Watch case ring

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a casing ring for a timepiece, said timepiece comprising a movement and a case, said casing ring comprising a body intended to at least partially surround the movement and at least one actuating member intended to be actuated from outside the case to actuate a movement control member.

[0002] By definition, the casing ring is a ring that at least partially surrounds the movement. It serves to fill the space between the movement and the case.

[0003] In watch movements including complications, for example including a chronograph mechanism, a mechanism allowing the display of moon phases or the calendar (annual or perpetual), in which one or more buttons operable from outside the watch case must activate a function of the movement, the casing ring typically carries levers.

[0004] The Patek Philippe Chrono Dame 7150 watch features a 100 casing ring, typically made of rhodium-plated brass, as shown in Figures 1 and 2This casing ring 100 comprises a rigid annular body 101 and two holes 102 in each of which is driven a tube 103 serving as an axis of rotation and thread for a screw 104, a lever 105 made of hardened steel is mounted on this tube and retained by said screw 104. The lever 105 is intended to be actuated by a push button 106, this actuator 106 passing through the middle 107 of the watch case, as illustrated in figure 2 This rocker 105 is an intermediary between the push button 106 and a control member 108 of the movement to be actuated.

[0005] Traditionally, each of the 106 push buttons illustrated in the figure 2 incorporates a spring which is stressed when the associated button 106 is pressed so that it can be repositioned after being pressed.

[0006] A main technical difficulty in the design of such structures lies in the fact that they comprise numerous parts and can lead to the generation of rhodium particles which pollute the movement when driving the tubes 103 and / or screwing the levers 105 into the body 101.

[0007] In some timepieces, the arrangement of the movement may make it difficult to use control means such as those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 . Indeed, for reasons of space, it may be preferable for the actuator accessible from outside the watch case to be angularly offset from the control means that it must actuate.

[0008] The self-winding “5905P - complications” watch from Patek Philippe includes a casing ring 200 as illustrated in figure 3 .

[0009] The casing ring 200 comprises a rigid annular body 201 and two holes in each of which is driven a tube serving as an axis of rotation and thread for a screw 204a, 204b. Rockers 205a, 205b made of hardened steel are mounted freely rotatable on these tubes and retained by said screws 204a, 204b. The rocker 205a is intended to be actuated by a push button 206, passing through the middle 207 of the watch case.

[0010] Each of the two rockers 205a, 205b comprises a first arm, respectively 2051a, 2051b and a second arm, respectively 2052a, 2052b.

[0011] The first arm 2051a of the first rocker 205a is intended to cooperate with the push button 206 and the second arm 2052a of the first rocker is intended to cooperate with the first arm 2051b of the second rocker 205b. Finally, the second arm 2052b of the second rocker 205b is intended to cooperate with a movement control member 208 which it can actuate to trigger a predefined action. It is said that the first 205a and second 205b rockers are arranged in series.

[0012] The body 201 carries a spring 202 arranged to exert on the second arm 2052b of the second lever 205b a force moving it away from the control member 208, tending to pivot the latter counterclockwise around its screw 204b. Thus, in the absence of action by the user on the pusher 206, the second lever 205b keeps the first arm 2051a of the first lever 205a pressing against a pin 209.

[0013] When the user wants to trigger the particular action controlled by the control member 208, he presses the push button 206 which successively causes the counterclockwise rotation of the first lever 205a and the clockwise rotation of the second lever 205b. The force exerted by the user on the push button 206 must be sufficient to overcome that exerted by the spring 202 so that the second arm 2052b of the second lever 205b can move the control member 208 by pushing it towards the center of the movement.

[0014] Such a casing ring 200 has the advantage of angularly offsetting the actuator 206 accessible from outside the watch case relative to the control means 208 that it must actuate to adapt to the possible size of the watch movement with which it interacts. However, it includes the same drawbacks as those described previously for the casing ring 100, namely a large number of parts and the risk of generating particles, typically rhodium plating, polluting the movement when mounting the levers 205a, 205b on the body 201.

