EP3540523B1 - Watch comprising a watch case having two dials - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a watch comprising a watch case containing a watch movement and two dials.

STATE OF THE ART

In the field of mechanical or electromechanical watches, it is known to provide two dials within the case of the watch. The two dials serve for example to be able to display two times of different time zones at the same time. Or, a first dial can serve to display the time, while a second dial serves as ornamental decoration for the watch. However, the operation of mounting the dials in the watch case can be complex and restrictive for an operator responsible for assembling the watch. In addition, adjusting the position of one dial relative to the other can be made difficult due to the small space available in the watch case.

It is also known from watch movements suspended in a watch case.

Such a watch provided with a suspended watch movement is for example described in the patent document JP H09127264 . The watch includes a watch case enclosing a support frame, a watch movement, an ornamental part and a dial. The support frame is fixed inside the watch case, and the watch movement is mounted in an opening of the frame so as to be suspended in the watch case. The ornamental piece is also mounted in another opening of the frame, and the dial is arranged on an upper surface of the support frame, covering the movement and surrounding the ornamental piece via a corresponding opening made in the dial. However, the proposed watch has only one dial, and therefore does not allow two dials to be provided within the watch case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a watch fitted with a suspended watch movement and two coplanar dials, making it possible to facilitate the mounting of the dials in the watch case, and to precisely position the dials with respect to each other. other in a coplanar manner.

To this end, the invention relates to a watch which comprises the features mentioned in independent claim 1.

Particular shapes of the watch are defined in dependent claims 2 to 8.

An advantage of such a watch according to the invention resides in the use of a casing circle supporting the two dials, in which the watch movement is mounted so as to be suspended cantilevered in the case of show. This unique casing circle enables the dials to be precisely positioned relative to each other. The assembly of the dials in the watch case is thus facilitated. In addition, because the watch movement is mounted in the casing circle and because the circle has a small thickness, a large part of the interior space of the watch case is left free. This makes it possible to provide a large possible decoration surface for one of the two dials, or even to add three-dimensional decorations for the watch.

According to the invention, the two dials have upper surfaces, the casing ring having a shape such that the upper surfaces of the two dials are coplanar.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, one of the two dials circumscribes the other of the dials in the watch case. That makes it possible to confer a particularly interesting aesthetic appearance on the watch.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the watch case is provided with a middle part and means for fixing the casing ring to the middle part.

Advantageously, the fixing means are screws positioned on the periphery of the casing circle, one of the two dials being arranged on the casing circle and being provided on its periphery with notches for receiving screw heads, so that said screws allow joint fixing of said dial on the casing ring. This facilitates the fixing of all the parts within the watch case. In addition, a similar fixing principle can be advantageously used to allow three-dimensional decorations to be fixed in the empty space of the watch case. The decorations are then fixed to the casing ring, together with the fixing of the ring itself to the caseband.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée de la boîte de montre d'une montre selon l'invention, la boîte de montre comprenant un cercle d'emboîtage ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe du dessous de la boîte de montre de la figure 1 une fois assemblée, et prise selon un plan de coupe II-II ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe du dessus de la boîte de montre de la figure 1 dans laquelle certaines pièces ont été omises, et prise selon le plan de coupe II-II ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe de la boîte de montre de la figure 3 dans laquelle les pièces omises à la figure 3 ont été rajoutées, et prise selon un plan de coupe IV-IV ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective du dessus du cercle d'emboîtage de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective du dessous du cercle d'emboîtage de la figure 1.

The aims, advantages and characteristics of the watch according to the invention will appear better in the following description on the basis of at least one non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the drawings in which:

• there figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the watchcase of a watch according to the invention, the watchcase comprising a casing ring;
• there figure 2 is a sectional view of the underside of the watch case of the figure 1 when assembled, and taken according to a II-II section plane;
• there picture 3 is a sectional view of the top of the watch case of the figure 1 in which certain parts have been omitted, and taken according to section plan II-II;
• there figure 4 is a sectional view of the watch case of the picture 3 in which the parts omitted from the picture 3 were added, and taken according to a IV-IV cutting plan;
• there figure 5 is a perspective view from above of the casing ring of the figure 1 ; And
• there figure 6 is a perspective view from below of the casing ring of the figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

There figure 1 represents a watch 1 provided with a watch case 2. The watch 1 further comprises a casing ring 3 arranged in the watch case 2.

