Analog display element

Abstract

The invention relates to an analog display element. One aspect of the invention relates to a display element (1) intended to be fitted to a timepiece, the element comprising a body (2) provided with a portion (4) comprising an assembly area (5) configured to receive an insert (3) by insertion, the insertable insert (3) being provided with a shaft hole (13) configured to adjust the display element (1) on a drive shaft, the invention relates to a display element (1) comprising a body (2) comprising a portion (4) made of a material having softening properties and an insert (3) embedded in the portion (4) by fusion, the insert (3) comprising a peripheral wall (6) provided with a patterned outer surface (7a) so as to connect with the portion (4) of the body (2) of the display element (1), the outer surface (7a) being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of the insert (3) in the portion (4), the peripheral walls (6) project from opposite faces of the portion (4) of the body (2) on either side, respectively.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of watchmaking and in particular to the field of analogue display elements of timepieces, such as hands or display discs.

[0002] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a display element. Background Art

[0003] Display elements such as hands intended for use as display indicators in timepieces are particularly complex to manufacture, especially when the hands are intended for high-end timepieces for which they must have a particularly fine surface appearance, optionally with faceting.

[0004] Pointers are usually made of brass, steel, gold, aluminum or special alloys. When the material used is gold, they can be galvanized, painted, oxidized, varnished, PVD-coated, blued / anodized or rough. They are usually produced by machining or stamping and can be subjected to surface treatment, such as polishing, sandblasting, satin finishing, etc.

[0005] One disadvantage of these display hands is that their decorative possibilities are limited, for example when it comes to making hands with a transparent or translucent body. In addition, the material used for such hands has a high density, which means a high moment of inertia and high unbalanced forces, which in turn lead to hand floating and hand slipping during impacts.

[0006] One solution proposed in the prior art is to manufacture the pointer using a synthetic material. However, when such a pointer is assembled on the drive shaft, they have difficulty remaining attached to their tube due to plastic deformation caused by creep. Summary of the invention

[0007] The main purpose of the present invention is to overcome the various disadvantages of the prior art.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to improve the holding of a display element, such as a hand with a non-metallic plate, on a drive shaft of a display mechanism of a timepiece.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a display element which has a reduced weight and which can take any desired shape.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a display element that is durable and has reduced manufacturing costs.

[0011] To this end, one aspect of the invention relates to a display element intended to be assembled to a timepiece, the display element comprising a body, the body being provided with a portion comprising an assembly area, the assembly area being configured to receive an insert by embedding, the embeddable insert being provided with an axial hole configured to adjust the display element on a drive shaft, the body comprising a portion made of a material having softening properties, the insert being embedded in the portion by fusion, the insert comprising a peripheral wall provided with a patterned outer surface for connection to the portion of the body of the display element, the outer surface being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of the insert in the portion, the peripheral wall protruding respectively on either side from opposite faces of the portion of the body.

[0012] In other embodiments:

[0013] - the peripheral wall is provided with a connecting outer surface, the portion of which corresponding to the thickness of the assembly area is completely patterned by comprising a plurality of protrusion patterns;

[0014] - said insert comprises a first portion and a second portion which respectively project on either side from opposite faces of said portion of said body;

[0015] - said insert comprises a first portion and a second portion which respectively project on either side from opposite faces of said portion of said body;

[0016] - the first and second parts of the insert have similar thickness;

[0017] - the free end of each of the first and second parts comprises an insertion zone configured to penetrate the material of the portion of the body into which the insert is embedded by fusion;

[0018] - said material having softening properties comprises in whole or in part a plastic material having softening properties;

[0019] - said embeddable insert is made of a material having a softening point higher than the softening point of the material constituting said part;

[0020] - the part comprises the insert, which is embedded by fusion / integration / bonding of the materials constituting the insert and the part respectively, in particular by means of fusion / integration / bonding by means of ultrasound;

[0021] - the display element is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry P1 and / or a transverse plane of symmetry P2 of the element;

[0022] The display element is a display hand, the body of which comprises a plate provided with an assembly area comprising a tube formed by the embeddable insert.

[0023] A further aspect of the invention relates to a timepiece comprising at least one such display element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood by reading the following description given of a non-limiting particular embodiment of the invention provided for illustrative purposes with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] - Figure 1 is a top view of a display element according to one embodiment of the invention, in this case a display pointer comprising a plate provided with a portion comprising a tube formed by an embeddable insert;

[0026] - Figure 2 is a top view of a portion of a pointer plate including the tube according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] - Figure 3 According to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the portion of the pointer plate shown in FIG. 1 along line AA; and

[0028] - Figure 4 is a side view of an embeddable insert forming a tube of a pointer according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] refer to Figures 1 to 4 The present invention relates to a display element 1, which is preferably used to equip a timepiece, such as a watch. Such an element 1 can be, but is not limited to, a pointer or a display disc.

