drawing, it can be seen that it came to a stop against the elastic locking element 4, the bottom 6 is still not properly aligned. It is therefore necessary to continue to pivot the bottom 6 with the same tightening key as the one used in the previous step. During this new pivoting movement, the element locking elastic does not stay still. Indeed, it is driven to pivot by the lug 20 of the metal element 4 which abuts against the vertical face 68 of said element elastic 4. Of course, the couple must exercise to drive the whole background 6 / metallic element 2 / resilient locking element 4 according to arrow B (FIG. 8) counterclockwise should be less than the bottom 6 locking torque on the metal element 2 so as not to risk unintentionally unscrewing said bottom 6. This new pair of adjustment of the alignment of the bottom 6 with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h clock 26 is essentially determined by the friction forces that between the elastic locking element 4 and the middle part 28 of the watch 26 level of the base 51.

As can be seen in FIG. 8, the pattern 66 carried on the face visible from the bottom 6 is finally properly aligned with the vertical axis 12h-6h of the shows 26. To obtain this result, it was necessary to rotate again the whole background 6 / element metallic 2 / elastic element 4 of a fraction of the angle β.

The problem now is how to unscrew the bottom 6 when this is necessary. For this purpose, we continue to turn the bottom 6 and all intermediate 1 according to the invention by which said bottom 6 is mounted on the middle part 28 of the watch case 26 until the elastic element 4 abuts by a face vertical 70 of its border 25 which defines its outer edge 22 against the pin 67 driven in the middle 28 of the watch 26. The elastic element 4 is thus immobilized, as well as the metal element 2 which abuts as for it by its lug 20 against the vertical face 68 of the inner edge 23 of said elastic element 4. The two elements forming the intermediate assembly 1 being now perfectly immobilized relative to the middle part, they oppose a sufficient force to the couple of blocking the bottom 6 on the metal element 2, which allows to unscrew the bottom 6 in the swinging in the opposite direction of clockwise operation. This avoids a worm effect.

Note that an O-ring 74 is conventionally inserted into a groove ring 76 formed at the base of the middle part 28 to ensure the seal between the bottom 6 and said middle part 28.

The metal element 2 may be made of brass. As for the elastic element 4, it can be made of a natural or synthetic elastomer, or thermoplastic material whose after-compression rate is well adapted to the needs of the present invention.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment that comes to be described and that various simple modifications and variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, the elastic locking element 4 and the metal element 2 can be introduced into the watch 26 on the ice side, at an early stage of the manufacture of the watch 26, while neither the watch movement nor the switch and nor the ice have been mounted yet.

Claims (19)

Device for fixing a bottom (6) to a middle part (28) of a watch case (26), the bottom (6) having a screw thread (8) on its outer periphery, this device being characterized in that it comprises an intermediate element (1) engaged by force in the lower part of the middle part (28) of the watch (26), the bottom (6) is screwed by its thread (8) on the intermediate element (1) which has for this purpose on its inner periphery a complementary thread (12), this intermediate element (1) being able to be forced to pivot relative to the middle part (28) of the watch (26) to adjusting the alignment of said bottom (6) with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of said watch (26). Fastening device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate element (1) comprises a transversely compressed elastic locking element (4) and a metal element (2) which is arranged concentrically inside the intermediate element (1). elastic locking element (4), the bottom (6) being screwed onto the metal element (2) so that, when the bottom (6) is completely screwed onto said metal element (2), this metal element (2) can be rotated by force of an angle less than 360 ° with respect to the middle part (28) of the watch (26) by sliding on the elastic locking element (4) which remains fixed to a point where the metal element (2) abuts against said elastic element (4). Fastening device according to claim 2, characterized in that the resilient locking element (4) can be pivoted at an angle of less than 360 ° by sliding on the middle part (28) of the watch (26) and being pivoted by said metal element (2). Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the adjustment torque of the alignment of the bottom (6) with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch (26) which is determined by the compression ratio of the elastic locking element (4) is lower than the screwing torque of this bottom (6) on the metal element (2). Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the metal element (2) is pivotable through an angle (α) with respect to the resilient blocking element (4) and that said metal element (2) and said resilient blocking element (4) are pivotable jointly through an angle (β) whose value is such qu'additionnée than the angle (α) it produces a sum 360 °. Fastening device according to claim 5, characterized in that the angle (α) is equal to 270 ° and the angle (β) is equal to 90 °. Fastening device according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the elastic locking element (4) has a first flange (22) in an arc formed on its inner periphery and a second flange (24). , also in an arc, formed on its outer periphery which is the complement of that formed by the inner rim (22). Fastening device according to claim 7, characterized in that the metal element (2) has a lug (20) projecting from its outer periphery and which is pivotable from the angle (α) along the inner rim. (22) of the resilient locking member (4). Fixing device according to claim 8, characterized in that , after the bottom (6) has been completely screwed clockwise onto the metal element (2), the assembly formed by the bottom (6) and the metal element (2) is counterclockwise rotated by at least a fraction of the angle (α) by sliding on the resilient locking element (4) which remains fixed, and that if the bottom (6) ) is still not properly aligned with respect to the vertical axis 12h-6h of the watch (26) when said assembly is rotated by the angle (α), it causes the elastic locking element (4) to pivot which slides on the caseband (28) by at least a fraction of the angle (β). Fastening device according to claim 9, characterized in that the metal element (2) drives the resilient locking element (4) pivotally via its lug (20) which abuts against said elastic element (4). ). Fastening device according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that , to unscrew the bottom (6), the assembly formed by said bottom (6), the metal element (2) and the elastic element blocking element (6) is counterclockwise rotated until the elastic element (6) comes to rest in abutment against a pin (67) driven into the middle part (28) of the watch (26). metal element (2) immobilized in turn by abutting by its lug (20) against said elastic element (4), so that the bottom (6) can then be unscrewed. Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that the elastic locking element (4) comprises a base (51) which extends all along its lower part and which is compressed between metal element (2) and the middle part (28) of the watch (26) when the bottom (6) is screwed onto said metal element (2). Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 12, characterized in that , for its axial retention, the elastic element (4) comprises a projection (52) which penetrates into a groove (54) in view formed in the middle part (28). Fastening device according to claim 13, characterized in that the groove (54) has a return (56) which overhangs the elastic element (4) and the metal element (2) so as to prevent the latter from moving axially. to the top. Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 14, characterized in that the metal element has on its outer periphery an annular shoulder (14) on the upper surface (16) of which a collar (18) which extends all along the inner periphery of the elastic element (4) is supported. Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that , to facilitate the force introduction of the intermediate assembly (1) from the bottom of the middle part (28) of the watch (26), the elastic element (4) has over the entire length of its upper edge (46) located on the outer side of the watch (26) an inclined plane (48) which slides on a corresponding inclined plane (50) provided to the part lower part of the middle part (28). Fastening device according to any one of claims 2 to 16, characterized in that the bottom (6) projects under the middle part (28) of the watch (26) so as to serve as a support surface for the metal element (2) to prevent the latter from moving axially downwards. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the bottom (6) comprises on its outer surface (58) facing the wrist of the wearer of the watch (26) notches (60) which are used for the introduction of the tenons of a wrench. Fastening device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that an O-ring (74) is inserted into an annular groove (76) at the base of the middle part (28) to ensure the seal between the bottom (6) and said middle part (28).

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