The watch case 2 typically comprises a middle part 4. The watch case 2 also contains a watch movement 6 and two dials 8a, 8b, arranged within the middle part 4. Preferably, the watch case 2 also comprises means 10 for fixing the casing ring 3 to the caseband 4.

As illustrated on the figure 1 , the caseband 4 is annular in shape and is placed on a bottom 12 formed in this example by a first crystal (not shown). The caseband 4 is further provided with an upper annular rim 14 on which rests a bezel 15. As illustrated in the figure 4 , the bezel 15 is screwed onto the middle part 4, from above the latter. A second crystal 16 is fixed in the bezel 15, by means of a seal 17 and an upper rim 19 of the bezel 15, these two elements being visible to the figure 4 . In the watch case 2 taken as an example at figures 1 to 4 , the configuration of the watch case is substantially circular. However, the invention is in no way limited to such a configuration of the watch case, nor to the other arrangements described above for the middle part 4.

As illustrated on the figure 1 , 2 And 4 , the watch movement 6 is mounted in the casing ring 3 so as to be suspended cantilevered in the watch case 2. The watch movement 6 is typically a mechanical movement of circular shape, although this is in no way limiting in the context of the present invention. The watch movement 6 includes a winding stem 18 which extends outside of the watch case 2, through an orifice 20 provided in the middle part 4.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures 1 to 4 , a first dial 8a is a time dial used to display the time, above which move display means formed of hands 22, coupled to the watch movement 6. The first dial 8a is for example made of mother-of-pearl, without this being limiting in the context of the present invention. A second dial 8b is for example a decorative dial, in particular an up-to-date replica. In this particular embodiment, the second dial 8b circumscribes the first dial 8a in the watch case 2. To do this, the second dial 8b is for example provided with an opening 21 of a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the first dial. 8a, typically a circular opening 21 substantially of the same diameter as the outer diameter of the first dial 8a in the illustrative example of the figures 1 to 4 . In other embodiments, not shown in the figures, the first dial 8a can circumscribe the second dial 8b in the watch case 2.

Preferably, the means 10 for fixing the casing ring 3 to the middle part 4 are screws positioned on the periphery of the casing ring 3. The casing ring 3 supports the two dials 8a, 8b. One of the dials 8a, 8b arranged on the casing ring 3, for example the second dial 8b in the illustrative example of figure 1 , is provided on its periphery with corresponding notches 23, for receiving the heads of the screws 10. The casing ring 3 is preferably also provided on its periphery with notches 25 for receiving the screws 10. The screws 10 thus allow to also fix the dial 8b on the casing ring 3, together with the fixing of the casing ring 3 on the middle part 4.

The two dials 8a, 8b have upper surfaces 24a, 24b. In one embodiment, shown in the figures 1 to 6 , The circle casing 3 has a shape such that the upper surfaces 24a, 24b of the two dials 8a, 8b are coplanar. In a particular embodiment of this first mode, illustrated in the figures 1 to 6 , the casing ring 3 comprises two integral concentric rings 26a, 26b. As illustrated on the figure 4 , the watch movement 6 is mounted in a first inner ring 26a which supports the first dial 8a. To do this, the watch movement 6 includes for example a peripheral collar 6a which bears against an edge of the first inner ring 26a.

The first dial 8a is mounted above the first inner ring 26a, on the watch movement 6 via a flange 27. The first dial 8a is fixed on the flange 27, for example by gluing. The flange 27 comprises several pins/dial feet 29, one of which is visible at the figure 1 , projecting from a lower surface of the flange. The pins 29 of the flange 27 are inserted into corresponding housings 31 of the watch movement 6, allowing the fixing of the flange 27 on the movement 6. The flange 27 is also provided with a peripheral flange extending through the opening 21 and wearing a collar 33. As shown in the figure 4 , the collar 33 of the flange 27 comes to rest on the second dial 8b and covers part of the second dial 8b at the edge of its opening 21. This makes it possible to confer a particular aesthetic appearance on the watch 1, in particular by masking the gap between the two dials 8a, 8b.

