EP4495709A1 - Analog display element - Google Patents

Abstract

One aspect of the invention relates to a display element (1) intended to equip a timepiece, comprising a body (2) provided with a portion (4) including a mounting area (5) configured to receive by embedding an insert (3), said embedding insert (3) being provided with an axle hole (13) configured to adjust the display element (1) on a drive axle, the body (2) comprising a portion (4) made of a material having the property of softening in which said insert (3) is embedded by fusion, this insert (3) comprising on a peripheral wall (6) provided with a structured outer surface (7a) for connection with said portion (4) of said body (2) of the display element (1), the outer surface (7a) being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of the insert (3) in said portion (4), said peripheral wall (6) projecting on either side of respectively opposite faces of the portion (4) of said body (2).

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular to the field of analog display elements such as a hand or a display disc of a timepiece.

The invention also relates to the timepiece comprising such a display element.

Technological background

The manufacture of a display element such as a hand intended to be used as a display indicator in a timepiece is particularly complex, in particular when it is a hand intended to equip a high-end timepiece, for which the hand must have a particularly neat surface appearance, possibly provided with facets.

Usually, needles are made of brass, steel, gold, aluminum, or a special alloy. They can be galvanized, painted, oxidized, varnished, PVD-coated, treated by bluing/anodizing or raw when the material used is gold. They are generally made by machining or stamping and can be subject to surface treatment such as polishing, sandblasting, satin finishing, etc.

A disadvantage of these display needles is that they offer decorative possibilities that are limited, for example when it comes to making needles with a transparent or translucent body. In addition, the materials used for such needles have a high density, which implies a high moment of inertia and an unbalance force that have respectively resulting in needle floating and needle slippage upon impact.

One solution in the state of the art is to manufacture needles from synthetic materials. However, such needles mounted on a drive shaft encounter problems of holding on their barrel resulting from plastic deformation by creep.

Summary of the invention

The invention aims in particular to overcome the various drawbacks of the state of the art.

Another aim of the invention is to improve the holding of a display element such as a needle having a non-metallic plate on a drive shaft of a display mechanism of a timepiece.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display element having reduced weight, and in any desired shape.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a display element which is robust over time and whose manufacturing cost is reduced.

In this regard, one aspect of the invention relates to a display element intended to equip a timepiece, comprising a body provided with a portion including a mounting area configured to receive an insert by embedding, said embedding insert being provided with an axle hole configured to adjust the display element on a drive axle, the body comprising a portion made of a material having the property of softening in which said insert is embedded by fusion, this insert comprising on a peripheral wall provided with a structured outer surface for connection with said portion of said body of the display element, the outer surface being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of the insert in said portion, said peripheral wall projecting on either side of respectively opposite faces of the portion of said body.

• la paroi périphérique est pourvue d'une surface extérieure de liaison dont une portion correspondant à l'épaisseur de la zone de montage est entièrement structurée en comprenant une pluralité de motifs en relief ;
• l'insert comprend des première et deuxième parties faisant saillies de part et d'autre respectivement des faces opposées de la portion dudit corps ;
• l'insert comprend des première et deuxième parties faisant saillies de part et d'autre respectivement des faces opposées de la portion dudit corps ;
• les première et deuxième parties de l'insert présentent des épaisseurs qui sont similaires ;
• les première et deuxième parties comprennent en leur extrémité libre des zones d'insertion configurées pour traverser le matériau de la portion dudit corps dans laquelle ledit insert est encastré par fusion ;
• le matériau ayant la propriété de se ramollir comprend en tout ou partie une matière plastique ayant la propriété de se ramollir ;
• ledit insert encastrable est réalisé en un matériau présentant une température de ramollissement supérieure à une température de ramollissement du matériau constituant ladite portion ;
• la portion comprend ledit insert encastré par fusion/intégration/association des matériaux constituant respectivement l'insert et la portion notamment par fusion/intégration/association par ultrasons ;
• l'élément d'affichage est symétrique par rapport à un plan de symétrie longitudinal P1 et/ou un plan de symétrie transversal P2 de cet élément ;
• l'élément d'affichage est une aiguille d'affichage dont le corps comprend une planche pourvue de la zone de montage comprenant un canon formé par l'insert encastrable.

