Elastic mounting device for attaching a watch component to a mounting element

Description

Scope of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to an elastic retaining device for fixing a watch component onto a support element.

[0002] The invention also relates to an assembly of an elastic retaining organ - a watchmaking component and an assembly of such an assembly with the support element.

[0003] The invention further relates to a clockwork movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0004] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a movement. Background of the invention

[0005] In the state of the art, we know of elastic retaining elements such as watchmaking ferrules which participate in the assemblies of balance springs on balance shafts in a watch movement and this by elastic tightening.

[0006] We are also familiar with documents EP1921518A1 and CH698794B1 which describe classic state-of-the-art elastic support devices.

[0007] However, such elastic retaining devices have the major disadvantage of imposing complex, long and costly assembly operations in the context of the realization of such assemblies because these devices present weak and limited holding torques on these rocker shafts. Summary of the invention

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to overcome in whole or in part the disadvantages mentioned above by proposing an elastic retaining element which has a significant holding torque in particular to facilitate / simplify the assembly operations of an assembly of an elastic retaining element - watch component with a support element.

[0009] To this end, the invention relates to an elastic retaining element for fixing a watch component onto a support element, said retaining element comprising an external peripheral wall capable of being connected to said watch component and an internal peripheral wall defining a triangular opening into which the support element can be inserted, said elastic retaining element comprising elastic arms, each forming one side of the triangular opening and contributing to securing the support element in the opening, each arm comprising: at least one opening defined in whole or in part along the body of said arm, an elastic contact zone or portion of elastic contact of the arm, capable of cooperating with said support element in particular to participate in ensuring the clamping of this support element in the opening, and peripheral elastic zones or peripheral elastic portions of said arm, which extend between this contact zone and the ends of this elastic arm, the contact zone having a quantity of material greater than the quantity of material constituting each of its peripheral zones, said contact zone comprising at least two beams, including inclined beams, arranged in a principal opening of said at least one opening defined in whole or in part along the body of the elastic arm, characterized in that the central axes of the beams form acute angles with a longitudinal axis of the elastic arm.

[0010] Thus, thanks to these characteristics, the elastic retaining element is capable of withstanding significant elastic clamping and therefore storing a substantial amount of elastic energy when subjected to stress in order to deliver a significant holding torque. This is due in particular to the significant rigidity of the elastic retaining element, resulting from the substantial volumes (or quantities) of material constituting its rigid arms, which include the internal and external structures. It should be noted that these large volumes of material are specifically located in the contact areas, which are subjected to loads (or stresses) when the support element is inserted into this retaining element.

[0011] Furthermore, it will be noted that this elastic retaining element is configured so that this storage of elastic energy leads to stresses permissible with regard to the material which constitutes such a retaining element such as silicon.

[0012] In other embodiments: said at least two beams connect the external and internal structures; the main opening is essentially semicircular in shape; the main opening is divided into at least three hollowed parts by said at least two beams; at least two of said at least three hollowed parts have substantially similar volumes; the hollowed part entirely within the contact zone has a volume that is substantially smaller than that of the other hollowed parts of the main opening; said at least three hollowed parts have substantially similar volumes; the elastic retaining element comprises a single opening which is a main opening; the elastic retaining element comprises a main opening positioned in the middle of each arm and additional openings defined at the ends of each arm; the external and internal structures have different shapes;The external and internal structures are essentially circular and triangular in shape, respectively; the elastic retaining element includes an attachment point with the watch component; the elastic retaining element is a ferrule for attaching the watch component, such as a balance spring, to a support element, such as a balance staff, and the elastic retaining element is made of a silicon-based material.

[0013] The invention also relates to an assembly of an elastic retaining element - a watchmaking component for a watch movement of a watch part comprising such an elastic retaining element.

[0014] Advantageously, this assembly is a single piece. The invention also relates to an assembly for a watch movement of a watch part comprising such an assembly of an elastic retaining element - watch component, said assembly being fixed to a support element.

[0015] The invention also relates to a clockwork movement comprising at least one such assembly.

