EP2034376B1 - Watch case - Google Patents

Description

The subject of the present invention is a watch case, preferably a resonant wristwatch box, in particular a resonant box for a striking watch.

The bell wristwatches are provided with a sound generating member which may typically consist of at least one stamp or gong struck by a hammer, or even a disc or pin roll actuating lamellae at the same time. way of a music box. Depending on the complexity of the watch, the watch may be able to produce sounds or melodies on demand or at regular intervals of time. Such watches are for example repeating watches, so-called big rings, chimes or gongs.

In order to fully benefit from their sound functions, it is necessary to make watches capable of producing clearly audible sounds. While this feature generally poses few problems for pocket watches or larger size watches, the same is not true for watches of much smaller size such as wristwatches.

The limited space available in the boxes of these watches directly determines the size of the multiple pieces that make up his movement. This miniaturization affects the amount of energy that such a watch is able to provide and ultimately damages the acoustic capabilities of the sound generating organs. The case of these watches is itself the first element that prevents the propagation of sound waves to the outside. This disadvantage is accentuated by the presence of seals with water, dust and thus with the sounds, which is endowed the vast majority of wristwatch boxes. Thus, it is common to find that the sounds emitted by such watches become inaudible outside quiet or quiet environments.

In order to overcome this problem, the document FR 2,777,095 suggests a sound watch comprising, inside its housing, at least one resonance chamber on the wall of which the sound production unit is directly mounted thereon. A plurality of such chambers may be interconnected by tubular transmission members. To improve the propagation of sound to the outside, some of these rooms may even be provided with openings to the outside of the housing. It has also been thought to arrange at least one membrane vibrated by the wall of the chamber to further amplify the sound produced by the sound generating member. The bottom and the middle of the watch case are connected to each other by means suitable for damping the vibrations generated by the sound production unit. Thus, these vibrations are not transmitted or only weakly to the middle part and the parts connected thereto.

In addition to the relative complexity of the arrangement of these elements for promoting the propagation and amplification of sound, the main disadvantage of this device lies in the fact that one or more voids, closed by walls, must be reserved for within the housing to be able to create the corresponding resonance chamber or chambers. This results in a loss of space to the detriment of that occupied by other organs or the need to have to use larger volume watch cases.

The resonance of a watch case is a property generally related to watches called ringing. However, this quality could also be appreciated by collectors for watches devoid of any ringtone or specific melody. In such a case, it will be sought that the housing can at best transmit and sound the clicking of the mechanism and the regular beats of the balance. This is the reason why the object of the present invention is not limited to the use of the object described below for ringtones, but also relates to its use for other mechanical watches, essentially .

The object of the present invention is to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks by suggesting a watch case formed of three main distinct parts, namely a bezel, a middle and a bottom. According to the invention, this bottom has the particularity of being connected to the bezel outside the caseband, trapping the latter inside a protective zone, preferably perforated. With this arrangement, the middle part can consist essentially of a wall of small or very thin, while remaining immune to any impact from the outside of the housing.

The document CH 645236 discloses a watch having assembly means arranged outside the middle part.

The object of the present invention is preferably to equip wristwatch watches. For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a watch case according to claim 1.

Advantageously, the arrangement of a middle part of very small thickness makes it possible to minimize the sound barrier effect existing between the interior and exterior environments of the case. Moreover, thanks to its shape and its chosen dimensions, in particular as a function of the material that constitutes it, the present watch case has characteristics that best promote the transmission of sound waves through the middle part, without having amplified them by successive reflections. The sound box role played by the watch case in the amplification of sound is further improved in the present invention by the specific arrangement outside the middle part of the assembly means that hold the middle part, the bottom and the bezel. Advantageously, this arrangement also constitutes a means or a protection zone of the middle part against any possible impact.

Alternatively, the watch case can nevertheless be sealed to liquids and fine dust particles, through seals disposed between the middle part, the bezel and the bottom.

More preferably, this watch case is intended to receive a ringing movement whose sound generating member may be either integral with the movement or held directly on the middle part so as to maximize the perceived loudness outside. of the case.

More preferably, the object of the present invention is intended to be worn on the wrist by means of a bracelet maintained with hooking horns. According to the invention, the latter are each formed of one or two parts attached to the telescope and / or the bottom. Alternatively, this or these parts may constitute with the bezel and / or the bottom of the same part machined in the mass.

The present invention also refers to a use of said case for a ring watch or a wristwatch, preferably a ringing wristwatch.

