TW201727406A - Watch with improved seal - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wearable object (1) comprising a case forming a chamber, in which a clock movement is housed, characterised in that said case (2) is closed by at least one cover (3) made from a sapphire material, wherein said cover is fixed by means of an intermediate piece (6) made from an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

Description

Improved seal

The present invention is directed to a wearable article that includes a housing that forms a chamber in which a timepiece movement is received.

In the field of table making, the traditional structure is used to embody the movement, and the movement can also include a knocking mechanism. Such a tapping mechanism can be actuated at a clearly determined time to issue a programmed alarm or a minute repeats signal. In the case of a conventional configuration of a tap table, the tapping mechanism may include a gong. Such a crucible is typically a circular shaped wire that surrounds a portion of the timepiece movement in the watch frame. This crucible is fixed to the crucible holder, and the crucible holder is fixed to the watch plate. The vibration of the helium is produced by the impact of at least one hammer that hits the helium at a determined time.

In the case of a tap table, for example, a music sheet, the sound is generated by the vibration of a pin-barrel tongue. The tongue of the needle tube is formed together with the heel of the needle tube mounted on the dial. For example, in order to generate a tone during the stylized time, the tongue of the needle is lifted, and then by The needle fixed to the spin column or disc is released. Each tongue may thus bend due to the action of the corresponding post or disc needle, and as it is released, it oscillates primarily at its first natural frequency. The music needle is enclosed in the case. Therefore, the vibration generated by the actuated tongue is transmitted to the outer portion of the watch.

The outer portion of the watch is, for example, the base portion, the bezel, the base of the glass or the casing. These external portions are capable of diverging the generated sound into the air when the sound is generated by tapping, or by sputum, or by vibrating one or more tongues of the needle. In a conventional percussion table, the acoustic efficiency based on the composite vibro-acoustic transduction of the outer portion is low. In order to increase and increase the volume perceived by the user of the tapping table, the material, geometry and extreme conditions of the outer portion must be taken into account. The configuration of these external parts will also depend on the aesthetic appearance and operational stress of the watch, which may limit the possibility of adaptation.

It is known in the art of table making to use acoustical films which are dedicated to vibration-acoustic conversion in the watch, especially in electronic watches. In order to actuate such a film in an electronic watch, for example, a piezoelectric element is placed on the film to vibrate it. In order to ensure that the sound emission of the film does not disappear in the table that must be sealed, the case can be provided with a double base which is open to the outside. In this case, the base of the case has one or more openings for the transmission of sound from the diaphragm.

In the construction of such an electronic timepiece having a sound-sensitive film, the problem of tightness and corrosion of the film is often encountered.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to remedy the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a watch that is equipped with a timepiece mechanism that allows for a perfect seal.

To this end, the invention relates to a wearable article comprising a casing forming a chamber in which a movement core is housed, characterized in that the casing comprises an intermediate portion closed by at least one cover, wherein the cover The body is secured by means of an intermediate member separated from the intermediate portion and the intermediate portion is made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy.

In a first advantageous embodiment, the timepiece movement comprises a striking mechanism that can be actuated to produce sound at a determined time, wherein the cover is made of a material that scatters sound waves.

In a second advantageous embodiment, the casing comprises an intermediate portion enclosed by glass and by a base.

In a third advantageous embodiment, the base is made of a sapphire material that diverges acoustic waves, wherein the base is fixed by means of an intermediate piece made of at least partially amorphous metallic material.

In a fourth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a seal disposed between the intermediate portion and the watch glass.

In a fifth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a seal disposed between the intermediate portion and the base.

In a sixth advantageous embodiment, the intermediate member is a support member that is secured to the intermediate portion of the configuration including the central opening, the glass being mounted in the central opening, wherein the configuration is adapted to enable the bezel system to be secured Installed.

In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate member includes an annular base extending from the annular base, the annular base forming an inner side wall and a shoulder, wherein the shoulder is intended to receive the bezel system.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is a support that acts as a glass and also acts as a construction of the bezel.

In another advantageous embodiment, the intermediate piece is made of a completely amorphous metal alloy.