[0016] The invention also relates to a timepiece comprising such a timepiece movement. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, which is indicative and in no way exhaustive, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: there figure 1 is a perspective view of an elastic retaining device for fixing a watch component onto a support element which is here in a constrained state, according to a first embodiment of the invention; the figure 2 is a perspective view of the elastic retaining device for fixing the watch component to the support element, which is shown here in a resting state, according to the first embodiment of the invention; the figure 3is a perspective view of an elastic retaining device for fixing the watch component to the support element, according to a second embodiment of the invention, the figure 4 is a perspective view of an elastic retaining device for fixing the watch component to the support element, according to a third embodiment of the invention, and the figure 5 is a schematic view of a timepiece equipped with a timepiece movement comprising an assembly including the support element and an assembly of elastic retaining organ - timepiece component, according to the embodiments of the invention. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

[0018] THE figures 1 to 5present several embodiments of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c for fixing a watch component 2 onto a support element 3. As an example, the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c can be a ferrule for fixing the watch component 2 such as a balance spring to a support element 3 such as a balance staff.

[0019] In these embodiments, this elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c can be included in an assembly 120 (elastic retaining element - watch component intended for a watch movement 110) of a watch part 100. Such an assembly 120 can be a single piece made of a so-called "brittle" material, for example, silicon-based. In other variations, this material can be quartz-based, corundum-based, or more generally, ceramic.

[0020] It should be noted that in a variant of this assembly, only the elastic retaining element can be made of such a so-called "brittle" material, the watchmaking component then being made of another material.

[0021] This assembly 120 can be part of an assembly 130 for the watch movement 110, by being attached to the support element 3, for example, by elastic clamping. It should be noted that this assembly 130 was designed for watchmaking applications. However, the invention can perfectly well be implemented in other fields such as aeronautics, jewelry, or even the automotive industry.

[0022] Such an elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c comprises preferably flat upper and lower faces, as well as external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b. These external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b, which are also called external and internal structures 4a, 4b respectively, have different shapes. More specifically, the external structure 4a, or external peripheral wall 4a, preferably has an essentially circular shape. This external structure 4a, or external peripheral wall 4a, is intended to be connected to the clockwork component 2 by including at least one attachment point 11 for connection to this clockwork component 2. This attachment point 11 preferably projects from this external peripheral wall 4a. The internal structure 4b, or internal peripheral wall 4b, has an essentially triangular shape, in particular an equilateral triangle.This internal structure 4b or internal peripheral wall 4b of this elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c helps to define an opening 5, in particular of triangular shape, into which the support element 3 is intended to be inserted.

[0023] The elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c also includes elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c, in particular three elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c. These arms 6a, 6b, 6c include, but are not limited to: of the inner faces included in the inner peripheral wall 4b of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c and, said inner faces together defining / forming this wall 4b and therefore also the opening 5 of this retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, and of the outer faces included in the outer peripheral wall 4a of the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c and, said inner faces defining / forming this wall 4a of this retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c.

[0024] It is therefore understood that in this elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c, such elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c each comprise a portion of the upper, lower, inner, and outer faces of the elastic element 1a, 1b, 1c. Each arm 6a, 6b, 6c is an elongated or substantially elongated piece, corresponding to a side of the triangle formed by the opening 5. In other words, each arm extends longitudinally or substantially longitudinally between two vertices of the triangle formed by the opening 5. In this elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c, these elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c essentially enable the elastic clamping of the support element 3 within the opening 5.

[0025] In this configuration, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c includes at least one opening 7a, 7b, 7c distributed in whole or in part along the body of said arm. Furthermore, it includes an elastic contact zone 8a as well as peripheral elastic zones extending between this contact zone 8a and the ends of this elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. The elastic contact zone 8a is a portion of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c that is designed to cooperate with a peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. It is therefore understood that this elastic contact zone 8a can also be called the elastic contact portion 8a of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c or simply the elastic contact part 8a of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. Such an elastic contact portion 8a comprises upper, lower, inner and outer faces of a part of the corresponding arm 6a, 6b, 6c, said part being located between end parts of said arm 6a, 6b, 6c.Similarly, each peripheral elastic zone can also be called the peripheral elastic portion of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c or the peripheral elastic part of this arm 6a, 6b, 6c. This portion includes the upper, lower, inner and outer faces of an end part of the corresponding arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0026] In each arm 6a, 6b, 6c, the peripheral zones 8b, or peripheral portions 8b of this arm 6a, 6b, 6c, are preferably juxtaposed to the contact zone 8a, or contact portion 8a of said arm 6a, 6b, 6c. Such a contact zone 8a includes a contact interface 12, also called the "contact point", between the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c and the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3. In this context, the elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c then comprises three contact zones 8a which contribute to achieving precise centering of the watchmaking component 2, for example a balance spring, in the watch movement 110. In this elastic retaining member 1a, 1b, 1c, each contact zone 8a has a quantity of material that is substantially greater than the quantity of material of the peripheral zones 8b.Such a configuration of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c allows the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c to store a greater amount of elastic energy for the same clamping force compared to prior art retaining elements. This amount of elastic energy stored in the retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c then results in a higher holding torque of the element on the support element in the assembly 130 of the elastic retaining element - watch component assembly 120 with this support element 3. In other words, this surplus of elastic energy stored in the retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c therefore increases the holding torque. In addition, it should be noted that such a configuration of the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c allows the storage of elastic energy ratios which are 6 to 8 times greater than those of the retaining elements of the state of the art.

