Gauge head configured for assembly and disassembly in opposite directions

Abstract

The invention relates to a header (1) that can be assembled from the top and disassembled from the bottom, the header (1) comprising:-a pre-assembled case (2) comprising: a middle piece (3) delimiting an inner base (3a), on which middle piece (3) a bottom cover (4) is fitted by means of reversible fastening means; the invention relates to a watch comprising a pre-assembled watch case (2), a bottom cover (4), and a movement frame (5) mounted flush with the lower face on the intermediate piece (3), a movement (7) mounted on the movement frame (5) inside the pre-assembled watch case (2), a dial (8) mounted on the movement (5), a watch mirror (10) closing the pre-assembled watch case (2) at the end opposite the bottom cover (4), the dial (8) and the movement (7) have dimensions less than or equal to the dimensions of the base (3a) inside the intermediate piece (3) such that it can pass through the intermediate piece (3) from above and from below.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a watch head configured for assembly from the top and disassembly / reassembly from the bottom. BACKGROUND

[0002] When assembling a watch head, the designer must decide whether to assemble it from the top or from the bottom, i.e. from the side of the bezel or from the bottom cover. In fact, for the watchmaker, disassembly will be carried out in the same direction, i.e. from the top or from the bottom.

[0003] Assembling in one direction and disassembling in the other has never been envisaged. However, assembling and disassembling in opposite directions offers the watchmaker greater freedom. This is particularly advantageous for battery-powered watches, since disassembly from the bottom allows quick access to the battery fixed inside the watch case, rather than in a battery compartment placed at the bottom cover. SUMMARY

[0004] The invention aims to overcome the preconceived ideas held by those skilled in the art by proposing a new watch head arrangement that makes it possible to assemble from the top and disassemble / reassemble from the bottom.

[0005] To this end, the preassembled watch case is provided with a bottom cover assembled on the intermediate piece with reversible fastening means, such as a bayonet connection.

[0006] More particularly, the invention relates to a watch head that can be assembled from the top and disassembled from the bottom, in which the bottom defines a lower position facing the bottom cover and in which the top defines an upper position opposite the lower position, comprising: - a preassembled watch case comprising: an intermediate piece delimiting an inner seat, a bottom cover fitted on said intermediate piece with reversible fastening means; and a movement holder mounted flush with the lower face on the intermediate piece, - a movement mounted on the movement holder inside the preassembled watch case, - a dial mounted on the movement, - a watch glass closing the preassembled watch case at the end opposite the bottom cover, said dial and said movement having a size less than or equal to the size of the seat inside the intermediate piece, so that it is possible to pass through the intermediate piece from above and from below.

[0007] This arrangement allows the watch head to be turned over and disassembled or reassembled from the bottom. This ensures freedom of assembly and disassembly.

[0008] For a quartz movement, it also makes it possible to produce a new and advantageous variant, eliminating the battery compartment and fixing the battery inside the watch head.

[0009] Moreover, it makes it possible to design the bottom cover separately from the middle piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1A An exploded view showing the various parts of the pre-assembled watch case. Figure 1B A view showing the upper face of the movement holder, and Figure 1C A view showing the bottom cover.

[0011] Figure 2 A pre-assembled watch case is shown.

[0012] Figure 3 The assembly of the movement from the top on the external part and the pre-assembled watch case is schematically illustrated.

[0013] Figure 4 The watch head resulting from this assembly is shown.

[0014] Figure 5 The watch head is schematically illustrated disassembled from the bottom.

[0015] Figure 6 A partial vertical cross-section view of the movement holder mounted flush with the middle piece is shown.

[0016] Figure 7 A dial attached to the movement is shown.

[0017] Figure 8 A three-dimensional view of a lock (French: verrou, English: bolt) according to one variant is shown.

[0018] Figure 9 A horizontal cross-section view of the watch head with this lock variant is shown.

[0019] Figure 10 A partial vertical cross-section view of this lock variant inside the watch head is shown, with the tool for removing the lock positioned.

[0020] Figure 11 A horizontal cross-section view of the watch head equipped with a lock according to another variant is shown, with an enlarged photo of the lock at the bayonet connection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The invention relates to a watch head 1 that can be assembled from the top (i.e. from the side of the bezel) and disassembled and reassembled from the bottom (i.e. from the side of the bottom cover). It also relates to the assembly and disassembly methods. In the following, the position facing the bottom cover will be called the bottom position and the position facing the bezel will be called the top position.

