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
  • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
  • G04B19/06—Dials
• • 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
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0084—Pictures or inscriptions on the case or parts thereof, attaching complete pictures
  • G04B45/0092—Changeable parts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a timepiece, in particular a wristwatch, the dial of which can be exchanged. It also relates to a dial intended for a timepiece with interchangeable dial.
• the dial of a watch is one of the centerpieces by which the aesthetic appearance of the watch is determined. Therefore rather than having several different watches, it may be interesting for the user to be able to change the dial of his watch in order to modify the appearance depending on the circumstances and the fashion.
• the owner of a watch according to the invention may for example have a dial recalling the sport he practices, as well as another dial adapted to his work and still other dials provided for other circumstances of his life.
• the watches described in FR-A-2,614,443, and US-A-4,660,992 comprise a lateral portion of middle part pivotally mounted by one end on the rest of the middle part, so as to clear or hide a lateral slot d 'introduction or removal of the dial.
• the aesthetic aspect is better treated than in previous watches, the fixing of a relatively large portion of the middle part on the rest of the middle part by means of a small hinge is a weak point of these kinds of watches.
• the middle part is open, and given the importance of the lever arm presented by the open lateral portion of this middle part on the hinge, the latter is very quickly deformed, which leads to the impossibility of close the watch. Furthermore, such a device does not easily seal the insertion slot of the dial.
• US Patent 5,793,710 describes a watch whose interchangeable dial is flexible and is provided with a narrow deformable slot for the passage of the barrel of the switch. This mode of doing is very likely to damage the barrel of the switch if the dial is often changed.
• the closure device described in this document comprises two elastic fasteners arranged at the two ends of a detachable portion of the middle to which the interchangeable dial is fixed. This arrangement is complicated to use, insofar as it is necessary to simultaneously actuate two very small pushers.
• a first object of the invention is therefore to propose a timepiece provided with an interchangeable dial, improved with respect to those known.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a timepiece provided with an interchangeable dial whose dial exchange device can be made waterproof in order to prevent the penetration of moisture as well as dust.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a timepiece provided with an interchangeable dial whose dial exchange device is solid and reliable.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a timepiece provided with an interchangeable dial, the device for fixing the dial is simple, easy to use and reliable.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a timepiece provided with an interchangeable dial of high aesthetic value
• yet another object of the invention is to propose an interchangeable dial intended for a timepiece with an interchangeable dial.
• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a watch with an interchangeable dial according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a plan view of an interchangeable dial of a first form, associated with a fixing means according to the first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 represents a side view of the dial of the previous figure
• FIG. 4 represents a sectional view of a watch with an interchangeable dial according to the invention
• FIG. 5 represents another embodiment of a device for fixing an interchangeable dial
• FIG. 6 represents yet another embodiment of a device for fixing an interchangeable dial
• FIG. 7 represents yet another embodiment of a device for fixing an interchangeable dial
• FIG. 8 represents yet another embodiment of a device for fixing an interchangeable dial
• FIG. 9 represents yet another embodiment of a device for fixing an interchangeable dial
• Figure 10 shows different shapes of an interchangeable dial.
• FIG. 1 represents a watch 1 in perspective view, the watch here being of square shape and comprising in particular a middle part 10, two horns 11 for fixing a strap (not shown) on each of two opposite sides of the middle part, possibly a winding crown 12, a glass 13 and a set of hands 14.
• the dial 2 of watch 1 is interchangeable, that is to say that the plate 20 forming the dial and visible through the glass 13 can be removed by one side of the middle part, here the side opposite to that provided with the winding crown 12, and be exchanged for another plate 20 having for example another decoration than that of the plate which has been removed.
• the dial plate 20 is attached to means 3 for positioning and fixing the interchangeable dial 2 in watch 1, several embodiments of which will be described below.
• An actuating means 35 makes it possible to release the positioning and fixing means 3 from the rest of the watch, respectively to fix these two parts together.
• a brand holder 19, the usefulness of which will also be described below, is visible through the glass 13.
• Figures 2 and 3 show an interchangeable dial 2 consisting of a dial plate 20 having a first shape, associated with positioning and fixing means 3 according to a first embodiment.
• the plate 20 is here of essentially quadrangular external shape, intended for a dial of square or rectangular shape and includes an opening 21 in the form of a wide slot whose edges 210 are parallel, for the passage of the barrel of the needles as is will see further.
• the positioning and fixing means 3 shown here consists of a portion of the middle part here in the form of a bar 30, essentially parallelepiped, provided on its face 300 facing the interchangeable dial 2 with a fixing piece 31 on which the dial plate 20 can be fixed by its edge opposite the opening 21, by permanent or removable fixing means 32.
