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
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/04—Mounting the clockwork in the case; Shock absorbing mountings
  • G04B37/0427—Mountings relative to pocket and wrist watches allowing a rocking movement about a hinge or any other movement
• • 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
  • G04B37/00—Cases
  • G04B37/14—Suspending devices, supports or stands for time-pieces insofar as they form part of the case
  • G04B37/1406—Means for fixing the clockwork pieces on other objects (possibly on walls)
  • G04B37/1426—Means whereby the clockwork piece may move with regard to its suspension device

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a timepiece with a reversible watch case, and more particularly to a timepiece comprising a frame-frame and a watch case reversibly mounted in the frame-frame so as to be able to assume a first position in which the dial of the watch case is visible and a second position or inverted position in which the bottom or another dial of the watch case is visible.
• Such timepieces are described in documents CH 181.003, CH 189.911 and FR 733.729. They all have the disadvantage of revealing one day between the frame-frame and the watch case when the latter is in one or the other of the two positions mentioned above, which affects the aesthetics of the piece. watchmaking.
• FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the watch according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken along line VII, VIII of Figure 3 and showing in particular, in the exploded position, a tapped hole and a corresponding screw used to fix between them two parts of a frame-chassis of the watch; for reasons of clarity, a bell and a connecting screw used to fix together two parts of the watch case have not been shown in FIG. 7;
• FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the watch according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken along line VII, VIII of Figure 3 and showing in particular the bell and the aforementioned assembly screw; for reasons of clarity, the tapped hole and the corresponding screw illustrated in FIG. 7 have not been shown in FIG. 8;
• FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the watch according to the first embodiment of the invention, taken along line IX of Figure 3;
• - Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view showing the watch according to the first embodiment of the invention in an open position;
• Figure 1 1 shows schematically in perspective (Figure 1 1 a), in side views ( Figures 1 1 b and 1 1 d) and in top view ( Figure 1 1 c) the watch case of a watch according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• a timepiece of the wristwatch type according to a first embodiment of the invention comprises a cradle 1 of generally circular shape provided, at two diametrically opposite ends, with elements 2a, 2b of attachment to a bracelet (not shown).
• a bottomless chassis frame 3 of annular shape and having an external diameter larger than the diameter of the cradle 1, is articulated by one of its ends to one end of the cradle 1 by means of a hinge 4 and, in the position of rest, is superimposed on the cradle 1 concentrically with the latter ( Figure 2).
• This frame frame 3 consists of two parts, a lower frame 3a and an upper frame 3b, assembled to each other by means of screws 3c ( Figure 7) regularly distributed in the frame frame 3 and each screwed in a corresponding tapped blind hole 3d formed in the frame-frame 3.
• the screws 3c of which only one is visible in FIG. 7, are typically four in number but can of course be in different numbers if desired.
• the hinge 4 consists of a central part 4a, an external part 4b forming part of the frame-frame 3 and more particularly of the lower part 3a of this frame-frame 3, and screws 4c housed inside these central and external parts 4a, 4b and defining the axis of the hinge.
• blind hole 3f ( Figure 6) opening into the interior of the frame-frame 3 ( Figure 6).
• This blind hole 3f receives a first end 5a of a pin 5.
• Two other complementary recesses formed respectively in the parts 3a, 3b, diametrically opposite the blind hole 3f, define a through hole 3g allowing the passage through the wall of the frame-frame 3 of a crown tube 6.
• the pin 5 and the crown tube 6 are integral with a box of watch comprising a bezel or middle 7, a back 8 and a circle 9 and serve as support for this watch case in the frame-frame 3.
• a second end 5b of the dowel 5 is screwed and glued in the circle 9 and a first end 6a of the crown tube 6 is driven out and glued in this same circle 9.
• the second end 6b of the crown tube 6 is itself connected to a time-setting crown 10 outside the frame -frame 3.
• the circle 9 consists of a single piece and is disposed in a housing formed partly in the bezel 7 and partly in the bottom 8, that is to say a housing defined by two complementary recesses formed on the respective internal faces of the bezel 7 and the bottom 8.