[0027] In the various embodiments of the elastic support element 1a, 1b, 1c, each arm 6a, 6b, 6c includes a main opening 7a contained within the opening(s) 7a, 7b, 7c that each arm 6a to 6c may comprise. This main opening 7a is preferably distributed, in whole or in part, along the body of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. In other words, this main opening 7a, which is essentially semicircular in shape, has: a diameter which extends substantially parallel to the part of the inner peripheral wall included in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, and a radius which is substantially less than the greatest gap between the inner and outer faces of the outer and inner peripheral walls 4a, 4b, constituting an elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0028] It will be noted in particular that this main opening 7a extends into the contact area 8a as well as into the peripheral areas 8b of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0029] The main opening 7a can be divided by at least two beams 9 into at least three hollow parts 10a, 10b. In these embodiments, the main opening 7a is divided by two beams 9 into three hollow parts 10a, 10b.

[0030] In the first and third embodiments illustrated on the figures 1, 2 And 4Two of the three hollowed-out parts 10b, 10a, 10b, have substantially similar volumes. Regarding the third embodiment, it should be noted that each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, unlike the other embodiments, comprises a single opening, which is the main opening 7a. In this context, the hollowed-out part 10a entirely contained within the contact zone 8a has a volume that is substantially smaller than that of the other hollowed-out parts 10b of the main opening 7a.

[0031] In the second embodiment, illustrated on the figure 3 , the three hollowed-out parts 10a, 10b have substantially similar volumes and shapes, in particular essentially triangular shapes.

[0032] In these different embodiments of the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c, it will be noted that the hollowed part 10a entirely contained within the contact zone 8a has essentially a triangular shape.

[0033] The beams 9, which divide the main opening 7a into recessed sections 10a, 10b, are preferably inclined. In the various embodiments, there are two of these inclined beams 9, located within the contact zone 8a of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. These beams 9 help to connect the external and internal peripheral walls 4a, 4b. Central axes A1, A2 of the beams 9 form acute angles α1, α2 with a longitudinal axis A3 of the elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. It should be noted that this longitudinal axis A3 extends along the longest dimension of this arm 6a, 6b, 6c. Such angles α1, α2 can be substantially similar, ranging from 45 to 70 degrees, and are preferably 55 degrees.

[0034] The central axes A1, A2 of the beams 9 also form an acute angle α3 with each other. Such an angle α3 can be between 40 and 90 degrees, and is preferably 70 degrees.