• the bar 30 comprises an opening of suitable shape 33, arranged on its face 300, said opening 33 being intended to cooperate with a closing means which will be described below with reference to FIG. 4.
• the positioning and fixing means 3 can be favorably supplemented with a sealing means 34, here an O-ring seal disposed in a groove formed in the face 300 of the bar 30 carrying the fixing part 31 and / or in a groove arranged in said fixing part 31.
• FIG. 4 represents a watch 1, seen in section, said watch being provided with an interchangeable dial 2 as described above.
• watch 1 comprises a movement 15, of mechanical or electronic type, for example quartz, a movement cover 16 whose usefulness of the particular form will be described below, bearing a flange 17 conventionally fixed under the glass 13 and its winding circle 130, as well as a casing circle 18 responsible for keeping the movement 15 and the movement cover in place 16.
• the watch is completed with a brand holder 19, intended to hide the opening 21 of the dial plate 20, fixed so conventional, for example by legs 191 introduced into the appropriate housings of the movement cover 16.
• the side 100 of the middle part 10, opposite the side provided with the winding crown 12 comprises a first housing 101 for housing the portion of detachable middle part, respectively the bar 30 of the positioning and fixing means 3, a second housing 102 adjoining the first housing 101, for housing the fixing piece 31 as well as a slot 103, disposed on the face of the housing 102 facing the center of the watch, for the passage of the dial plate 20
• a corresponding slot 170 is provided in the flange 17, for the same use.
• the free end of the dial plate 20 is first inserted in the first housing 101, then in the second housing 102 then in the slots 103 and 170 to then slide it over the movement cover 16. This sliding continues until a portion of the positioning and fixing means 3 abuts against a corresponding portion of the middle part 10 or another portion of watch 1.
• the face 310 of the fixing piece 31 turned towards the center of the watch 1 intended to act as a limit stop against at least a portion 180 of the circle case 18.
• the penetration of the dial plate 20 in the watch 1 is limited only by a bearing surface, 300 or 310 of the positioning and fixing means 3, no portion of the dial plate 20 being stressed for this purpose.
• the closure means 35 of this embodiment consists of a pusher 350 housed in a recess 105 disposed here on the upper portion of the portion 100 of the middle part 10.
• the pusher 350 is connected to a closure part 36 of appropriate form and acting as latch, allowing, in cooperation with the opening 33 arranged in the bar 30, to block the interchangeable dial 2 in the position mounted on the watch 1.
• the push-button 350 and closing piece 36 assemblies are mounted on a spring means, for example one or more coil springs 360.
• the closure part 36 comprises in particular a first inclined face 361 intended to cooperate with a face 331 with the same inclination of the opening 33 as well as a stop face 362 intended to come to a stop against a corresponding face 332 of the opening 33.
• the assembly p pusher 350 and closure part 36 comprises at least one seal 330 intended to seal the device.
• the seal 34 may have sufficient elasticity to slightly push the bar 30 out of its housing so as to be able to grasp it and extract it completely.
• the device is advantageously supplemented with spring means, for example a leaf spring 37 acting against the face 300 of the bar to push it outwards.
• spring means for example a leaf spring 37 acting against the face 300 of the bar to push it outwards.
• a gripping means for example a projection 370 (see FIG. 2) or a notch, on each of the ends of the bar 30, allows it to be easily grasped without risking scratching it.
• Figure 4 shows an embodiment where the pusher 350 is disposed on the upper face of the watch, respectively the face comprising the glass 13, but it would also be possible to have it on the underside of the watch, as suggested in broken lines in Figure 4.
• the movement cover 16 comprises a barrel 160 surrounding the axes of the switch 14, this barrel 160 comprising a flange 161 in the form of a circular crown, defining a housing 162 comprised between the central portion of the movement cover 16 and the underside of the flange 161, around the barrel 160.
• the flange 17 comprises, over the entire portion of its inner periphery not including the insertion slot 170, a housing 171 intended to receive the outer peripheral edges of the dial plate 20, a portion of which is also seen in FIG. 1.
• a similar housing 190 is arranged on both sides of the brand holder 19 adjoining the edges 210 of the opening 21 of the dial plate 20.
• the housings 162, 171 and 190 described above are dimensioned so that no portion of the dial plate 20 comes into abutment end urse against any portion of one of these dwellings.
• the function of these housings is twofold, firstly to prevent a bending movement of the dial plate 20 by limiting the movement of the latter towards the watch glass, the flange 161 being particularly intended to avoid deformation of the central portion of the dial plate 20 which could then come into contact with the hands 14, leading to damage either of a needle or of the dial plate.
• these housings 162, 171 and 190 serve to hide the extreme edges of the dial plate 20 as well as of the opening 21, which improves the aesthetic effect of the dial seen through the glass 13.
