ADJUSTABLE SCREWED CROWN

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a screw-on orientable crown for a watch case comprising a case body with at least one through-hole for receiving said screw-on orientable crown, which screw-on orientable crown is arranged to cooperate with said hole and seal it tightly, said screw-on orientable crown having a pattern on one end face or in its vicinity, said screw-on orientable crown comprising, axially movable in an axial direction relative to each other, on the one hand a subassembly comprising a crown body manipulable by a user and having said pattern, and on the other hand a tube arranged to be screwed or driven into said hole in said axial direction.

[0002] The invention also relates to a watch case, comprising a case body with at least one through-hole for receiving such a screw-in orientable crown.

[0003] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case.

[0004] The invention also relates to a method of assembling such a steerable screwed crown.

[0005] The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a screw-on, swiveling crown on a watch case. Background of the invention

[0006] Screw-down crowns are commonly used on watches to improve their water resistance at the point where a control mechanism, such as a winding or regulating stem, passes through. This type of crown has the unique characteristic of being able to assume a screw-down position, in which the watch can be wound, set, adjusted, or otherwise operated, and a screw-down position, in which the crown is screwed and locked onto a tube driven or screwed into the watch case to compress a gasket, thus improving the watch's water resistance. The screw-down position is therefore the normal position when the watch is worn and remains relatively constant, except for wear and tear on the gasket.

[0007] The manufacture and assembly of these screw-on crowns on watch cases are well known. However, the assembly methods for these crowns are poorly suited to screw-on crowns that bear an inscription or motif on their end face, for example a logo, a trademark or a similar sign, or even a relief, or to crowns that are not of revolution, whereas it is desirable that the user, or at least an after-sales service, be able to adjust the angular indexing of such a crown, in the screw-on position, according to a particular desired orientation.

[0008] Indeed, current mounting methods generally do not allow the crown to be positioned in a specific orientation relative to the case after it has been screwed in, which can detract from the case's aesthetics. This situation is obviously unacceptable when these crowns are used on luxury and high-quality products.

[0009] Document EP2182417, issued in the name of PIBOR ISA SA, describes a screw-down crown designed to be mounted on a watch case housing a timepiece movement. This crown comprises a head, a first tube intended to be kinematically connected to the movement, fixed to the head and featuring a thread on its outer circumference, and a second tube designed to receive the first tube, which includes, on the side of the first tube, an internal thread to engage with the thread of the first tube. The head has a front face bearing a logo with a non-circular geometry. The second tube includes, on the side facing the case, initial indexing means.And the crown further includes a third tube consisting of a first part intended to ensure its permanent attachment to the watch case and a second part directed towards the head, the third tube being arranged to receive the first and second tubes and including second indexing means cooperating with the first indexing means of the second tube, and a locking member arranged to block the translational movement of the second tube relative to the third tube. Summary of the invention

[0010] The invention aims in particular to overcome the various drawbacks of these known techniques.

[0011] More specifically, one objective of the invention is to provide a steerable screw-on crown adaptable to any watch case having a crown housing, for the orientation of this screw-on crown, made according to a simple and economical construction.

[0012] The invention also aims to provide a more reliable orientable screw-on crown than existing ones.

[0013] Thus, the invention relates to a screw-on orientable crown according to claim 1.

[0014] The invention also relates to a watch case, comprising a case body with at least one through-hole for receiving such a screw-in orientable crown.

[0015] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch, comprising such a case.

[0016] The invention also relates to a method of assembling such a steerable screwed crown.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method of mounting such a screw-on, swiveling crown on a watch case. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting example, and the accompanying figures, among which: there figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a screw-mounted, orientable crown according to a first unclaimed variant, wherein this crown comprises a tube arranged to cooperate with a box housing, and an insert, which are designed to be welded to each other after angular indexing adjustment; the figure 2 is a detail of the crown of the figure 1 , and demonstrates the cooperation, on the one hand, between this tube and this insert in angular indexing by means of grooves, and on the other hand, by screwing between this insert and a fixed barrel carried by a crown body that can be operated by the user and which bears a pattern visible on the figure 1 ; THE figures 3 to 6illustrate the assembly and mounting sequence of this first crown variant: the figure 3 illustrates the assembly of all the components, and the determination of the angular orientation of the insert in the tube; the figure 4 shows the laser weld between the insert and the tube in this indexed position; the figure 5 illustrates the reassembly of the whole; the figure 6 illustrates the assembly of the entire crown within the case; the figure 7 represents, in a similar way to the figure 1 , a second variant according to the invention, where the tube comprises two parts placed end to end and screwed together, enclosing the grooved insert which cooperates in angular indexing with the part of the tube furthest from the case; the figure 8 represents, in a similar way to the figure 2 the details of this second variant; the figures 9 to 11 illustrate the assembly and mounting sequence of this second variant: the figure 9 illustrates the assembly of all the components, and the determination of the angular orientation of the insert in the tubes; the Figure 10 shows the unscrewing of the upper tube containing the groove, for modifying the angular position of the insert; the figure 11 shows, after the desired angular indexing, the screwing and gluing of the upper tube to the lower tube, and the gluing between them; the figure 12 is a block diagram representing a watch comprising a case equipped with a screw-on crown that can be rotated according to the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0019] The invention relates to a screw-in, swiveling crown 200 for a watch case 100. This case 100 conventionally comprises a case middle 9, with at least one through-hole 90 for receiving the screw-in, swiveling crown 200.

