Elastic retaining member for fixing a timepiece component on different support elements

Abstract

The invention relates to a retaining member (1) for fixing a timepiece component (2) on support elements (3a, 3b) having different cross sections, the retaining member comprising openings (5) into which each support element (3a, 3b) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) comprising structural elements (6) which together form the body of the retaining member (1) and which contribute to ensuring that each support element (3a, 3b) is mounted in said openings (5), each of these structural elements (6) comprising a first structural sub-element (7a) and a second structural sub-element (7b), the first structural sub-element (7a) comprising a greater volume of material than the volume of material constituting the second structural sub-element (7b), the retaining member (1) comprising a connecting section (19) which ensures that each of said support elements (3a, 3b) is mounted in the retaining member (1), the section (19) being defined on the inner face of the first structural sub-element (7a).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an elastic retaining member for securing watch components to different types of support elements, such as balance wheel shafts or short shafts.

[0002] The present invention also relates to an elastic retaining member-watch component assembly and an assembly including such a component and a support element.

[0003] Finally, the present invention relates to a watch movement comprising at least one of these assemblies, and a watch component comprising such a movement. Background Technology

[0004] In the prior art, it is known that resilient retaining members, such as viroles, participate in the assembly of the hairspring on the balance shaft or balance wheel shaft of a regulating component (e.g., the resonator of a watch movement) by resilient clamping. These hairsprings are typically wound individually around a hairspring axis, with viroles positioned at their inner ends. Each virole includes an opening, the inner surface of which includes a retaining portion arranged to cooperate with a rotational axis about the hairspring axis, facilitating the centering of the hairspring on such an axis.

[0005] Prior to this assembly, particularly during the sorting operation, the torque and / or stiffness of these hairsprings are typically measured. For this purpose, the chuck for a given hairspring is thus driven on a short shaft with a circular cross-section, which helps ensure the chuck is held in an angular and vertical position. The diameter of this short shaft is defined by the opening diameter of the hairspring chuck, and such that when measuring the hairspring torque, the chuck is held in an angular and vertical position by clamping it onto this short shaft. This clamping force, resulting from the elastic deformation of the chuck, has a value defined by the diameter of the short shaft. Subsequently, once the sorting operation has been completed, the hairspring chuck is separated / released from the short shaft for assembly by driving it onto the balance wheel shaft, such that the components for holding the chuck cooperate with the balance wheel shaft to ensure elastic clamping.

[0006] However, this classification operation can be the source of "product defects" since, during the multiple and repeated stresses associated with the driving of the collet, the release on / from the stub shaft and the "re-driving" thereafter on the balance shaft, or during the operation of the resonator comprising the collet, in particular during the start of movement, the collet can break / shatter. Indeed, during the classification operation, the clamping implemented between the stub shaft and the collet generates a shearing force which can damage the collet by causing micro-fractures at at least one edge of the collet. In other words, driving the collet on the stub shaft, the collet generally being made of a material (such as silicon) which is very fragile under mechanical stress, generates a tension in the material of the balance spring and creates a risk of shattering, which can become critical since the starting point of the initiation of the fracture at the collet and the risk of collet shattering will be detected when it moves thereafter. SUMMARY

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to alleviate all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks by providing an elastic retaining member comprising several specific retaining portions each arranged to cooperate specifically with a given type of support element, and in particular with the peripheral wall of the support element, when the member is mounted on the support element.

[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to an elastic retaining member for fixing a watch component on support elements having different cross sections, the elastic retaining member comprising an opening into which each support element can be inserted, the retaining member comprising structural elements which together form the main body of the retaining member and which contribute to ensuring the mounting of each support element in said opening, each of these structural elements comprising a first structural sub-element and a second structural sub-element, the first structural sub-element comprising a volume of material greater than the volume of material constituting the second structural sub-element, the retaining member comprising a connecting section which ensures the mounting of each of said support elements in the retaining member, said section being defined on the internal face of said first structural sub-element.

[0009] Thus, in this holding member, the same connection section of the first structural sub-element of each structural element of the holding member benefits from its features to be stressed when the member is mounted on the pin and when said member is driven onto a support element such as a balance wheel shaft, whatever the geometry of the cross section of this support element. Moreover, the connection section of the first structural sub-element of such a holding member allows the assembly of the member on the pin by performing the assembly and coupling of the holding member with the pin, without the need for a driving operation as in the case of the prior art. This assembly provides the positioning of the angle and vertical position of the holding member on the pin (in particular when measuring the torque of the hairspring), without elastic clamping, that is to say without deformation of the structural elements, that is to say without deformation of the holding member. In other words, this coupling between the holding member and the pin needed to perform the classification operation does not require elastic clamping, in particular thanks to the complementarity of their shapes which thus allow their cooperation when they are rotated when performing the classification operation, and also thanks to the distribution of the volume of material / amount of material between the first and second structural sub-elements of each structural element constituting the holding member. Thus, it can be understood that the holding member is no longer stressed by the shearing forces which would damage the holding member by causing micro-fractures in the structure of the holding member when performing the classification operation.

