DEWAR VESSEL FOR WATCHES, COMPLIMENTING WITH A SWIVEL OUTER RING

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, the device comprising a device for actuating at least one push button of a watch arranged in an enclosure of this Dewar device. Technological background

[0002] A watch, and in particular an electronic watch, typically comprises a strap and a watch case containing several electrical or electronic components. It is known in the prior art that some of these components cannot withstand extreme temperatures and cease to function properly at these temperatures. Typically, liquid crystal displays (LCDs) using light-emitting diodes or quartz tolerate temperatures not exceeding approximately 80°C (degrees Celsius) and not falling below 0°C. However, in specific environments such as space or lunar missions, temperatures can frequently reach values ​​of the order of approximately -150°C to +125°C.

[0003] Also known in the state of the art are documents CH716913A2 and W2018 / 215491A1 which relate to Dewar devices for components of a watch, the device comprising a bracelet, a case comprising an enclosure in which these components are likely to be arranged and at least one fixing device fixing said components in said enclosure of the case while keeping them away from a set of elements forming said enclosure.

[0004] There is therefore a need to be able to use a watch, particularly an electronic watch, in environments where such extreme temperatures can prevail. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to a Dewar device for a watch, said device comprising: a bracelet, a case comprising an enclosure in which a watch case is capable of being arranged so that a crystal of said case is arranged opposite a crystal of a set of elements of the case defining this enclosure, at least one fixing device fixing said watch case in said enclosure of the case while keeping it away from all of the elements of the case defining this enclosure, and a device for actuating at least one push button of the watch by the angular displacement of a free end of at least one lever element of said device relative to the case, said at least one lever element having another end movably fixed to said case.

[0006] In other embodiments: said actuating device comprises said at least one lever element which is configured to actuate said at least one push button by angular displacement of the free end of said at least one lever element relative to the housing, said at least one lever element having its other end movably fixed to said housing; said other end of said at least one lever element is movably fixed to a horn of a pair of horns of said housing; said other end of said at least one lever element is movably fixed to a crown of said housing; said actuating device comprises at least one element for limiting an angular displacement of the free end when said free end is operated in a counterclockwise direction; said at least one lever element comprises a one-piece body having an essentially rectilinear shape;said at least one lever element comprises a connecting element capable of ensuring a movable attachment of the other end of this lever element to a horn or a crown of the case; said at least one lever element comprises an actuation zone in particular defined on said free end, said actuation zone being capable of activating the push button of the watch by coming into contact with at least one activation zone of the case middle; the activation zone comprises a sliding member, in particular a push button, arranged in the case middle capable of coming into contact with the push button of the watch as soon as the push button of this activation zone is acted upon by said at least one lever element; the Dewar device comprises two lever elements each movably attached to a horn of the case or to a protrusion defined on a lateral part of the case; ; Brief description of the figures

[0007] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, for information purposes only and in no way limiting, with reference to the following appended figures: there figure 1 is a sectional view of a schematic representation of a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch provided with a device for actuating at least one push button of a watch, according to one embodiment of the invention, and the figures 2 And 3 are functional schematic representations describing the different operating modes relating to the implementation of the actuation device, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] On the figure 1is schematically represented an isothermal watchmaking device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a watch 3 also called “Dewar watchmaking device” or “protection device” or more simply in the remainder of the description “Dewar device”. Such a Dewar device 1 is capable of participating in providing in particular good thermal insulation to mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 whose case 6 is arranged in the case 4 of this device 1.

[0009] This Dewar device 1 is notably formed by the combination of its case 4 and the watch case 6 3 in order to provide suitable thermal insulation for these mechanical and / or functional components 2. In this configuration, the watch case 6 3 is arranged in an enclosure 5 of the case 4 while being kept away or at a distance from all of the elements 10a to 10c of the case 4 defining this said enclosure 5, namely the crystal 10a, an inner peripheral wall 12 of a caseband 10c and a back 10b of this case 4. It will be noted that this inner peripheral wall 12 is also that of said enclosure 5.

[0010] In this context, this device 1 therefore comprises the case 4 which comprises the middle 10c preferably provided with two pairs of horns 14 on which is mounted a bracelet allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it for example on the wrist. This case 4 also comprises a crown, a crystal 10a and a back 10b visible on the figures 1 to 3 . In this device 1, it will be noted that the glass 10a preferably comprises a surface which is substantially greater or strictly greater than a glass 11 of the case 6 of the watch 3.

