Timepiece control device

Abstract

Timepiece control device. The control device (2) is mounted in a through opening (20) in an intermediate part (16) and comprises a support (14) and a rotatable part comprising a shaft (12), a grip member (4) and a control member (6) forming a rotation sensor (26) comprising a magnetic detector arranged in a radially outer peripheral region of the control member within the case. On a first side of the circular opening (22), the support has a cavity (24) which is open in the axial direction and which opens into the interior of the case, the cavity being dimensioned such that it can accommodate at least most of the control member fixedly mounted on the shaft therein, such that, after axial movement of the shaft into a position in which the magnetic detector is mounted within the case, at least most of the control member can be temporarily retracted into the cavity. Preferably, the cavity is located mostly within the through opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of control devices intended to be installed in a through opening machined in an intermediate part (carrure) of a watch case and comprising a rotatable part and a support for this rotatable part, the rotatable part comprising: a gripping member; a control member for a rotation sensor or for a mechanism arranged inside the watch case; and a shaft connecting the gripping member and the control member. BACKGROUND

[0002] US patent document No. 11,042,122 discloses a watch control device comprising a handle connected by a shaft to an internal pinion, which pinion engages with a rotating flange having lower teeth, whereby the flange can be rotated by the user via the external handle. The rotating flange is intended to be installed from the top of the watch case (i.e. on the dial side) and then a bezel (which carries the watch glass intended to close the watch case) is intended to be installed. The watch case is relatively complex and is designed to allow the easy removal of the back cover, so that the watch movement can be installed in particular from below. The control device is considered to create a constraint on the assembly of the watch. First, after the insertion of the support for the control device in the opening in the watch case, the pinion is installed from the inside. To do this, a key is provided to hold the pinion in place on the shaft. Once the control device has been completely installed on the watch case, the rotating flange can only be installed from the top, which requires a watch case that allows the flange to be installed from the top and therefore a removable bezel.

[0003] The same problem arises in the case of a rotation sensor whose detector is arranged in a radially peripheral region of the control member and which is located on the other side of the control member with respect to the opening arranged in the watch case for the insertion of the detector, which is generally integrated with the watch movement or with an electronic module superposed on such a watch movement. In this case, the control member can only be installed on the shaft after the detector (and therefore generally the watch movement) has been inserted into the watch case. This creates a problem because the control member for the rotating detector (in particular a magnetic detector) comprising a radially magnetized magnet forming the control member cannot be installed on the shaft of the control device before the detector is installed inside the watch case (and therefore generally before the watch movement is installed inside the watch case). SUMMARY

[0004] To solve the technical problems mentioned in the background art, while allowing the available volume inside the watch case, in particular substantially the entire internal horizontal dimension of the watch case, to be effectively occupied by the timepiece movement and optionally by an electronic module and / or a watch case gasket superimposed on the timepiece movement, the present invention relates to a control device intended to be installed in a through opening machined in an intermediate part of the watch case and comprising a rotatable part and a support for the rotatable part. The rotatable part comprises a gripping member, a control member forming a rotation sensor or being arranged to drive a mechanism located inside the watch case, and a shaft connecting the gripping member to the control member. The rotation sensor and the mechanism comprise respectively a detector and an element for coupling with the control member, which are arranged in a radially peripheral region of the control member inside the watch case. The support has a circular opening through which the shaft passes and the diameter of which is less than the maximum radial dimension of the control member and less than the maximum radial dimension of the gripping member. Then, on a first side of the circular opening, the support has a cavity which opens in the direction of the rotation axis and is intended to open into the interior of the watch case, the cavity being sized so that it can accommodate at least most of the control member fixedly mounted on the shaft so that, after the shaft has been axially moved into a position in which the detector or the coupling element is mounted inside the watch case, at least most of the control member can be temporarily retracted into the cavity.

[0005] In a main embodiment, at least most of the section of the support defining the cavity is arranged inside the through opening machined in the intermediate part.

[0006] In a preferred alternative embodiment, the cavity and the rotatable part are arranged so that an inner end portion of the rotatable part, which comprises the control member and which is located on the cavity side relative to the circular opening in the support, can be entirely housed inside the cavity.

