EP2367079A1 - Glass-bezel assembly for a timepiece and assembly method - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves creating an alternation of junction zones (4) to rigidly fix and support a glass (2) in direct contact with a bezel (3), and sealing zones in which the glass is not in direct contact with the bezel. The glass is fixed on the bezel by supporting and locking the glass at each junction zone on a junction surface of the bezel so as to transmit vibration communicated with the bezel, to the glass. The glass is maintained in a peripheral space outside the junction zones, remote from the bezel so as to permit the vibration of the glass without hindering the vibration. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a glass and bezel assembly for a musical or alarm timepiece, comprising a bezel (2) a musical or alarm timepiece comprising a glass and bezel assembly.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method of assembly between on the one hand an ice, and on the other hand a bezel comprising a notch for the housing of said ice, for use in a timepiece with striking or music of said ice as vibrating and vibrating member for broadcasting a sound signal from a vibratory source, or a ring, or a music box, or an alarm clock, and transmitted to said telescope.

The invention also relates to a set ice-bezel dressing for timepiece ringing or music comprising at least one vibratory source or a ring, or a music box, or an alarm clock, arranged for the use of an ice as a vibrating and vibrating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from said vibratory source, said ice-glasses assembly comprising on the one hand a telescope transmitting the vibrations coming from said vibratory source and comprising a detent for housing a ice, and secondly such ice having an upper surface and a lower surface connected by an edge.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such ice-glasses.

The invention relates to the field of timepieces comprising means for transmitting a sound signal such as ringing, music box or similar. It relates more particularly to timepieces portable by the user, such as watches, pendants and the like.

Background of the invention

The invention proposes to solve the problem of improving the diffusion of sound by a small timepiece. Indeed, if the diffusion of sound is easy in the case of pendulums or clocks, which have volumes or sound boxes designed to spread the sound, and widely sized, it still poses a problem in the case of coins. small watchmaking, where the volume to form a box or a resonant cavity is necessarily very limited, and where many components impede the good diffusion of sound, damping instead of amplifying it. This problem is all the more arduous as the sound sources, consisting of timbres, gongs or even keyboards, are themselves very small, and that the amplification level of the sound must be important for the sound is audible by the user, and possibly by his entourage. The amplification and the diffusion of the sound must not alter its purity, it is therefore essential to prevent any untimely resonance of another component of the timepiece.

Various attempts have been made to create resonant cavities, generally turned on the side of the user, as for example in the patent document JP 9,010,183 on behalf of Seiko Epson. However the user himself helps to dampen the vibration, and the efficiency is therefore quite limited.

Trials to use ice as a vibrating organ have long yielded mixed results. The patent application CH 8252 66 in the name of Spadini describes a flexible glass rigidly mounted on the bezel, and made in an organic artificial glass, the quality of the sound is generally strongly degraded due to the heterogeneity of the material.

The patent application FR 2 154 704 in the name of Timex describes an alarm watch with a piezoelectric oscillator resonating the ice of the watch, which is fixed directly on it, in a manner substantially perpendicular to the plane tangent to the ice, which is fixed to the middle part by a rubber elastic ring or similar. This elastic trim absorbs too much energy to achieve the desired result. A vibration in the plane tangent to the ice is obtained only with an oscillator generating vibrations in this direction.

The fixation of an ice is known from the document DE 198 23 981 in the name of Glassen , which describes a watch with a removable glass and invisible edge, clipped on its periphery on a telescope. However, it is not intended for a bell or music watch, and is not intended for sound distribution.

The patent US 4,115,994 discloses a watch having a light source, and an ice arranged to distribute the light optimally, in combination with reflecting means at the dial.

The patent CH 626 497, on behalf of Ebauches , innovated by allowing the use of ice as a vibrating organ, serving as a vibration transmitting organ, thanks to the interposition, between the bezel and the ice, of a thin annular connecting piece, which absorbs little energy, and that does not alter the sound. These provisions were taken up by the patent EP 0 694 824 in the name of Asulab , and by the patent CH 698 742 in the name of Richemont wherein the annular piece adopts a broken line profile. These solutions have the advantage of not deforming the sound, and little damping vibrations, but the amplitude of vibration of the ice remains limited because of the peripheral support of the latter.

There is still a patent CH 698 533 in the name of Richemont , which sought a better transmission of sounds by fixing the stamps of a ring directly on an ice support welded to it. Sound transmission is assured, but the location of the stamps is very special, under the ice, and can not be applied to all timepieces.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to provide a new solution to the problem of sound transmission by improving the use of ice as vibrating and vibrating member, with respect for the quality of its expected, thanks to improved transmission of vibrations since the mechanism for emitting the sound signal of the timepiece to the mirror via the telescope, with as little damping as possible, and with a sharp increase in the acoustic level whatever the location of implantation of the mechanism for emitting the sound signal in the timepiece.

The invention seeks to provide this mirror at least one freedom along an axis of freedom, in particular pivoting, so as to allow a large amplitude of vibration of the ice, under the action of a vibratory source that includes a timepiece, which is not limited by the fitting of the ice on the bezel of the timepiece, more particularly a watch.

In particular, the invention allows the vibrations of the ice, not only perpendicular to its surface as is known from the prior art, but especially according to the surface in which this ice develops, substantially radially compared to a normal profile. ice in the center.

According to the invention, the transmission of vibration from the window to the ice is only through certain predetermined contact areas.

• on détermine un nombre adéquat de zones de jonction disjointes destinées à constituer ensemble la seule liaison mécanique directe de transmission vibratoire de ladite lunette à ladite glace, en-dehors desquelles zones de jonction ladite glace est sans contact direct avec ladite lunette,
• on crée une alternance de dites zones de jonction pour l'appui et la fixation rigide de la glace en contact direct avec ladite lunette, et de zones d'étanchéité où ladite glace n'a pas de contact direct avec ladite lunette;
• on fixe ladite glace sur ladite lunette par appui et par serrage à chaque dite zone de jonction sur une surface de jonction de la lunette de façon à transmettre à ladite glace toute vibration communiquée à ladite lunette,
• on maintient, dans un espace périphérique en-dehors de ladite ou lesdites zones de jonction, constitué d'une succession de zones d'étanchéité en alternance avec lesdites zones de jonction, dans lesquelles zones d'étanchéité la glace peut vibrer en plan, et chacune desdites zones d'étanchéité délimitée par ladite glace et une dite surface d'étanchéité, ladite glace à distance de ladite lunette de façon à y permettre les vibrations de ladite glace sans les entraver.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a method of assembly between an ice-cream on the one hand and a bezel with a notch for the housing of said ice-cream for use in a timepiece with a bell or with music of said ice as a vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from a vibratory source, or a ring, or a music box, or an alarm clock, and transmitted to said telescope, characterized in that:

• an adequate number of disjoint junction areas intended to constitute together the only direct mechanical vibration transmission linkage of said telescope to said ice, outside which junction areas said ice is without direct contact with said telescope,
• an alternation of said junction zones for the support and rigid attachment of the ice in direct contact with said bezel, and sealing zones where said ice does not have direct contact with said bezel;
• said ice is fixed on said bezel by pressing and clamping at each said junction area on a junction surface of the bezel so as to transmit to said mirror any vibration communicated to said bezel,
• maintaining, in a peripheral space outside said junction zone or zones, constituted by a succession of alternating sealing zones with said junction zones, in which sealing zones the ice can vibrate in plane, and each of said sealing zones delimited by said ice and a said sealing surface, said ice at a distance from said bezel so as to allow the vibrations of said ice without hindering them.

