JPS60210792A - Watchcase - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention relates to a watch case having a winding rod and a crown.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a waterproof watch case with an arch or bridge to protect the crown from shocks and squeaks when the crown is in the pulled-out position. This type of watch case offers an opportunity to create new shapes.

Watch cases with stems and crowns have been commonly used for a long time. In fact, all mechanical watches use them. In the normal pushed-in position, the crown can wind the main spring, and in the first pulled-out position,
The crown is used to set the clock to the correct time. If the watch is equipped with a date function, the crown is used in the second drawer position to set the exact time and date.

In electronic watches without a main spring, the stem and crown serve no purpose.

Corrections can be made, for example, by means of push pieces that actuate contacts. However, a recent trend is to provide electronic watches with an additional crown, which is fixed to a control rod connected to contacts.

In its normal position, the crown has no function, but in its extended position it is used to set the exact time and date by an operation similar to that carried out in the case of a mechanical watch.

Because of its construction, the winding or control rod, along with its crown, appears as a delicate and vulnerable part of the watch. Furthermore, in conjunction with the usual shape of known watch cases, the crown forms a protrusion that is highly susceptible to shocks and squeaks, especially during times when the crown is in the extended position.

A general method for manufacturing a crown that is hard to damage is to protect the crown with a pair of snugs as shown in FIG. This figure shows a part of a case band 1 having the general annular shape of a watch case (not shown). This case band has a radial orifice or hole 2 through which a winding or control rod 3 (hereinafter referred to simply as the rod) is located, which rod is rotatable about an axis a-a'. ing. On the outside of the case, the rod 3 has a cylindrical crown 4
Terminates with

The mechanism that protects the crown is the case band 1 near the crown.
A second snug 5b is fixed to the case band at a position symmetrical to the first snug with respect to the orifice 2. The height of the snugs is approximately equal to the height of the crown, while their thickness is smaller than the diameter of the crown to improve operability.

The snugs 5a, 5b effectively protect against impacts acting parallel to the plane of the case band 1 when the crown is in its normal position. Protection is not very good when shocks act at right angles to the plane of the caseband, and is especially useless when the crown is extended.

Another known member that provides good protection when the crown is extended is shown in FIG. The same parts are given the same reference numerals, and this figure shows case band 1, which has a polygonal shape in this example.
, orifice 2, rod 3 and crown 4 are shown. The protective member is formed in the shape of a bridge 6 passing above the crown 4. This consists of two parts fixed to the case band 1 and connected by an arch 8.
It consists of two legs 7a and 7b. The crown is housed in an opening 9 whose width is greater than the diameter of the crown and whose height is sufficient to allow the crown to be lifted into its extended position. Finally, the thickness of the bridge 6 is smaller than the diameter of the crown, making it easier to operate the crown.

However, this arrangement makes it impossible for the arch 8 to install or extract the rod 3 with its crown 4 from the outside, as is possible when known watch cases are used. To enable this operation, the case band 1 must be able to be split into two parts at the location of the radial orifice 2, so as to free the place for the rod to pass through the case band. The bridge is therefore fixed to one of the two parts of the caseband 1, so as not to prevent the rod from being installed or removed at right angles to the plane of illustration.

In the known case fitted with a protective fence, the necessity of using two parts of the case band complicates the construction and increases its cost, while not guaranteeing waterproofness in the rod position. possible.

In order to eliminate these drawbacks, the watch case according to the present invention has an annular part that limits the internal space for mounting the movement, an upper part for mounting the glass, a lower part for mounting the case back, and a rotating part. a radial orifice in the annular portion allowing passage of a rod supporting a crown rotatable with the rod about an axis at one of the two ends; and an external opening formed in the annular portion and around the radial orifice. a case band having a groove that reveals the groove; and a slot that is positioned where the groove opens and has a shape that allows it to pass over the crown and enter the groove of the case band, and allows the rod to pass through. a bridge fixed to an attachment to be attached to the bridge;

One advantage of the present invention is that the case band is made from a single piece and is easier to process than a case band that can be split into two parts.

Another advantage of the invention is that the construction of the waterproof case is obtained by known and tested techniques, especially at the point where the rod passes through the case band.