• Les figures 1a et 1b sont des vues en perspective de la boîte de montre, vue respectivement depuis le dessus et depuis le dessous.
• La figure 2 est une vue éclatée en perspective de l'objet de l'invention tel qu'illustré à la figure 1.
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective plongeante de la carrure de la boîte de montre.
• Les figures 4, 4a et 4b sont respectivement des vues de dessous de la carrure telle qu'illustrée à la figure 3 et des vues en coupe selon les lignes A-A et B-B de la figure 4.
• Les figures 5, 5a et 5b sont respectivement des vues de dessous de la boîte de montre illustrée à la figure 1 et des vues en coupe selon les lignes A-A et B-B de la figure 5.
• La figure 6 donne une illustration d'une variante de l'objet de la présente invention.

Other advantages and specific features will become apparent in the light of the description which follows and which refers to a preferred embodiment of the subject of the present invention as well as to variants, taken as a non-limitative and illustrated schematically and for example by the appended figures in which:

• The Figures 1a and 1b are perspective views of the watch case, viewed respectively from above and from below.
• The figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the object of the invention as illustrated in FIG. figure 1 .
• The figure 3 is a plunging perspective view of the middle part of the watch case.
• The Figures 4, 4a and 4b are respectively views from below of the middle part as illustrated in figure 3 and sectional views along lines AA and BB of the figure 4 .
• The figures 5 , 5a and 5b are respectively views from below of the watch case illustrated in the figure 1 and sectional views along lines AA and BB of the figure 5 .
• The figure 6 gives an illustration of a variant of the subject of the present invention.

From a terminological point of view, it will be mentioned that the present description refers to the use without distinction of the terms case and watch case. Also, it will be specified that the window or windows closing this box from the top of the dial side and, if applicable, from below, the bottom side, have not been considered to be basically constituent members of a watch case.

With reference to Figures 1a and 1b these schematically illustrate a resonant housing according to the present invention. This housing 1 is formed of three distinct main parts, namely a middle part 10, a bezel 20 and a bottom 30. The caseband is immobilized between the bezel and the bottom themselves held together by assembly means 40. illustrated on the Figures 1a, 1b , as well as figures 5a and 6 , the telescope 20 and the bottom 30 are connected to each other outside the middle part 10 surrounding the latter.

According to the preferred embodiment, the telescope and / or the base comprise excrescences, for example in the form of portions of uprights 21, 31. These amounts respectively fill the periphery of the telescope and that of the bottom, so as to face to assemble in pairs, preferably in the horizontal plane of the middle part 10. By this means, the middle part is trapped and partly protected by the assembly bezel-bottom. This assembly is held together by a plurality of screws 42 whose heads preferably appear on the bottom of the housing 1.

It will be noted in particular that these assembly means do not pass through the space located inside the middle part 10, nor this middle part itself, but instead are arranged close to the outer periphery of the middle part. As better illustrated on figures 1a and 5a , the portions of uprights 21, 31 are further apart from the middle part, so that a gap 9 exists between these uprights and this middle part. Alternatively, it would also be possible to dress the casing decorative perforated elements, arranged between the uprights 21, 31.

With reference to the figure 2 , this one illustrates by a schematic view, an exploded perspective of the watch case represented in Figures 1a and 1b . In the upper part of the housing 1, the bezel 20 is closed by an upper window 2 inserted in a shoulder 22. The latter is located on the upper inner edge of the opening in the bezel. Preferably, a seal 4 takes place between the upper window 2 and the shoulder 22. The upper window makes it possible to see the dial 8 illustrated here as an indication.

In contrast, the housing 1 is closed at its bottom by a lower window 3, clamped in the same manner in a second shoulder 32, itself provided on the inner edge and upper of the opening made in the bottom 30 A second seal 5 is inserted between the lower window 3 and the shoulder 32. This second mirror makes it possible to see the non-illustrated movement of the watch, in particular the wheel side which comprises the plate supporting the gear trains and the bridges. . It goes without saying that this lower window 3 is optional and could be replaced by an opaque closure, which could still be one with the bottom 30 so as to constitute one and the same piece.

In the center of figure 2 is the middle part 10 which is wrapped at least partially by the bezel and the bottom. With this arrangement, the middle part 10 may advantageously consist of a wall 11 of small or very small thickness, to promote as much as possible the transmission of all the sounds from the inside of the housing. Such sounds are typically those emitted by conventional, non-illustrated organs, such as the movement and / or timbres of a ring. For this purpose, the middle part consists substantially of a wall of thickness less than 2 mm, preferably less than 0.5 mm, for example equal to 0.35 mm. The thickness of the wall 11 is intended to be as thin as possible.

The fineness of this wall is, in practice, limited only by the mechanical stresses to which the housing 1 must resist. These constraints are in particular those related to the pressure / depression in the case of a sealed housing. Therefore, we will favor the use of a material that has, for a thickness as small as possible, the best compromise between its mechanical strength, its sound transmission coefficient, its vibration properties or its fidelity in terms of acoustic wave transmission. Thus, the middle part could be made, at least in part, in a mineral such as sapphire in order to increase its ringing power, without however excluding other materials such as ceramics, a metal or an alloy made of metals or different materials.