[0010] In other embodiments:

[0011] - the connection section is defined only on the inner face of said first structural sub-element;

[0012] - the connection section comprises first and second holding portions ensuring the mounting of each of said support elements in the holding member;

[0013] - said first and second holding portions each comprise at least one contact area configured to cooperate with the corresponding support element;

[0014] - at least one contact area of the first and second holding portions is included in the connection section of each first structural sub-element of the holding member, extending over all or part of the thickness of the holding member;

[0015] - each contact area of the first and second holding portions is able to cooperate with the corresponding connection section of the corresponding support element by being in a convexo-convex contact configuration;

[0016] - the first holding portion comprises two convex contact areas delimiting the connection section of each first structural sub-element;

[0017] - the second holding portion comprises two flat contact areas distributed in a spaced manner between two contact areas of the first holding portion on the connecting section of each first structural sub-element;

[0018] - the two flat contact areas of the second holding portion of each first structural sub-element comprise respectively in different planes forming an obtuse angle together;

[0019] - the second holding portion of each first structural sub-element comprises a single flat contact area arranged equidistantly from the two convex contact areas of the first holding portion;

[0020] - the holding member comprises as many first structural sub-elements as second structural sub-elements;

[0021] - the first structural sub-elements and the second structural sub-elements are arranged continuously and alternately in the holding member;

[0022] - each first structural sub-element is connected at its two opposite ends to two different second structural sub-elements;

[0023] - the cross section of each second structural sub-element is smaller than the cross section of each first structural sub-element;

[0024] - each second structural sub-element has a constant cross section throughout its main body;

[0025] - the holding member comprises an attachment point to a watch component;

[0026] - the holding member is a collet for fixing a watch component, such as a hairspring, to a support element, such as a balance staff or a pin;

[0027] - the holding member is made of a micro-machinable material comprising silicon, quartz, sapphire, silicon and silica, DLC, metallic glass, ceramic or any other at least partially amorphous material, etc.

[0028] The invention also relates to an elastic holding member-watch component assembly for a watch movement of a watch piece, comprising a holding member.

[0029] Advantageously, the assembly is made in a single piece.

[0030] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising an elastic holding member- watch component assembly and a support element, in particular a pin, said assembly being held on said support element on the basis of a first holding portion of said holding member, said first holding portion being configured to cooperate with a peripheral wall of said support element.

[0031] In particular, the assembly comprises a resilient retaining member-horological component assembly and a support element, in particular a balance staff, said assembly being retained on said support element on the basis of a second retaining portion of said retaining member, said second retaining portion being configured to cooperate with a peripheral wall of said support element.

[0032] The application also relates to a timepiece movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0033] The application also relates to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Other features and advantages will appear clearly to the person skilled in the art from the following description, given by way of indication and in no way limiting, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0035] - Figure 1 is a view of a resilient retaining member for securing an assembly of a horological component on a support element, such as a pinion, according to an embodiment of the application;

[0036] - Figure 2 is a view of a resilient retaining member for securing an assembly of a horological component on a support element, such as a balance staff, according to an embodiment of the application;

[0037] - Figure 3 is a view of a resilient retaining member for securing a horological component on a support element, according to an embodiment of the application;

[0038] - Figure 4 shows a view of Figure 3 from another viewing angle, according to an embodiment of the application, and

[0039] - Figure 5 shows an assembly comprising a resilient retaining member-horological component assembly secured to a support element, such as a pinion, comprising in a device for performing a sorting operation, according to an embodiment of the application;

[0040] - Figure 6 shows a timepiece comprising a timepiece movement provided with at least one assembly comprising a resilient retaining member-horological component assembly secured to a support element, such as a balance staff, and

[0041] - Figure 7 shows a method for manufacturing such an assembly of a resilient retaining member-horological component assembly with a pinion or balance staff type support element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figures 1 to 4 An embodiment of an elastic retaining member 1 for fixing a timepiece component 2 on a support element 3a, 3b is shown. As an example, the elastic retaining member 1 can be a collet for fixing a timepiece component 2 (for example a hairspring) on a support element 3a, 3b (for example a "short shaft" 3a and a balance wheel shaft 3b respectively visible in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The short shaft 3a is also called a regulating shaft, a faux-arbre or a classification shaft, which is particularly used for regulating a balance spring assembly according to different known techniques, for example a technique called omegamétrique, which comprises performing a classification of the springs, a classification of the balance wheels, a pairing of a balance wheel chosen in a particular class with a spring also chosen in a particular class (these classes being compatible with each other).

