EP4167032A1 - Chiming timepiece - Google Patents

Abstract

Striking timepiece (1) comprising:• a case (3) comprising a middle part (5) closed, on the one hand, by a back (9) and, on the other hand, by a crystal (7), said case (3) housing a watch movement (17), a striking mechanism (19) as well as a sound transmission membrane (11) located between said movement (17) and said back (9);• at least one element sounder (21) arranged to be struck by at least one hammer (25) that said striking mechanism comprises. According to the invention, said bottom (9) carries an adjustment stud (29) in contact with said membrane at a predetermined location (33), said stud (29) being adjustable so as to be able to apply a prestress to said membrane (11).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, to a striking timepiece, that is to say an alarm watch or a watch which strikes the hours in passing and/or on demand.

State of the art

The document EP3644133 unveils a striking timepiece comprising a striking mechanism arranged in the case, a sound transmission membrane arranged between the striking mechanism and the back. In order to improve the sound of the ringtone, perceived by the user, a sound transmission system which comprises a transmission bridge is provided. This system is fixed to the heel of the stamp, and comprises an end which is in direct or indirect contact with the membrane in a predetermined contact zone.

Tests have shown that this construction generates an increase in sound quality and intensity compared to a standard/conventional construction equipped only with a gong fixed to the movement. However, attempts are always and still being made to improve the sound of such timepieces.

Moreover, in the case of a conventional construction without sound transmission bridge, a way of improving the sound is also sought, which is simpler and more economical to implement than said bridge.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a chiming timepiece in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome, whether with or without a sound transmission bridge.

Disclosure of Invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a striking timepiece, as defined by claim 1. This timepiece comprises:

- a case comprising a middle part closed, on the one hand, by a back and, on the other hand, by a crystal, said case housing a watch movement, a striking mechanism as well as a sound transmission membrane, which can be waterproof or not, located between said movement and said back;

at least one sound element, such as a gong or a bell, arranged to be struck by at least one hammer included in said striking mechanism.

According to the invention, said bottom carries an adjustment pad in contact with said membrane in a predetermined zone, said pad being adjustable so as to be able to apply a prestress to said membrane.

This adjustment stud makes it possible to apply an adjustable pre-stress on the membrane, which makes it possible to improve the intensity and the sound quality by creating a mechanical link between the membrane and the back, and also to adjust and improve the subjective sound. of the room. Said plot is, of course, applicable with or without a sound transmission bridge.

Advantageously, said bottom defines a plane, said pad being arranged to be adjustable in a direction perpendicular to said plane.

Advantageously, said stud comprises a thread which cooperates with a complementary thread directly or indirectly secured to said bottom.

Advantageously, said internal thread is carried by a ring fixed to said bottom, for example by driving in, gluing, welding, screwing, crimping or the like.

Advantageously, said stud is accessible from outside said case so that the user or the watchmaker can adjust it without having to disassemble the back.

Advantageously, said pad is located at a position which is remote from the center of said membrane at a rate of between 2.5% and 47.5%, preferably between 5% and 45%, more preferably between 10% and 25% of the main dimension of said membrane. This main dimension is the diameter in the case of a circular membrane, or its longest dimension for any other shape. This represents a good optimization in terms of the sound of the room.

Advantageously, the timepiece further comprises a sound transmission bridge extending between said movement and said membrane, and comprising one end in contact with said membrane in a predefined contact zone, this predefined contact zone being remote of said place (that is to say the point of contact of said pad with the membrane) at a distance corresponding to between 5% and 95%, preferably between 5% and 75%, more preferably between 5% and 45% of the main dimension of said membrane. For the rest, the angle made between said place and said contact zone, considered with respect to the center of said membrane, can be of any value, but is preferably greater than 45°, still preferably greater than 90 °. Again, these settings represent good optimizations.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 est une vue en coupe latérale d'une pièce d'horlogerie selon l'invention, la section passant par le plot de réglage ;
• Fig.2 est une vue agrandie d'une partie de la figure 1, illustrant le plot de réglage plus en détail ; et
• Fig. 3 est une vue en plan du fond ainsi que l'ensemble du timbre, pont de transmission sonore, son talon et la membrane.

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of a timepiece according to the invention, the section passing through the adjustment stud;
• Fig.2 is an enlarged view of part of the figure 1 , illustrating the adjustment stud in more detail; And
• Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bottom as well as the gong assembly, sound transmission bridge, its heel and the membrane.

Embodiment of the invention

There figure 1 illustrates a timepiece 1 according to the invention, which globally corresponds to that revealed by the document EP3644133 , herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The timepiece 1 comprises a case 3 composed of a one-piece or multi-piece caseband 5, sealed on the dial side by a glass 7, and on its opposite side by a back 9, which can be screwed, driven or similar on the middle in a known way.

In the construction illustrated, the back 9 comprises a main part carried by a fixing ring 9b screwed onto the middle part 5, a sealed sound transmission membrane 11 being sandwiched between these two elements and being sealed by means of an ad hoc seal 13 which seals between the membrane 11 and the fixing ring 9b. The latter is also made watertight to the caseband by means of a corresponding ad hoc gasket 15, as generally known. However, the tightness of the membrane 11, even if desired, is not mandatory.

In order to allow the passage of sound to the outside of the case 3, the main part 9a of the bottom 9 comprises one or more openings 9d.

