EP1098231A1 - Casing for small size instrument with manually removable back cover - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch casing (1) has a back (46) fixed in the body (2) by a retaining plate (50) or stirrup carrying fixing rails (5,6) slid from one side with lips (7) engaged in a slot in the back and a clip (60) to hold the back.

Description

The present invention relates to a box for a small volume instrument, in particular a watch, comprising a middle and a removable back applied under the middle.

This kind of box is commonly used to dress a wristwatch. The bottom can be either screwed or notched with possibly interposition between the bottom and the middle part of a seal. Laying or depositing such a background cannot be done only with special tools and these operations are generally reserved for a watchmaker, as is apparent in the two constructions taken as an example below :

The document CH 251 447 shows a bottom adjusted to notch under a middle. The box includes a middle-bezel, a casing frame freely adjusted in the middle part, a crystal whose heel is tight between the inner rim of the middle part and the box frame, and a bottom. The background is freely adjusted in the middle and is pressed against a compressible package lining the underside of the frame casing, by two levers each pivoting on an edge that presents internally each of the two opposite sides carrying the handles of the middle part.

The document CH 329 625 shows a background applied under a middle by means of a screw system. This watch includes a crystal whose edge folded towards the outside is pressed against a joint by a casing ring on which it rests. To keep it in the box, and so that it exerts pressure against the rim, the bottom, whose circumference is rectangular like the middle, is adjusted in the lower entrance thereof and has, on its outer face, a housing annular, the outer wall of which is tangent to the sides of the entrance and open to these places of tangency. In this housing is arranged a round ring, threaded externally and screwing into the middle at places of tangency mentioned above. Notches facilitate its screwing and unscrewing.

In the types of construction briefly described above as in all other constructions known to date, if, to function, the watch is equipped with a battery, the user will have no other resources than to entrust this watch to a person skilled in the art to change the battery reaching the end of its life.

It is true that to overcome this drawback, some box funds are fitted with a battery cover which consists of a screwed or bayonet-fitted cap in the bottom, this cap being provided with a screw slot which allows the user to open the hatch itself by means of a coin, as is set works for example on the Swatch watch (registered trademark).

This solution, however, is not suitable for a battery, or other source of large diameter energy as found in pager watches or in watches fitted with a GPS system. Nor could it agree to a particular watch with at least two batteries. For this type of instrument small volume, it is therefore necessary to find a solution that allows deposit the entire bottom in order to gain free access to the pile (s) which must be exchanged, this access must remain simple to implement by the user, and this without having to use any tool.

Note also that in this type of instrument (pager or GPS for example) the power source must be exchanged frequently, this being due to the high system consumption. This exchange must therefore be able to be carried out quickly and that by the user himself who will keep spare batteries on him.

To solve this problem, the present invention provides a maintained bottom under the middle by means of at least one rail, this rail having a first portion longitudinal arranged to be slid into a groove made in the middle and a second longitudinal portion arranged to cover an edge of the bottom when said first portion is introduced into said groove to fix said bottom under said middle.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective du dessous de la boíte selon l'invention, et selon son acception la plus évoluée,
• la figure 2 est une coupe dans la boíte de la figure 1, coupe opérée selon la ligne II-II,
• la figure 3 est une coupe dans la boíte de la figure 1, coupe opérée selon la ligne III-III,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée des pièces obturant le dos de la carrure de la boíte selon l'invention,
• la figure 5 montre un système de blocage possible du fond de boíte sur la carrure,
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe partielle de la boíte selon l'invention et selon son acception la plus simple;
• la figure 7 est une coupe partielle montrant une variante de construction à celle présentée en figure 2,
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective et à l'état dissocié d'une variante de réalisation des pièces obturant le dos de la carrure de la boíte selon l'invention;
• la figure 9 est une vue de dessous simplifiée de la carrure;
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne X-X de la figure 9;
• la figure 11 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XI-XI de la figure 9;
• la figure 12 est une vue de dessous du fond de la boíte;
• la figure 13 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XIII-XIII de la figure 12;
• la figure 14 est une vue de dessus de la plaque de maintien du fond de la boíte;
• la figure 15 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne XV-XV de la figure 14, et
• la figure 16 est une vue en coupe dans l'ensemble formé par la carrure de la montre et les pièces obturant le dos de celle-ci.