[0015] Document FR 2341154 describes a casing ring comprising a ring intended to at least partially surround the movement and a flexible actuating member intended to be actuated by a push button. The actuating member and the ring are made in one piece and transmit the movement of the push button to a contact spring of the movement. In this arrangement, the push button is arranged on the same axis as the contact spring that it actuates. No solution is proposed to allow the angular offset between the push button accessible from outside the watch case and the contact spring of the movement that it is to actuate.

[0016] An aim of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0017] The invention provides for this purpose a casing ring for a timepiece according to claim 1. The invention also relates to a timepiece such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a clock or a small clock comprising such a casing ring.

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the following detailed description made with reference to the appended drawings in which: there figure 1 represents, in perspective and in top view, a casing circle according to the prior art; the figure 2 represents, in longitudinal section and in top view, a part of a watch including the casing ring illustrated in the figure 1 ; there figure 3 illustrates, in longitudinal section and in top view, a part of a watch comprising another casing ring according to the prior art; the figure 4represents, in perspective, a casing circle according to a first embodiment not falling within the scope of the invention but described for illustrative purposes; the Figure 5 illustrates, in longitudinal section in top view, a part of a wristwatch including the casing ring illustrated in the figure 4 ; there figure 6 illustrates, in longitudinal section in top view, a part of a watch comprising a variant of the casing ring shown in the figure 4 ; there figure 7 illustrates, in longitudinal section in top view, a part of a watch comprising another variant of the casing ring shown in the figure 4 ; THE Figures 8a and 8b illustrate, in longitudinal section in top view, a part of a watch comprising yet another variant of the casing ring shown in the figure 4 ; THE Figures 9a and 9billustrate, in longitudinal section in top view, a part of a watch comprising a casing ring according to a second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the invention.

[0019] The following embodiments illustrated in Figures 4 to 8b are not part of the invention and are described here for illustrative purposes only.

[0020] In reference to the Figures 4 and 5, a casing ring 1 for a wristwatch according to a first embodiment not falling within the scope of the invention comprises an annular body 2 with center O and rigid and two elastic members 3 forming with said body 2 a single-piece assembly. Each of said elastic members 3 comprises a rigid part 3a, movable relative to the body 2, and an elastic part 3b connecting the latter to the body 2. The elastic part here takes the form of an elastic blade 3b and defines with the body 2 a connecting interface 4 corresponding to the interface between the rigid body 2 and the elastic blade 3b.

[0021] In the example illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 , the two elastic members 3 are identical.

[0022] There Figure 5 illustrates the casing ring 1 mounted in a watch. It is arranged around the movement of this watch and inside its caseband 5.

[0023] The rigid part 3a of each of the elastic members 3 cooperates, typically directly, on the one hand with a push button 6 of the watch, said push button 6 passing through the caseband 5 and being partly outside the case of this watch, and on the other hand with a movement control member such as a control lever 7 of which only a part is visible at the Figure 5 .

[0024] The side of the rigid part 3a of the elastic member 3 oriented towards the outside of the body 2 cooperates, typically directly, with the push button 6.

[0025] Under the effect of pressure exerted by the wearer of the watch illustrated in the Figure 5on this push button 6, the rigid part 3a is moved towards the inside of the body 2 and therefore towards the movement and acts in turn, by means of its side oriented towards the inside of the body 2, on the control member 7 to trigger a predefined action. This movement is made possible by the elastic deformation of the elastic blade 3b.

[0026] In the example shown in Figure 5 , the part of the control member 7 intended to cooperate with the rigid part 3a is located on the axis of movement of the push button 6, the push button 6 and the control member 7 which it must actuate are located on the same radius of the body 2.

[0027] The casing circle 1 is designed so that the rigid part 3a of each of its elastic members 3 is able to move with an amplitude sufficient to actuate the control member 7. This amplitude depends essentially on the deformation properties of the associated elastic part 3b.