[0011] This case 4 also includes a bezel which can be mounted so as to be movable in rotation relative to the caseband 10c. Such a bezel has an essentially circular shape.

[0012] This Dewar device 1 also comprises an actuating device 19 for at least one push button of the case 6 of the watch 3 arranged in the enclosure 5 of its case 4. This actuating device 19 comprises at least one lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d of the case 4 which is mounted movably on this case 4. Such a lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is capable of carrying out a movement 13 relative to the case 4 in order to actuate said push button of the case 6 of the watch 3.

[0013] This lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d comprises a single-piece rigid body having an essentially rectilinear shape. This lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d comprises two ends 16a, 16b. A first end 16a called the “free end” which is able to come into indirect contact with the push button of the box 6 and a second end 16b called the “attachment end” which is fixed / mounted so as to be able to rotate about a fixing axis B on the housing 4 of the Dewar device 1. Such a fixing axis B is defined at the level of the attachment point 18 to the housing 4 of the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, this fixing axis B being parallel or substantially parallel to a central axis O of the housing 4 of the Dewar device 1. It is understood that this second end 16b is fixed so as to be able to move at the level of this attachment point 18 from a connecting element 24.

[0014] Under these conditions, it is understood that the free end 16a of this lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is then able to carry out an angular displacement 13 relative to the attachment end 16b when the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is requested by the user of the Dewar device 1 in order to activate the push button of the case 6 of the watch 3. In other words, the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is configured to actuate said push button when carrying out an angular displacement 13 of the first end 16a of said at least one lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d relative to the case 4 and more particularly relative to an outer peripheral wall 17 of this case 4 and therefore to an outer face 23 of his build 10c.

[0015] On the figure 2, this actuating device 19 comprises two lever elements 15a, 15b each capable of actuating a push button of the case 6 of the watch 3. In this configuration, the second end 16b of each lever element 15a, 15b, is fixed / mounted so as to be movable in rotation to the horn of the pair of horns 14 of said case 4. In this configuration, these lever elements 15a, 15b are fixed so as to be movable to horns of different pairs of horns 14 of the case 4.

[0016] On the figure 3, this actuating device 19 comprises two lever elements 15c, 15d each capable of actuating a push button of the case 6 of the watch 3. In this configuration, the second end 16b of each lever element 15c, 15d is fixed / mounted so as to be able to rotate movably to the crown of said case 4. In this configuration, these lever elements 15c, 15d are fixed so as to be able to move to a part 20 of the caseband forming a protrusion extending radially relative to the center of the case 4 crossed by the central axis O. In other words, this protrusion 20 is defined on a lateral part of the case 4. These lever elements 15c, 15d are fixed so as to be able to move preferably at two different attachment points 18 of this protrusion 20. It will be noted that this protrusion 20 can be a crown which is movable only in translation in a direction parallel to the central axis A of this outgrowth 20.This central axis A is under these conditions perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the central axis O.

[0017] Each lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is capable of alternating between a so-called “inactivation” state in which the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is configured in a position in which it does not participate in actuating the push button of the case 6 of the watch 3 and a so-called “activation” state in which the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is configured in a position in which it participates in actuating this push button.

[0018] Furthermore, the actuating device 19 also comprises at least one return element capable of returning the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d from an inactivation state to an activation state. It will also be noted that the actuating device 19 may comprise in this configuration an element for limiting an angular displacement 13 of the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d relative to the case 4 and therefore relative to the middle 10c of this case 4 when this lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is operated in a direction of displacement opposite to that of the hands of a clock, also called "counterclockwise direction", for example by the return element.

[0019] In this actuating device 19, the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d comprises an actuating zone 21 capable of activating the push button of the watch 3 by coming into contact with at least one activation zone 22 of the caseband 10c of the case 4. This activation is carried out as soon as this lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is operated in an angular displacement 13 relative to this activation zone 22 of the caseband 10c, this displacement 13 being carried out in the direction of movement of the hands of a watch otherwise called “clockwise direction”.

[0020] Such an actuation zone 21 is defined on a portion of an external surface of the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. This portion is arranged opposite a portion of the external face 23 of the middle 10c where the activation zone 22 is located. This portion may be between the attachment point 18 to the housing 4 of this lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d and its free end included. For example, this actuation zone 21 may be defined at this free end 16a.

[0021] In this configuration, activation of the push button of the case 6 of the watch 3 by the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d is indirect. Indeed, the actuation zone 21 is capable of activating the push button of the watch 3 by coming into indirect contact with the latter, via the activation zone 22 of the case 10c.

