WO1997039387A1

WO1997039387A1 - Wrist watch

Info

Publication number: WO1997039387A1
Application number: PCT/CH1997/000140
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pierre-André Joss
Original assignee: Joss Pierre Andre
Priority date: 1996-04-16
Filing date: 1997-04-08
Publication date: 1997-10-23
Also published as: CH690871A5; EP0901652A1

Abstract

The invention describes a process for simplifying production of a wrist watch consisting of a watch-movement, a case, in which the watch-movement is arranged on a watch frame, a supporting structure for fastening a wristlet, as well as a case back-cover. The supporting structure is a solid element with an annular section and an external side surface on which are located two receptacles for fastening a wristlet, as well as an inner surface. The case contains a watch-movement support (7) and a glass (8), which is affixed to the watch-movement support by a gasket (9), the glass affixing the watch-movement to the watch-movement support. The watch-movement support has an outer area which interlocks with the inner surface of the supporting structure. The case back-cover is detachably affixed to the watch movement support.

Description

Wrist watch

The present invention relates to a wristwatch which has a clockwork, a housing in which the clockwork is located, a support part arranged on the housing for fastening a bracelet, and a base.

Wristwatches always have a watch case, which is usually composed of a watch glass, a watch case and a base. In the case of watches in the low price segment in particular, the manufacturing costs of the watch case have a significant influence on the overall costs of the watch. It has therefore already been proposed that often with the help of relatively expensive forging or

Casting process to produce manufactured metal watch shells with the help of machining in order to reduce the production costs of the watches. In other known designs (cf. CH 339581 and DE 2 104 091), a cost reduction has been achieved by punching out the supporting part of the watch shell from a sheet of metal and then further processing it using a bending or rolling process. However, this production also appears to be relatively complex.

The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the structure of previously known clocks in such a way that the constructional, manufacturing and assembly-related outlay for producing the clock can be reduced.

In the watch mentioned at the outset, the object is achieved according to the invention by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1. A clock, which is constructed in accordance with this concept, can be machined with cost-effective CNC processing machines, such as for example turning and milling. Another advantage is that conventional and inexpensive rod material can be used as the starting material. In addition, the construction of the clock according to the invention allows a quick assembly by numerically controlled

Automatic handling machines, because almost exclusively easily manageable translational joining movements are required to assemble the components of the watch. The individual components are assembled one after the other.

As has been shown, these advantages mean that the technical outlay for producing a watch according to the invention can be reduced to such an extent that a watch with a metallic shell can be offered in a price segment by usually only placing plastic watches.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the watch shell has at least one shoulder on its inner lateral surface, the shoulder surface of which can be essentially annular and can be oriented vertically to the lateral surface. In further expedient embodiments, there are several, but at least two such paragraphs, the clockwork carrier and the watch glass each resting on one of these paragraphs. In order to enable simple assembly, the heels can be arranged one above the other, the opening width of the heels decreasing from the watch glass to the floor. This means that the watch can only be assembled from the watch glass side, except for the insertion of the base.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the dependent claims and from claims 15 and 16.

The invention is described below with reference to in the figures schematically illustrated exemplary embodiments, showing:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the support member of a watch according to the invention.

2 shows a sectional side view of a watch according to the invention along a longitudinal axis of the housing;

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the representation from FIG. 2;

4 shows a plan view of a clockwork carrier of a further clock according to the invention;

5 shows a plan view of a supporting part of a watch;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a watch having the components shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

1 and 2, a supporting part 1 can be seen, which is one of the main components of the structure of the watch according to the invention. The supporting part 1 has an annular section 2 and two receptacles for fastening a bracelet to the housing. In the illustrated

Embodiment of the invention, the two receptacles are designed as flanges 3 and 4 arranged in pairs. The support part 1 is a solid component, the height of which is usually at least 1.5 mm. It has been manufactured by turning. Of course, it could also be created with the help of punching. In watches according to the invention, this support part arranged on the housing of the watch can have a metallic material, for example steel, hard metal or gold. In this case, the shape could also be generated differently than by the aforementioned methods. Of furthermore, the visible surface can be produced by finishing treatments such as polishing.

The support part 1, which is attached to the watch shell 5 (Figure 2), gives the watch a classic appearance due to the solid and essentially cuboid flanges 3 and 4. Between the flanges 3 and 4, berets 6 are arranged, to which a bracelet is attached can be.

The glass 8 and the seal 9 are arranged on the so-called watch shell 5, in which the clockwork support 7 is integrated. As can be seen in the representation of FIGS. 2 and 3, the glass 8 is fixed to the watch shell 5 solely by radial pressure of the seal 9. The

Seal 9 is designed so that it seals the glass watertight. Further details of this structure can be seen in FIG. 3. The glass 8 is a plane-convex disc with an outer edge 18, which can be cylindrical or slightly conical. If necessary, the glass can be made from mineral glass.