[0007] In a particular alternative embodiment, the control device comprises a removable or movable element arranged so that it can axially fix or limit the axial movement of the shaft of the rotatable part and thus prevent said at least most of the control member from being able to be inserted into the cavity without removing the removable element or moving the movable element to release the rotatable part.

[0008] Other specific alternative embodiments will be described below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawings given by way of example and in no way limiting, in which:

[0010] - Figure 1a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a control device for a watch according to the application is shown, before the movement and the detector associated with the control device have been installed inside the watch case;

[0011] - Figure 2 a control device is shown, in the state in which it is intended to be when the movement and the detector are being installed inside the watch case; Figure 1

[0012] - Figure 3 a control device is shown, in the state in which it is intended to be when the movement and the detector are being installed inside the watch case; Figure 1

[0013] - Figure 4 is a perspective view of a longitudinal section of the control device, in the operating state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] One embodiment of a timepiece control device according to one embodiment of the application will be described below with reference to the appended drawings.

[0015] The control device 2 comprises a rotatable portion formed by a holding member 4, a control member 6 for the rotation sensor, provided inside the watch case 18, and a shaft 12 connecting the holding member to the control member. The control device also comprises a support 14 for the rotatable portion, which is sized so that it can be forcedly inserted or incorporated inside a through opening 20 machined in the intermediate part 16 of the watch case. The support 14 comprises a circular opening 22 through which the shaft 12 passes, and the diameter of which is less than the maximum radial dimension D of the control member 6, and less than the maximum radial dimension of the holding member 4.

[0016] ​​The control member 6 comprises a magnet 8 having a radial magnetization with respect to the rotation axis 13 of the rotatable member. This magnet is arranged on a cylindrical portion 10 fixed to the inner end of the shaft 12, this cylindrical portion forming, with the magnet 8 and the washer 38, an inner end portion of the rotatable member. Preferably, the magnet 8 is a multipole magnet. The term "inner" is used with respect to the watch case on which the control device 2 is intended to be mounted. The washer 38 serves to form a first radial surface for providing axial support for the removable key 40 on the control member 6 side once this removable key is in place on the shaft 12. The removable key 40 is provided so as to limit the axial movement of the rotatable member once the movement 30 has been mounted inside the watch case 18, with the magnetic detector 26 forming a rotation sensor. It should be noted that, in an alternative embodiment in which the cylindrical portion 10 itself defines a radial surface on the side of the circular opening 22, the washer 38 is not necessary and can be omitted. The inner end portion is mounted on the inner end of the shaft 12 so as to rotate as one with this shaft, either by means of a screw connection by means of complementary threads provided on each shaft, or / and by bonding, or by any other suitable fixing means, which can involve the use of elements for fixing the inner end portion to the shaft.

[0017] On the inner side of the circular opening 22, the support has a cavity 24 which opens in the direction of the rotation axis 13 and which is intended to open into the interior of the watch case 18. Generally, the cavity is sized so that it can accommodate at least most of the control member 6 mounted on the shaft 12. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2 The cavity 24 and the rotatable member are arranged so that said inner end portion of the rotatable member, which is located on the cavity side with respect to the circular opening 22 in the support 14, can be almost entirely contained within the cavity, or advantageously entirely contained within this cavity, as shown in

[0018] As shown, the rotation sensor comprises a magnetic detector 26 arranged in the radial periphery of the control member, above the control member, with respect to the rotation axis 13 of the rotatable member. The magnetic detector is fixedly arranged in the watch case in the vicinity of the magnet 8 so as to be able to measure the variations in the magnetic field produced by this magnet when it is rotated by the rotational drive of the holding member.

[0019] According to a very advantageous feature of the application, at least most of the section of the side wall of the support 14 which defines the cavity 24 is arranged, once the support has been mounted on the watch case, within the through opening 20 machined in the intermediate part 16. As shown in Figure 3As shown, in a preferred alternative embodiment, in order to free up the maximum amount of space within the watch case and allow the magnetic detector 26 to be located near the inner wall of the intermediate component 16, a section of the defining cavity 24 of the support 14 is configured such that it is located almost entirely within the through opening 20 in the intermediate component, or more generally outside a geometric volume, having columnar sidewalls, disposed within the watch case for the watch movement 30 including the magnetic detector 26, or associated with the upper electronic module including the magnetic detector.

