WO1982004135A1

WO1982004135A1 - Watchcase

Info

Publication number: WO1982004135A1
Application number: PCT/CH1982/000064
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rado Sa Montres; Marc Lederrey
Original assignee: Rado Sa Montres
Priority date: 1981-05-01
Filing date: 1982-05-03
Publication date: 1982-11-25
Also published as: DE3280456D1; EP0064951A1; HK1000119A1; EP0064951B1; DE3280456T2; JPS58500625A

Abstract

The glass (1) of the watchcase carries the ornamental parts of the visible face of the case, which surrounds the dial (17). These parts comprise a frame (2) of precious or semi-precious material or a very thin layer of metal coating (31) deposited under the glass (1). The frame (2) is undissolubly and resistantly adhered under the glass (1) and a spacing frame (3) is adhered in the same way under the frame (2). The flange (6) of tapped sleeves (5) is emprisoned and adhered inside housings (7) formed in the face of the frame (3) which is adhered to the frame (2). The assembly of those parts (2, 3, 5) and the glass (1) are fixed to the middle (8) by means of screws (9) traversing the needle and fitting in the sleeves (5) which are engaged into borings (19) of the middle. Under the metal layer (31), only one spacing frame (25) of ordinary metal is required and the sleeves (5) are welded in housings (46) of that frame.

Description

B O I T E D E M O N T R E

Known watch cases, of the type defined by the preamble of claim 1, are intended exclusively for watches with digital display. The parts, in which the glass fixing screws are engaged, are constituted by tapped feet, which came from one-piece production with a frame in which is engaged the liquid crystal cap of the display device (JP - A - 55 70 770 and US - A - 4 281 406). ^"

The limitation of this method of fixing the glass to watches with digital display is due to the fact that the glass and its frame are housed in the notch of ice of a usual middle-bezel, so that the frame must extend far enough inside the case to hide the feet he wears and which are therefore inside the middle, in the space normally reserved for the movement of the watch.

Furthermore, a frame provided with feet is not a piece of simple shape and very inexpensive manufacture. In addition, it is necessary to make a different frame not only for each shape and size of box, but also for each modification of the location of said feet.

In addition, the operations for terminating the visible face of the box, in particular the upper face of the bezel intended to surround the dial, are much more complicated when the box is deformed than when it is round. Finally, the possibilities of varying the appearance (color and shape) of this visible face are limited, mainly due to the material of the box, its vulnerability or the difficulties of the siner.

As the glass and the assembly which is integral therewith entirely cover the upper face of the middle in the boxes conforming to the characteristic of claim 1, the zone of the glass, which remains transparent inside the said assembly, is relatively large and can therefore easily reveal the members of an analog display. In addition, the fact that the ornamental elements, which constitute the visible face of the box, form a one-piece assembly with the glass and can therefore be protected by it, the range of aspects which it is possible to give to the box, is greatly expanded. Furthermore, the frame defined by this characteristic, which is a relatively thin piece, can be manufactured at once in large series, with the housings of the sockets, by cutting it from a strip of material. . For their part, the sockets, which always have the same shape, regardless of the dimensions and shape of the box, can also be turned in large series. Finally, the bonding joining said ca¬ dre to glass has, compared to mechanical fasteners by fitting parts one inside the other, the advantage not only of admitting wider tolerances, but also of avoid the creation of internal tensions in the glass, which can compromise its resistance, especially if the latter is made of sapphire.

The special embodiments defined by claim 2 have the advantage of making it possible to manufacture large series of identical case middle pieces for a given movement caliber and shape, since the assemblies secured to the glass, which correspond to this movement caliber and this box shape, all have the same geometric shape and that it is therefore possible to attach any of them to one of these middle parts.

The features defined by claims 3 to 6 relate to some very original ways of constituting the appearance of the visible face of the box.

It is also possible to benefit from the advantages resulting from the independent sockets, from the frame which carries them and from its method of fastening to the glass in the case of known boxes, in which the ornamental pieces of the glass consist simply of a layer of

O rt. metallization (FR - A - 2 397 668), as defined in claim 7.

