music or timepiece

Abstract

The invention relates to a music or alarm watch (100) comprising a case, a dial (4), a movement (6) and an alarm mechanism (7), the case being constituted at least by a bezel (1), an intermediate part (2), a back cover (3) and a crystal (5), said crystal (5) being attached to said bezel (1), said crystal (5) and said dial (4) forming an internal chamber (8) having an initial volume (V), characterized in that said bezel (1) is telescopic and movable between a closed position, in which said crystal (5) is located in a first plane (P1) parallel to the dial plane (PC), and a second position, in which said crystal (5) is located in a second plane (P2) distant from said first plane (P1) and parallel to said dial plane (PC), so as to increase the initial volume (V) of said internal chamber (8).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mechanical clocks and watches. More specifically, this invention relates to a musical watch or chiming watch equipped with a special sound radiation structure. Background Technology

[0002] Watches can be equipped with a striking mechanism to produce sound or music. For this purpose, the gongs on a striking watch or the keypad on a musical watch are typically housed within the watch case. The vibrations of the gongs or keys on the keypad are then transmitted to various external components. These external components include, for example, the central body of the watch case, the bezel, the crystal, and the case back. These large external components, under the influence of the transmitted vibrations, begin to radiate sound into the air. When one or more gongs are struck by hammers or one or more keys on the keypad vibrate to produce sound, these external components can radiate the resulting sound into the air.

[0003] Diaphragms can be installed inside the watch case, configured to improve the sound level of the produced sound or music. Other external components of the watch can also be designed to enhance sound radiation, especially at low frequencies. However, optimizing the sound radiation of the watch case back is difficult because it is typically an external component of the watch that produces almost no acoustic impact.

[0004] Another drawback is that when the watch is worn on the user's wrist, the vibrations on the underside of the case back are weakened due to contact with the wrist. In this case, one solution to generate sound or music from the case back is to use a side opening. However, because some components around the opening are rigid, the radiation from the side opening of the case back is still very low. Furthermore, if the case back is fitted with glass to allow viewing of the movement from the bottom, dirt can enter through the case back opening and accumulate inside the watch. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art by providing a music watch or chiming watch equipped with a retractable bezel, which can improve the sound level on the dial side of the watch.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention relates to a musical watch or a chiming watch, comprising a case, a dial, a movement, and a chiming mechanism. The case is composed of at least a middle component, a back cover, a bezel, and a crystal. The crystal is attached to the bezel, and the crystal and the dial form an internal cavity with an initial volume. The bezel is telescopic and movable between a closed position and a second position. In the closed position, the crystal is located in a first plane parallel to the plane of the dial, and in the second position, the crystal is located in a second plane away from the first plane and parallel to the plane of the dial, in order to increase the initial volume of the internal cavity.

[0007] Other advantageous variations according to the invention:

[0008] - The bezel consists of an upper and a lower section. The upper section is designed to hold the crystal, while the lower section connects to the middle component. The lower and upper sections are defined by a flange on which the crystal is fixed.

[0009] - The bezel includes at least one through hole, through which the internal chamber communicates with the outside of the watch case so that the chime or music can be heard;

[0010] - The at least one through hole is located on the lower part of the bezel;

[0011] - The lower part of the bezel includes at least one guide groove for moving the bezel from the closed position to the deployed position and vice versa.

[0012] - The intermediate component includes an annular groove for receiving the lower part of the bezel and for closing the at least one through hole when the bezel is in the closed position;

[0013] - The annular groove is provided with a protruding pin, which is arranged to mate with the at least one guide groove;

[0014] - The bezel includes a sealing ring that is adapted to mate with the intermediate component when the bezel is in the closed position;

[0015] - The intermediate component includes a sealing ring adapted to seal with the bezel when the bezel is in the closed position;

[0016] - The at least one through hole is provided with a microporous membrane to prevent dust or dirt from entering;

[0017] - Microporous membranes are made of paper, fabric, metal or composite materials;

[0018] - The dial forms an acoustic diaphragm;