[0022] This activation zone 22 is included in the actuation device 19 and is configured to interact with the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. Such an activation zone 22 may comprise a sliding member, in particular a push button arranged in the caseband 10c and which is capable of coming into direct contact with the push button of the watch 3 as soon as this button is acted upon by the actuation zone 21 of the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d. Alternatively, this activation zone 22 may be a portion of the caseband 10c which is capable of deforming in order to come into contact with the push button of the watch 3.

[0023] In reference to the figures 2 And 3, the Dewar device 1 comprises two lever elements 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d provided to activate two separate push buttons of the case 6 of the watch 3. These two lever elements 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d are arranged near or in the vicinity of the corresponding push buttons of the case 6 with which they are intended to cooperate indirectly. By way of example, the first and second push buttons are arranged on a case middle of the case 6 of the watch 3 respectively in the “2 o'clock” and “4 o'clock” areas.

[0024] Furthermore, it is therefore understood that in this actuating device 19 the push button of the watch 3 is activated by the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, from the angular displacement 13 of the actuating zone 21 included on the lever element 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d relative to the activation zone 22 included in the middle 10c of the case 4.

[0025] It is understood that such an actuation device 19 makes it possible to improve the use of the Dewar device 1, in particular when the user of this device 1 is not very skilled in the part of his body which allows him to manipulate it. This lack of skill may result from a handicap or from the fact that this user wears thick gloves on his hands which prevent him from being precise with his fingers when manipulating this Dewar device 1. In this context, it will be noted that such a Dewar device 1 is particularly suitable for use by astronauts wearing their spacesuits or more generally by users / adventurers in suits evolving in environments where extreme conditions prevail in terms of, for example, pressure, temperature, humidity, etc.

[0026] As we have seen previously, the case 6 of watch 3 is arranged in the enclosure 5 of the case 4 while being kept away or at a distance from all of the elements 10a to 10c of this case 4. This distance or this distance or this spacing is configured from at least one fixing device 7 of the case 6 of watch 3 included in the case 4. In other words, the fixing device 7 is configured to create or maintain a spacing between said case 6 and all of the elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the case 4 forming said enclosure 5 of this case 4. This fixing device 7 helps to reduce or even eliminate any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall 12 of the caseband 10c and / or the back 10b and / or the crystal 10a with the case 6 of watch 3 in particular with an overall external face of this case 6.This external overall face comprises an upper face comprising the crystal 11 of the case 6 of this watch 3, a lower face comprising a bottom of said case 6 and an external peripheral wall of a middle of this case 6. It is understood that the lower and upper faces are opposite each other. It will be noted that the fixing device 7 is arranged on an internal peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure of the case 4. In this configuration the fixing device 7 mechanically connects, in particular reversibly, the case 6 of watch 3 to the internal peripheral wall 12 of the enclosure of the case 4. In addition, the Dewar device 1 may comprise two fixing devices 7 arranged in the enclosure while being opposite each other.

[0027] It will be noted that such a box 6 is included in a watch 3 which may be an electronic watch, for example a quartz watch, or even a mechanical watch.

[0028] The mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, mentioned above, include, in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner: mechanical elements of the movement such as a sprung balance, wheels, a striking mechanism, a dial, hands, rings, seals and / or electronic and / or electrical components 2. It will be noted in particular that such electronic and / or electrical components 2 comprise, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator, etc.

[0029] It is therefore understood that in this configuration, this Dewar device 1 has the same properties and characteristics as a Dewar tube / vessel well known in the state of the art. As we have previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar device 1 contribute to giving it good thermal insulation with regard to temperatures, in particular extreme temperatures, which may prevail in the external environment in which such a device 1 may be located.

[0030] As we have seen, the crystal 10a, the caseband 10c and the back 10b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 5 of this case 4 which is capable of receiving the case 6 of watch 3. These three elements 10a to 10c of the case 4, namely the caseband 10c, the crystal 10a and the back 10b, can be separate elements which are joined together to construct this enclosure 5. Alternatively, the caseband 10c and the back 10b of the case 4 can together form a single-piece part, said single-piece part defining an opening opposite the back 10b which is capable of being closed by the crystal 10a in a reversible and sealed manner. In an alternative, the case 10c and the crystal 10a of the watch case 3, can together form a single-piece part, said single-piece part defining an opening opposite the crystal 10a which is capable of being closed by the back 10b and this, also in a reversible and watertight manner.