• dial plate 20 Since the dial plate 20 does not undergo any mechanical force or any shock during its introduction or removal, this plate can be as thin as desired, possibly even being made of a non-rigid material.
• FIG. 5 Another embodiment of a closure means 35 is shown in FIG. 5.
• the push button 351 of any shape, but advantageously having the same shape as a winding crown, is arranged opposite the portion 100 of the middle part intended to receive the detachable portion, respectively the bar 30 as described above.
• the pusher 351 can be moved according to the arrow, causing a latch-shaped part 364, sliding in two grooves 301 and 106 arranged respectively in the bar 30 and the middle portion 100.
• the latch 364 and the groove 106 are formed in such a way so that for a position of the latch 364 in the groove 106, the bar 30 is locked in position against the middle portion 100 while for another position of the latch 364, the bar 30 is released allowing the removal of the interchangeable dial.
• the bar 30 may further comprise a housing 302 for a spring and a sliding part making it possible to keep the device in the locked position.
• the pusher 352 is pivotable about an axis mounted in the bar 30, the opposite end of said axis carrying a latch 365.
• the middle portion 100 has a housing 107 of such shape that for an angular position of the latch 365 the bar 30 is locked in position against the middle portion 100 while for another angular position of the latch 365, the bar 30 is unlocked allowing the removal of the interchangeable dial.
• the bar 30 may further comprise a housing 303 for a spring device making it possible to keep the device in the locked position.
• the pusher 352 will have the same shape as the winding crown which faces it.
• Figure 7 shows a closure means 35 operable from the bottom of the watch.
• a latch 366 is able to pivot in a housing 304 of the bar 30 between a closed position, as shown in the figure and an open position where the bar 30 is detached from the middle portion 100.
• the axis 353 carrying the latch 366 is flush with the bottom of the watch case and has a groove so that it can be actuated by a screwdriver.
• closure means 351, 352 and 353 which have just been described are also provided with sealing means known in the art, such as seals or dust covers, and not shown in the figures.
• the closure means 35 is constituted by a pivoting bezel 110 mounted in known manner on the upper portion of the middle 10 surrounding the watch glass.
• the pivoting bezel includes an opening 111, corresponding with a recess 112.
• a projecting stud 367 is mounted on the upper face of the bar 30. According to a first position of rotation of the telescope, it is possible to introduce the stud 367 in the opening 111, then after pushing the bar 30 in the support position against the middle portion 100, to rotate the bezel in order to block the stud 367 in the recess 112. The opposite movement makes it possible to unlock the bar 30, respectively the interchangeable dial.
• FIG. 9 shows yet another closing means 35 actuated directly by the winding crown 12.
• a pressure on the crown 12 actuates the lever 354, which pivots around the axis 355 to release the pin 368 mounted projecting from the bar 30.
• the lever 354 is held in the locked position by a spring.
• the shape of the end of the lever 354 cooperating with the pin 368 is such that during the introduction of the interchangeable dial into the watch, the pin 368 pushes the lever 354 which then blocks it under the effect of the spring.
• the stem of the crown 12 is also provided with the usual sealing means.
• the watch is circular in shape; consequently, the detachable middle portion 30 no longer has the shape of a bar as before, but has the shape of a crown segment.
• Figure 10 shows, by way of nonlimiting example, some possible shapes of the dial plate 20.
• the left plate is similar to that described in Figures 2 and 3, quadrangular in shape and having an opening 21 with two edges are parallel.
• the plate 20 shown in the center is provided for a circular dial; it has an opening 21, the two edges 210 of which are oblique to each other.
• the right plate 20 has an opening 21 in the form of a curved arc.
• a dial plate 20 adapted to the shape of the watch, for example quadrangular, round or of any shape in which a cutout 21, also of any suitable shape. is arranged for the passage of the barrel of the needles, the shape of the cutout 21 being adapted to that of the brand holder fixed to the movement cover.
• the owner of a watch with an interchangeable dial will obtain a plurality of dial plates 20, of a shape adapted to that of his watch, each of said plates bearing a different decoration and / or marking.
• the fixing means 32 it is possible for him to install a new dial plate 20 on a fixing means 3, according to one or other of the embodiments described above, then to slide this new dial into the watch. as described.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electric Clocks (AREA)
• Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

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• 2001
  • 2001-05-11 WO PCT/CH2001/000291 patent/WO2002093271A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2001-05-11 EP EP01927550A patent/EP1388028B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-11 JP JP2002589888A patent/JP2004522161A/ja active Pending
  • 2001-05-11 AT AT01927550T patent/ATE520059T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2003
  • 2003-11-10 US US10/704,157 patent/US7035171B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-07-23 HK HK04105452.6A patent/HK1062590A1/xx not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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