• on détermine les fréquences propres des sources vibratoires dudit signal sonore, tels que timbres, gongs, claviers ou similaires, et on détermine une bande passante correspondant auxdites fréquences propres ;
• on simule par calcul le positionnement périphérique autour de ladite glace, en fonction des caractéristiques de ladite glace, d'un nombre adéquat de dites zones de jonction disjointes, pour régler la fréquence propre de vibration et les harmoniques de ladite glace, dépendantes de l'épaisseur de ladite glace, pour les faire correspondre à la bande passante correspondant aux dites fréquences propres desdites sources vibratoires et à la bande passante de l'oreille humaine;
• on choisit l'épaisseur de ladite glace, et la surface de contact entre ladite glace et ladite lunette au niveau de chaque dite zone de jonction pour, en fonction du calcul précédent, faire correspondre lesdites fréquences propre et harmoniques de ladite glace auxdites bandes passantes, et pour obtenir ledit nombre adéquat de zones de jonction le plus proche de la valeur deux.

According to one characteristic of the invention, for the determination of said adequate number of said junction zones:

• the eigenfrequencies of the vibratory sources of said sound signal, such as timbres, gongs, keyboards or the like, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies is determined;
• the circumferential positioning around said ice, according to the characteristics of said ice, of an adequate number of said disjoint junction zones, is simulated by calculation to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of said ice, dependent on the thickness of said ice, to match the bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies of said vibratory sources and to the bandwidth of the human ear;
• the thickness of said ice is selected, and the contact surface between said ice and said bezel at each said junction zone for, according to the preceding calculation, to match said natural and harmonic frequencies of said ice to said bandwidths, and to obtain said adequate number of junction areas closest to the value two.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said appropriate number is chosen equal to two. Preferably, the number of junction zones is two, and only two.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the space between said ice and said bezel is hermetically sealed with sealing means.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said sealing means are chosen comprising at least one flexible seal, and / or at least one elastic membrane.

The invention also relates to a set ice-bezel dressing for timepiece ringing or music comprising at least one vibratory source or a ring, or a music box, or an alarm clock, arranged for the use of an ice as a vibrating and vibrating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from said vibratory source, said ice-glasses assembly comprising on the one hand a telescope transmitting the vibrations coming from said vibratory source and comprising a detent for housing a ice, and secondly such an ice having an upper surface and a lower surface connected by an edge, characterized in that it comprises one or more junction areas between said bezel and said ice together constituting a mechanical link vibratory transmission without damping said bezel to said ice to resonate said ice under the action of the vibrations transmitted to it by said bezel at said junction area (s), and said ice is separated from said bezel at sealing zones which are different from said junction areas and which constitute a damped vibrating transmission peripheral space, and which ice can vibrate in plan.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, for each of said junction zones, said upper surface of said ice is in direct abutment with said notch, and that said edge of said ice is in direct or indirect contact with said notch or with said bezel, and said lower surface of said ice is in direct or indirect support with said bezel or with a middle part that comprises, juxtaposed with said bezel, said timepiece, to enclose said ice.

According to a feature of the invention, the ice-glasses assembly comprises, at each said junction zone, at least one support wedge constituted by a peripheral spacer wedge or by a lower wedge.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the peripheral space between said ice and said bezel, at least outside the surfaces where said ice and said bezel are joined by said connection piece or pieces, is sealed with sealing means.

The invention also relates to a timepiece ringing or music comprising at least one such ice-glasses.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente, sous forme schématisée et en vue de face, avec une surface supérieur de la glace visible, un ensemble glace-lunette assemblé selon l'invention dans un mode de réalisation préféré ;
• la figure 2 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, en vue en coupe sensiblement perpendiculairement à cette face supérieure, une section selon un plan AA de l'ensemble glace-lunette de la figure 1, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 3 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, en vue en coupe sensiblement perpendiculairement à la face supérieure, et dans un plan perpendiculaire à celui de la figure 2, une section selon un plan BB de l'ensemble glace-lunette de la figure 1, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon analogue à la figure 1, un autre ensemble glace-lunette assemblé selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 5 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 2, une section selon un plan AA de l'ensemble de la figure 4, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 6 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 3, une section selon un plan BB de l'ensemble de la figure 4, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 7 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 2, une section selon un plan AA d'un ensemble selon un autre mode de réalisation, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 8 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 3, une section selon un plan BB de l'ensemble de la figure 7, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 9 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 2, une section selon un plan AA d'un ensemble selon un autre mode encore de réalisation, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 10 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, de façon similaire à la figure 3, une section selon un plan BB de l'ensemble de la figure 9, positionné sur une carrure d'une pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 11 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, un détail d'une section du type de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 12 représente, sous forme schématisée, partielle, un détail d'une section du type de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 13 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue de dessus, un mode de réalsiation où la lunette comporte une découpe périphérique ;
• la figure 14 représente, de façon schématisée et en perspective, une lunette comportant deux surfaces de contact pour définir deux zones de contact selon l'invention ;
• la figure 15 représente, de façon schématisée et en perspective, une glace agencée pour coopérer avec la lunette de la figure 14, et comportant deux surfaces de contact complémentaires pour définir deux zones de contact selon l'invention ;
• la figure 16 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle et en coupe selon un plan passant par ces deux zones de contact, l'ensemble constitué par la lunette de la figure 14 et la glace de la figure 15.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures in which.

• the figure 1 represents, in schematic form and in front view, with an upper surface of the visible ice, an assembly ice-glasses assembled according to the invention in a preferred embodiment;
• the figure 2 represents, in schematic partial form, in cross-sectional view substantially perpendicular to this upper face, a section along a plane AA of the ice-bezel assembly of the figure 1 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 3 represents, in schematic partial form, a sectional view substantially perpendicular to the upper face, and in a plane perpendicular to that of the figure 2 , a section on a plane BB of the ice-glasses assembly of the figure 1 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 4 represents, in a similar way to figure 1 another ice-bezel assembly assembled according to another embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 5 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 2 , a section according to a plan AA of the whole of the figure 4 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 6 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 3 , a section according to a plan BB of the whole of the figure 4 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 7 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 2 a section according to a plane AA of an assembly according to another embodiment, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 8 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 3 , a section according to a plan BB of the whole of the figure 7 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 9 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 2 , a section according to a plane AA of an assembly according to yet another embodiment, positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 10 represents, in schematic, partial form, similar to the figure 3 , a section according to a plan BB of the whole of the figure 9 positioned on a middle part of a timepiece;
• the figure 11 represents, in schematic partial form, a detail of a section of the type of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 12 represents, in schematic partial form, a detail of a section of the type of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 13 represents, schematically and in top view, a réalsiation mode where the bezel comprises a peripheral cutout;
• the figure 14 represents, schematically and in perspective, a telescope having two contact surfaces for defining two contact zones according to the invention;
• the figure 15 represents, schematically and in perspective, a mirror arranged to cooperate with the telescope of the figure 14 and having two complementary contact surfaces for defining two contact zones according to the invention;
• the figure 16 represents, schematically, partially and in section along a plane passing through these two contact zones, the assembly constituted by the telescope of the figure 14 and ice cream figure 15 .

