EP1859325B1 - Watch - Google Patents

Abstract

The watch has a case (10) which includes a glass (12), a middle (14) and a back (16), that define a housing (18). The housing has pellets (20), surrounded by an elastomer ring, each formed of a hollow shell (22) in which a movement (24) is disposed. Each shell has hands (28) controlled by the movement, and a back (32) with pushrods (36) at the center to allow modification of the information displayed by the hands. Each hollow shell is dimensioned such that it can move freely. A grid is placed between the back (16) and the pellets, and fixed to the middle.

Description

The present invention relates to watches intended to be worn on the wrist or in the pocket. These watches generally include a box defining a housing, a movement arranged in the housing and fixed in the box, a dial and hands arranged at the front of the dial and carried by movement of the mobiles.

Some of them, for example the one described in the document EP 0965071 , comprise a second housing in which are arranged decorative stones likely to move. These stones, mounted on kittens, give the watch a particular aesthetic, due to their movement at the front of the hands and the dial.

The document GB 2 218 228 discloses a watch comprising a box having a middle, an ice and a bottom defining together a housing, wherein is disposed a pad that can move freely in the housing, and in which is mounted a watch movement. Both the box and the pellet are in the form of a flat cylinder portion.

The document FR 2 613 849 describes a similar watch, wherein the housing and the pellet are spherical. In this variant, the housing contains a liquid in which the pellet floats.

In the variant described in the document GB 2 218 228 , the pellet is subjected to significant shocks against the inner wall of the housing, which may affect the operation of the room. The presence of the liquid in the second variant avoids this problem. However, the presence of this liquid makes the after-sales service difficult. In addition, in case of shock destroying the ice, which can not be avoided, especially because the ice is prominent, it can spread.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

• une boîte qui comporte une carrure, une glace et un fond définissant ensemble un logement,
• un mouvement,
• des moyens d'affichage commandés par ledit mouvement, et
• des moyens de correction pour permettre une modification de l'information affichée par les moyens d'affichage
• une pastille creuse, dans laquelle est monté ledit mouvement, les moyens d'affichage et les moyens de correction, disposée dans ledit logement et dimensionnée de manière à ce qu'elle puisse s'y mouvoir librement.

For this purpose, the watch according to the invention comprises:

• a box that has a middle, an ice and a bottom defining together a housing,
• a movement,
• display means controlled by said movement, and
• correction means for allowing a modification of the information displayed by the display means
• a hollow pellet, in which said movement is mounted, the display means and the correction means, disposed in said housing and dimensioned so that it can move freely.

The watch according to the invention is characterized in that the pellet is surrounded, at its periphery, with elastic material, preferably an elastomer; arranged to dampen shocks.

In the present document, a tablet is called a structure similar to a watch case, but does not include fixing means.

Advantageously, the pellet is provided with a bottom and the correction means comprise a pusher disposed in the bottom of the pellet.

• le poussoir est disposé au centre du fond de la pastille,
• la boîte est également munie d'un poussoir dans son fond, et
• le logement de la boîte définit une alvéole dans laquelle la pastille prend place dans une position telle que les poussoirs sont disposés au moins partiellement dans le prolongement l'un de l'autre.

In order to facilitate the correction:

• the pusher is disposed in the center of the bottom of the pellet,
• the box is also provided with a pusher in its bottom, and
• the housing of the box defines a cell in which the chip takes place in a position such that the pushers are arranged at least partially in the extension of one another.

• dans un premier mode de réalisation, le fond est amovible et la présence d'une grille interposée entre le fond de la boîte et la pastille permet de retenir cette dernière à l'intérieur de son logement, même lorsque le fond de la boîte est retiré, tout en permettant l'accès au poussoir,
• dans un deuxième mode de réalisation, la carrure comporte une ouverture latérale apte à laisser passer la pastille, et des moyens d'obturation étanches ou non,
• en variante non étanche, la boîte comporte une lunette montée libre en rotation sur la carrure, et les moyens d'obturation comportent un volet solidaire de la lunette, s'étendant vers le fond de la boîte et apte à obturer l'ouverture,
• en variante étanche, les moyens d'obturation comportent un couvercle rabattable sur l'ouverture, et doté de moyens de fixation coopérant avec la carrure, et un joint d'étanchéité intercalé entre le couvercle et la carrure,
• dans un troisième mode de réalisation, la carrure comporte un élément principal dans lequel est pratiquée l'ouverture latérale et un élément rabattable formant, avec un joint d'étanchéité intercalé entre ces éléments, les moyens d'obturation. L'élément principal et l'élément rabattable sont reliés l'un à l'autre au moyen d'une articulation et fixés l'un à l'autre au moyen d'un système de fixation apte à les maintenir accolés, et
• dans un quatrième mode de réalisation, la boîte comporte une lunette montée articulée sur la carrure et munie de moyen de fixation, un joint étant intercalé entre la lunette et la carrure.