[0031] The case 10c or the bottom 10b can also be, like the glass 10a, transparent elements of the case 4 of the Dewar device 1. In such a configuration, the peripheral wall 12 of the case 10c and the inner face of the bottom 10b can be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0032] It will be noted, however, that the case 10c or the back 10b are preferably made in a non-limiting and non-exhaustive manner from a metallic material or from thermosetting or thermoplastic polymer resins reinforced with carbon or glass fibers or even from ceramic materials.

[0033] In addition, the device 1 may comprise an interferometric filter arranged on an overall external face of the case 4, namely on an external peripheral wall of the caseband 10c and / or the external faces of the crystal 10a and the back 10b of this case 6 of watch 3. This interferometric filter may be a grid or a trellis forming a coating on this overall external face of the case 4. This grid or trellis has a mesh whose dimensions are such that they only allow certain predetermined wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum to pass through, typically the wavelengths of the visible range.

[0034] Furthermore, when the device 1 is intended to be used in an environment comprising air, the enclosure 5 of the case 4 comprising the watch case 6 is under vacuum or almost under vacuum. In other words, in this enclosure, the space defined between this case 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the caseband 10c, the back 10b and the crystal 10a is empty of material or almost empty. It will be noted that when this device 1 is used in an environment devoid of air or substantially devoid of air, its enclosure is also under vacuum or almost under vacuum.

[0035] Such a Dewar device 1, the use or handling of which is facilitated by the actuation device, helps to provide the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 with very good thermal insulation from the external environment by reducing or even preventing heat loss by radiation from the components arranged in the watch case 6 for a long period. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically of the order of -125 to +125°C, the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains substantially equal to the temperature present in the watch case 6 of the watch 3 when it is arranged in the case 4, typically of the order of 20°C.It will be noted that whatever the temperature conditions prevailing in the environment of the Dewar device 1, the temperature present in the case 6 of the watch 3 is a temperature which does not hinder the proper functioning of the watch 3. This temperature is maintained for a duration which is 5 to 18 times greater than the duration during which such a watch case 3 would be capable of preserving an operating temperature of its components 2 by being located directly in such an environment where such temperatures, in particular extreme ones, prevail (i.e. by being located outside the case of the Dewar device). It is thus understood that such a configuration makes it possible to protect the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, as well as to participate in ensuring their optimal functioning in extreme external temperature conditions.

Claims

1. Dewar device (1) for a watch (3), said device (1) including: - a wristlet; - a case (4) comprising a chamber (5) in which a case (6) of the watch (3) is capable of being disposed in such a way that a glass of said case (6) is arranged facing a glass (10a) of a set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the case (4) defining this chamber (5); - at least one fastening device (7) fastening said watch (3) case (6) in said chamber (5) of the case (4) while maintaining it distant from all of the elements (10a, 10b, 10c) of the case (4) defining this chamber (5), and - a device (19) for actuating at least one push button of said watch by the angular movement (13) of a free end (16a) of at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) of said device (19) relative to the case (4), said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) having another end (16b) movably fastened to said case (4).

2. Dewar device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that said actuation device (19) comprises said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) which is configured to actuate said at least one push button by angular movement (13) of the free end (16a) of this said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) relative to the case (4), said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) having its other end (16b) movably fastened to said case (4).

3. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said other end (16b) of this said at least one lever element (15a, 15b) is movably fastened to a horn of a pair of horns (14) of said case (4).

4. Dewar device (1) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that said other end (16b) of said at least one lever element (15c, 15d) is movably fastened to a crown (20) of said case (4).

5. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said actuation device (19) comprises at least one element for limiting an angular movement (13) of the free end (16a) when said free end (16a) is operated in the anti-clockwise direction.

6. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) comprises a one-piece body having a substantially rectilinear shape.

7. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) comprises a linking element (24) capable of ensuring a mobile fastening of the other end (16b) of this lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) to a horn or a crown (20) of the case (4).

8. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) comprises an actuation zone (21) in particular defined on said free end (16a), said actuation zone (21) being capable of activating the push button of the watch (3) by coming in contact with at least one activation zone (22) of the middle (10c) of the case (4).

9. Dewar device (1) according to the previous claim, characterised in that the activation zone (22) comprises a sliding member, in particular a push button, arranged in the middle (10c) capable of coming in contact with the push button of the watch as soon as the push button of this activation zone (22) is stressed by said at least one lever element (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d).

10. Dewar device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that it comprises two lever elements (15a, 15b, 15c, 15d) each movably fastened to a horn of the case (4) or to a protrusion (20) defined on a lateral part of the case (4).