[0030] This display element 1, also called "display indicator", comprises a body 2 provided with an assembly area 5 contained in a portion 4 of this body 2, said assembly area 5 being configured to receive an insert 3 by embedding or insertion. In other words, said portion 4 and therefore said area 5 are made of a material having softening properties such that the insert 3 can be embedded (or inserted) therein by fusion. Under these conditions, said assembly area 5 is then formed by this embeddable insert 3. Such an insert 3 comprises an axial hole 13 configured to adjust this display element 1 on a drive shaft of a display mechanism of a timepiece.

[0031] For a better understanding of the invention, the display element 1 described here will be a display pointer 1. In this context, the body 2 of the pointer 1 includes a plate 2. The portion 4 of the plate 2 includes an assembly area 5, which includes a tube 5 formed by an embeddable insert 3. Such an insert 3, also called a "socket", is configured to be embedded in the portion 4 of the plate 2 by melting / association / integration. The invention is described here with a specific but non-limiting case of a rotating pointer 1. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the principles of the present invention are also applicable to pointers 1 with non-circular motion trajectories, such as linear cursors, etc. The pointer 1 can be included in a display mechanism, for example by being an hour hand, with a variable length or a variable radial extension.

[0032] refer to Figure 1 , the display hand 1 comprises a first end, comprising a counterweight, and a second opposite end forming an end 10 indicating information, for example the time when the display mechanism is a timepiece. As we have seen, the plate 2 of the hand 1 comprises a portion 4 provided with a tube 5, comprising an axial hole 13, also called "adjustment diameter", intended to be driven at the pivot of a drive shaft of the display mechanism. Such a drive shaft is included in the drive member of the display mechanism comprising a gear train. It should be noted that the invention is equally applicable to analog display mechanisms of mechanical, electronic or hybrid timepieces.

[0033] According to the embodiment shown, plate 2 has a circular head 9 in which tube 5 is housed to allow assembly of hand 1 on a drive shaft of a timepiece. Axial hole 13 of insert 3 forming tube 5 is intended to be adjusted on the drive shaft, for example by means of a driving operation.

[0034] This tube 5 and therefore the insert 3 are able to exert a clamping force on the drive shaft which allows the pointer 1 to be held axially and rotatably on the drive shaft.

[0035] As already mentioned, plate 2 also comprises an end 10. This end 10 is connected to head 9 by means of a body 12. This end 10 takes a triangular shape in the present case, but it may take any other suitable shape in order to indicate a specific angular position on the dial of a timepiece.

[0036] Plate 2 of pointer 1 may also comprise a counterweight 11, rectangular in shape, connected to head 9 as an extension of body 12. Similarly, counterweight 11 may take any other shape, for example it is conceivable that counterweight 11 takes the shape of a logo.

[0037] As mentioned above, the portion 4 including the assembly area 5 is made of a specific material. More typically, the plate 2 is made entirely or partially of such a material with softening properties, such as a plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic material. Preferably, such a material is a rigid material with softening properties. Under these conditions, the material can be heated sufficiently to soften and become rigid / hard again when cooled. Such a plastic material consists of a linear or branched polymer that can be deformed and shaped under the action of heat. For example, the plastic material comprises a thermoplastic polymer.

[0038] It is therefore to be understood that the plate 2 may be made solely or entirely of such a material having softening properties. Alternatively, such a plate 2 may be made partially of such a material, wherein at least the portion 4 comprising the insert 3 is made of such a material.

[0039] The tube 5 is formed by an embeddable insert 3, which takes the form of a cylinder, in which an axial hole 13 is provided for adjusting the display pointer 1 on a drive shaft, also called "rotation shaft". It should be noted that such an insert 3 can take other forms, for example a polygonal form. This insert 3 can be made of a material having a softening point higher than the softening point of the material constituting the portion 4 in which this insert 3 is embedded. Such a material is preferably a metal, such as aluminum, brass, steel or titanium. Alternatively, the material can also be a thermosetting material.

