OPERATED CLADDING ELEMENT

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 an actuation device for at least one control element of a watch arranged in a housing of this Dewar device from an actuable casing element of this actuation device. Technological background

[0002] A watch, and particularly an electronic watch, typically consists of 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 correctly at such temperatures. Typically, LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens using light-emitting diodes or quartz crystals 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 ​​ranging from approximately -150°C to +125°C.

[0003] We also know from document CH 716 913 A2 a Dewar device for watch components, the device comprising a strap, a case having an enclosure in which these components are likely to be placed and at least one fixing device fixing said components in said enclosure of the case keeping them away from said set of elements.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need to be able to use a watch, especially an electronic watch, in environments where such extreme temperatures may prevail. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention relates to a Dewar device for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch, said device comprising: a bracelet; a case comprising a set of trim elements including a crystal and a bezel, said case defining an enclosure in which a watch case can be placed so that a crystal of said case is arranged opposite the crystal of the case; at least one fastening device fixing said watch case in said enclosure of the case keeping it away from said set of elements, and a device for actuating at least one control element of said watch by the translational movement of a trim element of the set of trim elements towards a bottom of said case, said at least one control element of said watch being a push button or a crown.

[0006] In other embodiments: said actuation device includes at least one return element configured to return said at least one dress element from an activated position to a deactivated position; said dress element includes an actuation zone capable of activating said at least one control element of the watch by coming into contact with said at least one control element; Brief description of the figures

[0007] Other features and advantages will become clear from the description given below, which is indicative and in no way exhaustive, with reference to the following attached figures: there figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a schematic representation of a Dewar gyroscope for mechanical and / or functional components of a watch equipped with an actuation device for at least one control element of a watch, according to an embodiment of the invention, and the figure 2is a functional schematic representation of the Dewar device of the actuation device comprising a cover element actuable in a deactivated position, according to the embodiment of the invention, and the figure 3 is a functional schematic representation of the Dewar device of the actuation device comprising the dressing element in an activated position, according to the embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0008] There figure 1This shows a schematic representation of an isothermal watchmaking device 1 for mechanical and / or functional components 2 of a watch 3, also called a "Dewar watchmaking device" or "protection device," or more simply, in the following description, a "Dewar device." Such a Dewar device 1 is capable of providing, in particular, good thermal insulation to mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, the case 6 of which is arranged within the casing 4 of this device 1.

[0009] This Dewar 1 device is formed in particular by the combination of its case 4 and the watch case 6 3 in order to achieve 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, being kept away from all 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 case 10c and a base 10b of this case 4. It should be noted that this inner peripheral wall 12 is also that of the said enclosure 5.

[0010] In this context, this device 1 therefore includes the case 4, which has the case body 10c preferably equipped with two pairs of lugs 14 on which a strap is mounted, allowing a user of this device 1 to wear it, for example, on the wrist. This case 4 also has a case back 10b visible on the figure 1as well as an operable dressing element 10a, 13, 9 such as a glass 10a which preferably includes a surface which is substantially larger or strictly larger than a glass 11 of the watch case 6 3.

[0011] This case 4 is also equipped with a finishing element 10a, 13, 9 such as a bezel 13 which can be mounted to rotate relative to the case middle 10c. Such a bezel 13 has an essentially circular shape. It comprises a body having an outer face which can be fitted with a graduation.

[0012] With reference to figures 1 to 3This Dewar 1 device also includes an actuation device 19 for at least one control element of the watch 3 by the translational movement of a case element 10a, 13, 9 of the case 4 towards a case back 10b of this case 4. Such a case element 10a, 13, 9 is preferably a crystal and bezel assembly 9. In such an assembly 9, the crystal and bezel of the case 4 are mounted as a single unit, particularly to achieve the aforementioned translational movement. Alternatively, this crystal and bezel form a single piece.

[0013] In other variants, this trim element 10a, 13, 9 can be the bezel 13 of the case 4 or even the crystal 10a of this case 4.

[0014] In this context, it is understood that this cladding element 10a, 13, 9 is configured to actuate said at least one control element when carrying out a translational movement of said at least one cladding element 10a, 13, 9 towards the bottom 10b of this housing 4. Such a translational movement is carried out in a direction which is parallel or substantially parallel to a central axis O of the housing 4.

[0015] This dressing element 10a, 13, 9 is capable of being moved between a deactivated position where it is not in contact with the control element of said watch 3, and an activated position where this dressing element 10a, 13, 9 actuates the control element of said watch 3.