[0020] This swiveling screw-on ring 200 is designed to cooperate with the housing 90 and seal it tightly. The swiveling screw-on ring 200 has a motif 19 on one end face 18 or in its vicinity.

[0021] This orientable screwed crown 200 comprises, axially movable in an axial direction D relative to each other, on the one hand a sub-assembly 20 comprising a crown body 1 manipulable by a user and comprising the motif 19, and on the other hand a tube 7. This tube 7 is arranged to be screwed or driven into the housing 90 in the axial direction D.

[0022] According to the invention, the subassembly 20 comprises, integral with the crown body 1, a fixed barrel 2 extending along the axial direction D, and having a first thread 21. The tube 7 comprises angular indexing means 75, which are arranged to cooperate with complementary angular indexing means 45, which comprise an insert 4 mounted on the tube 7 to determine the angular orientation, relative to the axial direction D, of the crown body 1 with respect to the tube 7. This insert 4 comprises a first tapped hole 41, which is arranged to cooperate with the thread 21 of the fixed barrel 2 for screwing the crown body 1 into the tube 7.

[0023] More particularly, the first sub-assembly 20 includes a movable barrel 6, which includes fixing means 31 arranged for fixing the orientable screwed crown 200 to a control member housed in a box 100. This movable barrel 6 is axially movable along the axial direction D against elastic return means 3 in a chamber 12, which is delimited, on the one hand by the fixed barrel 2, and on the other hand by the crown body 1 or by a trunnion integral with the crown body 1, and in which chamber 12 the movable barrel 6 is mounted captive.

[0024] In particular, the first sub-assembly 20 is non-removable, in particular its components are joined together by laser welding and / or gluing, or similar.

[0025] More specifically, the angular indexing means 75 and the complementary angular indexing means 45 include complementary grooves.

[0026] In particular, the crown body 1 has at least one housing 91 for receiving at least one sealing gasket 5, which is arranged to cooperate with a gasket bearing surface 93 that has the tube 7 arranged to compress the sealing gasket 5 in the fully screwed position of the first subassembly 20 in the tube 7. In particular, this gasket bearing surface 93 is oblique with respect to the axial direction D, and is in particular conical or similar.

[0027] More specifically, the insert 4 is irreversibly fixed to the tube 7, or to a constituent part of the tube 7 when the tube 7 is composed of several parts.

[0028] According to the invention, the tube 7 comprises, enclosing the insert 4, at least two coaxial parts along the axial direction D, mounted together in rotation, of which a first lower part 71, constituting a lower tube, closest to the case, comprises fixing means 79 arranged for its screwing or its insertion into the housing 90 along the axial direction D, and of which a second upper part 72, constituting a top tube, furthest from the case, comprises the angular indexing means 75.

[0029] According to the invention, the first lower part 71 has a tube thread 77 arranged to cooperate with a tube tapping 78 which has the second upper part 72.

[0030] More specifically, the lower first part 71 and the upper second part 72 are arranged to enclose and compress at least one second sealing gasket 8.

[0031] More specifically, insert 4 is trapped between the lower first part 71 and the upper second part 72.

[0032] In particular, the first sub-assembly 20 is irreversibly fixed to the crown body 1, notably by laser welding and / or bonding, or similar.

[0033] The invention further relates to a watch case 100, comprising at least one such orientable screw-down crown 200, and comprising a case 9 with at least one through-hole 90 for receiving such an orientable screw-down crown 200.

[0034] The invention also relates to a timepiece, in particular a watch 1000, comprising such a case 100.

[0035] The invention further relates to a method of mounting such a screw-mounted, swiveling crown 200 onto a case 9 of such a case 100, comprising the following steps: prepare the first sub-assembly 20, and fix the fixed barrel 2 to the crown body 1; insert the insert 4 onto the tube 7 in a first angular position between the angular indexing means 75 and the complementary angular indexing means 45; screw the insert 4 onto the fixed tube 2; prepare the tube 7 for its fixing in a housing 90; insert the tube 7 axially along the axial direction D into the housing 90 of the case 9, in the case 100, and fix it to the case 9 by screwing or pressing until a screwing or pressing stop position respectively; measure the angular orientation deviation of the motif 19 with respect to the desired position, and determine the number of indexing correction steps; disassemble the orientable screwed crown 200 to access the angular indexing means 75 and the complementary angular indexing means 45, and modify their relative angular orientation according to the result of the measurement;insert each sealing gasket into its location; proceed to immobilize or enclose the insert 4 in the tube 7 and immobilize all the parts of the tube 7 apart from the insert 4 relative to each other. More specifically, during the preparation of the first sub-assembly 20, the fixed cannon 2 is irreversibly fixed to the crown body 1. More specifically, when immobilizing the insert 4, it is irreversibly fixed to the tube 7 or to a constituent part of the tube 7.