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawing and giving, by way of explanatory example, but in no way limiting, several advantageous embodiments of the invention, drawing in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view from below of the box according to the invention, and in its most advanced sense,
• FIG. 2 is a section through the box of FIG. 1, section made along the line II-II,
• FIG. 3 is a section through the box of FIG. 1, section made along the line III-III,
• FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the parts closing off the back of the middle part of the box according to the invention,
• FIG. 5 shows a possible blocking system for the case back on the middle part,
• Figure 6 is a partial sectional view of the box according to the invention and in its simplest sense;
• FIG. 7 is a partial section showing a construction variant to that presented in FIG. 2,
• Figure 8 is a perspective view and in the dissociated state of an alternative embodiment of the parts sealing the back of the middle part of the box according to the invention;
• Figure 9 is a simplified bottom view of the middle part;
• Figure 10 is a sectional view along line XX of Figure 9;
• Figure 11 is a sectional view along the line XI-XI of Figure 9;
• Figure 12 is a bottom view of the bottom of the box;
• Figure 13 is a sectional view along line XIII-XIII of Figure 12;
• Figure 14 is a top view of the bottom plate of the box;
• FIG. 15 is a sectional view along the line XV-XV of FIG. 14, and
• Figure 16 is a sectional view in the assembly formed by the middle part of the watch and the parts closing off the back thereof.

The perspective view of Figure 1 shows a watch case 1 according to the present invention and in its most advanced sense. We recognize a middle 2 to which are integrated various horns 30 which will be used to attach the strands of a bracelet. Inside this middle part 2 takes place the movement of the watch as well that all the components that can accompany it like, for example, a electronic pager or GPS as well as an energy source in the form one or two batteries. A removable base 3 is applied under the middle part 2. If necessary, a seal 4 (see Figures 2 and 3) is interposed between the middle 2 and back 3.

As shown in Figure 1, the box of the invention is remarkable in that the base 3 is held under the middle part 2 by means of two rails 5 and 6 located on the side and from the bottom 3. As can be seen in Figure 2 which is a section along the line II-II of Figure 1, the rail 5 has a first longitudinal portion 7 arranged to be slid into a housing or groove 9 formed in the middle part 2. The rail 5 also has a second longitudinal portion 11 arranged to cover a edge 13 of bottom 3 when said first portion 7 is introduced into said housing or groove 9. FIG. 2 also shows the rail 6 constructed analogously to the rail 5. Thus the rail 6 has a first longitudinal portion 8 arranged to be slid into a housing or groove 10 formed in the middle part 2. The rail 6 also has a second longitudinal portion 12 arranged to cover an edge 14 of the bottom 3 when said first portion 8 is introduced into said housing or groove 10. On will therefore understand that when the rails 5 and 6 are in place, the bottom 3 is fixed under the middle 2.

To complete the box 1 shown in Figures 2 and 3, the middle part 2 is on its upper part a bezel 31 under which a lens 32 is applied. The seal between the bezel 31 and the crystal 32 is provided by a gasket 33. The seal between the bezel 31 and the middle part 2 is provided by a lining 34.

The invention could stop there and be satisfied with having two rails 5 and 6 to block the back 3 under the middle 2. In this case, to put the back 3, the user slides the rails 5 and 6 one after the other out of their housings respective, after which the bottom 3 can be removed. To facilitate this extraction each rails can be provided with a protrusion at its end (not shown on the drawings). To close the box, apply the bottom 3 under the middle 2 and do first slide the first portion 7 of the rail 5 into its groove 9, the second portion 11 of this rail then pressing on the edge 13 of the bottom 3, then the first portion 8 of the rail 6 in its groove 10, the second portion of this rail then pressing on the edge 14 of the bottom 3. In the case which has just been exposed, it will be noted that the rails are independent one on the other and not necessarily parallel to each other.

However, it was considered useful and convenient to join the two rails 5 and 6 by a cross member 15 as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5. Cross member 15 forms with the rails 5 and 6, arranged in parallel, a stirrup referenced 16 and which is very apparent in Figures 1 and 4. This bracket 16 has the advantage of having on the one hand a single closing piece less difficult to lose and on the other hand gripping means 17 for simultaneously and manually extracting the rails 5 and 6 out of their respective housings 9 and 10 to thus separate the case back 3 from the middle 2. An example of gripping means will now be described:

The gripping means 17 is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The crosspiece 15 is provided with a bead 18 and the bottom 3 is provided with a recess or tab 19 which makes facing the bead 18. To extract the stirrup 16, slip a fingernail into the recess 19 until the tip of the nail presses on the bead 18. We exercise with the nail a force (arrow A) against the bead 18, which has the effect of releasing the cross-member 15 of the middle part 2 (arrow B) and extract the rails 5 and 6 from their housings.