In order to allow the extraction of the pellets from the box and thus to make the corrections directly on them, the watch has the following characteristics:

• in a first embodiment, the bottom is removable and the presence of a grid interposed between the bottom of the box and the pellet makes it possible to retain the latter inside its housing, even when the bottom of the box is removed, while allowing access to the pusher,
• in a second embodiment, the middle part comprises a lateral opening capable of allowing the pellet to pass, and sealing means that are sealed or not,
• in a non-leakproof variant, the box comprises a telescope mounted free to rotate on the middle part, and the closure means comprise a shutter integral with the telescope, extending towards the bottom of the box and able to close the opening,
• in a sealed variant, the closure means comprise a cover that can be folded over the opening, and provided with fastening means cooperating with the middle part, and a seal inserted between the cover and the middle part,
• in a third embodiment, the middle part comprises a main element in which is formed the lateral opening and a folding element forming, with a seal interposed between these elements, the closure means. The main element and the folding element are connected to each other by means of a hinge and fixed to each other by means of a fastening system able to keep them contiguous, and
• in a fourth embodiment, the box comprises a bezel mounted hinged to the middle part and provided with fixing means, a seal being inserted between the bezel and the middle part.

By putting several mobile tablets in the housing, it is possible to display the hours of several places in a particularly interesting way, the user can, in the store, choose the places from which he wishes to have the time.

• Les figures 1 et 2 illustrent, vue respectivement de dessus et en coupe, un premier mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention ;
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective schématique d'un deuxième mode de réalisation d'une montre selon l'invention permettant la mise en place et l'enlèvement facilités de pastilles,
• Les figures 4 à 6 sont des vues partielles en coupe de trois variantes de la montre selon la figure 3,
• Les figures 7, 8 et 9, 10 sont des vues, respectivement, en perspective et, en perspective et en coupe, d'un troisième et d'un quatrième mode de réalisation de la montre selon l'invention, permettant la mise en place et l'enlèvement facilités des pastilles,
• La figure 11 est une vue en coupe d'une partie de la montre selon la figure 1, et
• La figure 12 représente une variante de la montre selon l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the drawing in which:

• The Figures 1 and 2 illustrate, respectively from above and in section, a first embodiment of a watch according to the invention;
• The figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a watch according to the invention for the easy placement and removal of pellets,
• The Figures 4 to 6 are partial sectional views of three variants of the watch according to the figure 3 ,
• The Figures 7, 8 and 9, 10 are views, respectively, in perspective and, in perspective and in section, of a third and a fourth embodiment of the watch according to the invention, allowing the easy placement and removal of the pellets,
• The figure 11 is a sectional view of a part of the watch according to the figure 1 , and
• The figure 12 represents a variant of the watch according to the invention.

The watch shown on the Figures 1 and 2 comprises a box 10 provided with a lens 12, a bezel 13, a middle part 14 and a bottom 16, together defining a housing 18 whose walls form a cylinder. Pellets 20 are arranged in the housing 18. They have a thickness slightly smaller than the distance separating the bottom 16 from the ice 12, and a diameter close to one-third of the diameter of the cylinder, so that they can be to move freely.

Each pellet 20 is formed of a shell 22 in which is arranged a movement 24, which is surmounted by a dial 26 and carries needles 28. The shell 22 comprises, like a watch case, a middle part 30, a bottom 32 and an ice 34.

The caseband 30 carries, at its periphery and substantially in the middle of its height, a rubber ring 35 protruding and acting as a shock absorber.

The movement can be of the type marketed by ETA (Switzerland) under the reference 201.001. It is very small. Its setting is performed by means of a pusher 36 disposed at the center of the bottom 32 of the pellet 20. This pusher is advantageously provided with a seal, so that the shell 22 can be sealed.