In another advantageous embodiment, the metal alloy comprises at least one noble element, the noble element being included in the list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, silver, iridium or osmium.

In another advantageous embodiment, the casing additionally includes a recess that allows the seal to be received therein.

In another advantageous embodiment, the cover is made of sapphire.

1‧‧‧Knocking table

2‧‧‧ case

3‧‧‧glass

4‧‧‧ middle part

5‧‧‧Base

6‧‧‧ Middleware

7‧‧‧Table frame

8‧‧‧Ring seals, O-rings

14‧‧‧ board

20‧‧‧Timepiece

40‧‧‧Inter-table parts

41‧‧‧ middle part

42‧‧‧上上

43‧‧‧下下

44‧‧‧Outside

45‧‧‧ inside

46‧‧‧around shoulders

47‧‧‧ gap

60‧‧‧Seal

61‧‧‧rings

400‧‧‧ middle part

401‧‧‧ recess

600‧‧‧Support, middleware

601‧‧‧Base

602‧‧‧ peripheral edges

603‧‧‧ inner side wall

604‧‧‧ shoulder

605‧‧‧ anchor

4000‧‧‧ middle part

4001‧‧‧ recess

6000‧‧‧ Middleware

The objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wear objects.

Figures 2a, 2b, 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of a wearable article in accordance with the present invention in a simplified view.

4 through 7 show a second exemplary embodiment of a wearable article in accordance with the present invention in a simplified view.

Figures 8 and 9 show a third exemplary embodiment of a wearable article in accordance with the present invention in a simplified view.

1 is a simplified view of a partial cross-section of a wearable article in accordance with the present invention, the wearable article being a strike table 1 in this case. The watch comprises a watch case 2 which is essentially constituted by a middle portion 4 which is closed by a glass 3 acting as a cover and by a base 5.

The unit formed by the intermediate portion, the glass and the pedestal forms a chamber in which the timepiece 20 is disposed, and the timepiece 20 is generally mounted on the plate 14. The plate 14 is typically made of a metallic material.

The timepiece movement may include a striking mechanism (not shown). One type of striking mechanism includes at least one cymbal mounted on a cymbal holder, the cymbal holder is secured to the panel 14, and at least one cymbal is rotatably mounted on the panel to strike the cymbal at a determined time. A typical circular cymbal surrounds the different parts of the timepiece movement. This tapping mechanism is set to signal a stylized alarm or minute repeat.

This tapping mechanism is thus arranged to produce a sound, that is, a sound wave. This sound wave is thus directed towards the diverging element, that is to say the element contributing to the diffusion of this sound wave, in particular towards the user.

It is known that materials such as sapphire allow for good diffusion of sound waves. Therefore, the glass 3 used to close the intermediate portion 4 is also used to scatter sound waves.

Locally, according to the invention, sapphire glass 3 is used as a seal The device of the intermediate member 6 is mounted in a sealed manner. This intermediate piece is thus made of a metallic material comprising at least one metal element or an at least partially amorphous metal alloy, for example an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. This metal element may be a precious metal element such as gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, silver, iridium or osmium. An at least partially amorphous material will be understood to mean a material that is capable of at least partially solidifying in the amorphous phase, that is, it is subjected to temperatures above its melting temperature, which enables it to locally lose all It has all of its crystalline structure, and this elevated temperature is then cooled below its glass transition temperature by cooling, which makes it at least partially amorphous. This material is advantageous because once it is heated to a temperature ranging from the glass transition temperature Tg and the crystallisation temperature Tx of the material, its viscosity will be greatly reduced. Will not lose its amorphous structure. The amorphous material then becomes easier to shape because it can then perfectly adopt the details of all the molds it is being pressed into.

In addition, this amorphous metal material allows for better sound transmission. In fact, sound propagation depends on the stiffness of the material through which the sound waves are passing. The stiffness is associated with stiffness and is defined by the modulus of the elastic E. Relative to polymer seals, when it ensures good tightness, its lack of rigidity will cause acoustic losses, which causes the sound to sound poor. For example, a material called polyoxymethylene or POM is about 3 GPa.