[0019] - The retractable bezel is mounted on the back cover of the watch. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 This is an exploded perspective view of the table according to the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2a This is a perspective view of the bezel of a watch according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2b Show Figure 2a A cross-sectional view of the bezel in the clock face;

[0024] Figure 3a and Figure 3b A cross-sectional view of a watch according to the invention is shown, wherein the bezel is in a closed position and an extended position, respectively. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 A watch according to the invention is shown, comprising a case and a dial 4, the case being at least composed of a bezel 1, a central component 2, a case back 3, and a crystal 5. The case houses a watch movement 6 associated with a striking mechanism 7.

[0026] The watch movement and striking mechanism are known and are shown in schematic form. The striking mechanism is designed to cause at least one gong or at least one plate to vibrate, for example, once or more at regular intervals every hour or when manually activated, or even at a set time of day in the case of an alarm clock.

[0027] like Figure 3a and Figure 3b As shown, the watch case includes an internal cavity 8 defined by the dial 4 and the watch mirror 5, the internal cavity 8 forming a sound cavity with an initial volume V.

[0028] The dial divides the watch case into two stacked spaces: a closed housing 80 that houses the movement and the striking mechanism, and an internal chamber 8 that forms the sound cavity.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the dial is an acoustic diaphragm that extends within the dial plane PC.

[0030] According to the present invention, the bezel 1 is telescopically mounted on the intermediate component and can move between a closed position and an extended position to increase the initial volume V of the internal chamber.

[0031] like Figure 2a and Figure 2b As shown, the bezel 1 includes an upper part 10 and a lower part 11. The upper part 10 is designed to hold the watch crystal 5, and the lower part 11 is connected to the intermediate component 2. The lower part 11 and the upper part 10 are defined by a flange 12 on which the watch crystal 5 is supported. The watch crystal is located in a first plane P1 parallel to the dial plane PC. As shown, the first plane P1 is a plane formed by the upper edge of the aforementioned flange, on which the watch crystal 5 rests.

[0032] like Figure 1 As shown, the lower part 11 of the bezel is designed to rest in the annular groove 20 of the intermediate part 2 and cooperate with the intermediate part 2 so as to move from the closed position to the extended position.

[0033] The lower part 11 includes a shoulder arranged to abut against the intermediate member 2 when the bezel is in the closed position. The shoulder also has a groove designed to receive a sealing ring 18, such that when the bezel is closed, the sealing ring 18 presses against the intermediate member 2, making the watch waterproof. The sealing ring 18 may also be installed in the intermediate member 2.

[0034] The lower part 11 also includes at least one guide groove 14, preferably at least two guide grooves 14, to limit clearance after the bezel 1 is assembled onto the intermediate part 2. The at least one guide groove 14 guides the bezel from a closed position to an extended position, and the guide groove 14 includes two parallel, straight sections 140, 141 connected by a ramp 142.

[0035] The parallel straight sections 140 and 141 of the guide groove 14 form the closed position and the extended position of the bezel 1, and the ramp 142 realizes the transition between these two positions.

[0036] At least one guide groove 14 is arranged to mate with at least one pin 21, the pin 21 being mounted to protrude into an annular groove 20. The pin is fixed, and the guide groove 14 is movable relative to the pin / intermediate component. Figure 1 As shown, the at least one pin can be mounted from the outside of the intermediate component 2, making it easier to assemble the bezel 1. It is also conceivable that the at least one pin can be mounted from inside the intermediate component.

[0037] According to an embodiment not shown in the figure, each linear portion 140, 141 has a protrusion near its distal end so that the protrusion forms a hard point when the pin 21 moves in the guide groove 14, thereby ensuring the locking of the bezel 1 in the closed or extended position.

[0038] Moving the bezel 1 from the closed position to the extended position increases the distance between the dial 3 and the crystal 5 because the bezel and crystal move relative to the dial 3. For example... Figure 3a and Figure 3b As shown, in the closed position, the dial plane PC and the first plane P1 are separated by a distance h1, and in the extended position, the dial plane PC and the second plane P2 are separated by a distance h2, wherein the distance h2 is greater than the distance h1.