[0016] In this Dewar 1 device, the actuation device 19 also includes a piloting and guiding mechanism for the cover element 10a, 13, 9 from the deactivated position visible on the figure 2to the activated position visible on the figure 3 , and vice versa. This mechanism includes in particular at least one recall element configured to recall said at least one dressing element 10a, 13, 9 from the activated position to the deactivated position.

[0017] As we have seen, this housing element 10a, 13, 9 is movable in translation relative to the body 10c of the housing 4 of the Dewar device 1. Such a housing element 10a, 13, 9 is mounted / assembled in a sealed or hermetic manner in the housing 4. In other words, the housing element 10a, 13, 9 is connected / mounted / assembled in a sealed or hermetic manner with the body 10c of this housing 4.

[0018] This casing element 10a, 13, 9 comprises a first part 8a forming, in whole or in part, a support area. This support area is capable of receiving a pressure force exerted by the user of the Dewar device 1 on this casing element 10a, 13, 9 in order to actuate at least one control element of the watch 3.

[0019] This casing element 10a, 13, 9 also includes a second part 8b extending substantially perpendicularly or strictly perpendicularly to the first part 8a towards the bottom 10b of the case 4. This second part 8b has a cross-section substantially similar in shape to a cross-section of the case 10c of the Dewar 1 device. The cross-section of this second part 8b has dimensions that are smaller than those of the cross-section of the case 10c. In other words, when the cross-section of this second part 8b is circular, its diameter is smaller than that of the circular cross-section of the case 10c of the Dewar 1 device. It should be noted that these cross-sections of this second part 8b and of the case 10c are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the central axis O of the case 4 of the Dewar 1 device.

[0020] This second part 8b forms a peripheral wall 8b provided with at least one actuation zone capable of activating the control element of the watch 3 by contacting it. This actuation zone may, for example, be arranged on an inner face 15a and / or a free end 15b of the peripheral wall 8b. The free end 15b is understood to be the part of this peripheral wall 8b that is arranged substantially or directly opposite the base 10b of the housing 4 of the Dewar device 1. Furthermore, it should be noted that this actuation zone is capable of making direct contact with said at least one control element of the watch 3. When this actuation zone is arranged on the inner face 15a, it may include a protrusion capable of actuating the corresponding control element of the watch 3.

[0021] Such a peripheral wall 8b is capable of penetrating, in whole or in part, the enclosure 5 of the Dewar 1 device housing when the cover element 10a, 13, 9 moves translationally towards the bottom 10b of the housing 4 in order to actuate at least one control element. This peripheral wall 8b can enter this enclosure by sliding or sliding.

[0022] It will be noted that this peripheral wall 8b can include at least one recess in which a fixing device 7 for the watch case 3, which we will discuss later, can be arranged when the trim element 10a, 13, 9 is in the activated position.

[0023] It is understood that such an actuation device 19 improves the use of the Dewar 1 device, particularly when the user of this device 1 lacks dexterity in the part of their body used to manipulate it. This lack of dexterity may result from a disability or from the fact that the user is wearing thick gloves, which prevents them from being precise with their fingers when manipulating the Dewar 1 device. In this context, it should be noted that such a Dewar 1 device is particularly well-suited for use by astronauts wearing spacesuits or, more generally, by users / adventurers in spacesuits operating in environments with extreme conditions in terms of, for example, pressure, temperature, humidity, etc.

[0024] As we saw previously, the watch case 6 of the case 3 is arranged within the enclosure 5 of the case 4, being kept separate or at a distance from all the elements 10a to 10c of this case 4. This separation, distance, or gap is configured (e) by means of at least one fastening device 7 of the watch case 6 of the case 3 included within the case 4. In other words, the fastening device 7 is configured to create or maintain a gap between said case 6 and all the elements 10a, 10b, 10c of the case 4 forming said enclosure 5 of this case 4. This fastening device 7 helps to reduce or even eliminate any thermal conduction between the inner peripheral wall 12a of the case 10c and / or the case back 10b and / or the crystal 10a and the watch case 6 of the case 3, in particular with an overall external face of this case 6.This overall external face comprises an upper face including the crystal 11 of the case 6 of this watch 3, a lower face including a back of said case 6, and an external peripheral wall of a case section of this case 6. It is understood that the lower and upper faces are opposite each other. It should be noted that the fastening device 7 is arranged on an internal peripheral wall 12 of the housing of the case 4. In this configuration, the fastening device 7 mechanically connects, notably reversibly, the case 6 of the watch 3 to the internal peripheral wall 12 of the housing of the case 4. Furthermore, the Dewar 1 device may include two fastening devices 7 arranged within the housing, opposite each other.