Figure 4 illustrates the operations to be performed to close the box. We start by applying the back 3 under the middle 2 in the direction of the arrow C. maintains on the bottom 3 a certain force to crush the packing somewhat seal 4 while inserting the end of the rails 5 and 6 into their housings and slide them, in the direction of arrow D, to the bottom of their housings, pressing on the cross member 15.

To counterbalance the bead 18 and thus ensure a certain symmetry in the bottom 3, the bottom has been fitted with a second bead 35 (FIGS. 1 and 3).

Once in place and as described above, the exterior 16 is not insured against untimely extraction due, for example, to an object appearing in front of your gripping means which is provided with the crosspiece 15. To avoid this, we can equip the bottom 3 with a notch 20 as shown in FIG. 5. This notch 20 is capable of receiving a lock 21 arranged on the cross member 15. This lock has, relative to the cross member 15, sufficient elasticity to bend when it abuts by its inclined plane 36 on the edge 37 of the bottom 3 until its point falls into the notch 20. To release the lock, simply act with a fingernail on the plane 36 to do so flex and release the entire stirrup 16.

The section of Figure 6 shows a watch case 1 according to this invention and in its simplest sense. Here, the bottom 3 is maintained under the middle 2 by means of a single rail 5, which, it should be remembered, has a first portion longitudinal 7 arranged to be slid into a groove 9 formed in the middle part 2 and a second longitudinal portion 11 arranged to cover an edge 13 of the bottom 3. In this case, as it appears on the right side of Figure 6, the other edge 45 of bottom 3 ends in a point, arranged to be housed in a groove 9 formed in the middle part 2. To apply the back 3 under the middle part 2, one begins by inserting the pointed edge 45 into the groove 9 at a certain angle. then the bottom 3 under the middle part 2 and the bottom 3 is fixed by introducing the rail 5.

Whether it is the simplest meaning of the invention (Figure 6) or its most advanced meaning (Figure 2), the rails 5, 6 have a cross section in Z shape, the first longitudinal portion 7 having a first heel rectangular slipped in the groove 9 and the second longitudinal portion 11 comprising a second rectangular heel, the upper face 40 of which bears on the edge 13 of the bottom 3 (see FIG. 6).

The invention is not limited to this cross section which may take other profiles like for example, the one shown in figure 7. Here, the first portion longitudinal 7 of rail 5 has a rectangular heel slipped in groove 9 and the second longitudinal portion 11 of the rail 5 comprises a corner having a face inclined 41 arranged to press on an edge 13 of the bottom 3, this edge being cut in bevel.

In all that follows, the elements identical to those described previously in connection with Figures 1 to 7 will be designated by the same reference numerals. For a detailed description of these elements, see the passages correspondents of the foregoing description.

The perspective view of Figure 8 shows the middle part 2 of the box shows 1 which carries several horns 30 which serve to attach the strands of a bracelet. As for the variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the operations to be carried out to close the box 1 firstly apply the bottom 46 under the middle 2 in the direction of arrow E. A certain force is exerted on the bottom 46 to crush a joint seal 48 and ensure that said bottom 46 is properly applied under the middle 2. The end of the rails 5 and 6 is then introduced into their housings respective 9 and 10 and we slide them, in the direction of arrow F, to the bottom of these housings 9 and 10.

According to the variant shown in Figure 8, the rails 5 and 6 are interconnected by a retaining plate 50 which, when the rails 5 and 6 are slid into their housings 9 and 10, covers the bottom 46 of the box 1. More precisely, and as already described above, the rails 5 and 6 each have a longitudinal portion, 7 and 8 respectively, arranged so that they can be slid into the housings or grooves 9 and 10 made in the middle 2. Thus, when the rails 5 and 6 are in place, the bottom 46 is fixed under the middle 2, pressed against it by the plate maintenance 50.

The retaining plate 50 has multiple advantages. First of all, a unique piece that is less easy to lose. It also presents means of gripping 52 which will be described later to extract the rails 5 and 6 of the grooves 9 and 10. As it covers almost the entire surface of the bottom 46, the retaining plate 50 protects it from scratches or the like external aggressions. Finally, compared to the bracket 16 described above, the plate retention 50 gives better rigidity to the assembly that it forms with the rails 5 and 6.

To remove the bottom 46, the user must slide the rails 5 and 6 out of their housings 9 and 10 formed in the middle part 2, after which the base 46 can be removed. To facilitate this operation, the middle part 2 (shown diagrammatically on Figures 9 to 11) has on its opposite transverse edges 54 two grooves symmetrical 56 open towards the bottom of the box 1. When the bottom 46 is fixed under the middle 2, it covers by its edge 58 opposite one of the two grooves 56. It suffices then slide the end of one of the rails 5 or 6 into the groove 56 covered by the bottom 46 and use this rail 5 or 6 as a lever arm to detach said bottom 46 from the middle 2. Of course, this example is given by way of purely illustrative only, and the middle 2 may include only one groove 56 open downward to allow the bottom 46 to be removed. Advantageously, the retaining plate 50 is capable of having a bead which, in the position of closure, closes the groove 56 opposite, which significantly improves the aesthetics of the watch.

