Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • 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
• • 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
  • G04B3/046—Operation by rotation and axial movement with extra function of axial shift of operating element, e.g. crown combined with push button

Definitions

• the present invention relates to push-button control devices for watches provided with a crown intended for setting the time and, when they include a source of mechanical energy, for winding the barrel. More specifically, it relates to watches comprising a pusher coaxial with the crown. Such watches are, for example, described and represented in the work entitled “Le Chronographe”, B. Humbert, Scriptar SA, Lausanne 1955. It is generally a chronograph or a counter.
• the positions of the various components arranged on the periphery of the watch are defined with reference to the position that an hour hand would occupy at a given time.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome this drawback.
• the device according to the invention is characterized in that it further comprises a lever pivotally mounted on said box by one of its ends, movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the watch, comprising , in its middle part, a contact point intended to cooperate with the pusher and, at its other end, a control portion, of concave shape.
• the pusher comprises a button partially engaged in the crown and forming a protuberance.
• the box further includes a stirrup straddling the crown and the pusher. This stirrup is fixed by its two ends to the middle part.
• the lever is pivotally mounted on the stirrup, and extends between the overlapping part and the button, then beyond the stirrup to form the control portion.
• the box comprises a tube in which the pusher and the rod are arranged, while the stirrup is provided with a flange fixed at its two ends and enclosing this tube.
• the pusher comprises an annular portion interposed between the crown and the middle part and the lever is interposed between this annular portion and the crown.
• Figures 1 and 2 show a control device according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen respectively from above and in section along the line ll-ll of Figure 1, and " Figures 3 and 4 show a device according to a second embodiment, seen from above in plan and in section.
• FIGS 1 and 2 show a watch part comprising a case 10 comprising in particular a middle 12 and a tube 14 driven into a hole in the middle.
• a watch movement is housed in the case 10. It is of the chronograph type, controlled by a rod 16 and by a pusher 18.
• the tube 14 is formed of a first portion 14a, engaged in the middle part 12, and a second 14b disposed on the side outside this middle part.
• the second portion 14b has an annular flange 14c and a groove 14d oriented parallel to the axis of the tube.
• the rod 16 carries, at its outer end, a crown 20 intended for setting the time and, in the case of a mechanical watch, for winding the energy source.
• the crown 20 comprises a first part 20a, external and of annular shape, a second part 20b, forming a core integral with the rod 16 and a third, intermediate part, consisting of three spokes 20c oriented radially and connecting the core 20b to the part 20a.
• the pusher 18 comprises a tubular piece 22 and a plug 23 fixed to the end of the piece 22 to close the hole located on the outside of the box 10.
• the tubular piece 22 is provided, in its neighboring portion with the plug 23, three grooves 22a extending over its entire portion disposed outside the tube 14, in which the spokes 20c are engaged.
• the axial distance from the core 20b and the spokes 20c to the plug 23 is of the order of approximately 1mm. It is thus possible to ensure sufficient movement of the pusher to control the mechanism with which it is associated and of the crown during the time setting function.
• the plug 23 protrudes from the crown 20 to form a button intended to apply pressure to control a function of the watch.
• a stirrup 24, forming a loop around the crown 16 and the pusher 18, is fixed to the tube 14 by a flange 26, made integral with the stirrup 24 by screws 28. More specifically, the stirrup 24 and the flange 26 have an annular groove identified by the letter a in which the flange 14a is engaged, which axially blocks the stirrup 24.
• a recess 26b is formed in the flange 26, parallel to the groove 14d, of the same width and the same length.
• a key 30 is disposed in the housing formed by the groove 14d and the recess 26b, thus blocking the stirrup in rotation.
• the stirrup 24 carries a lever 32, pivotally mounted by one of its ends 32a by means of a pin 34 engaged in holes in the lever 32 and the stirrup 24.
• the lever 32 is movable in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the watch, which is defined by the surface of its dial.
• the lever 32 comprises, in its central part 32b, a contact point intended to cooperate with the pusher 18, bearing on the plug 23.
• the other end 32c constitutes a control portion, of concave shape.
• the control device further comprises a spring ensuring the return of the pusher 14 as well as seals to prevent the penetration of water into the movement.
• the device as described makes it possible to ensure the following functions.
• the application of a torque on the crown 20 has the effect of rotating the rod 16, which arms the energy source of the watch if it is of a mechanical part.
• This rotational movement also rotates the pusher 18, without consequence.
• To set the time of the watch simply pull the crown 20 outwards. This is possible, because of the play between the parts 20b and 20c of the crown 20 and the plug 23. Then turning the crown 20, the position of the hands is corrected, using a well-known mechanism, associated with the movement of the shows.
• the push-button 18 makes it possible to control an additional function, for example a chronograph, a first press causing the chronograph mechanism to start, a second to stop it and a third to reset the hands to zero.
• an additional function for example a chronograph, a first press causing the chronograph mechanism to start, a second to stop it and a third to reset the hands to zero.
• To control these functions simply press on the end 32c of the lever 32 with a finger.
• the shape concave of this end allows to correctly position the finger responsible for applying pressure.
• this lever 32 means that the force to be applied to control the pusher is not oriented along the axis of this pusher. Such a shift is favorable. Indeed, the time setting crown is generally at 3 o'clock, which corresponds to the most favorable position for winding the watch. This orientation is, however, not conducive to exerting pressure. In addition, as the pusher protrudes from the crown, there is a risk of snagging. This risk is eliminated by placing the crown at 9 o'clock. In addition, the presence of the lever makes it possible to shift the orientation of the force to be applied in the direction from 8 am to 2 am, which is much more favorable.
• the middle 12 includes a stud 12a provided with a hole 12b and a slot 12c.
• the end 32a of the lever 32, pierced with a hole 32d, is slid into the slot 12c and pivotally mounted on the stud by means of a pin 34 forcibly engaged in one or the other of the holes 12b and 32d .
• This second embodiment makes it possible to place the pusher in a position normally inaccessible at the press of a finger, while considerably simplifying the structure of the assembly, and more particularly of the crown and of the pusher. In addition, it is no longer necessary to have a stirrup to retain the lever, the latter being held by the crown.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Measurement Of Unknown Time Intervals (AREA)
• Push-Button Switches (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=4551948

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (11)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2000
  • 2000-05-18 CH CH00998/00A patent/CH693754A5/fr not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-05-10 AT AT01925276T patent/ATE306684T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-05-10 DE DE60113988T patent/DE60113988T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-10 JP JP2001584964A patent/JP4789387B2/ja not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-10 WO PCT/CH2001/000289 patent/WO2001088633A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-05-10 ES ES01925276T patent/ES2251476T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-10 US US10/276,557 patent/US7001064B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-10 EP EP01925276A patent/EP1285313B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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