[0022] The watch head 1 is assembled from a pre-assembled watch case 2. The watch head (which is in Figure 3formed by a pre-assembled case 2, a movement 7, a dial 8 and hands 9 mounted in the case, a crystal 10 closing the head of the watch and optionally a bezel 11. The pre-assembled case 2 (which is also seen in the exploded view of Figure 1A The pre-assembled case 2 (which is also seen in the exploded view of

[0023] The pre-assembled case 2 is closed by a back 4 which is mounted on the middle 3 by reversible fastening means. Preferentially, the back 4 is assembled on the middle 3 with a bayonet connection. Other fastening means such as screws can also be used but they are less advantageous as they take more space and require metal elements which exclude a 100% plastic back. Preferentially, the pre-assembled case 2 comprises a lock 22 which prevents any relative rotational movement of the back with respect to the middle. Preferentially, the lock is positioned between the lugs 23 of the middle 3 so as to be hidden once the bracelet has been attached.

[0024] To ensure the bayonet connection, the back 4 comprises a groove 12 formed in a flange 13 which extends in a circular arc around the periphery 4a of the back 4 towards the middle. The groove 12 is open at one end of the circular arc to enable the flange 14 which projects into the middle 3 to engage and is optionally closed at the other end by a stop (not shown). Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of this bayonet connection is shown in which the flange 14 on the middle 3 engages in the groove 12 in the back 4. Preferentially, there are a number of flanges 13 and 14 around the periphery 4a of the back and inside the middle 3 respectively. In the example shown, there are 2 diametrically opposed flanges 13 and 14.

[0025] Figure 1A The middle 3 shown in the figures comprises a through base 3a which houses the movement holder 5 and the O-ring 6, with the base 3a being closed at one end by the back 4. The lateral wall of the base 3a is provided with a flange 14 which extends radially from the lower end of the lateral wall. An edge 17 is recessed into this lateral wall on which the gasket 6 is pressed and with which the movement holder 5 is flush.

[0026] The movement holder 5 (which is substantially annular in shape) has a periphery 5a. A frustoconical portion 5b (which can be seen in the exploded view of Figure 1A and Figure 6 extends from this periphery 5a onto the lower face of the movement holder. In the exploded view of Figure 1BOn the opposite face, i.e. on the upper face, the shoulder 5c is recessed at the periphery 5a, on top of which a wall 5d is placed. The shoulder 5c presses against the rim 17 of the middle piece 3 to ensure that the movement holder 5 is mounted flush with the middle piece 3. As can be seen in Figure 6 Fig. 3, the shoulder 5c presses against the periphery of the rim 17, with the gasket 6 fitted in the space between the bottom cover 4, the middle piece 3 and the movement holder 5. According to the application, the frustoconical portion 5b of the movement holder 5 makes it easier for the gasket 6 to slide over the periphery 5a when fitted. According to the application, the internal geometry of the movement holder is adapted to the geometry of the movement it houses.

[0027] The movement holder 5 comprises on its wall 5d guiding marks 18 in the form of notches or tabs, which are respectively positioned in complementary shaped guiding marks 19, 20 located in the middle piece 3 Figure 1A and in the movement 7 Figure 5 , in order to index the movement holder relative to the middle piece and the movement during assembly. Furthermore, an opening 21 can be made in the wall 5d to give flexibility to the movement holder 5.

[0028] According to the application, the movement holder is mounted flush with the lower face on the middle piece, thus making it possible to assemble and disassemble it from the bottom cover only. On the other hand, the dial and the movement have features that make it possible to assemble and disassemble them in both directions. According to the application, the dial 8 and the movement 7 have dimensions that are less than or equal to the dimensions of the seat 3a inside the middle piece 3, making it possible to pass through the middle piece 3 from above and from below. If the shape of the movement and of the dial is substantially circular, the movement 7 and the dial 8 respectively have a diameter D1 and D2 that is equal to or less than the internal diameter D3 of the middle piece. The diameters D1 and D2 are understood to mean the diameter of the largest circle that can be drawn virtually around the movement and the dial. The diameter D3 refers to the diameter of the smallest circle that can be drawn virtually inside the middle piece. Thus, if there is a protrusion inside the middle piece, the circle will be drawn from the end of the protrusion. Ideally, as can be seen in Figure 7 Fig. 3, the diameter D2 of the dial 8 corresponds to the diameter D1 of the movement 7.

[0029] As mentioned previously, the bayonet connection of the preassembled case can be locked with a lock 22, which is an accessory or part that is coupled to the bottom cover. In a first variant, which can be seen in Figures 1A-2 and Figures 8-9 , the lock 22 is a part that is attached to the middle piece 3 and to the bottom cover 4. For this purpose, a recess 12 in the bottom cover 4 communicates with a notch 26 in the flange 13 Figure 1C . The notch 26 is designed to be positioned facing an opening 27 made in the wall of the middle piece 3 to receive the lock 22 Figure 1A). The opening 27 traverses the wall of the middle piece 3 at the flange 14 (optionally in the middle of the flange 14).

