EP3242570B1 - Setting system for a timepiece or piece of jewelry - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a crimping system for a timepiece or jewelery in which a gemstone is mounted to give a visual effect of vibration of the stone. The present invention also relates to a watch face and a timepiece or jewelery including such a crimping system.

State of the art

The crimping systems allow to mount one or more precious stones to a support. When the stone is fixedly mounted on the support, it is difficult to see the light reflected through the different facets of the stone since the movements of the stone are very small. Such an arrangement is therefore not optimal when looking for a certain animation effect. For this reason, crimping systems include spring elements or optical means to produce an animation effect.

In the patent US6433483 , a jewelery item has diamonds being illuminated with an illumination source. A controller controls the illumination source so as to vary the intensity of the light emitted by the source, thus making it possible to better highlight the optical effects of the diamond. However, it is often undesirable to use electronic devices in timepieces or high-end jewelry.

The document EP2510824 discloses a jewelery article comprising a precious stone fixed in a kitten mounted on a pivotal element made of plastic or elastomer. Although the whole kitten stone can move, its movement on the pivot element does not give a visual effect of vibration of the stone.

The utility model RU100367U describes a jewelery item comprising a gemstone set in a washer-shaped kitten, this set of stone-kitten is bonded to a base of the article by a cylindrical spring. The vibration of the stone mounted on the spring causes a refraction effect of the light. Fixing the ends of the spring to the kitten and the base is however complicated and delicate. In the case of small springs, which are required in the case of small stones, they may be excessively deformed when the stone moves from its original position, thereby disturbing the vibration movement of the stone and therefore the aesthetics of the room. In addition, the dimensioning of the spring so as to obtain the desired visual effect makes it fragile and the spring can also be irreversibly deformed by shocks.

The patent application WO2012 / 115458 discloses a jewelery article comprising a ring-shaped carrier having a hollow sector in which a kitten is mounted by means of a spiral or conical spring. The ends of the spring are fixed in grooves in the support and in the kitten respectively, and the kitten is oscillated under the effect of external excitations on the support. According to one embodiment, a pin is mounted through the upper part of the kitten, each end of the pin being housed in the support in a plane parallel to the plane of the spring (the spring being attached to a lower part of the kitten) . The pin is used to prevent the separation of the kitten and the support in case of major shocks. According to this document, with this construction, the lower part of the kitten can only vibrate in a direction perpendicular to the pin in the plane of the spring, and the upper part of the kitten remains effectively secured to the support 1.

Although such an article is less susceptible to accidental separation of the kitten and / or deformation of the spring due to a large impact, the oscillations of the kitten are much too limited by the pin which dampens them permanently. This denies accordingly the desired visual effect of the article, even the vibration or movement of the stone ..

More generally, the systems as drawn and presented in these prior art are not configured to give a visual effect of vibration, or even a frequency of vibration, sufficiently useful for an observer, especially in the case of small stones, such as as the size of stones typically used to crimp a high-density dial or watch case.

Brief summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a crimping system for a timepiece or jewelery free of limitations of the prior art known.

Another object of the invention is to obtain a crimping system having a much easier and reliable assembly of the stone in comparison with known systems, and being better adapted to the use of small stones.

According to the invention, these objects are achieved in particular by means of a crimping system comprising: a crimping support; a gemstone mounted in or on the crimping support; an elastic member attached to the crimping support so as to flexibly connect the crimping support to said article; the elastic element having a stiffness of between 1.2x10 ^-5 N / m and 1.4x10 ⁺¹ N / m; and the combined weight of the crimping support and the gemstone is between 3x10 ^-4 g and 4x10 ^-1 g, so that the crimping support can be oscillated and maintained by movements of the wearer of the article; and, when in oscillation, the crimping support oscillates in axial and / or radial movement with respect to an axis of symmetry with an oscillation frequency between 1 Hz and 30 Hz.

Particular and variant embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

The present invention also relates to a dial of a timepiece and a timepiece or jewelery comprising said crimping system and a method of manufacturing the elastic element of the crimping system.

