Watch case comprising a bottom cover oriented in a predefined angular position, watch comprising said case and method for assembling such a case

Abstract

The invention relates to a watch case (100) comprising a central piece (110) having a first opening receiving a watch glass (120) opposite a second opening receiving a back cover (130), characterized in that the back cover (130) is held so that it is supported against an annular support surface (112) of the central piece (110) by means of a ring (140) having threads cooperating with said central piece (110) by a threaded connection, the back cover (130) comprising a first indicating positioning element (133), the central piece (110) being provided with a second indicating positioning element (114), the first indicating positioning element (133) being configured to cooperate with the second indicating positioning element (114) so as to immobilize said back cover (130) in a single predefined angular position, so that the back cover (130) cannot rotate relative to the central piece (10).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of watches, and particularly to components of watch cases.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a watch case having a bottom cover oriented at a predetermined angular position, a watch including said case, and a method for assembling such a case. Background Technology

[0003] The watch case has a center piece (carrure), on which the watch glass and case back are located on both sides.

[0004] The bottom cover is typically attached to the center piece by a threaded connection and has an external thread for this purpose, which is designed to mate with the internal thread made in the center piece.

[0005] When the base cover and the center piece are attached to each other, this type of attachment does not allow for control of the orientation of the base cover relative to the center piece (and in particular relative to the vertical 12 o'clock-6 o'clock axis).

[0006] In particular, when the case back has decorative elements or inscriptions, such defects negatively impact the perception of aesthetics and quality.

[0007] Solutions developed in existing technologies are often complex and expensive to implement.

[0008] Specifically, the specific machining of the internal threads in the center piece and the external threads on the bottom cover is known and implemented to correlate them with each other, such that when the bottom cover is fixed to the center piece, the angular position of the bottom cover is known and always the same. However, in practice, this solution presents difficulties in both manufacturing and after-sales service, for example, if a lost or damaged bottom cover must be replaced. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a solution that allows the bottom cover to be attached to the center piece at a single, predefined angular position.

[0010] For this purpose, the present invention relates to a watch case comprising a central member having a first opening for receiving a watch crystal, the first opening being opposite to a second opening for receiving a case back, the case back being held by a threaded ring such that the case back is supported against an annular support surface of the central member, the ring engaging the central member by a threaded connection, the case back including a single first indexing element, the central member having a single second indexing element configured to engage with the single second indexing element so as to prevent the case back from moving, such that the case back cannot rotate relative to the central member in a single predetermined angular position.

[0011] Because of these features, once the bottom cover has been attached to the center piece, there is no need to adjust the angular positioning of the bottom cover relative to the center piece, as long as the bottom cover is rotated and locked in a single predefined position.

[0012] The present invention also allows control of the tightening torque of the bottom cover, and in particular control of the tightening torque of the ring, because the bottom cover is oriented in a predetermined position when the ring is threaded onto the center member.

[0013] Due to the cooperation between the first and second indicating positioning elements, the orientation of the bottom cover is achieved with extremely high precision. The indicating positioning elements act as foolproof elements to the extent that they allow the bottom cover to remain stationary relative to the center member in a single angular position. In other words, due to the features of this invention, the bottom cover can only be positioned in a single angular position relative to the center member.

[0014] This specific feature also ensures simple case production and assembly, which helps reduce the manufacturing cost of watches that include the case.

[0015] As can be understood from the features of the present invention, the first and second indicating positioning elements block the rotational movement of the bottom cover, and the ring blocks the translational movement of the bottom cover.

[0016] According to specific embodiments, the present invention may also include one or more of the following features, which may be considered individually or in any combination that is technically possible.

[0017] According to a specific embodiment, the first and second indicating positioning elements are formed by a tab / notch pair.

[0018] According to a specific embodiment, the center member has an internal thread, and an external thread on the ring engages with the internal thread via a threaded connection.

[0019] According to a specific embodiment, the bottom cover has a peripheral lip that extends radially around the periphery of the bottom cover, and the peripheral lip is arranged to rest against an annular support surface of the central member.