[0043] It should be noted that, as regards the balance wheel shaft 3b, it can also be called a balance axle by its synonym and is particularly designed to receive a collet.

[0044] The elastic retaining member 1 is made of a material called "frangible" material, preferably a micro-machinable material. Such a material can comprise silicon, quartz, sapphire, silicon and silica, DLC (diamond-like carbon), metallic glass, ceramic, other at least partially amorphous materials, etc.

[0045] In this embodiment, the retaining member 1 can comprise an elastic retaining member-spring assembly 120 visible in Figure 5 and Figure 6 Such an assembly 120 is intended to be arranged in a timepiece movement 110 of a timepiece 100 visible in Figure 6 and is also driven on a support element 3b (for example a balance wheel shaft) when performing a classification operation, or placed on a support element 3a (for example a short shaft). Such an assembly 120 can be made in one piece and of a "frangible" material similar to the material of the collet.

[0046] It should be noted that, in a variant of this assembly 120, only the elastic retaining member 1 can be made of such a material called "frangible" material, then the timepiece component 2 is made of another material.

[0047] By being mounted on a support element 3a, 3b, this assembly 120 can form part of an assembly 130a, 130b for a timepiece movement 110 or part of a device 140 for performing a classification operation, here the support element 3a, 3b is a balance wheel shaft or a short shaft. In Figure 5This device 140 visible in particular comprises a measuring module 150 and a support element 3a, here a short shaft 3a. It should be noted that this assembly 130a, 130b is designed for applications in the watchmaking field. However, the application can be perfectly implemented in other fields, such as aeronautics, jewelry or automobiles.

[0048] This holding member 1 comprises external and internal structures 4a, 4b and an upper and lower face 12, preferably flat, comprising respectively in a first plane PI and in a second plane P2. These external and internal structures 4a, 4b are hereinafter referred to as external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b, which respectively delimit the external and internal contours of the holding member 1, the internal contour defining the opening 5 of the holding member. The external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b define the different shapes of the holding member 1. The holding member 1 has a thickness extending from the upper face to the lower face 12. As mentioned above, the holding member 1 can correspond to any type of collet comprising arms 6, each arm comprising a resilient sub-arm or rigid and resilient sub-arms 7a, 7b. These arms 6 are hereinafter referred to as "structural elements 6" of the holding member 1. This structural element 6 together form the body of the holding member 1. Indeed, each structural element 6 comprises a section of the external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b and a section of the upper and lower face 12. These structural elements 6 are preferably solid. In other words, these structural elements 6 are preferably not hollow. Under these conditions, the rigid sub-arm 7a and the resilient sub-arm 7b are hereinafter respectively referred to as first and second structural sub-elements 7a, 7b.

[0049] The outer peripheral wall 4a of the holding member 1 can have any shape, for example a substantially triangular shape, a circular shape or even a shape similar to a quadrilateral. As mentioned previously, the inner peripheral wall 4b of the holding member 1 participates in defining the opening 5 of the holding member 1 into which the support elements 3a, 3b are intended to be inserted. The opening 5 defines a volume in the holding member 1 which is smaller than the volume of the connecting portion of one end of the support elements 3a, 3b which is intended to be arranged here. It should be noted that the connecting portion comprises all or part of the section 10 defined on the peripheral wall 21 of the support elements 3a, 3b and which is particularly intended to cooperate with the specific and / or dedicated first and second holding portions 20a, 20b of the structural element 6. These first and second holding portions 20a, 20b each serve to ensure the mounting of said holding member 1 on a different support element 3a, 3b, here the balance wheel shaft and the pin. As will be seen below, these first and second holding portions 20a, 20b each comprise at least one contact area 8a, 8b which is configured to cooperate with the corresponding support element 3a, 3b. Each contact area 8a, 8b of the first and second holding portions 20a, 20b is able to cooperate with the corresponding contact section 10 of the corresponding support element 3a, 3b by preferably being in a plane convex contact configuration.

[0050] As regards the outer peripheral wall 4a, it is particularly intended to be connected to the timepiece component 2 by at least one attachment point 11 arranged in the outer peripheral wall of the holding member 1.

