Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B5/00—Automatic winding up
  • G04B5/02—Automatic winding up by self-winding caused by the movement of the watch
  • G04B5/16—Construction of the weights
  • G04B5/165—Weights consisting of several parts
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G04—HOROLOGY
  • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
  • G04B45/00—Time pieces of which the indicating means or cases provoke special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects
  • G04B45/0038—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork
  • G04B45/0046—Figures or parts thereof moved by the clockwork with oscillating motion, in pocket- or wrist watches

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an oscillating winding mass provided with a rotary element for the automatic movement of a timepiece. More particularly, the invention relates to such a winding mass intended to equip a wristwatch comprising a transparent back. The invention also relates to a timepiece provided with such an oscillating winding mass.
• Wristwatches are already known which have cases with a transparent bottom to allow their movement to be observed. However, when these watches have a self-winding movement, the oscillating winding mass hides a movement part.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art by providing an oscillating winding mass for a timepiece comprising a particular decorative element.
• the invention relates to an oscillating winding mass for a movement of a timepiece, said oscillating winding mass being intended to be mounted to rotate on an axis of the movement.
• the invention is remarkable in that it comprises a main element and a decorative element, for example a logo or an acronym, a part of the winding mass forming a heavy part allowing the oscillation of the mass in response to the movement of the timepiece and the force of gravity, the main element giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass, the decorative element being mechanically linked to the main element, the decorative element being rotatably mounted on the main element.
• a decorative element for example a logo or an acronym
• a decorative element is rotatably linked to the main element of the winding mass.
• the winding mass has a more attractive aesthetic rendering than a conventional winding mass known to the state of the art.
• the rotating decorative element which may represent a logo or a brand's initials, gives more cachet to the winding mass and therefore to the timepiece.
• the main element and the decorative element may rotate together at different speeds, or the decorative element may rotate when the main element has just stopped.
• the rotation of the decorative element relative to the main element offers a particular aesthetic effect.
• the heavy part is formed by at least part of the main element.
• the mass comprises a ball bearing to allow the decorative element to rotate.
• the ball bearing is arranged on the main element.
• the main element comprises an opening in which the decorative element is arranged.
• the ball bearing is arranged in an internal face of the opening.
• the balls are arranged in the mass of the main element.
• the balls are distributed angularly in the internal face of the opening.
• each ball is retained in a housing whose dimensions allow the ball to rotate while being retained in a substantially predefined position.
• the housing comprises an orifice opening into the opening, so that part of the ball protrudes from the housing into the opening so as to be able to be in contact with the decorative element.
• the decorative element comprises a portion intended to be in contact with the balls of the bearing.
• the decorative element comprises ceramic, preferably entirely.
• the main element comprises amorphous metal.
• the internal face of the opening comprises rails for retaining the decorative element in the opening, the portion of the decorative element preferably being of bevelled shape.
• the invention also relates to a timepiece comprising a case formed of a middle part closed by a crystal and an at least partially transparent back and in which is housed a self-winding timepiece movement, said movement being equipped with 'an oscillating winding mass as defined above.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an oscillating winding mass according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is an enlargement of the wall of the oscillating weight, the decorative element and the ball bearing.
• FIG. 1 An embodiment of an oscillating winding mass according to the invention, designated by the general reference 1.
• This mass 1 is intended to conventionally equip the self-winding movement of a timepiece. , the part comprising in particular a case formed of a middle part closed by a crystal and an at least partially transparent back to make the movement visible from the back, and which are not shown in the figures.
• the winding mass 1 comprises a main element 2 giving the general shape of the oscillating winding mass 1.
• the main element 2 comprises a heavy part 3 and a connecting member 5 intended to connect the heavy part 3 to an axis (not shown in the figures) integral with a clockwork movement, the mass 1 being intended to be mounted to rotate on this axis.
• the heavy part 3 allows the oscillation of the mass 1 in response to the movement of the timepiece and to the force of gravity.
• the connecting member comprises a substantially circular ring 4 and a substantially flat wall 5 connecting the ring 4 to the heavy part 3 of the mass 1.
• the ring 4 is intended to be arranged on the axis of the movement.
• the oscillating mass 1 performs a circular movement around the axis, when it oscillates.
• the heavy part 3, as well as the ring 4 and the wall 5 of the connecting member are arranged substantially in the same plane.
• the heavy part 3 has the shape of an arc of a circle forming an angle substantially equal to 180 °.
• the wall 5 is connected to the heavy part 3, substantially in the middle of the arc of a circle, on the inner side of the curvature.
• the ring 4 is arranged at the other end of the wall 5.