[0040] This insert 3 forming the tube 5 is intended to be actuated onto a drive shaft having a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the axial hole 13 of the insert 3, the elastic and plastic properties of the material of which the insert 3 is made making it possible to drive the tube 5 onto the drive shaft without modifying the plate 2 of the display pointer 1.

[0041] According to the invention, such insert 3 comprises a peripheral wall 6 provided with an inner surface 7b suitable for cooperating with the drive shaft when assembled in the display mechanism. The peripheral wall 6 also comprises an outer surface 7a, in particular a patterned connection outer surface 7a, for connection with portion 4 of plate 2 of display pointer 1. The peripheral wall 6 also comprises an upper surface 7c and a lower surface 7d interconnecting the outer surface 7a and the inner surface 7b.

[0042] The patterned outer surface 7a comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8. The plurality of patterns 8 preferably extend over the entire outer surface 7a of the peripheral wall 6. Alternatively, the plurality of patterns 8 may be distributed over specific areas of the outer surface 7a, said areas being configured to cooperate with the material constituting the portion 4 of the plate 2 of the pointer 1. It should be noted that the patterns 8 may be identical, i.e. have a similar shape, such as in Figure 2 and Figure 4 can be seen in.

[0043] This patterned outer surface 7a helps to increase the contact surface of the insert 3 with the material used in the portion 4 of the plate 2 including the tubes 5. Moreover, in this configuration, the material can be inserted on and between the raised patterns 8 on the surface 7a to ensure that the plate 2 is firmly held on the insert 3. It will therefore be understood that the retention of the insert 3 in the portion 4 is then improved and therefore helps to ensure optimal mechanical anchoring thereof in the portion 4.

[0044] It should be noted that the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 is preferably provided with a connecting outer surface 7a, the portion of which corresponding to the thickness E2 of the portion 4 comprising the assembly area 5 is completely patterned by comprising a plurality of raised patterns 8. In other words, the peripheral wall 6 comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8 extending over a portion of its patterned connecting outer surface 7a.

[0045] In an alternative embodiment, the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 is provided with a completely patterned outer surface 7a. In other words, the peripheral wall 6 comprises a plurality of raised patterns 8 extending over its entire patterned connected outer surface 7a.

[0046] As in Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the insert 3 has an inner diameter D1 configured to facilitate driving the pointer 1 on the drive shaft and an outer diameter D2 , which is greater than D1 and configured to receive and retain the plate 2 of the pointer 1 .

[0047] As already mentioned, the insert 3 is embedded in the portion 4 of the plate 2 by fusion / integration / bonding so as to form the tube 5 of the pointer 1. More specifically, the insert 3 is embedded in the portion 4 as a result of an operation of fusing / integration / bonding respectively the materials constituting the insert 3 and the portion 4. This operation softens the material constituting the portion 4 by supplying energy so as to ensure that the insert 3 is inserted in the portion 4. This energy may be provided in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner by ultrasound or by a heating element, by a laser or by a steam jet.

[0048] In the case of using ultrasound, such an operation may be an ultrasonic fusion / integration / bonding operation. This operation softens the material constituting the portion 4 by applying mechanical vibrations to the portion 4, the mechanical vibrations being caused by the ultrasound. In this context, these mechanical vibrations will then generate frictional heat in the portion 4 of the material having softening properties and excite its molecules, which in turn will begin to move. Thus, the material of the portion 4 becomes more flexible as it softens, allowing the insert 3 to be inserted / embedded in the portion 4 and bonded to the material.

[0049] In this configuration in which the insert 3 is arranged in the plate 2 of the pointer 1 to form the tube 5, it should be noted that the peripheral wall 6 of the insert 3 projects on either side of the opposite faces of the portion 4 of said plate 2 showing the pointer 1. These two opposite faces are joined together by the side wall of this pointer 1.

[0050] More specifically, the peripheral wall 6 comprises a first portion 14a and a second portion 14b which protrude, respectively, on either side, from opposite faces of the portion 4 of the body 2. These portions 14a, 14b each comprise an opening in the axial hole 13 of the insert 3. It goes without saying that these openings are opposite one another. In this configuration, the first portion 14a and the second portion 14b of the insert 3 have preferably similar thicknesses E3, E4. Such thicknesses E3, E4 are less than the following thicknesses:

[0051] - E1 of insert 3;

[0052] - E2 of Part 4;

[0053] -Assemble E2 of area 5.

