EP2595008B1 - Case for a clock piece - Google Patents

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a box for a timepiece, said box comprising a case for receiving at least one movement surmounted by a dial, said dial supporting directly or indirectly an upper subassembly or an ice in the vicinity of an upper portion of said middle part or bezel fixed on said middle, and said box still having a bottom cooperating with said middle in the vicinity of a lower portion of said middle, opposite said upper part.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising, housed in such a box, at least one movement surmounted by a dial, said dial supporting directly or indirectly an upper subassembly or an ice in the upper part.

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly the field of the protection of watch mechanisms.

Background of the invention

In watchmaking, the dismantling of a watch can be as delicate as its assembly.

In particular, many subsets, such as movement-display assemblies, are nested by the top, that is to say on the ice side. Such an assembly generally comprises, in addition to the movement, a dial and displays consisting of needles or disks. This dial is in principle surmounted by a flange. The ice is then chased in the middle. It is customary to resort to a flush of compressed air to break the ice, to access this assembly again.

The patent application CH 646 028 G on behalf of MONTRES RADO SA has provided an initial response to this problem, by implementing a watch case that includes a middle-bezel with an opening closable by an ice, an upper housing and a lower opening of dimensions smaller than those of upper housing. This box also includes a glass and a bottom removably attached to the middle-bezel on either side thereof. The bottom is preferably fixed by screws on the middle-bezel, and the ice is maintained by slides. A casing ring, which is supported radially on the middle-bezel by two staggered surfaces of different radii, at the upper housing and the lower opening, maintains the movement of the watch radially and axially. This casing ring is, in the assembled position, in axial support, via a lower seal on the bottom on the one hand, and via an upper seal or / and a flange on the other ice. The casing ring, carrying the movement at a shoulder, can thus be introduced into the middle-bezel on the side of the upper housing, and inserted into the lower opening. The dial covers both the movement and the casing circle. Then the ice is put in place after insertion of the upper seal and installation of an annular flange. On the opposite side, the bottom is screwed, in a first variant on the middle-bezel by crushing the lower seal against the casing ring, or in a second variant on the casing ring and crushing the lower seal and plating a scope of the casing circle on a scope of the caseband. The tightening of the screws ensures in both cases the locking of the casing ring in the box. To disassemble the watch, remove the bottom and the stem, then push the ice out on the lower part of the casing ring, the thrust being transmitted to the ice by the flange. This design allows the construction of thin boxes, and allows the reduction of the dimensions of the bottom. However, the disassembly of the ice must be done, either by flushing the air or by moving the casing circle and thus the movement.

Similarly, the patent application CH 629 644G in the name of SAUCO Saunier & Cie describes a casing ring which, from the bottom, extends over the entire height of the box, and directly supports the ice. The extraction of the ice is, together with the extraction of the movement, ensured by a thrust on the lower part of the casing ring.

If these designs ensure a good seal of the box, and a safe disassembly of ice and movement, they have the disadvantage of moving the casing circle, and therefore the movement, during the operation of extraction of the ice .

The document CH 6 236 743 A in the name of FINGER discloses a watch case having a box body, having plated holes on the side of the box bottom, and bearing surfaces for receiving an annular fastener sheet metal stamped. An upper rim of this fastener acts as a hooking rib for the bezel, which protrudes radially. An inner edge of this fastening member supports the movement of the watch. The fastening member is fixed to the box body by tapped cannulated shoulders on the upper side, where the dial rests, and by screws inserted into the holes and lamés whose heads are in the countersholes of the bottom. These screws are therefore pulling screws, which have the function of pulling the tapped barrels towards the bottom of the box, by driving the fastening member and by pressing it on the box, thereby placing the bezel on the body of box. The upward movement of these screws is limited to the crushing of a seal in the bottom of each countersink, and the length of each screw is such that its distal end always remains set back from the end of the tapped barrel with which it cooperates, so as not to deform the dial which comes into upper support of a common bearing surface of the fastening member and the gun heads. These screws are fully tightened during normal operation of the watch.