The crimping system, and the assembly comprising a plurality of crimping systems, can be advantageously included in an article such as a jewel or a timepiece, so as to produce a visual effect by the oscillation of the crimping systems following external stimulation (movement of the wearer) of the article.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 illustre un système de sertissage comportant un support de sertissage, une pierre et un élément élastique, selon un mode de réalisation;
• la figure 2 montre le système de sertissage vu côté pierre, oscillant selon un mouvement radial;
• la figure 3 illustre un système de sertissage, selon un autre mode de réalisation;
• la figure 4 montre un système de sertissage, encore selon un autre mode de réalisation;
• la figure 5 illustre un procédé de fabrication d'un ressort hélicoïdal, selon un mode de réalisation;
• la figure 6 représente un ressort hélicoïdal fabriqué par découpe dans un tube;
• la figure 7 montre des valeurs calculées de la raideur d'un ressort hélicoïdal en fonction de la masse du support de sertissage et de la pierre, donnant lieu à des fréquences comprises entre 1Hz et 30Hz; et
• la figure 8 représente le système de sertissage selon un autre mode de réalisation.

Examples of implementation of the invention are indicated in the description illustrated by the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 illustrates a crimping system comprising a crimping support, a stone and an elastic member, according to one embodiment;
• the figure 2 shows the crimping system seen stone side, oscillating in a radial movement;
• the figure 3 illustrates a crimping system, according to another embodiment;
• the figure 4 shows a crimping system, still according to another embodiment;
• the figure 5 illustrates a method of manufacturing a helical spring, according to one embodiment;
• the figure 6 represents a helical spring manufactured by cutting into a tube;
• the figure 7 shows calculated values of the stiffness of a helical spring as a function of the mass of the crimping support and the stone, giving rise to frequencies between 1Hz and 30Hz; and
• the figure 8 represents the crimping system according to another embodiment.

Example (s) of embodiment of the invention

A crimping system 1 for a timepiece 6 or jewelery is illustrated in FIG. figure 1 according to one embodiment. The crimping system 1 comprises a crimping support 3, or kitten, in which is mounted a gemstone 2, such as a diamond, ruby, sapphire or emerald. It will be understood here that the expression "a gemstone" means at least one gemstone 2, the support 3 being able to support a plurality of precious stones 2. The expression "gemstone" can also include any type of stone, such as fine stones. An elastic element 5 fixed to the crimping support 3 flexibly connects the crimping support 3 to the article 6. The elastic element 5 extends axially between the crimping support 3 and the article 6.

In this arrangement, the stone 2 can oscillate or vibrate on the elastic member 5 following a movement of the article 6 (that is, so that the crimping support, and thus the stone, can oscillate or vibrate on the elastic element 5 following a movement of the article 6). For example, during a shock or a sudden movement of the timepiece or jewelery 6 comprising the crimping system 1, the end 17 of the elastic element 5 fixed on the article 6 remains fixed while the rest of the elastic element 5 deforms elastically under the effect of the acceleration of the mass of the stone 2 and the crimping support 3. The stiffness of the elastic element 5, the mass of the stone 2 and the crimping support 3, as well as the intensity of the shock are the main factors defining the frequency of the vibrations (or oscillations) of the stone 2. In such an arrangement, the oscillation of the stone 2 is in a motion radial with respect to an axis of symmetry 15 and an axial movement with respect to this same axis 15.

As the crimping system 1 is intended for a timepiece 6 or jewelry, it must be arranged to be able to create an animation, for example on a watch dial, based on a vibration of the stone. In other words, the crimping system 1 must be configured so that the vibration of the stone is visible. The vibration must also be sustainable in time and in its environment of use. On the other hand, so as to accommodate the crimping system 1, for example, between the dial and the ice of the watch, on a bezel, a jewel, its size must be minimal and the dimensions of the crimping system 1 must be reduced. This difficulty is exacerbated when a large number of stones are set high density on the support.

For the vibration of stone 2 to be visible, the oscillation frequency of stone 2 must be adapted to the retinal persistence. Below about 30 cycles per second, see 25 cycles per second, the human perceives the cycles. We can say that a vibration whose frequency is lower than 30 Hz is visible to the human eye. The range of motion must also be large enough to be perceived.

