US3357173A

US3357173A - Control device for a timepiece in a case

Info

Publication number: US3357173A
Application number: US600597A
Authority: US
Inventors: Rodolphe Wyssen
Original assignee: FABRIQUE DE COURONNES BONINCHI SA
Current assignee: FABRIQUE DE COURONNES BONINCHI SA
Priority date: 1966-06-14
Filing date: 1966-12-09
Publication date: 1967-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1984-12-12
Also published as: GB1127297A; CH1257066A4; US3389551A; DE1523707A1; CH472721A; GB1109030A; FR1506657A

Description

R. WYSSEN Dec. 12, 1967 Filed Dec. 9, 1 966 FIG! United States Patent 3,357,173 CONTROL DEVICE FOR A TIMEPIECE IN A CASE Rodolphe Wyssen, Geneva, Switzerland, assignor to Fabrique dc Couronnes Boninchi S.A., Geneva, Switzerland, a company of Switzerland Filed Dec. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 600,597 Claims priority, application Switzerland, June 14, 1966, 8,575/ 66 4 Claims. (CI. 58-63) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A control device for transmitting a unidirectional rotational movement to a timepiece mechanism housed in a case, the control device having a manually operable button having an internal hollow portion defined by a wall, a socket penetrating into the hollow portion and having a Wall lying adjacent the wall of the button, there being a space between the wall of the socket and the wall of the button, a stem mounted in the socket and mechanically coupled to the socket for rotation therewith, a plurality of rollers disposed in the space between the adjacent walls, a plurality of stricture members formed on one of the walls and narrowing the space, these members being so disposed that when the button is rotated in one direction the button drives the socket by wedging the rollers between the stricture members and the wall adjacent the stricture members and when the button is rotated in a direction opposite to the first direction the button does not wedge the rollers and hence does not drive the socket.

The winding and setting mechanism used until now have comprised a winding stem driving, in the Winding position, a sliding pinion by a rewinding pinion, the unidirectional driving necessary being effected by teeth in the shape of saw teeth on the two pinions. This solution requires the use of a spring acting against the sliding pinion allowing the latter to move axially when the control crown is turned in the direction opposite to the Winding direction.

The present invention proposes to provide a unidirectional drive, no longer inside the case, but on the level of the crown. It has for its object a control device for transmitting a unidirectional rotational movement to a timepiece mechanism housed in a case, said control device comprising a manually operable button having an internal hollow portion defined by a wall, a socket penetrating into said hollow portion and having a wall lying adjacent said wall of said button, there bing a space between said wall of the socket and said wall of the button, a stem mounted in said socket and mechanically coupled to said socket for rotation therewith, a plurality of roller members disposed in said space between said adjacent walls of said button and said socket, a plurality of stricture members formed on one of said adjacent Walls, and forming a narrowing of said space, said stricture members being oriented in such a way that when the button is rotated in one direction said button drives the socket by wedging said roller members between said stricture members and the Wall adjacent to said stricture members, and when the button is rotated in a direction opposite to said one direction said button does not wedge said roller members and hence does not drive said socket.

The accompanying drawing represents by way of example one embodiment of the object of the invention.

FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a watertight winding mechanism in a locked position.

3,357,173 Patented Dec. 12, 1967 FIGURE 2 shows the same winding mechanism in its rewinding position.

FIGURE 3 shows the winding mechanism in its hoursetting position.

The winding mechanism shown in the drawing comprises a winding button 1 driving, by a roller clutch 2, a socket 3 integral in rotation with a stem holder 4 by means of a square 5 passing through the bottom of socket 3, on which socket 3 can move with a slight play limited by the screw head 6. The watertightness of the device is effected by two packings 7 and 8 lodged in an annular groove 9 of pendant 10 passing through wall 11 of the case.

In the position shown on FIGURE 1, the Winding button 1 is locked on pendant 10 by a

spur locking device

12, 13, the part 12 rigid with the button consisting of a ring set in the button after introduction of rollers 2. In this position, a third water-tight packing 14 consisting of an elastic material is deformably pressed between socket 3 and the extremity of pendant 10. The upper opening of pendant 10 has a diameter greater than the diameter of stem holder 4 in such a way as to allow the deformation of packing 14.