[0051] For a better understanding, the application will be described below with respect to a holding member 1 of a collet such as Figures 1 to 4 the holding member 1 illustrated, which comprises structural elements 6 each comprising a first structural sub-element 7a and a second structural sub-element 7b. The holding member 1 comprises an inner surface 4b having a substantially hexagonal shape comprising portions having a convex shape. Each of these portions comprises in a connecting area 9 connecting the second structural sub-element 7b to the first structural sub-element 7a. The inner peripheral wall 4b of the holding member 1 has a non-triangular shape. It should be noted that the connecting portion comprises all or part of the section 10 defined on the peripheral wall 21 of the support elements 3a, 3b and which is particularly intended to cooperate with the specific and / or dedicated first and second holding portions 20a, 20b of the first structural sub-element 7a.

[0052] The retaining member 1 thus comprises first structural sub-elements 7a and second structural sub-elements 7b connecting the outer peripheral wall 4a and the inner peripheral wall 4b to each other. It should be noted that the retaining member 1 comprises as many first structural sub-elements 7a as second structural sub-elements 7b. The first structural sub-elements 7a are here undeformable or almost undeformable and act as reinforcing elements of the retaining member 1. As for the second structural sub-elements 7b, they are particularly elastic compared to the first structural sub-elements 7a. Indeed, these second sub-elements 7b are able to deform mainly under tension but also under torsion. These first structural sub-elements 7a and these second structural sub-elements 7b are defined or even distributed successively and alternately in the retaining member 1. In other words, the first structural sub-elements 7a are connected to each other by the second structural sub-elements 7b. More particularly, each second structural sub-element 7b is connected at both of its opposite ends at the connection zones 9 to two different first structural sub-elements 7a. As has been described previously, such first and second structural sub-elements 7a, 7b comprise in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner:

[0053] - an inner face comprised in the inner peripheral wall 4b and also participating in the definition of the opening 5 of the retaining member 1, and

[0054] - an outer face comprised in the outer peripheral wall 4a of the retaining member 1.

[0055] It should be noted that the inner face of the second structural sub-elements 7b is substantially flat, whereas the inner face of the first structural sub-elements 7a can be non-flat, for example corrugated. In this case, the inner face of each first structural sub-element 7a comprises a connection section 19 provided with a first and a second retaining portion 20a, 20b visible in Figure 4 and intended to mount the retaining member 1 on a support element 3a, 3b each having a different cross section, respectively. It should be noted that this connection section 19 is also called “mounting section 19” or “assembly section 19”.

[0056] These first and second retaining portions 20a, 20b can also be called “mounting portions” or “assembly portions” or “connection portions”, they are comprised in the connection section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a, said section 19 being comprised in the inner face of the retaining member 1, extending over all or part of the thickness of the retaining member 1. In other words, each first and second retaining portion 20a, 20b thus extends over all or part of the thickness of the retaining member 1.

[0057] The first and second retaining portions 20a, 20b each comprise at least one contact region 8a, 8b in contact with the respective support element 3a, 3b. Each contact region 8a, 8b can be rounded or convex, or flat. The contact region 8a, 8b of each first and second retaining portion 20a, 20b is able to cooperate with the peripheral wall 21 of the connecting portion of the support element 3a, 3b, in particular by being in a contact configuration of the flat-convex type with the respective contact section 10 defined in the peripheral wall 21.

[0058] These first and second structural and elastic sub-elements 7a, 7b connect the external peripheral wall 4a and the internal peripheral wall 4b of the retaining member 1 to each other. In the retaining member 1, these first and second structural and elastic sub-elements 7a, 7b substantially allow the realization of an elastic clamping type coupling of the support elements 3a, 3b in the opening 5 formed in the retaining member 1, the opening 5 being defined by the internal peripheral wall 4b of the retaining member 1.

[0059] As has been seen, the first structural sub-elements 7a thus comprise a single contact region 8a of the retaining member 1 with the support element 3a, 3b, which can be defined in all or part of the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a.

[0060] In this case, the first retaining portion 20a comprises at least one contact region 8a. The first retaining portion 20a is intended to cooperate with the peripheral wall 21 of the support element 3a, for example here the stub shaft 3a. Such a support element 3a has a cross section that is different from that of another support element 3b, for example the shaft 3b, the peripheral wall of which is intended to cooperate only with the second retaining portion 20b of each first structural sub-element 7a of the retaining member 1. This (or these) difference(s) in cross section can relate to the shape of the section, in particular its geometry, but this is not exclusively.

[0061] It should be noted that the shape and / or the dimensions of the section are particularly defined so that said at least one contact region 8a is the only contact region 8a of the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a configured to cooperate exclusively with the peripheral wall 21 of the support element 3a.