[0054] This arrangement of the insert 3 in this portion 4 contributes to stabilizing the display pointer 1 axially and rotationally. Moreover, this arrangement contributes to equalizing the distribution of stresses to which the pointer 1 may be subjected when it is assembled on the drive shaft and after it is assembled on this shaft. In other words, such stresses are evenly distributed over the entire thickness E2 of the body 2. This even distribution ensures that the body 2 of the pointer, and therefore the portion assigned the reference numeral 4, remains flat. Therefore, the body 2 of the pointer 1 remains flat after assembly.

[0055] It will be appreciated that such an arrangement of the insert 3 in the body 2 of the pointer 1 allows a wider range of materials to be used, in particular by making it less necessary to use specifically reinforced materials to prevent deformations of the pointer that might be caused by such stresses.

[0056] Furthermore, the free end of each of the first and second parts 14a, 14b comprises an insertion zone 15a, 15b. These zones are configured to penetrate the material of the portion 4 of the body 2 in which the insert 3 is easily embedded by fusion. More specifically, each insertion zone 15a, 15b preferably has a cross-section with a flared shape, the ends of which substantially terminate at a tip.

[0057] It should also be noted that the display hand 1 is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry P1 and a transverse plane of symmetry P2 of the hand 1. It is to be understood that these two planes P1, P2 are perpendicular to each other. By being symmetrical, such a display hand 1 is reversible, which helps to simplify its assembly in a display mechanism and reduce the time required. In other words, such a display hand 1 can be assembled on an axis, with its visible face being either of its two opposite faces.

[0058] The above description corresponds to a preferred embodiment and cannot be considered limiting in any case, and more specifically cannot be considered limiting with respect to the type of display element described. More specifically, other display elements, such as a disc, in particular a date disc, are also part of the invention.

[0059] Furthermore, the present description is not limited to the forms described for the various structural elements or their materials constituting the display element 1. A person skilled in the art will not encounter any particular difficulties in selecting, for example, for the plate 2 of the pointer 1 any other material having the mechanical properties required for implementing the invention.

[0060] The possible applications of such a display element are very wide, since the invention can be implemented for any type of object or device comprising a display element, in particular a portable object or device.

Claims

1. A display element (1) intended to be assembled to a timepiece, comprising a body (2), said body (2) being provided with a portion (4) comprising an assembly area (5), said assembly area (5) being configured to receive an insert (3) by embedding, said embeddable insert (3) being provided with an axial hole (13), said axial hole (13) being configured to adjust said display element (1) on a drive shaft, said body (2) comprising a portion (4) made of a material having softening properties, said insert (3) being embedded in said portion (4) by fusion, said insert (3) comprising a peripheral wall (6), said peripheral wall (6) being provided with a patterned outer surface (7a) for connection with said portion (4) of said body (2) of said display element (1), said outer surface (7a) being configured to ensure mechanical anchoring of said insert (3) in said portion (4), said peripheral wall (6) protruding respectively on either side from opposite faces of said portion (4) of said body (2).

2. The display element (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The peripheral wall (6) is provided with a connecting outer surface (7a), a portion of which corresponding to the thickness (E2) of the assembly area (5) is completely patterned by including a plurality of protrusion patterns (8).

3. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The insert (3) comprises a first portion (14a) and a second portion (14b) which respectively protrude on either side from opposite faces of the portion (4) of the body (2).

4. The display element (1) according to claim 3, wherein: The first portion (14a) and the second portion (14b) of the insert (3) have similar thicknesses (E3, E4).

5. The display element (1) according to claim 3, wherein: The free end of each of the first portion (14a) and the second portion (14b) comprises an insertion region (15a, 15b) configured to penetrate the material of the portion (4) of the body (2) into which the insert (3) is easily embedded by fusion.

6. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The material having softening properties comprises wholly or partly a plastic material having softening properties.

7. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The insertable insert (3) is made of a material having a softening point higher than the softening point of the material constituting the portion (4).

8. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The portion (4) comprises the insert (3), which is embedded by fusion / integration / combination of the materials constituting the insert (3) and the portion (4), respectively.

9. The display element (1) according to claim 8, wherein: The fusion / integration / combination includes fusion / integration / combination by ultrasound.

10. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The display element (1) is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal symmetry plane (P1) and / or a transverse symmetry plane (P2) of the element (1).

11. The display element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The display element (1) is a display pointer, the body (2) of which comprises a plate (2), the plate (2) being provided with an assembly area (5), the assembly area (5) comprising a tube (5) formed by the insertable insert (3).

12. A timer, characterized in that The timepiece comprises at least one display element (1) according to any one of claims 1-11.

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