[0035] This elastic retaining element 1a, 1b may include additional perforations 7b, 7c for adjusting the elasticity of the arms 6a, 6b, 6c of such an element 1a, 1b. For example, in the first embodiment, the elastic retaining element 1a includes three additional perforations 7b of essentially circular shape located at each end of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c. In another example, the second embodiment of the retaining element 1b includes, in each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c, two additional perforations 7c bounding the main perforation 7a and defined at the ends of this main perforation 7a. In other words, these two additional perforations 7c are respectively located in the two peripheral zones of each elastic arm 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0036] The invention also relates to a method for assembling the elastic retaining element - watch component assembly 120 with the support element 3. This method includes a step of fixing the elastic retaining element - watch component assembly 120 with the support element 3. During this step, the support element 3 is inserted into the opening 5 of the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c. During this insertion, portions of the peripheral wall 13 of the support element 3 come into contact with the contact interfaces 12 of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c. Such an insertion then causes a deformation of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c along a radial direction B with respect to a central axis C of the support element 3, under the action of a stress force exerted by these portions on the contact interfaces 12. The effect generated by this insertion is visible on the figure 1which relates to the first embodiment of the elastic retaining element 1a, which is in a constrained state. This deformation of the elastic arms 6a, 6b, 6c is essentially carried out in the contact zones 8a of these arms 6a, 6b, 6c. In these contact zones 8a, the inclined beams 9, which act as stiffening elements for these arms 6a, 6b, 6c, contribute to placing under stress / tension an external portion 20 of the ferrule visible on the figure 1 when this ferrule is mounted on the axis contributing to the elastic tightening. In this context, it should be noted that these beams are subjected to compression, particularly in the direction of the arrows D visible on the figure 1 . Thus, in such a state of stress, the elastic retaining element 1a, 1b, 1c stores a significant amount of elastic energy which contributes to giving it a substantial holding torque, allowing in particular optimal ferrule tightening by elastic clamping.

Claims

1. A resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) for fastening a horology component (2) on a support element (3), said resilient securing organ comprising an outer peripheral wall (4a) which can be connected to said horology component (2) and an inner peripheral wall (4b) defining a triangular opening (5) into which the support element (3) can be inserted, said resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) comprising resilient arms (6a, 6b, 6c) each forming one side of the triangular opening (5) and ensuring the clamping of the support element (3) in the opening (5), each arm (6a, 6b, 6c) comprising: - at least one cutaway (7a, 7b, 7c) defined completely or partially along the body of said arm (6a, 6b, 6c), - a resilient contact zone (8a) that can engage with said support element (3), in particular to ensure the clamping thereof in the opening (5), and - resilient peripheral zones (8b) which extend between this contact zone (8a) and the ends of this resilient arm (6a, 6b, 6c), the contact zone (8a) having a greater quantity of material than the quantity of material forming each of its peripheral zones (8b), said contact zone (8a) comprising at least two blades (9), in particular inclined blades, arranged in a main cutaway (7a) of said at least one opening (7a, 7b, 7c) defined in whole or in part along the body of the resilient arm (6a, 6b, 6c), characterised in that central axes (A1, A2) of the blades (9) form acute angles (α1, α2) with a longitudinal axis (A3) of the resilient arm (6a, 6b, 6c).

2. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said at least two blades (9) connect the outer and inner peripheral walls (4a, 4b) to each other.

3. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the main cutaway (7a) has an essentially semi-circular shape.

4. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the main cutaway (7a) is divided into at least three crossed-out parts (10a, 10b) by said at least two blades (9).

5. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that at least two crossed-out parts (10b) from among said at least three crossed-out parts (10a, 10b) have substantially similar volumes.

6. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1c) according to any of claims 4 and 5, characterised in that the crossed-out part (10a) comprised entirely in the contact zone (8a) has a volume which is substantially less than that of the other crossed-out parts (10b) of the main cutaway (7a).

7. The resilient securing organ (1b) according to claim 4, characterised in that said at least three crossed-out parts (10a, 10b) have substantially similar volumes.

8. The resilient securing organ (1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a single cutaway which is a main cutaway (7a).

9. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises a main cutaway (7a) positioned in the middle of each arm and additional cutaways (7b, 7c) defined at the ends of each arm.

10. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer and inner peripheral walls (4a, 4b) have different shapes.

11. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer and inner peripheral walls (4a, 4b) respectively have essentially circular and triangular shapes.

12. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an attachment point (11) with the horology component (2).

13. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is a collet for fastening the horology component (2) such as a balance spring to a support element (3) such as a balance staff arbor.

14. The resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is made of a silicon-based material.

15. An elastic retaining member - watch component assembly (120) for a horology movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising a resilient securing organ (1a, 1b, 1c) according to any of the preceding claims.

16. The assembly (120) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it is made in one-piece.

17. An assembly (130) for a horology movement (110) of a timepiece (100) comprising an elastic securing organ-horology component assembly according to any of claims 15 and 16, said assembly (120) being fastened to a support element (3).

18. A horology movement (110) comprising at least one assembly according to the preceding claim.

19. A timepiece (100) comprising at least one horology movement (110) according to the preceding claim.