WRISTWATCH CASE WITH REMOVABLE ROTATING OUTER BAND
Patent Information
- Application Number
- AT2023151795T
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AT · AT
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-16
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-15
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-01-16
AI Technical Summary
State-of-the-art watch cases with removable rotating bezels are complex to manufacture and use, necessitating a simpler design that facilitates easy attachment and detachment without tools.
A watch case design featuring a movable connecting ring with elastic return force, interlocking members, and specific configurations to secure and release the bezel, allowing rotation in one direction and separation at a predefined angle, simplifying the attachment and detachment process.
The design enhances manufacturing ease and user convenience by providing a secure and easy-to-use removable rotating bezel, preventing accidental separation and allowing customization and maintenance.
Abstract
Description
Technical field of the invention
[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking, and in particular watch cases.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a watch case comprising a removable rotating bezel. Technological background
[0003] Some watches have a case designed so that the bezel can be removed from the caseband to which it is attached without tools, i.e. it includes a bezel attached to the caseband in a removable manner.
[0004] This type of bezel allows you to personalize the watch case, for example by replacing one bezel with another with different decorations, or to facilitate maintenance operations.
[0005] One of the disadvantages of state-of-the-art watch cases with removable bezels lies in the complexity of their manufacture and / or the complexity of their use, these disadvantages being further accentuated in the case of a rotating bezel.
[0006] There is therefore a need to propose a removable rotating bezel of simple design, that is to say comprising a minimum of elements, so that its manufacture is as easy as possible, while allowing its removal from the caseband or its attachment to the caseband in the most convenient way possible. Summary of the invention
[0007] The invention solves the aforementioned drawbacks and relates, to this end, to a watch case comprising a case middle, a bezel and a connecting ring arranged to be movable in rotation relative to the case middle and by means of which the bezel is capable of being fixed to the case middle in a position in which said bezel is forced to bear against said ring by an elastic return force generated by an elastic member. The connecting ring and the bezel each comprise at least one interlocking member cooperating together when the bezel is fixed to the case middle, in order to eliminate any relative mobility between said connecting ring and said bezel.
[0008] The connecting ring and the bezel are configured such that when the bezel is stressed by a force counter to the elastic restoring force, the interlocking members no longer cooperate with each other, so as to release rotational mobility between said connecting ring and said bezel. The connecting ring and the bezel are further configured such that they can be separated when they are arranged in a predefined angular position relative to each other.
[0009] In particular embodiments, the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination.
[0010] In particular embodiments, the connecting ring comprises a peripheral shoulder by which it is arranged in abutment against an axial bearing surface of the middle part formed by a radial lip.
[0011] In particular embodiments, the fitting members of the bezel and the connecting ring respectively comprise a coupling element, said coupling elements having complementary shapes and cooperating with each other when the bezel is fixed to the caseband and being separated from each other when the bezel is subjected to a force going against the elastic return force.
[0012] In particular embodiments, the coupling elements are configured, when the bezel is subjected to a force countering the elastic restoring force, to prohibit rotation of the bezel relative to the connecting ring in a first direction of rotation and to allow its rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.
[0013] In particular embodiments, the connecting ring comprises teeth cooperating with an elastic indexing element fixed to the middle.
[0014] In particular embodiments, the teeth are shaped so as to allow rotation of the connecting ring only in the first direction of rotation.
[0015] In particular embodiments, the interlocking members of the bezel and the connecting ring respectively comprise a translational stop element, said translational stop elements cooperating with each other when the bezel is fixed to the caseband and being released from each other when the coupling elements are separated from each other and the bezel and the connecting ring are arranged according to the predefined angular position.
[0016] In particular embodiments, the translational stop elements of the bezel and the connecting ring are formed respectively by a radial tab, the tabs extending in opposite directions and each comprising an interface face by which they rest against each other when the bezel is fixed to the caseband.
[0017] In particular embodiments, the coupling element of the connecting ring is formed by a housing defined between two radial stops, one of which is formed by a lateral end of the translational stop element of the connecting ring, called the "stop end", the coupling element of the bezel being formed by a radial tab intended to be engaged in said housing.