The special embodiments defined by claim 8 have not only the advantage of leaving entirely free all the interior space of the middle of the case for the movement of the watch, but also that of ensuring the positioning of the glass by means as simple as they are precise.

As for the embodiments defined by claim 9, they are remarkable for the simplification which they bring both in the manufacture and in the assembly of the box.

Finally, those defined by claim 10 have the advantage of comprising a shield which protects the box from any deterioration produced by foreign bodies with which it can come into contact so much.

An embodiment and some variants of the watch case according to the invention are shown schematically and simply by way of example in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section illustrating this embodiment and a variant;

Fig. 2 is a partial section of another variant;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the

Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bottom of the box according to another variant.

The specific features of this embodiment are shown in the left-hand part of FIG. 1. The box according to this embodiment has the general shape of a rectangle whose angles are truncated (Fig. 3). The upper face of the box, which, when worn, is only visible, is entirely covered by the glass 1, which is made of sa¬ phir and whose edges are bevelled. A flat frame 2, relatively min-

UR ~ _ this is glued under the periphery of glass 1. It is made of precious or semi-precious stone (cat's eye, lapis lazuli, aquamarine, tourmaline, opal, amethyst, malachite, jasper, coral, etc.). It can also be made more simply in colored material, glittering with gold, even in hard or ordinary metal, the face glued to the glass is polished or finely machined, so as to constitute a decorative pattern. The mechanical qualities (hardness, brittleness) of the material of the frame 2, which constitutes the ornamental piece of the box, do not play a critical role, because this frame is protected by the sapphire glass and therefore does not risk deteriorating at the contact with foreign bodies or chemical agents.

A second frame 3, in base metal, is glued under the frame 2. It is also flat and has openings 4, generally four in number, for the passage of sockets 5. These have a collar 6 around their bottom, which takes place in a housing 7 of the ca¬ dre 3, formed in its face glued to the frame 2. The flanges 6 are thus trapped between the two frames 2, 3. In addition, they are fixed to these frames, as moreover _. the bottom of the sockets 5, by the adhesive solida¬ rising the two frames 2, 3 to one another. The assembly formed by the two frames 2, 3 and the sockets 5 is itself integral with the glass .1 and forms with it a single block. handle when mounting the box. The adhesives currently found on the market make it possible to join the parts described in an indissoluble manner and to achieve adhesions of several kgp / mm.

The sockets 5 are tapped to allow the assembly to be secured to the glass 1 to the middle part 8 of the box using screws 9, en¬ engaged in these sockets from the side ^π bottom ^π of the box. On this side, the screws 9 could enter directly into the middle. In the embodiment shown, these screws 9 are however used to attach at the same time an independent base 10 to the middle part. This base 10 and its attachment to the middle part are described in detail in patent application 2858 / 81-8 ,

As shown in Fig. 1, the bottom 10 is composed of a flat metal part 11 and a thin layer of flexible material 12, lining the internal face of the part 11, to which it strongly adheres. The layer 12 is made of an elastomer, for example that which is marketed under the brand "VITON", which is pressure molded in the part 11 so as to form what those skilled in the art call a "metallic bond".

_ K tA

WIPO tal / elastomer ". The part 11 covers the entire underside of the carure 8. Its edges 13 are raised by bending at right angles, so as to press against the middle 8, when the screws 9 are fully engaged in the sockets 5. In addition to the fact that it does not allow visible daylight to remain between the caseback and the middle part, this support of two metal parts one on the other has the advantage of limiting the degree of compression of the layer 12 This has, in effect, a rim at its periphery, higher than the edges 13 of the part 11 and which is crushed against the lower face of the middle part 8, in the position shown in Fig. 1 , so as to establish the seal of the joint between the middle part and the base, whatever shape these parts may have. The layer 12 is still fabricated, on the one hand, with two studs 14, which take the places the usual fixing screws of the movement 15 in the middle part 8 and fill the role of these screws, and , on the other hand, with four pillars 16, which flatten the parts of the dial 17 extending beyond the movement 15 against a shoulder 18 of the middle part 8. In its central part, inside its peripheral edge and between the studs 14 and the pillars 16, the layer 12 could be interrupted and leave the part 11 of the bottom 10 bare, so as to make room for the thickest parts of the movement 15, par. example on the battery in an electronic watch.

