CLOCK WITH A VARIABLE DIAL

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a watch with a variable dial, more precisely, a watch offering its wearer the possibility of partially changing the appearance of the dial. Background of the invention

[0002] We have known for a long time, according to document EP 61519, of watches whose front face can be changed, by removing, turning or interchanging rings surrounding the hands and bearing different numbers.

[0003] We also know from documents CH700261A2 and KR20050066961A of watches having a lower mobile dial divided into zones with different decorations and an upper dial superimposed on the lower dial having alternating solid and openwork zones. Summary of the invention

[0004] The aim of the invention is to provide a watch whose appearance can be changed by partially modifying the color, material and / or relief of the dial of this watch.

[0005] According to the invention, this goal is achieved by a watch according to the attached claim 1.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the invention will now be described in detail in the following exposition, which is given with reference to the attached figures, which schematically represent: [ Fig. 1 ] : the front side of the dial of a watch according to the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] : a section along line AA of the watch according to the invention, the dial of which is shown on the figure 1 ; Fig. 3 ] : a top view of the inside of the watch according to the invention, after removal of the dial; ] Fig. 4 ] : a cut along line BB of the figure 3 ; Fig. 5 ] : a cross-section, along line CC, parallel to the plane of the dial showing a detail of the watch according to the invention; ] Fig. 6 ] : another section, along line DD, parallel to the plane of the dial showing another detail of the watch according to the invention; and [ Fig. 7] : a cut perpendicular to the plane of the dial and passing through the center of the latter, that is to say parallel to the main axis of the watch according to the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0007] An embodiment of the variable dial watch according to the invention is shown in the figures 1 to 7 .

[0008] The watch according to the invention comprises a dial 1 equipped with at least one bezel, in this case, four bezels 2, 3, 4 and 5 visible on the figure 1 and which removably occupy four corresponding openings, only two of which, numbered 6 and 7, associated respectively with trim pieces 3 and 5, appear on the figure 2 .

[0009] The wheel trims can all be the same color or have different colors and / or identical or different surface finishes (reliefs, textures). Their precise shape is not important, provided that their upper face can completely fill an opening, except for a functional gap necessary to allow the trim to be inserted and removed from that opening.

[0010] The bezels are generally rectangular. However, they could also be circular, oval, triangular, etc. Their thickness is not important. They may protrude slightly from the plane of the dial, but only to a limited extent, so as not to obstruct the passage of the watch hands. Naturally, the shape of the opening corresponds to the shape of the bezel.

[0011] Thanks to their removable nature, the bezels can be detached from their openings and replaced with other bezels that are invisible to the wearer from the front of the watch dial. These other bezels typically have different colors and / or surface finishes.

[0012] Preferably, the watch has a plurality of radially arranged support arms, each end of a support arm located on the circumference bearing a bezel. For example, bezels 3 and 5 of the figure 2 are carried respectively by support arms 9 and 10.

[0013] All the support arms can pivot from a lowered position, where they are hidden by the dial, to a raised position.

[0014] Similarly, all wheel trims can move from a lowered position to a raised position.

[0015] For such a pivoting to be possible, the free ends 12,13 of the support arms 9,10, visible on the figure 2 are located near the center of the frustoconical piece 11. The support arms 9, 10 have pivot points 14, 15 situated between the free ends 12, 13 and those bearing the trim pieces 3, 5. The pivot points 14, 15 are formed between the upper face of the frustoconical piece 11 and a retaining ring 16, which is more clearly visible on the figure 3 , which is fixed, for example by screwing, on the upper face of the truncated conical piece 11 leaving a space for the support arms 9,10.

[0016] So that the 3.5 wheel trims can move from the lowered position of the figure 2 to the fully raised position of Figures 1 And 4where they appear in an opening 6,7 of dial 1, their supporting arms 9,10 must themselves be able to move from their lowered position to the fully raised position visible on the figure 4 Such a transition occurs when pins 17, 18 (visible on the figures 1 and 2 ) press on the free ends 12,13 of the support arms 9,10. These pins 17,18 are arranged so that the projection of their longitudinal axis onto the plane of the dial 1 lies on a straight line connecting the openings 3,5 to the center of the dial 1. In this way, when the pins fulfill their function, the hubcaps 3,5 can respectively enter the openings 6,7.

[0017] In order for the pivoting of the support arms 9,10 to be possible, it is necessary that the pins 17,18 can sometimes be in contact, sometimes away from the free ends 12,13 of the support arms 9,10. Such an alternation is made possible by the movement of the carousel 8, and therefore of the truncated conical piece 11, along the main axis of the watch, that is to say the axis passing through the center of the dial 1 and perpendicular to the latter.

[0018] The truncated conical piece 11 has a bore in its center allowing it to house a spring 19, visible in particular on the figures 2 And 4 When this spring 19 is compressed, a situation visible on the figure 4, the truncated conical piece 11 is close to the dial 1, the pins 17,18 therefore press on the free ends 12,13 of the support arms 9,10 thus causing them to pivot and move into a fully raised position and thus causing the bezels 3,5 to enter the openings 6,7. It follows that these bezels 3,5 become visible to the wearer of the watch.

[0019] When spring 19 is relaxed, a situation visible on the figure 2 , it moves the truncated conical piece 11 away from the dial 1 and therefore the pins 17,18 away from the free ends 12,13 of the support arms 9,10 and thus causes, due to the weight of the hubcaps 3,5, the pivoting of the support arms 9,10 and their passage into the lowered position.