The shell 5 is mounted on the supporting part 1 through the cylindrical inner surface 10 of the annular section 2 of the supporting part 1 by inserting the clockwork support 7 with its outer and likewise cylindrical mounting surface 11 into the annular section 2. The tolerances of the supporting part and of the clockwork support are coordinated such that the two surfaces 10, 11 cannot make any relative movements due to static friction or a press fit.

The housing is closed on the side opposite the glass (underside) by a base 12 which has an annular outer wall 13. The wall 13 is provided with a ring through which there is an undercut 14 trains. The ring of the wall 14 engages in the lower inner part of the annular clockwork support 7, which is also provided with a corresponding undercut. As a result of this engagement, a watertight seal 29 is pressed into a recess, which is delimited by corresponding rectangular notches on the bottom 12 and the clockwork support 7.

The wall 13 of the base 12 engages in such a way that it exerts a radial pressure against the wall of the clockwork support 7, as a result of which the base 12 is held on the support 7. The radial pressure brings about or at least contributes to that the shell 5 is fixed to the supporting part 1.

The central part of the floor 12 can be of any structure or material. It can in particular be formed in one piece with the wall 13. According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figure 2, the central part of the bottom is a thin glass plate 15, e.g. on

Mineral glass, which is arranged in a groove with a rectangular cross section. A projection formed on the outside of the base by the groove encompasses the glass with approximately 0.1 mm. This connection allows the two elements 12 and 15 to be sealed off from one another.

In the present exemplary embodiment of the invention, all elements of the watch shell and of the back are exactly circular components which are produced by numerically controlled machining machines, in particular turning and / or milling machines, and by numerically controlled grinding machines, as a result of which large quantities can be achieved per unit of time.

Furthermore, the clockwork carrier 7 is pressed into the supporting part 1 in such a way that the former with one or more radial ones Openings 28 (FIG. 2) are arranged opposite openings 26 and 27 (FIG. 1) of the supporting part 1. As a result, actuators can also be installed in the openings after the clockwork has been installed.

Fig. 3 shows how the clockwork is to be fixed in the housing and how the housing is to be closed. In addition, the illustration illustrates the implementation of the assembly. This figure shows the glass 8 and the circular clockwork support 7 of the shell 5, the supporting part 1, the base 12 and the spacer 19, which is arranged between a dial 20 and the clock glass 8. The inner lateral surface of the clockwork support 7 shows three shoulders 22, 23, 24 arranged one above the other. The clockwork 21 is supported with a circumferential edge on the first paragraph 22, which is the smallest distance from the floor 12 of the three paragraphs. The paragraph 23 following in the direction of the watch glass 8 is located directly opposite the dial 20. The circuit board of the clockwork 21 and the dial 20 are exposed - but without play - on one another and are arranged in an inner opening of the clockwork 7 between the paragraphs 22 and 23 . On the shoulder 23 there is the spacer 19, which is designed as a solid ring, for example as a steel ring, and its height is dimensioned such that it is pressed onto the shoulder with a friction fit.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the components, the spacer 19 has a tapered profile in the direction of its outer edge. The height of the spacer 19 corresponds to the distance between the two paragraphs 23 and 24, the glass 8 resting on the latter with its flat side. Alternatively, it could also be provided that the distance (in the vertical direction) of the shoulders 22, 23, 24 and the height of the spacer 19, the dial and the edge of the plate 21 are coordinated with one another such that the spacer 19, the dial 20 and the board 21 are clamped against each other in the vertical direction. To achieve this, it can be provided that the height of the spacer is somewhat larger than the distance between the two shoulders 23 and 24.

The glass is held by radial pressure of the seal 9 alone. The profile of the seal 9 is essentially rectangular on the outside, while it has an essentially oval cross section on the inside. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the seal 9 is inserted into a circumferential groove 25 which is essentially rectangular in cross section and which is screwed into an upper part of the clockwork support 7. Experiments have surprisingly shown that with such an elastomeric seal 9 of normal hardness a tight arrangement can be realized, which even exerts a sufficient retention force for the glass θ. As it has also been shown, diving watches can even be constructed according to this construction principle.

It is preferred between the peripheral outer surface 18 and the inner wall 30 of the upper part of the clockwork carrier - in terms of their diameter - a play of e.g. 0.1 mm. As a result, the seal cannot be recognized from the outside. On the other hand, the glass can be easily dismantled. This can be done, for example, by blowing compressed air into the watch through the opening of the crown or through the bottom opening of the housing, which presses the glass out of its seat on the seal (9).