• the circle 9 itself houses a clockwork movement 11 and a dial 12, the latter being surmounted by a crystal 13 mounted in the bezel 7.
• the bezel 7 and the bottom 8 are fixed to each other by assembly bells 16, typically four in number, regularly distributed along the periphery of the bezel 7-bottom 8 assembly (one of these bells 16 is shown in Figure 8).
• Each assembly bell 16 has a generally cylindrical shape and has on one of its faces a central frustoconical recess 16a.
• Each assembly bell 16 is housed entirely in a housing of corresponding shape formed partly in the bezel 7 and partly in the bottom 8 and is held firmly in this housing by a screw 17 extending in the plane of the dowel 5 and from the crown tube 6 successively through a central through hole 18 formed in the bell 16 and a through hole 19 formed partly in the bezel 7 and partly in the bottom 8 and up to the inside of a tapped blind hole 20 formed in the circle 9.
• the tapped blind hole 20 receives the threaded end of the screw 17.
• the head of the screw 17, for its part, is housed entirely in the central through hole 18 of the bell 16 and bears against a shoulder 21 defined by this hole 18.
• Each assembly bell 16 thus constitutes an element anchored both in the bezel 7 and the bottom 8.
• the pin 5 consists of a cylindrical body 5c terminated at the end 5a by a hemispherical portion and at the end 5b by a projection.
• the projection 5b and a part of the cylindrical body 5c are housed in the circle 9 while the hemispherical portion 5a and a part of the cylindrical body 5c are freely housed, that is to say without being fixed there, in the blind hole 3f .
• the bottom of the blind hole 3f has a hemispherical shape corresponding to that of the end 5a of the dowel 5.
• This hemispherical shape facilitates the realization of the blind hole 3f by allowing the milling of each of the two half-holes making up the hole 3f by a spherical bur placed perpendicular to the plane of the corresponding frame 3a, 3b of the frame-frame 3.
• the dowel 5 and the crown tube 6 together define a diametrical geometric axis of rotation 22 of the watch case 7, 8, 9 relative to the frame -frame 3.
• the dial 12 faces the upper face of the cradle 1 and is therefore hidden, and the external face of the base 8 is visible.
• This external face of the back 8 can for this purpose comprise a decoration, such as enamels, transforming the watch into a piece of jewelry.
• the back 8 could be replaced by a second bezel carrying a second dial and producing an aesthetic effect different from that of the bezel 7 associated with dial 12.
• the watch case 7, 8, 9 can be turned over while the watch is on the user's wrist.
• two metal rings 23a, 23b are housed in respective diametrically opposite cavities formed in the side or around 24 of the watch case 7, 8, 9 around the pin 5 and the tube respectively. crown 6 and protrude slightly from this side
• these rings 23a, 23b and these seals 28a, 28b could be housed in the internal flank 25 of the chassis frame 3 and exert friction against the flank 24 of the watch case 7, 8 , 9.
• locking means are further provided for holding the frame-frame 3 in its unlockable position in its rest position relative to the cradle 1 (FIGS. 2, 3).
• These locking means are advantageously in the form of two ball stops 26a, 26b housed in two respective projections 1a, 1b of the cradle 1 located on either side of the crown 10 and acting as crown protector, the balls 26c, 26d of these stops snapping into corresponding recesses 27 formed in the outer flank of the frame-frame 3 ( Figures 3, 5, 9).
• Other locking means can also be provided to keep the watch case 7, 8, 9 unlockable in one or other of its rest positions relative to the frame-frame 3.
• the watch according to the invention is further sealed by annular seals 29a, 29b held in compression between the bezel 7, respectively the bottom 8, and the circle 9, and an annular seal 30 maintained in compression between the bezel 7 and the crystal 13.
• the bonding of the end 5b of the pin 5 and of the end 6a of the crown tube 6 in the circle 9 is carried out by means of a sealing adhesive.
• the side 24 of the watch case 7, 8, 9 and the internal side 25 of the frame-chassis 3 are substantially portions of the same surface of revolution 31 around the axis of rotation 22. In this way, during the rotational movements on itself of the watch case 7, 8, 9 in the chassis frame 3, the flank 24 of the watch case 7, 8, 9 follows the internal flank 25 of the chassis frame 3.
