EP3805873A1 - Adjustable threaded crown - Google Patents

Abstract

Watch case (100), comprising an orientable screwed crown (10) comprising axially movable, a sub-assembly (20) comprising a maneuvering body (1) comprising a pattern (19), a tube (8) which can be inserted axially into a housing (90) of the box and comprising an axial indexing profile (82) cooperating complementarily with a complementary axial indexing profile (92) of the housing (90), and the indexing profile (82) is a cone of 'apex angle less than 15 °, or is a conical toothing, or is a straight spline, or is a conical spline, and is arranged to co-operate by friction with the complementary indexing profile (92) of the housing (90).

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a watch case, comprising a middle part with at least one through housing for receiving an orientable screwed crown, which adjustable screwed crown is arranged to cooperate with said housing and seal it off, said screwed crown. orientable comprising a pattern on an end face or in its vicinity, said orientable screwed crown comprising, movable axially in an axial direction with respect to one another, on the one hand, a sub-assembly comprising a crown body manipulable by a user and comprising said pattern, and on the other hand a tube arranged to be screwed or driven into said housing in said axial direction.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling such an orientable screwed crown.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting such an orientable screwed crown on a watch case.

Background of the invention

Screw-down crowns are commonly used to equip watches with the aim of improving their sealing at the passage of a control member, such as a winding or control rod. This type of crown has the particularity of being able to take an unscrewed position in which the watch can be wound, time-set, adjusted, or other, and a screwed position in which the crown is screwed and blocked on a driven or screwed tube. in the middle of the watch case in order to compress a gasket, thus improving the watertightness of the watch. The screwed position is therefore that which corresponds to the normal position when the watch is worn and which is always roughly the same, apart from the wear of the seal.

The manufacture and assembly of these screwed crowns on watch cases are well known. However, the methods of mounting these crowns are ill-suited to screw-down crowns which bear on their end face an inscription or a pattern, for example a logo, a trademark or a similar sign, or even a profile, or to crowns which are not of revolution, whereas it is desirable that the user, or at least an after-sales service, can proceed to the angular indexing adjustment of such a crown, in the screwed position, according to a particular desired orientation.

In fact, the known mounting methods generally do not allow the crown to be brought into a determined orientation with respect to the case after it has been screwed in, which can be detrimental to the aesthetics of the case. This situation is of course unacceptable when these crowns equip luxury and high quality products.

Summary of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome the various drawbacks of these known techniques.

More precisely, an objective of the invention is to provide an orientable screwed crown adaptable to any watch case comprising a crown housing, for the orientation of this screwed crown, produced according to a simple and economical construction.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an orientable screwed crown that is more reliable than existing ones.

The invention relates to a watch case comprising a middle part with at least one through housing for receiving an orientable screw-down crown, according to claim 1.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling such an orientable screwed crown.

The invention also relates to a method for mounting such an orientable screwed crown on a watch case.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue, en coupe longitudinale, d'une boîte de montre comportant un logement avec une cannelure femelle, pour la réception d'une couronne vissée orientable, selon l'invention, comportant une cannelure mâle, cette couronne comportant un arrêt axial par rapport à la carrure de la boîte, réalisé par un écrou vissé surun tube que comporte la couronne;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective depuis l'extérieur de la boîte, montrant la carrure de la boîte de montre avec sa cannelure femelle, et la présentation d'un tube cannelé, que comporte la couronne, pour l'indexation angulaire de cette dernière par rapport à la boîte, et d'un sous-ensemble comportant un corps de couronne manipulable par l'utilisateur, qui renferme un canon fixe destiné à être vissé dans le tube, ce canon fixe renfermant un canon mobile prévu pour coopérer avec le mécanisme interne de la montre destiné à être commandé et/ou réglé par la couronne ;
• la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 1, où l'orientation du tube de couronne résulte de la coopération d'un cône mâle à faible penet que compoprte ce tube,e t d'un cône femelle complémenataire que comporte la carrure ; l'arrêt axial est fait par la tête d'une vis dont un filetage coopère avec un taraudage du tube de couronne ;
• la figure 4 est une vue similaire à la figure 2, relative à la carrure et à la couronne de la figure 3;
• la figure 5 est une perspective de détail, quart enlevé, de la variante des figures 3 et 4, montrant la coopération des cônes mêle et femelle, et l'arrêt axial par écrou ;
• la figure 6 est un schéma-blocs représentant une montre comportant une boîte avec une carrure munie d'une couronne vissée orientable selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended figures, among which :