Each of the tablets 20 is associated with the display of a different time, one indicating the time of the place of residence, the others of other time zones, the names of these being indicated on the corresponding dials 26. .

The bottom 16 may, for example, be transparent, provided with a mirror or may carry a decoration.

To ensure the time setting of this watch, which must be done rarely since it is a quartz watch, several solutions are proposed, allowing direct access to the pellets 20, or indirectly, through the bottom 16.

In a first embodiment, the bottom 16 is removable and simply unscrew it to access the pellets 20 and act on the pusher of the patch to be corrected.

Advantageously, a grid not shown in the drawing could be interposed between the bottom 16 and the pellets 20 and fixed to the middle part 14, so that there is no risk of losing one or the other. pellets 20 when the bottom 16 is removed. This grid makes it possible to access the push-buttons 36 but prevents the pellets 20 from leaving the housing 18.

In a second embodiment, shown in figure 3 , a lateral opening 38 is made in the middle part 14, about three hours. This opening 38 makes it possible to extract the pellets 20 from the housing 18, and then to introduce them after having made the adjustments. Various sealing members, sealed or not, of the opening 38, are presented in Figures 4 to 7 . These are enlarged views of axial sections of the box 10 shown in FIG. figure 3 .

The figure 4 illustrates a first unsealed sealing member of the opening 38. In this embodiment, the bezel 13 is rotatably mounted on the middle part 14. The closure member is formed of a flap 40 secured to the bezel 13 and extending towards the bottom 16 of the box 10, inside the middle part 14. When the bezel 13 is actuated in rotation, the flap 40 closes the opening 38, or on the contrary, to disengage it.

The figure 5 represents a sealing member of the opening 38, formed of an articulated lid 42 provided with a seal 44. A clearance 46 formed in the outer face of the middle part 14, all around the opening 38 , defines a housing 48 for the cover 42, and a bearing surface 50 involved in sealing the closure. The lid 42 is hingedly mounted in the housing 48, so as to fall back on the opening 38, or to disengage. The seal 44 seals the lid 42 when it bears on the surface 50. A fastening system 51 such as a spring ball holds the cover 42 against the bearing surface 50. The lid opening 42 is made using a thin object that is introduced between the cover 42 and the side wall of the clearance 46.

For greater security of the watertight sealing system shown in figure 5 an alternative is to combine the flap 40 of the unsealed solution and the lid 42 of the sealed solution. This embodiment is represented in figure 6 . The lid 42 is of the same type as the lid described above. It is however thinner, so as not to occupy the clearance 46 over its entire depth. A groove 52 forming an annular portion extends axially in the box 10 from the top of the telescope 13 to the lower wall of the recess 46, and angularly on either side of the recess 46. The flap 40 integral with the rotating bezel 13 slides in the groove 52 so as to mask the cover 42, or to disengage it. Advantageously, the flap 40 exerts pressure on the cover 42 when it masks it, so as to increase its sealing.

In a third embodiment illustrated by the Figures 7 and 8 the middle part 14 is formed of a main element 54 and a folding element 56, articulated relative to each other by means of a hinge 57 and provided with a fastening system 58. The folding element 56 is formed of two neighboring horns 59a and 59b and a middle section 61 connecting one to the other. The main element 54 forms the complementary piece of the folding element 56 to the middle part 14. In the closed position, the elements 54 and 56 are joined together so as to form a middle part of one-piece appearance.

The main element 54 has a six-hour lateral opening 60 for the passage of the pellets. It further comprises two recesses 62a and 62b located on either side of the lateral opening 60, forming notches not visible in the drawing and intended to cooperate with the fastening system 58.

The folding element 56 is provided with a seal 64 ( figure 7 ) of dimensions slightly greater than those of the opening 60, intended to seal. It has a hollow 65 ( figure 8 ) in which is housed the fastening system 58, closed by a plate 67 fixed by four screws not referenced.

The fastening system 58, better visible on the figure 8 , consists of two pushers 66a and 66b provided with two hooks 68a and 68b intended to cooperate with the recesses 62a and 62b, and a spring 70. The pushers 66a and 66b are partially housed in the recess 65, a portion of each from them forming a protuberance accessible from the outside. Alternatively, and to prevent inadvertent opening, the protuberances could be embedded in the horns 59a and 59b, and manipulable only with the aid of a pointed instrument. The spring 70 is disposed between the pushers 66a and 66b and holds them in the spaced apart position.