[0028] The rigid part 3a forms a protuberance relative to the rest of the elastic member 3. This enlarged shape of the rigid part 3a is not essential but it has the advantage of making it close to the two elements with which it cooperates in operation, namely the push button 6 and the control member 7. Thus, the push button 6 will only have to make a small movement to move the rigid part 3a which will then only have to make a small movement to actuate the control member 7.

[0029] The push button 6 is typically a start / stop push button or a reset push button for a chronograph mechanism and the control member is typically a control lever 7 of a chronograph. In this case, when the user presses the push button 6, he comes, via the elastic member 3, to actuate the chronograph control lever 7 and, as the case may be, start, stop or reset the chronograph of the movement.

[0030] In the example illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 , the body 2 is a closed ring of width “L”. It has on its inner edge tabs 8, some of which are pierced, which allow the casing ring 1 to be fixed relative to the movement plate.

[0031] The body 2 also comprises recesses 9 on its upper part in which the elastic members 3 extend.

[0032] In top view, when they are at rest, that is to say when no external force is exerted on them, the elastic members 3 are located mainly above the body 2. They are intended to move in a plane parallel to that in which the body 2 extends, that is to say in a plane parallel to the plate of the movement. The upper part of each of said recesses 9 helps to guide them in this plane.

[0033] Due to the single connection interface 4 of each actuating member 3 with the body 2, the rigid part 3a of each elastic member 3 moves substantially along an arc of a circle relative to the body 2, the center of this arc of a circle corresponding to the center of said connection interface 4.

[0034] The nesting circle 1 illustrated in Figures 4 and 5comprises two identical elastic members 3, each of them comprising a rigid part 3a and a curved elastic blade 3b, substantially in an arc of a circle, connecting said rigid part 3a to the body 2.

[0035] In variants, the casing circle 1 according to the first embodiment not falling within the scope of the invention could comprise a single elastic member 3 or more than two elastic members 3, for example three or four, said elastic member(s) forming in any case with the body 2 a single-piece assembly.

[0036] In the case where the casing circle 1 comprises at least two elastic members 3, these may be identical, as in the example illustrated in figures 4 to 7 , or be different or partly different from each other.

[0037] Whatever the variant envisaged, each of the elastic members 3 of the casing circle 1 can be connected to the body 2 by a single elastic part 3b, as in the cases illustrated in figures 4 to 6 , or by several elastic parts, for example by two elastic blades 3b, 3c as in the case illustrated in figure 7. In this particular case, each elastic member 3 comprises two identical elastic arms 3b, 3c arranged on either side of a rigid part 3a. These are arranged so that the rigid part 3a is able to move along a linear trajectory relative to the body 2; they are diametrically opposed relative to this rigid part 3a. The linear trajectory that they follow extends radially relative to the circle defined by the annular body 2. Such a trajectory has the advantage of limiting both the friction between the push button 6 and the part of the elastic member 3 with which it cooperates during its actuation and the friction between the control member 7 and the part of the elastic member 3 with which it cooperates during its actuation.

[0038] Each of the elastic members 3 of the casing ring 1 may not comprise a rigid part 3a. Such an elastic member 3 comprises only an elastic part, typically a simple arm or a simple elastic blade intended to cooperate on the one hand with the push button 6 and on the other hand with the control member 7 of the movement, by one or more parts.

[0039] In addition, each of the elastic parts 3b of the casing circle 1 can take various shapes, for example curved, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 , right, as shown in the figure 6 , or even sinuous as illustrated in the figure 7 . More generally, the shape of the elastic organs 3 can vary infinitely as long as their functions are ensured.