[0036] More specifically, when all the parts of the tube 7, in addition to the insert 4, are immobilized relative to each other, they are fixed to each other irreversibly.

Claims

1. An adjustable screw-down crown (200) for a watch case (100) comprising a middle (9) with at least one through bed (90) for accommodating said adjustable screw-down crown (200); said adjustable screw-down crown (200) is arranged to engage with said bed (90) and close it such that it is water-resistant, said adjustable screw-down crown (200) comprising a pattern (19) on or near an end face (18) and comprising, on one hand, a first subassembly (20) comprising a crown body (1) that can be manipulated by a user and including said pattern (19), and on the other hand a tube (7) arranged to be screwed or driven into said bed (90) in said axial direction (D), the first subassembly (20) and the tube (7) being mobile axially in an axial direction (D) relative to each other, in which said first subassembly (20) comprises, secured to said crown body (1), a fixed pipe (2) that extends in said axial direction (D) and which comprises a first threading (21), and in which said tube (7) comprises angular indexing means (75) arranged to engage with complementary angular indexing means (45) comprised in an insert (4) mounted on said tube (7) to determine the angular orientation, relative to said axial direction (D), of said crown body (1) relative to said tube (7); said insert (4) comprises a first tapping (41) arranged to engage with said threading (21) of said fixed pipe (2) enabling said crown body (1) to be screwed into said tube (7), and in which said tube (7) comprises, enclosing said insert (4), at least two parts (71; 72) coaxial in said axial direction (D), securely mounted so as to rotate, a first lower part (71) of which comprises fastening means (79) arranged so that it can be screwed or driven into said bed (90) in said axial direction (D), and a second upper part (72) of which comprises said angular indexing means (75), characterised in that said first lower part (71) comprises a tube threading (77) arranged to engage with a tube tapping (78) comprised in said second upper part (72).

2. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first lower part (71) and said second upper part (72) are arranged to enclose and compress at least one second sealing joint (8).

3. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that said first subassembly (20) cannot be disassembled, and comprises a mobile pipe (6) comprising fastening means (31) arranged to enable said adjustable screw-down crown (200) to be fastened to a control member embedded in a said case (100); said mobile pipe (6) is axially mobile in said axial direction (D) against resilient return means (3) in a recess (12) formed on one hand by said fixed pipe (2) and on the other hand by said crown body (1) or by a trunnion secured to said crown body (1), and in which recess (12) said mobile pipe (6) is immovably mounted.

4. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said angular indexing means (75) and said complementary angular indexing means (45) comprise complementary flutes.

5. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said crown body (1) comprises at least one bed (91) for accommodating at least one sealing joint (5) arranged to engage with a joint bearing surface (93) comprised in said tube (7) and which is arranged to compress said sealing joint (5) in said completely screwed-down position of said first subassembly (20) in said tube (7).

6. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said insert (4) is arranged to be irreversibly fastened to said tube (7) or to a component part of said tube (7) when said tube (7) is composed of a plurality of parts.

7. The adjustable screw-down crown (200)according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said insert (4) is immovably mounted between said first lower part (71) and said second upper part (72).

8. The adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said first subassembly (20) is irreversibly fastened to said crown body (1).

9. A watch case (100), comprising at least one adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 8, and comprising a middle (9) with at least one through bed (90) for accommodating a said adjustable screw-down crown (200).

10. A watch (1000) comprising a case (100) according to claim 9.

11. A method for mounting an adjustable screw-down crown (200) according to any of claims 1 to 8, in a case according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: - preparing said first subassembly (20), and fastening said fixed pipe (2) to said crown body (1); - inserting said insert (4) onto said tube (7) in a first angular position between said angular indexing means (75) and said complementary angular indexing means (45); - screwing said insert (4) onto said fixed tube (2); - preparing said tube (7) for its fastening in a said bed (90); - inserting said tube (7) axially in said axial direction (D) into said bed (90) of said middle (9), and fastening it to said middle (9) by screwing or driving up to a screw or drive stop position, respectively; - measuring the difference in angular orientation of said pattern (19) relative to the desired position, and determining the number of steps for correcting the indexation; - disassembling said adjustable screw-down crown (200) to access said angular indexing means (75) and said complementary angular indexing means (45), and changing their relative angular orientation according to the result of the measurement; - inserting each sealing joint into its location; - immobilising or enclosing said insert (4) in said tube (7) and immobilising one relative to the other all the parts comprised in said tube (7) in addition to said insert (4).

12. The mounting method according to claim 11, characterised in that when preparing said first subassembly (20), said fixed pipe (2) is irreversibly fastened to said crown body (1).

13. The mounting method according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that when immobilising said insert (4), it is irreversibly fastened to said tube (7) or to a component part of said tube (7).

14. The mounting method according to any of claims 11 to 13, characterised in that when immobilising one relative to the other all of the parts comprised in said tube (7) in addition to said insert (4), they are irreversibly fastened to each other