WO2006106088A1

WO2006106088A1 - Device for controlling a timepiece and watch equipped with same

Info

Publication number: WO2006106088A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/061251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alain Guyot
Original assignee: Bruno Affolter S.A.
Priority date: 2005-04-04
Filing date: 2006-03-31
Publication date: 2006-10-12
Also published as: EP1866706A1; EP1710635A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for controlling a timepiece designed essentially to be housed in a watch case provided with a middle (10) defining a housing (11) for receiving a watch movement including a first function controlled by a controlling member arranged so as to be able to act on a first control zone. The invention is characterized in that the device comprises: a ring (16) mounted mobile in translation on the case along an axis A-A, a first lever (25) pivoting on the case and kinetically connected to said ring, an actuating member (20) mounted elastically mobile in the middle, said member having a first portion accessible from outside the watch and a second portion exerting a pressure on the ring or on the lever to cause the ring to be translated and the lever to be pivoted, said pressure being transmitted to the control member by the lever or the ring.

Description

CONTROL DEVICE FOR WATCH AND WATCH PIECE

PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of watchmaking. It relates, more particularly, a control device for a timepiece and a watch provided with this device.

State of the art

In timepieces made complex, either by the functions whose movement is equipped, or by the dressing of the watch, it happens that the actuators of a function (pushbuttons, correctors, rods locks or other levers) can not be positioned in the watch case at the preferred location, i.e. in front of the control area where this function is operated. In this document, the area of the motion where a function is actuated will be called the control zone. This place is often imposed by the type of movement used. For example, in a chronograph with two pushers, they are usually located at 2am and 4am, the pushers being positioned opposite.

A solution to this problem is to change the movement, but it greatly complicates the development of the room and greatly increases its cost. This is all the more damaging because, at the present time, many calibres are designed to adapt to as many variants as possible.

US 6,247,841 proposes a latch system for acting on control areas of a round movement from pushers arranged on a rectangular box and being, in fact, relatively far from the control areas. Such a system offers, admittedly, a certain flexibility in the positioning of the pushers, nevertheless, its application is essentially limited to the combination of a round movement and a rectangular box, because the scales occupy a large space that is not available only in the corners of the box left free by the movement. The pushers must therefore be located at these corners and in relative proximity to their respective control area. Thus, if we define four portions of the movement, determined by the axes 6h-12h and 3h-9h, this device does not allow a push button located in one portion to go to act on a control area located in another portion.

The invention aims to overcome a possible lack of space in the middle of a watch case, which does not allow to position an actuator at the preferred location without requiring additional space.

Disclosure of the invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a control device for a timepiece intended to be essentially housed in a watch case provided with a middle defining a housing. This housing can receive a watch movement which comprises a first function controlled by a control member arranged so as to act on a first control zone. The device comprises:

a ring mounted in translation on the box along an axis A-A,

a first rocker pivoting on the box and kinematically connected to said ring,

an actuating member mounted elastically in the middle part, said member having a first portion accessible from outside the watch and a second portion exerting a pressure on the ring or the rocker to translate the ring and rotate the rocker, said pressure being transmitted to the control member by the rocker or the ring.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuating member exerts pressure on the ring. The latter carries a lift and the rocker is provided with a support zone with which the lift is likely to cooperate.

The present invention finds a particularly interesting application in a watch whose movement can display information relating to the date and the moon phase, especially when the movement is equipped with a perpetual calendar mechanism. The lag in the display of the generated moon, as known to those skilled in the art, by the difference between the actual duration of the lunar month (29.53 days) and the cycle time of a moon phase mechanism (29.5 days or 29 days

12 hours and 45 minutes for the two most common mechanisms) requires periodic correction regardless of a date correction. On the other hand, when it is necessary to correct the date, for example after a period of stopping of the movement, it is necessary to also correct the display of the moon phase.

Usually, each display has its own corrector and, when the wearer corrects the date display, it must, then, correct the display of the moon phase. This operation is tedious because it is difficult to identify the number of days whose moon phase has been corrected. It can happen that the displays of the calendar and the moon phase are no longer coordinated.

The invention provides a very advantageous solution to this problem.

More specifically, the invention also relates to a device as described above, wherein the actuating member is intended to exert simultaneously, a pressure on the ring and a pressure on a control zone of a second function.

Advantageously, the device comprises a second actuating member controlling exclusively the first function.

The invention also relates to a watch provided with the device described above and a movement for displaying information relating to the date and the moon phase, in which the first function is a corrector of the display. information about the moon phase and the second function is a corrector of the date display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] Other details will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawing, in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 are views from above and in perspective of a device according to the invention, and

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device adapted to allow simultaneous control of two functions. Mode (s) of realization of the invention

There is shown in Figure 1, the middle part 10 of a watch case. The inner walls of the middle part 10 define a housing 11 intended to receive a watch movement. This middle part 10 comprises an inner ring 12 which defines a seat 12a. The seat 12a carries a plurality of pillars (not visible in the drawing) terminated by pins 14 salient perpendicular to the seat. The lugs 14 are regularly distributed on the seat 12, four are represented.

