EP1963929A1

EP1963929A1 - Watch

Info

Publication number: EP1963929A1
Application number: EP06841548A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William Daellenbach
Original assignee: Cartier Creation Studio SA
Current assignee: Cartier Creation Studio SA
Priority date: 2005-12-21
Filing date: 2006-12-21
Publication date: 2008-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2026-12-21
Also published as: DE602006010741D1; WO2007071760A1; EP1963929B1; EP1801672A1

Abstract

A watch comprises a case having a middle (10) that has a peripheral portion (24) about an axis AA, a part (18) mounted 5 on said peripheral portion, and means for locking the part in the axial direction on the middle. The locking means comprise elastic members (62a, 64a) having axial flexibility in the direction of axis A-A, and certain rigid members, some mounted on the middle (10) and others on the part (18). The first rigid members act 10 with the elastic members in at least one relative position of the part (18) with respect to the middle (10).

Description

WATCH

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates more specifically locking means for detachably fixing an element of a watch (that is to say a part or module) to the watch case and in particular its middle part. The fastening mechanism of the present invention is particularly well suited for such a fixation of a telescope and especially a rotating bezel.

Watch cases with a rotating bezel are known and marketed by many watch companies. They are generally intended for the practice of sport, for example on diving watches. The bezel, which has time or other indications, can take any angular position, or predetermined positions through a detent device. The bezel is usually arranged on the middle part, directly accessible to the user. Thus, used in an aggressive environment related to the practice of a sport, such a watch can quickly become clogged. The telescope may then turn with difficulty or even hang, requiring the intervention of a specialist in watchmaking. To prevent this type of problem, some rotating glasses are easily removable. The user himself can disassemble it and perform a regular cleaning. Such a bezel is described in the document WO 97/45775 which proposes a watch case formed of a middle part, and a bezel rotatably mounted on the middle part by means of a connecting ring mounted free to rotate in a throat practiced in the middle. The bezel is locked axially with the fingers extending radially and cooperating with the ring. It is also attached to the ring by a screw. The entire bezel - ring is rotated when the user actuates the telescope. Disassembly of the bezel takes place in two stages: First, the screw is unscrewed, then the fingers are released from the ring. The document EP 1 182 521 describes a box provided with a rotating bezel which can occupy two axial positions, one lower, the other upper, defined by an elastic member. This body is engaged in a cutting of the telescope and cooperates with a notch of the middle part. In the lower position, a rotation limiting ring locks the bezel on the middle, while in the upper position, the bezel can be turned freely. The installation and removal of the telescope must be done by a professional.

The document EP 1 416 341 relates to a box provided with a rotating bezel mounted on the middle part by means of a ring made of a material chosen so that it is sheared when the ring is removed. This implies that the latter is changed if the rotating ring is removed. Such an operation can only be done by a professional.

Both of the devices described in the last two documents cited do not allow easy removal and replacement of the rotating bezel on the caseband.

A watch case with a rotating bezel that can easily be removed and replaced is described in US 2005/013204. The middle part is provided with a screw thread and a radially deformable notch. The bezel forms a nut and has a boss intended to cooperate with the notch. To put the telescope in place, it is screwed on the middle part, so that the boss passes the notch. The bezel can then rotate freely. It can be removed by exerting on it a traction such that the boss passes the notch, after which it can be unscrewed. However, such a solution requires a lot of thickness. Although simple and robust design, such a bezel is unattractive due to the presence of a screw arranged prominently on the face with indications. Furthermore, the manipulation of a screw by a medium carrier, during disassembly and reassembly of the bezel is inconvenient and delicate. The screw can, in addition, be lost during these operations. The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a watch case provided with an easily removable rotating bezel devoid of fixing screws. More generally, the present invention relates to a watch comprising locking means for the removable attachment of an element to the middle part which is distinguished in particular by the features listed in claim 1. The element may be, for example, a rotating bezel , a non-rotating bezel, a movement, an auxiliary module, or the bottom of the box.

Other features of the invention will emerge from the description of an embodiment of the present invention, presented by way of example, concerning the attachment of a rotating bezel which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing in which FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a watch case according to this embodiment, FIGS. 2 and 3 are a bottom view respectively of a connecting member and a telescope belonging to this box. 4 shows a perspective view of a middle provided with a connecting member according to this embodiment, Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of a step of mounting the telescope according to this form. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a device for dismounting the telescope according to this embodiment.