In other embodiments:

• the peripheral wall is provided with an outer connecting surface, a portion of which corresponding to the thickness of the mounting area is entirely structured by comprising a plurality of relief patterns;
• the insert comprises first and second parts projecting on either side of the opposite faces of the portion of said body;
• the insert comprises first and second parts projecting on either side of the opposite faces of the portion of said body;
• the first and second parts of the insert have thicknesses which are similar;
• the first and second parts comprise at their free end insertion zones configured to pass through the material of the portion of said body in which said insert is embedded by fusion;
• the material having the property of softening comprises in whole or in part a plastic material having the property of softening;
• said built-in insert is made of a material having a softening temperature higher than a softening temperature of the material constituting said portion;
• the portion comprises said insert embedded by fusion/integration/association of the materials constituting respectively the insert and the portion in particular by fusion/integration/association by ultrasound;
• the display element is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry P1 and/or a transverse plane of symmetry P2 of this element;
• the display element is a display needle whose body comprises a board provided with the mounting area comprising a barrel formed by the recessed insert.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such display element.

Brief description of the figures

• la figure 1 est une vue de dessus d'un élément d'affichage ici une aiguille d'affichage comprenant une planche pourvue d'une portion comportant un canon formé par un insert encastrable, selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus de la portion de la planche de l'aiguille comprenant le canon, selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe longitudinale selon la ligne A-A de ladite portion de la planche de l'aiguille représentée sur la figure 2, selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention, et
• la figure 4 est une vue de côté de l'insert encastrable formant le canon de l'aiguille, selon le mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given as a simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the appended figures, among which:

• there figure 1 is a top view of a display element here a display needle comprising a board provided with a portion comprising a barrel formed by a recessed insert, according to one embodiment of the invention;
• there figure 2 is a top view of the portion of the needle board comprising the barrel, according to the embodiment of the invention;
• there figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view along line AA of said portion of the needle board shown in the figure 2 , according to the embodiment of the invention, and
• there figure 4 is a side view of the insert forming the barrel of the needle, according to the embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In reference to the Figures 1 to 4 , the invention relates to a display element 1 preferably for equipping a timepiece such as a wristwatch. Such an element 1 may be, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner, a hand or even a display disk.

This display element 1 also called “ display indicator ” comprises a body 2 provided with a mounting area 5 included in a portion 4 of this body 2, said mounting area 5 being configured to receive an insert 3 by embedding or insertion. In other words, said portion 4 and therefore said area 5 are made of a material having the property of softening so that the insert 3 can be embedded (or inserted) therein. by fusion. Under these conditions, said mounting area 5 is then formed by this insert 3. Such an insert 3 comprises an axis hole 13 configured to adjust this display element 1 on a drive axis of a display mechanism of the timepiece.

To allow a better understanding of the invention, the display element 1 described here will be the display hand 1. In this context, the body 2 of this hand 1 comprises a board 2. In the portion 4 of this board 2 is included the mounting zone 5 comprising a barrel 5 formed by the insert 3. Such an insert 3 also called " sleeve ", is configured to be embedded by fusion/association/integration in a portion 4 of the board 2. The invention is described here in the particular, but non-limiting, case of a rotating hand 1. It will nevertheless be noted that the principle of the invention is applicable to a hand 1 provided with a mobility trajectory other than circular, for example to a linear cursor, or other. This hand 1 is capable of being included in a display mechanism for example by being an hour hand, has a variable length, or a variable radial extension.

In reference to the figure 1 , this display hand 1 comprises a first end comprising a counterweight and a second opposite end forming a point 10 indicating information such as for example a time when the display mechanism is a timepiece. As we have seen, the board 2 of this hand 1 comprises a portion 4 provided with the barrel 5 comprising an axis hole 13, also called “ adjustment diameter ” intended to be driven into the pivot of the drive axis of the display mechanism. Such a drive axis is included in a drive member of the display mechanism comprising gears. It will be noted that the invention is equally applicable to analog display mechanisms for a mechanical, electronic or even hybrid timepiece.

According to the embodiment shown, the board 2 comprises a circular head 9 in which the barrel 5 is housed to allow the mounting of the hand 1 on the drive shaft of the timepiece. The shaft hole 13 of the insert 3 forming the barrel 5 is provided to be adjusted on the drive shaft, by means of a driving operation for example.

This barrel 5, and therefore the insert 3, is capable of exerting a clamping force on the drive shaft which makes it possible to retain the needle 1 axially and in rotation on this drive shaft.

As we have mentioned, plate 2 also includes the point 10. This point 10 is linked to the head 9 by a body 12. Such a point 10 here has the shape of a triangle but could take any other suitable shape in order to indicate a determined angular position on a dial of the timepiece.

The board 2 of the needle 1 can also include a counterweight 11, of rectangular shape, linked to the head 9 in the extension of the body 12. Similarly, the counterweight 11 can take any other form, for example one could imagine that the counterweight 11 takes the form of a logo.