[0020] According to a specific embodiment, the ring has an annular portion including an external thread and an end surface, the ring being supported against the peripheral lip of the bottom cover via the end surface.

[0021] According to a specific embodiment, the peripheral lip extends from the tubular wall forming the upper end of the bottom cover, and the tubular wall engages in a hole in the central member.

[0022] According to a specific embodiment, a notch is arranged on the tubular wall and extends axially from the free end of the tubular wall, the notch being configured to engage with a tab arranged on the hole.

[0023] According to a specific embodiment, a liner is arranged between the center member and the bottom cover, and the liner is sandwiched between a shoulder and an annular recess in the center member, the shoulder being formed by a joint between a tubular wall and a peripheral lip, the annular recess being formed at a joint between an annular support surface and a hole.

[0024] According to a specific embodiment, the ring has a radial portion that is connected to an annular portion and has a radial inner surface that is arranged as an annular support surface facing the bottom cover.

[0025] According to a specific embodiment, the radial portion of the ring has a lower cylindrical surface, and a lower cylindrical surface of a bottom cover with a complementary shape is arranged facing the lower cylindrical surface.

[0026] According to another purpose, the present invention relates to a watch comprising a watch movement housed within an internal volume of a watch case as described above, the internal volume being defined between a center piece, a watch crystal, and a case back.

[0027] According to yet another purpose, the present invention relates to a method for assembling a watch case as described above, wherein a bottom cover is engaged in a second opening of a central member such that a first indicating positioning element engages with a second indicating positioning element, and then a ring is threadedly connected to the central member so that the bottom cover, which supports abutting the central member, does not move. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Other features and advantages of the invention will become better understood upon reading the following detailed description, which is given as a rough guide and not in any way as a limiting guide, in reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0029] - Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a table including a shell according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0030] - Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 An exploded high-angle perspective view of the shell, in which a single first indicator positioning element is visible, and the bottom cover is provided with the first indicator positioning element;

[0031] - Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A low-angle perspective view of the exploded shell, in which a single second indicator positioning element is visible, and the center piece is provided with the second indicator positioning element. Detailed Implementation

[0032] Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a table 10 having a case 100 according to the invention is shown.

[0033] The case 100 has a center member 110 having a first opening for receiving the watch glass 120, which is opposite to a second opening for receiving the back cover 130; the watch glass 120, the back cover 130 and the center member 110 define a volume in which the watch movement is arranged in a manner known to those skilled in the art.

[0034] Since the watch movement and other timepiece components used in the case 100 are known to those skilled in the art and are not part of this invention, they will not be described below.

[0035] The housing 100 has a ring 140 adapted to be attached to the center member 110 while holding the bottom cover 130 in a position against the center member.

[0036] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the ring has a central through-hole through which the bottom cover is visible.

[0037] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, it should be noted that the bottom cover 130, ring 140 and center member 110 have an axisymmetric geometry and their axes of rotation are coaxial.

[0038] Ring 140 has an external thread 141, through which ring 140 is intended to engage with an internal thread 111 formed in the center member 110 at a second opening via a threaded connection.

[0039] More specifically, in a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, the ring 140 has an axial annular portion at one of its ends (referred to as the “upper end”) defined by an end surface 142, which connects the upper cylindrical surface 143 and the outer surface, and an external thread 141 is formed on the outer surface of the annular portion.

[0040] The terms "upper" and "lower" in this article refer to, for example, Figures 1 to 3 The case 100 shown is oriented in space, with the watch glass 120 arranged above the back cover 130.

[0041] Furthermore, the bottom cover 130 has a peripheral lip 131 extending radially from a tubular wall 132 forming the upper end of the bottom cover 130 around its periphery, the peripheral lip 131 being arranged to rest against an annular support surface 112 of the center member 110. Additionally, when the bottom cover is attached to the center member 110, the tubular wall 132 engages in a hole 113 in the center member 110.