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to the field of timepieces comprising means for transmitting a sound signal such as ringing, music box or similar. It concerns more particularly the parts timepieces portable by the user, such as watches, pendants and the like.

In timepieces with a traditional sound signal of the bell or music box type, and in particular in watches, an actuator, of the hammer or cam type, strikes or vibrates a vibratory source such as a bell, a gong or a bell. keyboard, or the like. The vibration produced by this vibratory source is transmitted to elements that can radiate, such as the middle and the bezel, provided however that no isolator or damper element is interposed in the path of the vibration. Very often, the vibration can not be transmitted to the ice, because it is usually insulated with a seal whose function is to seal the watch, and / or it is driven into the bezel by the intermediate of a hard plastic seal. As a result, the ice is not vibrated and can not radiate, which explains the limitations of the prior art.

The invention therefore seeks to render usable the large radiation surface that the ice can offer, which is moreover well disposed towards the user and his surroundings, to render audible, with perfect sound quality, the sound signal the buzzer or vibratory source.

The object of the invention is, in particular, to allow the vibrations of the ice, not only perpendicularly to its surface as is known from the prior art, but above all according to the surface in which this ice develops, substantially radially relative to at a normal to the profile of the ice at its center.

The invention relates to a method of assembling between on the one hand a lens 2, and on the other hand a bezel 3, for the use in a timepiece 100 of this lens 2 as a vibrating and radiating body a sound signal coming from a vibratory source such as a buzzer, music box or similar, and transmitted to this telescope 3.

The invention also relates to a set ice-glasses 1, in particular obtained by the implementation of this method.

The invention focuses, in particular, to provide a great ease of adaptation to any type of timepiece, regardless of the location of the vibratory sources relative to the ice. The essential thing is to be able to transmit these vibrations by elements constituting the structure of the timepiece up to a telescope, which can be the original telescope or a replacement telescope, this telescope that carries the ice making its sound. turn vibrate the ice. Whenever possible, it is advantageous to transmit the vibrations through the middle part of the timepiece, and to the direct contact of which the bezel is attached, and the following description is applicable while both to a particular ice-middle assembly, as the preferred embodiment of an ice-bezel assembly.

The innovative principle of the invention is to limit the attachment of the window 2 to the window 3, which comprises a notch 30 for the housing of the ice 2, to one or more substantially point areas hereinafter called "junction zones" 4, so as to allow the free vibration of most of the periphery of the ice 2, in a peripheral space 7 between the window 2 and the window 3 outside these junction areas 4, without this free vibration ice is hampered.

The notch 30 allows the housing of the ice 2, and especially is arranged to allow its vibration, and therefore the contact between the ice 2 and the notch 30, is, according to the invention, a limited number of points or of surfaces. This vibration is sought essentially "in plan", that is to say substantially tangentially to the upper or lower surfaces 21 of the ice 2, substantially perpendicular to a normal to the ice 2 in the middle.

As a result, the junction zones 4 are substantially "in plan", that is to say in the extension of the ice 2. Naturally this applies to left-hand windows, as illustrated in the figures.

This ice 2 can thus vibrate over most of its periphery, when the junction zones 4 are of reduced size, and separated from each other by other zones, called "sealing zones" 40, where the ice is not held rigidly and can vibrate or rotate if the number of junction areas 4 is exactly two.

The ice 2 behaves in a manner like a recessed beam, at one end, or at both ends, if the number of junction point areas is respectively one or two. A number of junction areas 4 greater than three is obviously possible, and improves the rigidity of the connection between the window 2 and the window 3, however the vibration is hampered, and the sound yield is less spectacular than with one or two zones junction only.

A good simulation of the vibratory behavior of the whole of the timepiece 100, and more particularly of the set ice-telescope 1, joined to a quality achievement, allows to obtain the maximum sound efficiency.

• on détermine, pour une lunette 3 et une glace 2 données, un nombre adéquat de zones de jonction 4 disjointes destinées à constituer ensemble la seule liaison mécanique de transmission vibratoire directe de la lunette 3 à la glace 2, en-dehors desquelles zones de jonction 4 ladite glace 2 est sans contact direct avec ladite lunette 3,
• on crée une alternance de zones de jonction 4 pour l'appui et la fixation rigide de la glace 2, et de zones d'étanchéité 40 où la glace 2 n'a pas de contact direct avec la lunette 3. Dans un premier mode de réalisation, correspondant aux figures, et où la glace 2 a un pourtour continu, on crée au niveau de ladite lunette 3 une alternance de surfaces de jonction 31 pour l'appui et la fixation rigide de ladite glace 2 sur ladite lunette 3, et de surfaces d'étanchéité 32 où ladite glace 2 n'a pas de contact direct avec ladite lunette 3, tel que visible sur la figure 13. Dans un deuxième mode de réalisation non représenté sur les figures, on modifie le pourtour de la glace 2 en une alternance de zones de contact et de dégagement. Dans un troisième mode de réalisation non représenté sur les figures, on crée à la fois sur la glace et sur la lunette une succession de zones de contact et de zones de dégagement. Si l'on transforme un ensemble glace-lunette existant pour améliorer ses qualités de résonance sonore, on restreint les surfaces de contact direct entre la glace 2 et la lunette 3 par enlèvement périphérique de matière de la glace 2 ou/et de la lunette 3 afin de créer cette alternance de zones de jonction 4 pour l'appui et la fixation rigide de la glace 2, et de zones d'étanchéité 40 où la glace 2 n'a pas de contact direct avec la lunette 3. Dans une variante de réalisation on interpose entre la glace 2 et la lunette 3 au moins une cale d'appui 5, notamment constituée par une cale périphérique d'espacement 50 ou/et par une cale inférieure 51, pour constituer la zone de jonction 4. Dans le cas d'une réalisation nouvelle, on crée des zones de jonction 4 pour l'appui et la fixation rigide de la glace 2, et on créée, entre ces zones de jonction 4, des zones d'étanchéité 40 où la glace 2 n'a pas de contact direct avec la lunette 3 ;

• on fixe la glace 2 sur la lunette 3 par appui et par serrage à chaque zone de jonction 4 sur une surface de jonction 31 de la lunette 3, de façon à transmettre, avec le moins d'amortissement possible, à la glace 2 toute vibration communiquée à la lunette 3,
• on maintient, dans un espace périphérique 7 en-dehors de ladite ou lesdites zones de jonction 4, constitué d'une succession de zones d'étanchéité 40 en alternance avec les zones de jonction 4, la glace 2 à distance de la lunette 3 de façon à y permettre les vibrations la glace 2 de sans les entraver.