[0018] In particular embodiments, the translational stop elements of the bezel and the connecting ring are formed respectively by a radial tab, the tabs extending in opposite directions and each comprising an interface face by which they cooperate, the interface face of the radial tab of the connecting ring having an inclined portion arranged so as to generate an excess thickness at the level of the stop end, said excess thickness forming the second radial stop. Brief description of the figures
[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 represents a front view of a watch case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; the figure 2represents a cross-sectional view along the cutting axis AA of the watch case of the figure 1 ; there figure 3 represents a cross-sectional view along the cutting axis BB of the box of the figure 1 ; there figure 4 represents a cross-sectional view along the cutting axis CC of the box of the figure 1 ; there Figure 5 represents an exploded perspective view from above of the watch case of the figure 1 ; there figure 6 represents an exploded perspective view from below of the watch case of the figure 1 .
[0020] Note that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale for reasons of clarity. Detailed description of the invention
[0021] The invention relates to a watch case 10, as seen in the figures 1 to 6 , comprising a case 11 to which a bezel 12 is fixed by means of a connecting ring 13.
[0022] In particular, the connecting ring 13 is arranged to be able to rotate relative to the middle part 11, around a tubular part 111 of said middle part 11. As shown in the sectional views of figures 2 to 4 , the tubular part 111 is connected to a radial lip 112 forming an axial bearing against which the connecting ring 13 is arranged in abutment and more precisely a peripheral shoulder of said connecting ring 13. This peripheral shoulder is formed by a tubular portion 131 extending from an annular base 132, said tubular portion 131 and the tubular part 111 being coaxial.
[0023] As shown in the sectional view of the figure 2, when the bezel 12 is fixed to the middle 11, it is forced to bear against the connecting ring 13 by an elastic return force generated by at least one elastic member 121. This support allows the fitting members that the connecting ring 13 and the bezel 12 respectively comprise to cooperate with each other in order to eliminate any relative mobility between said connecting ring 13 and said bezel 12.
[0024] It is understood here that, thanks to the connecting ring 13, the bezel 12 benefits from a degree of freedom in rotation relative to the caseband 11 when it is fixed to the latter.
[0025] Advantageously, as visible on the figures 5 And 6 , the connecting ring 13 comprises, on its annular base 132, a toothing 133 cooperating with an elastic indexing element 134 fixed to the middle 11, as visible in the figure 3. Preferably, the toothing is shaped so as to allow the rotation of the connecting ring 13 only in a particular direction of rotation, called the “first direction of rotation”. Consequently, the bezel 12 is able to pivot in a single direction of rotation relative to the caseband 11.
[0026] Advantageously, the connecting ring 13 and the bezel 12, and in particular their respective interlocking members, are configured so that when the bezel 12 is stressed by a force going against the elastic return force, the interlocking members no longer cooperate with each other and thus allow the rotational mobility of the bezel 12 to be released relative to said connecting ring 13. It should be noted that when the bezel 12 is stressed by a force going against the elastic return force, it is moved axially along a stroke only necessary to allow the interlocking members to be released, as described in more detail below; this axial movement being not or barely perceptible by the user.
[0027] The bezel 12 can be removed from the caseband 11 only after being pivoted to a particular angle. In other words, when the bezel 12 is subjected to a force counteracting the elastic restoring force, the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 can be separated by their arrangement according to a predefined angular position relative to each other.
[0028] The fact that the bezel 12 must be subjected to a force going against the elastic return force generated by the elastic member(s) 121 to remove the bezel 12 from the caseband 11 makes it possible to avoid any accidental separation of the bezel 12 and the caseband 11, and thus helps to secure the fixing of said bezel 12.
[0029] The fitting members of the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 are visible in the exploded views of the figures 5 And 6and respectively comprise a coupling element. According to its definition accepted in the field of mechanics, a coupling allows the transmission of a rotational movement between two parts. The coupling elements therefore allow, when the interlocking members cooperate with each other, to secure in rotation the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13.
[0030] For this purpose, the coupling element of the connecting ring 13 is formed, in the preferred embodiment, by a housing 135 defined between two radial stops. In this embodiment, the radial stops extend outwards. The coupling element of the bezel 12 is formed by a radial tab 122, visible on the figure 6, of a shape complementary to that of the housing 135 and engaged in said housing 135 when the fitting members of the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 cooperate together. In particular, this radial tab 122 extends from a skirt 120 of the bezel 12.
[0031] Preferably, the coupling elements are advantageously configured to prevent rotation of the bezel 12 relative to the connecting ring 13 in the first direction of rotation, when the bezel 12 is subjected to a force going against the elastic return force.