To allow the passage of the screws 9, the middle part 8 is drilled right through, however at different diameters. In their upper part 19, which is wider, these holes in the middle part 8 are adjusted to the sockets 5, so that the block comprising the glass 1 occupies a very precise position on the middle part 8, while in their lower part 20, they are just a little larger than the screws 9, so that the middle part 8 compresses the rim described above of the layer 12 all around the screws 9 and presses the material of this rim against a smooth and polished part of the said screws. These pass with a little play through holes 21 of the metal part 11 of the bottom 10.

The seal between the glass and the middle part is ensured by a lining 22, which follows the internal edge of the frames 2, 3 and whose height, in its natural state, is slightly greater than the thickness of the two frames 2, 3. When the screws 9 are fully engaged in the sockets 5, the lining 22 is therefore compressed axially between the glass 1 and the projection 23 of the middle part 8, which takes the place of the flange. A thin metallization layer 30 is deposited under the area of the glass located above the lining 22 and the inner edge of the frame 2 to camouflage this lining and the possible irregularities of the said edge of the frame 2, while adding an additional decoration to the visible face of the box. By means of masks, it is, in fact, possible to rigorously define very fine lines of metallization, such as for example arabesques.

To avoid the stress generated in the glass 1 by the compressed gasket 22, the frames 2, 3 could be widened inwards, to the inner edge of the flange 23 and the gasket placed under these frames, in a branch of the middle. In such a variant, the glass 1 would be released from any internal tension, which is desirable, in particular in the case where it is constituted by a sapphire.

The manufacture of the three independent parts of the described box is simple. As the frames fixed under the glass 1 are flat, their machining is easy. Their attachment to the glass with the sockets 5, by gluing, does not raise any problem. For its part, the machining of the middle part 8 is also very simple. Only her. external lateral face 24 must be subjected to fine termination operations, since it is the only visible face of the middle part. Apart from this face, the areas of a certain extension of the box, which are visible, are protected by the ver-re-sapphire. As for the edge of the frame 3, the thickness of which is less than half a millimeter, it can be knurled and thus constitute an original decorative element of the box. Because of its very simple shape, the bottom 10 is also easy to manufacture.

Compared to the known boxes, the described box is as fast as it can be, since it suffices to thread the holes 19 of the middle part 8 onto the sockets 5, to place the base on the middle part and to tighten the screws 9. The mounting of the movement 15 in this box does not require any particular operation, it suffices to place it in the middle part 8, where the studs 14 and the pillars 16 of the bottom automatically hold it in place, as soon as the box is closed by screws 9.

The right part of FIG. 1 shows a variant of the embodiment described, which differs from it only in the nature of the elements fixed under the glass 1. In this case, a thin layer 31 of metallization is deposited by evaporation under vacuum on the entire periphery portion of the underside of the glass 1, from the edge thereof, up to that above the seal 22. In this variant, it is this metallized, opaque layer, which gives its appearance to the face of the case surrounding the dial of the watch.

A single frame 25 is here glued under the glass, over said metallization layer. To be able to use the same build as in the embodiment described above and to reserve for the watch hands a space of the same height as in this embodiment, the frame 25 has a thickness equal to that of the set of two frames 2, 3. It is made of base metal and the sockets 5 are welded in lo¬ gements 26 formed in the underside of the frame 25.

In this variant, the frame 25 could also be widened inwards, up to the internal edge of the flange 23 and the seal 22 is placed between it and the middle part 8, in a groove of the latter.