For this purpose, according to the invention, an assembly method is implemented according to which the following steps are carried out:

• for a given telescope 3 and 2, an appropriate number of junction zones 4 separated to determine together the only mechanical link for direct vibratory transmission of the telescope 3 to the ice 2, outside which junction zones are determined, is determined. 4 said ice 2 is without direct contact with said bezel 3,
• an alternation of junction zones 4 is created for the support and the rigid fixing of the window 2, and of the sealing zones 40 where the window 2 has no direct contact with the window 3. In a first mode of embodiment, corresponding to the figures, and where the ice 2 has a continuous periphery, is created at the level of said bezel 3 an alternation of junction surfaces 31 for the support and the rigid attachment of said ice 2 on said bezel 3, and sealing surfaces 32 where said ice cream 2 has no direct contact with said telescope 3, as visible on the figure 13 . In a second embodiment not shown in the figures, the periphery of the ice 2 is modified in alternation of contact and clearance zones. In a third embodiment not shown in the figures, there is created both on the ice and on the bezel a succession of contact zones and release zones. If an existing ice-telescope assembly is modified to improve its sound resonance qualities, the surfaces of direct contact between the window 2 and the window 3 are restricted by peripheral removal of material from the window 2 and / or the window 3. to create this alternation of junction areas 4 for the support and rigid attachment of the ice 2, and sealing areas 40 where the ice 2 has no direct contact with the window 3. In a variant of implementation is interposed between the window 2 and the bezel 3 at least one support wedge 5, in particular constituted by a spacer wedge 50 or / and a lower wedge 51, to form the junction zone 4. In the case of a new embodiment, junction zones 4 are created for the support and the rigid fixing of the ice 2, and between these junction zones 4, sealing zones 40 are created where the ice 2 has no no direct contact with the telescope 3;

• the window 2 is fixed on the telescope 3 by pressing and clamping at each joining zone 4 on a joining surface 31 of the telescope 3, so as to transmit, with the least possible damping, to the window 2 any vibration communicated to the telescope 3,
• in a peripheral space 7 outside said junction zone (s) 4, is maintained, consisting of a succession of sealing zones 40 alternating with the junction zones 4, the ice 2 at a distance from the telescope 3 of way to allow the vibrations the ice 2 without hindering them.

The ice can vibrate in plan in the sealing zones 40.

When the bezel 3 is integrated into a timepiece 100, it is generally supported or embedded in a middle part 6 that includes this timepiece 100, the vibration of the striking mechanism or the like being transmitted to the telescope 3, either directly or through this middle part 6.

It is understood that in the peripheral space 7, not only the vibrations of the ice 2 are not impeded, but also the vibrations of the telescope 3 are not impeded.

In the first embodiment, each of the sealing zones 40 is delimited by the window 2 and by a sealing surface 31.

• on détermine les fréquences propres des sources vibratoires du signal sonore, tels que timbres, gongs, claviers ou similaires, et on détermine une bande passante correspondant à ces fréquences propres ;
• on simule par calcul le positionnement périphérique autour de la glace 2, en fonction des caractéristiques de la glace 2, d'un nombre adéquat de telles zones de jonction 4 disjointes, pour régler la fréquence propre de vibration et les harmoniques de la glace 2, dépendantes de l'épaisseur de la glace 2, pour les faire correspondre à la bande passante correspondant aux fréquences propres des sources vibratoires et à la bande passante de l'oreille humaine;
• on choisit l'épaisseur de la glace 2, et la surface de contact entre la glace 2 et la lunette 3 au niveau de chaque zone de jonction 4 pour, en fonction du calcul précédent, faire correspondre les fréquences propre et harmoniques de la glace 2 à ces bandes passantes, et pour obtenir le nombre adéquat de zones de jonction 4 le plus proche de la valeur deux.

In a preferred manner, for determining the adequate number of junction zones 4:

• the natural frequencies of the vibratory sources of the sound signal, such as timbres, gongs, keyboards or the like, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to these natural frequencies is determined;
• the peripheral positioning around the ice 2 is simulated by calculation, according to the characteristics of the ice 2, an adequate number of such junction areas 4 disjoint, to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of the ice 2, depending on the thickness of the ice 2, to match the bandwidth corresponding to the eigenfrequencies of the vibratory sources and the bandwidth of the human ear;
• the thickness of the ice 2 and the contact surface between the ice 2 and the telescope 3 at the level of each junction zone 4 are chosen so as to correspond, according to the preceding calculation, the natural and harmonic frequencies of the ice 2 to these bandwidths, and to obtain the adequate number of junction areas 4 closest to the value two.

Preferably, the appropriate number of junction areas 4 is chosen to be equal to two, and preferably only two.

In a variant, the thickness of this ice 2 is determined, and the contact surface between this ice 2 and this telescope 3 at each of these junction zones 4 to, according to the above calculation, correspond to the natural frequencies. and harmonics of this ice at these bandwidths, and to obtain the adequate number of junction areas closest to the value two.

The realization of the junction zones 4 will be explained in more detail later in the presentation.

In a preferred manner, the number, the position and the surface of the junction zones 4, and the thickness of the ice 2 are dimensioned to obtain an eigenfrequency of between 1000 and 7000 Hz, and more particularly between 2000. and 6000 Hz.

In a preferred application of the invention, whatever the method variant used, the appropriate number of junction zones 4 at least equal to two is chosen. In particular, this number is equal to two, the ice 2 then vibrates substantially pivotally with respect to an axis joining the two junction areas 4. This possibility of pivot makes it possible to lower the first natural frequency. Preferably, the two junction zones 4 are diametrically opposite, or as far as possible if the ice 2 has no symmetry, so as to improve the impact resistance. Preferably, on a watch, the two junction zones 4 are arranged, either at noon and six o'clock, or at three o'clock and nine o'clock, depending on the configuration of the ice-cream 2. For example, on the figures 1 , 2 , 3 , 11 and 12 , the ice 2 is substantially a cylinder portion oriented on a parallel to the axis three hours-nine hours, and we choose the latter axis to position the two junction areas 4.

Naturally, if the number of junction zones 4 is forced during the simulation, it is necessary to act on other parameters, in particular the thickness of the ice 2 and the contact surface at the junction zone 4. Conversely, if the glass 2 is maintained only by a single junction zone 4, in simple embedding, for example welded at a point, also gets the lowering of the first natural frequency, although with a lower impact resistance.