The decay of the amplitude of the oscillations in time, ie the damping, must be at least greater than one period of the oscillation, and in practice include several periods, so that a actual vibration impression is perceived by the human eye. Preferably, the vibration is maintained.

The crimping system 1 can be considered with the combination of the crimping support 3 and the stone 2 having a mass M, and an elastic element 5 having a stiffness K. The stiffness is the characteristic which indicates the resistance to deformation elastic of a body. The vibration frequencies F of the crimping system 1 are defined by the inertia of the mass M of the crimping support assembly 3 and the stone 2, and the stiffness K of the elastic element 5: $$F=1/2\pi \sqrt{\frac{K}{M}}$$

The ratio of the stiffness K to the mass M determines the vibration frequencies according to the possible directions of displacement (degrees of freedom) of the crimping system 1, and therefore the frequency oscillation of the crimping system 1 which must be less than 30 Hz, see 25 Hz.

The vibration of the crimping system 1 is thus determined by the amplitude and the frequency according to certain modes of vibration. Are the amplitude and frequency of vibration defined by the materials composing the system and the geometry of the elements.

The crimping system 1 must also be configured so that the vibration can be initiated by natural movements of the wearer of the timepiece 6 or jewelery. The vibration of the crimping system 1 should also be maintained over time by these same natural movements of the wearer.

et la fréquence F peut être exprimée comme: $$F=1/2\pi \sqrt{\frac{A.E}{L.M}}$$

In the case where the elastic element 5 is modeled as a flexible beam, the stiffness is proportional to the product of the area A of the beam and Young's modulus E on the length L of the elastic element: $$K=\frac{\mathrm{AT}.E}{\mathrm{The}}$$

and the frequency F can be expressed as: $$F=1/2\pi \sqrt{\frac{\mathrm{AT}.E}{\mathrm{The}.M}}$$

Equation (3) makes it possible to determine the minimum and maximum stiffness values K for the elastic element 5 making it possible to vibrate the crimping support 3 with the stone 2 in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 30 Hz. The figure 7 shows calculated values of the stiffness K as a function of the mass M of the crimping support assembly 3 and stone 2 giving rise to vibration frequencies perceived by the human eye, that is to say between 1Hz and 30Hz.

Table 1 reports spring sizing values allowing a mass to vibrate in perceptible frequencies (1Hz to 30Hz). Table 1 Mass (g) height / diameter (mm) Matter / Raider (GPa) Spring length (mm) Section (mm ² ) Frequency (Hz) 0.25 3/2 steel / 200-210 219 0.0078 ~14 0.25 3/2 Ti / 110-120 219 0.0038 ~19 0.25 3/2 Al / 70 219 0.0038 ~15 0.25 3/2 Nylon / 2-5 219 1.3 ~10

In one embodiment, the elastic element 5 has a stiffness K between 1.2x10 ^-5 N / m and 1.4x10 ⁺¹ N / m and the mass M combined with the crimping support 3 and the gemstone 2 is included between 3x10 ^-4 g and 4x10 ^-1 g (see figure 7 ). In this configuration, the crimping support 3 can oscillate according to an axial and / or radial movement, following a movement of the article 6, with an oscillation frequency of between 1 Hz and 30 Hz with respect to the axis of rotation. symmetry 15. According to a preferred embodiment, the combined mass M of the crimping support 3 and the gemstone 2 is between 1x10 ^-3 g and 1x10 ^-1 g, and the stiffness K of the elastic element 5 is between 3.9x10 ^-5 N / m and 3.6 N / m. In a still more preferred manner the combined mass M of the crimping support 3 and the gemstone 2 is between 1x10 ^-2 g and 5x10 ^-2 g, and the stiffness K of the elastic element 5 is between 3.9x10 ^-4 N / m and 1.8 N / m. According to another preferred embodiment, in which the crimping support 3 can oscillate according to an axial and / or radial movement, following a movement of the article 6, with an oscillation frequency of between 10 Hz and 20 Hz relative to the axis of symmetry 15, the combined mass M of the crimping support 3 and the gemstone 2 is between 1x10 ^-2 g and 5x10 ^-2 g, and the stiffness K of the elastic element 5 is included between 3.9x10 ^-2 N / m and 7.9x10 ^-1 N / m.