[0042] Alternatively, the bottom cover 130 may have a plurality of peripheral lips (not shown in the figure), each peripheral lip extending radially about a portion of the periphery of the bottom cover 130 in one and the same plane.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown in the cross-sectional view, the ring 140 is configured such that when the ring 140 is threaded to the center member 110, the ring 140 is supported against the peripheral lip 131 of the bottom cover 130 via the end surface 142 of the annular portion.

[0044] Advantageously, the bottom cover 130 includes a single first indicating positioning element, and the center member 110 is provided with a single second indicating positioning element. The single first indicating positioning element is configured to cooperate with the single second indicating positioning element so that when the ring 140 attaches the bottom cover 130 to the center member 110, the bottom cover 130 does not move relative to the center member 110 in a single possible angular position.

[0045] More specifically, the first and second indicating positioning elements are formed by tab / notch pairs.

[0046] exist Figure 2 and 3 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the bottom cover 130 is provided with a notch 133 arranged on the tubular wall 132, the notch extending axially from the free end of the tubular wall 132.

[0047] The notch 133 is designed to mate with a tab 114 extending inside the center member 110. More specifically, the tab 114 is arranged on the hole 113 and has a shape complementary to the shape of the notch 133 (within mechanical clearance tolerance) so that it can engage inside the notch 133 when the tubular wall 132 of the bottom cover 130 is inserted into the hole 113.

[0048] It should be noted that in other exemplary embodiments of the invention not shown in the accompanying drawings, in a manner similar to the preferred example embodiment shown in the figures, the notch 133 may be arranged in the center member 11 and the tab 114 may be arranged on the bottom cover 130.

[0049] Ring 140 has a radial portion having an inner radial surface 144, which is designed to be arranged as an annular support surface 134 facing the bottom cover 130 when ring 140 is threadedly connected to the internal thread 111 of center member 110. Figure 1 As shown, the radial portion is connected to the annular portion.

[0050] Advantageously, in addition to supporting the peripheral lip 131, the attachment ring 140 may optionally support the peripheral annular support surface 134 of the bottom cover 130.

[0051] When the bottom cover 130 is attached to the center member 110, the annular support surface 134 is connected to the peripheral lip 131 by the upper cylindrical surface 135, which is intended to be arranged as the upper cylindrical surface 143 facing the annular portion of the ring 140.

[0052] Furthermore, the gasket 150 is arranged between the center member 110 and the bottom cover 130 and sandwiched between a shoulder and an annular recess in the center member 110. The shoulder is formed by the joint between the tubular wall 132 and the peripheral lip 131, and the annular recess is formed at the joint between the annular support surface 112 and the hole 113. This feature ensures the sealing of the housing 100 because the gasket 150 is subjected to axial and radial compressive forces applied by the bottom cover 130 and the center member 110; and it also facilitates the arrangement of the gasket on the bottom cover 130.

[0053] The radial portion of the ring 140 has a lower cylindrical surface 145, and a lower cylindrical surface 136 of the bottom cover 130 with a complementary shape is arranged facing the lower cylindrical surface 145.

[0054] When the bottom cover 130 is attached to the center member 110, the bottom cover 130 first engages in the second opening of the center member 110 such that the tab 114 engages with the recess 133, and the tubular wall 132 of the bottom cover 130 engages in the hole 113 of the center member 110 until the peripheral lip 131 is arranged such that it supports against the annular support surface 112.

[0055] The bottom cover 130 and the center member 110 thus form a housing defined between the upper cylindrical surface 135, the peripheral lip 131 and the internal thread 111 of the center member 110, and the ring 140 is intended to engage in the housing.

[0056] Therefore, the ring 140 engages with the internal thread 111 of the center member 110 until the peripheral lip 131 abuts against the annular support surface 112 and is clamped and reaches a predetermined tightening torque sufficient to firmly attach the bottom cover 130, the ring 140 and the center member 110 together (i.e., based on an embedded type mechanical connection).