To ensure the tightness of the timepiece 100, sealing the peripheral space 7 between the ice 2 and the bezel 3 with sealing means 8 is preferably sealed. These sealing means 8 are preferably chosen. comprising at least one flexible seal, such as a silicone seal or the like, and / or at least one elastic membrane, in particular of the bellows type or the like, deployed between the telescope 3 and the ice-cream 2 and not impeding the vibrations of this last. This bellows may be a metal bellows, or an elastomer bellows, or the like. Such an elastic membrane provides a good seal and very good impact resistance. It must be chosen as thin as possible to behave as neutral as a silicone seal, for example.

In particular, particularly when a silicone-type flexible gasket or the like is chosen, the junction zones 4 are also covered with these sealing means 8.

• une ou plusieurs zones de jonction 4 constituant ensemble une liaison mécanique de transmission vibratoire sans amortissement, ou du moins avec un amortissement minimal, de la lunette 3 à la glace 2 pour faire résonner la glace 2 sous l'action des vibrations qui lui sont transmises par la lunette 3 au niveau de ladite ou des zones de jonction 4 ;
• des zones d'étanchéité 40, qui sont différentes des zones de jonction 4, et où la glace 2 est séparée de la lunette 3, et au niveau desquelles la vibration libre de la plus grande partie de la périphérie de la glace 2 est rendu possible, dans l'espace périphérique 7 autour de la glace 2 en-dehors des zones de jonction 4. Dans cet espace périphérique 7, qui est délimité par la glace 2 et les zones d'étanchéité 40, lesquelles se terminent par des zones de jonction 41, la transmission directe de la vibration de la lunette 3 à la glace 2 est fortement réduite : si l'espace périphérique 7 est ouvert, seule la vibration de l'air agit sur la glace 2 ; dans le cas usuel où l'espace périphérique 7 est colmaté avec des moyens d'étanchéité 8, tels que silicone ou similaire, pour préserver la pièce d'horlogerie 100, la vibration de la lunette 3 est transmise à la glace 2, mais indirectement au travers de ce milieu supplémentaire représenté par les moyens d'étanchéité 8, et cette transmission de vibration est très réduite ou fortement amortie.

In sum, the ice 2 is surrounded by a succession of different zones, which behave differently in response to the vibrations transmitted to the telescope 3 by the sound or vibration source:

• one or more junction zones 4 together constituting a mechanical vibratory transmission link without damping, or at least with minimum damping, of the telescope 3 to the ice 2 to make the ice 2 resonate under the action of the vibrations transmitted to it by the telescope 3 at said junction zone (s) 4;
• sealing areas 40, which are different from the junction areas 4, and where the ice 2 is separated from the window 3, and at which the free vibration of most of the periphery of the ice 2 is made possible in the peripheral space 7 around the window 2 outside the joining areas 4. In this peripheral space 7, which is delimited by the window 2 and the sealing zones 40, which terminate in junction areas 41, the direct transmission of the vibration of the telescope 3 to the ice 2 is greatly reduced: if the peripheral space 7 is open, only the vibration of the air acts on the ice 2; in the usual case where the peripheral space 7 is sealed with sealing means 8, such as silicone or similar, to preserve the timepiece 100, the vibration of the telescope 3 is transmitted to the ice 2, but indirectly through this additional medium represented by the sealing means 8, and this vibration transmission is very reduced or strongly damped.

The periphery of the ice 2 on an edge 22, which it comprises between an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 21, is thus occupied by an alternation of support and clearance surfaces facing the junction zones 4 and the zones sealing 40; it is the same with the telescope 3.

In the junction zones 4 there is a first vibration damping coefficient of the vibrations generated in the frequency range of the striking or / and musical mechanism of the timepiece 100, which is as small as possible, since in these junction zones 4 we try to transmit as much as possible of vibration energy to ice 2.

While in the sealing zones 40, there is a second vibration damping coefficient of the vibrations generated in the frequency range of the striking mechanism and / or musical that includes the timepiece 100, which is much greater than the first coefficient, since in these sealing zones 40 is sought to isolate the ice 2 of the bezel 3, minimizing the exchange of vibration energy between them. This second coefficient is, in a preferred embodiment, that of the sealing means 8, such as seal or silicone, clogging the peripheral space 7.

Preferably, one interposes, as visible on the Figures 5 to 10 between the bezel 3, the middle part 6, and at least one connecting ring or a lower block 51 interposed between the window 2 and the middle part 6, a seal 9.

Advantageously, and particularly in the case where the source of emission of the sound signal of the timepiece 100 is likely to cause, at the level of the ice 2, vibrations of great amplitude, interposed between, d ' firstly the window 2, and secondly the notch 30 or the middle part 6 or an assembly ring bearing on the latter, at least one shock absorber 10. This shock absorber 10 is mounted at a distance of the ice 2, in particular at a distance from a lower surface 21 and / or an upper surface 20 that this ice 2 has, relative to the equilibrium position of this ice 2. In a first version, this damper 10 comprises a single abutment 10B, on the side of the lower surface 21, as visible on the figure 12 , the upper stop then being constituted by the notch 30 of the bezel. Preferably, when the aesthetics and size of the timepiece 100 allow it, this shock absorber 10 comprises two stops, one 10A on the side of the upper surface 20 and one 10B on the side of the lower surface. 21 of ice 2, as visible on the Figures 7 and 10 showing the end positions 2A and 2B of the lens 2. These stops are preferably made of an elastic material, or are the terminations of damping means such as springs or the like. Of course, the lower surface 10B, or both the upper surface 10A and the lower surface 10B, as the case may be, are arranged to limit the movement of the ice 2 in the event of impact or the like, but also so as not to interfere with its trajectory in its vibration and resonance movement. The surface or surfaces 10A, 10B is or are therefore beyond the maximum vibration amplitude of the ice, calculated in response to vibration of the vibratory source, in the extreme case of amplitude of vibration.

It is possible to conceive the realization of the junction zones 4 between the window 2 and the window 3 in different ways: the junction zone (s) 4 are made or by restriction of the direct contact surfaces between the window 2 and the window 3 by peripheral removal of material from the window 2 or / and the window 3, or by interposition between the window 2 and the window 3 of at least one support block 5 constituted by a spacing spacer 50 or by a lower wedge 51. The interposition of such support wedges 5 is also possible in combination with the restriction of the contact surfaces between the telescope 3 and the ice 2. These support wedges 5 , spacing spacers 50 and / or lower support wedges 51, realize the mechanical vibration transmission link between the ice 2 and the bezel 3 to these junction zones 4 only, and away from each other outside of these points. The material of the support wedges must be chosen with care, because it must transmit the vibration of the telescope 3 to the ice 2, and especially do not dampen this vibration. Particularly good results are obtained with metal shims, the connection to the junction surface 4 is then called mechanical metal link vibratory transmission. Support shims made of ceramic materials or the like, or other hard materials, also give good results. These support blocks can also be in the same material as ice 2.

The first way to design the junction areas 4 is thus to achieve them by localized peripheral clamping. This tightening can be achieved by restricting the surfaces of direct contact between the window and the window by peripheral removal of material from the ice and / or the window, for example by a particular machining of the window 3 at the notch 30 so to make bearing surfaces separated by recesses, which is preferable to a machining ice 2 because less expensive.