[0030] According to Figure 8 The first variant of the lock 22 seen in Fig. 1 is in the form of a flexible portion with two hooks 22a, 22b at the lateral ends which hook onto the ends 13a, 13b of the flange 13 which outline the recess 26 in the bottom cover. In the example, the lock 22 has three recesses 22c to add flexibility to this portion. The lock 22 can also comprise a central tab 22d which separates the two recesses 22c near the two hooks 22a, 22b. To rotationally lock the bayonet connection, the lock is clamped to bring the two hooks 22a, 22b together and jointly inserted into the opening 27 in the middle piece and the recess 26 in the bottom cover. The two hooks 22a, 22b then return to their position to hook onto the ends 13a, 13b of the flange. To remove the lock, a tool 28 must be inserted into a slot 29 in the bottom cover 4 (Fig. 2). Figure 1A As shown in Fig. 3, the tool 28 presses on the tab 22d and on one wall 22e below the tab 22d which causes the hooks on the lock to retract and push them out of the middle piece. Figure 10 As shown in Fig. 3, the tool 28 presses on the tab 22d and on one wall 22e below the tab 22d which causes the hooks on the lock to retract and push them out of the middle piece.

[0031] According to a second variant, the lock 22 is arranged directly in the bottom cover 4. Instead of the recess 26, the bottom cover 2 is provided with a flexible protruding portion 30 which extends radially outwards from the bottom cover 4 at one of the flanges 13 (Fig. 4). Figure 11 The protruding portion 30 is made flexible by recesses 30a made in a portion of the flange 13 and optionally in a portion of the protruding portion 30. As a result, the bottom cover does not have a recess 26 to receive the lock and the middle piece 3 has an opening 27 to receive the protruding portion 30. When it is assembled with the bayonet connection, the protruding portion is compressed against the lateral wall of the seat 3a of the middle piece before falling into the opening 27 of the case and recovering its shape. To remove the lock, a tool (not shown) is inserted laterally into the opening 27 in the middle piece to compress the protruding portion 30 and rotationally release the bottom cover.

[0032] Once the lock has been removed, the pre-assembled watch case can be disassembled by inserting a tool into the slot 31 or into a circular hole (not shown) in the bottom cover 4 to rotate the bottom cover (Fig. 5). Figure 1A

[0033] ​The watch head is assembled as follows. First, the watch case 2 is pre-assembled by following the steps below. The movement holder 5 is positioned within the intermediate piece 3 by placing the guide marks 18 on the movement holder 5 opposite the guide marks 19 on the intermediate piece 3. The gasket 6 is positioned around the movement holder 5 and then the watch case 2 is closed with the bottom cover 4. The flange 13 is positioned where no flange 14 is present on the rim 17. Then, the bottom cover 4 is rotated relative to the intermediate piece 3 by using a tool inserted for example into the slot 31, one end of the flange 14 engaging the open end of the groove 12. Then, if a lock is present, it is inserted into the notch 26 in the bottom cover and into the opening 27 in the intermediate piece, or according to another variant of the lock only into the opening 27 in the intermediate piece.

[0034] As shown in Figure 3 Once the watch case 2 has been pre-assembled, the movement and the external parts are assembled from the side opposite the bottom cover. The movement 7 is inserted into the watch case and its guide marks are aligned with the guide marks 18 on the movement holder 5. Preferentially, the dial 8 is attached beforehand to the movement 7 so as to be inserted together into the watch case ( Figure 7 ). The dial can be heat-welded to the movement. In a quartz watch, the movement 7 can comprise a compartment 7a for receiving a removable energy source 32, such as a battery. Then, the hands 9, the watch glass 10 and the bezel 11 are fitted. The watch glass can be welded to the intermediate piece, with the bezel hiding the weld joint. The bezel can also be attached to the intermediate piece by ultrasonic welding, for example. The watch glass and the bezel can also optionally be glued together as a single piece, or there can be no bezel at all.

[0035] Figure 4 The resulting watch head 1 is shown in Figure 5 The disassembly shown in is carried out from the bottom. The watch head is turned over so as to have easy access to the bottom 4. If a locking piece is present, it is first removed as described above. Then, the bottom cover 4 is removed from the watch case 2 using a tool positioned in the slot 31. Removing the bottom cover 4 makes it possible to remove the movement holder 5. Then, the movement 7 and the dial can be taken out through the bottom of the intermediate piece. The reassembly is also carried out from the bottom by first fitting the movement 7 into the seat 3a of the intermediate piece 3 and aligning the guide marks 20 on the movement with the guide marks on the intermediate piece. Then, the movement holder 5 is also positioned using the guide marks 18 of this movement holder, and finally the bottom cover 4 is attached to the intermediate piece 3 using the bayonet connection or any reversible connection, possibly including a lock.