[0040] Furthermore, unlike the examples illustrated in figures 4 to 7, the part of the elastic member 3 intended to cooperate with the push button 6 of the watch can be offset by an angle α of center O relative to the part of the elastic member 3 intended to cooperate with the control member 7 of the movement of this watch to trigger a predefined action, as illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b . In the variant illustrated in Figures 8a and 8b, the angle α is approximately 45°. In order to allow such an angular offset, the rigid part 3a of the casing circle 1 is bent and extends over an angle β with center O of approximately 75°. It is connected to the body 2 by means of a flexible guide member with circular necks constituting the elastic part 3b. The two parts of the elastic member 3 intended to cooperate respectively with the push button 6 and with the control member 7 of the movement are typically located in the rigid part 3a. The hollow of the bend of the rigid part 3a receives the part of the control member 7 of the movement with which it cooperates. Figure 8a illustrates such a casing circle 1 at rest, that is to say when the push button 6 is not actuated, the elastic member 3 being in its rest position and the control member 7 being in a first position. Figure 8billustrates the same casing circle 1 when the push button 6 is actuated, the elastic part 3b of the elastic member 3 being deformed and the control member 7 being in a second position.

[0041] In reference to the Figures 9a and 9b , a casing circle 10 for a wristwatch according to a second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the invention, comprises an annular body 11 with center O and rigid as well as a first 131 and a second 132 elastic members forming with said body 11 a single-piece assembly.

[0042] Each of said elastic members 131, 132 comprises a rigid part 131a, 132a movable relative to the body 11, and an elastic part 131b, 132b connecting the latter to the body 11.

[0043] The rigid part 131a of the casing circle 10 is connected to the body 11 by means of an elastic part 131b consisting of a flexible guide member with circular necks. Similarly, the rigid part 132a of the casing circle 10 is connected to the body 11 by means of an elastic part 132b consisting of a flexible guide member with circular necks.

[0044] THE Figures 9a and 9b illustrate the casing ring 10 mounted in a watch. As for the first embodiment of the invention, it is arranged around the movement of this watch and inside its caseband 15.

[0045] The first elastic member 131 cooperates, typically directly, on the one hand with a push button 16 of the watch, said button 16 passing through the caseband 15 and thus being partly outside the case of this watch as in the embodiment illustrated in the Figures 4 and 5, and on the other hand with the second elastic member 132. The second elastic member 132 cooperates, typically directly, on the one hand with the first elastic member 131 and on the other hand with a movement control member 17 such as a control lever of which only a part is visible to the Figures 9a and 9b . In other words, the first and second elastic members are arranged in series, that is to say arranged so that the actuation of said first elastic member 131 from outside the box actuates said control member 17 via said second elastic member 132.

[0046] Under the effect of pressure exerted by the wearer of the watch illustrated in Figures 9a and 9bon the push button 16, the rigid part 131a is moved towards the inside of the body 11 by deformation of the flexible guide member with circular necks 131b and acts in turn, by means of its side oriented towards the inside of the body 11, on the rigid part 132a of the second elastic member 132. The rigid part 132a is thus moved towards the inside of the body 11 by deformation of the flexible guide member with circular necks 132b and acts in turn on the control member 17 to trigger a predefined action.

[0047] In the example illustrated, the part of the control member 17 intended to cooperate with the rigid part 132a is offset by an angle α of center O of approximately 45° relative to the axis of movement of the push button 16. In order to allow such an angular offset, the rigid part 131a of the casing circle 10 extends over a center angle O of approximately 35° and the rigid part 132a of the casing circle 10 extends over a center angle O of approximately 50°, these angles intersecting.

[0048] The casing circle 10 is designed so that the rigid parts 131a, 132a of its elastic members 131, 132 are able to move with an amplitude sufficient to actuate the control member 17. This amplitude depends essentially on the deformation properties of the elastic parts 131b, 132b.

[0049] As in the embodiment illustrated in the Figures 4 and 5, the button 16 is typically a start / stop push button or a reset push button for a chronograph mechanism and the control member is typically a control lever 17 of a chronograph. In this case, when the user presses the button 16, he comes, via the elastic members 131, 132, to actuate the chronograph control lever 17 and, as the case may be, start, stop or reset the chronograph of the movement.