The gripping means 52 are shown in Figures 12 and 13 relating to the bottom 46 of the watch case 1 and in FIGS. 14 and 15 which relate to the retaining plate 50 of said bottom 46. The retaining plate 50 has a tongue 60 on the upper face of which is provided a bead 62. When the two rails 5 and 6 are slid to the bottom of the housings 9 and 10, the bead 62 just snaps into a groove 64 which faces said bead 62 and which is provided on the outer surface of the bottom 46.

To extract the retaining plate 50, the bottom has a recess 66. The user then slides a nail into the recess 66 until the tip of the nail manages to slightly lift the tongue 60 from the retaining plate 50 and to release the bead 62 from the groove 64. In the same movement, the user pushes back the retaining plate 50, which has the effect of extracting the rails 5 and 6 from their housings 9 and 10.

To facilitate the passage of the bead 62 presented by the tongue 60 when the rails 5 and 6 enter the housings 9 and 10, the bottom 46 includes a chamfer 68 which has an inclined face on which the bead 62 can slide.

The invention which has just been described shows that an instrument of small volume can be provided with a bottom which can be installed or removed without the aid of tools by the user. So if a battery needs to be replaced frequently, does this user not seek the help of a specialist.

Claims (14)

Box (1) for small volume instrument, in particular a watch, comprising a middle part (2) and a removable bottom (3, 46) applied under the middle part, characterized by the fact that the back is held under the middle by means of at least a rail (5), this rail having a first longitudinal portion (7) arranged to be slipped into a groove (9) made in the middle (2), and a second portion longitudinal (11) arranged to cover an edge (13) of the bottom (3) when said first portion is introduced into said groove to fix said bottom under said middle. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that a lining (4) sealing is interposed between the middle part (2) and the base (3). Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the rail (5) has a Z-shaped cross section, the first longitudinal portion (7) comprising a first rectangular heel slipped in the groove (9) and the second longitudinal portion (11) comprising a second rectangular heel, the face of which upper (40) presses on the edge (13) of the bottom (3). Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the first longitudinal portion (7) of the rail (5) has a rectangular heel slid into the groove (9) and that the second longitudinal portion (11) of the rail (5) has a corner having an inclined face (41) arranged to press on an edge (13) of the bottom (3), this edge being cut in a bevel. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom (3) is maintained under the middle (2) by means of two rails (5, 6) located on either side of the bottom, these rails each having a first longitudinal portion (7, 8) arranged to be slid into a respective groove (9, 10) made in the middle (2) and a second longitudinal portion (11, 12) arranged to cover an edge (13, 14) respective to the bottom (3). Box according to claim 5, characterized in that the two rails (5, 6) are arranged in parallel and are joined by a crosspiece (15) to form a stirrup (16). Box according to claim 6, characterized in that the crosspiece (15) is equipped with gripping means (17) for manually extracting the rails from their respective housings (9, 10) and thus separate the base (3) from the middle (2). Box according to claim 7, characterized in that the crosspiece (15) is provided with a bead (18) and that the bottom (3) is provided with a recess (19) facing the bead to allow, by means of a nail, the extraction of the stirrup (16). Box according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom (3) is provided with a notch (20) capable of receiving a lock (21) arranged on the crosspiece (15) to block the base under the middle (2) when the stirrup (16) is in place. Box according to claim 5, characterized in that the two rails (5, 6) are arranged in parallel and joined by a retaining plate (50) which, when the rails (5, 6) are slid into their respective housings (9, 10), covers the bottom (46) from the box (46). Box according to claim 10, characterized in that the plate holding (50) has gripping means (52) for manually extracting the rails (5, 6) out of their respective housings (9, 10) and thus separate the bottom (46) the middle (2). Box according to claim 11, characterized in that the plate support (50) comprises a tongue (60) provided with a bead (62) and in that the bottom (46) is provided with a groove (64) capable of receiving the bead (62). Box according to claim 12, characterized in that the bottom (46) is provided with a recess (66) facing the tongue (60) to allow, by means of a nail, the extraction of the retaining plate (50). Box according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that, to facilitate the passage of the bead (62) when the rails (5, 6) penetrate in their respective housings (9, 10), the bottom (46) comprises a chamfer (68) which has an inclined face on which the bead (62) can slide.

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