[0032] The first direction of rotation of the bezel 12 corresponds to its single direction of rotation relative to the caseband 11 when it is fixed to the latter. Thus, the risk of accidentally detaching the bezel 12 from the caseband 11 during its rotation is excluded.
[0033] For this purpose, one of the radial stops, called “first radial stop” 136 below, extends axially over a distance such that it constitutes a stop for the radial lug 122 regardless of the axial position of the bezel 12, that is to say whether or not it is subjected to a force opposite to the elastic return force.
[0034] The fitting members of the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 also comprise, respectively, a translational stop element, as visible in the figures 2 , 3 , 5 And 6 The translational stop elements cooperate with each other when the bezel 12 is fixed to the caseband 11 and are released from each other when the coupling elements are detached and the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 are arranged according to the predefined angular position relative to each other.
[0035] More precisely, the translational stop elements of the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 are formed respectively by a radial tongue 123, 138 each comprising an interface face 1230, 1380 by which they rest against each other when the bezel 12 is fixed to the caseband 11. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13 extends outwards and that of the bezel 12 extends inwards.
[0036] The tabs 123 and 138 each extend between two lateral ends defining an angular sector large enough to distribute the axial forces on the interface faces 1230, 1380 in a suitable manner to maximize resistance to mechanical stresses.
[0037] Preferably, one of the radial stops, called the “second radial stop” 137, is formed by a lateral end of the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13, called in the remainder of the text “stop end”.
[0038] When fixing the bezel 12 to the middle 11, the tabs 123 and 138 of the bezel 12 and of the connecting ring 13 are arranged to bear against each other by means of their interface face 1230, 1380, which makes it possible to prevent any removal of the bezel 12 relative to the middle 11 by a translational movement, then the bezel 12 is pivoted relative to the middle 11 until the radial lug 122 of the bezel 12 engages in the housing 135 under the stress of the elastic return force and comes into contact with the first radial stop 136.
[0039] In the preferred embodiment and as shown in the detail view of the Figure 5, the interface face 1380 of the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13 has an inclined portion 1381 arranged so as to generate an excess thickness at the stop end. In particular, said interface face 1380 comprises a first portion against which the interface face 1230 of the tongue 123 of the bezel 12 rests in abutment when the bezel 12 is fixed to the middle 11 and a second portion, constituted by the inclined portion 1381, forming with the first portion a non-flat angle α, for example between 145 and 175 degrees. In summary, the excess thickness generated by this second portion forms the second radial stop 137.
[0040] This feature helps to simplify the design and manufacture of the interlocking components.
[0041] Advantageously, in order to facilitate the assembly of the case 10, the middle part 11 may comprise a fixing ring 110 intended to fix the connecting ring 13 to said middle part 11 while allowing a degree of freedom in rotation of said connecting ring 13 relative to said middle part 11. More precisely, the fixing ring 110 comprises the tubular part 111 and the radial lip 112, and is fixed to a middle part body 113 for example by screwing.
[0042] The case body 113 may comprise a connecting piece 1130 fixed to a central part 1131 of the case body 113, for example by screwing, and comprising an annular groove 1132 intended to receive the fixing ring 110, the connecting ring 13 and the skirt 120 of the bezel 12. In particular, the annular groove 1132 is defined between an internal flank and an external flank connected to each other by a bottom. In the example shown in the sectional views of the figures 2 to 4, the fixing ring 110 is arranged opposite the internal flank and the bezel 12 is arranged opposite the external flank.
[0043] The elastic indexing element 134 and the elastic member 121 are housed in the central part 1131 of the case body 113 and extend through the bottom of the annular groove 1132.
[0044] It is understood from the above that the bezel 12, when it is fixed to the middle 11, is movable in translation according to a clearance defined between stops formed by the bottom of the annular groove 1132 and by the interface face 1380. This clearance is only necessary, as indicated previously, to separate the coupling elements from one another.
[0045] The junction piece 1130 is fixed to the central part 1131 in a preferentially removable manner, so as to simplify any maintenance operations and to allow customization of a part of the caseband 11, in addition to the possibility of customization of the bezel 12.
[0046] More generally, it should be noted that the embodiments considered above have been described as non-limiting examples, and that other variants are therefore conceivable.
[0047] In particular, although in the embodiment described above, the radial lip 112 of the fixing ring 110, the first radial stop 136 and the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13 extend outwardly, and the annular base 132 of the connecting ring 13, the tongue 123 and the radial tab 122 extend inwardly, an arrangement in an opposite direction of these elements could be envisaged. In other words, the radial lip 112, the first radial stop 136 and the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13 could extend inwardly, and the annular base 132, the tongue 123 and the radial tab 122 could extend outwardly.