Fig. 2 shows another variant of the form of execution described above. In this case, the glass 27 no longer covers the entire upper face of the box. It is only glued to the internal zone of the upper face of a frame 28, made of hard metal. The internal edge of the frame 28 is flush with that of the flange 23 formed on the middle part 8, which is the same as in FIG. 1. A frame 3, identical to that of the execution form described above, is glued under the frame 28. It traps the collar 6 of the sockets 5, as described with reference to the left-hand part of FIG. 1, so that these are secured to the glass 27. A gasket 29, the height of which is slightly greater than the thickness of the frame 3, is arranged between the frame 28 and the middle part 8.

In this variant, the space reserved for the needles between the ca¬ dran 17 and the glass 27 is a little higher than in FIG. 1, due to the thickness of the hard metal frame 28. This allows to fill the dial 17 with hour signs in high relief.

In the examples described, it will be noted that the appearance of the watch depends essentially on the elements glued under the glass. By sticking different elements under a series of glasses, one can produce a range of very varied models, while manufacturing middle parts and case backs in large series. Assembling the boxes according to the invention and the mounting of the movements in these boxes are always carried out in the same way, whether the boxes are rectangular, square, trapezoidal or in the shape of any polygon with a curved or rectilinear side or else round.

Fig. 3 shows the outline of the middle part 8 of the embodiment described above, seen from below, and it shows the locations 21 of the fixing screws 9 of the base 10 and of the glass. As for Fig. 4, it shows that a round bottom 32 can also be fixed to the middle part at the same time as the glass, using screws engaged in the holes 33.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Watch case, the glass of which is fixed to the middle part in a removable manner by screws engaged from the bottom side of the case, in threads of elements forming part of an assembly secured to the glass, characterized - in that the glass (1, 27) and the said assembly (2, 3, 5, 30; 5, 25, 31; 3, 5, 28), which is integral therewith, entirely cover the upper face of the middle part (8) of the case so as to constitute, in combination with the dial and the hands carried by the movement of the watch that it is intended to receive, the entire visible face of the latter when worn,

- in that the said elements consist of sockets (5) individually fixed to a flat frame (3, 25) by means of a colle¬ rette (6) formed around the bottom of said sockets (5),

- And in that said frame (3, 25) is secured by bonding to the glass (1, 27), which is flat.

2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that said frame (3, 25) is glued under ornamental pieces (2, 31, 28), not ^" transparent, which are adjacent to the glass (1, 27) fa ¬ definitive lesson.

3. Box according to claim 2, characterized - in that said ornamental pieces consist of a flat frame (2) glued directly under the periphery of the glass (1, 27),

- in that the frame (3) carrying the said sockets (5) is made of base metal and is glued under the frame (2) which constitutes the said ornamental pieces and which completely covers it, - and in that each said flanges (6) is trapped between these two frames (2, 3), in a housing of the frame (3) in base metal.

4. Box according to claim 3, characterized - in that the frame (2) constituting said ornamental pieces is composed of one or more rods of precious stone or semi-pre-

WHERE_PI heavenly

- And in that the glass (1) extends to the outer edge of the middle part (8).

5. Box according to claim 3, characterized

- in that the frame (2) constituting said ornamental pieces is made of ordinary metal,

- And in that its face glued to the glass (1), which extends to the edge of the middle part, is machined finely, so as to constitute a decorative pattern.

6. Box according to claim 3, characterized - in that the frame (28) constituting said ornamental pieces is made of hard metal

- And in that only its internal zone is stuck under the glass (27).

7. Box according to claim 2, wherein said ornamental pieces consist of a thin layer of metallisafion formed under the periphery of the glass by vacuum evaporation, characterized

- In that said frame (25), which is made of base metal, is glued under said layer (31) ~ and in that each of the flanges (6) of said sockets (5) is welded to the bottom a housing (26) formed in the underside of said ca¬ dre (25).

8. Box according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sockets (5) and said screws (9) are engaged res¬ pectively in holes (19, 20) which pass through the middle ( 8) and whose diameter is adapted to that of these sockets (5) and these screws (9).

9. Box according to claim 8, characterized in that said screws (9) for fixing the glass are used at the same time to fix an independent bottom (10) to the middle part (8) of the box.

WIPO

10. Box according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass (1, 27) is a transparent monocrystalline sapphire.