[0020] exist Figure 3 In this configuration, the magnetic detector 26 is located below the printed circuit board 28, which carries the magnetic detector 26 and is arranged below a plaque 32. The plaque 32, together with the printed circuit board and the magnetic detector, forms an electronic module. Figure 3 In the alternative embodiment shown, the electronic module is used to cover or include the dial 34 of the watch display. Figure 3 In the alternative embodiment shown, the control device 2 is intended to have two functions: a first function and a second button function. The first function relates to the magnetic detection of rotation of the rotatable portion (particularly the grip member 4) via a magnetic sensor comprising a magnetic detector 26 and a multipole magnet 8 of the control member 6, the magnetic detector 26 and the multipole magnet 8 being radially facing each other. The button function is achieved by axial movement of the rotatable portion toward the watch movement, which has a force detector 36 arranged such that it can detect forces applied thereto by the end of the shaft 12 or more generally by the inner end portion of the rotatable portion. A spring 44 is provided in the control device 2 to apply a return force on the rotatable portion (particularly the grip member 4) to obtain the button function, and additionally to allow the control member 6 (particularly the multipole magnet 8) to return to an optimal axial position for operating the magnetic rotation sensor.

[0021] According to the application, once the inner end portion of the rotatable part has been mounted on the shaft so as to rotate as one with it and be held in a fixed axial position relative to the shaft, the arrangement of the control device allows the inner end portion (and thus the control member) to be moved axially so as to withdraw the inner end portion from its operating position, i.e. to place the inner end portion in an axial position for mounting the magnetic detector, and more generally the movement or the module comprising the magnetic detector, inside the watch case. This axial mounting position corresponds to the extracted axial position of the shaft when the magnetic detector is being mounted inside the watch case, and, if the holding member has advantageously been fixedly mounted on the shaft, this axial mounting position thus corresponds to the extracted axial position of the holding member. It should be noted that the mounting of the magnetic detector inside the watch case is intended to take place before the removable or movable element is mounted on the shaft in the last step, so as to axially fix or limit the axial movement of the rotatable part and prevent the inner end portion from moving into the axial mounting position. To this end, the removable or movable element, in particular the key 40, is intended to be placed between the control member 6 and the second radial surface formed by the support 14, which is intended to provide axial support to the removable or movable element once in place, on the side of the through opening 20 in the intermediate part 16. It should be noted that, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the second radial surface can be formed by the inner surface of the intermediate part 16.

[0022] Thanks to the features of the control device according to the application, by temporary axial movement of the control member, and more generally of the rotatable part, into a position for mounting the detector inside the watch case, the inner end portion of the control member and more generally of the rotatable part is at least partially, and preferably completely, able to be temporarily withdrawn into the internal cavity in the support. More particularly, the application allows the control member, which has been fixedly mounted on the shaft, to be temporarily removed by being housed at least partially, and preferably completely, within the through opening for passage and fixation of the control device machined in the intermediate part.

[0023] In Figure 1In this intermediate position, the control device 2 is shown mounted in the opening 20 in the case 18 and in a first state in which the spring 44 is not under load. As shown, when the control device is in the operating state, the spring 44 is intended to exert an outward axial force on the holding member 4 and thus on the rotatable portion. In the first state, the inner end portion of the control member 6 and more generally of the rotatable portion is partially located inside the cavity 24. It should be noted that the section of the side wall of the support that delimits the cavity 24 is almost entirely located and thus mostly located inside the through opening 20 provided in the intermediate piece 16 for the passage of the control device 2. The control device is intended to be in this first state before the installation of the movement and in particular of the upper electronic module comprising the magnetic detector 26 in the case. This state is advantageous when the case is delivered to the watch factory. More particularly, it can be seen that the control device is almost entirely installed and that only the element 40 for limiting the axial movement of the rotatable portion has not been removably mounted on the shaft 12. In particular, in this first state, the control member 6 and the holding member have been fixedly mounted on the shaft 12, which is advantageous because the manufacturer of the case can thus deliver the case with the control device whose main elements are already assembled.