• the winding mass 1 comprises a decorative element 10, for example a logo or an acronym, the decorative element 10 being mechanically connected to the main element 2 of the mass 1.
• the decorative element 10 is here an anchor-shaped logo having a substantially straight segment 11 and a curved segment 12, the straight segment 11 being connected to the curved segment 12 in its middle, on the inner side of the curvature.
• the main element 2 has an opening 6 in which the decorative element 10 is arranged.
• the opening 6 is made in the wall 5 of the connecting member in the plane of the wall 5.
• the decorative element is arranged in the same plane as the opening 6 and the wall 5.
• the opening 6 passes through the wall 5 of the main element 2.
• the opening 6 here has a circular shape provided with a center of the circle.
• the opening 6 is bordered by an internal face 7 defining the outline of the opening 6.
• the internal face 7 has a cylindrical shape, the height of which corresponds to the thickness of the wall 5.
• the decorative element 10 is rotatably mounted on the main element 2.
• the winding mass 1 comprises a ball bearing 8 9.
• the ball bearing 8 9 is arranged on the main element 2 to allow the decorative element 10 to rotate by sliding on the balls 9.
• the ball bearing 8 9 is arranged in the opening 6, in the internal face 7.
• the decorative element 10 can then rotate about an axis passing substantially through the center of the opening 6.
• the balls 9 are angularly distributed in the internal face 7 of the opening 6.
• the balls 9 are arranged in the mass of the main element 2.
• the bearing comprises twelve balls 9.
• Each ball 9 is retained in a housing whose dimensions correspond substantially to those of the ball 9, so as to allow it to rotate inside.
• the housing is generally spherical with a diameter slightly greater than that of the ball 9.
• the housing is configured to retain the ball 9 while leaving a dimensional margin allowing it to rotate inside the housing.
• Each housing further comprises an orifice 15 opening into the opening 6.
• the orifices 15 are arranged on the internal face 7 of the opening 6.
• the ball 9 protrudes from the housing into the opening 6 and may be in contact with it.
• the decorative element 10 comprises a portion intended to be in contact with the balls 9 of the bearing 8. In the example of the anchor, this is the outer face of the curved segment 12 which slides on the balls 9 of the bearing 8.
• the internal face 7 of the opening 6 comprises rails 13, 14 for the decorative element 10.
• Two rails 13, 14 are each arranged substantially on one side. edge of the cylinder defined by the internal face 7.
• the contact portion of the decorative element preferably has a bevelled shape so that it can be inserted and held between the two rails 13, 14.
• the decorative element 10 can slide against the balls 9, while remaining held in the opening 6 by the rails 13, 14.
• the balls 9 are for example formed of a synthetic ruby material of the poly-crystal type.
• the decorative element 10 is formed of a material, preferably opaque, to be distinguished from the main element 2.
• the material of the decorative element 10 comprises ceramic, preferably entirely, such as type zirconia. Zr02. This material makes it possible to obtain particular colors, for example black, to be clearly visible.
• the main element 2 is formed from an amorphous metal monobloc material of high density greater than 10 g / cm3, such as an amorphous platinum alloy of the Pt85CuNiP type with a density of 15.4 g. / cm3.
• the heavy part 3 is made of the same material. The high density material gives sufficient inertia to the heavy part 3.
• the main element 2 is formed in part from an amorphous metal with a low density of less than 10 g / cm3, such as an amorphous zirconium alloy of the ZrVit106a type with a density of 6.7 g / cm3.
• the heavy part 3 is a separate element assembled with the main element 2.
• the heavy part 3 is made of a high density material, preferably greater than 10 g / cm3, for example tungsten or a tungsten alloy of a high density. density of 19.3g / cm3.
• a process is used in which the balls are first formed into ruby, which are covered with a metallic layer, for example copper, deposited by galvanic growth.
• the metallized balls 9 are then embedded in the mass of amorphous metal of the main element 2 during its formation, and finally the metal layer is dissolved by a chemical technique. Dissolution of the layer releases the ball of the main member material, and allows it to rotate in the housing, while being retained there.
• an overmolding process is used, such as hot forming or injection of amorphous metal. Such a production process is described in patent EP 2585238, in particular in paragraphs [0044] and [0045].
• the ball bearing is arranged in the decorative element.
• the decorative element is formed of an amorphous metal material to be able to form the balls in the same way as in the first embodiment, but in the decorative element this time.
• the main element is preferably formed from another material providing sufficient inertia.
• the ball bearing is an additional element attached to the internal face of the opening.
• the balls are not integrated into the material of the additional element, but are part of the additional element.
• the additional element is attached to the inside of the opening.
• the decorative element is held by the additional element by being able to turn thanks to the ball bearing, as in the embodiment of Figure 1, described above.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Adornments (AREA)
• Rolling Contact Bearings (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=69645891

Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2020
  • 2020-02-17 EP EP20157748.3A patent/EP3865953A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2021
  • 2021-01-18 CN CN202180014066.4A patent/CN115087933A/zh active Pending
  • 2021-01-18 EP EP21700765.7A patent/EP4107585A1/de active Pending
  • 2021-01-18 WO PCT/EP2021/050898 patent/WO2021164965A1/fr unknown
  • 2021-01-18 JP JP2022547106A patent/JP7429300B2/ja active Active
  • 2021-01-18 US US17/798,724 patent/US20230082088A1/en active Pending

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