In fact, amorphous metals or metal alloys are those metals that are inherently highly rigid. For example, an alloy of the Zr41Ti14Cu12Ni10Be23 type has a Young's modulus E equivalent to 105 GPa, and Pt57.5Cu14.7Ni5.3P22.3 The type of alloy has a Young's modulus E of 98 GPa, that is, a value 30 times higher than that of the POM type polymer material.

In the first embodiment of the invention, which can be seen in Figures 2a and 2b, the intermediate portion is the inter-frame portion 40, and the intermediate member 6 made of an amorphous metal alloy is positioned between the inter-frame portion 40 and the glass. 3 between the seals 60. The inter-frame portion 40 is configured, for example, to have a profile having a trapezoidal cross section, thus forming an intermediate portion 41 between the upper portion 42 and the lower portion 43. The inter-frame portion 40 additionally includes an outer side 44 and an inner side 45. The glass 3 is fixed at the level of the upper portion 42. For this purpose, the inner side 45 of the inter-frame portion 40 has a peripheral shoulder 46 at the level of the upper portion 42. This shoulder 46 is sized such that the glass 3 can abut against it while forming a gap between the glass 3 and the inter-frame portion 40. This gap 47 is used for the seal. In fact, an amorphous metal seal 60 is inserted into this gap to ensure tightness.

Several methods are possible for the placement of this seal 60. One method involves the use of the shape characteristics of an amorphous metal. The amorphous metal preform is thus heated to reach a temperature ranging from the glass transition temperature Tg and the crystallization temperature Tx of the material, so that the viscosity is lowered. Therefore, the viscous amorphous metal can be pressed to perfectly adopt the details of all the molds it is pressed in, in this case the gap 46 between the glass 3 and the inter-frame portion 40.

Another method involves forming the annulus 61 surrounding the glass 3 using the shape characteristics of the amorphous metal, wherein the annulus 61 acts as a seal 60. The glass 3 and its annulus 61 are then passed through the level of the peripheral shoulder 46 It is installed at the position and pressed, as can be clearly seen in Figure 3. This method advantageously uses the mechanical properties of an amorphous metal, wherein the latter has a higher elastic deformation and a higher elastic limit. Therefore, it is possible to press it into position without deformation of the plastic and with significant elastic deformation, allowing better tightness to be ensured.

In the second embodiment, the intermediate portion 400 is used such that the bezel 7 can be fixed to the top as shown in FIG. For this purpose, the intermediate piece 6 made of an amorphous metal alloy is shaped to act as a support 600. An example of a support member 600 is an annular configuration formed by a base 601 and a peripheral edge 602 placed at the top of the base 601, wherein the base 601 and the edge 602 then form an inner sidewall 603 and a shoulder 604. This support 600 thus comprises a central opening.

This configuration 600 is secured to the intermediate portion 400 by a fastening device. These fastening devices can be screws or welded or glued or press fit. The fastening means may also be an anchor point 605 made of amorphous metal as shown in Figure 5, which is locally heated to be inserted into a recess disposed on the intermediate portion. Further, an annular seal 8 can be used and inserted into the recess 401 to enhance the tightness, as is apparent from FIG.

When the middle piece 600 is fixed in position, the inner side wall 603 is used to assemble the glass while the shoulder 604 is used to fasten the bezel system 9, wherein the bezel system can be fixed or rotated, as shown in FIG. . This bezel system 9 is secured using a typical fastening element (not shown) for the bezel.

The glass 3 can be fixed into the central opening by pressing in, or by local The intermediate member 600 is heated to make the local material more viscous and facilitate the insertion of the glass 3 to use the amorphous metal shape characteristics to secure the glass 3 into the central opening.

It is possible to simultaneously perform the manufacturing phase of the intermediate member 600 and the assembly phase with the glass 3 to have a good and strong fixture between the two components.

In the third embodiment, the intermediate portion 4000 is used such that the bezel can be fixed on the top. Naturally, according to the present embodiment, the intermediate member 6000 is used as a support for the glass and also functions as a bezel configuration as shown in FIG. The intermediate piece 6000 thus includes a shoulder that enables the glass 3 to be mounted. By locally heating the intermediate member, it can be pressed into position or inserted, or can be assembled during the formation of the intermediate member 6000.