[0024] In Figure 2 In this intermediate position, the control device 2 is shown mounted in the opening 20 in the case 18 and in a first state in which the spring 44 is not under load. As shown, when the control device is in the operating state, the spring 44 is intended to exert an outward axial force on the holding member 4 and thus on the rotatable portion. In the first state, the inner end portion of the control member 6 and more generally of the rotatable portion is partially located inside the cavity 24. It should be noted that the section of the side wall of the support that delimits the cavity 24 is almost entirely located and thus mostly located inside the through opening 20 provided in the intermediate piece 16 for the passage of the control device 2. The control device is intended to be in this first state before the installation of the movement and in particular of the upper electronic module comprising the magnetic detector 26 in the case. This state is advantageous when the case is delivered to the watch factory. More particularly, it can be seen that the control device is almost entirely installed and that only the element 40 for limiting the axial movement of the rotatable portion has not been removably mounted on the shaft 12. In particular, in this first state, the control member 6 and the holding member have been fixedly mounted on the shaft 12, which is advantageous because the manufacturer of the case can thus deliver the case with the control device whose main elements are already assembled.

[0025] In Figure 3In this third state, the movement 30 and the upper electronic module have been placed inside the case, so the control device 2 is in the operating axial position. In this third state, the control device is in the final configuration of full assembly and the rotatable part is operational. This third state is ensured by the key 40, which is removably mounted on the shaft 12, and more generally on the rotatable part, so as to limit the axial movement of the rotatable part and, above all, to ensure the operating axial positioning of the control member, in particular so as to facilitate the rotation sensor. The key, which is intended to be removable as an element for limiting the axial movement of the rotatable part, is installed on the shaft 12 from the bottom cover of the case by lateral insertion, i.e. radial insertion with respect to the rotation axis 13, after the movement 30 and the magnetic sensor 26 have been installed.

[0026] It should be noted that, in contrast to the prior art embodiments described above, the key 40 is arranged upstream of the control member 6, i.e. the key 40 is located between this control member and the cavity 24, or more generally the inner wall of the intermediate part 16 and in particular the through opening 20 in this intermediate part. Thus, the key can be axially supported against a fixed portion of the case, or advantageously of the support 14, while the control member is located downstream, i.e. on the inner side of the key, and thus can radially interact with the elements placed inside the case. In this way, the key 40, which is a removable element, makes it possible to prevent the control member 6 from being reinserted into the cavity 24 without removing the key, which is a removable element mounted transversely on the rotatable part between the control member and the cavity 24 of the support 14. Figure 3 In the advantageous alternative embodiment shown, the key is once installed axially supported against a transverse / radial surface of the support 14 located at the inner end of the cavity 24. Figure 4 A perspective longitudinal sectional view of the control device 2 in the third state described is shown, similar to Figure 3 .

[0027] The key is achieved by the spring 44 via the washer 38 located between the control member 6 and the key to bear against the transverse / radial surface of the support 14 with a non-zero pressure, and the washer 38 bears against the key. Thus, the spring 44 has a dual function, i.e. it acquires the function of a button for the control device and maintains the rotatable part in the optimal operating position for the control member, in particular the magnet 8, when no axial pressure is exerted on the grip member 4. In summary, the key 40 can be mounted on the rotatable part so as to be able to face the radial surface of the support and surround the cavity, the cavity 24 opening into this radial surface, and the control device comprises a spring 44 acting on the rotatable part so as to exert an axial force thereon, which allows the key to remain pressed against the radial surface in the absence of an actuation force exerted on the rotatable part opposite the direction of the axial force, thus ensuring the optimal operating axial position for the control member 6. Thus, this key, which is a removable element mounted transversely on the rotatable part between the control member and the cavity 24 of the support 14, prevents the control member 6 from being reinserted into the cavity 24 without removing the key.

[0028] With regard to the limited axial movement of the rotatable portion or its axial immobilization, two alternative embodiments (not shown) are described below. In a first alternative embodiment, the key is replaced by a movable element, in particular a sliding element, which is arranged in such a way within the case that in a first position or configuration the axial movement of the rotatable portion is axially immobilized or limited and thus at least a substantial portion of the control member is prevented from being inserted into the cavity 24 without the movable element being moved into a second position or configuration in which the rotatable portion is released and thus at least a substantial portion is able to be inserted into the cavity.