Other features and advantages of the invention can be seen from the accompanying drawings:
It will become clear from the following description, which gives a non-limiting illustrative example of the desired shape of a watch case construction of this type with a crown. In these figures, the same parts are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 3a shows the case band 1 of this type of watch case as seen from above. This case band has the general shape of an annular ring and includes a glass 21 fixed thereon by an annular portion 20° and surrounded by a decorative bezel 22. A pair of corners 23 fixed to the case band 1 allow it to be fixed to a wristband or bracelet (not shown) in a known manner. Finally, a pipe 24 fixed to the annular part 20 allows a rod (not shown) to pass through the case band 1 along the axis a--a'. The crown forms a waterproof joint and does not preclude rotation of the crown around the axis a-a' of the rod and sliding and lifting along the pipe to one or more extraction positions. It is mounted onto the pipe 24. In a mechanical watch, the rod is a wound shaft. In electronic watches, the rod serves as a control rod for actuating the contacts of a movement with a digital display, and in a movement with an analog display, it serves as a manual adjustment member.

In FIG. 3b, the case band 1 is shown in longitudinal side, here with the same elements 20, 21, 22, 2 as in the previous figure.
3 and 24 as well as a radial orifice 25 provided within the annular portion 20 and into which a pipe 24 is inserted. Figure 3b also shows a press, not shown.
It shows a groove 26 designed to fit on-type waterproof case backs. This case back, together with the glass 21 and the annular part 20 of the case back, defines an internal space 27 for mounting the movement. Finally, FIG. 3b shows a groove 30 located on the outside of the annular portion 20.

FIG. 3C shows the case band 1 viewed from below,
The groove 30 appears in the form of an annular ring with a lateral opening 31 around the pipe 24. In the example shown, the groove 30 is also laterally open around the remainder of its periphery, except where the corners 23 are connected to the annular portion 20. However, this is not necessary and the groove 30 may have external side walls, except where the side openings 31 are located.

FIG. 4C shows an arch 8 connected to two legs 7a, 7b.
The bridge 6 of the invention is shown from above, said legs being fixed to an attachment 35, which in this example is in the form of a closed annular ring. The bridge 6 spans a notch 36 that is open upwardly and is wide enough to accommodate the pipe 24. The inner part of the bridge 6 defines an opening 9, which opening is dimensioned to provide sufficient clearance for the pushed-in and pulled-out positions of the watch crown. The space between the legs 7a and 7b of the bridge 6 corresponds to the side opening 31, and the attachment 35 has a shape that can be installed in the groove 30 of the case band 1. The external contour of the attachment 35 on the outside of the bridge 6 does not have to be identical, but must match the contour of the annular portion 20.

In this example, on the opposite side of the bridge 6 the attachment 35 extends as an outer part of the case band 1.

A protruding decorative motif 37 is provided.

Figure 4b shows the bridge 6 and attachment 35 shown in the previous figure.
Shows a longitudinal side view of In this example, the notch 36 appears to open upward. Finally, Figure 4C shows the same member viewed from below.

The case band 1 and bridge 6 assembled to form the watch case of the invention are shown in a top view in Figure 5a. This assembly includes side openings 3 that allow passage of the bridge 6.
1. Shape of attachment 35 that can be installed in groove 30;
This is made possible with the aid of a notch 36 into which the pipe 24 can fit. In this example, only the bridge 6 and the decorative motif 37 extend beyond the normal contour of the case band 1.

FIG. 5b is a longitudinal sectional side view of the assembled watch case.

In this example, the annular portion 20 is at the same height as the attachment 35, which has a sufficient diameter and groove 26.
It is held in place by a press-on back cover (not shown) that engages the holder. Finally, Figure 5C shows the same assembled watch case viewed from below.

Naturally, other structures can be envisaged without departing from the spirit of the invention.

For example, the glass 30 can be on the same side as the glass 21. And bezel 22 is attachment 35 for bridge 6
cover and hold each in place. Instead of adjoining the case band 1, the corner 23 can be fixed to an attachment 35 in the form of an aperture ring. The case band 1 and l16 and the attachment 35 can of course be made from different materials, so as to obtain a high-quality decorative effect. The invention is also perfectly adapted to the shape of the watch case, for example rectangular.

The main purpose of the bridge 6, as already mentioned in connection with FIG. 2, is to protect the crown 4 from impacts.

However, although the bridge provides good protection against impacts acting parallel to the plane of the caseband 1, it cannot be used completely as a means of protection against impacts acting at right angles to said plane; The crown is easily damaged when it is in its drawn out position.

This disadvantage can be avoided by an embodiment of the watch case of the invention in which the bridge provides effective support for the crown in the drawn-out position. This is shown in FIG. 6 as viewed from above. In this figure, symbols 1, 2. 3, 4, 6
．． The members 7a, 8 and 9 and the axis aa' are the first
As already mentioned in connection with FIGS. At the tip of the crown, there is a rough earth 10 formed as a boss on the rod 3. Typically the rough soil resembles a spherical cap. Similarly, the arch 8 of the bridge 6 has a void 11, the shape of which is complementary to the shape of the rough earth 1°.