Summary of the invention

The invention proposes to solve the problem of removing the ice without using compressed air, and without moving the movement during the extraction of the ice.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a box for a timepiece, said box having a middle part for receiving at least one movement surmounted by a dial, said dial supporting directly or indirectly an upper subassembly or a mirror in the vicinity of an upper portion of said middle part or bezel fixed to said middle part, and said box further comprising a bottom cooperating with said middle part in the vicinity of a lower part of said middle part, opposite to said upper part, characterized in said middle part comprises a device for extracting or adjusting said upper subassembly or said ice, said extraction device comprising a plurality of pushers each movable relative to said middle part in a well that includes said middle part, parallel to an axial direction of assembly / disassembly of the components of said part, to transmit, directly or indirectly via a no thrust plate that includes said box, only said dial a force applied to each said pusher in said axial direction from said lower portion, said force being transmitted by said dial to said upper subset or said ice.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said pushers exert a uniform thrust force on said dial by means of a said single push plate that includes said box.

According to a feature of the invention, said dial supports a flange itself supporting said upper subassembly or said ice.

According to a characteristic of the invention, said wells each comprise a lower opening on the side of said lower part, and said bottom mask, in the assembled state of said box, said lower openings.

According to one characteristic of the invention, each said well passes completely through said middle in said axial direction, from a lower opening on the side of said lower part to an upper opening located in the vicinity of said upper part and allowing the passage of said pusher.

According to one characteristic of the invention, at least one said pusher is free to rotate in said respective well around a direction parallel to said axial direction.

According to an alternative characteristic of the invention, at least one said pusher cooperates through a thread with a tapping included in said respective well around a direction parallel to said axial direction.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said wells are identical and equipped with identical pushers, and said extraction device is arranged to cooperate with a pushing tool intended to be introduced to said lower part of said middle after extraction of said bottom, said push tooling comprising as many pins as said pushers to apply an equivalent force on each of them with an identical stroke in said axial direction.

The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising, housed in such a box, at least one movement surmounted by a dial, said dial supporting directly or indirectly an upper subassembly or an ice in the upper part, characterized in that said dial cooperates with said extraction or adjustment device for removing said upper subset or said ice.

According to one characteristic of the invention, said dial is only placed on an upper part of said movement which remains immobile with respect to said middle part during the removal of said upper subassembly or said ice during a lower thrust action on said pushers of said extraction or adjustment device.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 représente de façon schématisée, partielle, et en perspective éclatée et représentée sans son fond, une pièce d'horlogerie comportant une boîte selon l'invention, et un outillage de poussée pour la dépose ou le réglage de la glace de cette pièce d'horlogerie ;
• la figure 2 représente, de façon schématisée et en vue de face, la boîte de la pièce d'horlogerie de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente, de façon schématisée, partielle, et en coupe selon un plan parallèle à une direction d'insertion, une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention dans une première variante où la carrure porte une lunette périphérique, et où la carrure comporte un dispositif d'extraction ou de réglage selon l'invention avec un poussoir de révolution coulissant dans un puits de révolution ;
• la figure 4 représente, de façon analogue à la figure 3, une deuxième variante où la carrure est en deux parties interne et externe, la partie externe comportant les puits et constituant aussi la lunette, avec un dispositif d'extraction ou de réglage analogue à celui de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 représente, de façon analogue à la figure 3, une troisième variante où le dispositif d'extraction ou de réglage comporte un poussoir fileté coopérant avec un puits taraudé.

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

• the figure 1 represents schematically, partially, and exploded perspective and shown without its bottom, a timepiece comprising a box according to the invention, and a push tool for removing or adjusting the ice of this timepiece ;
• the figure 2 represents, schematically and in front view, the timepiece box of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 represents, schematically, partially, and in section along a plane parallel to an insertion direction, a timepiece according to the invention in a first variant where the middle part carries a peripheral bezel, and wherein the middle part comprises a device extraction or adjustment according to the invention with a pusher of revolution sliding in a well of revolution;
• the figure 4 represents, in a similar way to figure 3 a second variant in which the caseband is in two internal and external parts, the outer part comprising the wells and also constituting the bezel, with an extraction or adjustment device similar to that of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 represents, in a similar way to figure 3 a third variant in which the extraction or adjustment device comprises a threaded pusher cooperating with a threaded well.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and more particularly the field of the protection of watch mechanisms.