A ring 16 inscribed inside the housing 11, but of smaller size, is positioned on the pillars. It comprises slots 18 oblong, in a number at least equal to the number of lugs 14. The slots 18 are oriented parallel to an axis AA. They are arranged vis-à-vis the pins 14 and are dimensioned to allow them to take place while keeping a game in the direction of the axis AA. This clearance is identical for each of the slots 18 and is smaller than the difference between the dimensions, along the axis AA, of the ring 16 and the housing 11. Advantageously, the slots are through and form openings through which the lugs pass. 14, the ring 16 then resting on the end of the pillars.

Thus, the ring 16 can translate in the axis AA relative to the middle part 10, according to a stroke defined by the clearance between the lugs 14 and the slots 18.

The clearance between the slots 18 and the lugs 14 may also be greater than the difference between the dimensions, along the axis AA, of the ring 16 and the housing 11. In this case, it is this difference that defines the stroke of the ring 16, the ring 16 coming into abutment against the wall of the housing 11. In the example, the watch case, the housing 11 and the ring 16 are of cylindrical shape, but other shapes are possible. The various elements which will be described below are, unless otherwise indicated, housed in recesses in the ring 12 or in the space defined by the height of the pillars, between the seat 12a and the ring 16.

Such a construction is easily accessible to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail.

An actuating member, for example a pusher 20 is disposed at a point B of the middle part. It is arranged to exert, when moved, a pressure substantially parallel to the axis AA which is transmitted to the ring 16 by a connecting member. Advantageously, the pusher 20 itself moves in a direction parallel to AA.

The connecting member is constituted in the illustrated example by a first plate 23 orthogonal to the axis AA and secured to the pusher by screwing, and a stud 24 fixed to the ring 16 and positioned in contact of the wafer 23. The pusher 20 is provided with a resilient return system, for example consisting of a spring 21 housed inside the pusher, to make it resume its initial position after being actuated.

The ring 16 carries, in an area substantially opposite to the point B, a lift 22 located on the axis AA. It is intended to press on the support zone 25a of a first rocker 25 pivoting on the middle part 10 at a point C. More precisely, when the ring 16 translates under the effect of a pressure on the pusher 20, the flip-flop 25 pivots and its end, acting as a control member, moves towards the housing 11. It can then act on the control zone of a first function, located in the race of this end. It is understood that, for the pressure exerted by the lift is effective, it must be exercised in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bearing zone 25a of the rocker 25.

When the ring 16 is in its rest position, the rocker is fully positioned inside the middle part. When the ring has moved, the end of the rocker protrudes from the middle part of the housing 11 to be occupied by the movement. In addition, a spring 26 is positioned on the seat 12a and acts on the lift 22 to return the ring 16 in its rest position after it has translated. Of course, other arrangements of elastic means are easily conceivable to achieve the same result. When one exerts a pressure on the pusher 20, the latter presses on the ring 16 via the connecting member, which makes it translate on the lugs 14. The lift 22 actuates the latch 25 and the end of the latter can then act on the first function of the movement. Thus, this rocker 25 has the same effect as a pusher which would be housed in the middle, at the control zone of the first function.

The spring 21 ensures the return of the pusher 20 to its initial position, while the spring 26, tensioned by the movement of the ring 16, presses the lift 22 and returns the ring 16 and the connecting member in their rest position.

An advantageous variant of the invention is illustrated in Figure 3. The elements present in the first embodiment are taken and have the same references.

In addition to the pusher 20, the middle part carries a second actuating member. This may be another pusher or, as shown, a simple corrector 28 not exceeding the middle and without a proper return system. The corrector 28 is disposed at a location B 'of the middle part, close to the point B and indicated in FIG. 1. When the corrector is actuated, it advances a rod 30 whose end is at a level different from that of the plot 24.

Like the pusher 20, it is arranged so that the rod 30 exerts, when the corrector is moved, a pressure substantially parallel to the axis AA which is transmitted to the ring 16 by a connecting member. The connecting member is constituted by a tube 32 mounted integrally on the rod 30. At its end located on the movement side, the tube 32 does not go beyond the end of the rod 30. At its second end, the tube 32 ends in a washer 34 which comes, in the direction of the thickness of the movement, at the stud 24. The length of the tube 32 is adjusted so that, when the corrector is at rest, the washer 34 is in contact with the stud 24. [0034] A pressure on the corrector 28 has exactly the same effect as a pressure exerted on the pusher 20 in the above embodiment. More specifically, the corrector 28 presses the ring 16 via the connecting member, which makes it translate on the lugs 14. The lift 22 actuates the lever 25 and its end can then act on the first function of the movement. It is the spring 26 which ensures the return of the corrector to its initial position. The corrector could act directly on the ring, but the transmission of the force via the washer 34 is better.