Claims

1. A watch head (1) capable of being assembled from the top and disassembled from the bottom, wherein the bottom defines a lower position facing a bottom cover (4) and wherein the top defines an upper position opposite the lower position, the watch head (1) comprising: - a pre-assembled watch case (2) comprising: an intermediate piece (3) delimiting an inner seat (3a), the bottom cover (4) being assembled on the intermediate piece (3) with reversible fastening means; and a movement holder (5) mounted flush with a lower face on the intermediate piece (3), - a movement (7) mounted on the movement holder (5) inside the pre-assembled watch case (2), - a dial (8) mounted on the movement (7), - a watch crystal (10) closing the pre-assembled watch case (2) at an end opposite the bottom cover (4), the dial (8) and the movement (7) having dimensions less than or equal to the dimensions of the seat (3a) inside the intermediate piece (3) so that it is possible to pass through the intermediate piece (3) from above and from below.

2. The watch head (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the reversible fastening means is formed by a bayonet connection.

3. The watch head (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the bottom cover (4) comprises at least a first flange (13) on its periphery (4a) traversed by a groove (12) and wherein the intermediate piece (3) comprises at least a second flange (14) projecting inside the intermediate piece (3), the groove (12) being open at one end to enable the second flange (14) to engage when the bottom cover (4) is rotated, the engagement of the second flange (14) in the groove (12) forming the bayonet connection.

4. The watch head (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pre-assembled watch case (2) comprises a lock (22) arranged on the bayonet connection to prevent any relative rotational movement between the intermediate piece (3) and the bottom cover (4).

5. The watch head (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lock (22) is positioned between lugs (23) of the intermediate piece (3).

6. The watch head (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the lock (22) is a flexible part attached to the intermediate piece (3) and to the bottom cover (4), an opening (27) being made traversing the second flange (14) and the groove (12) communicating with a recess (26) made in the first flange (13), the recess (26) being positioned opposite the opening (27) to jointly receive the lock (22).

7. The watch head (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the lock (22) comprises two hooks (22a, 22b) for respectively hooking the end (13a, 13b) of the first flange (13) outlining the recess (26) in the bottom cover (4).

8. The watch head (1) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the bottom cover (4) is passed through a first groove (29) for receiving a first tool (28) so as to apply force to the locking device (22) to ensure that it is withdrawn from the pre-assembled watch case (2).

9. The head (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the locking device (22) forms an integral part of the bottom cover (4) and is in the form of a flexible portion (30) projecting radially outward from the bottom cover (4), and wherein an opening (27) is made across the second flange (14), the flexible portion (30) being compressed against the intermediate member (3) during assembly using the bayonet connection before falling into the opening (27) of the intermediate member (3) and restoring its shape to ensure locking, and unlocking being ensured by a second tool introduced into the opening (27) of the intermediate member (3) to compress the flexible portion (30).

10. The head (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the visible surface of the bottom cover (4) includes a second groove (31) or orifice for positioning a third tool for assembling and disassembling the bottom cover (4) thereby ensuring its rotation relative to the intermediate piece (3).

11. The watch head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movement frame (5) includes a first guide mark (18) that engages together with a second guide mark (19) on the intermediate piece (3) and a third guide mark (20) on the movement (7).

12. The head (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower surface of the intermediate member (3) includes an edge (17) recessed in a side wall of an inner base (3a) defining the intermediate member (3), and wherein a shoulder (5c) is hollowed out on the upper surface of the periphery (5a) of the movement frame (5), wherein the shoulder (5c) is pressed on the edge (17) to assemble the movement frame (5) flush with the intermediate member (3).

13. The watch head (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the removable power source (32) is nested in the compartment (7a) of the movement (7).

14. The watch head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dial (8) and the movement (7) have the same dimensions.

15. The watch head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dial (8) is welded to the movement (7).

16. A method for assembling and disassembling a meter head (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the following steps for assembly: - The watch case (2) is pre-assembled, and the pre-assembly consists of the following: • Assemble the movement frame (5) flush with the lower surface of the intermediate component (3). • The washer (6) is assembled around the movement frame (5). • The intermediate component (3) is reversibly closed with the bottom cover (4) to obtain the pre-assembled watch case (2). • optionally fitting said lock (22) to prevent any relative rotational movement between said bottom cover (4) and said middle piece (3), • assembling from the top at least said movement (7), said dial (8), said crystal (10) and optionally a bezel (11) to obtain said watch head (1), - and for the disassembly, the method comprises the following steps: • if a lock (22) is present, removing said lock (22), • disassembling the bottom cover (4) of said case (2), • disassembling from the bottom at least said gasket (6), said movement holder (5) and said movement (7).

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