• the figure 1 is a view, in longitudinal section, of a watch case comprising a housing with a female spline, for receiving an orientable screwed crown, according to the invention, comprising a male spline, this crown comprising an axial stop relative to the caseband of the case, produced by a nut screwed onto a tube that comprises the crown;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view from the outside of the case, showing the middle part of the watch case with its female groove, and the presentation of a grooved tube, which the crown comprises, for the angular indexing of the latter with respect to to the box, and a sub-assembly comprising a crown body that can be manipulated by the user, which contains a fixed barrel intended to be screwed into the tube, this fixed barrel containing a movable barrel intended to cooperate with the internal mechanism of the watch intended to be controlled and / or adjusted by the crown;
• the figure 3 is a view similar to the figure 1 , where the orientation of the crown tube results from the cooperation of a male cone with low penetration which compoprte this tube, and of a complementary female cone which comprises the middle part; the axial stop is made by the head of a screw, a thread of which cooperates with an internal thread of the crown tube;
• the figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 2 , relating to the middle and the crown of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a detail perspective, quarter removed, of the variant of figures 3 and 4 , showing the cooperation of the cones mixes and female, and the axial stop by nut;
• the figure 6 is a block diagram showing a watch comprising a case with a middle part provided with an orientable screw-down crown according to the invention.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The invention relates to a watch case 100, comprising a middle part 9 with at least one through housing 90 for receiving a crown, and more particularly for receiving an orientable screwed crown 10, and an orientable screwed crown 10 arranged to cooperate with the housing 90 and seal it off.

The orientable screwed crown 10 comprises a pattern 19 on an end face 18 or in its vicinity.

This orientable screwed crown 10 comprises, movable axially in an axial direction D with respect to each other, on the one hand a sub-assembly 20 comprising a crown body 1 which can be handled by a user and comprising the pattern 19, and on the other hand a tube 8 arranged to be inserted into the housing 90 in the axial direction D.

This tube 8 comprises an indexing profile 82, which extends in the axial direction D and which is arranged to, in the inserted position in the housing 90, cooperate in a complementary manner with a complementary indexing profile 92 that the housing comprises. 90 and which extends in the axial direction D. The cooperation between the indexing profile 82 and the complementary indexing profile 92 defines different possible relative indexing positions corresponding to as many relative orientations of the pattern 19 with respect to box 100.

The sub-assembly 20 and the tube 8 are arranged to cooperate by screwing over a part of their relative axial travel up to a stop position corresponding to a completely screwed position of the sub-assembly 20 in the tube 8.

According to the invention, the indexing profile 82 is a cone of angle at the apex less than 15 °, or is a conical toothing, or is a straight spline, or is a conical spline, and is arranged to cooperate by friction with the complementary indexing profile 92 of the housing 90.

More particularly, the box 100 comprises a removable axial stop means 7, which is arranged to, fixed to the tube 8, stop axially, in the axial direction D, the tube 8 with respect to the middle part 9. More particularly, this stop axial is made by trapping the middle part 9 between, on the one hand a first stop bearing surface 87 of the tube 8 arranged to cooperate in axial stop support with a first outer stop surface 97 of the middle part, and on the other share a second stop bearing surface 76 which comprises the axial stop means 7 and which is arranged to cooperate in axial stop bearing with a second internal stop bearing surface 96, which the middle 9 comprises on the opposite side to the first outer abutment surface 97.

In a variant, the indexing profile 82 is a conical toothing, or a straight spline, or a conical spline, and the cooperation between the indexing profile 82 and the complementary indexing profile 92 defines a discrete number of possible positions. relative indexing corresponding to as many relative orientations of the pattern 19 with respect to the box 100.

In another variant, the indexing profile 82 is a cone of angle at the top of less than 15 °, and the caseband 9 and the tube 8 each comprise a graduated scale making it possible to visually identify their relative angular position.

More particularly, the sub-assembly 20 comprises, movable axially in the axial direction D against elastic return means 4 in a chamber 39 in which it is mounted prisoner, a movable barrel 3 comprising fixing means 31 arranged for the fixing of the orientable screwed crown 10 to a control member housed in the box 100.