Figure 9 shows that the O-ring 8 can be additionally used to increase the tightness. This O-ring 8 is arranged in the recess 4001 of the intermediate portion 4000.

In fact, the shape characteristics of amorphous metals allow these to be used in the manufacture of precision pieces.

For assembly, an intermediate member acting as a bezel may be provided which is previously manufactured and then fixed to the intermediate portion, and the glass may be fixed by press-in positioning, or may be locally heated by the intermediate member. The local material is more viscous and facilitates the insertion of the glass and uses the shape characteristics of the amorphous metal to fix the glass.

Of course, these embodiments can be applied to a transparent base made of sapphire, in which case the latter is also used as, for example, a pocket watch. (pocket watch) divergent component. In this case, an intermediate member made of an amorphous metal alloy is also used.

In addition, the middle portion itself may be made of materials such as sapphire.

In a variant, it is conceivable that the structured portion is formed at the level of the diverging member and/or the intermediate portion such that the amorphous metal adopts these configurations and enables a better attachment.

Of course, these embodiments are obviously not limited to tapping tables and are widely used in typical tables. In fact, the intermediate piece according to these embodiments allows itself to have a good seal and allows the glass or susceptor to be held in place.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or improvements and/or combinations apparent to those skilled in the art can be made as above without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The various embodiments of the invention are described.

In fact, it is conceivable to obtain a wearable article in which the intermediate portion is subjected to a fixed or rotating bezel system and provides glass that is mounted at the level of the bezel system. Therefore, an intermediate member made of an amorphous metal alloy will be disposed between the glass and the bezel system. This bezel system can be mounted on the intermediate portion by means of a typical seal.

1‧‧‧Knocking table

2‧‧‧ case

3‧‧‧glass

5‧‧‧Base

6‧‧‧ Middleware

40‧‧‧Inter-table parts

41‧‧‧ middle part

42‧‧‧上上

43‧‧‧下下

44‧‧‧Outside

45‧‧‧ inside

60‧‧‧Seal

Claims (13)

A wearable article (1) comprising a casing forming a chamber in which a timepiece movement is housed, characterized in that the casing (2) comprises an intermediate portion enclosed by at least one cover (3) Wherein the cover is fixed by means of an intermediate member (6) which is separated from the intermediate portion, the intermediate portion being made of an at least partially amorphous metal alloy. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein the timepiece movement comprises a striking mechanism capable of being actuated to generate sound at a determined time, wherein the cover is made of a material that disperses sound waves production. A wearable article according to claim 1, wherein the casing (2) comprises an intermediate portion (4, 40, 400, 4000) enclosed by glass (3) and by a base (5). The wearable article of claim 3, wherein the base (5) is made of a material that scatters sound waves, wherein the base is fixed by means of a middle piece (6), the middle piece (6) Made of at least partially amorphous metal material. A wearable article according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate member is a seal (60) disposed between the intermediate portion (40) and the watch glass (3). A wearable article according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate member is a seal (60) disposed between the intermediate portion (40) and the base. For example, the wearable object of claim 4, wherein the middle The spacer (600) is a support member that is fixed to the intermediate portion including a configuration having a central opening in which the glass (3) is mounted, wherein the configuration is suitable for the bezel system Can be installed. The wearable article of claim 7, wherein the intermediate member (600) comprises an annular base (601), and a peripheral edge (602) extends from the annular base (601), the annular base (601) An inner sidewall (603) and a shoulder (604) are formed, wherein the shoulder is intended to accommodate the bezel system. The wearable article of claim 4, wherein the intermediate member (6000) is a structure that acts as a support for the glass and also functions as a bezel. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein the intermediate member (6, 60, 600, 6000) is made of a completely amorphous metal alloy. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein the metal alloy comprises at least one noble element, the noble element being included in a list comprising gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, silver, iridium or ruthenium. . The wearable article of claim 7, wherein the shell additionally includes a recess (401, 4001) that allows the seal (8) to be received therein. The wearable article of claim 1, wherein the cover is made of sapphire.