[0050] In the example illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b , the body 11 is a closed ring of width “L”. Like the body 2 of the casing circle 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in the Figures 4 and 5 , the body 11 may typically carry its inner edge of the tabs to fix the casing ring 10 relative to the plate of the movement.

[0051] The body 11 also comprises a recess 19 on its upper part in which the elastic members 131, 132 extend in part.

[0052] In top view, when they are at rest, that is to say when no external force is exerted on them, the elastic members 131, 132 are located mainly above the body 11. They are intended to move in a plane parallel to that in which the body 11 extends, that is to say in a plane parallel to the plate of the movement. The upper part of the recess 19 helps to guide them in this plane.

[0053] The rigid part 131a, 132a of each elastic member 131, 132 moves substantially along an arc of a circle relative to the body 11, the center of this arc of a circle corresponding, for each elastic member, to the pivoting center of its flexible guide member with circular necks 131b, 132b

[0054] The casing circle 10 illustrated in Figures 9a and 9bcomprises two elastic members 131, 132 arranged in series, each of said elastic members comprising a rigid part 131a, 132a in the form of a slightly curved rigid arm and an elastic part 131b, 132 taking the form of a flexible guide member with circular necks.

[0055] In variants, the casing circle 10 according to the second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the invention, could comprise several series of at least two elastic members.

[0056] Each series of elastic members of the casing circle 10 could comprise more than two elastic members, the said elastic member(s) of the series forming in any case with the body a single-piece assembly.

[0057] Whatever the variant envisaged, each of the elastic members 131, 132 of the casing circle 10 can be connected to the body 11 by a single elastic part 131b, 132b, as in the case illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b, or by several elastic parts, typically two.

[0058] Whatever the variant envisaged, the elastic members of the casing circle 10 may not include a rigid part 131a, 132a. They may then be simple elastic arms.

[0059] Each of the elastic parts 131b, 132b can also take various shapes, other than that of a circular neck. More generally, the shape of the elastic members 131, 132 can vary infinitely as long as their functions are ensured.

[0060] The serial arrangement of several elastic members according to the second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the invention, as in the case illustrated in Figures 9a and 9b, is particularly suitable for a casing ring intended for use in a timepiece in which the push button must, typically for reasons of space, be offset by an angle α of center O relative to the movement control member. Such an arrangement remains possible, however, for use in all kinds of timepieces.

[0061] Regardless of the embodiment of the present invention, each of the push buttons 6, 16 could be replaced by any other suitable actuator.

[0062] The casing ring according to the invention is typically made of a non-magnetic copper alloy, such as brass, a copper-beryllium alloy or a copper, nickel and zinc alloy possibly including lead known as nickel silver. Advantageously, the casing ring is rhodium-plated. It is typically produced by mechanical machining, for example by chip removal, by electroerosion or by means of a laser.

[0063] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments presented above and illustrated in the figures, while remaining defined by the attached set of claims.

[0064] It is for example very well conceivable to produce a casing ring combining the first and second embodiments described above, for example a casing ring for a timepiece comprising a body, at least one first elastic member as described in the first embodiment not falling within the scope of the invention and at least one series of at least two elastic members as described in the second embodiment, which is an embodiment of the invention, said first elastic member and said series of elastic members being arranged to cooperate respectively with first and second actuators intended to be actuated from outside the case of said timepiece to actuate respectively first and second members for controlling the movement of said timepiece, the body, the first elastic member and the series of at least two elastic members forming a single-piece assembly.

[0065] The casing ring according to the invention can take various forms, it is typically of the same form as the watch case of the timepiece in which it is intended to be inserted, typically round as in the examples illustrated in the figures, or else oval, square, rectangular or polygonal for example. In these cases, it is intended to completely surround the movement of said timepiece. In variants, the casing ring according to the invention can also be intended to only partially surround the movement of said timepiece. It can thus be of a form corresponding to only a portion of the aforementioned forms, for example in an arc of a circle. It is typically the body of the casing ring which takes this form.

