Mechanisms used to move the body of a piece of jewelry or an item of costume jewelry

Abstract

A mechanism (1) for moving an object (11), the mechanism being suitable for being integrated into an item of wearable jewellery or costume jewellery (3), the mechanism comprising: a manual drive source (5) which can be driven directly or indirectly by an action of a user and is arranged to drive a transmission (9) following the action of the user; a support system (13) which carries the object (11) intended to be moved in rotation about a first axis of rotation (A1) by means of the transmission (9) under the action of the manual drive source (5), characterised in that the support system The system (13) comprises a first frame (13b) mounted to pivot on a frame element about a first rotation axis (A1) and an inner frame (13f) mounted to pivot in the first frame (13b) about a second pivot axis (A2), the second pivot axis being substantially orthogonal to the first pivot axis (A1); and wherein the object (11) is arranged to be driven by an eccentric drive element (15b) rigidly connected in rotation to a drive wheel (15), the drive wheel being arranged to be driven by a transmission (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of jewellery and more particularly to a mechanism for animating an object such as a gemstone, a precious or semi-precious stone, a sculpture or any other small object, the mechanism being suitable for being integrated into a piece of jewellery. Background Art

[0002] Document CH708902 describes a mobile mechanism comprising a rotating support that can carry, among other possibilities, a gemstone. An action on the part of the user makes it possible to rotate the support via an actuating member and a drive mechanism interposed between the actuating member and the gemstone.

[0003] However, the rotation of the gemstone is singular, as it occurs about a single axis, thus limiting its visibility. The solution proposed in this document for better viewing of the gemstone is to provide an optical device comprising a concave mirror assembly mounted face-to-face, similar to that described in document JP59-075182. Inside this optical device is the gemstone, which is fixed to the device. Thus, the gemstone appears to "float" above the central opening of the upper mirror, allowing it to be seen.

[0004] In this configuration, the gemstone appears only virtually to the observer as an optical illusion, and the observer can hardly observe it directly. In essence, the only visible part is its crown, which is visible from a relatively narrow range of angles at the bottom of the mirror assembly. Furthermore, this arrangement means that the gemstone's scintillation is less than optimal.

[0005] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a mechanism for animating an object in which the above-mentioned drawbacks are at least partially overcome. Summary of the Invention

[0006] More precisely, the present invention relates to a mechanism for animating an object, such as a gemstone, a precious or semi-precious stone, a sculpture or any other miniature object intended for use in a portable piece of jewellery. This mechanism is suitable for integration into said piece of jewellery and comprises:

[0007] a manual power source arranged to drive a transmission following a direct or indirect action on the part of a user, said transmission means comprising, for example, a toothed member, one or more belts, a chain or the like, or a combination of these elements;

[0008] - a support system carrying an object intended to be moved in rotation about a first axis of rotation under the action of said manual power source via said transmission means.

[0009] According to the invention, the support system comprises a first frame which is pivotably mounted on the chassis element about the first rotation axis and an inner frame which is pivotably mounted in the first frame about a second pivot axis which is substantially orthogonal with respect to the first pivot axis.

[0010] The object is arranged to be driven by an eccentric drive element, such as a lever or crank, which rotates in conjunction with a drive wheel arranged to be driven by the transmission.

[0011] In this way, following an action on the part of the user, a composite movement is imparted to the object, directly or indirectly, consisting of a reciprocating rotation about each of the two axes of rotation, thereby conferring two rotational degrees of freedom on the object. The resulting movement thus manifests itself as a rotational tilt, which increases the visibility of the object and, in the case of a precious stone or a precious or semi-precious stone, improves the scintillation.

[0012] Advantageously, the object is carried by a shaft pivotably mounted in the inner frame about a third axis of rotation, the shaft being arranged to rotate co-rotating with a pinion meshing with fixed or rotating teeth coaxial with the drive wheel. This imparts a compound motion to the object, defined by the three pivot axes, and the object not only pivots in the aforementioned rotational tilt, but also pivots in a continuous motion about the third axis.

[0013] Advantageously, the manual power source comprises a gripping member arranged to be moved by action on the part of the user. The gripping member may be, for example, a crown fixed to the stem, a rotating bezel or back cover, a lever, a trigger or any other member directly manipulable by the user.

[0014] Alternatively, the manual power source may comprise an oscillating mass with an imbalance, which is actuated by pivoting or tilting the entire mechanism (in particular by pivoting the piece of jewelry in which it is integrated), which generates movement of the oscillating mass and thus of the object.

