CN114253115A

CN114253115A - Device for locking a timepiece movement

Info

Publication number: CN114253115A
Application number: CN202111122882.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: P·屈米
Original assignee: Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Current assignee: Swatch Group Research and Development SA
Priority date: 2020-09-25
Filing date: 2021-09-24
Publication date: 2022-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2041-09-24
Also published as: CN114253115B; JP7223080B2; EP3974914A1; JP2022054405A

Abstract

Device for locking a timepiece movement. The invention relates to a timepiece (100) comprising a case (1), the case (1) comprising a case centre (2), the case centre (2) being closed in its upper part by a bezel (3) and in its lower part by a bottom cover (4), the timepiece movement (5) and a dial (6) being assembled against the case centre (2) by means of a fitting ring (7). According to the invention, the timepiece comprises a damping device (10) for a timepiece movement, said damping device (10) comprising an upper annular part (11) and a lower annular part (12), the upper annular part (11) and the lower annular part (12) being arranged to be assembled on an assembly formed by the movement, the dial (6) and the bezel (7).

Description

Device for locking a timepiece movement

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a timepiece (such as a wristwatch) in which a movement is held inside a case by a shock absorbing device for protecting the movement in the event of an impact.

Background

Document FR 2463437 discloses a timepiece in which the movement is held by an annular shock-absorbing elastic support comprising a radial appendix defining a sealing sleeve interposed between the stem of the movement and the centre of the case. The sleeve seems to allow the rod to move laterally with respect to the centre of the watch case during the impact, but the stresses borne by the rod and by the winding and time-setting mechanism are still high. Such stresses can further occur when, in addition to any impact, the user exerts lateral pressure on the crown.

Disclosure of Invention

The aim of the present invention is to remedy all or part of the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a timepiece comprising damping means for a movement and allowing simplified timepiece assembly.

To this end, the invention relates to a timepiece comprising a case including a case center closed in its upper part by a bezel and in its lower part by a bottom cover, the timepiece movement being fitted against the case center by means of a bezel (circle d' embo î tage), characterized in that the timepiece further comprises locking means capable of pressing the timepiece movement-bezel assembly against the case center when closing a case of the timepiece.

Advantageously, according to the invention, the assembly of the timepiece comprises a minimum number of parts and is therefore easier to adapt to manufacturing variations (dispersion) of the different components and maintains advanced technical features, in particular with a timepiece, a calendar, a mechanical movement, a transparent bottom cover and a plastic case centre.

According to a further advantageous feature of the invention:

the upper and lower annular members are made of an elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber;

-said upper ring part comprises positioning means for the orientation of the damping device with respect to the centre of the watch case;

-said upper and lower annular parts comprise a mosaic means arranged to cooperate with the dial and the mosaic ring;

the upper ring part and the lower ring part each have a tapered surface arranged to cooperate with a shoulder in the centre of the watch case;

the timepiece comprises a ring arranged to be interposed between the bottom cover and the lower annular member to maintain integrity once the watch is assembled;

-the upper ring member and the lower ring member each comprise a channel for a winding mechanism rod;

the chime ring comprises a generally annular body formed by an upper portion arranged to receive the dial and a lower portion arranged to receive the movement;

the upper part has at least one recess and a discontinuous peripheral edge to orient and hold the dial in position on the bezel, the dial having a catch arranged to rest against the edge of the recess;

the timepiece movement is of the mechanical chronograph type.

Drawings

Further characteristics and advantages will emerge more clearly from the description given hereinafter, which is indicative and in no way limiting, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 is an exploded view of a timepiece according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective view of the watch case centre of the timepiece according to the invention;

figures 3a and 3b are perspective views of the damping device of the timepiece according to the invention;

figure 4a is a perspective view of a damping device according to the invention assembled on a movement of a timepiece;

FIG. 4b is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A of FIG. 4 a;

figure 5 is a perspective view of the timepiece according to the invention.

Detailed Description

With reference to fig. 1 to 3, the timepiece according to the invention comprises: a case center 2 closed in its upper part by a bezel 3 and in its lower part by a bottom cover 4; a timepiece movement 5 and a dial 6 assembled against the case centre 2 by means of a fitting ring 7.

The inner space of the case centre 2 defines a bed 6 in which a damping device for a timepiece movement is housed, the damping device comprising an upper ring part 11 and a lower ring part 12, the upper ring part 11 and the lower ring part 12 being arranged to be assembled on an assembly formed by the movement, the dial and the bezel.

Case centre 22 is made of metal or metal alloy, but any other type of material is conceivable, such as plastic or ceramic. The bezel 3 and the bottom cover 4 are also made of metal or metal alloy, and at least the bezel includes a cover glass 30.

Movement 25 is preferably of the mechanical type, but quartz movements are also conceivable.

The case centre 2 is intended to receive the timepiece movement 5 by means of at least one shoulder 10 made in its inner wall, the movement 5 being fitted on the shoulder 10 of the case centre 2 by means of damping means which surround the movement, the dial and the bezel 7. In fact, the damping means are intended to adapt the movement 5 against the inner wall of the case centre 2.