The frequency and amplitude of oscillation movement following an impact under Article 6 may be limited by a combination of stiffness of the elastic element 5 and the combined mass of the crimping support 3 and the gemstone 2.

In one embodiment, the elastic member comprises a coil-shaped spring 5 (hereinafter "coil spring"). Such a spring 5 comprising helically wound turns 10 makes it possible to obtain an elastic element having both a maximum length and a minimum space requirement. In the form of execution of the figure 1 , the elastic element comprises a helical spring 5 of cylindrical section. The crimping support 3 comprises a peg 30, integral with the crimping support 3 and being housed, at least in part, in a first end 13 of the spring 5, so as to fix the peg 30 to the elastic element 5 by Tightening. The second end 17 of the spring 5 is fixed in Article 6 by at least one of the methods comprising clamping, driving, clipping or welding, or any other suitable method.

A helical spring, according to this mode of attachment, oscillates mainly in bending, it allows a tilting oscillation mode, that is to say an oscillation according to a radial movement, illustrated by the arrow numbered 151 on the figure 1 . The helical spring also allows a pumping mode of oscillation, that is to say an oscillation according to an axial movement, illustrated by the arrow numbered 152 on the figure 1 . This mode of oscillation, however, tends to be negligible compared to the oscillation according to the radial movement. The amplitude of the axial movement of the spring 5 towards the article 6 is limited by the compression of the turns 10 of the spring 5.

The figure 2 shows the crimping system 1 seen from above (stone side 2) and the oscillation according to the radial movement 151 which describes an ellipse. The radial movement promotes a flickering effect of the stone 2.

The crimping support 3 may comprise a frontal portion 9 of frustoconical shape and serving as a seat for the cylinder head 8 of the stone 2. The inclination of the profile 7 of the front portion 9 can be arranged so as to maintain the yoke 8. The support 3 may also comprise a bore 16 coaxial with the support 3.

Still in the example of the figure 1 , the second end 17 of the spring 5 is fixed to the article 6 by means of a pin 14. The pin 14 is fixed, for example by driving or by screwing, in the article 6 and the second end 17 of the spring 5 is fixed, for example by clamping, on the pin 14. The distal end of the bar 18 passes through a hole in the pin 14 and is fixed to the support 6 by a suitable method, such as driving, clamping or clipping.

The figure 3 shows a crimping system 1 like that of the figure 1 , in which the first end 13 of the helical spring 5 of cylindrical section comprises an axial groove 12 which acts as a slit of elasticity, for absorbing radially elastically and / or plastically deformed at least a part of the driving force of the pin 30 on the spring 5. Such axial groove 12 may also be provided at the second end 17 of the spring 5, for example to facilitate the driving, when the spring 5 is driven into the pin 14.

The coil spring 5 may also be of conical section. Such a crimping system with a helical spring 5 of conical section is shown in FIG. figure 4 .

In an embodiment illustrated in figure 5 , the helical spring 5 is produced by a helical laser cut of a tube 501. The cut can be made by rotating the tube 501 about its axis of symmetry 503 and simultaneously by advancing the tube 501, so that a fixed laser beam 502 can cut the helical shape of the turns 10. In the figure 5 , there is shown a tube 501 whose helical cut has been partially performed. For cutting, the tube 501 can be mounted on a bar 504. Alternatively, the tube 501 to be cut is fixed and the laser is movable. Preferably, the laser is femtosecond laser type, which is suitable for machining small objects.

The speed of rotation of the tube 501 is determined from the diameter d of the tube 501 to correspond to a sublimation speed of the material of the tube 501 conditioned by the properties of the laser beam and the material of the tube 501. The advance of the tube 501 , that is to say its speed of movement along the axis of symmetry 503, is then determined in such a way that the displacement of the tube, along the axis of symmetry 503 and for a time corresponding to a complete revolution of the tube 501, with the speed of rotation determined above, corresponds to the desired turn thickness 10 for the spring 5 to be produced. This determination is valid for a sublimation diameter generated by the laser, or for a certain energy level (or power and pulsation) of the laser. The advance of the tube 501 and its rotation thus define the pitch and the height of the turns 10 of the spring 5 thus manufactured. The thickness of the turns 10 is defined by the thickness of the wall of the tube 501. In such an embodiment of the spring 5, the section of the turns 10 is rectangular.