[0062] Indeed, in the present embodiment and with reference to Figure 1 the cross section of the support element 3a is non-circular, preferably mainly triangular, formed by three substantially flat faces. In this case, the flat faces of the support element 3a comprise the contact sections 10 of the element 3a, the contact sections 10 therefore also being flat. With reference to Figure 4The connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a comprises a substantially hollow or substantially recessed portion, and two contact areas 8a defined at its ends and extending substantially over all or part of the thickness of the holding member 1. These two contact areas 8a are particularly defined to cooperate with a corresponding contact section 10 comprised in the peripheral wall 21 of the support element 3a. Each of these contact areas 8a has a preferably convex surface and delimits the ends of the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a. Thus, the convex surface of each of these contact areas 8a enables them to implement a flat-convex contact configuration with the contact section 10. It should be noted here that the flat face of each contact section 10 of the support element 3a is evaluated with respect to the convex surface of each corresponding contact area 8a arranged against this contact section 10. In this configuration, the presence of two convex contact areas 8a in the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a allows a contact pressure to be generated between the holding member 1 and the support element 3a when the mechanical connection between them is made, thus reducing the stress intensity at these contact areas 8a and the corresponding contact sections 10a of the support element 3a when the holding member 1 and the support element 3a (here the pinion) are assembled and / or fixed, this stress tending to damage the support element 1 by the appearance of cracks / fractures or other ruptures. In other words, since there is no driving of the support element 3a (in this embodiment, the support element 3a has an increasing triangular cross-section defining a taper in the axial direction of the element 3a, and the connecting member 1 is simply blocked on the largest cross-section of the taper), the stress is almost zero or even zero.

[0063] As regards the second holding portion 20b, it also comprises at least one contact area 8b. This second holding portion 20b is intended to cooperate with the peripheral wall 21 of a support element 3b, for example a balance wheel shaft 3b. Such a support element 3b has a cross-section that is different from that of another support element 3a, for example a pinion 3a, the peripheral wall of which is intended only to cooperate with the first holding portion 20a of each first structural sub-element 7a of the holding member 1. This (or these) difference(s) in cross-section can relate to the shape of the cross-section, but this is not exclusive.

[0064] It should be noted that the shape and / or dimensions of the cross-section are particularly defined so that said at least one contact area 8b is the only contact area 8b of the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a that is configured to cooperate exclusively with the peripheral wall 21 of the support element 3b.

[0065] Indeed, in the present embodiment, with reference to Figure 2 the cross-section of the support element 3b is preferably circular. In Figure 4In particular, the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a comprises a substantially hollow or substantially recessed portion, in which two contact areas 8b are comprised. These two contact areas 8b are able to cooperate with the corresponding contact sections 10 of the support element 3b. Such contact areas 8b are defined in the connecting section 19, in particular in the recessed portion of the connecting section 19, substantially extending over all or part of the thickness of the retaining member 1. Moreover, these contact areas 8b are flat, each comprising a surface that is entirely or partially flat. In the connecting section 19, the two contact areas 8b (also referred to as flat contact areas 8b) of each first structural sub-element 7a are respectively comprised in different planes that form an obtuse angle together. These two contact areas 8b of each first structural sub-element 7a are separated by being spaced apart from each other. In other words, the connecting section 19 comprises Figure 4 The separation area 18 separating the two contact areas 8b of each first structural sub-element 7a is visible in the middle.

[0066] The contact areas 8b of the first structural sub-elements 7a are in particular provided to cooperate according to a plano-convex type of contact configuration, in which the flat surface of each contact area 8b cooperates with the convex corresponding contact section 10 of the support element 3. It should be expressly pointed out here that such convex shape of each contact section 10 is evaluated with respect to the flat surface of the respective each contact area 8b, with respect to which the section 10 is arranged. It should be noted that the flat surface of each contact area 8b forms a plane that is tangent to the diameter of the support element. In other words, the flat surface is perpendicular to the diameter, and thus to the radius R1 of the support element.

[0067] In this configuration, the presence of the two flat contact areas 8b in the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a allows to exert a contact pressure between the retaining member 1 and the support element 3b when the mechanical connection between them is made, and thus to reduce the stress intensity at these contact areas 8b and at the corresponding contact sections 10 of the support element 3b, which is prone to damage the retaining member 1 due to the appearance of fractures / breaks or other cracks, when the retaining member 1 and the support element 3b are assembled and / or fixed.

[0068] It should be noted that the two flat contact areas 8b are preferably distributed in a spaced apart manner on the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a, and between the two contact areas 8a of the first retaining portion 20a.

[0069] In a variant, the second retaining portion 20b comprises a single flat contact area 8b, which is comprised on the connecting section 19 of each first structural sub-element 7a, equidistant from the two contact areas 8b of the first retaining portion 20a.