More precisely, the rough earth is not planar but, for example, convex and at least partially lies in the first plane of revolution S of the axis a-a'.
If you create a shape that touches ′, you can achieve the purpose.
The second plane of revolution s'' is obtained by moving the first plane S' along the axis a-a'. If the arch 8 is at the correct distance from the case band 1,
When the crown is pulled out, the rough earth 10 is securely brought into close contact with the cavity 11 of the arch 8, as shown in FIG.

This tight fit provides the crown with a rigid support when it is withdrawn, but without restricting its rotation, thus achieving the desired purpose.

When the crown 4 is pulled out, the first and second rotation surfaces s', s
'' are joined to form a single rotational surface S of axis a-a'. The rough earth 10 is at least partially in contact with one side of the rotational surface S, and the cavity 11 is at least partially in contact with the same surface. touch the other side.

Naturally, the same effect can be obtained by arranging the rough earth 10 on the arch 8 and providing the hollow space 11 in the crown 4, and this configuration does not depart from the idea of the present invention. Furthermore, in order to allow rotation of the crown 4 in its extended position, it is desirable that the surfaces defining the rough earth 10 and the void 11 be smooth.

However, one or both of the surfaces may display decorative motifs, such as suitably arranged facets or grooves, without making the rotation of the crown difficult.

Further, the rough earth can have a shape different from the spherical cap, for example, a conical shape or a cylindrical shape, and the cylindrical shape is more desirable as it is more suitable for ensuring the retention of the crown 4.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the element for protecting the crown with a snug, as already described and known from the prior art; FIG. 2 is a plan view of another element for protecting the crown with a bridge, as already described and known from the prior art; FIG. 3a is a plan view showing an embodiment of the band of the waterproof watch case according to the present invention. FIG. 3b is a longitudinal sectional side view of the case band shown in FIG. 3a. FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the watch case shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b. FIG. 4a shows the maintenance of the watch case according to the present invention. 1! FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an attachment for a bridge. Figure 4b is a longitudinal sectional side view of the attachment for the protective fence shown in Figure 4a. FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the attachment for the protective fence shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Figures 5a, 5b, and 5c are a plan view, a vertical side view, and a bottom view of the assembled case band and protective fence, respectively. FIG. 6a is a partial plan view showing an embodiment of the protective fence and the crown in the pushed-in position according to the present invention. Figure 6b is a partial plan view showing how the crown and protective fence shown in Figure 6a engage in the extended position of the crown. 1...Case band 2...Orifice 3 River rod 4
...Ryuzu 6...1110...Arado 11...
Hole 20... Annular part 25... Orifice 2
7... Internal space 30... Groove 31... Opening 35
...Attachment 36...Notch Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 6a Fig. 6b Fig. 3C Fig. 4b Fig. 4a Fig. 4CE Fig. 6b Fig. 6a Fig. 5c

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) An annular part that limits the internal space that houses the movement, an upper part where the glass is attached, a lower part where the case back is attached, and a crown that can rotate together with the rod around the axis of rotation at both ends. a case band having, on the one hand, a radial orifice in the annular portion allowing passage of a supporting rod; and a groove formed in the annular portion and revealing a lateral opening around the radial orifice; a bridge fixed to the attachment, the bridge being positioned at a location to pass over the crown and shaped to allow entry into the groove of the case band, and providing a notch to allow passage of the rod; A watch case. (2) The watch case according to claim (1), wherein the groove and the attachment have an annular shape. (3) The watch case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the attachment is held in the groove by the back cover. (4) Claim No. 1, wherein the case band, the tank, and the attachment are made of different materials.
or the watch case described in paragraph (2). (5) The watch case according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface of the case band and the surfaces of the tank and the attachment form an appearance that is a visual aid. (6) The watch case according to claim (1), wherein the radial orifice is provided with a waterproof member. (7) The watch case according to claim 0, wherein the waterproof member includes a pipe inserted into the radial orifice and forms a waterproof joint together with the crown. wherein the inner portion of the crown at least partially contacts one side of the rotating surface, the axis of which is the same as the rotating axis, and one end of the crown at least partially contacts the other side of the same rotating surface. The watch case according to claim (1). ■ The watch case according to claim 0, wherein the rotating surface has a shape of a spherical cap.