The case 3 houses a movement 17 of any known type fixed to a frame as well as a striking mechanism 19, also of any type, which can be integrated into the movement 17 or which can be an additional module which is also mounted on the frame. For example, the ringing mechanism 19 may be a wake-up, repeat-on-the-fly and/or on-demand mechanism, a musical mechanism, or the like.

The other characteristics of timepiece 1 are conventional and therefore need not be described in detail.

In general, the principle of the invention is compatible with any kind of striking mechanism, but is illustrated here in the context of that of the document EP3644133 , as mentioned above. In such a construction, the striking mechanism 19 comprises a sound element 21 in the form of a gong (see the picture 3 ) extending inside the middle part 5. This gong 21 is carried by a heel 23 integral with a frame element and is arranged to be struck by at least one hammer 25 controlled by the striking mechanism 19. However , a sound element 21 in the shape of a bell, a blade or the like is also possible, and it is possible to fix a stamp or other sound element directly on a frame element (such as the turntable).

Optionally, the heel 23 also carries a sound transmission bridge 27, which extends in a gap formed between said movement 17 and said membrane 11 and comprising a free end 27a in contact with said membrane 11 in a predefined contact zone. . This free end may also have an adjustable element in order to modify its force of contact with the membrane 11.

According to the invention, the bottom 9, in particular its main part 9a, carries an adjustment stud 29 which comprises a thread, which cooperates with an internal thread with which is provided a ring 31 which is integral with the bottom 9 by being driven, glued, welded , screwed, crimped or similar in a housing 9b provided on the inner face of the latter. Alternatively, bottom 9 may be tapped where stud 29 is supported. Still alternatively, any other type of system making it possible to adjust the pretension of the membrane 11 is possible, such as for example a support or eccentric cam mounted with fatty friction in the bottom and of which a modification of its angular position varies its penetration into the plane of rest of the membrane 11.

The head of stud 29 is arranged to press against membrane 11 at a predetermined location 33 . In the variant shown, this head is pointed, but can also be rounded, flat or the like. By screwing or unscrewing the stud 29, by means of a screwdriver or another ad hoc tool introduced through an access opening 9c made in the bottom 9 and provided for this purpose, the prestressing of the membrane, that is to say the force pressed thereon by the pad 29, can be varied in order to modify and optimize the sound in general, as much for the qualitative perception as the intensity of the sound perceived by the user.

The place where said place 33 is located can be determined by experimentation according to the will of the manufacturer, and can in principle be anywhere on the membrane 11. Typically, this place is at a distance r far from the geometric center of the membrane at a rate of between 0% and 50% of the main dimension D of said membrane. In the variant illustrated, the membrane 11 is substantially circular, and therefore its main dimension is its diameter. In the case of a non-circular membrane, its principal dimension is its largest dimension which lies in its plane.

Preferably, said distance r is between 2.5% and 47.5%, more preferably between 10% and 25% of the main dimension.

In the case where a sound transmission bridge 27 is present, its zone of contact 35 with the membrane is located at a distance d from its geometric center, which is preferably less than the distance r. More preferably, the angle formed between the distances d and r is greater than 45°, preferably greater than 90°, but can generally be any angle. For the rest, the distance between said location 33 and said contact zone 35 is preferably between 5% and 95% of said main dimension, more preferably between 5% and 45% of the latter.

Tests have shown a qualitative improvement in sound and loudness (greater than 3 dB) as well as subjective sound quality, which add particularly to the improvement provided by the sound transmission bridge 27 (if present) .

Although the invention has been previously described in connection with specific embodiments, other additional variants are also possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (8)

Striking timepiece (1) comprising: • a case (3) comprising a middle part (5) closed, on the one hand, by a back (9) and, on the other hand, by a crystal (7), said case (3) housing a watch movement (17 ), a striking mechanism (19) as well as a sound transmission membrane (11) located between said movement (17) and said back (9); • at least one sound element (21) arranged to be struck by at least one hammer (25) that comprises said striking mechanism; characterized in that said bottom (9) carries an adjustment pad (29) in contact with said membrane at a predetermined location (33), said pad (29) being adjustable so as to be able to apply a prestress to said membrane (11 ). Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said bottom (9) defines a plane, said stud (29) being arranged to be adjustable in a direction perpendicular to said plane. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said stud (29) comprises a thread which cooperates with a complementary internal thread fixed to said bottom (9). Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said internal thread is carried by a ring (31) fixed to said bottom (9). Timepiece (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said stud (29) is accessible from outside said case. Timepiece (1) according to one of the said preceding claims, in which the said predetermined place (33) is located at a position which is distant from the center of the said membrane by a proportion of between 2.5% and 47.5%, preferably between 5% and 45%, more preferably between 10% and 25% of the main dimension (D) of said membrane (11). Timepiece (1) according to one of the said preceding claims, further comprising a sound transmission bridge (27) extending between the said movement (17) and the said membrane (11) and comprising one end (27a) in contact with said membrane in a predefined contact zone (35), this predefined contact zone (35) being remote from said location (33) at a distance corresponding to between 5% and 95%, preferably between 5% and 75%, again preferably between 5% and 45% of the main dimension (D) of said membrane. Timepiece (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the angle formed between said place (33) and said contact zone (35), considered with respect to the center of said membrane (11), is greater than 45° , preferably greater than 90°.

Images