The chime 7 comprises a generally annular body formed by an upper portion 70 arranged to receive the dial and a lower portion 71 arranged to receive the movement 5. As can be observed in fig. 1, the upper portion 70 has a diameter greater than that of the lower portion 71 and thus forms a shoulder.

The upper part 70 has at least one recess 18 and a discontinuous perimetric edge 19' to orient and hold the dial 6 in position on the engagement ring 7, the dial 6 also having a catch 60 placed against the edge of the recess 18. The lower part has a slot 19, which slot 19 is arranged to cooperate with a main plate 50 of the movement 5 to orient and hold the movement 5 in position.

According to the invention, the damping device comprises an upper annular part 11 and a lower annular part 12, each having a

tapered surface

15, 20, the

tapered surfaces

15, 20 being arranged to cooperate with a shoulder 10 in the centre of the watch case or a shoulder 4 of the bottom cover. The upper ring member 11 and the lower ring member 12 are advantageously made of an elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber, to be able to absorb/cushion the impact.

As illustrated in figure 3a, the upper ring part 11 comprises on its outer lateral face orientation means with respect to the case centre 2. The orientation means are in the form of a tab 13, which tab 13 forms a rounded protuberance on the surface of the rim of the upper annular component 11, the tab 13 being arranged to cooperate with a complementary shaped recess 13' formed on the inner wall of the case centre 2. It will therefore be understood that the upper ring part 11 is fitted against the case centre 2 and that the conical surface 15 presses against the shoulder 10 of the case centre 2.

The upper annular member 11 also comprises orientation means with respect to the fitting ring 7 (and implicitly to the movement 5), in the form of at least one projecting element 14, which projecting element 14 is formed on the inner lateral face of the annular member 11 and is arranged to cooperate with a complementary-shaped cut 17 at the level of the upper portion of the fitting ring 7.

As can be observed in fig. 3b, the lower annular component 12 comprises on its outer lateral face at least one machined portion 22, which machined portion 22 is arranged to cooperate by fitting with at least one protruding element 14 of the upper annular component 11. The lower annular part 12 further comprises an upper edge 21 arranged to rest against an upper portion of the fitting ring 7. Therefore, it is understood that, when integrally assembled as in fig. 4a and 4b, the fitting ring 7 and the dial 5 are sandwiched between the upper ring member 11 and the lower ring member 12.

Advantageously, the upper ring part 11 and the lower ring part 12 each comprise a passage for a winding mechanism rod 51, so as to be able to insert this winding mechanism rod 51 during assembly. Obviously, other channels may be provided, such as a channel for a pusher rod.

The timepiece comprises a ring 8, this ring 8 being arranged to be interposed between the bottom cover 4 and the lower annular part 12 in order to retain the damping means once the bottom cover of the timepiece is assembled in the centre of the case.

Thus, when the timepiece is subjected to an impact, the assembly formed by the lower and upper annular members, the movement and the dial moves.

It is also conceivable that the watch case 23 is partially closed, i.e. it comprises a bottom cover or bezel integral with the centre of the watch case. Thus, in the first case, the case centre can be replaced by a case that is only kept closed by the bezel. Finally, in the second case, the case centre can be replaced by a case that is held closed only by the bottom cover.

Claims

1. Timepiece (100) comprising a case (1), the case (1) comprising a case centre (2), the case centre (2) being closed in its upper part by a bezel (3) and in its lower part by a bottom cover (4), a timepiece movement (5) and a dial (6) being assembled against the case centre (2) by means of a fitting ring (7), characterized in that the timepiece (100) comprises a damping device (10) for the timepiece movement, the damping device (10) comprising an upper ring part (11) and a lower ring part (12), the upper ring part (11) and the lower ring part (12) being arranged to be assembled on an assembly formed by the movement, the dial (6) and the fitting ring (7).

2. The timepiece of claim 1, characterised in that said upper annular part (11) and said lower annular part (12) are made of an elastic material, such as natural or synthetic rubber.

3. The timepiece (100) of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the upper annular part (11) comprises positioning means for the orientation of the damping means with respect to the case centre (2).

4. The timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the upper annular part (11) and the lower annular part (12) comprise a fitting means arranged to cooperate with the dial (6) and the fitting ring (12).

5. The timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the upper annular part (11) and the lower annular part (12) each have a tapered surface (15, 24) arranged to cooperate with at least one shoulder (10) of the case centre (2).

6. The timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the timepiece (100) comprises a ring (8), the ring (8) being arranged to be interposed between the bottom cover (4) and the lower annular member (12) once the watch is assembled to maintain integrity.

7. The timepiece (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the upper annular part (11) and the lower annular part (12) each comprise a passage (16, 23) for a winding mechanism stem (51).

8. The timepiece (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fitting ring (7) comprises a generally annular body formed by an upper portion (70) and a lower portion (71), the upper portion (70) being arranged to receive the dial (6) and the lower portion (71) being arranged to receive the movement (5).

9. The timepiece (100) of claim 8, characterised in that the upper portion (70) has at least one recess (18) and a discontinuous perimetric edge (19') to orient and hold the dial (6) in position on the fitting ring (7), the dial (6) having a catch (60) placed against the edge of the recess (18).

10. Timepiece (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the timepiece movement (25) is of the mechanical timepiece type.