[0015] Advantageously, the transmission device comprises a coupling arranged to be manually actuated so as to switch between a coupled state in which the manual power source is kinematically connected to the object and a decoupled state in which the manual power source is decoupled from the object so that the object is free to move within the constraints of its support system. The coupling may be manually controlled, for example, via a button, a trigger system or by any other similar means.

[0016] In another variation, wherein the manual power source includes a gripping member and an oscillating mass, the transmission device includes a coupling that is arranged to be manually actuated to transition between a first state, in which the gripping member is kinematically coupled to the object, and a second state, in which the oscillating mass is kinematically coupled to the object. Thus, a user can determine whether the object is driven by the gripping member or by the oscillating mass. A third state, which is an intermediate state, may also be provided.

[0017] Advantageously, the mechanism further comprises an accumulator kinematically located in the transmission. The accumulator can advantageously be a coil spring extending between an input wheel arranged to be driven by the manual power source and an output wheel arranged to drive the object. In this case, the transmission can comprise a braking system kinematically interposed between the output wheel and the object, the braking system being arranged to be manually actuated, for example, via a special control member such as a button. Thus, the accumulator can be wound manually and then the object can be driven according to the user's wishes. The accumulator can also be a coil spring or any other type of elastic element, and can be any element capable of storing energy and returning it in any way.

[0018] Advantageously, at least a portion of the movable object extends from a component of the frame, thereby maximizing visibility of the object. In other words, at least a portion of the movable object is positioned further from the drive wheel than from the entirety of the frame.

[0019] Of course, the mechanism is intended to be integrated into a piece of jewelry comprising a mechanism as claimed in one of the preceding claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further details of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] - Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a plan view and a side view of a first variant of the mechanism according to the invention;

[0022] - Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a plan view and a side view of a second variant of the mechanism according to the invention;

[0023] - Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a plan view and a side view of a third variant of the mechanism according to the present invention;

[0024] - Figure 4ais a schematic diagram in plan view and in partial side view of a fourth variant of the mechanism according to the invention, the mechanism as a whole in plan view and in partial side view in a state in which the oscillating mass is kinematically connected to the movable object;

[0025] - Figure 4b is a schematic diagram in plan view and in partial side view of a fourth variant of the mechanism according to the invention, the mechanism as a whole in plan view and in partial side view in a state in which the rod is kinematically connected to the movable body;

[0026] - Figure 5 is an isometric view of the assembly including the moving body, support system, drive wheels, and fixed gears; and

[0027] - Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Sectional isometric view of the assembly shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a mechanism 1 for animating an object 11 (e.g., a gemstone, a precious or semi-precious stone, a sculpture, or any other small object) is shown in plan and side views. The mechanism can be integrated into a piece of jewelry 3. The piece of jewelry can be, for example, a piece intended to be worn as a bracelet, necklace, or brooch, or to be placed on a surface (e.g., a table). In these figures, some kinematic and / or functional links are simply indicated by arrows; those skilled in the art will appreciate how to arrange gear trains, belts, chains, etc. to form the illustrated links. Furthermore, a number of toothed members are indicated by their pitch circles.

[0029] Mechanism 1 includes a manual power source 5, which is arranged to be driven directly by an action on the part of the user on a gripping member. In the variant shown, the gripping member of manual power source 5 is a crown 5a that rotates together with a stem 5b, but other possibilities are conceivable, such as a rotating bezel, a trigger, a rotating back cover, or any other movable member that can be driven in rotation and / or translation by the user. If the jewelry piece is a wristwatch or pocket watch, crown 5a can also be the crown that performs the winding and / or time setting of the jewelry piece.

[0030] The manual power source 5 is kinematically connected to the object to be moved 11 via a transmission 9 comprising a plurality of toothed members 9a, 9b, 9c, each consisting of one or more toothed wheels and / or pinions meshing with one another and driven by a lever 5b via a coupling 19 of any form, forming part of the transmission. A horizontal coupling is shown, but vertical couplings, inclined pinion couplings, or differential couplings are also possible, all of which are known in particular from chronograph mechanisms and therefore need not be described in detail here. Sliding pinion devices, known from watch hand setting and / or winding systems, are also possible.

[0031] In any case, the state of the coupling 19 is controlled according to the axial position of the rod 5b via a conventional pull-out system or by any other similar means controlled by the rod 5b or by another control member such as a lever, button or the like.