A second outer ring 26b supports the second dial 8b. The casing circle 3 consists of a single piece of material machined, for example, in a metallic material. The metallic material is typically stainless steel.

As illustrated on the figures 5 and 6 , the first inner ring 26a has a first portion 28 and a second portion 30. The first portion 28 comprises for example a lower rim 32 and two upper rims 34 for reinforcement. The lower flange 32 and the upper flanges 34 thus serve as reinforcements for the casing circle 3, conferring overall stiffness. The two upper flanges 34 are separated from each other by a spacing 35, allowing the winding stem 18 to pass through. A corresponding gap 37 is provided on the second outer ring 26b, for the passage of the winding stem 18.

Preferably, at least one of the two rings 26a, 26b has a satin-finished inner or outer face. In the illustrative example of figures 5 and 6 , the first inner ring 26a has an outer face 36 satin, and the second outer ring 26b has an inner face 38 satin.

The configuration of the casing circle 3 according to the first embodiment of the invention of the figures 1 to 6 and of the other elements of the watch 1 thus makes it possible to precisely position the dials 8a, 8b relative to each other. Indeed, starting from dimensions given for the bearing edges of the circle 3 for the dials 8a, 8b, it is possible to play on the height of the collar 6a of the movement 6 and on the dimensions of the flange 27 in particular, in order to to obtain coplanarity for the upper surfaces 24a, 24b of the two dials 8a, 8b.

In other embodiments, not shown in the figures, the watch 1 can comprise at least one piece of decoration, for example in three dimensions. Such a decorative piece is then attached to the casing ring 3 inside the watch case 2.

The previous description of the watch according to the invention was made with reference to a first dial 8a which is a time dial, and to a second dial 8b which is a decorative dial. However, those skilled in the art will understand that these particular types of dials are in no way limiting in the context of the present invention, and that in practice any type of dial can be used for each of the two dials 8a, 8b.

Claims (8)

1. Watch (1) comprising a watch case (2), the watch case (2) containing a watch movement (6) and two dials (8a, 8b);
   the watch (1) further including a casing ring (3) arranged inside the watch case (2), the watch movement (6) being mounted in the casing ring (3) so as to be suspended in a cantilever arrangement inside the watch case (2), said casing ring (3) supporting the two dials (8a, 8b) the two dials (8a, 8b) having upper surfaces (24a, 24b), the casing ring (3) having a shape such that the upper surfaces (24a, 24b) of the two dials (8a, 8b) are coplanar.
2. Watch (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that one of the two dials (8a, 8b) circumscribes the other dial (8a, 8b) inside the watch case (2).
3. Watch (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch case (2) is provided with a case middle (4) and means (10) for securing the casing ring (3) to the case middle (4).
4. Watch (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the securing means (10) are screws positioned on the edge of the casing ring (3), one of the two dials (8a, 8b) being arranged on the casing ring (3) and being provided on its edge with notches (23) for receiving screw heads, such that said screws (10) at the same time secure said dial (8b) to the casing ring (3).
5. Watch (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the two dials (8a, 8b) is a decorative dial, in particularly a plique-à-jour.
6. Watch (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the watch (1) further includes at least one decorative part, the decorative part being secured to the casing ring (3) inside the watch case (2).
7. Watch (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the casing ring (3) includes two concentric integral rings (26a, 26b), the watch movement (6) being mounted in a first inner ring (26a), the first inner ring (26a) supporting one of the two dials (81, 8b), a second outer ring (26b) supporting the other of the two dials (8a, 8b).
8. Watch (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the first inner ring (26a) has a satin-finished outer face (36), and second outer ring (26b) has a satin-finished inner face (38).

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