[0070] Thus, the holding member 1 comprises twelve contact areas 8a, 8b, among which the six contact areas referenced 8a are configured to cooperate exclusively with the support elements 3a, of the type of the short shaft 3a for example in the case of a classification operation, and the other six contact areas cooperate with the support elements 3b, of the type of the balance wheel shaft, to achieve the precise centering of the watch component 2, for example a hairspring, in the watch movement 110. In this holding member 1, the volume of material or the amount of material of each first structural sub-element 7a is substantially greater than or strictly greater than the volume of material or the amount of material constituting each second structural sub-element 7b. It should be noted that in practice, the external peripheral wall 4a and the internal peripheral wall 4b are separated from each other in this holding member 1 by a variable distance E, which then varies according to whether these peripheral walls 4a, 4b are included in a first structural sub-element 7a or a second structural sub-element 7b for example. In practice, when the distance E is defined between the portions of the internal peripheral wall and the external peripheral wall included in each first structural sub-element 7a, this distance E is the maximum distance E1, i.e. the maximum distance E1 present between the internal face and the external face of this first structural sub-element 7a. In particular, for each first structural sub-element 7a, this maximum distance E1 is defined between a portion of the external peripheral wall of this first structural sub-element 7a and each contact area 8a dedicated to cooperating with a peripheral wall 21 of a support element 3b, such as a short shaft, this contact area 8a being included in the internal face of the internal peripheral wall of this first structural sub-element 7a. It will also be noted that this maximum distance E1 is greater than the distance E3 defined between a portion of the external peripheral wall of the first structural sub-element 7a and each contact area 8b dedicated to cooperating with the external peripheral wall 21 of a support element 3b, for example a balance wheel shaft 3b, this contact area 8b being included in the internal face of the internal peripheral wall 4b of this first structural sub-element 7a.

[0071] Furthermore, when the distance E is defined between the portions of the external peripheral wall 4a and the internal peripheral wall 4b included in the second structural sub-element 7b, this distance E is the minimum distance E2, i.e. the minimum distance E2 present between the internal face and the external face of this second structural sub-element 7b. This minimum distance E2 is constant or substantially constant over the entire length over which these second structural sub-elements 7b extend. This length is here parallel or substantially parallel to the external peripheral wall 4a and the internal peripheral wall 4b included in these second structural sub-elements 7b. Furthermore, the distance E2 is less in the holding member 1 than the minimum distance defined in the first structural sub-elements 7a. In other words, the distance E2 is the minimum distance defined between the external peripheral wall 4a and the internal peripheral wall 4b of the holding member 1.

[0072] Therefore, it should be understood here that the cross section of each second structural sub-element 7b is smaller than the cross section of each first structural sub-element 7a. In other words, the area of the cross section of each second structural sub-element 7b is smaller than the area of the cross section of each first structural sub-element 7a. Note that the cross section of the second structural sub-element 7b is constant or substantially constant throughout the body of this second structural sub-element 7b, whereas the cross section of the first structural sub-element 7a is variable / unvariable throughout the body of this first structural sub-element 7a. Moreover, it should be noted that:

[0073] - the cross section of each first structural sub-element 7a is preferably a solid or partially solid section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along which the body of this first structural sub-element 7a extends, and

[0074] - the cross section of each second structural sub-element 7b is preferably a solid or partially solid section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction along which the body of this second structural sub-element 7b extends.

[0075] This configuration of the first and second structural sub-members 7a, 7b allows the holding member 1 to store a greater amount of elastic energy for the same clamping, compared to the holding members of the prior art. This amount of elastic energy stored in the holding member 1 then allows a greater holding torque of the holding member to be obtained on the support elements 3a, 3b in the assembly 130a, 130b of the holding member- timepiece component assembly 120 and of the support elements 3a, 3b. In other words, this surplus of elastic energy stored in the holding member 1 thus increases the holding torque and allows optimal elastic clamping. Moreover, it should be noted that this configuration of the holding member 1 allows 6 to 8 times more elastic energy to be stored than the holding members of the prior art.

[0076] It should be noted that the arrangement of the first and second structural sub-elements 7a, 7b in the holding member 1 is such that each second structural sub-element 7b can be deformed during clamping insertion, thereby allowing the deformation of the assembly of the holding member 1 to be adapted to the geometry of the connecting portion of the support elements 3a, 3b (to be assembled on the connecting portion of the support elements 3a, 3b). Moreover, the deformation mode undergone by each second structural sub-element 7b is a ring torsion coupled with a radial expansion.