In the closed position, the hooks 68a and 68b are housed and hooked respectively in the notches of the recesses 62a and 62b, and hold the elements 54 and 56 in abutment against each other. The seal 64 seals the opening 60. A pressure on the pushers 66a and 66b releases the two hooks 68a and 68b and allows the articulation of the elements 54 and 56 relative to each other. The opening 60 is thus released and the pellets 20 can to be released or put in place. Of course, any other locking clasp, known to those skilled in the art, can be used in place of the fastening system 58 described, without departing from the scope of the invention.

In a fourth embodiment shown in perspective and in section in FIGS. 9 and 10 respectively, the telescope 13 is articulated on the middle part 14 by means of a hinge 71. For this purpose, the upper surface of the middle part 14 and the lower surface of the bezel 13 form two flat annular portions, respectively 72 and 74, of substantially the same radial dimensions, intended to come into contact with one another when the bezel 13 is closed. In addition, the surface 72 is provided with an inner circular shoulder 76 for the positioning of the telescope 13 with respect to the middle part 14. Furthermore, the surface 72 comprises an annular recess 77 close to the shoulder 76, in which is housed a circular seal 78 sealing the entire bezel 13 - middle 14.

The bezel 13 is, in turn, provided with a clasp 80. The latter is formed of a substantially parallelepipedal element 82, mounted articulated on the bezel 13 at 3 o'clock with the aid of a hinge 81, and a fastener 84, articulated at the end of the element 82 by means of a hinge 83. The fastener 84 is further terminated by a hook 85.

The caseband 14 has a groove 86 located at 3 o'clock and passing through its entire thickness. The width and the depth of the groove 86 correspond respectively to the width and the thickness of the element 82, for reasons which will appear subsequently. The bottom 16 has a recess 88, also at 3 o'clock, provided with a notch 90.

When the bezel 13 is closed, the parallelepipedal element 82 is folded into the groove 86, which it occupies completely. The fastener 84 is, in turn, folded into the recess 88 and fixed to the bottom 16 by engagement of the hook 85 in the notch 90. The bezel 13 is thus held in the closed position by the clasp 80. The latter can be sized from so that a pulling force is exerted on the telescope 13, thus making it possible to compensate for any games. The clasp 80 is operated by simple pressure, for the closure of the bezel 13, or traction, for its opening. Very discreet, it preserves the aesthetics of the watch, in which it fully integrates.

In a last embodiment shown partially, in section, on the figure 11 , the access to the pellets 20 for setting the time is done indirectly through the bottom 16 of the box 10. To do this, the pusher 36 has, in its outer portion a plate 36a occupying the greater part of the bottom 32.

Furthermore, the bottom 16 of the box 10 includes a pusher 92 which, when pushed by the user, actuates the plate 36a of the pellet 20 being in alignment. To ensure the correction of the hours displayed by the various pellets, simply scroll them one after the other in the box 10 zone with the pusher 92.

As can be seen on the figure 12 , and to facilitate the positioning of the pellets 20, the middle 14 has a cell 94 in which a tablet 20 is positioned when the watch is inclined along the axis midday to six o'clock, the part of the box in the vicinity of which is usually displayed noon at the top.

This last embodiment making it possible to access the pellets indirectly through the bottom 16 of the box 10, for setting them on time, is compatible with the embodiments represented in FIG. figure 3 to 10 . These allow the insertion and the exit of the pellets 20 by a lateral or upper opening, but do not exclude that the time setting of the pellets 20 can be performed via the pusher 92 located on the bottom 16 of the box 10.

In most of the embodiments described above, the seal of the watch can be ensured both at the box 10 and pellets 20. This therefore provides a high degree of operational safety.

With the solution described with reference to Figures 11 and 12 , it is possible to place the pellets 20 in a liquid contained in the housing 18. By a appropriate choice of the position of the center of gravity and the constituent materials of the pellets 20 on the one hand, the liquid contained in the housing 18 on the other hand, it is possible to allow the pellets 20 to orient themselves when the shows, so that the midi of the pellets is at the top, making reading easier.

For example, one will choose a liquid whose specific mass is substantially equal to or greater than that of the or pellets 20, and position the center of gravity of the latter between their geometric center and the six o'clock position of the display means 28. .

The solutions as defined offer particularly varied possibilities, the buyer can choose himself the pellets 20 he intends to have in the box 10.