[0032] Instead of a gear train, the transmission 9 may comprise one or more belts, chains or the like, or a combination of a gear train and one or more of these elements.

[0033] When coupling 19 is in the coupled state, the pivoting of crown 5a causes object 11 to move; conversely, when coupling 19 is in the decoupled state, object 11 is free to move under the force of gravity according to the degrees of freedom granted by support system 13 supporting it. This support system will be discussed in detail below. Furthermore, it should be noted that the kinematic linkage may have a relatively large amount of play and / or include elastic elements, such as elastic bands, to allow the movable object to "float" to a certain extent in response to the movement of jewelry piece 3.

[0034] Figure 2 The implementation method and Figure 1 The embodiment differs in that manual power source 5 is an unbalanced oscillating mass 5c, which rotates coaxially with a toothed member 5d, which is arranged coaxially with the rotation axis 5f of oscillating mass 5c. If the user manually pivots the jewelry piece, as long as coupling 19 is in the coupled state, oscillating mass 5c will pivot, which will drive the movement of the movable body. If coupling 19 is in the disengaged state, the movable body is free to move as described above.

[0035] In this variation, the state of the coupling is controlled via a manual control member 23, such as a button or any other suitable control member.

[0036] Figure 3 The implementation method and Figure 2The embodiment differs in that an energy accumulator 25 is interposed in the transmission 9, between the manual power source 5 and the movable object, specifically kinematically downstream of the coupling 19. The energy accumulator 25 comprises a coil spring, the first end of which is attached to an input wheel 25b, which is arranged to be driven by the rod 5b via the coupling 19, and the second end of which is attached to an output wheel 25d. To prevent the input wheel 25b from pivoting in the wrong direction, which would result in the undesirable effect of the spring 25a being unwound by the input wheel 25b, a one-way pawl 25c is provided so that the input wheel 25b can pivot only in the direction of the spring 25a's winding. Other forms of energy accumulators are also conceivable, such as a coil spring or any other type of elastic element, as well as any element capable of storing and returning energy in any manner.

[0037] The mechanism also includes a braking system 27 having a brake wheel 27a located in the transmission 9 and cooperating with a brake 27b. The brake wheel 27a is thus kinematically interposed between the output wheel 25d and the movable object. The state of the braking system 27 is controlled by a control member that controls the position of the brake 27b, allowing it to be switched between a braking state, in which the portion of the transmission 9 downstream of the spring 25a is blocked and the movable object is restrained, and a non-braking state, in which the movable object is driven by the spring 25a.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the brake 27b comprises a pivoting lever comprising, at its free end, a beak 27c capable of cooperating with teeth 27d included in the brake wheel 27a. In the non-braking state (solid line), the beak 27c is positioned away from the teeth 27d, while in the braking state (dashed line), the beak 27c penetrates into said teeth 27d so as to prevent any rotation of the brake wheel 27a.

[0039] In this way, the user can wind up the spring 25a and then trigger the movement of the movable object as desired.

[0040] Based on Figure 3 In a variant (not shown), the rod 5b and the crown 5a may be replaced by an oscillating mass 5c, as shown Figure 2 implementation method.

[0041] Although each embodiment described so far includes a coupling 19 in the kinematic chain extending between the manual power source 5 and the object 11 , this coupling may be absent. It should also be noted that the mechanism 1 according to the invention does not have any regulating system for moderating the rotational speed of the object 11 .

[0042] Figure 4a and Figure 4b Another embodiment of the present invention is shown, which combines Figure 1 and Figure 2 In these figures, not all reference numerals are reproduced in order not to overload the figures unnecessarily.

[0043] In this variant, the coupling 19 is arranged to establish a kinematic link between the rod 5b or the oscillating mass 5c on the one hand and the movable body on the other hand. To this end, the coupling comprises a first sliding pinion 19a, which is arranged to establish a kinematic link between the oscillating mass 5c and the rest of the gear train (e.g. Figure 4a ), which second sliding pinion is arranged to establish a kinematic link between the lever 5b and the rest of the gear train (as Figure 4b The two pinions 19a, 19b are carried by a lever 19c, the position of which is controlled by a pull-out 21 or another control member.

[0044] Thus, depending on the state of the lever 19c, the object 11 set in motion can be moved by the oscillating mass 5c ( Figure 4a ) or by rod 5b( Figure 4b It should also be noted that the coupling 19 can also be arranged to be able to occupy a third position, disengaged, in which there is no manual power source 5 kinematically connected to the movable object.