The invention relates to a box 1 for a timepiece 1000.

This box 1 conventionally comprises a middle part 2 for the reception of at least one movement 100 surmounted by a dial 3. This dial 3 supports directly or indirectly an upper subassembly 4, for example consisting of complementary display modules, or similar, or supports an ice 40, in the vicinity of an upper portion 21 of the middle part 2 or a bezel 9 fixed to the middle part 2. This upper subassembly 4, or this ice 40, as the case may be, is usually chased or respectively driven into the bezel 9 or the middle part 2, or in an upper seal 25 carried by the bezel 9 or the middle part 2. This upper seal 25 then radially enclosing the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40.

The box 1 also has a bottom 5 cooperating with the middle part 2 in the vicinity of a lower part 22 of this middle part 2, which is opposite to the upper part 21.

According to the invention, the caseband 2 comprises a device 10 for extracting or adjusting this upper subset 4 or this ice 40. This device is operational when the bottom 5 is removed.

The figures illustrate a preferred and nonlimiting application where the box 1 is designed for the easy extraction of the ice 40.

This extraction or adjustment device 10 comprises a plurality of pushers 6. Each pusher 6 is movable relative to the middle part 2 in a well 7 that includes this caseband 2, parallel to a direction D axial mounting / dismounting components of the timepiece 1000 in the box 1.

Preferably, as shown in the figures, the wells 7 each comprise a lower opening 72 on the lower part 22 side of the middle part 2. And the bottom 5 preferably masks, in the assembled state of the box 1, these lower openings 72.

Each well 7 completely crosses the middle part 2 in a parallel to the axial direction D, from such a lower opening 72 on the lower part 22 side of the middle part 2, towards an upper opening 71 situated in the vicinity of the upper part 21 of the middle and allowing the passage of the pusher 6.

Preferably, the contact between each pusher 6 and the respective well 7 is provided in a sealed manner by a seal 60.

Each pusher 6 is pushed under the action of a force applied to it, in this axial direction D, from the lower part 22 of the middle part 2, the thrust force being applied by an operator, and preferably using push tools 11.

In a very simple realization, as visible on the figure 1 , this pushing tool 11 is intended to be introduced to the lower part 22 of the middle part 2 after extraction of the bottom 5, and comprises as many pins 12 as pushers 6, to apply an equivalent force on each of them with a stroke identical in the axial direction D. It is therefore sufficient for a relative translational movement between such a tool 11 and the middle 2 to remove the ice 40.

Under the effect of this thrust, each pusher 6 is animated with a movement which comprises at least one component in translation along this axial direction. Each pusher 6 is arranged to transmit, during its movement, directly or indirectly, the thrust force to the single dial 3. The pusher 6 moves relative to the middle part 2, which remains stationary during this movement of the pusher 6. The thrust force is transmitted by the dial 3 to the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40, which allows the disengagement.

When, preferably, so as not to deform the dial 3, it is chosen to indirectly transmit the thrust force of the pusher 6, it is done by means of a thrust plate 8, which distributes the effort of thrust on a sufficiently large surface of the dial 3 to not deform.

Preferably, the arrangement of the extraction device is such that these pushers 6 exert a uniform thrust force on the dial 3 by means of a said single thrust plate 8. In a particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, this thrust plate 9 is a ring which holds the dial 3, from below, that is to say from the side facing the lower part 22 of the middle part 2, at its periphery.

In a particular variant illustrated by the figures, the dial 3 supports a flange 30 itself supporting the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40. In this case the thrust force is transmitted by the pusher 6, the thrust plate 8, the dial 3, the flange 30, the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40. This flange 30 may be integral with the dial 3, or only carried by the latter. Preferably this flange 30 is centered on a bore that includes the middle part 2 or the bezel 9.

The Figures 3 to 5 illustrate several embodiments of the caseband, as well as the extraction device 10.