In a variant that has not been shown, but which does not present any particular difficulty for the skilled person, it is also possible to fix a movement in a housing in the box 10. In this way, the watch could display a fixed local time, while the hours of other time zones, each associated with a pellet 20, would be mobile in the housing 18.

It is also conceivable to provide pellets with devices capable of displaying anything other than the hour, for example temperature, or simply to have a decorative or commemorative function. The very mark of the watch could also be associated with the bottom of the box or be the subject of a pellet in itself.

In the various embodiments described, the pellets are of cylindrical shape. It is obvious that it is also possible to have other shapes, for example with polygonal or oval section.

Moreover, in one of the described embodiments, the middle part comprises two elements articulated with respect to each other, one of them being formed by two neighboring horns and a middle part connecting them together. . In Alternatively, the middle part could include a folding element formed of a portion of middle perpendicular to the axis nine hours - three hours.

Claims (15)

1. Watch comprising:

   • a case (10) which includes a middle (14), a glass (12) and a back (16) defining a housing assembly (18),

   • a movement (24),

   • display means (28) controlled by said movement (24),

   • correction means (36) to allow modification of the information displayed by the display means, and

   • a hollow pad (20) wherein is mounted said movement (24), the display means (28) and the correction means (36), arranged in said housing (18) and dimensioned such that it can move freely therein,

   characterized in that said pad (20) is surrounded, at its periphery, by an elastic material (35), preferably an elastomer, that is designed to absorb the shocks.
2. Watch according to claim 1, characterized in that said pad (20) is provided with a back (32), and in that said correction means comprise a push button (36) arranged in the back (32) of the pad (20).
3. Watch according to claim 2, characterized in that:

   • said push button (36) is arranged at the center of the back (32) of the pad (20),

   • the case (10) is also provided with a push button (38) in its back (16), and

   • said housing (18) defines a slot wherein the pad (20) is placed in a position such that said push buttons (36, 38) are arranged, at least partially, in the extension of each other.
4. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said back is removable and in that a grid is inserted between the back (16) of the case (10) and the pad (20), to hold said pad (20) inside its housing (18).
5. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said middle (14) comprises a lateral opening (38, 60) able to let said pad (20) pass and sealing means (40, 42, 56) for said opening.
6. Watch according to claim 5, characterized in that said case (10) comprises, moreover, a bezel (13) mounted rotationally on the middle (14) and in that said sealing means comprise a flap (40) integral with said bezel (13) extending toward the back (16) of said case (10) and able to seal said opening (38).
7. Watch according to claim 5, characterized in that said sealing means comprise a pull-down lid (42) for said opening (38) and provided with fixing means (51) cooperating with said middle (14), and a sealing member (64) inserted between said lid (42) and said middle (14).
8. Watch according to claim 7, characterized in that said case (10) comprises, moreover, a bezel (13) rotationally mounted on the middle (14) and in that said sealing means comprise, moreover, a flap (40) integral with said bezel (13) and cooperating with said pull-down lid (42).
9. Watch according to claim 8, characterized in that said middle (14) comprises, moreover, a groove (52) forming an annular portion extending angularly on either side of said pull-down lid (42), wherein said flap (40) slides.
10. Watch according to claim 5, characterized in that said middle comprises a main element (54) wherein is formed said lateral opening (60), and a cover member (56) forming, with a sealing member (64) inserted between said elements (54, 56), said covering means, said elements (54, 56) being connected to each other by a hinge (57) and fixed to each other by a fixing system (58) able to maintain them side by side.
11. Watch according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said case (10) comprises, moreover, a bezel (13) pivotally mounted on the middle (14) and provided with fixing means (80) to the middle (14).
12. Watch according to claim 11, characterized in that said fixing means (80) are made up of a clasp pivotally mounted on the bezel (13) and comprising a cover member (82) against the middle (14) and a fastener (84) able to be pulled down against the back (16) of the case (10) and fixable to said back (16).
13. Watch according to claim 12, characterized in that said middle (14) comprises a groove (86) wherein said element (82) falls shut and in that said back (16) comprises a hollow (88) wherein said fastener (84) falls shut, said hollow being provided with a notch (90) whereto said fastener is fixed (84).
14. Watch according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a sealing member (78) is inserted between the bezel (13) and the middle (14).
15. Watch according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that at least one additional pad (20) is arranged mobile in said housing (18).

Images