As indicated above, despite the fact that the following description discusses a mechanism for attaching a rotating bezel to the middle of a watch case, the skilled person understands that this mechanism, and therefore the invention , can easily be adapted for fixing other elements of a watch such as a non-rotating bezel, a basic movement surrounded by a casing ring, an auxiliary module, or the bottom of the box. The watch case partially shown in FIG. 1 comprises, conventionally, a middle part 10 and an ice-cream 12, mounted on the caseband 10, and forming with it a housing 14 for receiving a movement. A seal 16, interposed between the caseband 10 and the window 12, seals the middle part of the case 10 - mirror 12. The watch case further comprises a case 18 comprising a substantially cylindrical inner side 20 and a face lower 22 substantially flat.

The bezel 18 is rotatably mounted on the middle part 10. For this purpose, the upper part of the caseband 10 forms a substantially cylindrical portion 24 of axis AA (FIG. 4), the outer side of which constitutes a guiding surface 26 positioning the bezel radially. 18. On the other hand, the lower part of the middle portion extends radially with respect to the cylindrical portion 24, so as to form a bearing surface 28 cooperating with the face 22 and intended to axially lock the bezel 18 direction of the bottom of the box. A ring 30, rigidly mounted in the middle part 10, axially locks the bezel 18, in the opposite direction. A circular groove 32, made in the outer flank of the cylindrical portion 24, serves as a housing for the ring 30. The bezel 18 itself is provided with a projecting circular portion 34 integral with its inner side 20 and abutting, by its upper surface, against the ring 30. Moreover, the flank of the circular portion 34 abuts against the guide surface 26.

The middle part 10 and the bezel 18 are furthermore provided with a detent device 36 intended to permit rotation only in one direction and to position by step of the telescope 18. It is formed of a toothing in teeth. saw 38 secured to the bezel 18 and a pawl 40 integral with the middle 12. A clearance 42 formed in the lower face 22 of the bezel 18, immediately below the circular portion 34, serves as a housing for the toothing 38, while a groove 44 formed in the bearing surface 28 serves as a housing and positioning means of the pawl 40. The pawl 40 and sawtooth teeth 38 cooperate in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. Note that the latching device 36 is optional. It is understood that the toothing could just as easily be made directly in the bezel 18.

According to the invention, the element attached to the middle part, the rotating bezel 18, is removable. The characteristics of the watch case according to the invention, for this embodiment, appear more clearly with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The ring 30 shown in FIG. 2 comprises an annular central portion 46 and a peripheral portion 48 adjacent to the central portion 46. The latter is intended to be inserted elastically into the circular groove 32 of the caseband 10. For this, the ring 30 is slit so as to be elastically deformable under the action of opposing radial forces. Two fingers 50 and 52 secured respectively to the two ends of the central portion 46 extend axially. They are intended to lock the ring 30 angularly in its housing, as described later. The peripheral portion 48 of the ring 30 is formed of an alternation of rigid fingers 54a and notches 56a of varying widths. Two fingers, 58a and 60a, wide relative to the fingers 54a, each have a slot, respectively 58c and 60c, originating at the end of the finger, substantially half-width. Slots 58c and 60c first extend radially from the end of the finger inward, then angularly about one-third of the width of the finger. They thus form two resilient arms 62a and 64a, axially flexible, whose function will be explained later.

Note that the ring 30 is made of a material having elastic properties, for example stainless steel or some plastics. When made of stainless steel, it can be made by stamping a plate about 0.4mm thick. Slots 58c and 60c are formed by stamping. Other techniques can be used, for example laser machining.

The bezel 18 is shown in bottom view in FIG. 3 without the toothing 38. The projecting circular portion 34 forms a succession notches 54b and rigid fingers 56b complementary respectively to the fingers 54a and the notches 56a of the ring 30. Note that two notches 58b and 60b, wide relative to the notches 54b, are complementary to the fingers 58a and 60a having the elastic arms 62a and 64a. These notches 58b and 60b comprise, disposed substantially in their center, two fingers, respectively 62b and 64b, forming push members for cooperating with the flexible arms 62a and 64a. The circular portion 34 is formed by machining the bezel 18, or by stamping and welding to the inner side 20 of the bezel 18. In Figure 4, the middle part 10 is shown in perspective, provided with the ring 30. The central portion 46 of the ring 30 is inserted into the groove 32, so that the ring 30 is positioned axially and radially. A recess 66, extending immediately below the groove 32, forms a housing for the fingers 50 and 52, the ring 30 being thus angularly positioned. A mark 68 such as a notch is made on the middle part 10 with reference to the angular position of the ring 30.