The assembly can now be done by mechanical

Handling devices can be executed very quickly. For this purpose, the components of the watch are inserted into one another from the glass-side opening of the housing from top to bottom (in the illustration in FIGS. 2 and 3). For this purpose, the board 21 and the dial 20 are first placed on top of one another

Paragraph 22 launched. Your correct orientation to each other can be secured by pins, for example. Such pins engage in corresponding recesses or notches, which are introduced on the individual components to be assembled. In a mechanized assembly, a sensor can detect the exact position of this pin and, if necessary, cause the handling device to correct the alignment of the corresponding component. After the spacer 19 is inserted, only the glass has to be pressed between the seal 9, so that the flat surface of the glass rests on the shoulder 24. Before the glass is installed, the seal 9 is inserted into the groove 25 along a slightly conical tool. Due to the shape of the tool, the seal also takes on a corresponding shape. The seal thus has a slightly larger diameter at its upper area than at its lower area.

The watch, which has been assembled so far, can then be rotated around the floor on the clockwork support by clamping one

Seal, which is designed as an O-ring 29, can be attached without play and releasably. For this purpose, the base 12, which forms a kind of snap connection with the clockwork support, is pressed into the latter. The elasticity of the O-ring 29 contributes to the fact that the base 12 is pressed against the clockwork carrier, as a result of which the undercuts 14 bear against the corresponding wall surface of the clockwork carrier.

4, 5 and 6, a further clock according to the invention is shown, the basic structure of which essentially corresponds to the clock described above. The support part 35 of this watch is an element produced from metal round material turning. By milling and drilling, two receptacles 36, 37 have been formed on the support member 35, in the opening for fastening one, not shown

Bracelet berets are inserted. 6 in particular it can be seen that the clockwork carrier 38 is also pressed into the supporting part and that the clockwork, the dial and the watch glass are arranged on shoulders or shoulders of the clockwork carrier.

It is obvious that the construction principle and the assembly can also be carried out differently than shown in the description. The use of a solid supporting part with thick flanges, which are arranged around the watch shell, allows a classic or imaginative execution as the mood takes you. In addition, the bracelet does not increase the thickness of the watch.

Claims

claims

Clock, in particular wristwatch, comprising a clockwork, a housing in which the clockwork is arranged on a watch shell, a supporting part for fastening a bracelet, and a base,

characterized in that

the supporting part is a solid element with an annular section, which has an outer side surface on which two receptacles are arranged for fastening a bracelet, and an inner surface that

the housing contains a clockwork carrier and a glass which is fixed to the clockwork carrier by a seal, the clockwork being fixed to the clockwork carrier by the glass that

the clockwork carrier has an outer region which is in engagement with the inner surface of the supporting part, and that

the bottom is releasably attached to the clockwork carrier.

2. Wristwatch according to claim l, characterized in that the watch shell has at least two shoulders (22, 24) on an inner lateral surface, on which the watch glass and the clockwork are mounted.

3. Wristwatch according to one or both of the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterized by a further - arranged between the Uhrenglaε and the clockwork - left

third - paragraph (23) on which a spacer (19) rests.

4. Wristwatch according to one or both of the preceding claims 2 and 3, characterized in that an opening width of the paragraphs (22, 23, 24) decreases from a glass side of the watch to the bottom side.

5. Wristwatch according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting part and the clockwork support form a one-piece component, so that the housing of the watch consists exclusively of this component, the bottom and the glass.

6. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clockwork carrier in the region of the glass has an annular shoulder (22, 23, 24) which is surrounded by a bezel, which in turn has a groove (25 ), in which a seal (9) is arranged, and that the glass has a lateral circumferential surface which rests on the seal, and that this results in the sealing of the glass.

7. Wristwatch according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal has an elliptical profile on its inner circumference.

8. Wristwatch according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal has an outer substantially rectangular profile which is adapted to the recess of the bezel.

CORRECTED SHEET (TEGEL 91) Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the circular clockwork carrier and the outer section of the supporting part are provided with one or more openings through which one or more actuating means of the clockwork can be passed.

10. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the clockwork (21) is fixed in the clockwork carrier in that a spacer (19) is arranged between the glass and the clockwork, which with play to the outer surface of the clockwork carrier is located on one of the shoulders of the clockwork carrier, the latter having below the paragraph (24) provided for receiving the glass.

11. Wristwatch according to claim 10, characterized in that the spacer is a closed ring with a rectangular profile which has an inclined upper surface.

12. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom is provided on its circumference with a wall which engages with an undercut with the clockwork carrier and that a seal is arranged between the clockwork carrier and the bottom.

13. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the floor has a glass pane which is attached to the wall of the floor.

14. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that an annular closed groove is formed on the inner circumference of the housing between the clockwork carrier and the bottom, in which the flanges of the supporting part are arranged.

15. Wristwatch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base is fastened by means of a radial clamping to the watch shell, in particular to the clockwork carrier, which additionally stabilizes a press fit between the clockwork carrier and the supporting part.

16. A method for producing a watch, characterized in that a watch shell is produced from at least one metallic disc by machining only.

17. A method for assembling a watch in which a clockwork and watch glass is inserted into a watch case, characterized in that the watch mechanism is first inserted from a watch glass-side opening of the watch case (5) and then the watch glass is fastened to the watch case from the same side becomes.