Clamping can also, more economically, be achieved by the interposition, between the notch 30 and the ice 2, support wedges 5, formed by spacer spacers 50. These wedges 50 are so called because they provide both the first transmission function of the vibration of the telescope 3 to the ice 2 by the surface of contact between them at the junction zone 5, and the second function of spacing the rest of the periphery of the ice 2 relative to the notch 30 of the bezel. The figure 7 illustrates this embodiment, where the junction zone 4 is formed by a radial peripheral support, and where the shim 50 is more precisely constituted of a connecting piece 11.

It is obvious that the ice 2 must remain permanently in the bezel 3, whatever its vibration level, which can be high for example during a sequence of big ring or chime. It is then necessary to have an ice cream 2 having sufficient elastic properties for its tightening in the bezel 3 to be assured whatever its vibratory level, and that the connection to the junction zones 4 is excellent.

Preferably, the sapphire crystal 2, or mineral glass, or in an elastic material of suitable characteristics is chosen, preferably organic glasses which are in general too heterogeneous to guarantee the purity of the sound. The sapphire is preferably chosen for its scratch-proof character. It is still possible to use a lead crystal, particularly with more than 21% lead, which has great elasticity, and dampens vibrations much less than mineral glass. The attenuation of the propagation of the acoustic wave is slower in sapphire or crystal than in a mineral glass, which results in an increased resonance time with these materials. The dissipation of energy in thermal form is very weak with sapphire, most of the energy remains available for the sound emission. As a result, a clamping assembly, especially in two junction zones, a sapphire crystal, or lead crystal, in a bezel, gives good energy results and good sound quality without disturbing the sound, and pleasant for the listener. The ice can still be made of a natural mineral material of adequate crystallographic structure, such as rock crystal, quartz, or the like.

The second way to design the junction areas 4 is to achieve a localized clamping of the ice 2 in the direction of its thickness, in the manner of a clamp. In this version, as visible on the figure 11 , the periphery of the ice 2 is at a distance from the walls of the notch 30, only one of the faces of the ice 2, in this case its upper surface 20, comes into contact, at least one-time at the junction zone 4, with a surface of this notch 30. The lower surface 21 of the ice 2 is immobilized, at each junction zone 4, by a support wedge 5. This support wedge 5 can be made, or in form a lower block 51 bearing on the bezel 3 or on the middle part 6, or in the form of a boss of an intermediate piece. This lower wedge 51 or this intermediate piece is preferably substantially annular in shape similar to that of the bezel. Such an intermediate piece also bears, directly or indirectly, on the middle part 6, and is housed in the bezel 3, either in the notch 30, or in a housing provided for this purpose. The ice 2 is thus pinched punctually between the notch 30 on the one hand, and this lower wedge 51 or this intermediate piece on the other hand.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, as visible on the figures 4 , 5 and 7 , at least one such junction zone 4 is made by dressing the periphery of the window 2 with a connecting piece 11, whose inner profile bears on the ice both on the one hand the upper surface 20 of the 2, and secondly on the lower surface 21 of the ice 2 and / or on an edge 22 connecting the lower surface 21 and the upper surface 20 of the ice 2.

For fixing the lens 2 on the bezel 3, in a variant, this ice 2 thus equipped is positioned with a connecting piece 11 in the notch 30 so as to move the lens 2 away from this lens 3 at any other point than these junction areas 4, and so that for each of these junction areas 4, at least this upper surface 20 or this edge 22 is in direct or indirect support on this notch 30, and that for each of these junction areas 4, this lower surface 21 is in direct or indirect support with the telescope 3 or the middle part 6 juxtaposed to this bezel, to enclose the ice 2.

In a particular embodiment as visible in the example of Figures 5 and 6 , interposed between, on the one hand the glass 2 and on the other hand the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6, at least one intermediate connecting ring.

These figures show the example of two superimposed assembly rings, one 50 radially to the ice 2 between the edges of its edge 22 on the one hand and the wall of the notch 30 on the other hand, and the other 51 disposed between the vicinity of the lower surface 21 of the ice 2 on the one hand, and a surface 60 of the middle part 6 on the other hand.

A particular variant of embodiment is represented in Figures 14 to 16 . A telescope 3 comprises, projecting radially towards the middle of an opening intended to receive the lens 2, bosses 33, in particular two bosses 33, only one of which is visible on the figure 14 . Each boss 33 has a bearing surface 31 for receiving a complementary bearing surface 23 that includes the ice 2, and to form with it a junction zone 4. This bearing surface 31 is surrounded by surfaces seal 32 in clearance, for receiving a sealing means 8, and dimensioned to allow the free vibrations of the ice 2. Each boss 33 comprises a lug 34, which is arranged to cooperate, in particular by clipping, clamping or similar, with a notch 24, or a flat, that includes the ice 2 of the figure 15 separated from the upper surface 20 of the ice 2 by the complementary bearing surface 23.

Preferably, for a sapphire crystal 2 corresponding to a wristwatch of standard size, with a gold bezel 3, the support at the junction surface 4 is made with a very slight tightening, between 0 and 60 micrometers to the diameter.

Whatever the manner of making the junction zones 4, the periphery of the ice 2, outside the junction areas 4, is free to vibrate in a peripheral space 7, in the sealing areas 40 where the ice 2 n 'a contact, neither with the telescope 3, nor with the middle part 6, as visible on the Figures 8, 10 and 12 .

It is understood that it is also possible to freely make, on the same timepiece 100, or on the same set ice-telescope 1, junction areas 4 differentiated and variegated, one in the first way, the other in the second way. These embodiments of the junction zones 4 are, moreover, in no way limiting. For example, the figure 5 illustrates a junction zone 4 comprising both a radial peripheral support of the lens 2 in the bezel 3 by a connecting piece 11 enclosing the ice 2, and which is supported in the notch 30 by means of a shim spacing device 50, and a maintenance in the direction of the thickness of the ice, which is here ensured by a lower wedge 51 resting on the middle part 6. Such an assembly allows to choose the elements to achieve the tightening, for example the peripheral wedge 50 and the lower wedge 51 can be made of elastic materials for mounting by compression, provided, however, to ensure the good vibratory transmission of the bezel 3 to the ice 2 without damping effect of holds. Advantageously, at least one adjustment screw 61 at the middle part 6 makes it possible to adjust the stress on the lower block 51, and thus on the ice 2.

A junction zone 4 may consist of the juxtaposition of two or more junction points spaced a few millimeters apart. The important thing is that the distance between these junction areas is as large as possible. However, it is preferable, within the same junction zone, to limit the spacing between the end points making the connection, typically those making the embedding of the ice 2, because the greater this spacing, the higher the frequency clean of the set is high, and the less the gain is important. For a timepiece like a watch, the maximum spacing within the same junction zone should be between a few tenths of a millimeter, and a few millimeters, for example.