When the ring 30 is in position in the groove 32, only the peripheral portion 48 of the ring 30 protrudes with respect to the cylindrical portion 24. The fingers 54a and the notches 56a, being of complementary shape respectively the notches 54b and the fingers 56b of the bezel 18, it can engage on the middle part 10, in a precise angular position, to be mounted.

The mounting of the bezel 18 is shown, partially, in Figure 5. With a mark on the bezel 18 to align with the mark 68, the bezel is positioned in mounting position / disassembly. The notches 54b and the fingers 56b then face respectively fingers 54a and notches 56a. In addition, the fingers 62b and 64b are located opposite, respectively, elastic arms 62a and 64a with which they cooperate. Under the effect of a force applied to the bezel 18 axially towards the bottom of the box, the fingers 62b and 64b exert a thrust on the arms 62a and 64a which deform elastically, until the bezel 18 comes in abutment against the bearing surface 28. Note that the width of the fingers 62b and 64b is chosen so that the deformation of the arms 62a and 64a creates a sufficient space for their passage. A slight rotation of the telescope 18 then clears the fingers 62b and 64b and the arms 62a and 64a return in the plane of the ring 30. The bezel 18 is then locked axially with its fingers 56b abutting against the fingers 54a of the ring 30.

Thus the ring is locked axially in all its angular positions, even when the fingers 62b and 64b are opposite the elastic arms 62a and 64a, that is to say when the bezel is in the mounting position / disassembly. In this position, it is necessary to exert an axial force to bend the elastic arms and thus release the bezel 18 of the caseband 10. In order to avoid unintentional tearing of the telescope 18, and thus further increase the reliability of the assembly, the mounting / disassembling position may be located between two predetermined positions of the detent system 36, provided that the box is provided with it.

FIG. 6 shows, in perspective, a disassembly device 70, which comprises a ring 72 and encloses the watch by its middle part 10. The bezel 18 is positioned, with reference to the caseband 10, so that the fingers 62b and 64b are respectively in front of the arms 62a and 64a.

The ring 72 comprises two portions hinged in the radial plane, using a hinge 74. It is cooperating with a clamping device 76 for closing it gradually with the aid of a clamping wheel 78. Two fingers 80 and 82 rigid, each secured to a portion of ring 72, extend axially to the level of the telescope 18.

The end of these fingers 80 and 82 consists of a spout extending slightly towards the center of the ring 72 and being positioned between the lower face 22 of the bezel 18 and the bearing surface 28 of the middle part 10 Advantageously, the bezel 18 and the caseband 10 form a bevel at this interface, so as to guide the nose of the fingers 80 and 82. The clamping of the 72 crown penetrates the beaks between the bezel 18 and the middle part 10, which generates an axial force on the bezel 18, tending to deviate from the middle part 10. The fingers 62b and 64b then exert a thrust able to deform the arms elastics 62a and 64a. As during assembly, a slight rotation of the bezel 18 then clears the fingers 62b and 64b, and the arms 62a and 64a return in the plane of the ring 30. The bezel 18 is thus detached from the middle part 10. Another The tool performing the same function could include a vice in which the box is fixed and a clamp clamping the telescope, the clip being slightly axially displaced, and then turned with reference to the vice, to allow the fingers to disengage from the arms.

In the variant where the position in which the fingers 62b and 64b are not opposite the arms 62a and 64a in one or other of the stable positions defined by the teeth 38n and the pawl 40, the device 70 will then comprise advantageously a positioning member bringing the bezel 18 into a position in which arms and fingers are facing each other before the axial force is exerted on the bezel 18.

In the above description, the flexible arms 62a and 64a, which form elastic members, and the fingers 62b and 64b, which form push members cooperating with these arms, are two in number. However, the thrust members and the elastic members could be three, four or more, without the operation of the bezel is changed. It is also conceivable to completely remove the fingers and notches 54a, 56a, 56b and 54b of the ring 30 and the circular portion 34, to retain only flexible arms 62a and 64a actuated by rigid fingers 62b and 64b respectively. In this case, the fact of having fingers and arms staggered in the rest positions defined by the latching ensures perfect retention. In addition, using a device allowing an angular offset at the time of tightening allows to bring fingers and arms facing each other at the time of disassembly only. In the embodiment presented above, a ring 30 comprising flexible arms 62a and 64a is rigidly mounted on the middle part 10. Alternatively, the ring 30 could be mounted on the inner side 20 of the bezel 18, in a groove made for this purpose. By symmetry, the protruding circular portion 34 would be integral with the middle part 10. The operation of the bezel 18, its mounting and dismounting would be unchanged. Similarly, the embodiment of the ring 30 and the circular portion 34 would be identical.