As previously mentioned, the portion 4 comprising the mounting area 5 is made of a particular material. More broadly, the board 2 is made in whole or in part of this material having the property of softening such as a plastic material, in particular thermoplastic. Preferably, such a material is a rigid material having the property of softening. Under these conditions, this material can therefore be heated sufficiently to soften and become rigid/hard again upon cooling. This plastic material is composed of linear or branched chain polymers which are capable of deforming and being shaped under the effect of heat. This plastic material comprises, for example, thermoplastic polymers.

We therefore understand that this board 2 can be made solely or entirely from this material which has the property of softening. Alternatively, such a board 2 may be partly made of this material with at least the portion 4 comprising the insert 3 being made of this material.

The barrel 5 is formed by the insertable insert 3 which is in the form of a cylinder in which an axis hole 13 is arranged to adjust the display needle 1 on the drive axis also called " rotation shaft ". It will be noted that such an insert 3 can be in other forms for example in the form of a polygon. This insert 3 can be made of a material having a softening temperature higher than that of the material constituting the portion 4 where such an insert 3 is embedded. Such a material is preferably metallic such as aluminum, brass, steel or titanium. Alternatively, this material can also be a thermosetting material.

Such an insert 3 forming this barrel 5 is intended to be forced onto the drive shaft which has a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the shaft hole 13 of this insert 3, the elastic and plastic properties of the material which constitutes it, make it possible to drive the barrel 5 onto this drive shaft without altering the board 2 of the display needle 1.

According to the invention, such an insert 3 comprises a peripheral wall 6 provided with an inner surface 7b capable of cooperating with the drive shaft when it is mounted in the display mechanism. This peripheral wall 6 also comprises an outer surface 7a for connection with the portion 4 of the board 2 of the display needle 1, in particular a structured outer surface 7a for connection. This peripheral wall 6 also comprises upper and lower surfaces 7c, 7d which connect the outer and inner surfaces 7a, 7b together.

This structured outer surface 7a comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8. This plurality of patterns 8 preferably extends over the entire outer surface 7a of the peripheral wall 6. Alternatively, this plurality of patterns 8 can be distributed over particular areas of this external surface 7a, which areas are configured to cooperate with the material constituting the portion 4 of the board 2 of this needle 1. It will be noted that these patterns 8 can be identical, that is to say have a similar shape as is visible on the Figures 2 and 4 .

Such a structured outer surface 7a contributes to increasing the contact surface of this insert 3 with the material used in the portion 4 of the board 2 comprising the barrel 5. Furthermore, in this configuration, the material can be inserted on and between the raised patterns 8 of this surface 7a in order to ensure good support of the board 2 on this insert 3. It is therefore understood that the support of this insert 3 in this portion 4 is then improved and thus contributes to ensuring its mechanical anchoring in an optimal manner in this portion 4.

It will be noted that the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 is preferably provided with an external connecting surface 7a, a portion of which corresponding to the thickness E2 of the portion 4 comprising the mounting zone 5 which is entirely structured by comprising a plurality of raised patterns 8. In other words, this peripheral wall 6 comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8, this plurality extending over a portion of its structured external connecting surface 7a.

In a variant, the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 is provided with a fully structured outer surface 7a. In other words, this peripheral wall 6 comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8 which extend over the entirety of its structured outer connecting surface 7a.

As can be observed in the figure 3 , the insert 3 comprises an internal diameter D1 configured to participate in driving the needle 1 onto the drive shaft, and an external diameter D2 greater than D1 configured to receive and hold the board 2 of the needle 1.

As we have mentioned, this insert 3 is embedded by fusion/integration/association in portion 4 of board 2 in order to form the barrel 5 of this needle 1. More precisely, this insert 3 is embedded in this portion 4 from a fusion/integration/association operation of the materials constituting respectively the insert 3 and the portion 4. Such an operation makes it possible to soften the material constituting the portion 4 by an energy supply and this, in order to ensure the introduction of the insert 3 into this portion 4. This energy supply can be implemented in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner by ultrasound or by a heating body, by a laser or even by a steam jet.

In the context of an ultrasonic implementation, such an operation may be an ultrasonic fusion/integration/association operation. This operation makes it possible to soften the material constituting the portion 4 by applying mechanical vibrations to said portion 4, said mechanical vibrations resulting from the ultrasound. In this context, these mechanical vibrations will then generate frictional heat in the portion 4 made of material having the property of softening and exciting its molecules which will in turn start moving. Thus, the material of this portion 4 softens by softening, allowing the insert 3 to be introduced/embedded in this portion 4 and to bond to this material.

In this configuration where the insert 3 is arranged in the board 2 of the needle 1 to form the barrel 5, it will be noted that the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 projects on either side of the opposite faces of the portion 4 of said board 2 of the display needle 1. These two opposite faces are connected to each other by a side wall of this needle 1.