[0048] Furthermore, the bezel 12 and the connecting ring 13 may each comprise several interlocking members, for example three, as shown in the figures. It is also conceivable, to constitute the second radial stop 137, to replace the inclined portion 1381 with a similar projecting portion, for example formed by a pin, an appropriately shaped excess thickness, etc. It is also conceivable for the interface face 1380 to form a single inclined face to constitute the second radial stop 137, the cross section of the tongue 138 then increasing towards the housing 135. It is also conceivable to provide an axial offset of the radial tab 122 relative to the tongue 123 of the bezel 12, so that when said tongue 123 bears on the tongue 138 of the connecting ring 13, the radial tab 122 is housed in the housing 125.This last example makes it possible to shape the tab 138 of the connecting ring 13 into any shape.
Claims
1. Watch box (10) characterized in thatit comprises a case middle (11), a bezel (12) and a connecting ring (13) arranged to be movable in rotation relative to the case middle (11) and by means of which the bezel (12) is able to be fixed to the case middle (11) in a position in which said bezel (12) is forced to bear against said ring by an elastic restoring force generated by an elastic member (121), the connecting ring (13) and the bezel (12) each comprising at least one interlocking member cooperating together when the bezel (12) is fixed to the case middle (11), in order to eliminate any relative mobility between said connecting ring (13) and said bezel (12), the connecting ring (13) and the bezel (12) being configured so that when the bezel (12) is stressed by a force going against the elastic restoring force,the interlocking members no longer cooperate with each other so as to release rotational mobility between said connecting ring (13) and said bezel (12), the connecting ring (13) and the bezel (12) being further configured so as to be able to be separated when they are arranged in a predefined angular position relative to each other., 2. Watch case (10) according to claim 1, in which the connecting ring (13) comprises a peripheral shoulder by which it is arranged in abutment against an axial bearing surface of the caseband (11) formed by a radial lip (112).
3. Watch case (10) according to claim 2, in which the fitting members of the bezel (12) and the connecting ring (13) respectively comprise a coupling element, said coupling elements having complementary shapes and cooperating with each other when the bezel (12) is fixed to the caseband (11) and being separated from each other when the bezel (12) is subjected to a force going against the elastic return force.
4. Watch case (10) according to claim 3, in which the coupling elements are configured, when the bezel (12) is subjected to a force going against the elastic return force, to prohibit the rotation of the bezel (12) relative to the connecting ring (13) in a first direction of rotation and to allow its rotation in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.
5. Watch case (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the connecting ring (13) comprises teeth cooperating with an elastic indexing element (134) fixed to the caseband (11).
6. Watch case (10) according to claims 4 and 5, in which the teeth are shaped so as to allow rotation of the connecting ring (13) only in the first direction of rotation.
7. Watch case (10) according to claim 3 or 4, in which the fitting members of the bezel (12) and the connecting ring (13) respectively comprise a translational stop element, said translational stop elements cooperating with each other when the bezel (12) is fixed to the caseband (11) and being released from each other when the coupling elements are separated from each other and the bezel (12) and the connecting ring (13) are arranged according to the predefined angular position.
8. Watch case (10) according to claim 7, in which the translational stop elements of the bezel (12) and of the connecting ring (13) are formed respectively by a radial tab (123, 138), the tabs (123, 138) extending in opposite directions and each comprising an interface face (1230, 1380) by which they rest against each other when the bezel (12) is fixed to the caseband (11).
9. Watch case (10) according to claim 7 or 8, in which the coupling element of the connecting ring (13) is formed by a housing (135) defined between two radial stops (136, 137), one of which is formed by a lateral end of the translational stop element of the connecting ring (13), called the "stop end", the coupling element of the bezel (12) being formed by a radial lug (122) intended to be engaged in said housing (135).
10. Watch case (10) according to claim 9, in which the translational stop elements of the bezel (12) and of the connecting ring (13) are formed respectively by a radial tab (123, 138), the tabs (123, 138) extending in opposite directions and each comprising an interface face (1230, 1380) by which they cooperate, the interface face of the tab (138) of the connecting ring (13) having an inclined portion (1381) arranged so as to generate an excess thickness at the stop end, said excess thickness forming the second radial stop (137).