The axial groove 12 can be cut during the process described above. For example, the cut is initiated at one end of the tube 510 by the formation of the axial groove 12, for example at the first end 13, and is continued by the cutting of the turns 10. The cut is completed at the other end of the tube 510 by the formation of another axial groove 12, for example at the second end 17.

The figure 6 represents a helical spring 5 made by cutting in a tube. A detail of the turns 10 is also shown. The stiffness of the spring 5 depends on the material in which the spring 5 is made; the length of the spring 5, defined by the diameter of the helicoid, the pitch, and the height H; and the section of the turns 10 which is determined by the thickness e of the wall of the tube 501 and by the height h of the turns 10. The height of the turns 10 is defined by the pitch and the space between the turns 10 (c that is, the amount of material cut between two turns).

The shape of the coil spring 5 having a small footprint favors a dense implantation of the crimping system 1 on an article 6 (jewel, watch dial, etc.) because the diameter D of the spring 5 can be smaller than the dimensions of the crimping support 3 and stone 2. Thus, a plurality of crimping systems 1 can be arranged on the article 6 so that the stones 2 are brought closer to each other. The diameter D of the spring 5 can be determined by the fixing means 14.

The size of the crimping system 1 can be reduced by maximizing the mass of the crimping support 3, which enables the size of the support 3 to be reduced. For example, the crimping support 3 can be made of a material having a high density. , such as gold or a gold alloy.

The size of the crimping system 1 can also be minimized by a turn section 10 as small as possible. However, for reasons of process and strength of the spring produced, the thickness of the tube, and therefore of the turns 10, is preferably greater than 20 microns and still preferably greater than 40 microns.

For a given spring length, the height h of the turns 10 makes it possible to adjust the stiffness K of the spring 5 so as to obtain an aesthetic vibration frequency, that is to say an oscillation frequency of between 1 Hz and 30 Hz, depending on the mass of the system. It should be noted here that other parameters of the spring 5, such as the component material, can be adjusted to obtain different frequencies. The choice of adjusting the height h of the turns rests on practical reasons, such as the adjustment of the laser.

It may be advantageous for the pitch to be as small as possible so as to have a length L of the large elastic element 5 and thus to reduce the height H of the spring 5. On the other hand, the height h of turn may be the most possible weak so that the length L of the elastic element 5 must no longer be maximum. In these two extreme cases, the stiffness K of 5, in its axial direction, promotes the crushing of a turn 10 on the other and thus of the decrease in the space between the turns 10. It is not desirable, however, that the turns 10 touch each other when vibration to minimize the damping of the vibration. The length L of the spring element 5 and the height of the turns 10 are therefore preferably between a maximum length L and a minimum turn height h. These dimensions will minimize the vibration of the spring in an axial movement.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described and that various modifications and simple variants can be envisaged by the skilled person without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the example shown in figure 8 the spring element comprises a flat spring 50 extending radially from the crimping support 3. This flat spring can be manufactured by the method described above, for example by cutting into a plate. In this particular example, the flat spring 50 is mounted on a first rigid support member 22 extending radially and attachable to the article 6 and having a first opening 220. The flat spring 50 allows the crimping support 3, and therefore to the stone 2, to oscillate or vibrate radially and axially by deformation of the spring 50 following a movement of the article 6. The crimping system 1 comprises a second support member 24 extending radially over the first support element 22. The second support element 24 has a second opening 240 concentric with the first opening 220. In this configuration, the radial oscillation amplitude of the stone 2 is limited by the crimping support 3 abutting against the side wall 241 of the opening 240. The crimping support 3 may also comprise an ankle 30 extending distally in the first support member 22. The radial movement 1 of the stone 2 is limited by the pin 30 of the crimping support 3 abutting against a wall 221 of the first opening 220, thus limiting the radial movement of the stone 2.