[0045] In a variant not shown, the accumulator can also be arranged in a manner similar to Figure 3 The method is combined in the transmission device 9.

[0046] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown more clearly, the moving object is supported by a very particular support system 13 which connects it to a chassis element (not shown) via a pair of pivots 13a carried by supports 13m fixed to the chassis element.

[0047] These pivots 13a define a first axis of rotation A1, about which a first frame 13b, formed of a generally circular annular ring, pivots. Other shapes (oval, square, rectangular, etc.) are also possible. The first frame 13b carries a pair of intermediate pivots 13d, which define a second axis of rotation A2 that is substantially orthogonal to the first axis of rotation A1. The inner frame 13f is pivotally mounted inside the first frame 13b about the second axis of rotation A2 and is fixed to a base 13g that directly or indirectly supports the movable object. The inner frame 13f is composed of a substantially circular component and two arms 13f1 connecting the pivots 13d to the base 13g. It goes without saying that other shapes are also possible, and it is not even necessary for the inner frame 13f to include an annular portion. In fact, the base 13g can be simply connected to the pivots via the arms 13f1 or by another special device.

[0048] At least one of the first frame 13b and the inner frame 13f can be provided with any type of decoration, such as enamel, precious or semi-precious stones, or any other desired decoration. Furthermore, at least one of the axes of pivots 13d and 13a can protrude beyond the surface of the element through which it passes—that is, in the case of pivot 13a, the outer surface of first frame 13b or the outer surface of support 13m for pivot 13d—and can bear a decoration, such as a precious or semi-precious stone. The movement of this stone will thus produce a shimmer that enhances the perception of the pivoting of the frame with which the stone rotates.

[0049] It should also be noted that neither the first frame 13b nor the inner frame 13f overlies the movable object; the movable object extends from and thus protrudes from the first and inner frames 13b, 13f, thereby maximizing its visibility. In other words, at least a portion of the movable object 11 is further from the drive wheel 15 than from the entire first and inner frames 13b, 13f.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, the movable object is supported by a shaft 13h, which passes through base 13g and is secured to support 13j, within which the movable object is set. Alternatively, depending on the nature of object 11 and support 13j, object 11 may be secured thereto by gluing, threading, welding, driving, or the like. It should be noted that the movable object may be coaxial with shaft 13h or eccentric relative to it. Furthermore, the linkage between the movable object and inner frame 13f may include a flexible element, such as an elastomer, to allow the object to gently "float" in response to the movement of the jewelry piece.

[0051] The shaft 13h is mounted in a bearing 13k provided in the base 13g so that the shaft 13h can pivot relative to the bearing.

[0052] In view of the foregoing, it is clear that the support system defines a gimbaled support that confers two rotational degrees of freedom to the moving object and essentially no translational degree of freedom. The pivoting of shaft 13h in base 13g confers a third rotational degree of freedom to the moving object 11 about a third axis A3, corresponding to the geometric axis of shaft 13h. However, as will be explained below, this third degree of freedom is not essential; in this case, support 13j could be integrated into the inner frame, or vice versa.

[0053] The driving of the movable body about the third axis A3 is ensured by the cooperation between the pinion 131 and the conical teeth constituted by the teeth included by the shaft 13h, which are coaxial with the drive wheel 15 and fixed in the configuration shown. Other forms of teeth are also possible, such as internal conical teeth carried by a crown or other special gear.

[0054] In order to impart motion to the object 11, the mechanism further comprises a drive wheel 15 comprising a gear wheel 15a which is arranged to be driven by an element of the transmission 9 or kinematically connected to an element of the transmission and thus serves as a power take-off. Of course, it is also possible to insert additional gear wheels and / or other forms of kinematic linkages (e.g. belts or chains). The axis of rotation of the drive wheel 15 is arranged to substantially intersect the intersection of the first axis of rotation A1 and the second axis of rotation A2, but in certain configurations a certain offset is also permitted, thereby making the motion of the object 11 asymmetrical.

[0055] Drive wheel 15 also includes an eccentric drive element 15b, which rotates co-rotating with the gear wheel 15a and is linked to the gear wheel via shaft 15d. Eccentric drive element 15b is shown in the form of a curved lever or crank fixed to shaft 15d. The free end of eccentric drive element 15b cooperates with the end of rod 13h to drive rod 13h along a substantially circular path. Thus, when drive wheel 15 rotates, object 11 performs a compound motion with two rotational degrees of freedom, the amplitude of which is defined by the geometry of support system 13 and the radius of eccentric drive element 15b. This motion is a reciprocating motion about each of first and second axes of rotation A1, A2, thereby generating an inclined orbital motion.