The figure 3 represents a first variant where the middle part 2 carries a peripheral bezel 9. The middle part 2 directly supports the movement 100 at a shoulder 28 that it comprises. The middle part 2 carries the wells 7 of the extraction device 10. In this variant, at least one pusher 6 is free to rotate in its respective well 7 around a direction parallel to the axial direction D., and preferably it is thus of all the pushers 6 and all the wells 7 of this middle part 2. The figure 3 thus shows one of the pushers 6, which is of revolution, and which slides in a well 7 of revolution. This arrangement is chosen because of a low cost of implementation. However, it is also possible not to allow rotation of the pusher 6 in its well 7, and to allow only a translational movement, for example a flat part of the pusher 6 between two plates of the well 7 or against a flat part of the well 7, or other. In this variant, it is the bezel 9 which carries the upper seal 25 for holding the ice 40, which bears on the flange 30.

The figure 4 illustrates a second variant where the caseband is in two parts: internal 23 and external 24, the inner part 23 carries the movement 100 on a shoulder 28, and the outer part 24 comprises the wells 7 and also constitutes the bezel 9, with a device extraction similar to that of the figure 3 . When the middle part 2 is thus made in several parts 23, 24, they are preferably coaxial and interior to each other, and preferably assembled by enclosing a seal 26.

The figure 5 illustrates a third variant, similar to the figure 3 as regards the caseband 2, and wherein the extraction or setting device 10 comprises at least one threaded pusher 6, with a thread 65, which cooperates with a respective threaded well 7, at a tapping 75, around a direction parallel to the axial direction D. In a particular embodiment, it is so all the pushers 6 and all the wells 7 of this case 2. This variant is more expensive. It requires a very specific pushing tool 11 to perform a simultaneous pushing movement of all pushers 6, with screwing bits synchronized. Such tooling in the form of a multiple head is well known as a tapping accessory on machining centers or other machine tools, and is perfectly feasible at the scale of a watch case. The advantage of this variant, despite its higher cost than other versions, is to ensure a micrometric release, perfectly controlled, the ice 40 or the upper subassembly 4. This configuration is particularly interesting when the sub- assembly 4 requires an exact altitude adjustment with respect to the movement 100, or the dial 3. The box 1 according to the invention, with a middle 2 equipped with this device 10, then allows a micrometric adjustment of this altitude. The choice of a particular step, especially very fine, prevents any maladjustment in service.

Preferably, the case 2 cooperates with the bottom 5 by compressing a lower seal 2, to seal the box 1.

The Figures 1 and 2 illustrate an embodiment operating in a very satisfactory manner, with an extraction device 10 which comprises three identical wells 7 equipped with identical pushers 6, these wells 7 being arranged in an isosceles triangle whose axis of symmetry is situated on a plane of symmetry that has the middle part 2.

The invention also relates to a timepiece 1000 comprising, housed in such a box 1, at least one movement 100 surmounted by a dial 3. This dial 3 supports directly or indirectly such an upper subset 4 or such ice 40 in the upper part. According to the invention, this dial 3 cooperates with such an extraction or adjustment device 10 for removing or adjusting the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40.

In a preferred embodiment, the dial 3 is only placed on an upper portion 101 of the movement 100, which remains stationary relative to the middle part 2 during the removal of the upper subassembly 4 or the ice 40 during an action of lower thrust on the pushers 6 of the extraction or adjustment device 10.

In a preferred embodiment, all or part of the box 1, in particular the middle part 2 or the bezel 9, or the bottom 5, is made of one-piece ceramic. The design of the box 1 according to the invention makes it possible not to injure the components, especially at sharp edges or edges.

In the first variant of the figure 3 , the middle part 2, the bottom 5 and the bezel 9 can thus be made of one-piece ceramic.

In the second variant of the figure 4 , the inner portion 23 and the outer portion 24 of the middle part 2, and the bottom 5 can thus be made of one-piece ceramic. In a more economical approach only the outer portion 24 of the middle part 2, and the bottom 5, which are visible, are made of one-piece ceramic.

In the third variant of the figure 5 the middle part 2, the bottom 5 and the bezel 9 may be made of one-piece ceramic. However the middle part 2 then requires the installation of a threaded insert, in particular by gluing in a housing, because of the difficulties of making a tapping in the ceramic. In this variant, it is more economical to restrict the use of the one-piece ceramic to the production of the bottom 5 and the bezel 9 can be made of ceramic monobloc.