[0077] Reference is made to Figure 7The application also relates to a method for manufacturing an assembly 130a, 130b of an elastic retaining member - timepiece component assembly 120 and a support element 3a, 3b, such as a balance wheel shaft 3b or a pin 3a. This method comprises a step 13 of mounting the support element 3a, 3b on the retaining member 1. During this step 13, the support element 3a, 3b is inserted into the opening 5 of the retaining member 1, more precisely, the end of the support element 3a, 3b appears at the entrance of the opening 5 delimited by the internal peripheral wall 4b of the retaining member 1, in order to anticipate that the connecting portion of the support element 3a, 3b is introduced into the volume delimited in the opening 5.

[0078] When it concerns the assembly 130a of an elastic retaining member - timepiece component assembly 120 and a support element 3a, such as a pin 3a, this step 13 comprises a fitting sub-step 14a during which a collet is placed on the pin 3a, in order to anticipate, for example, the execution of a sorting operation. This step 13 also comprises a sub-step 16a of coupling the retaining member 1 with the support element 3a, here the pin 3a. During this sub-step 16a, the coupling is carried out without elastic clamping, due to the complementarity of their shapes, thus allowing a cooperation between them when they are rotated while performing the sorting operation. It should be noted that this complementarity of their shapes is in particular caused by the fact that the retaining member 1 and the support element 3a have different shapes. Moreover, during this mounting step 13, only the contact area referenced 8a cooperates with the section 10 of the peripheral wall 21 of the connecting portion of the support element 3a.

[0079] When it concerns the assembly 130b of an elastic retaining member - timepiece component assembly 120 and a support element 3b, such as a balance wheel shaft 3b, this step 13 comprises an elastic deformation sub-step 14b of the retaining member 1, in particular of the central region of the retaining member 1, the profile of which comprises said opening 5, this deformation being caused by the contact force exerted by the section 10 of the peripheral wall 21 of the connecting portion of the support element 3b on the contact area 8b of the first structural sub-element 7a.

[0080] As mentioned previously, this elastic deformation of the retaining member 1 is generated by the section 10 of the peripheral wall 21 of the support element 3b exerting a contact force on the contact area 8b of the first structural sub-element 7a. This deformation sub-step 14b comprises a displacement phase 15 of the first structural sub-element 7a under the action of the contact force exerted on the first structural sub-element 7a. This displacement of the first structural sub-element 7a is made in a direction comprised between a radial direction B1 with respect to a central axis C common to the support element 3b and the retaining member 1 and a direction B2 combined with this central axis C. It should be noted that this direction B2 is perpendicular to the direction B1 and is oriented in a downwardly defined direction from the lower face 12 towards the upper face 13. The contact force is preferably perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to each contact area 8b.

[0081] It should be noted that, in the case of the embodiment of the retaining member 1 described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 , during the progression of this phase 15, the first structural sub-element 7a is thus displaced under the action of this contact force, generating a double elastic deformation of the second structural sub-elements 7b.

[0082] This first deformation of the second structural sub-elements 7b is also called "torsional elastic deformation". During this torsional deformation, each second structural sub-element 7b is driven by the first displaced structural sub-element 7a in the same rotation direction B4 at its two ends connected to the first displaced structural sub-element 7a. It should be noted that only a part of the body of these second structural sub-elements 7b, here the ends of these second structural sub-elements 7b, is torsionally deformable. This first deformation contributes in particular to subsequently induce a torsional deformation of each structural element 6. This first deformation allows an improvement of the insertion of the support element 3b in the opening 5 of the retaining member 1 while contributing to prevent any breakage of the retaining member 1 and / or any cracking in this member 1 during the assembly of the retaining member 1 with the support element 3b.

[0083] This second deformation of the second structural sub-elements 7b is also called "tensile deformation" or "elastic extension deformation". During this extension deformation, each second structural sub-element 7b is pulled in its longitudinal direction B3 at its two ends connected to the first displaced structural sub-element 7a in opposite directions by the first displaced structural sub-element 7a. This second deformation of the second structural sub-elements 7b contributes in particular to the fact that each structural element 6 stores a significant amount of elastic energy. In other words, the support element 1 also stores a significant amount of elastic energy.

[0084] This double elastic deformation of the second structural sub-elements 7b can be carried out simultaneously or substantially simultaneously, or alternatively successively or substantially successively. It should be noted that, in the case of implementing this phase 15, when this double elastic deformation is carried out successively or substantially successively, the first deformation is then carried out before the second deformation.

[0085] The mounting step 13 then comprises a fixing sub-step 16b of fixing the retaining member 1 on the support element 3b. This fixing sub-step 16b comprises performing a phase 17 of radially elastically clamping the retaining member 1 on the support element 3b. It will thus be understood that, in this stressed state, the retaining member 1 stores a significant amount of elastic energy, which contributes to giving it a considerable retaining torque, in particular allowing optimal torsion by elastic clamping.