Reference numbers used in the figures

1

crimping system

10

coil

12

axial groove

13

first end of the spring

14

pin

15

axis of symmetry

151

radial movement

152

axial movement

16

drilling

17

second end of the spring

2

precious stone

22

first support element

220

first opening

221

side wall

24

second support element

240

second opening

241

side wall

3

crimping support

30

ankle

5

elastic element

50

flat spring

501

tube

502

laser beam

503

axis of symmetry

504

closed off

510

end of the tube

6

clock or jewelery article

30

ankle

7

profile

8

cylinder head

9

front part

AT

beam area

d

tube diameter

D

diameter of the spring

e

wall thickness of the tube

E

Young's modulus

F

frequency

h

height of turns

H

spring height

K

spring stiffness

The

length of the elastic element

M

mass

Claims (18)

1. Setting system (1) for a timepiece (6) or jewellery item comprising:

   a crimping support (3);

   a precious stone (2) mounted in or on the crimping support (3);

   a resilient member (5) fastened to the crimping support (3) in such a way as to flexibly link the crimping support (3) to said item (6),

   characterised in that

   the resilient member (5) has a stiffness comprised between 1.2x10^-5 N/m and 1.4x10⁺¹ N/m; and in that

   the combined mass of the crimping support (3) and of the precious stone (2) is comprised between 3x10^-4 g and 4x10^-1 g;

   so that the crimping support (3) can be made to oscillate and sustained by the movements of the wearer of the item (6); and, when it oscillates, the crimping support (3) oscillates along an axial and/or radial movement relative to an axis of symmetry (15), with a frequency comprised between 1 Hz and 30 Hz.
2. Setting system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member (5) has a stiffness comprised between 3.9x10^-5 N/m and 3.6 N/m; and the combined mass of the crimping support (3) and of the gemstone (2) is comprised between 1x10^-1 g and 1x10^-1 g.
3. Setting system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the resilient member (5) has a stiffness between 3.9x10^-4 N/m and 1.8 N/m; and the combined mass of the crimping support (3) and of the gemstone (2) is comprised between 1x10^-2 g and 5x10^-2 g.
4. Setting system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the crimping support (3) oscillates in an axial and/or radial movement relative to an axis of symmetry (15) with an oscillation frequency comprised between 10 Hz and 20 Hz;
   and wherein the resilient member (5) has a stiffness comprised between 3.9x10^-2 N/m and 7.9x10^-1 N/m; and the combined mass of the crimping support (3) and of the gemstone (2) is comprised between 1x10^-2 g and 5x10^-2 g.
5. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 4,
   wherein the frequency of the oscillation movement is limited by a combination of the stiffness of the resilient member (5) and the combined mass of the crimping support (3) and of the precious stone (2).
6. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   wherein the resilient member comprises a flat spring extending radially from the crimping support (3).
7. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 5,
   wherein the resilient member (5) extends axially between the crimping support (3) and the item (6).
8. Setting system (1) according to claim 7, wherein the resilient member comprises a vertical helical-developing spring (5).
9. Setting system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the spring (5) is of conical section.
10. Setting system (1) according to claim 8, wherein the spring (5) has a cylindrical cross-section.
11. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 6 to 10,
    wherein the cross-section of the coils (10) of the spring is rectangular.
12. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 7 to 11,
    wherein the amplitude of the axial movement of the spring (5) towards the item (6) is limited by the compression of the coils (10) of the spring (5).
13. Setting system (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 12,
    wherein the stone (2) is a diamond and the crimping support (3) is made of gold or a gold alloy.
14. Dial of a timepiece comprising the setting system (1) characterized by one of the claims 1 to 13.
15. Timepiece or jewellery item (6) comprising the setting system (1) characterized by one of the claims 1 to 13.
16. Method of manufacturing the resilient member (5) of a setting system (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, comprising a laser cutting of a tube (501) or of a plate.
17. Manufacturing method according to claim 16, comprising a laser cutting of a tube (501) and wherein the cutting is performed by rotating the tube (501) around its axis of symmetry (503) and simultaneously advancing the tube (501) so as to form the coils (10).
18. Manufacturing method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the thickness of the tube (501) is preferably greater than 20 µm and more preferably greater than 40 µm.

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