The figures 3 , 4, 4a and 4b represent such a middle, respectively in a perspective view, a plan view from below and views in vertical sections along the lines AA and BB of the figure 4 . According to the preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the wall 11 of this middle part is substantially that of a cylinder, preferably that of a cylinder of revolution. As a result, the wall 11 could equally well have a square, rectangular, polygonal or circular shape. By extension, it will be mentioned that this shape could still be conical, of hyperbolic section or approaching that of a barrel for example. However, it will be noted that the cylinder shape of revolution has advantageous acoustic properties which gives it a preferential status.

As well illustrated at the figure 4b the opposite ends or edges of the wall 11 are preferably provided with an upper flange 16 and a lower flange 17 in which upper and lower sealing gaskets 7 may be fitted. Figures 5a and 5b these seals are intended to come into contact with the telescope 20 and the bottom 30. In the presence of a circular middle ( Fig. 4, 4a, 4b ), these soles then take the form of a crown or a circular seat.

With reference to figures 3 and 4 it will be noted that the caseband 10 is provided, on the inner surface of its wall 11, with a plurality of projections 12, 13 and 14. The first ones constitute supports 12 intended to maintain at least one stamp through 'a clog conventional (not shown), to be fixed by means of threads 12a machined in this support. By this arrangement, the sound generator member will be advantageously fixed directly on the middle of the housing, thereby promoting the transmission to the outside of all the vibrations it produces.

The second projections 13 refer to supports in the form of tabs or fins adapted to receive the movement of the watch. The latter is intended to rest on these supports and to be positioned by a shoulder 13a, visible in the figure 3 , especially in the figure 4a . Fixing the movement is obtained by screwing or pinning the latter through the holes 13b provided for this purpose in the supports 12, 13.

The last projecting portions 14 constitute reinforcements or so-called bosses allowing the drilling of at least one hole 14a passing through the thin wall 11 of the middle part. By this means, it will be possible to hunt a tube 14b ( figure 2 ).

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the protrusions 12, preferably 13 and 14 inclusive, together with the caseband 10 constitute the same part machined in the mass. In this way, it was found that the acoustic rendering of the middle part was, both in terms of the purity of the transmitted sounds and in terms of their intensity, better than if these parts were simply reported against the case, by example by welding on the inner surface of the wall 11 as could also be suggested by way of variant.

The figure 5 gives an illustration, in a plan view, of the bottom 30 shown in perspective at the figure 1b . The Figures 5a and 5b respectively give vertical sectional views along the lines AA and BB of the figure 5 . In these last figures, it is noted that the middle part 10 is immobilized, without play, in its two opposite ends or edges. According to the preferred embodiment, the latter correspond to the upper flange 16 and the lower flange 17 in which the seals 6 and 7 can respectively be positioned. This immobilization is obtained by at least one groove 26 and / or 27 , arranged at least in correspondence in the telescope and / or in the bottom. Preferably, it is provided that a groove 27 can be arranged for one half in the sole 16, 17 of the middle part 10, and for the other in the bezel 20 and the bottom 30 as illustrated in FIGS. Figures 5a, 5b .

With reference to the figure 5a , the assembly means 40 which make it possible to immobilize the middle part, the bezel and the base, are preferably constituted by threads 41 and corresponding screws 42. The threads are machined at least in the amount portion 21, while the screws 42 may be advantageously embedded in the bottom. Alternatively, it would also be possible to replace these means by pins or lugs. The latter would be pluggable, either by translation such as clips, or by rotation as is the case for bayonet fastening systems.

The figure 6 presents a variant of the object of the present invention in which the watch case 1 appears as a battery snare drum. It may be noted that the assembly means 40 furthermore comprise intermediate connecting elements 45 in the form of uprights which are independent of the telescope 20, the bottom 30 and, of course, the middle part 10. According to the method of preferred embodiment, these amounts or small columns are arranged between the bezel and the bottom, preferably at regular intervals all around the middle part without ever touching it. They are connected by their ends to the telescope and to the bottom by means of the screws 42 arranged in one or both of their ends.

Alternatively, it would still be possible to manufacture the bezel and / or the bottom in the form of a perforated revolution cylinder. Another means of assembly 40 of one or such cylinders could be to provide them with an external and / or internal thread at their free end. In this way, it would become possible to assemble the telescope at the bottom, simply by screwing these two elements to one another. The openings in one or both cylinders of revolution would ensure excellent sound transmission, from the inside to the outside of the housing, while sufficiently protecting the caseband 10 any external shock. Again, it would also be possible to add a perforated intermediate connecting element which could be screwed on the one hand to the telescope 20, and secondly to the bottom 30. In addition to a screw connection, it would still be possible to link the bezel at the bottom, if necessary via an intermediate connecting element, by means of another fastening system such as a bayonet system for example.