Claims (16)

1. Case (1) for a timepiece (1000), said case (1) including a middle part (2) for receiving at least one movement (100) surmounted by a dial (3), said dial (3) directly or indirectly carrying an upper sub-assembly (4) or a crystal (40) in proximity to an upper portion (21) of said middle part (2) or of a bezel (9) fixed to said middle part (2), and said case (1) further including a back cover (5) cooperating with said middle part (2) in proximity to a lower portion (22) of said middle part (2) opposite to said upper portion (21), characterized in that said middle part (2) includes a device (10) for the removal or adjustment of said upper sub-assembly (4) or of said crystal (40), said removal device (10) including a plurality of pushers (6) each movable in relation to said middle part (2) in a sink (7) comprised in said middle part (2), parallel to an axial direction (D) of assembly/disassembly of the components of said timepiece (1000), to transmit directly or indirectly via a push plate (8) comprised in said case (1), only to said dial (3) a force applied to each said pusher (6) in said axial direction (D) from said lower portion (22), said force being transmitted by said dial (3) to said upper sub-assembly (4) or to said crystal (40).
2. Case (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pushers (6) exert a uniform push force on said dial (3) via a single said push plate (8) comprised in said case (1).
3. Case (1) according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said dial (3) carries a flange (30) in turn carrying said upper sub-assembly (4) or said crystal (40).
4. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said middle part (2), or a bezel (9) fixed to said middle part (2), carries an upper sealing gasket (25) radially encircling said upper sub-assembly (4) or said crystal (40).
5. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said middle part (2) is formed of several coaxial portions (23; 24) one inside the other, assembled enclosing a sealing gasket (26).
6. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said middle part (2) cooperates with said back cover (5) in compressing a lower sealing gasket (27).
7. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sinks (7) each include a lower aperture (71) on the side of said lower portion (22) and in that said back cover (5) conceals, in the assembled state of said case (1) said lower apertures (72).
8. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each said sink (7) passes right through said middle part (2) in a direction parallel to said axial direction (D), from a lower aperture (72) on the side of said lower portion (22) to an upper aperture (71) situated in proximity to said upper portion (21) and allowing the passage of said pusher (6).
9. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact between each said pusher (6) and said respective sink (7) is ensured in a sealed manner by a sealing gasket (60).
10. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one said pusher (6) is free to rotate inside said respective sink (7) about a direction parallel to said axial direction (D).
11. Case (1) according any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one said pusher (6) cooperates via an external thread (65) with an internal thread (75) comprised in said respective sink (7) about a direction parallel to said axial direction (D).
12. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said removal device (10) includes three identical sinks (7) equipped with identical pushers (6), said sinks (7) being arranged in an isosceles triangle whose axis of symmetry is situated on a plane of symmetry of said middle part (2).
13. Case (1) according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said sinks (7) are identical and equipped with identical pushers (6), and in that said removal device (10) is arranged to cooperate with a removable push tool (11) comprised in said case (1) and intended to be inserted into said lower portion (22) of said middle part (2) after the removal of said back cover (5), said push tool (11) including as many spindles (12) as said pushers (6) to apply an equal force to each with an identical travel in said axial direction (D).
14. Case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said middle part (2) and/or said bezel (9), and/or said back cover (5) is made of one-piece ceramic.
15. Timepiece (1000) including, housed inside a case (1) according to any of the preceding claims, at least one movement (100) surmounted by a dial (3), said dial (3) directly or indirectly carrying an upper sub-assembly (4) or a crystal (40) in an upper portion, characterized in that said dial (3) is arranged to cooperate with said removal device (10) to remove said upper sub-assembly (4) or said crystal (40).
16. Timepiece (1000) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said dial (3) is simply placed on an upper portion (101) of said movement (100) which remains immobile in relation to said middle part (2) during the removal of said upper sub-assembly (4) or of said crystal (40) when there is a lower pushing action on said pushers (6) of said removal device (10).

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