Claims

1. A resilient retaining member (1) for securing a watch component (2) to support elements (3a, 3b) having different cross-sections, the resilient retaining member (1) including an opening (5) into which each of the support elements (3a, 3b) can be inserted, the retaining member (1) including structural elements (6) forming together the body of the retaining member (1) and contributing to ensuring that each of the support elements (3a, 3b) is installed in the opening (5), each of the structural elements (6) including a first structural sub-element (7a) and a second resilient structural sub-element (7b), the first structural sub-element (7a) including a material cross-section larger than the material cross-section constituting the second resilient structural sub-element (7b), the retaining member (1) including a connecting The connecting section (19) ensures that each of the support elements (3a, 3b) is mounted in the retaining member (1). The connecting section (19) is defined on the inner surface of the first structural sub-element (7a). The connecting section (19) includes first and second retaining portions (20a, 20b). The first and second retaining portions (20a, 20b) ensure that the support elements (3a, 3b) with different cross-sections are mounted in the retaining member (1). The second retaining portion (20b) includes two flat contact areas (8b). The two flat contact areas are distributed in a spaced manner on the connecting section (19) of each first structural sub-element (7a) between the two contact areas (8a) of the first retaining portion (20a).

2. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting segment (19) is limited only to the inner surface of the first structural sub-element (7a).

3. The elastic retaining member (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, The first and second retaining portions (20a, 20b) each include at least one contact area (8a, 8b) configured to cooperate with the corresponding support elements (3a, 3b).

4. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, At least one contact area (8a, 8b) of the first and second retaining portions (20a, 20b) is included in the connecting segment (19) of each first structural sub-element (7a) of the retaining member (1), extending over all or part of the thickness of the retaining member (1).

5. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, Each contact area (8a, 8b) of the first and second retaining portions (20a, 20b) can cooperate with the corresponding contact segment (10) of the corresponding support element (3a, 3b) by being in a plano-convex contact configuration.

6. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first retaining portion (20a) includes two convex contact areas (8a), which define the connection segment (19) of each first structural sub-element (7a).

7. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The two flat contact areas (8b) of the second retaining portion (20b) of each first structural sub-element (7a) are respectively included in different planes that form an obtuse angle together.

8. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second holding portion (20b) of each first structural sub-element (7a) includes a single flat contact area (8b) arranged equidistantly from the two convex contact areas (8a) of the first holding portion (20a).

9. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It includes as many first structural sub-elements (7a) as the second elastic structural sub-elements (7b).

10. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The first structural sub-element (7a) and the second elastic structural sub-element (7b) are arranged continuously and alternately in the retaining member (1).

11. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each first structural sub-element (7a) is connected to two different second elastic structural sub-element (7b) at its two opposite ends.

12. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The cross-section of each second elastic structural sub-element (7b) is smaller than the cross-section of each first structural sub-element (7a).

13. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Each second elastic structural sub-element (7b) has a constant cross-section throughout the entire body of the second elastic structural sub-element (7b).

14. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It includes an attachment point (11) to the clock component (2).

15. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The elastic retaining member is a clamp used to fix the watch component (2) to the support element (3).

16. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The watch component (2) is a hairspring.

17. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The support element (3) is a balance wheel shaft or a short shaft.

18. The elastic retaining member (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, It is made of micromachinable materials, including silicon, quartz, corundum, silicon and silica, DLC, metallic glass, ceramics, or any other material that is at least partially amorphous.

19. A resilient retaining member for a watch movement (110) for a watch component (100) - a watch component assembly (120) comprising a retaining member (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. The elastic retaining member-watch component assembly (120) according to claim 19, characterized in that, It was manufactured as a single piece.

21. An assembly (130a) comprising a resilient retaining member-watch component assembly (120) according to any one of claims 19 and 20 and a support element (3a), the assembly (120) being held on the support element (3a) based on a first retaining portion (20a) of the retaining member (1), the first retaining portion (20a) being configured to cooperate with a peripheral wall (21) of the support element (3a).

22. An assembly (130b) comprising a resilient retaining member-watch component assembly (120) according to any one of claims 19 and 20 and a support element (3b), the assembly (120) being held on the support element (3b) based on a second retaining portion (20b) of the retaining member (1), the second retaining portion (20b) being configured to cooperate with a peripheral wall (21) of the support element (3b).

23. A watch movement (110) comprising at least one assembly (130b) according to claim 22.

24. A watch component (100) comprising a watch movement (110) according to claim 23.

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