[0020] The axial displacement of the frustoconical part 11 is carried out under the action of the spring 19, but it is controlled by two pinching arms 20, 21 visible on the figure 5These clamping arms 20,21 preferably have a straight part extending into a curved part in order to reduce the angular displacement of the clamping arms 20,21 necessary to clamp the cylindrical part 11. The two clamping arms 20,21 cooperate in order to exert a clamping force on the frustoconical part 11.

[0021] The free ends of the clamping arms 20, 21 are fixed to a mounting piece 22 attached to the watch case. The straight sections of the clamping arms 20, 21 cross approximately at their midpoints, and at the point of intersection, each has an oblong hole through which passes a pin 24 attached to one end of a lever 25. The other end of this lever 25 is pivotally mounted on the mounting piece 22. The winding stem 26 of the watch is connected between these two ends of the lever 25. Consequently, when this winding stem 26 is pulled, the lever 25 is also pulled, and the end of the lever carrying the pin 24 moves the pin into the oblong holes of the arms 20, 21. Such a displacement causes the curved ends of the arms 20,21 to move away from each other, which causes a release of the pinching exerted on the truncated conical piece 11.This can then move under the pressure of the spring 19 and move away axially from the dial 1, thus freeing the hubcaps 3.5 from it, as explained previously.

[0022] In its outwardly pulled position, the winding stem 26 can also rotate around its longitudinal axis. When the wearer of the watch then turns the watch crown, this crown drives the winding stem 26 in rotation.

[0023] The end of the winding stem 26 opposite the end into which the crown is driven is fitted with a sliding pinion (not shown) that can mesh with a gear train 27 visible on the figure 6 and cooperating with a finger (not shown) driving in rotation a toothed wheel 28 made secure by two pins 29,30 to the truncated conical piece 11.

[0024] The rotation of the toothed wheel 28, braked by the jumper 31, causes that of the whole carousel 8 comprising, in addition to this toothed wheel 28, the truncated conical piece 11, the support arms 9,10 carrying the hubcaps 3,5, the other arms / hubcaps, and the retaining ring 16.

[0025] It is therefore possible in this way to install new arms / bezels under the openings of the dial 1. Once the new arms / bezels have been chosen by rotating the carousel 8, the wearer of the watch can (cf. figure 5 ) press the crown of the watch to retract the winding stem, thereby disengaging the sliding pinion from the gear train and acting on the lever 25 and the pinching arms 20,21 so that they pinch the truncated conical piece 11 in order to bring it closer to the dial 1, which allows the pins 17,18 to press on the free ends of the new arms and causes the insertion of the new bezels into the openings.

[0026] The jumper 31 preferably has sufficient thickness to allow it to remain in contact with the gear 28 when the latter moves up and down as a unit with the frustoconical piece 11. The jumper 31 allows the gear 28 to be in a correct angular position to cooperate with the finger which is intended to drive it in rotation.

[0027] Preferably, a locking pin 32 visible on the figure 7 is provided on the upper face of the truncated conical piece 11 to engage in a bore provided correspondingly on the rear side of the dial 1 and prevent the carousel 8 from rotating.

Claims

1. - Watch, the dial (1) of which comprises at least one opening (6,7) occupied by a removable embellisher (3,5), said watch comprising a plurality of support arms (9,10) arranged radially on a carrousel (8), each arm end situated on the circumference of the watch carrying an embellisher (3,5) and the carrousel (8) being able to rotate about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the dial (1) and passing through the centre of the latter, characterised in that the embellishers (3,5) can be inserted in turn into the opening (6,7), when one of the embellishers (3,5) is in the opening, the other or others is / are behind the dial (1).

2. - Watch according to claim 1, in which each support arm (9, 10) can pivot from a lowered position to a raised position.

3. - Watch according to claim 2, comprising rotation means (27,28) for rotating the carousel (8) and pivoting means (11,16,19,24,25) for pivoting said support arms (9,10) between their lowered and raised positions.

4. - Watch according to claim 3, in which the rotation means are able to cooperate with the crown of the watch.

5. - A watch as claimed in claim 4, in which the rotation means comprise a sliding pinion, a gear train (27), a toothed wheel (28) and a finger for cooperating with the latter.

6. - Watch according to claim 4 or 5, in which the pivoting means comprise a spring (19), a frustoconical part (11) and a holding ring (16), pincer arms (20,21), a fixing part (22) for the pincer arms (20,21), a lever (25) connected to the pincer arms (20,21) and to the winding stem, and a pin (24) connecting the two pincer arms (20,21) to each other and to the lever (25).

7. - Watch as claimed in claim 6, in which the frustoconical part (11) has on its upper face turned towards the dial (1), at its centre, a bore designed to house the spring (19).

8. - Watch according to claim 2 or one of claims 3 to 5 depending on claim 2, in which the dial (1) is provided with pins (17,18) able to cooperate with the support arms (9,10) to cause the latter to pivot from their lowered position to a fully raised position.

9. - Watch according to claim 8, in which the pins (17,18) are arranged in such a way that the projection of their longitudinal axis onto the plane of the dial (1) lies on a straight line connecting the openings (3,5) to the centre of the dial (1).

10. - Watch according to claim 6 or one of claims 7 to 9 depending on claim 6, in which the dial (1) has a bore on its rear side and the frustoconical part (11) has an immobilisation pin (32) on its upper face, designed to be inserted in this bore.