More particularly, the sub-assembly 20 comprises a fixed barrel 2 fixed inside the crown body 1, and carrying a thread 23 arranged to cooperate with an internal thread 83 which the tube 8 comprises in which the barrel is movably mounted. fixed 2.

More particularly, the sub-assembly 20 cannot be dismantled.

In a particular non-limiting embodiment, illustrated by the figures, the fixed barrel 2 is integral with the crown body 1, at the level of a laser weld 29, or of a bonding, or the like.

More particularly, the indexing profile 82 and the complementary indexing profile 92 include complementary grooves.

More particularly, the crown body 1 comprises at least one internal annular groove 17 for receiving a first seal 5 arranged to cooperate with a first bearing surface 86 which the tube 8 comprises. The tube 8 comprises a surface of stop 89 arranged to compress the first seal 5 during screwing of said crown body 1 on the tube 8. This stop surface 89 is in particular conical or similar.

More particularly, the tube 8 comprises at least one outer annular groove 89 for receiving a second seal 6 arranged to cooperate with a sealing surface 91 which the middle 9 comprises.

In a variant, the axial stop means 7 is a nut 75 comprising a threaded nut arranged to cooperate with a thread 85 which the tube 8 comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in the middle 9.

In another variant, the axial stop means 7 is a nut comprising a nut thread 72 arranged to cooperate with a distal thread 84 that the tube 8 comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in the middle part 9.

In yet another variant, the axial stop means 7 is a circlip housed in a circlip groove that the tube 8 comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in the middle part 9.

In yet another variant, the axial stop means 7 is a pin arranged to cooperate with a pin housing that the tube 8 comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in the middle part 9.

The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch 1000, comprising such a box 100.

• préparer le sous-ensemble 20 et équiper intérieurement le corps de couronne 1 d'un premier joint d'étanchéité 5, notamment maintenu dans une gorge ou en appui sur une entretoise 55 tubulaire logée dans le corps de couronne 1;
• préparer le tube 8 et l'équiper extérieurement d'un deuxième joint d'étanchéité 6 ;
• visser à fond le sous-ensemble 20 sur le tube 8 ;
• insérer le groupe ainsi formé par le sous-ensemble 20 et le tube 8 axialement selon la direction axiale D dans le logement 90 de la carrure 8, dans la carrure 100, dans la position angulaire souhaitée.

The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a box 100, comprising the following steps:

• prepare the sub-assembly 20 and internally equip the crown body 1 with a first seal 5, in particular held in a groove or resting on a tubular spacer 55 housed in the crown body 1;
• prepare the tube 8 and equip it externally with a second seal 6;
• fully screw the sub-assembly 20 onto the tube 8;
• inserting the group thus formed by the sub-assembly 20 and the tube 8 axially in the axial direction D in the housing 90 of the middle 8, in the middle 100, in the desired angular position.

More particularly, after the axial insertion of the tube 8 in the desired angular position, the removable axial stop means 7 is fixed to the tube 8 and the tube 8 is axially stopped with respect to the middle part 9, by compressing the second seal d 'sealing 6.

More particularly, before fixing the stop means 7, is inserted between the stop means 7 and said middle part 9, at least one washer 74 and / or at least one elastic washer.

More particularly, after fixing the stop means 7, the sub-assembly 20 is unscrewed in order to fix therein a control member housed in the box 100, then this sub-assembly 20 is screwed back on at the end of the screwing stroke.

Claims (18)