[0039] Therefore, it can be understood that this arrangement of the bezel 1 on the intermediate component 2 allows for a change in the initial volume V of the internal chamber 8. In this case, when the bezel 1 is in the extended position, the volume of the internal chamber 8 increases.

[0040] As shown in the figure, the bezel 1 includes at least one through hole 13, through which the internal cavity 8 communicates with the outside of the watch case, allowing the chime or music to be heard. The at least one through hole 13 is located on the lower part 11 of the bezel 1. Therefore, the increased volume of the internal cavity 8, combined with the at least one through hole 13, amplifies and diffuses the sound of the chime or music to the outside of the watch.

[0041] It should be noted that when the bezel is in the closed position, the lower part 11 of the bezel rests in the annular groove 20, thereby closing the at least one through hole 13.

[0042] The lower part 11 may include one or more through holes 13, which may have a variety of possible shapes and orientations. As shown, the through hole 13 is oblong and slopes towards the middle part. A rectangular through hole may also be considered, extending in a plane parallel to the dial plane PC and the first plane P1.

[0043] Advantageously, at least one through-hole 13 has a microporous membrane to prevent dust or dirt from entering the surface. For example, the microporous membrane can be made of paper, fabric, metal, or even composite materials.

[0044] This watch design, especially the bezel design, is particularly advantageous because the wearer can easily change the position of the bezel to improve the sound level on the dial side of the watch.

[0045] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the retractable bezel is mounted to the case back in the same manner as the bezel mounted to the front of the case.

[0046] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the examples shown, and various variations and modifications that will be obvious to those skilled in the art can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A musical watch or chiming watch (100) comprising a case, a dial (4), a movement (6), and a chiming mechanism (7), the case comprising at least a bezel (1), a middle component (2), a back cover (3), and a crystal (5), the crystal (5) being attached to the bezel (1), the crystal (5) and the dial (4) forming an internal cavity (8) having an initial volume (V), characterized in that, The bezel (1) is telescopic and can move between a closed position and a second position, in which the watch face (5) is located in a first plane (P1) parallel to the dial plane (PC), and in the second position, the watch face (5) is located in a second plane (P2) away from the first plane (P1) and parallel to the dial plane (PC) in order to increase the initial volume (V) of the internal chamber (8).

2. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bezel (1) includes an upper part (10) and a lower part (11), the upper part (10) being designed to hold the crystal (5), the lower part (11) being connected to the middle component (2), the lower part (11) and the upper part (10) being defined by a flange (12), and the crystal (5) being fixed on the flange.

3. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The bezel (1) includes at least one through hole (13), and the internal chamber (8) communicates with the outside of the watch case through the at least one through hole (13) so that the chime or music can be heard.

4. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The at least one through hole (13) is located on the lower part (11) of the bezel.

5. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The lower part (11) of the bezel includes at least one guide groove (14) for moving the bezel (1) from the closed position to the extended position and vice versa.

6. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The intermediate component (2) includes an annular groove (20) for receiving the lower part (11) of the bezel and for closing the at least one through hole when the bezel (1) is in the closed position.

7. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The annular groove (20) is provided with a protruding pin (21) arranged to engage with the at least one guide groove (14).

8. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The bezel (1) includes a sealing ring (18) adapted to engage with the intermediate component (2) when the bezel (1) is in the closed position.

9. The music clock or timekeeping clock (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The intermediate component (2) includes a sealing ring (18) adapted to engage with the bezel (1) when the bezel (1) is in the closed position.

10. The music clock or time clock according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The at least one through hole (13) is provided with a microporous membrane to prevent dust or dirt from entering.

11. The music clock or time clock according to claim 9, characterized in that, The microporous membrane is made of paper, fabric, metal or composite material.

12. The music clock or time clock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The dial (4) forms an acoustic membrane.

13. The music clock or time clock according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The bezel (1) is mounted on the back of the music watch or timekeeping watch.

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