[0057] Advantageously, the ring 140 may have a neck molded portion or bevel at the joint between the upper cylindrical surface 143 and the end surface 142 of the annular portion, and the bottom cover 130 may also have a neck molded portion or bevel at the joint between the annular support surface 134 and the upper cylindrical surface 135, so as to facilitate the insertion of the ring 140 into the housing formed between the bottom cover 130 and the center member 110.

[0058] In addition, a beveled or necked molding portion may be provided at the junction between the cylindrical surface of the radial portion of ring 140 and the inner radial surface 144 of the radial portion.

[0059] Preferably, the ring 140 has a radial notch 146 on its outer surface opposite the internal volume of the case 100, which is designed to engage with a tool operated by the user. Due to the radial notch 146, the ring 140 can be threaded onto or off the center member 110 by operating a tool, thereby attaching the ring 140 and the base cover 130 to the center member 110, or conversely, separating the ring 140 and the base cover 130 from the center member 110.

Claims

1. A watch case (100) comprising a center member (110) having a first opening for receiving a watch crystal (120) opposite to a second opening for receiving a case back (130), the watch case (100) characterized in that the case back (130) is held by a threaded ring (140) such that the case back (130) is supported against an annular support surface (112) of the center member (110), the ring (140) engaging with the center member (110) by a threaded connection, the case back (130) including a single first indicating positioning element, the center member (110) having a single second indicating positioning element, the first indicating positioning element being configured to engage with the second indicating positioning element to prevent the case back (130) from moving, such that the case back (130) cannot rotate relative to the center member in a single predetermined angular position. in, The bottom cover (130) has a peripheral lip (131) that extends radially around the periphery of the bottom cover (130) and the upper cylindrical surface (135). The center member (110) has an internal thread (111), and the external thread (141) on the ring (140) engages with the internal thread (111) via a threaded connection. The bottom cover (130) and the center member (110) form a housing defined between the upper cylindrical surface (135), the peripheral lip (131) and the internal thread (111) of the center member (110), and the ring (140) is engaged in the housing such that the upper surface of the peripheral lip (131) is configured to abut against the lower annular support surface (112) of the center member (110), and the lower surface of the peripheral lip (131) is configured to abut against the upper end surface (142) of the ring (140).

2. The watch case (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first and second indicating positioning elements are formed by a tab (114) / notch (133).

3. The watch case (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ring (140) has an annular portion, which includes the external thread (141).

4. The watch case (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The peripheral lip (131) extends from the tubular wall (132) forming the upper end of the bottom cover (130), the tubular wall (132) engaging in the hole (113) in the center member (110).

5. The watch case (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The notch (133) is disposed on the tubular wall (132) and extends axially from the free end of the tubular wall (132). The notch (133) is configured to engage with the tab (114) disposed on the hole (113).

6. The watch case (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that, A liner (150) is disposed between the center member (110) and the bottom cover (130), and the liner (150) is sandwiched between a shoulder and an annular recess in the center member (110), the shoulder being formed by a joint between the tubular wall (132) and the peripheral lip (131), and the annular recess being formed at a joint between the annular support surface (112) and the hole (113).

7. The watch case (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The ring (140) has a radial portion connected to the annular portion and has a radial inner surface (144) arranged as an annular support surface (134) facing the bottom cover (130).

8. The watch case (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The radial portion of the ring (140) has a lower cylindrical surface (145), and the lower cylindrical surface (136) of the bottom cover (130) with a complementary shape is arranged facing the lower cylindrical surface (145).

9. A table (10), characterized in that, It includes a watch movement housed within the internal volume of a case (100) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, the internal volume being defined between a center piece (110), a watch crystal (120), and a case back (130).

10. A method for assembling a watch case (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The bottom cover (130) engages in the second opening of the center member (110) such that the first indicating positioning element mates with the second indicating positioning element, and then the ring (140) is threaded to the center member (110) so that the bottom cover (130) supporting the center member (110) does not move.

Images