With reference in particular to figures 1b , 5 and 5b Note that pairs of horns 50, also called handles, can be part of the housing of the present invention, especially when the latter is of course intended for a wristwatch. In this case, the horns 50 provided for the attachment of the bracelet (not shown), are either each formed of one or two parts 25, 35 attached to the telescope 20 and / or respectively the bottom 30, or constitute with this bezel and / or the bottom of the same piece machined in the mass. It will be noted in particular that the horns are not made integral with the middle part 10, but are instead linked, in part or in whole, to the bezel and / or the bottom of the housing. The bracelet is intended to be connected to the horns in a conventional manner, for example by means of a spring bar can be inserted into the holes 51 formed on the inner faces of the horns of the same pair.

Thanks to the optional integration of such horns 50, the present watch case 1 also finds a use dedicated to wristwatches.

In particular, it is a question of using the object of the present invention for bell watches.

Thanks to the arrangement of the different seals 4, 5, 6, 7, the watch case 1 can also be sealed at pressures such as one typically encounters at depths of 35 m or 50 m at the below the level of a body of water. However, it could be chosen to remove, at least in part, the seals to reduce as much as possible the sound absorption level of the housing and thereby minimize the acoustic dampening effect of the suggested means for immobilizing the middle part between the telescope and the bottom.

Being subjected to the vibrations generated by the sound waves coming from the movement and / or the sound generating member, the middle part of the present invention also aims to transmit as closely as possible all of these waves to the outside of the case. This transmission is advantageously increased by the optional arrangement of the stamp or stamps directly on this middle, unlike a traditional arrangement of the latter on the movement.

If the arrangement of one or more timbres mounted on the middle part, in particular on a circular middle of very thin thickness, makes it possible to improve the sound rendering of the ring as well from the point of view of the perceived strength as the duration sound, its richness and its accuracy, on the other hand it should be noted that the assembly of a movement in such a housing is substantially complicated. This complication is particularly the fact that the hammers, which are intended to hit the stamp or stamps accurately, are linked to the movement while the stamps are in turn integral with the middle case.

Claims (13)

1. Watch case (1) formed of three distinct main portions, namely a middle (10), a bezel (20) and a back (30), the said middle (10) being immobilized, by means of a retention means (26, 27), between the bezel (20) and the back (30) held together by assembly means (40) arranged outside the said middle (10) and surrounding the latter at a distance from the latter, this middle (10) having a cylindrical resounding wall (11) less than 2 mm thick.
2. Watch case according to Claim 1, the said wall (11) having a thickness preferably of less than 0.5 mm or equal to 0.35 mm.
3. Watch case according to Claim 2, the outer surface of the wall (11) of the said middle (10) being substantially that of a cylinder, preferably that of a cylinder of revolution.
4. Watch case according to Claim 2, the said middle (10) being, on the inner surface of its wall (11), provided with protruding portions (12, 13, 14) designed to hold at least one ringer and/or a watch movement, and/or to be pierced with at least one through-hole (14a) so that a tube (14b) can be passed through it.
5. Watch case according to Claim 4, the said protruding portions (12, 13, 14) being fitted against the middle (10) or forming with the latter one and the same part machined from a solid block.
6. Watch case according to Claim 1, the said middle (10) being immobilized with no clearance, at opposite ends (16, 17) of the latter, by at least one groove (26, 27) arranged in correspondence at least in the bezel (20) and/or in the back (30).
7. Watch case according to Claim 6, at least one seal (6, 7) being placed between the middle (10) and the bezel (20) and/or the back (30), in the said groove (27).
8. Watch case according to Claim 1, the said assembly means (40) consisting of screw threads (41), screws (42), pins or studs that can be inserted by translation or by rotation.
9. Watch case according to Claim 8, the said assembly means (40) also comprising intermediate connecting elements (45) placed between the bezel (20) and the back (30).
10. Watch case according to Claim 1, the bezel (20) and/or the back (30) taking the form of a pierced cylinder.
11. Watch case according to Claim 1, corns (50) for attaching a bracelet being either each formed of one or two portions (25, 35) fitted to the bezel (20) and/or to the back (30), or forming with the bezel and/or with the back one and the same part machined from a solid block.
12. Use of the watch case (1) according to Claim 11, for a wristwatch.
13. Use of the watch case (1) according to one of the preceding claims, for a repeater watch.

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