In a variant, the junction zone may also be constituted by an attachment of the lens 2 to the bezel 3 by a mechanical fastening, for example by screwing, or even by welding or brazing between the bezel 3 and a metal deposit made on ice 2 by a chemical vapor deposition process, or sputtering, or the like.

The invention also relates to an ice-cover assembly 1 for a timepiece 100, which is arranged for the use of a mirror 2 as a vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal originating from a source vibratory such as ringing, music box or the like. This set ice-telescope 1 comprises firstly a telescope 3 having a notch 30 for the housing of an ice 2, and secondly such an ice 2 having an upper surface 20 and a lower surface 21 connected by an edge 22.

According to the invention, this ice-telescope assembly 1 comprises one or more junction zones 4 together constituting the only mechanical link vibratory transmission of the telescope 3 to the ice 2 to make the ice 2 resonate under the action of the vibrations which it are transmitted by this telescope 3 at, respectively, this or these junction areas 4. The ice 2 is spaced from the bezel 3 in the sealing zones 40, outside the surfaces where they are joined by, respectively, this or these junction areas 4. The ice can vibrate in plan in these sealing zones 40.

For each of these junction zones 4, the upper surface 20 or the edge 22 of the ice 2 bears directly against the notch 30. For each of the junction zones 4, the lower surface 21 of the ice bears directly or indirect with the telescope 3 or with the caseband 6.

In a particular embodiment, for each of the junction zones 4, the upper surface 20 of the ice 2 bears directly on the notch 30, and the edge 22 of the ice 2 bears directly or indirectly with the notch 30 or with the bezel 3. And the lower surface 21 of the glass 2 bears directly or indirectly with either the bezel 3 or the middle part 6.

The ice-lens assembly 1 advantageously comprises, at least at a junction zone 4, and preferably at each junction zone 4, at least one support wedge 5. This support wedge 5 is constituted by a peripheral wedge spacing 50 or a lower shim 51, as previously described.

Preferably, such a peripheral wedge 50 is mounted under stress between the window 2 and the window 3 for holding the window 2, and preferably has a substantially U-shaped profile, and is arranged to be supported by its internal profile on the ice 2 and its outer profile on the bezel 3. The ice 2 equipped with this shim 50 is housed in the notch 30 without further direct contact with the bezel 3 than that made at each junction zone 4.

In the variants of Figures 4 to 10 , the ice-seat assembly 1 thus comprises at least one such support wedge 5 constituted by a connecting piece 11 located at the junction zone 4, or preferably a group of disjoint connecting pieces 11 located at all the junction areas 4. The ice 2 is supported on the bezel 3, at the junction zone 4, through at least one such connecting piece 11. This connecting piece 11 is preferably to substantially U-shaped profile, and arranged to bear, by its inner profile on the ice 2, preferably both on the edge 22 and on the upper surfaces 20 and lower 21 of the ice 2, and its outer profile on the Bezel 3 near the upper surface 20 of the ice in direct or indirect support on the notch 30 to resonate the ice 2 with the bezel 3. The ice equipped with this shim 50 is housed in the notch 30. The ice 2 is away from the telescope 3 outside the surfaces where they are joined by a junction zone 4. Preferably, for each connecting piece 11, at least one of the surfaces of its outer profile near the upper surface 20 of the ice is in direct or indirect support on the notch 30, and another of the surfaces of its outer profile near the lower surface 21 of the ice is in direct or indirect support with the bezel 3 or with the middle part 6.

A contact between the connecting piece 11, or more generally the support wedge 5, and the middle part 6, is advantageous because it allows the transmission of the vibrations to the ice 2 both by the bezel 3 and by the 6. Advantageously, this middle part 6 is, in the timepiece, in vibratory connection with a membrane, which is itself in vibratory contact with the vibratory source or sources. The middle part 6 can also directly support, by vibratory contact, the vibratory source or sources.

In a particular embodiment, the ice-cover assembly 1 comprises, interposed between, on the one hand, the junction zone (s) 4 and, on the other hand, the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6, at least one assembly ring. intermediate. In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 at least one intermediate connecting ring 51 is interposed between, on the one hand, or the connecting pieces 11, and on the other hand the bezel 3 and / or the middle part 6. Preferably, this connecting ring 51 allows to create a constraint, for example adjustable by screw 61 as visible on the Figures 5 and 6 .

The peripheral space 7 between the window 2 and the window 3, at least outside the surfaces where the window 2 and the window 3 are joined by this or these junction zones 4, is closed at the level of the zones sealing 40, sealingly with sealing means 8, as described above.

Preferably, a soft seal of the silicone type or the like is chosen, and the junction zones 4 may also be covered with this seal constituting these sealing means 8.

In an advantageous embodiment, as visible in the figures, the ice-cover assembly 1 comprises, in addition to these sealing means 8 which concern the periphery of the window 2, at least one seal 9 as described higher for sealing at the joint plane 60 or the junction surface between the bezel 3 and the middle part 6 of the timepiece 100.

Preferably, the set ice-glasses 1 comprises, interposed between, on the one hand the ice 2, and on the other hand the notch 30 or the middle part 6 or an assembly ring bearing on the latter, at less a shock absorber 10, as described above, mounted at a distance from the ice 2 relative to the equilibrium position of the latter.

In an alternative embodiment, the set ice-glasses 1 further comprises elastic return means for the repositioning of the ice 2 in the event of stress.

In an advantageous embodiment, the ice is made of sapphire. In a first embodiment, it is made of mineral glass. In a second embodiment, it is made of lead crystal.

Preferably, the ice-glasses assembly 1 according to the invention comprises two junction zones 4, allowing both a very good mechanical strength and a large amplitude of vibration of the ice 2.

Preferably, for a watch, the tightening value is between 0.010 and 0.060 millimeters per radius, and preferably between 0.010 and 0.030 millimeters. This clamping is a radial clamping on the periphery of the ice. Axial clamping is possible in the axial direction, that is to say in the direction of the thickness of the ice, but it is understood that such excessive axial clamping hampers the vibration and radiation of the ice according to this direction, so it is better to be limited to a simple maintenance of the ice, in particular by the lower holds 51.

Compared to a traditional timepiece where the ice can only very slightly vibrate, the acoustic gain obtained by the implementation of the invention is important, of the order of 20 dBA.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 100 comprising at least one such ice-bezel assembly 1. It comprises a middle part 6 of which a junction plane 60 is arranged to cooperate sealingly with the bezel 3.

In short, the invention provides the advantage of involving both the glass and the bezel in vibration and acoustic radiation.

The agreement on the natural frequency of the assembly is possible by varying the dimensioning of the connecting surfaces to the junction zones 4, or connecting pieces 11 when they are used, as well as the thickness of the ice 2.

Obviously, the invention is also applicable to a direct mounting of the window 2 in the middle part 6, but the mounting of the window 2 in the window 3 according to the invention allows, precisely, independence from the room 100, and the invention can be implemented easily for any timepiece, replacing the original bezel and / or the ice by a set ice-glasses 1 according to the invention, or even by adapting the original parts by machining and / or by the interposition of adequate bearing blocks as described above.