Finally, it will be noted that the ring 30, which constitutes an insert mounted rigidly on the middle part 10 or the bezel 18, may be an integral part of the middle part 10 or the bezel 18, while retaining the same function. In this case, it is performed by machining the cylindrical portion 24 or the inner side 20. The flexible arms 62a and 64a are formed by stamping a metal plate and welding to the machined portion.

It is noted that in the embodiment described above the bezel 18 is attached to an outer surface of the caseband 10. However, for suitable embodiments of the invention, the fixing of an element such as movement or auxiliary module to the box, the element is in this case attached to an inner surface of the middle part 10.

For fixing an element which, once installed, does not need to be rotated during its use (such as a non-rotating bezel or a movement), a slight rotation of the element is preferably always used to arrive in the final assembly position of the element. In this way, the rigid fingers 62b and 64b are not facing the elastic members 62a and 64a. This prevents unintentional disassembly of the element. The disassembly device 70 will be adapted accordingly. In addition, for these embodiments, the fingers and notches of the ring 30 and the circular portion 34 can also be deleted, retaining only the flexible members 62a and 64a actuated by the rigid fingers 62b and 64b.

Moreover, even though the box and the middle part preferably have a cylindrical or round shape, in certain other embodiments of the present invention the shape of the box, middle, and element may be different, rectangular example. In this case, the assembly / disassembly can advantageously be done by a translational movement of the element relative to the middle, perpendicular to the axis AA rather than rotation.

For all these forms of executions, the principle of the removable attachment between the element and the middle part by axially flexible elastic members remains the same.

Claims

1. Watch comprising:

a box having: a caseband (10) provided with a peripheral portion (24) about an axis AA,

an element (18) mounted on said peripheral portion, and

axial locking means of the element (18) on the caseband (10), characterized in that said blocking means comprise:

resilient members (62a, 64a) axially flexible in the direction of the axis A-A, and

first rigid members (62b, 64b) cooperating with the elastic members (62a, 64a) in at least one relative position of the element (18) with respect to the middle part (10), said elastic members (62a, 64a) and said rigid members (62b, 64b) being mounted on said member (18) and the others on said middle (10).

2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral portion (26) of the middle part is substantially cylindrical.

3. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a connecting member (30) of said member (18) to said middle part (10) and carrying said elastic members (62a, 64a). , and positioning means of said connecting member, which is rigidly mounted with the elastic means (62a, 64a) on the element (18) or the middle part (10) by means of positioning means.

4. Watch according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said blocking means further comprise second rigid members mounted with the elastic members (62a, 64a) on the element (18) or the middle part (10). ), and third rigid members mounted on the middle part (10) or the element (18), said second and third rigid members being arranged so as to cooperate together to axially lock said assembly (18) and disengage in said position .

5. Watch according to claim 4, characterized in that the second rigid members are integral with said connecting member (30).

6. Watch according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said second and third rigid members are fingers extending radially relative to the axis AA, respectively secured to said connecting member and the element or of the middle part, and complementary to each other in said relative position.

7. Watch according to one of claims 6, characterized in that said connecting member (30) is a split ring having a central portion (46) and a peripheral portion (48) forming said fingers.

8. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said elastic members (62a, 64a) are angularly extending arms and axially flexible, and in that said first rigid members are fingers (62b, 64b) extending radially with respect to the axis AA and dimensioned so as to pass into the space created by the bending of the arms.

9. Watch according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said element comprises a bottom of the box.

10. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said element comprises a movement or auxiliary module.

11. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said element comprises a telescope.

12. Watch according to claim 11, characterized in that the bezel is rotating.

13. Watch according to claim 12, characterized in that the middle part (10) and the bezel (18) further comprise a latching system (38, 40) defining predetermined angular positions of the bezel (18). reference to the middle part (10).

14. Watch according to claim 13, characterized in that said relative position of the bezel (18) relative to the middle part (10), wherein the rigid members (62b, 64b) cooperate with the elastic members (62a, 64a). , is located between two of said predetermined positions of the detent system (38, 40).