[0066] Whatever the embodiment of the invention, the casing circle according to the invention, and in particular the fact that its body forms a single-piece assembly with its elastic members, has several advantages.

[0067] This limits the number of components and therefore makes it easier to assemble the timepiece. In addition, eliminating screws and driving out a screw thread or any other mounting pin for assembling rockers such as those 105 shown in figure 1 also avoids the formation of particles, typically rhodium plating, which could hinder movement.

[0068] The absence of screws gives more freedom as to the width “L” of the casing circle which is no longer subject to the screw dimensions.

[0069] Another advantage of the casing ring comes from the fact that each of its elastic members generates a restoring force, which can be used to return the push buttons to position after they have been actuated. Thus, the spring traditionally present in the push button such as the button 106 illustrated in figure 2 can be deleted.

[0070] The restoring force of each of the elastic members is also easily adjustable, which makes it possible to simply manage the pressure required by the user to actuate a movement control member, this pressure having to be both sufficient to avoid its involuntary actuation but also limited for the comfort of the user. The adjustment of this force is typically done by varying the thickness of the elastic members, their length and / or the material used to make the casing ring.

[0071] Finally, according to the variant implemented, the casing ring according to the invention also has the advantage of angularly offsetting the actuator accessible from the outside of the watch case relative to the control member that it must actuate in order to adapt to the possible size of the watch movement with which it interacts.

Claims

1. Casing ring (1; 10) for a timepiece, said timepiece comprising a movement and a case, said casing ring (1; 10) comprising a body (2; 11) intended to at least partially surround the movement and at least one actuating member (3; 131) intended to be actuated from outside the case in order to actuate a control member (7; 17) of the movement, said actuating member (3; 131) being elastic and forming a single-piece assembly with said body (2; 11), characterised in that it comprises at least one other elastic member (132) arranged in series with said actuating member (131) so that the actuation of said actuating member (131) from outside the case actuates said control member (17) via said other elastic member (132), said other elastic member (132) forming part of the single-piece assembly.

2. Casing ring (1; 10) as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said actuating member (3; 131) comprises a rigid part (3a; 131a) which can move with respect to the body (2; 11) and at least one elastic part (3b; 131b) connecting said rigid part (3a; 131a) to the body (2; 11).

3. Casing ring (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said actuating member (3) comprises two elastic parts (3b, 3c) arranged on both sides of said rigid part (3a) so as to guide it in translation with respect to the body (2).

4. Casing ring (1; 10) as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that said rigid part (3a; 131a) forms a protrusion with respect to said elastic part or parts (3b; 131b).

5. Casing ring (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said other elastic member also comprises a rigid part (132a) which can move with respect to the body (11) and at least one elastic part (132b) connecting said rigid part (131a) to the body (11).

6. Casing ring (1; 10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said single-piece assembly is produced from a non-magnetic copper alloy, preferably selected from brass, a copper-beryllium alloy or an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc possibly comprising lead.

7. Casing ring (1; 10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is of a round, square, oval or rectangular shape or a shape corresponding to a portion of said shapes, for example an arc of a circle.

8. Timepiece such as a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a clock or a miniature clock comprising a casing ring (1; 10) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Timepiece as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that it comprises an actuator (6; 16), at least partially outside the case, the actuation of which elastically deforms said actuating member (2; 131) so that this actuates said control member (17) directly or indirectly via said other elastic member (132).

10. Timepiece as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that said actuator (6; 16) and the control member are offset with respect to each other by an angle α with a centre O corresponding to the centre of the body (2; 11), said angle α being at least 5°, preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 30°, more preferably at least 40°.

11. Timepiece as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that said actuator (6; 16) is a push button passing through the middle of the case.

12. Timepiece as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the control member (7; 17) is a control lever such as a chronograph control lever.