It is understood that the invention focuses on transmitting the vibrations from the sound source to the ice to make it resonate. Depending on the case, the vibratory chain transmits the vibration from the vibratory source, ring, timbre, gong, chime, music box, vibrator, or other, to the turntable of the timepiece, the platinum to the middle of the timepiece, from the case to the bezel, and the bezel to the ice.

Naturally other vibratory link chains are feasible by implementing the invention, including the vibratory source type / middle / glasses / ice, or vibratory source / bezel / ice.

Claims (15)

A method of assembling between an ice (2) and a window (3) having a notch (30) for accommodating said ice (2), for use in a room timepiece (100) ringing or music of said ice (2) as vibrating and radiating member for broadcasting a sound signal from a vibratory source, or a ring, or a music box, or an alarm clock, and transmitted to said telescope (3), characterized in that : an adequate number of disjoint junction zones (4) intended to constitute together the only direct mechanical vibration transmission linkage of said bezel (3) to said ice (2), outside which junction zones (4) ice cream (2) is not in direct contact with said telescope (3), an alternation of said junction zones (4) is created for the support and rigid fixing of the ice (2) in direct contact with said bezel (3), and sealing zones (40) where said ice ( 2) has no direct contact with said bezel (3) and can vibrate in plan; - Fixing said ice (2) on said bezel (3) by pressing and clamping each said junction area (4) on a junction surface (31) of the bezel (3) so as to transmit to said ice ( 2) any vibration communicated to said telescope (3), maintaining, in a peripheral space (7) outside said junction zone or zones (4), constituted by a succession of sealing zones (40) alternating with said junction zones (4), and each of said sealing zones (40) delimited by said ice (2) and a said sealing surface (31), said ice (2) spaced from said bezel (3) so as to allow the vibrations of said ice (2) without hindering them. Assembly method, according to claim 1, characterized in that , for determining said adequate number of said joining zones (4): the natural frequencies of the vibratory sources of the sound signal, or timbres, gongs, or keyboards, are determined and a bandwidth corresponding to said natural frequencies is determined; the peripheral positioning around said ice (2), according to the characteristics of said ice (2), of an adequate number of said junction zones (4) disjointed, is simulated by calculation to adjust the natural frequency of vibration and the harmonics of said ice (2), dependent on the thickness of said ice (2), to match the bandwidth corresponding to said eigenfrequencies of said vibratory sources and to the bandwidth of the human ear; the thickness of said ice (2) is chosen, and the contact surface between said ice (2) and said telescope (3) at each said junction zone (4) for, according to the preceding calculation, to make corresponding said eigenfrequencies and harmonics of said ice (2) to said passbands, and to obtain said adequate number of junction areas (4) closest to the value two. Assembly method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said adequate number of said junction areas (4) equal to two is chosen. Assembly method, according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one said junction zone (4) is produced by wrapping the periphery of said mirror (2) with a connecting piece (11), an inner profile bears on said ice (2) both on firstly an upper surface (20) of said ice (2), and secondly on an edge or / and on a lower surface (21). ) of said ice (2). Assembly method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the space is hermetically sealed. between said ice (2) and said bezel (3) with sealing means comprising at least one flexible seal, and / or at least one elastic membrane. Assembly method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that interposed between on the one hand said ice (2), and on the other hand said notch (30) or a middle part (6) comprises, juxtaposed to said bezel (3), said timepiece (100), at least one shock absorber (10) mounted at a distance from said mirror (2) relative to the equilibrium position of the latter. An ice-bezel assembly (1) for a timepiece (100) with a bell or a music system comprising at least one vibratory source or a buzzer, or a music box, or an alarm clock, arranged for the use of an ice cream (2) as vibrating and vibrating member for broadcasting a sound signal coming from said vibratory source, said ice-telescope assembly (1) comprising on the one hand a telescope (3) transmitting vibrations originating from said vibratory source and having a notch (30) for accommodating an ice (2), and secondly such an ice (2) having an upper surface (20) and a lower surface (21) connected by an edge (22), characterized in that it comprises one or more junction zones (4) between said telescope (3) and said mirror (2) together constituting a mechanical vibration transmission link without damping said telescope (3) to said mirror (2) to make said ice (2) resonate under the action of the vibrations which are transmitted by said bezel (3) at said junction area (s) (4), and in that said ice (2) is separated from said bezel (3) at different sealing zones (40) said junction regions (4) and which constitute a peripheral space (7) damped vibration transmission, and wherein said ice (2) can vibrate in plan. Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that , for each of said junction areas (4), said upper surface (20) of said ice (2) bears directly on said notch (30), and that said edge (22) of said crystal (2) bears directly or indirectly with said notch (30) or with said telescope (3), and that said lower surface (21) of said ice ( 2) is in direct or indirect support with said bezel (3) or with a middle part (6) that comprises, juxtaposed to said bezel (3), said timepiece (100) to enclose said ice (2). Ice-bezel assembly (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises, at each said junction zone (4), at least one support wedge (5) constituted by a peripheral spacer wedge (50) or by a lower wedge (51). Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said peripheral wedge (50) is mounted under stress between said ice (2) and said bezel (3) for maintaining said ice (2), and is arranged to bear by its inner profile on the ice (2) and by its outer profile on the bezel (3), the ice (2) equipped with said shim (50) being housed in the notch (30) without direct contact with the bezel (3) other than that made at each said junction zone (4). Ice-glasses assembly (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a telescope (3) having, projecting radially towards the middle of an opening intended to receive said ice (2), two bosses (33), each having a bearing surface (31) for receiving a complementary bearing surface (23) that comprises said ice (2), and to constitute with it a said junction zone (4), said surface of bearing (31) being surrounded by clearance sealing surfaces (32) for receiving a sealing means (8), and dimensioned so as to allow the free vibrations of said ice (2), each boss (33) ) having a lug (34), which is arranged to cooperate, by clipping or clamping, with a notch (24), or a flat, that comprises said ice (2), separated from an upper surface (20) of said ice (2) by said complementary bearing surface (23). Ice-bezel assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that said peripheral space (7) between said ice (2) and said bezel (3), outside the surfaces where said ice ( 2) and said bezel (3) are joined by said at least one joining zone (4), is sealingly closed with sealing means (8) comprising at least one flexible seal or at least one elastic membrane. Ice-bezel assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that it comprises, interposed between, on the one hand said ice (2), and on the other hand said notch (30) bezel or a middle part (6) which comprises, juxtaposed with said bezel (3), said timepiece (100), at least one shock absorber (10) mounted at a distance from said mirror (2) with respect to the position balance of the latter. Ice-bezel assembly (1) according to one of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that it comprises two junction zones (4), and only two. Timepiece (100) with a bell or a music system comprising at least one vibratory source or a bell, or a music box, or an alarm clock, comprising at least one ice-glasses unit (1) according to one of the claims 7 at 14, characterized in that it comprises a middle part (6) transmitting the vibrations of said vibratory source to said telescope (3).

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