[0025] It should be noted that such a box 6 is included in a watch 3 which can be an electronic watch for example a quartz watch, or even a mechanical watch.

[0026] The mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3, mentioned previously, include, but are not limited to: mechanical elements of the movement such as a balance wheel and hairspring, wheels, a striking mechanism, a dial, hands, rings, seals and / or electronic and / or electrical components 2. It should be noted in particular that such electronic and / or electrical components 2 include, for example, a display device, a processor, a memory, an energy storage component, a motor, an integrated circuit and an electronic oscillator, etc.

[0027] It is therefore clear that in this configuration, this Dewar 1 device exhibits the same properties and characteristics as a Dewar tube / vase well known in the prior art. As previously mentioned, the properties and characteristics of this Dewar 1 device contribute to its good thermal insulation against extreme temperatures that may prevail in the external environment where such a device 1 may be located.

[0028] As we have seen, the crystal 10a, the case 10c and the back 10b of this device 1 together define the enclosure 5 of this case 4 which is capable of receiving the watch case 6 3. These three elements 10a to 10c of the case 4, namely the case 10c, the crystal 10a and the back 10b, can be separate elements which are joined together to construct this enclosure 5. Alternatively, the case 10c and the back 10b of the case 4 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the back 10b which can be closed by the crystal 10a in a reversible and watertight manner. Alternatively, the case 10c and the crystal 10a of the watch case 4 3 can together form a single piece, said single piece defining an opening opposite the crystal 10a which can be closed by the bottom 10b, also reversibly and waterproofly.

[0029] The case 10c or the base 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 base 10b can be coated with a metallic or similar reflective coating, such as for example a layer of silver.

[0030] It should be noted, however, that the case 10c or the base 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.

[0031] In addition, the device 1 may include an interferometric filter arranged on an overall external face of the case 4, namely on an external peripheral wall of the case 10c and / or the external faces of the crystal 10a and the case back 10b of this watch case 6 3. This interferometric filter may be a grid or a lattice forming a coating on this overall external face of the case 4. This grid or lattice 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.

[0032] Furthermore, when device 1 is intended for use in an environment containing air, the enclosure 5 of the case 4, which includes the watch case 6, is under vacuum or nearly under vacuum. In other words, within this enclosure, the space defined between this case 6 and the inner peripheral wall 12 of the case 10c, the case back 10b, and the crystal 10a is empty or nearly empty. It should be noted that when this device 1 is used in an environment devoid of air or significantly devoid of it, its enclosure may not be under vacuum, or conversely, it may also be under vacuum or nearly under vacuum.

[0033] Such a Dewar 1 device, whose use or manipulation 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 over a long period. Thus, when the temperature outside the device 1 reaches extreme values, typically on the order of -125 to +125 °C, the temperature inside the enclosure 5 remains essentially equal to the temperature present in the watch case 3 when it was arranged in the case 4, typically on the order of 20 °C.It should be noted that, regardless of the temperature conditions in the environment of the Dewar 1 device, the temperature inside the watch case 3 does not impede the proper functioning of the watch 3. This temperature is maintained for a period 5 to 18 times longer than the period during which such a watch case 3 would be able to maintain the operating temperature of its components 2 if located directly in such an environment with such extreme temperatures (i.e., if located outside the Dewar 1 device housing). It is therefore understandable that such a configuration protects the mechanical and / or functional components 2 of the watch 3 and helps ensure their optimal operation under extreme external temperature conditions.

Claims

1. A Dewar device (1) for a watch (3) comprising mechanical and / or functional components (2), the said device (1) comprising: - a bracelet; - a case (4) comprising a set of external parts (10a, 10b, 10c, 13, 9), including a glass (10a) characterised in that said case (4) comprises a bezel and defines a compartment (5) in which a case (6) of the watch (3) can be arranged so that a glass (11) on said case (6) is arranged facing the glass (10a) of case (4); the device also comprising: - at least one fastening device (7) fastening said case (6) of the watch (3) in the said compartment (5) of case (4), keeping it separate from the said set of elements (10a, 10b, 10c), and - a device (19) for actuating at least one control element of the said watch (3) by translational displacement of an external part (10a, 13, 9) from the set of external parts (10a, 10b, 10c, 13, 9) towards a back (10b) of this case (4), the said at least one control element of the said watch (3) being a button or a crown.

2. The Dewar device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the said actuating device (19) comprises at least one return element configured to return the said at least one external part (10a, 13, 9) from an activated position to a deactivated position.

3. The Dewar device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said external part (10a, 13, 9) comprises an actuating zone for activating the said at least one control element of the watch (3) by coming into contact with the said at least one control element.