[0029] In a second alternative embodiment, the control device comprises an elastic element which is integral with the rotatable portion or with the support, which is arranged in such a way that upon insertion of at least a substantial portion of the control member into the cavity or upon removal of said at least a substantial portion of the control member from the cavity, the elastic element is able to elastically deform, thus allowing the axial immobilization or limitation of the axial movement of the rotatable portion after said at least a substantial portion of the control member has been removed from the cavity after being inserted into the cavity or upon removal of said at least a substantial portion of the control member from the cavity, thus preventing said at least a substantial portion of the control member from being able to be reinserted into the cavity without any specific intervention to place the elastically deformable element again under elastic load.

Claims

1. A control device (2) intended to be mounted in a through opening (20) machined in an intermediate part (16) of a watch case (18) and comprising a rotatable portion and a support (14) for the rotatable portion, the rotatable portion comprising: Holding member (4); a control member (6) forming a rotary sensor or being provided to drive a mechanism located within the watch case; and a shaft (12) connecting the holding member to the control member, the rotary sensor and the mechanism comprising respectively a detector and an element for coupling with the control member, the detector and the element for coupling with the control member being provided within the watch case in a radially peripheral region of the control member, the support (14) having a circular opening (22) through which the shaft passes and whose diameter is less than the maximum radial dimension (D) of the control member and less than the maximum radial dimension of the holding member; characterized in that, on a first side of the circular opening, the support has a cavity (24) which opens in the direction of the rotation axis and is intended to open into the interior of the watch case, the cavity being sized so that it can accommodate therein at least most of the control member fixedly mounted on the shaft, so that, after axial displacement of the shaft into a position in which the detector or coupling element can be mounted within the watch case, at least most of the control member can be temporarily retracted into the cavity.

2. The control device according to claim 1, characterized by At least most of the section of the side wall of the support (14) defining the cavity (24) is provided within the through opening (20) machined in the intermediate part.

3. The control device of claim 2, wherein The cavity (24) and the rotatable portion are arranged so that an inner end portion of the rotatable portion, which comprises the control member (6) and which is located on the cavity side relative to the circular opening (22) in the support (14), can be entirely accommodated within the cavity.

4. The control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that It comprises a removable element (40) or movable element arranged so that it can axially fix or limit the axial movement of the rotatable portion and thereby prevent at least most of the control member from being able to be inserted into the cavity (24) without removing the removable element or moving the movable element to release the rotatable portion.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein The removable element (40) is a key which can be mounted on the rotatable portion so as to be able to face a radial surface of the support (14) into which the cavity opens and which surrounds the cavity; and in which the control device further comprises a spring (44) acting on the rotatable portion so as to exert an axial force thereon which allows the key to remain pressed against the radial surface in the absence of an actuation force exerted on the rotatable portion in the opposite direction to the axial force.

6. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by It comprises an elastic element integral with said rotatable portion or with said support, arranged so that, upon insertion of said at least a substantial portion of the control member into the cavity or upon removal of said at least a substantial portion of the control member from the cavity, said elastic element can be elastically deformed, thereby allowing axial fixing or limitation of the axial movement of the rotatable portion upon removal of said at least a substantial portion of the control member from the cavity after its insertion into the cavity or upon removal of said at least a substantial portion of the control member from the cavity, thereby preventing said at least a substantial portion of the control member from being able to be reinserted into the cavity without any specific intervention to reposition the elastically deformable element under elastic load.

7. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by The control member (6) comprises a magnet (8) radially magnetized with respect to the rotation axis (13); and wherein the detector (26) is a magnetic detector fixedly arranged within the case, in the vicinity of the magnet, so as to be able to measure the variation of the magnetic field generated by the magnet when it is rotated by the rotational drive of the grip member.

8. A watch comprising a control device and a watch case (18) formed from an intermediate part (16) in which a through opening (20) is machined for the passage of the control device, the control device being mounted on the watch case and allowing a user to control at least one function of the watch; characterized in that, The control device is arranged according to any one of the preceding claims.

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