Watch case (100) comprising a middle part (9) with at least one housing (90) passing through for receiving an orientable screwed crown (10), and an orientable screwed crown (10) arranged to cooperate with said housing (90 ) and sealing it off, said rotatable screwed crown (10) comprising a pattern (19) on an end face (18) or in its vicinity, said rotatable screwed crown (10) comprising, movable axially in a direction axial (D) with respect to each other, on the one hand a sub-assembly (20) comprising a crown body (1) which can be handled by a user and comprising said pattern (19), and on the other hand a tube (8) arranged to be inserted into said housing (90) in said axial direction (D), which tube (8) has an indexing profile (82) which extends in said axial direction (D) and which is arranged for, in position inserted in said housing (90), to cooperate in a complementary manner with a complementary indexing profile (92) which e comprises said housing (90) and which extends in said axial direction (D), the cooperation between said indexing profile (82) and said complementary indexing profile (92) allowing different relative indexing positions corresponding to as many relative orientations of said pattern (19) with respect to said box (100), said sub-assembly (20) and said tube (8) being arranged to cooperate by screwing over a part of their relative axial travel up to a stop position corresponding to a completely screwed position of said sub-assembly (20) in said tube (8), characterized in that said indexing profile (82) is a cone of angle at the top of less than 15 °, or is a conical toothing, or is a straight spline, or is a conical spline, arranged to cooperate by friction with said complementary indexing profile (92) of said housing (90). Box (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that said box (100) comprises a removable axial stop means (7) arranged to, fixed to said tube (8), stop axially, in said axial direction (D), said tube (8) relative to said middle part (9) by trapping said middle part (9) between on the one hand a first stop bearing surface (87) of said tube (8) arranged to cooperate in axial stop support with a first external abutment surface (97) of said middle part (9), and on the other hand a second abutment bearing surface (76) which said axial stop means (7) comprises and which is arranged to cooperate in axial stop bearing with a second internal stop bearing surface (96) which said middle part (9) comprises on the side opposite to said first external stop surface (97) Box (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said indexing profile (82) is a conical toothing, or a straight spline, or a conical spline, and in that the cooperation between said indexing profile (82) and said complementary indexing profile (92) defines a discrete number of possible relative indexing positions corresponding to as many relative orientations of said pattern (19) with respect to said box (100). Case (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said indexing profile (82) is a cone of angle at the top of less than 15 °, and in that said middle part (9) and said tube (8 ) each have a graduated scale making it possible to visually identify their relative angular position. Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said sub-assembly (20) cannot be dismantled, and comprises axially movable in said axial direction (D) against elastic return means ( 4) in a chamber (39) in which it is mounted as a prisoner, a movable barrel (3) comprising fixing means (31) arranged for fixing said orientable screwed crown (10) to a control member housed in said box (100). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sub-assembly (20) comprises a fixed barrel (2) fixed inside said crown body (1) and carrying a thread (23) arranged to cooperate with an internal thread (83) formed by said tube (8) in which said fixed barrel (2) is movably mounted. Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said indexing profile (82) and said complementary indexing profile (92) comprise complementary grooves. Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said crown body (1) comprises at least one internal annular groove (17), or a housing, for receiving at least a first seal seal (5) arranged to cooperate with a first bearing surface (86) that comprises said tube (8) which comprises a stop surface (89) arranged to compress said first seal (5) during screwing of said body crown (1) on said tube (8). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said tube (8) comprises at least one outer annular groove or a shoulder for receiving a second seal (6) arranged to cooperate with a sealing surface (91) that comprises said middle part (9). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said axial stop means (7) is a threaded nut (75) arranged to cooperate with a thread (85) that said tube (8) comprises. near its end intended to be enclosed in said caseband (9). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said axial stop means (7) is a nut (75) comprising a nut thread (72) arranged to cooperate with a distal thread ( 84) which said tube (8) comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in said middle part (9). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said axial stop means (7) is a circlip housed in a circlip groove that said tube (8) comprises near its end intended for be enclosed in said caseband (9). Box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said axial stop means (7) is a pin arranged to cooperate with a pin housing that said tube (8) comprises near its end intended to be enclosed in said middle part (9). Watch (1000) comprising a box (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13. A method of mounting a box (100) according to claims 1 to 13, comprising the following steps: - preparing said sub-assembly (20) and internally fitting said crown body (1) with a first seal (5) held in a groove or resting on a tubular spacer (55) housed in said crown body (1); - Prepare said tube (8) and equip it externally with a second seal (6); - Fully screwing said sub-assembly (20) into said tube (8); - inserting said tube (8) axially in said axial direction (D) in said housing (90) of said middle part (8), in the middle part (100), in the desired angular position. Mounting method according to claims 2 and 15, wherein, after axial insertion of said tube (8) in the desired angular position, said removable axial stop means (7) is fixed to said tube (8) and axially stopped , said tube (8) relative to said middle part (9), by compressing said second seal (6). Mounting method according to Claim 16, characterized in that , before the fixing of the said stopper means (7), is inserted between the said stopper means (7) and the said middle part (9), at least one washer (74). ) or / and at least one spring washer. Mounting method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that , after fixing said stop means (7), said sub-assembly (20) is unscrewed in order to fix a control member housed in said box (100) thereto. , then said sub-assembly (20) is screwed back on at the end of the screwing stroke.

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