• E1 de l'insert 3 ;
• E2 de la portion 4 ;
• E2 de la zone de montage 5.

More precisely, this peripheral wall 6 comprises first and second parts 14a, 14b which project on either side of the opposite faces of this portion 4 of said body 2. These parts 14a, 14b each comprise an opening of the axis hole 13 of the insert 3. These openings are of course opposite one another. In this configuration, these first and second parts 14a, 14b of the insert 3 have thicknesses E3, E4 which are preferably similar. Such thicknesses E3, E4 are less than the thickness:

• E1 of insert 3;
• E2 of portion 4;
• E2 of assembly area 5.

Such an arrangement of the insert 3 in this portion 4 helps to stabilize the display needle 1 axially and in rotation. In addition, this arrangement helps to standardize the distribution of the stresses that the needle 1 may undergo during its assembly on the drive shaft and also after its assembly on this shaft. In other words, such stresses are distributed uniformly over the entire thickness E2 of the body 2. This uniform distribution ensures that the body 2 of the needle and therefore the portion referenced 4 remain flat. Thus, this arrangement makes it possible to maintain the flatness of the body 2 of the needle 1 after its assembly.

It is understood that such an arrangement of the insert 3 in the body 2 of the needle 1 allows the use of a wider range of materials, in particular by making it more necessary to use materials which are expressly reinforced to avoid deformations of the needle which could result from such constraints.

Furthermore, such first and second parts 14a, 14b comprise at their free end insertion zones 15a, 15b. These zones are configured to pass through the material of the portion 4 of said body 2 in which said insert 3 is capable of being embedded by fusion. Indeed, each insertion zone 15a, 15b preferably has a cross section having a flared shape with one end which essentially ends in a point.

Furthermore, it will be noted that the display needle 1 is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry P1 and a transverse plane of symmetry P2 of this needle 1. It is understood that these two planes P1, P2 are perpendicular to each other. By being thus symmetrical, such a display needle 1 is then reversible, which contributes to simplifying and reducing the time of its assembly in a display mechanism. In other words, such a display needle 1 can be mounted on the shaft by presenting a visible face which can be any of its two opposite faces.

The preceding description corresponds to a preferred embodiment and cannot in any case be considered as limiting, with regard more particularly to the type of display element described. Indeed, other display elements such as disks, in particular date disks, are also part of the invention.

Furthermore, this description is also not limited to the form described for the various structural elements making up the display element 1 or their materials. A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulty in choosing, for example for the board 2 of the needle 1, any other material having the mechanical properties necessary for implementing the present invention.

The possible applications for such a display element are very numerous since the present invention can be implemented for any type of object or device, in particular portable, comprising a display element.

Claims (11)

Display element (1) intended to equip a timepiece, comprising a body (2) provided with a portion (4) including a mounting area (5) configured to receive by embedding an insert (3), said embedding insert (3) being provided with an axle hole (13) configured to adjust the display element (1) on a drive axle, the body (2) comprising a portion (4) made of a material having the property of softening in which said insert (3) is embedded by fusion, this insert (3) comprising on a peripheral wall (6) provided with a structured outer surface (7a) for connection with said portion (4) of said body (2) of the display element (1), the outer surface (7a) being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of the insert (3) in said portion (4), said peripheral wall (6) projecting on either side respectively of opposite faces of the portion (4) of said body (2). Display element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall (6) is provided with an outer connecting surface (7a) of which a portion corresponding to the thickness (E2) of the mounting area (5) is entirely structured by comprising a plurality of relief patterns (8). Display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insert (3) comprises first and second parts (14a, 14b) projecting on either side of the opposite faces of the portion (4) of said body (2). Display element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first and second parts (14a, 14b) of the insert (3) have thicknesses (E3, E4) which are similar. Display element (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, in which the first and second parts (14a, 14b) comprise at their free end insertion zones (15a, 15b) configured for pass through the material of the portion (4) of said body (2) in which said insert (3) is capable of being embedded by fusion. A display element (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the material having the softening property comprises in whole or in part a plastic material having the softening property. Display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said recessed insert (3) is made of a material having a softening temperature higher than a softening temperature of the material constituting said portion (4). Display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the portion (4) comprises said insert (3) embedded by fusion/integration/association of the materials constituting respectively the insert 3 and the portion 4 in particular by fusion/integration/association by ultrasound. Display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry (P1) and/or a transverse plane of symmetry (P2) of this element (1). Display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which it is a display needle whose body (2) comprises a board (2) provided with the mounting area (5) comprising a barrel (5) formed by the insert (3). Timepiece characterized in that it comprises at least one display element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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