In addition, a second latch 36 is mounted on the seat 12a. It pivots at one of its first ends at a point D.

It is curved and follows approximately the inner edge of the middle part.

The latch 36 carries, substantially in the middle, a lift 38. Its second end is provided with a pillar 40 terminated by a disc 42. This lift 38 is located in contact with the plate 23, at a different level, in the direction of the thickness of the box, the stud 24.

Under the effect of a pressure on the pusher 20, transmitted to the lift 38 by the wafer 23, the rocker 36 pivots and the pillar 40 moves towards the housing 11. The disk 42 then serves as control member and can act on a second function of the movement whose control zone is located in its race. It is understood that, for the pressure of the wafer to be effective, it must be exercised in a substantially tangential direction with respect to a circle centered on the point D.

In addition, a spring 44 is positioned on the middle and acts on the lift 38 to press the lever 36 against the middle part 10. The edge of the disc 42 bears on the middle part, this stop defining the rest position of the flip flop 36. Thus, when the wearer actuates the pusher 20, the stud of the connecting member transmits the pressure to the ring 26 via the lift 22, which allows the latch 25 to actuate the first function of the movement. Simultaneously, the plate 23 transmits this pressure to the lift 38, which allows the lever 36 to actuate the second function of the movement.

Furthermore, when the carrier actuates the corrector 28, as explained above, only the first function of the movement is actuated by the rocker 25. If the watch movement allows it, the pusher 20 can act on the second function is directly or through another means of transmitting the force exerted on the pusher. Such means may be an arm or a probe of suitable shape.

In an advantageous embodiment, the movement includes a moon phase indicator and a date indicator. Preferably, the date mechanism is of the perpetual type. The first function is the corrector of the moon phase, while the second function is the date corrector. The control zones of these functions are, respectively, in the race of the flip-flop 25 and the flip-flop 36. A pressure on the pusher 20 makes it possible, for example, to simultaneously correct the display of the moon phase and the date of the calendar, while that a pressure on the corrector 38 makes it possible to correct, individually, the display of the moon phase.

Thus is proposed a timepiece device for actuating a mechanism by means of an actuating member positioned in a location remote from the control zone of this mechanism. This mechanism makes it possible to simultaneously operate two functions whose control zones are remote or, at choice, only one of these two functions. The description which has just been given is not limiting. The skilled person can easily find different alternatives to the described embodiments. In particular, the push button can act on a rocker and not on the ring. The rocker pivots and pulls on the ring to translate it. The ring carries a control member which can act on a control zone to actuate a motion control.

Claims

claims

1. Control device for a timepiece intended to be essentially housed in a watch case provided with a middle part (10) defining a housing (11) for receiving a watch movement comprising a first function controlled by a control member arranged to be able to act on a first control zone, characterized in that it comprises:

a ring (16) movably mounted in translation on the box along an axis A-A; a first rocker (25) pivoting on the box and kinematically connected to said ring;

- an actuating member (20, 28) resiliently mounted in the middle, said member having a first portion accessible from outside the watch and a second portion exerting a pressure on the ring or the rocker to put the ring in translation and rotate the rocker, said pressure being transmitted to the control member by the rocker or the ring.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said actuating member exerting pressure on said ring which carries a lift (22), and in that said rocker (25) is provided with a bearing zone ( 25a) with which said lift is likely to cooperate.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuating member (20, 38) is able to exert directly or via a connecting member (23, 24, 32, 34) a pressure on said ring (16) in a direction substantially parallel to that of the translation of said ring.

4. Device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the pressure exerted by the lift (22) on the first flip-flop (25) is oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the support zone of the rocker.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said middle has a seat (12a) carrying a plurality of lugs (14) and in that said ring (16) has a plurality of slots (18) oblong and parallel, each cooperating with clearance with one of said lugs.

6. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said first rocker (25) does not enter said housing (11) when the ring (16) is in its rest position, characterized in that said ring is provided with resilient means (26) arranged to return the ring to its rest position after a translation.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said elastic means comprise a spring (26) positioned on the middle part (10) and acting on said lift (22).

8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that said actuating member (20) is intended to exert simultaneously pressure on said ring and a pressure on a control zone of a second function.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said second function is controlled by means of a second flip-flop (36) actuated by said actuating member (20).

10. Device according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that it comprises a second actuating member (38) exclusively controlling the first function.

11. Watch provided with a movement for displaying information relating to the moon phase and the date, characterized in that it is provided with the device according to one of claims 9 and 10, and wherein the first function is a corrector of the display of said information relating to the moon phase and said second function is a corrector of the date display.