• the surface of revolution 31 is a sphere whose center O is located on the axis 22, and the sides 24, 25 are portions of this sphere each delimited by two parallel planes located on either side of the axis 22 and symmetrical with respect to this axis 22 (cf. FIG. 6).
• Figures 11 and 12 illustrate two other embodiments, in which the flank of the watch case and the internal flank of the frame-frame each have discontinuities in shape. In FIGS. 11 and 12, for reasons of clarity, only the watch case has been shown, but it will be understood that the internal flank of the frame-frame has the same shape as the flank of the watch box.
• the side of the watch case consists of two first opposite portions located on either side of the axis of rotation 22 and two second opposite portions intersecting the axis of rotation 22 and connecting the first portions together.
• the first portions designated by 32a, 32b, have, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 22, a first radius of curvature R1 and a center of curvature C1 located on the axis 22 (cf. FIG. 11 b) and, in a plane containing axis 22 and perpendicular to the aforementioned plane, a second radius of curvature R2 greater than radius R1 (cf. FIG.
• the second portions, designated by 33a, 33b, have a spherical shape with a radius of curvature R3 (cf. FIGS. 11c and 11d) and their respective centers of curvature are located on the axis 22.
• the first portions, designated by 34a, 34b, have, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation 22, a radius of curvature R4 and a center of curvature C4 located on the axis 22 (cf.
• the second portions, designated by 35a, 35b, are themselves flat and perpendicular to the axis 22.
• the flank 34a, 35a, 34b, 35b thus consists of a portion of a cylinder delimited by two planes parallel to each other, located on either side of axis 22 and parallel to the latter.
• the axis of rotation 22 is an axis of symmetry for the flank of the watch case and the internal flank of the chassis-frame and these flanks have the same constant height H (see Figure 6).
• the axis of rotation 22, while being located in a plane of symmetry of the side of the watch case perpendicular to the plane of the watch case could be eccentric relative to this side, that is to say -to say that the side of the watch case could have a greater height on one side of the axis 22 than on the other, for example to give a particular aesthetic appearance to the watch in one of the two positions of rest of the watch case inside the chassis-frame.
• the side of the watch case and the internal side of the chassis-frame could have a different height, for example the side of the watch case could have a greater height than the internal side of the chassis-frame to give a particular aesthetic effect.
• the frame-frame as shown in Figures 1 to 10 is closed, that is to say surrounds the watch case around the entire periphery thereof, the frame-frame of the watch according to the invention could alternatively be opened.
• the frame-chassis could be U-shaped.
• the seal 29a is mounted in the bezel 7.
• the set consisting of the circle 9, the movement 11 and the dial 12 is placed in the telescope 7.
• the seal 29b is placed against the circle 9 and the bottom 8 is positioned.
• the assembly bells 16 While holding this assembly 7-9, 11, 12 between two fingers, the assembly bells 16 are placed in their respective housings and then screwed into the circle 9. 5.
• the assembly 7-9, 11, 12 is placed in the lower 3a and upper 3b frames forming the frame-frame 3 then the frames 3a, 3b are fixed to each other by the screws 3c.
• a function of the two frames 3a, 3b is to make possible the mounting in the frame-frame 3 of the assembly 7-9, 11, 12 taking into account the virtual absence of play between the box 7-9 and the frame-frame 3 and the shape in portion of the surface of revolution of the flank 24 of the watch case 7-9 and of the internal flank 25 of the frame-frame 3. 6.
• the ball thrust bearings 26a , 26b are driven into the projections 1a, 1b of the cradle 1 and the screws 4c are placed in the hinge parts 4a, 4b to articulate the assembly 3, 7-9, 11, 12 to the cradle 1.

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

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• 2004
  • 2004-10-21 EP EP04791746A patent/EP1680715B1/de active Active
  • 2004-10-21 AT AT04791746T patent/ATE535843T1/de active
  • 2004-10-21 WO PCT/IB2004/003497 patent/WO2005043259A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2004-10-21 JP JP2006537463A patent/JP2007510895A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-10-21 US US10/578,076 patent/US20070274163A1/en not_active Abandoned

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