While the inner surface of hollow 15 of button 1 is perfectly cylindrical, the surface opposite the socket has ramps 16 oriented in the same direction and forming strictures or narrowed sections which progress between the socket 3 and button 1. Thus when the button is rotated in the rewinding direction, it will in turn drive socket 3 by wedging rollers 2 between the socket and the button. On the contrary, when the button is turned in the direction opposite to the rewinding direction, the rollers 2 roll first against the two cylindrical facing surfaces and are stopped by a wall 17, remaining in this position which they occupy with a certain play permitting the button to slide on the rollers without driving socket 3.

To go from the locked position to the rewinding position (FIGURE 2), it sufiices to turn button 1. When the lock is in the unlocked position, the decompression of packing 14 suflices to drive socket 3 and thereby button 1 upwardly, disengaging the button from the pendant. The button is maintained on the socket by the ring of lock 12 which comes to bear against rollers 2 themselves held by a ring 18 fitted at the end of the socket.

To go from the rewinding position to the setting position (FIGURE 3), it suflices to pull on the button which drives the socket and the rewinding stem by means of the same rollers.

It should be noted that during disengagement of the button from the pendant, no water chamber forms between the fixed joints and the compressive joint 14, which is a great advantage.

Instead of rollers it is possible to use balls to obtain the same effect.

What is claimed is:

1. A control device for transmitting a unidirectional rotational movement to a timepiece mechanism housed in a case, said control device comprising:

(A) a manually operable button having an internal hollow portion defined by a wall,

(B) a socket penetrating into said hollow portion and having a wall lying adjacent said wall of said button, there being a space between said wall of the socket and said wall of the button,

(C) a stem mounted in said socket and mechanically coupled to said socket for rotation therewith,

(D) a plurality of roller members disposed in said space between said adjacent walls of said button and said socket,

(E) a plurality of stricture members formed on one of said adjacent walls, and forming a narrowing of said space,

(F) said stricture members being oriented in such a way that when the button is rotated in one direction said button drives the socket by wedging said roller r members between said stricture members and the wall adjacent to said stricture members, and when the button is rotated in a direction opposite to said one direct-ion said button does not wedge said roller members and hence does not drive said socket.

2. A control device according to claim 1 in which stricture members are formed on the socket, and in which said the wall defining the hollow portion of the button is cylindrical in shape.

3. A control device according to claim 2 in which: (A) said manually operable button is a winding and (B) said roller members being cylindrical in shape,

(C) and said button being adapted to engage said roller members during its axial displacement outwards from its inner position, thereby displacing said roller membe-rs,

(D) said roller members in turn engaging a projection on said socket thereby axially displacing said socket when said button is displaced outwards from said middle position to said outer position.

4. A control device according to claim 3 including a sealing member disposed axially between said pendant and said socket, said sealing member being compressed elastically between said pendant and said socket when said button is in its inner position locked on said pendant, said sealing member decompressing when said button is unlocked from the pendant and driving the socket axially outwards.

No references cited.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. MICHAEL LORCH, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONTROL DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING A UNIDIRECTIONAL ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT TO A TIMEPIECE MECHANISM HOUSED IN A CASE, SAID CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A MANUALLY OPERABLE BUTTON HAVING AN INTERNAL HOLLOW PORTION DEFINED BY A WALL, (B) A SOCKET PENETRATING INTO SAID HOLLOW PORTION AND HAVING A WALL LYING ADJACENT SAID WALL OF SAID BUTTON, THERE BEING A SPACE BETWEEN SAID WALL OF THE SOCKET AND SAID WALL OF THE BUTTON, (C) A STEM MOUNTED IN SAID SOCKET AND MECHANICALLY COUPLED TO SAID SOCKET FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, (D) A PLURALITY OF ROLLER MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SAID SPACE BETWEEN SAID ADJACENT WALLS OF SAID BUTTON AND SAID SOCKET, (E) A PLURALITY OF STRICTURE MEMBERS FORMED ON ONE OF SAID ADJACENT WALLS, AND FORMING A NARROWING OF SAID SPACE, (F) SAID STRICTURE MEMBERS BEING ORIENTED IN SUCH A WAY THAT WHEN THE BUTTON IS ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION SAID BUTTON DRIVES THE SOCKET BY WEDGING SAID ROLLER MEMBERS BETWEEN SAID STRICTURE MEMBERS AND THE WALL ADJACENT TO SAID STRICTURE MEMBERS, AND WHEN THE BUTTON IS ROTATED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO SAID ONE DIRECTION SAID BUTTON DOES NOT WEDGE SAID ROLLER MEMBERS AND HENCE DOES NOT DRIVE SAID SOCKET.