[0056] At the same time, the teeth of the shaft 13 h roll on the fixed teeth 17 , which causes the movable body to pivot about the third axis A3 .

[0057] In this way, the movable object pivots about the first, second and third axes of rotation A1, A2 and A3 and its movement makes it more visible to the observer than in the prior art. Therefore, the observer no longer has to observe it from an acute angle in order to see more than its front face directly.

[0058] It goes without saying that other configurations of the eccentric drive element 15b are possible and that the gear ratios can be adapted to the needs of the constructor for the purpose of moving the object 11 about the three rotation axes at the desired rotational speeds.

[0059] As described above, rotation of the object 11 about the third axis A3 is not essential. In this case, the fixed teeth 17 and the pinion 131 of the shaft 13h can be omitted, and the movement of the movable object is thus defined solely by reciprocating rotation about the first and second rotation axes A1 and A2. In this case, the object 11 can be arranged to be rotationally integrated with the shaft 13h and / or the base 13g.

[0060] To allow illumination of object 11 from below (that is, from the direction of drive wheel 15), support system 13 can be located within or superimposed on a polishing well (not shown). This polishing well can take the form of, for example, a cup, parabola, ellipse, or hemispherical mirror, arranged to direct ambient light onto the lower surface of the object. Alternatively, a light source (e.g., tritium, one or more LEDs, etc.) can be positioned below the object and first and inner frames 13b, 13f. This can improve the scintillation of object 11, if it is a stone.

[0061] In the case where piece of jewelry 3 is a timepiece such as a wristwatch, pocket watch or the like, the above-described mechanism 1 may not only represent the only mechanism in piece of jewelry 3 but can be combined, for example, with a mechanical or electronic timepiece movement.

[0062] Although the invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, other additional variants are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A mechanism (1) for animating an object (11), said mechanism being adapted to be integrated into a portable piece of jewelry (3), said mechanism comprising: a manual power source (5) which can be driven directly or indirectly by an action on the part of a user and is arranged to drive the transmission (9) following an action on the part of the user; a support system (13) carrying an object (11) intended to be moved in rotation about a first axis of rotation (A1) under the action of said manual power source (5) via said transmission means (9), Characterized in that the support system (13) comprises a first frame (13b) and an inner frame (13f), the first frame being pivotally mounted on the chassis element about the first rotation axis (A1), the inner frame being pivotally mounted in the first frame (13b) about a second rotation axis (A2) which is substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis (A1); And wherein the object (11) is arranged to be driven by an eccentric drive element (15b) which rotates together with a drive wheel (15) which is arranged to be driven by the transmission (9).

2. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The object (11) is carried by a shaft (13h) which is pivotally mounted in the inner frame (13f) about a third axis of rotation (A3), the shaft (13h) being arranged to rotate together with a pinion (13l) which meshes with teeth (17) coaxial with the drive wheel (15), the teeth (17) being fixed or arranged so as to impart rotation thereto.

3. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The eccentric driving element (15b) is a crank or a lever.

4. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The manual power source (5) comprises a gripping member arranged to be moved by action of a user.

5. The mechanism (1) according to claim 4, wherein: The manual power source (5) comprises an oscillating block.

6. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The transmission comprises a coupling (19) arranged to be manually actuated to switch between a coupled state in which the manual power source (5) is kinematically connected to the object (11) and a decoupled state in which the manual power source (5) is decoupled from the object (11).

7. The mechanism (1) according to claim 5, wherein: The transmission device comprises a coupling (19) arranged to be manually actuated to switch between a first state in which the gripping member (5a) is kinematically connected to the object (11) and a second state in which the oscillating mass (5c) is kinematically connected to the object (11).

8. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an accumulator (25) located in the transmission (9).

9. The mechanism (1) according to claim 8, wherein The energy accumulator (25) is a coil spring (25a) extending between an input wheel (25b) arranged to be driven by the manual power source (5) and an output wheel (25d) arranged to drive the object (11).

10. The mechanism (1) according to claim 9, wherein The transmission comprises a brake system (27) kinematically interposed between the output wheel (25d) and the object (11), the brake system (27) being arranged to be manually actuated.

11. The mechanism (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: At least a portion of the object (11) extends from an assembly of the frames (13b, 13f).

12. A piece of jewelry (3) comprising a mechanism (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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